Death was supposed to be easy. It was supposed to be peaceful.
I tried to convince myself that the words held truth, but even as I took what I thought to be my final breathes there was nothing in this world that could describe the terrible pain that was currently ravaging my entire body.
There was no putting a stop to the hungry flames of the fire that raged on below, that threatened to consume all that I was. Though I fought the restraints that bound me to the strake of which I'd been strung up by my wrists, I could not break free. All I wanted to do was scream and cry, but I forced myself to remain quite; I couldn't let them win, I wouldn't let them win.
I wished for death, but at the same time I struggled with the darkness that promised release. This was not the way that I had imagined that I would die, and for whatever reason I just had to hang on. Maybe if I could just resist the pull of the afterlife for a few moments more, someone would save me from this hell. Wasn't there always supposed to be a hero or a knight in shining armor that swooped in and saved the day? That's what I'd been told after all. I just couldn't believe that I was actually qualifying myself as one of those helpless little girls that dreamed of fairytales and a happily ever after. That wasn't me, that'd never be me.
Yet, here I was, hoping beyond all hope that I'd soon be saved from this nightmarish torment.
I had not committed the crimes that I'd been so wrongfully accused of, I was no witch… perhaps if I had practiced the arts of sorcery then I wouldn't be in this mess right now – flesh melting away to nothing but bone, bones turning to ash.
Then, in just about the same exact time that it takes for a person to blink their eyes, everything had changed. The agony that I'd been forced to endure was no longer present or even existent for that matter. There was however, a new and entirely different feeling of pain. Though impossible as it might seem, this pain was far worse than that which I'd just previously underwent. It was constant and persistent, and I could even feel it coursing deep within myself. I could feel it eating away at my insides, only to build them back up with an entirely new layout and functional use.
I was beginning to wonder what I'd done to deserve such wrath from God. I was only ever the proper girl that my parents had raised me to be. So, that brings about the 'be all end all' question, what did I do?
My name is Morgana Merlin Penrite. I was born in the year 1670, and I am currently twenty-two years old. My parents were of the higher class, which is why I mind my manners at the dinner table and speak so well. I was, unfortunately, forced into a marriage that I did not want. I had refused the proposal, and now here I was writhing in suffrage. I didn't want to be just like all the other women in our town, stuck with a husband that only cared about multiplying. Being a mother is a wondrous thing, but kids were just not my thing. I had bigger dreams than that.
That just simply describes who I am and what I've done, but I see nothing that explains the reason for my torture. Was it wrong of me that I wanted to be different… was it wrong of me to an extent that I deserved being burned alive – and now torn apart from the inside out?
"Morgana, are you coming?" Edward called from downstairs.
I knew he'd heard my thoughts, and I figured he'd be asking me about them all later. He always worried about me when I started to reminisce on the past. I guessed it was because he knew I'd never come forward to him or any of the others about how I was feeling. Yes, we were a family… but that didn't mean we were all therapists, and I didn't want them to have to be bothered with my problems. Because they were just that, my problems.
Sighing a breath that was only used to express my frustration with him and his prodding within my mind, I collected my things that sat on top of my desk before grumbling out a reply that I knew he'd be able to hear, "Yup." I made the 'p' pop, just in case he hadn't already caught onto my displeasure with him this morning.
It took me only a second to join him at his car where he was leaned up against the door with his arms crossed over his chest. I wanted to give an indignant snort at the way he'd posed himself as if he were America's Next Top Model waiting for his picture to be taken, but that wouldn't be very lady-like of me. "Come on then, wouldn't want to be late." I gave him a rather obvious, sarcastic grin before making my way over to the passenger door of his silver Volvo and slipping down into the seat.
"No, wouldn't want that at all." He returned with equal sarcasm while a hand reached up to turn the key that rested in the ignition.
Edward and I had a rather 'special' relationship that could only be described as being that of an older brother trying to protect his younger more reckless sister from anything and everything. Our different personalities caused us to clash often (as did him attempting to be my twenty-four hour guard vamp, but let's not get sidetracked here), it was all mostly just good fun though… well it was for me anyways, he tended to take things much more serious than I.
A laugh sounded beside me, making me turn an accusing eye over to the driver's seat where Edward sat behind the wheel. "What's so funny?" I asked before turning back to pull out a compact mirror from my purse. We were nearing school, and of course I had to run a double check over everything.
"Oh, nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about, little sis'." He smirked as he shifted around. One arm propped was now propped on the console that separated us with the side of his head resting on top of his knuckles while the other gripped the top of the stirring wheel.
I just rolled my eyes and continued with checking myself out. Per Alice's request, I'd allowed her to fix my hair and do my make-up today. The usual wavy locks of red that reached nearly all the way to my waist when straightened out now hung over the side of my right shoulder in a neat braid. I wasn't a very big fan of the gold glitter stuff she'd brushed over my eyes, but it did bring life to them – more than usual. She drew on some exotic eye-liner that swirled out at the ends, and some rather heavy mascara that she and I fought over before I finally submitted to her whims. With the blush and reddened lip stick that she'd also painted on, I'd have to say that I was looking pretty damn good today.
"You look just as good every day."
Before turning to reply to my brother, I puckered my lips and sent myself a kiss then softly closed my compact and tucked it back into its spot inside my Michael Kors (yes, I love me some MK). "Oh come on, can't I just look damn good for once?" I fixed him with a stern look, but my eyes betrayed me.
He shrugged. I can't believe it, he actually just shrugged me off. Oh whatever, it didn't much matter anymore anyways. "Well, catch you at lunch then." I scoffed at him once he'd pulled up into the open parking spot beside Emmett and Rosalie's jeep and threw it in park. Pushing my door open, I stepped out and sashayed away – putting a bit more effort in the sway of my hips as I went. You got to prove a point some way or another.
The bell would be ringing soon, so the parking lot was pretty much empty… but did that stop me from strutting my stuff? Hell to the no.
For the most part, it was business as usual. Excitement was a rare thing here in little 'ole Forks High. I hardly ever spoke to anyone, unless of course I was called upon or forced into participating in group activities. I made straight A's, it wasn't exactly hard when you were as old as I was and had retained as much as I had throughout those years.
It was hard not to be the envy of everyone in class when you were someone like me, and though this wasn't exactly who I wished to be seen as there wasn't much changing who I now was. I was a vampire, simple as that. Don't believe there's a cure for that lying around anywhere, and if it were I'm not entirely sure I'd want it. I was content with my life, and happy. I had a family, and right now that's all that really mattered to me.
"Oh really?" Ugg, could he not eavesdrop on me for like two freaking minutes! "Because as I recall, you weren't exactly a passenger on the dream boat of satisfaction and fulfilment this morning." I wanted to slap that smirk right off his face, but I retrained myself.
"That was this morning, Edward. Besides I was only dwelling." I mumbled out, my voice low enough for only him to hear as I neared him. We were just outside of the cafeteria, waiting for the rest of our brothers and sisters to gather before we entered.
The human food that was being fed to the students today smelled less than appetizing, but that was every day. "So glad we don't have to worry about eating this poison." Edward just grunted, but I knew he felt the same even if that still meant that blood was our number one substance. He was never okay with our existence in this world, but at least we could classify ourselves as vegetarians (of sorts) and not some ravenous monsters that tore into anything with a heartbeat.
"Speak for yourself."
"Get out of my head!" I went to whack him on the back of his neck, but a sudden presence to the opposite of where my attention was now currently being held caused me to think better of it.
I turned to find that it was Alice. I should have known. "Come on guys, let's not fight." She was all smiles with an arm looped around Jasper. Poor guy, it was hard for him to be here. I used to be that way for me too so I could sympathize.
"It's his own fault, he's been picking through my thoughts all day." I sighed, throwing my hands up into the air. "Maybe a little slapping around would do him some good." I'd win, I always won. Sticking my tongue out at him, I rested my hands on my hips before offering Alice a defeated look that would get her off my back. She never liked it when Edward and I fought, wasn't my fault that he had a lame gift compared to mine.
"Hey, if anyone's going to be fighting around here, it's going to be me and you, Red. I've got a score to settle." Figures Emmett would come walking up at the mention of the word fight.
Crossing my arms, I crinkled up my nose at him. "I wouldn't antagonize." Rosalie said with her stern voice in Emmett's direction. "You lasted a grand total of thirty seconds the last time the two of you decided to test you strengths." She air quoted 'strengths'.
"Yeah, but I know that she cheats now, so–"
"So nothing."
I had to hand it to Rose, she kept her rains pulled tight on her man and never lost a beat. Of course Alice was the same way, but she handled things a bit differently than our sister did. Jasper was at his mate's every beck and call, while Emmett required a bit more… persuasion. Now, as for Edward and I – well, let's just say that we had yet to discover someone who could mesh with our rather unique personalities (not that I was in a hurry to be tied down or anything, but it would be nice to have someone that cared for you in that way around). I say unique rather loosely because he basically doesn't even have one, he's more like a stone statue than anything else.
Did you hear that? I hope you did!
He laughed. Are you kidding me...
Shaking my head I shoved him forward, biting my lower lip to keep from joining him as we followed after our siblings into the cafeteria. As usual, it was loud and obnoxious. I really didn't like being in here, but if we all just stood outside by ourselves in the freezing cold Forks' weather everyone would surely count us as freaks then – that is if they already didn't.
"The red head, that's Morgana Merlin. She hates it when you try to give her nicknames. I've heard her freak out on a teacher before because he tried to call her Morgan." Hmm, must have a newbie in today. I cut my eyes over to the table where I had pinpointed that squeaky, annoying voice. It was that Jessica girl. Never much cared for her or her mouse face. "She and Edward aren't a couple, but they are like really-really close."
Well duh, I was close with all of the Cullens because I was a Cullen. "She is the weirdest of them all though I think, weirder than Alice. She always has this kind of evil look on her face." Speaking of which… I turned my lips up into a smirk, my tongue running out to pass over them before I gave Jessica and the girl sitting beside her (that must have been the newb) a wink. "Shit. That was the look."
Ahh, who am I kidding? I love it here.
"Sure, yesterday was different. And the day before that."
"Oh my god, could you not!"
A/N :: I hope you guys like this first chapter, I definitely put a lot of work into it! I personally believe that my first person writing is way better than my third, and I wish I could change it over in The Last To Fall but since I've already started it there's no going back! Now, just so we're clear, this story will not be following the exact script as the book or the movies. Morgana to me (so that you guys can picture her), looks like Emma Stone. So with that said, I hope you enjoy! Please write me some reviews, they give me muse and help the inspiration flow. PEACE