A/N: I think you'll like this. You'll finally get some answers to your questions.

French Scars

Bella's POV

The weeks went by uneventfully. I've noticed a few differences though. My eyes haven't reverted to the bold orange they used to be. They returned to a shade of brown very close to the color before my change. I barely even notice the itch in my throat and I wonder if my thirst is gone completely, though I highly doubt it. I haven't gone to feed since Jay. Regular food seems more appealing to me, but I still don't eat much.

If the Cullens wanted to say something, they kept their mouths shut. The day after the confrontation, they stared curiously at my muddy, brown eyes, but they didn't comment. During my classes with Jasper, we exchanged pleasantries breaking out in laughter whenever one of us asked the ever dreaded question: "So…this weather?" It had become a common occurrence between us.

Edward had been moping and it was getting on my nerves. In biology, his mood always shifted. He reverted to his arrogant façade. His 'charm' was wearing thin and I was close to exploding. I muttered French profanities under my breath, much to his amusement. He always smirked; in response, I scowled.

Emmett was being Emmett; whining about every little detail I refused to tell him. Everyday he asked me the same question: "Will you tell us today?" I always answered no. Rosalie was indifferent to it all, but I could see her irritation. Alice kept asking me to go shopping with her. I always refused.

I came close to slipping my entire story when I was talking to Jasper, three Thursdays after the incident. We were at my house working on a project and I asked him about the scars I could see littering his arms and neck. I was curious to know if there were any more he was hiding. I wanted to know how he got them. I had a few scars of my own, three on one arm and two on the other. Those were the only ones he could see.

He told me about his war days fighting with and against newborns. He told me about the death of his humanity under the watchful eyes of Maria. He told me that he ran away and found Alice. He told me how she changed him, but he couldn't deny his past. He couldn't forget what he lost. Then he asked me. He asked me my story and I told him. Not all of it, but enough.

"It's been almost two months since they took me. There was a small coven of vampires that kept me: James, Laurent, and Victoria. Laurent had the ability to seek out a person's potential. He saw potential in my blood. They sold my blood on the streets to vampires like a drug. My blood was like heroin to vampires. I was their ticket to power and they treated me horribly…"

He whispered foul truths in my ear, his voice smoother than nails. I nodded "yes" to everything he said, numb from feeling. His eyes screamed warnings, but I never listened. Instead, I followed, like a lost puppy looking for love, but this wasn't love. It was fear.

"Now, Bella, what have I told you?" James asked in a degrading tone.

I couldn't find the voice to reply the dreaded sentence I have had to repeat again and again: Rag dolls are no fun; rag dolls will be punished. My voice had died away long ago with the screams.

"What a shame," he crooned with a malicious Cheshire grin that exposed his blood stained teeth.

I took it all, every unjust act, and I gave up on trying to stop it. I felt the familiar burning hitting my veins, but I couldn't scream. I writhed in pain hearing his laugh fading in the distance.

"It was terrible, Jasper. The things they did to me. I lost my voice with screams and pleas for mercy. One day, Victoria accidentally bit me; James was furious, but he decided I would make a good asset to their little coven of sadists. Through the burning, I heard her screams. When I awoke she was missing an arm and several fingers, but that was nothing compared to what I did to her. I heard them talking when I was burning. They said that my blood supply was dwindling and they needed a new source. They wanted my parents. They wanted Renee's unborn baby. I woke up furious, abruptly halting the change. Only Victoria and Laurent were there and to say they looked shocked is an understatement. They said I was supposed to keep burning for another day or so. I didn't care what they had to say, I found my ability almost instantly." I unblocked my emotions from Jasper and used my shield to lift him in the air. "I'm a shield, Jazz and I could kill you at this very instant if I wanted to, but I don't want to." I put him down to prove my point, but left my emotions out in the open for him to feel the truth in my words.

"What about James? Wouldn't he go after your mother?" Jasper asked; the panic in his eyes was replaced by trust and awe.

"I found him and killed him. I told you my story for one reason: I respect you and respect deserves trust. I told you my story, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to share it with anyone else. Uh…One more thing. Wait here."

I ran upstairs and grabbed a stolen bag of blood and a spoon from the kitchen. Jasper looked beyond confused, his panic returning. He held his breath. I opened the bag of blood and scooped up a spoonful. I made the spoon swerve, making little airplane noises.

"Open up for the airplane or else all the passengers will crash and you'll have a bloody massacre on your conscience. You wouldn't want that now would you?"

"What!" Jasper eyes were wide and terrified.

"My mom used to do that when I was sick. I always cried when she told me that and she always laughed." I replied, chuckling.

"Not that, the blood!" Jasper exclaimed. He looked like he would have a heart attack if he was alive.

I laughed at his expression.

"Drinking this blood will shield your mind from Edward's ability."

"How do you know?" Jasper asked skeptically.

"My blood was sweet, James drank some and Laurent wasn't able to use his power on him. They tested it on Victoria and it had the same effect. They concluded my ability was a shield. And now that I'm stronger, it should protect you. Drink up." I explained.

He looked reluctant, but opened his mouth in resignation. He 'mm'ed in appreciation.

"Now there's a good boy," I said patting his head. "This should be just enough that you're protected but not enough to change your eye color."

We exchanged light banter for a while and then he left when the phone rang. My dad called to ask me if I wanted to go to La Push with him to visit some friends.

Billy is my dad's best friend and they told me that Billy's son Jacob was around my age. Apparently we were best friends when we were little we played with mud and planned our wedding. I do not remember any of this happening, but okay. I got to their house before my dad. It was a little awkward so Billy told me that Jacob wouldn't mind if I joined him and his friends in the garage.

I heard crashing, laughter, and screaming from a song I knew. I leaned on the doorway and recognized Jacob from the pictures on the wall, wrestling a burly guy I didn't know and another tall, skinny guy standing and watching, laughing. I just watched with an amused smirk on my face.

"Hey," I alerted them of my presence and they all froze, looking at me. Jacob had his opponent in a headlock. The burly kid pushed Jacob away effectively knocking him down.

"What'd you do that for jerk?" Jacob said, as he picked himself up.

Burly kid ignored him, "Why, hello there, gorgeous, my name is Quil Ateara. What's your name?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows. I laughed at his poor excuse of trying to flirt.

"My name's Bella…Jacob's wife?" I said with the most serious voice I could muster. Three jaws dropped as I walked towards Jacob, pulling him into a hug and pecked him quickly on the lips. "Hi Jakeypoo. Did you miss me sweetie?"

"Huh?" Jacob managed. I smirked and kissed his cheek. His face was bright red and I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore.

They all stared at me, speechless. I caught my breath. "I'm just joking kiddo. I'm Charlie's daughter. Billy was just telling me how we got married when we were little," I explained smiling. I saw the tall, skinny kid and pointed at him, "So, what's your name?"

"E-embry," he stuttered.

"Aw, how cute," I cooed. Embry turned red. I turned my attention back to Jacob, "So what do you guys do for fun around here? Isn't there a beach?"

Jacob was the first to recover, "Yeah, let's go."

The guys and I messed around at the beach. They were really fun and carefree. Jacob kept bombarding me with questions. We passed a small bonfire. The guys started walking faster and I looked back, seeing a group of five. Three of them were male, that much I could tell, and they looked like steroid abusers. They smelled kind of strange. Two of them had girls flanking their sides.

"Bella?"

"Huh?" I zoned back into the world of Jake and his friends, realizing he had asked me a question.

"I said, 'Who do you hang out with at school?'" he repeated.

"I hang out with that family of kids who were adopted by Carlisle Cullen," I heard a growl from the group we just passed. I turned back to them and saw the one man without a girlfriend staring at us furiously. The largest of the men went to him to calm him.

"What's with him?" I saw Embry exchanging a glance with Quil, shaking his head.

"Jake, no, we're not supposed to tell anyone, remember?" Embry whispered, urgently to Jacob.

"Aw, come on Embry. You don't believe those old stories, do you?" Jacob asked, shaking his head.

I turned back to see that we were far away from those people sitting around the bonfire.

"No, but—"

"But what, Embry?" he retorted.

"Okay, guys, what are you talking about?" I interrupted.

"Our tribe has these old legends, superstitions really," Quil answered.

"What kind of legends?"

"Only if you promise not to tell," Jacob said. I crossed my heart to prove my worthiness. "Well, supposedly our tribes were descended from wolves," Jacob started.

"And the Cullens are supposedly the enemy…well their kind," Quil added. Embry groaned.

"Their kind? What are they?" I asked curiously. How much do they know?

"They're the cold ones, blood drinkers, the immortal," Quil said trying to scare me, "Demons." He started wiggling his fingers in my face. I laughed.

"Then what does that have to do with those guys?" I asked.

"They're just superstitious. Sam and his gang are part of the council of the tribal protectors. They actually believe the Cullens are bad," Jacob explained, shaking his head.

"I don't see anything wrong with them," Embry commented.

"Yeah, dude. Have you seen the blond one? Man, she is smoking hot," Quil said, wiggling his eyebrows.

We laughed at him and continued with light chatter, mostly making fun of Quil and his antics. Even Embry seemed to be getting more comfortable with me.

This is nice.

A/N: Okay, so what did you think? This is my longest chapter yet. :D Does the prologue make more sense now? Did I answer some of your questions? Isn't Embry adorable and whatnot? Ha ha. Reviews for previews? Previews will go out tomorrow though 'cause I need to think. Jasper and Bella are getting a little cozy, don't you think? What do you think of Bella's past? Uhm…review?

Oh, there's a new story up. Check it out. I'm helping my sister write it. Read that one and review? It'd mean a lot to her. She got one review and she was so excited. Don't read it if you can't stand a little (and I say "little" very loosely) Edward/Vamp smashing. I for one think it's awesome. Read it.

http :/ www . fanfiction . net/s/6093359/1/Die_Leeches_Die

I love all of my readers. You guys make me happy. ;3

~Lillie Lithium