A/N: Thanks for all the responses in the last chapter. I've tried to answer as much questions as I could in the best ability I can give. So, yeah. Sorry for the long update, but I was busy with my quarter tests. Good news is, is that I'm done, so I have more time to work on this. Summer's coming up for me, and officially, the story's on my summer list…
…Either I'm really hardworking, or I need to get out more. =P
Well, anyway… enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Two Worlds: Exposed- Chapter 28
It took me a second later, when the pain came, to realize that no, he wasn't. He was going to drink me.
Laurent, the vampire I've only met mere moments ago, was going to - no, was drinking me. I couldn't take my eyes away from the sight. Was this actually happening to me? I've never been bitten by a vampire before, but I do know the consequences: either Laurent will allow the venom to spread, which then will turn me like him… or he'd just drink me dry.
It surprised me somewhat that a large part of me wanted the latter to happen.
'Because really,' I thought wryly, 'what else have I got to live for? My father was dead and the only person I had ever loved deserted me.'
My fans could just disappear for all I care. Angela and the rest of my friends will have to understand my decision. With Agnes, she'll just have to find another superstar to manage. I simply couldn't fathom the idea of living beyond this night. The pain in my heart was just too painful… or was the pain coming from the bite?
Oh yeah. Laurent was drinking my blood. I've got to remember that.
"Does it - do I taste nice?" Despite the sharp pain from the bite, I still mustered up enough energy to ask a question.
'Really Bella,' my brain chided. 'Where are your priorities?'
The logical part of me wanted to be worried about Laurent. It wanted me to try to at least escape from the clutches of this olive-skinned vampire, but my desire to join my father was just too strong.
"Very," Laurent paused for a short while to answer. "Now I see - or should I say taste? - why James went after you in the first place. You know, Victoria was very upset when she found out that her mate was dead, and even more so when she realized that he's dead because he had pursued you."
Wait, James and Victoria were mates? What was that supposed to mean? Were they married, or was this just a vampire tradition? I wonder…
My eyesight blurred as Laurent continued to drink my blood. And then, out of nowhere, something inside me just jumpstarted. Three things were the foremost in my mind:
One, pondering about vampire traditions at my current state was stupid.
Two, the logical part of me was telling me again to get away and run - as far away as possible, preferably somewhere where the sun reaches everything.
And three, I have to listen to that logical part of me because I didn't want to die.
Just as that epiphany became clear in my mind, the air was suddenly filled with hellish growls, and I was even more scared than I've been before. I looked at Laurent and saw that he had a wild look of disbelief in his eyes.
"Impossible…" he whispered. He backed a way from me, dropping my hand. His soothing cold touch left immediately, leaving the pain to become worse – a million and one times worse. I screamed bloody murder at that, keeling down in indescribable pain.
From my peripheral vision, I saw wolves – gigantic wolves – advance towards me. Forgetting the throbbing momentarily, I scuttled to my feet, my heart pounding harder against my ribs ever. I've got to get out of here. The wolves are dangerous; they have to be, with teeth as large as the ones they've got.
I have to leave this place.
"Wait, Bella!"
I spun around to whoever it was who called my name. I know that voice. I gasped at the face that assaulted my visions. Out of everyone whom it could be, did it have to be him?! At the back of my mind, I registered the fact that he was dressed in his birthday suit, and that he was taller, more muscular than at the hospital.
'It's unnatural to be able to grow that fast,' my brain told me. 'Unnatural. Not human. Humans don't grow that fast.' As I came to a conclusion that I didn't like, I let out a bloodcurdling scream. Jacob, the man I've considered as to be one of my closest best friends, wasn't human. He couldn't be with all these evidences against him…
"What – what are you?" I gasped out.
"Please," Jacob reached out a hand. "Don't be afraid."
I took a step back, cautious. I flinched at the action – the burning sensation was getting worse.
"You're hurt," he accused. I was frozen in place as he jetted towards me and took my bitten hand. He reached out a finger to touch the distinctive bite of a vampire, but something stopped him. "Did that thing," he growled, "do this to you?"
"Don't touch me!" I yanked my hand back. I've had enough of monsters having their merry way with me. Isn't it enough that they toy with my feelings, now they have to result in manhandling me?
"You're afraid."
I did nothing to deny his statement.
"You shouldn't be afraid," Jacob shook his head. He looked like a hurt puppy. "It's still me," he smiled halfheartedly. "I'm still the same Jacob Black you saw in the hospital, the same Jacob black that you met at First Beach."
"N-no," I shook my head, defiant. "You're not. My Jake is not a monster. He wasn't a –" I couldn't say anymore due to the pain spreading from my arm throughout the rest of my body. My nerve endings were like on fire. And the worse thing is, I can't do anything to stop it. Laurent had stopped drinking my blood. I was turning into a monster like him.
I faltered slightly at that thought.
"Sam," Jacob yelled, his voice loud due to his so close a distance. He had caught me before I even had the chance to his the ground. "She's bitten by the leech! Don't rip him to pieces just yet!"
Blearily, I followed Jacob's gaze at the group of wolves circling a frightened Laurent. His clothes showed telltale signs of being attacked. They were ripped in places, and the image of him at the moment somehow lessened his aura of elegance. There were empty patches on his head where his hair should be, and by the looks of it, one of his shoulders was dislocated.
I transferred my gaze to Jacob, but instead of the tall, tan man, I saw a russet coated wolf that nearly reached mid-waist. He looked at me pleadingly, and I took that slight pause to run away. Unfortunately, the wolf stopped me from even taking a step forward, and before I knew it, Laurent was in front of me.
"I'm sorry," was all he managed to say before he brought his lips to my arm again.
The second time his teeth pierced my skin wasn't as painful as the first, mainly because I was expecting the pain. Expected or not, however, it did not mean it was bearable. I was so weak from all the blood being drunk, I didn't have it in me to scream from the pain. I just wanted this to be over.
Looking at the stars up above, I pictured Edward's calm face. If he was here, he would never let this happen to me.
*~*^*~*
"…think…all right?"
"That vampire…drank…lot…take…time…up."
"But…recovering fast, for a human….least."
"Yes, but it'll be…before she can…"
I frowned at the bits and pieces I was able to hear from the conversation. I reckon they were talking about me, but who are these people? I don't recognize their voices. I tried to sit up, but something was hindering me. I jerked my left arm to try and claw the offending thing off, but that, too, was strapped to something.
Weakly, slowly, I opened my eyes.
"Argh," I groaned. "Too bright…" I looked around me and noticed that I was in unfamiliar territory. "Where am I?" I asked the people surrounding me. I instantly picked off Jacob from the crowd. And Sam, who was standing behind Billy.
"Bella," I looked to my right and saw Emily, tending to a monitor next to the bed I was on. "You're in the reservation's hospital. You've lost quite a lot of blood."
"Er," I tried my best to not look awkward. "Thank you for telling me?"
I studied myself closer, noting the IV connected to my left wrist. That's when I saw the crescent shaped scar on my arm. It was as far away from my elbow as it was from my wrist. I hissed a breath in at the sight, remembering the pain. I still felt it, slightly, but I was mostly numb now.
A squeak from Billy's wheelchair caused me to look up and examine the noise.
"Billy," I said flatly.
"Bella," he approached me and placed his hand gingerly on the bed, next to my hand. "I'm sorry," he said in a quiet voice. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you recently, and I'm sorry for everything that's going to happen to you…" He shared a meaningful look with the men behind him.
"If you're apologizing about my dad's death," I started, "then there's nothing to be sorry about." My free hand fiddled with the linen blanket, anything to ease the anxiety I was currently feeling. "If anyone should be apologizing about Laurent drinking my blood –"
"That leech has a name?!" someone from the crowd exclaimed in disgust and shock.
"Yes." I glared at the person who spoke. I only relented when I realized that it was Embry. "Everyone deserves a name," I stated. I closed my eyes for a second before turning to Billy. "If anyone should be apologizing about Laurent drinking my blood, then it should be me because I essentially walked willingly into his grasp."
"Bella –"
I raised my hand to stop Jacob from speaking. I didn't dare look up at him. I couldn't, not with the knowledge of him being a… whatever he was.
"However," I continued in a louder voice, "if your apology is about the whole shape shifting into a wolf thing, knowing about it and not telling me until I found out in the forest…" I shrugged. In a small voice, I said, "I don't think I can accept that apology."
Silence erupted in the room so loudly that I struggled to not make a sarcastic comment about it. Really, it wasn't the time right now. Thankfully, Billy decided to break the silence.
"I see," he said. He then mustered up a small smile before making his way to leave the room. "I know I won't be able to explain anything to you when you're telling us in more words that you're not going to listen, that you're not giving us the benefit of the doubt to explain our actions behind the secrecy…"
"I didn't say that." I felt the traitorous blush on my ears. "Well," I backtracked. "I didn't mean for it to come out that way. It's just…" I tried to tell him what I felt, but I found it hard when everyone was watching me. I faltered a few times, to say the least. "Billy, everyone… my father just died. Then, I met a vampire in the forest who wanted – who did – drink my blood, and dare I say it, with my consent. And, I nearly became a vampire because of the venom. After that, I see Jacob starkers and then as a giant wolf. I think, sooner or later, I'm going to have to schedule myself a mental breakdown."
My feebly joked caused Emily to laugh a little.
"I think," I kept my gaze low. "I think it might take some time before you can tell me your reasons for keeping this a secret. I understand and all, about why you guys didn't tell me." I chuckled blandly. "I mean, you don't just tell some random Jane that you can turn in a wolf."
"I understand your reasons, Bella." Billy tipped his head, both to acknowledge what I said and to also put on his hat. "And I must say, if Charlie was alive, he'd be proud to have a daughter who can handle situations like this with a cool head."
I sincerely doubt that Billy was right. If Charlie knew the situation I was in, he'd be more concerned about me being in a room full of wolf shape shifters than keeping my ability to keep a cool head. No one in their right mind you willingly stay in a small room with not-so-human company, especially when they are defenseless and was basically strapped onto a hospital bed.
I used my peripheral vision to watch Billy leave the room. Sam and everyone else followed suit, with Embry and Emily bidding me goodbye, the latter adding an extra "Get well soon" before closing the door behind her. I let out a sigh of relief, only to breathe it back in when I saw a solitary figure leaning on the wall.
"Jacob."
"It's Jake for you, not Jacob," he said, arms crossed and resolute.
"Jacob, what are you doing here?"
"You called me a monster last night. You were afraid of me." Before I could say anything, he raised his hand and said, "I know you were kinda worked up about the whole venom in your system, loss of blood and then seeing the wolves all in the same night and everything, but I just want to make one thing clear. I know you said earlier that you don't want to hear anything until you're ready, but I need to get this off of my chest."
I stared blankly at him.
"Okay," he nodded, "silence means I could keep going." He breathed in deeply, held it, and then released it in a loud puff. The warmth of his breath reached me, despite our distance. "Look, Bella, last night was a mess. I didn't know that the ability to turn into wolves was a reality up until that night, so we're basically on the same footing. I was scared when I first changed."
Whatever I was expecting, it certainly wasn't that.
"What do you mean that was your first time?" I asked. I caught myself before Jacob even had the chance of opening his mouth. "Don't bother. I don't want to know at the moment. Just keep talking."
"Okay… umm, when I saw you run into the forest, I chased after you. I followed you to this meadow and watched you cry your eyes out. I didn't know if I should come to you or just let you cry, y'know? So, I pretty much left after that. Then, I smelled that leech, that Laurent guy. The next thing that happened, my clothes were ripping and I was a wolf. The pain was beyond recognition. And it didn't help that the moment I changed, Embry's thoughts were shouting curse words at me."
"Wait," I chocked. "Embry was in your mind?! How? Wait, don't answer that either." I blushed pink. "Continue."
"Anyway, Embry told me to not attack the leech without reinforcements. I couldn't just stand there and watch him touch you like that, so I ran back to the hospital to get my dad, or Sam. Sam met me in the forest, and he more or less took charge from there. I guess, you know what happens next…
"Bella," he walked forward and encased my hand in his. I tried to hide my cringe at his high temperature - well, his touch in general, and I tried to be surreptitious about easing my hand away from him, but I guess I failed because Jacob eased out a few tears.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "Really, I am, but I can't really control my reactions at the moment. They're… instinctual, I guess."
"You didn't shy away from me before," Jacob said, pouting, I hope, involuntarily.
"But you've changed, Jacob. You're not the same as before."
"Not really," he insisted. "So what if I'm a werewolf? The crux of the matter is that I was born like this, Bella. I was like this way before I changed, I just didn't know it at the time."
"No," I shook my head. "Something's changed, all right. I might not be able to say it in words, but I know that something's changed, and I'm sorry for feeling this way." I looked at Jacob's russet hand inches away from my pale one. "I think," my voice wavered slightly, "I think it best if you should leave now, Jacob."
He stood up, shaking, and crossed the room in three long strides.
"It's Jake," he said before slamming the door shut. Cracks formed from where the hinges were connected to the door and I sighed. Yes, something's definitely changed.
A/N: Right, now that chapter's done, what do you guys think? So Bella knows about the werewolves. Any thoughts about that? I guess, it's plainly obvious that she's not taking it as well as when she found out about the vampires - this is just my own twist to the thing. I was to make it clear that Bella's sort of on the rocks with mythical creatures at the moment, and that this Bella's not the same with the ones in the book.
She's not finding ways to fill that hole in her heart with something otherworldly, simply because that hole was not caused by Edward's leaving. It was caused by Charlie dying, and well… yeah. I hope you guys understand this and won't be too much disappointed. Despite Bella not really depending on Jacob much, I don't think this means their friendship will be anything less than their friendship in the books. It just has a more… interesting twist to it.
Well, please review, and sorry again for the long wait.
=]
