Waking Up

For three days the fire consumed me. It seems as I was welcoming death, it was avoiding me.

So I burned. A flame so bright inside me it would blind any who dared to view it with open eyes. I struggled to control it. The pain, the burning, the light was not what I imagined; it was bearable, nothing like the emotional agony that I had lived in for weeks. This pain settled down on me like a comforting blanket, mending and healing what was broken, hardening my very core. My heart raced, threatening to erupt from my chest, and then suddenly but expectedly, stopped. I knew my transformation had finally turned me into a creature I knew all too well; a Vampire.

Though my memories seemed fuzzy, they floated back to me as soon as I struggled to recall them. My eyes shot open immediately assessing what danger might be around, Laurent. I sprung, twisting mid-air like a gymnast with years of practice, and landing crouched in a corner. Momentarily shocked I hadn't fallen, reality abruptly rushed back quickly. How distracted I was!

I took in my surroundings. A cave, I was in a cave and there were eyes, 5 sets of eyes staring at me. None of them were Laurent's; all of them were vampires - 3 males and 2 females. I inhaled slowly, hoping to learn more, smoke, no, that's not it exactly, remnants of smoke, traces of a fire. I slowly, barely remembered it. My eyes found the scorch marks that remained on the floor.

"Your name, miss?" the older looking of the group spoke and I noticed for the first time they all had golden eyes.

"Bella," I inclined my head, "how did I get here?"

"We found him feeding on you," nodding in the direction of overcooked Laurent spot, "you were barely conscious, we" he paused unsure of how to continue, "…could not let you die. You have changed slightly, you are no longer human," he finished.

"I see." Rationally I knew why, they wouldn't feed of humans how could they casually let one of their own kind take my life. But, even with this in mind I now knew that I would never know peace. They were waiting for my reaction to the information they had shared, but I was too curious, "If I may have your names please?" I asked.

"Sorry, pardon me," he started slightly startled, "I am Daniel, this is my family, Lucinda, Monroe, Sarah, and Jackson," he pfointed out each one as he said their names.

I immediately recalled the Cullen's, it was impossible not to on seeing the similarities between the two covens after referring to his group as family.

Daniel was tall and lanky, with reddish brown hair and I placed his human age in the thirties, he looked me over like I was a science experiment that did not yield the results expected.

Lucinda was next to Daniel, her hand placed on the small of his back obviously waiting for his instruction. She had golden hair, down to her waist. I guessed mid-twenties. She smiled sweetly her eyes wide with caring.

The three that remained resembled teenagers.

Monroe was a bear, tall and built with black hair, immediately reminding me of a bulldozer, even bigger than Emmett. He was cautious studying my actions; I suddenly realized my aggravated stance and adjusted out of my aggressive position. He immediately noticed and inclined his head, as he himself fell more relaxed.

Sarah was beautiful, so beautiful she'd give Rosalie a run for her money. Tall, slender, with black hair that looked like velvet rather than ink, I almost longed to touch it. Her eyes were what amazed me; a honey colored that sparkled, like diamonds were just under the surface, reflecting what light they could find. She wore a smile that stretched from ear to ear and I noticed for the first time that Monroe seemed to be holding her back, like she was bursting from her skin.

The last of the five was Jackson, he looked at me, intrigue written over his face, his sandy blonde hair falling in his eyes. He was tall and built, sort of compact, much different then Monroe. A blond Edward I thought, immediately regretting it expecting the swell of pain or rage or anger or aching, but instead I felt… nothing.

"Excuse me," Daniel said, pulling me from my own thoughts, "you don't seem surprised about your current predicament," he said almost accusatory. "You have not reacted at all in fact."

"I'm sorry," I said smiling, "you see, I knew about vampires in my human life. I'm not unaccustomed to your ways. Your coven's ways in particular since you all posses golden eyes, a diet of animals blood, very unusual for your kind."

"I see," he began after a short pause. "Would you mind telling us how you know this?"

I slowly rehashed the story of my life, of the Cullen's, of the difficulty with James, Laurent and Victoria all leading up to the scene in the woods. After what felt like days, they all stood, open mouthed and shocked.

Most unexpectedly Sarah rushed forth from the group, "You poor thing!" She engulfed me in her arms, hugging me tightly.

"Sarah!" Monroe shouted. She parted from me and looked back at the group as they stood wide-eyed.

"Its fine," I assured them, "I mean no harm."

"You are very different from any new born vampire we have ever encountered," Daniel mentioned, clearly puzzled, as Sarah sheepishly went back to the ranks of her family.

"Yes," I had to agree, I had heard all those stories about new born vampire rage that was uncontrollable, and yet I felt none of that.

"Perhaps you were so in control of your emotions and actions while you were human, it has transferred into your vampire self?" Daniel theorized, obviously in deep thought searching for answers.

"Are you thirsty?" Jackson suddenly interrupted, looking quite interested in my answer.

"Now that you mention it," I answered, hesitantly, "no". This was wrong. Something was wrong. I should be craving blood, my throat should be on fire, but instead there was nothing.

"You don't crave blood?" Daniel looked at me as if I had grown a second head.

"I… I…" stuttering the comprehension dawning on me like I'd been smacked in the face.

"She doesn't feel anything" Jackson stated, everyone turning immediately to look at him, stunned.

"Jackson what do you mean? What do you sense?" Lucinda asked obviously alarmed. Everyone's eyes went from me, to Jackson, back to me, awaiting his answer.

I already knew the answer, but he continued for the groups sake, "I sense, nothing, she's blank, void from any emotion. I'm not sure she can feel…"

To be continued...