Cold Front | Paul Lahote

Seize

The wind flew past her at immense speeds, whipping around and carrying scents her way. She could smell everything, every critter crawling across the forest floor. She could smell him coming up on her right.

He was moving fast and hard, pushing himself in an attempt to reach her. Each muscle screamed in protest, he paid no mind to the pain of going too fast. He forced himself onward.

Each step was careful. Her feet pressing into the ground softly, her scent brushing into the undergrowth. Paul was fast, incredibly so, but unfortunately for him wolves had their limits.

The sound of his paws faltering spiked her attention. Erica's body turned towards him, sliding to a stop that would have hurt her is she was anything but what she was.

He wasn't that far back, his panting was still loud enough that it rang in her ear and woke a strange feeling in her still heart. Whenever he was near she felt her insides warming, like the ice of winter melting under the warm suns rays. She hated it.

He neared her, each stride slow as he struggled against his trained muscles. His tongue was lolled out as he gasped for air.

"I'm surprised that you lasted for that long," Erica admits. She stood still, leaning against a tree. She didn't breathe, she couldn't bring herself to take in his scent. "Not many people could last against my kind for so long. I have to admit that you have tremendous endurance."

The wolf huffed and -much to her annoyance- rolled his eyes.

"Are you always like this?" the vampire slid onto the ground, relaxed. She eyed the giant wolf that loomed over her with distaste. "Are you going to shift or are you going to make me talk to myself?"

His eyes widened and his lips pulled back in a snarl. His front les parted slightly, and he bowed down so his fur was brushing the floor.

"Fine, I'll just leave then because I do not appreciate your new-found attitude," Erica slipped away and into the trees. She didn't go far, stopping in a clearing that was only a few kilometers away. He would join her; she knew he would.

The space was small and round. The plants were dried, dead and brown and broke under her feet. The ground crunched under each step. It would have been beautiful; she could see the potential that echoed like a shadow, a whisper of its beautiful summer state.

Erica preferred the dead plants; it spoke of winters touch, an unforgiving caress that was all too familiar to her. She knew the dangers of winter all too well, that was how she died and that was how she was born.

"Don't run off like that," his gruff voice broke the delicate silence.

"Don't act like you're better then me. Ever heard of respecting your elders?" She shot back. She could feel the tension radiating off him, he wanted her to look at him.

"Don't say that," he grumbled. She looked at him, eyes narrowing on the pain that swirled behind his angry mask.

Picking her way across the dry earth, she walked toward him. He was taller than her, much taller. Standing next to him, Erica felt petite. It was different than with James; with her brother, she felt equal. She would admit that her brother was intimidating but never to her; she had grown up with him, spent lifetimes with him Paul was different; he had muscled, he radiated power that would deter some of the cockiest vampires. Erica never felt threatened; she felt safe near him and it made her sick.

"Say what, exactly? Because I distinctly remember the war of independence giving me my rights." Erica circled the stiff boy, eyeing him curiously. It was all a game, cat and mouse; or perhaps cat and dog.

"Where you there? Is that how old you are?"

Freezing, she was caught off guard by his question. Was she?

"I don't know, I don't remember," her reply was stiff, cautious. "They didn't have the best documentation systems when I was born."

"But didn't they at least have news papers?" the boy pushed.

Erica stopped when she stood in front of him. She could touch him if she wished, it would cause her no effort.

"When you turn you forget most of your human life. It's quite tragic really. When I turned, neither my brother or I had a use for time. James had tracked down the man that turned him, gotten his answers then killed him."

Paul tilted his head, questions danced in his eyes and Erica let him forward, drew him in closer. Her body thrummed for another taste. His body was healed, her mark on him had long since disappeared and she wanted to place a new one on his smooth skin.

"You should stay away from me," she warned feebly. "I have a revenge plan. Vengeance is one of the only thoughts I ever have and you could end up as collateral damage."

He shook his head. "You don't really mean that."

Her gaze hardened on him and a feral snarl was pulled from her throat. Amber eyes flashed a crystal blue. "I have no regard for human life, Paul. If it was up to me, you would already be changed and at my side. Do not put me on some distorted pedestal to rationalize your human fantasies."

"I don't believe you," he argued stubbornly.

Erica groaned, agitated. Speeding forward, she lashed out. A pale hand met tan skin with a loud crack. She stood her place with confidence as Paul picked himself up from the ground. He shook, his body quivered and his breath shuddered. He was angry.

"I'm the monster that your little tribal stories warned you about. A bloodthirsty beast with little to no humanity. I am a vampire that is willing to burn down the world to kill the person that tore my brother apart piece by piece," Erica seethed. "Don't forget what I am Paul."

"I don't believe you. I can't."

He shifted quickly and Erica wondered how it didn't hurt him. It seemed forced and rushed. Bones broke through his skin as the snapped and reshaped themselves in a way that wasn't meant to happen.

Erica stood in the clearing alone as the wolf boy ran toward his home, his howl lingering in the air. Brooding, she left the small town of Forks to find herself a good meal.

•••••

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It has been forever since I updated this and I've been kinda stuck so I'm sorry if it seems kinda forced.

Unedited.