I could hear everything before I could see. The bustling sounds of traffic, cars honking as they sped past one another. The faint sounds of humans talking, as they walked through the busy city.
Cracking my eyes open, sunlight shot through the window beside me. My body lay comfortably on a plush bed, though it paled in comparison to my original one.
Pushing myself up and scanning the room I had found myself in, I was pleasantly surprised by its opulence.
"Not a bad beginning place to wake up in. Thanks, everyone," I quietly said, hoping my family had heard me.
A rich red carpet lay under the queen-sized bed, its warm fabric a welcome feel to my bare feet. Across from me sat a computer, a primitive piece of technology that humans used. Thankfully, in the years I spent with my uncles, they had introduced me to the wonders of online gaming.
On the right-facing wall, a large wooden bookshelf loomed, filled to the brim with books that I would definitely browse at a later date. There was an additional door inside the room that I walked to; upon the door opening, I was greeted by a lavish bathroom.
A large claw-foot bathtub and a spacious shower that looked as though the showerhead was built into the ceiling.
Letting out a low whistle, I turned back to the bedroom and spied a piece of paper on the computer table. Picking it up, my eyes lit with happiness.
{Dear Son,
This is one of your many homes located on Earth. Yes, the one that you and your uncles always had fun talking about.
This is just one of the infinite versions of Earth, specifically from one of my favorite book series hinthint.
I hope you have fun on your adventure. Remember, do what is right by you, not by others' expectations.
Love, Your Mother.}
Turning over the paper to ensure I didn't miss anything, I held back a tear of happiness at her message, that was until I paused and thought about her hint.
"What the hell did she mean, 'her favorite book series'? We had an ever-expanding library!"
Scratching my head, I threw the letter on the table and exited the bedroom. The living room and kitchen were just as luxurious as the bedroom, with marble countertops and state-of-the-art kitchen appliances.
Throwing myself on the couch, I pushed back my black hair as I contemplated what to do next.
First, I needed to figure out where I was on Earth, which wouldn't be too difficult. The sounds of city life were enough to point out I was in a central hub of life.
Second, and more importantly, I needed to figure out which world my mother deemed as important enough for me to begin my journey.
It couldn't be Harry Potter; after the low-class reaper stupidly gifted the Peverell family those Deathly Hallows, she had burnt the books and placed those worlds on a blacklist.
Percy Jackson was not an option, as she hated the horrible and weakened Gods depicted in that series. I had to stop her from going to the author's house and sending them to hell; even my aunts were angry.
"Oh no," I whispered.
She wouldn't, would she?
Oh, she totally would, just for the sake of humor.
A realization dawned on me. My mother's favorite genre was romance, and not that well-written kind. The type of romance where you'd question your sanity, then question the author's sanity before realizing you'd finished reading the book.
"Please don't be Twilight!" I groaned, tossing and turning on the couch.
Sure, at one time when I was younger, I had read the books and even watched the movies. You couldn't blame me, though; I didn't know any better, and I somehow grew to crush on some of the characters, especially Alice, Rosalie, and Tanya.
Picking myself up off the couch, I adjusted my clothes and walked to the en suite in my bedroom.
Moving towards the floor-to-ceiling mirror, I had a quick peek at myself.
"Still looking good," I said, a grin on my face as I appreciated my appearance.
I couldn't be blamed; I was raised by Gods and Goddesses. We're vain.
Short black hair that held slight curls; the sides were cut in a more modern way. My eyes were an odd mixture of gray and purple, making them a lavender-gray. With a sharp jawline and full lips, my face held that masculine model look.
Standing roughly around 6'3", my body was well-proportioned. Through physical training back home, I had the optimal build of thick shoulders, arms, and thighs, and a narrow V-tapered waist.
"At least I haven't changed physically."
…
Exiting the apartment building was easy; a personal elevator that was attached to my penthouse gave me direct and quick access to the world below.
As the front doors of the building opened for me, the bustling sounds of the city blasted my ears.
I took a deep breath, intending to feel the fresh air. Unfortunately, my stupidity was truly shining today, as the smell of car fumes and garbage quickly filled my nostrils.
Gagging, I covered my nose and waited a moment for the sensation to pass.
With a shake of my head, my eyes found a newsstand across the street. Maybe it would give me some direction or understanding of the world I was living in.
Joining the crowd, I weaved my way through them and found my destination quickly.
{Gang Wars, or Something More Insidious? Updated information on the reign of terror Seattle has found itself in! Police Chief hints at possible organized Gang Killings!}
The headlines of a newspaper drew my attention. Picking it up, I placed a couple of dollars on the counter before opening the pages.
The more I read, the more I wanted to head back home and let the Fenrir puppy tear apart our home. Sighing, I crumpled the rest of the newspaper and tossed it in the trash before turning and leaving.
Moving through the crowd, I found a coffee shop and ordered a drink before taking my seat in the far corner.
The more I thought about the news article, the more I came to the same conclusion. I was in the world of Twilight, but not when the story initially started. It seems as though I had skipped through the first two movies, and I was in Eclipse.
This meant that Bella and the Cullens had already gone through the months of heartbreak when Edward left; they had visited the Volturi as well. Victoria was already starting her little newborn army, causing chaos as it was being built.
Taking a sip of my black coffee, I closed my eyes, something I did when I was deep in concentration.
Should I even get involved? It's not like I had any objective other than to experience the universe. My involvement would naturally cause the story to shift in an unpredictable way. Did I even need to be involved? The questions swirled around in my mind.
Opening my eyes, I watched as the patrons of the coffee shop sat in quiet conversation, the smiles on their faces as friends shared private jokes.
Suddenly I felt a pang of something, maybe it was envy? Sure, I had my family, but what else have I done in life apart from spend time with them. I had this new opportunity, I could do whatever I wanted, and maybe even a bit of good would come from it.
Standing up, I drank the rest of the coffee and threw the paper cup in the bin.
Fuck it, I've got nothing to lose. May as well have some fun and figure everything else out along the way.