Chapter 6 – I'm going slightly mad.
It will be as if I'd never existed.
And, true to his word, there was no physical evidence, among Bella Swan's belongings, that Edward Cullen ever came to be in her life. Except…
Arwen d'Erley roamed through a photograph album, with several pictures missing.
Except for the obvious spaces among the photos, the few remaining of a mostly-indifferent-looking or very-rarely-smiling Bella Swan.
Sighing, the now human Soul Wander closed the album and stashed it away, got up and went down the stairs. It was time to go visit Jacob. Taking a cake carrier with a yummy looking strawberry cheesecake in it, Arwen d'Erley left the house and hopped into her ancient red truck.
It will be as if I'd never existed.
Certified fool, that's what you are, Edward Cullen.
I drive the car towards Jacob's house, and I eventually arrive, and park the car. I grab the cake carrier, close the door and head towards' the house. The door opens as I approach it, Jacob ducks slightly to get out of the house. He seems to be getting bigger every time I see him. His handsome smile fills me with joy, his soul calling to mine. I smother down the urge to kiss him.
No, no, no, no, no!
Don't go there, girl. My resolve probably showed in my face.
"What's wrong, Bella? Something on your mind?", asks Jacob.
It will be as if I'd never existed.
Why now, Cullen Mullen?
"Just remembering something." That was so the wrong thing to say.
"Really!" Oh, no, he seems eager to know… "Did you remember something from… before?"
"Maybe."
"Wow, Isa, that's great!"
Oh, no, he sounds positively excited… here it comes. I'm going to be stupid and do something even stupider.
"I just remembered a name, and a face." I pause. I'm sorry, Jacob. "Edward Cullen."
He sags, then mutters something like 'it's always him', looking angry, shaking a bit. Hmm, interesting, jealous much, I wonder?
"Nevermind, he was probably not important, I checked a photo album of mine and there was no-one who looked like him. He was most likely an acquaintance. In fact, since I don't have any photos of you, I was wondering…" I reach for my jacket's inner pocket and take a slim camera out. Jacob suddenly smiles at me. "… if you'd like to pose for me a bit?"
The smile turns into an all-knowing-smirk. Damn, stop blushing, Arwen d'Erley.
"Sure."
We go into the kitchen and devour a good piece of cheesecake, and then we go to the garage. The afternoon passes away, and I hardly notice it. I just sit on the Rabbit's seat, and listen to my Jacob's voice, let it wash away my worries.
'Since when is he your anything?' Lana's voice invades my mind, via mind link. I groan at the annoying little voice in my head. 'I don't really know.', I reply.
'Why do you worry then?'
'Something's different about him. He used to complain he was a beanpole. Now, he's just getting… really… you know.'
'Hunkalicious?' I grunt.
'That, and I feel a spirit. The spirit of the wolf, within him, getting stronger.'
'Everything is as it should be. The local legends aren't just legends.'
'What do you mean?'
'Ask the trees.'
"Enlightening much?", I mumble.
"Isa."
"Oh, Jacob." I adjust my faithful sunglasses.
"You okay? You were making some strange faces." Not to mention you weren't listening for a while. Great going Arwen.
"Sorry, I was distracted." He lifts an eyebrow. "Just… talking to myself. Could I… go outside, smell the trees?" D'oh!
"Isa, are you sure you're alright?" Wrong thing to say… make something up, make something up!
"Yeah, yeah, just something Lana told me I should do. You know… since Sam Uley found me in the forest, maybe it would help me trigger some memories."
"It's already dark, Isabella. You won't be able to see a thing. Besides, it's dinnertime already. Are you sure you're…"
"I was found in the dark. Please, Jacob."
He sighs and gives me his hand; I take it and he leads me into the trees near the house, the path familiar to him. I release his hand and approach the tree. I touch it and stay silent, my head bowed.
Soul Wanders have affinity with all the elements, although some more than others. Depends. Lana is very much in touch with the Earth Element, which includes trees. I'm more attuned to Air and Fire, so the others are not quite my expertise, but I still manage.
I vaguely hear Jacob calling my name in a worried tone, but a part of me is already joining the trees conscience, images flashing through my mind's eye, of young men morphing to wolves.
Sam Uley being of them, in charge. Leading them.
Curiously, young Embry Call has gone through the change, and is already one of them. My mind goes back to that one conversation with Jacob, on the La Push gang, on how Sam Uley treated him different, on how he was waiting for something… for a change, for Jacob's choice to join the gang?
No, he's waiting for Jacob to become a werewolf.
'About time.'
'Lana.' I pause. 'Is it true? Will Jacob…?'
'Yes, I'm afraid so. There is no stopping it.'
More images come to my mind, the good trees hide nothing. The first change, for Sam Uley, was not a pretty sight.
For some strange reason, the fact that Jacob might suffer from the change and irrevocable turn his life will take rattles me more than the fact he will be a werewolf.
As the great Freddie Mercury once sang, I'm going slightly mad.
.-.-.