{Chapter Twenty}
Time trickles by slowly, each tick of the clock a reminder of much less time I have to sleep. Insomnia has spent a lot of time haunting me. Where there should be dreams, there is only the blackness of my eyelids. I lie as if asleep until pain shoots up my side, forcing me to shift to my back. I suspect that it is closer to dawn then I would like it to be, but I refuse to look at the clock. Looking at the clock and seeing those angry red numbers staring back at me will only make my insomnia worse. Daylight breaks through the cracks of my blind and I groan in frustration before tossing the covers off. Resolving myself to a day of fatigue, I head to the shower to attempt to wash away some of the grogginess. Staring in the mirror, it is easy to see the dark circles under my eyes. It's easy to see how much Asher has plagued my thoughts with his own dark, twisted musings. I wash my face before dressing in a pair of rolled cuff jeans, a grey tee shirt, and a matching flannel shirt. I finish the look by slipping on a pair of my favourite ankle boots. Feeling as ready as I can be, I head downstairs for a much-needed cup of coffee. I find the dining room enveloped in tense silence as Sam paces the floor. Quil and Jacob are staring at him, both of their shoulders tense.
"Are you sure it was Asher?" Sam asks.
I freeze, Asher's name sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. Grabbing my coffee, I take a seat next to Jacob.
"Without a doubt, I have the guy's scent ingrained in my nose," Jacob says.
"Same here, but his trail is not all we found Sam," Quil says.
"What do you mean?" Sam asks.
Jacob and Quil share a look before Quil clears his throat.
"There was a...there was a body, Sam. A girl. She looked about our age and she was completely drained of blood," Quil says.
Sam's face flashes a million different emotions before settling on rage. Anger rolls off of him in thick waves as he slams his fist into the nearest wall.
"Damn it!"
Jacob, Quil, and I flinch.
"Sam, what do you want us to do?" Jacob asks.
Sam runs his hand over his short hair, shaking his head. He takes a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his fist. It takes a minute before he is able to address Jacob and Quil.
"Call the others. This psycho has crossed our borders for the last damn time. He is going to ever regret messing with us. Mia..."
I pull the coffee cup away from my lips, my gaze meeting Sam's.
"Head to the Cullen's. I want you to get out from under this guy as soon as possible."
I nod, "I'll head there now."
I almost halfway out the door before Sam stops me, a hand on my shoulder.
"Be safe out there, Mia."
"I will, you guys be safe out there too."
Sam gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze before turning back towards the boys. I nod at Jacob and Quil, who smile at me reassuringly. Taking one last look at them, I climb into my car and take off to the Cullen's. Along the way, Seth calls me to tell me that the pack has picked up on Asher's trail again and are heading out. I make him promise that he'll come back in one piece before pulling up the Cullen's house. Jasper is waiting out on the front steps, his face a mask of calm.
"You ready for this?" he asks.
"As I'll ever be. What about you? Are you staying this time too?"
He nods, "I will. However, I don't think that either one of us is as ready as we wish to be for what is about to happen."
"You're probably right. Where are the others?" I ask.
"Edward is with Bella, as usual. Emmett and Rosalie are on a camping trip, something about a couple that hunts together stays together. I believe Esme is in the kitchen trying to keep Alice occupied and Carlisle is waiting in his office with Kai."
I nod and take a deep breath. A look of shock breaks out on my face as Jasper takes my hand.
"Everything is going to be fine, Mia."
He squeezes my hand as an overwhelming sense of calm fills me. I know that it is Jasper, trying to help me calm my nerves.
"Thanks, Jasp."
We head inside to Carlisle's office and Kai immediately stands up and kisses my hand.
"How are you feeling, Mio amore?"
"Nervous," I say.
"As am I. This... this is something I have never done before," Kai says.
"But it will work, right?"
"I don't know, Mio amore. However, I am willing to try if you are."
I nod, unsure if I can trust my voice anymore. Kai leads me into a chair and takes a seat across from me. Before leaving, Carlisle places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Good luck, Mia."
Jasper takes the chair next to me, his eyes closed as if he is mentally preparing himself for what's about to happen.
"Before we begin, I feel that I should explain what is about to happen. As I said before, what I am attempting to do I have never done before. Breaking another's compulsion is a very difficult task, one that will be extremely painful. How painful this process will be, depends on how much of a hold Asher's compulsion has on you. I cannot promise success. My plan as it stands is to open your mind to mine and find the exact moment that Asher compelled you. Once I find it, I am hoping that I can compel you to forget it. Jasper, while I am grateful you are here to help keep Mia calm, I feel I should warn you that you are also going to experience great pain. Everything Mia feels, you will feel."
"I know, I can handle it," Jasper says.
"I truly hope that you can, my friend. Mia, if at any point I feel that it is too much for you or that you are in danger of being permanently harmed, I will stop and not continue."
"But..."
"I will not put your life in danger, Mia. I promised Gabriel and Carlisle that I would help you in any way that I can, but I will not put your life at risk for that promise."
"Fair enough."
Kai nods, "good. Now close your eyes, Mio amore. Try to relax."
Jasper's hand squeezes mine and I close my eyes. I feel Kai move closer to me before he whispers.
"Ricorda."
Suddenly I am plunged back into the memories of that day. I can smell the copper scent of blood, see the picture of all the girls that Asher slaughtered. Each scene is like a knife to the gut, twisting deeper and deeper. Every memory is like a wave of pain crashing down, dragging me under until I am surrounded by nothing but darkness. Just when I feel as though I am going to drown, the pain stops and the scene changes. Instead of being in the warehouse with Asher, I am surrounded by greenery. I can't move an inch without a plant touching me. The silence is deafening. Making my way deeper and deeper into the forest, the silence only grows more profound. When I hear a tree branch snap and I freeze. I wait for the sound of footfalls, but nothing comes. Then suddenly, a growl shakes the very forest floor causing me to stumble. My conscious is torn in two as I argue with myself about whether to follow the sound or stay put. However, my feet make the decision for me as I clear the trees. Sunlight floods my vision and I briefly close my eyes, waiting for them to adjust. A low growl breaks the silence again as a voice rings out...
"Are you watching, Sweet? Are you ready to watch your friend die because of you?"
My blood runs cold as Asher's voice fills my head. My eyes lock onto his dark figure in the middle of the field, a dark figure that is face to face with a familiar wolf.
"Sam!" I call out.
"He can't hear you, Sweet. Only I can hear you."
"Asher, please."
"I tried to warn you, Sweet. I never wanted it to be this way, but you forced my hand. Now the people you care so much about are going to suffer because of it and he...he will be the first."
A sharp snap fills the air, sending the birds in the trees flying as Asher breaks Sam's leg in two. A roar unlike any other comes from Sam and shakes the very ground beneath my feet. Rising to his full height, Sam charges as Asher only to be sent flying into a nearby tree. A stark revelation breaks through my thoughts as I realize that Asher is too strong for Sam.
"Sam!"
I run forward only to hit some kind of barrier that sends me flying back into the underbrush behind me. Stumbling back to my feet, I charge forward again. This time sent back even further than before. Fearing for Sam's life, I hit the barrier with everything I have as I watch Sam try to regain his footing. Asher hits Sam again and what sounds like ribs cracking fills the air. A whimper of pain escapes from Sam as he once again tries to get to his feet. Tears stream down my face as my bloody fist hits the barrier again and again.
"No! No, please! Sam!"
Sam tries to get up again but fails as his leg gives out from under him. I hit my knees, blood pours out of my hand as I hit the barrier again and again.
"Would you like to hear his last thoughts, Sweet?"
"Please, please. Don't do this. Let him go, I'll come with you. I'll do anything, just please."
Sam's thoughts ring out through the air as a renewed sense of vigour floods my system. Continuing to slam my fist into the barrier, I try to break it down.
"Emily, I love you. I'm sorry I let you and everyone down."
I watch helplessly, sobs racking my body, my blood left on the barrier as Asher stands over Sam. Sam, still determined to keep fighting, struggles to get up one final time. Asher takes one last charge at him, his teeth sinking into Sam's neck as the smell of blood fills the air.
"Sam!" I scream out.
Asher turns to face me, his face covered in blood, his teeth gleaming in the sunlight. Blood drips down his chin as he takes a step towards me. I struggle to stand up as darkness once again surrounds me...
Author's Note:
Hey, everyone!
So I am super sorry about not posting in forever, I promise that was not my intention. I just had a few scenes I really wanted to rewrite. Anyway, we are almost to the end of the story so don't forget to send in your questions for the Q&A. Happy reading or not so happy I guess because of what just happened.
-Jess