Edward took the hand in front of him uncertainly and shook it. Damon smirked at him as they both tried to subtly crush each others hand. But neither of them succeeded.
“I’m Edward Cullen, nice to meet you” Edward said through gritted teeth, introducing himself.
“Nice to meet you Edward,” Damon said in a mock politeness. They still had their eyes fixed warily on each other. “So what exactly were you hunting? Because I don’t see a human in sight,” Damon said, glancing around into the surrounding forest.
“I don’t hunt humans. I only hunt animals,” Edward replied smoothly. Damon’s lips curled into a smile and he laughed.
“You only hunt animals? You’re just like my brother. So boring, never living life to the full,” he said, still chuckling.
“You have a brother? Where is he?” Edward said, looking around.
“He’s back in Mystic Falls in Virginia. I decided to go off on my own for a bit, you know, EXPLORE.” Damon waved his hands around dramatically at the last word. Edward shocked himself when he laughed with Damon. Damon eyed him as they stopped laughing abruptly. “Ahem, any way…So are you…a loner? Or do you have anyone else you “travel” with?” Damon asked, flicking a bit of twig from his shoulder and sending it flying out of view.
“No, I’m not a loner,” Edward replied grumbling. “I live with my family in Forks.” Damon looked up at the word “family”.
“How many of you are there?” he asked.
“There are eight of us in total,” Edward replied, smiling at Damon’s slight recoil at the mention of eight other vampires.
“And you’re all animal hunters?” he asked quizzically.
“Yes, but don’t think that that doesn’t make us any less strong than human blood drinkers,” Edward said cunningly. Damon’s brows lowered, and then he relaxed.
“We’re different vampires, so different rules apply…” he said, smiling widely. Edward’s frown returned to his face. Damon grinned wider upon seeing this. “So there are eight of you, huh? And you’re all the same. You can’t walk in direct sunlight and you don’t have fangs. Don’t you get seriously bored? Stuck inside all day?” Damon looked at him, confused.
“We live in Forks, the rainiest town in the country. There’s hardly ever sunshine,” Edward replied.
“Ah right, ok. So why DO you sparkle? I mean, what’s the point? It doesn’t exactly strike fear, does it?” Damon said smirking. Edward growled.
“I have no idea why we sparkle. It restricts us from being able to walk out in the sunlight, making living “normal” lives very difficult. How on earth do YOU walk in the sun? I envy that incredibly.” It was true. Edward would give anything to be able to walk in the sun and not draw attention to him by sparkling.
“This,” Damon said, waving his ringed hand in the air, “protects me. Not all of us have them, most of the other vampires are restricted to the night, but my brother and I, and some others hat I know are lucky enough to have them.” He stroked the ring somewhat lovingly. “If I didn’t wear it, and was exposed directly to sunlight, I’d turn to ash. And that’s no fun.” Edward imagined that his face was glowing green with jealousy. To be able to walk out in the sun freely – what a dream.
“Well, I really must be going,” Edward said. Damon smiled.
“Weren’t you here to hunt? Sorry if I got in your way…shiny.” Damon laughed and Edward grumbled.
“I can live without the blood for now. Goodbye Damon,” Edward replied sternly. And with that he turned tail and shot off into the undergrowth in the direction of home, leaving Damon behind him. Or so he thought.