Disclaimer: All characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer, but the plot is all mine!
Back again…Trying my hardest to bring this story to a conclusion but sometimes my muse just won't play ball! Hope you enjoy! xx
Now the story continues…
Chapter 73 – The slim English vampire
Bella followed her instincts to where she felt sure she would be able to contact Jacob. Every now and then she felt him brush the edges of her mind and this encouraged her to keep going. It felt like he knew she was there too but, she guessed the intensity of the battle consumed him and the wolf. Stopping for a moment Bella rubbed her eyes and listened. There is was again that distinct feeling that all was not well… something was wrong… something so out of kilter and it jarred in her mind…
She wasn't alone…
Bella nervously looked around she'd had a similar feeling the first time she had Spirit walked and Jacob had called her home…the time someone or something had left claw marks on her ankle… Her heart began to beat faster and she tried to pick up speed. Maybe she could outrun whatever it was and get to safety, maybe even contact Jacob but what good would that do she reasoned she was in the Spirit world Jake was not.
Raven began to caw and flapped his wings in agitation as he flew form branch to branch in front of her
"Hurry up…you need to move faster…we have little time left..."
That just terrified Bella more and with it her old problem of balance kicked in as she stumbled and fell twisting her ankle a little in the process
"Oow" She cried as a tear began to fall "I can't do this!" she protested
"You can and you will" Ravens shill voice filled the air "You have no other choice"
Somehow Bella picked herself up and walked on all be it with a slight limp. She also cradled her poor damaged wrist which had taken the brunt of the fall and was hurting like hell. It was then she felt him stronger than before. Feeling her pain and terror, Jacob had somehow broken through the barrier between the living world and the in-between. She stopped walking and strained to hear the faint sound of his voice which reverberated like an echo from loud to soft.
"Jake!" She circled where she stood. All around her was nothing but dark forest and snow. "Jake is that you?" She called her voice shaking with fear but only silence greeted her and that dark cloud of foreboding now overwhelmed her. Bella could do nothing but hurry ahead. Jacob needed her of that she was sure.
"Faster, faster!" Came the shrill call of Raven "You will be too late at this rate!"
Bella tried to move faster she really did but the pull to Jacob had taken her further into the deep forest and where the snow had drifted it only slowed her down as she waded knee high trying to ignore the intense cold as the snow seeped through her old sweats and the tops of her converses. In sheer frustration she began to cry but that only angered Raven more…
"No time for tears!" he squawked "No time for tears!"
"Shut up!" Bella shouted her hands were drawn into tight little fists "Can't you see how deep this snow is? Im doing the best I can!"
"Not enough!" he cawed in reply and shook his wings.
Bella could feel the hot tears gathering but she was determined not to give that damn bird the satisfaction. Instead she plodded on nearly slipping and falling down the side of the small hill she had just dragged herself up. Looking around again to try to get some sense of direction Bella noticed a small bright globe of light not too far from where she stood. It bounced in the darkness and she remembered that this was how she had left the Spirit world once before. But this was different she was sure especially as she could hear snatches of Jake in her mind
"Jacob" she called picking up pace as she tried to run towards the globe but it seemed to fade "Wait…wait for me!" she cried as the light appeared to dim and then what happened next left her head spinning. Before her very eyes the globe began to grow brighter, larger…
"Jake?" Bella queried her large brown eyes transfixed by the spherical object that seemed to pulsate light and…
There was Jacob standing in front of her…
At first Bella was so overwhelmed with joy at the sight of Jake that she didn't question why he was there, with her in that place. Reality soon kicked in though for there was something quite odd about his appearance… he was sort of fading in and out as if a light was dimming and then getting brighter only to dim again…
"Jacob!" Bella screamed at the top of her lungs and watched horrified as his lips moved yet she heard nothing but, what terrified her the most was the panic stricken look upon that handsome face. As she finally closed the gap between them, she saw only sadness and regret in those dark eyes of his. That's when it finally hit her…filling her heart with dread…
"No…No…no…it's not happening…!" Bella screamed "It can't not now…it's not supposed to be like this, I've seen our future!" She launched herself towards him trying to grab hold of his arm but her hand went straight through his "body" as if he were nothing but an image projected into the darkness "Jacob talk to me please!" she began as Raven beat his wings frantically
"Now Bella…now is the time to think and act!"
But she wasn't listening she was too absorbed with Jacob and what she truly believed were his final moments amongst the living and that was why he kept fading in and out. The battle had gone wrong she convinced herself and she as usual had arrived too late…
"Not too late…not too late!" the huge black bird cawed "Remember who and what he is!"
Realisation hit her so hard it almost knocked the breath from her lungs this was the moment she was sure. It was now or never but before she could say a word Jacob seemed to fade completely away then suddenly reappeared. It was obvious he was aware of her because each time he materialised his eyes locked with her own. Bella instinctively knew what to do just as she had that night in their room
"You are a Spirit Warrior! WALK Jacob Ephraim Black…WALK NOW!"
The young Alpha looked slightly stunned at her words but obviously did as she asked as he miraculously appeared in front of her, as solid as she was before falling to his knees…
"Alistair…" Jacob manged to whisper as he battled to get his breathing under control "He's a traitor!"
Shock and horror reverberated through Bella's mind se still wasn't sure if Jake had actually spirit walked or was dead.
"Im alive…just" Jacob murmured hearing her thoughts loud and clear "But fuck knows what they are doing to my body right now I'm just hoping I have something to return to"
Before either could utter another word both Bella and Jacob stilled another mind was trying to join them…
000
Back on the battlefield Alistair was assisting the burly new-born vampire in the demise of Jacobs wolf. Another bone cracked and the body of the wolf slid lifelessly to the ground its eyes dead.
"Bingo!" Alistair cried but his triumph was short lived as through the purple smoke Jasper appeared tackling him to the ground
"I knew you couldn't be trusted!" Jasper hissed "Thank God Eleazar remembered who and what you are!"
The slim vampire merely laughed at Jasper and for the first time in his life the blond vampire felt another with powers like his own only these were more insidious the complete opposite they only magnified feelings of fear, loathing and hate. There was but one word to describe this sentient being and the Jasper shuddered in response…
Evil…
"Your famous Alpha is dead and for that Aro will reward me handsomely!" Alistair's silky voice wound itself like a coil around Jaspers senses, "He knew you and your family could not be trusted to be loyal to your own kind"
Jasper knew he should not listen but Alistair was already deep in his mind despite his concerted effort to repel him and the silky voice crept on…
"Look again at the wolf you cannot deny the truth you're too late and you will lose none can withstand the will of the Volturi"
Although he fought it Jasper couldn't help but glance at the still lifeless body of Jacob's wolf, his mind felt like as though it were compelled to do so and it nearly took all he had to finally push the thoughts of defeat back.
Alistair snickered again concentrating his efforts as a burly new-born vampire approached them, he knew what Jasper was up against he could feel the blond vampires struggle and whilst he was so preoccupied, he wouldn't notice his own death approaching…
"Jane is coming" He hissed with delight keeping Jasper focused only on him. "Justice will be dealt and it will be the end of your coven. I know what you are Jasper the scars on your body are testament to your past. You should have chosen your side more wisely for this is one battle you will not survive"
That was exactly what Jasper did not want to hear and yet it did seem inevitable that Jane would come there was no way the Volturi would let this matter rest and try as he might he couldn't get rid of the dark depression into which he was now sinking. Wave after wave of sorrow and darkness hit him and he knew it was all thanks to Alistair but he would not loosen his grip from the slim vampire's throat.
He opened his mouth to argue but didn't get a chance to say anything as the huge new-born pounced tightening his arm around Jaspers throat and pulled him backwards away from Alistair
The slim English Vampire was upright in seconds bowing slightly towards Jasper who was now engaged in a death struggle with the new-born and, with a sneer on his lips he disappeared into the clouds of purple smoke.
Jasper now found himself in exactly the position he had taught everyone to avoid. If he could not free himself the new-born would destroy him. With Alistair gone from the field Jasper could think clearly once more, gone was the deep depression and in its place the soldier had returned.
The burly vampire now held Jasper tight to his chest and squeezed. With great fortune Jasper found himself facing him and with huge effort he wrapped his legs around his attacker waist and squeezed back. The new-borns eyes widened in momentary shock and he released his hold slightly, giving Jasper just enough slack to free his arms which he immediately wrapped around the burley vampires neck and he pushed one knee up against its chest.
The new-born roared with fury but it couldn't quite get a firm hold upon Jasper who pushed and pulled with all his might. A piercing screech of metal filled the air as the new-borns head suddenly fell forwards and the rest of his body fell back to hit the ground. With one last effort Jasper threw the head into the fire pit as the remains of its body writhed upon the ground in a hopeless effort to find the missing piece.
Jasper stood alone as piercing howls filled air, the pack had begun to realise they could no longer feel their Alpha and as the purple smoke cleared a little, there was Jacobs unmoving body clear for all to see. The impact of shock was quickly followed by a few moments of total chaos as the pack lost without their unity to Jacob and completely leaderless, ran in all directions not knowing what to do next.
Carlisle and other vampires who had fought with them rushed from all corners of the field they too in a state of shock and horror at Jacobs death
As everything descended into what felt like insanity it was Embry who first wondered why Jacob had not phased back to the man. Surely, he reasoned Jake would become human again at the point of his death after all wasn't that exactly what they all did when badly injured?
He padded closer to the still form of his Alpha and sniffed at the body of the huge wolf. It was then that he noticed the slight movement that rippled under the russet fur. His eyes widened as the ripples intensified and appeared to be slowly knitting the broken bones back together. Instinctively he knew he had to protect Jakes body. Somewhere in the back of his mind Embry could hear Billy telling the story of the first wolf pack and how Taha Aki had left his body to spirit walk. What if, he began to think, what if Jacob had done the same?
As the chaos in the pack began to recede as the feeling of some hope Embry had trickled through their link, other wolves soon joined him though still disorientated and overcome with grief at the loss of their Alpha and brother, together they raised their huge heads in unison and howled to the sky.
They had won the battle against the new-born's but not without cost and that was the shocking loss of Jacob.
000
"I'll fucking destroy him!" Paul snarled as he stood hidden in the forest. He had seen Jasper and Alistair fighting through Jakes eyes before it all went suddenly misty. One thing for sure he hadn't taken to the slim vampire at all and now his instinct had proved him right. He could feel the chaos on the field and the distinct lack of Jacob's presence. He pawed at the ground in confusion. His Alpha was gone his brothers were broadcasting that nugget of news loud and clear but, at the same time Paul thought he could hear Jake and another familiar voice in his head but they seemed muffled somehow
"Bella is that you?" he asked eyes wide. This was all starting to get a little crazy and he had hardly got to grips with any of it when a sickly-sweet odour assaulted his nose. His eyes narrowed as he reached out for Colin who was somewhere nearby…He lowered his huge head towards the ground and listened. What could have passed for a grin flashed across his face and with lips drawn back from vicious teeth every muscle tensed in anticipation of the expected new-born…He simply couldn't believe his luck when it streaked by him and he saw who it was…
"Now!" Paul snarled as he dug his claws into the ground and headed off in the same direction as the leech. Within seconds Colin was tucked into his side, the stench of leech becoming stronger by the minute as they closed the gap between themselves and their prey. He was going to take his own sweet time with this bastard a quick kill wasn't enough for him or his wolf.
"On my mark divide" he growled at Colin "3…2…1…Now!"
The two wolves separated into a classic pincer manoeuvre and Paul nearly yipped with undisguised glee as the gap closed even further…
Alistair laughed to himself as he headed away from the battle scene. Taking down the Alpha of that pack of dogs had proven easier than he had expected especially when the new-born turned up at precisely the right moment. All he had to do now was get to a safe distance and wait for Jane.
He smiled to himself as he thought about the reward the Volturi had promised him. At least he would have a little luxury when he took to the road again rather than hiding out in sewers and dark alleyways. Sniggering to himself again he thought about the vampire's he had left behind then he spoke aloud to the silent forest
"They won't know what hit them when Jane arrives especially Carlisle" Alistair looked almost manic as the words left his mouth. Thing was he especially wanted to be there to see the look of shock on Carlisle face
"Sanctimonious bastard" he spat "Thought he was better than his fellow vampires and all that pretending to be a human shit? Well who in the hell did he think he was?" The Volturi sure didn't like it either he thought. Carlisle and his coven couldn't be trusted anymore, their allegiance was no longer to their own kind… everyone in the vampire world knew that.
He was so busy congratulating himself that he didn't see them coming until it was too late…
Paul barrelled into the slim vampire side on knocking him flying as Colin snapped his huge jaws tearing one of his arms clean off his body as it spun in the air from the impact of Pauls wolf. Shrieking in pain Alistair rightened himself and immediately dropped into a hunting crouch.
"As if that's gonna stop us" Paul snickered as he circled his prey, Colin snapping close behind on his heels.
Alistair concentrated all his effort upon Paul having identified him as the stronger of the wolves. Little did he know the impact of trying to make the silver wolf feel depressed…
Pauls lips twitched a little as waves of negative emotion swept over his body, his sharp teeth snapped together almost in glee as he pawed the ground. Realising he was dealing with a vampire like Jasper Paul couldn't believe his luck. If Jasper didn't like what he felt this dude wouldn't either he'd bet his furry hide on it too.
Sad limey fuck didn't realise that his mind was one you didn't want to fuck with hell no after all no one bothered sifting through his nightmare memories at least not if you wanted to remain sane, not even his brothers.
A small smile flickered across Alistair's lips he thought Pauls sudden hesitation was due to his own gift. How wrong he was and the smile soon dropped as he picked up on the first negative feeling that hit him back.
With a loud growl Paul opened the floodgates and Alistair winced stumbling slightly at the onslaught of pure unbridled pain, sorrow and most of all regret washed through his body and mind. He shook his head trying to regain composure and his eyes widened in horror as he looked up to see Paul had gotten closer.
Saliva dripped from the wolfs long sharp fangs and the slim vampire let out a shrill scream as the wolf pounced and huge jaws snapped against his neck sending his head rolling to one side.
Colin and Paul made quick work of shredding Alistair's body whilst he helplessly looked on at his own demise. The grey wolf then suddenly phased back to the man closely followed by Colin and he made a great show of retrieving the lighter he had stowed inside the pocket of his cut-offs tied to his ankle. With an almost manic laugh Paul turned to face the vampire.
"Promised myself you would pay for what you have done" Paul began "That I'd take my own sweet time and make sure you suffer" The lighter seemed to fly through the air in front of Alistair's eyes as he fruitlessly screamed. The pieces of vampire body Colin had piled high ignited immediately flames licking high as thick purple smoke rose upwards towards the sky.
Turning from the pyre Paul slowly lumbered over towards the vampire's head watching the glow of the flames light up the white face which continued to stare up at him in absolute horror.
"Now…" Paul continued "What to do next?" He looked over at Colin who tended the fire "Shall we have a quick game of soccer he growled just as his foot made contact with the side of Alistair's face. The head shot up in the air and as it landed Colin all too willingly punted it back to Paul who returned it again. After a few kicks Paul picked it up by its long stringy hair. Alistair hissed and spat trying to hit Paul with some venom.
"Time to end the fun!" Paul snarled and walking over towards the fire he dangled Alistair's head above the flames
"Fuck you werewolf!" Alistair screamed "What's coming for you will end your mangy pack forever." Intrigued Paul pulled the head away from the flame
"Whoever is coming will be too late for you" he growled "Besides the pack will take them down as soon as they set foot on our lands"
"You won't stop Jane!" Alistair began laughing hysterically "You felt my gift were wolf hers is a million times stronger and no one can withstand it not even Edward Cullen. You, your pack, and your people will be slaughtered and there's nothing you can do to stop it and…
But Alistair didn't get to finish his sentence, Paul had heard enough and without a word he dropped the screaming head into the flame where it hissed and popped before the flames devoured it. The forest became still and silent once more, the only movement was the slowly rising purple smoke.
Paul turned towards Colin a frown marring his handsome face "We need to get back" he growled "Warn the others of what's on its way" The young wolf nodded as Paul added "Somehow I have a feeling that Carlisle will know exactly who this Jane is"
000
"Help me Sam" Embry huffed as the black wolf approached him. "Help me move him, I need to get his body back into the forest"
"Not now" Sam growled in return he couldn't let this mess carry on for much longer it put the entire pack at risk someone would have to take control and he decided he was gonna have to do it. He glanced at Embry and whined
"He's gone Em, there's nothing more we can do right now. We need to finish up here then take him back to the rez later. Our priority now is to make sure none of these bastards have made it out of this field alive" Embry padded closer to Sam his lips drawn back revealing his sharp teeth annoyed that the Black wolf had taken it upon himself to assume leadership despite his place in the pack
"It can't wait Sam. We need to move him now" Embry growled then added "Because I don't think he is dead". Sam eyed him with first with disbelief then pity. "I know, I know what it looks like and …" Embry continued "This is gonna sound crazy as fuck but, Im telling you Jake is not dead take a closer look Sam… the wolf healing… it's started"
Sam narrowed his eyes but didn't say a word as he padded over to the body of his Alpha and took a closer look. Embry followed behind but inside he just thought Embry was finding it hard to accept that his childhood friend had gone. He approached the dead wolf with caution already his own wolf was acting strange…excited even and as he lowered his huge head, he got the shock of his life…
"Jeez Em!" Sam huffed "I think you're right and my wolf is going crazy" He looked about him taking in the scene. Instinct told him that Jake hadn't fallen prey to a new-born alone "Get help Embry whilst I distract the Cullen's and their tick friends. I fear things are not as they appear"
Before Embry could reply Sam moved away from where Jake lay and headed towards Carlisle and his family who were maintaining a respectful but interested distance. Embry hung his head as he watched the black wolf phase back to the man which caused Esme to turn away from the sight of his naked body but Sam was in no mood to worry about her feelings.
"Let's move him now Embry" Came the familiar voice of Quil. He was stood over Jacobs body and had been listening to the exchange between Sam and his friend. "You're right as usual Call" he continued bumping shoulders in that lupine way they all had. Embry nodded in response just as they were joined by Brady whose own wolf sniffed at the russet wolf on the ground and yipped a little in excitement
That set the others off as the excited voices in the pack mind link grew even louder as the small seed of hope for Jacob grew
"Everyone shut it!" Leah boomed through the pack mind I can't think straight then added "Get Jake out of sight and beyond the tree line" The female wolf looked around her and like Sam she wasn't happy with the situation. "I don't trust any of these vampires and that includes the Cullen's!"
Embry, Quill and Brady quickly phased back to men and between them they managed to move Jacob under cover of the forest just as Leah had suggested and just in time too as a warning howl signalled the approach of strangers.
Instinctively Sam looked at Carlisle who in turn looked extremely pensive as his eyes travelled over his friends and settled upon the one named Eleazar who had just joined them
"More new-borns?" Sam asked but Carlisle shook his head
"Eleazar?" He asked, "What have you seen?" The dusky vampire simply replied
"The Volturi, Carlisle, Jane is on her way"
From the look on Carlisle's face Sam knew this was not good news but before he could enquire any further Carlisle turned to him
"Get yourself and your pack off this field Sam and do it now! These vampires must not see the pack do you understand?" Sam nodded once. He didn't hesitate a moment longer and phasing back to the black wolf as he ran, he spoke to the pack through the pack link instructing everyone to go beyond tree line and disappear from sight
"What's happening Sam?" Leah asked
"Im not sure" he replied "But one thing I do know whoever this Jane is every single one of those ticks are afraid and that's not good new Leah…"
000
A/N: Just a tiny cliff hanger?
Till next time XOXO