Chapter 4

-Surprise

They called the phenomena a mini-Ice Age and it was expected to last at least a decade. Glaciers were slowly taking Northern Canada, but temperatures had plummeted around the globe. An arctic chill had glazed everything far into the deserts of Iraq and Egypt. North America was a wasteland. The entire infrastructure gone, or so far buried that no one knew what to do.

Humanity was rebounding, even in the dire conditions, but so many had been lost already. The survivors were truly that. Ragged, but habitable townships sprouted up. Garrett and I made our way marveling at the drastic changes in the short time since either of us had been this way.

I began relying on only animals for sustenance, carnivores when I could find them. And Garrett continued to turn his nose disgustedly at me.

"It makes you smell, you know," he commented one afternoon after I returned from hunting.

I wiped my mouth casually with the sleeve of the dusty gray jacket I wore and shot him a daring grin. "Mmmm," I growled, inhaling deeply.

Garret laughed. "That's why I stick around, Bella. You are good for hours of wholesome entertainment."

"Glad you find me so amusing," I snickered and dropped onto the icy ground beside him.

He turned his gaze to the cloudy sky above. I sensed the change in his demeanor immediately. The humor was gone and replaced on something darker, something that scared me. Before I had the chance, he said quietly, "There are other vampires close by. I ran across their scent while you were gone."

I sighed loudly. "That's it?"

He turned his head to me again. "I know them," he answered cryptically.

That's how I found myself in the middle of what used to be Detroit. The city was deserted except for the shells of empty buildings. They rose like a great monolithic cemetery, dark and looming high above our heads. With steel gray clouds hanging in the atmosphere, the entire scene was undeniably spooky. The two vampires stalking toward us across Capital Park did nothing to settle my nerves.

Garrett and I were seated on a bench and I could tell that even through his relaxed slouch, he was tense, too. We watched them come, saying nothing the whole time, but I could feel my companion thinking. His brain whirred. By the time I could make out the faces beneath the dark hoods, my hackles were raised.

"Garrett, so nice to run into you again," the smaller figure said. She was small, her voice high as a bell, but she was much more the commanding presence. The other, a taller and broader male, lurked in the background remaining quietly menacing.

"And it's such a comfort that the Volturi is already here to rattle our cages, Jane," Garrett said and sat up straight. Actually, I wasn't sure if he was even on the bench or hovering above it at that point. I wondered what he knew and I didn't, because something had him ready to attack at a given moment. The other two must have sensed this as well. The male edged closer and snarled.

Jane giggled. "Always one for the dramatic. Heel, Felix," she hissed at her companion. "We don't want to be rude. We haven't even been introduced to Garrett's new friend."

The sickening saccharine of her voice almost made me gag, but Garrett saved me from saying anything as he finally rose to his feet. "What are you doing here?" He followed with a feral growl. I'd never heard him make any sound like that before.

Jane's girlish smile turned cold. "Reconnaissance," she answered silkily.

"Which means anything," Garrett growled impatiently. "What does Aro want here?"

"I think he'd be rather interested your succubus," Felix whispered lowly and Jane's face brightened. She brushed her hood off revealing pale hair knotted neatly at the back of her head. Her crimson eyes glimmered. She raised a tiny hand toward me, like she was going to touch my hair.

Garrett put his whole body in front of mine in an instant. "Leave her alone," he threatened. Then, he dropped. Garrett was suddenly rolling at my feet, clutching his head and whimpering in pain. Seconds later, he ceased all movement and lay completely still on the cement.

I looked back at Jane. She was smiling broadly now, her glinting eyes directed at me. I met them and stared. Whatever she had done to Garrett she wanted to do to me. Feeling helpless, I could only wait for her attack. Slowly, her grin wavered before turning into a scowl. I cringed back, but Garrett's sudden laughter distracted me. He was back on his feet and his face was amused and astonished. I found myself smiling too. I didn't understand it, but somehow, she couldn't touch me. Jane huffed furiously and finally looked away.

"This is Bella," Garrett finally introduced.

"Aro would be interested in her," Jane finally said, "but we have other business here that doesn't concern you."

"I'm sure," Garrett murmured thoughtfully. "Then, we won't hold you up."

I was relieved the entire encounter lasted only a few minutes. Garrett and I headed south and left the others to the desolation of Detroit. We were well into Indiana before I dared bring up the subject again.

"What the hell was that?" I breached none too gently.

Garrett finally stalled his walk and turned to me. It was the first time he'd looked in my direction since Michigan and it was unsettling. He was looking at me like I was a mystery, like he didn't know who I was. If Garrett didn't know me then I didn't know myself. I didn't like that.

"Somehow she didn't affect you," he whispered, pulling me against his body. Mine responded by blazing from his touch. His ruby eyes captured mine. "You saw what she did to me and that wasn't half of what she tried on you. Aside your being a succubus, I've never seen anything like it."

"I don't get it. Is there something wrong with me?"

He laughed again. "Never wrong, Bella, only astonishing. Your gifts go beyond sexual prowess. You're powerful, even when clearly not satiated, and now to find out you have a shield! It's quite remarkable, my lady." He gave me a little bow in mock reverence.

"A shield?"

"Absolutely," he agreed and grabbed my hand. "And the strongest shield anyone has ever seen." He laughed loudly and began walking. "Did you see that look on Jane's face? Priceless!"

It would be years before I saw Jane or Felix again, but our paths would eventually cross. In the meantime, Garrett and I ran across other nomads and small covens dotted all along the northern borders of the New American Territories. The remaining habitable states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas became the human stronghold and vampires tended to stick close to their food source. I was happiest in Colorado and Utah, hunting the game that still managed to flourish in the post-apocalyptic climate in addition to the sturdy human survivors dotting the mountains. With Garrett's dietary preferences to consider, we tended to stick closer to the unofficial boundary lines, making humans a part of my diet with more frequency than I liked. After such a long abstinence, it still felt a little weird feeding from them. But by year nine, I had no choice but to kill for fear of disrupting the precarious balance of earth's strained ecosystem.

I'd known for many years that I was more than a vampire, that there was something different about me that separated me from even others of my kind. Garrett had given me a name the first time we met and Felix had said it again; succubus. I'd been able to resist that side of myself for so long, but I couldn't pretend I wasn't starving anymore. Merely feeding on blood, man or animal, just wasn't satisfying. My energy was slipping and Garrett noticed.

The day was gloomy and overcast as they all had been since the beginning of all this. We were winding our way through thigh high snow just outside of what used to be Salt Lake City. I'd been struggling to keep up with Garrett's pace for the past several days and he'd noticed. Suddenly, he grabbed my elbow and turned me to him. Dark eyes studied mine for a long silent moment. His gaze was so intense that I naturally shied away. He moved into me until my breasts were grazing his chest as my breathing quickened.

He raised his hand and slowly brushed my cheek, a gentle and familiar gesture that sent shivers of heat rolling up and down my body. "Let me help you," he whispered and brought his face to mine.

The last time I'd been kissed I was human. The last time wasn't even on my mouth, but it was Edward's kiss and I would never forget it no matter how much time and tragedy passed. Garrett's lips touched mine with such energy that my whole body ignited. The flash of heat exploded and he groaned and wrapped his long arms around me.

It's hard to determine the exact moment that instead of kissing me, I was kissing him. I was simply flooded with passion. To stop would be unnatural, impossible. It was as if the power reared up and I was suddenly, irrevocably free. Garrett let me attack him, until I started pushing him to his back in the deep icy snow. Then, he put a hand to my shoulder and pushed back until I had no choice to pull my lips from his.

He smiled. "There you are," he said softly into my mouth. I could feel things changing in that moment. He was going to lean forward again and this time, when our lips touched they would not stop. I could feel the energy the kiss had brought as it surged through my veins. It was an epiphany, a revelation. I needed this power rushing through me just as I needed blood. My hips pushed forward and his answering erection sent a thrill of excitement shuddering through me.

A howl suddenly cut through the high mountain air. Garrett and I both froze and listened as the sound echoed through the cliffs. That wasn't the sound of any wolf I'd heard before. But I didn't get a real chance to mull it over. Garrett cursed under his breath and quickly shoved me off him and was on his feet. A protective growl rumbled from his chest at something I couldn't yet see.

My eyes scanned the white and green landscape. The energy the kiss gave me coursed through my veins like adrenaline. I shuddered to think what it would feel like to actually have sex, let alone orgasm. That energy would have me reeling for sure. The overcoming lust that had been tearing me apart a few moments ago had to be swept aside as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

Tension made the air thick and a distinct smell left a bitter taste on my tongue. I peered cautiously over Garrett's shoulder, looking for the threat we both felt. My body was reacting on instinct and my muscles were coiling, anticipating the fight.

But when the first one stalked out of the trees, I paused. It did resemble a wolf in that it had a long snout and canine ears, but that's where the similarities ended. The sheer enormity of the beast was staggering. Raw power pushed each leg forward slowly. It was covered in black fur and its broad chest rippled with layers of muscle. I was immediately intimidated and pressed closer to Garrett. It was obvious this beast was not afraid of us. Its intent to harm was unmistakable.

Then, the next one stepped from the trees. The silver she-wolf wasn't quite as large as her pack mate. Still, her head would have been eye level with Garrett's, but she kept it low expecting us to bolt. Her lips curled back to reveal bright teeth when she growled lowly. The black wolf cocked its head as if it understood the other one. They both started stalking forward again, moving to trap Garrett and I between them. There was nowhere to run.

"Please, we mean you no harm," I pleaded.

The silver wolf snorted, but at least I knew they understood what I said, so I tried again. "We were just passing through."

It was the black one that shook his head and they were about to attack. Hind legs bent to spring and instinct ripped a growl from my throat.

"Stop!" A voice suddenly yelled. Swift footsteps were running straight at the wolves. A man, dark skinned and built, charged forward. "Stop," he said again and I realized he was standing right in front of me. Black eyes scanned mine and recognition dawned in both of us at the same instant.

"Bella," he breathed, "it is you."

I looked over the taller and more rugged version of the only friend I had before the world ended. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I blinked, a little woozy at how fast things shifted. Even with my super senses, I was having trouble grasping the sudden change. Someone I knew had survived.

Before my brain could catch up, his long arms wrapped around me and he forcibly lifted my toes from the ground. A sickly ammonia scent invaded my senses and I realized that he and the wolves were the same thing.

Another amendment to life lesson number two: Not only were vampires real, apparently werewolves were too.

And Jacob Black was one of them.