Chapter One: Before It All Began

BEFORE IT ALL BEGAN

* 17 YEARS AGO*

~ Damien's POV~

'You called Father?' I asked as I entered my father's office. He was on his chair with two other vampire guards. He looked up and smiled. 'Yes, I did. I have to discuss something important to you' He said and I sat opposite him.

'What is it?' I asked. Must be really important if he called me up like this. He don't normally play King with his own family.

'Well we have a job for you to do. There's a new born girl name Thylia Melody Shadows. Her parents are expected to die in a month according to Jack. She'll be move to a foster home soon and we need you to keep an eye on her. She's valuable to us and we need to make sure that she won't do anything reckless until we come along and save her. Understand?' He explained.

'So I have to protect a human?' I asked him again. It's not that I'm against humans or anything but a vampire prince protecting a human sounds odd seeing as we have nothing in common.

'She's not technically human, Damien. She's a sorceress, well soon to be. Of course she wouldn't know that until you come to the picture and help her with her powers' Father said and I sighed. A sorceress? Wonderful she'll be the next candidate for me. I stood up.

'Is that all?' he nodded and I left.

*6 years old*

~Thylia's POV~

I was at the play ground with my 5th adoptive family. I was playing in the sand box, creating a castle until someone pushed me and I fell over. My nearly finished castle was demolished. I started crying when I saw it was one of my adopted siblings, Matt. He smirked and laughed at me. I pushed him away but my black hair was tugged back and I was in the middle of a circle that Matt, Lucy, Joey and their friends created. I whimpered and knew that I wasn't able to do anything about it.

'We hate you! Why didn't you just die with your real parents?' Matt spat at me. I was crying harder now.I saw Mr and Mrs Walters ignoring the scene.

'Yeah! You are better off dead than alive! Who would take you in anyway?' Lucy laughed evilly. Matt, Lucy and Joey never liked the thought of me being their little adopted sister. It's been 2 months since I moved in with the Walters and they had somehow found ways to abuse me. They thought that I would take attention away from them. I never did anything to them and yet they hated me so much.

Joey was pulling my hair and I screamed but no rescue came to me. He dropped me to the ground and kicked me. I wanted to scream but Matt covered my mouth. Lucy was clawing her manicured nails into my skin. About half and hour later, they stopped and left me. I walked towards a tree and climbed on it. I sat on the highest branch and tried to stop crying.

I didn't do anything wrong and why am I getting punished? Why did mommy and daddy leave? I wanna go home. I sat there until I heard the familiar voice of Mrs. Walters calling my name. I climbed down and she was shocked when she saw the bruises.

'Thylia! What happened? Who did this to you?' She asked. I knew that I had to lie.

'I was chasing a squirrel and it attacked me' I said and she laughed. She shook her head.

'You're too adventurous for your own good. Come on it's late, dinner is ready' She said and helped me cleaned out. Lucy was glaring at me when Mrs. Walters was cleaning my cuts. I had to cast my eyes down. Too afraid to face her.

After dinner, Matt came in when I was asleep. He pulled me up and blind folded me. He wrapped duct tape on my mouth. I was dragged away and I have no idea where I am. I was terribly afraid. I felt the stairs underneath me and I felt the cold autumn night breeze hits my warm face.

There was just the constant dragging and I can feel the wet damp grass tickling me. We must be at the park now. He untied the blind fold and tied my feet and hands together. I struggle and saw Lucy and Joey smiling wickedly. This can't be good...

What seems like hours of constant pain shooting through my body, I saw the sirens ahead. I was losing consciousness and apparently blood. My vision was getting blurry as I saw two officers came to me.

'My god, what is wrong with those kids? She's dying here. Call the ambulance' One of them command the other. Soon enough, I fell into a deep slumber.

* 8 years old*

Mommy I'm at a new foster home.They said that the Walters' siblings got arrested and went to a special school. I'm glad that they are but now I need to find a new family. What would the kids at school will say? Will they hate me like they did? I wished you and daddy was here to tell me its okay. 

The owner of the foster home was walking with me to my new class. I was really nervous. I'm scared that they hated me. Ms. Summers knocked on the door and soon after a woman in her 30's opened the door and smiled at me. I smiled back. I wanted it to be a great year but somehow, there's this feeling that I won't get accepted. She took my hand and dragged me into her classroom.

'Everyone this is Thylia Shadows. She lives at the foster home. Please make her feel welcome' She said and everyone smiled at me. I smiled back. Please tell me something good is coming out of this.

A boy with auburn hair came up front and dragged me to his seat. Ms. Summers chuckled and went to  her desk. 'Hi I'm Eric Smith! Like you I live in a foster home too but not the same one as yours' He said and I smiled at him. Someone I can relate too.

By lunch time, I only made one friend. People kept staring at us but we were in our own little world to care about them. We kept playing around and when the school ended, we were greeted by the owners of the fosters home. I gave a small wave and left.

It's been a few months and Eric and I had been officially declared best friends and inseparable. That until one day, after school Ms. Summers was absent from her usual waiting area. Eric already left and I can't go back until I saw her. It was getting dark and I was hungry. I saw a police officer came towards me with a sober look on his face.

'Ms. Shadows, your foster home was burnt down and none of the younger children survived the accident. We have to move you into another foster home' He said and I just nod my head. Why is everything always takes the wrong turns for me?

The officer knocked on the door of Eric foster's home. It was nicer than mine I thought and Mrs. Hale opened the door. I mute the conversation and was searching for Eric. She laughed when she realized that I was eager to meet Eric. Once she finished, she led me to the kitchen where most of the kids were having dinner. Eric sat at his chair, not eating his food.

'Eric, someone's here' She said in her soft voice and Eric immediately saw me. He smiled and ran towards me. I smiled at him as he gave me his bear hugs.

'Thylia will be staying here from now on' She said and Eric nodded. Mrs. Hale pulled up a chair and motioned for me to sit. She gave me a plate of spagetti and left. Eric was happy that I will be sharing the same foster home as he is.

* Present Day *

'Eric! Come on that's not fair!' I whined as I chased him. Okay introductions. I'm Thylia Shadows, 17 years old and I'm currently living with my 12th adopted family. I have violet eyes, long shaggy black hair, pale skin and slender. My best friend has always been Eric Smith.

He moved into a nice caring family, The Denvers. I on the other hand, had the most horrible one. They are drug addicts. They weren't when I was 12 but now, they are. It's sad though but I never had let them enter my heart and swept me off my feet. No, I always hang out with Eric's family. That way I can escape reality.

'Says who?! You ate my cookie dough ice-cream yesterday!' He laughed and ate the donuts that I bought. For myself. I stopped to catch my breath and continued running.

'I'll buy you another ice-cream! Just don't eat my donuts!' I yelled and he smirked. We were chasing around his house sorry his mansion. That's right he got adopted to a rich family. While I live in a small terrace house. Barely making out alive.

'Hmm... no! I want you to buy me a ticket to Ninja Assassin!' He said excitedly. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my donuts. Mrs. Denver came in and smiled at us. We were arguing over food again.

'So kids, we're going out dinner today and Thylia of course you can join us. So be ready by 8!' She said and we nodded. There was one donut left and I quickly grabbed them before Eric does. He pouted and mumbled something.

After a few weeks later, I was again hanging out with Eric-obviously- at the mall. Just window shopping to keep ourselves occupied. I was licking off the nice cold ice-cream as we pass a jewelery store. Eric looked at the display counter. I never owned any type of real jewelry except a blue diamond ring that was passed down to a Shadows first born and a gold ring with my family's crest on it. I just stood beside Eric not engulfed with whatever he was doing.

'Lia, which of these would you like?' He asked me and I looked at the sets he pointed at me. I saw a necklace with a locket pendant in a shape of heart. In the middle of the heart is a blue gem, sapphire. I pointed the heart locket and he smiled. He went into the store and I pulled him back.

'What are you doing?' I asked and he chuckled.

'Buying you a necklace' He said and I glared at him. One thing I hate about Eric is that he's loaded which leads him to buy me expensive things that I simply hate spending money on.

'No, I thought you asked just to find out and not buying it, Come on it's not worth it' I said and dragged him somewhere but anywhere far from a jewelry store. He grinned and decided to eat chinese for lunch. We were sitting by the window.

'Uhh... Lia I have something to tell you' He said. I looked up from my menu and stared at him. Unfortunately, this made him uneasy.

'What is it?' I asked and he looked away. He seems so disturbed. I saw his eyes resting at the entrance. I looked at the direction he was looking and soon enough my breathing hitched. It was the Walters siblings. Of course they won't recognize me any longer but that doesn't mean I don't. Eric glared at them and went back to his menu.

'Why are they here?' He sneered. He was right, why are they here? I know that Joey is a senior now since he's a year older than me. Doesn't explain it though, I was moved out of San Clemente after the incident. We are in Alaska, so why are they here? I guess the term its a small world fits into this criteria. I sighed and decided to order sesame chicken.

Once the nervous Vietnam waiter walked away, Eric turn to me. ' I won't let them hurt you' Eric said and I smiled at him. He's such a great over- protective friend to me. Yes, I admit I did have a crush on him until I realized that he was better off as my brother. Apart from Ms. Summers who mystery died in the fire years ago, Eric and the police, no one knew about what the Walters siblings did to me.

I couldn't help myself but to look at them. Not directly of course just several stares and nothing more. 'Eric, what did you want to tell me about?' I asked and he looked at me. He shook his head. 'uhh.. later' He said and our order arrived.

I glance at the Walters and saw them laughing. They are older of course, Matt is possibly around early 20's, Lucy 19 and Joey 18. Their platinum blond hairs was shining under a dim lantern. I sighed and how they can be so happy after what they did. Cruel, heartless human being. I can't accept such person. The feeling of no remorse was too much. How can a human being with a heart of their own, be so heartless about a helpless child. An innocent child that hasn't harm them even. How did  they live with that label? Was it entertaining to see another person hurt and merciless? They never seemed to be concerned about other people's feelings but their own. Did they enjoy the screams of help, the tears of pain and the constant yells to stop? How can they laugh when they nearly killed me?

Eric seemed to notice that I wasn't listening to his babbling about Troy's, his adopted brother, new girlfriend or in this case fuck buddy. He hated that bitch since forever. He loves Troy just not the girls he goes around with. 'Lia, Lia! Were you listening?' He asked me and I turned my attention back to him.

'Course' I lied but Eric caught it. Damn him!

'Lia just don't looked at them at all. It's not healthy for you!' Eric scolded me. I raised my brow and laughed.

'Right coming from a boy who've been complaining about his adopted brother's fuck buddy. Come on even that word means he doesn't care about that bitch!' I said and he laughed. He put his hands up in surrender.

'Okay, you got me! I'll zip my mouth about him and his...buddy' You see Eric has issues when it comes to cursing. He hates them but that doesn't stop me from using them. 'somehow they got you distracted today. How bout we head back and crash' He asked and I nodded. He called our server for check and I was about to pay when he shove the waiter a gold card. I scowled at him. Just because he's loaded he have to pay everything! It's infuriating how he gets his way around everything. Of course when you heard the word rich people assume that you're snobby that's the reason why Eric isn't snobby nor spoil. He just managed to get his hands on almost everything.

We got up and passed the Walters. Not once did I notice they never looked up at me. It means they don't recognize me. I don't know which is better, them not knowing my identity or knowing my identity. I followed Eric to his car and we passed by the jewelry store that we stopped earlier on. When we reached the exit, Eric stopped. I looked up at him.

'Whats up?' I asked. He shuffled his hands into his pocket and threw me his car keys. 'You go ahead, I forgot something' He said and I nodded. Left without saying anything. Not that I suspect him of doing anything I told him not to do.

When we were by his pool just chilling and soaking in as much sun as we can, Eric was looking nervous and anxious. I laughed at that. He's fidgeting looks incredibly adorable and hilarious that I had to surpass a laugh. He glance his head towards me. 'What's so funny?' He asked, tilting his head a little. I pointed my finger at him, still laughing. 'You!' I chocked out. He's brows knitted together in total confusion.

'Why are so nervous about?' I asked after I managed to stop laughing. He sighed deeply. He played with his hands and looked down.

'Lia, I-I have to move to New York. Dad's expanding his business there and we all have to leave soon' He said softly. Hoping I didn't catch it but I did and I froze. He's leaving me? My only friend in the whole world is leaving me? I was speechless. I had to admit I didn't see that coming. How will I survive the rest of junior senior year without him? With the Walters back, I don't have a chance of surviving through. I felt the cold salty tears rolled down my cheeks. I'll be alone again and helpless.

'Lia I'm sorry and I tried to begged my dad into letting me stay but he won't budge.I'm so sorry Lia. I don't want to leave my best friend alone but I don't have a choice' He said and I sniffed. Sorry doesn't seem to cut it. Sorry won't protect me. Sorry won't help to fill my dull life with laughter or tears. It won't help Eric to stay till graduation. Sorry won't do anything. My whole body was shaking and tears kept flowing down. Eric pulled me into a hug and we stayed like that until the night crept in. I had a feeling that I drifted asleep but I wasn't sure. By now, the tears had dried and Eric was looking at me through his green eyes. It was filled with sincere apology, sadness and mostly despair.

He let go and I wipe my cheeks. He took out something in his pocket. It was a velvet box. He cautiously opened it. It was the heart necklace I showed to him. He opened the locket and there was a picture of the both of us when we were younger and now. I smiled a little bit and he clasped it on my neck. My fingers were exploring the details on the locket but my eyes were on Eric's. He looked like he's close to crying. Knowing Eric, he's very sensitive. He bit his lip and pulled me into a hug. My finger trailed at the back of the locket and noticed there was something engraved to it. I looked at it and it said No matter where we are, best friends till the end. I love you-ES

He gave me a small smile. 'I won't forget you nor will I abandon you, Lia. You're the greatest friend I could ever asked for and will always be. I know that I won't be there for you for the most part of your life but if I have to get on a plane and travel back and forth just to see you. I will cause you are so much more to me than a best friend. You're like my sister, the type that if I let go, I'll lose her but I know that she'll come back in the end. I just want to let you know that, if anything happens between us, we will be there for each other no matter what the cause is' He said. I nodded.

'When are you leaving?' I asked, I was hoping next summer. Please let it be summer!

'Around March. We want to wait till the snow melts down' He said and I sighed. It's November now and March is still 4 months away. 4 short months. I'll miss him so much. I hope I can live through spring at school without being insulted at.

*March the 4th*

BEEP BEEP BEEP

I groaned and opened one eye. It was 6.45 and I had to get ready so I can say goodbye to Eric. I sat up and sighed heavily. He's leaving today. I fiddled with the locket and got up. I showered in 3 minutes, applied eyeliner and red lipstick. I brushed through my hair and wore the yellow shirt that Eric gave me that says Time to party hard! with a black skinny jeans with my yellow converse. I got my black studded bag and got into my car. A gift from the Denvers. I speed towards the airport and saw Eric sitting at the waiting room with Troy. His parents left last night so that they can settle some things at New York. He saw me and smiled. I gave him a tight bear hug while fighting off the tears that threaten to fall.

'I'll miss you so much!' I said and he smiled softly.

'I'll miss you too. Remember no one in this world will ever replace you in my heart' He said and I nodded. He wiped off the tears and embraced me into a hug. Troy joined in and we stayed like that until we heard the plane to New York was boarding. I sighed and we let go. I took out a small box with a red ribbon. I handed it out to Eric.

'This is something to remember me by' I said and he nodded. He kissed my forehead and gave me another bear hug. 'I'll call you when I get there. We'll find ways to keep in touch. I promise!' He said and went through the security. I waved and he waved back. Sending me a kiss. I smiled and watched as he slowly disappears. When his shaggy auburn hair was nowhere in sight, my smiled turned into a frown as reality hits me. He's gone.

______________________

Ahh FINALLY! It's done and yes I'm so excited. There maybe a few mistakes that I'm too lazy to check.So live with the mistakes and fix them so you can understand or something :P I'll write the next chapter around this weekend.. technically its already Saturday for me. It's like 12.10 here. Also I might accidentaly changed the plot of the story and forgive me. I'll try to find the time to redo the prologue but I want to read Twilight right now and finish reading it by tonight. So ttyl! Also comments!