Eyes on Fire- Chapter Nine
A/N Sorry for the delay in updates but real life is kicking my butt. As usual I don't own it nor do I want to this is all SM's world I'm just playing in her sandbox. Shout out to idealskeptic for betaing for me. With that said read on :)
Bella's POV
"I said no, Bella," Jacob growled as he pushed the half eaten plate of food away and glowered at me.
"You didn't even let me finish," I protested glowering right back. "How can you…"
"I've heard all I needed to," he cut in rudely, clearly not interested in what I had to say.
I stomped my foot in irritation, vaguely surprised that I didn't put a hole in the floor "But I can help, you know I can!"
"I said no and that is final so drop the damn subject," he roared, banging his hands against the table in anger.
A lesser person probably would have cowered in the face of his anger. A wiser person probably would have dropped the subject and left it for another day but I'd never claimed to be either things and so I pressed on with my mission as if he hadn't just left a dent in my kitchen table.
"Just hear me out!"
"No," he repeated sternly. I was pretty sure he'd just used his alpha voice on me.
"But," I protested.
"No means no, Bella," Jacob growled as we faced off.
"Not when it comes to this," I growled right back. Did he think he was the only one around here who could growl?
I pulled out the chair next to him and sat down "Listen, Jake, all I am asking is for you to consider the possibly of what I am proposing. It would take some of the pressure off…"
"You would only be a distraction and we can't afford that."
"I would not be a distraction and you know it," I huffed indignantly. "If anything, I would be your greatest ally."
He snorted. "You sure about that, Bella? What if, in the heat of a battle, one of us got confused and attacked you instead? Is that a risk you are willing to take; is it a risk you want us to take?"
I rolled my eyes at his weak argument. "You've said it yourself, I smell different from other leeches. I highly doubt that would happen so what's the real reason you don't want me to hunt with you guys?"
"There are a million reasons as to why I don't want you to hunt with us."
I leaned back in the chair, folding my arms over my chest expectantly. "I have plenty of time to hear every single last one of them."
"It doesn't matter, the answer is still no," he insisted, not even trying to hear me out. Yup, he'd definitely just used his alpha voice on me.
My venom started to boil and I had to exercise considerable self control to keep Hurricane Bells in check. If there was one thing, one thing I hated more than anything in the world was getting talked down too like some wayward teenager.
I stomped my foot in frustration. "Stop interrupting me," I yelled, jabbing a finger in his direction. "You won't even let me finish a damn sentence!"
"It doesn't matter. I won't change my mind!"
"You can't just say no and expect me to just hush and go away. You are not my father and you certainly are not the boss of me!"
"I never said I was any of those things, all I am saying is…"
"All you are saying is a bunch of no's," I interrupted. "We need to talk about this like rational adults."
"Sure," Jacob drawled, rolling the r for an unnecessary amount of time. "Last I checked rational adults didn't stomp their feet like three year olds."
"You're not listening to me," I argued. "What else am I supposed to do?"
"Accept my decision and move on." His tone clearly indicated there was a silent duh at the end of the sentence.
"I can't accept a stupid decision," I pushed on. There was no way I was backing down on this.
"Why would you even want to hunt your own kind," he asked in exasperation.
"These are not my kind," I hissed, throwing the news paper I'd been reading at him. The paper smacked him right in the face but I didn't have time to feel sorry about it.
I started pacing instead struggling to calm down. I almost wished I hadn't seen the damn thing. After riding our bikes for a few hours we'd come back to the house and I'd cooked him dinner while he lounged in front of the tv. The evening had been going well until I'd caught site of the newspaper. On the front page was an article about a family of four who'd been savagely attacked while out camping. The bodies had been virtually torn to shreds by whatever wild animal had attacked them. I kept seeing the ages of the children dance in front of my eyes as I stared at Jacob, four and six, four and six a voice chanted in my head. I felt like I needed to vomit, this had been no animal attack at least not of the four legged variety. "I would never do something like this," I declared.
"Look, I'm sorry for sounding like a douche." Jacob sighed, running a hand down his face. "But it's hard enough watching over my packs' back; I can't afford to watch yours too Bella. We just found each other, I can't risk losing you again."
I went to him then, dropping to my knees in front of the chair he was sitting on. "And I can't just sit hear twiddling my thumbs while you guys are out there hunting," I told him softly. "Jacob, I don't want to lose you any more than you want to lose me. I don't want to lose any of the pack for that matter but I can help if you'd let me. Having me by your side would be an advantage not a disadvantage, I can promise you that."
"I'm sorry." He shook his head. "Can't risk it, Bella, won't risk it."
"This is crazy." I jumped up and walked away from him, pacing the room again as his eyes tracked my progress "I am not the old fragile Bella you once knew. I no longer trip over my own shadow, I can help. I want to help. I have just as much right to this as you guys do!"
"I'll talk it over with the guys and see what they think," he conceded and I narrowed my eyes at him. He was lying; he would simply come back and say they all agreed blah, blah, blah and I'd be left behind twiddling my damn thumbs. That was so not going to happen.
I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow, letting him know I meant business. "You're either going to agree to this now or I'll just do it on my own."
"I don't just make decisions in the name of the pack, Bella, I give every single last one of them a voice. This isn't just my ass or your ass on the line, we fight as a unit and if one is off then we are all off."
"Fine," I said, changing tactics. The relief on Jake's face was short lived as I continued speaking. "While you boys are having your meetings and hashing out the many reasons why little o' me should stay home, I'll be out tracking down the monsters that did this."
Jacob started cursing then, my ears burned at the combinations he was lacing together. Good Lord, I'd had no idea just how much of a potty mouth Jacob had.
"So what's it going to be, Black," I asked once he'd run out of steam.
"Do you even know how to fight?" Jacob asked. I could see he was hoping I said no.
"Seriously, Jake, you have no idea just how much badassery I have brewing inside of me."
He groaned, running agitated hands through his hair. "I was afraid you were going to say something like that."
I smiled then. "Would it make you feel better if I promise to be extra careful?"
"It would make me feel better if you would just stay the hell out of this. I swear I am going to go bald by the time this is all over," he grumbled, glaring at me.
"I'll pay for your hair plugs," I offered sweetly.
He didn't crack a smile like I hoped he would, instead he cursed under his breath. "Bella, when did you get so damn stubborn?"
My smile slipped from my face as I stared him in the eye. "Around the time I encountered a red headed bitch named Victoria."
"Do you think it was her?" he asked after a moment.
"I don't really know," I admitted, rubbing my stomach absently, I still felt like I was going to be sick but that was impossible. But the thought that James could have been a part of such brutality… four and six, four and six that voice started chanting again. I needed to sit down before I fell down but who'd ever heard of a vampire fainting. Four and six, four and six, the voice repeated again. No, what I needed was Jasper; he would know what to do. "I'm sure there are plenty of red eyes around these parts."
Jacob regarded me closely. "You don't look so well, Bella, are you sure about this?"
"Do you sprout fur and howl in the night?" I snapped, suddenly tired of this whole conversation. I didn't need his permission for anything. I would, and could, do what I wanted.
Jacob stood suddenly and strolled into the kitchen. "Then let's go."
"Where to?" I asked, hot on his heels.
"You are going to show me just how much badassery you're harnessing in that little body of yours."
"Riding or running?" I asked, stuffing my feet into the boots I'd left by the kitchen door.
"Running," he said, stripping off his shirt.
"Thought you could keep up," I teased a short time later as Jake trotted into the clearing. He phased back into human form and I kindly turned my eyes upwards to keep from staring at his naked package.
"Shut up," he huffed, clearly not use to being bested by a vampire or a female.
"Snippy, snippy," I mumbled under my breath. Once he'd told me where we were going I'd taken off, leaving him in my dust. I hadn't been back to the meadow since I'd come home, had practically forgotten all about it, but now I was anxious to see it. We'd had some good times hanging out there and it was perfect for what we intended to do. No human, unless you were crazy and adventurous like we'd been, would ever come out this far.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked.
I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and braided it quickly before tucking the ends into the elastic.
"I was born ready," I quipped. "The question is are you ready?"
Jake rolled his eyes at my mimicking tone then frowned when I started stretching. "Really, Bella?"
"What?" I said. "Vampires can get a little stiff too!"
I smiled at my own little joke but Jake just looked up at the sky and sighed "I'm going to phase back now; I heal quickly so you don't have to worry about hurting me to bad. Fight me as if your life depends on it but try not to kill me," he warned.
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "Nut up or shut up Black."
A short time later I smiled in satisfaction as I kicked Jacob into a tree. This sparring session had turned into so much fun. I was learning new things and holding my own against Jake, he was getting some good licks in but I was giving them out just as well. My body leaned forward, all my weight balanced on the balls of my feet as Jake charged towards me. Come on, puppy, just a little bit….
"Bella, move," a familiar voice shouted through the air causing my head to jerk around in surprise.
"Never lose focus," Jasper's voice whispered through my brain. "And never turn your back on your enemy."
How quickly I forgot those two valuable lessons the second he appeared in the meadow. Jacob, unable to stop, cannoned into me, taking us both down. I heard a loud roar and managed to look up just in time to see Jasper collide with Jacob.
"Jasper, no!" I screamed, jumping to my feet but the Jasper I knew had checked out. His eyes were wild and feral as he rolled around with Jacob. This Jasper was hell bent on tearing something apart, and I was worried one or the other was not coming out of this alive. Jacob had probably around called for back up and it was matter of time before the cavalry rolled in. Once that happened we were in for a crap load of trouble so, instead of standing there wringing my hands like a helpless woman, I threw myself into the fight, hoping I could keep my best friends from killing each other.
Jaspers POV
Relief poured through me as I drove by the Welcome to Forks sign. I'd never thought I would see it again so soon but here I was, coasting into the quiet town hoping that my hunch paid off and this would be where I'd find Bella.
The trip had taken a little longer than usual for one of my kind. I'd had to drive like a normal person due to the abundance of state troopers patrolling the highways. By the third speeding ticket I'd decided to slow down obey the law, it was safer for me and the troopers. Frustration at being delayed was making me testy and hungry, I didn't want to slip and snack on an officer of the law.
My first thought was to drive past her old house and check things out but I didn't want people to see me in town just yet. Of course, if anyone did notice me I could always just say I was passing through, checking on the old family home. However, I still had those damn dogs to contend with, I was fairly certain they would not be thrilled to see or, should I say, smell me. I'd bet good money they thrown a party when we'd cleared out, although we'd never given them cause to dislike us, our natures just sealed the hate deal. I hoped if Bella had been through here she hadn't encountered them, we'd never prepared her to deal with shape shifters, thinking we wouldn't need too for awhile yet.
I'd go up to the old house and ditch the car there; it would be easier to snoop and blend if I was on foot. Maybe I'd get lucky and Bella would already be there, her memories of the place would have been hazy considering the circumstances surrounding how she'd come to be there but stranger things had happened. Game plan in place, I pressed my foot down on the gas and took off, smiling as the needle climbed. She was here, I could feel it in my bones.
By the time I reached the property it was clear Bella had not been near the house. I was slightly disappointed but I knew it'd been a long shot to begin with. Hands on my hips, I surveyed the living room with all its covered furniture; we'd certainly had some good times in this house. I touched a wall Emmett and Edward had accidently put a hole in with their bodies once when they'd been play fighting. The look of terror on both of their faces as Alice had screamed at them had been priceless. I smiled at the memory. Forks was one of Alice and Carlisle's favorite places to live, and this was the one home they always hated to leave. Speaking of A and C, I whipped out my phone and sent off a quick text letting them know where I was and that I'd check in again very soon. Then I went up to my old bedroom to shower and change before deciding it was time to go check out Bella's childhood home. I'd only been there once when we'd cleared out a few of her possessions before rolling out of town but I remembered exactly where it was.
I hit the ground running as soon as I closed the door behind me - after being cooped up in the car for so many hours it felt good to stretch my legs and run. Wind whistled passed my ears as I imagined the surprised look that would hopefully be on her face when she saw me. I couldn't wait to pick her up and hold her in my arms, provided she didn't punch me for following her here but even that punch would be a cherished show of affection. She'd called a few times since I'd left Idaho, and hopefully that meant she wasn't mad anymore. I should have picked up instead of listening to Rose but part of me had been scared she was calling to say she wasn't coming back. Bella was not thennor had she ever been obligated to stay with us and we couldn't make her stay if she decided otherwise. But how could I let her go if that was what she wanted?
I was so caught up in my thoughts of Bella thatI almost ran past the Swan residence. Two things struck me as I slowed my pace and the wind shifted in my direction. One, Bella had in fact been to her old home and two, there had been a dog, make that dogs milling around the home recently. Their scents nearly masked hers but I caught the faint trace of ginger and spice on the breeze. Going into protect mode, I followed both smells towards the back of the house and there was a thump where my heart use to be as I noticed two sets of prints in the dirt. Bella's, followed by four large paw prints. She'd been running and whoever had been chasing had been right on her trail. A growl ripped from my chest as I plunged into the trees after them, I'd kill that whole damn pack if they hurt one hair on her head.
I ran harder than I'd ever run in my life. The fear of being too late gave me the added boost of power as my long legs ate up the distance. I dodged some trees and merely knocked down a few others, not caring about the destruction I was leaving in my wake. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her, I'd never be the same if I didn't get to tell her exactly how I felt, I wouldn't be able to go on living in a world that did not have her in it. I'd heard Edward say that about Rose one day. At the time I'd thought he was being a melodramatic twerp but now I understood completely. Scents became stronger until I crashed into a clearing, skidding to halt just as Bella kicked a big ass rustic looking wolf into a tree. Relief made my knees buckle but it was short lived as the damn thing rebounded and charged towards her.
"Bella, move," I yelled, rushing towards her.
The next few moments happened in slow motion. Bella's head jerked around at the sound of my voice, surprise evident in the golden orbs.
"No," I screamed as the wolf knocked into her. His momentum sent them both crashing to the ground. Her grunt of pain spurred me into action, a savage roar ripping from my throat as something snapped inside of me.
Protect her, the voice hissed. Kill it, a darker voice whispered through my brain, a dark voice I hadn't heard in a very long time.
"Jasper, no," I heard her yell just as my body hurtled into the mountain of fur standing on top of her.
