Chapter 1.
I was steadily growing more and more annoyed. I was currently sitting in Edward's room in the Cullen house with everyone in the living room watching a movie I had wanted to see, feeling seriously grateful that Edward couldn't read my mind. Ever since we had returned from Italy and I had gotten back together with Edward, I had been slowly beginning to wonder what in the hell I had been thinking.
It started slowly, with little things that I hadn't noticed until later, but a few things were becoming clearer to me as time went on. Alice had taken to actually throwing my old clothes away and replacing them with clothes that she had bought, and that, to be honest, I didn't actually like. I thought they were ugly, to expensive and I looked terrible in them. Edward was beginning to try and tell me what I could and could not eat, and starting with little comments designed to pull me away from my friends and family, especially Jake, a wolf shifter on the reservation. He was even harping on the way I speak and the music I listen to. All in all, it was becoming clear that he was trying to control me and how I lived my life.
For some reason, I thought it angered me much more than it should and I had even wished I could punch him a few times, the only thing stopping currently stopping me had been the inevitable broken bones and the lecture that would follow about my unladylike behavior. Well, that and I was growing concerned about the level of aggression I was unused to feeling. But I was quickly reaching my limit. I wanted to stay downstairs and watch the movie with everyone else, but Edward thought it was "inappropriate" and had practically dragged me to his room. This is what we were arguing about.
"It's just a freaking movie, Edward." I snapped.
"It is not what you should be watching Bella," he said with his holier-than-thou pompous attitude, "there is too much violence and to many jokes that a lady should not hear."
"That's not for you to decide," I hissed. "Maybe I don't want to be a fucking lady."
"Language, Bella, a lady-".
I cut him off with an angry sound and whipped around telling him I was going home over my shoulder. He actually tried to stop me but I ignored him. As I passed through the living room, I saw Jasper raise his eyebrows as he felt the anger-no, rage- coming off of me. I didn't care. I didn't slam the door on my way out, but it was a very near thing. This close, I seethed, I was this close to ending things with him. The thought nearly stopped me short as I drove home. Break up with Edward? Hmm thought had potential at the current moment.
I was shocked to be thinking this way, when for months I had been depressed without him, now I was thinking of ending things? Maybe a walk would help me think.
-TIME SKIP-
When I got home Charlie was still at work, having pulled the late shift. The walk must have tired me out more than I thought, because suddenly I wanted nothing more than to go to bed. So I did.
I was having the strangest dream. I was in an old stone courtyard with stone arches. I say it was old because it had that look, with the stone chipped and cracked and ivy draped over the arches, weeds were growing between the flagstones at my feet. There was a beautiful night sky above me as I looked around. Suddenly, I had the feeling that someone was behind me, and I whirled around. A gorgeous, completely stunning women was in front of me. I believe she outclassed even Rosalie in the looks department. With Blue-black hair cascading down her back in slight ringlets and sparkly black eyes with flecks of silver, I was astonished. We regarded each other a moment, then I asked my first, and, in my mind, most important questions.
"Where am I? Who are you?" I deliberately made myself as polite as I could. I didn't want to offend her not knowing who -what- she was.
She smiled at me, transforming her face from a cold, yet perfect visage, to a warm, radiant beauty that I knew instantly was inhuman.
"You are in the In Between, my dear. I am Royja, Goddess of Life and Death. And before you ask, as I am sure you will, I am not here to harm you. I wish only to speak with you."
Goddess. Of course, no one was that beautiful. My next questions. "In between what? Why am I here?"
"That is what I wish to speak about. Won't you come sit?" She asked me.
Her voice was filled with kindness, and I abruptly knew she and no intention of ever harming me. I was safe. She was safe. I agreed and we walked over to a bench near where we were standing.
"Now," she said, "you have been through much. And you hold anger in you, especially toward the Cullens. Am I right? Don't answer yet. I am here for two reasons. The first, because you need me. The second, because I would like your help."
She paused, as if bracing herself. I wondered what she needed help with, but I didn't ask because she would tell me on her own. I was fairly sure of that. And I was right.
"You already know of Cold Ones and Wolf Shifters, but there are other types of supernatural creatures out there. There are vampires that are the original type that burn in the sun, werewolves that shift with the moon and witches that serve nature. Unfortunately, long ago I made a terrible mistake, I created cold ones as an experiment and they ended up horribly. Vicious and bloodthirsty, they kill and kill, and have poor control over their immense bloodlust. They must be taken care of. The humans can not stand against them."
Wait a minute. "What do you mean by gotten rid of?" I asked cautiously.
"I mean the species must be eradicated. Most are monsters that enjoy killing anyway." she responded sadly.
"Why me?" I asked softly.
"Because you have compassion, strength, love and fire in you that I have never seen before. But you also have a drive and even a darkness that you haven't discovered yet. If given the right tools you could move worlds. I want to give you those tools."
I blinked. Okay, I'll bite. Hah, get it? "What do I have to do?"
Royja suddenly looked hopeful. "You must become my blood-daughter, and erase the blight of Cold Ones from the earth."
"But what about the good ones?" I had to ask, but I knew I would say yes.
"You would have numerous abilities," she responded. "Your strength and speed would be matched by none, true immortality in that nothing and noone could ever kill you.
She began to explain what my other abilities would be: Compulsion which would allow me to feed without hurting anyone or being revealed. I would also be able to compel anyone I might encounter, supernatural or not. I would not have to be invited into a person's home. Sunlight, vervain, Werewolf venom and stakes would not affect me. I could resurrect people if I saw fit. I was to be judicious with this ability. Royja said I would know whether to intervene or not. Even the Original vampires would consider me their boss. Then came the best part, the one stopping me from eagerly accepting, I could turn the supernatural into humans
I snorted at that, she wanted to make me a queen.
Royja laughed, and, somehow reading my mind, said "No dear, I want to make you a Goddess."
I already knew what my answer was. "I accept."
Royja smiled more radiantly than she had yet, and producing a knife from thin air, cut her wrist and held it out to me. "Drink, my precious child, you are my first born. When you wake you will be as new. No longer human.
Taking her wrist I braced myself for that awful rust and salt smell, but it never came. Instead it smelled like chocolate chip cookies. I leaned forward and started drinking. It sizzled across my tongue, it tasted like all good things. And as ran down my throat I felt happy, I had found what I was meant to do in my life. When I could literally drink no more, I pulled reluctantly away. I instantly felt sleepy. As I drifted off I heard Royja -Mother- whisper "Sleep well, my little one." And everything faded away to the sound of her humming of an ancient lullaby.