This story is an AU and only contains the characters that we were so lucky that Stephenie Meyer introduced us to. Please read and enjoy, review if you like, flames appreciated, they only help solidify the story. Thank you for taking the time to read…
Chapter 1
Home
I woke up in a sweat, dazed and confused about my most recent dream. It felt so real. I wondered if it had a deeper meaning. The dreams I was having were only adding to my already complicated life. Today I was turning seventeen and was about to take a whole new course in life.
When I was a little girl my mom had told me the story of the chosen ones, the ones that were whisked away from their parents and taught the ways of a defender, the ways of a protector, for lack of a better word, the ways of a guardian. I was one of the chosen.
It was my path in life to protect the world from the evil that roamed free reeking havoc and chaos. I learned this fact the day I turned thirteen. I guess you could call it my lucky year.
It was on that birthday that I left for boarding school, if you could call it that. The years had gone by quickly. It was four years of constant learning and training. I was taught all there was to learn about all the so called mythical creatures that roamed the earth. The stories that we are told as children are more then just stories. The legends that we tend to think of as legends are really more. I was also taught how to fight and how to protect. I was armed with the skills needed to be a guardian. You could almost call me dangerous.
Now, today I was going home, home to Forks, Washington, where I could continue my high school education and learn to live in the real world.
The unfortunate thing was that I had to leave the few friends I had behind. I might not have had many, but the friends I did manage to have were like no other I would probably ever have again. There were no lies, no half truths it was just us. I didn't have to hide who I was. Now I will have to hide my true nature and try and put on the best front I can.
There were no big goodbyes just a plane ticket and a ride to the airport. I checked what little luggage I had and boarded the plane. Before I knew it I was landing in the last place I would live for quite a while.
I disembarked the airplane and collected my luggage. When I stepped out of the airport Charlie, Chief of Police for Forks, and my father, was waiting there, leaning up against his cruiser, with open arms.
"Bella," I heard him shout. "God it's been a long time, I have missed you so much." He pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Glad…to…see…you…too…dad." I managed to squeak out from lack of air.
"Sorry. Its…just…"
"I know dad, a long time. Let's get out of here."
Charlie loaded up my bags, after I insisted I could take care of them myself, and we were off. It had been four years since I last saw my dad so I knew we had a lot to catch up on. Unfortunately I was so exhausted I had fallen asleep during the long ride we had from Port Angeles to Forks. When I woke up, almost at the Forks town line, I looked over at Charlie and could tell there was something lingering on his mind.
"Dad, what is it?" I asked in the most sincere voice I could manage.
"Bella, it has just been a long time. Too long if you ask me, they come and take you away and …" he was too choked up to finish that statement. "Well that doesn't matter anymore, you are home."
"Dad, can I ask one favor before we get home."
"Sure, Bella, what ever you want." Charlie said sincerely.
"Can we stop and see mom."
My mother, Renee, god rest here soul lay in the Forks Community Cemetery. She was brutally attacked and killed the year before I was whisked away. Unfortunately the case remains open to this day. Some say it was because of the attack that I was chosen, personally I didn't care.
We pulled into the cemetery just as the sun was setting and twilight was among us. For me this was the most dangerous time of the day, this was when the evil usually began roaming around; however that was not the case for all creatures, some of them broke all the logical rules and roamed whenever they felt they needed to. Most kept a low profile, but some became power hungry and stirred up trouble. It was those that I was trained to fight and destroy.
I kept my eyes peeled in every direction, hoping that this visit, if no other visit, could be one I could make in peace. I found her grave and looked down at the stone:
Renee Swan
Beloved
Wife and Mother
1968-2002
I felt a warm tear escape my eyes and run its length down my cheek. I was hardly able to wipe it away when I fell to my knees and just let go. I was really glad that Charlie respected me enough to stay in the car and let me visit alone.
I don't know how long I sat there and cried. It was obviously the release I needed. All the frustration, anger and aggression that built up over the last few years lingered like a ton of bricks. When I felt I could go on, I lifted myself off the ground and headed back to the car.
The ride home was silent; I had no more energy left. I felt drained and needed a good nights rest. Unfortunately a good nights rest was not what I got.
Can't breathe, must keep running, no don't look behind you. Just keep going. Legs burning, lungs burning. What is that up ahead, a clearing. Great, get me out of the woods, I will have more of a chance to fight. Come on, where did you go. I know you were right behind me. Gasp, who, what are you?