Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANYTHING AFFILIATED WITH IT!

Chapter 1: Introductions

I pulled my black hood of my cloak farther over my face. If you saw me walking through the forest you would see nothing but a shadow. I was moving at vampire speed. Even if you were taking a midnight stroll through the forest, which I doubt, you would not notice me at all.

My bare feet looked ghostly against the black fabric and the earth. My satin slippers had been destroyed about four hundred miles back. The bottom of my deep crimson dress was in tatters and dirty. If Aro caught me now…

A shiver ran up my spine just thinking about what Jane would do. I had been her victim many times, thanks to my 'stubbornness' as Aro would call it. I hope they haven't noticed my disappearance yet.

I brushed my long blonde hair out of my eyes as I ran. Little pieces have been falling out of my stylish up do since the start of my journey. I know I didn't pick the best wardrobe to flee the Volturi in, but I had a small window of opportunity and I would not waste my two hundred year wait.

I was getting close. I could smell them. Vampires. More specifically the Cullens. Why they had to live the farthest place away from Italy was just ironic. But I smelled something else something sharp and bitter, something coming at me fast.

I stopped and turned on full alert. The smell made me gag. What the heck was it? Soon my question was answered as a huge loping wolf entered my sight. It was tall and black like a horse with sharp canine teeth. It wasn't alone. There were about four other wolves with him.

They were all different colors. There was a black one, a tan, a white and a grey one. There were not here to be nice. They were snarling at me in a menacing way that said 'leave now'. Something was off about this. Wolves did not get that big. Then my eyes grew wide in realization…werewolves.

Aro had told me the myth of werewolves, but he said they had gone extinct. They could kill me so easily. I stepped back. They surrounded me. Their teeth were bared and they were all growling.

"Please, I need to get away. I don't want to fight." I looked into each of their eyes trying to make them see that I was telling the truth. "I did not come here to hunt." I heard tell that the Cullen's were animal hunters and I had secretly been hunting animals and wearing red contacts.

Then I realized that they couldn't even see my face. Of course they would be wary of a stranger when they couldn't see them. I slowly pulled down my hood exposing my face. The other wolfs paused too but only for a moment and then they all rushed me.

I jumped over their heads. "I'm sorry. I don't have time for this." I started to run again. They were fast too. They were almost upon me when they just stopped. I didn't wait to find out what stopped them. I pulled my hood back up and continued towards my destination.

My senses still had the smell of the werewolves in it. I hope they didn't mistake me for a werewolf. How could they live in such close quarters with werewolves anyway? We were mortal enemies.

I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't notice the scents until they were surrounding me. This was so very like the werewolves. I counted seven of them all together. A blonde man, who looked to be in his late twenties, stepped forward cautiously only a few feet in front of me. All of them had disgusted looks on their faces. I didn't blame them, I smelled disgusting.

"Werewolf, you need to get off these lands. If you are new to the pack I understand that you do not know the treaty well and will overlook this breech of contract." He did think I was a werewolf. I am so embarrassed.

I pulled my hood off. "I am not a werewolf. I'm sorry I smell like this I had a little trouble on the way here." I laughed nervously. The vampires were shocked but the man and the woman next to him just had kind smiles on.

"Then welcome young lady. I am Carlisle Cullen and this is my wife Esme. And these are our children, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and Edward. What may I ask is your name?" Carlisle was very nice, and his family looked nice too. One, Edward I think, had a very confused look on his face and so did the one called Alice, and Jasper.

I smiled. "My name is Gwendolyn. You can call me Gwen. I am so happy that I have finally found you." I sighed in relief. Carlisle looked confused but he just made to move back the way they had come.

"Why don't we go back to the house and get more acquainted?" I nodded and we all ran back to a beautiful white mansion. It was nothing next to the Volturi castle but it looked nicer. Less intimidating.

They led me to the porch. Just before I stepped foot in the house I remembered that I looked like a mess. "Oh I'm so sorry. I'm filthy; I can stay outside if you want. I don't want to get your beautiful house all dirty." I can't believe they would even talk to me. I look like a servant.

Esme's eyes lit up with motherly concern, I think. I don't remember much about my mother so I don't really have anything to compare it to. "Don't worry dear, I'll get you some clean clothes and you can freshen up before we talk, okay?"

My heart went out to this woman. She barely even knows me and she's treating me so kindly. "Thank you Esme." I said sincerely. I knew if I had the ability to cry, I would be bawling.

She just took me by the arm and led me to the bathroom. She left a pile of clothes that Alice had given her for me on the counter and closed the door. I relished the filling of cleanliness in the shower. I hadn't bathed or even washed since I left the castle.

When I got out of the shower I put on the clothes that Esme had left me. She had given me a black turtleneck sweater and a pair of jeans. I had never worn either of these things. The jeans were tight, I loved them. Only men were supposed to wear pants. Aro would never let me.

I walked down the stairs in my bare feet to a lovely living room with two couches, two armchairs and a love seat. Esme and Carlisle were in the love seat, Jasper, Alice and Edward were on the couch, and Rosalie was seating on Emmett's lap in one of the armchairs. I took the other armchair.

"So, Gwen, would you mind to tell us why you are here?" Carlisle asked gently with a small smile. I nodded and sighed.

"When I was seventeen my mother brought me to the Volturi castle, mind you this was in the eighteenth century; my mother thought I was the devil child. You see I have a very…interesting power. I'll explain that later though." I added after their curios looks. "I don't remember much about my mom, except that I didn't like her. See, she wanted the Volturi to make the demon go away. She had no idea that they were vampires. She had only heard stories of the great and powerful people who lived in the castle."

"She thought that they could just get the demon out of you? How?" Emmett asked, getting into the story.

I shrugged. "She didn't care how, she just wanted it gone. I don't even think she cared if they killed me." I laughed without humor. "When she got there and told one of the guards about me, they knew instantly that Aro would want to know. So they took us into the hall and tested it. Aro was very pleased. He killed my mother and changed me. He took me on as a daughter, and harnessed my power. I was much more powerful since the change and he used me to his own advantage."

"What did he make you do?" Emmett blurted. Everyone gave him dirty looks. I smiled at him. He was just curious, like the rest of them he just was brave enough to voice it.

"He used my power to get more power, destroy his enemies, everything that an egomaniac would look for. But I got sick of hurting people, and ruining their lives. I ran away a week ago and headed here. I over heard Aro talking about you once. He said that you are one of the biggest threats to him. He wanted me to destroy you next." I looked them over for their reactions.

Everyone except Carlisle looked like they were tensed for battle. "But I couldn't. I ran away. I came here to warn you and see if maybe you could help. Aro has been keeping me prisoner for over two hundred years. I thought I would never escape. I know that it is much of me to ask to help someone you don't even know. But you are my only hope. I just want you to consider it." I finished.

Every one in the room looked at Carlisle. "Well Gwen that is a very fascinating story. But to help you I need to know your power."

I nodded. "When I was a human my power was limited but strong. I could control the weather with my emotions. It was weak, like if I cried it would drizzle and if I was happy there would be sun. But after I changed I could control the air pressure and make tornadoes or hurricanes. Some of it is still connected to my emotions but not as entirely as when I was a human."

"I would like to see that if you wouldn't mind." I smiled and looked outside. I concentrated on the sky. It was getting lighter but since this was Washington the clouds were covering the sun. I made the sun come blazing out. If anyone was outside right now they would feel like they were in the desert. Then I made it so that it was like a mini tornado. I turned back to the family.

They looked impressed. "I can also create lightning and aim it any place I want it. I have killed a lot of vampires that way." I grimaced. "I tried it once on Aro to try and get away except…Jane got in the way. I didn't dare try to hurt the Volturi anymore. She tortured me for two days straight."

"I'm sorry that happened to you Gwen. I would like to think about your offer. You can stay here if you wish. But I just want to tell you that you cannot hunt anywhere in Forks." Carlisle said standing up.

I laughed. "I don't hunt humans. These are contacts. I hunt animals. I'm perfectly fine around humans."

He beamed at me. "You changed to this diet by yourself. That's amazing. Especially with Aro's gift."

"It doesn't work on me. Actually no power except Jane's works on me. Its really sad actually. The one that causes me the most pain, I'm susceptible to." I shrugged. I had never quite figured out that quirk before.

"Very interesting. It seems like my family has school today and I need to go to work. Your free to go around town or stay here. You cannot go onto the reservation. It's against the treaty. So stay in Forks. Have a good day. When I get home I would like to talk to you more. Good bye." With that he kissed Esme and left.

The rest of the family said their goodbyes and were soon off to school. That left me with Esme. She smiled. "Don't worry Gwen. I'm sure Carlisle will think of something. When he puts his mind to something he really goes through. There are some shoes on the porch for you if you wish to go out." Then she left the room for me to think.

The Cullen's were very nice. I wonder if they could help me. I stood up and walked outside. The sun wasn't out but it wasn't raining either. I pulled on the sneakers that they had left me. I guess it would be fun to see around town. With that I ran off through the woods to town. This would be interesting.