Author's Notes:
**I do not own Twilight; all that creative genius is the rightful property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement intended.**
Full Summary: Edward is a demon that follows the orders of a superstitious vampire king, Aro, and gathers the bodies of humans in order to extract their blood as well as their souls. When he sets his sights on Bella, he throws his usual routine aside to bring her into his world and save her from hers. Once Bella embraces the new life Edward has opened her up to, she learns about the complications that accompany a civilization that has lain underground for centuries brewing in its own fears and traditions. She struggles to reinvent herself and help Edward and his family battle through the Empire's corruption and societal upheaval.
STTW is rated M for violence, cussin', and possible suggested sexy scenes. If that isn't your thing, you've been warned.
Okay, so this is my first fanfic and I hope you guys like it. Let me know what you think… I'm open to comments, critiques, and suggestions. Just no harsh words... Promise? XD Talk you guys at the bottom!
Chapter 1
BPOV
"CHRIST!"
I yelped as the knife scratched my skin for the fifth time. I roughly wiped at the waterfall of tears that cascaded down my cheeks. My hand shook as I pointed the gleaming tip of the steak knife at my wrist. I blew a shaky breath through my cracked lips. As I started to press into my skin with some force, I caught sight of my scared reflection staring back up at me from the knife's edge. It brought back the memories with blinding force. I had lost everything that night.
I padded down the quiet hallway of our house as I sought out the source of the screams. It was late at night. What was going on? My parents should've finished packing for our trip hours ago. As I approached my dad's office, I heard my father's distinctive voice. "Damn it, Renee! How would you think I'd react? You had a man, another goddamned man, in our bed!" My mother's sobs reached my ears and I sank to the ground. I pressed my hands against the door as I leaned closer. "C-C-Charlie, I didn't…I couldn't…" "Couldn't what? Couldn't stay faithful to your own husband! I have been there with you every step of the goddamn way, Renee! How could you do this to me?" At this point my father's voice had wavered and lowered significantly. When I heard the shuffling of feet, I quickly got up, but couldn't bring myself to leave my spot. I placed my forehead against the wall adjacent to the office door as accusatory thoughts assaulted my mind. My mother had not only betrayed my dad, but she lost my respect in the same instance. I tightly squeezed my eyes as I fought with myself to keep my tears from falling. I couldn't risk the chance of my parents hearing my sniffling. "I can't let him have you, Renee." I heard my father's whispered voice float out from inside the room. "W-what? What are you saying?" My mother asked. My father continued in his hushed tone as he explained himself. "He can't have you, Renee. He can't have this family. You all belong to me. You're MY family." Seconds later I heard the muted screams of my mother and scrambled backwards. I was about to rush into the room to see what my father had done when I saw flames seep out from the bottom of the door…
I doubled over and clutched my stomach as my eyes raked over my new room since the "incident." My father's friend Billy Black had been more than generous providing me with a place to stay.
Billy had always been a familiar, male figure while I was growing up. He and my father had known each other since childhood. He and Billy were inseparable once we had moved back to Forks, but my mother never seemed too fond of Billy or his son, Jacob. I, on the other hand, became fast friends with him. I easily gave myself over to his warm, hazel eyes. I adjusted to my new life in Forks with some difficulty, but Jake really smoothed the experience over for me. Whenever I had a problem or just needed to vent about my terrible day at school, he was there with open arms. He often plucked a carton of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream from his freezer when he heard the beginnings of my sniffles. Jake was the only one I wholeheartedly trusted with my problems, but once I lost my parents, I unconsciously started to shut him out. Even Billy tried to coax some emotion from me when I first moved in with them, but I simply couldn't bring myself to unleash those feelings. They were too fresh and painful, and I was afraid I'd lose myself once I embraced them. I contemplated suicide for such a long time that not thinking about it sounds foreign to me. I would wait until Billy and Jake visited their friends on the Reservation to attempt anything. All my previous tries had been in vain. Whenever I would pick up my newest object, I would seize up and the heavy emotions inside of me would immobilize me, forcing me to relive the source of my anguish. Just recently, I had learned to control myself during my bouts of so-called PTSD. I had chosen today to finally finish what I started because I couldn't put myself through anymore of my life.
I lifted my gaze from the floor I had sprawled myself on to the steak knife gleaming in my hand. Its steel finish twinkled wondrously to me as I shifted its position in my hand. Instead of pointing the tip of the blade to my wrist, I slowly spun it downwards. I closed my eyes when the blade grazed the fabric covering my stomach. I whispered words of love to my parents whom were no doubt watching their cowardly daughter from above. I just hoped they'd forgive me once I saw them again. The blade sank into the soft flesh of my stomach and just when the pain registered in my mind, I sank the knife to the hilt. I quickly pulled the knife out and before I could gasp another breath, I cut through my left wrist.
Mommy….Daddy. Wait for me….I need you.
With that stray thought, I clenched my eyes shut as my veins continued to pump my blood, unaware that I had obstructed its path. I teetered as my body went into shock and started to fall forward. As my eyes rolled to the back of my head, I randomly considered how the floor felt oddly soft.
" Isabella!" A masculine voice barked at me.
Daddy? I'm sorry I disappointed you like this.
"Isabella, open your eyes! Look at me, damn it." I couldn't help but hear how much irritation was laced in my dad's voice.
I can't. It hurts too much. Tell mommy not to cry anymore. Please?
"Goddamn it, Bella." The voice wavered as I suddenly felt the rigid, hardwood beneath me. My eyes swam in bright lights as I fought to find the voice again, but all I was met with was the sound of footsteps that kept shuffling back and forth. I tried to hold on, but the temptation to feel nothing was too great. I started to relax into the numbness that crept into my muscles. The voice, then, came back and would have startled me if my body wasn't beyond the point of reaction. "I hope you enjoy the afterlife." I finally let go of my grasp on the world that had tethered me for so long.
I know I will.
A/N:
SO…. What did you guys think? I'm anxious to hear what you have to say about our dear Isabella, here. Who do you think was speaking to her? Review/send me PM's and let me know. XD
Until next time,
N.E.