CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

ROAD TO NOWHERE

KATHERINE CONSTANTINE:

So here I was sitting in the passenger seat of Quinn's van, watching the traffic flow by as we made our way out of Vancouver. He actually had the nerve to look happy. I crossed my arms and glanced sideways at the rifle next to him. He kept it tucked down by the driver's door but still within reach. Surely he wouldn't shoot me? Or anyone else for that matter. He wasn't that unhinged. Was he? Was there anything I could do to get out of this situation? I was racking my brains. I hated guns and I hated violence so I had to think of a solution which involved neither. I would keep my wits about me whilst I secretly planned. Quinn smiled over at me, "You really do look beautiful this morning Katherine. I am so happy we are here, right now, together." I stared straight ahead and decided not to reply. "Since the first moment I set eyes on you I've been in love with you Katherine. You looked like an angel the day we met. Sure, we've had our problems, most couples do. But soon all that will be in the past and we can concentrate on us, my darling" he gushed. He had never been this way with me before. Where did all these words come from? He was the strong silent type normally with a mean temper simmering just below the surface. I wasn't used to this gushingly romantic Quinn. Did he really believe we had a future? Embry was my future! Unless Quinn had something really evil up his sleeve. I glanced at the rifle again and shivered.

Now we were reaching the outskirts of the city I loved. I hoped Rebecca would be worried that I hadn't turned up at hers. She might realise what had happened. I prayed she would. Leah and Etienne were with her. They were strong vampires. She had strength and speed on her side, coupled with her own abilities, she must be able to do something. Rebecca had always been there for me, there was no reason to believe she would let me down now. Poor Embry! He was all alone somewhere in that cabin in the woods. He had obviously decided to wait there in the vain hope that Quinn would bring me there. Looks like Embry was right. I didn't know what Quinn had planned though. I started to concentrate really hard. I needed a plan and I needed it quick. Quinn didn't know that Embry had sent me a text. So that meant that he didn't know that Embry had managed to break free from his prison. So we had the element of surprise there. Was Quinn taking me to the cabin? I wished I could ask him outright, but I must be clever. I turned to him with a fake smile plastered on my face, "So Quinn, where are we going? Am I allowed to know?" He smiled back. His face was so handsome with his brown chocolate eyes and his dark long fringe falling into his eyes which framed his sharp cheekbones and strong jawline perfectly. Shame he was only beautiful on the outside.

"Of course I will tell you Katherine. We are going far far away from here. We will be heading south down the west coast until we reach California. I've always wanted to live there. Laguna Beach, can you imagine it? You and I together in the sunshine, walking on the beach at sunset, listening to the Pacific Ocean waves. Bliss" he smiled. I was surprised by his answer once again. Quinn didn't sound like himself. Was it possible he really did love me? No! He's a monster! He was an obsessive stalker despite his romantic words. "But first I need to stop at my fishing cabin in the woods, my sweet. "he continued. "I have some full petrol cans up there. It will save money and time on the way to Laguna Beach. " he added. So, we were going to the cabin after all. He must have something planned for Embry! Maybe I could persuade Quinn to just let Embry go and I would go with him. I would let Quinn take me if it meant Embry was safe from harm! Embry would never let that happen though. Imprinting meant that he would always protect me no matter what. That's why I was worried. If Embry was lying in wait for Quinn at the cabin and he saw me turn up he could go crazy and attack Quinn! I was scared for him, even though he was a strong wolf when he phased. I had to think of some way out of this mess! Think Kat, think think think! Quinn took my hand and squeezed it gently. We came to an exit on the highway, Quinn indicated and off we drove up a small road which was more like a track. The cabin must be close now.

My brain was whirling and swirling with random ideas and thoughts. None would stick though. Think Kat, think think, think!

QUINN TAYLOR:

Did I tell you that along with expert stalking I am also very adept at hacking? No? Well let me introduce myself. Master hacker most extraordinary Quinn Michael Taylor!

I already had Rebecca's email address courtesy of Kat. She had forwarded me a photograph which Rebecca had taken of her one Christmas. She was going to a festive ball and she looked gorgeous in a floor length scarlet backless dress. I had asked her to send me a photograph of her as I wanted one to keep. This was in the early days of our relationship when I believed there really could be something good and right between us. She hadn't removed Rebecca's address, so I inadvertently had it. Of course I kept it , you never know when you might need information do you? Tonight I needed to hack into Rebecca's email account. It was easy if you knew how. It took me around half an hour, but soon I was in and I was scanning her emails eagerly, looking intently for some information I could use. I came across an email from Embry Call.

He was talking to Rebecca about his feelings for Katherine. How deep his love and loyalty were since the first day he had set eyes on her and imprinted. There was that word again. He asked Rebecca for help. He wanted to explain to Katherine in the best way possible all about imprinting. I was impatient to find out what this strange new word meant. I scanned through Rebecca's sent emails to find her reply. I gasped when I read it. I knew the world wasn't always straight forward and uncomplicated. I knew strange occurrences and weird stuff went on. But I was shocked at Rebecca's words to Embry.

"When a shape-shifter imprints on a specific person, he becomes unconditionally bound to them for the rest of his life. When it happens, the experience is described as being pulled toward that person, while a glowing heat fills him; the connections of everything else become severed, or simply secondary, and only the imprintee is left to matter, leaving the shape-shifter with a deep need to do anything to please and protect the person." ( copyright twilight wiki site )

Rebecca told Embry that this explanation would really let Kat know how he felt about her. She added that she kind of wished females could imprint because she was scared of having a relationship being a shape shifter herself. WHAT? Just what the hell was going on? How could such creatures exist? What did they shift into? I quickly googled "shape shifter". I sat in fascinated horror as I read that in legends some tribes of peoples could shape shift from human to wolf and back again in the blink of an eye. This was all made out to be hearsay and stories, not real. It looked like all those legends were very real, if Rebecca and Embry spoke the truth. Kat must know what Embry was but still she wanted to marry him! It was sick! Sick and twisted! The whole world had tilted and I wasn't sure what was happening any more. I clutched my temples, rubbing furiously to alleviate my sudden and violent headache. I didn't have time to sit here and think about how weird the universe had suddenly become. I needed to grab Kat and put my plan into action. The further we got away from these creatures the better! Kat had obviously been brain washed by them. I would save her, I would protect her. Firstly I would need to dispose of the threat. Rebecca and Embry would have to die.

I would be the hero to kill them.