Chapter One: First Sight
A superhuman subject created to destroy vampires.
Intrigued, I continued to read. Vampires... Was that what Aro was?
She is designed with a wingspan of twelve feet. When the wings are not in use, they will fold into her skin as if her back was smooth. No X-ray can detect them.
Hmm... Interesting. Twelve feet, too! I must be powerful.
She is specifically designed to go on missions throughout the world to destroy any vampire that threatens to expose the vampire race. Venom shall not faze her. It will make her only more powerful.
So that explains why the venom had no affect on me like it did on the other Isabellas. I shuddered.
She is half-way immortal. She can live forever but can still bleed. She needs oxygen to survive and food to eat.
Interesting.
Her brain can take in up to fifteen thoughts per second. She can figure out hard problems in her head in less than half a minute. Her speed is also a key role in her missions. When she comes across a foreign language, she can process and learn the entire language in less than a minute.
So I can go to France and meet French people. Strange.
If she comes across a hostile vampire, her first instinct is to protect herself above all else. She will also have the instinct to take down said vampire if they express open hostility. She will be able to battle the most experienced fighter and still win.
I'm not sure if I'm willing to go to a cage match with a vampire. But it would surely put all odds in my favor.
She will put the mission above her emotions. She cannot love, hate, or feel remorse.
I felt insulted. Of course I could love!
Isabella is purely a machine with a heartbeat. She will carry out orders and complete a task when told to do so.
Disgusted, I closed the folder. I looked behind me.
My wings had folded in. They were a part of my back now. It felt strange, having a bare back. I jumped off the dock and landed in the water. A boat was passing through. Time to test that speed.
...
The boat landed in New York. Everyone around me spoke in an unfamiliar tongue. A man came up to me in baggy clothing, wearing a cocky grin, asking me a question. I shook my head, uncomprehending. That was when the language snapped into my head. English.
"You wanna see my pad?" the man repeated.
"No, thanks," I murmured, walking away from him. He grabbed my arm and turned me around again. Three men flanked him.
"What was that, sweetheart?" he asked cruelly. He had a knife. Ohmygod, he had a knife.
I calculated my chances of getting away without a scratch quickly in my head. I chose the less gory plan and turned sharply, yanking my arm away.
I have to get away from here, I thought to myself. Somewhere where no human will see me grow wings.
"Get her!" the man bellowed. I headed for an alleyway. I heard the men's feet storm after me.
"Now," I whispered to myself. I jumped and sprouted my wings, turning mid-flight to glare at the men. I decided to have a little fun.
"God is most displeased with you boys," I said in a cold voice. The men backed off a couple of steps. "He saw the evil in your minds and he will surely punish you. Consider this a warning."
I flew away from the city, then. This story was sure to make the headlines.
The birds all seemed to stay away from me. I flew next to some Canadian geese and they all watched me warily. They flew off without me.
I stopped at some small towns, managing to gather some food and an occasional shelter, to survive. I was shocked when I walked up to a total stranger and he nudged me away.
"I ain't got no money on me, vagrant," he muttered.
"I just want some food," I said. My stomach growled to second that opinion. My mind jolted, as if I was electrically shocked.
Humans don't treat vagrants like people. They won't bother to give you anything. Try a policeman or a nun.
I found out quickly that policemen were out of the question. One of them tried forcing me into a homeless shelter. I broke free and ran into an alleyway, where I took to the skies.
I walked into a store on a Texas evening. The woman behind the counter shot me a dirty look when she saw my ratty and torn clothing. I looked at a packet of food hungrily. Without thinking, I snatched it and tried to open it.
"Excuse me!" The woman yelled. "You have to pay for that!"
"With what?" I yelled back at her.
"Money, vagrant!"
I was repeatedly whacked with a broom before I left the store. My brain shocked me again.
Humans also worship green slips of paper they call money. You can call it a lot of different names. Cash, moolah, dough, bills, Benjamins...
I sighed. I didn't have money! I stepped on something on the way out. It was pink and sticky and wouldn't come off of my shoes. What is it? Once again, my brain zapped to life.
Humans chew tree rubber, which is manufactured with artificial flavors like mint, cinnamon, lemon, strawberry... etc. They can't swallow it, so they spit it out.
Ew. Let me say something. Humans are gross.
I flew every night so I wouldn't be seen, and every morning I either scrounged up some food or slept somewhere quiet. I tried to stay away from the hulking metal monsters humans called cars.
Funny thing, how I found out what they were. I was crossing a black part of the ground in California when somebody yelled, "Get out of the street, moron!"
I heard a loud honking noise and looked to where it was coming from. I huge red monster was going to attack me! My survival instincts kicked in, and I jumped up, doing a front flip before landing softly on my feet. I saw everyone staring at me. Was that unusual?
Yes, stupid. Those monsters are called cars. People drive in them so they don't have to walk or run. They can kill you!
Okay. Good to know. I huffed and thought sarcastically, Anything else you might like to tell me about?
Of course my brain was silent. I growled angrily. So I had to figure these things out on my own?
Yes. It's how babies learn.
I'm not a baby!
You're a month old.
With the brain of an average eighteen-year-old!
My brain was silent again. I sat in the corner of an alley and opened my folder, which I had tucked in safely underneath my jacket. A picture fell out.
Lifting it, I saw it was a crest. The crest of the Volturi. I lifted my arm, which I found one day to be a natural mark grafted into my skin. It looked exactly like the crest. I groaned. I'm branded. Like a cow. Moo. Imma go chew me some cud now.
I read through my files.
Has the ability to breathe underwater for long periods of time; must come up for air after three hours.
Cool. Hey, look, Momma, I'm a fish!
Is faster than a vampire in case she needs a quick escape.
I'm faster than a vampire? Well that's kind of interesting. How fast are vampires?
Must go through the line of duty and must never expose the vampire secret.
Well, well, well, Isabella. You've been naughty. "God is most displeased with you." I felt my wings twitch. I ached to fly.
Her mind will teach her the cultures and rituals of the social life around her.
That explains my annoying zapping brain. Can it please teach me everything now?
Knows how to drive automatically.
Drive those horrid things? No way!
Can attract human attention. Isabella X must be careful in a mission. Human attraction can be risky.
That's just great. I'll be a freak show. I don't want humans to notice me!
I closed the folder and stared at my arm again. It was high up enough where everyone won't notice, and if they do, it'll look like a tattoo. I sighed and leaned my head against the wall. Tomorrow I'm going to Washington. Better yet, the rainy town of Forks. It was secluded and rainy, so nobody'll be outdoors often. I hope. I'd better come up with an alibi.
But for now, I'll just sleep.
...
It was definitely cold when I got to Forks. I was hungry, too. I haven't eaten in a whole week. I was getting tired and weak. The rain was making my clothes and wings heavy. My eyes closed for a second, and I was falling.
I hit the asphalt with a thud, and I tried to look up. But I was too weak to even move.
Lights were approaching fast. I knew it was a car, and I weakly lifted my hands in front of my face. The car stopped. Somebody got out.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" a man asked. I groaned. "C'mon, I'll take you to the station."
I looked up into his eyes, and he gasped.
"On second thought, I'll take you home with me," he sighed. "You're in bad shape."
That was all I remembered, that and getting into his car, before everything went totally dark.
...
I woke up to the smell of food. I groaned and sat up. I was in a bed.
The room had an old computer, a rocking chair, pictures drawn by a five-year-old, and a large window. I sighed and wiped my face. Where was I?
I remembered as quickly as I thought the question. A kind man took me home. I got out of the bed and walked down the steps. I was clumsy. It was probably because I rarely walked. I always flew. And I just woke up.
"Good morning," the man said gruffly. He had on a jacket with a badge and a belt with a gun in it. My eyes widened. He was a policeman!
"Um, hi. You're not going to take me to a homeless shelter, are you?" I asked. The man chuckled.
"Not unless you want to," he said. "Here."
He slid a plate full of eggs towards me. I scarfed it down. He watched me with concern in his eyes.
"You been wandering around?" he asked.
"You can say that," I muttered, wiping my mouth with a napkin. I looked at him. He looked like a concerned father rather than a cop. I shook my head. "Why?"
"I was wondering why you were so hungry, that's all."
"No, I mean, why did you bring me home with you?"
The man sighed and looked away.
"It's a touchy subject," he said. "Get some decent clothes on. I'm gonna enroll you into high school. That is, if you want to."
"High school?" I asked. He nodded.
"Yeah. You're a little too young to live on your own."
He has no idea.
"Okay, thank you."
"What's your name, by the way?"
"Isabella X."
"X?"
"Ten. X stands for ten," I mumbled.
"Cool nickname, Bella," he laughed. "X."
"Thanks." Bella? Oh, well, it was cool enough. Better than Isabella.
"My name's Charlie. Charlie Swan. I'm the chief of police, here. Nobody will mess with you, you hear me?"
"Yes, sir," I said. Would he really stand a chance against vampires?
As it turns out, I was already a big hit when school started. Boys wanted to walk me to my next classes. Girls would follow me around and giggle for no reason, acting like they knew me. I tried my best to stay away from everybody. Charlie had enrolled me as "Isabella Marie Swan." I don't know where he got the Marie from. When I asked him, he looked pained and went into the kitchen for more coffee.
"Why does he do that?" I asked my new friend, Jessica. Angela looked up from her plate and stared at me. Jessica only laughed.
"Ang, she's got to know sooner or later. I'm surprised the chief didn't tell you himself!" Jessica cackled.
"He had a daughter about your age," Angela said softly. "She died a year ago of leukemia. Her name was Marie. You resemble her a little bit. You have her eyes. And her curls. But Marie had black hair. Yours is brown."
"Poor Charlie," I murmured.
"It's okay, really. When he came in to pick you up, he looked more alive than ever," Jess said, smiling at me gently. "I guess he thinks his daughter is reaching out to him from beyond the grave."
Jess and her friend Lauren cackled again, while Angela stared at them. Her face showed no emotion, but her eyes flared with anger. I looked around, trying to control my temper, until one family caught my eye.
They had pale skin and perfect complexions. Angela saw me staring at them and turned to look where I was staring.
"Oh, the Cullens," Angels whispered.
"Who're the Cullens?" I whispered back. One boy with tousled bronze hair snapped his head up to look at me. I blushed and looked down at the lonesome apple on my plate. I cupped it into my hands gently, trying to distract myself with the contrast between my albino skin and the perfect red skin of the fruit.
"Oh, they're Doctor Cullen's family," Jess laughed, as if it were an elaborate joke. "His wife can't have kids. They adopted them."
"The blondes are the twins, Rosalie and Jasper Hale," Angela whispered again. "The dark haired boy is Emmett. He's really good at PE. The small girl is Alice. And the boy sitting alone farthest from them is Edward."
I caught Edward stared and blushed again, staring at the apple in my hands.
"They're all BF/GF," Jess whispered, trying to catch me with juicy gossip. "I don't think it's legal, but they're, like, dating. Rosalie has Emmett, and Alice has Jasper. Edward can't find a girl here that's perfect enough for his tastes, though. Obviously he has no taste."
I rolled my eyes. How many times did he reject her? Apparently enough for her to finally get the message. Jess distracted herself by stabbing a leaf of lettuce repeatedly.
"They're not exactly related, except for the Hales. Other than that, Emmett, Edward, and Alice are related none whatsoever," Angela defended them. I was beginning to like Angela. She knew who to be loyal to. I could find a great friend in her.
The bell rang. Lunch was over. And I had biology next.
"Come to class with me, Bella," Angela said, pulling me away from Lauren and Jess.
"Um, okay. Which building are we in?" I asked, eager to get away from the gossip.
"C, I think. I'm not good at building names, just direction," Ang grinned. I smiled back. Yes, Angela was the perfect kind of girl I'd easily make friends with.
As it turned out, Angela's lab partner was waiting for her outside.
"Hey, that assignment's due today, Ang, do you have it?"
"Of course I have it," Angela scoffed, taking out some paper from her binder.
"Thanks. Oh, hello."
I waved at the girl and walked through the door. Mike Newton, a boy who I knew had an instant crush on me, looked at me with hopeful eyes. I immediately began looking for other available spots.
Oh, goody. The only other empty spot was right next to Edward Cullen. But seeing as I was desperate and I'd rather look like a fool in front of someone I didn't even know, rather than endure Mike's pickup lines, I headed for that seat.
I felt as though someone punched me in the stomach. My wings struggled to break free of my tight little jacket. I stared at Edward's cold, unyielding eyes.
Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Isabella X is sitting right next to a vampire. Oh, God...
Edward glared at me. I tittered nervously and scooted away from him, trying more to keep my instincts from snapping than fearing him. My wings stopped trying to burst out of my back; instead, my hands grew increasingly hot. I felt my muscles build. Oh, great. My body thought I was unable to fly, so I'm turning into the She-Hulk. I crossed my arms and covered them with my hands, trying not to make my new muscles known.
Edward Cullen, meet Birdgirl. Birdgirl wants to tear you apart now, 'kay?
I tried to stay focused on the cells Mr. Mason was drawing on the board, but my instincts were pushing me toward Edward. Then Mr. Mason handed out fliers. Since Edward was on the outside, he had to pass my paper to me. Once his hand got close, I almost lost it. My wings pinched a little when they tried to burst out. I smiled nervously and took the paper. Edward's grip on the paper was firm. It ripped a little, and he let go forcefully, as if he struggled to control his hand. I saw it shaking as he pulled it back. I sighed to myself and chastised myself for almost going berserk.
Edward suddenly got up, three seconds earlier than the bell, and walked swiftly through the door. I shuddered and pulled my stuff into my bag and around my shoulders. Mike walked toward me.
"Hey, Bella. Did you stab Cullen with a pencil, or what? He's never acted like that before," Mike said in a flurry.
"Um, no. He doesn't act like that around other people?"
"Well, I have his brother Jasper in English, and he flinches every time he's around a girl, but never once have I seen Edward Cullen cringe from a girl. An attractive girl, too!"
This time, I was the one cringing. Now Mike's using this as a pickup opportunity? It was just so... Sick.
"Um, Mike?"
"Yeah?"
His face was hopeful. I'm guessing he was thinking I was going to ask him out or something. In his dreams.
"Lay off you loser," I hissed. Mike paused, confused. I continued to stalk off for gym.
I tripped twice when I was running. Coach Clapp yelled at me to watch where I was going. I kept running, looking at the ground, all the while muttering random insults at everybody who laughed. Mike, who forgot entirely the message I hissed at him in the hallway, kept pace with me, snickering as he caught some of my useful vocabulary.
Gym finally ended, and I wandered toward the office to drop off my paperwork. The door closed a little too quickly.
I was stuck in a tiny little office, with a raging lunatic vampire demanding to have his schedule changed. I flinched when I realized that Biology was the main topic of Edward's concern.
I huffed under my breath and marched over to the desk, forcing a smile and slapping my paperwork on the counter. In the corner of my eye, I saw Edward's fist tighten, and his breath suddenly stop as he turned to glare at me. I turned to face him and glared right back. Edward abruptly snapped his head to look sharply at poor Mrs. Cope, who seemed a bit flustered at Edward's previous wild demands and my sudden appearance.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cope, but I can see that task is impossible. I'll just have to endure it, then."
With another crazed glare at me, he left in a hurry, rushing out of the door. Was it possible for him to still be walking at this time?
"How was your day, dear?" Mrs. Cope managed after staring at the door for almost a minute.
"Fine," I lied, managing another weak smile.
When I got to my truck, unexplained tears began to form. I cried the whole way home.