Guidance

Chapter Ten

I have a feeling you guys will hate me by the end of this chapter...or at least throw tomatoes at me..but the story's not over yet.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap. I snapped my gaze over to the window of my room, feeling anticipation and joy bubbling up in me when I saw Embry waiting just outside. Keeping my face blank, I strode over, wearing nothing but that silk nightgown, and drew the window open. Embry entered immediately, taking my hand in his large, warm, calloused one, leading me to the bed. I sat on the edge, watching him watch me. Suddenly, he claimed my lips with his, caressed my face, and leaned his forehead against mine. Embry's deep brown eyes drew me in, hypnotizing me. The room was silent, and would have been dark if it wasn't for the soft, somehow cold glow of the moon on the snow. There was a draft, and chill air swirled into the room, making me shiver. Embry pulled me into his chest, resting our bodies against the headboard of the bed. He gazed at me, speaking soft words I couldn't recall. He smiled, tipped my chin up, and captured my lips sweetly once more.

"Embry…" I whispered against his soft lips. Embry brushed his lips against mine before opening his eyes, directly in front of mine, and smiled breathtakingly. I brought my hand up to his dark, tousled locks of hair and pulled him closer to me as we gave open-mouthed kisses, groaning into each other's mouth. Embry pulled away and kissed my forehead, the tip of my nose, and once on my collarbone before locking his arms around me like a cage. But I didn't feel restrained or imprisoned. No, I liked it.

"I love you…so much…" Embry murmured, skimming his nose along my neck, inhaling deeply as if to memorize my scent.

"I love you, too, Em," I responded, placing urgent kisses at his jugular, trailing down onto his chest when I felt him tense under my touch, his body pulled taut.

And that's when it turned into a nightmare. Embry looked down at me, and his eyes were black—not with lust, but there were shadows over his face, and I could barely see him now. He pulled away, backing from me, eyes trained on my movements as if expecting me to launch myself at him. He made a disgusted sound.

"Repulsive," he spat, crossing his arms over his chest angrily, his back to the wall. He was half concealed in darkness, but I could see him shake his head. "You really thought I liked you? Boy, you must be stupid. Why would I? You're just a little girl who lost her parents to some bloodsuckers. You can't even control your sister—she has you wrapped around her finger! You're a suck-up, and, why would anyone want you? Why would anyone want a girl with a lot of emotional baggage?"

I shook my head, fighting back tears with all my might. The words hadn't taken full effect yet. But when they did, I would die. I felt like I was watching myself do all these things, doing them myself, but I had little actual control over how I acted. Still… I reached out to him and, though we should have been many feet away, my fingers skimmed his forearm. He recoiled as if burned, and I finally saw his eyes, wide and…I couldn't tell what emotion…but for a moment…I saw him, saw Embry like the Embry I knew. So I got to my knees on the bed and grabbed his hand, intertwining our fingers. He was on the floor, now, his free hand covering his face. Embry peeked up at me through his fingers and I saw his eyes, tormented and sad. He saw me, and backed away, but the room was no longer dark and I could see him. The air between us seemed thick and almost impermeable, and the distance between us felt like miles. Embry backed into the wall, quivering, staring at me incredulously.

"Embry—"

"NO!" he shouted, shielding his eyes and ducking his head. "NO! Get OUT of my head!"

"Embry—?"

"No! NO, dammit! You made your choice!"

"Choice? Embry, what are you—?" I spluttered, shocked. He stared up at me somberly, his voice dead.

"You left me. You left. And I came back."

A bloodcurdling screech pierced the air, and everything went black.

I woke up in a shock, sweat drenched over my body. I threw the blanket off of my body, immediately afterward feeling the sharp cold twice as strongly. My breathing was heavy, my lungs suddenly feeling like they couldn't handle the amount of air I was forcing into them. Adrenaline pumped through my body, my heartbeat sounded magnified tenfold in the silence.

I was in the living room, where every other imprint was. Claire and Cali were sleeping on an armchair, Kim was at the end of the sofa, and Emily dozed off in the rocking armchair. The lights and television were off, with the only illumination being the moonlight that peeked through the curtains on the windows. It was even colder now than before. What time was it, anyway? I shivered and shook my head, running a hand through my hair. I still wore my black leggings tucked into my black boots—with a one-and-a-half inch heel/platform thingy—and my brown tank top. My dark gray wool sweater had slipped from my shoulders in the night, and my mittens, scarf, and knit hat were tossed aside. No wonder I was cold. A draft passed through the house, and I wrapped my arms around myself.

Why had I woken up, again? I couldn't remember, and I tried really hard to. I felt a sting of annoyance at the fact that dreams—or nightmares—were immediately forgotten within seconds of waking up. I'm sure that a nightmare woke me up. With any luck, it was just feeling like I was falling face-first that shocked me out of my slumber. Even so, I knew that wasn't the case. I still felt sick to my stomach, as well as dreadful. A tiny hook tugged at my heart, metaphorically speaking. I wanted something. I needed something. I felt like I was falling apart, like I needed to see if he was alright. In other circumstances, I would have called myself pathetic and slapped sense into myself.

The only thing that made this different from the other instances was the fact that I felt like I needed Embry right now. And he needed me. At least, I hoped so.

So I sprung up from the sofa, hurriedly grabbed my sweater and slung it over my shoulders, and quietly left the room. I headed for the back door, the one that would lead to the backyard and then the forest where I was sure he was, somewhere in there. I pried open the door as quietly as I could, keeping in mind that Brady and Collin were patrolling around the whole of La Push and could very well come back to check in on us at any moment. Poor kids—while I think that they were at least changing shifts and sleeping a tad, I still felt bad for them, having to patrol all night and then tomorrow, too.

But right now, the sympathy was shoved to the side as I stepped out into the night, all at once registering the sharp cold against my face. It was warmer inside, and that only made this cold more unbearable. I slipped my arms into my sweater and buttoned it up correctly, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm as I trudged out into the snow, my footsteps sounding crunchy. I cringed as each step sounded boisterous to my ears. After a while, I realized it wasn't going to get any better, so I took a deep breath of the frigid air and darted into the dim forest.

It was frightening. There were no signs of animal life—it was so still. Barely a breeze came through the woods. It was freezing and dark and quiet and I was starting to panic. My heart raced frantically, and no attempt to calm down made any effect on me whatsoever. EmbryEmbryEmbry, my mind and heart pleaded. Not only was he a comforting presence, but he was also incredibly warm—and warm in personality and love and… I shook my head. I needed to focus.

There was a part of me, I'll admit…a part of me that wondered, Why are you doing this? It's fruitless, anyhow. You don't know where you're going…don't know what you'll do when you get wherever you get to…and you don't even know if it's safe.

Later on, I would regret ignoring that voice.

"Ugh!"

I nearly tripped over an exposed tree root. Great. I was cranky and tired and desperate and, at the moment, just wanted to find Embry and sink into his arms, his warmth, and fall asleep peacefully. But I couldn't even do that, could I?

I had to be getting close to them and whatever clearing they were in—I'd been running for a while before I gave up and began hiking. I debated against using astral projection to find him, but I was a bit afraid to risk it. However, at the current moment, with possibly hours having gone by and with the threat of frostbite, I decided it couldn't hurt. I'd passed some sort of lake—actually, I think it was the coast—and sat by a tree, huddling and shivering for warmth. What would I come back to when I returned to my body? But I couldn't really worry about that now. If I didn't use astral projection to find Embry, I'd like freeze to death anyway.

So I did. And when I did, I felt completely out of sorts, but otherwise fine, if a bit heavy. It wasn't cold—but of course not; I was a mere spirit here. I closed my eyes and focused on wanting to find Embry, needing to find Embry, and I felt the scene around me shift away. When I opened my eyes, I saw two wolves walking through the forest. Ignoring the first, I kept looking after the gray one with black spots on its back. Embry. I had to fight the desire to stay like that, staring after him, by reminding myself of how cold I would be when I returned and how much colder I would get.

So my spirit self rose above the treetops and tried to find myself. Confusing? Maybe. But once I had risen far enough that I could see both myself, near the coast and mountains, and Embry, I tried to figure out which direction to take off in once I got back. I supposed they were…what? I believe they were northeast of me, so I zoomed back to my body as gently as possible. Once back, I tried to get up. Fail.

It was so cold, and even colder now that I had forgotten what temperature felt like. I needed a few minutes to gather my bearings, but each minute felt like a millennium, and each minute invited me to stay in the cold…it made me lethargic, unwilling to move, as if it was too much of an effort to make.

But Embry! my mind shouted. Reluctantly, but gratefully, my body began to loosen up. That is, I tried to move through the numbness and found that, with a lot of effort, I could. And within ten minutes, I was up and moving, if a bit slowly. I plodded along, making no effort to be quiet in my footfalls—not like I could, anyway.

When the energy I used to move, to try to run, was released, I warmed up, very gradually and very minutely. So I ran more, always heading northwest and hoping to encounter Embry. It was a long shot, I'll give you that. But it was all I had. At some point, I almost felt like giving up when I heard a rustle from my right.

"Embry?" I careened slightly, dazedly, and almost foolishly. A delicious aroma filled the air for a short moment, and I trudged forward. It was sweet and cool…and reminded me of the horribly sweet cotton candy popsicles I detested when I was younger.

"No, I'm afraid I'm not Embry," drawled a velvety, cold voice as a male stepped out from the woods. He was incredibly pale, and he was barefoot, wearing only a thin shirt and jeans. He had dark shaggy hair that curled up at the nape of his neck, and his lips were ruby red. His eyes were a dull crimson. For some reason, part of me wanted to swoon and get closer…and the other part wanted to flee. Who was this beautiful stranger? And what was he talking about? Something about an Embry…

Oh.

What a lousy imprint I must be to forget about my soul mate in the presence of a specimen of inhuman beauty.

And that's when I realized it. Inhuman. When he licked his lips, my mind shouted what my instincts had realized beforehand. Vampire! And even quicker came the thought that Embry, as a werewolf, and I, as a werewolf's mate, would smell horrid to vampires, right? So wouldn't he be disgusted? Or would he relish in causing a werewolf pain that could never be cured?

"Have I dazzled you so?" came the voice of the leech, now in front of me, holding my face in his hands as if I were some tasty treat to be savored. "You are quite lovely…for a human. Yet your blood calls me so…"

I screamed without provocation. Or I screamed too little too late, considering the fact that I'd spent already a minute or so in his presence. Either way, the vampire winced and covered my mouth.

"Now look what you have done," he grumbled, looking surly as he glanced to his left. In that instant, I saw what might once have been a teenage boy, not far from my own age. But that image fell away as he turned his flaming red eyes back to me. He lifted my chin up a centimeter with his relaxed hand—a hand that, should he be compelled to kill me, could crush my bones in an instant. I realized that. But my heart kept hammering on loudly, and I felt tears prickle the corners of my eyes though I refused to let them escape. "Well, cosset, I regret that we have to finish this later…but I really must be leaving. The cavalry's arrived."

As soon as those words escaped his lips, a set of snarls ripped throughout the woods. The vampire smirked and was gone, probably running. I dropped to the ground, shaking, barely noting the padding of paws fiercely chasing after him. I buried my face in my hands, my breath coming out in shaky gasps.

I shrieked when a warm hand lightly touched my shoulder. I looked up from my hands and saw Embry crouched beside me, his expression indiscernible. I whimpered momentarily and threw my arms around his bare shoulders, clinging to him tightly. My heart still hammered, but for a different reason now. I felt so much better and, though the shock of what had just happened was settling in, I felt so complete and so safe with Embry with me. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt myself being lifted up. I wrapped my arms around his waist and clung to him even tighter, if possible, as he began walking.

"Embry," I simpered, a tear sneaking out of the corner of my eye. He stopped immediately. I was frightened by the vampire and how close I'd actually been to dying, and it only hit me how serious that had been now. Embry sighed and rubbed my back.

"What are you doing here?" he asked tiredly. I frowned and bit my lip so I wouldn't start wailing. Stupid imprinting and stupid manipulation of feelings. "Jani?" His voice sounded much softer and broken now. I loosened my hold on his shoulder and pulled back only as far as I needed to see his face. Embry looked so worried. I knew my lips were quivering and I was fighting the desire to begin crying. Embry's hand came up to cup my cheek, brushing away nonexistent tears.

"I'm so sorry," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Another sigh from Embry, and he closed his eyes, his expression somewhat passively frustrated.

"Come on," he whispered. Embry set me down. "I'll take you home."

"No!" I blurted out, grabbing onto his arm and looking up at him pleadingly. I was so much warmer in his embrace…even just around him. I didn't want to go back, with the other sleeping imprints, only for him to leave me again. I felt so much more alive, so much more relaxed in his presence. Embry looked away from my eyes for a moment, pondering. I wanted to make his stressed, worried face go back to that smiling, cool, loving, amazing one he usually wore. "Please," I whispered when he looked back at me, his eyes caught in my gaze. His resolve was broken, I thought.

"Why not?" he asked quietly, pained. His expression throughout the entire conversation had been pained…right from the beginning, when he asked me what I was doing here.

"Because I don't want you to leave again…it hurt too much." My hands slipped down to his, taking them. "Please don't leave me…"

"You can't stay out here… It's freezing."

"Not with you," I countered. Embry groaned.

"I can't protect you from a blizzard," he pointed out.

"Then come back with me," I said hopefully. Embry frowned.

"I have to patrol…"

"Please, Embry, I'm begging you!" A sense of urgency crept into my tone. "The battle thingy's not till tomorrow, right? Well, why can't you just have some wolves patrolling instead of all of them? I mean, I know the other imprints all feel miserable… Please, just talk to Sam." Embry's brows knitted together and his lips stretched thin. He shook his head, then looked down at me with an expression of submission.

"Fine," he said. "I'll have to phase to talk to Sam…and I'll have to phase anyway to take you home." He placed a lingering kiss on my forehead. "I'll be right back, and try not to get in any more danger, okay?"

Unable to contain my smile, I nodded quickly and gave him a tight hug, almost losing myself. I pressed a quick kiss to his lips—which last a few seconds longer than I'd intended, possibly because his lips were ever so warm and possibly because he was Embry—and he left to go phase with a slight grin. When he returned as the wolf-Embry, I ran up to him and buried my face in his fur, taking in his woodsy scent. I grinned as Embry lowered himself so I could get onto his back, and we were soon running off towards the house.

When I got off of wolf-Embry's back, he trotted back into the woods with a sideways glance at me. I stood outside of the house, my arms crossed over my chest.

"If you think I'm actually going to go inside without you, you're kidding yourself or the cold has gone to your brain," I called out to the surrounding forest. "I'll stay out here, in the cold, without sleeping, and possibly get sick enough to die—"

"Alright, alright, you've made your point," Embry interrupted, rushing to my side. He took my cold hands and brushed his lips over the knuckles. I smiled.

"Can you stay?" I asked softly. Embry gave me a sort of mischievous half smile and swept me up into his arms.

"Come on, let's get you in bed—er, I mean, to sleep," he corrected himself, blushing. I laughed and kissed his cheek. I noticed, only then, that he looked very much exhausted, more so than I probably did.

"Okay," I said, "but you have to stay, or else I'll just go after you again." Embry sighed, but with a smile, and rolled his eyes as we entered the house. We passed by the living room where Emily, Kim, Claire, and Cali were still sleeping. "Are the other wolves coming home?"

"Not sure. I think Sam might have to stay out a while more, because he's the Alpha, but Quil, Jared, and Seth might be."

I nodded in acknowledgement and laced my fingers through his. I led him to my bedroom and shut the door. Embry drifted to sit on the edge of the bed. He was only wearing basketball shorts, and he was still amazingly hot—warm. That never ceased to amaze me. If Embry was gonna stay here all night, I'd definitely start sweating, maybe even get a heat stroke. I was already starting to feel the warmth, and the sweat, through my winter clothes.

I walked over to my drawer, grabbed some pajamas, and headed for the bathroom without a word to Embry. I couldn't help but wonder, somewhere in the back of my mind, what he's thinking now. I changed into my pajamas as quickly and as quietly as I could. I don't think a black camisole and gray Mickey Mouse shorts should be a problem, even if the shorts, loose as they might have been, were above mid-thigh length. I brushed my teeth just for a good measure and ran a damp hand through my hair. I was freezing, but Embry could soon remedy that.

As I tiptoed back to the room, frowning at the icy floor, I opened the door to my room softly. I saw Embry's outline in the dark; he was lying back on the bed, most likely with his arms crossed behind his head, his legs dangling off the sides. That was his signature pose, I swear. I know he must have heard me enter the room, quietly close the door behind me, and walk to the bed, but he gave no indication.

"Got you!" Embry immediately grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into his chest, eliciting a shriek from me that I quickly stopped, realizing that everyone else was asleep. There was silence for a moment as we listened for signs anyone had woken, but Embry chuckled and I started giggling under my breath. I slapped his arm lightly.

"Jerk."

"Hey!" he protested, scooting back on the bed. "I resent that."

"Do you? Do you really?" I teased, laying down on my stomach next to him. Embry grinned his amazing, loving, bright smile. I reciprocated it.

"You know, you're gonna catch a cold in such few clothes," he mumbled as I rolled on my side. He draped an arm over my waist and pulled me flush against him, breathing in the scent of my hair.

"I won't be cold if you're by my side all night," I said, grinning.

"Oh, come on, Jani, you can't do that to me," he complained. "You know I have to help out in the battle."

"I know, you're a doughty soul, and it's your duty—blah, blah, blah," I interrupted. "But it's not till tomorrow. So shut up and stay here with me."

"What if the battle were to happen during the rest of the night?" he challenged.

"It won't."

"But if it does?" I frowned. I flicked his ear.

"Don't jinx it," I said dryly. Embry rested his forehead against mine, then, and gazed into my eyes. "What are you doing?" Embry chuckled.

"Memorizing you," he answered with a grin.

"Why?"

"Just because." I rolled my eyes.

"Embry."

"Yes?" He had this sort of coy smirk, one that was so adorable and attractive that I couldn't help but wrap my arms around his shoulders, pull him down to me, and smirk.

"Just kiss me already!"

Before I'd even finished the sentence, Embry pressed his lips to mine, pulling our bodies closer together. The heat radiating off of him was unbelievable, and it felt so good. The kiss was even hotter, and sent my heart pitter-pattering. Embry's tongue slipped between my parted lips and the kiss was deepened.

I never thought I'd ever feel like this—this complete sense of elation. It was foreign, but it was completely welcome. When we broke the kiss to breathe, I pulled Embry's face to mine and smiled.

"I wish I could freeze time," I said quietly. "I would live in this moment forever."

A look of absolute adoration came onto Embry's features, and he kissed the top of my head softly. I smiled even more and snuggled into his side, burying my face in his neck. I'm not sure when I fell asleep, somewhere between Embry stroking my hair and tracing circles in the exposed flesh of my thigh.

When I woke up to the light—and I mean light—sunshine of the morning peeking out through clouds for but a moment, something felt off. I mean, I know it was supposed to be cold, but why did I feel even colder than supposed? Oh, I suppose that wearing shorts and a camisole have something to do with that. But with did it feel like I was warm until some time ago?

Oh, Embry. Did he leave? I sat up hurriedly on the bed, earning a moment of vertigo, and patted the sheets on the bed. I laid with an "Oof!" across the bed, feeling the warmth on the right side, my top, and feeling disappointed. But what did I honestly expect? Embry couldn't stay all night…he had a job to do. And suddenly, I felt disappointed that I had guilt tripped him into keeping me company. He had a battle to fight, and I wasn't helping.

I shuffled around on the bed, trying to find comfort and knowing it was useless. I'd only be comfortable if Embry were here, and since that was not an option at the moment, I'd have to endure. I got up and practically flew across the floor to the dresser, grabbing the sweater and leggings from yesterday and yanking them on. I was freezing. I shuffled over to my bed and pulled on some wool socks, and then I practically slid out of the room.

"Em?" I called.

"In here!" Emily's warm voice replied. And although that wasn't the Em to which I was referring, I was glad to hear her sound happier than she had yesterday. She was probably in the kitchen, and when I smelled eggs and bacon being cooked, I knew she was.

Kim was already seated at the counter, along with Cali and Claire who were falling asleep into their cereal bowls. Kim waved when I came into the kitchen, and Emily smiled. What surprised me, and took a moment for me to notice, was that they looked so much happier and brighter than they did yesterday. They looked warmer, and they looked less worried. I smiled wryly, noting that their imprinters must have visited them in the night. Claire and Cali probably wouldn't have had too much effects, seeing as they were still young and such, so they were dozing off in their respective cereal bowls as aforementioned.

"So, get visits from your wolfies, did you two?" I asked teasingly, noticing right off how Emily faltered in her cooking and smiled thoughtfully, and how Kim immediately went into a daydream mode. I chuckled, taking a seat next to Kim and poking her cheek until she snapped out of it. She ended up giving me a scathing look and flicking my nose in retaliation.

"Oh, stop fighting, you two," Emily said good-naturedly. "Who wants bacon and scrambled eggs?"

"I do!" Kim and I exclaimed, raising our hands. "Noo!" We tried to knock each other's hands out of the air or aside, and ending up in a playful slap-fight with little progress. Emily shook her head and served us some breakfast with juice.

"So, Emily," I said, swallowing a chuck of egg, "when did Sammy-Wammy get home to ya?"

"Well, actually, he arrived sometime around three in the morning, but I'm glad he did come then rather than later today," she replied with a soft smile.

"Because it made you less worried?"

"Sam did talk to me—assured me that they were tough wolfmen, that they would return and that worrying about me worrying wouldn't help. So I did feel better and realize I couldn't worry. I mean, I'll always be worried—but I trust Sam, you know?"

I did know. But at least Sam had returned to her of his own accord.

"And you, Kimmy-cobbler?" I poked her stomach twice and she squeaked.

"Stop poking muh tummy!" Kim whined through a mouthful of orange juice. Emily gave her a reproaching glance. Kim drank the rest of her juice and passed off the empty glass. "Sorry, Emily." She gave me a tiny glare, as if I was the cause of her being scolded, before it melted away with a giggle. "Yes, Jared did come by. Before Sam." She sighed.

"So…what?" I prodded. "C'mon, Kimmy-cake, you can't leave me hanging! I wanna know all the juicy deets—Emily, don't you dare leave, you're listening, too. Tell me, Kimmy-cookie, I wanna know—what did you do with charming, adoring Jared?"

Emily laughed. "Oh, Janiya, don't tease her too much." Kim was blushing and looking away.

"And why, may I ask, shouldn't I?" I sang, making kissy faces at Kim.

"Because you're gonna get teased right back when you and Embry start going out." Emily bumped my hip lightly and pouted as she and Kim laughed.

"Hey, who knows? Maybe they're already tying the knot," Kim ribbed. Emily smiled.

"I wouldn't be surprised, with how much time they spend together." I frowned at them, but they paid me no mind.

"And they already know they're going to be together, and we know Embry loves her," Kim added, "so if they haven't kissed then they'll probably get together soon!"

"If anything, when Embry gets back, he'll be so relieved the threat's gone, he'll probably just up and kiss her," said Emily bemusedly.

"And she'll run into his arms and kiss him back, and they'll go on to have midnight escapades—"

"You do know I'm here, right?" I interrupted, my neck heated out of embarrassment. Emily and Kim giggled and looked at me seriously, or tried to.

"Hmm… Well, judging by the blush on her cheeks, I'd say they're already together, or she really wants to be," Kim analyzed, sending a cheeky wink my way. I glowered at her.

"Will you two stop butting in on my love life—or lack thereof?" I snapped. This only made them giggle more. "Oh, shut up."

"You're blushing," Kim sang, poking my cheek.

"It's alright, you know," Emily added, "if you like Embry." Oh, how wrong they were. I didn't like Embry—I loved him.

"I don't—" I was cut off by Kim's snort.

"Don't even try to argue," she said. "You're his imprint—it's impossible for you to not like him. And your blushing and the way you act around him show that you really do like him, if only as a crush." Emily patted my shoulder in agreement.

"And it's fine if you like him," Emily added, "because that's how it's supposed to be. But I'm sure you know what you're doing—or, at least, you'll be smart enough to figure out what to do."

I shrugged off their statements. I loved Embry. I've already figured that out, and no one needed to guide me to that conclusion, or hold my hand. I suggested we head into the living room and watch a movie or something to pass the time—it was still pretty early morning. Kim and Emily went along with it, and we had to carry the sleep Cali and Claire over to the sofa, wiping off whatever pieces of cereal were stuck to their cheeks. Did I mention they fell asleep in their cereal bowls? I wasn't kidding.

"A-choo!" Sneeze after sneeze shot through me. Kim patted my back and Emily glanced sympathetically at me.

"It's only to be expected one of us would get sick," Emily sighed. "You must have gotten really cold last night. Didn't Embry see you?" I spared a glance at her over the top of my tissue. Oh, if only you knew what had happened yesterday…You'd probably think me insane for trudging out into the snow.

"Yeah, I guess I saw him," I replied vaguely, fighting another sneeze. Stupid congestion.

Kim rolled her eyes. "Oh, right, but you're not together, so you couldn't have asked for a hug to warm up, right? I doubt Embry would leave his imprint cold last night, so I'm pretty sure it was after he left that you got cold. But that's weird—he left only a few minutes before you woke up." I perked up at this news. What? A few minutes? Well, I guess that explains why the bed was still warm…

"I'll start on making you some soup," said Emily, heading into the kitchen. "I'm sure we could all use it, too. Oh, um, and I think it would better if you didn't get too close to Cali and Claire—just in case."

"No problem," I muttered, blowing my nose. I didn't want to get them sick—Quil and Seth would kill me, not to mention—and I didn't want to get anywhere near Blue's Clues, which they were currently watching. Yuck.

"I'm…just gonna head over there," Kim said, watching me warily as I blew my nose for the hundredth time. Was it my fault I was—oh, wait, it was. But she didn't know that.

"Oh, yeah, just abandon me, in my time of need!"

"Please, don't give me that," Kim scoffed. "You're tough, you'll survive."

"Not fair." Kim shrugged with a smile. I rolled my eyes and sneezed again. Great. I stood up and walked out to the porch, the icy wind biting at my cheeks as soon as I opened the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To sit on the porch."

"Jani, you're only going to get sicker!" Emily called from the kitchen.

"I won't be that long," I responded, closing the door behind me. My stupid nose was stuffy now. I sniffled and yawned, for some reason. The frigid air hurt my throat as I inhaled. I wondered why I wandered out there. Perhaps to think about things, to be in peace and quiet. It was quite pretty outside, too. Once you got past all the blinding cold, it was a winter wonderland….in the summer. That part still confused me, but I figured it was normal around here. Emily and Kim never really commented otherwise, anyway. There was a thin layer of snow on the ground and trees—not too much here. I wondered what it was like, in the forest, in the clearing, wherever the pack was.

Did the battle already start? Was anyone already hurt? Was Embry alright? I so wanted to know. I imagined Brady and Collin were still patrolling around La Push—they were too young to fight in the actual battle, and they'd had too little experience. But what about everyone else? Were they alright? We all tried to be optimistic and be sure in the pack's victory, but how were we to know whether or not they'd do well? And there were always consequences of war…or battle… Somebody would get hurt.

There was a rustling in the trees surrounding the house. I looked up. Brady and Collin, or one of them, were back. Great. Whatever food Emily was making would be devoured in an instant. I stood up and trotted forward.

"Hey, Brady? Collin?"

A wind blew a soft breeze into my face. It was within a spilt second that I knew I was stupid.

The sickly sweet, cotton-candy scent of a leech.

"Hello, darling," came the cold voice at my ear. Something like frozen metal wrapped around my body, and I noticed it was the vampire's arms. I tensed and, paralyzed, didn't dare move an inch. "You were difficult to track down…I admit. Your scent was covered by some disgusting mutt's, but no matter. Once I recognized the same scent on one of those pup at the fight, well, I knew wherever he came from was where you would be. And here you are, waiting for me."

He angled my face up towards his, inspecting me. His cold fingers felt dangerous—although he was seemingly calm now, he could pulverize my neck with a snap of his fingers.

"Yes… Lovely, aren't you? Hmm…" He trailed my neck with his nose, inhaling my scent. My lip quivered but I bit back a cry. "Ah…if only I could have your blood here…but no. That would be too messy. And she would not be pleased if I did not return to the fight. Still. Why not…unnerve those mangy mutts?" His head snapped up and a wild smirk spread over his face. He looked deranged, deadly, and psychotic.

And before I knew what was happening, he grabbed me by the neck. A flicker of danger sounded in my mind, and I went unconscious. I watched myself and the vampire from mere feet away, a growing sense of unease in my stomach. Astral projection might save me from feeling this pain, but there's no telling how I feel once I go back.

And then, the astral cord tethering me to my body snapped, sending me flying. I felt like air—weightless, breathless, and out of control. I didn't need to look back to know what had happened.

He had broken my neck. Crushed my skull.

My soul was freed from my body. And it would fade. I was dead.

Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

The story's not over, but I'll start writing the next chapter once I get inspired. School's starting in a couple of days—it was a miracle I finished this, though not in the way I had thought I would... PLEASE REVIEW! It'll make me writer faster! And believe me, I think you want to know what happens in the next few chapters, especially what happens after this moment.

Review~

HunnyABee