Trial and Error
BPOV
My heartbeat grows faster, thundering toward some sort of finish line. Each beat is stronger, pulling the fire into it's center. And then, after a glorious crescendo, the fire explodes into sweet relief and my heart stops.
For a second, I lay still, sure I am dead, sure that my life has ended and that when I open my eyes I will meet my afterlife. But then someone's throat clears, and I open my eyes. My vision immediately fixes on the dust particles floating through the air, each a clear and crisp object rather than the tiny blurred dots from before. I must be dead for such nearly microscopic objects to appear to me in such clarity.
Movement in my periphery sends me soaring through the air like a bird and I land in a crouch behind the bed I must have been laying on. The room is familiar, though lacking any true comfort to me. I can see every fiber of the blanket on the bed, every grain in the wood of the bedframe. Even though the light is low, I can see it all.
"Isa," a rough voice calls my name. I snap my gaze to it's owner, my eyes meeting those of a raven haired man. He sits in a chair next to my bed, flanked by two others standing farther behind him. Aro.
His eyes are dark, animalistic. I've never seen him remain so controlled in such a state. Not when the tension is brewing so visibly beneath his skin.
"I thought you were lost to me." His voice does not crack or bend under the pressure of his emotions. But I can see the shaking in his shoulders. He is barely holding it in.
I move to stand to my feet. He watches me intently, gaze never leaving. Just a step and I'm in front of him. The seed of desire sprouting in my chest only continues to grow upwards toward the sun, desperately wishing to flower. My hand reaches for his cheek on it's own accord, marveling at the feel of his skin beneath it's sensitive nerves.
"I didn't mean to frighten you," I whisper. The sound of my own voice is a surprise to me - lighter than a feather now, and chiming with the delicate sound of a bell.
His own hand meets mine, spreading across my skin - the same temperature as his own.
"I've never been so terrified in my 3000 years." His face grows closer to mine and warmth spreads through my extremities. Drawn to him like the sea to the shore, I follow his movements until our lips are inches apart.
"I will not allow you to leave me in such a way again." The hand on my face moves to grip the back of my neck. "You are mine. Forever, Isabella."
An uncontrollable pur rumbles from deep within my chest and it's enough of a response for Aro to act. His lips are on mine in a second, seeking and searching. He is desperate, I can feel it in each of his movements. Each kiss drunk like a gulp of water to a man dying of thirst.
"I think that's our cue to leave, Marcus," a jovial voice breaks me from the connection and I jump back from the sound. Caius. My brother looks on at us with mischief in his eyes. Marcus only nods, his eyebrows furrowed as he stares at the air around me.
"I suppose you're right." His tone is uninterested as usual, though his fixation on the air around us says otherwise.
Caius slaps Aro on the shoulder and winks at me. "We will see you later, sorella. Welcome to your new life."
When they are gone, I refocus on Aro. My mate. The pull is stronger now, a compulsion. My fingers tingle, begging me to reach out and touch him once more. My arms ache to hold him and my chest burns and pulls, pulling me to him. It's almost unbearable.
"How did you stand it?" I whisper, holding myself back.
Aro's eyes are trained on me, tracking every twitch like a bobcat watching his prey.
"It was not without great difficulty."
For a few minutes, we sit in complete silence, unable to look away from each other.
He is more beautiful than my human eyes could fathom days before. More ethereal than either of the other two kings. A god amongst men.
I move toward him again, barely an inch before the rumbling starts from deep within his chest.
"Isa." His dark voice holds both warning and promise. Warning that he cannot guarantee what will happen if I continue on my path toward him and promise of something sinful, desirous. And the worst part of all is that I don't think I can stop myself.
Another inch forward and he snaps, his hands reach out and grip my hips.
"Don't test me, cara mia," he rumbles. Slowly, he lowers his head to my neck and presses his lips against my jaw. The action sends a jolt of pleasure through me.
But when he moves those same lips to the base of my throat, I feel it. The burn. It is slow to start, like a parched throat in need of water. But the more I focus on it, the more painful it becomes. I pull away from Aro, grabbing at my throat, desperate to find relief.
Aro hums and the desire of seconds before morphs into concern and attention. "You need to feed."
"Yes," I whisper, still clawing at the skin of my neck. "Please help me, Aro."
He stands to attention and holds his hand out for me to take. "Come, Isa. I will find you relief."
~~AB~~
When Aro brings a human before me - a man no older than myself - my instincts take over before I can even begin to understand what is happening. I question nothing. The ambrosia pumping through his veins sets my throat on fire, every beat of his heart taunting me until I find myself latched onto the poor soul's neck. Gulping down the sweet liquid until there isn't anything left, I am unaware of the man's pleadings.
The flow stops and I let the man go, dropping him to the floor and focus my attention on Aro once more. He stares at me hungrily, and for a moment, I feel the intensity of his desire mirrored by my own. But reality sinks in quickly and I gaze down at the man, regret and horror washing over me at the sight of his lifeless body. The truth sinks in, I've become a monster.
"What have I done?" I whisper, my hand going to my mouth. I killed someone and for what? My own self sufficiency?
"I'm so sorry." I can't help the whimper that escapes from my lips as I drop to my knees before the man. With shaking hands, I brush my fingers across his forehead. How am I to do this whenever I feel the need to quench the burn? How am I supposed to sustain myself on human life?
Aro kneels beside me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders as he pulls me into his chest. "It's alright." Lips brush across my forehead. "This is the price we pay for immortality."
His words anger me and I break out of his hold. "The price we pay? This is the price they pay for our existence."
"Isa," he warns. "There is little we can do about our baser instincts. There is only one way to quench the thirst."
"There can't be," I growl, standing to my feet. "This cannot be the only way."
"It is."
"I refuse to accept that."
"You would starve yourself for the sake of human life?"
"We were humans once too, Aro." With a shake of my head, I turn away from him and run from the room - the need to escape clawing at my chest.
When I reach the doors that lead outside, I hold my breath and run. Our location is too close to the city and I will not risk the death of another human by my hand. Nightfall serves as my protector as I make my way into the nearby forest in search of solitude.
The forest is dark and quiet, but not all that quiet. To my unexceptional human ears, maybe, but not now. The rustling of leaves and the footfall of creatures finding a place to rest for the night are amplified by my newly improved hearing. The earth and foliage smell damp and moldy; the rainfall from the last few days having soaked into the dirt.
Another scent catches my attention, reminding me of the blood I tasted not long before. There is a musky, earthy undertone to it that isn't all that appealing, but the presence still ignites the fire in my throat.
Thump. Thump. Thump. A rapid heart beat accompanies the smell and I fix my eats to the sounds around it. A stream trickles between the rocks on a riverbed and something laps at the source. Curious, I take off in the direction of the creature. It isn't long before I find myself staring at a silver wolf.
Silently, I watch the animal drink from the riverbed, it's attention foolishly diverted to the water before him. He drinks unaware of the danger that lurks beyond the trees, unaware that death is near. Stealthily, I creep up on the animal, aware of each footstep I make. If I can drink from the forest dwellers, there will be no need for useless slaughter. It's worth a try.
Feet away now, I make my move, lunging for the wolf and pinning him to the ground. And much like my feeding from earlier, I sink my teeth into the creature's neck and drink. The same relief washes over my throat, suppressing the burn that wasn't quite satisfied earlier today. The taste leaves much to be desired, but what does it matter? Hope fills my chest - this feeding style may be enough to provide me with the sustenance I need.
When the wolf goes limp and the blood ceases to flow, I thank the creature and bury him.
Two deer later, the burn is almost gone and I cannot help the smile that surfaces. If this works, I may never need to take a human life again. As I bury my last kill below the surface of the earth, Aro finds me. His eyes are dark and unamused.
"You left." The words are emotionless. He stands before me like a dark tower, eerily calm and collected.
"I could not stand to face what I did to that man." I reply, brushing the dirt off my hands. "How can you?"
"It is in our nature, Isabella."
"Not mine." I smack at my dress, trying to make myself more presentable even though the tears in the gown are irreparable. "Your way cannot be the only way. Though they do not taste as pleasant, animals are sufficient to soothe the burn in my throat."
Aro's eyebrows scrunch together in disgust. "Animals? You would rather drink animal blood than that which our body calls for?"
"If it will suffice, yes."
"I see." Silence falls as Aro gazes at me, disgust morphing into acceptance as he nods his head and then amusement. "You've ruined your gown."
The lack of argument or agreement on my probable choice of diet is appreciated, and I follow Aro's lead, grinning mischievously. "My execution needs work."
"Well," he hums, reaching his hand out to me. "You have much time to practice, amore mio. Come, it is time we leave Volterra for solitude."