Apocalypse
(Jake's POV)
Deadly vision
Prophecy revealed
Death magnetic
Pulling closer still
Feel thy name annihilation
Desolating, Hail of Fire
So we cross that line
Into the grips
Total eclipse
Suffer unto my apocalypse!
[Lyrics to song: My Apocalypse. Artist: Metallica]
"Someone's coming," Seth called as he sprinted into the yard from the tree line, stopping at the foot of the steps leading up onto the veranda where Edward and I were conversing about final details.
"Any idea who it might be?" I questioned glancing up as Edward stood and retreated into the house to retrieve Carlisle, Theron and Lucien. My body was a tense like the strings of a harp singing with a mixture of nerves and adrenaline in response to the up-n-coming war.
"No, but whomever it was didn't wish to be seen," Seth answered as he moved up the steps and took one of the vacant seats. I could only hope the vampires wouldn't bring the war here as it would only take that much longer to reach Bella and Nessie. I knew neither Edward nor I would handle leaving Bella and Ness in the hands of Ulysses much longer.
A few moments passed before the doors opened to allow the summoned onto the veranda. "What's going on Jake?" Carlisle questioned before I could even gather my own thoughts enough to provide explanation.
"We have trouble brewing, I'm afraid. Someone or something has moved in close to the borders of the yard and the wolves are unable to determine who or what it is. I thought it necessary to warn all of you in case it turns out to be another message or threat from Ulysses." I didn't have to lock gazes with Edward to know that just the possibility of losing his wife and daughter made him uneasy. Deep down, I felt the same.
"Theron, do we need to have a plan in case Ulysses might have decided to bring this confrontation to us here?" Lucien's voice broke what had become a rather tense silence. "Would he be so bold as to leave his leverage?"
Theron paused, closing his eyes and seeming to go into a trance-like state briefly before shaking his head. He focused then on the group that surrounded him. "I don't think Ulysses would come here. He knows that his advantage lies in being within close proximity to his hostages especially with the presence of the Volturi in our midst. He will for certain know about them by now."
"Seth, you would've known had the intruder been vampire as the scent would've been obvious. Was there any scent of bloodsucker reported to you by the others in the pack?" My internal sense of danger was setting off alarm bells in my mind as I surveyed the tree-line that bordered the yard with much scrutiny.
"There were reports of the scent of unfamiliar vampire off and on but there's been nothing of note. This scent more resembled wolven." Seth answered pausing briefly as the veranda door slid open.
"Jake, it's no bloodsucker," Paul's voice stopped the conversation cold, "It's Dirk."
"How do you know? The scent isn't exactly strong and…"Seth stopped in mid-sentence as his gaze met Paul's.
Paul shook his head, "I know." He turned his gaze to me. "The question is do you trust me enough to take my word for it or are you going to be the usual skeptic?"
"Easy Paul no one is denying your statement. I'm merely curious as to why he'd be returning? There's no obvious love lost that's for sure especially considering the circumstances which lead him to leave in the first place." I reminded careful not to provoke Paul's temper or stress him in a way that might cause detriment to his health. "Do you think you feel up to attempting to communicate with Dirk? See if he'll give you a reason for his return."
"I can try." Paul agreed easing himself into the last vacant chair on the veranda. "I doubt he's returned to cause trouble. I was sensing his presence a couple hours before the pack picked up the scent. If he intended to make waves he would've already done so long before now."
"I'm hoping he's returned to aide us in this battle. It would be good to have an extra hand in case we have to retreat." I admitted the concern evident in my tone. "I'd feel much better if someone were here to keep watch over you and Jared during this battle just in case…" I let my voice trail as I studied the tree-line.
"You shouldn't," Paul shook his head in my direction, "be so worried about Jared and I. I'm sure Carlisle has a contingency plan in the works to assure our safety during this upcoming battle." His form shifted slightly as he cleared his mind in an effort to try and link with Dirk. He was still too weak from his still healing injuries to fully shift into his wolven form but it was apparent to everyone nearby that his wolf was still very much alive and well.
"What do you want Paul?" Dirk's voice came through the haze of the mental link loud and clear. It was apparent by the tone of his voice that he was winded, tired and either annoyed or concerned.
"Easy Dirk, no need to get your fur in a mat," Paul's response garnered a gruff growl of irritation, a veiled threat that he chose to ignore considering the current circumstances. One thing about Dirk, he could be a complete ass at times, especially when he was under stress, tired, or already in a foul temper. "It's rather obvious that you didn't just show up here because you felt bad for leaving. You had a reason for stalking the outskirts of the Cullen's property so..."
There was another annoyed growl before Dirk appeared just inside the tree line that bordered the yard. He stood in wolf form, close enough to the line of thick underbrush that he could disappear if necessary. "I may not always see eye-to-eye with you Jake but I couldn't let you and the rest of the wolves and those bloodsuckers you see as family walk into a well-set trap. There's going to be plenty of bloodshed very soon. Ulysses knows you're coming, he's waiting." He paused for a split-second his gaze shifting amongst my group before settling briefly upon me.
"Dirk, how do you…" Before I could finish my attempt to garner more in-depth information, he was gone…