Chapter 21

My family were relieved when they found out that Jake and I were together. They congratulated me and wished me the best of luck. Dad was happy for me, but of course overly protective. He and Mum had devised a set of rules that they expected me to comply to:
Rule 1: No going out with Jacob after ten pm on a school night.
Rule 2: No being in Jacob's apartment without letting us know first.
Rule 3: Homework must be completed before going to see Jacob on the weekend (I had reluctantly agreed considering final exams were close).
Rule 4: Intimate sexual activity must be left to later in the relationship when the both of you have discussed it. (In other words, I wasn't having sex with Jacob anytime soon. I didn't really argue to this one since I wasn't really ready and was waiting for the right time)

I was still arguing about the first two rules. I mean, I had just turned eighteen a week ago and I was still being treated like a fifteen year old. I didn't really want turn it into a big deal, so I dropped the subject for the time being.

Jake and I had been spending much of our time together. On Saturday afternoons – after I got most of my homework done – I usually went to watch Jacob work at Sheen's Mechanics. I had just learned that he had built his Rabbit by himself from scratch. I have to admit, I was impressed.

Jacob was replacing the tyres of a Volkswagen, a job he said he could do with his eyes closed. Most of the guys working knew me by now and didn't mind me sitting here as long as I didn't get in the way. I sat on a stool reading through a novel as Jacob changed the last tyre. He went around and checked on the bolts were tightened before he stretched and wiped his greasy hands on his overalls.

"Done." He placed the tools away and came over to kiss me.

"Jake! You're greasy." I complained, and then sniffed. "And sweaty."

He let out a small chuckle. Jake was done for the day so we went back to his apartment so he could wash up. I sat on his small khaki sofa waiting for him to finish his shower. There was a small television and I switched it on and flipped through the channels. A rerun of Friends was playing and I left it on as I went into the kitchenette to make us both a quick snack. I put the cheese toasts in the grill and it wasn't until I was waiting for them to cook that I noticed a pair of jeans and sneakers lying around the back of the couch.

The first thing I noticed is that they were not Jacob's. The jeans were a light blue and a slim fit and the sneakers were way too small to fit him. Just then, Jacob came out pulling a shirt over his head.

"Is something burning?" I instantly remembered the grilled cheese sandwiches and rushed over and yanked them out.

Jacob wrapped his arms around me from behind and intertwined our fingers. "So, can I kiss you now?"

"Wait." I turned around and put some space between us. "Whose are those?"

I jerked my chin towards the pile and Jacob followed my glance. Jacob sighed.

"Trust Leah to leave her things lying around," he muttered. "Leah is a pack member – also Seth's sister. She's been having a rough time. She's been in and out of different cities for the last two months. I convinced her to come to Rochester, and I've been trying to talk some sense into her."

"And she's been staying here?" I clarified.

"Yes. Ness, there is nothing to worry about. Believe me when I say Leah and I are just friends."

I shook my head. "I know that, but why didn't you tell me?"

Jacob sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think it was a big deal."

I grabbed the two plates and towed him to the sofa. I handed him a plate and settled against his arm.

"How about you tell me now? What's wrong with Leah?"

Jacob hesitated for a moment and then looked back to me. "She's been trying to fall in love. You know, to imprint. Unfortunately, she hasn't had any luck."

"Poor Leah," I mused.

Just then, the door burst opened startling us both. In the doorway was a tall slender tanned girl who had shoulder length crow black hair. She narrowed her eyes at me and then looked to Jacob.

"Don't mind me," she muttered and slammed the bathroom door.

Jacob sighed. "Meet Leah. The only girl I can never keep up with."

I hit him arm playfully with the back of my hand. "Be nice. She's just going through a rough time."

He rolled his eyes and took a bite from his sandwich. "It's always a rough time with Leah."

We both laughed.

o o o

When I got home, Mum, Dad, Alice and Jasper were preparing to go hunting and invited me along. I agreed since I hadn't hunted in a while. I had been living on human food for quite a while.

We ran through the forest, the wind lashing on my cheek and trees flying past me. I went into hunting mode and kept my senses alert. I slowed down when I heard the heartbeat of an elk, and followed its trail. Dad had already found a small deer and was draining its blood. The sweet blood filled my nostrils and I leaped on the elk, biting easily through its neck like cutting through butter. The warm blood satisfied my burning throat and I drained every drop.

I usually felt full after one feed, but I decided to find one more elk. I went in deeper, my hearing and smelling alert as ever and searched the area. I came across an unfamiliar trail and immediately my heart beat quickened.

Someone was out there.

I bolted back, following my trail when a figure dashed in front of me. It stopped dead in its track in front of me and locked its teak eyes with mine. He looked vaguely familiar and I rummaged my brain to match the face with a name.

Someone suddenly pushed me back and I skidded on the dirt ground. When I looked up I realised it was Jasper and he was holding down the vampire.

Mum helped me up and Dad's gaze was focused on the vampire. When he broke away, he looked at me and then Mum.

"Nahuel has something important to tell us," Dad breathed.

Nahuel was a human/vampire hybrid like me. I remembered him faintly from when the Volturi wanted to kill me. Alice and Jasper had found him in Chile, living with his aunt Huilen. He had testified for our family and explained to the Volturi that our kind was not a threat.

Now he was sitting at the head of the dining table – a table we rarely used – his eyes moving intensely around the room, stopping for a brief moment at me and then at Jacob who was sitting next to me. Nahuel's chocolate brown skin illuminated from the stray of sunlight coming in from the large rectangular window. His crow black hair was sleeked backwards in a braid that reached the middle of his back. He was wearing a khaki shirt and denim shorts that looked like they had once been pants.

"Nahuel, why don't you tell us what has been going on?" Carlisle asked.

Nahuel nodded once and looked around once more before he started. "My father, Joham is a vampire scientist who is only interested in himself and his theories. He has created many vampire-human hybrids testing theories and performing experiments during the conceiving period. The last time I saw him, he had created at least seven of us and no doubt he is in the process of creating more.

"He has asked me countless of times to join his experiments, but I have refused and in fear of being dragged into his experiments, my aunt, Huilen sent me away as it is unpredictable in what Joham can do. Huilen came to me a few days ago to deliver some news. She said Joham was out of control, his theories getting in the way of his better judgement. He was killing innocent humans, trying to impregnate them with human-vampire hybrids. He wasn't having any luck, due to his lack of self control. Many people in the village have labelled him the Libishomen –ablood drinking demon who prey exclusively on beautiful women.

"Huilen also told me a very important message. Joham had heard about Renesmee and was interested in gathering her into his theories. He needed all the vampire-human hybrids he could get – including me – and sent vampires working for him to capture us. Fortunately, they did not find me but I believe one vampire went after you, but was killed?"

He paused for a moment and looked around the room. Everybody's eyes widened and Jacob who was sitting next to me stiffened. The vampire who had tried to attack me months ago wasn't trying to kill me. He was trying to kidnap me. My throat went tight at the thought and I shivered involuntary. Jacob grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed it tightly, sending a wave of calmness immediately.

"Huilen told me that I had to find the Cullens to warn them that Joham would strike again. I followed another vampire to your home, and killed him before he had a chance to do anything. I know Joham, and I know he will not stop until he is successful. Renesmee is in danger, and I hope my warnings will put you one step in front of Joham."

When Nahuel finished, there was an uneasy tension in the room. Everybody looked shocked and disgusted by Joham's actions. How could someone be so selfish, caught up in his actions and not having a care about anyone else in the world? It made my stomach quench and a lump rose in my throat.

"Thank-you, Nahuel," Carlisle said. "You have done us a great service. But I have one question. Have the Volturi found out about your father's work?"

Nahuel shook his head. "No. But he is trying to create many more of us. It is only a matter of time before they do find out, and I doubt it will not end well for our kind."

So basically, if the Volturi found out, they were going to wipe out vampire-human hybrids.

Which meant one thing: I was in danger, Nahuel was in danger. We were two innocent vampire/human hybrids who would pay the price for the eight or more others of our kind.

Somewhere deep inside of me, I knew this was not going to end well.

o o o

Everybody was talking at once. No one was listening to each other, and instead they were talking over each other. I heard bits of different conversations but couldn't keep track of a single one.
Our protection lies for Renesmee...
We must kill him before it gets any further...
...We don't know how many there are...Even if they are half human there may be other vampires and we could easily be outnumbered.
We can't let the Volturi find out...
...End this now.

I sat in the midst of all this mess, no one paying attention to me. It's not like I had much of a say anyway. I felt as if all the air in the room had been sucked out. I walked out of the room silently and sat on the edge of the sofa. I took heavy breaths and it wasn't until my breaths came out in pants that I realised I was hyperventilating. A warm hand pressed my shoulder and I closed my eyes gathering myself together.

"We won't let anything happen to you," Jacob said sternly.

I ignored him and walked back in the dining room. The conversation quietened until it became silent.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was capable of silencing a conversation. Carry on, please." They all looked at me and Dad approached me and put his hand on my shoulder. I drew away.

"Nessie–"

"Don't," I said harshly. "Don't tell me it's going to be okay and you have everything under control. Tell me the truth, because I'm sick of being lied to. I'm not a little girl anymore. I need to know everything that is going to happen."

This was the plan so far: Joham was most likely going to send a vampire in attempt to kidnap me. Jasper, Alice, Emmett and Rosalie would patrol the perimeter of the house whilst Dad, Mum, Carlisle and Esme protected me inside the house. We couldn't directly kill Joham because we didn't know what we would be facing. We also couldn't let the Volturi find out, as they could potentially destroy my kind. Alice couldn't see Joham due to him being around vampire-human hybrids which meant we couldn't keep track of his decisions. In other words, we were going blind into a messy battle.

Nahuel had agreed he'd fight alongside with us. He sincerely accepted Esme's offer to move into one of the bedrooms.

It had been a long day and I trudged up the stairs and curled up in a ball in the middle of my bed. There was a soft knock on my door and I didn't need to look up to know who it was. Jacob sat on the edge of my bed.

"Nahuel says there's a slight chance Joham won't send another vamp. He's running low on vampire bodyguards."

"Slight won't save us," I whispered against my pillow.

Jacob sighed and shifted his weight. He put his hand on my knee and I flinched away.

"I'm sorry –"

"I don't need your sympathy, Jake," I shot up and stood in front of him.

"Nessie, talk to me."

I shook my head furiously. "I just need to be left alone. Please, go."

When he made no attempt to move, I stormed outside. "Fine. I'll go."

I slammed the door behind me, the echo of the effect ringing in my ears and Jacob's baffled face lingering beneath my eyelids.