Chapter 21
To say Selene was in shock was an understatement.
The tears flowed freely down her cheeks as Selene stared back at Luke, her chest rising and falling rapidly, constricting. The image flashed in her mind of the last time she'd seen Luke, which was the night he had his fight with his sister, Riana. Selene had stayed the night over and was there when Riana got the call saying Luke had been in a horrible car accident. They arrived at the scene and the car had exploded in flames, only ashes found in the vehicle, which everyone assumed they'd been Luke's.
Everyone was wrong.
"I don't…How are you…" She couldn't form a single sentence and swallowed hard, her mouth going dry because he definitely looked different.
He looked stronger and deadlier with the same raven black hair that was cropped short, shaggy on the top, his bangs hanging in his eyes somewhat. His once incredible blue eyes were now nothing more than blood red pools full of nothing. He wore a pair of dark blue jeans with a black beater, a brown bomber jacket hanging over his broad shoulder, his skin pale from head to toe. The man looked downright noxious and all Selene could do was sit there as silent tears fell, not believing he was still alive…or so she thought.
"Surprised?" Luke chuckled when Selene just stared at him, sighing gently. "I didn't expect anything less and I know you're scared right now."
So many thoughts ran through Selene's mind, the number one being Riana's reaction when she found out her brother was alive. The blood red eyes threw Selene for a loop, but he was still Luke to her, no matter if they were green, purple, orange…it didn't matter what his eye color was. He was sitting right in front of her in the flesh, a man she considered a brother to her, and he was smiling at her like this was all one big colossal joke.
"What happened to you?" Selene finally managed to ask through tears, trying to keep her vision from blurring, but it was difficult. "Luke…"
"I was waiting for you to ask me that, but I don't think that's the real question you want to ask me." He smirked coyly, arching an eyebrow knowingly at her. "Come on, Sel, just ask and I'll give you the answer."
"That's one of the things I want to know." Selene knew he was right though and looked away from him, staring down at the iron cuffs around her wrists, more tears falling. "Never mind, I don't want to know."
Luke frowned, wondering what suddenly put her in a sullen mood, deciding to play by the rules…for now. "Well as you can plainly see I wasn't burnt to a crisp in that car wreck like everyone assumes." He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "As if I'd ever let something like that end me."
She couldn't believe he was making a joke about this, Selene's head suddenly snapping up, anger burning in her red swollen eyes. "You got a lot of nerve telling jokes when your family thinks you're DEAD!" She shouted, knowing Riana had been tearing herself apart ever since his accident. "Do you have ANY idea what you've done to Ri? Do you have any idea how much pain and sorrow she's gone through and how much she blames herself for not stopping you that night?!"
"She shouldn't blame herself for anything. She couldn't stop me even if she wanted to." Luke stated as if he was talking about the weather, waving his hand dismissively. "I don't want to talk about my human life. That's my past life, a life I've long forgotten."
Selene's eyes widened, wondering what he meant by that, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. "W-What are you talking about? You ARE human…aren't you?" Then it dawned on her what Jacob had explained to her about vampires, how most of them had pale skin and blood red eyes… "SOMEONE HELP ME!"
Luke roared with laughter and slapped his knee, waiting for that reaction apparently because he was positively thrilled by it. "Sweetheart, you can scream and rant all you want, nobody can hear you where you are." He assured her in a gentle voice, folding his hands behind his head. "Nobody can save you; I've made sure of it."
"Why are you doing this to me?!" Selene cried out in frustration, burying her face in her hands, sobbing violently. "Y-You've hidden a-all this time, become god knows what, and you've kidnapped ME! Why? Why did you take me of all people?!" This wasn't making any sense and Selene was becoming lightheaded from how much crying she'd done, knowing she also hadn't ate anything in about a day or so.
Stroking his chin in thought, Luke decided to humor her, knowing she deserved to know the truth, a truth he'd kept hidden for a very long time. "Do you want the simple or long version?" He asked, giving her a choice, something a kidnapper usually never did.
"Just tell me straight up." Selene was sick of the games and immediately scooted away from Luke when he walked toward the bed, her back hitting the headboard. "Please don't come any closer…"
"Why, afraid I might hurt you?" Luke snorted when he saw the fear shining in her beautiful jade eyes, sighing heavily. "Very well, it's really quite simple and not hard to understand. I've been watching you for a long while, even before the accident, and I saw the kind of pain you've been caused. I knew those Swans would do nothing except hurt you and I wanted to take you away from all of that pain. The problem was, I was limited on funds and you had no idea how I really felt about you." He sounded wistful and that just terrified Selene even more, her heart racing rapidly.
"Luke, please just tell me and stop giving me the runaround." She pleaded in a tired voice, hot tears burning her eyes, but they weren't falling because all of her strength was deteriorating.
"I was and still am in love with, Selene Swan. I have been ever since you came to Forks. I just didn't know how to tell you because you were my sister's best friend and I felt like I was trespassing on private territory. I felt like I was taking a piece of my sister away if I pursued you. Not to mention your infatuation with that…dog…" He scowled darkly at the mere thought of Jacob Black, cracking his knuckles, the sound reverberating around the room. "I promise he will never hurt you again."
"But he's not hurting me anymore!" Selene protested, looking down at her left hand, her heart instantly dropping in her stomach when she realized the ring Jacob had given her was gone. "WHERE'S MY RING?"
"Gone." Luke growled, his head snapping to stare at her, shaking his head sadly. "I had to get rid of every single memory that connected you to Jacob Black and I did exactly that. I took you far away from Forks and nobody will ever find you, Selene. I plan on making you mine…completely…no matter how long it takes." His tone was full of promise and Selene could only cry her heart out, the shackles making her feel claustrophobic and she suddenly couldn't breathe.
"No…NO! I love Jacob and he loves me! We're engaged and…How could you do this to me, Luke?! I don't love you like that; I've NEVER thought of you as anything more than a big brother! I mourned over your death as much as Riana did; I just didn't show it because I've missed you so much! I miss how much we used to talk and laugh with each other, but I will NEVER feel anything romantic toward you. You don't understand the deep connection Jacob and I have, you never will!" Selene gasped when Luke's suddenly came mere inches from hers; his speed bewildering and making her head spin, making her dizzy.
"You'll learn to love me in time the more you're around me again, Selene." He promised, the hope in his voice somewhat breaking her heart, but then the harsh reality settled in that he'd taken her from her home, from everyone who actually loved her.
"You won't get away with this. You have no idea what you've done." Selene decided not to say anything else, drawing her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, crying.
"What do you mean by that exactly?" Luke's curiosity was peaked, watching as Selene simply shook her head, knowing she wouldn't tell him. "Very well, play the silent game as long as you want, but one way or another, you will warm up to me again, Sel."
"Don't call me that. You don't have the right anymore and I will be found."
Selene was sure that Jacob had already gone to La Push to tell the rest of the pack what happened, hoping he kept an eye on Riana for her. She'd been stupid to go in the woods, after specifically been warned away from them, and now she was paying for it. Riana was probably going out of her mind with worry and that just made Selene feel worse because it was at the hands of Riana's own older, recently deceased brother, Luke.
"Whatever." Luke was done with the dramatics for one night and decided to leave her alone, knowing she had a lot to digest. "Maybe I'll tell you what really happened that night everyone thought I died."
"I honestly don't care what happened to you. I hope you burn in hell for doing this to me." Selene whispered, meaning every word that came out of her mouth, and turned her head away from him as silent tears fell. 'Please hurry, Jake.'
Snarling angrily, Luke knew he had to leave before he ended up doing something he'd regret, like taking Selene for his meal. "You keep thinking that and watch how far it gets you." He shot over his shoulder, slamming the door behind him, the locks immediately going into place as the sound echoed.
"Jake, please find me soon." She whispered pleadingly, running her fingertips over the iron shackles around her wrists, knowing she would die before she ended up letting Luke touch her.
This was definitely not a sight Jacob or Bella ever thought they'd see in their wildest dreams or fascinations. The entire pack and the Cullen's all in one room, under one roof, and all wanting the same thing. Jacob made it perfectly clear to everyone in the pack they were not to harm the Cullen's in any way, shape or form unless he gave the order otherwise. Bella scowled at Jacob when he did that, but didn't say anything, simply staying beside her husband while Rosalie nursed Renesmee silently.
"Hey Blondie, mind taking the motherly act elsewhere?"
Jacob wasn't suggesting it and watched as Rosalie glared hatefully at him as she stalked into the kitchen. Emmett merely chuckled, crossing his arms in front of his chest, knowing he would pay for that later. It made Jacob physically sick to see Rosalie so in love with a beast that nearly ripped Bella apart, though he didn't despise the baby as much as he thought after discovering she had a beating heart. Renesmee was half vampire, half human, which had never been created to anyone's knowledge.
"Enough, we have one goal in mind, please let's keep the peace." Carlisle pleaded, nodding when Jasper and Alice stepped forward, acknowledging they would.
"I don't have a problem with them and never have." Alice's twinkling voice replied, Jasper wrapping his arm protectively around her waist. "It's alright Jas, they won't hurt us, I promise."
Shows how much she knows. Leah thought, ignoring the look Sam shot her, Embry beside her.
"As a matter of fact, Leah, Alice can foresee the future and can probably locate Selene." Edward stated, causing the light grey wolf to instantly keep her thoughts to herself, nodding once.
That garnered Jacob's interest as he walked over to Alice, not afraid of her in the slightly, and took a deep breath. "Can you really do that?" He asked almost pleadingly, no longer at odds with the Cullen's because he already found the love of his life and it wasn't Bella. "Please, you have to help me find her. Selene is technically your family if you think about it because she's Bella's half sister, which means she's your sister through marriage."
"I know." Alice whispered, her golden eyes swirling with wonder, a smile spreading on her lips. "I promise to do everything I can to help you out, Jacob Black…even if you do despise us."
"But I don't…" Jacob groaned when Alice merely glanced over her shoulder in the kitchen at the baby girl in Rosalie's arms, looking back at the man knowingly. "I hated her when she was killing Bells. I don't hate her now."
Bella actually smiled when she heard that, walking over and taking Jacob's hand, knowing he wouldn't push her away. "I told you I'd survive it." Her blood red eyes pierced Jacob and he had to look away, causing Bella to frown.
"Sorry Bells, but you look really wicked with those eyes. I just need to adjust to them…" He didn't want to make her feel like she some kind of mutant, but at the same time, he really couldn't help himself. "And you only survived by becoming a bl-" He watched her wince and took another deep breath, clearing his throat awkwardly. "By becoming one of them."
"Thank you, Jake." That meant more to her than Jacob would ever know and Bella found herself actually leaning up to kiss his cheek, giggling when he growled playfully at her.
"You smell funky, Bells, no offense." He smirked, causing her to laugh, both of them suddenly stopping when Alice stared blankly ahead. "What's going on?"
"Hush and wait." Jasper ordered, his hands on Alice's shoulders, knowing she was having a vision. "Alice, what is it?"
"I see her…somewhat." Alice had been searching high and low ever since Jacob arrived, having felt something wrong with the Swan household. "I don't recognize him…" She glanced at Edward, who already could see the face in his mind, looking troubled suddenly.
"What is it, Edward?" Bella immediately went to her husband's side, seeing something in his eyes wasn't right, sensing he knew more than what he was letting on. "Edward?"
"I know who it is." Edward knew this was going to kill Jacob to hear, but at the same time, they really had no time left. "This is not going to be easy to hear…" He began to say when the door suddenly burst open, everyone on edge as Paul stalked inside with Riana, both of them covered from head to toe in mud and blood.
"We…were…attacked…" Paul suddenly collapsed on the floor in a heap, the guys and Leah instantly shifting to their human forms, ignoring the looks on the Cullen's faces.
"What happened?" Sam demanded, instantly going to Paul's side, knowing he was already beginning to heal and looked up at Carlisle pleadingly. "Please…"
Carlisle nodded, looking at his wife, both of them troubled as well. "Can you tend to Riana while I get him upstairs?" He didn't even have to ask her because Esme was already helping Riana, who looked dazed and beyond confused by what happened.
She definitely didn't know where she was.
Edward looked more worried now, his eyes burning through Riana, knowing this was going to absolutely destroy her when she found out who had taken Selene. Alice went with Esme was Emmett and Jasper followed Carlisle along with the rest of the pack, leaving Jacob, Bella and Edward alone in the living room. Jacob was looking at Edward with narrowed eyes, clenching his fists tightly at his sides, wondering what the vampire seen.
"Tell me." He ordered, stepping up to Edward, squaring his shoulders. "Remember it was me who helped you keep Bells safe. Don't take the love of my life away from me, bloodsucker."
"Jake!"
"It's alright, Bella love. He's distraught and I do not blame him." Edward remained calm and knew he had to tell Jacob first and foremost, clasping his hands together in front of him.
"Enough with beating around the bush, who the fuck is it?" Jacob was out of patience, ready to attack if that would gain the information from Edward faster. "TELL ME!"
"It is Luke Murphy, the older brother of Riana."
"The one everyone thought was dead?" Bella was floored, blinking and looked at Jacob, who was ready to fly through the ceiling.
"He is dead, Bella love." Edward said regretfully, watching Jacob's eyes light with fire. "He is one of us."