A/N: Hello loves! WARNINGS: This chapter starts the Jacob-centric part of the story, so if you want to throw it away now, go for it. But these next few chapters will be about Isabella's time with the Shapeshifters so...yeah no Edward for the foreseeable future. He'll come back though, don't worry.
Also, I was wondering how one went about getting a beta in this fandom. I've never had one before, and I'm looking to write for a contest going on and need a beta if I want to enter. If anyone has any info or recommendations, I would be grateful if you could send me a PM or something. Thanks!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you for being such wonderful readers, followers, and overall incredible people! XOXOX
The Forest
Isabella woke to soft light filtering through her eyelids. The atmosphere was so warm and gentle that she had half a mind to wrap herself in it and remain asleep forever.
Then, memories from before infiltrated her peaceful slumber. The terror she endured, the look of pure, burning anger in the River God's eyes, the way her body gave out after being starved of air for so long. The world looked so dim...she had no idea if this was even the land of the living. But she was definitely lying in a bed - a downy one filled with feathers at that - with thin sheets and thick, woolen blankets strewn on top, layering her in a cocoon of comfort.
Sitting up, Isabella took in her surroundings.
She was no longer in the River God's palace, something that made her heart both lurch and sigh with relief. Instead of cold marble walls, these walls were made of bent cedar wood. Holes were cut for windows and light flooded through the gaps between the logs, illuminating the whole space. The roof was slanted and made of wide green leaves tied together by vines. Despite the earthly materials, the room was still spacious though it contained nothing but the low level bed, a single table dressed with a plate of dried fruits and bread, and a pit made for a fire carved in the center floor. Whoever lived here insisted on simplicity, and Isabella could not bring herself to complain.
Rising to stand, her feet sunk into the soft grass and dirt, tickling her toes. Everything in this place seemed so much more alive than it did near the river. The smells of honeysuckle and pine were richer, the fruit tasted sweeter, and the air felt lighter in her chest. Every blade of grass hummed with energy that buzzed in her ears and flowed through her body. Isabella felt rejuvenated just standing there, as if she could pick up on just how alive she really was.
Gone were her torn robes, replaced with cream colored ones made of breezy linen. They were not as fine as the ones from the palace, but reminded her of the robes back from there village, calling to mind simpler times. Her scratches had been cleaned and wrapped gently, her face and hair washed from dirt and debris. She felt like a whole new woman, one who was at peace with herself and free from the anxiety that had come to riddle her days.
Stepping outside the hut, sunlight assaulted her senses. Even the trees did nothing to obscure the glow. Isabella had to squint to see, using her hand as a visor. A path was worn into the ground, snaking through the wood and down a hill. From this view, she could see a few other roofs of similar establishments, a small village hidden amidst the green.
Isabella followed the path, grateful for some shade. Though even walking through the beating sun, she did not feel overly warm. This place was a different kind of paradise, she had come to decide. At the river bank, the River God lived in the lap of luxury with his stone fortress and priceless objects. Here, nature gave the best of itself, and all it asked in return was to be appreciated, something Isabella could do without hesitation.
Dryads stirred as they watched their new visitor, brown bark skin crackling and twisting from tree trunks as they followed Isabella on her way down the hill. Their flower eyes stared, no longer unnerving her. A few reached down their vine fingers, depositing flowers atop her head like a colorful crown. Though Isabella had been warned of their fickle nature, these creatures were far kinder to her than the naiads ever were.
And the aurae, she thought grimly. The sting of Plia's betrayal was still fresh. Isabella supposed that she should have seen such a turn coming, that she bought this certain misery on herself. But it was lonely to be so isolated all the time. She had to go out on a limb and risk trusting someone, even if it caused her pain. Even if it were false, Plia's companionship made her days bearable, though now any good memories she had managed to make turned bittersweet.
The path deposited her in a clearing. A fire pit sat in the middle lined with stones and the ashes of burnt logs. Across the way sat a cache of basic weapons: nets and spears primarily. A boulder sat across the way, carved with unfamiliar markings; the only discernible feature was a drawing of a wolf. The familiar gurgle of water came from nearby, bringing back the knots in her stomach, though not nearly as badly as before. Rustling noises also came from the direction of the water. Whoever had brought her here was just down that way.
Gathering courage, she kept going until she reached the water's edge. It wasn't nearly as grand or powerful as the river. She could see to other side, possibly even cross it without a problem. The water moved quickly over top of smooth, weather-beaten stones. Fish weaved in between them effortlessly. It was the fish that the man clad in green robes at the shore was after, his toes sunk in the muddy sand, a net in one hand and a spear in another. A pile of fresh catches flopped in the grass a few feet away, silver scales glinting in the afternoon sun.
Somehow, the man heard her soft footfalls and turned to face her. Isabella recognized that bright white, dimpled smile anywhere.
"Ah, you have awoken," Jacob said serenely. "I trust your accommodations are to your liking."
He stepped away from the water's edge and deposited his fishing gear in the grass before approaching. Why a god would insist on catching his meals the old fashioned way, Isabella did not quite understand. Or perhaps it was for sport. It mattered not. She was just glad to be in such a pleasant presence.
"Yes, thank you. I feel more well rested than I have in ages," Isabella replied, taking a seat on a fallen branch across from him. "How did I get here?"
"You sounded the whistle," Jacob answered, pointing to the object that now hung on a cord around her neck. She fiddled with it absentmindedly. "Though the signal was weak, I was able to hear. I almost did not get to you in time. The aurae had created a formidable barrier."
"I couldn't breathe..."
"Yes," Jacob agreed grimly, his expression twisting into something darker before evening out. "Formidable yet terrible. By the time I carried you here, you were barely breathing. I had thought you were lost."
"Where is here, exactly?"
"Deep in the heart of the forest. The domain of my brothers, the Shapeshifters," he replied with pride, raising his arms to gesture at the land around them. "You are safe with us. Your husband cannot reach you here, though he tried his damnedest to interfere with our journey."
It almost sounded too good to be true.
"Not even through the river?"
Try as she may, Isabella was unable to banish all of her fears. Living with her husband even for such a short time, she knew his fierce determination and reach. Any water seemed hostile.
"His influence is vast, but this is merely a branch of the river, a fork in its great road. It would take a considerable amount of power to reach you here. Though if you are still concerned for your safety, you could always avoid the water altogether."
"That may be best."
"As you wish," Jacob shrugged, unbothered. That was one of things she appreciated most about him: he did not push. He came to sit next to her, leaning in as if wishing to share a secret. "If you don't mind, I wish to know...why did you sound the whistle? I had not heard from you in such a long time, I had come to accept I never would."
"I had an accident," Isabella admitted, feeling her cheeks burn as Jacob's expression turned concerned, his dark eyes searching her for injury.
"Oh?"
His tone was dangerously light, one eyebrow arched suspiciously. She could only imagine what he was thinking, or how she had this supposed 'accident'.
"Twisted my ankle. The River God insisted on taking care of me until it healed. During that time, he was so sweet. I thought he was changing, becoming better. I had hope..." Isabella trailed off, feeling foolish for even thinking such a creature could change thousands of years worth of habits so quickly. "But that was all they were: hopes. Once I was well again, he showed his true colors. So I ran."
Jacob sighed, his shoulders slumping as the tension leaked from his muscles. He looked at Isabella fondly, as if marveling in a wonder.
"You are a brave woman to take such a stand. Mortals have been killed for lesser offenses."
"I realize that. Every day, I pray to whatever deities are still listening, thanking them for letting me survive another day."
"You will not have to do that here," Jacob insisted, placing a hand on her knee comfortingly. "Pray for survival, that is. My brothers and I will care for you. You have nothing to fear."
He looked so earnest, ready to protect her at a moment's notice. Isabella felt unworthy of such a loyal friend, though a more cynical part of her mind wondered what he could possibly want in return.
"I wish that were true..." Isabella trailed off, her mind still wandering to dark, airless places filled with infinite dangers. "Jacob, there is another reason, a less selfish reason, as to why I called you."
This caught his full attention, his body turning fully toward hers, brow drawn. "What is it?"
"Before I ran, I discovered a secret room in my husband's chambers. Inside he kept a number of priceless objects, the most important of which being a golden sword capable of striking an immortal."
Jacob's eyes went wide in disbelief. If she had not seen it herself, Isabella would have worn the same expression.
"You saw this sword with your own two eyes?"
"Yes. I watched my husband bleed as he touched it. I fear what he may do with such a weapon. Given his hatred for your kind, I can only guess it is a weapon of war."
The space between them fell into silence. Even the birds and bugs stopping tweeting and humming. It was if the land was overcome with trepidation, wondering what to do with the possibility of impending doom.
"This is troubling news," Jacob heaved a sigh, suddenly looking so much older than his youthful visage. "My brothers and I have always known the River God can be a challenging adversary, but this...this is a whole new level of treachery."
"I know. Which was why I could not stand by and let him go unchecked," Isabella explained. "I may not know you very well, but I have come to care for you, Jacob. I do not wish to see you come to any harm, especially now that I owe you an immeasurable debt for rescuing me during my time of need."
"Nonsense," Jacob countered, waving away her debt as if the idea were ridiculous. "This information is worth more than anything you ever could have given. Consider us even."
"Alright," Isabella agreed, feeling herself smile.
"I will bring this sword up with my brothers during our evening meeting. Until then, there is nothing more we can do," Jacob closed the subject, rising to a stand, towering over Isabella so that his shadow cast her into partial darkness. He went to gather his fish and then beckoned Isabella to follow. "Now, come along."
"Where are we going?"
"To fulfill a promise I made to you long ago."
They followed the path back to the pit and up the hill until they approached a hut not unlike the one Isabella had woken up in: a modest structure fashioned from bent cedar. The only difference was that this one was covered in flowers in myriad colors sprouting from the cracks and planks like weeds, covering the entire surface in a bed of blooms. Stones lined the path to the front, the opening covered in a doe skin. Jacob pushed it aside for Isabella, waiting until she had passed under to follow her inside.
A fire was burning in the pit in the center, the sweet smell of charred wood billowing out into the hole in the roof. Meat was drying over a spit - to which Jacob added his fish - while a pot of water boiled, presumably for the linens that lied in a basket off to the side. The whole scene was very domestic, making Isabella feel like she was intruding. Should she have knocked first? Called out to see if anyone was home?
Suddenly, a woman came out from behind a curtain of skins carrying a basket full of corn. Her robes were similar to the ones Isabella were wearing, making her wonder if she were borrowing from her. The woman seemed to be preoccupied, not noticing her guests until Jacob cleared his throat. Her head swiveled their way, and Isabella sucked in a breath, stunned at what she saw.
This woman's face, though beautiful, was marred on one side. It looked as if an animal had raked its claws vertically along her cheek, the serrated edges scarring over in wide patches. It was impossible not to stare. Try as she may, Isabella's eyes were fixed on the scars, ignoring the soft smile, kind brown eyes, and long braided black hair woven with feathers and beads.
"Oh my! Jacob, you startled me," she laughed uneasily, clutching at her chest. "If you are looking for Sam, he's still out hunting with the others."
"Actually, we are here for you."
"We?" she asked, glancing to Isabella curiously.
The woman stepped cautiously forward, eyes searching Isabella for some sort of answer as to why she were there, what made her special.
Finally, when neither woman could take the suspense anymore, Jacob said, "Isabella, meet Emily. She was once the River God's wife."