Something To Kill For

Chapter Three: To Satiate

I felt much more comfortable now that we were under the cover of darkness. We were headed northwest, to Minnesota, moving only at night and under constant cover of trees, when possible, so we could move at a pace normal for us. I let Alice find our 'snacks'. She was very excited to be with me for the first time that I would try anything but human blood.

Presently, we were stopped behind a tree at the edge of a clearing.

"You go first." I told her, looking down at her tiny face by my chest. I wanted to see how she did it, if it was any different than when I hunted humans.

She smiled up at me, all wise. Suddenly her eyes turned wild and she took a step forward, toward the unsuspecting, awaiting elk. Even in her amazing grace, she was savage. She tore through the underbrush, ripping toward the animal with such force and certainty. I watched as she fed. I wouldn't say the smell was enticing, but I was quite thirsty and had to use some restraint over myself so that I didn't lose control.

Seconds later, she finished. Smiling, she strolled over to where I stood, gaping at her beauty and nonchalance.

"Now let's find you one!" she grabbed my hand and we were running again, only to stop again in the middle of the forest.

"There." She pointed toward a giant elk standing quietly between two huge trees. Then she let go my hand and I felt her take a step back.

I'll admit it, I was nervous. New things tend to scare me. I looked back at her and she nodded and smiled. She could probably see the apprehension in my eyes. Her smile was encouraging so I let myself lose control at last.

When I bit into the fur and flesh of the huge elk and the sultry blood flowed into my mouth, I felt strengthened and revived; yet, somehow, still slightly unsatisfied. It confused me.

"Not the same, is it?" she asked, reading my face.

"No." I shook my head.

"Don't worry, it'll get easier!"

And again she grabbed my hand and we were off. About an hour later we ate again, for my sake. We had both just finished when Alice froze and a distant, blank look came into her eyes. All of her muscles tensed like she was going to fight someone. I had to pry her hand off of mine, she was gripping it so hard, and she didn't even flinch even though I had to use a lot of strength.

I waited for her to say something, but she just stood there, stock-still. I had no idea what was going on so I grabbed her shoulders and gave her a bit of a shake.

"Alice!" I yelled.

She relaxed and looked up into my eyes, hers suddenly back in focus.

"Yes?"

"What just happened?" I asked, mystified.

"Oh, I had a vision." Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh . . . And?" I prompted.

"We might run into a bit of trouble on our way, when we are passing through Illinois. But, it's nothing."

"What kind of trouble?"

"A pair of vampires who like to pick fights. They aren't that old, a few years at the most. We could choose a different path…" Again, she trailed off. "We would have to go way around them to avoid them." She looked into my eyes again, trying to see what I thought.

"Whatever seems better to you. If you want to go through them, though, I could look after you. I used to fight newborns all the time, you remember."

"I don't need protection! I'll be fine." She smiled.

I gave her a skeptical look, exaggeratingly scrutinizing her from head to toe and back again, all four foot ten inches of her slender body. She just stood there smiling. So, when I finished, I raised a dubious eyebrow.

She sighed, snatched my hand and soared in the direction we had been traveling all night.