p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;""See you next week," I called to my manager as I slipped out the glass doors, Carmen giving me a half wave before turning back to the stack of papers on her desk. The obnoxious chatter of the dining customers echoed away as I slipped out into the night, pulling my coat tighter around me as the rain began to patter down upon the pavement. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"This weather sure has a mind of its own, that's for sure/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The cold was a welcome comfort, waking me up from the stupor I seemed to have been in all day. The dreams were coming more frequently, almost as though they were building up to something. It was troubling me, there was no doubt. Could they be foreshadowing something? Were they foreshadowing something? Time would tell, as it did all encounters in my life, but somehow, I didn't think it would be too long before I found out what fate had in store for me. It had never been kind to me, not since a babe. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Perhaps I am cursed/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"My shoes sloshed through puddle after puddle as I trudged towards the parking lot where I had parked this evening. The normal one had been full, not out of the ordinary, but a pain, nonetheless. One thing was certain. In an hour and a half, I would be curled up in bed, none the wiser to the storm that seemed to be lingering around London like a cloud of mass torment. All that was needed now was for it to change to snow and become a blizzard; the news forecast has in fact, deemed that such an event was heading our way in a day or two, perhaps this was the start of such a storm./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"What a way to kick off 2008, that was going to be certain. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Parking lot in sight, I hurried my pace. My neck prickled, my brows furrowing, tugging my coat around me tighter. The prickling feeling came again, along with the familiar rousing of that sense of mine. I frowned harder, spinning around to do a quick survey of my surroundings. People bustled past, caught up in the mad rush of trying to get home before the underground started to get busy with the people finishing work at a similar time as mine. I huffed, turning back to my journey as the prickling feeling died down. Perhaps it had been forewarning me of the rush heading my way, perhaps? Maybe, it had happened before. I tugged my hat down over my unruly curls some more, hoping to shield myself from the maddening rush of people that was soon spilling out onto the streets./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The familiar beeping of the lock of my trusty little volks beetle gave me comfort as I slid into the familiar surroundings and safety of her. Firing up the engine, I threw her into reverse, eager to get home as the prickling sensation returned. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; text-align: center; clear: none !important;"strong style="line-height: 1.7em; display: inline; padding-bottom: 0.7em; padding-top: 0.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"*/strong/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Home loomed ahead as I began to walk, the street shrouded in the torrential rain that had started its downpour. "Of course," I gave a weary, muttered grumble. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Of bloody course it would start raining as though the heavens had opened once I leave the car/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"My senses had been on haywire as I walked towards the gate, drawing closer and closer to the isolation I craved. It was building, the screaming now starting to shriek from within my mind. As I neared the gate, I could only give a soft cry of pain, the burning within my mind reaching a crescendo, howling like an anguished mother suffering the loss no one should. I had often wondered what my own mother had sounded like, at the prospect she would never see me, or my beloved sister, Laurel again. How she had pleaded my father, the vile, ugly man he was, to spare us all from a fate so horrible. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Some called me fortunate; I did not share their sentiment. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The pain was horrendous, the worst it had ever been, even surpassing the incident with the strange man from two nights prior. I gave another cry, gripping the wrought iron gate tightly with my hands, wondering if I increased my pressure there, if it would magically make the pain dissipate. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"I was not so fortunate. My mind was suddenly drawn elsewhere, eyes widening horrifically, as I fell backwards, my head hitting the pavement, blackness stealing my consciousness as one of the dreams seemingly took over. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"It was as if I was viewing my body, through another's eyes. Shadowy figures burst forth from the depths of darkness, wrapping me in their arms, as soon as I entered into the home. A hand pressed upon the pulse point of my throat, effectively cutting my oxygen supply. I screamed; the sound muffled by what appeared to be a leather glove. My struggles went unnoticed, as I was dragged further and further into the home, the door ominously shutting behind me, hiding me from view. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"A gasp ripped from my lips as I wrenched upwards, soaked to the bone. I couldn't have been gone for a moment, but it was enough. I gave a horrified look towards my home, my sanctuary, and to the vile individuals that apparently laid within my sanctuary. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Who would want to do me harm/em?! I spoke with no one, kept myself to myself, eager to keep a low profile. I felt around for my mobile. Perhaps if I phoned 999, I could be safe from whatever laid inside. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The glinting of my phone screen from a puddle mocked that suggestion as I snatched it up, finding it would not turn on. Life was indeed cruel, it would seem. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Without warning, the pain returned within my mind, screeching like alarm bells, this time of a greater intensity. I squeezed my eyes shut, spinning around, eyes flashing open./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"It was as though life stood still. About just over a hundred yards away, stood two figures. I could distinctively make out their features, even though the torrential downpour. Both were angelic looking, full lips, not a single blemish upon their heavenly faces. One boy, one girl, both looking as lovely as the other. They were dressed strange, however; out of the normal attire, it would seem. Cloaks of the blackest grey adorned their bodies, short in stature, and yet, such a sight caused my mind to start screaming. I took an anxious step back, but they remained staring at me, the girl looking as though she were seemingly staring at a ghost, the boy giving her an uncertain look./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"I took my chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Spinning around on my heel, I took off, running as fast as I could down the street. The sound of a door opening echoed behind me as I rounded the corner, off my street, heading back to where I parked my car. Fifteen minutes' walk would take me less than seven to run it if I continued at this pace. My heart thundered. What were they? Who were they? Did they belong to the same group that had been lying in wait for me within my home? The possibilities made my mind hurt. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Rain thundered down around me as I skidded around a corner, one more block away from where I had left the car tonight. My mind screamed. I was in danger, for the first time since a babe, em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"I was in mortal danger/em. My mind screeched at me, as if to confirm the obvious. I could feel my heart thundering out of my chest, my body pushed to its limit as I raced. I couldn't go home tonight, that was certain. They would be waiting for me, for me to return, so they could enact whatever evil plan they had for me. I skidded as I rounded another corner, the car in sight. Almost safe, almost safe, I could do this./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Or not./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"As I neared the final fifty feet away from the car, a shadowy figure effortlessly plucked me from the pavement, dragging me into a side alley. A short scream slipped from my lips as my mind exploded in pain, possibly from the ability that had seemingly not forewarned me of the danger lying ahead, or perhaps from a wall I was seemingly slammed into. I squeaked, terrified, as pain flashed before my eyes, my legs buckling. I pushed my legs off something, someone grunting as I thrashed, tears beginning to stream down my face./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Eyes flashing open, I kicked at a shadowy figure as it approached. However, my foot never found its mark, for he stopped, seemingly in shock. A hand pressed against the pulse on my throat as I buckled, the oxygen being stolen from my mind as black spots began to cloud my vision just as the two smaller, now with their hoods down, approached. They were indeed heavenly looking, as they conversed in hushed tones, their voices not reaching my ears as I slipped further and further down the wall that was seemingly holding me. My breaths came in short gasps, until, that is, the darkness claimed me, and the world faded into the black./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; text-align: center; clear: none !important;"strong style="line-height: 1.7em; display: inline; padding-bottom: 0.7em; padding-top: 0.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"*/strong/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Thunder rumbled across the Volterran sky as the doors to the throne room opened, the quartet that had been dispatched to England returning, a small bundle cradled in the arms of Felix, his companions stone faced, none more so than the tracker whose mind was racing at a million miles an hour. Aro looked at each of them in turn, before motioning to Felix to place the small bundle on the ground, so he may see the features of the woman who was apparently so extraordinarily gifted./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"A tumble of chocolate-coloured curls, having dried on the journey into Italy, parted, revealing small, delicate features of a face long since forgotten. A sharp intake of breath came from the milk-red eyed leader. He stole a quick glance at his tracker, the chalky pallor of his guard looking paler than normal, his features looking as though he had seen a ghost, if such things were possible. A quick glance back down at the unconscious woman seemed to confirm that indeed, such things were possible. He crouched down, pulling up his pants leg as he did so, gently touching the delicate features with pink stained cheeks, as if to confirm to himself that he was indeed, seeing what his eyes were showing him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Clearing his throat, Aro straightened. "A face from the past, it would seem," he mused quietly, Caius dethroning to come glance upon the newest arrival, Marcus wearily following. Both men, both facial expressions, showcased their own confusion and surprise. A noise uttered from Caius. "How is this possible?" He demanded, glancing around the four guards who were as equally shell-shocked at their captive. "How is this possible?" He repeated. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Jane gave an apathetic noise under her breath. "We followed her, as you instructed, Masters. This is who Brutus came across. We did not realise her likeness of another until she turned to face us. She seemed to experience a vision forewarning her of our arrival," she uttered, offering her hand as a way of explanation; Aro didn't hesitate, snatching it up./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""Let us get this human and return home," came the voice of Jane, as he watched through her eyes, the human in question approaching. He watched as she turned to face the iron gate, and he could feel Jane's complete and utter shock at seeing a human with the features of Cassandra, the human falling to the ground, seemingly caught in the throes of a vision of sorts. She was quickly back up on her feet, glancing, horrified, at the house just a few feet away from her. It seemed, she did indeed, have a heightened sense of her surroundings. Just /emlike em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Cassandra. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"It didn't take long for the woman to notice them, immediately running down the street, two dark figures -Felix and Demetri- swiftly leaving the home where they'd be lying in wait for her to enter, to give chase. His surroundings changed as the twins looked at each other, before pursuing the woman also./em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Aro pulled back, pressing his fingers together and to his lips. "It would seem, our dear Cassandra has come em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"home,/em" he murmured, the tracker immediately looking at him. He snarled. "That is em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"not/em Cassandra." He hissed, immediately dropping to the floor in agony as ruby red eyes narrowed at him, fire coursing his veins for his disobedience./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The ruler gave a heavy sigh, stepping over to the fallen Greek. He sighed once more. "Perhaps not, Demetri, perhaps not. The likeness, is however, uncanny. Take her to some isolated chambers within the easy wing and bring her to me when she awakens. Perhaps a probe of her mind once conscious, so we can see, and em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"hear/em, what she remembers or knows, will shed light on this worrying situation." He sighed again, looking at the petite woman, who, for all appearances, was an exact twin to the woman who had met a gruesome fate many a year ago. However, it seemed, only time would tell, if fate had a cruel sense of humour indeed./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The cold was a welcome comfort, waking me up from the stupor I seemed to have been in all day. The dreams were coming more frequently, almost as though they were building up to something. It was troubling me, there was no doubt. Could they be foreshadowing something? Were they foreshadowing something? Time would tell, as it did all encounters in my life, but somehow, I didn't think it would be too long before I found out what fate had in store for me. It had never been kind to me, not since a babe. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Perhaps I am cursed/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"My shoes sloshed through puddle after puddle as I trudged towards the parking lot where I had parked this evening. The normal one had been full, not out of the ordinary, but a pain, nonetheless. One thing was certain. In an hour and a half, I would be curled up in bed, none the wiser to the storm that seemed to be lingering around London like a cloud of mass torment. All that was needed now was for it to change to snow and become a blizzard; the news forecast has in fact, deemed that such an event was heading our way in a day or two, perhaps this was the start of such a storm./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"What a way to kick off 2008, that was going to be certain. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Parking lot in sight, I hurried my pace. My neck prickled, my brows furrowing, tugging my coat around me tighter. The prickling feeling came again, along with the familiar rousing of that sense of mine. I frowned harder, spinning around to do a quick survey of my surroundings. People bustled past, caught up in the mad rush of trying to get home before the underground started to get busy with the people finishing work at a similar time as mine. I huffed, turning back to my journey as the prickling feeling died down. Perhaps it had been forewarning me of the rush heading my way, perhaps? Maybe, it had happened before. I tugged my hat down over my unruly curls some more, hoping to shield myself from the maddening rush of people that was soon spilling out onto the streets./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The familiar beeping of the lock of my trusty little volks beetle gave me comfort as I slid into the familiar surroundings and safety of her. Firing up the engine, I threw her into reverse, eager to get home as the prickling sensation returned. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; text-align: center; clear: none !important;"strong style="line-height: 1.7em; display: inline; padding-bottom: 0.7em; padding-top: 0.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"*/strong/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Home loomed ahead as I began to walk, the street shrouded in the torrential rain that had started its downpour. "Of course," I gave a weary, muttered grumble. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Of bloody course it would start raining as though the heavens had opened once I leave the car/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"My senses had been on haywire as I walked towards the gate, drawing closer and closer to the isolation I craved. It was building, the screaming now starting to shriek from within my mind. As I neared the gate, I could only give a soft cry of pain, the burning within my mind reaching a crescendo, howling like an anguished mother suffering the loss no one should. I had often wondered what my own mother had sounded like, at the prospect she would never see me, or my beloved sister, Laurel again. How she had pleaded my father, the vile, ugly man he was, to spare us all from a fate so horrible. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Some called me fortunate; I did not share their sentiment. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The pain was horrendous, the worst it had ever been, even surpassing the incident with the strange man from two nights prior. I gave another cry, gripping the wrought iron gate tightly with my hands, wondering if I increased my pressure there, if it would magically make the pain dissipate. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"I was not so fortunate. My mind was suddenly drawn elsewhere, eyes widening horrifically, as I fell backwards, my head hitting the pavement, blackness stealing my consciousness as one of the dreams seemingly took over. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"It was as if I was viewing my body, through another's eyes. Shadowy figures burst forth from the depths of darkness, wrapping me in their arms, as soon as I entered into the home. A hand pressed upon the pulse point of my throat, effectively cutting my oxygen supply. I screamed; the sound muffled by what appeared to be a leather glove. My struggles went unnoticed, as I was dragged further and further into the home, the door ominously shutting behind me, hiding me from view. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"A gasp ripped from my lips as I wrenched upwards, soaked to the bone. I couldn't have been gone for a moment, but it was enough. I gave a horrified look towards my home, my sanctuary, and to the vile individuals that apparently laid within my sanctuary. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Who would want to do me harm/em?! I spoke with no one, kept myself to myself, eager to keep a low profile. I felt around for my mobile. Perhaps if I phoned 999, I could be safe from whatever laid inside. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The glinting of my phone screen from a puddle mocked that suggestion as I snatched it up, finding it would not turn on. Life was indeed cruel, it would seem. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Without warning, the pain returned within my mind, screeching like alarm bells, this time of a greater intensity. I squeezed my eyes shut, spinning around, eyes flashing open./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"It was as though life stood still. About just over a hundred yards away, stood two figures. I could distinctively make out their features, even though the torrential downpour. Both were angelic looking, full lips, not a single blemish upon their heavenly faces. One boy, one girl, both looking as lovely as the other. They were dressed strange, however; out of the normal attire, it would seem. Cloaks of the blackest grey adorned their bodies, short in stature, and yet, such a sight caused my mind to start screaming. I took an anxious step back, but they remained staring at me, the girl looking as though she were seemingly staring at a ghost, the boy giving her an uncertain look./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"I took my chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Spinning around on my heel, I took off, running as fast as I could down the street. The sound of a door opening echoed behind me as I rounded the corner, off my street, heading back to where I parked my car. Fifteen minutes' walk would take me less than seven to run it if I continued at this pace. My heart thundered. What were they? Who were they? Did they belong to the same group that had been lying in wait for me within my home? The possibilities made my mind hurt. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Rain thundered down around me as I skidded around a corner, one more block away from where I had left the car tonight. My mind screamed. I was in danger, for the first time since a babe, em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"I was in mortal danger/em. My mind screeched at me, as if to confirm the obvious. I could feel my heart thundering out of my chest, my body pushed to its limit as I raced. I couldn't go home tonight, that was certain. They would be waiting for me, for me to return, so they could enact whatever evil plan they had for me. I skidded as I rounded another corner, the car in sight. Almost safe, almost safe, I could do this./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Or not./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"As I neared the final fifty feet away from the car, a shadowy figure effortlessly plucked me from the pavement, dragging me into a side alley. A short scream slipped from my lips as my mind exploded in pain, possibly from the ability that had seemingly not forewarned me of the danger lying ahead, or perhaps from a wall I was seemingly slammed into. I squeaked, terrified, as pain flashed before my eyes, my legs buckling. I pushed my legs off something, someone grunting as I thrashed, tears beginning to stream down my face./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Eyes flashing open, I kicked at a shadowy figure as it approached. However, my foot never found its mark, for he stopped, seemingly in shock. A hand pressed against the pulse on my throat as I buckled, the oxygen being stolen from my mind as black spots began to cloud my vision just as the two smaller, now with their hoods down, approached. They were indeed heavenly looking, as they conversed in hushed tones, their voices not reaching my ears as I slipped further and further down the wall that was seemingly holding me. My breaths came in short gasps, until, that is, the darkness claimed me, and the world faded into the black./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; text-align: center; clear: none !important;"strong style="line-height: 1.7em; display: inline; padding-bottom: 0.7em; padding-top: 0.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"*/strong/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Thunder rumbled across the Volterran sky as the doors to the throne room opened, the quartet that had been dispatched to England returning, a small bundle cradled in the arms of Felix, his companions stone faced, none more so than the tracker whose mind was racing at a million miles an hour. Aro looked at each of them in turn, before motioning to Felix to place the small bundle on the ground, so he may see the features of the woman who was apparently so extraordinarily gifted./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"A tumble of chocolate-coloured curls, having dried on the journey into Italy, parted, revealing small, delicate features of a face long since forgotten. A sharp intake of breath came from the milk-red eyed leader. He stole a quick glance at his tracker, the chalky pallor of his guard looking paler than normal, his features looking as though he had seen a ghost, if such things were possible. A quick glance back down at the unconscious woman seemed to confirm that indeed, such things were possible. He crouched down, pulling up his pants leg as he did so, gently touching the delicate features with pink stained cheeks, as if to confirm to himself that he was indeed, seeing what his eyes were showing him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Clearing his throat, Aro straightened. "A face from the past, it would seem," he mused quietly, Caius dethroning to come glance upon the newest arrival, Marcus wearily following. Both men, both facial expressions, showcased their own confusion and surprise. A noise uttered from Caius. "How is this possible?" He demanded, glancing around the four guards who were as equally shell-shocked at their captive. "How is this possible?" He repeated. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Jane gave an apathetic noise under her breath. "We followed her, as you instructed, Masters. This is who Brutus came across. We did not realise her likeness of another until she turned to face us. She seemed to experience a vision forewarning her of our arrival," she uttered, offering her hand as a way of explanation; Aro didn't hesitate, snatching it up./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""Let us get this human and return home," came the voice of Jane, as he watched through her eyes, the human in question approaching. He watched as she turned to face the iron gate, and he could feel Jane's complete and utter shock at seeing a human with the features of Cassandra, the human falling to the ground, seemingly caught in the throes of a vision of sorts. She was quickly back up on her feet, glancing, horrified, at the house just a few feet away from her. It seemed, she did indeed, have a heightened sense of her surroundings. Just /emlike em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Cassandra. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"It didn't take long for the woman to notice them, immediately running down the street, two dark figures -Felix and Demetri- swiftly leaving the home where they'd be lying in wait for her to enter, to give chase. His surroundings changed as the twins looked at each other, before pursuing the woman also./em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"Aro pulled back, pressing his fingers together and to his lips. "It would seem, our dear Cassandra has come em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"home,/em" he murmured, the tracker immediately looking at him. He snarled. "That is em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"not/em Cassandra." He hissed, immediately dropping to the floor in agony as ruby red eyes narrowed at him, fire coursing his veins for his disobedience./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;"The ruler gave a heavy sigh, stepping over to the fallen Greek. He sighed once more. "Perhaps not, Demetri, perhaps not. The likeness, is however, uncanny. Take her to some isolated chambers within the easy wing and bring her to me when she awakens. Perhaps a probe of her mind once conscious, so we can see, and em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"hear/em, what she remembers or knows, will shed light on this worrying situation." He sighed again, looking at the petite woman, who, for all appearances, was an exact twin to the woman who had met a gruesome fate many a year ago. However, it seemed, only time would tell, if fate had a cruel sense of humour indeed./p