(Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. It all belongs to Stephenie Meyer.)
This movie has got it so wrong. It's amusing how humans depict the things they don't understand. I do like that corset though. Alice will know exactly where I can get one. I'm glad my werewolves aren't beastly things like these guys. Mine are sleek and powerful but gorgeous as actual wolves are meant to be.
I took a sip of my soda, my eyes never leaving the manufactured chaos on screen. Jacob was very sly as he took my hand before I could settle it back into my lap. He didn't exactly hold onto it, but rather let my hand settle comfortably in his. He usually did things like that, and I know it's because he wants to give me the option of pulling away. I stopped moving and bit my lip as I quickly assessed my options. He seemed very engrossed in the action scene playing on screen, he and Leah laughing at normally inappropriate times. I suddenly shifted my small frame in my seat and let go of Jacob's hand in favor of clutching onto his arm. I rested my head on his shoulder. He looked down at me and I glanced up, giving him a smile which he returned with one of his own. Something on screen caught his attention and in an instant he was back to cheering on the werebeasts. Those things on screen were not wolves, in the humble opinion of a girl in the know.
After the movie, we walked out of the theater chatting about it. Leah seemed to forget she was in public and let down her guard to allow herself to be animated in her discussion with Jacob. I noticed how vibrant this made her appear. I also noticed the attention she was drawing to her and I eyed the guys around us cautiously. I really didn't want the spell to break and pulled at Jacob's hand, dragging them into the rest of the mall.
"The vampire girl got her vampire/werewolf hybrid thing. Joy!" I said sarcastically.
"That would never happen." Leah said.
"Only in Hollywood," Jacob added as we started making our way to the parking lot. I smiled at him, but something about the movie was causing me to think. It wasn't a new course of thought, but one I didn't like to dwell too much on. I was only technically 8 after all and though I was fully mature, I still felt too young to seriously consider such possibilities. However, one day a hybrid like the one on screen might possibly be a reality. I was an extremely rare anomaly, so what might the odds of another such thing hold in store for a future with Jacob? I decided I wouldn't think about it. I was fighting not to rush things. There was time enough for that later. Much, much later.
"So, I'll meet you back at your house," Jacob said as we stood near my car. He practically lived at the Cullen's home when I wasn't hanging out at their house. It was hard for him to be away from me for long. Not that I minded a bit. I hugged Leah goodbye, which was a bit awkward for her, but I could tell she was also making an effort to be accepting of me. She had a genuine smile on her face when we pulled back.
"Okay. I'll see you later, Nessie. This was actually fun," she said and I nodded.
"I had fun, too."
I tossed my purchases into my car and slid into the driver's seat. As I drove away, I saw them hold up hands as if to wave before Leah smacked his arm for something I couldn't hear. He threw her a look that mocked offence before grabbing hold of her, trying to tickle her. She thrashed and they were at each other as always. I couldn't help but smile. The two were like siblings the way they'd play around. They fought and bickered constantly, but they could also be very generous with each other. The pack was small and they formed a sort of family. I was glad that they were finally considering me a part of it.
I started driving down the darkened evening roads in the direction of home. Jacob would be over and I knew it wouldn't matter what we did as long as he could be wherever I was. It had always been that way with us. The dynamic duo. There really wasn't anything my family could say about the matter as they all knew Jacob was mine and wasn't going anywhere. My mother liked having him around, and he made me happy, so it was just a reality that the Cullens dealt with.
My head was swimming with thoughts of Jacob and how great the afternoon had gone. I was just out of the downtown limits when I realized there was a car behind me that wouldn't back off my tail. The road was dark with exception of the vehicle's headlights. I sped up a little faster and the driver behind me fell back for a few seconds before speeding back up to tailgate closely. Humans didn't know not to mess with the likes of me. Scowling, I deliberately slowed down. If it was a jerk being aggressive, trying to intimidate me, I'd try to really piss them off. I wasn't the sweet faced, frail little teen I looked like. I couldn't see the car as the driver kept flashing the high beams and started in on honking the horn. I slowed down more and the car was practically sitting on my bumper. They began laying on the horn. I was tempted to stop the car, get out, and teach them a lesson for the ages. Tempting, but Carlisle would give me a lecture about keeping our strengths a secret from mortals and blah blah blah…
That did it. I floored the gas pedal and shot away. I'd drive home and see how my harasser took to facing down a family of vampires. Well, to him a house full of intimidating adults since we were vegetarian vampires. Lucky for you. I smirked when the speedometer hit 80 and checked to make certain the chasing car was keeping up. Good. Payback's a bitch. My eyes narrowed and I imagined my chaser's excitement at terrifying a poor girl. Some people were just sick and monstrous in nature with or without supernatural blood. I wondered if Edward could hear my mind yet and started filling my head with visions of my situation. I manufactured creative pictures of vengeance just for him as a heads up.
THUD
Suddenly, I jumped when the roof of my car dented in. I yanked the steering wheel to the right, struggling to steady my car back onto the road, slowing my pace a little. My heart was racing. Someone was on my car. I checked the rearview and could see the other car following as close as ever. Okay, so, there was more than one after me. Daddy! I wasn't sure if he could hear me, but I was starting to get scared as the situation took a sudden turn downhill. The glass of my side window shattered inward, sending pieces of cut glass raining over me. I screamed. There were only a few things that I knew of strong enough to do that and I doubted there was a huge wolf on my car. A masculine hand reached in and grabbed for the steering wheel. I quickly took hold of it and pulled in the opposite direction when he pulled to the left. I slowed my speed to keep control, continuing to fight with the vampire on my car. My quick mind ran through my best survival options and I suddenly remembered I had actual weapons. I was strong enough to keep hold of the wheel with one hand as I popped open the glove compartment. Feeling around, my fingers closed around one of a handful of throwing knives Jasper had been training me with. I swiftly drove the sharp blade into the vampire's hand, hissing in my sudden adrenaline rush. I could hear a roar of pain outside the car and stabbed him again, repeatedly.
The next thing I knew, I was sent flying off the road when he suddenly let go. My reflexes fought for control and I slammed on the brakes before hitting a tree. The crash was much less than it would have been had I not been so fast, however, the car was still impacted. I started to shake, the scent of enemy vampires hitting my senses. Foolish Nessie! I'd forgotten about the bank. The vampire's scent was exactly the same. I quickly searched the glove compartment and pulled out the rest of my small knives. I screamed when steely hands grabbed hold of me by the upper arms, dragging me from my seat and out the window. I hissed as I was slammed hard against the remains of my Audi. I hid the knives up my sleeve and glared at my attacker.
"You're making a huge mistake," I managed to say, wishing my silvery voice didn't sound so small and pathetic. The vampire was taller than I was, with dark hair and blood red eyes that weren't looking at all friendly. I would have considered him wildly attractive if I were human prey. Fortunately for me, I knew better. He smirked and I could plainly see I wasn't intimidating him at all. He breathed in my scent and his eyes narrowed. I let a blade slide into my palm.
"Oh, I don't think so. You are Renesmee Cullen, correct?" His voice was very even and soft, as if he were casually chatting over the morning paper. I struggled lightly to give him a false idea of how strong I was. He pushed me harder against the car and I stopped moving. This wasn't good. I couldn't use my name as a threat.
"You were at the bank…" I could see the one driving the car get out and linger near the vehicle. He was patiently waiting for something. I turned my attention back to the one holding me.
"You are a very perceptive child." He stared into my eyes and I had an overwhelming urge to cover any exposed skin. My human blood screamed "fight or flight" as I fought not to cringe. I could hear my heart beating hard in my fear and so did the one holding on to me.
"Yes? Well…I'm also highly protected and you do not want that kind of vengeance coming down on you, so you really should let me go," I managed to say through gritted teeth. My brown eyes narrowed and I wished I had my hair tied back as tendrils were blowing into my line of sight. I shook my head.
"You family is formidable. I will give them that. However, I'm more concerned with the wolves by the lake," he said quickly, twisting his head in a way that made me question his sanity. He laughed a little as if to himself and when he looked back at me, it was with sheer disgust. "Yes. I have a score to settle with those filthy beasts." I tried to figure out what he was talking about. He knew about the pack and he knew about me…
"I really don't understand what I did, but -"
"Your wolves ripped apart Sienna! She's dead!" If I could be any paler, I'm sure it showed as all blood dropped out of my face.
"The campsite.."
He shot me a menacing glare that confirmed it. The female that had bitten Jacob back in August must have been this one's mate. Fabulous. The cycle of revenge seemed to be proving a very effective way for vampires to get rid of their own - then the shape shifters got involved. If we kept it up, we would all soon go extinct.
"She attacked me first!" I shouted in defense of my friends.
He snarled. "She's gone! It doesn't matter how or why," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "I exist in a state of agony since that day. I did not agree with her obsessive need to destroy those dogs but she was a tracker." He closed his eyes and a small part felt kind of sorry for him. I couldn't imagine losing Jacob. But, I almost had lost him and all because of this Sienna that my attacker was mourning for. "She wouldn't let up. Insisted it was vengeance for what happened to Victoria."
"That was years ago…,"I said, but I knew it was pointless. Time had no meaning for those such as us.
"Victoria turned her, and then promptly died. Without guidance, Sienna would go after random targets for sport. I was so enamored with her. For some reason, she saw something in me and we…" He trailed off and I could see fresh pain wash over him. He was quiet for a time and I wondered if I should break the silence - or try kicking him - when he suddenly snapped out of it. "Only recently did she remember the wolves that aided in killing Victoria. She decided it was her new target. Foolish woman…"
I did feel sorry for the creature before me. However, I feared for my own safety more. I could feel his grip on my arms loosen slightly as he cycled through his memories. I played with the idea of showing him Sienna's final moments that I remembered, but they were full of horror and fear and wouldn't work for my benefit. Instead, I thought it best to try getting out of there. I gathered my strength and swiftly dropped down as fast as I could. I found my arms free as they tore loose from his grip. I grabbed his feet, and yanked at them in the same second. Caught off guard, he didn't fall, but staggered in surprise.
It was enough.
I took off running at a blinding speed in the direction of my home. Everything rushed past me in a blur as I fought to keep up the blinding sprint. I could hear the swift steps of my pursuer a few yards behind me. I could not afford to trip up or slow down.
EDWARD!!
I mentally screamed for my father, hoping I was getting close enough to the house. Remembering my knives, I held one in my hand and got ready for the moment to let it fly. I couldn't let myself slow down to get a trained shot. I quickly spun around halfway, letting the blade fly behind me. I heard the metal strike pavement. Damn! Where were Jacob and Leah? I hoped they would drive down the road on their way home and help me, but the dark road in the middle of the woods was lonely and quiet. I was handling the situation on my own. Grabbing a second blade, I spun again and let go. This time, I heard a cry of pain. There wasn't much time for any rush of satisfaction as I avoided a rock, leaping over the obstacle.
EDWA-!!
A sharp, stabbing pain lanced into my back and I cried out, stumbling. I forced myself to keep running, but I was definitely slowed from the pain. I reached back and could feel the metal sticking out of my jacket. I didn't have a chance to pull the knife out and had to endure it as I continued to run. Didn't Jasper say not to keep your back unguarded when throwing? I literally handed my enemy a weapon with which to stab me in the back. Brilliant.
Something grabbed hold of my hair and I found my head yanked back. I stumbled and would have fallen back against the vampire, impaling the blade further, if my reflexes weren't on high alert. I twisted to face him and he had me tightly in his grip.
"Would you mind…pulling my knife…out of my back…," I snarled, planning to knee him, kick him, give him my sun memory flash, or whatever I could possibly fight with once it was out.
"You deserved it." He sneered and inhaled the scent of my blood. I noticed his eyes darken dangerously to black. "Revenge is sweet. My Sienna went for the direct approach when it came to the dogs. I'm not so single minded." He grimaced. It would have been a wicked grin if he wasn't so depressed. I wouldn't be able to wait for him to take out the knife. I kicked him as hard as possible but he only gripped me harder. I forced my hands free and gripped his head, hissing as I shared my memory of Sienna's final screams as Jacob ripped out her throat. I followed it with the bright, blinding light of the sun. The memory threatened to make my own eyes water, but I held it. I heard the vampire scream. I struggled to get out of his grip when I felt a searing pain at my shoulder. My eyes flew open in shock and I looked around. The second vampire from the car was at my back, his lips smeared with blood. Panic began to set in as I fought to comprehend what had just happened.
No.
This was not happening. I felt the faintest prick of something sharp on my arm. The one who'd bitten me was holding a syringe. Hissing, I struggled with all my strength, but already could feel that begin to ebb. The adrenaline coursing through me was forcing my heart to push the venom and sedative faster through my system. Damn my touch of humanity. I felt tears prick my eyes as I felt my fate slip out of my fingers. I could feel myself being picked up as I fought to remain awake. Where was I being taken to? My family was only about 20 miles down the road.
Daddy! My mind cried for him to help me. He would bring everyone and these guys would be venom smears. If he could hear me at all, he would be carrying me home instead of these monsters taking me somewhere. What would venom do to me? Would I ever see my family again?
What would happen to Jacob?! My last thoughts before I slipped to oblivion were of him. Of his beautiful face and my worry of how he would cope if I never saw him again. If only I had remembered my cell phone or I hadn't gone to the movie. If only one of the wolves had driven by.
If only.