Playing Imprint
Enraged Squirrel
Broken Social Scene – Forced To Love
Too hot! Tied down! The last vestiges of my memories of the Cullen's and Edward burned with me at the stake. I looked down to the see the hole in my chest raw and engulfed in flames. I saw the crowd pointing at me screaming in horror.
"Bella! You have to stop, you're scaring me!" My eyes flew open and I scrambled back away from the big hot fire tying me down whimpering. Light spilled into the room from the doorway casting shadows in a foreboding way. My heart was pounding so fast it physically hurt me.
The fire and force pulling me down became clear to me. It was Jacob and his imprint. He looked at me with startled eyes. I wanted his voice. A crowd hadn't been screaming. It was me that was screaming before. Billy was in the doorway in his wheel chair. He was wearing robe over pajama's. I'd been so bad he actually got out of his bed and into his wheelchair to check on me. I felt like an idiot. I brought my knees up and leaned back against the wall and dropped my head into my hands in resignation.
I realized I was crying and still sobbing. I fought to swallow the tears and find control.
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have slept over here. Charlie's learned to ignore it. I have bad dreams. I'm sorry, I'll go home." I rubbed my face muttering more to myself than to either of them.
"Bella, what could your dream have been to cause a sound like that?" Billy sounded shocked. "That's not a bad dream, it sounded like you were being tortured." I felt compelled to explain myself.
"I was being burned at the stake with stuff that was important to me. And some other stuff was going on. It's just a lot of stuff I want to keep being destroyed and choices are being limited and...and...I worked hard to find some comfort and more men are taking it away." I blubbered in a horrible sleepy word vomit. I found myself building up momentum speaking my realization aloud. "Is it just me or do the men in my life all seem to have authority over me, supernatural powers or provide my pay check? Where's my power?" I demanded starting to feel angry. "You know, I'm done with the pepper spray, I'm getting a taser. No! Scratch that. If I get a M16, you back off? I get that humans aren't a match for vampires. But I should at least be able to defend myself from human assholes." Billy and Jacob looked a little confused and amused by my rant. Billy finally laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" I demanded to know.
"M16's are military and you can't carry them with you to work. But thank you for the peek inside your head Bella." Jacob was laughing as he talked.
"Where's my power?" Billy chuckled wheeling his way back to his room.
I slunk down into the bed and dragged the sheets over my head feeling childish. Where did I come up with this crap? My face blushed with embarrassment.
"I'm signing up for kickboxing at least." I grumbled before lying down and curling into a ball. Jacob lay behind curling up around me.
"Are you spooning me?" He jerked away from and I immediately missed the heat.
"Yeah. I guess I am. I'm sorry." I thought for a second.
"That's okay, you're warm. But you have move soon because you get too hot." He jumped up and opened the window and came back.
"Let's see if that works." He said curling around me again. He stroked my hair and it was soothing.
"You have power over me." He whispered in my ear.
That wasn't enough for me. I thought of the movie The Terminator. Sarah Connor was only human, but she fought back. I wanted to have her strength and determination.
I nibbled on toast at the dining table as Jacob chugged back a large glass of water in one short gulp. The place was small but tidy and clean. It lacked decoration, a woman's touch. Which was to be expected when Billy's wife had been killed in a car accident years back. Still, it was surprisingly well maintained with two men in the house.
"So, Sam's your leader?" I asked. He looked at me and frowned.
"For now." He replied.
"What does that mean?" I asked. Billy turned down the tv.
"Until Embry takes over the Alpha position." Billy said. "She's going to find out son. We only kept quiet because his mother kept it quiet." He addressed Jacob.
"Why would Embry take over from Sam? Sam's older and has more experience already." I pointed out. Jacob was eyeing my food and I pushed the plate towards him. I wasn't feeling all that hungry. He swallowed it back immediately with an appreciative half grin.
"The Alpha position was hereditary. It's carried through the Blacks." Billy explained.
"I didn't realize you were brothers."
Jacob frowned. "I didn't either until I phased." He gave a look to Billy. "I'm still waiting on that story Dad." Jacob was pursing him lips and glaring at Billy.
"This sounds like a private conversation. I should leave." I pointed out and headed to my bag.
"No Bella. You're his imprint. You'll hear it anyway, might as well hear it directly from me. Jacob, he was actually born 2 months premature. He would have been a month younger than you but Janice was in rough shape through the pregnancy.
"It started when Sarah and I separated because she wanted to leave the rez and we'd gotten tired of arguing. After I started a relationship with Janice, I found out Sarah was pregnant with you and we decided to try again. We agreed to stay on the rez for another five years. Janice and Joshua Uley became an item before told Joshua that she was pregnant and he came to me saying it was too soon to be his. When we approached her, she ran away to the Makah rez. The idea of having a son being raised far from me hurt. Me and Sarah talked and agreed not to push Janice, but to make an offer of help her. Janice agreed to move back here and we kept our word to keep quiet. I've never figured out what was going on in her head and why she preferred everyone think he was Joshua's son when Joshua wasn't much of a father. Until Embry phased, there was still a possibility that he was Joshua's and so we didn't push the matter. But now Sam has felt Embry's Alpha tone, it's clear who his father is. But I have to keep my word to Janice.
"I admit, it's the one birth right he has been able to receive that you have not. It doesn't make up for the fact that I wasn't able to be a father to him or that he has to live with the title of bastard. But it's something. I'm sorry that hurts you Jake, but the truth is I've had very little choice in how this has been handled. Before your mother died, she wanted Embry to be raise in our home as her own. Don't forget that."
I sat quietly and sensed that me and Billy were both waiting for Jacob to digest this information.
"Why haven't you told Embry all of this? Do you know how hurt he is?" Jacob asked accusingly.
"He phased a few weeks ago, you phased two weeks ago. We weren't sure before and now I am sure I've been trying to talk to Janice. She doesn't understand why I'm so sure and she doesn't want everyone to know still. Now I'm figuring out what to do next." Jacob's hands clenched into fists and I could see he was trying to control his temper.
"Well figure it out. Soon." He stalked out the door.
I cleaned up and headed home. It was nice to see a family drama playing out. I wasn't the only messed up person. Billy had made mistakes too. I felt a certain kinship with Janice. We had secrets that we kept from those closest to us. It was clear that she had ulterior motives that she was hiding like I was hiding his voice. It was only a matter of time that my secret would come out just as Janice's secret had come out. It only took someone from Forks to visit the strip club and everyone would know.
I groaned at that thought. Mike, Tyler and Eric all pining over me as it was. I could only imagine what I would deal with if they knew I was stripping. And Lauren would be a nightmare. I was fully clothed but felt naked. Damn him! Why wasn't he here with me?
I looked out of the kitchen window and saw the rain coming down in sheets. I wanted to yell and scream but Charlie was in the living room. I didn't want to freak him out. I dumped the dishes I was washing in the sink and ran to the front door.
"I need to make a run to the store." I yelled as I threw on my raincoat and shoes. I saw Charlie getting up so I moved faster. I slipped out the door and skidded to my truck almost flipping out on the wet concrete. I saw Charlie out of the corner of my eye. I knew he had planned to have a talk with me, but I needed out. I needed to yell and scream. I pretended not to see Charlie and drove away. There was only one place to direct my anger.
I set my wipers to full speed trying to see out of the windscreen. I drove fast compared to my usual speed but tried not to push the truck too hard. I searched along the road for the driveway. I almost passed it as it was hidden in the overgrowth. Finally, the big white house came into view. I got out of the truck and walked up to the door. I could see through the windows how empty it was. But the house was there. A memorial to all that I had lost. I kicked the door and screamed at the top of my lungs with rage and anguish.
Nothing.
The hole in my chest threatened to pull me apart and that only made me angrier. I felt raw. I was falling to pieces and I wasn't getting a reaction from anyone. But I didn't want anyone to see me like this. What did I want? I wanted the house to come down.
I stormed into the brush and searched for a strong branch that wasn't too heavy for me. For a moment, I felt silly for my childish behaviour. But my anger won out. I found my weapon and yelled curses at the house. I couldn't bring myself to hate them or him. But I could safely hate the house. I was even more frustrated when the windows wouldn't smash for me. I just left scratches. I dumped the useless branch and stormed past the house. My hood had fallen down and the sheets of rain seeped down my hair inside my coat. My hot anger and frustration kept me warm and somehow the rain was comforting. There was a river behind the house. I took a seat on the wet muddy ground and watched it.
"Bella, you're here alone." A rich voice purred to my side. I whipped my head around to see the source.
"Laurent." My was voice still trembling with rage.
"Bella, keep him talking." Edward's voice came to me. Huh, he talks to me here too.
"Screw you." I whispered.
"Excuse me?" Laurent responded to my whisper. Shit! He heard that. I decided to continue in the same vein. I was dead anyway, might as well go down fighting. I wasn't going to be the sacrificial lamb anymore.
"You heard me. I said screw you." My clenched my fists. His eyes were red. Fear kicked in. He wasn't vegetarian. He hadn't gone to Alaska after all. I really was in the process of signing my death warrant. I focused on my anger.
"Brave words from a small human girl. What happened to the Cullen's? They left their pet unprotected." The hole throbbed.
"I served my purpose and they left." I wanted to throw a Molotov cocktail at him. I wondered what that would do and figured I was about to die anyway, I might as well serve my curiosity. "What happens if someone throws a Molotov at you?" He grinned at me, finding my question humorous.
"It would hurt. We're flammable." He conceded. "But it wouldn't be enough to fend me off from you. Now, what purpose did you serve the Cullen's that they were so determined to protect you?" He took a step closer to me. I stood my ground firmly. He seemed slightly hesitant. I knew that I knew what he was but I lacked fear. He suspected that I had a secret. The truth was that he served as a convenient outlet for my anger in my last moments of life.
"Breeding project that failed." I lied badly but really, it was none of his business. He laughed.
"Bella, keep him talking. Don't make him angry." The beautiful voice warned me inside. I wanted to sneer at it, but I loved it too much.
"What are you doing here?" I might as well know why he came back here. It might explain why I was about to die. I noted that the rain had slowed and rays of light were breaking in the distance.
"A favour to Victoria. She lost her mate. She wishes to take away Edward's mate. It's an eye for an eye." My breath caught. I wasn't feeling so angry anymore. I was in pain from the ache in my chest and cold from the rain and fear sent icy chills down my back. I fought to regain the bravado that I had been feeling before.
"I didn't kill her mate. I did nothing to her. I'm sure he has a new mate by now. She should be keeping closer tabs on him." I spat the words at him.
"I agree with her. You smell delicious. I can't possibly leave you to her to kill you slowly and painfully. You're tantalizing. I will be kind. I will be make it painless and quick child." He said softly. He had made his way to me quietly. His voice screamed and yelled in my ear realizing that death was upon me and nothing could be done about it.
"What about a flame thrower?" I asked. He was right at my throat. He stood as still as a statue. I cocked my head to one side. "I wonder if I could put napalm on a torch. I've heard it burns slowly." I pondered aloud.
"What are you doing?" He asked suspiciously looking around.
"Making plans for my next life." I muttered feeling a little dejected. "I bet if I shoved ammonium nitrate up your ass and triggered it, it would do some damage." I cocked an eyebrow at him folding my arms. It was much easier to face him down suggesting items that could mess him up than focusing on what he was probably about to do to me. He moved in for the kill and I thought I love you Edward. But nothing happened.
He looked away from me and gasped.
"It can't be real." He saw something that I couldn't see yet.
I wanted to hit him but his attention was elsewhere, I didn't want to bring it back to me.
I heard two low growls before I saw two giant wolves creeping forward menacingly towards me. I had to remind myself that they were probably after Laurent. I was amazed to watch Laurent turn tail and run. And even more stunned to see the wolves could keep up with him. They were fast.
Again, I felt powerless and frustrated. I should feel grateful. But again, I was being rescued. I watched them each launch themselves over the river. I couldn't launch myself more than a few feet. I headed back to my truck when I couldn't see them through the woods anymore.
If there was ever a next time, I would have an arsenal ready for those monsters. I wasn't going to be a sitting duck.
I came through the front door slamming it behind me and yelled hello to Charlie. He said something that I ignored as I ran upstairs. I turned on my decrepit computer before heading for the shower. When I came back to my room I researched guerrilla warfare and martial arts classes in my area. I was not going to be a victim anymore. It might not work, but I needed to get a sense that I was doing something for my own security.
I hurried downstairs once I had my bag packed for the night and got dinner ready for Charlie. I was still feeling shaky from this afternoon and knew I wouldn't eat. Besides the fact that Charlie wanted to have a talk and I didn't want to. With dinner ready I headed for the door and gave my excuses.
"Bella, we need to talk." Charlie started.
"Sure, sure. I'll hang out with you tomorrow afternoon and we can talk then. Okay?"
"Bella, it's not okay. You're personality is changing. Something is happening to you. Talk to me." He insisted. I opened the front door.
"Not right now okay?" I asked him. He let out a sigh and turned back to his game.
I ran out to the truck and jumped in. I made it a mile down the road when it made a bang sound and the engine cut out on me. I pulled over to the side and huffed. I felt a pull to go and open the hood and look at the engine. But honestly, what was the point? I wouldn't have any idea what I was looking at. I really had pushed the truck too far. I picked up my cell phone.
"Hey Matthew, my truck broke down. Can you help me get a ride out tonight? I'm a mile from my house."
"Hi Bella, of course. Actually, I'm glad I caught you. Leanne called in sick. Can you cover for her at a private party?" My heart felt like ice.
"I'm not that kind of girl."
"And Leanne is?" He laughed. "It's just a bachelor party for a friend. We don't do anything illegal here. I know Giselle's already coached you on these parties." He was trying to reassure me.
"Get someone here and I'll find out the details before I decide okay?"
"Stan is near you, I'll call him. Give him fifteen minutes."
I didn't bother to say goodbye as I ended the call. I thought very carefully about doing this. I had a feeling I would hear his voice if I did this. As long as it was only stripping. How much did I trust Matthew?