Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my third story! Now, it's going to be a lot longer than my other stories, and a lot more... dramatic. There will be a lot of cussing and bad language, sexual references and innuendo (no lemons! sorry), and A LOT of violence. The main character, Jezebel, will be killing people. I'll try to keep the descriptions light, but no promises. This story is rated M for a reason.

Remember ladies and gents, this is a FICTIONAL STORY. Not all religions that worship a goddess (paganism, wicca, etc.) are okay with murder. In fact, most of them hate murder and violence more than other religions. DO NOT take the Shadow Circle's version of paganism color your view on other religions like this. They are not all like this.

Also, I know Jezebel is a giant bitch right now. She's cruel, emotionless, a murderer, and a lot of other not-nice things. I do not condone any of her actions. No one should ever try to do anything Jez does. It's horrible and violent and just not good. Please don't do or attempt to do any of the things in this story. And Jezebel will soon see the errors of her ways and see that there is more to life than death.

Last but not least in this very long author's note, I do not own Twilight. I will mention bands and songs in this story, and I don't own them, either. I only own my original characters. This disclaimer applies to this chapter, and every other chapter that will be a part of this story. I've talked enough, so please, read on!

Jezebel's POV

I stood at the edge of a tall cliff, overlooking the stormy ocean. A deep forest surrounded me from behind, and the sky was a marvelously deep gray, tumbling above me, while the white-capped waves crashed against the cliff-face below me. I was on the Native American reservation known as La Push, home to the Quileute tribe.

Did the small Native American tribe that called this land their home understand what they had here? This was an Old Place.

There are special places and areas scattered throughout the world that hold the power of memories. They hold a power that strengthens the bond to the land, and gives strength to those who protect it and call it home. They are rare, and are slowly disappearing as the humans slowly erode away all traces of the natural places in the world. But this one was alive and well.

The Quileute tribe must have held onto the traditions and magic of their ancestors in order for this place to last so long. So many others have forgotten, and lost that special magical bond. Because of this bond, the Quileutes and their land hold a magic that is irresistible to my kind.

It was irresistible to other supernatural creatures as well.

I could feel the power humming in the earth beneath my feet, the wind on my face, the waves rolling in front of me. I could feel the ancient power pulsing in my veins, infusing me with an unshakeable strength. I felt alive.

With this kind of power, I could take down half a dozen vampires by myself. It was thrilling.

I was on a job for my Sisters in Port Angeles when I felt this place calling to me. A man was getting too secure in his… secret activities with the teenage girls of the small port town. When that happens, they send me in to take them out, and leave no trace of the monsters behind. I was a discreet gravedigger. I'd lost count of how many monsters and demons I had buried over the years.

But I was tired of the blood and the screaming and the killing. It was starting to take its toll on me. The nightmares were the worst. The Sisters said it was just the after affects of the kills, and the Goddess was pleased with me for doing this work for her.

I don't think I believe that anymore.

This was a good place. It could be a quiet place for me to rest and figure out what I really wanted in my eternal life.

I was a witch, one of the most powerful to ever be born. I was a fighter, a warrior. I defended and protected the women of the world, killing one monster at a time. I belonged to a Circle of witches, the Circle of Shadows. Three hags led it, the oldest and wisest of our kind.

However, recently they had been sending me on job after job, never letting me rest. I wasn't even able to celebrate the Summer Solstice this year. They were controlling me to the point of suffocation, and I needed space. Free air to breathe. This would be the perfect place to stop and rest.

I would go back to high school. It would be easier than finding a job in this tiny town. Besides, school was incredibly easy, and it would give me something to focus on.

I started wandering around the reservation, watching the people go about their business. I ended up on First Beach, where a few family-type groups had gathered. It was a cloudy, overcast day. I guess the weather doesn't bother them much around here. There was a small, four person family near the rocks and tide pools. Another near the bottom of the cliffs.

Then there was a large group made up of all different age groups. I gasped. They were shapeshifters.

They were supposed to be near extinction. Only a small handful were left in the entire world. And yet they were in abundance here! So many…

They didn't notice me, so I took a seat on an abandoned piece of driftwood. It was large enough to be its own tree. A quick psychic probe confirmed it had been a large pine before falling into the ocean during a storm. It had been here ever since.

The psychic probe trick was difficult for some witches, but not for me. It was too easy for witches to lose control and accidentally break something when they were probing a person's mind. The humans would have amnesia, or other mental handicaps. Or they would be dead. I wonder why I've never had that problem.

I heard the squishing of footsteps in sand approach me, so I listened carefully without looking at whoever was coming. Short stride, about seventy pounds. A child. Most likely female.

I relaxed. She was probably just curious. But my guard remained up. It wasn't because I was afraid of the girl, but because it was simply the way I was trained.

"Hello! I've never seen you here before," a small voice said. Definitely a female child.

I looked over at her, and my suspicions were confirmed. She had the russet skin and pitch black hair of her people, with wide, curious eyes.

"I'm not from around here," I answered lightly.

"Why are you here?" The question wasn't rude. She was just curious.

"I wanted to hear the waves," I said cryptically. Better not to give away anything. She might be here with the shapeshifters.

"Oh. The waves are pretty today," she said happily.

I gave her a warm smile. She was such a sweet girl. Hopefully her mother was smart and kept the males away from her for a while. Long enough for her to realize she didn't need them, at least.

As a witch, I was raised with a hatred for men. They tried to control women, use us for their own purposes. It was sickening. And so many human women just went along with it! Witches were raised knowing males would only be trouble. Hell, in my Circle, falling in love with a male meant death for the male in question. If the witch let us kill him, she would be rehabilitated, and welcomed back into the Circle. If she resisted and tried to save the male, they both died.

I was usually in the hunting parties. After all, I was the best at what I do: fighting. Humans, witches, vampires, it didn't matter. I wasn't picky.

"Claire! Claire, how many times do I have to tell you not to run off like that!" a male voice called out. I rolled my eyes. It was one of the shapeshifters. His quick, heavy footsteps gave him away instantly.

"Sorry, Quil!" the little girl – also known as Claire – called back. He rushed up to us and scooped the ten-year-old girl onto his shoulders with ease. She laughed.

"I was just talking to her, Quil! You don't have to get all antsy," she chastised him, smacking him lightly over the head.

"I told you not to run off," he scolded her gently. Then he turned to me. "I'm sorry if she was bothering you."

"It's no trouble," I replied lightly. While I hate males, I grudgingly respected this one. He had given up his known life to protect his tribe from the filthy leeches. He didn't exactly have a choice, given he turned into a giant animal whenever he got pissed off, but details.

"Would you happen to know where I can get a bite to eat around here, though?" I asked nicely.

"Yeah, there's a café down the road. Cara's Place. The food there is amazing," he said, pointing to the south side of the road.

"Thanks. Bye, Claire," I said, and started walking down the road while Claire shouted, "Bye!" back. She probably hurt the shapeshifter's sensitive ears, but I didn't really care. I actually laughed a little. What can I say, I'm a little evil.

A few minutes later, I was sitting in a little booth at a tiny diner. A beautiful Native American woman in her early forties had just given me the best cup of coffee I had ever tasted, and taken my order. The way she bustled around and talked to everyone led me to guess she was the owner. She was kind to a frightening extent. I didn't know people could be that kind.

The rest of the customers were all laughing and enjoying their Saturday, just having a good time with their neighbors. The servers and the cooks were chatting as well.

This was the perfect place. I was decided. I would call up my favorite contractor, and have him start on a new house for me in nearby Forks. Somewhere along the border between Forks and La Push, of course. I would also take a leave of absence from the Circle, and sign up for high school.

It would take a while. The hags never did anything quickly, and they wouldn't like me taking off like this. But it would be worth it to get away and just practice my Craft for a while.

Goddess, it would be worth it.

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