Witches prefer twilight | Seth Clearwater

Chapter 3. I belong with them.

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Amazingly, I was accepted into the Cullen clan very quickly. Though, to be honest, it feels wrong to call them a "clan." This vampire family lived both cheerfully and peacefully. After some time, they even gave me a cute nickname—Mare-Mare. I'm not usually fond of nicknames, but that one kind of stuck with me.

It was a good thing Esme had added an extra room to the house plans, just in case. She told me I could decorate it however I liked. I never imagined I'd ever have my own room—bright, with no bars on the windows. But what I loved most in the house was the huge library, filled with countless books. On the nights I couldn't sleep and everyone else had retreated to their rooms, I'd sneak into the study to pick out a book, then curl up on the big white couch in the living room and get lost in literature. I usually fell asleep like that, head on the armrest, book still in hand. By morning, someone would gently carry me back to my room.

I started eighth grade, and then ninth. Surprisingly, schoolwork seemed fairly easy to me. So among my new brothers and sisters, I didn't seem like a total dunce. Guess that's one upside of a lifetime of imprisonment by the Volturi.

Turns out, I love Christmas and Halloween. And honestly, any family celebration. Rosalie and I became good friends—she gave me advice on clothes and what color contacts could best cover up my violet eyes. Emmett and I loved to tease each other. With Alice, I could sit and chat about anything and everything. And with Jasper... we had very similar abilities. I could sense the energy of living beings and see magical vibrations.

After a while observing the Cullens and their gifts, I came up with an idea—more of a theory, really. I shared it with Carlisle one December evening while sitting in his study.

"There are people out there who have no idea the magical world exists but could still be low-level witches or warlocks. And when they're turned into vampires, somehow their magic intensifies," I said, closing yet another novel I'd pulled from the shelf.

"Hm, that's quite interesting," he replied, looking up from his computer. "Why do you think that?" He laced his fingers together and waited.

"It's strange, but I can feel magical vibrations coming off Edward, Jasper, and Alice. Like some kind of magical field," I shrugged.

Carlisle found it fascinating and decided to share the theory with his friend Eleazar.

Magic-wise, things were going great for me. I'd started to get a handle on energy control. And interestingly, the older I got, the more precise that control became.

A whole year passed.

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"Math sucks." I dropped down at our usual table by the window, tray full of food in hand. Because of constant "Jedi training" (as Emmett called it), I now ate every day. Every day, I trained in the forest. Over time, I learned to perform certain rituals, brew potions (buying or gathering the ingredients myself), and use magic without harming anyone—well, almost anyone.

One time, when Jasper was teaching me how to fight and defend myself using magic, I kinda lost control.

"Mare-Mare, I'm going to attack now. Watch my every move, predict my steps, and don't be afraid," he warned. He came at me so fast that I didn't even fully register what was happening—next thing I knew, I closed my eyes... and apparently flung him about thirty meters into the river.

Emmett and Edward were doubled over with laughter. Esme gave me a sad look. And I... was devastated. I kept apologizing, even though Jasper said it was fine—that he'd had worse.

"I thought you were the brainiac around here. Even Williams likes you," Emmett commented from across the table.

"Just because I get good grades and my teachers like me doesn't mean math doesn't piss me off," I grumbled, opening my juice.

Alice was resting her head on Jasper's shoulder, Rosalie was checking her reflection in a small mirror, and Edward... well, he looked sulky.

"I'm not sulky. That new girl isn't even here yet and already I'm sick of hearing everyone's thoughts about her," he muttered.

The news about Sheriff Swan's daughter moving to town had already spread through the entire school. Even something so small caused a stir in a place like this. I could only imagine how uncomfortable she must be feeling.

When we first arrived, it was the same—whispers, stares, and every single guy trying to get the attention of Rosalie, Alice, or me. They got used to it and didn't pay much attention anymore. But I'll be honest—it did feel good when someone asked me to sit with them at lunch. Of course, I always refused. Can't break the Cullen mystique.

I knew that as a born witch I could never be as dazzling as a vampire, but the attention was still flattering.

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Back home, I headed to my room to do homework while the others went hunting. Two hours passed without me even noticing. Since no one had come back yet, I decided to watch some TV in the living room.

Flipping through channels, I stumbled upon some vampire movie. It's amazing how many stereotypes fictional vampires have. Sleeping in coffins, fearing the sun, crosses, silver bullets, holy water... In the Middle Ages, those things gave people hope—they truly believed vampires existed. But now? If you told someone you saw a guy in the forest drinking deer blood, they'd just think you were nuts. Wouldn't kill your reputation, but it'd definitely damage it.

So really, staying hidden these days is easier. If you're pale and cold, no one jumps to "vampire." They assume illness instead.

I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of the front door opening. Finally—they were back.

"How was the hunt?" I asked.

"The usual," Edward replied flatly.

What was up with him? Still brooding about that Isabella girl?

"Has the game started yet?" Emmett plopped down on the couch so hard it made me bounce.

"No idea, I didn't check." I handed him the remote and got up, heading for the forest.

I found a clearing and sat cross-legged on the damp moss. Closing my eyes, I focused on breathing evenly. Slowly, I entered what I called a "calm state"—though technically it was more of a magical trance. I needed to do this once a week to keep my emotions in check. Strong emotions could disrupt the flow of magic and cause dangerous surges.

I didn't always need to do it when Jasper was around, since he could help stabilize me. We had a sort of mutual support system: when he struggled with bloodlust, I'd distract him by nudging his mind, and when I lost emotional control, he'd help ground me. Alice was grateful—she no longer had to constantly check the future to make sure he hadn't lost it.

As I started to feel drowsy, I came out of the trance and headed back home