Eighteen. I'm not really sure why it's so exhilarating for me to say that today I turn eighteen. Maybe it's the realization that I'm finally an adult or the fact that I can now be taken seriously by my parents. Regardless of the reason, it's pretty cool to be able to say that today was my eighteenth birthday.
I threw on my robe and raced down the hall as fast I could. Today was going to be great. I just knew that my parents had something elaborate planned for me. Something big, something that only an adult could appreciate. My mom probably had some huge party planned that everyone in town would be at. My mom is quite the socialite. She's known for throwing the greatest parties around town. I'm not really a fan of parties, but if she was finally taking enough interest in me to throw one in my honor then I'd be delighted to go.
"Good morning, Jeremy." I greet my butler with a warm smile and a hug. He laughs as he notices me steal one of his famous chocolate chip muffins from the tray he was carrying. Although my mother didn't pay too much attention to me, she refused to let me eat sweets. She said that no daughter of hers would be fat. Yeah, I don't know why I really want her approval either.
"I'll let that one slide for today, Ms. Swan. But only because of what day it is." He said with a wink. I laughed and took my spot at the table with my parents. After minutes of silence, I decide to start conversation.
"So…what's the plan for today?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant. I've never been the best of actors though.
"Oh Bella dear, you frightened me. I didn't even realize you were there." My mother stated with a hand on her chest as she put away the social section of the paper, "Now what was it you asked?"
"What's the plan for today, mom?" I repeat again, a little let down. Maybe being eighteen wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Oh yes, actually we're going to a ballet this evening. It should be a dazzling performance; best dancers in all of Europe is the word around the city." She said smiling at my father.
"That's what I heard as well, darling." My dad said barely looking up from his paper.
My mom may be a nightmare at times, but I'd rather be with her than someone who doesn't even acknowledge your existence unless you're a potential business partner. My father was a major workaholic. He was constantly working even when he wasn't at his office in town. The only time he seemed to have his mind off work was when he went to social gatherings with my mother, which I was usually not invited to. I really don't complain though. Large crowds of people really weren't my thing.
The day dragged on without a word of my birthday from my parents. It was really disappointing but at least they were taking me to the ballet, it's more than they've done in the past. It was almost time for the show, so I slipped on my favorite blue dress and slippers. As I put my ribbon in place around my perfect brown curls, my mother walked in.
"Bella, have you seen my pearl earrings? I need them for tonight." She asked frantically looking through my jewelry box.
"No, I haven't. Maybe you should ask one of the maids." I suggested.
"Well, don't you look pretty. Why on Earth are you dressed up so much for though? You don't normally get all dolled up like this when you stay home, do you?" She asked genuinely curious. Of course, she wasn't taking me. I should have known better. No age was going to make a difference to my parents. Why should it? They didn't even remember that today was my birthday; their only daughter's birthday.
"No, mom. I just felt like it today." My voice cracked as I quickly stepped by her, leaving the room before she could see my tears.
I sat on the sofa in our main room, staring at the page of my book. I hadn't been able to think about anything other than my horrible parents all night. How could they forget me? Don't they care? Of course they don't, Bella. They never have. I knew I shouldn't let it bother me, but I couldn't let it slide. Not this time. My dog, Pookie, climbed up in my lap and stared up at me with its adorable puppy dog stare. It was as if she was telling me to stop stressing over them.
"I know, Pook; they're not worth my time. I wish I never had to see them again." I said, growing angry. Suddenly the storm brewing outside got worse. The thunder was erupting throughout the whole house. With an eerie quickness, all of the lights went off. Pookie jumped off my lap and ran to the window, barking as if she were a big dog.
"Pookie, what's the matter?" I said, going to the front door. I opened it cautiously and was suddenly hit by a wave of cold air. "I don't see anything, Pook."
She was about to see me give up. Before I could close the door, she took off outside running towards the hedges.
"Pookie, stop! Get back here!" I screamed, chasing after her. I bent down to get her out of the bush, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It's just in your imagination, Bells. Let it go. I tried to calm myself down, but then it happened again. I slowly turned around, terrified of what I would find. Never in my life did I ever believe I would be met by a pair of red eyes.
"Excuse me, miss. Are you parents home?" He asked as his perfect lips curled into a smile.
"They're out right now, but they should be home soon. Would you like to wait for them?" I asked. I vaguely remembered my dad saying one of his partners might stop by the house later this evening, but the description he gave me was nothing like this man. "Are you one of my father's business partners?"
"You could say that," He said with a hint of humor in his voice. He extended his hand to me, "I'm Aro."
I really didn't want to, but in order to be polite I took his hand. "Bella Swan."
"Interesting." He said, his eyes glazed over. Suddenly, his attention snapped back to me. "Very Interesting."
Before I knew what was happening, he bit down on my hand and I screamed in agony. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The white hot pain that surged through my body; it seemed like it last forever. I flopped around trying to make it stop, but it never did. I begged and pleaded that someone just kill me. It would've been better than this. Anything was better than this. After what seemed like days, it started to cool down and my screams were not as often. I opened my eyes to a stone room I'd never seen before.
I sat up in the bed I was laying on. It was small and hard, but my body felt no aches from laying on it. I put my head in my hands with confusion. I quickly jerked it back after feeling the coldness of my forehead. I crawled out of the bed and walked over to the fire that was burning in a large fireplace on the far side of the room. I put my hands up trying to warm myself, but nothing changed. What was going on?
"I see your transformation has taken place and if you don't mind me saying, you look quite lovely. I wonder if…" He quickly took my hand and his eyes glazed over like I remembered, "Nothing. That's very interesting, Bella. My powers never fail me."
"Powers, what are you talking about? What's going on? Why am I here?" I asked frantically, I was panicking.
"Ms. Swan, you are in Volterra, Italy. Today is September 16, 1918. You've been.. unconscious for the past 3 days. In the mean time, you've developed into one of my kind. Bella you are a vampire now." He said pulling me over to a sofa to sit. He went into detail about the exclusiveness of being a vampire and how I should be very careful not to let anyone know about our kind. He said it was the only rule.
He motioned towards my red eyes, "Your thirsty, you need to hunt. Go to the forest outside of town. It's too light outside for you to kill in town, I'm sure there will be someone out in the forest though."
"Someone? No, I can't just kill someone. I refuse to." I said angrily, getting up from my seat. It made me sick just thinking of drinking someone's blood.
"Fine then, you can test out a theory that one of my dear friends has been working on. Kill animals instead, it won't make you as strong but if you can't kill humans then it's your only option." He said, kind of annoyed.
I lived with the Volturi; Aro, Caius, and Marcus, as a vegetarian for 90 years. Granted being a vampire was not a life I would have chosen for myself, but living with the trio wasn't so terrible. The castle was amazing and so exclusive. Unfortunately though, Aro didn't think it was very healthy for me not to leave the city. In 90 years, I hadn't taken a step out of it's boundaries. Everyone always came to us, there was no reason for me to.
"Bella, I think that you need to get out for a while; be around people. Your more than ready. That's why I've asked a coven who diets like you do; on animals. I know the leader or father of the family very well. His son, Edward, will be traveling with you. I want you to get the chance to see the world around you. You should stay so couped up like this, darling. You should get the chance to live what little you can." Aro said pacing the room. I didn't like this idea. I was over 100 years old, I think I was more than capable of doing what I wanted. But there's no saying no to Aro, what he says goes; always.
"When are they coming?" I asked, not even looking at him.
"Today. You'll be leaving by the end of the week." Aro said, kind of nervously.
"Their coming today? Why couldn't you have told me? You could've at least prepared me for this? Aro, you know I hate surprises." I said standing directly in front of him, a growl rising in my throat.
"You'll be fine, Bella. It's for the better. Now go get ready, we're expecting them soon." He said waving me out of his study. I turned on my heel and stormed out. If I was going to have to do this, I wasn't about to make it easy on anyone. This Edward had it coming.