Chapter 1: Lesley Swan

WARNING:

This story contains mature content such as strong language, violence and also disturbing imagery. If you're looking for contemporary twilight fan-fiction look at the my other work. If you want something darker where vampires are more traditionally portrayed, read on.

This is not for those who are easily scared, it focuses on those truly in the dark. Not the sugar coated Vampires we see in the series today. It may start out with nothing but you will slowly understand why I gave you this warning. Heed it.

This story is also co-written with a very close friend of mine, you can find him here: .net/u/1905638/

Lesley Margaret Swan. Before I was adopted, my last name used to be O'Rylis; oh how that changed a few months ago. I have been on the adoption list for the past six or so years; I have lost count by now. My parents were killed by some unknown thing, I have a feeling it may have been searching for me.

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I was sitting in the orphanage, doing my maths homework; how I hated it with a passion, when I heard someone calling my name. I looked up from my desk and saw Bernadette, my social worker, summoning me over. I sighed and picked up my books, placing them in my book bag before I lazily made my way over to her. She began to fuss over me as soon as I stepped in front of her. Annoyed, I pushed her hands away and fixed my own hair, giving her a questioning look.

"Now before you jump to any conclusions, you have to look decent." She busied herself with giving me another up and down look, I really hated that. The last time she did anything like this fussing was when…it clicked in my head.

"Who is it this time?" I questioned as she pushed me down the hallway, the other people in the orphanage looking at me oddly. I shrugged innocently.

"A very nice man by the name of Charlie Swan, he is the Chief of Police down in Forks." Bernadette grabbed my bag and passed it to one of my friends as they were walking by us. My friend nodded at me encouragingly before I was being pushed back down the corridor.

"Sounds like a drag." I whispered and rolled my eyes. We soon came to a door with the number 666 on it.

Oh great. I thought sarcastically as I was shoved into the room. There was a man sitting at the table with a suit on, papers in front of him. I did the once over of him, noting that his hair was dark and he was wearing a suit. Crap.

"Mr Swan, this is Lesley O'Rylis." Bernadette introduced me sweetly; I smiled and waved at the man before me.

"Charlie Swan." The man stood and came around the table to shake my hand, which I shook back and smiled warmly once again. We sat down and talked, and shockingly, by the end of the 4 hour interview; I finally had a home to go to. My silent wish had been answered, even if it was answered by a guy who was the head of a police department.

Now I actually have to clean up my act, I wonder if he has been told about Th'ain?

I had packed my bags and had a week or so to say goodbye to my long-time friends. We had been through everything together so the farewell was a bit hard on all of us. I hugged my friend Liz tightly.

"Text or call whenever you need us, we'll be down there as soon as we can." She whispered into my shoulder. I sniffled and kept hugging her.

"Like wise Sticky Buddy." I murmured before stepping backwards. Liz was crying; even though she was trying not to.

"Sticky Buddies forever." We whispered at the same time before I pulled away and walked to the cruiser, Charlie waiting patiently in the car. I climbed into the front seat and waved to my friends as Charlie pulled out, taking me to my new home.

A few hours later, we pulled into the drive way. The car ride was comfortable; I fell asleep halfway through. We talked a lot, and Charlie told me of the school that he had enrolled me in which sounded nice.

The afternoon passed as I unpacked in my new room. It was white with a metallic blue feature wall, and had a double bed, tall boy, closet and matching nightstands. It was great. The curtains were a dark navy blue; they kept the sunlight out really well.

Well I assumed they would, if there ever was any sun; it had been cloudy and drizzly since we arrived. The boxes I sent earlier this week were neatly stacked against the wall, and I tackled them first. After a few more hours of unpacking, Charlie came in.

"Do you need any help?" He asked from the door way, causing me to look up. I realized my hair was a mess.

"Yeah, that would be great." I stood up straight and stretched, feeling my back crack in a few places. I went over to the last remaining boxes and tripped over something. I looked down and saw that it was Th'ain's bridle.

"Are you going to take those things to the stable?" Charlie questioned as I placed the bridle on the bed.

"Yes, once I get settled here I'll go over there tomorrow." I replied as I put some more clothes in the closet. Charlie followed and we talked casually as we got to know each other more.

After I was officially unpacked, Charlie took me out to dinner.

We went to the diner, where I was surprised at how big the steaks were. My mouth watered; I loved extra rare steak. I looked up briefly from my meal, and my eyes connected with a pair of golden ones. I studied them intently without appearing rude. The owner of the eyes seemed to be hiding a secret that wasn't just his; his appearance was nothing like the secret behind it. Not who you really are?

The man looked to be in his late 20's possible early 30's; his hair was blonde and gelled back, a scarf around his neck. He nodded slightly at me, meaning what I don't know. He must've read the question in my mind. I blushed softly in the dim light of the restaurant and felt my heart rate speed up. I heard footsteps approaching but kept looking at my meal until they stopped at our table. I knew who they were, and knew I was going to get into trouble. Great. I glanced up to briefly meet those golden eyes once again.

"Carlisle?" Charlie questioned, the blonde man smiling as he looked at Charlie. I glanced between the two.

"Chief Swan, how nice to see you here." The blonde man replied, glancing at me so briefly, but in that glance I saw his studying gaze once again. I stayed quiet and attempted to mask my feelings so they wouldn't show through my eyes. I felt as if something was nudging my brain, and I was getting a slight headache from it.

"Carlisle, this is my newly adopted daughter, Lesley." I was pulled out of thought and swiftly looked up to see Charlie smile proudly at me; I smiled back and offered my hand to the blonde man called Carlisle.

"Carlisle Cullen, welcome to Forks." He smiled warmly, causing something to stir in the pit of my stomach.

"Lesley," I replied as he took my hand in his gloved one, and something else stirred in the back of my mind. I thought nothing of it and continued to eat my meal as Carlisle and Charlie kept talking. We were almost finished when a small girl remarkably similar looking to a pixie bounded up to the table.

"Alice." Charlie nodded to the pixie girl and I glanced at her; something about her catching my eye.

"Good evening Chief Swan, how are you?" She asked him while still smiling at me. I returned the smile carefully.

"Alice this is Charlie's newly adopted daughter, Lesley." Carlisle introduced us, and I nodded slightly , shaking her hand, which was also gloved.

"How would you like to go down to the bar and have a drink? My wife and children are already down at Harvey's place." Carlisle asked Charlie, glancing at me briefly.

"Please?" The girl called Alice squealed, standing beside me.

"I really would like to get to know Lesley a lot more and introduce her to the others." Alice was bouncing off the walls with excitement. I waited as Charlie made a decision.

"I don't have work tomorrow so I guess it will be ok." I sighed softly and stood, putting my jacket on. I was in for a long night.

My mouth dropped as I glanced at the entire Cullen clan.

Emmett was huge, Rosalie was beautiful, Jasper was quiet, Esme was easy to be around and Edward was very interesting to talk to. Alice, Edward and I talked heatedly all night, it was so much fun. I felt so relaxed around this family, more than I had been in a very long time. I didn't like new places but they seemingly welcomed me to theirs. I smiled as Alice pulled me to the dance floor of the bar. The girl moved like she had been dancing her whole life. She was so graceful it shocked me, she was even better than Liz!

After about 5 fast, upbeat songs, I went to go outside for a bit. It was too hot in there.

Charlie was smiling all evening as he chatted with the Cullens, and I felt his eyes on me many times. When ever I caught his eye, I smiled warmly at him, a gesture which he returned just as warmly.

I had a father!

I leaned against the balcony railing and listened to the quiet gurgle of the creek that was below me.

"Beautiful night isn't it?" I heard Edward say beside me, and I jumped slightly but quickly calmed. Why was I so easily spooked? Was it the fact I hadn't heard him stand beside me or was it something more?

"Yeah, it's shocking. I can actually see the stars here." I replied as I rubbed my arms slightly, it was colder than what I was use to.

"Cold?" I heard Edward ask, and I glanced at him briefly before my mouth dropped; he was offering me his jacket.

How sweet! I thought, Edward smiled at me as I took the jacket and put it on.

"Thank you." I whispered, breathing deeply. God he smells good! I thought slyly and looked back up at the stars. I didn't notice Edward smirk.

"How long have you lived here?" I asked Edward, looking at him. His eyes bore intently into mine, as if trying to read them.

"A few years." He responded, and he too leaned against the railing; his arms crossed casually on his chest.

The silence was comfortable; I assumed he was lost in his thoughts so I remained quiet.

"Which school are you going to?" He asked suddenly, and my eyes flickered to his. They were curious yet slightly worried.

"Forks High. Why do you ask?" I raised my eyebrow ever so slightly as I looked at him.

"Nothing, just wondering." He looked out into the night, staring intensely at it. I tried to see what he was looking at, and could make out some dark shadows of the trees, but that was all.

"It's something otherwise you wouldn't have asked it." I whispered slightly to myself, knowing that when people asked me a question; they generally had a reason behind it.

"Is it where you go to school as well?" I questioned, thinking out loud. If things worked out, I'd have some friends at least at the big scary school. I thought about this casually, looking at the bright side before he said no.

He turned his head to me and flashed a smile at me; I felt my legs go slightly weak. I gripped the railing ever so slightly as I kept my heart rate and breathing steady.

"I take that as a yes." I smiled back at him, I felt my body heat up and my heart rate speed up against my own will.

"Something like that." Edward chuckled as his eyes danced with some sort of spark; and I knew this was going to be an interesting friendship for sure.

After that evening, I grew fond of Edward quite quickly; he always had something interesting to talk about. I started to hang out with Alice; we'd go shopping in Port Angeles and Edward would tag along sometimes. We had constant debates about who was the better pianist, me or him. I dared him a challenge and he took it, and now all we needed was a piano.

One night, while Edward was driving me home, I voiced aloud a few questions that had been bugging me for the past year or so.

"Why do you always wear gloves when you're around me?" I looked out the window, watching him carefully in my peripheral vision. The darkness zoomed past the window, not holding interest to me like it had in the past.

"Because my hands are cold." Edward responded, his eyes still on the road. To those who don't normally read people, one would over look a small reaction. To me, it clearly meant that there was something else, something he was hiding. I decided to get straight to the point.

"Why are your entire family's eyes golden?" I looked at him dead on, and he made the wrong move. I cornered him with my eyes, refusing to let him look away. He chuckled lightly, his eyes still not leaving mine although he tried.

"One afternoon I was walking home, one moment I saw you and the next second you were gone. Normally I let things go but this time, spill it Cullen." I cocked an eyebrow and crossed my arms in stubbornness, proving I wasn't going to be giving in anytime soon.

He sighed and pulled over to the curve, I was curious as to why. Normally he is more stubborn when giving up any type of information.

"You want to know the full truth? Nothing but the truth?" He looked dead serious; I had never seen him like this. I nodded in response and got comfortable in my seat; I had a feeling we'd be there for a while.

He started his explanation of Vampires, their history and a few things I had seen. My mouth dropped open when he explained he could read minds, I then snorted in amusement. Bullshit Cullen, I mentally thought while glancing at him.

"You just said Bullshit Cullen, in your head." Edward smirked at me, and my mouth dropped open in shock.

"And you claim to feed off animals instead of humans, the reason your eyes are golden coloured?" I questioned, leaning forward slightly to get a better look at his eyes. He stayed very still, if I was a passer-by I would've assumed a statue was sitting in the car. For some reason I was unusually calm, unlike my thoughts that were going a million miles per hour.

"Yes, my family are different. We call ourselves vegetarians." He smiled crookedly at me; I felt my heart rate pick up. Oh crap, here we go. I looked at him; Edward was smirking.

"Get out of my head buddy, before I am forced to hit you."

"Oh crap, here we go." Edward chuckled playfully, I hit has arm. Wrong move. I bit my lip as I tried not to cry. That bloody hurt! I cradled my hand and kept biting my lip; I suddenly tasted blood.

"Lesley?" Edward whispered, an incredibly low whisper but I still heard it.

"Mmm?" I questioned, sucking on my lip, waiting for the blood to stop flowing.

I stilled instantly as the conversation instantly became serious. He could kill me right here and now!

"When we smell blood, we're supposed to go into a type of frenzy; I mentioned that didn't I?" He whispered, and I nodded slightly, not totally confused as to where this was going.

"How come I'm not doing anything?" Edward questioned, panic flooding his normally calm eyes. I placed my good hand on his; he had taken the gloves off. His hand was cold but it wasn't ice cold. It was like concrete or a stone, if sat on it would warm up but once you moved, the heat would go away. That's kinda the way Edward's hand was.

"Maybe because I am one strange little human?" I supplied, rubbing my thumb on his hand. I hadn't been this close to a male in one heck of a long time. Glad it's with him though.

Woopsie.

"Why are you glad it's with me? That I am telling you what we are?" He growled softly. I glanced at him; surprised yet again.

"You really need to stop doing that; you catch the wrong parts of the brain train." I grumbled softly.

"First time with male contact in a few years, I'm glad it was with you." I explained, not thinking of the incident that happened and thought of something else. Edward was lost in thought while I sat quietly, waiting. I pulled my hand back quickly, feeling the blush rise in my cheeks.

"I'm glad I can finally be myself," was all he said, and I glanced over at him. You were yourself, just not fully yourself, I thought. I quickly looked at Edward; he was still thinking.

"You didn't hear that?" I looked at him like he was the odd one.

"Hear what?" Edward looked at me this time, tapping the steering wheel lightly with his fingers.

"What I just thought in my head." I said as I thought it again, nothing.

"Well I think I just established that your skills don't work all the time." I smirked softly at him. He returned it.

"And I think you are the first person on this planet that doesn't smell appetizing to me in anyway possible, I can hear your heart beating for sure but otherwise you are just a neutral." I looked smug as he pressed his hand to my throat, feeling my pulse.

"Carlisle is going to be very interested in you." Edward said as he started up the car again, pulling off the curve and back towards Forks.

"I have a feeling I shall be spending the night at your place, correct?" I glanced at Edward as I pulled my cell phone out of my backpack.

"Correct, besides; I think Alice wants to finally have a friend over for a sleepover." Edward sped up; I glanced at the speedometer and shrieked.

"EDWARD!"

"What? It's normal." I gaped at him before slapping his thigh lightly. He chuckled and rubbed my sore hand gently.

"You're safe with me, Lezels." I crossed my arms and sat silently the entire way home.

That night was more than what I bargained for. I had a lot to think about. Someone better have some Panadol because with the way I'm thinking, I will most likely get a headache.

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After two more months, I knew everything I could about the Cullen's. Carlisle was interested in me, being a different human. The amount of blood I gave was shocking, I didn't feel ill once. Charlie had told me about his 17 year old daughter that was coming to live with him also, so I constantly wondered why he adopted me then if he already had a daughter.

Edward and I had developed a solid relationship; well, as solid as it could get without breaking any boundaries. He took me to many places, taking me running while I was on his back. Alice did it with me as well. I loved the adrenaline rush! Jasper was more relaxed around me now, not only visibly but emotionally. The poor thing was originally designed to kill before introduced to the Cullen's way of life. He took me running once too; Edward was out one afternoon when Jasper came home and Alice was off with Rosalie. I was sitting in their living room sketching a small pup that was asleep by the fire. It was my little friend when everyone else was out or busy doing things.

He claimed that he saw something interesting up in the mountains and he wanted me to see it, soI put on my heavy weather coat and started walking. He came up beside me and gently lifted me onto his back, I was shocked at the contact but I held on tightly. He ran for about 2 minutes, my heart was pumping loudly in my ears the whole time. He brought me to a waterfall, where cubs and their mother were feeding from the river.

"Wow…" I murmured, still perched on Jasper's back. I held on tightly as he climbed down the cliff face; Vampires don't stop surprising me. We got to a ledge that he dangled me from. The view was amazing; I loved it. I started to shake with the cold after about half an hour, so Jasper took me home. Carlisle was surprised to see Jasper walk through the front door with me on his back. I smiled smugly before getting down, and he chuckled as I went into the living room to warm up by the fire.

"Thank you…" I whispered gently as he sat down beside me, and he smiled as he felt my overwhelming emotions.

"Anytime Smiggle." I chuckled at the nickname I had acquired from him, apparently I smirk and giggle too much, hence the combination of the word; smiggle.

Life was pretty sweet at the moment, I was enjoying it and I couldn't wait till school started.