Unexpected
I woke up to the blaring sun, shining on my face. A rarity for this area. I squinted my eyes and looked up at the partially clouded sky. I heard the rocks next to me shift under weight. I stiffened, realizing I was not alone. I heard a throat clearing, as I looked up I saw iridescent eyes staring down at me. The familiar color was startling to look at. I jumped up quickly putting space between myself and this mysterious man.
"You have nothing to fear, little one," his voice was stern and held unspeakable authority. I finally looked down and realized something. He was full on merman. I was shocked and confused. Why didn't he have legs? Didn't he know how to separate his aura?
"Who are you? Why don't you have legs?" I asked frantically. He didn't move in any threatening way towards me. In fact he barely moved at all. He simply watched my movements.
"Dearest Bella, do you not see the resemblances?" His voice was calm. I slowly began taking in his appearance. He had a very similar nose to Renee, and his bone structure resembled that of grandma Dwyer. I gasped when the realization hit me.
"We're related?" I asked.
"Sweet Bella, I have come to warn you. You are in grave danger. You must trust your heart and decide your own fate." His response didn't deny it, but I needed to know exactly who he was. Before I could ask he was gone.
I stood up, surveying the beach. This was definitely not the Reservation, at least it didn't look like it. I have never been to this beach before. I turned to look out at the ocean. The view was breathtaking and I felt like I was being called to the watery depths. Something in the distance glimmered, I took a tentative step toward the water, I felt like I was in a trance. I could hear someone calling my name in the distance. I brushed it off and closed my eyes, I started to take another step forward when I felt warm arms wrap around me, pulling me back.
"Bella!" The voice was familiar and I couldn't remember where I had heard it before. I couldn't take my eyes away from the ocean. I could feel the person struggling to pull me away. I felt my body being turned around. I saw my reflection in the eyes of Embry Call. My eyes were no longer the human brown he was used to. I saw his shocked expression before hiding it behind a mask. He was shouting at me, shaking my shoulders as if I were asleep and he was trying to wake me. Only it didn't feel like I was asleep. It felt like I was being controlled. My hand came up grabbing him by the throat. He began to shake uncontrollably, causing me to tighten my grasp. He began to claw at my arm. I could hear someone running in the forest, coming towards us. I tore my gaze away from the struggling little wolf and scanned the tree line. I didn't see the pursuer but I could still hear them coming. The moment my eyes turned back to the struggling wolf in my grasp I heard my name. I didn't have to turn around and look, to know who it was that had called out to me. Paul!
Everything happened in slow motion then. I don't know how but I felt him coming towards me rapidly. At the same time I let Embry go, Paul crashed into my side breaking a couple of my ribs, and Embry standing only inches away phased the exact moment I released him. I felt the sharp pain across the left side of my body. I landed with an audible thud against the stones. I felt the breath escape my lips as Paul stared at me in horror.
The tide was coming in and the salty water was lapping at my right arm. I was in shock. I could hear Paul screaming my name, I could see the fear on his face, he was crying. I didn't understand why he cared. I slowly turned away from him looking to the ocean, I reached my right arm towards the water and turned to look up at Paul one last time. I pulled the water to me as Paul scurried away frightened.
"BELLA!" he screamed as I let the water pull me in. He was running after me.
I drifted into the sea. I could see the sky up above the water. I wanted to wake up and everything all just be a bad dream. I felt myself slowly changing. My blood was seeping out into the water. I was very slowly healing but not fast enough. I struggled to swim down the coast looking for a beach secluded enough to change back to run home. Once I finally find one I don't waste time changing before running into the forest. I'm still bleeding and I'm exhausted. I keep slamming into trees unable to dodge them.
I finally reach a road and follow it in the direction of Forks, but something causes me to stop. What if they're waiting for me? The images of Sam pulling me to that cliff, pulls me up short. I needed to get to the Cullens house.
I follow the road signs leading to forks, but slow as I near the entrance of the Cullens drive. I slammed into the tree at opening letting out a groan. "Jasper," I whispered as I collapsed in the dirt.
The moments that followed were hazy as the pain started to become uncomfortable. I saw Jasper appear in my line of sight, he was talking to me, and though, I could barely understand anything, I knew I would be okay. Jasper picked up my unmoving body shouting that everything was going to be alright. We were inside the house within seconds, Carlisle was already prepared for my arrival. I was gently placed on a table in a study.
"What happened to her?" I heard Esme asking frantically.
"I'm not sure dear. She looks like she was mauled by a grizzly bear," Carlisle replied.
"Or one of those mutts did this," I heard Edward chime in. Though he was correct, I couldn't voice it.
"Why would they do this to her?" Jasper demanded.
"I'm not sure son," Carlisle, ever so compassionate, was very concerned.
"Dear, you should call the Alpha and ask about this," Esme suggested.
"That's not a good idea. I can't see their reaction," I heard Alice say.
"Nevertheless we need to get her healthy before word gets out," I heard Rosalie hiss.
"Rose, take Emmett for a hunt. Jasper, perhaps you should join them son? Esme, I need warm water and clean towels," Carlisle spoke with authority.
"NO! I'm not leaving her side. I can handle it," Jasper said in frustration. I felt his cool hand wrap around my own. I turned to look at him, my vision blurry. I felt needles piercing my other arm. Jasper looked at me with a loving concern. "Hang in there Darlin', you're going to be just fine," his voice wavered slightly as if he didn't believe himself. I thought back to last night when he gave me the roses with sunflowers. The sparkle in his eyes every time he looked in my own. I thought about Jake and wondered if he was worried. I thought about how we're becoming so distant. I thought about how Jasper told me to give it a chance. I felt drowsy and exhausted. My eyes closed involuntarily and sleep took me.
-*-
I woke to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. I was standing on that strange beach from before. There in the water waving towards me was the man I recently spoke to just this morning. I started to walk towards the water when someone grabbed my hand. I turned to face whoever it was an gasped unexpectedly. Jacob? He held my hand sorrow evident in his features.
"Don't go Bella. You belong here with me," his voice was breaking.
He looked like he was in pain, but he looked different from my Jacob. His hair was cropped and he bore the same tribal tattoo as Paul. I looked down at his hand holding mine and knew that I did belong there, only not with him. I took my hand from his. He began to shake uncontrollably, almost vibrating.
"Bella run!" I heard someone shouting at me. I didn't even have to think about it, my feet moved themselves far enough away. I watched with horror as my best friend exploded into a russet brown wolf. He snarled at me as he slowly paced towards me. I felt cold arms wrap around my waist pulling me back.
"Jasper!" He pulled me behind him, protectively. I saw Paul appear behind Jake, running before freezing when he catches sight of me hiding behind Jasper.
"Let her go leech," Paul snapped.
"Not a chance in hell mutt," Jasper spat.
Wait, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I could go with whomever I damn pleased. Who did they think they were, ordering me around? I felt myself back away slowly from the two men. Who was I to interrupt a pissing contest. But when I turned to run, I stopped. Frozen in place by fear. Before me stood three vampires. I recognized the red headed female from a previous dream, but the others I was sure I had not dreamed of before. But before I could run they advanced on me.
-*-
I was startled awake. I looked up at the odd ceiling. I didn't recognize it. I twitched my fingers and my toes. I still had them, though, one was being held. I was propped up in a hospital bed, in what looked like, Carlisle's home office. I glanced around at the familiar room. I saw Jasper staring at me with a small smile. How long have I been out? I wondered. I move to sit up but I'm stopped by Jasper holding me down lightly.
"Not just yet, darlin'," he whispered softly.
"What happened? Where am I? How did I get here? What day is it? Is Charlie mad at me?" The questions rushed out of me like word vomit. I began breathing heavy.
"Hold on Darlin', just slow down. We're not sure about what happened before you showed up in the drive. But we're guessing you ran here from the beach. We followed your scent and it stopped on a secluded beach south along the coast. You're in Carlisle's study at our house. You've been out for a couple of days. Charlie is worried but he knows you're here. Alice took delivery of getting you an overnight bag and left a note saying you were spending the night here. Carlisle easily fabricated another story that you became very ill and couldn't go to school, and now the Cullen kids have what you have so to speak." He answered my questions with ease.
"What about Jacob? Did he call?" I asked. I kinda knew the answer before it was spoken. Billy Black would never let his son associate with vampires.
"No, darlin'. Charlie told the Black family that you were here and that you had gotten sick. They didn't ask further questions, the Black kid didn't seem to notice anything off so he didn't ask further about you. Edward said he believed the story and thinks you're sick and that now we all are." I chuckled at the last bit. Jacob believed so easily. He was so innocent.
"What about Billy?" I asked. His face fell with sadness first, then turned to anger.
"He didn't ask questions, but we believe he knows what happened to you. He accepted the story, though, you should know that he and Sam Uley will be here later," he replied. His voice was stern and held unspeakable anger at the two. I slowly began to remember that I had swam down the coast and I remembered that I was injured. But everything was hazy. I wanted to ask if Paul was calling or if he was worried, but I knew that he would not show anything towards me because I was his dirty little secret. I didn't know I was crying till the tears dripped down onto my shirt.
"Jazz, what day is it?" I asked.
"Wednesday, the eighteenth. Why?" His brow furrowed in confusion.
"Just wondering how long I've been here." I slowly sit up, I could feel a pounding in my head. I also needed to use the bathroom. "Jazz, where is the bathroom?"
He gently set my hand down and I suddenly felt myself being lifted off the table. I looked over and was surprised to see Rosalie carrying me to the bathroom. I didn't say anything as she set me down and smiled before leaving. I quickly used the toilet and washed my hands. I finally looked up at my reflection and gasped. It looked as if I had had stitches that were removed. I was slowly healing. Along the left side of my body were red marks that were healing slowly. I frowned as the unwanted memory assaulted my mind. I don't know what had came over me. Tears streamed down my face.
There was a light knock at the door and Alice's head popped in. "Is everything okay? Do you want to talk about it," she asked softly. I shook my head 'no', before turning to leave. Before I could exit Esme appeared with a small pile of clothing. I took them, smiling a 'thanks'. She smiled before disappearing. I quickly dressed in the tank top and jeans provided. My face must've been horrific judging by the red markings. As I made my way downstairs the doorbell rang. I heard Rosalie hiss upstairs and Edward came zipping down the steps, Carlisle close behind.
"Bella, are you hungry," Esme asked urgently. I ignored the question making my way to the door. Carlisle and Edward were standing on the porch, Carlisle was speaking calmly. I moved to look around them to see whom it was they were talking to. I groaned inwardly at the sight of Billy Black, Sam Uley and of course Paul. Sam turned his gazed to glare at me, Billy placed his hand on his forearm.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit gentlemen?" Carlisle asked politely. Edward suddenly glared in their direction.
"We came to check on Bella is all. To see how she was doing," Billy declared. I took my eyes away from Edward glaring at the visitors and looked directly at Paul. His expression was pained as he took in my appearance. I still had a couple of stitches in my cheek, but the remaining red markings were very visible. Paul had seen everything that had happened and got first sight of the horrifying cuts across my body. I frowned turning to go back inside. I couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't want to see them. They didn't care about me at all, they only wanted to ensure that I was no longer a threat. I turned to head inside when Jasper appeared next to me taking my hand and guiding me inside. I heard a growl behind us and suddenly, Emmett and Caleb were flying past us. Jasper lead me in to the kitchen and took a seat pulling me into his lap. Esme sat a plate of food in front of me. I chuckled lightly when I realized what it was. Talapia, a personal favorite that humans loved. It was seasoned very lightly with old bay and adobo, cut in two halves.
"I wasn't sure which one you preferred so I did both sides separately with different flavors. I hope you enjoy it dear," she smiled at me kindly.
"Thank you," I replied. I picked up the fork and dug in. Of course they were both delicious. Esme sat down a large glass of what smelled like strawberry lemonade. I took it grateful for her hospitality. There was a loud ruckus at the door and suddenly Paul appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. I stood up and backed away, till I was against the farthest wall.
"I was checking to make sure you were okay, but I guess you clearly switched sides," I didn't understand what he was talking about 'sides'.
"What are you talking about, Paul?" I asked in frustration.
"Nothing. If you want to talk, you know where to find me." With that he rudely shoved his way out of the house. I took the chair next to Jasper as he took my hand.
"Darlin', what happened?" His voice was low and soothing.
"Everything happened so quickly. It was unexpected, I didn't mean to do it. I wasn't myself," my voice was shaking. The Cullens all came in and took a seat around the large dining table. Edward took the other seat next to me and rubbed my back calmly in a soothing manner. How odd. I thought to myself.
"It's alright Bella, take your time," Carlisle said patiently. I took a deep breath before continuing.
"Valentine's day night I felt a sharp pain in my chest. It hurt so bad that I thought I would change so I rushed out to head to the ocean as it helps heal me faster than freshwater. Only I didn't make it all the way to the water, just to the beach. I saw something on the water but it's impossible because they went extinct. I swear I thought I saw a sea dragon just before I fainted from the pain in my heart," I began crying as the memory of the pain flashed through me. I felt a wave of calm settle over me. I looked at Jasper grateful for his gift. I continued.
"I woke up the next morning in the sunlight still on the beach. There was someone else with me, another merfolk. A merman actually. He said we were related and we talked for a bit before he swam away. That's when I saw the glimmer on the water, it's not supposed to work on merfolk tho. But since I'm not fully mermaid it felt as if something was controlling me. I heard Embry approached me and before I could control myself I grabbed him by the neck and almost killed him," I was crying and my body was shaking as the sobs rocked me. Jasper pulled me into his lap, then Edward spoke.
"Paul the mutt that was in here, attacked Bella and it caused the smaller boy to phase too close to Bella. She must've used her power to pull herself into the water after that," he turned to look at me a frown on his face. I smiled, thankful he could read the wolves minds to tell this part.
I jumped when the voice inside interrupted. I wouldn't trust there kind Bella! I see your soul is destined for another. You mustn't let yourself fall in love with this Jasper vampire. I gasp when the voice finishes, frowning I look at Jasper. Was I falling for him? I wondered.
"What is it darlin'," he asked pressing his forehead to mine.
"Nothing to worry about Jazz," I whispered smiling. He kissed my nose before hugging me closer.
I had to call Jake, he must've been worried sick. I looked around and noticed it was just Jasper and I left. I stood and cleared my dishes before asking Jasper to borrow his phone.
"Actually darlin', Alice took the liberty and got you a bag as a cover for your story and your phone and charger are in the front pocket. She even has a couple of dozen bags for you to take home when you're ready," he said sheepishly. I raised my brow at that last bit.
"What are the bags for?" I asked.
"Part of your cover story was that you, Alice, and Rose went shopping with Esme," he chuckled.
"Ah, I see. Did I buy anything nice?" I asked with a smirk. If he could blush I swear he'd be as bright as a tomato.
"Alice got you a lingerie set to wear under your prom dress for prom." He looked away biting his lip. I cocked my head to the side walking up to him. I placed my hand on his shoulder and turned him to face me, my brow raised in a questioning tone.
"I might have peaked," he whispered. I blushed brightly at that. I was very embarrassed. No one except Jake has seen my underwear. Paul only saw my breast because Embry had practically shredded my swimsuit top when he phased. He wasn't bothered by it either, he was more concerned with the large gashes on my left side. Jake saw me topless during our very heated makeout session that Charlie had walked in on, and of course the time I got stung by fire coral. I blushed brighter at what could've happened had he not shown up. I looked down at my hands fiddling with my fingers. Jasper grabbed my chin between his index finger and thumb, and pulled me to look up at him.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about darlin'. I think you'll look very beautiful in everything she picked out," he whispered. I sighed biting my lip as he kissed my forehead. My heart rate accelerated causing him to chuckle. He took my hand leading me upstairs to his room where my bags were. I looked around suspiciously, wondering why my bags were in here. I rummaged through my duffel bag for my phone. "I'll just give you your privacy. Don't worry this is the only other room that is soundproof. We plan on soundproofing all the bedrooms for privacy purposes but for now only two are," with that he parted closing the door behind him. I didn't want to risk Billy answering the phone so I dialed Jake's cell phone number.
"Bella!" he shouted through the speaker. I had to pull the phone away from my ear.
"Hey, Jake. Sorry I haven't been able to call you," I replied.
"It's okay Bells. My old man told me you were too sick. You sound better," he said.
"Yeah, I feel better than I did. Hopefully this weekend we get to hang out," I asked him. I was hoping to remove the distance between us.
"Actually Bella, when you get home we need to talk." Those four words repeated in my head as I almost lost my bearing.
"What do you mean we have to talk," I demanded. There was some rustling in the back ground and suddenly Paul's voice was talking back to me.
"He said he will talk to you when you get home, Swan. Just run off with your precious leech lover," he snapped. I dropped the phone before running into the bathroom to puke. I felt my heart breaking. I didn't expect this to come from Jake. I already knew what he wanted to talk about. I picked up my phone after rinsing my mouth. I could hear Billy calling my name. Fuck you. I thought. I hit the end button and pulled up the messaging screen.
Don't bother.
I already know what
you're going to say.
Just save it Jacob.
My chest tightened as I pressed the 'send' button. I didn't want to hear his excuses. I just wanted it to be done. I crawled into the bed and began to sob. I cried for the loss of my best friend. Even though he wasn't dead he might as well have been. Paul wasn't making anything easier for me either. If Jacob had phased, he wouldn't want anything to do with me. Especially if Paul claimed that I was his, but then why would he? I was kept a secret. I don't know how long I cried or when Jasper crawled into the bed next to me but eventually I grew exhausted. I was to tired to keep crying. I laid in Jasper's arms soaking his shirt with my tears when i finally stopped. He caressed my good cheek with his cool hand.
"Before you go to bed, Carlisle would like to remove the remaining stitches darlin'. And Esme has a plate of salmon for you to eat if you're hungry," he whispered.
I nodded my head and followed him to Carlisle's study. After the removal of the last stitch, Jasper and I made our way to the kitchen. Esme was just done setting the plate down before smiling at me kindly. I sat in Jasper's lap and ate silently. When I was done I washed my dishes, and taking Jasper's hand we went back to his bed. He held me again as I let a new wave of sorrow wash over me. I was glad he let me feel this because otherwise I wouldn't be able to get past it.
Jasper held me as I cried myself to sleep, wondering what the danger, the merman who claimed to be related to me, was talking about. It'll have to wait till later. For now the pain of losing Jake shook through my sobbing body. Finally I fell asleep.