5. Mistake
I slowed down when I was about in a miles radius of the intended prey. I was breathing deeply now, not wanting the wonderful scent to escape-like it possibly had a chance to survive me. The definition of death and life, I guess. My pace quickened and now I could hear his heart beating hard. It seemed like he wanted to die. Like it was tempting me somehow. I was going to let this prey know what was coming for it. A loud hiss escaped my lips, intending for it to hear. I heard the breaths speed up; he was running from me. It was useless effort, but I understood why he had to try. I sped up naturally. I made him think he was escaping me; it made it more fun to try to catch it.
By the way my prey moved and breathed I assumed-no I know-it was a man, or an old teenager. His age was probably around the age of 18 or older.
I laughed an evil chuckle and he took off sprinting into the darkness. His blood now pulsed with fear and my senses loved that. I was now jogging, at least to me. My jog could outrun a human. By some odd fate he ran through some woods. Very small, but big enough to get yourself lost in. I followed him in there.
He ran very fast. I was surprised actually. This boy was tricking. I ran a little faster, but I didn't have to work hard for long. The boy tripped over a low branch that he was unable to see in the dark. It seemed like the world wanted him to die. I laughed and he spun around. His face was full of terror as he took in my face. He relaxed a little bit, at least until I smiled. The horror filled its spot again. "Why?" he choked out at me. I laughed again. It was the same laugh that sent him running. Since when had I become so cruel? Have I always been like this? It was thirst; I brought myself to conclude.
Shock crossed my face when I saw who this boy was. I backed away from him. I knew exactly who he was, but how could I kill him? It would kill me later if I did. I could save him after I finished…no I couldn't he would have seen too much. I would expose us. Why should I harm Cody? This Cody was nothing like the one that attacked me. What would Jason think? Would he finally call me a monster? Like I deserved? or would he say it was for the best? I shuddered at the thought. Yet he reminded me about my Cody. The one that raped me. The Cody that turned me into what I am now. How could I give this Cody the fate my Cody deserved?
"Cody? Is that you?" I asked shocked. This was the first time I wished that my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I knew that was impossible.
"Claire? What are you? What do you want? What are you going to do to me?" his voice was frantic. He knew he was going to die, I had to try…
I turned around and began to walk away, but the breeze blew harder than ever.
Damn it! Stupid wind just had to blow now! Does the world really want this Cody dead? He doesn't deserve the justice my Cody does. Well at least he was my Cody, but now I have my Jason.
I couldn't stand it. I lunged for him and grabbed his throat and started to suck. I forgot to kill him first. The scent was overpowering me. As I was sucking I thought of Jason and what he would think. His blood was so sweet though. I didn't know such a taste could exist, but it did and it was in my grasp. Jason's head filled my mind. His expression was torn and betrayed, and it was at me.
I found the will to stop before it was too late to. As soon as I let go he started bulging like he was having hysterics. "No!" I half shrieked. What have I done to him? Jason's gonna kill me! I can't suck it back either he would know too much." I rubbed his head. I tried to make the pain as little as possible, but my gift doesn't help with that. "I'm so sorry Cody." I whispered in his ear. I let him lay there. I realized hikers could find him hear at any time and if it was at the wrong time a crazed new born would be on the loose. I scooped his body up in my arms and ran like hell.
I made it to our house and I laid him in my room for now. I locked the door and ran for Jason's house. I burst into the window; Jason was still awake. "Claire! What happened are you ok?"
I ignored him. "Angel I need to talk to you, now!" I said in my urgent voice that nobody could ignore. I towed her outside. "I've done something horrible."
"Claire, has this finally gotten to you? Do you think you can hunt animals now like the rest of us?" her voice was concerned.
"No it's not that. I ran into someone I know. Cody."
I heard stifle a gasp. "Wait not that Cody. I mean Jason's Cody." I looked down ashamed.
"You didn't?"
"No I didn't kill him exactly…"
"He's changing? Claire, you of all people are against changing people like that! How could you? Did you think about Jason? It's gonna kill him. What are you planning to tell him, or are you even gonna tell him?" her questions made me feel worse. My knees buckled and suddenly I was on the ground feeling like I was going to die.
It seemed like I was unconscious, but I could still feel her warm hands carry me to Jason's room. She set me on the bed and I knew Jason would be worried, but I wouldn't open my eyes-not yet.
"What happened?" Jason asked. His voice was strained and worried that something had happened to me. How was I to tell him? Or was I even going to tell him? I couldn't lie to him, but if he didn't ask then I didn't have to lie.
"She's just in some…emotional pain. She'll be fine in a while. Don't worry about her right now. She is awake, not unconscious, but she is like daydreaming I guess you could say." She chuckled at the thought of me sleeping soundly. I would never sleep again.
"Jason." I murmured. "My Jason." Angel was right. I was awake, but I didn't feel like it. It was like my head wasn't connected to the rest of my body, especially not my mind.
"I'm here Claire." His voice was a whisper, so why did it seem like he was screaming at me. What would he think if I did tell him, or would I want him to know? I felt his sweet breath all over my face. His blood coursed through his veins rapidly, worried about me I guessed.
My eyelids flew open. I couldn't put if off any longer he had to see my eyes and I had to see his glorious face. I heard his gasp. I saw him look down. "Hunting." It wasn't a question.
"I can't change who I am or why I hunt humans, but it doesn't mean that I like doing what I do. I hate being a monster. I hate being feared by everything that know what I am." I sighed.
"I don't fear you." his voice cracked. He was lying, but I didn't let him know I knew that.
"Jason, it would be best if you didn't love me, if you hated everything I am. You should, by the way. I've done so much to you without you even realizing it. Jason, don't you understand that I could hurt you? Kill you even?" I flinched at the thought. Jason limp in my hands my eyes glowing with his blood. I would regret doing that to him, so I could never do that to him. I love him too much. I will follow him to the end of my life until he told to get lost. I flinched at the thought of that as well. I would hate it when he said that, but he had too at some point. Is it possible to love a monster? I had, but I didn't know what he was until it was too late for me to make a rational decision.
"I would never leave you, Claire. I cant walk away like you could, I love you too much." His voice was full of doubt. He was right though. I knew even if I had known what Cody was, I still wouldn't of left him, I love him too much. Then Jason's words plunged into my heart-if I had had one-he thought I didn't love him as much as he did.
It seemed as though I couldn't talk for a moment. When I did I was furious. "Jason Greenfield." I snapped. His expression changed. He had never seen me angry. Angel chuckled behind me.
"Trust me Jason. You haven't seen her angry yet. You'll know when she can't get any angrier. The last time she was that mad was at Skylar. He has been pretty nice since that incident." She chuckled again. "If you can picture a man beating another and breaking over and over again and hurting him you can picture Claire beating up Skylar. Its fun to watch." She broke off when I glared at her. "Sorry." She apologized to not only me but Jason too.
"Jason Greenfield," I said again. "Do you really think I don't love you as much as you love me?" I asked with a furious voice. I was appalled, by what he had said. I loved him. I couldn't deny that truth, like I couldn't deny that I was a monster as well. I loved him as much as I was a monster.
"There is never any reason for you to love me. I'm just an ordinary guy in love with an extraordinary girl. I don't get why you love me." He said. When he looked back up he wished he had never said them. I could feel the shock and hurt on my face. Does he doubt me that much?
"Angel open the window again I would rather not break it down." I growled. She was confused, but she did as I had asked-or in my way, ordered.
I picked Jason up and jumped out the window in the same second. I ran down the street and I threw him up into a tree, only to catch him when I beat him up on the toss. I sat him gently on the branch while I paced on the other side of mine.
I debated with myself on how to prove to him that I loved him. He sat on the other side being silent for the first time I had seen him today. Was he frightened? Was he scared of me more now? Then it popped into my mind. I figured out how to make him know I would never turn my back on him. I hopped to his branch and sat next to him.
"I'm going to prove to you that I love you." I turned his face towards me. I knew I could do this. How hard was it to kiss him? I wasn't as thirsty anymore and his scent repulsed me anyway. His face was puzzled figuring out what was happening. I pulled him closer to me and I gently pushed my lips to his. My hand slid into his while my other was holding him closer to me.
This was like nothing I have ever felt. Kissing Cody was much more different than this. I loved Jason and I will always love him. His lips were moving with mine as he opened his mouth and I could taste his sweet breath. He held me closer while putting his hands in my hair. I traced his spine and I felt him shiver, but he didn't stop kissing me. I pushed him into the tree so his back was against the bark. It must of hurt, by the force I put on him, but he didn't complain. Suddenly his lips became more urgent and not as gentle as they had been. It reminded me of my memories of Cody. He had started out gentle, but then it got hard and painful.
I pushed away from him and leaped onto a limb above him. His breath was hard, but so was mine. "That was way out of line. I'm sorry I let it get that far." My breath came in gasps.
He didn't respond as I had hoped he would. He still sat against that branch. I supposed he was taking it all in. his breath was hard and painful.
"Jason?" I asked worried. It had been about 10 more minutes and he was still as silent as ever. I went to sit by him, afraid to touch him. I didn't know if that would help or only make it worse.
"Would you tell me why you were so upset before? Are you going to tell me why you looked like you were in so much pain?" he asked suddenly.
"No. I can't. It would hurt you too much. I just can't do that to you." I said with a sigh. "I'm just making too many mistakes is all."
You've done more than just make mistakes, Claire. You've made another monster, and this time it's gonna cast you. It might even cost you the love of your life. I was talking to myself, but I used the third person thing. It seems more appropriate for this kind of situation.
"Mistakes." He sighed. He must of thought it was a mistake to kiss him. I didn't know I wasn't a mind reader like Syd. That was another mistake. I let this go on for far too long. I had to stop it and I had to stop it soon, before it hurts all the ones I love.