Today is my birthday; I'm turning twenty-six. My name is Jaleii Syleen Bowltry. This day is no different than any other; I'm single, with no family. My parents died when I was young, and I am an only child. I moved to Kansas when I was seventeen to live with my grandma; she died three years ago. I'm the director of 'Kids of the Meadow'; a child care center. I spend most nights working late, but not tonight. I'm going home and spending the night by myself; probably watching some lame movies.
I got off work at six thirty and headed home. I decided to stop at the local pizza shop and get a large Buffalo Chicken pizza; they're my favorite. It's my birthday, why not treat myself to something good? When I walked into the living room, I plopped down on the couch, setting the pizza on the coffe table, and turned on the TV. The news was on; looked like an interesting story so I turned it up.
"The last three days has become the highest murder rate in Kansas in such a short period of time. The cause of the deaths are unknown, but the cops do believe they are linked. All victims have been dumped in random places, all with crecent shaped scars on their bodies." The reporter continued, but what she had already said shocked me so much that I didn't hear the rest. Three days - highest murder rate ... I couldn't wrap my mind around this fact. How?
The next few days went pretty much the same; minus the getting off at six thirty. I got home around ten every night and turned on the news. Each night, the murder rates went up. I was beginning to get very scared. Why on earth could or would someone kill this many people? It had to be more than one person doing it.
Friday night, my co-worker Anna asked me to come over for a party at her house; her boyfriend got a new job and they were celebrating. I agreed; I could use a night out. A lot of the girls that work at the center were there. I enjoyed being around them; they were all really nice girls. The only thing I didn't like was the drinking. I don't drink; never have. I think it's a disgusting thing, my dad did it.
That's the only thing I remember about my dad; that he drank. I remember it was so bad that he would beat my mom and molest me because of it. I think that's what messed me up; what made me so unlovable. I repel men now. I think they all know I'm 'used goods' and messed up in the head. I'm scared of relationships. I'm afraid a man will end up like my father; beating me and molesting our child. I can't bear the thoughts. Being around all the drinking made me think of him; I had to leave early.
When I got home, I grabbed a glass of tea and sat on the porch. My house is amazing; my grandma left it to me when she left. It's a victorian house, light blue with white shutters. The porch wraps around. I live in the country, so there is a great view all around the house; no matter what part of the porch you sit on. I decided to sit in the back, the field has no trees and lets the stars shine brighter. Plus, the lights of the road and the city don't reflect back here.
-----Aro's POV-----
As we left Washington, we decided to travel around the country; allowing the guard to feed in many more places than usual. I had been thinking a lot since we left. The Cullen family has an amazing gift. Those children were able to reproduce, save the girl, and all three have powers. I don't understand how one family can be so purely lucky. This had me pondering the idea of producing my own child. For this, I would need to find a woman who would surely have powers when changed. This was the reason behind my wanting to travel around this misreable country; though I didn't tell anyone. I surely don't want my wife to know; but she spends all her time with Caius and Marcus' wives, she'll never notice. If I succeed, I can play it off as the guard finding her; what a wonderful idea. Brilliant, Aro. I thought to myself.
We had been traveling now for three weeks. We passed through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and now Kansas. We are headed to Missouri now; should pass the line sometime during the night. I have been feeding quite often, only because I've been looking for some talent. Each woman I found, I had to kill. None of them posessed any talent though; poor things, they wouldn't have to die if they were talented. Ugh, passing through the country is so boring; no food, atleast that would give me something to do.
That's when it hit; the most sweet human scent I have ever smelt. The smell consumed me; I followed it to the back of a house. I slowly and quietly rounded the back and there sat a lovely woman; beautiful. I had never seen a human so beautiful. She had long light red hair; I could see the exact color, even in this dark of a night. The stars were reflecting on her tanned face. She had big green eyes; sadness filled them. She was sipping a cup of sweetened tea; it was ruining her smell. She smelt of lilacs and chocolate; an odd combination to a human, but it was intoxicating to me. She was looking at the stars.
I wanted nothing more than to talk to her. I wasn't just interested in her talent now; her eyes had me so drawn, as did her scent. I wanted to consume her sent more and more. I wanted to talk to her; to find out what makes her so sad. I slowly approached, stopping at the edge of the porch.