Chapter 3

Kate

Everyday I got closer to the cities. I started out in the woods closer to the American border where the weather would be nicer and campers would be out. Whenever I would come across a campsite, I would walk slowly in a ring around it, remaining unseen from the campers. I breathed in the scent, letting it run through my nostrils and cloud my senses. I never killed anybody, and it was easier to be around people, but only when I could run away if I needed to, and only where there were a few people at a time.

I wanted to get used to the scent of humans, so that I wouldn't slip up anymore. Everything would just be easier if I could take in the scent oh human blood, occasionally take a peek at the flow of blood underneath their transparent skin, and maybe I would get things back to normal.

I broke into a house and stole some clothes to replace my rags. It was easy, done without a single noise. I was careful to make sure the family wasn't home, so I wouldn't slip up while so close to human blood in the neighboring houses. I knew from experience that a single taste of human blood would ruin my whole vegetarian streak, and I'd have to start almost completely from scratch.

Weeks went by and suddenly I felt my body calm. It was as if I had been tensed up the entire time and suddenly felt release after a year of being a vampire. It still wasn't easy to be around humans completely, but their scent no longer distracted me completely, and I held more control.

Luke

Even roaming the forests has become painful, because I eventually encounter a spot where Kate and I have been at some point or another, bringing back the memories of when we were together and happy. The worst days are when I catch a whiff of an old scent of hers, one that is still floating along, caught on one thing or another. It's the worst around her house, where I have dared to venture once or twice.

Her father isn't doing well. With Kate gone, he has no one to turn to. I heard Adam had left Forks behind not long ago, leaving Kate's father completely alone. I feel sorry, but there is nothing I could do. He hasn't accepted the idea of her being dead yet, and he still engages in search parties with my father and their friends once in a while. But my dad is only humoring him, trying to ease him into accepting that she's gone. I try to stay away whenever he's around, because the very sight of him—the similar features and scent—brings back the most potent of memories.

As for me, I don't know what to accept of this situation at all. Kate could be dead. And she could have suffered a different fate, one that my brothers think is the most likely—the females could have turned her.

I barred that thought from my mind the moment they thought of it. I didn't know what to think of it, but I knew I didn't like it. Kate is only human in my mind, nothing else.

Kate

I froze. There was a scent in the air, a flowery and fragrant scent. It was like no human, although similar to the scents I found in the small clearing where I had first turned.

It could only be the scent of a vampire.

I had never encountered another vampire while out on my own for that entire year. I didn't know what to do in this situation. Were vampires hostile to other vampires? Did they have standoffs for territories? I wasn't aware of vampire customs since I had lived in utter isolation my entire existence as one.

I leaped up into a tree, careful not to make any sounds. I didn't hear anything unusual, but that could mean that the other vampire had spotted me first, and was waiting. Standing motionless on the slender branch, I took in the sights and smells all around me. The vampire was clearly still there, crouched somewhere not far off. The vampire must have smelt or seen me too, or else it would have left already, or made its presence clear. Or was it waiting for me?

I strained my eyes to detect something unnaturally white against the green and brown of the trees. Exactly one hundred and fifty two feet off, there was a white speck mixed in with the branches and leaves. I searched the leaves for more signs of a hostile vampire, but found that this one was facing away from me, its back exposed. The vampire was motionless, and I could hear the subtle intakes of breath as it sniffed the air for my scent.

My legs tensed underneath me as I prepared to pounce. I didn't want to harm the vampire, just pin it, and figure out what it wants. This would be a lot like hunting, I assured myself. It shouldn't be hard.

It took only a second: I gave the tiniest shove off the narrow branch I was perched on and I was flying through the air, moving each branch aside as I went, soaring noiselessly towards the unsuspecting vampire. As I flew, I calculated everything around me. The vampire was a male and he was on a weaker tree than I was, sniffing the air. He wore clean jeans and a black t-shirt, his hair sandy blond and shaggy.

"What the—!"

I landed on his back, causing the nimble branch to bend and snap, and we tumbled to the ground, me pinning him face down.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked, trying to writhe around as I held him still as hard as I could.

"Who are you?" I asked.

His writhing got slower once I spoke, and then he was motionless on the ground.

"Who are you?" he asked in response.

"I asked you first," I spat.

"Kate?"

I froze, my eyes widening.

The vampire tried to twist his head around. "Kate! It's me!"

I got a glimpse of his beautiful face, and under his changed features, I recognized him.

"Adam?"