Prologue
I could smell the blood seeping out of the young boy's wounds from miles away.
It called to me like a siren's most seductive call.
As I drew closer to the young boy, I saw that he was younger than I had imagined. Barely twelve. A child.
Why would somebody desire to kill a child? Even at the height of my depravity I stopped myself from hunting innocent children. Little beings who had not yet hurt anyone, still untouched by the evils of this world.
There was no saving him.
The creature who had gotten to him before did a good job in causing the maximum pain while keeping the body and senses alive.
The pain and terror were only a prelude to the feast.
The boy's eyes opened and stared at me. So focused for someone so close to death.
The dry cracked lips barely moved, but I could make out his plea.
"Please."
I could end the pain for him, but at no small cost to my conscience.
I crouched down next to his body. I opened my mouth, my teeth already dripping with venom. I lunged for his ravaged throat and feasted on the last ounces of blood coursing through his body.
As much as I despised myself for it, I took pleasure from the sweet ambrosia that was his blood.
I finally heard the last thuds of his heart. It was done. There was nothing in this world that could ever hurt him again.
As I licked the last spots of blood from my mouth I stared down at the broken carcass that was once filled with life and love. What a waste.
I was again reminded of the monster I used to be.
It was not easy for my kind to die. Only certain creatures or other vampires could kill us. But nobody dared to touch me. Not out of any consideration, but fear of my family. Besides, I did not want to die yet. I had too much to atone for.
Redemption was my mission.
The first steps had already been taken, but the real struggle lay ahead.
I had to return. To Forks. To my family.
To Edward and Bella.
My parents.