Chapter Three – More Than Just A Hunt
Everyone was following me. Why couldn't I do this alone? I've hunted alone before. Everyone was here. My father was walking next to me, my mother on my other side. Everyone else? Next to me. It was more like a funeral procession then hunting. I stopped abruptly and pressed my hand to my fathers face, clearly annoyed.
He waited a minute and then took my hand in his. "Sweetheart, you're a vampire now. Everyone didn't come because they were afraid you'd hurt yourself." My father said, and I suddenly understood. They weren't here for my protection. They were here to keep me from hurting whoever was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. Like the hikers who'd found me the other day. I sighed, and the hunt began. I felt fine, and I was sure all of this precaution was unnecessary. And then I smelled it. The most exhilarating, delicious smell known to my kind. Humans. My throat screamed for blood. Their blood. I wasn't the only one who'd noticed it, but I was the only one who reacted. I took off in the direction of the glorious scent that his filled my mind. I was fast. Too fast for my family to keep up, although they weren't far behind me. I didn't even noticed the large brown thing running at my side. That didn't matter, I was far too thirsty for that to matter. That is, until it barreled into me. I snarled loudly and shoved the thing off of me with every ounce of strength I had. I must be stronger than I thought, as I sent him sailing fifteen feet away. "Ness!" I heard my father say, and the others quickly restrained me.
My breathing was heavy, although I didn't need to breathe, it felt natural too. "Renesmee?" someone called from behind me. I couldn't focus on anything but the figure I'd just tossed off of me. My mother was over there helping him up. He'd phased back into human form, and Carlisle went over to address his wounds. They weren't serious, maybe a broken bone or too.
"Nessie?" Jacob called. I ignored him, the smell.. the blood.. I had been hunting, he interrupted me. My animalistic sense took over again and I snarled at him.
"Stupid mut, stay out of my way next time!" I growled. My words hit him harder than I had, and I heard a gasp from my family. I didn't care, I was focused on my kill which was only about a half a mile away.. I could make it before they stopped me. I didn't hesitate before taking off again. This time it was Emmett who knocked into me, pinning me to the ground.
"Let me up!" I snarled at him.
"Renesmee!" My mother yelled. So much for self control, it appeared I didn't have any. I was a typical newborn. Thirsty for blood, and nothing else.
"Edward, Jasper found a pack of Elk, he is bringing one back for her. She has to feed or it won't stop" Alice told my father. What wouldn't stop? This is what I was, why would I want to stop!?
"Get off of me Emmett" I warned.
"Not until you can show some constraint" he growled back.
"I said… get… off!" and I threw him over me effortlessly. I thought I heard someone stifle a laugh, but I wasn't sure. I looked angrily at the forms in front of me. Everyone looked terrified. I was their worst fear right now. I didn't have time to process their thoughts, their glares, because Jasper had returned, a bloody elk carcass in hand. A low growl escaped as I tore through the animal, which was barely alive when he brought it to me. I let my instinct take over. The taste was all wrong, but it quenched some of the burning in my throat. I was myself again, at least, for now. I finished quickly, too thirsty to pay attention to the snickering behind me.
"Can I have more?" I asked when I was finished. Nobody spoke right away. It was my father though, who eventually, broke the silence.
"I don't think hunting is a great idea right now Ness. I think we should get back to the house. There is some extra blood at the house, emergency supply, you can drink. Jacob's back at the house too.." He said, whispering that other part. Jacob. I'd forgotten about Jacob. I needed to see Jacob. It was more than a want, it was a burning to see Jacob. It felt as bad as the thirst that had driven me to hurt him in the first place.
"Jacob?" I asked.
"He's fine Ness.. his pride's a little sore, but he's fine" my mother reassured me. I was back to the house as fast as I could run there. Jacob was there, sitting on the porch, fully clothed now. He looked so perfect sitting there, despite the hurt expression on his face.
"Jacob?" I called to him as I got closer. He looked up but didn't say anything. "Jacob, I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry.." he cut me off before I could continue apologizing.
"It's alright.. you weren't yourself. I didn't know what to expect.. I've only ever met one newborn, and it was Bella. She has a gift for unnatural self control I'm told. I just kinda expected you would too.." Jacob admitted. His words hurt me more than he intended. I was a monster. I didn't mean to make anyone afraid of me, but I didn't know how to control it.
"Renesmee, you didn't do anything we weren't prepared for" my father reassured me. It helped to know this was expected, but for a moment, I wished to be more like my mother had been. The self control.. I longed for it. I touched my mothers face so she would understand.
"Oh sweetie, you don't need to worry about it. We'll keep you from hurting anyone. This isn't a permanent thing.. we'll help you. That's what families do.." she comforted. My mother was usually a pretty good voice of reason when I was feeling low and even in my new phase, this was no exception.
"Thanks" I said, and Emmett pulled my shoulder in for a hug.
"Gotta hand it to ya kid, you're stronger than ya look" he laughed.
"Yea, sorry about that Emmett"
"Do I look broken?"
"Wow…" Alice said, gaining everyones attention.
"I can finally see you. This is such a relief, Carlisle you were right." Alice said happily. Alice had never been able to see my future, as she had been everyone else (except for Jacob). So this was an interesting twist, among everything else.
"So what now?" I asked when I had finished my third pint of blood. Sucking it from a straw like it was water.
"Well, we have to replenish the blood supply. Not human though, we will need to wean you off of it" Carlisle said, frowning. I'd finished off the supply we had in two days.
"Sorry about that Carlisle.." I said sheepishly.
"No worries. I know some people who know some people. I'll get some animal blood from the local vet later on today. I still don't think you should hunt for awhile."
"Carlisle, we can get blood.. " Jasper sighed. He didn't like having an actual newborn around. He remembered all to well how scary a newborn could be.
"Yes, perhaps that would be our best option." Carlisle agreed.
I was getting annoyed with everyone talking about me like I wasn't there, so I headed upstairs where Jacob was. He hadn't said much in the past couple of days, which was really unusual for him.
"Jake?" I called. He was sitting on our bed, or his rather as I didn't sleep at all anymore, his head buried in his knees.
"Yea.." he said, standing up when he saw me approach.
"You okay Jake?" I asked, worried.
"Fine.. what's up?"
"Nothing really.. I just wanted to come be with you for awhile.. if you want I'll go though.." I said quickly. I felt as if I'd interrupted something.
"No, no stay. I was just thinking.." Jacob said, pulling me into a tight hug. His skin was so hot, but I didn't mind. It almost felt good, it felt right.
"What were you thinking about?" I asked him a few minutes later.
"It's not important"
"Jake.." I whined.
"It's just.. something I was going to do.. a few days ago. I ran out of time.."
"What is it?" I asked, my curiosity peaked.
"It's not important really.. "
"Jacob Black.. you will tell me what it is that you were thinking about. Remember, I can throw you across this forest without much effort" I joked. He laughed a little.
"Can ya huh? I'd like to see that. You barely threw me fifteen feet last time.. and I bounced a little.. so I'd say it was more like 10."
"Ten!? Are you serious.. I was immobilized with thirst, it doesn't count" I defended.
"Uh huh.. " Jacob said, a soft laugh escaping his chest.
"Now quit changing the subject.." I said. He didn't say anything, just pulled out a small box from his pants pocket. A little blue velvet box.
"Jacob…" I said in disbelief.
"If you don't want it, I understand. I just thought, ya know, we could make this thing we have going on official.. it's stupid I know.." he chided.
"Jake…. " I whispered.
"I know, here I'll just take it back.. it was a dumb idea.."
"Don't you dare.." I scolded. "If you're going to propose.. do it right." I said, smiling ecstatically at him.
"Really?"
"Well, I don't think you will know my answer until you do it properly.. go on, down on one knee.. the whole bit." I said, mocking seriousness. Jacob smiled and slid down to the proper position.
"Renesmee Carlie Cullen.. Edward is going to kill me when he hears what I'm thinking.. but at risk of being ripped to shreds, I'd like to ask you to be my wife.." Jacob said, that quirky smile spreading across his face.
"With everything that I am… yes" I said, wrapping my arms around his next and planting kisses all up and down his face. He pulled me away slightly to slide a small, silver diamond ring on my left hand.
"You're right, I am going to kill you" I heard my father growl from the doorway. It was impossible not to laugh.