PROLOGUE

{ Alabama, 17 years ago}

The rain crashed down like an angry waterfall. The day was dark and gloomy; the only source of light was the random strikes of lightning that illuminated the dark sky. The powerful thunder drowned out any other noise. Inside a small abandoned barn, three young women were knelt in a tight circle. The women were deep in thought, staring at the newborn infant they had viciously delivered just minutes before.

"What should we do with her?" A ginger
haired woman asked.

There was no immediate answer. The dark haired woman that was holding the small infant glanced over at the blonde woman next to her. The red haired woman knew that the other two women had the same idea.

"Why don't we keep her?" The blonde woman suggested. She had an English accent and her high-pitched voice made her sound immature.

"Keep her? Are you insane, Elizabeth? We can't keep her!"

"Why not, Aleera?" The raven haired woman asked.

"Because that would be stupid, Noemi."

"What is stupid about it? No one else is around and she'll never remember this."

"It doesn't matter! We can't keep her. We leave her at the first orphanage we find." Aleera stated.

"Oh, come on, Aleera! What harm could it do?" Elizabeth asked.

"What harm could it do? Um, did you forget about the Volturi ? They would kill us if they found out!"

"They'll never know." Noemi said.

"And our kind shouldn't be raising a human child. No way. It's too dangerous."

"We'll adjust."

"Exactly how are we going to adjust?" Aleera sneered.

"We'll be vegetarians." Noemi answered casually.

"Yeah, vegetarians!" Elizabeth echoed.

Aleera's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

"Vegetarians?"

"Yes! Aleera, come on. Have a heart." Elizabeth begged, making a pouty face.

"Besides, taking her in is the right thing to do. Especially considering…" Noemi pointed to the mutilated carcass that was the child's mother.

Aleera cringed with guilt when she looked at the body.

"She's all alone in this world, Lee. Just like we were." Elizabeth said.

Pangs of guilt, anger and sadness racked Aleera's body. She knew the pain of being left to fend for herself. It was no way for a child to grow up. Feeling abandoned and angry was what made Aleera the way she was.