"Really, Carlisle, I'll be fine," I told my father for the umpteenth time. Carlisle did not look convinced.

"Edward, you must understand," he said in a pleading tone, different from his usual calm one. "Esme or I will not be there to restrain you if you slip up."

I sighed.

"Carlisle, it amazes me how much faith you have," I replied dryly. But, upon seeing his still anxious eyes, I softened. "Honestly, nothing will go wrong. Yes, I know my self-control is still not perfected, but I can assure you, the only thing I will be drinking tonight is animal blood." I smiled.

Carlisle was still worried. He seemed to be trying to think of a way to persuade me to postpone the hunt, and I wondered if he had forgotten that I could read his thoughts. Finally, Esme's voice came from the doorway.

"Carlisle, relax." She appeared in the room. "You have nothing to fear, Edward will be fine," she reassured him gently.

Her words seemed to convince him. He sighed and turned to me.

"Be careful."

I just smiled. "Have faith."

I exited the house and began on the trail towards the woods, eagerly anticipating the hunt. It was true; this was my first hunt since I had rebelled against Carlisle's more 'humane' way of drinking animal blood and went on a human killing rampage, returning to Carlisle and Esme a few years afterwards, plagued with guilt. But really, they had nothing to fear. My self-control may not be the best – I was still a young vampire – but I was certain that I could withstand the scent of human blood enough to be around humans.

I shuddered as I recalled all those years ago, when I had run away from home and preyed on innocent people, giving in completely to my natural vampire instincts. At the time I didn't seem to think they were all that innocent – using my mind reading abilities to only kill the worst – but nonetheless they were human lives I had taken. I pushed the thought out of my mind and continued onto the woods.

The trees whispered in the slight breeze; it blew my bronze hair about my face. I admired the natural beauty of the surrounding area: the pure green grass that grew on ether side of the trail I was on, lavenders poking through every so often, the night sky a deep, navy blue, the stars that shone down dotting it's surface, the soft glow of the moon that seemed to be smiling ever so slightly.

Then, suddenly, a distinct smell wafted through the breeze, picked up instantly by my sensitive nostrils. I stopped walking and inhaled the scent appreciatively; deer. I broke into a run, entering the woods, trees rushing past in a brown blur. I found the small group of deer easily enough, guided by my sharp senses. They nestled in a clearing, grazing.

I gave in wholly to my natural instincts and began the hunt. It was a curious feeling, having everything else overwhelmed by the desire for blood. What was even more astounding was obeying those feelings, letting them draw me in until I could not control them any longer, until I was a completely different person.

I eyed one deer in particular, sitting at the edge of the clearing. I crouched down and edged forward slowly, noiselessly. I bared my teeth and prepared to strike. Then, in a flash, I darted forward and attacked the unknowing animal, draining it of all its blood. I quickly fed on the other members of the group – there were only three more – and licked my lips, relishing the taste. I was certainly thirsty tonight.

It was at that exact moment, there in the clearing that I first saw her.

She was unlike anything I had ever witnessed before. Her pale face, illuminated by the moonlight, was angelic. It was heart shaped and flawless, smooth. Her long, brown hair was the same shade as her eyes; they twinkled in the light. Her features were angular, and yet soft, especially her lips. They were full and rose coloured, now pressed into a line. She was literally the most beautiful person I'd seen in my whole life.

But it was not her overwhelming beauty that made me freeze in place and lose track of all thought; it was her scent. Never in my life had I smelled anything so wonderful. Her blood was tantalisingly sweet – it seemed to sing to me. I was now consciously aware of the thirst that overwhelmed me, called for me to surrender and attack her right this very moment. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes, hoping this would be enough to control my thirst – my relentless, aching thirst.

It was all I could do not to harm her. Control yourself, I commanded firmly. I was determined not to be consumed by the hunger that raged through me now, determined to cling onto the single rational thought I had left. I took a step forward without thinking and immediately stopped myself; why must I lose control now? I thought in agony.

She continued walking through the woods, her path marked clearly by the moonlight. She had her head bent down slightly, her eyes staring straight in front of her. A look of irritation and confusion was on her face, evident in her chocolate eyes.

She kept walking at a steady pace, then rounded the bend of the moonlit dirt trail and disappeared out of sight. Even though I couldn't see her anymore, her delicious aroma still lingered in my mouth and in my nostrils, until finally fading away. I thought it was safe to move again, so I staggered towards a tree and collapsed against it. Who was this pale, hauntingly beautiful stranger that had made me lose control like I had? I was still marvelling over her beauty, her perfection. Despite my supernatural strength as a vampire, I suddenly found myself weak in the knees just thinking of her and her luscious scent.

I regained my composure enough that I could run again, and took off back in the direction of my home.

My house was slightly less typical than that of normal 1930's residences. It was a large, two story manor, made of pale, pebbled brick. Its roof was high and pointed, its shingles pale grey. Two white pillars stood at the front entrance; several others separated the many windows that dotted its surface. A perfect, green lawn stretched out in front of the house, separated by a long, pebbled pathway that led up to the entrance. Shrubs and other greenery were planted in front of the manor, obscuring the windows a fraction. Thick, green moss covered one side of the house and tall chimney that protruded upwards out of the roof.

I was thankful when I finally reached the double oak doors and pushed them open, into the warm, wide foyer. I found Carlisle and Esme upstairs, in Carlisle's study. My thoughts were still with the girl I had seen tonight, completely immersed in the mystery she presented. My distraction must have been evident on my face, because Carlisle looked worried and asked, "Edward, whatever is the matter?"

I drew myself back into reality and looked up to see the concerned faces of my parents.

"Oh, I uh….it's nothing…" I murmured.

Carlisle didn't look convinced. I read his thoughts and quickly dismissed his assumptions.

"I didn't harm any humans, Carlisle, don't worry." I realised how close I had come to doing just that. "It was a good hunt; I found some deer."

Carlisle was relieved. He smiled. "Good, I'm glad."

I excused myself and went to my private en suite, studying my face carefully in the mirror. My eyes were golden, topaz, unlike the coal black they had previously been, and the purple bruise-like shadows beneath my eyes were lightened. A few strands of my copper hair fell in front of them. My pale, hard face looked distinctly more shallow than usual; another product of tonight's events, I thought smugly.

I returned to my bedroom – one of the six in this grand house – and, with a sigh, flopped down on the leather couch that took up most of my room. I held my head in my hands, once again picturing the angel that graced my view mere hours previously. The familiar ache of thirst coursed through me once more as I remembered her blood and its wonderful scent.

I lay on the couch now, my hands still covering my face, lost in thought. I found myself wishing – for the first time in many, many years – that I could dream, and though my desires were futile, to say the least, I still found myself cursing the sleep that I knew would not come.