Chapter 8 – Hunt

JPOV

It took me three weeks of nearly constantly being in Isabella's presence to keep the bloodlust at bay. This was necessary for the next step in introducing her into the vampire lifestyle. I wanted her to accompany me when I was hunting animals and eventually when the three of us hunted humans. But for that it was absolutely essential that I wouldn't be tempted by her blood anymore. When we hunted most of our humanity was cast aside and we turned into the monsters we truly are. We embrace our darkest nature giving in to our vampire instincts, the instincts of a killer.

We used those weeks to get to know each other better and for her to get acquainted to Peter and Charlotte. She had an easy friendship going with both of them. They weren't the easiest of people, but neither was she, so in a way it was natural for them to get along. I still felt uneasy, leaving her alone with Charlotte, although their feelings never arose any suspicion. There was only that one time at the fountain. When I found them sitting side by side in the setting sun, the air had been so thick with sexual tension, I knew something had happened. Or nearly happened as I felt no guilt coming from Isabella, only from Charlotte. I had claimed her that night in a way that neither she nor Charlotte would ever forget. Peter helped as well by fully releasing his dominant tendencies on Charlotte and keeping her on a tight leash the next couple of days.

"Bella," I called and she smiled as I used Peter's nickname for her. She closed the book she was reading and sat next to me on the leather sofa in the living room.

"We've been talking a lot about what it's like being a vampire these past weeks," I started and she nodded. "You know what we are and what we prey on, but now it's time for you to witness it for yourself. I'm taking you out hunting."

"Oh fuck," she muttered in surprise. She was feeling nervous, as was expected, but also a bit apprehensive. "Animals of humans?" she added in a small voice.

"Animals."

Her apprehension changed into relief and she smiled. Her usual confidence returned and she looked almost cocky.

"I can hunt animals, vampire man," she said tauntingly. "I have been hunting deer with my father since I was six. Always treated me like the son he wanted me to be."

I was glad she had no problem with hunting animals, but she shouldn't go over it lightly. Going deer hunting was one thing, going on a hunt with a vampire was putting your life at risk. It was imperative she understood.

"Listen Bella, this isn't a field trip with your dad in bright orange jackets, a rifle and a six-pack. I'm going to unleash my inner predator in front of you, hoping I stay in control enough for you to survive."

Her smile dropped, but her confidence stayed. She trusted me not to hurt her. And damn me if I was going to betray that trust.

I woke her up in the cold hours before dawn on the day of our hunting trip. We would take Peter's car out to the Angelina National Forest area not too far from the house. Normally, when we went out hunting, we'd do it on foot, but I thought it would be more comfortable for Isabella to drive there rather than ride me. The only problem was that the drive would be much longer than the run, hence the early hour, which wasn't appreciated at all by the girl sitting beside me. She is definitely not a morning person.

She hadn't spoken a word to me after getting up. I learned the hard way not to say anything to her while she was in this state or I'd have a mighty bitch-rant slapping me in the face. I guess some humans were simply not made to get up before the sun's at least up for a couple of hours. The fact that we didn't need sleep and were therefore always 'cheery' – her words, not mine - appear to come up often while she was fuming, made Peter and Charlotte stay clear of her at least 'till noon. The three of us survived an entire week before we bought her a giant espresso machine which actually earned us a smile that morning.

I let her choose the radio station in the car as we were on our silent drive over a deserted highway. Her hands were wrapped firmly around a paper cup with at least a triple espresso as she suddenly turned back among the living, or at least talking.

"What are we hunting? Deer?"

"We aren't hunting anything," I said with a smirk. "I am hunting and you are going to keep at a safe distance."

She rolled her eyes at me, but kept silent.

"I'll be hunting elk, preferably a female that has had young already. We try not to put too much strain on the wildlife."

"Oh, well aren't you the genuine eco-warrior," she snickered at me and I realized her morning temper wasn't exactly over.

"My reason is much more selfish than that," I said, ignoring her tone for now. "If I take out too many of the healthy breeding males and females, the population is bound to drop. Any drastic changes are investigated by rangers and I really don't want that to happen. So I take the ones that are older or diseased."

"What do you do with the carcasses?"

"Bury them or drop them in a canyon, depending on the surface I'm hunting on."

"Sounds logical," she smiled and she squeezed my hand in an unspoken apology for the way she had talked to me moments before. These female mood swings, I didn't think I'll ever understand them. I just hoped they wouldn't carry on to her vampire life with her, since they had to do with me waking her up. Even so, I didn't think I could ever live without this woman again, flaws and all. I hadn't told her I loved her again after that one night when she was falling asleep, but I thought she knew anyway. And I started to feel it in her too. She was just as much lost in me as I was in her, she just didn't admit it to herself yet. And that was fine by me for now.

I drove to the most secluded part of the forest and carried Isabella for a couple more miles until we reached the right spot. There was a little clearing by a stream, covered in the scent of all sorts of animals. It was obvious they came here to drink and dawn was the most probable to catch them in the act. I helped her to climb in a tree to keep a safe distance from me. Of course I didn't explain it like that. She would argue I wouldn't hurt her, but I wasn't all too sure anymore. So I just told her she'd spook the elk if she came too close.

Safely on her tree branch, we waited. I kept still as a statue making sure I was downwind from where the animals were most likely to approach. Slowly the woods came back to life around us. It didn't take long for Isabella to get uncomfortable and she started fidgeting a little. She scared away a small fox and a couple of squirrels, but when a herd of elk came close she became absolutely motionless. That's my girl.

I singled out the elk I was going for and stooped into a crouch. Then at a speed faster than any living thing would be able to see, I pounced. As the other animals shot away in all directions in utter panic, I pinned down my victim. The creature was frantically trying to kick free, but all it did was hurt itself. I deliberately slowed my actions down so it would be all clearly visible for Bella. I pushed the elk on its side, exposing the long neck and jugular. The heart was beating erratically by now, pumping the adrenaline enriched blood around the body. Before I sank my teeth into its neck, I glanced up to where Bella was sitting only to see her nod at me, telling me she was fine with me killing it. I ripped through its fur coat and the flesh to find the artery. When the blood started pumping into my mouth, I forgot all about my surroundings. There was nothing but me and the animal. Its heartbeat was accelerating even more, trying to get enough oxygen to the brain, but failing. I kept swallowing and swallowing, spilling nothing of the liquid that gave me life as I was taking another. The heart was beating slower now and as the elk got colder, I got warmer, until I was so filled up I felt like I was vibrating. Like I almost was truly alive. But it wasn't enough. Drinking from animals never was. The predator, the killer in me was unsated.

Suddenly the wind shifted, wafting the most delicious scent at me. It was a scent I was very familiar with. I had been craving this fragrance for weeks. I wanted not just to drink this blood, but immerse myself in it, bathe in it. It would quench my thirst like no blood had ever done before, I was sure of that now. I got up very slowly and stalked my new prey, licking my lips in anticipation. My muscles tensed as I got ready. There was nothing in the world but me and this mouth-watering creature. I would dine in hell tonight.

AN: So my vacation is over, it has been great and I thought I'd give you all a little present. Sorry I didn't answer any reviews, but I thought you'd like a new chapter better. Enjoy!