Hi! So I am in the forensics team at my school and I saw this performance at a tournament that inspired me to write this. I hope you like it!
Chapter One: Of Renaissance and Rivalry
My name is Edward Masen. I am twenty years old. I have been for a very long time.
It was the year 1008 AD and I was sitting in the local tavern, sipping a tankard of ale and reading a thick tome from my extensive library. That's when I heard that infernal noise. Humming. Horrible, ghastly, ungodly, annoying, humming. A lovely young serving wench was clearing cups and tankards off the table behind me.
"Would you quiet that dreadful racket?!" I barked.
The serving wench turned and I got a good look at her face.
She truly was beautiful; long dark hair, large brown eyes, and pale skin. But those eyes had a fire to them that could give me a good fight.
"Racket, sir?" she echoed, her voice sweet but firm. "I hear no racket." She continued to hum.
"That humming, you fool!"
"It's called music, it is a well-loved pastime of the common-folk, thank you very much, and I will continue to hum if I damn well please!" she retorted.
I stood angrily and pressed my dagger to her pale white throat. She dropped the glass she was holding and glared back at me defiantly.
"You will silence that infernal sound, or I will silence it for you," I growled menacingly, pulling the knife back from her neck.
She arched a delicate eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Then she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on my cheek.
"What was that, wench?"
"A kiss. Surely you've read about them in those big books of yours."
She ducked under my arm, picked up her tray and continued to hum the annoying tune as she strolled off. Then she turned back to me.
"By the way, my name is Bella Swan. It's very nice to meet you, sir."
"Likewise," I grumbled sarcastically. She smirked impishly and hummed away. I looked up at the ceiling and stalked to the bar.
The old bartender, Aro, turned and whirled a dirty cloth inside a glass.
"She's lovely isn't she?" he rasped.
I shrugged indifferently. "Eh, I guess."
The old man glanced slyly at me. "How's about a wager, my good man? I bet that you cannot make that girl fall in love with you for all your charms."
I snorted. "And what would make me want to take you up on that wager?"
Aro thought for a moment. "Perhaps, a gentlemen's wager?"
That caught my attention. "Very well, I accept your challenge."
We shook on it and the game was on.
Quite some time later, seventy-five years, in fact, I returned to the pub to woo the "fair" Bella. It was high noon and the pub was empty, save for a few drunkards and Aro. Bella was nowhere in sight. I walked to the bar.
"Where's Bella?" I inquired of the bartender.
"She's dead," he answered.
I shrugged. "Oh well, I guess the wager's off." I turned to go, but some unseen force kept me back.
"Not necessarily, my young friend. I have come to find that some souls are reborn over the centuries. Come back in another seventy-five years or so, and you'll find the girl."
The grip released me and I straightened my jacket. "Very well," I said. "I guess I'll see you in seventy-five years…"
There's chapter one! Thoughts? Remarks? Promises? Prayers? Oh, I know! REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you.