Chapter Eleven: Fire and Powder
Unknown
We had decided to travel up to Canada, as none of us had been there in many decades. The Portland area was enjoyable – we had even spent some time amongst the humans during the daytime, always staying in the far corners of existence, planning our route north as we hand-selected our meals. I was much pickier in this department than Laurent, and he spared no expense teasing me about my meticulousness.
We were going to spend one more night near the city before heading north, planning to follow the scent of my mate who had left today ahead of us. James had caught a strange, revolting scent, unlike any we have encountered before. Though Laurent and I had our reservations, neither of us were able to stop my man from the hunt. James was irreconcilable when it came to the chase, and he had an undeniable penchant for tracking. Though the stench was awful, he was convinced that it would be an enjoyable escapade for him, and it was hard to deny the exciting aspect of the unknown when one had seen the same repetition over the course of centuries.
As dawn broke, I paced amongst the trees, warranting an exasperated sigh from Laurent. He shook his head, shaggy black hair flinging with it, sitting up from where he lay on the mossy ground, hands propping himself up.
"Victoria, don't you ever settle down and enjoy the ambience? Besides, I'm still relishing my kill from earlier," He patted his stomach in satisfaction, licking his lips.
"It makes me anxious to be away from James," I stated matter-of-factly. It was impossible to ever try to explain exactly what being mated felt like. I had heard many analogies and attempts to convey the sensation. You could refer to it as a magnetic pull, or being connected by a taut cable, or having your auras interlocked, unable to be a fully individual vampire. Your everything was their everything, and without their presence and touch, nothing seemed right. It was that companionship, that irreplaceable bond, that made this existence complete.
"Then let's start after him. Surely he's caught up to whatever the source of that terrible stench was, and maybe, if we're lucky, we'll be able to watch how he handles the endgame. I love watching James improvise."
I simply nodded, flying off toward the Columbia River, the wind cutting around me and through my red hair behind me. I always thought of my hair as my physical pride, and James liked to marvel at it, too. I laughed freely as I ran, Laurent at my side, as I thought back to James, running his hands through my hair, joking about how I had enough for both of us. What made it funny was that James had impressive locks as well – pale blonde and shoulder length, which he kept restrained in a ponytail.
Not knowing the geography of Washington State very well, I was not quite sure where we were, but I felt as though we had to be at least halfway to the Canadian border. Laurent and I halted abruptly, our hands flying up to cover our noses in unison.
"There's the foul smell," Laurent growled, "I still can't believe he actually wanted to track whatever it is. Could you imagine sniffing this for any period of time?"
I giggled, removing my hand, but keeping my body tensed. "No, but you know James – anything for a thrill."
We continued cautiously, following the scent, knowing it would lead to my James. I smelled his scent interwoven with the foul one, but the other smell was so overbearing that it was easier to simply follow the rotten trail. The scents grew stronger, intermingling into one complex note, until we reached a slight gap in the trees, a still-warm pile of fine debris encircled in branches.
Laurent stepped toward it, and I shook my head repetitively, realizing fully what was going on. I did not let myself feel, speak, or think. The only sense that prevailed was smell – the stench of potent, too-sweet incense still surrounding us in light clouds.
"How is this possible," I heard him mumble, bent over the pile of ash. They were the remnants of my essence, the tangible part of my soul.
We stood silent for an immeasurable moment, and finally, I heard Laurent hum triumphantly, standing up in his eureka moment.
"I have heard rumors, tales of mortals who had the ability to shape-shift into animal form. I believe the wolves are the most well-known. They have teeth able to slice through vampire flesh, and are able match our speed, if not outrun us."
I stared at my ally blankly, unable to picture anything that he was saying.
"These wolves must have been the source of the stench. Now that I recall, I believe I have met a nomad who recollected the foul odor of the creatures. I wouldn't be surprised if that is what James found, and who ultimately led to his demise."
I felt my fists tighten instinctively at my sides, and my vision reddened.
"I will get my revenge," I growled, "I will slaughter those who destroyed my James."
CARLISLE
Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper had been itching to hunt in Goat Rocks in central Washington. Alice had been battling herself in the past twenty-four hours, her visions growing increasingly blurry and out of reach. Esme and I had encouraged her to accompany her siblings, hoping that the instinctual aspect of hunting along with the camaraderie of the trip would lessen the attention she put on her cognitive ability. Edward was especially wary of attending the trip – he, though he would never say it aloud, wanted to stay nearby because of Bella. I was equally as shocked as I was hopeful about this phenomenon, and so was Esme. After Edward left with the others – finally giving in, mentioning that he wanted to be there for Alice – Esme and I decided to take a jaunt north, just the two of us. She wanted to stay nearby for Bella, and I complied.
"Carlisle, do you truly believe Edward has found his mate in Bella?"
I smiled at my lovely other half, nodding, "I can't be absolutely positive, but it does seem to be the same unbreakable, undeniable bond the rest of us have encountered."
We took a quick pause from conversation to each drain a buck we were lucky to come across. I took Esme's hand afterward, steering her toward a Cliffside to sneak a peek at the ocean.
"I'm worried," She began, "What if she ends up rejecting him when she realizes what he is? Will they be able to get past their natural roles – predator and prey? The only time we have seen a vampire mate with a human was when our Rosalie found Emmett, and even then, I feel that it was different. Her admiration for human life coupled with our lifestyle swayed her, and when she found a man dying, the compulsion to save him likely outweighed any thoughts of bonding."
"That's true. Edward found his mate in a human, and she is healthy. Only time will tell if they can get past their innate differences, Esme. But I can say that her being involved with the Quileute tribe does pose a problem."
"You're right, I had almost forgotten. When Alice came home to us with the unfortunate news, and then having Edward run off without a word, I didn't know what to think. I'm sure that Edward and Bella would be able to make it work, if she could accept him. But there are aspects out of their control, out of our entire family's control. The wolf pack, the Volturi…there will always be something standing in the way, I'm afraid."
We turned to gaze out over the open ocean, the closest we could get to the vast magnificent blue without crossing the treaty line we had formed all those years ago. "We have to roll with the punches, and hope for the best. All we can do is stand by our son's side and support him, no matter what happens."
Esme nodded, pulling out her phone to quickly check the time. It read four-fifteen, and our family still would be gone for a couple hours more. As she replaced the phone in her pocket, we both sensed two vampires we did not recognize heading our direction.
The redhead looked crazed, to put it bluntly. Every muscle twitched in anticipation, and her wild eyes flicked in every direction; the dark-haired man beside her exuded frustration and unease.
"Why, hello," Esme greeted them softly as I wrapped my arm around her waist, finding it hard to trust these two unruly strangers who appeared in our inhabited lands.
The man stepped forward, appraising us, seeming to – like all the other nomads we encountered – find our irises off-putting. "Are you two passing through the area? I must warn you, there are shape-shifters nearby. Have you not smelled their odor?"
I nodded once, replying, "Yes, we are aware. Thank you for your courtesy. We happen to hold a residence nearby."
He flinched backward an infinitesimal amount before saying, "A residence? How do you manage that?"
"Our family and I – our coven – we make it a point to hunt outside of the area. We would be considerably grateful if you would do the same."
The woman behind him continued to stand uneasily, appearing as though she could snap and attack any of us at any second. The man paused, continuing to eye me and my wife with uncertainty.
"Of course," The man replied after a time, "We will see to it that we move through the area and hunt elsewhere. Let's be on our way, Victoria."
They left without another word, and Esme and I turned to each other, both exhaling in relief. Brushing off the strange run-in with the nomads, we decided to enjoy the rare opportunity to be undisturbed and began to wander the area together, hand in hand in the crisp Northwestern air.
BELLA
5:00pm, Port Angeles
"Not you, Angela. You'll look gorgeous. Go try it on!" I waved my hand toward the door to the fitting room, and she nodded, gliding over to it anxiously. I giggled as I watched her fly through the door in a hurry, dropping the paper as she went. Striding over and bending down to get it, I suddenly got the feeling I was being watched. I grabbed the page quickly, standing up and looking around. The only person I saw was the lady at the cash register, fiddling with something under the counter. I exhaled, shaking my head at my own preposterous nervousness. The cashier dropped something, and muttered an expletive as she bent down to retrieve it. That was when the rush of air came, and I was no longer standing inside the store.
All I could comprehend at the moment was an overwhelming sense of horror. I reflexively shut my eyes and kept my fists clenched, though it was nearly impossible to struggle out of the hold I was in. A steel bar was taut around my waist, my head facing the ground. I focused my energy on not flailing around as much as possible. Coupled with the awkward positioning my body was in, I could tell that whatever held me was moving fast – faster than any rollercoaster I've ever been on, than any vehicle or object should be capable of. All I could hear was the roar of the air as I moved through it, and the blood rushing to my head began to make me more delirious than I already felt.
I struggled to bring myself back into reality. I had been kidnapped, and I had to have my mind straight if I was to survive this. How much time had passed – perhaps a minute? I struggled to react to my sense of touch, noticing that I had been thrown over the shoulder of whoever it was that was running. The absence of the sound of footfalls was almost as disturbing as the absence of the sound of breathing. No, I had gotten it wrong. This was not a person, it was impossible.
Not many more seconds had passed before I felt myself get lifted, thrust backward and pinned, knocking the air out of my lungs. My eyes flew open as I did my best to catch my breath, and I almost choked as I saw what was in front of me.
I was being pinned to a tree by a woman who couldn't have been much older than me. Her eyes were brilliant red and fierce, and her round, pale face was framed by an untamed mass of wavy red hair. I would have thought her look was only at home at an elaborate costume party, but the ferocity in her eyes and the sheer strength with which she held my biceps to the tree were beyond alarming. I felt my eyes widen, my breath coming in short, unsatisfying gasps. My fingers twitched uselessly as I felt the burn on my skin where she held me, cold fingers somehow making my flesh singe.
"What is that bracelet? Where did you get it?" The woman hissed, her face inches from mine, full lips peeling back to reveal perfect white teeth.
I whined, unable to find my voice.
"Don't make me use force, little girl. Where did you get it?" She raised her voice even more, the piercing shrill of her catlike cry making my ears ring.
Trembling beneath her, I muttered futilely, "What?"
She shook me in response, my head banging against the tree as I cried out in pain. I couldn't imagine the grip on my arms could get any tighter – how long until they were simply crushed?
"Bracelet," I gasped, "Jacob gave it to me."
She stilled for an instant, though she did not loosen her agonizing hold. "Who is Jacob?"
I allowed myself to look into her crazed, wild eyes, and I shuddered as I spoke, "Ex boyfriend."
She let out a low growl, making my skin crawl. "Who is he? Why does the stench of those filthy shape-shifters cling to that bracelet?"
I blinked, but I could not process much of what she said in my state of delusion. "I don't…smell anything," I struggled.
"You wouldn't," She seethed, "But I do! I smell that putrid odor on it! Tell me what you know about this Jacob!"
I focused on trying to calm my staggered breathing as I continued to tremble beneath her gaze and her iron grip. Before fully realizing it, I shook my head.
She shook me again, and I let out a piercing scream as my head smacked against the unforgiving bark. "Tell me!"
"Werewolf," I breathed, "Happy?" I wanted to collect my spinning, throbbing head in my hands and curl into a ball, but her hands were rock-solid shackles around my arms.
"Werewolf," She repeated condescendingly, "Where is he?"
The look in her devilish eyes told me she wasn't afraid to inflict more permanent pain, so I submitted in short, gasping breaths, "La Push, the coast, Quileute reservation."
"How many are there?"
I struggled to count the names and faces in my head, the names and faces of my former friends, and I couldn't help but feel as if I was signing their death warrant. "Six, I think."
She pierced into my soul with her eyes, and I thought that she might be sucking the truth straight out of me. After a moment, she took a long breath, slowly exhaling cold, cotton-candy breath onto my face. Her ruby lips tilted into a sly smile, and they parted, showing her teeth once again. Tilting her head to the side, she moved her mouth slowly toward my neck, and I leaned away, appalled by the sudden turn her abduction has taken.
I felt her lips move as she planted them gently on my skin, "I would let you go for being such a good sport, but you simply smell too good to resist."
"What?" I trembled, struggling harder to free myself.
She took another breath, sighing as she crooned, "I will kill Jacob and whatever allies he has, but first…I can't deny myself your sweet blood, little girl. I will be quick, I promise."
I felt the blood rush out of my face, and I swayed beneath her, understanding little but realizing fully the danger this strange young woman posed.
Kill Jacob.
Your Sweet Blood.
I closed my unseeing eyes, preparing myself for a strange, incomprehensible end. The faces of all those I had come to love came to mind: Angela, Ben, Jessica, Mike…Charlie, Renee, Billy, Leah…Alice…Jacob…Edward…
The predator's smooth, frozen lips moved up my throat in one calculated glide, and I held my breath, tensing for whatever pain may befall me. In the same moment, there were no longer lips pressed to my skin, and there were no bruising, iron shackles around my arms. My body slumped to the ground, my head much too sore and delirious to react quickly. For all I knew, I was dead.
The loud thud of something heavy hitting the earth followed by two distinctly different feral growls jerked my eyes wide open, immediately landing on the scene thirty feet to my left. He stood over my captor, hands securing her shoulders, pinning her to the ground.
