-The Human Girl-

Chapter one - saying goodbye.

Isabella's Marie Swan (age Fourteen)'s Point of View:

You know, saying goodbye is a lot harder than it seems. Especially if the only reason you have to go is because of the person you're leaving behind.
"Papa," I whisper, my voice cracking in two as I speak. "please let me stay."
He pulls me into a tight hug, letting me bury my face in his shoulder as I try to hold back tears.
"This is the best chance you've got Bella, I've worked so hard to make sure that we're okay — and now I've secured you a place serving the Queen! We'll both be safe, and this is the only chance for you to get out of this miserable life. I love you so much Bella, so, so much." The carriage driver coughs rudely from behind us and we both pull apart awkwardly. Neither of us are very good at showing our emotions.

I step into the simple wooden carriage and furiously blink away the tears forming in my eyes. Looking out the window I can see Charles, my father, step away from the carriage and wave me a silent goodbye. I wave back, glad that there was no one else but him to see my sorrow. The coach driver clicked his teeth and the carriage pulled away, leaving my father behind.

I sank back into my seat and stared out the window. Although I knew that this was only a simple carriage, used entirely for lower class human transport, it seemed to me like something from a fairytale. I tapped the window hesitantly, scared it would break. Nope, apparently glass isn't as delicate as it looks. My father was out of sight now, hidden by the endless Washington snow surrounding us. I sighed, a single tear dripping it's way down my cheek while I thought about Papa.

He was a quiet, caring man — who, like me, found it very hard to share his emotions. Ever since my mother, Renée, had died we had both grown together somehow; sharing an unspoken bond as we mourned. Today, though, was going to be the last time I saw Charles for years. I drew my hair back around my face in a curtain, shielding me from the outside world.

My father was one of the only influential humans in the country; working hard his whole life so that we would be safe from the Vampires who ruled the world. I've been told they took over the planet a good hundred and ninety six years ago; dividing up the land between powerful covens, all lead by the most powerful coven — the Volturi. Now that Vampires rule the Earth humans are scum, many forced to take the place of peasants and surfs, having to work for their masters. In the country where I live we follow the 'Tudor' laws put in place by the King, who reverted us back to the era he was born in, like so many other covens have.

I crossed my arms to try and stay warm. Despite the fact that this is the nicest way I've ever travelled, the carriage does not include a fire. (Note sarcasm).

Although I knew that being sent to the royal court as a maid in waiting was the best thing I could have hoped for, I resented the fact that I was being taken away from the only person who truly knew me — and was being thrust in with a load of strangers (Royal strangers at that).

I felt another traitor tear fall down my cheek; leaving a warm, wet trail behind it, like a snail. Don't cry. I thought to myself angrily. Don't cry. This is what's best. For you and Papa. Especially Papa. Who will look after him when he can't work, if you're just another surf you can't do anything!

I knew I was right; if I wanted my father to live past sixty I had to give up something — namely the next few years. All I had to do was get there, make friends with a few powerful nobles, learn anything that I missed from the lack of human education and make sure that I came home successful.
No pressure then.

The coach journey went on for hours, the stones in the road making it a slightly bumpy ride. As we drove further and further away from the little village I'd always lived in I wondered how one country could be so big, surely we should have arrived by now. But soon the early morning light faded into darkness, just like I faded into sleep.