Preface
Bella’s POV
The fire that was searing every inch of my body was slowly coming to a stop. The mental struggle I was having to keep myself from falling into an endless black abyss was also becoming easy to win. My senses started coming back to me. I could hear the calm, rushing sound of a small creek, the beautiful songs of birds, and the soft murmur of whispers coming from somewhere around me. Underneath me I could feel the soft blades of grass. I lifted myself up with my elbows. I could smell the wonderful flowers in the meadow that I was lying in, but all I could think was ‘Where’s James?’
“James? Where are you?!” I knew I didn’t have to yell anymore, but it’s hard not to. As I looked around I saw three figures slowly walking over to me. My breath caught in my throat when I saw them. They were even more beautiful... If that was even possible! My eyes easily landed on James. A small smile slowly broke out onto my face. The world seemed to stop. Everything stood still has I took in every detail of the person I was looking at for the past year of my life. His blond hair that was held in a tie at the nape of his neck seemed to look even more rich and soft. A wind shifted the air around me, wafting his coconut and flowery scent to me. I took in a deep breath. It was even more intoxicating now. Lastly, my eyes landed on his. I remembered them being a bright red that pierced into my chocolate brown ones. Now, when I looked into his eyes, they were that much sharper, that much brighter. His eyes actually made me cringe. It stood for all the people he killed and fed from. It showed who he was. I didn’t want to be like that.
“Bella...” James whispered, kneeling down beside me. Oh, his voice. His voice sounded angelic. All the things I remembered about James from when I was a human, now seemed better. “Bella, dear. Welcome to the life as a vampire.” James reaches out his right hand slowly and stroked my left cheek. The skin of his hand felt silky smooth against the skin of my cheek. Like satin. There was the sound of a clearing of a throat and my eyes shifted past James and to the right. Victoria stood there with her extraordinary beauty. Her fiery red hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back. Her eyes just about matched the color of her hair. Her facial expression was hard. Victoria never really took a liking to me. She didn’t say a lot to me, but that’s the thing. Laurent and James talked to me a lot. Victoria, however, would roll her eyes at me and walk away when I tried to talk to her about something. James saw where I was looking and turned his head to look at Victoria as well. As soon as Victoria saw James looking at her, her face soften drastically. “Victoria, welcome Bella into our family.”
Victoria shot a look at James a quick look saying “Why are you doing this to me?” James gave her a look that shot hers down. Victoria sighed and reluctantly looked at me. “Welcome to the coven” She grumbled unhappily. Wasn’t she just a ray of sunshine? (note sarcasm) Victoria crossed her arms and stalked off, disappearing behind the thick cover of trees. Beside me, I heard James sigh. I looked back over at James. “Don’t worry about it, Bella. She just has some ‘getting used to’ to do.” James took my hand, pushed himself back up to his feet and helped me up to my feet as well. As soon as I was up on my feet I brushed off some of the dirt on the back of my jeans and shirt. “Laurent? Go receive Victoria and tell her to come back. We are going to be moving out of here.” James ordered Laurent. Laurent left in the same direction as Victoria did moments before. I looked at James and said, “Why?”
“Because, Bella, isn’t it obvious to you already? You’re Dad knows you’re missing. He’s a cop, and word will get out. Soon, there will be search parties everywhere. We can have you hunt on out way out of here.” At the mention of hunting, my throat burned. I sighed. This came with the choice I made. I chose to become what I am. “Oh.” I said simply. James came over to me and took my hand. “Bella, it’s going to be alright. Once you do it the first time, you won’t have trouble doing it the next. It’s really easy to get used to.” He spoke smoothly and reassuringly, yet, I didn’t feel that much better. I didn’t want to hurt innocent people! It’s not right! I just can’t.
“James. I can’t hurt an innocent person. I won’t.” I told James, looking up at him. James sighed and looked as if he was slightly disappointed. “Bella...” He breathed out. I shook my head. I wasn’t going to give in. “Fine. You can hunt murderers and the people with bad intentions.” I considered this. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing as killing an innocent human. After a few minutes of debating with myself, I nodded. James took my hand and led me into the trees. We ran through the woods. My long brown hair was flowing in the wind, I didn’t know it felt this good to run through the woods, hair down, wind blowing in your face, and being free! It was wonderful! For once, since I’ve turned into a vampire, I was happy that I made the choice to be one. There were happier things that can be enjoyed instead of it always being killing and becoming a monster.
James and I reached the edge of Seattle. It was just the time when the sun was almost hidden on the other side of the horizon. We walked onto the street. Lights from cars and buildings lightened up the town. James had an arm wrapped around my waist. He leaned his lips to my ear and whispered, “Pick someone Bella.” I swallowed, feeling the burn in my throat getting worse. Especially with all the people around. I was surprised my thirst hasn’t gotten the best of me yet. My eyes gazed over the crowds of people. I saw one guy who seemed to be trailing a teenage girl in a small dress that seemed to be a size or two, too small. The guy stayed a safe distance behind her, but whenever she stopped, he’d stop as well, pretending a magazine from a nearby newsstand caught his eye. I looked at James and he seemed to know what I was going to say. He nodded, just a small nod of his head, in the direction of the guy, giving me the clear.
I changed my path and followed the guy. After I few minutes, the girl turned down a dark side street. The guy followed. I waited a couple seconds before following them down the same path. It was getting darker and darker with each minute, but my vampire senses allowed me to see perfectly as I walked down the street. Within seconds there was a startled gasp and a small scream. The guy had the girl pushed against the wall. I saw him reaching into his pocket. As he brought his hand back out, I caught the reflection of the moon on the object in his hand. I didn’t wait a second longer. Suddenly, I turned the tables and had the guy pushed up against the wall. He dropped the knife as I knocked him away from the girl.
“What the hell?” The guy screamed as I brought a hand to his throat. I looked to my right where the girl stood, back still against the wall, shaking terribly. I tried to tell the girl to leave with my eyes. But I forgot they were blood red. There was a break in the buildings and the full moon’s light was shining down right on me, lighting up my face to where a human could see my eyes. The girl screeched when she saw and her common sense seemed to come back to her. She stumbled back away from us. She fell to the ground once by tripping over her feet, and instantly got up then started running out of the street.
As soon as she was gone, I looked back at the guy. The burn in my throat was getting more unbearable. I breathed in and caught the scent of blood. I looked down and saw a cut on the guy’s hand. The knife must have cut the skin when it fell from his hand. Seeing the bright red, smelling the sweet and irresistible scent, pushed me over the edge. I felt the blood take complete control of me. Slowly, I looked back up at the guy’s face. He saw my eyes and I could see the shear terror in his. I knew what he saw. Coal black eyes, full of hunger. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I leaned my head back a little and then bit down onto his neck.
