Chapter 6: The Anger and the Agony

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

Victoria waited three whole days to confront her mate. Mate—what a laugh. He was cheating on her and with a damn human to boot. What did that pasty-faced girl have that she didn't, she'd like to know. She was going to give the lousy cur one last chance to break it off with little miss innocent. How did this happen anyway? The stupid human should've been freaked out by being abducted by a vampire, yet she showed no fear. What was wrong with her? Was she mentally imbalanced? Shaking her red tresses in fury, she raced through the bracken and up among the tallest treetops. Finally landing on the leaf-strewn floor, she tossed huge boulders into a creek a mile away to let off steam, and believe me, she was bursting with pent up steam. The red streak, erroneously described as a UFO by the locals, haunted the forest for those three days.

Arriving at the cabin, Victoria, not the least bit appeased, saw the silly human sitting casually in a chair, and dressed in HER clothes.

"What do you mean dressing her up in my clothes?" She was fuming by now, and screeched at James, who was crouched at Bella's side, smiling up at his new toy.

James' laugh filled the room. "Well, you weren't here, sweetums, so they were just lying there doing nobody any good, and Bella needed something to wear. So, what the hell—they fit, and I happen to like the way she looks in them."

The female vampire walked toward Bella. "Take them off!"

"What?"

"You heard me. I said take them off!"

Bella blinked, and spouted, "I will not, James gave them to me."

"They weren't his to give."

Shrugging, James extended his arms to plead with the irritated female, "Come on, Victoria. She's got nothing else to wear. I'll get her some new duds tomorrow."

With arms crossed at her chest, Victoria replied, "You better. Why is she still here, anyway?"

"I was lonesome, and she amuses me."

"Is that all?"

"So far, yeah. What do you care? You were gone, doing whatever. How do I know where you were or who you were with?" Probably with that idiot, Cole.

"Beats sitting around this place, listening to you and the little twit talking about philosophy."

"You should join us. You might actually learn something."

"I know enough."

"If you say so." He turned and winked at Bella.

Victoria picked up a book, lying open in another chair, and flung it full force at his head. James ducked in time, but his casual manner was being tested. He stood, and in a menacing voice, blurted, "Ya know, I think I've had just about enough of this sh**!"

The furious female shrieked, "That's it, I'm out of here, and when I get back, I want her gone!"

"Fat chance, Vicki. By the way, arrivederci. Give my regards to Cole."

Victoria grabbed a painting off the wall and pitched it in his direction. James' arm flew up to protect Bella, batting away the projectile, and sending it careening to the tiled flooring.

Her eyes were mere slits, as she screamed, "Why you …" Victoria suddenly pivoted, then slammed the door so hard when she left that the whole house shook. Maybe I should go see Cole. He appreciates me at least.

James looked down at the splintered mess. "Damn, I really liked that painting."

Bella walked toward him. "Holy cow, she does have a bad temper."

"Told ya; it's that red hair."

"I'm sorry I'm the cause of all this arguing. I feel really horrible about it."

"Well, don't. It's nothing to worry about. Victoria and I are always fighting. I think she gets off on it. Anyway, you're here, and that's all that matters, babydoll."

"Oh gosh, I love you, James."

"Glad to hear it." His arms were about her in an instant, holding her tightly, his mouth on hers. He definitely wasn't as cautious as Edward used to be, and she reveled in it. Edward … he was just a fleeting memory.

All this waitin' was drivin' me up the wall. I couldn't eat; I couldn't sleep. I was ready to tear my freakin' hair out. If only somethin' would break. I had to know where she was, alive or dead. The suspense was killin' me. And then there was poor Charlie. He called several times a day, every stinkin' day. I could just imagine how he was feelin'. Helpless, that's what—same as me. All the bolos in the world couldn't turn up a single clue. Sh**, how do you spot a vamp who doesn't wanta be spotted? Answer—you don't. Damn leeches.

I was pacin' the floor in the living room when Dad wheeled in from the kitchen. "You know, worrying won't bring her back, Son."

"I know that, but I just feel that there's somethin' I should be doin'."

"Don't you think you would've drummed up a plan by now? Look at Charlie. Even with all his help, he's come up empty–handed too."

I made up my mind then and there. "He needs to know, Dad. It's time, and I'm gonna tell him."

Dad grabbed my arm. "No, Jacob. The council …"

"The hell with the council. I'm tellin' him."

I pulled away from his grip on me, and walked toward the door with my dad yellin', "Jacob, you can't."

Lookin' over my shoulder, I said, "Oh, no? Just watch me."

Charlie met me at his door, at least I think it was Charlie. Geez, he had a week's worth of stubble on his face, and his hair looked like it hadn't been combed in days either. And those eyes … they were as red as a filthy leech's!

I tried not to look too surprised at his appearance, 'cuz I mean, cooome onnn, the guy was hurtin' somethin' awful. "Hey, chief, can I come in?"

"Sure. You know you're always welcome here."

I followed him inside, and we sat at the kitchen table. It was hard not to notice the pile of empty Vitamin R cans, and whiskey bottles heaped in the overflowing trash bin. There were dirty dishes in the sink too. They were stacked so high, it was a wonder they didn't topple over the counter's edge and crash to the floor.

"I need to talk to you about somethin', Charlie."

He stood and walked to the fridge. "Okay—but first, can I get you a coke … root beer, maybe?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

Grabbin' a bottle of water for himself, he sat back down, and took a sip.

"It's about Bella."

Charlie jerked upright, focused on me now. "What's that?"

"This might havta do with her disappearance."

The chief drew his chair in closer. "I'm listening; go on."

"Well, you remember tellin' me there was somethin' reeeaaaally weird about Edward?"

"Yeah, so?"

"If I remember correctly, you said he never ate or drank anything whenever he was here."

"Yeah … Nobody eats like you, kid, but that boy never ate."

"Don't I know it. You see, the thing is, he literally can't eat."

Charlie leaned forward. "Come again?"

I took a huge breath. "You heard right. Hold onta your hat, Charlie. Edward—in fact his whole family … are vampires."

With a shake of his head, Charlie scoffed, "Come off it, kid. You've been watching too many horror movies."

I pushed my chair back from the table, and got up. "I swear it's true. Laugh all you want, but if you don't believe me, let's step outside for a minute, and I'll prove it to you."

He squinted his bloodshot eyes at me, and finally rolled them like a couple of dice. "Does Billy know you finally went over the edge?"

"If you mean does he know about the cold ones—yep!"

"You're both nuts, you know that?" Charlie rubbed one hand over his face. "Fine, I'll bite. Prove it to me."

We walked a little ways into the woods, at the rear of his house, where I quickly stripped and shifted. I thought Charlie would blow a gasket at the sight. He kept backin' up, scared outta his everluvin' mind, so I got down on my haunches, and whimpered like a lost puppy.

"I believe you, I believe you," he shouted, still at a safe distance from me. "Jake," he covered his eyes, "You can change back now. Please change back."

Vibratin' a mile a minute, I immediately phased, and pulled on my clothes. "There … satisfied?"

Charlie uncovered one eye, then nodded slowly. "So, the Cullens are vampires?"

"Yep, and your naïve offspring is in love with one of them. Creepy, huh?"

"Very. But what about you? Are you … um … a vampire too?"

"Pfft! Hell, no! Shape shifter. I like to eat too much to be a filthy tick. Ya see, the presence of the vampires tripped a gene in the young men of the tribe. We protect our own, and then some, from the cold ones."

"Um … can we go back to the house now?"

"Sure, sure."

Charlie plunked down onto the kitchen chair with a heavy sigh. "You're telling me that my daughter was kidnapped by a vampire … a nomad?"

"About that … he's not part of the Cullens' coven, if that's what you mean."

Charlie's eyes glistened with moisture, and he began to sob. I got up from my seat, and put an arm around him. He lifted his head to peer at me, and looked so pitiful, it started me cryin' too. There we were, the two of us, big bad guys, wailin' like a couple of overgrown babies.

He finally moved, taking a long gulp of air, and patting my arm, said, "I'm sorry, Jacob. I didn't mean to…"

I waved him away. "Hey, no problem. I was in the same boat with you, remember?"

With a sniffle, he began, "This nomad …"

"Right. Edward is out searching for him. When he finds him, he'll find her. I'd be beatin' the bushes too, if the freakin' bloodsucker had let me in on the big secret a lot sooner. I tried, Charlie, I really did, but the scent was gone; the trail, stone-cold. Anyway, that's why no one witnessed her bein' carried away. Those buggers are fast, and even if a person was right on top of one, he would notice only a slight breeze goin' by."

Charlie made a repeat trip to the fridge, and grabbed a can of Vitamin R, takin' a long pull from it. "You'll excuse me if I have to settle my nerves. You have to admit … I mean, really, it's such a tough one to swallow."

"I knoooow! You don't havta tell me that. I'm livin' this nightmare every day."

Sighin' deeply, Charlie stared at the can he was holdin', rubbin' his thumb up and down on the smooth surface. "Now that I'm in on the big secret, what are we going to do to bring my little girl home safely?"

"You're not gonna like this, Charlie, but we havta wait it out. The fortune teller will no doubt find her."

"Fortune teller?"

"Yeah, you know, that little Cullen chick that looks like a pixie."

"Alice?"

"That's the one. I'm bad at names."

Charlie scratched his head. "I didn't realize she could tell fortunes."

I shrugged, "Well, maybe not fortunes. She has these visions I guess you might say …of the future. Now, Eddie boy can read your mind, and I'm tellin' you, it annoys me to no end. Nothin' like him answerin' you before you even ask the damn question. Apparently, he can't read Bella's mind tho', or yours either."

"Hmn …"

"Yeah, weird, huh?"

I decided it was time to head out. Lookin' around, my eyes landed on the filled sink. "Well, I better go, unless you want my help with the dishes."

"No, I'll get to them—eventually."

"Alright then, and don't worry, chief. We'll find her. I promise you."

"Thanks, Jake."

"Welcome."

I strode out the door and rode back to La Push.

Victoria came to a waterfall where she sat cross-legged behind the glittering cascade. She liked to come here to think. It was restful. The sound of the rushing water helped to soothe her, and clear her mind. Contrary to what James thought, she did have a brain, and right now it was telling her that a straight-on attack was useless. It was time to change her tactics.

She had to get rid of that stupid little human who had her man wrapped around her pinky finger. It was totally ludicrous. What did James see in that ragdoll? A plan occurred to her. It was plain as day; she would act the penitent mate, and when he let down his guard, she would strike. He wouldn't even have time to see it coming. Ha!