Nessie's Life

Chapter 13

I loved hunting with Jacob. He could run faster then anyone I knew besides my dad. Riding on his back was the most exhilarating experience, but at the same time I felt completely safe. I could dig my hands into his warm soft fur and know that not even an earthquake could knock me off.

As soon as we smelled something appetizing, I leaped off and ran beside him. When we saw a small herd of deer in the clearing ahead, we didn't even slow. Jacob lunged straight for the biggest male and I easily overtook the second largest. Because I was so full from the frozen yogurt, I could only drain about half of the deer before I felt like I was about to burst.

I sighed in content. While human food was sufficient to keep me alive, it didn't satisfy the burning desire in my throat like blood did. I knew that my thirst wasn't nearly as bad as a full vampire's, but it was still there.

I dropped the animal and sat on the bank of the stream that the herd had been drinking from with my feet hanging in the water. Even though Jacob was my favorite hunting partner, I couldn't stand actually watching him eat. Even listening to the snarling, ripping sounds made me shudder.

Finally the noise stopped and I heard the muted thud of his gigantic paws approaching. He came right beside me and put his head down on the ground. I leaned against him and rubbed behind his ears, which I knew was his favorite spot.

It was a warm day and I was very full, so my eyes started to close. The rhythmic thudding of Jake's loud heart combined with his long low breaths made me even sleepier. I was on the brink of unconsciousness when I heard a slight movement from across the stream.

Suddenly Jake wasn't underneath me anymore, which made me gasp. My lungs were filled with the sent of an unfamiliar vampire, and I was on my feet in another half of a second. That was when I saw him.

The figure staring at us was almost entirely swallowed by the dark grey cloak that symbolized a member of the inner Volturi guard. I could only see his face. He had an angular jaw with thin, wide lips. Dirty blonde spikes of hair peeked out above his large blood red eyes.

He regarded us with an expression that went from shock to delight to curiosity. Jacob stepped in front of me. After a few tense moments, the corner of the vampire's mouth curled up into an evil smile. He spoke with a slight southern drawl that was different from uncle Jasper's.

"Hello, Renesmee. My name is Chase. I'm sure you've heard a little bit about me. I have certainly heard about you. You have many protectors, and they are getting on my nerves." He spoke to Jacob. "Let me see her face, mutt."

That was too much for Jake to handle. In a split second he was soaring over the stream in a straight line for Chase's throat. But something changed mid air. He landed lightly beside Chase, and then, growling, he turned to face me.

I can't describe how scared I felt. The only thing that I could always count on, the one person who could never betray me, was standing on the other side of the stream, ready to attack me.

I realized with shock that it wasn't the real Jacob anymore. Chase was controlling his mind and making him believe that I was the enemy. I was completely lost and alone. I had no clue what to do.

Without thinking about it, I started to take a step back. Chase's eyes never left Jacob, but he spoke to me with a new fierceness in his voice.

"Don't. Running won't do you any good, Renesmee. Sit down." I couldn't believe that I was being controlled by this vampire I had hardly met. I had to say something.

"But what about..."

A loud snarl ripped from Chase's throat, silencing me. "I said, sit down!" My hands started shaking. I slowly did as I was told.