Chapter One: A Surprise
I just keep running. I don't know how long I've been running, seems like forever. When I woke up from the burning, I had this…urge to run. But I didn't even know where my feet were taking me. As I ran, night turned into day and finally, it was night again. My run slowed to a jog when my brain registered seven scents that I recognized as my kind, vampires. As I approached the end of the forest, I saw them. Six of the most beautiful people I'd ever seen. Only six bodies, but I smelled seven scents! Where was the seventh member of this…this… whatever they were! Maybe the last one was hiding behind me waiting for me to make the wrong move and attack? I pushed my questions to the back of my mind as I stood in the little forest watching these faces, faces that were so familiar to me but I could not put my finger on it…I frowned and shifted my weight. As I did that, all six took defensive crouches. Oh shit. If I make one wrong move, I'm dead. Instinctively I tilted my head to the side, wondering why they would view me as a threat. I mean what harm could a five foot two girl possibly do to them? I laughed a little and the two men in the front straightened their selves. The older looking one cleared his throat and started to speak. He must be the leader of them. I took a mental note of that and waited for him to speak. "Hello, my name is Carlisle and this is my family." He said, gesturing to the lot of them. I didn't answer, what was I supposed to say? "Oh hi, nice to meet you Carlisle. I was just aimlessly wandering through the neighborhood when I caught your family's scents and I wondered if you had room for one more?" HA! Yeah right, like that was going to happen. I mentally rolled my eyes at myself. He continued to speak, but I was too busy mentally ranting. He said the same line about five or six times, all in different languages. Wow, he must have a lot of time on his hands to know six languages. I was impressed! When my mental rant was done and he stopped trying to communicate with me, I stepped a bit closer towards them. The sun suddenly broke through the trees and hit my skin…it was so beautiful, like diamonds or something. I must have been staring at my skin for a while, because when I looked up they all had amused looks on their faces. I went forward again, only this time the muscular blond boy moved closer too. He was so much more beautiful than the other males; chin length honey blond hair, strong jawline, muscles that were just right(not steroid looking like the big dark haired male behind the females) and lips that looked soft like rose petals. His face was blank, unmoving…like he was modeling for a portrait or a statue. All six continued to watch me. What were they staring at? Was there something on my face? I probably didn't look to well, but that couldn't be it. I didn't feel like myself…well I do, but my body doesn't feel like it belongs to me. My hair felt heavier, my skin looked lighter, almost like a fading tan. Someone cleared their throat. That brought me out of my thoughts. Right, I should introduce myself…don't be rude! "Hello, my name is Rosalinda." As the words flowed from my mouth like soft melodic music, I was startled by how beautiful it sounded. I didn't sound like myself either…what the hell happened to me?!
"Would you like to come inside and freshen up?" A voice from behind Carlisle asked.
Not trusting myself to speak again, I nodded quickly. The big male led the way, with Carlisle in front of me and the beautiful blond boy trailing behind me.