Chapter 16: Taken and Lies
Ah, the week of spring break. One I loved. Loved being the key word. Now, I hate it.
Embry walked in the house in a weird mood. He wasn't the joyous, peppy Embry that I knew. I watched his composure, his hung head and dark demeanor.
"Embry," I questioned as he passed me, heading up the stairs. "What's wrong?"
"Harry Clearwater," he began.
"Yeah?" I egged on.
"He had a heart attack." I gasped at his words.
"Oh my God!" I faintly whispered.
"He's currently in the hospital."
"Are you going up there?"
"Yeah I want to be with Seth and Leah for support. I think the whole pack is going to be there. Do you want to come?"
"I… I don't really know. You're so much closer with Seth and Leah it would kind of be awkward. Don't you think so?"
"It's whatever Klaira. I'm going, you…" He stopped himself, gaining control of his anger.
"You know I don't do well with emotional problems. Especially when others are very emotional." I retorted.
He quickly left the house softly stating that he was going over to Quil's to head into Forks.
He was taking this way harder than I thought. Then again Harry had always sort of been a father to Embry. Embry did love him that way. I guess when a pack member was hurt it was the same for the other pack members. Embry had mentioned that they did have a direct line to each other's thoughts.
I sat on the small chair in my house going back to my book. The small lamp in the room illuminated just enough light for me to read.
"Look at this," he said. "What do you think it is?"
After a moment's hesitation, Paul crossed the room and looked. "A tree?" he said. "It looks like a silhouette of a tree."
"Good," David said. "Now look again. I took…
I jumped, flinging the book across the room as the insistent ringing of the phone broke the peaceful silence of the room.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Klaira?" I voice that sounded like my brothers said. But then again it sounded somewhat different. Something had happened.
"Yes?"
He took in a deep breath then after a short silence he said, "Harry Clearwater passed away."
"Embry, I'm so…"
"Save it!" He snapped. "Just go deliver the news to Jacob, will you?"
"What? Isn't he with you?"
"No. Just do what I ask!" He demeaned.
"Fine." I slammed the phone down into the receiver.
I scurried up the stairs into my room. I slipped on my combat boots and a jacket. I flew down the stairs and made my way to Jacob's house.
I couldn't stand the way Embry was acting. I hated that he pushed me away and didn't want me to comfort him. Funny, sounds familiar. Realization hit me as I realized I was just like that. Shit, now Embry was turning into me. Not the best thing. Not the best thing at all.
I didn't bother with knocking on the door. I didn't think Jacob would mind.
I lurked through the dark room, finding the light switch. Hastily I flipped the light on.
"Shit!" Jacob said groggily as he stood from the floor. He took one look at my face noticing my emotion.
"Jake," I said as I made my way towards him. He tensed and suddenly acted weird. Maybe he suspected what I was about to say. "Harry Clearwater is…"
Suddenly I stopped noticing the sleeping Bella on Jacob's couch. Her hair was wet and she was in his clothes. My heart clenched as tears whelped up behind my eyes. I looked from her to the previous spot he had been asleep on. I felt sudden emotions I had no clue of what they were. I didn't like them. They started building up and taking over.
"Klaira…" He tried to explain but I cut him off.
"What? It's not what it looks like, right?" My nostrils flared as I let out a small whimper. Shit! When did I ever act like this? "No! It's exactly what it looks like!" I yelled.
Bella jumped up glancing at me in wonder. Then she looked at Jake and clutched her stomach. What the hell?
"Klaira, please listen to me."
"What is there to fucking listen to?"
"A lot, please."
"Klaira, listen to him." Bella rasped out.
"Shut the hell up! I see the truth now! I don't need any explanation. Be happy," I said towards Bella. "You finally got him."
Jake reached for my hand as tears slipped from my eyes. I slapped his hand, a hurt look crossed his face as it looked as if he was bound to cry.
"You don't know it yet but all she is doing is using you! Isn't that right, Bella? You're just so sad about you fucking boyfriend that left you. So you use Jacob to feel better. Like a damn drug! And you," I turned towards Jacob. "You just keep coming back to her. To your little infatuation."
"Klaira, stop it!" Jacob yelled.
"No Black I won't! What was I to you? Obviously nothing. A lie. A big fat fucking lie. I was just something to pass the time with, right? I'm not far off am I? Am I?" I yelled, bearing my chest towards him, pushing his chest.
Hastily, he grabbed my hands in his.
"Klaira, please…" He pleaded, near tears. I felt my emotion change instantly. My hurt changed into rage, as my eyes went black.
"No! Get the fuck out of my life, Black! And don't try to fix it. Don't follow me! Understand? You've royally fucked up this time. No turning back. You made the choice. I hope it's one you can live with."
And with that I stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind me.
I ran.
I ran into the forest and in a matter of seconds I found myself in a child's pose on the forest floor. I gasped out for air, pain filling my whole body. I cried out in agony as tears flowed like a flood from my eyes.
I couldn't take it. I lied there not knowing what to do. I couldn't go back. There was no fucking way.
Hysterics began taking over my body as I found it hard to breathe.
Nightfall hit the forest, still crying I decided it would be best to head home. Suddenly I couldn't find where I was. I was…
Lost!
But how? I had never been lost in the woods before.
Too much was happening all at once. Abruptly I found myself back on the ground of the forest. Slowly fatigue set in causing me to fall asleep. No matter how much I didn't want to sleep took its hold.
I jumped up not having the slightest clue where I was. My eyes scanned the present room I was in. I tried to stand, but to no avail. I was restrained by something and there was no getting free.
Suddenly everything dawned on me and I knew where I was. Holy shit!
My nightmare was going to come true sooner than I thought.
Chapter 17: Reality and Vampires
The entire ride to Bella's home in Forks was unbearably quiet. She couldn't say anything? Did she have nothing to say to me? I took in a sharp breath trying not to get any angrier than I already was at her.
The day that I had gone into town to 'see Bella,' it was definitely not because I wanted to see her. She was probably the last person I had wanted to see, but I had to set things straight. The pull towards Klaira was becoming stronger and stronger. The more she pushed me away the more I craved for her. It had become too much. I had to have Klaira.
The first step to getting her was not having Bella anymore.
It was late at night and somehow I got her to let me in. She was thrilled to see me, I was anything but. I stood there, with a stiff face and told her, 'Bella, don't you ever come around me again.' Her face immediately fell as she let out a small 'why?' I replied still standing my ground, being firm with my words, 'I don't want you to. I. Don't. Want. You. Or anything pertaining to a friendship with you. Anything.' With that I left. I known I had been harsh but it needed to be done. I'm pretty sure I added to her depression she had fallen into, but she would just continue to ruin things if she stayed. I had to be straight forward and harsh. She needed to get the point through her stubborn head. There was a slight singe of remorse but not much.
Then today, of all days she has to show up and pull that damn stunt. I heard her scream knowing she needed help. At first I had thought the red-headed blood sucker was after her, but that wasn't it at all.
I didn't do anything to her but save her God forsaken life. She was such a dumb ass being so reckless. Always starving for attention. Sometimes I wish that the damn bloodsucker would come and take her back. I was done with Bella, today was the last straw.
My hands clenched on the steering wheel as the truck came to a halt. I hastily cut off the engine, the world silent.
I turned toward her, not able to look at her.
"You royal fucked things up for me this time, Bella. Do you know that?" I said, my jaw clenching as my nostrils flared and eyes widened.
"I do." She said in a small voice.
"Do you know how… Wait, what?"
"I said I do. I know what I've done. Do you not think I saw the look in your eyes when she told you to get out of her life? I know how it feels." Immediately at the thought she clutched her stomach. Still in agony over her leach. It was so damn pathetic.
"I don't want you fucking sympathy." I reached for the handle of the door, opening it. Immediately the cool air blasted in my face. The smell hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Oh," I gasped out. "Holy shit!"
Hastily I slammed the door shut, twisting the keys into the ignition in the same moment. My hands began fiercely shaking.
"What's wrong?"
I revved the truck, making it sputter and falter.
"Vampire," I hissed out.
"How do you know?"
"I can smell it! Dammit!"
My eyes hastily scanned the road ahead. My thoughts conflicting at every turn. "Phase or get her out of here?" I spat at myself.
I snapped my head towards Bella. Her emotions evident on her face. It pained me to still look at her. Somewhere deep I still held feelings for her. The poor thing was terrified. "Right. Get you out."
The engine caught with a roar. The tires squealed as I spun the truck around, turning toward out only escape.
"Stop!" She gasped out. There was no way in hell I was stopping.
"Stop!" She cried again, louder actually catching my attention.
"What?"
"It's not Victoria." The red-head? But it could always be the one Embry had mentioned a few nights ago. "Stop, stop! I want to go back."
"What?" I asked starring at her with horror filled eyes, slamming the breaks at her comment.
"It's Carlisle's car! It's the Cullens. I know it."
"Oh will you hush!"
"Dammit Jake I won't. Turn your head and see for yourself."
I kept my head forward.
"Now take me back!" She demanded.
"There's a vampire in your house and you want to go back?"
"Of course." Yes of course she did she's a damn leach lover. "Take me back." She pleaded once more.
"No. Take yourself back, if you're so sure. I'm done with this shit!" She flinched, the words like a slap to her face. I pushed the truck into neutral, keeping it running. I jumped from the cab. "I hope you don't die." I said in a harsh voice as I headed towards the darkness.
I knew it was wrong but I couldn't go there. I was too pissed. I needed my space. It seemed no one really understood that anymore.
There was the slight part of me that wanted to go back and make sure she was okay, but I couldn't be the cause of breaking the treaty. I wouldn't allow that to be held over my head for all eternity.
I continued running into the dark heartless night. I let out a heavy sigh, thoughts of what happened earlier that day streaming through my head. Suddenly the impact hit me harder than possible.
Abruptly I braced my self upon a tree, gasping for air. My gut wrenched inside, as if the venom from a vampire were flowing through it. I found myself on the ground, still not able to breathe. I had no clue what was going on.
The base pull that I felt for Klaira turned numb as a tear fell from my eye.
I found my breath again and got to my feet. The ring of my phone broke through the peaceful silence of the forest.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Jake!" Embry said in a frantic voice.
"Wait, Embry. What's wrong?"
"Where's Klaira? Is she with you?"
"No. Isn't she at the house with you?"
"Well shit! She's probably…"
"What about her? I know she's pissed at me, if that's what it is."
"No, Jake. Listen. She's gone."
"What the hell? Is it like last time? Has she gone back to drinking?"
"No, I've looked at all of her drinking spots. Jake it's not like last time. So she's not with you?"
"No. Like I said she's pissed. Why are you so worried?"
"I was coming back from the hospital and she wasn't at the house. I went and looked at yours but she wasn't there either. I thought she was with you or something. So since it's my night to patrol, I go on patrol. Suddenly I catch her sent and think it would lead me to her." He stopped.
"What? Embry, what?"
"Her smell vanished. There was blood where it ended."
"Do you know what's happened?"
"Oh course I do! I know what a fucking bloodsucker smells like."
Shudders ripped through my body as my wolf form took over. The phone fell to the ground as Embry's words continued.
"Please tell me she's not dead. We have to find her. Either we're going to find a dead body or one extremely close to death. Please let me know you can still phase? She has to be alive. You have to be able to turn."
I cut off his excessive wariness with a howl, answering all of our questions. Howls filled with pain, but also triumph. The triumph to know she was still alive!
