The Hunter
Chapter 12: "There You Stood."
A/N: Okay, why is no one reviewing? I know you're there, I can see you on the traffic stats. Why aren't you reviewing? I work so hard to bring you this story and I seriously don't even get a pat on the back? This writing for free shit is for the birds. Still, I'll keep plugging away until someone reviews. Beth is played by Shannon Sossamon. Her singing voice is played by the singer from Flyleaf. Also, tons of sex in this fic. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's definitely mature.
It was a while before they found a gas station to stop at. Having no tampon, Beth had bled through her jeans and onto the seat. Fortunately the seat was leather so it was easily enough cleaned up. Her jeans weren't so fortunate.
She could tell by the way that he gripped the steering wheel that the scent of her blood mixed with his own scent that he'd gotten on her earlier during sex was driving him crazy. His mouth was set into a firm, grim line and he didn't move except to steer. She wisely didn't say anything to him about it, though her curiosity almost got the better of her a few times. She wanted to ask him what the thirst was like. Was it a hunger that drove you slowly mad, or a fire that burned within you? And what was so great about vampire life anyway? What was the point of living forever, especially if you had no one to share it with? And James certainly had no one now. Perhaps Victoria would take him back once he was done playing with Beth. The thought brought on a wave of intense jealousy in Beth and she saw herself stabbing the redhead with a stake through the heart and her turning to ash. She had no idea if it worked that way or not but the idea in and of itself was appealing on so many levels, despite the fact that Beth had never been one for violence against anyone but herself.
The drive was long and quiet, and eventually James turned on the radio. He messed with the station until he came to a hard rock station. Hell by Disturbed was playing. She didn't like it. Sure she liked hard rock, but there was something about Disturbed that… well, disturbed her. Hell was probably the only song she liked by them. The rest were too violent. Like Down With The Sickness. I mean, the song was great up until he began talking about killing his abusive mother while he screeched like a demon. How was that supposed to be appealing?
Marilyn Manson came on next and she had to bite back a groan. She hated Marilyn Manson. He sounded downright evil to her. He made her violated, like he'd touched her through the radio. It reminded her of her father and it gave her the creeps something awful. She curled into herself and wished she could take control of the radio but she didn't dare. He was already being pissy, she didn't need him in a worse mood as they fought over the radio. But finally, she'd had it.
"Please, please, anything but Marilyn Manson!" she cried desperately.
His eyes snapped to her in surprise. The outburst had no doubt been unexpected. He turned back to the road with a pensive look on his face.
"Tune it to whatever you like," he said generously. "Just no techno shit. I hate that stuff."
"That makes two of us," she said with a small smile as she leaned over and tuned the station to 80's rock.
Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas was playing and she relaxed immediately. 80's rock was more her speed.
"You like 80's rock?" he asked with a pleased grin.
"Yeah, shit's great," she said, opening a bag of chips he'd bought for her at the gas station. "My mom always liked techno and disco, but when I was eight my dad tuned the car radio to an 80's station and You Really Got Me by Van Halen was playing and I was hooked. It's been true love ever since. I like newer stuff, just not shit like Marilyn Manson. He gives me the creeps. I only like one song by Disturbed, which is what was on earlier…"
She realized that she'd been going on and on about music, not letting him get a word in, and she trailed off. She never felt relaxed enough to do that around anyone but her mom, and she hadn't done that in years. What miracles was he working on her anyway?
James' grin was wider than ever as he glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes.
"Go on," he said. "Tell me what other kind of music you like."
She hesitated. Should she really be chummying up to him when he was just gonna kill her? Probably not, but the idea of talking with him about something normal was too good to pass up.
"Well, I like Linkin Park…" she said, going into all her favorite bands, which included Shindown, Three Days Grace, Skillet, Evanescence and Saliva.
"Sing something for me," he said suddenly, breaking her off from her tangent.
"Me?" she squeaked. "I- I can't."
"Why not?" he said, changing lanes.
"Be- Because," she said, as though that explained the whole thing.
"That's not an answer," he said with a laugh.
It was the first time she'd ever heard him laugh before, really laugh. It was an incredible, beautiful sound that made her heart flutter and fly.
"Come on," he said. "Just one song."
He sounded so sincere in his pleading that she nearly broke then and there.
"I don't know…" she said, looking up at him through dazzled eyes.
"Please?"
Hearing him say please did it. She sighed and flicked off the radio.
"Okay, but it won't be any good," she said, taking a calming breath to get her breathing under control.
"Here I stand There you stood But who are you The warmth of your embrace
Empty hands
Wishing my wrists were bleeding
To stop the pain from the beatings
Holding me
Waiting for me to notice you
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Outscreaming these lies
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Saving my life
Melts my frostbitten spirit
You speak the truth and I hear it
The words are I love you
And I have to believe in you
But who are you
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Outscreaming these lies
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Saving my life
My hands are open
And you are filling them
Hands in the air
In the air, in the air, in the air
And I worship
And I worship
And I worship
And I worship
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Outscreaming these lies
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Saving my life…" she sang, her soft voice permeating the air, filling the truck.
She really hoped he liked it.
