A/N: Okay everyone, this is it!! This is one of the last chapters of Hybrid. I'm posting the last chapter right after this one and then that will be it. Hopefully you'll appreciate the way it ended. Please review! And thank you very much for taking the time to read my story :)
6. Everything Happens for a Reason
My dress expanded like a parachute in the air, landing me gracefully on the ground. I smiled to myself, excitement brewing inside of me as I strode into the trees, accelerating in speed as I ventured further into the woods. The sun was beginning to peak through the clouds, breaking through the gloom of grey skies above me. I held my dress in a clump in my arms so that I wouldn't trip over it or get it dirty at first, but as I ran I just let it go. It was very liberating. All of a sudden I just started laughing uncontrollably as I continued to run. I felt like a little girl just discovering how to run in a circle and who is laughing in pure joy and excitement.
I spun and leaped as I ran, basking in my own glory. Everything seemed so new to me now, so vibrant. The skies, although grey and monotone, were like vast seas of mystery. I was astounded at the depth and span of the clouds, the different shades of white and grey they possessed, the journey they've taken, the lives they've effected. I glided my hand against the bark of a tree and was mystified by the leaves as they danced in the wind. I felt like I was seeing the world for the very first time. In a sense, I was. I was seeing the world in a positive light for once. There was nothing negative about this or anything in my life anymore. I felt lucky to be so happy and so in love. Love is the key to everything. It boggles my mind what a powerful emotion love is. I won't even bother questioning it, I'm just grateful to have it.
I noticed a break in the trees and slowed down as the dirt beneath me revealed bits of rock underneath. I stopped at the last line of trees and realized I was on a cliff looking over First Beach. It was breath taking. I watched as the waves of the ocean rippled and flowed, as if it were breathing. The sun shone through a break in the clouds and I lifted my head to its light, taking in its warmth. I opened my eyes and smiled, ready to embark on a lifetime of love and happiness with Jacob Black.
A snap of twigs behind me startled me and I turned to see if anyone was there. I was alone. I turned back to the water and felt a cold breeze brush past me. I turned again, but no one was there. I laughed and rolled my eyes. Edward followed me out here.
"I know you're here." I yelled. "Come out come out, wherever you are." I sang, weaving through the trees.
Edward still wasn't revealing himself.
"Are you going to hide in the trees or come out and talk to me?" I asked, starting to get annoyed with this game. I sighed and decided to turn this into a race, that would surely get him to come out eventually.
"Alright, I'll race you home then." I yelled, smiling as I lifted my dress from the ground.
A cold hand gripped my shoulder aggressively, whipping my backward through the trees. I landed where the trees ended and the rock of the cliff began. I propped myself up and searched to see who had just thrown me so violently. I knew it wouldn't be Edward, he would never do anything like that to me. A part of me feared it would be Alexandru, back to finish was he started. I calmed that fear immediately, remembering that I saw him burn. I stood up, facing the ocean, and brushed the dirt away from my white dress.
"Nice dress." A voice snarled behind me. I turned around abruptly to see who the voice belonged to.
"Kate?" I blurted, in shock that she was the one to handle me so violently.
"Expecting someone else? Your lover, perhaps?" Her skin sparkled, almost blinding me, as she tilted her head.
"What?" I asked, oblivious to what this confrontation could be about.
"I don't know what he sees in you." She said angrily. "How he could have chosen a pitiful human life with you over an eternity with me."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Jeff was mine! But you humans have to be so damn selfish! I deserve love and happiness just like you so abundantly have." She went on angrily as she snarled, flashing her teeth in my direction as she spoke.
"Kate, Jeff and I are just friends. I wouldn't take him from you, I'm in love with Jake." I said, trying to reason with her.
"Really? Then why did you go to him and confess your love to him? Why did you promise a life with him? Because you're just friends? I don't think so." She growled.
"I can explain. I –I was unsure about marrying Jake and I panicked, but I was wrong and he knows that." My voice trembled as I spoke.
"You took him from me." She said through her teeth, ignoring what I had just told her.
"I'm married, Kate. I don't want Jeff, not in that way."
"Does it really matter? He loves you, he won't ever love me. He loves you and you married that mutt. You ungrateful girl!" She spat. "Tell me, was it worth it? Was it worth hurting him?"
My hands began to shake at my side. I could feel the anger penetrating through Kate's words, the despair she felt as she spoke them.
"He'll get over me. He wants to be with you, I know he does." I said calmly, hoping she would take comfort in my words and reason with me.
"No, he won't. Not as long as you're still breathing." She scowled, stepping towards me again.
I looked behind me and realized after another step I couldn't step back any further. I had to face her or I'd fall.
"What are you going to do Kate?" I asked, looking behind me every so often to make sure I wasn't inching any closer towards the edge of the cliff.
"I'm taking you out of the picture. You deserve to burn in hell." She said as she began to crouch before me, sniffing the air.
"Kate, please. Think about it, if Jeff finds out you killed me he'll hate you."
"He'll never know. Who's going to be there to tell him? Hm?" She snickered. "Let's get this over with before he hears you." She said, crouching further.
He? Edward! That's it! If I think his name he'll come to me –
He can't, I realized, drooping my head defeated. The Cullens aren't allowed on the reservation, he wouldn't risk breaking the treaty. But the pack would notice that there was a vampire here, wouldn't they? I began to lose hope, realizing that the pack was at the wedding and even if they did realize a vampire was on the reservation, it would be too late. Kate licked her lips, her eyes targeting my neck as she inhaled deeply.
I could not die like this. I had a life to live! I watched as Kate shifted into an animal-like stance before me and knew that I couldn't fight her off, it would be impossible. She could shock me if I tried and even if I did get past her, she'd surely catch me. She's been a vampire for much longer than I have, she's swift and sly. I looked behind me, at the water as it crashed against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff and knew that I had only one option. I had to fight this, to try to live. I've faced death before, I could do it again. I wouldn't surrender myself without a fight. This was my only option. I looked past Kate and gasped in shock, as if to see someone who shouldn't be there. Kate was caught off guard by my reaction and turned to look behind her. The moment she tilted her head to the left I pivoted and propelled towards the edge of the cliff, flinging myself into the air without hesitation.
I held my arms out and for a brief moment I was flying. I closed my eyes as I cut through the wind and spiralled downward into the mystery that was the water below me. I broke through the surface of the water and was pushed downward into the depths of the ocean. I began to slow down as the ocean resisted to the sudden interruption. I pushed myself towards the surface, but my legs continued to get entangled into the skirt of my dress and pulled me further towards the bottom of the ocean. I began to panic as my arms grew tired and I could no longer pull myself up. I reached behind me and struggled to find the zipper. I had to get out of the dress, it was the only thing keeping me from the surface. My fingers finally stumbled upon the zipper and I pulled it with as much force as I could. I wriggled my way out of the dress and looked down to see it being pulled further into the blackness. I lifted my head and could faintly see the glimmer of the sunlight through the blur of the water. I propelled myself towards it, fighting with every last bit of strength that I had.
I burst through the surface after what seemed like an eternity of pushing and gasped for air. Waves kept crashing into me, pushing me towards the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Every time I tried to breath, water would crash into my mouth. I began to cry. I was frustrated and afraid. I felt defeated as the waves tossed me around.
I felt a something slimy slither around my ankles and kicked it away, thinking it was a fish. The waves picked up again and were crashing into me from every direction. The sun was gone now, replaced by darkening grey clouds. I felt the sliminess entangle itself around my ankle tightly, tugging me beneath the surface. I broke through again, kicking profusely. I looked down and saw the seaweed flutter and sway in the water just below my feet. I felt weak and breathing was difficult. This was it, there was no more fighting. I had nothing left in me to fight with. I felt the green string slither around my ankle like a snake and I just knew this would be the end.
"JACOB!" I screamed before I was jerked back under the water into a bed of seaweed, each streamer of green intertwining themselves in my hair and around my limbs, securing me in the depths of the water.
In my last moments everything became evidently clear to me. I was meant to die today. It was all a part of my destiny, a part of Jacob's destiny. I was meant to be with Jake, we were soul mates. I always thought soul mates were a funny thing, it never made sense to me. What if you never met your soul mate? Is any of their other loves a waste? What if you do meet them, but they die. Is that it, will you never have another soul mate?
The answer is no. Who says you can only have one soul mate? There is no written law of soul mates that states each person can only have one. Some people have two, just like Jacob Black.
It's silly how clear this was now, the reason why Jake imprinted twice. You see, Jake imprinted on me because he was supposed to. It was no mistake, not a discrepancy in the gift, it was destiny. He and I were destined to be together, but only for this portion of our lives. A person can't have two soul mates at the same time and when that rarity occurs, one of them has to bow out for the other.
I had come to a point in my life where I was absolutely content with every aspect of myself. I had everything I had ever wanted in my short existence. I had no regrets. I was happy and now I could die peacefully, without anything bounding me to this earth. I was finally free to fly, just like I'd always wanted to be. It seemed right to die now. And I wouldn't have to worry about leaving Jacob because he had a soul mate ready to take my place when she was ready; Renesmee.
Fate has an intricate plan inscribed in the stars for all of us. Every path we take, every choice we make is all a part of the journey towards our destinies. This just happened to mine. I was destined to die today and I accepted that.
As what remained of my oxygen dissipated in my lungs, I floated into unconsciousness. I found myself standing in front of Jacob, staring up at his beautiful face. He looked worried and afraid. I placed my hand on his warm face. My hand tingled from the warmth, as if the temperatures conflicted greatly. My skin was very pale, almost translucent, as it lay flat on his cheek. He tilted his face into my disappearing hand, closing his eyes.
"I'm okay, Jake. I love you." I said, my voice sounding like the whispers of the wind. Jake's eyes widened in shock.
"ELINA!" He yelled before sprinting into the woods, stripping his clothes as he ran further into the trees.
Edward emerged from the house in a flurry and followed Jake. I found myself watching Edward as he ran, although it to me it felt like he was stationary and it was the trees and the ground that moved so quickly it was all a blur.
"Edward" I thought. His eyes widened, but the trees continued to pass us. "Edward, can you hear me?" I asked.
"Elina?" He spoke.
"Yes, Edward. Please, find Jacob and tell him not to worry about me. I'm happy."
"Where are you?" Edward asked through his thoughts, which I could hear without having to place myself into his mind. It was an odd feeling. It was as if he were speaking only his lips weren't moving.
A mental image of myself, half naked and engulfed by seaweed beneath the ocean at First Beach filled my thoughts. Edward reached the cliff. Jacob was there in his wolf form, whimpering.
"Where is she?" I heard Jacob, although wolves can't speak. I must be listening to his thoughts, too. I wondered if he could hear me like Edward could.
"Jake?" I thought. His ears perked up.
"Did you hear that?" Jake thought, looking at Edward.
"Yes, I heard that." Edward said out loud, his expression was filled with agony.
"You hear her! Where is she? Tell me where she is!" Jacob yelled in his thoughts, his body taking on a defensive stance.
"Jacob, listen to me." Edward said. "She showed me where she is, but..." Edward stopped, closed his eyes and turned away as if he were just stabbed in the back. "It's too late" He whispered, his words drowning in sorrow.
I didn't want Edward to tell Jacob where I was. I wanted him to remember me the way I was just an hour ago, beaming in a white dress. I wanted him to remember my smile and how happy I was to be married to him.
"Jacob, listen to me." I said, my voice sounding like music. Jake's ears perked up again as he looked from left to right, turning in a circle abruptly to the sound of my voice.
"There it is again. I can't see her, do you see her?" Jake thought alarmingly.
"I don't see her either." Edward said.
"Jacob Black, I love you! I want you to remember that always. I am happy because of you! You gave me the best year of my life, the best love of my life. My love for you will always be here." I said, my voice echoing through the wind. I noticed the fur on Jacob's back stand and blow in the direction of the breeze, the direction of my voice.
"Elina? Is that you? Baby, where are you? How are you doing this?" Jake pleaded through his thoughts.
"Don't worry about me. Read my letter. I love you, Jacob black. I love you forever and for always. Please, remember that. Don't worry about me. Move on with Renesmee, find love again and be happy. Do that for me, Jacob. Promise me." I said. I had to make sure he would move on and live a happy life like the one he gave me. I couldn't leave him if he didn't promise me.
"I love you, Elina, but I don't understand. What are you trying to say? Please, tell me where you are. Come back to me." Jake thought. The need in his voice was tough to bear, but it was something I had to do. I had to know he would live beyond me, that he would love again.
"Promise me!" I persisted. "Promise you'll love again."
"I promise. Elina, what's going on?" He asked, a glob of liquid glistened from the corner of his eye.
"Forever and for always, Jacob Black." I repeated, my voice sounding distant now.
"Come back to me, Come back to me." Jacob said. He had phased out of his wolf form and was now curled in a ball, with his arms wrapped around his knees as he rocked back and forth. "Forever and for always." He whispered before letting out a sob. "Come back to me, please." He pleaded again.
It was difficult to leave him. A bright light beckoned to me, but a part of me wanted to stay although I knew I shouldn't. He would read my letter and know that my love for him would live, even when I didn't. That, and knowing he promised me he would move on from this, comforted me and I entered the light without any regrets.
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." - Robert Fulghum