I leaned against the counter as I watched Raley make the pizza. Opening the box, taking off the plastic, putting it in the oven, setting the timer. She was silent as she moved. Not a sound came from her mouth, not even a sharp intake of breath when she sliced her finger on a sharp edge of the box. Her face was almost emotionless, as though she hadn't felt a thing.
"Pepperoni is ok, right?" she asked after she put it in the oven.
But I nodded, instead of answering through words. For some reason, I wanted to be silent. Just like her.
She came and leaned against the counter across from me, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at me through those deep yellow eyes.
"Is there anything else you would like to know?"
For a long time I said nothing. There were honestly millions of things I would like to know. Why did you really come? How do you know so much? Who are you really? And most important, how did you know my mother?
But I asked none of these. Because now, now wasn't the right time for me to know.
So instead I answered, "tell me everything about being a werewolf."
She smiled, so I knew she was waiting for this question.
"Where should I start? The legends, they're true. We only phase during the full moon, no exceptions. Silver bullets, also true. If you don't get it removed immediately, you'll die within minutes. It's painful, and one of the worst ways to die. You can either be bitten, or you can be born a werewolf. You're stronger if you're born one."
"Were you born one?" I interjected.
"Yes," she said slowly, pursing her lips as if the fact that she was, was causing her to think deeply about it.
We were silent for a moment. Raley didn't speak, her eyes were slightly glazed over and her breath had quickened. But it didn't last for long, because suddenly her eyes were clear again and she smiled at me.
"Sorry. Anyways, werewolves are nomadic creatures. It's very hard for more than two to join together. We are rough and violent creatures...made from hell itself. Our venom is extremely poisonous to vampires. Even a scratch will turn them to ash. Vampire venom however does not affect us. The only way a vampire could kill us is with silver. Most commonly used is a silver stake through the heart. That will ensure a permanent death of a werewolf. The Volturi used it to kill Valadik, the very first and strongest werewolf that ever lived. And, that's what began the extinction of our race."
She stopped for a second as she stared down at her necklace that was laced between her fingers.
"But if you're so powerful, how did you become extinct?" I asked quietly.
"We're are only like that one night a month. Other than that, we are as vulnerable as humans. Utterly weak and defenseless. They formed armies and killed us off while we were humans. Only a few survived. And they were the ones that ran and hid instead of fought."
"And you said that werewolves are nomadic, but yet you live in a pack?"
"Well we were different," she said shortly. "Our pack leader, Beck, he had a theory. And for as long as I could remember, it worked."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "What is this theory?"
"Beck built cages in a basement beneath our house. The cages were made of silver, so it would be impossible for us to escape. Once morning came, Beck's daughter would come down and let us out."
"Beck's daughter?"
She sighed. "There's a lot to explain to you, so here's the long story short. Beck was bitten, he became a werewolf, he accidently killed his wife the first time he changed, his daughter was saved, she came looking for him, she found out what he was, she was ok with it, and then they lived happily ever after. The end."
"He killed his wife?" I whispered.
She rolled her eyes. "It's not like we can control ourselves as wolfs. He had no idea what he was doing. That's why we are such dangerous creatures. Our minds are taken over. Over-powered by the mind of our wolf."
"Oh," I said quietly. "And his daughter... she just accepted it?"
She shook her head. "I told you that that was my shortened version. It was a very long and painful process for them both. Eventually she accepted him for who he was."
"Was?"
"I meant is," she said quickly, correcting her mistake.
I looked at her skeptically. "So what did you do to make your pack kick you out?"
She chuckled and shook her head. "Jacob, haven't you ever heard of keeping your nose out of other people personal business? I'll tell you anything about werewolves you want, but when it comes to my personal life, I'd like to keep that to myself."
"Not so proud of your past then?" I smirked playfully.
"I don't think anyone is. So that is why I keep my past in the past. Now tell me a little more about yourself Jacob. I only know a few things."
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "I'm sixteen, I live alone with my dad, I'm a shape-shifter, and I'm in love with a girl in love with a vampire."
She threw her head back and laughed. "This must be Bella, right?"
I frowned. "How'd you know?"
"I've been here a week. I learn quickly."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "You've been spying?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it spying," she corrected, "it's the talk of the town, or maybe should I say, the pack. Embry and Jared are quite amused with it actually. Sam and Paul however are very annoyed."
I leaned forward. "You say I can't get in your personal business, but here you are getting in mine."
She leaned forward so that our faces were almost touching. "Not so personal when your friends are babbling about it in a diner, now is it?"
The timer on the stove beeped suddenly, startling us both. She walked over and pulled out the pizza, feeling the whole room with it's sweet aroma.
"Smells amazing," I commented as I reached for a piece of the cheesy goodness.
She smacked my hand before I could take a piece. It made a sharp slapping noise that echoed across the room. Her face was emotionless as she cut the pizza into slices and placed them on a tray.
"What are you doing that for?" I questioned.
"I believe we have some people joining us," she said calmly as I heard a pounding on the front door.
"Jacob? Where's my man?" I heard Embry call as he welcomed himself in. I heard several steps behind him and frowned when I saw them all enter the room. Embry, Jared, and Paul stood at attention.
"What are you doing here?" I growled.
Jared laughed. "Paul smelled the pizza from miles away. We couldn't help but join the party."
"This is a nice house you have Raley," Embry smiled at her. I turned around to see her reaction and she was just staring at him, with a slight glare.
"It was nice of yourselves to just come on in."
"Sorry, we're just used to Emily's open door policy," Embry said bashfully.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"Well I'm not Emily, so next time, knock and wait."
"Hey no need to get snooty, Sam just sent us over here to collect you two," Paul said defensively.
Raley and I both looked up to stare at him.
He shrugged. "Pack meeting at Old Quil's. He wants to meet her."
I could almost see the hair stand up on the back of her neck.
"I don't want to have anything to do with that man," she growled.
"Sorry darlin', Sam's orders."
And the next thing I knew, she had taken off to the back of the house and to the back door.
"Get her!" Jared shouted as we all sprinted after her.
She was struggling with the back lock when my body slammed against hers. She let out a cry then with amazing strength swung open the door so fast that it slammed me square in the head. I stumbled backwards as she was able to make it out the door faster than my hands could grip her. With a t-shirt, a pair of sweats, and no shoes, she dashed into the woods faster than I had imagined.
"She's getting away!" Paul growled angrily as he phased and flew into the woods behind her.
Me, I stayed on foot. I wanted to see just how fast she was. I sprinted in after them, following her scent, twisting through trees and thick brush. My breathing came out evenly as I picked up my pace, the trees whizzing by in a blur. I wondered why she was so afraid of meeting Old Quil. Obviously she could get away from him very easily. Or maybe she was using it as an excuse to escape our ever watchful eyes...
I could sense her scent getting stronger, fresher. I was gaining on her.
"Not so fast then are ya?" I murmured as I thought I had reached to where she was.
Then bang. Something slammed hard into my left side. It knocked the wind out of me and I went flying.
Crashing to the ground, whatever hit me wrapped it's arms around me, pulling me close to their chest.
"Jacob!" I heard someone cry off into the distance.
And then it happened. With a painful thump, my air flow was cut off as they wrapped their arm securely around my throat. Whoever it was, was attempting to strangle me to death. I struggled against the force. My nails dug into their arm, and when I looked down I noticed the person was barefoot.
Raley.
I squirmed and tried to call out her name. She was trying to kill me. After I thought we had an almost friendship going, she was now trying to kill me.
I let out a gargled scream as I saw Paul fly through the air.
Her body left mine and I gasped for breath. I heard her agonizing scream as Paul took her down.
No one had ever hurt me like that. I was stronger than everybody. She was a human, so how was she stronger than me?
"Son of a bitch!" I cursed, slamming my fist on the ground.
"Jake!" Paul yelled angrily, "a little help?"
I whipped around to see Raley fighting ferociously against him. He had one arm securely around her waist and the other around her neck similar to what she had on me.
Blood poured from her shoulder and I could only guess that had come from Paul's teeth.
"If you don't stop struggling I'm going to break you're fucking neck!" Paul roared as she let out a gargling scream.
"That won't be necessary," Sam said calmly as he emerged from the trees.
Raley became silent as he approached, a syringe in his hand.
"Hold her still Paul."
She squirmed uncontrollably and screamed as he got closer. But with one snap of his wrist, the needle entered the soft part of her neck and she swooned. With a curse spit from her lips, her legs gave way and she passed out, sliding from Paul's grasp and collapsing onto the ground.
Paul's breaths came out in huffs.
"Well she's a bit of a handful."
Sam's concerned eyes traveled to mine. "Are you alright?"
I nodded, running my fingers lightly over my neck.
"I knew it was a bad idea to leave you two alone. She's dangerous. More dangerous than I imagined. We need to get her out of here," Sam sighed.
"Where'd you get that syringe?" I asked as I slowly stood up.
"Old Quil mentioned it. He said she wouldn't like hearing the news, so he gave me this so when she ran, we'd catch her."
"Why wouldn't she want to meet him?"
Paul picked up her limp body and flung her over his shoulder.
"Well she obviously has a serious thing against meeting him if she's trying to kill Jacob to get out of it," Paul muttered as we began to walk through the thick forest.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure we will find out at this meeting."
I stopped. "Wait, where's Jared?"
"Here!" He called out from behind me.
"Where were you?"
He had a smug smile on his face. "When you went after her I searched her house. I found this."
He held out what looked like a book. It was an old leather notebook, and on the front the name Ramona J. Stone was in graved in gold cursive handwriting.
"Is it some sort of diary?" Sam wondered.
I shrugged.
"Well this could be the key of finding out more about our little friend here," Jared stated, that sly smile creeping onto his face again.
I rolled my eyes as we came up to Old Quil's house.
"Give the book to me. I'll hide it so she doesn't know we have it," I whispered to Jared.
He handed it to me as I shoved it into my pants.
"You got her?" Old Quil wobbled out to the front porch where we met him.
Paul dropped her on the ground in front of him.
His face suddenly became grim. "Bind her. She won't be happy when she wakes."
We all piled into his small house and sat around in a circle. I keep my eyes on her as they tied her up. She was as good as dead. Whatever was in the syringe really knocked her out.
"How long will it take for this stuff to wear off?" Sam asked.
"Soon," said Old Quil, his old eyes sharp and alert.
That's when my father wheeled in.
"Quil you better be thankful my son isn't hurt. I did not like that plan of yours. I want my son as far away from her as possible. She dangerous."
"Or just misunderstood Billy, as they all are."
He shook his head. "I want her out of here. I want her gone. She's a threat Quil."
There was a sickly cough and all our heads snapped to the quivering figure bound to the chair.
"Why do I always wake up tied to a chair?" she said in a crackly voice.
"Because you keep trying to kill people. And by people I mean Jacob. Isn't this the second time I've found you two trying to kill each other?" Sam retorted.
She threw back her head and laughed. "No no no, I wasn't trying to kill Jacob. Merely showing him who's superior."
I growled in anger and she smirked at me. Her yellow eyes boring into mine. "Awe, is little Jacob mad he's not the big boy he thought he was?"
"Shut up!" I yelled as Sam slapped her across the face.
"Now stop it!" Quil shouted angrily.
Raley became rigid at the sound of his voice.
"I want order! We are having a civilized meeting here. Sam, sit down. Jacob, please silence it."
With a clenched jaw Sam slowly sat down, his eyes locked on Raley's frightening glare.
"Billy, there's a manilla envelope on the kitchen counter, would you mind getting it for me?" Quil asked kindly.
My father said something incoherent under his breath than wheeled out of the room. Old Quil stared at Raley with a look I didn't quite understand. It was almost a look of recognition but I could hardly tell myself.
"Here you go." My father hands him the manilla envelope and then wheels over next to me.
"You alright son?" he whispers to me, concerned.
"I'm fine dad."
I watch as Old Quil opens the envelope and goes through many papers. Raley's eyes stare intently at the ground.
"You know what this is, don't you Raley?" says Old Quil, holding up a piece of paper with lots of words and signatures at the bottom.
She's staring so intently at the ground, I wouldn't be surprised if two holes appeared in the floor.
"I will take this as a yes. So I don't have to remind you what it means, and what it specifically states. You have three days to leave town or I'll have Sam throw you out instead. Clear?"
Raley's eyes slowly move up to meet his. She says nothing but I know she understands.
"Meeting adjourned. Take her cuffs off, you don't need to worry about her anymore. She won't try anything."
Old Quil stood up, using his cane and began to walk into the kitchen. Sam stood up and hesitantly undid the cuffs on Raley. She glared at him while he did, rubbing her wrists after they were off.
"You have anything to say Raley?" My father spits at her, obviously not happy the way Old Quil handled the situation.
She looks at me with bored eyes. "I'm sorry I tried to kill you, Jacob. I hope you'll forgive me one day."
And then she turns and walks out the door, slamming the screen door behind her.
"I still don't trust her," mutters Sam.
"I don't either," Jared says, "she totally creeps me out. I'll be glad when she's gone."
"You think she'll actually leave?" Paul asks. "After everything she did, you expect to just up and leave?"
Billy rolls to the middle of the circle. "You heard Old Quil, Paul. If he says she'll leave, she will leave."
Sam stands up and crosses his arms over his chest. "And I'll be just as happy if she doesn't, so then I get to rip her head off. I don't like the way she tortured me using Emily. She has a sick mind."
"I agree." Paul also stands up, rubbing the spot on his arm where she tried to bite him.
"What about you?" Embry asks me, walking over to stand in front of me, stretching out his hand for me to take it.
I grab it and he helps me stand up.
"I don't know. I think we should get to know the story behind her before we judge her."
"How can you say that Jacob?" Sam spits, suddenly furious. "She's tried to kill you, what, like three times now?"
"Two, but still. She may just be scared."
Sam throws his head back and runs his finger through his hair.
"Jacob, you're impossible. If she was scared, she would run."
I shrug, brushing the statement away. "Well obviously she's different, as you've pointed out. So maybe her reaction to fear is different... since she can manipulate it."
"That will be enough talking of that Jacob. You have early morning patrol tomorrow, so you might as well behave. And you might want to give Old Quil that diary Jared found. It might be of good use."
Sam points his finger at me then calls to Paul and Jared to go run patrols with him. Embry stands next to me, a friendly look on his face.
"Don't worry Jacob. You were the closest guy to getting in her pants anyways."
I roll my eyes and shove him out the door. "You have a one track mind Embry."
He smiles then skips out into the woods.
The house is now silent. Old Quil must have gone back to his room and my father is catching a ride home with Embry.
I pull out the diary as I begin walking to the back of the house. I reach his shut door and am about to open it when I hear voices.
"Raley, I don't care. All I want to know is the real reason you're here. You don't just do things off a whim, you do things for a reason. Now tell me."
It was Old Quil's voice. But Raley was in there?
"I told you the truth the first time. I don't want to keep living like I was before. I'm past that stage of my life."
"Or you're vengeance was fulfilled? Raley, I don't want you anywhere near him. If he found out what really happened, it could hurt him right to the core, Billy too. Where's the diary? As long as it exists, it's a threat to the knowledge the pack has been taught."
My breath caught in my throat.
"I wasn't going to tell him anything. You think I'm that stupid? I know what the diary holds, those memories are mine, and they're sacred. It's safely secured, so if he was to find out what really happened he would have to figure it out himself. You knew Beck better than any of his other friends. When we are told secrets, we keep them."
"Recording secrets is a dangerous thing Raley, you know that. Beck unfortunately had to learn the hard way."
Raley's voice turns livid. "Don't bring up the curses of the past, old man."
"I'm just reminding you that though you wish to forget, I will always remember."
There's a silence. "I'm not here to tell him anything. I'm here for a completely different reason and I promise to not get him involved."
"And if there's any trouble-"
"I'll take care of it. If I'm around, no one will be harmed, I promise.
He sighs. "Good. I trusted Beck, Raley. And I'm sorry it all had to happen this way, and especially to you. But please, Jacob must never know."
I hear footsteps heading toward the door and I scramble to move. Silently I sneak out the door and run into the woods, hiding in the brush. Raley emerges from the house. She walks down the steps and looks around. For a second I think she's seen me but she shows no sign. Old Quil waddles to the door.
"He must never know the best in you, Raley," he calls after her. But she doesn't turn her head. She just keeps walking.
I quickly make my way home after that, refusing to phase to keep what I had heard to myself. I didn't want them to know what I had over heard them saying. They would have made me give the diary back, but I wanted to know what was so important about it, and especially, what was in it that they were trying to keep hidden from me.
I leapt into the house and went straight for my room.
"I got some pizza Jake," I heard my father call after me but I ignored him.
I shut the bedroom door behind me and locked it. Turning on the lamp I quickly ran over to my bed and sat down. I ran my fingers across the rough texture on the outside of the diary; apparently it had been through a lot. Ramona J. Stone printed in gold letters in the middle seemed to almost glimmer in the dim light of my room.
"Here goes," I whisper as I start to tug on the leather binding that locked the book closed.
I tugged gently, but hard, and the binding would not let loose. I frowned. That was odd. There was no key or lock, just a tight binding that held it strongly together. Impatience flooded into me and I yanked with all my might.
But to no avail, the binding would not give way.
"God dammnit!" I cursed, throwing the diary on the floor with a slap.
Though for a second I had thought I had out-smarted her about it being secure, I now understood what she meant. Though it was easily hidden, you couldn't open the damn thing, even if you had super strength.
I put my head in my hands and tried to fight the rage that filled my throat. I just had to know what was in that diary! I didn't need things hidden from my family. If Raley wouldn't tell me herself, the diary must tell me.
As I am fuming, I fail to realize that there is almost a change of air pressure in the room. Something feels different, the air almost seems energized. I lift my head up and look around, scanning objects, trying to figure out where it's coming from, when I notice the diary still laying on the floor. The binding is gone and the diary is opened up to the first page.
Chills run up my spine.
"How did?" I start, but I didn't even know how to finish my sentence. I was almost frightened to go anywhere near it, and I wanted to be rid of it. I started having second thoughts about taking the diary, when I remembered my purpose for keeping it in the first place. If I was going to find out what Raley was hiding, I'd have to read it.
Slowly, I got up from the bed and picked up the diary. It felt no different in my hands than it had before, but I still was on high alert for scary surprises. I lightly ran my fingers over the first page and as I did, words began to form on the page.
Charles Anthony Beck
Cognitive Memories
378GHA291006L4
I stared at the page and when I couldn't decide what it meant, I flipped the thin paper to the next blank sheet. When nothing appeared I tried to rub it with my fingers but much to my displeasure, nothing happened.
"What?" I whispered aloud to myself. I flipped the page back over but the words had disappeared as well. Panicking, I flipped through every single page, but found no words.
There was a loud knock on the door. "Jacob? Is everything alright in there? I said that dinner was here?"
"Yeah I heard you Dad, I'll be out in a second," I snapped at him, angrily slamming the diary and shoving into a nearby drawer, stuffing it under multiple kinds of clutter. I rubbed my temples. Everything seemed so confusing now. I didn't understand any of this.
I eventually went out and ate the whole pizza box, though it still left me slightly hungry. I didn't stay up too longer after that, I knew I had early morning patrol and recently I hadn't been getting a lot of sleep.
Curling into my too short of a bed, I pulled the covers over my over-heated body and fell into one of the deepest sleeps I had ever had in my life.
And it was in that deep sleep, that I had my first dream about Charles Anthony Beck.
Sorry it took so long! I've been working on my other story and I've been all tied up! I hope you enjoyed this chapter (: it may seem a bit confusing but it will all add together in the end. Next chapter you get to see the dream! I hope you're super excited for that! Any questions please review! :)