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I cursed my luck as the rain trickled down my face. Though I could not recall how long I had been running, I was sure about a week had passed. Thick grey clouds blocked the sun from the sky, leaving the scene around me darkened and bleak.
When I though about where I had come from, I could only remember my death, at the hands of that accursed woman, Jane. She had pursued me, hunted me, and had claimed me. Her bite had taken much from my wounded body, yet she had not taken all the life from me. Being a member of the Volturi, Jane had a particularly potent venom (which she had inherited from Aro), strong enough to restore my tattered corpse and call me from death's door; at least halfway back.
No matter how many times I had cursed her, I could not reverse the curse she had inflicted upon me. In spite of my lack of choice over whether I became a vampire, I was quite enjoying the additional abilities the curse brought me. That said, I was forced to undermine my fundamental beliefs almost every week. I had killed many people since I died, three months ago. They had been criminals (I thought it best to kill the more deserving than the innocent) though I was slowly being consumed by my conscious.
I had managed to sustain myself on animal blood for the past week, since entering the country, though it meant feeding almost every other day. The blood kept me alive, barely, yet didn't give me enough energy to do more than a few hours of work. Work for me had gone from guiding tourists to running hundreds of miles every hour.
I was sure I had entered Washington by now. God knows how I had escaped from Italy with the 'royals' hunting me, with their guard, with Jane. I spat on the ground, my spit quickly being absorbed into the earth. It had been a lot of work to operate that cargo ship, especially after I had killed the captain, and the crew.
Deciding I should be moving, I leapt forwards. Soaring between the trees, I grasped the trunk of a particularly thick tree and shifted my weight into another leap. I found that 'air-travel' was the quickest and most exhilarating way to get around. It certainly seemed to take my mind off the image of Jane as she looked upon me, as she descended to feed.
The thought made me shudder, I raced onwards. Wind rushed past my face as I continued, my long (I hadn't had the opportunity to cut it) black hair billowed out behind me. I had not really though about returning to modern society. It seemed a long-shot, permanently stuck as a twenty year-old. I suppose that in many years (I did have all the time in the world), I could one day return to life as a not-so normal person.
A sound, crunching leaves. I stop, my eyes looking about franticly. An odour wafts up to my nostril, blood, human blood. What could humans be doing out here? Could the truly be hunting this far out? I couldn't risk going closer yet my legs were already carrying me towards the scent.
Two of them. One tall and dark skinned with a muscular build, the other tall, yet not as tall as the other, with marble white skin and honey-blond hair. The first one was bleeding and, judging by his reaction, he wasn't used to seeing his own blood. There was also the foulest of stenches in the hair.
Unable to prevent myself from approaching, I leapt down to the forest-floor.
The pair recoiled from me as I descended. The blonde one lowered his friend and leapt before him defensively, a low growl emerging from his throat. It was only now that I noticed his eyes, pure gold. Though I had never seen a member of my own kind with eyes of gold, I instantly knew he was exactly that, a vampire.
I merely stood still, not wanting to incur the wrath of (what seemed to be) a far more experienced vampire.
"Who are you? Are you with them?" The golden-eyed vampire roared. Not receiving an answer or sign of hostility, he continued with, "What is your name?"
My name, something I had not spoken of in so long it took more than a moment to bring to the word to the tip of my tongue. "I'm Lucas," I croaked, my voice terribly worn. A sudden wave of calm washed over me and the other vampire lowered his arms.
"What clan do you come from? Are you from the Volturi? A new guard prehaps? Or are you with them?"
Overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, I began to stutter, "I was infect by the Volturi, I escaped them. They think me dead."
"Whom 'infected' you?" He emphasised infected.
"A guard, Jane. Look, I don't want a fight, it's just the blood... I have tried to...stay...away...from...blood..." My desire was growing by the second and I knew in moments I was about to lose my control and rush forwards.
The other vampire frowned, something crossing his face close to understanding. A wave of calm washed over me as I met his gaze once more. The gold of his eyes seemed to sparkle. "I am Jasper, you better come with me, but keep away from him," he indicated the wounded victim.
"Friend of yours Jasper?" the wounded one rasped.
"Conserve your energy Jacob, we need to get you to Carlisle." Jasper shot forwards and scooped up his friend. "Follow me!" he called, already a good fifty paces (by human standards) away.