First Sight

The Hunt was one of the most anticipated events of the vampiric world. Many vampires, all with blood red crimson eyes, waited in vain for an invitation. Some received, plenty didn't. It was Aro who organized it actually. Cauis and Marcus have much more important things than being wrapped up in Aro's constant silliness and need for extravagance.

Victoria has received an invitation every year, even the year when she became a newborn. Aro was positively delighted by her. He thought that she was the most enchanting vampire that had crossed his threshold since Jane. He was bemused and charmed at the same time at her often cynical and unenthused manner. He had eagerly tried to recruit her into his family but she refused almost immediately. She had too much self-independence for joining such a clan.

To make up for her lack of presence in his "family" Aro had invited her to almost every party and she made no effort to attend—except the Hunt. She had joined in every single event and lost every single time. She always came close. The human would only be a few strides away from her but then some vampire would pin her to the ground and between the snarls and hits she could see the prize being taken away by another.

Usually Aro picked out the choicest of human blood, one that would entice the vampires to try especially harder to catch the human. Also, he made sure that the guests hadn't hunted in a week ensuring that they were very thirsty. Victoria never really cared so much about the human blood—she's tasted better. What she really wanted was the glory. The honor of slowly draining the life out of a human in front of so many other thirsty vampires. It was her pride that fed the fire in her for this competition. But for many years now her pride has been slighted and she was now more determined than ever.

"Victoria!" Aro said giddily as he saw Victoria who was slouched against a tree, her eyes rapidly moving from one vampire to another, pausing carefully on each one. She looked as if she was deciding the best possible and swiftest way to dispose of them. Aro airily hopped towards her, his face lighting up like a child who has seen a candy he particularly likes.

Victoria lifted a brow in his direction and gave a slight nod but gave no more sign of acknowledgment. She continued to rigidly stare at each vampire. Aro stood in front of her and stubbornly remained in place until Victoria was at last forced to say something to him.

"Aro," she said coolly although she wasn't looking at him.

"Always my little strategist…," he crooned and Victoria cringed. She always despised Aro treating her as if she was a mere child such as Jane. Perhaps it was her high soprano voice or the fact that Aro seemed to consider most of his "treasures"-even those he could never acquire, as little children.

"Do you feel that you will win this year, perhaps?" he asked.

Victoria's head snapped in his direction and Aro saw that her coal black eyes had a different look about them. They were more starved, hungrier than the other eyes of the vampires.

"Yes…I am so sure that this year will be mine. I have starved myself for two weeks to ensure that I will have much more….enthusiasm…in this hunt," she said grimly.

"Indeed," Aro said.

"I have examined most of my competitors. None seem to pose as much of a threat as I expected," she said smiling a bit.

"Well I suppose you would like to continue your strategy planning and all that but come now! It is not all about competition. You look lovely, as always," Aro said.

Victoria smiled weakly. She was wearing a sleeveless leather dress with a low neckline. It was a daring attire for the 1800's and it was hardly appropriate for hunting but Victoria as always didn't care that much. Her mass of fiery, orange hair was let loose framing her pale, beautiful face. Even by vampiric standards she was beautiful.

"I have visited the minds of many vampire bachelors. They seem distraught that you've spurned their advances. Poor Demetri feels ignored as always and is eager to please you," he said pretending to shake his head in disappointment. Demetri was enthralled by Victoria the first day they met. She had regarded him as a friend as he taught her how to hunt, how to cleanly erase her tracks from both vampires and humans and most importantly how to choose the best kill. While she thought of him as nothing more of a friend he had an annoying obsession of trying to woo her. Demetri was excluded in the Hunts since he was the best tracker vampire ever known.

"I am not here to make friends or mingle with men. I am here to win," she hissed her tiny, soprano voice raising an octave higher.

"Well I do hope you win. There are many new trackers joining," Aro informed.

"I have thought about that carefully. I have decided that I will trail one of them—the best and when I feel the human upon my breath I will strike the unsuspecting tracker into the next country," Victoria said manically. Aro noticed that she unintentionally placed her hand on her throat and he thought of how thirsty she must be.

"A little tip. The best tracker from what I've heard is new in the Hunt. Friend of Dean. Says he can track anything. Loves a challenge," Aro said leaning forward conspirationally.

Victoria's eyes perked up and she jerked her head forward.

"Who?"

Aro nodded into the direction of a tall man who looked ruggedly handsome. His hair was tied in a ponytail and he was wearing nothing but a jacket with the buttons open showing off his muscled torso. The man noticed them staring and he bowed to Aro before staring at Victoria with a curious expression on his face.

"James."