Genevieve Swan

GENE SWAN SMILED in delight as the small, plastic cup started to jump around the table. It turned, paused, and decidedly flopped over, spilling a cup's worth of water onto her skirt. "No, no no. You're supposed to hop around the table, not spill water on me," Gene muttered, frustrated.

She picked up the now limp cup and sighed, before tossing it into the pile of limp objects. All of those refused to be brought to life anymore, and she suspected it was because the objects were - to say the least - tired.

A head poked into the room, a mop of black hair framing its face. "Mom wants you. Something about Bella and going to Forks." The head, which was in fact her little sister, Alex, glanced around the room before looking back at Gene. "What happened?"

"Just the usual. I bring something to life, it hops around for a good ten to twenty minutes, and then it refuses to work." She ran an exasperated hand through her dark, curly locks and rolled her eyes. "They're being difficult today. And every day. Objects, in general, are difficult."

Alex chuckled, shaking her head. "I still don't see how you've been around for 8000 years and still haven't mastered your powers. I've only been around for 5000 years and I have complete control." She lifted the plastic cup Gene had been using and held it into the air. Five seconds later, the cup zoomed across the room and hit the wall.

"Complete control?" Gene raised an eyebrow, and Alex flushed beet red.

"Anyways, mom wants to see us. Something about Forks, cannibals, and Ms. Awkward Jr," Alex said, rolling her eyes. With that, Alex left the room, leaving Gene by herself. She stood up and waved her hands, calling on her magic to dry her patterned skirt quickly. She smoothed out the ruffles, turned off the lights in her room, and went to meet her mother.

The sisters' mother, Amara, was a force to be reckoned with when she was angry, or when you disappointed her, or when you failed something, or when you were late. This was why Gene was always pressured to be on time, if not earlier, and this was also why she practically sprinted to the living room, jumped over the couch, and landed with a thump next to Alex.

As soon as her butt landed on the couch, Amara started speaking. "You two are moving to Forks." Gene blinked, as this was not what she expected to hear. Perhaps she was hoping to hear that there was chocolate cake instead, but apparently, that was too much to ask.

"Yeah, no." Alex was, unsurprisingly, the first to speak. Her eyes betrayed the mask that was carefully set on her face. Her eyes betrayed the anger she was feeling, and Gene would be lying if she said she didn't feel the same way. She closed her eyes and counted to ten, trying to push down the building terror that was building up.

2000 years ago, a vampire coven killed her father and best friend. 2000 years ago, a vampire coven tried to kill her.

Alex looked at Gene and grabbed her hand, squeezing hard. "I don't think she can handle it. I don't think either of us can."

Amara addressed the shaking girl, whose feet were firmly planted on the floor, trying to ground herself to the earth. "Gene, you stopped going on missions centuries ago, and it is time to start again. Your power has only grown since Egypt. It is time for you to move on, and get over your fear." Amara paused, her eyes growing dark for a moment. "Besides, how do you expect to be a witch if you're scared of vampires?"

If it weren't for the dark look in her eyes, Gene might have thought her mother was teasing her. But she could sense the underlying threat in her words. If you don't get over your fear, your magic will be taken.

"No," Alex said again, this time with a cold, hard tone. She was trying to end the discussion, but it wouldn't work. Gene knew that, as much as she wished otherwise.

"This is not up for discussion." Amara's face began to red with anger. "You will go to Forks, or your magic will be taken."

"I'd rather have that than go to the supernatural hotspot of the world," Gene snapped, annoyed. Her mother was always pushing them to do things they didn't want, and she'd finally had enough. "Why are you forcing us to do this? If you want it done so badly, do it yourself. I'm almost 10,000, and I'm able to take care of the two of us."

Amara pinched her nose and sighed. "It's Bella you'll be protecting." Gene's head spun. Bella, Bella, Bella. Why would she be moving to Forks? Did she have a death wish? But either way, it didn't matter. Family in danger would not be tolerated.

"I'm going." Funnily enough, Gene and Alex spoke in unison. This often happened, proving that they were indeed sisters and often had the same thoughts.

Amara nodded. "Good. You'll be staying in a safe house in the woods. Once you enter, no one but your family and those you allow to enter can get in. Hence the definition of a 'safe house'. Gene, you'll be playing an 18-year-old senior in High School, and Alex, you'll be a 17-year-old Junior. All you have to do is protect Bella from the vampires. You have full leave to kill them if needed."

"Going through High School again." Alex rolled her eyes, sarcasm lacing her voice. "It'll be so fun."

Amara took a deep breath. "You need to go as soon as possible, so I'll just portal you there. I packed your bags while we were talking."

It somewhat annoyed Gene that Amara packed the bags before the conversation was over, but she would have to deal with it. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed her suitcase. Alex simply used telekinesis.

Amara swung her arms in a big arc, and a black portal opened up in front of their eyes. It somewhat reminded Gene of a black hole.

Together, the girls stepped through and into their new life.

A/N: I hope you liked the first chapter of Spellbook | J. Hale! There are many more to come! Please consider leaving a vote or a comment if you liked the chapter! Also, don't hesitate to give me feedback/point out any mistakes I made throughout this chapter!

- Hope Writer (loveofbooks3373)

Word count: 1042