Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters or scenes.
Forever Midnight
Chapter 1
Visitors
I tensed for the spring, my eyes squinting as I cringed away, and the sound of Edward's furious roar echoed distantly in the back of my head. His name burst through all the walls I'd built to contain it. Edward, Edward, Edward. I was going to die. It shouldn't matter if I thought of him now. Edward, I love you.
Laurent stepped closer and closer until he was about a foot away from me. He leaned in towards my neck, smelling my pulsing blood.
I knew it was no use, but I ran. I turned toward the trees, and ran as fast as I possibly could. He was too quick. I don't know what hit me, but I went crashing towards the wet, grassy ground. I landed head first in the semi-mud. He flipped me over, than leaned in close.
"That was very stupid of you Bella." He said, than once again leaned toward my neck, resting his lips on my throat.
"It was worth a try." I was going to die, might as well go out bold.
"You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's nothing personal," he said, sinking his teeth into the white flesh of my bare neck.
I screamed, I couldn't help it. It hurt. A lot. More than when James bit me. I could feel every ounce of strength I had flowing out of my neck and into Laurent.
Suddenly, he whipped his head around. "Victoria?" he said to a red mass coming out of the forest.
After that, I couldn't be exactly sure what was said. It hurt too much to focus on words. I was aware the Laurent was pulled off of me, and the red mass was standing over me. I begged it to kill me, screaming out to the red, rolling over the ground, trying to make the pain stop. The figure laughed.
It said something to Laurent, who ran at top speed out of the forest. The red figured was telling, no commanding me to sit here, as if I could move anywhere. She was starting to run, when a shaggy figure leaped over me, sailing toward Victoria. Victoria screamed as another huge wolf, this one gray, unlike the brown one disembodying Victoria. I was still screaming. Two more wolves jumped over me towards Victoria, and one appeared behind me, a reddish brown color. It walked, or trotted or whatever, and sniffed me, than let out a deep howl. The reddish brown one bounded off toward the thick green that surrounded the meadow.
Suddenly, Jacob was by my side. "Bella, are you all right?" he said, leaning in.
"It hurts, Jacob, I'm burning!" I said, as he picked me up.
He lifted my neck, and I let out a shrill scream. He had touched the wound, and it made everything hurt even more.
"Sam, come here. I think it bit her." So Sam was here. Was there anybody else? I didn't remember anybody coming, just the wolves.
I tried to warn Jacob, "Jake, get out, wolves!"
He laughed, and then Sam was there. "I don't think you have to worry about the wolves, Bella." Sam said, leaning in to look at my neck.
"Can we save her?" Jacob asked, pleadingly to Sam.
"No, she's going to be one of them." I could hear the disgust in his tone.
Jacob's chest started heaving. I think he was crying, but I was squished up against his abs, and couldn't see anything but reddish skin.
"No, we have to save her! We have to," he said looking at Sam.
"There is nothing to be done. Hand her to me. Go get the elders." Sam had commanded Jacob, and I was transferred from one red body to another. I called out, grasping Jacob, but no match for Sam in my weakened state.
Sam was trying to soothe me, saying things like "you'll be all right," and "everything will be okay." Nothing could soothe the fire.
"Izzy, can you hand me that pencil?" Emma asked me, jolting me out of my trance.
As I reached for her pencil, I though about what had happened that day. After I had completely transformed, the Quilute elders (Billy, Harry Clearwater, and other older guys form La Push) and Sam's gang, which now included Jacob, explained that they were werewolves. I had then been told to leave La Push, and Forks, for the safety of the people living there. I had gone without a fight; I didn't want to hurt anyone.
I had gone to Alaska, and lived with Tanya for a while. They had all been very kind to me, except Irina, who was convinced Laurent was dead and it was all my fault. I had tried to persuade her that he had bit me and then ran away form the wolves and was safe, but was too embarrassed to come back to Alaska.
I sighed, and focused on the History teacher, Professor Davis. After I had enough control, I had left Tanya's family, wandering on my own. Today was my fourth anniversary as a vampire, and I was still not happy. I thought being a vampire would be great, that maybe now that I was beautiful, Edward would love me again. I had looked for the Cullens, but couldn't find them. This was my first year back at school; I had given up on the Cullen family search.
"Ms.Swan, the answer?" Professor Davis said, looking at me. I quickly scanned her memory, searching for the answer.
"The Zhou dynasty was an early Chinese dynasty." My power was memories. I could read them, or transmit mine and other memories to other people. I could also see memories to come, so I could see that people would remember it would snow tomorrow, kind of like how Alice could predict things, but I could see past, present, and future.
The teacher sighed, looking away. She was disappointed. She liked having me as a student, but was frustrated I always know what the answer was. She wanted to actually teach me something,
The bell rang, and class was dismissed for the day. I headed toward my dorm room, which I shared with Emma, the one who had asked me for the fallen pencil today.
We walked together, talking of things that didn't really matter.
"So, there is a party tonight, you coming?" She asked me.
"I wasn't planning to, but if you want me to go, I will," I told her, entering our dorm house, and heading upstairs to our room.
"I would love you to. I really hate showing up at these kinds of things by myself, it's bad for my image." She said, than followed me through the door of our two room, one bath dorm room.
Emma reminded me of Jessica, from my human years. We got along pretty well, except when it came to social life and style. She loved to talk to everyone, just like Jessica, and was always thinking of what people thought of her. She also likes name brand, bright clothes, while I preferred blending in with dark browns and navy blues.
"Everybody will be so excited you're going. You never get out, and don't even have a boyfriend." She was engaged, with a wedding planned the day after college graduation. We were both majoring in history, she to redo 'the beautiful antique houses', which I wasn't really sure had anything to do with history, and me because I really didn't know what else to do.
"You just have to wear something of mine, your clothes don't make you stand out," she said giving me a once over.
I had become beautiful when I changed, like Rosalie beautiful. My hair was now a chocolate brown, with light brown high lights. I cascaded down my back to my elbows, and then curled into perfect ringlets. I was skinny, not like I had been fat before, but just a little smaller. My eyes where, at the moment yellow, as I had hunted last night. My skin was pale, but rosy around my cheekbones. My lips were blood red. I had perfect curves, and looked good in everything, especially yellow.
"I don't like to stand out," was all I said. I didn't want people to notice me, especially guys. It was hard to tell them I didn't love them back. I hated hurting them, like he had hurt me.
"It's a party, you have to look great! Plus, final exams are next week, and then we graduate! I am coming back though, to go for a master's degree. Are you coming back? It would be sooooo cool if we were roommates again," she gushed. I liked her, but I wasn't in for another year of being dragged off to parties.
I said the first thing that came to my head. "Nope. Not here at least."
Emma pouted, but accepted the answer. "Well, then we have to celebrate our last year together!"
It was my turn to pout. She was going to pop a guilt trap on me any second.
"If I don't ever see you again, I want to remember you as the beautiful person you are, not the Izzy Swan that won't talk to me unless forced to, always wears dark colors, mopey person. So will you please, just let me dress you up for this last party? It will always be in my memories." I sighed, shifting through her future memories, noticing indeed, this was going to be a really special for her. She wanted to be credited for my first absolutely stunning debut.
"Fine, but I get to approve a selection of outfits that you can choose from for me. Do you really think I mope?" I said, realizing what she had accused me of.
"Yes!! And yes." She said, celebrating, and answering my question.
The evening passed slowly for me. She had to do my nails, and then the whole out fit thing. I picked some of her blandest shirts and pants, but she pulled something out of her closet that she insisted I wore.
"No! No, no, no! I am not going to wear that dress!" she was holding up a yellow dress that matched my eyes, but had a super low-cut neckline.
"What if I said you could wear it with jeans?" Emma compromised. I sighed, I could think of a billion worse outfits, and the jeans were good.
"What kind of jeans?" I asked her. She had jeans so skinny, they were practically leggings.
"Some of my larger skinny jeans. You can wear the golden flats I bought last weekend, and that gold head band that I got like, a year ago." She said rushing around and grabbing the rest of my outfit.
I sighed again. It really wasn't so bad. The jeans were definitely a big plus, and I really didn't want to think of the other clothes she might make me wear if I refused this.
"Fine, but you owe me."
For the next hour, she ran around, finding the perfect this, or the perfect that for both our outfits. At times like this, she also reminded me of Alice. Alice had dressed me up for my high school prom, just like Emma got to do, whenever she had the chance.
Oh crap, I was tearing up. I couldn't actually cry, but my eyes could get really red, around the yellow. Thinking of the Cullens always did that to me.
We were finally ready to go around 7:00 pm. We headed out in her convertible VW bug, with the top up, of course. Emma always said she made a bigger entrance with the top down, but it might mess up our hair. She could have killed the wind if it so much as put a curl out of line, I was sure.
The party was off college campus, but still close by. Emma's fiancé's best friend was holding it, and Emma told me she just had to be there.
As we entered, all eyes focused on me, unfortunately. Though I was no longer clumsy, like in my human days, crowds still made me nervous. I quickly made a beeline for the bathroom, hoping it would take me from the center attention. Emma grabbed my hand, closing off escape. Since I didn't want her to know how strong I was, I couldn't just rip free from her sweaty grasp.
She headed over to the group of guys her fiancé was hanging out with. This was going to be terrible. As soon as we entered the group, all ten eyes turned on me. I squirmed under their gazes. I stepped forward, and took a deep breath. As I was inhaling, I smelled something that didn't smell human. I quickly checked everyone's present memories, and determined there was to older men with red eyes and pale skin standing by the fireplace.
"Umm, Emma, I think I see some relatives standing by the fire place. Could you excuse me for a moment?" She stared at me, thinking I was trying to escape, than noticed I was looking at the men. She nodded, and then started a conversation with the host.
I snaked my way through the crowds, toward the vampires. They noticed my approach.
"Bella." One of them said as soon as I came into view. I had never seen them before, yet they knew my name, well, my human name.
"Actually, I go by Izzy now. What are you doing here, and how do you know my name?" I asked.
"We were sent by Aro." Aro? I tried to think back. Then, I remembered. Aro was one of the men painted in the large painting that was in Carlisle's office, back in Forks. At least, it had been.
"Aro sent you? What for? I haven't broken any rules." I remembered that Aro had been one of the Volturi, the vampire police.
"He sent out a search for you. I don't know why, but we were told to bring you to him. We will use force if necessary." Both men had black hair, and wore black. The last line they uttered was sure to be followed through if I didn't go with them. I could see it in their faces.
"Well, can you at least tell me who you are?" I asked.
The larger one spoke, "I am Felix, and this is Demetri. Please follow us now."
"Let me say goodbye to my friends, then I will join you two outside, by the bug."
"Demetri can track you, so don't try to escape." Felix said before heading for the door.
I headed over to Emma. "Hey Emma, those two guys are my uncles. Apparently, my aunt is sick with a life threatening disease. I'm not sure when I will be back, so can you please tell the school?" I felt nervous and scared enough that she thought I was telling the truth.
"Kay, Izzy. Hope your aunt gets better soon."
I quickly turned, and ran out the door at above human speed. Demetri and Felix where waiting by Emma's car, and when I approached, they headed toward a black Cadillac Escalade. I climbed in the back after Felix, and was then sandwiched by Demetri. Another vampire was in the front, and immediately drove away from the party. When we reached a freeway, the speedometer reached past one hundred and twenty miles per an hour. We arrived at a push pilot airport soon, and I was escorted to a private jet that was larger then all the little planes that filled the runway together.
Neither man said anything as we entered. The jet was furnished in black leather with red accents everywhere. The Volturi were certainly rich, who ever they were. I rested in the seat with my eyes closed, wondering what this was about. I couldn't think of me ever once even suggesting that I was more than human to anyone. This mystery took up much of the hours while I was on the plane. I felt uncomfortable under the gaze of Demetri and Felix. One of them was always staring at me, making sure I wouldn't make a run for it, I guess.
We touched down during sunset at an airport out of the U.S. I guessed we were in Italy, because Edward had said that was where the Volturi lived. It was overcast, and dark rain clouds hovered around the horizon. Neither Felix nor Demetri said a thing as we got out, just getting up and walking out of the airplane and down some stairs toward another Black Cadillac. I was in the back again, sandwiched by Demetri and Felix. We drove for a while until we reached a city surrounded by sienna walls. It was an old city, you could tell by the outside. It also looked frightfully beautiful. It definitely worked as a vampire HQ.
As I stared in wonder, Demetri uttered on word, but I know instantly what it was. "Volterra," he said in a flat voice. It was a perfect name for the city. It was beautiful, yet sounded disturbing.
The car was waved through security at the front gate, and we continued driving deep into the city. In the center of the city, there was and office building. The car stopped outside, and Demetri got out, holding the door for me. I stepped out into the dark night. Felix headed straight for the office building. I had to admit; I had expected the Volturi to have a more, well, a different hideout. I had expected a huge castle, with turrets, and towers. I silently followed Felix through the nonchalanent door and into a waiting room.
"Gianna," Felix said as he walked past the receptionist and into an elevator at the far end of the rectangular room. He pressed the button for the basement, and we headed downward. Waiting to meet us were two children, a girl and a boy. Both had red eyes.
"Demetri, Felix." The girl said as she greeted them, "and you must be Bella," she said, turning to me.
"Actually, I go by Izzy." The girl looked annoyed by my correction, but shrugged it off.
"Well, Izzy, follow me." She said, heading down the hallway. It looked way more like a castle, with brick walls. It was damp and dark, but I could see fine thanks to my night sight.
We entered a large, circular room. In the center three thrones were set up. Only one was occupied. A man, who skin looked almost brittle, sat in one of the large ordainment chairs.
"Isabella!" he said and rose to greet me, as if we were old friends. He walked over and smiled at me while reaching his arm over my shoulders. In that instant, his happy demure turned frowny.
"Jane," he said to the girl who had lead me here, "please go tell our special guests that our search was unsuccessful. Right now, if you don't mind. Isabella here could be useful to us." He said that without taking his eyes off of me.
Special guests? Huh. And what mission? Finding me maybe. Who wanted to find me, and why would this guy tell them the mission was unsuccessful? I was here.
"Yes master, I will go immediately." Jane said, and then walked away. I cracked a smile. Honestly, it sounded too much like a horror movie, with the evil minions saying, "Yes master". Well, there are more than enough vampires present, I thought.
"Now, Isabella," he said. "Would you like Alec," he said, pointing to the boy who looked like Jane's twin, "to show you to your room?"
By the look on his face, he honestly didn't think anything of the statement. I, on the other hand, was completely confused. My room? Did he think I was staying? Was I staying? I couldn't help but speak up.
"Umm, sir?" I said, not exactly sure I wanted to call him master, but not sure what his title was. "What did you say about a room? And who are you anyway?" the last part sounded a bit rough, but I was irritated and curious.
He chuckled, as if the question was silly, as if everyone should know who he was. Well sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not included in that everyone, I thought.
"Isabella, my name is Aro, and you are the newest Volturi recruit." He said it as if it was so obvious that even a baby would understand. I knew the Volturi were a very powerful family, but honestly, did he really think everyone would want to be one? Did everyone wish to be in the Volturi? I really need a mentor, I thought to myself. This vampire stuff is a bit confusing.
"Umm, sorry Aro, but I'm kinda going to school right now, and I really need to get back too…" I stopped talking, as he was chuckling again.
"Isabella, do you really think you have a choice?" he said, still chuckling darkly.
I gulped audibly. Crap, this was not good. Not good at all.
"I was hoping I did," I said, "I'm not exactly sure what the Volturi do."
Aro waved his hand, as if it was not a problem. "We can teach you everything. I'm sure you will be quite happy here." Hah! As if I could be happy anywhere. Without him, happy was no longer a word in my vocabulary. And with that last thought, I let what looked like a nine-year old lead me to my prison, I mean room. What difference did it make? I was trapped here.