sʇɥɓılǝp ʇuǝloıʌ

rosalie   couldn’t   pretend   that             this   situation   she   found   herself   in   was       ideal.      well   ,   she   could   pretend   ,   but   that   seemed   like   too   much      effort.      bare   feet   glide   silently    ‘pon   mossy      undergrowth   ,       the   stench   of   rotting   leaves             &             damp   soil   making   the   bridge   of   her   nose      wrinkle.      the   forest   was   quiet   today   ;   albeit   the   sloppy   ,      vile      noises   of   bella   slurping      helplessly      at   the   torn   wound   on   the   doe’s   quivering      throat.      rose   wasn’t   hungry   ,   her   eyes   a   delicate   ,   pale      gold      as   she   watched   the   young   vampire   with   barely   masked       disgust.                            ❛            what.   the      messiness   ,      or   the      thirst      ?           ❜                          the   mocking      trill       in   her   light   voice   seemed   to   startle   even      her   ,      tossing   her   glossy   ,   dark   hair   over   a   narrow      shoulder      as   she   glanced   away   ,   tearing   her   gaze      pointedly       from   where   bella   remained       crouched. 

nothing   got   better.   easier.             every   day   felt   like   an   endless   uphill      battle.      some   days   were   worse   than   others   ;      emmett      helped   with   those.   today   wasn’t       too      bad   ,   despite   her   having   to   be       here.       tongue   prodding   at   the   backs   of   her      teeth   ,       arms   slipped    ‘cross   her      chest   ,       letting   herself   lean    ‘gainst   a   nearby      tree   ,       ignoring   the   cool   moisture   that   touched   her       skin       ‘pon   the   lichen   etched   trunk.   jaw   sets   ,             &              the   vampire   expelled   a   slow   ,       even       breath   through   her   nose.                             ❛            ..   the   sloppiness   ,       yes.       you’ll   figure   out   your      own      hunting   rhythm   in   time.   it   just   takes      practice.           ❜                          why   was   she      helping       them   ,   offering   them      advice      ?      right.   the   newest   ,   budding   member   of   the      cullen   family.       beloved   by   everyone   ,   yet   rosalie   seemed   the   odd   one      out       with    that   verdict.   who   would      willingly      decide   to   be   what   they   were   ,   let   alone      want      it      ? 

dark   lashes   fan   as she   glanced   down   toward   the   forest       floor   ,       sharp   gaze   catching   the   base   of   a       gnarled      tree   root             &              tracing   it’s      shape   ,      her   voice   quiet   ,      tight   ,       as   she   finally   spoke   again.                             ❛            the   thirst   never      really      gets   better.   you   just   learn   to   ..      deal      with   it.           ❜ 

bella   felt   like         a   toddler         who   didn’t   know   how   to   eat   properly,         all   clumsy   limbs   and   uncontrollable   gnawing   teeth.      it   was   quite   embarrassing   already.      even   more   so   that   rosalie   had   to   be   a   witness   to   it.      it’s   difficult   not   to   flinch   at   the   mockery   in   the   other’s   voice.      they   try   not   to   think   about   it   too   heavily   before   stepping   away   from   the   drained   doe   finally.   the   back   of   hand   wiping   at   blood-stained   lips,   only   to   smear   the   crimson   across   their   cheek.   a   hot   bath   was   going   to   be   needed.   not   only   to   clean   themselves,   but   to   calm   the   adrenaline   racing   through   taut   muscles.    there    is    some    relief    ‘pon    hearing    that    they   won’t    always    appear    like    a    complete    mess    whilst    feeding,    and    some    surprise    at    hearing    rosalie    actually    cordially    providing    an    answer.  they   know    she    doesn’t    understand,     will    never    understand    why    this    life   was    chosen    over    a    normal    human    one.    there   is    nothing    they    wanted    more    than    to    fit    in,     and    this    is    where    they    felt   they   belonged.   

a   newborn   thirst   was   worse   than   anything   they   had   ever   experienced.         it   felt   as   if   they   were   continuously   drinking   water,      but   their   throat   continued   to   be   dry,   no   matter   how   much   they   put   into   it.      even   now,   standing   over   a   kill,   the   itching   is   still   present.      brown   eyes   shift   over   to   where   rosalie   stands,   looking   her   over,   studying   with   new   eyes.   the   beauty   bella   had   noticed   whenever   they   were   human   was   amplified.         “   how   exactly   do   you   deal   with   it?   i   know   edward   has   his   methods.      so,   what   are   yours?   “         it   was   asked   more   out   of   curiosity   than   the   need   for   more   advice.         the   cullen   family   had   welcomed   them   with   open   arms,   and   as   a   result   they   had   grown   close   to   the   members.   well,      all   except   one.      rosalie   was   still   seemingly   keeping   bella   at   an   arms   length.      they   wanted   to   change   that.      if   they   couldn’t   become   friends,   the   least   they   could   do   is   tolerate   each   other.   

fingers   are   curled   against   other’s   wrists,   which   are   pinned   to   the   wall   behind.      a   show   of   strength.      a   demonstration   more   than   anything   else.    “   i’m   going   to   take   that   as   a   compliment.  "    she   smiles,   amused   by   his   bewilderment.   "  this   isn’t   even   my   full   strength,   ransom.     i   show   you   that   and   you’ll   walk   out   of   here   with   broken   wrists.  "      chest   brushes   against   his   as   a   chuckle   leaves   lips,    and   realization   about     how   close     she’s   drawn   dawns   on   her.   if   cheeks   could   flush   they   would   be   ten   shades   of   red.    she   clears   her   throat   and   steps   back,    

from   one   small   town   to   the   next,            bella   couldn’t   imagine   living   in   a   crowded   city.      with   so   many   people   ...            so   much   blood   ...               it   could   lead   to   a   massacre,   and   that   is   not   something   she   could   handle   on   her   conscious.      mystic   falls   appeared   quiet   enough.         at   least   so   far,   since   arriving   one   week   ago.         the   people   were   nice   and   charlie   wouldn’t   be   in   danger   with   her   here.   optimism   is   not   her   usual   attitude,   but   bella   truly   believed   this   was   going   to   work   out.      

water   crashes   again   and   again   and   again.         it   pulls   her   form   underneath,   until   the   air   is   scarce.         all   she   sees   before   her   is   ocean-blue   and   then,   suddenly,      a   flash   of   red   hair.      it   terrifies   and   so   limbs   lash   out   in   order   to   get   further   away.      she   is   not   paying   attention   to   the   rocks   behind   her   and   does   not   know   they   are   there   until   head   collides   with   one.      then   there   is   nothing.      it   is   peaceful.      it   is   quiet.      until   she   is   gasping   for   air.      

one   major   difference   with   being   around   the   wolves,      was   that   they   seem   more   carefree.      the   air   is   lighter   and   so   is   that   laughter   that   fills   it.      their   own   laughter   rings   out   at   a   passing   remark   given   by   jacob   towards   seth   as   he   walks   towards   the   fire   pit.         it   is   filled   with   a   healthy   dose   of   sarcasm   and   affection.   this,   however,   leaves   bella   and   seth   alone.      they’re   not   entirely   sure   what   to   speak   about.      both   of   their   age   ranges   being   so   different   did   not   give   them   much   in   common,      but   despite   that   they   liked   seth.      he   was   like   a   ray   of   sunshine   in   a   gray   world.      aside   from   age   being   a   factor,      their   mind   keeps   straying   to   a   single   subject   anyway,         about   what   is   going   to   transpire   in   a   couple   of   days.   

surroundings    mirror    that    of    a    painting,        perfect     &     serene.    it    contrasts    wildly    with    the    way    heart    hammers    against    ribcage    as    nerves    twist   and    pull   on    her    insides.    but   the    palace    was    beautiful    and    even    walking    towards    danger,      escorted    by      dangerous    beings    capable    of   terrible   things,    she    could    still    appreciate      its     beauty.     well,     what    she   saw    of    it.     her    eyes    kept    straying    to    the    ground    in    front    of    her,     keeping    gaze    low   with   shoulders  hunched.    it   was      a    practiced    skill,     making    herself    small.   there    was    no    edward    by    her    side    this    time    or    even    an    alice.     the    former    waiting    just   outside    and   the   latter    was    hundreds    of    miles   away.     it    made    the    whole    situation    feel    worse,      but    if    it    needed    to    be    done    to    keep      the    peace,     then    so    be    it.     she    would    do    this    for    the    people    she    loved.  

the    sound     of       heart    beating    &    blood    pumping      is    all    that    she    concentrates    on.      if    words    are    being    spoken,      they    are    muffled    by    the     steady    beat      /      the    siren     song.       she    hadn’t    even    noticed    that    she    stopped    listening    to    all    else.       it    just    happened.       an    instinct    from    the    beast    that    lurks    inside.     no    matter    how    many    times    she’s    felt    the    hunger    take    over    now,      she    would    never    grow    used    to    it.       how    it    comes    in   crashing    waves.      feet    move    at    their    own    accord,      drawing    towards    him    in    a    slow    predatory    gait.    dark    eyes    zeroing    in    on    where    exactly   teeth    want    to    meet    skin     --      the    sliver    of    humanity    inside    screams.      NO!    

the    burn    at    the    back    of    throat    had    become    an    inferno,     too    unbearable    to    ignore.       it   otherwise    could    have    waited    until     a    more    eager    participant    could    take    the   newborn    out    hunting.    rosalie    was     the    only    one    around    and    bella    was    not    confident    enough    in    their    abilities    to     go    alone   or    they   wouldn’t   have   bothered   the   blonde    vampire.   if   a    human    happened    upon    them    by    accident,     they    wanted    someone    who    could     fight    against    their    strength.     it   was   almost    mortifying    to    hunt    in    front    of    someone    so    much    more    experienced.   someone    who    probably    would    not    hold    back    her    comments   on    their    technique.   they    tried    not    to    think    about    it    as    eyes    closed   and    focus    went    to    the    forest    around    them.      nature    hums    a    pretty    song.     wind    rustles    leaves,     bugs    buzz    in    the    air,     and    in    the    midst    of    it   all   is    a   single    doe.     crimson    hues    slam    open    and    muscles    leap    into    action.   they    try    not    to    think    about    it    too    much,     to   let    animalistic    instinct    take    over.      

it    is    almost    heartbreaking    whenever    teeth   dig    into    the    creatures    neck    and    a    loud    noise    rips    out    of    its    throat    at    the    pain.   if    they    were    not    so    thirsty,    perhaps    they    could    have    taken    a    moment    to    mourn    the    doe.    but    everything    within    urged    them    to    continue    drinking    until   there    was    nothing    left.    bella    doesn’t    care    much   what    they    look    like    while    they    feed.    it    isn’t    until    the    doe    stops    squirming    and    there    is    nothing    left    that    they    notice    the    mess    made.    blood    covers    the    new    clothes    alice    had    gifted,     but    that    is    not    what    makes    tears    start   to    form.