SEQUEL TO AND YET DUSK FADES

Hey Readers, if you're new and haven't yet read 'And Yet Dusk Fades', you might want to check that one out first - or else this story might not make too much sense (there's a link to it on my profile). To everyone else, welcome back :) Hope you enjoy the sequel. If the prologue is a little confusing, I can only hope it'll begin to make more sense with subsequent chapters. Lots of love!

Leah

They say that when death comes, it doesn't come alone. It comes bearing gifts, memories if you like – of the things you've done and the things you've seen; of the people and the faces that you love. All there to comfort you as you die.

They're not wrong. Death comes with memories. But memories aren't always a gift. Memories can be curses.

As the monster pressed his teeth against my throat, a thousand scenes ran through my mind. They weren't happy flashbacks from my younger, more carefree days, because those memories had not made me who I was today. Rather, they were of moments I'd prefer to forget – memories that innocently strangled me as I waited for the darkness to defeat me. These were the memories that defined me, that made me who I was today. These were the memories that came hand in hand with death.

(* * *)

When I saw Sam standing on the jetty, it was all I could do to keep myself from turning Harry's boat around and losing myself in the endless ocean for few more agonizing hours. But I knew that it was pointless; I couldn't avoid him forever. If Sam wanted to talk to me, he could afford to be patient. Hell, with Jake's order to keep me in La Push, Sam could afford to wait for all of eternity.

Grinding my teeth together, I kept the boat on its steady course towards shore. I could already feel the anger beginning to hijack my emotions. It was different on the water, when I was alone; my anger disappeared and all that was left in its place was anguish. I came out here nearly every day now. It wasn't that I preferred the misery, but at least it gave my life some variety. When I was on land, the only place I wanted to be was on the water; once I was there, all I wanted was to turn around and go home.

I allowed the boat to drift with a soft bump into the rubber tires that lined the side of the jetty. Without a word, Sam bent down to help me tie up the boat. Angrily, I snatched the rope from his hand and began to do it myself.

'Leah…'

Ignoring Sam, I tied a large, untidy knot through the rung of the boat with a few short, furious flicks of my wrists. Keeping my eyes downcast, I stepped up onto the platform and shoved past him.

'Leah!' Sam called more firmly as he rushed ahead of me and spun around to block my path. 'Leah, would you just listen to me for a second?'

'What?' I hissed, glaring up at him furiously.

Sam looked taken aback for a second, but composed himself quickly. 'I just wanted to check that you were okay... You can't keep leaving the reservation like this – especially not without telling somebody first.'

A harsh laugh escaped my lips as I stared at him in disbelief. 'I'm sorry, Sam,' I said. 'Would you like me to call you every single time I step foot outside of the house? Or how about the next time I go to the bathroom? Would you like me to notify you then too?'

Sam frowned. 'Don't be difficult, Leah. If you keep this up, Jacob will have no choice but to ban you from going out alone in that godforsaken boat of yours. You do remember that that's how the leeches found you the last time, don't you?'

Seething underneath, I pressed my lips together and refused to respond.

Noting the pause, Sam charged ahead. Though his voice softened somewhat as he continued, it only made me angrier. 'Look, Leah, I know that you think you had some sort of a… friendship… with the bloodsucker in Africa, but you're kidding yourself if you think he's any better than the rest of them. He's the enemy for crying out loud! This pining over a leech is… It's unhealthy, pure and simple… And you're stronger than that, Leah.'

There was a time when I would have torn him to pieces with my words, but the time for talking was over. 'Are you done?' I asked through clenched teeth.

Sam's eyes stared deep into mine. 'I just don't want to see you hurting, Lee.'

I raised my eyebrows at the sick irony in his words.

He sighed and then said in defeat, 'Okay, I'm done.'

I made as if to walk away, but then spun around at the last minute and threw my fist into Sam's face with as much force as I could muster. He staggered backwards, clutching his nose as hurt and disbelief flooded his eyes. 'Now we're done,' I growled. Leaving Sam staring at me in shock, I turned and began the short walk home.

As I walked, I reveled in the feeling of pain that throbbed through my knuckles and wrist – physical pain I could deal with. Even as it began to fade, I wished that it'd last longer; I would have welcomed the distraction. Between Seth's pity, Sam's disgust and Jacob's twisted mixture of the two, it was only a matter of time before I snapped. And in all honesty, punching Sam was something I should have done a long time ago.

(* * *)

The screaming began suddenly as the human minds around me finally realized what was happening – shrill and piercing as they watched their fate fly at them with bloody fangs. One by one the individual screams were cut off, but not even the sickness I felt at hearing the humans die was enough to keep my mind from diving into its next memory. Why wasn't I dead yet? Why was the monster letting my mind slowly torture me? Silently, I prayed for the venom to enter my veins. I couldn't take this anymore. I wanted out.

(* * *)

I walked home quickly, in a hurry for no particular reason. Slamming the front door behind me, I walked briskly towards the stairs and began to take them two at a time.

'Leah?'

I stopped at the sound of my mother's voice and huffed crossly. 'What?' I called out.

Sue walked into the room and looked up at me with the same concerned look she'd worn since I returned home from Africa. 'You have a visitor,' she said.

I rolled my eyes. 'Tell them to go and screw themselves,' I muttered before continuing my journey up the stairs. Whoever it was, I wasn't in the mood for their crap. Not unless they also wanted a punch in the face.

'Leah!' Sue said sharply. I stopped once more and glared down at her. 'She's waiting for you in the living room,' Sue continued. 'I'll tell her you're on your way.'

'There's no need,' I snapped as I stomped back down the stairs. Making no secret of my irritation, I headed towards the living room, wishing desperately that I was back in the boat.

Still glaring at nothing in particular, I entered the room, ready to send whoever it was packing. I had to reach out and clutch the door handle in shock as I stared at my visitor. My voice was shaky as I drew in a sharp breath. 'Nattaya?'

Before she could reply, I bounded towards Nattaya and threw my arms around my African friend. She hugged me back weakly and I pulled away to get a better look at her. 'What are you doing –?' The rest of my words evaporated at I noticed her red, puffy eyes. 'Nattaya, what's wrong?' I gasped.

As I spoke, tears began to run down her cheeks. 'They're dead,' she said, her voice surprisingly steady. 'Eve… Jay… They're all dead.'

My arms dropped from around her waist. It felt as if my stomach had turned to lead. 'What?' I mouthed, unable to speak the word out loud. I was shaking my head rapidly from side to side.

Nattaya staggered backwards and collapsed into the nearest chair. 'It was the pale faces,' she told me, her voice monotone and dead. 'Demetri…'

My head was reeling. I felt dizzy and nauseous. I didn't want to think, didn't want to hear the truth. But I had to ask – I had to know. 'Demetri?' I asked faintly.

Nattaya didn't speak for a long while. Eventually, only after I'd walked over and sunk down next to her, she spoke. Once she began, she didn't pause until her story was done. 'After you left,' she said, 'I went back to Victoria Falls. Eve didn't want me around anymore after I stood in her way to defend you. I found a job there. I didn't hear from anyone in the tribe for a few weeks, and then he came. He was with another pale face. I… I didn't know… I thought he was good… His friend held my hand and then they left – just like that, with no explanation. I felt uneasy… Something didn't seem right. The next day, I left my job and went in search of my tribe. I wandered the land for a few days before I found their camp.' Nattaya took a deep breath as the tears continued to flow. 'They were all there,' she told me. 'Just lying on the ground. Dead.'

I squeezed my eyes shut as my own tears began to fall. 'Everyone?' I asked shakily.

Staring ahead with ghost-like eyes, Nattaya replied. 'I never found Zara and Simba… They were so small, and it was a few days before I arrived. With wild animals about, who knows….?' She trailed off helplessly.

As Nattaya spoke, dark ideas filled my head. They were enough to wake me from my shock and dread. I didn't know whether it was better that they were true or whether I should keep hoping I was wrong. Her tribe was dead, and I had unknowingly played a part in their fate. Even as my guilt and my grief strove to overwhelm me, I pushed it aside. There would be plenty of time to grieve later. But for now, I couldn't get past her last comment.

I jumped up suddenly. Nattaya hardly reacted at all, except to glance at me once and then return to staring straight ahead. 'Please don't leave,' I whispered. Turning on my heel, I left her sitting there and began to run. No matter which way I looked at it, I couldn't find fault in my logic. I had to know if I was right. And, as far as I could tell, there was only one way to find out.

(* * *)

I had been right. The thought was enough to give me one last surge of energy. But, even as I pushed against the monster that held me pinned to the ground, I knew that it was useless. I had failed. My death would not be the end. It would condemn Zara and Simba to a life of imprisonment. It wasn't enough that I'd killed the rest of their tribe. Now I would kill them too. Drowning in hopelessness, I sank back into the past.

(* * *)

I swung open their door and charged in without even a hello. Except for Esme and the blonde, they were all there. I glanced around quickly at their confused faces before turning to the physic leech. 'I need you to search for the Volturi,' I said roughly.

Alice cocked her head to the side as a smooth crease split her forehead in half. 'I'm sorry?'

I clenched my teeth together to keep from yelling. I had to keep it together. 'The Volturi,' I prompted. 'I need you to search for their future.'

'Alice.'

At the sound of his voice, I spun around to see Edward give his sister an encouraging nod. His face was wiped clear of emotion, though I knew he could see the horrors in my mind.

Persuaded by Edward, Alice took a deep breath and closed her eyes. I watched carefully as her frown deepened and her face screwed up in confusion. With a small, feminine groan of frustration, she opened her eyes and turned to Jasper. 'I can't see them,' she said. 'It's like… it's like with the wolves. Something's messing with my reception.'

A soft murmur ran through the room, but I didn't have time to worry about their reactions. I turned to Edward. 'I need to speak with you,' I said. My voice was hard and steady. Alice's words had confirmed my fears and strengthened my resolution. I wasn't going to fall apart – not now when there were things I could do.

With a significant look towards Carlisle, Edward followed me out the door. My fists clenched together as I heard a second set of feet behind me. Of course Bella was coming too. I forced myself to keep walking. It didn't matter; Edward would tell her everything later anyway.

Finally I stopped and turned around. Ignoring Bella, I spoke directly to Edward. 'I need you to –'

'No.'

I began to shake. I closed my eyes and fought the tremors, waiting until they were under my control before speaking again. 'You're the only one who can change Jacob's mind,' I hissed. I knew that I was right – Jake had tried to hide his deal with Edward from me, but he knew as well as I did that there were no secrets in a pack. Jacob hated using his Alpha authority to keep me in La Push. He'd made Edward promise that the moment he read in my thoughts that I would stay on the reservation of my own accord, he'd tell Jake and the command would be lifted. You can't lie with your thoughts, and Jacob was banking on that.

'It would never work, Leah,' Edward said. 'And if Jacob knew what you were planning, he'd never agree to it.'

'It isn't his choice!' I bit back. 'And if I fail, what's the worst that can happen? Aro will read my mind? So what, Edward? Who freaking cares?'

Edward frowned. 'You think that that's why Jacob won't let you go? In case Aro reads your thoughts and finds out everything about the pack? Geez Leah, if you go, you'll be killed. Jacob won't give a damn about Aro if you're dead.'

Before I could reply, Bella's soft voice chimed in. 'What's going on Edward?'

He turned towards her. 'The Volturi massacred the shape-shifters in Africa. They've taken two of the children to Italy.'

Bella gasped 'What? Is that why Alice –?'

'Can you just shut up?' I yelled at her. I didn't have time for her curiosity. This was between Edward and me.

Edward made a threatening move towards me as I yelled at his wife, but Bella held him back. 'It's okay,' she murmured. Then, turning to me, she said, 'I'm sorry.'

I ignored her, and looked straight at Edward. 'I need you to tell Jacob that I've seen the light, and I've… I've decided to stay in La Push. I need him to lift the Alpha command so that I can leave. Please, Edward.'

He shook his head. 'I'm sorry, Leah, but I can't do that.'

(* * *)

I could almost hear Edward's 'I told you so'. The pompous prick had known all along that I'd fail; he'd never once felt comfortable lying to Jacob. But he did. In the end, it was Bella who came through for me; and what Bella wanted, Bella got. Maybe it was her own fight to save a child's life that made her sympathetic to my cause. Whatever the reason, she gave me the chance to at least attempt the rescue.

(* * *)

'Leah! Leah, wait up!'

Tears stinging my eyes, I stopped and slowly turned around. I didn't know why I was bothering to hear her out. What could Bella Swan possibly have to say to me that could make me feel any better?

'What?' I asked roughly.

Bella skidded to a halt and looked at me with large, chocolate eyes. 'I'm sorry about Edward,' she said. 'I… I don't think he understands.'

'And you do?' I muttered weakly. I very much doubted her perfect life gave her the slightest capacity to understand me.

'I think I can talk him around,' she continued without acknowledging my words. 'And I've thought of a plan that might make things a little easier for you.'

I raised my eyebrows but didn't respond.

Taking a soft breath, Bella began, 'You remember that night when the Volturi came for Renesmee? And I shielded us all from their attacks?'

I frowned, more than a little confused. 'Yeah…?'

'Well, I figured something out that night. When I shielded Jacob or Sam, the rest of their packs were protected too – regardless of whether I was actually shielding you or not.'

My eyes widened as I realized what Bella was saying. 'You'll shield Jacob once I'm gone,' I murmured. 'And that'll protect me? From Aro?'

'From Aro, from Jane… Alec, Demetri… all of them.'

I flinched when she mentioned Demetri, but forced myself to keep it together. 'Okay,' I said, nodding. 'And Edward?'

'I'll sort him out,' Bella said lightly, brushing the problem aside. 'But if you're going to do this, you'll need more information. Edward knows the Volturi's lair better than most. He can give you the best chance at survival.'

I nodded once more. 'Okay,' I said again. 'How much time do you need to talk to him?'

'I can be at your place in an hour.'

'Right.'

I turned around to leave, suddenly a little scared of what lay ahead.

'Leah?'

Keeping my back turned, I answered, 'yeah?'

'I'm sorry I can't be of more use. I admire what you're doing and it breaks my heart that you have to do this alone… I want to do more to help you, I do, but I can't put my family in danger – not when the risk is this big.'

I knew what Bella was saying, and strangely enough I was grateful for her honesty. I swallowed the lump in my throat. 'Thanks,' I whispered quietly.

(* * *)

The sound of a bone breaking to the right of me brought me back to the present. Bile rose in my mouth as I realized that the screaming had stopped. My heartbeat alone remained. What was the monster waiting for? Though I'd followed Edward's advice to the letter, I hadn't been quick enough. The monster had me right where he wanted me. And yet I was still alive. A hysterical scream began to build in my throat as the monster's lips moved up my throat. I could feel his cold breath on my ear.

My scream evaporated as I heard the only voice that could reach into my nightmare and bring me back to the surface.

'Don't move an inch.'