Author: Hannah
How amazing was Amy's last chapter! This was a hard one to write, so I hope its okay for everyone. I really enjoyed writing it so read and review and let us know what you think!
Chapter Nine - Jacob's POV
"Well where are we going to go first?" Sonia cried over the sudden downpour of rain, as we raced to the Rabbit, flinging open a door each and climbing inside.
"You are going to go back home and wait by the phone. I'll drop you there now. I have the number, I'll call you as soon as I find something – I mean, as soon as I find her."
"And you?" She asked, her eyes widening at the speed I was taking the dirt track roads at. I felt like a monster, filled with rage at this idiot and what he might be doing to my girl.
Shaking away the rage, I turned to Sonia, just as she signalled frantically for me to keep my eyes on the road. I let out a short laugh, if only she knew the benefits of wolf eyesight. "I'm going to find her aren't I? I have an idea about where she'll be, and if they aren't there, I'll just keep searching."
Sonia looked terrified, her breathing was shallow while she blinked rapidly at the trees and road flying past us, on the way to Annie's home. All of a sudden we came to a grinding halt. A traffic jam was spreading from the crossroads, about half a mile back to where we sat, frustrated and at the end of our tethers.
"This isn't happening," I roared, slamming my hands down on the steering wheel. "No, not now!"
"We could walk?" Sonia suggested timidly, reminding me to tone down the emotion a little bit.
"No, no, it's too far. And in this weather it'll just take longer." I sat for a moment, silent, as I contemplated my options. I felt a pull somewhere deep inside me taking me to La Push beach, where I'd first seen those two together. But I couldn't turn around and take Sonia with me, she'd just get hurt. "Sonia ... can you drive?"
"Uh, well I, uh-" she stammered, taken aback by my question. "I can, but it sure has been a long time. I'm not sure I could in these conditions." She was right, the rain was hammering off the road, bouncing off the roof of the Rabbit and starting to leak through the closed window.
"Please, for Annie?" I asked hopefully. "Can I leave you here with the car while I go look for her? And if the traffic starts to move just drive to Annie's, I'll be back to pick it up later."
"Uh, I guess so. I'll do my best Jacob." She was obviously not happy with the idea, but as far as I was concerned this was the fastest way to get to Annie, and the fastest way to save her from whatever was going on.
"Thank you," I breathed in relief, tearing myself out of the car and into the pouring rain, hearing her cry of 'good luck' sound behind me. The rain was powerful and hard, and in seconds I was soaked. I decided to take a short-cut through the trees, right next to where the hold-up was. As I took off, running down the road past each frustrated driver in their heated cars, the picture in front of me became clearer. A car was turned over in the middle of the crossroads, surrounded by police and ambulances. A man lay on the floor, with puncture marks in his wrist and his neck, and each pace I followed forward the stench overcame me. This was them. They'd done this, taken another innocent life on our watch, and if I tried hard enough I could probably follow that disgusting sickly smell until I found the culprit. But now I was torn, between Annie ... and more innocent lives.
No, I told myself fiercely. Phase, tell the pack, and get back to doing what you came here for. Your girl is in danger here. The guys can take care of whatever else is going on.
I did just that, ignoring the crime scene and pushing my way into the trees. I folded my trousers into the string I kept wrapped around my body, and phased with ease, immediately trying to pick up who else was in this form.
Paul! I called out, Sam, Jared? Anyone?
Jake? It was Paul, finally, picking up on my voice. You aren't supposed to be on patrol tonight. What's up?
Man, what isn't up? Annie's in trouble, I'm going to find her. But you need to –
Annie's in trouble? He interrupted me, causing me to let out a growl.
Yes. But just listen for a –
Do you need our help? Want me to round the guys up?
PAUL! I cried, annoyed. Yes, round the guys up, but not for Annie. I can take care of that. You need to get yourselves down to the crossroads, there's been an incident with a turned over car and someone's been killed. It reeks of vampire too, but I couldn't stop and search, I've got to find Annie. Get your ass over there quick enough you might be able to track them down.
Paul's growl echoed through my ears, as new voices started popping up in this telepathic conversation.
What was that? I heard Embry shout. Vampires?
Oh geez, I grumbled. Explain will you, Paul? I need to phase back now, I've nearly found Annie.
No problem Jake. Good luck.
You too guys, if I can I'll join you later.
Not waiting for a response I phased back, pulling the trousers out of the string pouch and throwing them back on. The rain has impossibly got worse, making it harder to see at first if anyone was on the beach. And then I saw them, shielding themselves away from the rain in the cave that had been etched out of the cliff face. I craned my ears to hear their conversation, as I crouched behind a cluster of trees on the top of the cliff opposite.
"I'm sorry!" Damien shouted at her, making my blood boil. "How many times do you want me to say it? I shouldn't have come storming in your house like that, but I had to speak to you. Don't you see?"
"See what?" She shouted back equally as loud. Standing up for herself, that's what I liked to hear. I was just scared of what he'd do next. "What's the point in this, Damien? What's so important that you couldn't just tell me over the phone? I heard about what happened today –"
"Why does he get into every single one of our conversations, huh? Why can't you shut up about him for a second? He's not with you, I am. And that's the way it'll always be!" He grabbed onto her wrists, squeezing them tight as I fought the urge to jump down and beat the crap out of him. "We're made for each other, Annie – me and you."
"Ouch, Damien, let go," she whimpered. Right, that was it. One more move and I was down there like a shot.
He released his grip on her wrists as she massaged them, waiting for the bruise that would appear.
"How can we be made for each other when you treat me like this?" She whispered. "This has nothing to do with Jacob –"
"Don't say his name!"
"Well it doesn't!" She cried, backing up out of the cave into the rain. "This is about me and you, Damien. And I don't want us anymore, I don't want you."
I knew what was coming next, I knew what this sadistic idiot was going to do, so I ran as fast as I could through the trees, finally coming onto the gravel path that lead me down to the beach. I raced over to Annie, just as Damien retreated from the cave himself, walking over to her slowly and laughing. He saw me approaching then, rage filling his eyes as he grabbed Annie and whipped her round so they were both facing me.
"Stop!" Damien shouted. "You go any further and you'll regret it."
"Why?" I questioned automatically. "What can you do to her here? Quick, Annie. Run to me!"
Obviously still thinking about our argument today, she hesitated, her feet only slightly lifting from the sand. That hesitation caused him to tighten his grip around her body, as he used one hand to peel back her hair from her neck and kiss it.
The tension built up in my body, and I was so close to phasing as my body shook uncontrollably.
"Jacob," I heard Annie whisper. "Jacob, stop."
Her words calmed me, as I ran over to them and wrenched her from his hands, kicking him in the kneecap and watching him fall in the sand, cursing both of us. "Run," I whispered in her ear, "I'll take care of this."
"Don't hurt him," she pleaded with me, the rain soaking us both as she stared at me with those pure and innocent eyes.
"Don't hurt him?" I repeated as he started to get up. "This ... this person is the reason you've been so scared, and so apprehensive all the time. Don't you want to end that?"
Just then, Damien lunged forward, nearly knocking Annie off her feet.
"No you don't," I breathed, slamming my right hook square in his jaw. He flailed wildly, landing back in the sand, clutching at his face.
"Yes," she winced, "but not this way. I don't like all the fighting. Just leave him here, Jacob. We'll sort this out tomorrow sometime; I just have to get away from here. Come home with me, please?"
The urge to finish the job I'd started coursed through my body, but I couldn't ignore a plea from Annie as she started to tug at my shirt, pulling me back in the direction I'd come from.
"Fine," I spat. "But this isn't the end for you," I called back at Damien's figure, slowly starting to get up. "Touch her again, and you'll know about it!"
We ran as fast as we could, away from the beach, away from the woods, until we reached my house. The first thing I could think to do was find her a towel and let her shower. I had no experience with this, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and I didn't know what the hell to say to her. I wanted to talk about Damien, and the hold that he'd had over her. I wanted to talk about our relationship and what tonight meant for us. I wanted to tell her that she was my everything, and that I would never, ever let that sick bastard touch her again.
When she'd finished she came into the living room, tentatively standing in the doorway until she caught my attention. It didn't take me long.
"Annie," I sprang up from my seat, as Billy turned around to look at her too. He'd been surprisingly understanding about the whole situation, although I don't think he quite understood. I hadn't had a chance to tell him about the vampire thing, in case anyone overheard.
"Can I speak to you for a second?" She asked, as I nodded and followed her into my bedroom. As shallow as it sounds, she looked gorgeous in the oversized t-shirt and shorts I'd lent her to sleep in after we rung Sonia to let her know Annie was safe. Tearing my eyes away from her body, I sat down on my bed with her, not touching, not talking – just waiting for her to say what she had to say.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I don't know what I'd have done if you didn't turn up. I knew he was about to hit me again, or worse. I'm just ... really dreading school on Monday."
"Don't you worry about that," I told her. "I'll be with you every step of the way, and I won't let him anywhere near you. Just think," I reached out a finger to tilt her face towards mine. "He's out of your life, he's meaningless now. You can let go."
A tear trickled from her each eye as she nodded, finally smiling. Suddenly she reached out, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into an embrace. "Thank you," she said again through the tears. "I really am grateful for everything you've done for me."
"You know that's okay," I told her, her face inches from mine. And even though this was what I'd been waiting for – a moment with her with no Damien involved, it still didn't feel right. Too much had happened today, I wanted her to have a clear head and to know exactly how she felt.
"You can have the bed," I told her. "I'll go sleep on the couch."
She pulled away, embarrassed. "Okay. Goodnight, Jacob."
It took everything I had to leave her in that room. I wanted my fingers to feel the silkiness of her hair and I wanted my lips to taste the sweetness of hers. It was the right thing to do though, to wait. We'd both just have to be patient.