Four weeks passed in our new home. As expected, I was able to occupy myself very well, informing myself on many different topics. I realized that as a vampire, I did not forget things, and memorized everything I read. Alice had bought me a variety of different shirts and pants. The ones that I wore one day had usually disappeared the next. I was getting used to feeding on animals, though I felt a constant itch inside my throat at all times, and sometimes looked back hungrily on the days where I hunted humans.
Alice tended to throw me dark looks whenever I thought of it and my imagination went wild, thinking I could maybe sneak out and cheat a little on my new diet. She spent most of her time with me, trying to find out more about the 'family'. Evidently, nothing new came up, and Alice began to wonder if we were going in the right directions. Twice we packed out bags to head west and twice she got visions with more information by the time we'd stepped outside.
We hunted at night, feeding off deers, fawns and other forest animals.
Overall, a rather easy-flowing life I was leading with Alice and I was getting used to the calm of it all. I could finally get my rest. Resting in my armchair, I shut my eyes to absorb my peace.
"Jasper?" I heard Alice call from upstairs. I let out a whine. Now? I opened my eyes and stood up, walking towards the staircase. I looked up to see her leaning over the railing, wearing a white shirt and light blue shorts.
"Yes?"
"Have you seen my necklace? I think I might have lost it…" She frowned. I considered the question. Alice had taken a habit of wearing a little silver locket around her neck with a small watch in it. Unfortunately, I hadn't seen it since about two days ago.
"I'm afraid I haven't since we hunted, Alice." She reacted to this news with a gasp.
"Oh! You're right, I remember! I must have dropped it." She looked clearly disappointed and sad, knowing she'd lost it. I felt my unbeating heart tighten. I said softly:
"Want me to look for it?" Alice raised her head and beamed at me. It was incredible the things I was willing to do to see her smile.
"Would you, please? I'm trying to focus on finding the family and I have trouble doing it knowing I'm missing something."
I chuckled.
"All right, ma'am. I'll be back in a bit." And I walked out of house, hearing Alice giggle behind me.
Easier said task than done. Alice's necklace was small, and we hunted on a large piece of land. I combed the forest and the field around it for hours, hoping to find it. I'd almost lost hope when I remembered we'd gone to another spot to hunt a few days ago. Running there, I searched some more and easily found it, shimmering as it was in the sun. It was odd to see the small jewel lose some of its shine when it was set against my sparkling palm. I set the chain in my pocket and started back home.
It was exactly then that I felt the sharp, stabbing pain in my neck as I smelt it.
Human blood.