Chapter One

I was born not made into an exclusive dark world. There are not many like me, I am not alive yet not dead. My skin is cold as ice despite the warm blood that courses through my veins. I do not fit in with the full bloods yet that is all that surrounds me. Being born not made has made me an outcast among outcasts being forced to forever dwell in the shadows until the day they came into my world.

That day started like all the rest I woke up to the ranting and raving of my coven members who never had the need to sleep. As a child I hated when my eyes would start to droop and I would yawn but I quickly realized as I grew that sleep was my one and only escape from them. They all seemed to hate me. Guilt was all that kept them taking care of me, guilt and using me as a feeding source. I remember that first time I was bitten. I was called over by the eldest, his name was Andrew. He had always looked on me commenting how much I resembled my dead mother. He is the one who told me how I came to be and if I close my eyes I can remember his speech clearly. "Marie you must look at others and see that you are not like us. You are in some ways, you are not alive and you thirst for blood but you are alive in ways we are not. Blood flows through you and it protects you. You do not stand out as we do. Your eyes and your skin do not give you away in the light of day. Your mother gave her life for yours, never forget that." I remember his words feeling sweet and kind as my blue eyes stared at him wanting and needing to finally feel a part of this word but as he drew me close his eyes suddenly changed from shocking red to deathly black as he grabbed me by the long blond hair biting my neck hard.

From that moment on I knew it was all a lie. Every kindness he had ever shown me was just to make me stay and trust him for this. I distanced myself from them looking and planning my escape from that day but as if someone heard my prayers I came back from a walk that day to find them all but Andrew dead. Their headless bodies were scattered about but as I got closer I could see their heads in a pile. Closer to our camp I crouched down seeing a stranger walking about. He seemed to be the one in charge wearing a black robe and barking others at the others wearing robes of blood red. As if they were searching for someone they were tearing our camp apart, the voices continued as they called out to each other in frustration not finding what they were seeking. Instinctively I creep closer till I see them talking to Andrew. He is the one saying my name. The ones in robes suddenly surround him as the one in black commands but one blond woman seems to be focused on Andrew intently as I watch him writhe in pain. "Tell us about the child." The one in black demands.

Andrew screams as if he is being hurt but no one is touching him. Fascinated I cautiously creep just a bit closer. How and who is doing this? No one is touching him but my eyes are drawn to the blonde woman against, something in her eyes the way she is concentrating. Is she doing this? Andrew nods through his misery then collapses on the ground breathing hard, "I will tell you all that I know just promise to let me live."

The dark man's laugh makes my blood run cold as he answers, "You speak to me that way? I, Aro, will tell you who lives and who dies. You will speak and you will die as I decide." Aro then nods to the blond woman, "Jane more, he is still being insolent. Make him submit."

I watch as the blond turns back to Andrew and as if she is kicking him Andrew's body thrashes on the ground yet she is not even close enough to touch him. I gasp then cover my mouth quickly hoping that I was not heard. Andrew's screams again fill the air growing louder and louder till he starts to speak. He mutters a name over and over. "Mary." I stiffen as he starts to talk of the beautiful girl that he once loved, the human girl. Aro nods to Jane who backs off. The relief flashes across Andrew's face.

Aro stands over Andrew with his eyes a gleaming blood red, "Did you mate with this human girl you speak of?" He demands answers as Andrew lies gasping on the ground at his feet.

"No," Andrew's voice comes out raspy. "Someone else beat me to her. Mary told me of it later when she was big with child. She begged me to take care of it but how could I care for what killed the one I loved?"

"Then what of the child, did it survive?"

Andrew nodded, "Yes she did."

"Where is she?"

"She is no longer a child and I do not know." Andrew's voice slowly begins to sound annoyed at the constant line of questions.

"Then your usefulness is over, what is the child's name?" Aro's eyes glint with anger.

"Marie, the girl's name is Marie."

I gasp again as I hear my name and stand up to run away. I run right into one of the figures in red who stares at me with a sinister smile, "you are the one we seek." He takes a hold of my arm pulling me with him towards where Andrew is being tortured. I cringe as Andrew points to me. Aro's eyes follow Andrew's finger turning to gaze at me with his bright red eyes. I feel my whole body tighten up and I try to pull back only to be pushed forward hard. I cry out in fear, "No please don't bite me."

Aro looks at Andrew again then back at me, his eyes seem to darken as his words come out dark and cold. "I don't plan to bite you, does he?"

I nod biting my lip and whisper, "yes he did, they all did."

"Did they ask you first?"

"No, I was never asked." I stare at him wondering if I can trust him.

Aro stares back at me meeting my eyes with an even gaze. Then he moves forward quickly as if floating to touch my face with one hand. I flinch at the touch but don't move away. His words come out in wonder, "Your skin is cold like ours but yet I can smell your warm blood calling to me. Just like the other."

Despite still being nervous and uncomfortable at his touch, Aro's words excite me. I have to ask him, "You know of another one like me?"

"I do my dear, there are not many like you and something about you seems so familiar to me." He turns to Andrew who is just rising up from the ground. He then motions to the others who suddenly surround Andrew. They take him to his knees holding him there. Aro's eyes come back to me, "this one is to die do you wish to do it?" I shudder at the thought and shake my head no. He nods at me then steps forward to take off Andrew's head in one swift motion. I just stare horrified.

Then I whisper to myself, "Now I am alone."

Aro pulls me to the side so we are alone together. He leans closer and speaks to me in hushed tones, "You do not wish to be alone? I know a place, a coven where the other that is like you lives. I have a feeling about you; let's just see if you live up to those expectations." Looking up at him I can't speak before he moves away.

Suddenly I am all alone surrounded by flames engulfing the bodies of the only ones I have ever known and I sink to the ground watching as the flames slowly devour what is left of them. My mind is a mess of thoughts, do I linger here or I open my hand to gaze at the small white business card that Aro pressed into my hand before he vanished. It has a phone number but on the other side handwritten is the name of a city, Forks, Washington. Under that it a name, it says Cullen.