Vanity and Patience (3/30) - Chapter 2: The Hunted: achelle1317

achelle1317

Vanity and Patience (3/30) - Chapter 2: The Hunted

Jul 06, 2009 23:14

Title: Vanity and Patience
Author: Achelle
Category: Books, FanFiction - Twilight
Rated: NC-17 or MA
Genre: Romance, angst, smut, Pre-Twilight/Midnight Sun
Status: In Progress
Characters/Pairings: Emmett/Rosalie Canon Pairings
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, and its characters, or plot. The characters, books, and plot are property of Stephenie Meyer. I make no money from writing this. I just love Twilight.
Warnings: Rated NC-17/MA for a reason. Some chapters may contain adult language, violence, assault, and sexual content. Lemons in future chapters
Summary: Rosalie is content to live her vampire life to its fullest, regardless of her resentment to her immortal situation. One day while hunting she comes across a dying man with an innocent face that she cannot resist. In an act of strength, she brings him home to change him into one of them. How does the vain and selfish Rosalie deal with an irrational newborn vampire who can’t see past his lust for blood to even notice her? Will she be able to swallow her pride and have the patience to stand by him? Will Emmett be the man who can change her life for the better?
All Chapters are Rosalie's POV.

Table of Contents:

AUTHOR'S CHAPTER NOTES:

Warning: Lemons in future chapters. Rated M for a reason. Violence, adult language, assault, and sexual content..

Original Betas: Beth/LedyBug, Anishaluvsu

This chapter has been newly revised as of Sunday, August 23, 2009 to include more detail, and a couple flashbacks. Hope you enjoy!

5/11/2010: Big thanks to ProjectTeam Beta Members Zombie’s Run This Town, Coreenm for proofing this chapter
Playlist:

Depeche Mode - Somebody
Hall & Oates - Maneater

Chapter 2: The Hunted

As I charged southwest through the forests and crossed the state line well into Tennessee, I cleared my head of my thoughts. Absentmindedly, I used my preternatural sense of smell to catch the scent of animals nearby, but nothing at the moment claimed my hunger as the thirst started to burn in my throat.

Two years. Over two years of training myself into the Cullen’s way of life, in being a unique coven-a family. Vampires so rarely valued human life the way our family did. We learned to control our thirst for human blood, which was the means of our very existence. We were united in our wish to avoid taking human lives to satiate our thirst. We learned to control the natural thirst for human blood, and instead drank the blood of animals. We hunted wildlife every so often, concentrating on certain areas of overpopulation, careful not to disturb ecological systems and territories. We were unique from most other vampires. Our compassion for people, coupled with the absence of their blood in our system, left us capable of loving one another as a family, rather than existing in a fiery rage of bloodlust and not caring about its effects on others. We were able to stand as one large united coven together.

Two years and a million more to go, I thought to myself.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved my adoptive parents, and although I resented that I was stuck in this frozen state of a viral infection of burning thirst for all of eternity, I was grateful to Carlisle for saving me. I was determined to live my life as a vampire as well as Carlisle did with his admirable compassion for human life, and Esme with her passionate love for her husband and her now two adopted children, Edward and me. I undoubtedly was sure I could live it better than my “brother,” with his tortured-soul-like thoughts of isolation and boring way of living this life. He lived it just to exist, going through the motions of living in the human façade, but not actually living. I didn’t want that for myself.

I would hunt when I needed to, doing it neatly and discretely as vampire law required. I get up every day to go to school, put on my best face, and study new things. I practiced the piano, and had recently taken up a new hobby: learning the mechanics of automobiles. I discovered quickly that this would become my new favorite hobby. The evenings were dedicated to hobbies and the arts. I wanted to study ballroom dance lessons-waltz, foxtrot, and the latest-swing. I had plans to go to college next year and study fashion merchandising with a minor in music. I knew that I would have to repeat high school and college for many years to come, so I put forth the first courses I really wanted out of the way. It would be my first time attending college and I wanted to enjoy it. Later I could study other interests: psychology, art history, English, and dance.

I knew I had no true motivating reason to live, but I was okay with that. Unlike Esme and Carlisle, I was alone. I was unsure that I would ever find that kind of companionship and was convinced it would never happen for me. I had no inspiration but my determination to carry me through my days. There was nothing I couldn’t do, and I was steadfast that, even though I resented this life, I was going to live it and live it well.

There was, however, the disturbing truth behind Carlisle’s intention for me and his family. Although I was sure it was out of love for his son and the kindness of his huge heart that he wanted Edward to be happy, it was rather ridiculous and uncomfortable that he had chosen me for Edward.

****

It was just last week when Edward and I were practically forced to play chess by our parents, and Edward decided to argue my last move. We sat at the dining room table as Esme and Carlisle were sitting side-by-side in the living room, each reading different sections of the paper. I was irritated at how Edward could read my mind, and I felt like he was cheating with his ability. We were bickering throughout the game.

“If they didn’t quarrel like brother and sister, I would assume they fought like lovers,” Esme playfully kidded.

“Well, wouldn’t that be in order? Given the circumstances in which I thought Rose a good fit in this family to begin with, I did tell you I thought her a good match for him,” I heard Carlisle respond, laughing along.

Edward and I both froze, looking up from the chess board over to the living room as I gasped at what his statement insinuated.

“Carlisle? What did you just say?” Edward asked, his face in utter disgust.

Carlisle’s eyes grew wide, realizing only then that he had slipped. He looked over at Edward, and they both stared intently at each other for a few moments. I was sure that Carlisle was communicating to him mentally, and Edward was picking his brain.

“Don’t you dare go talking to each other silently,” I sneered at them both before getting up from my chair. “Carlisle, is it true?” I asked stepping towards him. “Your intentions were for me to be,” I gulped before continuing, “Edward’s mate?”

Carlisle cleared his throat nervously, and Esme held his hand. From that one move alone, I realized they both knew of his intentions.

“Esme, you knew, too?” I asked, disbelief coloring my voice. “Did you know about this?” I hissed at Edward, turning my head to him as my golden locks whipped around in the wake of my move. Surely, Edward would have heard it in Carlisle’s thoughts.

“Does it seem that way to you?” he asked sarcastically, his formerly shocked face now one of irritation. “Do I not look just as surprised?”

I glared at him, narrowing my long-lashed eyes in his direction before turning back to Carlisle, staring intently at him for a response.

Carlisle, a bit ill at ease, confirmed with a nod. “It wasn’t the only reason. I also wanted you as a daughter and a member of this family. You fought so hard to live that long. Any other human would have died sooner in your condition. But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I thought you might make a wonderful companion for Edward.”

At that statement, Edward immediately broke out into fits of laughter. “Rosalie as my mate? How absurd!”

“I had been careful of my thoughts for this long. Obviously I knew I couldn’t keep it to myself forever,” Carlisle explained calmly.

Edward continued to chortle through Carlisle’s statement. My temper flared at such a reaction.

Immediately I turned to Edward, my eyes shooting daggers at his foolish outburst. “I’m glad you find this amusing,” I mocked him. I turned to Carlisle, disappointment written all over my expression. “Surely, Carlisle, you cannot be serious. Edward?”

Edward guffawed even harder at my question, and I switched my eyes back to him, snarling and baring my teeth. He realized then that I was serious, my thoughts running angry, humiliated, screaming nonsense, and was beginning to find his reaction a little offensive.

“Pipe down, Rosalie, please,” Esme muttered. “He doesn’t mean it in that way.”

“Like hell he doesn't!” I growled, my gaze still locked evilly at Edward, and with that I was out the door as I ran deep into the forest to find peace.

A mere three hours later that evening, I returned home, the family waiting for me, concerned. Edward never apologized officially, but his silence and the cautious expression he wore when I came through the door was enough for me to know he wasn’t going to make it hard on me either. In fact, it seemed he felt just as awkward about it as I did.

****

The flashback blurred from my mind as my vision returned to the forest in my run. I swerved to miss trees and leaped the bodies of water in my path toward a target for my hunt. Unfortunately, the thought of Edward still haunted me.

Me? And Edward? To be his love? His mate? His companion for eternity?

Edward?

Sure Edward wasn’t unfortunate looking. In fact he was easy on the eyes once you got passed the complicated, closed-off exterior. He had magazine-worthy features with a perfectly straight nose, dark lash-framed large golden eyes, pouty lips, and a square jaw. He was tall, toned, and lean. His body wasn’t that of a brawny body builder, but it was decent. During my human life when I would see him around town, I regarded him as very good-looking. I would have graciously taken to him if he courted me, as he was even more handsome than Royce. However, I also was vain enough to be jealous of his good looks, as well as Esme, who posed as his older sister, and Carlisle, his supposed brother-in-law. In fact my vanity made me quite envious of the Cullen Family’s beauty, especially the men. Of course I didn’t know they were vampires back then, and that such creatures would possess lovely features to attract their prey.

In another world, like my human life, maybe I would have been attracted to Edward and made an effort to get along with him. However, from the first day of my life with this family I resented him and found him insanely vexatious.

It was the night that Carlisle found me. In my changing state, I still lay there between the screaming from the burn of the venom, but was strong enough to overhear Carlisle and Edward. Edward wasn’t happy.

“What were you thinking, Carlisle?” Edward asked, his irritated tone etched in my mind. “Rosalie Hale?”

The way he said my name with utter disgust irritated me to my gut, and I wasn’t even fully awake and conscious yet. His tone implied that there was something wrong with me. If it had not been for the excruciating fire of the venom working to kill my human body during my transformation, I would have sat up to give a piece of my mind. Who was he to say those things about me?

“I know,” Edward said, seeming dismissive. The blood, or venom I suppose, began to run cold in my veins. I was angered by him, not knowing he could read Carlisle’s mind at the time.

“It was too much waste. I couldn’t leave her,” Carlisle repeated in a whisper.

“Of course you couldn’t,” Esme agreed in a comforting tone. I was sure I was going to like her.

Edward proceeded to argue with Carlisle about his choice in saving me, not gaining an understanding of his creator’s wishes. “People die all the time,” he reminded Carlisle through his teeth, in a hard voice. I could almost hear venom pouring out of his words. “Don’t you think she’s just a little recognizable, though? The Kings will have to put up a huge search-not that anyone suspects the fiend,” he growled.

I wanted to snarl but a scream let out of me instead, the singed veins in my body impairing my flesh of nothing but the feeling of raw agony. I couldn’t be upset completely, however, because I pleased me to find that they seemed to know that Royce was guilty.

“What are we going to do with her?” Edward asked, disgusted with me. Disgusted! The liquid in my veins continued to run cold.

I lay there hopelessly as Edward sat there, arguing with Carlisle about his choice in changing me. He was concerned that I would be recognized, being the most beautiful girl in town, and the late fiancé of bank owner Royce King’s son. He didn’t realize I could hear the whole conversation. Though I was pleased that they seemed to know it was Royce who was guilty, nothing else of that conversation was pleasant. Affronted by his unjustified dislike of me, a large bubble of bitterness formed for Edward in my chest. That set the stage for my attitude toward him to this day.

****

To add insult to injury, unlike every male I’ve ever known, Edward never showed much attraction to me. This bothered me. All my life I turned the heads of all males of all ages, races, shapes and sizes, and, sometimes, even females-everyone that I come into visual contact with. From the time I hit puberty at the tender age of twelve, I was admired by most, and those who didn’t admire were envious. As a result, Edward’s lack of enthusiasm over my loveliness truly offended me, adding to the bitter bubble inside, and I honestly only got over it very recently. In fact, it may have been a few weeks ago that I realized he didn’t show interest to anyone, female, or even male if he went that way, and that made me feel better.

I was far enough from the house to not be in Edward’s mind-reading radar. In the privacy of my thoughts, I briefly considered what life would be like having him as a mate. Could I even bring myself to kiss those lips, or hold the hands that gripped so rigidly on the steering wheel on the way home? He was just so uptight and broody all the time. No matter how striking a young man he was, it felt awkward to picture it. Could his hand ever take mine so gently and guide me in this world for all of eternity? Would his kiss even taste like candy-which hoped secretly that the mouth of the love of my life would taste like? I couldn’t even imagine if he would ever taste sweet.

I cringed, adjusting my skirt uncomfortably as I thought of Edward’s lean, mildly-toned chest against my body. I tried to imagine what he would be like naked against me. Could I stand to make love to him? Curiosity filled my head for a very brief moment before I cringed yet again. He was attractive and physically desirable, no doubt, but repellant to me in many other ways.

I sorted out my feelings as I set aside my attraction. With what I had experienced with Royce, I knew that looks weren’t everything in regards to finding the right partner for life. I considered Edward’s blatant disregard and boredom with me-his unenthusiastic view of my appearance as well as the person I was. It was obvious that he belittled my narcissistic attitude. Could I ever truly love someone who deemed me so shallow and unworthy of his time?

Would Edward be the end-all happiness for me in this life? Surely, he couldn’t be the answer. Certainly, we’d look beautiful together, but that would only be at the surface. Anyone could see how unsuitable we were for one another, no matter how much our good looks complimented each other. Not that it mattered that we weren’t; I certainly wasn’t mentally or emotionally attracted to him in that way. Nor did I ever feel anything but the natural love for an annoying twerp-like younger brother who bothered me to no end.

I was confused. In another respect, I had to admit we would make sense in some ways. Though it wasn’t Carlisle’s preference that I murdered my own assailants, it was Edward who gave me the understanding that I needed as I sought justice for my own death. He looked at me with no judgment when I returned home that night from sneaking out to kill Royce and his men. His eyes were rather gentle with an expression of compassion on his face. He had respected me enough not to interfere when I had to face Carlisle about my actions. I knew that he spent many years away from Carlisle to become a vigilante, killing humans much like Royce, who didn’t deserve to live.

We were both in the same boat-not really wanting to exist in this life. Though we fought like siblings, we also agreed with each other on some important matters, however scarce they were. There was a growing love there that understanding and respect had given us for our common stance on being vampires. We were of the same side of a coin, not really accepting our sentence to eternity frozen as monsters. We just existed. I pondered on that thought for a moment. Could I find it in me to turn to him for something more than a sibling?

I shook my head, as if to shake off the thought and push my confusion aside. His tortured and detached way of life repelled me. He hated the monster that he was, while I resented this imprisoning existence. We would just bring each other down. I frowned at the idea that he would be my happiness. I could never find contentment with him as my companion.

It would not be healthy.

I nodded my head firmly to myself, pleased with my conclusion. If he was truly my destiny, I would gladly spend the rest of my eternal life denying it.

Me… and Edward.

I shook my head at the ridiculousness of the concept.

I woke up suddenly from my thoughts as the scent of a carnivore assaulted me-a lion or a bear perhaps. I ran in its direction, hearing its movements, not far north of where I was. I hadn’t realized I had traveled close to 100 miles away from home in all my deep thoughts.

I realized it was a bear as I moved closer and distinctly heard its footsteps, heartbeat, and growls. I was then about ten feet from it. I came to a halt, knowing that the bear was galloping just over the hill. I climbed up a nearby tree to get a better view of him and planned to leap off of it when it was time. There you are, I sneered inwardly, spotting him hurling towards the west. My mind was calculating my next move.

With a flash I launched myself off of the tree and onto the bear, a snarl rising from my chest and up my throat. He wrestled me, but I had a good grip on him, moving faster than he could probably see. I dogged his arms and sharp paws as he tried to scratch me out of his way. I growled at him angrily, and he growled back. I couldn’t let him ruin my outfit, but he wasn’t giving up without a fight.

I suddenly was overcome by a stronger scent that seemed to be interlaced with the bear’s fur, but it wasn’t animal at all. The burning in my throat increased, and the venom accumulated in my mouth exponentially. Confused by such a scent, I ignored it, too consumed with thirst for the bear.

With one swift movement, I grabbed his neck and snapped it, leaving the bear to waver before he fell to the ground. As I lifted him and prepared eagerly to bite into his throat, that other scent came crashing down on me… one that I knew all too well.

The scent of fresh blood was close and undeniably potent, but I couldn’t figure out the source… it was overwhelmingly strong and decidedly… HUMAN? Shrugging it off, I tried my best to ignore it as the venom pooled in my mouth and the burning thirst impaired the top of my throat. I’ll finish off this bear, and this will hold me off for another few days, I thought to myself. But as I lifted the bear upward to meet my lips, I realized his paws were full of blood, and I immediately realized the source was the bear’s paws. Could this creature have harmed a human so recently?

I looked around and listened carefully. A slight breeze came in from the south as I caught another whiff of the same human’s blood. I dropped the bear and went running, snaking through the trees, the burning sensation assaulting me to no end.

Surely, I could be forgiven for finishing off an already dying human.

As I moved closer to the source, I could hear panting and groaning. It was a man in pain, still alive.

But not for long, the monster in me thought.

I had never once tasted human blood. In fact, my record for murders was close to perfect. It was about as perfect as Carlisle’s, and much better than Edward’s, or even Esme’s. I had only seven murders on my hands-four of my attackers, two guards, and my asshole ex-fiancé. I went after them shortly after I had changed, in vengeance, but I never drank their blood. I was to have no part of them in me. I shook off the thought and paid attention to my next victim.

There on the ground, about twenty feet from a deserted campsite, lie the man whose scent allured me to no end. The draw to him was magnetic, and I was powerless to stop myself from reaching him. The monster in me smiled, and I felt a growl from the innermost core of my chest surface.

Mine!

I approached him like a cat ready to pounce, preparing to suck him dry of all the good, luscious blood that was his. I knew that my family wouldn’t agree completely with me tasting human blood after refraining for so long, but I also knew I would be forgiven for this one slip. My mouth filled with warmth and ached to taste his crimson nectar. I was in a lust craze at this point, but I was suddenly interrupted.

For some reason it was his cries for pain and help that I couldn’t ignore. He lied on his stomach gasping for air; he wore brown pants, a beige shirt, and burgundy suspenders; his hiking books were all worn and torn. I could tell he was tall, maybe about 6’5. His arms were burly, surrounded by a thick band of muscle. Young, I presumed, maybe a couple years older than my frozen state, but approximately around my age.

A pool of his blood spread out in a one-foot circumference from his torso. I dipped my finger in it and brought it to my mouth for a taste. The burning arrested my senses yet again. I am going to savor this moment, the psycho-killer in me thought, but then my thoughts didn’t last for long.

His gasps of pain recovered my consciousness, and I knew I couldn’t jump to finishing him off myself without at least checking if he could survive his wounds. I knelt next to him and flipped him over carefully. I made a quick survey of his body. The bear had mauled him, ripping his stomach and torso to shreds, the heat of his body sending currents through me. I shivered in response. There was no way he was going to survive it.

Suddenly, I felt his eyes on me.

“H-help… m-m-me,” he barely breathed. His voice, though feeble, was oddly soothing to my ears, so much so that it seemed to speak to my soul, if I had one. My heart, should it have been alive, would have broken as I heard him say it. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling. I turned my head slightly to look at him.

That’s when I saw it. His face, innocent and beautiful, made my insides melt and I mentally fell to the floor as my eyes took him in. Huge hazel eyes stared back at me, pleading for my help.

I froze for a moment, my stomach churning into knots. Millions of thoughts raced and swirled in the confines of my mind, and my heart was anew as it flooded with an onslaught of emotion for the human being that lie on my lap.

Everything that I was, all that had given meaning to my life, all the ties that bonded me to anything - my love for and loyalty to the Cullen Family, my allegiance to Carlisle’s compassion, my devotion to Esme’s affection, the pride that my beauty gave me, even the residual love I still had for my human parents and brothers - were severed in that one moment.

It was like nothing else mattered in this world but the creature that I held in my arms at that very instant. I was now bound to this man with the gracious face, bound by millions of string woven into a beautiful and secure pattern.

It was the face that was about to make everything in my tattered little vampire existence change forever.
Author's End Notes:
So they say she never felt anything for Edward, and that is what she tells Bella in Eclipse. That doesn't mean that she couldn't find such a handsome guy attractive, especially one that she has to see everyday with nothing else to distract her. I really don't believe she couldn't have thought about the possibility at least once. I think it would be natural, and would certainly explain her jealousy when Bella enters Edward's life.

You may be wondering where her Henry/Vera flashback is. Don't freak out just yet. You'll just have to tune in next time.

Please review and let me know what you think, as each review feed my creative soul, and inspires me to keep writing.

Follow me on Twitter @achelle131

And if you like the story and want to discuss that or anything further, please come by and play on the Vanity and Patience Thread on the Twilighted.net Forum.

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