Author's Note: After reading and re-reading the first two chapters of this fic, I realized it was really stupid for there to even be two chapters. So, I decided to conglomerate them into one. You are now reading the revised first chapter of 'You Are My Life Now'. It has been edited and added onto. What used to be the second chapter starts somewhere in the middle.
As a side note, I would really appreciate it if you reviewed this fic! I have been thinking of maybe putting up a system where, if I get enough reviews, I will update earlier.
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1.Thirst
I moved silently across the rooftops, my footsteps whispering against the asphalt shingles. She did not hear me; they never heard me and for this I was glad. I watched her turn a corner. As soon as she was out of site I dropped to the ground, landing cat-like on the sidewalk. Creeping quietly, I prepared for the attack. I could hear her thoughts more clearly now: she was worrying about getting time in home for some television show and, for a minute, I was glad she was my victim tonight. One of my least favorite things in this life is to hear my victims dying thoughts, and it always disturbed me the most when they were the least bit meaningful. Listening to those I murder think quietly to themselves about their loved ones, about their plans for the future- that was torture. No, it was better when my victims where people like this girl, people I did not feel so guilty about hunting.
She had stopped walking now, and was rifling through her purse. I could hear her muttering to herself about her cell phone, and took my opportunity to pounce. Before she could so much take a step, I was behind her, one arm wrapped around her waist while the other covered any unlikely screams. I bit into her neck, finishing quickly as her thoughts quietly died out, replaced by an eerie silence. Knowing it was best not to leave evidence, I got to work destroying the body, my thoughts already focused on the task of getting back home.
I ignored everyone after arriving back at the Volturra, briskly walking past Heidi as she called after me. I was not in the best of moods, with little reason, and I simply did not have the tolerance on this particular evening to deal with Heidi's incessant… Heidi-ness. However, I was stopped short just before entering my wing of the Volturra by a meek-looking underling who stood just in front of the door. I paused a moment, waiting for him to move.
"A message, sir," the pale man spoke, his eyes diverted from mine. "From Aro, he wishes to see you immediately."
I was quiet for a moment, holding in my exasperated sigh. "All right," I spoke, nodding. "Thank you." He left almost at once, and I was left to longingly look in the direction of my quarters, craving peace, before I turned heel and made my way to the main room. I found Aro, sitting atop his chair in the darkened room, a strange, twisted smile morphing his face into a motley grin. Standing some few feet away from his throne, I knelt in reverence. To his left, in a smaller throne, was Caius and to his right was Marcus. Standing directly behind Aro were two women, one wide-eyed and forever alarmed with a strangely olive complexion and the other tiny and dark haired with a pixie cut. Both women had a hand on Aro's back, and both looked strangely complacent.
"You may rise, my child," Aro spoke, his voice old and rough.
I stood, unsure of myself, before speaking. "You called for me?" I asked.
"I did," Aro assured me, "You have pleased me, my son; I have chosen an award most impressive for your honorable loyalty. It will be the first gift of many; you have achieved distinct favor. I am hoping that, with this gift, you may find favor in me as well."
"Thank you, Aro, for your favor. I am most gracious," I said.
Aro's twisted smile returned, and he nodded. "You will find the gift in your ward, please do enjoy."
Curious now, I bowed a second time before exiting the Volturra's chambers, hastening to reach my wing of the massive building as quickly as possible. I stopped in my tracks right before I came across the door that opened to my ward; a sudden, animalistic impulse took over me as the most intoxicating scent I had ever experienced wafted through the air. I felt venom pool in my mouth as I nearly lost all control, my head drifting to the clouds as an overwhelming need to find the source of this scent and to feed despite having just fed. All sense gone now and only a maddening desire running through my mind, I moved quicker than ever before down the hallways before quietly opening the door to my bedroom, intending to sneak up on my victim.
She turned around softly, and realization struck. What Aro had been talking about, what his plans are and -most of all- what my gift was.
Even from where I stood, I could hear the rapid beats of her frantic heart; she was frightened, terribly so, and I did not care. A deep flush spread across her cheeks, and she began to slowly back away from me, as if she could get away. With each step there was the soft clank of metal against the hardwood floors; there were shackles of my feet, which I assumed were for show. There was no doubt in my mind that, shackles or not, there was no possibility of this girl escaping me unless I desired her to. The thought was strangely delicious as I advanced upon her; my red eyes alight with desire. I had never wanted anything so much in my entire life. Nothing in all my years even came close to this pull in my chest, this burn in my throat that screamed, begged for me to attack. I felt venom dripping from my teeth, pooling warm into my mouth as my entire body waited to taste what would certainly be intoxicating.
I had experienced great thirst before, but never quite like this. Actually, I do not even know if it could even be counted as thirst; it was more like desire. I wanted this girl's blood, not because my body needed it but because it was the most delicious thing I had ever smelled before. The great want to taste her sweet blood over-ridded everything else; I would do anything to be able to have her. I could not control myself; it was impossible. I had to have it.
She was afraid, and with just reason. I could see the terror in her honey-brown eyes as she accessed me, her thick lips trembling as she tried to find the words that would save her. Even in her state of acute distress, she was the most beautiful human girl I had ever seen. I noticed that she was bruised, mostly on her arms and legs, but also on her face. Her long, mahogany hair cascaded down past her shoulders and was both messy and uncombed; she looked as if she had been through a lot, and before I took another step it occurred to me to wonder where exactly she had come from. Surely someone was missing this girl right now, and yet I did not care; she was mine and I was glad. I approached her slowly, a maddening need to taste her sweet blood taking over all my senses, and halted only when she unexpectedly spoke.
"Are you going to kill me?" she said, her lips trembling. It was the sound of her voice, and not the actual words she said, that stopped me in my tracks. Even her voice was dripping with honey, the sweetest voice I had ever heard. She was delicious.
It was difficult, but I found words. "Are you afraid?" I asked in return, my voice husky with thirst.
She did not answer at first, but instead backed away another step, studying my face. I noticed for the first time that she was crying, that she had probably been crying for a long time. Fat tears dripped down her face and this time her voice was low enough that, if my hearing was that of a normal human's, I would not have been able to make out her words. "What do you think?" she said softly.
It was at that point, as I distinguished her soft words, that I realized that I could not hear her thoughts. For a moment, I was almost completely flabbergasted. My thirst forgotten, at least for now, I stood completely still. The only sound in the room was that of the thud thud thud of her ever-quickening heartbeat. My mind raced and I stared at her, wondering exactly prevented me from getting into her head. This had never happened before; no one else had ever been such a complete and total mystery. I did not know what to do.
If I killed her, I would certainly be punished. Destroying what Aro would definitely see as an asset to the Volturi, should she be changed, was not an act that would easily be forgiven. I tried to compose myself, tried to let go of the need, but it was so difficult. My whole body trembled as my fists clenched and unclenched, and I purposefully held my breath. Later, I would come for her later. In the mean time, it was absolutely necessary that I speak to Aro. I would not risk the possibility that he did not know of this girl's… gift. I took a graceful step backwards, purposefully taking my eyes away from the girl.
"Are you all right?" There was that voice again, sweet as molasses. She had noticed my distress. I almost laughed at this ridiculous creature. How could she ask such a question, when she was the one who was about to die? It seemed counter to everything I had ever experienced that my victim would ask such a question. I got the feeling that, if I could hear her dying thoughts, they would definitely be the kind that made me feel uncomfortable. This girl was bizarre, and for a minute I was even more confused. I did not know how to answer because, truly, I was not sure exactly how fine I was. I had never felt like this before; nothing had ever been so intense.
"You are to stay here, I will return momentarily," I responded with some difficulty. My voice was a cool command. As my hand reached for the door, I briefly wondered if anyone would smell my gift and come looking for a taste. The thought of someone else having her, tasting her sweet blood, was maddening and I felt a surge of protectiveness shoot through my body. "Do not open the door for anybody." It took all my strength to leave. My whole body begged me to stay.
I could still hear her and I could still smell her as I restrained myself from turning back and taking what I so desperately wanted. She was crying again, relentlessly. I walked evenly, trying to pay more attention to my own footsteps echoing down the hallway then the distant lub dub of my gift's heart.
She was mine.
