A/N: Shazam! I hath returned. Still fighting through my writers block, but hopefully this update will do for now. Sorry it's abit of a short one compared to the others but eh, least it's something? I'll probably update it some more during the week. P.S thanks to VictoriaBellaDonna for her most thought-provoking commentary. With that, enjoy!
My stomach groans and Rose shushes me. Easy for her, considering her organs have long since ceased their mortal needs. We were entranced. I close my eyes. Reaching out, expanding my five heightened senses into a radar, trying to pinpoint the source. Meanwhile, I savoured the smell, inhaling deeply that warm rustic smell. In a flash, Rosalie darts ahead, with unfathomable speeds as she weaves through the trees. I grin eagerly and lunge forward too.
Although it seems my 'mate' has anticipated my moves, just managing to grip me by my sweater, and giving it a sudden yank. I struggle for a moment, then break apart from the tuft of fabric he's holding and race forward. My abnormal heart is beating frantically. This is nothing like yesterday when he grabbed me in that bear hug. I feel a funny tingle rushing over my skin. It prickles and crawls all over me in a most unpleasant way. But that's probably just the leaves as I whiz past the trees.
I am temporarily disorientated by Jacob's grab for me – did I really just say that? Suddenly that sickly skin-crawl sensation returns. I shake it off and try to recover my bearings. The thick mountain winds combined with my insane speed result in my hair obscuring my field of vision, momentarily blinding me. My body slams into something soft yet heavy. I loose my footing and fall forwards. My head is swimming from the impact. Wow. For all my boasting about being a creature of the night, I really do suck at stealth. My senses switch back on and my eyes widen in shock. I glance down at the helpless boy beneath me. His expression looks pained. I then notice that my hands have clamped his arms down, the rest of my body weight holding him in place. He doesn't dare to wriggle free. Huh. Odd. I thought humans cherished their lives. All but one; I add, thinking of my mother.
I grit my teeth and eye the human, tilting my head curiously. He squirms helplessly beneath my grasp. He's shaking, and what little colouring has drained from his cheeks. His lips tremble for a moment, but then his eyes linger away from me. He dares to tilt his head and I glance over my shoulder to see what has him distracted. Rosalie is skirting around us, smirking down at him. He seems entranced by her. Then I realise why. The sparkling. He seems transfixed by the pale glow surrounding her delicate form. Even as she sneers at his helplessness, his jaw goes slack, gazing at her unearthly beauty. Rosalie's eyes stray to mine for a brief moment, as if issuing an unspoken signal. His neck is now fully exposed to me. I grin, tighten my grip on his wrist and bury my teeth into his jugular vein.
His blood tastes amazing. Freshly seasoned with endorphins from his long morning hike, with a lingering woody scent that fills my body with warmth. The overall taste is a tangy metallic flavour. I shudder with pleasure, sinking my teeth deeper into his neck. The thrashing of his limbs suddenly stills, as I continue sucking greedily. Rosalie is at my side, practically drooling, she almost yanks his arm out of its' socket in her beastly hunger. She barges against my body as we both drain him within minutes. As we're suckling out the remaining few droplets, she utters, lips smeared in blood "It gets harder to resist." She licks her lips.
My mind is racing. I stare down at the remains of this lifeless limp body. I have a brief out-of-body experience; I have just killed someone. Me. My very first taste of human blood. I suppose most people would expect me to be horrified, to recoil in shock at my actions and feel ashamed for the rest of my impure immortal life. Instead, for the first time ever, I feel empowered. I feel free. I have done the unspeakable. I have embraced my true self. It may not be the prettiest of all things, and I certainly realise the dismay of the human. But really, how am I any different than a human slaughtering a poor innocent pig? That pig had babies too. They do it for food. Why should it then be wrong for me to slaughter humans? They need meat for nutrition. I need blood for sustenance. How are we any different?
I'm snapped back to the present by a gasp from behind us. I turn and see Jacob standing, his jaw dropped open. He looks terrified. I shrug it off, however I catch a glance at Rosalie. Her gaze is locked with his. I wonder idly for a moment what she's thinking and why Jacob is just standing idly there. Unfortunately my pondering time is limited as out of the corner of my eye I spot a cloaked figure leap down from the mountain, slicing through the air towards us. My jaw goes slack for a moment as I tumble out of range. Instantly, Rosalie snaps out of her thoughts and snarls at the attacker, baring her feline-like fangs, pouncing directly into the path of the newcomer. She takes the full impact, whilst Jacob is stooped low, hunched over, ready to jump into the fight. Jacob waves me off into the general direction of the woods.
Instinctively, I retreat into the bushes. Fear spikes through my heated blood. I hide behind a tree, deep within the forest, my eyes finding a visionary path, as I watch the fight, out of harm's reach. With all her might, Rosalie attempts to restrain the thrashing assailant, whom despite the resistance, keeps trying to break free of Rose's grip. I realise what the shadowy woman is aiming for: me. I'm hyperventilating just at the mere thought of it. Rose manages to throw the woman to the ground, and pin her. Meanwhile, Jacob glances between me and the woman, his expression torn. Indecision? That would be a first. I don't recall him ever hesitating to protect me. Rosalie is shouting something at him, but I'm too far to hear what is being said. I catch a glimpse of a pained expression on Jacob's face.
I am still mad at him. An unwelcome pang of sympathy strikes me, and all the anger and resentment I'm harbouring towards him returns, swamping me. My revelation with Rosalie has opened my eyes to the thing I desire more than anything. Freedom. I do not want his doting care. I don't need that. And I don't need him. I find myself sinking further away from their view, as if my legs were slowly dragging me away. I want to run. Should I? Would it be the wise thing to do? There were so many doubts in my mind, but one thing was certain. I didn't want to be a pawn in their games anymore. My very existence was merely so my mother could accomplish her own selfish ends. As soon as she could, she slung me off with 'Uncle Jacob' and I haven't heard from her since. It only proves to me how much of a deadbeat mother she was. But there were other reasons for as to why I detest her. My heart felt heavy due to the amount of hatred burning in my chest.
I need to go. And so, I ran.