September 20th, 1951
Forks, Washington
The smell of burning pine wood awoke me in the early morning hours. Stretching out of my bed, I could see an alarming amber color shining through my window. Surely I had not risen as the sun was coming up? Moving softly so that I did not wake my sleeping sister Alessandra, I made my way to the window. A small gasp escaped me as I saw the darkened sky and what looked like black snow drifting down. The river and forest, which I could usually see from this distance, was a flame on the other side.
Panicking, I rushed back to the bed and struggled to awake Alessandra. I was pulling on her floral nightgown rather harshly. She jerked awake and with a malice glint in her eye. "What in heaven's name do you want Isabella?" She demanded she stretched her hand to her brush rollers were still in place. I light the candle by the bed and walk over the wardrobe. In the dim light, I pull out two-day dress and heels for us. If we are going to flee, we need to be at least wearing something other than our nightgowns. I place the dark blue and pink floral day dress aside for myself and put the light green with roses day dress in the nook of my arm for Alessandra.
"Alessandra, get dressed quickly," I say calmly as I am grabbing the large suitcase from the back of the wardrobe.
"Why?" Alessandra asked but I before I could ask, Mother, burst thru the door. Her normally composed face held a wild look and her dark brown hair, usually curled into victory rolls, was a mess with a few rollers bobbing around the thickness of her hair. She was still in her flannel nightgown as well.
"Mother," I greeted with a nod of my head. "Please hurry and get dressed. Alessa and I will rush as quickly as possible." Mother blinked at my calmness but thanked me before rushing back to her room. Looking at Alessandra, I noticed her confusion and I walked back to the bed. I handed her the dress. "Get dressed. We don't have much time."
"Bella, what is the matter?" Alessa's voice held a note of panic. She quickly climbed out of bed and started dressing.
"The forest and river are on fire."
"What?" Alessandra rushes over to the window and peers out. "Oh good lord." I looked toward Alessandra and noticed the dress was half on, but the top of her corselette was exposed.
"Alessandra, please hurry and get dressed." I push her away from the window and back towards the bed. Although I am younger than her by two years, I am more collected and calm. I continue dressing as ignore Alessa's ramblings about what we should do.
Grabbing a pair of dark blue spectator pumps from the closet, I slip them on before passing Alessandra a light green pair of Donna heels mother had picked out for her a year ago. I grabbed the suitcase I had placed outside the wardrobe and started packing clothes and jewelry. I could hear my parents downstairs frantically discussing where we should flee.
I let out a long sigh before turning around to Alessandra who had, by the grace of God, finally dressed I started helping her take the rollers out of her hair. As I did, I had to make soothing sounds as she was hysterical. After calming her down, I grabbed the suitcase, and we made our way downstairs.
Father looked at us briefly before grabbing the keys to the Lincoln Continental he had bought just a few years ago. I placed the suitcase with me and Alessandra's things on top of Mother's in the trunk. Climbing in the back seat, Alessandra grabbed my hand and squeezed it sharply. I give her an understanding glimpse before looking out my window. I took one last look at our blue and white stick-style home. Grandpapa had built the home before passing it down to Father at his untimely death.
Father started the car and Mother waved goodbye to our home before climbing in with tears streaming down her face. Driving through town, I could see the families panicking and hurrying to flee as well. Marguerite Davenport and her family stood in shock as they stared out at the river. I understand their shock, but they should start packing. As we passed by the food mart, a man started waving frantically and signaled for Father to stop.
Father pulled into the parking lot and stepped out to speak with the man. Looking outside my window, I could see a large group of people had gathered. Some were carrying large bags while others scattered around an impressively sized fire truck. One man, in particular, was handing people strange looking blankets. I was so intrigued by the carrying on of these men that my father opening the door startled me.
"Elenore," My dad said softly, and my mother looked at him with large doe eyes, "Take the girls and head to Port Angeles. I need to stay here and protect the town." My mother let out an undignified gasp of shock, and he smiled to her. "All will be well darling." Father leaned in further to kiss her cheek. "I love you." I heard him whisper before walking away.
Mother sat in her seat, grief-stricken and stared at Father with a long look. "Mother?" I say pressingly.
With a cough, she composes herself before sliding into the driver seat. "Come on darlings." Mother shifts the car into gear, and we slowly make our way out of town.
The drive was long and tedious. Alessandra begged me to sing her sweet songs for comfort, but I could not think of any. Instead, we all rode in silence as we drove through the ashes of the forests to Port Angeles.
I remembered a few weeks ago, the fires plagued all of the Olympic Peninsula, but there had been now news of fires spreading toward us. Why now? What had happened? As we grew closer to Port Angeles, we could see the burnt scarring along the road of what had been beautiful and overgrown green forests. Mother, now and then, would make a small whimper and Alessandra began to grip my hand harshly.
We arrived in Port Angeles right before noon. Mother stopped the car at the Angeles Dinner and turned around in her seat to face us. "How about we take a moment to eat some lunch?"
"That sounds nice." I send her a reassuring smile before stepping out.
The dinner is larger than the one in Forks, and we head straight for a sizeable booth. A waitress with long curling brown hair saunters over and greets us with a warm smile. "Hello, my name is Liz. Here are some menus." She hands us two paper menus. "If you have any questions, just flag me down. I'll be right back to take your order okay?" Her accent is a little strange and slow. I think she may be from the south eastern coast.
"Thank you, Liz," Mother says softly, and the waitress nods before taking off.
"Mother, I am going to wash up for a moment. If she comes back, can I please have water with a small burger and fries. Extra tomatoes and pickles?" I ask, and Mother nods in agreement.
Walking into the women's restroom, I look into the mirror and look at myself. My hair is still in a french braid from last night, and a black smudge was across my check. Probably some of the snow that was falling, I mused to myself. Mother needs my strength. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths before taking the towelette and wetting it. I clean my face thoroughly with soap and water before unraveling my hair. The dark brown hair is waving down my back now, and with the help of some water, I look less of a mess.
As I open the door and walk out, I accidentally bump into someone and fall to the ground. Fantastic Isabella, I think to myself as I stare up at the poor sod I have bumped into. I am utterly speechless. The boy has caramel colored hair that waves slightly to the right, a healthy jaw bone, and beautiful forest green eyes.
"Pardon me, Ma'am." His voice even sounds like hot caramel dripping from a spoon. "Let me help you up." He extends his hand for me, and I take it with a slight blush. "Are you alright?" I notice he has an accent as well which is soft but overemphasizes every word.
"Thank you, but I should be the one apologizing to you. I am sorry I was not watching where I was going." I say as I tuck a stray hair behind my ear.
"You are quite alright ma'am. You are not sore or anything?" He smiles at me, and I can feel the heat of my cheeks as my blush deepens.
"No, not at all. Thank you, sir." I say before turning around intent on returning to the booth.
"You can call me Stefan." I hear him say, and I turn to smile at him, but when I do, he has disappeared.
Shrugging, I return to the booth and Alessandra gives me the strangest look. I laugh lightly to her for I am sure she will ask me many questions tonight before we go to sleep.
"The locals are saying Forks is gone." Mother's voice startles me, and I turn to her.
"Well, how would they know so suddenly? Honestly, I am positive all will be quite alright Mother." I say confidently, and she gives me a small smile.
After we finish eating, Mother checks us into the local motel, and we wait. Waiting is what we do all day, whether it is news from Forks or news of Father. By nightfall, Mother and Alessandra have both fallen asleep on the one large bed in Mother's private suite. I tuck them in and grab the key to my room, although Alessandra was supposed to share with me, and shut Mother's door. The room is locked securely, and I let out a sigh of relief. The walk to my room will not be long, but I take my time enjoying the fresh air.
Looking up at the night sky, I count the stars and make a small wish that Father is safe. Shaking my head, I look back towards the motel doors and search for my number. I stop when I notice a dark figure standing by the stairwell. In the light of the moon and stars, I can make out a smile and bright blue eyes before a black abyss grips me.
I do not remember how long I am unconscious for but when I awaken I am greeted by the same forest green eyes from the diner. Instead of curiosity in them, I find them filled with horror. Stefan continues to mutter apologetic muffled phrases as he clutches me close to his chest. Confused, I pat his back softly.
"Stefan," I whisper because my throat feels raw, "Why are you apologizing?"
Stefan leans away from me, and I can see the tears roll down his face. "Because of my curiosity in you, death found its way to your doorstep."
"What do you mean by that?" I ask even more confused than before.
"Ma'am, please understand that I didn't wish this upon you." Stefan looked at me, and finally, I saw the dark bruise along his jawline and the swelling on his lip.
"Stefan?" I ask as I take hold of his face and scrutinize the damage.
"Isabella, I am sorry that I couldn't protect you." His voice is gruff, and I watch as the tears start to drip again.
"What do you mean by that?" I ask again.
"Isabella, you are dead." His forest green eyes penetrate me with a long sullen stare.
I died that day at the hand of Stefan's older brother Damon Salvatore. I remember being shocked and crying before making the transition to a vampire with the help of Lexi. Lexi and Stefan became my closest friends although we could never figure out where vampire blood came into contact blood with me before I died. Stefan thought Damon must have fed me the blood before breaking my neck. There are times that I wish I could remember that night but a part of me is glad that I don't remember.
Instead of obsessing over my murder, I decided to watch over my family. My father and town survived the great fire. My sister Alessandra had a child out of wedlock named Antonia Giovanni Swan whose son Charles I now watched over and lived with. Charles (Charlie to his friends) Swan now lived in Forks as the Chief of Police. I realized early on Charles knew about the supernatural when I overheard his conversation with one of the local tribe members. The shapeshifter was trying to convince Charlie that they protected the peace of the land as wolves. When the young boy shifted out of anger during Charlie's tirade against the supernatural, I came to his defense. I still remember his face as he recognized me from the old family albums.
For the past year, I have lived with him, pretending to be his sweet 17-year-old daughter. All in the guise of catching the rogue vampires that plagued the forested area. Instead, I found myself bitten and heartbroken on the forest floor by cold ones.
What a mess.
Sighing, I moved from the bed and grabbed my cellphone. I dialed Stefan's number for the uptenth time; yet again it went straight to voicemail. For 3 weeks straight, Stefan has not answered the phone. Frustrated, I threw myself on the bed and stared u at the ceiling.
Edward and the rest of his family were gone.
Lexi had died.
Stefan was all I had besides Charlie.
I won't lose the people I love again. Determination raged through me and I shifted through my room at rapid speed. Within 30 seconds, all my bags were packed and I had ordered my plane ticket on the mobile app. I left Charlie a note along with a picture of me and him hunting from this past season for his photo album.
Mystic Falls is the last place Stefan was supposed to be so that is where I am going.