I watched Charlotte 'sleep', her chest rising slowly before falling again. I could feel that pang of regret deep in my stomach, yes the kisses had been nice- almost sweet and sensual but that did not mean it was right. She had felt it too- I could tell by the way she began to cry again, falling into my arms before she closed her eyes and rested. The sun was starting to rise now- the first fragments of sunlight peering over the horizon- bringing with it, the familiar burning in my throat which signalled my time to feed. Standing, I pulled the duvet over Charlotte's body; her hands reaching instinctively to pull it tighter round her. I wonder if Peter ever did this- I shake my head and walk out of the room.
Once outside on the fresh morning grass- I break into a sprint, the world flying past me in a blur of colour and sounds. I had struggled to keep to the Denali's way of life but I had gotten there- sticking to the diet of animal blood to sedate my thirst. That did not mean the smell of a human did not interest me. This human, who I could smell as I ran through the forest, smelt divine. The smell of rose water infused with lavender and the fresh fallings of snow wafted on the air- making me pause and smell again. Rose water, Lavender, Snow and- I thought about what else the being smelt of. At first I thought fire but then as I smelt closely- analysing the scent carefully with my brain I realized the smell; Thunder storm. My body froze, in horror and confusion; I thought my mind was playing tricks on me but the smell, smelt all too real. A smell that though similar to others I had met- the smell of an oncoming thunder storm was the giveaway, something that I knew was unique to one person and one person only.
Turning towards the smell, I broke into another run- the sun rising slowly, casting rays down onto the earth. My skin glistened in the patch rays of sunlight as I ran in desperation towards the smell. I stopped- the smell very close now, and I continued on foot. It wasn't long before I found what the smell had belonged to; my dead heart contracted painfully before releasing in a sigh of relief and hope. In the middle of a sun lit clearing- where the earth was still brown and dead, sat a girl; naked. She did her best to cover herself, her arms hugging herself and her long slender legs crossing over each other. Her eyes, her deep navy blue eyes- were wide and afraid, trying to grasp everything in her line of vision. She seemed lost, confused, and afraid; a small whimpering sound echoed out her mouth as she sat shaking. I stared at her, taking in her face; slender nose, lips, high cheek bones- the face of Katrina Denali.
I stood there for a minute or two unsure of whether to approach her or not; but after those moments of thought, I found myself walking towards her. She saw me, and I wasn't sure if she had frozen in fear or was mesmerised by my skin sparkling in the sun- probably both. When I reached her, I knelt down to her level- her eyes following me as I went. I reached to touch her shoulder, and she flinched away in fear.
"It's okay" I cooed wrapping my jacket round her "I won't hurt you…"
She stares at me, recognition absent from her eyes. I carefully lift her in my arms and carry her home.
