Chapter 1

I wanted to hold onto my dream. Just wrap it up and let it linger on my brain. I turned over in my bed refusing to open my eyes, I just wanted to see the meadow again. But as it was slipping away from me, I came to a dreaded realization. It was today. I hated today, of all days of the year. Today was my seventeenth birthday, and I knew for a fact, that the vampires I lived with were planning a surprise party for me. I could hear the clock that stood in the Palazzo dei Priori, ten o' clock. My vampires let me sleep in. How thoughtful they could be.

I got out of my bed begrudgingly, and headed towards the bathroom for what I called a human moment. I lived with fifteen vampires, not including the ones that stay periodically in the castle from time to time. The fifteen that I speak of, the Volturi, are not only the permanent fixtures in Volterra; but they are also the peace-keeping, rulers of all of the vampires.

And I loved them all dearly, but I was annoyed that they would not respect my wishes about a birthday party. Year after year, they insisted on throwing me a party every year. No one was ever sure of my exact date of birth, but they knew the date that I was first brought to the castle. September 17th.

I let the hot water from the shower spray against my body as I recounted the story that my family tell me every year.

Now seventeen years ago, Heidi, the gorgeous vampire with the ridiculously long legs and mahogany hair, went on a fishing expedition. At least that was the way I described her task of finding humans and bringing them back to the castle for my family to eat. Unfortunately, for one of the females that followed Heidi, she was carrying me, well more like concealing. Heidi promises me every time the story is told, that she usually skips over people who are caring for infants, but since there is nothing I could do about it now, I always forgive her.

Aro drained the poor girl that day and was about to have one of the guards clean up the mess when he noticed that his victim had a death grip on something under her shawl. When he peeled the fabric back, he saw me, a tiny baby of only a few weeks. He intended on throwing me to one of the guards as dessert, I always shuddered when he spoke of that, when he decided against it. He gave me to his human secretary, Gillina, to be cared for. It was only until I was ten that he told me the reason why he decided to keep me.

Gillina did her best at raising me on her own. She worked and lived in the castle separately from the vampires. While she was working, she had a crib placed beside her desk so that she could watch over me. As I began to grow out of the crib, Gillina asked Aro if schooling and education for me was in the cards, or was the only reason I was being left alive was because of some sinister plan.

By then, the majority of the vampires, including Aro, had taken a liking to me, if not love. Aro never let me in on whether it was because of this love, or because of a dark plan that I was allowed to live, but I always suspected the latter.

It was only a few weeks after my ninth birthday, and I had just finished my Spanish lesson with Santiago. I was in my room with Gianna, the one I had grown up believing was my mother, when I decided to voice my concerns about our extended family.

"Mommy? How come Uncle Aro and everyone else, don't get any older?" It was something that I had begun to notice on a regular basis. I first noticed it in Jane and Alec, my cousins as I was led to believe. They always stayed the same height, and their features never changed. Of course, I was accustomed to their red eyes, mommy just explained it was because of a hereditary disease that the majority of the people in her family had, that seemed to skip over the two of us. But when I noticed that the two youngest weren't getting older, I began to pay attention to the rest of my family. Everyone, except for mommy and me, were the same as they were as long as I could remember.

"Hush. That's something we can't speak out loud about." And that was all that she would tell me.

Unfortunately, four days before my tenth birthday, Uncle Aro finally decided Gillina's fate was decided. She contracted the same disease as my family. I could hear her screaming as she writhed in pain, calling out to me. I tried running to her, but my oldest cousins, Demetri and Felix were tasked with babysitting me. They swear to this day that they didn't mind, but I knew it was all to keep me from busting the door to get to my mom. A distraction.

Finally after three days, Uncle Aro lifted the quarantine from my mother, but that I had to be held by Demetri at all times. I didn't mind, Demetri was a bear to me and he carried me as if I was falling asleep in his arms.

"Mama?" I remember calling to her when I saw her around the doorpost. I tried squirming from Demetri's powerful grip, but it was no use.

"Remember Aro's warning Mon Cheri." He relaxed me in his arms, and I tried my best to obey.

Seeing my mother looking around as if she'd never been there before, was confusing. And when she saw me for that first time, I saw how much the "disease" had consumed her. No wonder she was crying out in pain, but at the same time she was the most beautiful that I had ever seen her. There was no fat on her body, not that she ever had any to begin with, but she looked even more sleek and toned, if that was possible. But the most notable difference was her eyes, they were ruby red.

Being that I was comfortable with red eyes, I'd seen them all of my life, I was shocked that I was uncomfortable with my mother having them suddenly. I missed her warm green eyes. I held out my hand, slowly, reaching out to touch the smooth skin of Gillina. She smiled as my hand inched closer, never taking her eyes away from mine.

Then in slow-motion, everything happened at once. I looked back at the door, Aro was rushing his way over to our position. But even in the appearance of events moving slowly, I could register that Uncle Aro was moving faster than anyone I had ever seen.

I felt my hand graze something sharp as my arm was being yanked away from its encroaching destination of my mother's cheek. I turned my head back only to realize that it was Demetri that yanked my arm down. But that wasn't the only thing going down. I felt Demetri's body turning, repositioning itself so that as we were falling to the ground, he would hit the marble floor first and at the same time protecting me from above us.

Looking above, my mother was clawing to get to me, but Felix and Aro were pushing her out the side door that lead outside. There was suddenly a ringing in my ears that was persistent to never end. I fought to release my arms from Demetri's death grip and brought my hands to my ears. The piercing sound continued, louder it seemed, before I realized the noise was my screaming.

Was that really my mother? The only words that replayed itself in my thoughts. Demetri placed me on the floor, and I saw him fleeing out the door that Gillina was forced through. Uncle Marcus knelt beside me, and was cradled me in his arms, my eyes fluttering close. And then the pain began.

"There is some venom in her system. Heidi, please apprise Aro know of the situation." I heard her retreating footsteps leave the room.

"Marcus, are you seriously suggesting that we deal with two newborns at the same time? She's too young, we'll have to kill her." I recognized Uncle Caius' voice, never before had I heard such malice in his voice.

"No, I'm going to suck the venom out. It's the only thing I can think of." I could hear the sadness in his voice.

Uncle Caius started to protest again but he was too late. I felt something flowing out of me, and I looked over to my hand, where the pulling was, and saw Uncle Marcus sucking my blood.

Did I hit my head?

The cold water was now making me shiver, bringing me out of my thoughts. For a second, I considered turning the knob even hotter, just so I could tolerate the cold splashing even longer. My showers were the nicest distraction that I had in the morning. Especially this one.

I dried myself and walked over to the closet, daring myself to just go to the turret room wrapped in just the towel, surprising everyone that was waiting for me for my birthday. That would show them. I settled on wearing some jeans and a long-sleeved black t-shirt. Despite Heidi's misgivings, I choose to walk barefoot throughout the castle, and today was no different. I believed that walking barefoot helped ease most of my clumsiness. Any other time that I wore shoes, I was liable to trip over my own feet.

I quickly dried my long brown hair, letting it fall neatly around my shoulders and hurried to the party.

"Let's get this over with." I whispered as I pushed the massive doors that led from the antechamber into the turret room. Immediately, I saw my uncles sitting on their respective thrones: Aro dead center, Marcus on his right and Caius on his left. The guard was flanking them on the platform that held up the thrones.

Like always everyone seemed pleased.

"Ahh, dear Bella. Happy Birthday darling. Shall we sing to you now?" I shook my head in disbelief. Every year the set up was the same: a small ice cream cake that only I would eat, was on a small table in the middle of the room. Presents were placed strategically surrounding the table.

"No Uncle Aro, the singing is unnecessary. Thank you though." I've declined them singing to me for the past seven years. My ninth birthday was the last happy one that I had.

After that fateful incident, it was finally my birthday. My mother wasn't present for it, and everyone seemed on edge.

"You look down my dear." Aro posed to me after I had opened my presents. "Did you not get everything that you wanted?"

I looked up at him and knew that this would be my only moment that I would find out the truth. Uncle Aro had promised years before that he would always tell me the truth.

"What are you?" I asked sternly. My uncles told me then that I didn't look like a ten year old at that point. Once the question left my lips, I handled myself as if I had another ten years behind my current age.

Uncle Aro took me aside to his office, a place I'd never been before. He showed me his paintings that dated back to the years of his former life, the life before he became a vampire. I remember looking at him in shock, as he continued on with his history and the history of everyone in the palace.

He then told me of how I came to live in the castle, and how the woman I believed was my mother, wasn't but in fact his secretary. It wasn't that difficult to piece everything together, I had already had my suspicions, but vampires?

"Where did I come from then?" I asked in earnest. Did my actual mother's family know about me? Had they looked for me?

"Isabella, please understand. At the time of your mother's death, it was a different world, I was a different person, if you will. I did not care about who your mother was, she was my next meal after all. But Heidi looked for identification nonetheless, and found out her name was Renee Swan. She lived in Phoenix, Arizona; though there was paperwork that indicated that she had recently moved. That's all I know of her."

"Gillina gave you your mother's middle name, Marie, but wanted you to have an Italian name, but she adopted your last name for your benefit." I looked at my uncle, rather the vampire who pretended to be my uncle, and realized my entire life was a sham.

"And when you said that you would always tell me the truth, you were lying?" I asked him defiantly. He kept urging me to sit down, and I was so aggravated with him.

"No, we were planning on telling you, when you were much older. However, I knew, despite what Gillina and my brothers argued, I knew that if you were to ever ask me, I would tell you. You're a very smart girl Isabella and I've known you've questioned your surroundings before."

It took me several weeks to get over being stunned with the revelation. I finally came to accept that despite how I came to live here, I had a good life. I received an excellent education, one that my uncles boasted beat out anything that could have been paid for at the best private schools. Public schools were completely beneath my education level. Heidi took me shopping every season, so I had the best clothes, not that I wore them outside much. It wasn't that I wasn't allowed outside, it was just I preferred to be indoors with my books. I loved reading the classics, and unless I was doing my lessons with anyone of my vampire teachers, I was reading. Probably why I was so pale.

By the time came around for my eleventh birthday, and every birthday after that, I was reminded of the day that my life was turned upside down and thrown into a blender. There was nothing happy about that.

I opened my presents and thanked everyone for their thoughtful gifts. I was about to turn to Gianna, Uncle Aro's new human secretary and my only human friend, to ask her about our plans for the day, when Uncle Aro presented me with a small baby blue box. From my years of shopping with Heidi, I knew that the box meant Tiffany & Co.

I opened the box, and saw a key ring that had two blue and gold butterflies on it. Attached to it was a black key with a coat of arms with a horse. I knew it was to a car, but since I don't speak Car & Driver, I was a little confused.

"This is from all of us dear, it's a Ferrari." Aro's face was illuminated with a smile as recognition it my face. I may not be able to know cars by their emblems, but I knew that Ferrari's were the standard of racing cars.

It took me three minutes for me to hug everyone before I ran to through the tunnels to the garage. I laughed at the absurdity of them knowing that I wouldn't know which one would be mine. They turned down most of the lights, just enough so I could see where I was walking, and left the spotlight on above my car.

"It's a Ferrari 458 Italia. 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, the specs called for 3.3 but I made some modifications for you." I looked at Santiago's prideful smile. Not only was he my Spanish and Italian teacher but he was also the mechanic.

I carefully walked over to my car, though I still managed to trip into the Escalade that was parked along the side. It was midnight blue, and tinted windows. I opened the car and the fresh scent of new car and leather invaded my nostrils. The interior was blue and black, and I was in love.

"I knew you'd like it." Uncle Aro came up beside me while Gianna got into the passenger seat.

"Like it? I love it! This is great." The key slid into the ignition and I let the engine hum silently. I looked over to Gianna who was just excited as I was. Other than the major holidays, my birthday was one of the few days that she got off.

The drive was exhilarating. We roamed the countryside, but for the most part we stayed in Volterra. We returned back to the castle after three hours of shopping and eating insane amounts of food.

"Bella, may I see you a moment." I faintly heard Uncle Aro's voice call out to me as I struggled to get my bags to my room in one trip. I didn't have that many, only three, so struggling might have been the wrong word. But combined with my penchant to clumsiness, it really was a struggle.

I set my stuff outside of Aro's office, and entered the door. Uncle Aro was seated at his grand desk, very rarely have I seen him without his robe on, and when I did, I was astonished. Today was no exception. Aro was wearing a black suit, Armani, no doubt. His long black hair was pulled loosely behind him into a ponytail.

"Uncle? You called for me?"

"Yes, I have another present for you, but I wanted to speak with you first." He looked at me for acknowledgement and I nodded for him to continue.

"In the past you've expressed concerns about being a vampire. I must admit with your aversion to smelling blood, I've wondered if it would be best that you remain human. Me and your uncles have debated many times as to your mortality vs. immorality."

That was news to me, not that my uncles told me every conversation they've ever had. But usually if it concerned me, I was in formed at some point. Since this was didn't seem like a quick conversation, I sat down in one of his two desk chairs that faced his desk.

"I've come to think of you has my daughter throughout all of these years, and you've grown into a magnificent creature. You know that I would love for you to join our ranks, but alas it would not be possible unless you were a vampire."

"Uncle, may I ask you a question?" I paused long enough for Aro to nod for me to continue. "Seventeen years ago, why didn't you kill me?" It was question that I was always too afraid to ask because I wasn't sure I could handle the truth. And at the same time I saw the absurdity of worrying about my mortality while being one of two humans that lived with vampires.

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that question my dear. At least, not at this time. I grieve knowing that this is the first time that I've kept something from you when you've asked it of me. But I have my reasons. Please forgive me?"

"Of course, uncle."

Aro rose out of his chair and sat on the desk facing me. He moved so swiftly that I hadn't even noticed he moved until he was still. He reached over and brushed a few strands of hair from my face. I couldn't help but be warmed by the smile he had, despite the frostiness of his touch.

"If you wish, we may discuss this at another time. But please consider joining the family officially."

My family have asked me numerous of times if I wanted to become just like them. Even Gillina asked me a few times, it was like they shared a common knowledge. But I could never quite understand how anyone could choose to die and live forever. And for that reason, I always stalled

"Now I did say I have another present for you. Didn't I?" I felt my lips curl up in a small smile, even though I hated when everyone spent money on me.

Aro handed me a thin envelope, and I was curious as to what it could be. Aro was very careful, knowing my penchant for clumsiness, he handed me a letter opener, just in case. A paper cut could be devastating to a vampire.

I pulled a thin sheet of paper, and twirled it in my hands. Comprehension of what I was actually holding on to dawned on me and there was no way I could contain my excitement.

"Oh my gosh! Where am I going?" Flying around the world never ceased to amaze me. Aro would let me go with any one of my cousins to the ruins, and on safaris, and other magical places, and I fell in love with jetsetting around the world. Usually I flew with Demetri or Felix, my uncles trusted their strength to protect me. One time I went with Jane to Greece, but one of the boys was leering my way a little too much, and Jane got a little carried away with her gift. He was writhing around in pain and the doctors couldn't figure out why he was in so much pain.

Uncle Aro was not pleased, though she went unpunished since no one suspected any supernatural activity and also because she was protecting me. Still nonetheless, Jane was no longer allowed to escort me outside of the castle.

"Well, dear, you're going to Washington." I heard Aro whisper just loud enough for me to hear.

I was sure the confusion was obvious in my face. But I quickly resolved the issue.

"Washington D.C.? Oh my gosh! I can't wait, when do I leave? Just think of all of the museums they have. And if Heidi comes with me, she'll want to go shopping of course. How long will we be gone?"

I searched the ticket in my hand and realized I had it all wrong.

"Seattle, Washington?! Uncle, what could I learn from there?" I racked my brain for anything that I thought could be of consequence. I mean there was the space Needle and the Columbia Center, but I was never really interested in architecture. Though I suppose that Seattle's frequent rain cover would help out whoever my escort was. I could imagine that Seattle was a beautiful city, but it wasn't exactly somewhere I was used to visiting.

"Well actually Bella, I'm sending you to Forks, Washington. It's a small town a few hours away from Seattle. I thought it would be best if you went to an American high school for a change. Your education far exceeds anywhere in the world, but we've neglected your need for human companionship."

"You don't want me anymore?" It was something I always feared, and I was surprised that I lasted this long as a human. My life expectancy in a castle of vampires shouldn't have been as long as it was.

"Bella, you're being absurd. I only meant that one needs more than just one friend. And don't give me any bull about being friends with any of us here. We love you as our own, especially Jane, and she's not one easily swayed, especially with humans." Aro's reasoning was true. Under any other circumstance, any one of my family had plenty of opportunities to dispose of me, and they didn't.

"And this Podunk town called Forks, was the only town that had a high school?"

"Please try to be open-minded dear. I am choosing to let you go because for quite some time, I've wanted to give you something that I believe that you have wanted since you were young. You see, other than what we've been able to piece together, you've never had the opportunity to touch your past. In this "Podunk" town as you called it, I see the chance for you to do just that."

I looked at my uncle like he was crazy.

"Your father, Bella. Your father, lives in Forks, Washington."

Aro paused, letting the words sink in. I couldn't remember if I was sitting or not and the room started spinning.

"My father?"

"Yes, it seems he's restarted searching for you again. We've already orchestrated the reunion. If you wish not to go, we can cancel it if you like."

"No, no. I'll go. Of course I'll go. I get to live with my father? Oh my gosh, thank you so much uncle." I rushed to give him a hug, even though Aro was rare to show emotion. I'd often watched him and my other uncles run the council, always from afar, and I always noted how false his manners had been with vampires who had broken the law. He had a certain creepy politeness about him. However, with me, his emotions never seemed fake. I normally wasn't one to show my emotions either, but Aro was right, this was something I wanted for a long time.

"Okay, well you leave tomorrow. Heidi is already packing your stuff now. Arrangements have already been made for your car to arrive shortly after you begin your new life."

"Uncle, I don't think that is such a good idea. After all, there couldn't be too many Ferrari's being driven around in Forks. It would draw too much attention." As much as I loved driving the car this afternoon, it was way too flashy for my taste and this would give me a chance to find something that was much more downplayed.

"Perhaps you're right, but what would you drive over there? A Volvo?" I cracked a smile while my uncle chuckled at what I perceived as an inside joke that I wasn't in on.

"Is there a story? Why have I been gone?"

"You were found as a infant in an alley, by my wife. Because the system was so overcrowded and because we wanted kids, but couldn't, the authorities insisted we take you in. Because we came from such a prominent name, they had no problems with bypassing the typical paperwork. Ahh speaking of paperwork, Gianna has yours at her desk. They're all forged of course. Your name is Isabella Marie DiMarco. Afton does excellent work."

"But back to the story." Aro continued. "It was only recently for your seventeenth birthday that we told you that you were adopted and helped you find your parents. Well parent, though no one has to know that we know what really happened to your mother."

"Right, okay. That seems simple enough. Thank you for this uncle."

Aro stepped forward and gave me a kiss on my forehead. "Anything for you my dear. Anything."

Ok, it's pretty long, and I hope I wasn't bumbling along in this chapter. I kind of just started to write and I wasn't paying too much attention to flow, so please let me know if there is anything that needs to be clarified or corrected. As I said before (in the Author's note from Crescent Moon) I will be posting one chapter every Monday for this story. This will allow me a chance to write uninterrupted for a week for this story and Crescent Moon. Make sure you buy your tickets for New Moon this week!! And don't forget to review. Pretty please with Edward on top! Oh boy that could be taken in so many different ways!! hahaha

Jshai