It's sunny outside today, just like every other day. Daddy said he would play with me in the back yard if I was good. It's breakfast time and I can hear mama calling. I rush down the stairs careful not to fall just like daddy always says I do.
I'm 4 years old and my name is Isabella Whitlock.
"Good morning daddy, are you ready to play yet?"
"Hey darlin, I sure am, but maybe later after you have eaten." He picked me up and sat me on his lap.
"Jasper, I wish you wouldn't do that she is old enough to sit on a seat on her own" Mama said.
"No mama, daddy is my seat, he is more comfortable." Daddy laughed and mama sat the plate of food in front of me. Yummy, pancakes my favourites.
"Is it later yet daddy?" I turned around on his lap and asked.
"Oh sweets, that face.. I can't say no to that, come on darlin let's get you ready to go outside."
Mama took me upstairs and put me in a yucky dress that was stupid and now I can't run around with daddy. I pouted until she changed me into an old comfy dress that I could get dirty in.
"Yeyyyy, I'm ready come on let's go!" I pulled my dad's hand and we spent the day outside in the sun, playing catch and tag. He kept on catching me and spinning me around off the ground I loved it.
We had to go in and get ready for dinner and I was sad but daddy said we can play again tomorrow if the sun was out. Which is a silly thing to say because we are in Texas and its always sunny. Silly daddy.
............Two months later..............
Mama and daddy are shouting about something today and when I went down stairs they was quiet all the time. I whispered to daddy.
"Why are we being quiet for, is it a game?" he smiled at me a little and mama started to cry and left the room.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have talk did we lose?" I said with wide eyes. I hope I don't get told off.
"Oh bunny, it wasn't a game mummy Is just upset with daddy, you're not in trouble." He stroked my hair to calm me down.
"Oh ok, well why is she upset at you for?" I asked.
"Well you know all about the war Bella, don't you?"
"Oh yeah course I do! Confederates rule!!" He laughed at me and I smiled for making him happy.
"Well sugar, daddy's gunna go help the other men fight." He held me tighter as I gasped.
"Are you gunna get a big shiny medal like Mr. Stuart next door?"
"Well...I might if I'm a good fighter" he said.
"Well if you go, when will you get back? Will you have only one leg like Mr. Stuart as well?"
He laughed a little,
"I don't think so Hun, but I should be back in a few years and I might come visit sometimes."
"Well that's a long time daddy I'm going to miss you a lot, and when you get back I will be six!"
"I know it is Bells, I will miss you too. You are gunna have to look after your mama for me, coz she's sad."
I nodded my head quickly.
"Yeah I can look after her and I will be really good and sit in my own chair and everything" I smiled and daddy laughed.
"Are you sure you gunna be able to sit in one of those hard wooden chairs until I get back?" his eyebrows raise.
"Yeah I can do it but you have to come back, I'm a big girl."
He smiled and gave me a tight hug and kissed me on both my cheeks before telling me to play while he went to speak to mama.
I think he was gunna tell her I was gunna look after her. I wonder if she will play with me while daddy's gone?
A week later...x
Today is the day daddy is leaving to the war. He has a big bag that is so heavy and he looks all smart in his uniform. Mama has been crying a lot today. I told her I would be good while daddy was gone and gave me a hug.
"Bye daddy, make sure you keep both your legs and get me a gold medal" I kissed him on the cheeks and hugged him around his middle.
He bent down to my height.
"Don't worry bunny, I will be back safe and sound, promise and I will write letters to you and mama can help you write back ok sweet cheeks?" He kissed my cheeks again and I laughed.
"Yep, I'm gunna learn to write good while your away so I can write them by myself. I love you daddy."
He said goodbye to my mama and we watched him walk down the road until he was out of sight.
6Months later...x
I have gotten two letters from my dad since he left, and I have got my writing good enough to write back on my own. He has been doing well in the war, and become a major, he said that's good and that he might have a medal for me soon. I was excited about that.
I have been very bored since he left. Mama don't play with me very much, she said she's busy all the time. So now I'm just gunna have to be patient and wait for daddy to come home.
1year later...x
I'm six now, and daddy still writes. He said my writing is getting very good and he says he think they might be finishing the war off soon, I hope so. Mama is boring.
She make me wear big pink dresses all the time and tells me my manners whenever we go out or I'm eating and sitting wrong.
I miss daddy.
4 Months later..
It's been two years since daddy left, he should be coming home soon. He sent me a medal a few months ago, I love it and wear it all the time. It's all shiny and gold and I am gunna keep it safe till he comes back .
The next day someone rode up on a horse in a uniform like daddy's, he got off and came to knock on our door. I ran down, excited in case he had a letter for me.
Mama grabbed my arm before I opened it and moved me behind her. She then slowly opened the door and gasped. I peaked round her dress to see a man looking all sad and I didn't understand.
I decided to speak.
"Did my daddy lose his leg?" The soldier at the door smiled softly at me before shaking his head no. He then handed my mama a letter and said he was really sorry. Mama shut the door and took me to the sitting room and sat me on her lap, hugging me close as her hands shook trying to open the letter.
I read it over her arms, and was confused.
"If daddy is missing does that mean he is coming home mama?" She didn't answer but shook with tears as she continued to stare at the paper.
"Mama! What does it mean, where is daddy? Is he okay?" I started to panic and tears started to fall down my cheeks. My mama looked at me wiped my cheeks before telling me the worst news of my life.
"No sugar, daddy's not coming home, they can't find him, they think he was killed baby, he's not coming home." She cried and so did I. I cried all day and night with my mama, and we fell asleep together with tears still falling down our cheeks.
I'm eighteen now and have never forgotten that day. I dream about it and wake up crying. I miss my dad so much. My mama wants me to find a man soon to marry but I don't wanna marry no one, I want my dad to be there to scare them away. My mama is always annoyed at my stubbornness to find a suitor.
She is getting sick you see and she is worried about what will happen to me if she dies. I told her she was being silly, she wasn't gunna die, I needed her.
She's scared for me to be alone and so am I.
She is getting worse every day now and the doctors don't know what is wrong with her. I don't want her to die too, I will have no one. No one but me. So I've made plans to leave to a bigger city, when she finally passes I'm ready to go. I have packed my most important belonging in one bag.
I've got my dad's medal and the necklace my mother gave me for my sixteenth birthday. It's a heart shape locket with a picture of my dad and her in it and I wear it around my neck always. I have got a few dresses and shoes and one hat. I took some money from my dad's safe and have some of my mother's jewellery she has given to me over the years. I just have to wait now, and it's driving me crazy.
"Mama, are you ok?" I whispered into her room.
"Yeah baby I'm fine" She replies in a raspy voice, no she was not ok.
I went over to her bedside and sat next to her, tears silently falling down both of our cheeks.
"Mama you can't leave me, I'm scared and I miss dad" I sobbed into her chest.
"Oh sugar you gunna be fine, I swear with your stubbornness no one will mess with you, you have got you pa's personality for sure, everyone likes you, I love you so much my belle."
"I love you too ma, I hope your right."
She passed that night while I was asleep in her arms. I cried for her and I cried for my dad, and for being alone now.
They took my mama away the next day for a burial in the grave next to my papa's empty one.
I stood and said a silent prayer for them both.
When I arrived to the big silent house that I grew up in, I stared up at its grand structure.
This was the house my pa had grown up in, I would keep this house for when I had a family to live in it with. For now though I was going travelling to the big city, I had only been twice in my life, once was for my fourth birthday with both my Ma and Pa, the next was with some immature boy trying to impress me.
It took me a couple of hours to arrange my horse to ride into the city with. When I was three my dad got way over excited and bought me a horse, I still remember my ma's face, not too impressed I wasn't allowed to ride her until I turned four, I named her after my favourite nursery rhyme.
Mary.
By the time I reached the city it was almost dark so I stopped riding and went to find somewhere to stay.
Strolling through the street I found a small looking rest stop for travellers. I secured Mary and went inside.
I saw an old, grey haired man standing behind a desk and assumed he was in charge.
"Excuse me? Have you got any spare rooms?" I asked.
"Well, hey there darlin' course we got a room for a pretty lil' thing like you" He smiled.
I stammered before answering, "Erm... yes, thank you sir."
I woke the next morning I rose at dawn and wanted to go a bit further into the city where there would be more excitement.
I had been moving with Mary for a few hours but she was getting thirsty and slowing up.
So I went over to the forest lining, and tied her to a tree, then went to find some water.
I tripped over a fallen tree as I approached a small stream, and a sharp twig dug into my hand.
"Ouch!" I hissed.
Oh great, blood. I hope I don't faint.
I washed my hand in the stream hoping to prevent infection. When I heard the bushes rustling behind me. I turned my head sharply.
Standing there was a beautifully pale brunette women, she was rather small, but I felt threatened for some reason.
"Hello dear, are you ok I hope you're not lost" She said kindly, but the smirk on her face contradicted the kind tone to her voice.
"I'm fine thank you, I should be going now though" I smiled the best I could and tried to side step her but she blocked my way.
"Oh no I don't think so, how about we have a little chat, what's a pretty little girl like you doing in the forest all by her lonesome?" her voice had turned cold and unfeeling.
"Oh I was just collecting some water for my horse, I'm Bella, Bella Whitlock." I was getting a bad feeling now and wanted to leave but I don't think that was going to happen.
"Did you just say Whitlock?" She looked honestly surprised but her eyes had a cunning mischief about them.
"Yes, is that a problem?" I questioned.
"Why no, but I know your father my sweet." She leered at me, stepping closer and inhaling, before smirking at me, "You smell almost exactly like him" What? I smell like him?
"I'm sorry my father is dead, I doubt you know him" I said sharply, I hated talking about him, it only upset me.
"Does that upset you, don't you believe me? In fact he is quite the soldier for me" her smile widened and I took a step back, something was wrong she doesn't feel right, she doesn't seem human.
Then I saw her eyes, Bright red.
"What..who are you... what do you want?" I stammered.
"I'm Maria, and I want you, it will be like a family reunion I'm sure!" Then she pounced on me.
The pain began in my neck and spread throughout my body with intense heat and speed, I tried everything I could not to scream out, but it was so hot. I couldn't not scream.
I don't know how long the heat burned in me, but it seemed to get hotter and hotter if I moved and screaming did nothing to ease the pain. It was changing though, I could feel it moving from my finger tips, but building in my chest. I let out a final scream, when the pain stopped.
Finally it was over.
Thank god.
I stayed tensed, I could hear and smell so much, it was scary.
I opened my eyes and saw everything. Whatever had happened to me, that burning, I'm different now. That's when I noticed her, Maria was still here, sitting by the stream, running her hang against the water with that smile that said she was up to something.
"What did you do to me?" Instead of stammering like I expected my voice came out in a smooth tenor, sounding like velvet. My eyes widened at this.
"I made you better, stronger. You're a vampire now like me."
I just stared at her, as she told me of rules and diet and what she expected me to do now I'm a vampire. I can't believe I'm a mythical monster. How am I supposed to survive with the guilt of killing innocent people to satisfy my thirst.
I couldn't, I won't! I set my jaw in stubbornness, "I'm not feeding from humans, I won't take a life!"
She laughed at me, and just rolled her eyes.
"Silly girl, how else will you stop the burning in your throat it will only get worse you know, plus it's our nature to kill humans, you must!"
"NO! I won't kill!" I refused and she suddenly looked furious at me, grabbing my arm and pulling me further into the forest.
"How about we see daddy dearest in action before you decide to make any decisions!"She turned her head again and looked at me with a raised brow, "Although I'm not sure he will recognise you, you must have been just a child when he left, am I right, of course I am!" She laughed again.
Looking beyond evil in that moment than ever before, she was going to do something bad and I didn't really want to know what.
"Let go of me my father is dead, stop talking about him like he is not!"
"Dead? Really, does he look dead to you?" She then pointed towards a group of, I would guess vampires, sitting around a fire. There was five of them sitting fidgeting in their seats as they listened to the voice of a man standing in the middle giving orders to them. From the back he looked around twenty and his clothes had tears in them, his wavy blond hair made me think of my dad, but I didn't want this man, this monster to remind me of him, to ruin the perfect memories I had.
I tried to pull away from Maria but she cackled and yanked me forward closer to the fire.
If I were still human I probably would have been hyperventilating, I felt panic seeping through every fibre of my body, and my eyes stung with tears that wouldn't fall. The more I panicked the tenser that blond man got, and the tenser he got the more I started to act on the instinct running through me that told me to run of fight and kill. I tensed down feeling threatened and a low growl built up in my throat.
The vampires around the fire sprung up and copied my movement, acting out more viciously than I was. The blond began to turn and I felt as though I was calming down, this did not feel natural to me and I felt my instincts react to an intrusion. The calm stopped flowing into me and I went back to feeling angry and frightened again.
Maria finally spoke, "Calm them Major!" She yelled.
The other vampires looked relaxed all of a sudden and sat back down on the wooden bench.
I, however remained tense.
"Why is she still acting so wild, I said calm her!" She yelled again.
"I can't! She won't relax, something is blocking my power!" He growled.
He spun around now to stare at me, and I couldn't believe my eyes.
I Stood rod straight and gasped. As I took a step forward Maria's hand whipped out to grab me.
I turned to her and tried to pull my arm but I couldn't concentrate because my father was standing here in front of me looking furious and beautiful. His skin had gone from his olive tanned skin to a pale white covered with scars, his eyes no longer the calming ocean blue, but burgundy red. All this didn't really bother me because he was alive, my daddy was alive.
I sobbed, and tried harder to get to him but Maria wouldn't budge, she just spun me round to look at her and laughed.
"Believe me now my dear?" I sobbed even more, because this women turned my father into a bloodthirsty monster, she took him from us, from my mother, away from me!
I was angry now, never in my life had I been so angered at someone that I wanted to take their life, but now I was.
I couldn't control the reaction I had, and I stopped pulling away from her and pounced forward pushing her to the ground, a furious sound came from my chest and roared out of my mouth, but before I could rip her apart I was pulled away from her after getting only one hit in.
"What are you doing get off me she must die!" I hissed.
I was locked in a hold I could not escape as Maria leaped back up from the ground looking very dishevelled and shocked, however you could see the burning anger in her eyes that almost stopped me from trying to get at her.
"You little bitch! How dare you touch me like that I should get my Jasper here to punish you for that!" She hissed.
"Your Jasper? He is not yours!" I snarled back.
"Oh, but he is my sweet, mine all mine, I made him into what he is today and you can't do a thing to stop it. Do you want your mommy, are you gunna cry?"
I couldn't handle this, my once loving father was holding me down while she beat my heart to pieces, but he was not my dad anymore he was someone else. And yes I did want my mum, and to cry but I wouldn't show any weakness in front of her!
I stopped struggling, and bowed my head,
"I'm sorry, I was just surprised I will do as you say, I can't change anything now it's too late. He isn't ever going to be the same now."
"That's right little girl, he isn't and I am so glad you realised so soon" she clapped her hand and I was released.
She wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me away from the others.
"Now we won't be telling daddy who you are, so don't go squealing to him thinking it will change him! Got it?"
"Yes" I then walked back over to the fire and sat on the log, as Jasper lead the conversation about fighting and war.
It had been almost 70 years, since I had began fighting for Maria.
I was lonely and depressed. Any friend I made was killed in fights.
The Brightside to this, if you could call it that, was that I was strong and was a good fighter, so Maria kept me. I also had a power. I was a shield, I could stop mental powers and I could stop people from attacking me physically also. I throw up my hands and anyone charging at me goes flying back on their ass.
Another thing was that my dad, didn't hate me, in fact we were kinda friends, well not really.
He respected me due to my power and only spoke to me when I was with Peter.
Peter was like a brother to me, he always knew when I was upset or about to kill Maria and stopped me.
Some freaky power he had to just... knew stuff.
I wanted so badly to tell Jasper he was my dad, I could see him watching me at times with a sad expression on his face and when I asked he told me he was thinking of his family.
I knew he remembered me, but I look different than when he last saw me, I'm not that five year old girl anymore and although I still have the similar traits, I still looked different.
I hopped he would realise soon. I was losing hope in this life, I wanted it to end I couldn't handle the killing and the human life being taken away was too much.
Sometimes I would to something out of habit and Jasper would look at me and then at the ground with a sad smile on his face and one time he said "My daughter used to do that." When I went to question it, he threw me a look, and I stopped, he obviously didn't mean to say it and didn't want to talk about it.
Peter had met his mate a year ago and was planning on leaving with her before the one year mark.
He didn't want to risk her getting killed. I was planning on going with him. I couldn't stay here any longer with that bitch constantly watching me, making sure I didn't spill the beans. As she put it.
It was going to be hard to leave my father here, with Maria.
I knew he wasn't happy with this life either and I was going to convinced Peter to try and get him to come.
"Peter please, we have to ask him, your friends with him aren't you?"
"Bells, why are you so adamant about him coming? I think he is too loyal to Maria to leave with us, and if we tell him we are going, he might try and stop us," He looked at me with a familiar glint in his eyes. The one that says he might just know somethin'.
"I....he... I can't say Peter, If Maria finds out she will kill me... I will tell you once we a safe and free."
He put his hand on my shoulders and squeezed, "OK, but you will be telling me! Plus Maria can't touch you with your freaky power" he laughed while I rolled my eyes and pushed him to the floor. He just continued to roll on the floor laughing like a loony.
"What is he laughin' about?" Jasper asked as he strolled up to where I was standing.
"Nothing he is being an idiot," I rolled my eyes again and turned to peter "It's not even that funny Peter, you such a weirdo!" I yelled over his manic laughter.
"You...gasp....power....gasp...so funny" oh my god, what the hell is so funny about what he said.
"Your an idiot I'm going now, you better be calm when I get back or I will so beat your ass!"
This just made him laugh even more for some reason.
"Where are you going?" Jasper asked, this was... different, he never cared what I did unless it had to do with battle. I raised an eyebrow, " Well if you must know, I'm going to speak to Charlotte," I cast a look at Peter with a smirk on my face, he knew he was in trouble now but kept his face in check so jasper didn't suspect anything. Although the widening of his eyes kinda gave him away a bit, but jasper wasn't looking at him.
"Charlotte?"
"Yeah she is one of the newborns, she and I are really close, like sisters, two peas in a pod, she would do anything for me, right Petey?" I almost laughed at his face, it was a mix between horror and worry. He knew she would kick his ass for being an Idiot, she was a tough cookie our Charlotte.
"Er... right peas... anything.. sisters" Oh dear, I wasn't not going to be able to hold in my laughter much longer, he was trying to look normal about the situation but his face to me looked constipated with his pursed lips and wide eyes, his eyebrows raised to his brow line was comical.
We just stared at each other for a while, whist Jasper frowned confused at the both of our behaviour.
I said a cheerful goodbye and ran off to find Charlotte. This will be good.
The plan was to leave tonight. I was going to be waiting at the entrance of the cave that Peter and Jasper were in, disposing of the newborns. When Charlotte went in and Peter gave the signal we were to run.
The screeching sound was deafening, each one was making me nauseated. Death to vampires because they're not strong enough, it made me sick.
It was time, Charlotte walked up to me and I reassured her we would be safe.
"Charlotte don't worry I can stop anyone from touching us so no-one will be getting hurt I swear!" I hugged her and she went in.
I heard the commotions start as Peter panicked, and told Charlotte to run, I knew this was the sign, and they both came running out and grabbed my arms, dragging me with them, but I couldn't leave him I had to try, so I turned around.
"Bella, no come back, where are you going?" Charlotte was panicking.
"Go on ahead, I will be right there, I promise."
I ran to the cave entrance as Jasper slowly approached it.
He looked so sad, and like he had given up.
"Jasper," I whispered and his head shot up in surprise.
"I thought you ran, with Peter? You should go, it is not a good life, I won't come after to you!"
It broke my heart to see him so broken, I knew my dad was in there somewhere, it just took a while to see it.
"Come with us then, please?"
"No I can't, you go though, I swear I won't come for you"
"Why can't you come? Please, I don't want to leave you with her!"
"Just go quickly before Maria comes" I ran to him and hugged him with all my might. I can't believe I'm going to lose him again, but I can't stay it's to much for me, the blood and the killing I had to go.
He tensed but relaxed a bit before slowly wrapping his arms around my torso.
I broke away and smiled before kissing his cheek.
"Bye Jasper, be safe please." He gave me that look again and said "I had a daughter when I was human, you remind me of her so much, I hope she turned out to be as loving as you are Bella" He smiled and then ran back to the camp.
"She did" I whispered, before running back to Peter, wishing to cry for once in my existence.
..........
It had been five years since we left Maria, I had told Peter that jasper was my father, and he was shocked, and swore we would get him back somehow and that now I was free of Maria's watchful gaze I could finally tell him the truth.
But as the years went by I was getting so depressed with killing humans all the time, and restless at staying in the same place for so many years, I wanted to travel a bit, try and find a way live with this existence that was forced onto me.
Peter and Charlotte were sad that I was leaving, but I told them to suck it up and that I would be back in a few years. They finally cheered up and were excited for me. Telling me to keep in touch they waved me off as I ran into the forest hopefully to a better future.
Charlotte said she hoped I would find a mate on my travels but that didn't turn out well as Peter went all big brother saying I was to stay away from boys. I had laughed but the serious look on his face told me he wasn't joking.
I had been travelling for two years now and was going to try and get in touch with Peter soon.
I was in Alaska at the moment walking though a small town. I was very thirsty. I tries to prolong the feeding so I didn't have to kill, but I always gave in to the thirst, and would spend a week in depression after every hunt.
I tried to ignore the burning in my throat but as I passed an alley a scent caught in the wind whipped though me and I had could not stand to scorch in my throat any longer. So I walked slowly and reluctantly down the alley and saw a man passed out on the floor. Well at least he won't be aware of me until it is too late. I hated seeing their faces as I leapt at their necks. It made me shudder.
I bent down and inhaled, the flames reignited in my throat and I sunk my teeth into his throat relishing in the sweet taste, but felt disgusted at myself for enjoying taking someone else's life.
I was almost finished with him when I felt a presence from behind me, they were angry and annoyed.
Another thing about my shield that only Peter and Char know is that I inherited part of my father's gift. When my shield touched another I could sense their emotions and just recently discovered I could manipulate as well. I had been a bit proud of myself for being like my father but was sad about how much I missed him.
I quickly surrounded myself with my shield preventing an attack and finished my meal. If you can call it that.
I stood abruptly and turned around to face another vampire. This surprised me slightly, why would they be angry at me for feeding, unless this was their territory. Oh great I was going to have to fight and kill some more. See, I'm already going into my weekly depressed state, always negative.
"Can I help you?" I asked being careful and watching her movements. She was a blonde female.
"Yes, I think you can, you see I would rather you no hunt on our territory, we don't want to attract attention to ourselves."
"You own a permanent residence, how do the humans not get suspicious?" I wondered.
"My family and I do not hunt humans." She explained.
"I'm sorry, excuse me if this is rude but are you quite sane, how else do you survive exactly?" I was beginning to think she was a little mad.
She laughed slightly, "I'm not mental if you must know, but I do hunt the blood of animals to survive, and yes it is possible, if you noticed the colour of my eyes you will see I'm am being truthful." She pointed to her eyes, which for the first time I noticed were gold, not the horrid red I had been used to seeing in the eyes around me.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement, I couldn't believe there was another way for us to survive, I was ecstatic.
I smiled so huge, the biggest smile I had smiled in decades and jumper in glee, "Oh my this is wonderful, please, I am Bella, would you help me change to this diet? I just can't believe there is another way."
She looked a little spooked but smiled softly at me, "Of course I will help you, would you come back with me to my home? I'm sure my family would love to meet you and hear your story. I'm Tanya by the way, Tanya Denali."
