Chapter 11

I opened my eyes thirty seconds later, wondering if I was dead yet. I looked around me and the vampire was still there, frozen in his position. Why hasn't he killed me yet? Out of the shadows there was a loud rumble. The earth shook as a gigantic wolf emerged from the trees.

Oh great.

Now I was going to be killed by a massive wolf instead. The wolf looked towards me and instead of charging to me, he charged after the vampire who was running at full speed. I collapsed to the ground in shock that I was still alive. I couldn't believe it. One minute I was about to be killed by a vampire and the next a wolf was chasing after it. I didn't understand. Why didn't the wolf chase after me? Surely I was more appetising than a vampire. I shook my head and got up from the ground and decided I should probably run home before the wolf changes its mind and comes running after me. I bolted back home, following the trail I came from.

When I reached the house, my breath was heavy and my arm was throbbing. I swallowed back the tears that I felt were coming and went inside, prepared for what would follow. Emmett and Japer were sitting in the couch watching a baseball game. I couldn't really see anyone else and presumed they were upstairs.

"Hey kiddo! You're..." Emmett trailed off as he turned around and whiffed the strong smell of blood that was stained on my arm and clothes.

Jasper moved in a flash and stood beside me. "What happened to you?"

Before I knew it, the rest of the family was downstairs, staring at me in horror. Mum moved towards me, her eyes wide.

"Nessie? Nessie, tell me what happened."

"A – A vampire was after me." My voice came out in barely a whisper.

"A vampire?" Dad repeated. "Where is it now?"

"I don't know. A massive wolf – unlike anything I've ever seen – came out of nowhere and chased it off."

I looked at each family member's gold eyes that were now wide as ever. In a sense, that wolf sort of saved my life. Weird, huh.

Carlisle came down with his black bag and we sat at the kitchen table as he cleaned the wound. He wrapped my arm with a bandage and then took me upstairs to x-ray my arm. He found a small fracture in my forearm.

"Since you're a half vampire, it will heal quickly. Maybe about two or three weeks." He wrapped my forearm in a cast and soon enough my entire left arm was bandaged.
Carlisle laid his hand on my shoulder and looked at me full of concern. "Nessie, are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded. "Yes, Grandpa. Thanks."

He squeezed my shoulder gently. "Well if you feel any pain, come back and I'll give you some Tylenol."

When I came out of the kitchen, Mum asked me if I was alright and I reassured her several times. I glared at Emmett who was laughing his head off.

"Just can't help yourself get into danger, can you? Ha, just like your mother."

"Emmett, enough," Rosalie snapped and then turned to me. "If you need anything, just give a shout." I nodded and she kissed me on my forehead. I watched her slap Emmett at the back of his head with her magazine as they walked upstairs with Emmett still laughing. I groaned. He was never going to die this one out.

"Where's Dad?" I asked

"He went out with Jasper and Carlisle to kill the vampire. Don't worry sweetie. We won't let anything happen to you again." Mum hugged my tightly and I excused myself and went upstairs.

I sat on my bed in my bedroom feeling exhausted. I had just a near death experience and I felt drained. I looked at the person in the mirror and didn't even recognise myself. My copper hair was a large mess and looked more of a lion's mane, than my usual ringlets. I had dirt across my face and my shirt and blue jeans were stained with blood. I threw them off never wanting to wear them again and tossed them in the laundry basket. I watched my face – one handed – and dressed in a pair of sweats. I lay on my bed and curled up into a ball. Several minutes later as I was on the verge of light sleep, there was a knock on my door. I sat up startled, and opened the door. Dad was standing against the door frame and smiled weakly at me.

"Dad if you're going to give me another lecture, save it for tomorrow please. I don't think I can handle anymore."

Dad shook his head. "I'm not here to lecture you. I'm here to talk. Well, for you to talk and I to listen."

I looked at him surprised. This was a pleasantly good change. I let him in and we sat on the edge of my bed. I sat with my knees close to my chest and he wrapped his hand around me.

"I wanted to let you know," Dad started. He paused for a second but then decided to continue. "I won't interfere with your friendship with Jacob. He's a good kid. And... I'll support the decisions you make, whatever they may be."

I looked over to my Dad and smiled for the first time today. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to me."

He smiled back. "If Jacob ever hurts you, he'll be in great trouble..."

"Dad..." I groaned. "You're ruining the moment."

He chuckled lightly. "Only kidding."

Dad wrapped his arm tightly around me and I rested my head on his chest.

"How do you feel?" Dad asked.

I breathed softly. "Alive."

We sat in silence for a few minutes and I finally asked the question I wanted the answer to. I couldn't say it a loud so I whispered it in my head.

"He's dead. He won't be coming back. I won't let anything like this happen to you again."

I nodded. I wasn't sure what to say. I was glad to know he was gone. Maybe it would relieve some of the nightmares that would follow tonight.

I couldn't help let some of the tears I had kept in for long escape the corner of my eyes. I wiped them away with the end of my sleeve, but soon more followed and before I knew it, I was sobbing into Dad's chest and staining his shirt. He stroked my back while he let me cry it all out.

I wasn't sure why I was crying. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I couldn't stay strong for any longer. Or maybe I was happy that I was still alive. All I knew was that I was glad to be sitting in my room safe and sound and no matter how angry I was with my father before, one conversation and a break down is all it took to make things right again.