Chapter One
JASPER - 1948
Exactly seventy-two years ago I was sitting in some rundown diner outside of day was unusually warm causing the red polyester seats to acquire a thick sheen of condensation on them. The warmth felt unfamiliar to me, but I sat there nonetheless. I had just finished up a meeting with an old friend when a raven-haired woman entered the diner. She was stunning, a beauty far too good to be true. As she approached I began to second guess my take on love, and in that moment I knew I would do anything she asked of me.
My heart nearly shattered after we began talking and she mentioned her mate Edward. However, she quickly lifted my spirits by telling me a story, which I was hesitant to believe. Alice Cullen told me a story about my life, a life I have yet had the chance to live. She promised happiness and love, two things I was beginning to think only happened to the living. We sat in that sweaty diner for four hours as she described the life I would have in about seventy years. The only catch was that I had to be living with her and her coven to meet this woman who would change my whole world. Of course this didn't sound like a bad deal until I learned that they didn't feed off of humans like most of us, instead they relied entirely on the blood of animals to stave off their hunger.
She told me I had a week to consider before she returned back to her family, but I only needed a day to know that becoming a Cullen was my only chance for happiness and redemption.
EVE - 2020
It was a cool and rainy day when I arrived in Forks, Washington. I had been following a lead on shifters for the past few months and finally had a breakthrough after I crossed paths with an old friend. I had met her many years ago when I was working at an asylum in Mississippi, and had grown close to her up until she was changed. It had been a long time since I had seen her, but we reconnected right away, which led me to where I am now.
Forks seemed like a miserable little town that no person should ever be stuck in. If I hadn't gotten back in contact with Alice I never would have come here. The dreary weather and odd smell of constant rain made me feel even more dead than I already was. And yet, Alice had told me that there was something strange going on at the reservation that was only a few minutes up the road from here. Over the last three-hundred or so years I have taken to investigating situations involving the supernatural and macabre. This situation was no different, so instead of turning around and getting the Hell out of Dodge, I pulled up the map on my phone and entered in the address Alice had given me.
As I entered the shop's name my phone began to ring, I typically didn't save numbers in my phone because I almost never needed to call the same person more than once, but Alice had insisted that I keep her number saved. Her picture and name appeared on the screen after the first ring and I rolled my eyes. "Miss Alice Cullen, what impeccable timing," I said, though I knew that she knew I was here. She has the gift of sight, which is incredibly annoying, but also convenient at times.
"I'm gonna be honest, I was starting to think you wouldn't make it up here, Eve." Alice was always one for the dramatics. Of course she knew I would be here, in fact, she probably knew it before I did. I ignored the comment and stayed silent, giving her the chance to talk first. I was growing curious as to why she had brought me all this way. "Instead of heading to the reservation I want you to come and meet my family first. Then you can get straight back to work."
I groaned, I had figured that this had more to do with herself and less with any trouble on some remote reservation. "Sure, it's not like I have anything better to do," I said sarcastically. She sent me her address over text, and left a little warning that most of her family was out on a hunting trip, but that the best part of her family was still home.
It took me about fifteen minutes to reach their secluded house in the woods, Alice was already waiting on the porch, a huge smile on her face. I took a minute in the car to compose myself before stepping out and walking up the gravel to meet her. "Alice…" I said, arms outstretched for a hug. She returned the hug, becoming enveloped in my arms, her small frame nearly disappearing beneath me. "So glad I could make it."
She let out a squeal before stepping back and making the sign for me to do a full spin. I spun for Alice knowing it was no use to try and deny her. My long chestnut brown hair fell in curls midway down my back. My eyes an intense red fell down to her face as I gave her a half smile. I knew she would be disappointed in my outfit, as Alice was the queen of fashion and I had stopped trying to keep up with trends many, many years ago. "It'll have to do for now," she said as she took my hand and led me into the large home.
We entered into a grand entry way and I could hear two men talking quietly towards the back of the house. "Would you like a tour?" Alice asked, but I had already begun making my way towards the voices. One of the voices sent shivers down my spin, I had heard it before, but I couldn't recall from where. I walked into a large kitchen that looked like it had never been used, and found two men standing in front of me. Both were tall, but the blond was far taller than the brunette. My eyes drifted up and down the blonds body, his eyes were the same honey color as Alice's. 'Vegetarians' I recall her saying at some point. He had a crooked smile that reached his eyes and made him look young and all knowing at the same time.
"Hello there," he said, a thick southern accent filled my head causing me to forget everything else around me. "My name is Jasper Hale."
I felt the world spinning under my feet, that name, that face, that voice. I knew them… My head hit the tile in the kitchen, an uncomfortable crashing sound reverberated throughout the house as shards of tile flew through the room. I had been walking this Earth as a vampire for four-hundred-and-one years and never once lost consciousness. I was unaware that It was even possible, and yet, it happened after meeting Jasper Hale.