Reviews make me happy! So please review! One bad word in this and this is also a bit of a filler chapter. Next chapter is a pivotal point in the story.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight.
A Cinderella of Sorts
Jared POV
Edward knew the reason we were here due to his mind reading, and was currently recapping the whole story to the rest of his family. The entire pack, minus Leah, our only female wolf, was cramped into the Cullens nasty smelling house. Leah waited outside. Edward finished the epic account in sixty seconds, much to my relief. I didn't want to be in enemy territory any longer than necessary. All of the vampire's eyes are on us now as Carlisle stands up and takes a few steps in my direction. I tense up.
"You're Jared right?" he asked me, a kind expression on his face.
I nod quietly.
"I'm sorry about Kim. My family and I would be glad to help you," he says sympathetically.
The other vampire's heads nod in agreement behind him. I smile appreciatively at his family, feeling very grateful to them.
"Thank you," I tell him.
He nods and smiles at me compassionately.
"So, when would you like to start?" he asks me.
I look at Sam, unsure if I should take the lead on this considering he is the pack leader, he nods his assent.
"As soon as possible," I answer, anxious to get started.
"That's fine. You just need to get me something with her scent, and give me every single detail about her kidnapping. None of us are trackers, but we will do the best we can to find her for you," Carlisle tells me.
I hear some of the pack grumble in annoyance; they didn't want to be here any longer.
"It's alright guys. Most of you can wait outside or go home. I can tell the story the best, and I have access to her personal belongings, so you don't all need to be here."
Sam nodded and gathered several of the pack members, and told them they can go home. The few that were left were told to stand guard outside, in case there were any problems. Sam was the only one who was going to stay with me during the meeting. I had to run over to Kim's and grab something of hers before we started though.
I got into her house without a problem, her father liked me now. I grabbed a hairbrush and made it back to the Cullens house in less than twenty minutes. When I returned, I found Carlisle deep in discussion with Edward. They were talking too fast for me to hear. Sam was sitting on the couch across from the five other vampires in the house. I cleared my throat and walked further into the room. All eyes turned to me.
"So, let's get this thing started."
Carlisle POV
As soon as Edward said they were looking for one of their pack member's imprint, who had been kidnapped by a vampire, I suspected Jackson. Edward apparently agreed. Something was up with Jackson, appearing out of the blue and asking for help, saying he was in a hurry, because he kept giving me glances throughout the whole one-on-one with Jared.
My suspicions were growing more defined as I heard all about Kim's kidnapping. I have known Jackson since before I was changed. I had always been taken with medicine and helping people, so even though I hadn't been an official doctor then, I still worked at a hospital, helping the doctors out. I had been twenty. Jackson was twenty four and a new doctor at the hospital, and I had been friends with him ever since. I'd learnt things about him, not everybody knew. This kidnapping sounded a lot like his style. But he had to have had help, and last time I checked in with him he was not mated with anyone, or in a coven.
Jared finished telling me everything as I conclude that Jackson was the most likely vampire. I sigh, he had been a good friend all these years, and to find out now that I may have to hurt him, well it put me in a dismal mood.
We should tell them, I think to Edward.
He nods infinitesimally and I turn to the two werewolves in my house.
"Outside, before we came in, Edward said that you guys know something we don't," Sam starts, "what don't we know?"
I inhale deeply and exhale slowly.
"An old friend of mine is in the area. There are signs that point to him having Kim."
Jared's eyes widen and he gasps in surprise. Sam just sits up straighter and looks at me warily.
"Where is he?" Jared asks angrily, once past his state of shock.
"I don't know. He came over here about five minutes ago and asked about an old legend…," I trail off, the pieces suddenly clicking.
Kim has to be the phoenix if that is what he's researching. I know Jackson and he wouldn't be researching something for no reason. It connects too much to be a coincidence.
"He asked for all the documentation I have on the Phoenix, so that must mean Kim is the holder of the Phoenix." I tell them.
"What is the Phoenix?" Jared asks me.
"It's an old legend about the power to control fire. Every thousand years or so, there is a human child born, with the Phoenix inside of them. The power lets you do all kinds of things with fire. It is a power sought after by every vampire because the person who has it becomes immune to fire. This means, if a vampire had the Phoenix you could never kill him. If Kim has the Phoenix inside her then, Jackson must be trying to extract it from her body." I inform them, dragging up as much knowledge about it as I could, from the depths of my memory.
"So how do you extract it?" Jared asked, on edge.
"The person must be on the very threshold between life and death. The Phoenix bonds with your soul and to disconnect the two, the soul has to be very weak in order for you to pry the two apart." I finish waiting for the anger that is sure to come at the statement.
"What?" Jared screams, leaping off the couch, shaking in anger.
"He is going to torture it out of her?" he continues.
Sam looks almost as angry as Jared. He stands up as well and puts a hand on his shoulder, a warning not to phase. I stand and back up to give him some space.
"We need to find her," Jared say.
His voice is husky with emotion, and I can see the glimmer of tears in his eyes.
"We will." I say.
I walk forward and lay a hand comfortingly on his shoulder, after he stops shaking and is much calmer. He tenses and then relaxes after a minute. Sam backs up when I walk forward. Jared pulls himself together after a moment and stands up straighter.
"You need to go home and rest. There is nothing more you can do. I promise, I will try to find Kim and if I find any leads whatsoever, I will call you. Okay?" I assure him.
He looks like he is about to protest but then just shakes his head and walks out my front door, and into the woods, muttering a gruff goodbye. Sam thanks me and follows him out. After everyone is gone, the rest of my family files back into the living room from various places in the house.
"Okay, well, you heard everything. So let's get started. I am going to go out and look around for Kim's scent." I tell them.
"Honey, do you want me to come with you?" my beautiful wife, Esme, asked me softly, coming over and laying a hand on my arm.
I smiled warmly at her and shook my head.
"No, dear, I would like to do this alone. If I find him I will contact you guys," I tell her, kissing her on the lips softly before exiting the house.
I step out onto the porch and sniff the air for Jackson's scent, and when I find it I manage to follow it all the way to almost a few miles off the border.
Why would he come here? I think, thoroughly puzzled.
There is a gust of wind from the east and I catch a whiff of Kim's scent in it. All of my senses go on high alert as I search for her. I follow the scent east and come upon the ruins of, what looks like, a hospital. I sniff once again for good measure as I get less than twenty feet away from it. Kim's scent is masked through the walls and concrete of the building, but it's there. I could also smell Jackson's fresh trail and a feminine scent as well.
I turn around and flee the area, silently, so as not to alert anyone to my presence. It is a big hospital with lots of rooms but there is no harm in being careful. As soon as I am within the range of Edward's mind reading parameters I start thinking really hard at him that I found Kim. He must have heard because everyone is waiting outside the house for me.
"Did somebody call Jared and the pack?" I ask quickly.
Edward nodded.
"He is on his way with them now."
I nod and only have to wait a few minutes before the pack shows up.
"I found her a few miles from the border, on the Alaska side. She, Jackson, and a female vampire are all in an abandoned hospital," I tell Jared when he emerges from the dark foliage surrounding my house.
He is in wolf form so instead of replying he just nods and snorts impatiently, gesturing to the woods behind him. I take it this means lead the way. I run off at vampire speed towards the abandoned hospital, with both the pack members and my family on my heels. We reach it in about a half hour of running.
"There it is," I say, pointing to the hospital now in plain sight.
Jared and Sam go behind a tree and phase back to human. When they come back out a moment later, they are both wearing cut off jeans and Jared has tacked on a very anxious expression.
"What are we waiting for?" he asks impatiently, before starting down to the hospital's entrance.
"Jared!" Sam hisses loud enough for Jared to hear but not for the vampires in the hospital to hear.
Jared turns around and glares at Sam.
"Don't you dare try to use an alpha order on me right now!" he hisses back.
Sam sighs and lets him go. Everybody follows him myself included. By the time the rest of us reach the door, Jared has been inside for a few minutes. We haven't even opened it when we hear a furious growl and screaming coming from inside.
Jared POV
I get inside and head directly for the basement, thinking it is the farthest away from the exits and it looks like the rest of the hospital might just be ashes. If he wanted to keep her from escaping the basement would be the best place. As I get closer, I hear muffled screams coming from inside. I speed up and when I reach the basement door, which is a sliding door, I pull it open and give a furious cry at what I see.
Please review! Cliffhanger! Mwa ha ha ha! Anyway, next chapter is a VERY monumental chapter and might take a little while to write.