(AN) GAH! Did anyone see the new breaking dawn quote of the day? Eeep! "I'll kill you myself! I'll do it now!" – Jacob Gah! Anyway, probably the last update until post breaking dawn, your favorite crazy witch is back! And my Christine made me some really awesome icons! There's also a really cute little doll I made of Echo when I was bored . Enjoy! The link is in my profile!

Disclaimer: Blah blah, you've heard this before…

Chapter 3: The Sword of Damocles

"Jacob! Jacob, man get up!" Somebody practically yelled, the deep low baritone did not belong in my bedroom, and it managed to startle me partly awake. I opened my eyes warily, focusing on Paul. He was at the foot of the bed, his hair messy, his eyes panicked.

"What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?" I asked sleepily, sitting up.

"Listen, I had to break your door to get in here because Red locked me out, and she's gone…"

"You broke my door? Why the hell didn't you just knock?" I asked again, my eyes wandering to the damaged door knob. "Damn, I need to fix that before Cassie sees or you'll never be allowed in again Paul…"

"Pay attention! Cassie's gone!" I raised an eyebrow and looked to my side. Sure enough, Echo and Cassie were both gone. I felt oddly grateful that neither of them had been in the room for rampaging Paul.

"She probably went to the store, Paul, take it easy." I said, swinging myself out of bed and stretching. "Are Echo, Blaze, and Leah still here?" I asked lightly as I moved forward to examine the doorknob.

"Jacob! The Cullens are back! Cassie went to their house!" Paul grabbed my shoulder and shook. I turned quickly, fully awake now, but I didn't want to believe it. The Cullens were back…Cassie had gone to them…I could only see one thing in my mind, the night she'd come home three years ago…

I was trying to spend all my time away from the house while my girls were gone. I was taking extra patrols and spending time with all the pack, just so I wouldn't have to be at home alone. That's why I was so late getting back to the house, so empty without them in it. I didn't notice any lights on, but the moment I stepped into the kitchen, I could smell them.

Honey and cinnamon were twined together, a fresh scent that trailed through the whole kitchen. My heart soared in pure joy as I took off up the stairs, running to our bedroom. She must have missed me too, to come home so early. I opened the door to our bedroom and stepped inside. I could see the figures there clearly, even in the dark. Echo was sleeping on the bed, her heart beating calmly, but my Cassie…

When I saw her, I knew there was something wrong. She was very still in the window seat, but her heart was sputtering, beating entirely too fast. She shifted her body slightly toward me when I opened the door, but she didn't turn her head. Her knees were curled to her chest, her arms wrapped around them.

"Cass?" I called her name. Her body shook with a silent sob and I was by her side quicker than I thought possible, tucking her ruby hair behind her ear, examining her pale skin for injuries. "What's wrong? Is Echo okay? Did something happen to the Cullens?" I asked my panic mounting.

"Echo's fine. The Cullens are…okay." There was a pause there that showed she didn't quite know how the Cullen's were. My brow furrowed and I traced my hands over her arm, that's when I felt it.

She flinched as my fingers ran over the cut. It was cold, colder than the rest of her skin. I gently pulled her arm up, examining it in the dim light of the obscured moon. The crescent shape mark was red, raw, and angry looking. The smell from it was slightly sweeter than her usual scent, more like cinnamon hard candy. I shook as I stepped back in reflex, the red haze covering my vision.

"They bit you." It wasn't a statement, my voice shook. "Is the venom…the venom's gone?" I managed to get out through my trembling jaw.

"Yes. I burned it out." She answered softly, finally looking at me. Her eyes were red, tears glistening on her cheeks.

"Was it the calm one?" I growled. He'd had control problems. Cassie had told me it was hardest for him. "I'll rip him to pieces…I'll…"

"No. It wasn't Jasper." She said softly. "It was…" Her voice was barely a whisper. She stuttered a moment and had to collect herself before she finally choked it out. "Bells. Echo fell and skinned her knee…I got there in time, but I couldn't…" She looked down at her arm.

Bella. My Bella, her sister, my best friend. I was shaking like an earthquake now, completely unable to hold my shape together even if I tried. I ran out of the room quickly, managing to make it outside before I completely fell apart, and the wolf in me howled in rage.

"Jacob!" She called from the open window. I wanted to run, run to Alaska, and kill them all. I had never felt such anger before…even when I first phased. Cassie's voice didn't even calm me like it usually did.

"Jacob, please don't." She called again, softer. "I need you. Don't go to war with them…we'll never talk to them again, they don't ever have to be near me or Echo again, just please…let them go. Stay with me." She begged, and even though I was turned in the right direction, I never moved forward to destroy them like I so desperately wanted to. I let them go because she still loved them, because they were far away, and because she was safe with me in La Push.

And I would never admit it, not in a thousand years. I only ever thought it that night. I would never be able to destroy Bella, not if she was the worst menace mankind had ever seen.

I let out a low growl, her face forever frozen in time for me, a constant reminder of the pain she could feel so easily. "How long as she been gone? Where's Echo?" I asked softly as I darted through the house.

"She's been gone maybe five minutes, and Echo is in her bedroom, Jacob…" Paul trailed after me to the front door.

"I'm going after her. Wake up Leah and watch the kids." I ordered, taking off out into the yard. My shape exploded before I even hit the woods.

It was amazing I still knew the way after ten years. The forest was silent, I was even able to ignore Colin and Brady after telling them to stay put at the boarder. I crossed into Forks, keeping to the forest. Finally, I came to the Cullen's house, sitting at the edge of their tree line. I could smell them, their sickly scent managing to drown out Cassie's completely. There were six of them in the house, I would guess. That meant two were missing.

"Jacob's out there." A voice I recognized as Alice's drifted through the window. There was movement inside and then the door flew open. Cassie stepped onto the porch, her eyes trained on me.

"Jake…" She said softly. "Listen, they didn't mean to frighten us…" I growled and she winced. I instantly regretted it, turning tail into the forest, keeping my eyes on her as I changed. She didn't move, although Alice did come out onto the porch after her. As soon as Alice reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, I nearly lost it, barely managing to retain my shape as I stalked into the yard. I glared hard at the little vampire, my nostrils flaring. Her mate, the calm one, was beside her in an instant. She slowly removed her arm from Cassie's shoulder, which was a smart thing to do if she wanted to keep it. Cassie slipped down the stairs, sliding her arms around my still trembling form. I wrapped my arms tight around her.

"What in the world did you think you were doing?" I hissed, my eyes still trained on Alice and Jasper.

"I'm guessing I'm in trouble then, huh?" She asked, a faint note of hysteria in her voice. I looked down at her.

"I thought you said you'd never speak to them again?" I asked, wounded, angry, and jealous.

"You don't have any right to say who she can and can't speak to, mutt." The blonde female was at the door instantly, her eyes livid. I growled, clutching Cassie close to me.

"Not now, Rosalie!" Cassie said shrilly, her cool hands on my face, turning me to look at her eyes.

"Jacob." She started slowly. "This is a good thing. The Cullens are easier to handle than random vampires strolling through La Push and spying on our girl. This is a relief." I couldn't argue with that, at least I was certain the Cullens wouldn't hurt her on purpose, but deep down, they were monsters, and would always be monsters.

"Where is she?" I asked coldly, my eyes flickering back up to the Cullens. Six of them were on the porch now, their leader, his mate, and the big one. I didn't want to name them, even to myself, because giving them names meant listening to the memories, not all of them bad. Cassie turned to look over her shoulder, her eyes looking for an answer.

"Bella…didn't come with us. Edward and her didn't agree with trying to smooth things over…they said we should let you live your life in peace." Esme finally said, her face a mask of sadness. Cassie stiffened in my arms, her face falling. She'd been hoping that Bella was here, even if she wouldn't admit it to herself. I knew her well enough to know that she missed her sister and that Bella was already forgiven in her eyes. Staying away from the Cullens had been no act of spite. It was to protect Echo and Blaze, too young to protect themselves, and to protect the Cullens from me. I rubbed my hand up and down her back.

"She's beautiful, Cassie." Rosalie said suddenly, her eyes leaping to mine in challenge. "I was the one in La Push last night, I meant no harm, I just wanted to see her. I missed her, the sound of her laughing…" She looked softer when she said this, Emmett pulled her close. "The last time I saw her, she came to me first, remember? It surprised everyone…I guess I never seemed the motherly type. I gave her a teddy bear, but you left it at the house after…And she looks so much like you, Cassie…I couldn't even move when she woke up, I was entranced by her. She's perfect, I understand…why you wouldn't want her around the likes of us, but we fell in love with her too, Cassie. Please just let us see her." She begged and I closed my eyes. I couldn't bear to look at her face. I couldn't bear to let Echo near them.

"I'm sorry." Cassie whispered so softly it was almost lost in the wind. "Is…is that why you came here?" There was silence, silence that I didn't particularly like. I opened my eyes again, the Cullens were staring uncomfortably at each other.

"She said her name was Jezebel." Emmett blurted out suddenly. Cassie stiffened against me. I knew that name. Cassie had mentioned it before when talking about her own past. Jezebel was a fellow witch, someone Cassie had once thought of as a mother, a very old witch that was going slightly crazy.

"Jezebel?" She repeated faintly.

"She came to our home. Alice didn't even see her coming. When the doorbell rang, we thought maybe it was you and Jake, but…there she was…all gaunt and crazy looking. Edward knew who she was at once…apparently she came to the hospital after…after Mabon and Jake fought. She talked to Bella and Edward then, and Zack and Stella by the sounds of it." Emmett finished, looking at Alice.

"She was trying to convince Bella you needed her, but when I looked into your future, you seemed just fine. I mean, I couldn't see you all the time, but I could see you grocery shopping or at your job. You looked healthy and happy. I can't see anything horrible happening to you." Alice tried to reassure.

"But she was adamant, almost insane. She begged Bella to come here, but Bella wouldn't hear any of it. She told Jezebel she was insane, that it was your own choice not to hang around with monsters that could hurt you, that you were safe in La Push with Jake, that the kids were safe and her coming back would only put you in more danger." Esme finished.

"When she left, she threatened Bella, saying that if she didn't go back, she'd always regret it, that the world would never be the same. Bella said she's been mongering for centuries about the same thing, war and destruction, and that we shouldn't worry. But…I could feel the emotions coming off of her. She was desperate and in a panic, she believed whatever she was saying. So we came." Jasper added on. "Edward and Bella wouldn't tell us what she said in the hospital though. Edward wanted to, but he didn't want to upset Bella anymore than she already was…"

Cassie had gone very silent. I wondered if she was even breathing. Her heart seemed like it was about to beat out of her chest. I leaned down, looking into her eyes. "Cass?" I whispered gently.

"I'm never going to get away from my past, am I?" She mumbled. "It's always going to be right there, hanging over my head, putting everyone I give a damn about right in the middle of the bulls eye. The sword of Damocles."

"Shhh…" I soothed, pulling her tighter, resuming my glaring at the Cullens. "I'm taking her home. We'll be by to discuss this some other time." I stated, pulling Cassie into my arms bridal style. They didn't stop me as I carried her to our car, sliding her into the passenger seat as I got behind the wheel. The car started up smoothly and I quickly sped down the highway.

"My phone." Cassie said suddenly, reaching toward the visor. I opened it and handed her the phone, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She punched in a few numbers and held the phone up to her ear.

I could hear it ringing, but it eventually went to voicemail. "Zackary Ethan Luwen, I am going to rip you limb from limb for not ever telling me that Jezebel was in the hospital ten years ago. Ten years Zackary! That is more than enough time to mention it! When I finally get a hold of you Zack, you will be begging Stella to save your miserable life." She threatened, her knuckles white on the phone. She pressed the end call button, and I carefully pried the small phone from her tiny hands.

"So…" I started.

"Don't. Just don't Jake." She whispered tearfully, and I fell silent, aching once again because my Cassie was hurting.