I blinked a few times but nothing changed. I could see everything. Irritating specs and small imperfections in the world surrounding me. Small snags in the material of the couch, pattern faults in the hard wood floors, even texture in the walls. It was all overwhelming.
I could feel my eyes darting all around
, registering everything I saw at an alarmingly fast rate and moving along. It all seemed still in comparison to how quickly my thoughts were moving. They weren't rushing like they used to. Every thought was processed fully, but at a speed I couldn't understand.
It was like looking through a microscope in a science lab. Seeing the minuscule building blocks that created the object I usually saw. I blinked, my eyes back on the beautiful figure in front of me:
It wasn't until Aro's steady voice said my name that I was able to focus. Focus on that perfect voice. It was like velvet, sleek but warm. Did he always say my name with that much love? Did I simply fail to hear it?
"I am certain you are in pain, my love." He said in a low voice, but clear as if he sang it to me.
I nodded, not being able to find my voice past the inferno that was my burning throat.
That's when a noise came from across the room, setting every nerve I had on high alert. I felt my hair on my neck stand on end and my arms practically tingled with a jolt. Without thinking or even noticing, I was across the room, my body pressed against the far wall, my eyes fixed on the golden figure who had entered.
I knew who it was...but he didn't look the same. It was Carlisle. He looked somehow older, his face portraying even more thought than I had ever seen before. His face looked as refined as ever but haunted...as if he had just witnessed a massacre. The feeling of safety I felt with him washed over me and I was able once more to relax, though I was still against the wall, which brought the smallest of smiles to the man's face.
"Annabelle." His voice said kindly "My son, Jasper has made sure there is a safe way for you to satisfy your thirst." He informed though he sounded as if the idea was less than happy making. That's when he looked to Aro.
"Make sure you practice control with her. I know you are inclined to give her whatever she wants, but this is close to our home." He said dutifully to which Aro simply chuckled and nodded.
"You are correct in that, dear Carlisle. However, the law comes before all things. I will make sure she has some restraint." And with that he approached me. He was careful, like someone trying to win the trust an aggressive dog.
His hand was outstretched for me to take and every piece of me called for my hand to take it...but something stopped me. It was like nothing I had experienced before. It was like a force pulling on my mind and my gut, a promise of relief of the burning fire that was in my chest and throat. The desperation to make the pain end won and I ran past both Aro and Carlisle, out the door, through the house, and into the woods.
All thoughts of taking Aro's hand had vanished and instead I moved toward the pulling force which seemed to take control of my person. I thought nothing of the ground which rushed underneath me like a treadmill and ignored the branches that rather than cut me, snapped and flew aside when they collided with my face and shoulders.
I gasped, hoping the air would bring any kind of relief but instead, like oxygen to fire, the burning consumed the air, using the fuel to reignite the hissing coals that seemed to be lodged into my throat. Like a calling to heaven, the force pulled me with a new Intensity and I followed it, desperate to reach it.
I kept running until I collided with something. It was large enough it should have been difficult to knock over, but instead I plowed it over, tackling it with ease. The source of relief called to me even louder and instinctively I listened, violently and desperately swallowing as much of the soothing liquid as I could.
The effects only lasted a moment. It was like putting ice on a burn. While it was there, the fire was extinguished. But the moment the ice is removed, The flames return with a vengeance. Desperate to once again soothe the agonizing pain I turned sharply on the tips of my toes toward yet another promise of relief. Without a moments hesitation I ran and jumped hitting a smaller, but still large organism. The warm relief coated my throat like medicine and by the time I straightened up, I was able to focus a bit more.
My throat felt better but my tongue tasted like salt. Salt and dirt. I instantly scrunched my nose and scraped my teeth against my tongue as if it would push the taste off. That's when I realized what was laying in front of me. Two black bears, one larger than the other. Both of them lifeless in front of me. I immediately backed away until I heard the rustling of leaves behind me making me jump.
"Annabelle, my love. You mustn't run off like that. Your self control is not where it must be yet." Aro said kindly and slowly before looking at the two dead animals in front of me with disgust "Clearly."
"I-" I began but my throat was on fire again. Like swallowing shards of sand mixed with glass. Not only that but I couldn't focus. My words lost before I could form them. Instead my mind was spinning the only clear thought being that Aro was watching me.
"We can fix your pain but you must listen to me." Aro insisted "Please hold my hand and do not let go. Not even for a moment." He then put his hand out in invitation.
I took a few steps forward, placing my hand in his, my eyes meeting his beautiful red ones. They were deep. Like infinite pools that swirled with knowing and secrets.
"Come." He instructed, barely having to shift his weight before I followed his direction and we moved. We ran…more like flew…and yet I wanted to go faster. I could have. But Aro didn't seem to want to go as fast and he had asked me not to let go.
We ran, a pull like before making my throat burn and my body go forward. I kept speeding up and having to slow again until finally Aro spoke again. "Go on."
That was all I needed before letting go and colliding with a much smaller object than before but with a taste far better. It was over too soon. I stood up and my focus returned again. Seeing a grown man sprawled on the ground in front of me, blood smeared on his neck.
I gasped, clasping my hands over my mouth in horror and taking off the other way, past Aro, and back to Carlisle's house.
