Chapter 14: Shock and Surprise
I whirled around, feeling dizzy. After taking one last look around the tilted room, I stepped out and slammed the door shut. I massaged my temples with my thumbs, as if that could help my inhuman headache. After more useless rubbing, I threw my hands at my sides and sighed heavily. I knew that even if I was human, the pounding in my head would not simply go away. The headache wasn't simply due to the cursed, mysterious slant of Rose and Em's room. However hard it was for me to admit it, I was afraid.
Who would have just come into the house in order to tilt the furniture and supply me with fresh flowers? I decided that the "burglar" who had been there earlier must have been in this room. Perhaps he or she had been looking for something valuable in Rose and Em's room, and seeing me coming, fled. That would have messed up the angle of the furniture for sure, although it certainly didn't explain the flowers.
I knew the culprit wasn't human by the sweet, perfume-y scent it had left in the air. The mystery man (or woman) was definitely a vampire. Perhaps they had wanted to leave a "present" for me to show that they had been there. I had never understood how the criminal mind worked, and I never would.
I took some deep breaths to calm myself, but all that seemed to accomplish was to flood my hollow lungs with warm, uncomfortable air. I exhaled shakily one more time, then turned on my heel and strode out of the villa. Greenery and woods surrounded it; it would be easy for me to hunt undetected by meddlesome humans.
I gently shut the white, wooden door behind me, slipped off my shoes, and padded slowly out on the grassy "lawn" until I reached the edge of the dense forest. I looked one more time at the beautiful, frightening villa I was staying in. And then I ran.
I didn't know what type of fare to expect here, but I had smelled something tasty and I wanted it. I sensed that it was relatively far away, and attempted to move my already blurring legs faster. I sped through the leafy, moist trees, past all types of creatures and foliage. But I wanted what I was after and I wanted it now. No other animal's scent appealed to my sensitive nose in the least but the one I was after. Whatever it was must have been native to the area; I had never smelled anything so appallingly delicious.
It was rich and heady, the butter-loaded double chocolate cake of animal blood. Racing toward the aroma was exhilarating but also slightly tormenting. I lusted for it more than anything I had ever desired in my life, yet I knew that no matter what it was, I needed it so badly that it would be dead and devoured in seconds, leaving me with no remainder but a full stomach. It would have to suffice. Perhaps afterwards I would be able to find more of its species hiding around here somewhere.
I was getting nearer. I could feel it. Anytime now, I would have a few (sparse) moments to be utterly happy, feasting on the animal of my dreams. I rushed through several more silly obstructions of plants and trees, and could hardly feel the soft, moist earth under my bare feet. Finally, I ducked my head under a low branch and knew I was coming to my destination. I tried to prepare myself and slow my rushing limbs down, but it was difficult. My senses were in overdrive.
I raised my head and forced with all my might my legs to stop running, to see that I was in a small clearing. On the far edge of this meadow was—a person?—hunched over what I knew to be the animal I was looking for, although I still couldn't make out what that animal was. The man's tense back was turned and he seemed not to notice me at first. I knew he was a vampire; who else would be feasting on a wild animal in a forest? I tried to creep as quietly as I could up behind him. It was hard to do; the meal I desired was so close and inviting. Its scent clogged up my throat with bloodlust and I had to hold my nose to prevent myself from running all out. I would stop at no lengths to obtain that mouth-watering delicacy the vamp was handling, if I had to swipe it from him. Somewhere I knew in the corner of my brain that my thinking had been lost, and I was relying on pure instinct now. On no normal day would I steal another vampire's meal if given an opportunity, unless I wished suicide.
I was only two feet from the male vampire when I noticed the muscles on his neck tensing. I knew he had noticed my presence and was now turning his head slowly. A familiar, yet pleasant odor that I couldn't quite place overwhelmed my superhuman nostrils. The smell overpowered even my desire for the animal I was creeping towards. I stopped dead in my tracks to try to figure out what that bizarre fragrance was, to no avail. It was unnecessary, though, for the man had turned his entire head so I could see his face as clear as could be. Our eyes—his and mine—widened, as I recognized the coal-black irises and godly features of Edward Cullen.