The ceiling fan above me twirled with that shink-shink noise of cutting through the air. I'd always had my fan on as a human; the habit had carried over into this life.
Of course, the fact that had I been human my skin would probably be melting off gave me a reason to have it twirling too. The castle was always dreadfully hot this time of year, even for my kind.
I lay back against the fluffy pillows of my bed and exhaled an unneeded breath, allowing my mind to wander over the memories that brought me here.
My legs were exhausted, lungs heaving to inhale the air they needed, but I'd finally found it; the Meadow. Edward's-my mind winced at his name, but at least I could finally say it- Meadow to be more exact.
It was nothing to what it had been, the wild flowers dead, soft green grass now a color between yellow and brown. It was as if his departure had not only taken the life from me, but this meadow as well.
In that moment I hated him. How could he? How could he just leave? Wasn't he meant to love me forever and me to do the same? No I guess not, after all, I was just a play thing. I was a pet, but not really; a pet would've been treated with more love than I.
With that thought my anger faded into sadness, sadness into agony. I fell to my knees as my mind stuck with agony. Not only had I lost the love of my life, but I'd also lost my family.
Esme, the warm mothering figure, one who had been much better than the flighty hair-brained woman that was my actual mother, who was always there for me and supported me through anything.
Carlisle, the compassionate doctor who'd become my second father, who constantly patched up my wounds with a kind smile and a warning to be more careful.
Alice, my pixie best friend that I loved like a sister, who always knew how to cheer me up.
Emmett, the big brother I never had and always wanted, with his playful teasing though he'd do anything to protect me, I thought.
Jasper and Rose, the aloof two but they were still like family and I yearned to get to know the both of them better, enough to be able to call them brother and sister.
Then there was Edward. I loved him. He was my life, my soul mate, but he was gone.
I let out a loud sob, curling my arms around my torso. A branch snapped in front of me, making my head snap up and my lips form the name before I could control them, "Edward?"
A chilling laugh was my only response. I blinked the tears from my eyes in an attempt to see and was surprised at who stood in front of me, watching me.
"Laurent," I greeted him, cautiously; something was off about him.
"Bella," he smiled, taking a step towards me, "How are you?"
I sat back on my calves, a reaction to his step, and responded, "I've been better. How are you?"
His smiled widened in response. "Fairly well."
"Aren't you supposed to be in Alaska?" I asked, trying to distract him from stepping closer.
"Probably," he stated, cocking his head to the side, "I was up there. The Denali sisters are quite… pleasant," he chuckled at some inside joke, eyeing me.
It was then I realized what was different about him; his eyes were a bright swirling red. I shot to my feet immediately and asked, "How was the 'vegetarian' diet?"
He smirked in response to my question. "Unsatisfying."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I told him, trying to appear sympathetic. His laughter sounded in response before he proceeded to explain his purpose in Forks.
"Victoria, she has so many plans for you. Really I'm supposed to bring you to her alive, but I'm sure she'll understand," he mused, "You're simple mouthwatering."
With those words he lunged, sinking his teeth into my neck and beginning to drink. My mind went foggy with blood loss but I still heard the vicious growls, saw the horse-sized wolves. Laurent ran after a muttered, "I don't believe it."
I could feel it now, the venom burning me from the inside out. I hadn't a clue why wolves had frightened him, a vampire, but since I was going to be a vampire soon, I knew they were probably a threat too. I crawled my way painfully to the trees before collapsing beside a fallen tree. I locked my jaw to minimize the screams that were sure to come; those wolves wouldn't find me if I had any say in the situation.
I woke in what I assumed three days later, throat burning for blood. After taking down a couple unlucky deer, I lay on the forest floor, contemplating what to do and where to go.
The name popped in my mind almost immediately; the Volturi, the vampire kings. If anything they could help me through my newborn years. The problem was they lived in Italy, across the ocean. I'd need money for a plane trip.
My house was too risky with Charlie possibly being home. The Cullens' house, they had to have money or at least something of value, right?
Running there, and loving my speed, I found a drawer with money in it in Carlisle's office. I rationalized the fact that I was stealing with if it was still here, they didn't need it that badly.
At the airport, I bought myself a one-way ticket to Italy and a pair of sunglasses to hide my now glowing red eyes. I ignored the scent of human blood and when I made it to Volterra, the castle wasn't hard to find, a way in was though.
I lucked out by slipping into a group of tourists lead by a woman named Heidi, her red eyes covered by blue contacts. She led the humans to their doom, with me lingering in the back of the crowd.
When we finally made it to the throne room, I recognized the three men on thrones; Aro, Marcus, and Cauis.
I hid in a shadowy corner to wait out the soon to be deaths. The guard didn't discover me until after 'feeding time' when one of the bigger males took down a little girl, no older than six. I hissed at as her last breath came out in a scream, making the male I now knew to be Felix turn to me in surprise. He called me to Aro's attention.
"What's your name young one?" he asked me.
"Bella," I responded in my new bell like voice.
"Short for Isabella?" he asked, making me nod in response.
"Why are you here, Bella?" he questioned, real curiosity clear in his tone.
"I didn't know where else to go. I heard of you from… a passing coven. I was wondering if there's any possibility of joining your guard," I responded, not naming the Cullens least they get in trouble because of me.
"Possibly," he hummed. "Do you have any gifts?"
"I think so. In that coven some of their gifts didn't work on me," I responded, wincing slightly.
"So a possible shield," he muttered. "Come here."
I knew he would try to use his gift on me. I also knew it wouldn't work, but I humored him regardless. He reached out his hand and took mine. He closed his eyes for a minute and when they opened he looked at me in wonder.
"Jane," he said and a smaller brunette girl stepped forward. She touched his hand for a second and he nodded. She smiled at him and then to me.
She stood there smiling at me for a while but it quickly faded. She looked to Aro and shook her head to say no.
"Fascinating," he hummed again. "Alec?"
A boy stepped forward that looked a lot like the girl. He nodded to Aro and looked at me in concentration. A few minutes later he shook his head 'no' also.
Aro smiled a delighted smile and asked me, "So, you would like to join the guard?" I nodded my head yes, prompting him to say with a large smile, "Well then, welcome."
I simply smiled in return. "Well then Bella please meet the rest of the guard." He introduced Jane and Alec first and when I shook their hands I felt a shock before feeling a sharp pain in hand that traveled up my arm and through my body.
"Ow! What was that?" I asked, as the pain faded. Aro looked confused and when I told him what happened he look at both of them questioningly. They both shook their heads no.
"I don't know my dear," he hummed. I went along and every time I shook someone's hand that had a gift I was shocked. Demetri pointed that out.
To Aro's musings I suggested, "Maybe it's part of my shield."
He nodded in response before muttering under his breath about calling Elezar, from the Denali coven. Before he left he told Chelsea to show me to my room.
Chelsea nodded and took my hand. I was happy to not be shocked this time.
Chelsea walked me down multiple maze-like hallways before opening a door on the left side of the hallway and motioning me inside. The room was empty of everything but a bed, to which Chelsea explained, "It's yours to decorate." I thanked her as she left and went to sit on my bed.
I knew I was going to like it here.