I'd been chained up for days. Jacob drifted in and out casually watching over me. No one came for me, and from what Jacob hinted to, no one was going to. There was no trace of the Edward and the family; they were all but whispers in the wind. Search parties were roaming around the nearby woods, looking for both the Cullens and myself.
The hunger was driving my crazy. After days of fidgeting and scratching, I finally tore through the skin on my forearm. I tore at the skin just to take my mind off of the thirst. No blood poured out of my wound, no redness rushed to the surface around my gouges. It was just as white and pale as the rest of me. Jacob was due back soon; he stuck to a loose, but repetitive schedule.
I closed my eyes sniffing the air. I could smell faint traces of barbecue sauce on the outside air. Billy must've been using his Stone Age grill. I rattled my chains softly as the burning hit a high level again. The past days had been very, very hard. The thirst was so uncontrollable inside of me; the slightest thought would send me into a bloody rage. I was beginning to recover some self control, mind over matter, as someone once told me. Carlisle could do it as well, from the very start, so could I.
The door creaked open. My heart sped up as I awaited my visitor. To my surprise, it was Sam Uley who stepped into the light. He scrutinized me from a distance, his features hard and angry.
"Sam -," I started to speak, but he held up one hand to silence me. He turned on his heels and stared into the darkness behind him. Jacob had to be there.
"Has she eaten anyone?" His words stung me and I recoiled back against the wall. My chains clinked together causing as Jacob stepping into my vision, watching me. He shook his head and Sam let out a heavy sigh. "Well, I guess that's good." He turned to look at me sharply. "Bella, you are in a very dangerous situation, you were found on reservation land with the venom in you," he spat the word venom out as if it were actually poisonous. "Jacob was very persuasive to the pack, all but begging us to make you his responsibility," he paused for a moment, glancing at Jacob who had moved automatically closer to me. "You can't kill, and you shouldn't even exist, but the Cullens are too far gone for us to even trace their scent to remind them they broke our treaty!" He threw up his arms, exasperated.
I closed my eyes, forcing the images of Edward out of my head. He left me, again, but I would not let it destroy me, not now. "Sam, please. I have no where to go," my eyes pleaded with him. "I can't go home, where is it you'd have me go? I don't even know how to feed properly," I admitted, shamed. I thought it'd be instinct, but my only instinct right now was to hide myself from the two regal men in my presence.
"Bells, we came up with a kinda, plan," Jacob trailed off, glancing at Sam for the go ahead. Sam nodded once. "Your venom, as a vampi-ire," his voice caught as he said vampire, as he said out loud what I really was. "Has no affect on me or anyone in the pack. While no one else is willing to take the risk, I am."
I narrowed my eyes, what was he getting at? "What risk?" I questioned cautiously.
"Of you biting me. To feed, ya' know." He looked at his shoes awkwardly for a moment before looking back up at me. My mouth dropped open, but I quickly closed it and regained my composure.
"No way, never," I shook my head sharply. I would not endanger him, no matter how hungry was. I was better off chained to the wall then get thirsty around Jacob. He took a step forward, extending his arm as if to grasp mine. I pushed myself against the wall and his arm dropped, rejected. "No, no, no. Are you crazy! I'm not going to hurt you!"
I started pulling against the chains again, but to no avail. Jacob was closing in, but only with small steps. "Bella, please, it's the best chance we have to keep you from killing anyone," he took a broad step forward, closing the distance between him and I.
His body was once again pressed against mine. His heart thudded in his chest and his breath was uneven. I cranked my neck upward, forcing myself to look him directly in the eyes. The heat of his body warmed me up quickly, so quickly I felt myself get dizzy. "Jac-," I started, but so quickly he put his finger to my lips to hush me. I looked at Sam, frantically looking for some backup.
"Jacob, maybe a test is in order?" Sam questioned lightly, as not to offend me, I guessed. Sam motioned for Jacob to come towards him. Reluctantly, Jacob pulled himself off of me and lumbered towards Sam. Sam pulled a knife out of his pocket and grabbed for Jacob's hand.
"No!" I screamed desperately, but it was too late, Sam already plunged the knife into Jacob's hand, letting an instant waterfall of blood spill from the wound. Slowly, his hand dripping with stick blood, Jacob turned towards me again, talking deliberate steps.