DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Characters affiliated to Twilight. The only character I do own is *Zachariah.*
Prologue
It has been sixty years since he left. Sixty years since I forgot. And fifty-eight since I remembered.
My human memories were a little fuzzy, like they were supposed to be, but it was easy to recall the memories I had with him. I believe it was because they came back to me mid-change. I was outside after graduation washing my truck listening to my music when I felt a very sharp burning pain on my shoulder. The burning was spreading through my veins causing me to collapse in searing pain. It felt like someone set fire to my blood and was just standing by as they watched it starting to evaporate. The pain was very easy to remember.
I don't remember how long I was in that state for, all I know is that it burnt the entire time. And in the amount of time it took for the entire change to take effect, my memories came back. The first day I saw him and his family sitting in the cafeteria at Forks High School, the day I found out he was a vampire, our time in the meadow, and James. I will never forget James as long as I exist, I will remember him. He is how I knew what was happening to me because it had happened before.
For many days I watched Edwards face flash in my memory trying hard to forget the burning that was ever present. All of the Cullen's were there, even Rosalie, as I regained the time that my mind had forgot. I started to remember the day that I lost it all and didn't know it.
Edward and I were sitting in his family's living room doing our homework when Edward turned to me and said, "I have someone I want you to meet."
I looked at him confused. "Who, I thought that I met all of your family already. Even the Denali's."
He gave me a sad smile. "You have. This is just an old friend I would like you to meet. If you would like."
I smiled back at him. "I will be happy to meet anyone you want me to."
He grabbed my hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Tomorrow then. In the meadow."
The next day Edward picked me up and drove to the road leading to our meadow. "Jump on. It will be faster." He said to me.
I obliged and he ran. Like always I tucked my head behind his shoulder blade and tried to block the sound of the wind from my ears. When we arrived in the meadow I sat down to regain my very rubbery muscles.
Edward put his hand on my arm to help me stand. "My friend is here Bella. His name is Zachariah."
I stood to see an older man on the other side of the clearing. He looked to be about forty-five, medium build and cropped black hair. He ran up to us and bowed in front of me. "Nice to meet you my darling Bella, I am Zachariah. But you may call me Zack." He looked into my eyes and I noticed they were red, as red as the blood of his latest victim.
"Um, nice to meet you as well Zach." I turned to Edward. "Your friends with a vampire who drinks Human blood. Do we honestly think this is a good idea?"
Zach chuckled to himself and straightened up. "Dearest Bella, I am a couple centuries old. I know how to restrain myself from such circumstances. You have no reason to fear me. I am here on a favour to one of my oldest friends, you have my word as a gentleman, that I will not harm you whilst I am here. I have also promised Carlisle that I will not hunt with in the area."
I looked back at Edward and he nodded. "Alright. Then why did you want me to meet him Edward?"
It was Zach to answer. "I have a very unique gift. I have to ability to make people forget, and that is what I am here to do. To make you forget."
I was confused, but before I could say anything Zachariah was looking very deeply into my eyes. "Bella, I am here to make you forget. Do you understand?"
I stared just as deeply into his eyes. "I understand." I answered back.
"Edward has asked me to take away the memories of himself and his family. Do you understand?" He asked again.
"I understand. But why?"
"Your life is too entangled into the supernatural. It is time that you were able to let go and live your life without worry. To grow up, have children and die. The Cullen's love you very much, but they do not want you to lose your life when you do not have to. Do you understand?"
"I understand." I just stood like a statue and looked into his red eyes, unable to look away.
Zach smiled. "Very good. Now, you will go to sleep. And when you wake up you will forget about the Cullen's, vampires, and even Edward. And if someone asks you about the Cullen's you will tell them that you just wanted to forget and move on. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Good. Now sleep."
I collapsed and that was it. Nothing else. Edward had asked his friend to take the memories away, and he did. I just don't think he factored in that I would change and remember.
When I woke up I was in my room laying on my bed. I could see every little detail that was my room. The dust mites flying around my room in the sunlight, the thread count on my covers. I could also hear and feel so much more, even smell. I could hear Charlie's police cruiser leaving the driveway, the neighbours arguing with their four year old son about his clothes not matching I could even hear deer running around in the forest outside of my house. I could smell that Charlie had cleaned his dishes from breakfast, I could also smell the faint smell of rain. I sat up in my bed, faster than what I was used to, and looked at myself in the mirror.
My red eyes dominated the frame the most. They were haunting, but not as bad as Zachariah's were, but still unsettling. My brown hair had honey highlights added to it. My skin looked soft and pale, but I knew it would be as hard as stone. I reached up to touch my hair, noticing that it felt like freshly woven silk. I smiled to myself, but a little too soon. I felt the raw burning in my throat. It felt like I had been dying of thirst, swallowing hurt I knew that a simple glass of ice water wouldn't satisfy me anymore. I heard the little boy next door scream in delight at a game he thought his parents were playing. I thought about sneaking into their house and just ripping out their throats, and draining them of life. That thought took a whole half a second to come up with and another half a second to be disgusted by it. I thought about the rest of their families, their brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles and I knew I couldn't do it. It made me feel sick inside thinking about the families of those poor people, so I changed my train of thought.
I remembered about the Cullen's 'vegetarian' diet and thought about the deer by my house. Although thinking about the animal blood didn't much appeal to me, I would much rather kill a herd of deer then a family of humans. So I jumped from my window and ran toward the sound of beating hearts.
Thank you for reading, please review. I would love you hear your input. I try to put a chapter up twice a week.
-Rachel
