Introduction I

She sat in silence, staring out at nothing and rubbing her hand over her belly. The rain itself seemed to be almost respectful of the sensitive matters taking place within the humble apartment, falling against the window panes quietly, slowly… it was a dull and muted hum to fill the silences. Beside her the detective spoke, his voice low, calm, as if speaking any louder would be more disturbing than the words coming out of his mouth. Was she even listening? He couldn't tell, but he continued to speak, hoping that at some point something would make her speak up. He didn't blame her for being silent, after all, what does one say in a situation like this?

"Do you have any reason to believe that your husband had … enemies of some sort, Mrs. Swan?" Routine question.

"No," she whispered, still not quite staring at him, if not looking towards her hands. They trembled awfully hard, and her eyes narrowed in scrutiny, as if she hated the sight of it altogether. "He was a kind man, a very kind man. He did not deserve this."

"I am sure he didn't," And it was true. Everyone that they had interviewed said the same, that the man was nothing but gentle, loving, and humble. "Is there anything I can do for you, Mrs. Swan, to make this go by any smoother?" Taking her hand in his he gave it a gentle squeeze. He pitied her, she was innocent.

"No, just… please… make sure that his body is handled with the utmost respect." Her voice was almost hollow, and her gaze seemed to pull even farther away from the matter at hand. "Just… make sure he is handled with care."

"Absolutely."

...

Jacob Black left the apartment and stood outside of it for a few moments, expecting to hear a sob upon his absence. But he heard nothing as he stood just beyond the door. He even pressed his ear to it, listening for the shattering of glass, anything that might suggest the woman would try to take her own life. But he heard nothing except the hollow of the door itself. The air…

Lowell Mayworth was a handsome man in life. That much was obvious, tall and lean, strong at the shoulders, a handsome grin and dark skinned. The man also had a wonderful spirit, and that itself was proven just by the descriptions they had gotten from his friends. Kind, humble, smart, resilient, determined… the works. And when they were questioned about motives, perhaps the man had enemies, they all blanched at the idea. A senseless crime, they all cried, all but his wife who was in too much shock to cry at all. It was a senseless crime, that much was true - but not in the way that they understood it.

Jacob Black and his division knew better. The body was intact, perfectly so - except for the man's throat where two little holes penetrated the flesh. He was drained dry. One attacker, for they found no other bite marks. The man didn't even have defensive markings… not that they ever do. They are far too weak after all.

Pulling away from the door Jacob Black trudged down the carpeted hallway pensively.

His body was found just outside of his office building, nearer to the forests. He had been dragged there - out of the open. The man had been missing for a few days, and it was a scent dog that had picked up on his trail. Almost immediately Jacob knew what it was, the sickly sweet scent of Them lingered in the air. The rain seemed to saturate the earth with it, and it was all over Mr. Mayworth's clothing. The poor man didn't stand the slightest chance. His eyes had been open in death, glazed over, lips had faded to blue long ago.

Sighing heavily Jacob pushed his dark hair back away from his forehead and entered the elevator, swallowing the knot at his throat. He wasn't sure how much more he could take of this. The treaty was there for a reason, but he could not understand how this was morally just. Should they just accept this? How long would this go on? Still... the treaty couldn't fall apart, for if it did… they were all in trouble. It would be a war all over again, and he could not let that happen, not under his lead. He was not his father.

Bastards, he thought, watching the numbers count down on the elevator. Another woman widowed. And a beautiful one, he thought quietly. Shaking his head Jacob pulled a carton of cigarettes from his pockets. He tapped it harshly against the inside of his palm as he waited to get to the lobby. He needed the cigarette, that entire conversation had been… a little more than he could handle. The woman had a way of appearing both closed off and open at once. Pretty woman, he thought again, stepping out of the elevator and stalking off towards the exit. Once there he lit his cigarette and looked around, breathing in deep.

Her hair was a tangle of dark waves, this evening it had been tied back, but judging by what he saw if Mrs. Swan chose to let her hair down it would touch just the middle of her back. She had a pair of dark pools for eyes, wide, and unflinching. They were poised perfectly on her somewhat doll like face, and her mouth did nothing but aid in making her appear.. angelic. Her mouth - though she had held it firm and tight, but it did not take away from its pouty quality Almost plush, and a soft pink… Mr. Swan, twenty years old and widowed.

Pulling out his cellphone he dialed a few numbers. As the phone rang he made his way to his truck, parked just across the street of the tall building. The mist began to cling to his skin. By the time he reached his truck there was an answer on the other line, a woman asking who was calling, and when he said his name, short - firmly, without so much as a greeting in her direction, she connected him through to the next line.

"Mr. Black," the voice slithered its way into Jacob Black's ear drum.

"Listen," he rolled down his window and hung his hand out, letting the cigarette smoke roll along with the mist in the air, melting into it, "I went to see the widow. She's been informed."

"What did you tell her exactly?"

"Just what she needed to know, fabricated a few things here and there - obviously. That her husband was attacked, found just a mile outside of his office building. Stab wounds to the neck, and chest area. That we have no suspects so far but that as soon as we find something, we would inform her." Taking a deep drag he started his car, shaking his head as silence greeted him on the other end of the phone. "She's young."

"That's really no concern of mine. How much money do you think it will take to keep her well off for some time."

"Does that really make you feel better?" Jacob bit angrily, "does it make you feel like what you did was any less wrong?"

"It does make me feel better - yes, because at the very least I know that in this way we have not displaced anymore than those killed. In this way your town is kept at the very least, balanced in some way, and if you recall, it is what we all agreed to - as a way to keep the ripple effects to a minimum. You know the economics of it. I won't bother to keep explaining," he sounded bored and Jacob forced himself to take another drag, or else the phone might have been snapped in his hands. "So, how much money? Two thousand a month? Three?"

Shaking his head Jacob answered, "no. I'll take care of it."

"Oh?"

"Yes, I'll take care of it. I'll make sure that she's cared for. I don't want you involved with this one. She's…" sucking in a deep breath Jacob thought back to all the information he had gathered on her just by his visit, "she's different. This one is different."

"Alright," the man breathed deeply, "We will have to make sure that her file is signed, you understand that I can't have it said that I broke a contract - when it was you in fact who took it upon yourself to deal with my own obligations to the woman. I'll send someone your way before the week is over, a diplomat if you will -

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I get it."

A low chuckle sounded, "well, I will hear from you in a few months time Mr. Black. Have a good evening."

Jacob hung up, just in time for the man on the receiving end to not hear his sharp cursing. Jacob threw the cigarette to the ground, and violently put the car in drive, pressing his foot against the gas and growling curses.

"Fucking leeches, fucking pieces of shit. Motherfuckers." Huffing he glanced once at the building now in his rearview mirror, before directing his gaze ahead. Yes, he would take care of her. Fuck them. She was different.

Thinking back to the angelic girl, and the way she rubbed her stomach, the scent coming off of her… the faint glow, he shuddered. He would ensure a future for her, and her unborn child.

Well. Welcome to the first thing I have published since... forever. I am not entirely sure how much further this story will go but, I suppose that will depend on my inspiration as the story goes on. I hope you enjoyed it, be warned this story will have very mature themes. I don't really shy away from topics. Anyway, drop a review and tell me what you think?