Purple Sky by A. Teller (unputdownable books .TXT) 📕

“Thirsty?” he asked sarcastically. I nodded innocently, and I got up from the couch. I went to the door, but Jake grabbed my wrist that gripped the doorknob.

“Jake, I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m defenseless,” I said, insistence in my voice. Jake’s grip loosened, but he didn’t let go.

“I can’t let you go by yourself,” he said. Seth jumped up, ready for the task.

“Jake, I’m fine. I’ve hunted by myself before,” I lied slyly, “so I can do this.”

He let go of my wrist, but was nervous as I slid out of the house. I sensed his hands trembling on instinct. The protective urge to shield your imprint.

I ran north, inhaling the fire, searching for relief. I smelled mountain lion up further north, near the snow covered edges of the border between Washington and Canada. I ran for about an hour before the smell was strong enough for my hunting instinct to take over. I ran to the smell, perching in the tree, waiting. The mountain lion walked calmly, not even noticing my smell. My hungry eyes scanned it’s body, searching for the right moment. I pounced, killing it with a quick swipe. Thick redness flowed down my throat, sealing away the pain. After I was done, I started for home, knowing Jake would be worried. I ran, but suddenly, I felt the need to stop. I looked around, thinking that something was following me or watching me.

“Who’s there?” I called out, sensing staring eyes. Silence. The smell of cherry blossoms and blood tainted my nose. I was repulsed and delighted at the same time. My arms quivered, but I controlled my thirst. Even right after you hunt, the thirst is never quenched. If you were a vegetarian, the thirst was even harder to control if you smelled human blood. But what were the cherry blossoms about? I turned to the left, and there was a girl. Younger than me, reddish-blonde hair, red eyes. It was her!

“Victoria,” I whispered to myself. She looked at me, confused at what I was. She stood solid, without fear. I asked her who she was and demanded she leave. She took a step towards me, but I took one back. She paused, knowing now that I was afraid.

“I’m Kila,” she said. Her voice was happy, cheery. But tainted with venom. Untrustworthy was the only word that came to mind. “What are you?” she asked, genuinely intrigued. She could hear my heart beat rhythmically, and smell the blood that ran through my veins. But she could see the immortality in me. Her curiosity was intimidating, and she looked at me as though she was going to dissect me like a lab frog. She cocked her head to the side, and sprouted a small, smile. It looked like she was attempting to look friendly. But her attempt failed, disturbingly. I felt a shiver shake me, and I bolted. I raced through the pine and mint scents, and the occasionally animal hit my nose. I’d hoped that maybe she‘d stop to hunt, be she kept running. I jumped off the tree trunks, but she mimicked me perfectly. When I smelled the rust and wood sign, I recognized where we were. In this direction, I would lead her directly to Forks. I paused, and turned to see her handing onto a tree, staring at me. She smiled triumphantly, and I wanted to finish her now. But I’d need help. Dismantling a vampire on my own would be dangerous.

“Stay away from me!” I screamed at her. She didn’t listen, and jumped down from the tree. I ran west, and she followed. What did she want? Why was she so curious? I ran to Sam’s house, which was closest, and ran past the yard straight to the door. I knocked frantically, and Embry answered.

“Nessie, what’s going on?” he asked, opening the screen door.

“Vampire, chasing, help,” I panted, breathless, running behind him. He was confused until the vampire, Kila, came into view. She looked so sure of herself, so sure that she was going to get me and I was going to tell her anything she wanted to know. Newborns were so annoying, always cocky. Paul came to Embry’s side, and Emily grabbed my arm. She pulled me into the house as the rest of the wolves moved towards Kila, already phased, baring their teeth. At first she wasn’t scared, but once the wolves encircled her, she turned into a coward, running away as Sam and the others ran after her.

“I’ll call Jacob to come and get you,” Emily said, motioning for me to sit on the couch.

“Emily, that’s nice of you, but I have to show Jake that I hunted by myself,” I said firmly, still standing. Emily nodded, saying that the wolves would take care of Kila.

I left the house, glancing at the clock before I left. It was about nine o’clock, so I could imagine what Jake would be thinking: She’s lost! She’s dead! She’s a danger magnet! and blah blah blah. I walked through the door. All was quiet. Scary.

“Jacob?” I called. I kind of wanted him to be asleep so that I wouldn’t have to explain.

“Renesmee?!”

Jake came running down the hall. He scooped me up and twirled me around, as though I’d been gone for weeks.

“Jake! What’s wrong?” I asked, still being twirled around.

“You’re okay!” he cheered.

“Yes, I’m fine, why?”

“It’s been like seven hours! I thought you might have been in trouble!”

“I’m fine! Really.”

He let me down, and stared at me. I felt the side of my face, worried there was something on it. But when there wasn’t, I was confused.

“Did she hurt you?”

“Who?” I asked, lying badly. He looked at me with the “Don’t lie to me” look.

“No, she didn’t,” I said bluntly, laying down on the couch as angrily as I could.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because, Jacob. You would have done exactly what you’re doing now…overreacting.”

He flinched, then looked at me, focusing hard, trying to understand. “What are you talking about?”

“Jacob, you overreact about everything. I know my safety is always going to be an issue for you, but it’s something you have to let go of. I’m not defenseless. I’m not human.”

“Well, you’re still…”

“No. I’m not,” I said firmly. I didn’t know what he was going to say, but I didn’t care. He wasn’t going to make me apologize. I was just glad we weren’t yelling.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. It didn’t sound like he really meant it, so I just continued looking ahead of me, trying to focus on nothingness. He sat down next to my feet. I looked up at him, skeptical. He looked back with the same seriousness, and I knew he meant it. I nudged him with my foot, getting his attention away from our serious conversation. Which was almost an argument.

“Your almost as bad as Edward,” I commented, which made him laugh.

“Edward? So, you’re on a first-name basis now?”

“Well, I don’t call them that, but I have to practice. I mean, I have to go to school with them in the fall next year, so I figure getting on a first name kind of thing now, will help.”

Seth came down the hall, trying to look as casual as possible. But we could tell how happy he was.

“I’ll be back by eleven,” he assured Jacob.

“Where are you going?” I asked inquisitively.

“I’ve got a date,” he replied triumphantly.

“With Vanessa?” I asked sarcastically. A faint grin shot across his face, and left as fast as it came. He tried to seem uninterested, but that was impossible. He shrugged, grabbed the keys to his car, and left. I rolled my eyes.

“Who’s Vanessa?” Jake asked skeptically.

“You’d have to pay attention when Seth sleeps to get the full story,” I said, flipping through the channels. But I couldn’t pay attention to the TV. Jake’s breathe was too warm and inviting to ignore. It felt as though he was sitting next to me, whispering in my ear. Like I could almost feel his lips touching my ear, hear his voice so closely. I shuddered at the thought. A pleasant shudder. But instead of showing my interest, I had to yawn instead.

“You tired?” he asked. His voice sounded so perfect, and his words sounded like raindrops on a roof. Comforting and perfect.

“Just a little. Being out and about is wearing on me.”

“It’s a nice look on you,” he said sarcastically. I wanted to punch him, but his smile wouldn’t let me. He got up and brought a little, dark-blue box from underneath the tree.

“It’s still Christmas Eve,” he said, “I think I could sneak you this one.”

I opened the box with no hesitation. There, sitting delicately on the small pillow, was a ring. A beautiful, dusty rose colored stone with small, white pearls around the edges.

“Jacob,” I whispered.

“It’s not real pearls, but the rock is real,” he said proudly. “The fortune tell…Alice, picked it out, but I wanted the pinkish color. It’s more girly. More you…right?” I ignored Jake’s nicknames for my family. He was going to call Alice fortune teller, but I didn’t notice. This was so sweet. And beautiful, and thoughtful. And his search for my approval. I never thought he’d want my opinion for something he gave me. It was so…gentlemanly of him.

The ring’s engraving read: To My Nessie, From Yours Forever, Jacob

“Jake, it couldn’t be more beautiful…I can’t remember why I deserve you,”

He looked at me, almost blushing. It was hard to tell, his russet skin was much darker than mine. But I could smell the blood cluster in his face.

“And for once, I’m not the one that’s blushing! IT’S A MIRACLE!” I said dramatically. He pushed my arm, trying not to laugh. I slid the ring on my finger. Perfect fit. “You know, you’re starting to make me look bad. After all, I didn’t get you a sparkly ring.” I smelled the blood again, and he laughed his nervous, cute laugh. I giggled quickly, but as cut off by a yawn.

“You’re tired. I can sense it,” he said. He stood up, and I stretched my arms out to him. He smiled, then his eyebrows raised in thought. “I can think of almost a thousand reasons why you deserve me.” He picked me up easily. “And I can think of, maybe, ten reasons I deserve you. Most of those are imprinting reasons.” I flicked his shoulder with my limp hand. It felt like I was gliding across the floor in his ridiculously huge arms. I’d always asked if I was heavy, but because of super strength, he compared my weight to that of an empty plastic tub.

“By the way, you can’t sense tiredness. I just yawned,” I informed him. He smiled, and his skin almost glimmered against the hall lights. Maybe vampires and werewolves had one thing in common after all. He put me down on his bed. I kicked off my sweats, but lost all energy before I could grab a my pajamas. I wasn’t self-conscious around Jake anymore, which made me feel weird and relieved. I didn’t have to hide