Disclaimer to Stephanie Meyer

Chapter Three

"She's not dead." It was stated as fact. The tone sharp and certain, yet somewhat childlike. I didn't recognize the voice; my eyes were still closed. I didn't know if I could open them if I tried.

Slowly, footsteps approached from a direction different than where the voice had come from. Though I knew I was practically buried in snow, the steps were quiet. No sounds of crunching snow or unseen branches being snapped were made.

I was barely conscious enough to register that I had been found. The hushed sound of the steps crept closer and I was distantly aware that someone was now standing over me. They took a deep breath and stood there for many long moments. Suddenly, the snow alongside my torso shifted and they were crouched above me. A single finger grazed lightly along my jawline. The touch was ice cold and hard, like marble.

It's him.

My eyes shot open, expecting to be met with warm golden flakes. Instead, deep burgundy eyes stared straight into mine.

Startled, I took a sharp breath and leaned back as far into the tree as I could. I felt my eyes widen as I took in the person standing before me. He had not moved from his stance since my reaction and his eyes remained locked into mine.

I had never seen this man before, but I knew what he was. His olive skin was smooth and chalky, hair dark and ending right at his shoulders. He was still as stone, watching all of my reactions to his presence. Behind him, a young, very short girl, stood. She was tiny and very beautiful.

I was suddenly very aware of the pain throughout my body, the inconsistency of my breathing and the deep shade of red stained in my clothes and in the snow. My eyes remained locked with the vampire who crouched above me, a whimper escaped my lips.

The young girl took a few slow steps approaching me. I broke eye contact with the man and examined the girl. At the corner of her temple, a slit of light peeking through the clouds brushed her skin.

The reflection of the light from the young girl's skin glistened, and any doubt I had held onto was lost. I released a deep breath and laid my head against the tree. Tightening my eyes shut, a small laugh escaped me. Another danger he had tried to keep me from, only to find me now.

the skin of a killer

"Don't breathe," the girl barked at the man hovering above me. They were still for a long moment. I lifted my head and opened my eyes. Both were staring, probably waiting for me to beg for help or cry in confusion.

I knew better.

The young girl's eyes narrowed; a growl surfaced from her throat.

"She knows."

Instantly, a large cold hand clutched the base of my jaw, squeezing just enough for me to continue breathing. Whatever remained of my adrenaline kicked in, my eyebrows furrowed and my mouth parted to gasp for air. With his other hand, he grabbed my bloodied shoulder and twisted my body to slam it directly into the ground. I screamed in pain, and uselessly thrashed my legs against his body. He was now lingering above me, one hand pinning my shoulder to the ground and the other gripping the top of my neck.

I couldn't turn my head as the girl crouched next to me. Her breath was sweet, and I loathed myself for welcoming its presence. I tried to speak, but only choking sounds could escape from my throat. My free hand lifted to clutch the wrist gripping my neck. We remained this way for several long moments. There was no way for me to escape, no chance to be found and saved. The best I could hope for now was a quick death, to keep them satisfied long enough to stay away from Charlie.

The last of my adrenaline had now dissolved and the pain of the everything was too much to handle. My vision began to spot and my thoughts blurred. I could no longer feel the cold sting of the snow or the hand locked around my neck.

"How do you know of our kind?" the girl asked.

This time, when I tried to turn my head, the grip around my neck loosened enough to allow me to look at her. Her face, though childlike, was stern and serious. I took advantage of the loosened grip at my throat to breathe deeply, relishing in the presence of oxygen within my lungs.

I couldn't understand what she was asking me. I laid there, trembling, staring at her face and waiting for it to be over.

The girl became quickly impatient. Her frown deepened and her hand threaded into my hair, pulling my head up to look directly at her. The man was still pinning my bloodied shoulder and I shrieked in response to the pain.

"She's incapable of answering any questions, she's in too much discomfort," the man above me spoke. His voice was much deeper, older than the girl. The force pinning my shoulder lessened and the girl dropped my head. Another cry escaped my throat. Both rose, glaring down at me with disgust.

"What to do, what to do…" she was taunting me.

"She may be valuable."

"Yes, I think Aro will want to meet her."

In one second they were gone, in the next, everything was finally black.