Disclaimer: Twilight still belongs to the brilliant Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 5: The Cullens

(AmPOV)

I had just finished telling my story when Carlisle asked me if I was the Princess of Volterra. I should have remembered that he would know of me. I should have realized that my father would have mentioned me. How could I be so stupid? I wanted to get away from being the princess and I make a slip like this?

"How did you become the princess?" Katie asked.

I sighed before answering. "Aro was very fond of me from the beginning. He knew what Bradley had done to me. He was disgusted with his actions. Add in the fact that he couldn't read me and I soon became one of his favorites. That's the reason Jane didn't like me in the beginning. After she got over the fact that I was of equal status in Aro's favoritism we became really close friends. Now Jane and Alec are my best friends. When he discovered I could duplicate powers he promoted me to Princess. I suspect that me being as powerful as I am played into that decision a little. However, it is not the only reason he wants to keep me with the Volturi. Over the years, Aro has truly started to care about me as a daughter. The same with Sulpicia. The Volturi are my family. They are the reason I got away from Bradley. They are the reason he is dead. Although, I wish I had been the one to end his pathetic little life, but oh well. He's dead, that's all I care about. I am no longer in the wars fighting for my existence, because of the Volturi. Everyone there cares about me, and it's not because they're forced to by Chelsea. Her power doesn't work on me so she can't tie me to anyone, nor can she tie someone to me. When I first copied Aro's mind reading I used it to see what the guards really thought of me. They liked me. I was a part of their family. It was the same with the ancients. I felt wanted and cared about for the first time ever. When I was human my parents didn't care about me. They used me to improve their social standing. I was their just to marry some guy who would help my parents move up in society. They didn't even look for me when I disappeared. They put on a good show of searching, but I overheard my father telling my mother that he would be glad that I was gone if they hadn't needed me to improve their standing. Bradley sure as hell didn't care about me." I didn't look at any of them as I explained in a monotone voice, lacking any emotion. I gazed out the back window wall, because I couldn't control my expression as well as I could my voice.

Alice and Esme's eyes were filled with tears that would never fall. Rosalie had a look of understanding and sympathy. Katie and Audrey looked sympathetic. All the males looked angry about my father and Bradley. I have a feeling they might know what happened between me and those two bastards. After a few minutes of awkward silence Carlisle spoke.

"Would you like to hear our stories now?" He questioned politely.

"If y'all are willing to tell me, then I would be delighted to listen." I continued to stare out the back wall for a few minutes so I could school my expression into an emotionless mask. I'm not sure if my eyes were completely blank of pain, because I locked eyes with Alice and she flinched slightly. I broke the connection, and turned to look at Carlisle.

"I was born in London around 1640. I was changed at the age of 23. I had taken over the raids for supernatural creatures from my father. He was an Anglican pastor. I had found a coven living in the sewers. One of the vampires emerged onto the street. He was weak with hunger; he caught the scent of the mob immediately. He then turned and attacked me, and took another of the mob as he ran away. I hid myself in rotten potatoes for the three days of my transformation. When I woke up realized what I had become and left the city as soon as possible. I did not want to hurt any of the humans. In the beginning I tried many form of suicide, but as you can see none of them were successful. I had not hunted in all this time and I grew weak and the burning thirst grew stronger by the minute. I was in the forest hiding when a herd of deer ran past. My instincts took over and I attacked without thinking. I became stronger, and I realized that there was alternative to drinking human blood. I studied by night, planned by day. I then swam to France, and continued through to Europe, to study at the universities there. I found my calling in medicine. It took me two centuries to perfect my self-control. I am now all but immune to the scent of human blood. I was studying in Italy when I found the Volturi. I decided to try the New World. I wanted to find others like myself. When the influenza epidemic hit, I was working nights in a hospital in Chicago. That's where I found Edward, dying. Edward would you like to continue?" He looked to his son.

The copper-headed vampire took a few seconds to organize his thoughts before taking up the story where it left off. "I was born in Chicago in 1901. Carlisle found me in the hospital he was working in at the time. It was the summer of 1918. I was seventeen, and I was dying of the Spanish influenza. I don't remember it well, as human memories fade. I have almost always stayed with Carlisle since then. Esme?" He looked towards the caramel haired women.

"Carlisle changed me in 1921 at the age of twenty-six. I fell off a cliff and was taken straight to the morgue. Carlisle found me there and could hear my faint heartbeat. He bit me and we've been together ever since." She beamed at her husband. "Rose?" She gestured to the beautiful blond to continue.

"Carlisle changed me in 1933, at the age of eighteen. I was dying." Her tone was so cold, as if daring me to ask her a question about her story.

"My Rosie here saved me from getting mauled by a grizzly in 1935. I was twenty. She carried me over a hundred miles to Carlisle so he could save me." He beamed at his mate. His smile was so big it looked as if his dimples were permanently carved into his marble face.

Katie was the next one to speak. "I was changed in 1885 at the age of eighteen, by a vampire named Alexander. I stayed with him for a few months, but once I had enough control I left to travel on my own. It was 1925 when I crossed paths with Carlisle and Esme. Edward was traveling on his own at that time so it wasn't till a few years later that I met him."

Audrey was the one who continued this time. "I was changed in 1940 at the age of nineteen. I lived in Houston, Texas. I was supposed to fight as one of Maria's soldiers. Jazz and I fell in love and decided to escape with this other couple, Peter and Charlotte. We stayed with them for a few years, before wandering off on our own. It was 1948 and we were in Philadelphia. We were out during the day while it was raining, and decided to duck into a café. We met this little freak there." she tried to ruffle Alice's hair, but Alice quickly dodged and swatted her hand away. I felt a twinge of jealousy shoot through me. How I wish I could touch her even casually like that! I wanted to be close enough with her to be able to tease her like that. I felt as if I could get that close to her then I would be complete. As long as she was in my life I would be content for the rest of my eternity, because she is my eternity. I realized that I had been smiling softly, and quickly let my smile fall.

Alice stuck her tongue out at her sister before turning back to look at me. I couldn't help thinking how adorable she looked while indulging in the childish behavior with her sister. Then her perfect, musical voice reached my ears. "I don't remember anything about my human life. My first memories are of waking up as a vampire. I don't even remember my change. I woke alone with a bracelet with the name Alice on it. I had visions of Jazz and Audrey and even some of the Cullens. If it weren't for my visions who knows what would have happened to me. I met my brother and sister in Philadelphia and from there followed my visions to find the Cullens. We found them in 1950 and have been here ever since." She finished with a smile. I could tell by the emotion in her voice as she spoke of her family that she loved each and every one of them. My lips seemed to copy hers without my permission.

I looked out the window wall again, and realized with a start that it was nearing dawn. Carlisle cleared his throat to get my attention.

"I have to get to work and the kids here have to get ready for school. If you are able to you are welcome to come back when they get home. I'm sure they would like to talk to you, and Esme will be here so you could talk with her as well." He smiled warmly at me.

"I think I would like that. I'll be here. It will give me time to take care of a few things before coming back." I smiled.

"Okay then. However, there is one more thing I would like to talk to you about. We request that you do not hunt in this area. We would prefer if you would go out of state to manage your thirst." His tone was both calm and commanding.

"Of course. I just ate outside of Seattle on my way here, but I shall refrain from hunting in state from now on." I smiled predatorily to add a bit of menace to my statement. I wanted to see how they would react. A barely noticeable shudder went around the table. However, none of their expressions changed. "What time does school let out?" I questioned.

"3 o'clock." Alice answered quickly. I looked to her and nodded my thanks without looking into her hypnotic amber eyes.

"I'll be here around four then?"

That sounds lovely." Esme smiled at me. I looked around the table at each of them and noticed that Alice looked a little…disappointed? Wonder what that's about? I mentally shrugged, and stood up to leave. Alice stood up with me. I raised my eyebrow at her.

"I'll walk you out." She responded to my silent question. She followed me out the back door and closed it behind her. When she spoke her voice was so soft a human would never have heard it. "I noticed while you were talking that you stroked the scar over you right eye every once in a while. Why is that? Does it have a special meaning or something?" I stopped walking and turned to face her.

"I guess you could say it has a special meaning, but that doesn't mean it's a good special meaning. It was the first scar I got in my first battle. "I heard her voice as if from far away when she asked "If you don't mind me asking, how exactly did you get it?" My mind was far away, overrun with the memory of that day. My first real battle.

Flashback:

I was fighting a newborn. I was focusing on the moves he would make. I thought my back was covered by the other newborns in our army. I didn't see the other enemy come at me from behind. I felt him jump on my back and briefly felt his teeth scrape against my neck. His momentum knocked me off balance, however, and it saved my life. Instead of him sinking his teeth into my neck and delivering a killing strike, his teeth ripped into the skin above my right eye.

End Flashback.

I left my story unfinished. She did not need my demons haunting her. She was too pure and innocent. This story didn't have a happy ending, then again which of mine do? I did not only receive my first scar from that unknown newborn, he also became the first vampire that I killed. He was by no means the last either. I saw understanding flash in her warm golden eyes. Does she guess at what I've left unsaid? I shook my head slightly to clear it. When I spoke it was with a clear and confident voice.

"It's a shame that I have to leave. I wouldn't mind spending some time getting to know you better." I threw her a flirtatious smile, before melting into the deep shadows under the trees. As I ran home I let my mind focus on the beautiful pixie named Alice.

A/N: Well what do you think? Good? Bad? Eh? Review and let me know. Oh, and if some of you recognize some the characters stories, that's because I pretty much copied the exact words from Twilight. And did I do a good job with Katie and Audrey's stories? Alright. I think that's all I have to say. Bye! :)