Chapter 28: The Beast

Meredith drove her truck as quick as she could without being conspicuous. She was thankful that the other party guests were starting to leave. It gave them a good cover for going through the crowd. As she drove, her mind raced. Where were they now? What in God's name did they want? Why couldn't they just leave them alone? Her hands tightened on the steering wheel as she thought this. It was bad enough when she turned the corner and was face to face with their attackers but being unaware of just where they were... it was frightening, to say the least. It was like slowly going through waist high, murky water, knowing that crocodiles and snakes swam there. Once out of the mob, Meredith sped towards the dirt road that lead through the thick of the forest. Rosalie had instructed her that they needed to go to the Shepherd home in order to speak with Carlisle. If they were going to do anything about this, they needed to do it together. They rushed up the side of the hill, Meredith pushing her old truck as fast as it could go. She kept her eyes on the road, the other two in the cab keeping their senses elsewhere. Rosalie tried hard to focus on the nomads' auras, but with the moon being how it was, it was hard for her to lock on their auras for a long time. Finally, they arrived at the Shepherd residence, the three of them hurrying inside. Carlisle and the others met them in the living room.

"Rosalie," said Carlisle quickly. "You said it was something important. What is it?"

"The nomads," said Rosalie quickly. Emmet hurried to her side.

"What?" he began. "But I thought..."

"It was the lunar mist," Derek explained. "It's been blocking her signal until now. We need to get Meredith out of here. They're probably still after her to get to us."

Carlisle frowned. "Derek... You and Miss Swan seemed to have grown attached lately. Do you realize that this is more than likely your fault?" He was about to say more, when a hand fell to his shoulder. He sighed as Esme squeezed him. "That's a matter for another day. Right now, we need to concern ourselves with the matter at hand." Meredith felt her tense body loosen as he let the subject go. She glanced at Derek and looked at her feet. She couldn't help thinking that this was her fault. No... she knew it was. If she hadn't invited Derek that day, the nomads would have never seen her. And if she and Derek didn't start to foolishly get involved, there would be no way for the nomads to connect the two of them. It would have saved a lot of trouble for the Shepherds. She gripped the hem of her shirt and looked up.

"Dr. Shepherd... sir..." Carlisle looked at her, a bit surprised that she began talking. "I... I'm sorry that I'm causing so much trouble. But I promise I'll do everything I can to help fix it. I don't want the nomads here anymore then you do... Just tell me what to do."

Carlisle arched a thin eyebrow. He was obviously surprised at her bravado, and in all honesty, she was surprised as well. He shook his head. "There isn't much you can do. Not at the moment any way. If the situation changes, I'll be sure to inform you." He rubbed his face in thought. "Now... like Derek said, we need to get Meredith out of here. Perhaps leading them out of Forks would be a good idea. Although, I can't seem to know what they're really planning." He turned to Rosalie and Esme. "Go to the reservation. Update the Blacks and make sure we have their full support. We might need back up if we're dealing with a multiplier, a morphose, and God only knows what the third one is..."

"We can fight them without their help, can't we?" Derek insisted.

"I don't want to take any chances," Carlisle said simply. "If we can get extra help, we'll take it." Derek didn't seem to like that idea, but Meredith was grateful to Carlisle's idea. She knew Mark would help any way he could, and with what happened the last time they came face to face, she would rather they had a little extra. She watched as the two vampires hurried out through the back of the house, heading to the reservation. Meredith turned to the head vampire.

"Is my dad going to be ok?" she asked earnestly. Carlisle nodded.

"As long as he's unaware of what's happening," he said simply. "I think Mr. Sloan will make sure that he doesn't leave his home." Meredith wrung the hem of her shirt, nervously. That might help, but still... She worried. The last time he was on his own with those nomads on the loose... She didn't want to remember it. She felt a frantic sense of urgency overtake her and she gripped Derek's arm, tugging on it.

"We have to go there," she pleaded with him. "We have to make sure my dad is safe!"

Derek frowned. "We don't have time," he argued. "We need to focus on getting you out of the way so that we can deal with them properly."

"If they get to my dad again, they might kill him!" said Meredith hurriedly. "We have to go! Right now!" She looked at the others, who didn't seem as though they were ready to follow her. She became angry. Why were they so hesitant? They knew the dangers that Thatcher faced if he was alone. Look what happened last time! Why would they just stand there, staring at her? She turned and was about to leave herself – in a fit of irritation – when she felt two large hands take her shoulders. She looked up to Emmet, who had a firm hold on her.

"Relax," he said kindly. "Don't worry about it, ok? He'll be fine. It's not them they're after." Meredith tried to protest. Her father was unaware and unprepared should anything like this happen again. She needed to go to him... to make sure he was safe. But... on the one hand, Emmet was right. They might think that he was dead for all Meredith knew. She bit her lip, gripping her hands tightly. She didn't want to just abandon him... She looked up as her hands suddenly became cold. Derek was gently clutching them with his own.

"He'll be fine," he said lowly. "I promise you he'll be fine." Meredith looked into his sincere, blue eyes. She trusted him... She knew Derek would not allow anything to happen to her or her father... Yet, she still worried. But she supposed there wasn't much she could do at the moment. She nodded, her eyes casting downward.

"Well now that that's settled," came the smooth voice of Alice. It made Meredith jump and turn to look at her. She smiled slyly, a dress of chocolate brown on her slim figure now. "I suggest we get her out of the state... Or at least out of the city limits. Canada, perhaps?"

"Sounds like a plan," said Carlisle. He turned to the others. "We'll escort her out of the state. If the nomads decide to follow, we'll find some way to either lose them or trap them."

"Will a trap work?" asked Emmet, folding his thick arms. "We tried that once before."

"We'll just have to see." Carlisle motioned for the others to follow. Meredith staid close to Derek, her heart trembling. The plan that they had at the moment was hardly much of a plan at all... but it was all they had to go on right now. They rushed outside, the cold absolutely numbing, when they all stopped, realizing who was waiting for them.

The nomads stood in front of them, eyes blazing and fangs at the ready. Laurent stood in the middle of the two others, Victoria's arms already transforming into dagger like appendages. Meredith felt Derek get closer to her, a low rumbling vibrating off of his chest. Meredith let her eyes trail to James. He stood near the back; eyes locked on the human. He looked the least ready for a fight, and yet... his glaring gaze was the most terrifying of the three. She shuttered and gripped Derek tightly. Laurent ran his tongue along his white teeth.

"Evening," he said lowly. "Beautiful night tonight... don't you think?"

Carlisle stood in front of the others, noble and strong. In the moonlight, he reminded Meredith of some strange, white knight, fearlessly glaring at the face of death. Or perhaps it was the terror of the situation simply making things more dramatic? In any case, Meredith suddenly felt a profound respect for Carlisle. He kept his eyes firm, his jaw tight. "What do you want?" he asked evenly. "We have given you opportune time to leave in peace. Why do you insist on making this difficult?"

A laugh came from Laurent's throat, amused that Carlisle would ask such a question. "Why? What a silly question..." He stood up straighter, snapping his fingers. Just as before, Laurent copies rushed out of his body, taking several positions around the Shepherds, all equally menacing. They licked their lips, grinning and seething. "Peacekeepers are so irritating to the rest of us," Laurent continued. "The Shepherds... the most infamous of the pacifist vampire clans... Do you know how much you and your little 'family' is despised?" He lowered himself, the others following suit. They looked ready to leap, like tigers or lions ready to kill. "Once we bring your heads to the Volturi on silver platters, we'll gain legions of respect... We'll be worshiped! All because we got rid of everyone's most irritating pests... But first – " he laughed, his fangs growing longer, " – we're going to devour that little human pet of yours, just to piss you off."

With that, they all jumped at once. Meredith was pushed to the ground as the sounds of feral snarling and the feeling of wind rushing past her made her cower against the grass. Timidly, she chanced a look up to what she was seeing. Instead of the fast paced, areal battle that she saw the first time, this was much more graphic and gruesome. She watched Derek swipe at the nomads, his face twisted into something demonic. His eyes were a light with anger and fury, his hands curved to resemble claws. She watched as blood spat out from several places, shooting into the moonlight. Her eyes fell to Carlisle. He now had a large scar across his face, which was quickly healing. All the while, he was trying to hold off James, who was giving him a run for his money. Just behind him, Meredith watched as Victoria stretched her arm out, launching it to Carlisle's back. Meredith wanted to shout but stopped when Emmet jumped in front of it. One second, he was the fleshy body that she was used to, and the next, his body turned to the consistency of stone, stopping Victoria's arm abruptly and making her retract it in pain.

Meredith felt something tug at her arm. She looked up to see Jasper, yanking her to her feet. Without a word, he tossed her onto his back and began to run. Meredith hung on for dear life, realizing that Jasper was going much faster then any speed Derek had ever attempted. The wind stung her eyes, making them water terribly, as falling leaves whipped her face and arms. She shut her eyes to stop them from burning and gripped on tighter. Jasper must have been the fastest of the Shepherds. Finally, they came to an abrupt halt. Meredith lurched forward before slipping off onto shaky legs. She fell to the ground, panting and looking up to Jasper, who stood before her. She pulled her knees to her chest, nodding at him. They must have been deep in the forest, the moon being blocked from the thicket of the canopy above them. "Th...thank you," she said weakly. Jasper paused, staring at her as silently as ever. He then dropped in front of her, crouching on his heals and putting his hands on his kneecaps. It was then that Meredith realized what a youthful face he had, even though he kept it so sullen. He must have been no older than fourteen when he was turned. She stared at him, and he did the same. Carefully, she moved to her knees, resting her hands in her lap. There was another pause between them, and Jasper did the same. Meredith smiled softly, but this time, he did not mirror her. "Um... Jasper... Don't you talk at all?"

"Yes," he said finally. She was right when she guessed his age. His voice was still boyish. He probably hadn't gone all the way through puberty yet.

Meredith nodded. "Well that's good..." She looked at her hands, fidgeting with her fingers. "Um... Jasper... I know you don't really like white women... But I'd like to be your friend. If you'll let me of course." She looked back up to him, hopeful. She didn't want to be on such hostile terms with the boy. In a way, she felt like she was dealing with Derek all over again. He shifted where he sat.

"I dunno," he said finally. He looked over to the side, thinking it through. He must have been deep in thought, so Meredith didn't disturb his concentration. He looked back over to her. "Why?"

"Oh." That question caught her off guard. "Well... it's just..." She rubbed the back of her neck. How could she explain this? "I just want to be friends, that's all. There's really no reason."

There was another silence. Jasper then slid his legs out from underneath him and crossed them, putting his hands on his gray ankles; for he still did not wear shoes. Meredith supposed he was more comfortable without them. "You're like Miss Bessy," he stated suddenly.

"Who?" asked Meredith.

"Miss Bessy," he repeated. "She was my Master's daughter... She wanted to be friends, too. But her Pa got so mad..." He trailed off, not saying anything more. He did, however, subconsciously rub his arm and shoulder blade. Meredith felt her heart sink. He had probably been punished for it profusely.

"Oh..." She thought things over. "Well... no one's going to get mad if we're friends, right?" She smiled kindly then, and carefully touched his hand. He drew it away, but not as quickly as Meredith would have assumed. Meredith was about to say something else, when Jasper snapped his head up and shot to his feet. Meredith did the same, eyes pointed where his was. From out of the shadows came none other than James. His eyes glared through the dark, causing chills to run down Meredith's spine.

"Good evening," he growled, his teeth flashing threateningly. Meredith noticed that his fangs were spattered with a bit of pink, his hands with a few splotches of crimson. The sight made her stomach curl within her. "It's not nice to leave without saying goodbye, you know..." He took a few steps forward. As he did, Meredith saw something change about him. His skin began to grow dimmer, and scalier in texture. His feet started to elongate, his back going rigid and twisting into a beast like curve. His face stretched into something resembling a bat's face, his fangs growing to the point of being small tusks. His fingers became longer as well, his nails extending to make talons. The back of his shirt ripped open, flesh colored, scaly wings beginning to spout from his shoulder blades. They stretched out at least three feet each, flapping beside him. Large nostrils flaring, his eyes also changed. Instead of the usual black, or the alluring gold, their color changed, filling up the entire iris with a deep, bright scarlet. James's jaw unhinged and opened wide, slobber dripping from his teeth. He screeched, making Meredith cringe and cover her ears in fright.

Without another thought, Jasper once more threw Meredith onto his back and rushed along the forest floor. From above, Meredith could hear the flapping of his accursed wings, his sounds like nails on a chalk board. Meredith could feel Jasper sharply turn left and right, trying to lose him. At times, she felt his hot breath on her neck, he smelled like rotting corpses. She begged Jasper to go faster in her mind, gripping onto him as tightly as she could. All of the sudden, Jasper jerked forward, and he and Meredith came tumbling down. Meredith tried to scream, but her lungs wouldn't retain the air needed for it. They rolled out of the forest and onto a cement road. She laid there for only a second before forcing herself on her knees to look over to Jasper.

He was panting and crying out, gripping his leg. Long claw marks pierced his leg, blood dribbling from his wound to the ground. Meredith rushed over and pressed her hands on the marks, trying to stop the bleeding. It was only a second more when Meredith heard the ominous flapping above her. She jerked her eyes to the sky, seeing James's flying figure above her. She shook with fear, looking to Jasper's wound. It was starting to heal, but it wasn't going fast enough. She looked around and spotted a splintered stick of wood that tumbled along with them. She grabbed it and stood, holding it at the ready. She was prepared to defend herself and Jasper no matter what it took.

James floated to the ground, his blood red eyes shimmering in the silver mist of the moon. He began to slowly make his way over to her, his wings spread out, giving him an even grander look of terror. She held her temporary stake with all her might, though it did not stop her hands' tremor. She could see his twisted grin as he came closer, snarling with each breath he took. But just as he was two feet from her, blinding lights came out from behind and a honk rang through the night air. The light flashed right in James's eyes and he flailed back, hissing and covering his face. Meredith turned to see Mark skid to the side, stopping the car. Esme and Rosalie were in the passenger's seat.

"Jasper's hurt!" was the first thing she said. The two vampires hopped out and rushed to their fallen comrade. Rosalie turned to Meredith.

"Get in the truck!" she ordered. "Mark will take you out of here!"

"But what about – ?"

"Just GO!"

Meredith jumped and then rushed to the truck, clamoring inside. Mark spared no time in turning the truck around and flooring it down the road. Meredith looked out the rear-view mirror and watched until the figures they left behind were no longer in sight.