Chapter 2 – Red eyes.

SLAM!

The metal doors were closed behind us. Panic consumed me. I watched as the others cowered at what was afore us; nearly forty pale faces.

Right in front of us were three men, they were clothed in black cloaks, their skin a papery looking texture, their eyes red with a milky film. The eyes entranced me with fear and curiosity. Beside them were two women, cloaked in white. I was stricken by the layers of eyes that stared back at us, they where cloaked in black shades, the colour seemed to descend the further back you looked.

The one who looked dominant was upfront; he had long black hair and his skin as white as snow. Beside him were two men, one with long brown, wavy hair and another with shoulder length white hair but all with the same red eyes. Their eyes glistened with a look of hunger, the white haired one's lips twitched with obvious hate.

"Welcome guests!" The one in front cried.

That's when the screams broke my train of thought; I turned quickly to see many in a pool of blood, maybe ten. The cloaked figures graciously lunged towards us, singling us off like prey. I couldn't scream, I couldn't move, I could only stay rooted to my spot, hearing the screams, pleads, snaps and cracks coming from the others. The hooded figures were fast and lapped at the spilled blood, sickening me, ther blood seemed to be the only thing slowing them down. Sudden realisation struck, they were... vampires. But vampires don't exist. Vampires are mythical, like the ones in books and over-budgeted films. It felt as if I would wake-up in my bed at home, to find my overly imaginative mind conjuring horrific dreams. My eyes widened in horror as the man in front of me gave of a loud snap. A small female, with blonde hair sucking at his neck, she looked like a Botticelli angel, such an angel could never be imagined as such a monster but the screams from the man proved me wrong.

I heard sobs come from my left, a small girl with olive skin and black braided hair. She looked about two year old, she stood afore her dead parents, sobbing, not fully understanding what was going on. My body acted before my mind, I found myself subconsciously sprinting to the child. I grabbed the girl in my arms backing into a corner watching as the others were massacred. She whimpered and I sat down, rocking her back and forward, knowing that death would soon come for us both. She cried into me and I panicked as the tourists numbers had nearly gone. I shouldn't have left the villa, I'm going to die and my parents will never know what happened to me, I never got the chance to say goodbye.

I remembered that as a child, nursery rhythms my mother sang soothed me so I began whispering to the girl "Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Ashley's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Ashley's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turn brass, Ashley's gonna buy you..."

I was cut off, being dragged up from the ground by cold hands, I was floating being held by a male. A pale vampire with brown choppy hair, bore his eyes into mine. I couldn't help but stare back at the ruby red that was his irises; the colour was almost comic, esurient and obscene. The red paralysed me, I could no longer see. I was blind.

I felt cool breath brush my face, it smelt like green apples, honey, lavender...every possible beautiful smell. I felt lips fall down to the base of my throat and the vampire breathe in my sent-

"Alec, not her!" a bell voice sounded, superior.

The lips withdrew, sighing. I was dropped back to the floor. I sat and drew my legs under my chin, shaking, vampires! A vampire nearly killed me, and now they are taunting me, giving me more time to live. My sight slowly came back and I squinted at the sudden light. I quivered and whimpered. All the people lay in a pool of blood, all that was left was the little girl and I, who I suddenly pulled to me as she sobbed. I 'shhhhh'd' her and gradually felt myself become more scared, knowing that I would soon die.

The man with long black hair approached me, a look of wisdom and a need of knowledge on his face. "Take my hand child"

I watched his hand as it lowered to me. The white sharp claw like fingers opening from his palm. If I don't take his hand he will surely kill me, will he not? I looked at his hand before slowly and reluctantly taking his hand with my own. He gasped and some clocked figures stepped forward in panic. His eyes widened and he looked like he discovered a big secret.

"What an intriguing mind you withhold, my darling" he seemed proud of himself.

What did he mean 'intriguing mind' ? does he mean he knows my thoughts? No, not possible, but I didn't think vampires were possible either, I gu-

"Ah... so you know what we are. That causes a situation and there is only one way to eliminate that situation...death" The white-blonde haired vampire grinned maliciously.

"Caius my brother, do not threat the young one..." the dominant vampire scolded. "I am Aro, this is Marcus and Caius, my child. I would like to offer you a proposition" he gestured to the men at his side, still holding my hand.

I turned at the sound of a growl, coming from the same one who nearly killed me. A shiver ran down my spine, but not unnoticed as the male with the choppy brown hair smiled smugly.

"Do not fear, my child, no one shall harm you" Aro said.

No one will hurt me? I'm, surrounded by vampires and no one will hurt me?

"As I said I am going to offer you a proposition, to join us" Aro smiled greatly.

They want me to be one of them after what I just witnessed. I just saw nearly a hundred people massacred by these monsters, and he wants me to be one of them. I heard angry hisses come from all the pal faced monsters in the room at his offer.

"What if I don't take your offer" I asked timidly, I was even surprised I had spoken. His papery face frowned and I knew the word he would speak.

"I'm afraid, death is the other option"

I withdrew my hand from his strong grip. I felt my eyes sting, I would never see my parents a gain either way, I would either be dead or it would be too dangerous to see them again, in chance that I'd kill them. But what will become of the small child next to me, I may not know her name but I'd surely be able to negotiate her safety if I become one of them.

"I'll become one of you..." I whispered and looked up at Aro's greatly light face "On one condition"

He nodded still grinning ear to ear. "Of course, do elaborate"

I took a deep breath "You will release the child, she is under three so she will never remember this, I want you to take her to an orphanage or something"

He nodded. "Felix do take the child to the Luce del sole orphanage"

I watched as a large vampire, who looked like a body builder walk forward and took the girls hand in his, he shot me a sympathetic smile.

I gulped. Caius snarled angrily his eyes full of lust to kill me. "Aro! I do not believe this is a good idea"

Aro sighed "Dear brother, I haven't seen a human so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Bella Swan didn't hold as much prospect. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?" He stepped forward.

"Wait!" I panted, eyes wide in fear for becoming a monster "First I want to know why you want me?"

He smiled "You mind is like a puzzle, it's different from other humans, you have some sort of aura about you that makes me think your power will be grand"

"p-p-p-power?" I stuttered.

"Yes, I can read every thought you have ever had by touching your hand..." I cringed knowing when he helped me up he must have learned everything about me "Marcus can feel the relationship between people, Jane can inflict pain with just her mind, Alec can stop all ones senses..." he gestured to the same vampire who came close to draining my blood. I cringed away from him, so that is how I lost my sight, but the monster instead of taking away all my senses wanted me to hear, feel and smell him kill me.

"So t-that is h-ho-how I lost m-m-m-my sight?" I stuttered uncontrollably from fear.

Aro nodded and stepped forward again to change me, I wasn't sure how a human was changed into a vampire but I no longer had a choice I made a deal. I closed my eyes and felt his hand reach my face as he lowered down to my neck, I felt his lips part and the tip of his teeth touch my neck.

"Aro" a soft voice interrupted.

His lips withdrew "Yes dearest Sulpicia?"

I opened my eyes to see a beautiful vampire who was Sulpicia, she was one that was cloaked in white, her eyes a milk red also and her skin pure white but almost translucent. She had fair-hair that was pulled back into a long braid that reached the back of her knees. Her smile was bright and spread widely.

"Don't the child is young, give her a year or so" she spoke in a motherly tone.

Aro nodded "A year will is adequate enough"

I exhaled, I hadn't noticed I had held my breath. A year? They are giving me a year of human life?

"Come here, sweet darling child" Sulpicia motioned. I stepped forward at complete ease, somehow I felt safe around this vampire, maybe because she reminded me of my mother, maybe because she was cloaked in white not the terrifying black, maybe because this female's smile was great and kind not smug or greedy. I bow my head at her which she motioned up with the tip of her finger, her finger was cold and hard-like marble.

"I deserve no such honour, youngling." She pulled of her white cloak and I noticed she wore a white and gold dress that had a golden strip under the bust. She drew the cloak around my shoulders.

"Chelsea will you please direct-" she motioned for my name.

"Ashley" I didn't stutter my voice was calm, confident, I felt safe around her.

"Would you please show Ashley to her living quarters" she kissed my cheek and floated next to Aro. I noticed another woman in white next to Caius, she looked much like Sulpicia but bitter and her hair a lighter shade.

A small vampire with short red hair glided to me, it must have been Chelsea as she pulled me out the steel doors, I remembered what happened last time I walk through these.

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