Running, it was something I was ashamed of, yet so very good at. Very few could keep up with me, even fewer could catch me. Like I said I was good at it, I could get myself out of just about anything by running, anything but this, this time I ran towards the screams, towards the smoke and flames that filled the air. Why? Because those screams I knew to well, those screams belonged to my everything, my family. My mother, my father, my brother and my sister. I picked up my speed as I rounded the corner, only to stop dead in my tracks. There before me stood five crosses, four of which my family were tied to, flames licking at their feet. I didn't have time to heed my father's warning before I was grabbed from behind in a vice grip. I was strapped to the remaining cross, my pleas falling on deaf ears as they chanted for our deaths. The last sight I saw when I burned beside my family for crimes we had no part in were the blood red eyes of the monster that lit the torch that destroyed my family.
I awoke startled out of my nightmare at the banging on my door. "Azaria come on! Its time for us to go the moving truck is here." The deep voiced echoed through the now empty halls of what has been our home for the past 10 years. "Coming" I grumble out as I wipe the sweat from my eyes and climb out of bed. Opening the door I'm met with his dark blue eyes as he leaned against the wall across from me. "How'd you sleep?" I don't know why he asks, as if my answer will ever change, as if one day I would tell him I had a nightmare free sleep, that I wont wake up with dark circles under my eyes. As if one day I would close my eyes and not see those bright red ones smiling back at me. Yet he asks it every morning, and I give him the same answer I always do, "Fine" before heading for the shower in hopes of making myself look a little less dead for the day.
An hour later I was joining my family downstairs at the cars. Me and my sister Ivy climbed into my 86 custom Camaro while my brother would follow in his apocalyptic Jeep. We were headed for Forks Washington where our uncle and cousin lived. We haven't seen them since, well since right after Salem.
Perhaps I should explain a little, were witches, and my dream? It was a memory. That was a night all witches remember, a night our kind was hunted down by monsters, a night where even us, the Royal family was chased down like animals to be preyed upon, by the very ones we once called allies in this world, why you ask? Fear, what else, they feared us when we had done nothing to warrant the fear, the hatred, the betrayal. Now though, Now they should fear us, now they should fear me. That night we were lucky to live, to escape the flames and run, but not without sacrifice. That night I lost, we lost two people who meant the world to us. We are thought to be dead. We are. I am.
I am Azaria Luna Highmore, and I am a dead witch.
Bella POV
For the first time in months I actually smiled. I did as my father told me of our expected guests. It has been years since I have seen my dear cousins. My father being him forgot to tell me last week, so they were actually showing up tomorrow after school. So I only had today to get things in order and set up their rooms while he was at work. So once again for the first time in months I went to school in a good mood, optimistic that everything was going to be ok. You see I was very recently in a relationship with Edward Cullen, a vampire, up until he left me on the forest floor after telling me I was just there to waste his time, and neither he nor his family loved me. They left for like 3 months with me stuck in a zombiefied state. Then they came back last week, Charlie said the hospital had requested Carlisle's skill, I had thought we would have another chance, I was sadly mistaken, they ignored me like the plague, even Alice who it seemed I missed the most. I didn't get her, she ignored me, left me without even a goodbye, yet whenever I would catch her eye she wore an apologetics expression, they all did, all except for Edward, all he did was stare creepily. Even worse, they didn't show up alone, their vampire "Cousins" joined them at school. Three beautiful blondes who gave me the same pitying looks Rosalie did whenever we would lock eyes.
Today however I wasn't having any of it, I went to class, took notes and ignored the stares. Finally I got to lunch and joined my friends who were there through it all for me, surprisingly even Jessica. I was munching on my salad reading a book when she nudged me in my side, "The Cullen's and Denali's are looking at you." Looking up I follow her gaze to their table and sure enough all eyes were on me, normally that would bring a blush to my face, pain to my heart, not today. I simply shrugged "yes it would appear so" and went back to my book. When the bell rang I headed for biology and took my seat determined to ignore his staring at the side of my head as we worked separately.
The first thing I noticed when I walked out of my final class toward the lot was the vampire eyes on me just like at lunch, except now they seemed to be trying to figure me out. The second was I was exhausted. The third, my truck, and way of getting home was gone. "Bella, where's your truck?" Tyler asked as the others looked around, "I don't know." I was brought from looking around as this loud rumble pulled into the lot in the form of a giant jeep radio blasting "Blue Tacoma". The whispering started as soon as he leapt out. Oh my god. Who is that. New student? So hot. I want him. Dark blue eyes survey the parking lot under a mop of long blonde hair falling onto his shoulders. Muscles straining under his white t-shirt that could rival Emmett's. He had on blue jeans and low hiking boots and a jean jacket. a five o clock shadow on his face, he looked rugged and like every girls dream bad boy, until this huge crooked goofy grin lifted his lips as his eyes fell on me. He opened his arms wide as I sailed into them catching me easily. "Oh Bells I've missed you."
"I've missed you to Aidan." I stepped away as Jessica and the others joined us. "Friend of yours Bella?" Mike asked tone jealous, and from the look in Aidan's eyes he heard it to. "Oh yah were great friends, we go way back." I rolled my eyes, "This is Aidan, my cousin. This is Tyler, Mike, Ben, Eric, Angela and Jessica."
"Pleasure." The big lug said taking Jessica's hand in his and kissing the back of it rendering her speechless before turning to me, "Your ride awaits, and so do your family."
"so I take it you are to blame for my missing truck?" I smirked at his wide eyes and innocent smile, "Of course not my dear, you would have Azaria to blame for such an act. By the way she is already planning on tearing it apart." I laugh lightly well aware she's probably already looked under the hood and flipped about the missing stereo system.
Azaria POV
How the hell does she drive this thing, it wont even reach over 50 mph without heating up. We had arrived around 11 to our uncle's empty house as he was at work and Bella was at school. Aidan wanted to surprise her and pick her up from school so I had to take her truck back home. It was a disaster, following the speed limit, the loud rumble the ancient engine made, and what the hell happened to her radio it looks like it was torn out by bare hands. Pulling into the driveway I open the hood preparing myself to see the damn thing duct taped in there. I knew I didn't have long until she got home so I settled on just changing the oil and a little tune up to help it run a little smoother for her. Going back inside Ivy was lounging on the sofa reading a car magazine. Plopping down onto her lap she wrapped and arm around me so we could both look through the magazine. It wasn't much longer we heard the rumble of Aidan's Jeep.
Bella POV
We pulled up to the house greeted by the sight of Azaria's most prized position, her Camaro next to my truck. Walking through the door I see something that brought me back, Azaria was laying half on top of her twin sister Ivy as they scanned through some magazine. Without another thought I launched myself on top of them as their eyes rose. I hear a small grunt leave Ivy as she was on the bottom, it was followed by Azaria's husky chuckle. Once we were done rolling over each other I take them both in. Ivy was tall at 5'10" without heels, ebony waves ending just past her shoulders, ice blue eyes that could send you running with a single glare, she could put Rosalie to shame. A true warrior and an amazing relentless fighter. Well toned but skinny with as large chest straining under her tank top. Her sister had black hair straight down her back ending with blood red tips juts above her butt. Also tall she stands at 5'9", her body much like Ivy's well tones but feminine. Her eyes though were the brightest of greens they almost looked yellow depending on the light, though there was another reason for that. There were dark circles under her eyes signaling she still hasn't had a good nights sleep. She took the loss the hardest.
"So Isabella, tell us what have you been up to?" Ivy asked and I told them everything, well except for the vampire part, I couldn't bare that. So we caught up until my dad got home and had dinner laughing and joking just like the old days back in England. We set them up int heir rooms but we all knew we would end up in the same one all together just like when we were little. So we climbed into the biggest bed and talked about anything and nothing, remembering the past as we fell asleep.
And that was how we woke up, to the sound of an alarm in a tangled mess. Crawling out from under the arms and legs draped over me I make it to the shower before the others begin to wake. Finishing up I head downstairs to the smell of bacon and eggs and Azaria in the kitchen. We all practically inhaled it before piling into the Camaro for their first day at Forks high as seniors. All eyes, including the golden ones went to the car as we pulled up and I swear Rosalie was drooling a little bit.
Tanya POV
"I don't like this Tanya." My youngest sister said for what had to be the tenth time during our stay at the Cullen's. "I'm with Irina, this is ridiculous, a spoiled little boy who has barely passed 100 is giving them orders, and they follow!"
"I know I know, but we have already been seen at school we can't just leave now. Especially with the mess these idiots have mad, letting a human know then leaving." I reply my own frustration leaking out, I thought Carlisle was smarter than that but I was clearly wrong, I should have known he would never deny the golden boy a thing. Getting off the useless bed I was sitting on I check my hair one last time before opening the door to the sound proof room we share at the Cullen's mansion. What are we greeted with, but the sound of growling, and Edward's bitching, "Stop thinking about her!"
"I'll do as I damn well please!" I heard Alice growl back, I feel for the girl, I know how much the human meant to her, so did Edward, it's what makes what he did so much worse. "ENOUGH!" well who knew the so called coven leader had it in him, "Alice that is enough, you know how much this is hurting your brother-"
"he is NOT my brother! Do you mind of I ride with you guys Tanya?"
"Of course Alice, were ready now."
The ride was quick and silent as we were all lost in our heads. I was curious how the human would act today. For weeks she has tried to talk to the Cullen's, they were all forced to ignore her, like she meant nothing. It was what the golden boy wanted, Carlisle of course agreed immediately ignoring his other children's ad even his wife's pleas. Even Rosalie was upset. Then yesterday, as Edward continued his creepy staring, she was the one ignoring our eyes on her. She seemed, well better. She was always depressed, sad, emotionless, yesterday I saw a beautiful smile light up her face, she looked to us with indifference, and it pissed Edward off to no end, I loved it.
I use to have the biggest crush on him, flirt all the time when they visited, practically threw myself at him to no effect. I felt his eyes on me all the time now, and it made my skin crawl. I use to see him as the perfect gentleman, now all I see is a spoiled 17 year old bot stuck in his time where women were nothing more than property.
Once we were all out of the car we did what we always did, leaned up against the cars waiting as Edward watched for Bella's truck as we ignored the lust filled gazes and words. Her truck never came, however minutes before the bell rang I heard a rumble that was way healthier than her truck. A black Camaro came pulling into a spot not far from ours, I'm pretty sure Rose was drooling and I couldn't blame her, it was a hot car. The passenger side door opened and out came the human, however she looked different. Her chocolate hair curled beautifully past her shoulders, her brown eyes held more emotion then I have seen since being here. She wore a stylish white sweater and dark blue jeans ending in two-inch brown heeled boots. She was joined by the guy who picked her up yesterday that my youngest sister couldn't stop eye fucking. He was tall and well-muscled, blonde hair falling into his eyes. And then I swear my undead heart would have skipped a beat as the drivers door opened, black a night hair straight down her back ending in red tips, a tight black sweater straining over delicious curves under a leather jacket, tight light blue jeans that looked painted on ending in black biker boots. Looking up I see the brightest of green eyes, she held the door open as another girl came crawling out, I could feel everyone tense at the sight of her, she was maybe an inch taller then the other goddess and dressed pretty much the same except for black jeans. Her hair waved just past her shoulders and just like the others it was the blackest of black. Her eyes, an ice blue, much sharper than the guys, they looked like they could pierce your heart with one glare.
"I can't hear their thoughts" Edward hissed out as we took them in. "they could be dangerous, Jasper?" My growl cut out any reply Jasper was going to make "watch yourself boy. Jasper?"
"right. Well Bella is highly amused with an undercurrent of worry. Ger earlier feelings aren't there anymore, no pain, no heartbreak, non of it. The guy is amused as well. The tallest one is, well she feels dangerous, very, but only if provoked. She's very protective of the others. The other one is, well broken. She has her emotions so locked down I'm not so sure she feels them."
"And underneath that?" I whispered out never taking my eyes from her. "Pain, so much pain, regret, guilt, rage, hatred, all bottled up tightly. The only one that shines through is she is also very protective of the others, she would most definitely give her life for them." My heart broke as he described the girls emotions, as he described the pain my mate was in.
I watched Bella turn her head to the gorgeous woman who was surveying the lot, "shall we?" for the first time I heard a slight accent in her voice. One that matched the girls heavier one. It sounded English, but older "Aye, the office?"
"This way." We all stood there as the usually clumsy human practically prowled through the crowd with the others towards the office.