(With much gratitude to my friend finna for her patience and constant endeavors to keep me on my toes)
Jane looked at Aro, her mouth turned up in an evil little smile. "Just so we understand each other, I can use any means necessary to obtain information on these…shape shifters?"
Aro smiled at her, a chilling sight with his translucent skin and his long black hair. "Whatever you feel is necessary, my dear. We really want that information. I've sent your brother ahead to secure the proper facilities and equipment for you."
The next day, Paris answered her doorbell to find an unfamiliar blonde vampire standing on her doorstep. The girl couldn't be more than 14, with a large grey cloak and a sweet smile. "Can I help you?"
"My name is Jane, and I'm looking for a…(she consulted a slip of paper that she pulled from her pocket)…Paris Mackenzie. May I come in?" Paris stepped aside, her curiosity overtaking her common sense.
At about the same time, Sam Uley was knocking on the door at the Clearwaters' house. Charlie opened the door. "Come in, Sam. Are you looking for Sue?"
"Hi, Charlie. No, actually I'm looking for Seth. Just came by to see how he's doing. Is it okay if I go up?"
Charlie hesitated. "I don't know what kind of reception you'll get, Sam. I barely see him myself. But sure, go ahead, first door on the left." He gestured toward the stairs and went back in the kitchen as Sam climbed the steps.
Sam tapped lightly on the door but got no answer. He pushed the door open a few inches, far enough to see Seth lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Mind if I come in for a few minutes?" he asked.
"I guess," Seth replied without looking up.
Sam, refusing to be discouraged so easily, entered the room and closed the door behind him. He walked over to the aquarium and whistled softly. "This is some collection you have here." The celestial pearl danios zipped past the freshwater ray, showing off their beautiful colors of dark blue, red, and orange.
Sam sat down on the only chair in the room, in front of the desk. "I just came by to see how you are, and if there's anything you need."
Seth sat up, looking at Sam for the first time since he'd entered the room. "I'm fine," he said quietly. "And I'm not planning to beat up any more girls, if that's what you're wondering."
"I'm relieved to hear that," Sam smiled "but I doubt it was that simple. Don't forget I know your sister pretty well, so I'm sure there are two sides to that story." Seth didn't return his smile, so Sam changed subjects. "I trust you haven't heard any more from that little vampire?"
Seth stared at him blankly, pretending not to understand.
"You know, the one in the red dress. She had an unusual name…oh, right, it was Paris."
As soon as the words were out of Sam's mouth, Seth got it. Red dress. Oh. My. God. The mysterious flash of red that had been bothering him since that day had been Paris's dress! He suddenly realized that Paris had seen him talking to Sam and Paul. Worst of all, she knew that he hadn't tried to stop them. Now he knew why she'd stopped calling.
His voice was steady as he said, "Thanks for coming by, Sam, but I'm fine. I am a little tired, though." Sam looked relieved, and he rose to leave.
"Let me know if there's anything I can do, Seth," he said as he offered his hand. Sam shook it firmly, and as soon as Sam was out of earshot he reached for his phone.
Paris excused herself and glanced at the caller ID. How could his name on that silly little display still hurt her so much? She pushed the "end" button, hoping the gesture would let him know that she saw the call, knew who it was, and chose not to speak to him. She smiled mirthlessly to herself. Where was the sense of satisfaction she'd hoped for?
Seth closed his phone in frustration. "Way to go, Seth," he muttered under his breath. "You've managed to sabotage every good thing in your life."
"Who was that?" Jane asked Paris curiously.
"Old boyfriend," Paris replied simply. She really didn't want to talk about Seth, with Jane or anyone else. But Jane persisted.
"Is he one of us?" she asked curiously. A plan was taking form in her head, and it would be really helpful if it turned out to be Seth Clearwater calling.
"No, he's one of the Quileute shape shifters," Paris explained. "And I really don't want to talk about him. I don't mean to be rude, but may I ask why you're here?"
Jane shrugged. "As a matter of fact, I have some questions about those shape shifters and my associates heard you might be…shall we say, knowledgeable about them."
"May I ask why the interest?" Paris asked. Her internal bullshit detector had just kicked into high gear.
Jane looked thoughtful. "I've only met one of the creatures myself." She smiled, reliving the memory. "I was arguing with Edward Cullen, and the thing leaped at me out of nowhere. I managed to sink my fangs into its paw, and hopefully it crawled off somewhere to die." She made a face, remembering the disgusting taste it had left in her mouth. She looked curiously at Paris, who was frozen in place, a lovely dark-haired statue. "What?"
"He didn't die, but he lost an arm," she spoke so softly that Jane leaned forward to catch all the words. "He was never the same sweet, charming boy after that." Paris cleared her throat and shook her head, finally meeting Jane's gaze. Jane was still smiling, but the smile that had first struck her as sweet now appeared slightly sinister. Vampire or no, Paris was beginning to experience grave misgivings about having invited this stranger into her home.
"I'd like to use your phone, Paris." Jane's red eyes shone with malevolence, and Paris slipped the phone in her pocket. Jane grinned. "I was hoping you'd do that," she purred.
Jane didn't lift a finger. She leveled her gaze at Paris, and Paris suddenly found herself on the floor, writhing and screaming in agony, as every nerve and muscle in her body reacted to Jane's power. The pain was excruciating. Jane's smile never wavered as she reached into Paris's pocket, retrieved the phone, and hit "return call."
Seth's phone buzzed, and he glanced at the display. He smiled as he realized that it was Paris, returning his call. He flipped the phone open, but his smile faded when he heard Paris's agonized scream.
He hit the ground running, and he flew out the back door and phased before he hit the lawn. He quickly found his three-legged pace and ran to Paris's at nearly top speed, adrenaline pumping, and burst in through the open door. He found Paris lying unconscious on the floor and knelt carefully beside her, licking her face in an attempt to wake her. As a whine of frustration burst from him, Jane stepped out from behind the door and closed it quietly.
"Hello, Seth. We've never been properly introduced. My name is Jane." She smirked as she took in his strongly muscled body and the one short front paw.
Seth recognized her at once. He whirled, but before he could take a step toward her she leveled her fiery gaze at him and he found himself falling, his whole body in agony so overwhelming he hoped she would kill him to make it stop. He crashed to the floor as his howl faded, reaching out toward Paris with his good paw. As he phased back to human form, his fingertips brushed against hers and his vision faded to black. His whole world was pain, and he welcomed the darkness that engulfed him.