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Chapter 11 Mistaken
Tara reminded herself that she would have plenty of time alone with Jake and suppressed the flare of annoyance at being interrupted again. Since she had been led off of her porch by Bella and into this life nothing had happened according to her own timing. Her irritation softened. No path could be wrong that brought me to him, she thought, looking at Jacob. My love.
Jacob smiled at her tenderly and reached his hand up to rearrange her tousled curls as she gazed up at him. Then he frowned in mock disapproval at her rumpled clothes, running his hand down her back as if he intended to smooth the fabric but instead pulling her close.
"Don't worry," he said softly, gazing down into her concerned face. "Sam doesn't care what your clothes look like. In case you didn't notice, we're not big on clothes."
Tara wanted to stay alone in the room with Jacob forever, but she knew that they had to re-enter the real world. The magic between them was not a bubble that would burst. She had confidence in that.
"I love you," Jacob whispered into her ear.
"I love you too," Tara whispered back.
With that invocation, Jacob and Tara went out to face Sam with their hands joined.
Jake was grinning like a madman, but the smile slid off of Tara's face at the sight of Sam. He loomed tall and dark skinned, his powerful arms crossed against his bare chest as if he were judge and jury. Tara gazed at him wide-eyed, wanting so badly to gain his approval. The look he gave her was not welcoming. His dark eyes looked critically back at her over sharp cheekbones.
"Sam, this is Tara," Jacob said, eyes shining as if she was a treasure he had discovered. His happiness was untouched in the face of Sam's apparent judgment. He gave Tara's hand a gentle squeeze.
The evident joy on Jacob's face seemed to soften Sam. Tara gathered the courage to give Sam a tremulous smile which he did not quite return. He relaxed his posture but had no time for pleasantries.
"Quil left to take Claire home," Sam informed them. "We are tracking two vampires in this area and there are reports that several others outside of our territory have made multiple kills. There seems to be a feeding frenzy."
Tara was horrified. This was another side of the vampire world she had not experienced, like the visions that Nessie had shown her of the Volturi. A shudder went through her at the thought of the innocent lives lost. Sam's hard eyes looked at her. When he sees me he sees one of them, she realized.
"Are you sure it is vampires?" she asked hesitantly. "What do the police think?"
"Our local police chief is no fool. Charlie has caught wind that something is up. He's on his way here to find out what we know," Sam said, having no idea how the news would affect Tara. She went rigid with shock.
Jacob understood. He slid his arm around her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.
Tara's horror over mass-murdering vampires was compounded by the news that her father was due to arrive shortly. She shook off her momentary self-absorption and focused on the fact that potentially hostile vampires were on the loose. Jacob's warm arm was comforting.
Maybe I can hear people who are in danger. Maybe we can track and save them, Tara thought. She tried to concentrate on sorting through the billowing static that she heard in her ears. Edward had said that it was the voices of people, but the lonely lament was a cacophony. The only time she could sort it all out was when she had a physical or emotional connection. She grimaced in frustration at this "gift" she could not control.
Sam's voice brought her back to the present.
"Tell me how you were able to defeat the vampire called Jane," he commanded. At a reproving look from Jacob he amended, "Please." There was a begrudging respect in Sam's stare.
Tara rolled her eyes. "This sounds weird, but I can kind of feel her pain. Something in me healed her."
The answer was clearly not the one that Sam was expecting and he looked slightly disgusted.
"I see. Well, that clearly won't work for me. However, I thank for your assistance. Leah tells me that you saved Jacob." The look he gave Jacob was protective.
I don't know if Jacob understands how important he is to everyone here, Tara thought. She smiled warmly at Sam, bonded in their caring for Jacob. Sam smiled back.
Jacob looked between the two of them, shaking his head as if bemused.
"Jake, we are going to track. Coming?" Sam asked abruptly, pulling his gaze from Tara's green-gold eyes.
"I'm there," Jacob said eagerly. He turned to Tara. "Are you alright to stay here and talk to Charlie?" he asked gently, fully understanding how an unexpected reunion with her long lost father would affect her.
"I want to come with you," Tara said. Her urge to be at Jacob's side was rivaled by her fear of meeting Charlie.
"You are strong, but you don't have an experience with fighting. Although I'm looking forward to training you…" Jacob's eyes held an impish glint, "… you just aren't ready now."
Tara knew that she would be a distraction to Jacob. He would be fixated on protecting her.
"I may not be ready to fight, but I'm not sure I'm ready to meet Charlie either," she confessed. "You keep yourself safe."
Tara felt oddly confident in Jake's safety. Maybe it is denial, but I just don't think the universe intends to take him from me, she thought.
"I'll be fine," Jacob said reassuringly. He radiated confidence. "I'll be home to you soon, I promise," he paused a few seconds, "… Sunshine."
He crushed her to his chest and kissed her, slanting his lips across hers until Sam cleared his throat.
Jacob pulled back slowly and smirked at him. "OK, no long goodbyes."
"Don't worry, we have his back," Sam said to Tara and again they shared a look of agreement.
Tara felt her fears of the pack's acceptance dissipate. I guess my love for Jacob is all they want from me, we agree on that much.
After Jacob and Sam left, Tara paced the room, trying to lose herself in Claire's artwork as her anxiety built. Bella had told Charlie that she found Tara but had left out some other critical details… like the fact that Tara was in Forks and that she was a vampire.
Tara thought of the hard look in Sam's eyes when he first saw her and remembered he had said Charlie was no fool. Would he suspect, she wondered. Will he think that I am dangerous? She wrapped her arms around herself and looked out the window.
Charlie walked quickly into the room, surprised by the silence in the house that was normally warm and bursting with large men and their families. A woman stood with her back to him. The morning light through the open window washed her in cool gold. She spun to face him with a gentle grace and the naked emotion on her face would have stunned him even if it was not accompanied by her sunlit beauty.
He knew he was not an imposing man, certainly nowhere near the size and stature of the Quileute men, but he carried an air of quiet authority that did not come from his uniform and badge. The uniform was neat, but not meticulously so and the badge was straight but unpolished. Charlie was not consumed with the importance and power that was granted to him in his role as Chief of Police. Rather, he had dedicated himself to protect and serve. Charlie couldn't imagine what about him terrified this woman so much.
He cleared his throat. "I, ah, I came to talk to Sam," he said, feeling that his voice sounded rough and wishing that he had introduced himself because the woman looked so surprised and frightened at the sight of him.
Charlie was perceptive and he believed his eyes and his instincts and he knew this woman was changed as Bella had been changed. He never let himself name it, even in his own mind. She glided across the room and took his hand to shake it.
"Hello. Sam just left, he asked me to tell you."
She did not introduce herself. Her hand in his was smooth, but not ice cold. Her eyes searched his face as if learning it. Charlie looked into those green-gold eyes and realization struck. Renee's eyes looked at him from the beautiful face. Bella's stunning revelation that she had found her sister … my daughter, had evidently left out some vital details. Bella always protects me and maybe I need it, he thought.
When Renee left she took away a part of him. His damaged self could still love others, but he could never be whole. The touch of this woman restored him. The world turned slowly, vampires stalked their prey, births and deaths and lives condensed as Charlie gazed at his daughter with the wonderment of a creator for his creation.
The sensation of a thousand missed memories swept over him and his joy in discovery was crippled with the awareness of loss. I'm not even worthy, he thought. He swallowed and tried to speak.
"I … I…" he tapered off. Words failed him.
Fortunately Tara did not need words to know him.
Tara moved fluidly into his arms and Charlie felt a wave of comforting warmth. He put his arms around her and she hugged back hard, only easing up when she heard the whoosh of air from his lungs.
Mercy is the lifeblood of healing. Each person Tara touched was given a second chance to be the person they were meant to be. In this instant of their embrace, the mercy was given in full measure to both father and daughter. Tara's own pain was healed as she fully understood how a young, terrified couple could decide to give up their child.
She spoke one word softly and lovingly, "Forgiven."
Charlie's emotions surged and he shut his eyes tightly. The last broken part of him was repaired and he forgave himself.
"Welcome home," he whispered into her silken hair.
They stayed like this for a moment and then Charlie pulled back to look at her again, his eyes searching her smooth perfect features. He swallowed against the emotion and said the first thing he trusted his voice to say. "Um, do you like to fish?"
Tara smiled at him and was about to respond when Nessie burst into the room, her eyes wild. She stopped short at the sight of Charlie.
"Nessie, you're back," Charlie exclaimed pleased. His glance darted between the two women with an inquiring look.
Nessie flashed a quick smile at him, obviously distracted and distraught. Her words came out in a rush. "Hi Grandpa, we'll catch up later. It is so good to see you again. Do you know where Jake is?"
Tara responded to Charlie's unspoken question first. "Nessie and I have met."
Nessie tried to check her anxiety as she looked from Tara to Charlie and the way they were standing so closely. She bit her lip and her eyes flickered with embarrassment.
"I am so sorry. I can see I am intruding, but this is urgent. Where is Jake?"
"Um, he's out. With friends… hunting," Tara said evasively.
"I have to go," Nessie said, turning to run.
Tara blurred across the room and then realized she had moved way too fast. Charlie looked dazed.
She spoke to Nessie in a low voice so Charlie could not hear. "Jacob and Sam are tracking some vampires."
Nessie's forehead was creased in concern, her brown eyes tormented. She raked her hand through her hair. "Demetri is out there. He doesn't know anyone, he doesn't know our rules. We have to find Jake so he can warn the pack." She again turned to go.
"I'm coming," Tara said.
Tara turned to Charlie. "We are going to get Jacob. I'll ask Bella to call you." She paused for a fleeting second before murmuring, "It was nice to meet you." The pleasantry did not begin to convey her emotion.
In a daze, Charlie could do little more than wave.
Tara followed Nessie. They were evenly matched with speed.
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Jacob raced in the chill of the air, his mind still reeling as he relived his moments with Tara.
Sam's thought intruded. Keep your mind on the job.
A few moments later, more gently this time, the thought came, I'm happy for you Jake.
The scent of prey in his nostrils finally clarified Jacob's mind and the primal trigger to hunt engulfed him. Ten years of relative peace and quiet with the Cullens had not dulled the edge of the protecting wolf pack. The reports of vampires on the move were coming from several quarters. Jacob and Sam tracked two vampires moving into their territory and Jacob detected Nessie's scent as well. He relayed this information through the pack with his thoughts, hoping that Edward was listening. Edward was not allowed on the tribe's land but Nessie was free to come and go.
Sam's thoughts took on a new urgency and the two wolves lengthened their strides, running flat out towards their prey. The trail was heading towards the reservation school. A scent of blood zinged in Jacob's brain, its repellent metallic tang was human. There were no traces of decay, it was a fresh kill. Jacob and Sam raced past two hikers with their throats ripped out. The wolves flew like arrows towards their target, not pausing to inspect the dead bodies.
Jacob and Sam burst into the clearing just as two vampires emerged from the woods, freakishly beautiful and deadly in the full sun. They were moving erratically, the one in front ran as if the devil was on his heels, not even appearing to notice the wolves. The second one checked his pace slightly. With a snarl, Sam launched himself at the first vampire. He was tall and lean, his whippet-like limbs blurring so swiftly that only eyes heightened by instinct and evolution could follow their movement. Sam leapt and struck. The vampire barely evaded him and lashed out, unable to connect with Sam's black fur.
Jacob was nearly on top of the second vampire, taking advantage of the other's momentary hesitation at the sight of Sam's attack. The vampire veered back into the woods, his long dark hair streaming behind him. These were the forests of Jacob's youth and he knew every tree. Using this to his advantage, Jacob relentlessly and purposefully drove the vampire towards a sheer stone face. The vampire leapt upon the stone wall, his fingers scrabbling for holds as he pulled himself up.
Jacob launched, eyes fixated on the dull shimmer of the vampire's skin, aiming for the throat. The vampire whirled and lashed out swifter than sound, catching Jacob on the haunches and tearing into his flesh. Jacob did not whimper and he disregarded the hot burning, consciously evading the vampire's mouth. No thoughts of right or wrong crossed Jacob's brain, just an inventory of his enemy's weaknesses, reactions and actions and a primal urge to extinguish the burning evil.
His attack succeeded in dislodging the vampire from the stone face and the two tumbled to the rocky ground. The vampire hit first. In a moment of crystalline clarity, Jacob saw an opening and he struck. With a tear and a snap, Jacob severed the head from the body and then surgically began dismantling the remainder of the creature as it coiled and snapped. Jacob's movements were elegant and purposeful as he fulfilled his function in the chain of life that had evolved within his tribe.
He checked in with Sam to find that the other vampire had escaped by leaping into the ocean. Sam was on his way back. Jacob phased back, still shaking with adrenaline from the battle. He began gathering the parts of the body to burn. The severed head was flung yards from the battle scene. Jacob picked it up by the hair distastefully; the immutable white stone face was oddly placid, its golden eyes fixed open in a dimmed stare.
Averting his gaze from the glassy eyes, Jacob tossed the head in the fire.
A/N – Thanks so much for reading. A little review would be most welcome.
Recommendation: Moving On by Lady Draco Violet .net/s/5067451/1/Moving_On
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