Prologue

"I can be noble, Bella. I'm not going to make you choose between us. Just be happy, and you can have whatever part of me you want, or none at all, if that's better." -Edward Cullen.

As much as I loved my extended family on the Reservation, it was good to be free to roam outside, especially without those oafs of a bodyguard. I mean, I like Uncle Embry and Quil a bunch, but their sons are like lapdogs, never leaving me some much deserved time alone. And Mom and Dad, even my little brother, Jacob Jr, get to be stifling at times.

But today, I Esmeralda Black, have turned officially sixteen, and as a birthday wish, I get to 'go shopping' on my own, in my very own car that Dad built for me. "Go hog wild," he exclaimed in his 'nothing seems to surprise me anymore' tone. 'Me' and 'shopping' should have shocked him, but he looked quite unimpressed with my proposal.

I cannot honestly say that I feel guilty about lying. Why can't a young woman enjoy a little time to herself and take in the sights of beautiful Forks? Yeah, sarcasm. I was hoping to drive to Seattle. It would be cathartic and I could rid myself of the memories of my two irritating lapdogs. Okay, that was a little harsh. Their names are actually Jinx and Xolo, the two rather annoying sons of Uncle Embry and Quil. They tell me that they follow me because I have a knack for getting into trouble.

I had to admit that there was an inkling of truth to that. So as always, while turning onto the highway on my way to Seattle, something caught my eye--a stealthy movement too quick to be human. That was not the only intriguing attribute. There was a strangle of long golden hair and red, more than bloodshot, eyes.

I was captivated. On the Reservation, most of my family would agree that I had some pretty good senses of vision and smell, even my Dad. I am not too sure why that is, but I do feel special. And so, the fact that the creature's movements were so inhuman intrigued me. The creature moved so deliberately! And its stench was overpowering, even worse than my brother's laundry! I pinched my nose in disgust and decided to follow the horrid scent. I could not help myself. Besides, it was my sixteenth birthday after all. What can a girl do to have some excitement nowadays?

It did baffle me that I have a keener sense of sight and smell, and even balance, than all the folks around me, but I cannot apologize for that. It was a gift that I intended to use to the fullest extent. So I parked the car at a nearby gas station and stepped out.

The creature was gone, but I did not mind. The stench lingered and was uncomfortably strong. I would follow its scent. It entered the woods through a semi-paved overgrown path. I treaded lightly, letting my instincts guide me.

Boy would Dad love to hear this story! He always loved my running commentaries. "Esmeralda," he would say proudly, "you have a knack for storytelling. That's my girl!" It was great to have an understanding dad.

Mom never had the same response, though. She was always the pessimist, too ethical for her own good. And her eyes . . . as beautiful as they were, always held a reservation to them, like we're all doomed. "Esmeralda," she would say in that sorrowful tone," you could have died!" I mean, I love her to pieces and all, but she depresses me. Despite that doom and gloom attitude, though, she pretty much attracts the attention of every single male she encounters.

They say my features take on after her, but without the doom and gloom.

I had to pause once the semi-paved trail became narrower. Obviously no car has graced this place in a while. I trudged roughly another half a mile and to my astonishment, there was a lit house, actually a mansion! Funny, I don't recall that this house existed during my entire life! It was a sight to behold since it looked so open with all of its windows. Most of Forks was never this mysterious, I thought elatedly. I moved closer as I saw the fleeting movements of the blond-headed creature. There it stood, in a dimly lit room, its eyes now turned towards my direction. "Blood red!" I took in a breath I did not know I held. For a moment, I thought she saw me. Her lips moved infinitesimally and I froze. My body was mostly covered by an overgrown bush, but could she have spotted me? Unlike my mom's albino white skin tone, mine was a few shades darker. I hoped, at that moment, that I was dark enough because the creature looked like murder was a pastime for her. I would not want to end up in a bloody mess on my sixteenth birthday, I thought ruefully.

I was unaware that someone else was in the same room as the blond creature until I heard it. It was beautiful, haunting, seductive, but innocent—the sound of piano music from the hands of a virtuoso. The music filled the air around me and caught my breath. It was the sound of a thousand emotions bottled in one elegant masterpiece, and my eyes were drawn to the figure at the piano, sitting as still as a statue but for the elegant hands that floated effortlessly above the ivory keyboard.

This other creature was male. I was sure of that. Its back was slender by strong. Its arms were muscular and long, just like its back. The hair was messy, but a nice bronze color. I could not see its face, however, since it was looking the other way. Something told me that its eyes may be the same as the blond-headed female, and its look perhaps no less menacing despite the façade of culture. In a way, I was glad not to look upon the male's face. It would put a damper on the lovely piano music flowing from its fingers. I decided that the piano playing warranted changing the status of the male from an 'it' to a 'he'.

It would appear that the blond-headed creature agreed with my assessment of the piano music because she looked so concentrated, so still. It was an intriguing dynamic between the two, I thought amusedly. Surely they were not human. Monsters then, veiled by a human façade with only their red bloody eyes, unnatural movements and horrible stench giving away their inhumanity? She was dangerous, I could glean, but he? Perhaps he was dangerous as well for some of the most vile things hid behind a mask of civility.

What were they doing in Forks? And at a mansion that I did not know exist until now?

The blond creature suddenly looked bored and turned to face the man on the piano. I let out a quiet breath, slightly relieved by my assumed nonexistence in her eyes.

The piano music changed, as if responding to the blond creature's sudden change of mood, but instead of becoming more dull, the piano music filled with more vitality as the fingers raced across the ivory keys, too quick for my eyes to discern. It would appear that I may not outrun them if caught, I thought dryly. And I was grossly outnumbered.

I faintly entertained the idea of bringing Jinx and Xolo with me next time to delve further into this mysterious couple, but quickly tossed away that idea. Those two clumsy fools would reveal themselves and get us all killed. Suddenly, my sixteenth birthday no longer seemed mundane.

It appears that Forks has now two new otherworldly visitors, likely from the depths of evil. Maybe if things get dicey, I would ask for Uncle Seth's, Embry's and Quil's help. They seemed like they would enjoy unveiling a mystery in Forks. Besides, things at the Reservation can be pretty monotonous.

My reverie was interrupted by an abrupt halt in the piano music. The male sat, arms at his side, still as a statue. I almost wished I could see his face, but reminded myself that perhaps I did not want to destroy my enjoyment of his music by coupling that lovely piano playing to a less than beautiful face.

The female now stood by the male's side, eyes focused on the male, her look concentrated, malevolent. Maybe they were not lovers, as was my initial impression. Maybe they were partners bound by a single motive or duty. But that theory went through the rough when the male's fingers lifted from his side to rest on his temple. He did not appear comfortable as his head flexed almost involuntarily. The female continued to stare at him without saying anything, her concentration not derailed by his discomfort. In fact, a small smile formed on her lips, as if satisfied with the exchange.

Maybe, he was her servant. No . . . his mannerisms did not suggest inferiority. Then what was he to her? Her focus broke, and the male let his fingers drift back to his side. She suddenly walked towards the stairs, and as he turned his head in her direction, I turned my eyes away. I was not sure why I did so. Perhaps I enjoyed the piano music far more than I let on, and so I did not want to ruin my appreciation of it by seeing his face.

From the corners of my vision, I could see the male's form following the female upstairs. I felt a twinge of disappointment. Maybe they were lovers after all, lovers with a twisted background. I noticed as the male followed the blond creature, he paused in his movements for a minute second before continuing up the stairs and disappearing behind the door the female had entered earlier.

Intriguing! Much more intriguing than the last sixteen years of my inconsequential existence! I had to come back. There must be a fascinating, deadly, story that surrounded these two that was begging to be divulged. I am pretty sure Dad would have done the same thing in my shoes. He was always a sucker for the weird.

But these two creatures were not weird. Mysterious maybe. Deadly maybe. Exotic maybe. But not weird.

I quickly retreated before hearing any unnecessary utterances between the two. I twisted my nose in disgust. Strangely, that thought disturbed me.