amberly

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

He couldn't blame her, but he had to try something.

"When I was human..."

No telling her about spending time picknicking in the woods wouldn't help him. Sitting high on a hill overlooking a city, terrible idea. Suddenly everything he could think of was condemning.

"...well, um, I really enjoyed dancing. Usually. Some partners were not as skilled as others, some were too distracted to live up to their potential. And my mother was so pushy I could hardly stand to the side to catch my breath, and enjoy the candle light in the room sparkling off the silver threads and precious jewelry pieces. No I had to keep dancing and dancing. And now there is no one to dance with because I can not go to the great halls and hear the music echoing from the rafters. I cannot touch anyone even in the smallest most common way, and that is what I miss the most. The welcome."

He decided that was enough for now, even if it didn't do him any good with Angel. Remembering any more wouldn't help him either.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"That is perfectly reasonable. I'd be more than happy to do anything I can to alleviate your every suspicion. What can I do? Regale you with stories of my boyhood? Describe the school lessons learned in my youth? Detail the travels of my manhood, the crowded cities I've walked through, monuments seen, the finest of meals I've eaten?" He was rambling, but he was desperate to try even the smallest something to prove his pre-beast human state.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew took a step back. It seemed like he'd lost some ground, like it didn't matter as much if he wasn't threatening the local village. He was a beast. That could not be denied. So he was still on her list to kill. He moved sideways a bit, discreetly getting closer to the door in case he needed to escape.

"I'd like you to know I haven't been a beast very long, if that's any reasurance. I'd very much like to be an exception to your vengeance."

He didn't bother mentioning he'd love to stop being a beast, because the likelihood of that happening seemed impossible. Besides, she'd probably just offer to kill him so he wouldn't have to be a beast any longer.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Great so what is the last thing he says before she interrupted?

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

If you want to interrupt the lecture at any point feel free! I'll edit it to cut him off wherever you say.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrews voice exploded into a lecture "To help those people! Someone out there, like me, isn't controlling themselves and people are suffering for it! These people need help! Who's going to help them? Me? No one will have anything to do with me! I can go roaming the woods looking for a murderer, but anyone that finds me is going to try and kill me. And I deserve it. But I'd rather just live an isolated little life knowing everyone around is safe. But they're not, and you can actually help them. Isn't that what you wanted? To-"

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew stared at her and he had a sinking feeling she wasn't exaggerating. He sat down at the foot of the bed and folded his hands in his lap. What do you say to something like that he wondered.

"Why?"

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"I don't kill people. I need you to understand that." He said bending at the waist to lean his head down to eye level with her. "I am going to live, and so is everyone else if I have anything to do with it."

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew scratched his elbow. Now that she questioned it, he supposed this wasn't directly connected to preserving his life. She could sleep on the floor and still learn he was innocent, not out killing people. She could wait for breakfast to eat, and still gain strength to go find the real killer.

If he treated her like a guest, she would be more likely to be in his side. That was why he was doing this, right?

Right. No reason to consider anything else. He had his answer.

"So you know I'm not trying to kill anyone, even you. I woke you up so you could watch the Thunderstorm with me, but then you looked" he didn't say upset "hungry, so I brought you food. It's the most normal thing in the world."

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

She was moving so slowly. Andrew tried to be patient. He knew she didn't trust him. But if she was going to take the food anyway why didn't she just take it at once? The way she could drag out a single movement only reminded him that this was insane. To feed the person trying to kill you, to treat her like a guest was a dangerous bargain. Perhaps one day she would be taking food with one hand and raising a weapon to take his life with the other.

Andrew moved the apple closer. It would be faster if she didn't have to reach as far. He really didn't want to be around the person that wanted him dead any longer than necessary.