Chapter 6

Carnivore

I'd been running for hours, when I finally had to stop. I had never run out of breath; not once gotten a cramp. I stopped only because I was thirsty, and I wanted to test my theory. The scent of a wolf pack flew my way, and I smiled hopefully. It was a somewhat more appetizing scent than the disgusting deer, and I yearned for this to be successful. I stopped thinking ration-ally, and let the hunter in me attack my prey.

I overtook the fleeing pack quickly; they were fast, but not fast enough. They put up a valiant fight, but it was futile. I snapped the necks of two large males, and the rest attacked me vengefully. When I was thinking straight again I was awed by their loyalty. Any human would have been running and screaming. I hastily wiped them out, eager to feed before their blood got cold.

After it was all said and done, I had killed nine wolves in a matter of minutes. I had been using only my hands and teeth, and I was wearing a dress. I grinned smugly. I could tame bloodlust… I may have still been a complete carnivore, but I was no longer a menace. My hunger had abated, and I was washing the blood out of my inconvenient clothes.

I was thoroughly disgusted with the way the dress had been performing. It had ripped in several places, and I was determined to steal some pants. I had completely given up on the shoes, and they had been discarded miles ago. I was confused as to how human women survived. But I supposed humans didn't regularly fight wolf packs or run a mile a minute.

I held up the tattered attire, and sighed. I rolled my eyes, and hung the dress in a magnolia tree. I took off running, feeling free, but somewhat uncomfortable. I would have to find some suitable clothes soon.

Weeks later; I sat at the edge of a small creek somewhere in Illinois. I dangled my dainty bare feet in the cool, clear water. Somehow they had remained un-calloused and un-blistered; I smiled at the reminder of my changelessness. I wore some pants that I had cut to my knees, and just enough of a cotton dress to cover my chest. It was much more comfortable than a dress, and I was proud to have not stained it with blood… yet.

I had discovered that I very much enjoyed getting new clothes, and this was the third outfit I had gone through. At the pace which I was moving they wore down quickly. I stared at my reflection and smiled.

My eyes were no longer the stunning red that I had begun to see as sinister, but a striking topaz. They had been that way since I had stopped feeding off humans. It was difficult, but I was right. It had been worth it, I was no longer haunted by the guilt that I now knew accompanied the taking of a life. I was gazing down at my eyes as they rippled with the constant movement of the stream when I felt a familiar jolt of pain. I immediately knew it warned me of a vision.

I had learned to tolerate the pain; if I stayed perfectly still and just let it happen, it was considerably less excruciating. And then thinking about how abruptly ended, and I was over-involved in what was happening in my mind. I went rigid, letting the vision take over my consciousness.

A human woman stood, perilously close to the cliff's rim. She was all alone, and tears poured from her brown eyes. A harsh wind whipped her long caramel colored hair across her face. Her lower lip trembled, and then she was oddly serene. She stared calmly at the majestic view beneath her. She closed her eyes when the wind gusted again. Her eyes remained closed as the let the wind carry her forward… and off the edge.

The scene followed the woman as she fell, and until her body was carried to the morgue. A tall blonde, stunningly gorgeous doctor lifted the sheet off her face and gasped.

"Esme?" He whispered in surprise as he stared down at the face he hadn't seen since she broke her leg ten years ago. She was so happy then… He mused, looking down at her tortured expression.

He stared at her for a moment, and then bent to kiss her cheek. A faint pounding rhythm reached his ear as he bent closer. He looked at her neck, and knew it was a pulse. His golden eyes opened wide in amazement. She was still alive. It was too subdued to have been heard by a human, but vampires have excellent senses. Another gasp broke through his doctor's composure, and then sadness darkened his features. He knew she wouldn't survive much longer… unless…

He smiled softly, and bent to bite the veins in her neck. Moments later, she twitched insignificantly, and then she shrieked in pain. Her eyes flew open, and they over-flowed with tears. The doctor stroked her face gently, shushing her quietly.

"Shh… It's all-right. It'll be over soon." She whimpered and looked up at his face through her tears.

"D-doctor…" She struggled to say, "C-cull-en?"

"Yes." He replied softly. "Call me Carlisle." She smiled - despite the pain - at the man she had never forgotten.

It was abruptly morning, and they were no longer in the morgue. Carlisle sat next to Esme, who lay in a large bed, staring at her hands. They twitched uncontrollably, due to the pain from venom coursing through her body. But they were changing too. Their Caucasian skin was slowly growing paler and paler, until it was as white as fresh snow. They were also more beautiful than before. How it happened was beyond description, but they were suddenly… perfect.

Her whole body had gone through the same process. Paling, then changing until it was remarkably attractive. Her eyes glowed red and she continued to stare at her hands until the trembling stopped. When it finally did she slowly looked up at Carlisle, her eyes full of questions.

"Esme Platt?" He paused, and she shook her head slightly before correcting him.

"My last name is Evenson now." She replied, and her now extremely beautiful face was marred by sadness

"Do you want it to be?" Carlisle asked, deciphering her expression. Esme shook her head, and Carlisle smiled compassionately. "He won't be a part of your life if you don't want him." She looked up at him hopefully, and she dared not question his, in case he was wrong. She needed to believe him. "Your life has changed a lot in the past two days."

"What?" She asked, confused.

"You're now a… vampire." Carlisle explained cautiously. "So am I." Her eyes opened wider, but that was the only indication that she was surprised or afraid. Carlisle seemed to gain confidence from her calm attitude, and he continued. "But we don't feed off humans, unlike most of our kind."

"Then what do you… we… eat?"

"Animals. It's difficult, but worth it." While he explained she leaned back against the headboard of the bed, and sighed. I just wanted to die… I have nothing left, and now this? Why won't this torture end?

"Why did you change me?" She demanded, suddenly angry. "Isn't it obvious I wanted to die!"

"Because, I remembered you as the happy girl you once were and I… I couldn't let that disappear. I thought, maybe… I could make you happy again." Carlisle admitted quietly. Her face softened, and she smiled as her anger faded rapidly. He met her gaze, and he came out of his chair to sit on the edge of the bed. "Can I try?" He asked tenderly, and Esme smiled wider.

"You already have." She murmured as she leaned forward and kissed him.

I woke from my trance smiling. Lately my visions had been much more pleasant. Many of them had consisted of Jasper and I together, and many more had shown a group of five other vampires living the way I was… feeding off animals. Esme and Carlisle were the 'parents' of this group.

I envied them increasingly. I longed to have a 'family' like they did. I had become increasingly lonely. I hadn't had any contact with other vampires, and the contact with humans was mostly stealing from them. I felt bad about that… but it was better than killing them, I justified. I sighed. This was what happened when I didn't keep busy. I thought too much.

I hopped up-right, catching the scent of a mountain lion. I was instantly ravenous, only then realizing that it had been almost four days since I had fed. The cravings had been hitting me less often, and less severely. I was bewildered, but happy. It was easier to search without the constant distraction of hunger.

Then the scent began to fade, and I quickly chased after it. The predator in me took over, and I eagerly raced toward my prey. Mountain lions always put up a good fight.