Disclaimer: Don't own.
That's what happened last time:
"Bella, get out now!" Jake was standing in the doorway, shivering violently. "Run away – to Sam maybe – and do it NOW!" he screamed.
I just stared in shock. Why? He sounded urgent and almost fearful. When I turned around in confusion, I saw that Rachel was leering at me. Her face was white and her eyes were… oh no… noooo… it couldn't be.
I looked into the eyes of a vicious newborn prisma.
I was paralysed with fear and saw that Jake had already transformed into a wolf. He was lunging at Rachel… at the prisma and I understood that it would be extremely dangerous for me. Two creatures, a werewolf who could hurt me by mistake and a prisma who would like to hurt me.
Without thinking, I opened Rachel's window and climbed out. Behind me, I heard screams, yells, evil laughter, growling and tearing of bedcovers or curtains. I ran away as fast as I could in the direction of Sam's…
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On with the story:
My lungs started hurting and my breath came out in short gasps – I had never really noticed how far Sam and Emily lived from Jacob. Apart from that, I was dead-scared. I looked behind me several times but to my relief no one was following me, and I gradually slowed down to a walk.
What had happened?
Rachel was changed into a prisma and Jake had to destroy her. Poor Jake. It would be extremely hard for him as she is… was… used to be… his sister. I sighed and finally knocked on Emily's door, still trembling from head to toe.
Sam opened in what seemed to be two seconds. He must have seen me.
"I've already heard." Sam told me urgently. "Paul and Embry are at Jake's helping him. It seems that Rachel had a lot of strength, which is a big surprise considering she is a newborn."
"Oh no." I covered my face in my hands. "I mean, it's his sister."
"WAS my sister." Jake was suddenly standing behind me in the doorway, and to my delight, he seemed to be alright, apart from a few scratches. "Remember that, Bella; prismas are not the people you used to know. Actually, they are dead."
I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "Oh Jake, I'm so sorry." Jake pulled his arms around me and held me close to his chest patting my back.
"It's not your fault." he murmured into my hair.
"I mean, with your sister and everything…" I trailed off, letting Jake's warm skin soothe me.
"It's high time." I heard Sam mutter. "We need to have a wolf-meeting. Oh, and could someone please call the Cullens? For this evening, we will ignore the border and they can come to our house. Riley has to come with them."
"Is he okay?" I asked Sam.
"What do you mean?"
"Has he already found a food he can eat?" I wondered.
"Well – no." Sam looked concerned. "Carlisle is trying out different kinds of food, but Riley has to throw up all the time."
Jake claimed back his attention by kissing me softly and lovingly on my lips. He pulled me nearer towards his hot chest and I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him even closer to me. It seemed as if all of my sorrows were wiped away and my mind was blissfully at peace. However, suddenly Jake growled and Sam opened the door, scowling.
The vampires had arrived. And so had the other wolves of the pack without me noticing – I had been so distracted by Jake.
"Good evening, Sam." I heard Carlisle's voice. "May we come in?"
"Of course." Sam said wrinkling his nose slightly, probably because of the vampire smell. Most of the other boys scowled but Sam ordered them to act politely, by just lifting his index finger warningly.
"Good evening." the other vampires followed, looking around Sam's house with interest.
"It's nice here. Jacob, I'm so sorry what happened to Rachel." Edward said, sticking out his hand, but Jacob didn't take it. Instead, he ignored Edward completely.
Okay, so those two hadn't gotten over their differences.
Everyone sat down and Emily got up. "Can I offer you something to drink?"
The Cullens smiled and Quil, Jared and Paul burst out laughing. "They don't drink, Emily, except if you have some blood left." Sam rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"Sorry." Blushing furiously, Emily sat down next to Alice who smiled encouragingly at her.
I looked over at Riley and started. He was even thinner and paler than before.
"Sam informed me that you still don't know what you can eat?" I asked Riley, but Carlisle answered.
"No, we haven't found anything yet. We've already tried donated human blood, animal blood, drinks, human food, vitamins, minerals and plants." Carlisle sighed.
"That's bad." I murmured. "I wish I could help somehow."
"Jacob!" Edward suddenly said. "That's probably IT."
"What?" Jake looked at Edward bewildered.
I smiled slightly. Edward had obviously read Jake's thoughts.
"Maybe another prisma has to bite or touch you and tell you to drink animal blood… or eat human food." Edward said to Riley, his eyes lighting up.
"No prisma would do that willingly, Ed." Rosalie rolled her beautiful eyes.
"Perhaps not, but it could be a try." Carlisle said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.
I let them talk about possibilities and strategies and drifted off to another topic. Was I pregnant or not? I felt completely fine right now, though that didn't mean anything. What would Jake say to a baby? Would he be happy?
I sighed inaudibly. Would we be able to take care of a baby?
Wait.
Baby-milk.
Maybe Riley needed to drink that. I'm sure the prisma hadn't thought of that.
Without making a sound, I slid off the sofa and walked over to Riley, bending down next to him.
"Bella? What are you doing – crouching next to me?" he asked amused. To my relief, the others were still talking and strategizing – I didn't want to make a fool of myself and needed to talk to Riley beforehand.
"I've had an idea, Riley." I smiled slightly.
Riley raised his perfect eyebrows disbelievingly, making him even more handsome. "Really?"
"I'm sure, the prisma hasn't thought of that and you haven't tried it out yet. Baby-milk." I grinned and Riley gaped.
"Bella…" he was stunned. "That's actually a good idea – we need to try that out."
I breathed out in relief. "Thank you for considering it – I was worried about you. You look thin, Riley."
"Oh, Bella. Thanks for caring." Riley hugged me tightly, but Jacob growled.
"If you ever touch my girl again… I will first crush you and then burn you." Jake threatened, getting up and walking over to us, putting an arm protectively over my shoulders. Everyone, but Edward laughed.
"Bella had a great idea to help Riley and maybe it will work." Edward said excitedly. "Carlisle, what about baby-formula, milk?"
Carlisle looked at me appraisingly. "It could be a good idea – we haven't tried it out yet. Maybe, Riley needs to start from the beginning – like a baby. Drink baby-milk, and then eat carrot-puree and afterwards normal food. Riley, would you be willing to try?"
"Yes, of course." Riley said excitedly.
"Emmett, would you run to the nearest pharmacy and get us some milk-powder for babies in the first six months?" Carlisle asked.
If Emmett was confused, he didn't show it. He got up, kissed Rosalie briefly and vanished.
"Can't you see if Riley can eat the milk?" Jared asked Alice.
"No, I can't. Riley was bitten by a prisma which makes him different from us." Alice explained. "If I knew I could help him better."
"Now everyone." Sam said importantly. "We have decided. It's not safe anymore to leave our imprints alone unprotected. We will take you with us wherever we go and fight."
Emily and I gasped. "What? You want to take us with you? But isn't it dangerous?"
"It is, of course. But it is even more dangerous for you here – alone and unprotected. Imagine, someone like Rachel is bitten. What are you going to do? You would be changed too." Sam shuddered at the thought. "If you are with us, we can protect you better."
"How will we stay with you?" I suddenly felt frightened.
"The imprints will ride their wolves' backs." Sam explained.
Oh joy.
"That's right." Jacob clapped his hands enthusiastically and all the other boys laughed and wolf-whistled. Rosalie rolled her eyes at that, crossing her arms.
Emmett arrived, carrying a box of milk powder and – "a bottle – just for you, Riley." he smirked. Riley rolled his eyes but thanked him.
"Shall I make you some milk?" Emily asked kindly.
"Yes, please." Riley sighed. "Do you need help?"
"No, not at all – I guess I can read the instructions myself." Emily smiled and came back five minutes later with the bottle in her shaking hand.
"Try it out!" Alice urged, hopping forwards to take the bottle from Emily.
Riley took it and put it to his mouth, sniffing the milk. "Do you feel sick already?" Carlisle asked in his professional doctor-voice.
"No, not yet." Riley admitted. It was deadly quiet and even I heard my hearbeat.
"Good so far." Carlisle said relieved. "Now take a sip."
Everyone watched as Riley opened the bottle and drank from it. I was mesmerized when I watched him swallow. Paul held a bowl under Riley's chin in case he had to throw up again.
To everyone's surprise and relief, a slow smile spread on Riley's face. "I don't feel sick and I don't have to throw up. And I like it – it tastes good." He winked at me and downed the whole bottle in one go.
"Bella – wow." Alice smiled at me.
"Could I have another one?" Riley asked Emily and she went into the kitchen, preparing another bottle, a relieved smile playing her lips.
"Thank you, Bella." he hugged me again.
"Oh… it's nothing." I blushed furiously.
"How did you get this idea?" Quil asked.
Oh no. What should I answer him?
"Uhm…" I began, but Edward helped me out.
"Genie's secrets." he smiled at me and I mirrored his expression gratefully.
"Now, everyone, it's time to go." Sam said commandingly. "Riley, are you ready to go or do you need another drink?"
Riley shook his head. "No, but maybe I should take one with me – just in case?"
"Of course." Carlisle said stepping forward. "You need your strength."
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I found out that I loved riding wolf-Jacob's back – he was fast and smooth and I felt safe on his back – I never needed to worry.
There were questions I needed answered and unfortunately, Jake couldn't answer me, although he understood. Furthermore, Sam, Emily and the others were too far to chat.
We were literally running with the other wolves and the vampires – but where to, I had no idea.
Instead, I dwelled on my other problems. The usual: pregnant or not? How was Billy? What about Charlie?
It seemed ages to run through the LaPush forest until we finally arrived in a small town.
Sam changed into his human form when everyone was assembled around him. "There are several routes and we have to split up. Paul, Quil and Alice – you take the left one." Alice hopped over to the two wolves as graceful as a ballerina.
"Embry, Leah, Emmett – you take the one next to them. Jared, Esme, Jasper and Seth, you take the middle one – it seems to be the largest. Edward, Rosalie and I will take the one through the houses. That just leaves Jacob, Riley and you Carlisle – to take the right one."
Everyone nodded and the wolves growled. Oh great. Splitting up. All I ever wanted.
As fast as the wind, we ran through the woods, following the smell that was too weak for a human to smell. It seemed shorter this time – maybe because I was afraid of what was going to happen. Suddenly, Carlisle, Riley and Jacob slowed down when I noticed the length we had run – we had arrived in Seattle.
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"They seem to be everywhere!" Riley said disgusted.
"Probably three or four – the smell is just very strong, which means they are getting stronger." Carlisle said.
I got up from Jacob's back and looked around me. It was night and there were streetlamps on, lights from nearby pubs and restaurants illuminated the streets, music blaring from discos and party-goers on the streets, singing and laughing loudly. Not one of them noticed the deadly danger they were in.
"It seems like last time I had to create an army." Riley smiled wryly. "I used to hunt in exactly this street."
"I'm surprised that there are still enough humans who go to these discos then." Jake shook his head. I hadn't noticed that he had changed back into his human form.
He smiled at me and put his arm around me.
"We need to look for the prismas now. The later we find them, the more additional prismas they can create." Carlisle said urgently.
"Sure sure – let's follow their trail then." Jacob stayed in his human form and we hurried – or at least it felt like hurrying to me – to the nearest prisma.
It was a red-headed girl with beautiful red curls and prisma-eyes you could get lost in.
"Good evening." Carlisle said pleasantly.
"Good evening." the girl answered, a slightly cruel smile gracing her lips. "Can I help?"
"We were looking for your friends." Riley answered smoothly.
"Friends?" the prisma asked a note of panic in her voice. "What friends?"
"The other prismas." Jacob said evilly, smirking at the girl.
"Prismas?" the girl tried to look nonplussed, but it was clear to everyone - even to me that she felt panic rising in her throat.
"Yes, that's what you are in case you haven't noticed." Riley rolled his eyes.
"What are you?" the girl asked warily.
"Two vampires and a werewolf. Mind you, and a human girl." Carlisle said.
Why did he mention me?
"Really?" the girl looked sceptically at everyone. "Well – prove it."
"Prove it?" Riley asked scathingly. "Fine."
He threw himself at the girl, ripped off her head and Carlisle lighted the corpse so fast I only saw a blur. No one said anything as we watched the flames rising higher and higher.
"Why are they red?" I asked.
"The fire of prismas is always red, whereas the fire of vampires is purple." Carlisle explained. "That was an easy prisma – one of the newborns. However, I have to admit that they can be pretty loyal – she wouldn't tell us where her friends were."
Jacob growled. "Loyal or not – they are nasty. Their smell is making my nostrils shrivel up."
Riley sniggered and took a swig of his milk. "Let's hunt for the next one."
Carlisle and Jacob nodded and we set off along the street that was full of party-goers, drunken people and snogging couples.
It was cold and dark outside, adding to my mood.
"Look!" Carlisle pointed towards an invisible – for human eyes at least – trail. "Come on – it's fresh and strong."
We ran for what felt like ages (Jacob was carrying me of course) and when we reached another street of clubs next to clubs, Jacob set me down gently. "Look!" he pointed towards a black-haired young man. "He's going into the club!"
"Well – we have to go in there as well." Riley said determined. "We can't wait outside all night long." he chanced a look at me and winked. "Not since we have a human with us."
"No, definitely not." I agreed with him. I was tired, cold and – inexplicably- hungry.
"Let's go in then." Carlisle, Jacob, Riley and I waited in front of the bouncers to let us in. After a ten-minute long wait in the queue we were admitted entrance. Inside, people were dancing, milling around, drinking. The music was so loud my ears started to hurt.
"He is upstairs." Jacob said hoarsely. He pointed towards a staircase, I hadn't noticed before. We climbed the steps in dizzying circles and I almost stumbled when we were on the roof of the house. It was even and straight – to our luck – and there was no fence to stop people from falling over – to my horror.
"He's over there." Jacob wrapped his warm arm around me, pointing his chin towards the black-haired prisma who was leaning against the fence, smoking a cigarette and looking totally relaxed.
"Well well well." the prisma said in a quiet, attractive voice. It had just the right amount of threat and seduction in it. "Found me, haven't you?"
"Yes, we have. Luck is with us tonight." Jake said, crossing his arms over his chest.
The young man let out a short, humourless laugh and flicked the cigarette away. "You probably don't know who I am, do you?" he didn't wait for an answer, but continued. "I'm already 478 days old."
"Old and strong." Carlisle murmured to us.
"You are right, vampire daddy." the prisma said smugly.
"That's right, we are vampires, and this is a werewolf and a human girl." Carlisle said unashamed.
"Well well well – you brought us another will-be-prisma. How… considerate of you." the prisma sneered.
"She is MINE." Jacob yelled, advancing towards the prisma, but Carlisle held out his hand to stop him.
'Oh no, Jacob, let's leave. PLEASE. This prisma looks vicious.' I begged silently, but of course, no one could read my thoughts.
The prisma laughed evilly. "You want to stop her from becoming one of me? How pathetic. She will be one of us, prismas. You will soon find out that I am stronger than you three. Well – try it. Let the fight begin!"