Chapter Three, here we go!
Disclaimer: SM owns all the characters except mine, lucky lady!
Once again I was in that same clearing but this time it was overcast, making strange shadows dance with every strike of lightning. I stood in the very center, looking about wildly. Why was I here? A low chuckle, sensual and dark made me jump. A brush of air along my bare back made me spin around and look down. I wasn't wearing the same clothes I had gone to bed with, but a backless scarlet gown. Again that low chuckle. I looked up and froze. Across the clearing, barely ten feet away from me stood the most beautiful man I had ever seen.
Angular features with an aristocratic nose and high, arching cheekbones, and full lips. A long, thick braid of mahogany hair brushed the back of his thighs. He was tall, lean but built like any athlete with muscles for speed rather then brute strength. But what really caught my attention were the startling glowing red eyes, shining like pools of fresh blood in his pale face. A cocky smile spread his full lips as his gaze roved over me just as I mine had over him.
"'Ello luv, well aren't you a pretty picture?" He purred, his voice thick with an old British accent. The sound made me shiver, but both in pleasure and revulsion. Something about this man was wrong, inside me something screamed to run away. But another voice inside wanted me to snarl at him, stand my ground and fight. That last emotion shocked me so that I just stood there as the man drew closer.
He moved in a blur of speed that seemed to be only the blink of an eye, standing far too close as he lifted a curling lock of my hair to his mouth. He inhaled deeply, letting out the breath in what could only have been a low growl. His eyes opened, briefly flashing pitch black. "You smell far too good to eat, unlike that other woman. You're mother, wasn't she? What a tasty treat she had been. No, I want you for something else. Your the last of your line, I've made sure of it and I can smell it in you, ripe and just waiting." His head whipped up and he glanced around, a fierce grin on his face. "No, won't be long until she comes."
His hand reached under my chin and tilted my face up, his skin icy cold against mine. Again, his eyes briefly flashed pitch black. His eyes searched mine, looking for something. He seemed satisfied with what he saw, because he smiled again, that first smile he had given me. In yet another impossibly fast move, he ducked down his head and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was brief but scorched through me like a cold burn. He disappeared, that dark, low chuckle trailing behind him on the wind. "Soon, little one. Very, very soon."
- 00 - 00 -
I woke with a gasp, jerking upright in bed to look around the room with frantic eyes as I searched for the man from my dream. No one was in my room and the same sounds that had woken me yesterday drifted through my closed door but they were quieter now. There was also a surprising shaft of sunlight pouring in through the window. With a soft groan I stretch and gaze out my window at the little, weak shaft of sunlight. Had it been sunny the last two days I'd been here? All I could remember was dark clouds and rain. I would rather have the rain, I didn't really like the sun.
Changing into some jeans and a simple dark purple v-neck t-shirt, I padded barefoot out of my room and down the hall. I paused at the kitchen, looking at the faces sitting at the table. Emily instantly stood up and moved to my side, worry on her face.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"Fine, just a little hungry."
Her warm smile made me smile in return, even if it was a little one. I was feeling better after last night. Although, that dream unnerved me to no end. Had it only been a dream, or something else entirely? Emily led me over to the bench lining the table and forced the boys to move aside so I could fit. At Emily's small table were packed even more boys then last time if that was possible! Sam was there, giving me a warm smile just like Emily, along with Seth, Embry, Quil, and Jared. But in addition to those were at least five others. Names were given but the only one that really stuck with me was the one guy Jacob. He was by far the biggest out of them all!
I got shoved in between Jacob and Sam, the air in the kitchen practically stifling. But it was nice being surrounded by laughter and conversation. With Mom it had been just her and me for meals and our house had been way too big for just two people but it had been wonderful most of the time. Sitting squished around a small table eating and laughing, it was wonderful. The near constant ache in my chest lifted a little as I laughed along at jokes being told. It was nice belonging to something.
The bang of the front door made me jump and looked up. Yet another massively muscled Quileute stepped through the front door, shaking water off of him in a very dog-like fashion. I should have just turned back to my food but something whispered at me to get a closer look. Not a voice, more like an instinct. Well, I had always been one to follow my instincts.
Leaning back on the bench, I let myself be held into place by Sam's and Jacob's massive bodies so I was free to look at this newcomer. I was puzzled, he seemed just like any other member of the tribe but there was something different about him. Which made no sense, even when I repeated it in my head.
"Man, I wish those fucking leeches would just off of our lands and wait for Jake out there." His voice was a deep, rough rumble that made a shiver pass up and down my spine. He was normal enough looking for a member of the Quileute tribe; high cheek bones, dark copper colored skin, black hair cropped close to his head showing off his sharp bone structure. He was also massive in muscles like the others I had met but not nearly as big as Sam or Jacob, although he would easily tower over me. His eyes were a dark brown, almost black.
"Paul," Sam's tone was hard as he slowly stood up from the table. His quick movement dislodged me from my precarious angle. With a startled squeak, I fell backwards off the bench and landed on my back staring up at this newcomer called Paul. I stared up at him with wide eyes just as he stared down at me with the oddest expression I had ever seen on someone's face. The only way I could describe it as was a blind man seeing a sunset for the first time. As our eyes stayed locked something inside me eased, like the stress, sadness, and loneliness of my mother's violent death became more bearable.
But that look on his face was quickly replaced by rage and a fine vibration traveled along his body. "No! Aw, fuck no!" He roared and took off out of the house like a bat out of hell. That feeling inside of me was gone instantly, making my heart ache so badly it tore a gasp from me. Sam knelt beside me, worry etched on his face.
"Are you okay?" He asked, helping me get to my feet. Everyone was sharing looks that I couldn't read and didn't really care to. I just nodded at Sam and tried to hide my face behind my hair as I sat back at the table, my face burning in embarrassment. Why had that Paul guy reacted to me like that? Was me being here so bad? I was so confused!
Jacob stood, finishing off his three muffins in almost one bite. "Someone should go check on Paul and I gotta go meet Nessie." He trailed off as he looked from Sam and to the door. Sam nodded and gave Emily a quick kiss and ruffled my hair. I pursed my lips in annoyance at Sam's retreating back, why had he done that? One by one the others left, giving half made excuses, making me feel like this was all my fault. And in a way, I guess it was. Something about me had repelled that Paul guy, but did that mean I would have to find somewhere else to live? Would Sam kick me out because one of his fellow tribe members didn't like me?
The only sounds in the kitchen was Emily humming as she started to clean up after the boys' mess. Nervously nibbling on my lower lip I looked up at Emily, "is it my fault everyone is leaving?" I asked, partially voicing my fears.
Emily dropped the dirty plates in the kitchen sink and sat down on the bench across from me, taking hold of my hands in her warm grip. "No, things are just...complicated with Paul. He doesn't like outsiders and has some issues but you're not an outsider, you're family." She explained but I felt like she was leaving something out, of course she didn't have to tell me everything I wasn't really family, blood didn't mean everything to people and I wasn't exactly sure what blood meant to Sam. He seemed to have a bond with the boys of the tribe but that could be just that, a bond formed since they were all from the tribe.
Nodding, I extracted my hands from hers and stood slowly. An emotion I couldn't read passed over her face as I stood but didn't wait for her to say anything else and retreated to my room. My gaze was drawn to the window and the forest beyond but I didn't want to go out into the forest alone again...maybe I could ask someone to go with me? Sighing, I changed into jeans and a scooped neck pink with black stripes cashmere sweater. The soft feeling of the fabric against my skin drew another sigh from me. I didn't want to be cooped up in the house all day but I didn't want to go anywhere alone.
My eye was drawn to the corner of my sketch pad sticking out from under my bed. I wouldn't be able to draw in that book anymore so that meant I would need a new one. I had funds, quite a lot actually, I just didn't like spending large amounts of money at once. Pulling on my black ankle boots, I left my room with my small purse slung over my shoulder. The kitchen was spotless and Emily was in the living room dusting, she reminded me of my grandmother, the woman I got my white skin from. She was a neat-freak, always had to clean things or else she was just unhappy.
Emily paused in her dusting and I quickly spoke, "is there anywhere nearby that I can shop? Like a mall or even a simple outdoor mall would be fine." I blurted out before she continued in her cleaning.
She pursed her lips, making the scar going over her lips pucker slightly. "Well, Port Angeles is a good place to shop. Is there something you want in particular?" She asked.
"A new sketch pad, the old one is full." I lied smoothly, I wouldn't let her see my art, she would think it was weird. But thinking of the art again made me think I should look into some of those old legends I wrote down while visiting with great-grandma. It was no doubt useless but it was at least something to explain the weird things I had drawn and maybe even that dream.
"Okay, I think we should get out together! Maybe even call Kim, she's Jared's girlfriend. We could make it a girls' day out and buy the food for a bonfire this weekend." Emily chatted along animatedly as she breezed around her living room, I only half listened to her. Okay, maybe being with some other girls could be fun. It would certainly get my mind off of the weird things going on.
Don't attack me! Sorry it's so short but been busy. Also, I'm gonna try something different with the next chapter.