TwiTwitter's Writing Contest Finalist--A

The moonlight peeked shyly though the dense canopy of the Berignone-Tatti forest
surrounding Volterra.A small herd of deer were resting by a sleepy brook in the
forest. One, a buck, saw a slight movement in the darkness. Alarmed, the buck
runs away along with the does and a fawn that accompanied him.

The threat that the buck sensed was a young boy who stepped out of the darkness
and into a patch of moonlight. He was inexplicably handsome, with soft brown
hair and red eyes. Smiling,he turned around, facing a flaxen-haired male who was
standing still, like a statue under the ghostly light of the moon. A faint mist
stood between him and the boy who, as he approached, dispersed the mist easily.
When he reached the man, he smiled up at him. The man sighed wearily and fixed
the boy with a perpetually patient look. He said, “Alec, why must you interfere
with my hunt?” Alec smiled even wider, his face immaculate. He drawled, “The
deer is important to the people, Carlisle. The people are not. This is why we
hunt them. Not their livelihood.”

Carlisle’s topaz eyes softened. He said kindly, “They do not understand life as
we do. They are not given enough time, as we have to comprehend it. Now please,
Alec. I must hunt.” Alec raised an eyebrow. Carlisle’s kindness always mystified
him. He sighed as though disappointed and grumbled, “Aro won’t be very happy
that you missed dinner for a couple of deer.” Carlisle only smiled at the young
Volturi Guard and said, “I know. Please tell him that I ask to be excused
again.”

Alec shook his head. “Aro will want to see you later anyway so you can tell him
yourself,” he muttered as he walked away from Carlisle. When he was far enough,
he broke into a run. Carlisle breathed once and followed the scent of the deer.
After a few minutes, Carlisle finished with the deer and buried them under a
pile of rich Italian soil. He felt thoroughly sated and his thirst quelled. He
went back to the castle and smelled the blood of fifteen humans somewhere in the
castle. He sighed and followed the scent to the dungeon. He had a feeling he was
walking into a trap but he ignored it and ventured inside.

Inside, several Volturi guards were feeding on helpless humans. Aro turned and
saw Carlisle. He smiled and said gaily,"Carlisle, my friend! How nice of you to
join us!" Carlisle smiled back but allowed a sliver of disgust to show on his
face. "I am only here to observe, Aro. Nothing more." Aro raised an eyebrow at
him and replied, "Oh? Are you sure?" Carlisle's eyes hardened. "Quite sure,
Aro."

Aro smiled icily and said "You need a bit of a push, my friend. I'm sure that
even carnivore blood cannot compare to human blood." Carlisle mentally agreed
and that made his thirst flare, clawing at him. Aro smiled sadistically, an idea
sparking in his mind. He pulled a fair-haired girl to him and beckoned Jane to
come closer. He put the girl into Carlisle's arms who continued to resist his
thirst. Aro said, "This is a test, Carlisle, of your control. If you pass, I
will not pester you anymore. If you fail, the girl will continue to suffer. My
dear Jane will make the girl beg for death and if you do not give it to her, you
pass. If you do, you fail. Either way, the girl dies."
Carlisle was appalled. He tried to simply let the girl go, but Jane used her
power on the girl, making the girl desperately hold on to Carlisle. She was
screaming painfully, her blood racing throughout her body, truly testing
Carlisle's control. Jane stopped for a moment and let the girl breathe before
making her feel excruciating pain again. She was screaming again, but this time
she was screaming for death.

Carlisle, who was feeling truly sorry for the girl now, opened his mouth and put
it to the girl's throat. He suddenly remembered what he must do and growling,
forced himself away from the girl. Jane immediately grabbed the girl and gave
her what she wanted.

Aro stared at Carlisle as he walked out of the room, who told him " Remember
your promise, Aro."

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