Bella had another seizure in the cool gray light of morning. It was stiffer than the others - her entire body had become taut, and she'd gasped, and her back had arched up off the bed at what seemed to Jake to be an impossible angle. Her heart fluttered like a dying bird, and when she lay back, everything was too silent and too still.
She wasn't even breathing, never mind a beating heart.
Jacob's heart broke.
A long moment passed without movement, and then Bella sucked in a deep breath. Jacob and Sam both tensed, ready to phase if she made a threatening move.
Nothing happened.
Bella lay still for a long time, then let out the breath. She let another long moment pass before she sucked in another.
She was reveling in the new, cool feeling of her body. The hellfire burn was gone, and she was so grateful. She was astounded at the way her body reacted to air now. She didn't need to breath, but she loved the way the air filled her lungs and allowed her to taste the air in the room in a new way. A distinct animal smell, strong and malodorous, filled the room, but she relished even that seemingly foul scent because it was knew and strong in her mind.
Who am I? she asked herself, because her body felt so unfamiliar
Bella Swan, her memory sang back, and flashed hazy images of her own human face laughing and crying and thinking.
Her body tensed, and she opened her eyes momentarily stunned by the clarity of her vision. She could make out every detail of every plaster indent in the ceiling. In less than a second, she pulled herself up on the bed, and then pulled herself back against the headboard in a defensive position. Standing before her were two half-naked men, glaring at her, looking ready to attack.
She moves too fast! Jacob thought as the false-Bella tensed and threw herself back against the headboard of the bed. Her eyes glowed a brilliant crimson as though they were filled with blood. Her eyes bothered him the most. He knew this wasn't Bella, but her face was so similar, and staring out of that almost-Bella face were the bright eyes of a monster. He almost couldn't take it… and then another thought struck him.
She's…scared. She's afraid of us.
And it was true. Her eyes were wide and watchful, flickering back and forth between the two wolves-in-human-clothing.
Then her eyes locked onto his, and her mouth relaxed slightly, curving a little at the edges. He tensed, ready for attack, and when she spoke, his heart melted and shattered in the same instant.
"Jacob?" she asked in a clear, ringing voice. She spoke softly, and it was as if she were singing in a whisper, and it was the most beautiful and most frightening thing he had ever heard. It was Bella's voice, but sweeter and lighter and clearer, and wrapped almost lovingly around his name.
Bella - no, he corrected himself, the vampire in Bella's body - gasped at the sound of her own voice, her hand flying to her mouth. "What…" she whispered in her perfect voice, which was colored just right with confusion and awe. "What…happened? …Jacob…?" She said his name again, and he couldn't help but step towards her. But when he moved, Sam moved between them, watching them both warily. Bella's eyes snapped to him, her face colored again in fear.
Jacob almost snarled, and moved around Sam. He knew Sam was right to be wary, that this was an enemy, but he couldn't bring himself to fear her. "Bella…" His heart clenched when he used her name, and he told himself he as just playing along. "You were bitten. By that vampire, in the woods. Do you remember?" His voice sounded painfully rough compared to hers.
Her forehead scrunched together, and she was so beautiful. "I…Yes." She winced. Then she stared at Jacob with new eyes. "You… Am I…?"
Jacob squared his shoulders, bracing himself. "Yes. You changed." His voice cracked on the last word, and he clamped his mouth shut.
Bella went completely still. She didn't move, she didn't breath, her eyes didn't flicker between them anymore. They stayed frozen, focused on something else… or nothing at all.