Chapter 35 — Karma, It's a Bitch
There's a natural law of karma that vindictive people, who go out of their way to hurt others, will end up broke and alone.
Sylvester Stallone
Jacob's POV
Where in the hell would Bella go? I thought, slamming my hands down against the table, glowering at the map I'd spread out. The crystal was linked to the athame I used to kill her parents, and the athame still had their blood on it. No matter; the crystal wasn't falling. It circled every map of Washington I used.
"Jacob," Riley said, "maybe you should try the world map. She might not be in Washington."
I raised my head, scowling at him. Riley had a point. Bella could have escaped to another state or country. "Bring me the atlas," I shouted.
Once the atlas was open, I picked up the dagger and crystal. The crystal swung back and forth several times before landing on the United Kingdom. I hurriedly flipped the pages. Again, the crystal swung, landing on Scotland. I threw the dagger, and it buried itself in the wall to the right of where Riley was standing. The crystal dangled from where I had tied it on the handle. "She's in bloody, fucking Crail, Scotland," I shouted before letting out a roar of frustration. It would be virtually impossible for me to enter her ancestral home, but come hell or high water, I would get to her. Her powers were mine.
~~ L.C. ~~
I stared angrily at the parents with the disrespectful, red-faced child. The child had cried nonstop, and his parents had done nothing to calm him during the thirteen-and-a-half-hour flight. If we weren't in a crowded terminal, I would beat some sense into his father; instead, I pushed my way past them with Riley following.
Standing outside under the awning, I waited for Riley to retrieve our bags. I despised the rainy, gloomy weather. While waiting, I overheard a couple of security guards talking about the arrival of a private jet five days ago.
"Never in my day would I have imagined Edward Cullen coming 'ere had I not seen him with mine own eyes," one guy was saying. "Stranger still, he had a lass with him. A laird's granddaughter, I believe, she was."
"Are ye sure, Angus?" another guy asked.
"I swear on my dearly departed wife's grave. It was him. I'd nay gotten a good look at the lass, moving as fast as they were. Were moved through customs faster than anyone I'd even seen. Did nay even have to wait. Personally escorted by our boss," Angus replied.
Riley arrived during that conversation, and I didn't wait around to hear what else the two knew. I headed straight for the Enterprise rental car counter.
An ugly, skinny girl was behind the counter when Riley and I walked in. "Morning, lads," she said. "Ye in need of a car?"
Pushing Riley forward, I smiled sweetly, lowering my dark shades. I winced when I noticed the video camera and put them back on.
"Yes," Riley answered after clearing his throat. "We're in need of something like a Lincoln Town Car with tinted windows. My brother here has sensitive eyes."
She typed a few things into the computer. "Yer in luck, lads. One left. Anything else?"
"A map of the area and of Crail, if possible," I said, giving her a toothy smile and wink.
She blushed scarlet. "We don't have one of Crail, but I can print ye one. Don't be telling me boss. Not supposed to do that."
Interesting. "I heard tell that Edward Cullen arrived a few days ago. Is that true?" I asked.
She shrugged. "If he did, I wasn't on duty."
I leaned against the counter, my hand reaching for hers but stopping short. "I don't suppose you could see if he requested a car, could you?" I asked.
"Aye, I could, but I'm nay supposed to," she replied, sucking her lower lip into her mouth.
I took a deep breath to prevent myself from strangling the girl. Grinning again, I moved my hand, covering hers where it rested on the counter. "Come on, for me. I won't tell on you."
Her breathing hitched slightly, and she nodded. Freeing her hand, she once again typed something into the computer. "I'm sorry, lad. There's no record of him renting from any of this agency or any other."
I shrugged, but inside I was seething. His arrival in Scotland paired with Bella being here had to be more than coincidence.
"He could have called a private company and had a car waiting," she said.
Taking a deep breath, I turned and walked out. Riley came out with the bitch a few minutes later, and she went to retrieve the car.
"What was that all about?" Riley demanded, thrusting the maps at me.
I didn't respond. He was beneath me, and I didn't need to explain anything to him. After retrieving the dagger and crystal from my suitcase, I held them over the printout of Crail. The crystal landed on the sea. A scream left my throat.
"Are ye all right, lad?" the bitch asked.
Swinging around to face her, I nodded. "Just a headache."
~~ L.C. ~~
Two hours later, Riley and I arrived in Crail. Stopping at a gas station, I got out to stretch my legs while Riley filled the car up. The attendant came out, and I asked if there was a detailed map of the area. "What's near the sea?" I asked, paying for the gas and map he produced.
He scratched his chin. "Depends. Where ye heading, lad?"
I produced the printout. "This general area."
"Caves," he said.
Caves?
"I've nay been to them in ages," he continued saying. "Dangerous, mind ye. Said to be guarded by spirits. I'd nay be going to explore them if I'd be ye."
Thanking him, I returned to the car.
As soon as we reached and checked into Balcomie Links Hotel, I left, leaving Riley to fend for himself. He was a good kid and often reminded me of who I once was, and I didn't want him caught up in my twisted attempt to gain more power. He still believed that Bella had come to me for help and that she had broken up with me that night she slipped away from Embry. Upon until then, he wasn't allowed to step foot into my house; only those that helped me kidnap Bella could. It was an attempt to protect my underlings from that crime. Riley, however, had recently been initiated and was selected as my second because he was an orphan—he had no family to avenge him if I pinned a crime on him.
Sadly, I looked back at the hotel. My path was set and had been set since the night I murdered the Swans in cold blood, stealing their powers. I did leave their guest alive, albeit injured. When Bella had walked in moments after, I had panicked and snatched her. She hadn't seen my face, but the moment I removed the blindfold, I had seen the hatred in them. Those eyes still haunted my nightmares.
With one last glance, I vanished, appearing on a somewhat rocky beach, a cave mouth beckoning me to enter. Sitting on a large boulder, I studied the entrance. There was no guard. Having dismissed the nonsense the gas station clerk mentioned about spirits protecting the cave, I wondered why Bella would be inside. Spirits didn't exist. With a heavy sigh, I pushed off the rock and approached the cave, stepping cautiously inside and pausing a few moments. No alarms went off, but the alarm could be silent, and I saw no cameras. Snickering, I surged on, coming up against nothing until I came to a three-way split.
Two double-edged axes swung back and forth in front of the tunnels. Cursing my luck, I sat on the ground with my knees to my chest, watching the blades. There has to be a pattern, I thought. Sadly, there wasn't; every time I thought I had the rhythm down and stood, the pattern shifted. Aggravated, I sent a fiery blast toward the chains holding the blades. The blast rebounded, coming back toward me, but I managed to leap out of the way. It had done its job, though. The chains snapped, and the blades crashed to the floor with a loud bang. I froze, remaining where I cowered behind a large rock. After about ten minutes, I stood and chose a tunnel.
Having chosen the passageway on the left, I started walking. Halfway down, I stepped on something, and a loud click sounded in the small space. Examining the ground at my feet, I saw nothing. Even the walls on either side held hidden secrets, such as an eyebeam that could have broken when I stepped into its path. Shaking my head, I continued on my way. A grinding click resounded a few seconds later and with each step I took after that. Finally, a snap was followed by a whistle. A volley of arrows was headed straight at me. I dropped to the floor, peering down the corridor. Twenty or so feet away were ten six-arrowed crossbows set at different heights. I'd heard tell of them, but I'd never seen one. All were loaded, save the top one, and were blocking my path. Seeing no way around them, I hoisted myself up and turned around, cursing as I made my way back to the split.
Once I reached the split, I took the right fork. I proceeded cautiously, unsure what the passageway would contain. Nothing happened, other than I ran into a dead end. "Fuck!" I shouted.
I knew it wasn't going to be easy getting to Bella, but this damn cave … something or someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"What?" I said angrily, swinging around.
The big brute of an FBI agent was standing behind me, cracking his knuckles.
I swallowed hard, suddenly afraid. No, I thought, closing my eyes. He's not here.
Reopening my eyes, I found I was alone. Walking swiftly and not looking back, I was at the split again in no time. Eyeing the center tunnel, I took a deep breath and marched toward it. The big brute appeared, shaking his head as he barred my way. I gave him a dirty look; he didn't budge. Bringing up my hands, I tried to shove him; instead, I fell through him and landed on my face.
"I will get to her," I yelled, starting to believe what the gas station clerk said earlier. This place seemed to be haunted.
Moving as fast as my feet could carry me, I soon heard laughter and knew I was finally on the right path.
I slowed my approach.
"Edward, lad, ye can nay be serious," a deep male voice said.
"I am being serious, lads. I plan on wearing a kilt when I marry her," someone replied, and this caused me to see red.
Bella was mine, and she was the only "her" they could be talking about.
"I don't expect you to, Edward," Bella said.
I screamed, charging like a bull into a large, well-lit chamber. "Bella's mine," I yelled, oblivious to how many people were in the room.
"Protect her ladyship," an old man shouted, drawing a short sword from the sheath at his hip.
I gave a sardonic laugh. "That knife isn't going to protect anyone," I said, circling my hand and forming a fireball from thin air.
The old man raised an eyebrow, taking in the suspended ball above my open palm. He said something in a language I didn't know. The men behind him laughed, each drawing a similar blade from their sheaths.
I let the fireball sail, and it was extinguished about a foot from its target. My gaze moved to Bella. She looked frightened, and her eyes widened when one of the men stepped forward. "If she was yours, then she wouldn't have asked me for help in getting away from you," he said. He took another stepped toward me, adding, "And you are going to have to go through me to get to her."
My lips curled upward slowly. "So, you're Edward."
He nodded, producing a long sword out of nowhere.
I blinked. He had magic. My sneer got larger. "I'm going to enjoy gutting you," I said, pulling the power-sucking athame out of my back pocket.
"Not going to happen. Is that the same knife you used to kill Charlie and Renee?" Edward asked, sidestepping when I lunged at him, catching me by the collar with his free hand and tossing me to the ground.
"Of course, it is, you idiot. I also used it to steal their powers," I answered, not caring who heard my confession. They were all going to die. Regaining my footing, I lunged at Edward again, only to hit an invisible wall.
Bella was standing next to Edward, gripping his wrist with her right hand while her left was outstretched in my direction, tears running down her face. "Why?" she demanded. "Why did you kill them, Jacob?"
"Because I want your powers, you stupid bitch. When I gain them, I'll become a full black sorcerer, and then I won't have to answer to anyone. I won't be someone's hellion. I'll be my own boss," I shouted, trying to break through the barrier, but every spell I tried rebounded, hitting me instead.
Bella's face contorted into hatred, the same look she'd given me over three years ago. "You can't have them. The dagger you hold will not be able to draw them from me. My powers would transfer to the one I love, and upon his death, they will transfer to another good soul worthy of them. And you don't have my parents' powers. They transferred to me."
"Impossible," I shouted. "I felt a surge of power after I killed them."
"Ever hear of adrenaline?" Bella asked, tears still running down her face. "It's a powerful feeling with it coursing through your veins, almost like magic collecting before it releases from your hand or a wand. However, that's not how it feels when magic transfers from one person to another."
"You wouldn't have felt any different—a slight shock, if anything," Edward said, taking a step forward and slightly in front of Bella.
I growled. "You can't keep her from me." After taking several steps backward, I ran forward, hitting the barrier again with such force that I was thrown back, landing on my back near a glass wall.
Seething, I rolled onto my shoulder and kicked up, springing to my feet. I glared at Bella before my eyes moved to Edward. Raising my hand, I produced a ball of pure energy.
When I threw the ball, Bella pushed Edward down to the floor at the same time she pulled her hand back, thrusting her hand forward fast. The energy ball changed direction, hitting me in the chest. I stumbled backward, crashing through the glass wall, and then there was nothing. Everything above me got smaller and smaller. The way one plunged to death in movies, I found strangely inaccurate. My life didn't flash before my eyes; all I saw was nothing but cave ceiling and knew I was going to die. Although, one number ran through my mind—nine point eight one meters per second per second. It was the one thing I remembered from physics, and I owed the knowledge retention to Bella. So, I figured I had another second and a half to live, and no amount of magic would save me. "I'm sorry," I wanted to yell, but the words stuck in my throat.
Edward's POV
I surged to my feet, like the others, when I heard the scream. It sounded like what I would think a dying banshee would sound like—a deep, feral, and keening wail. Turning toward the source, I saw a wild-eyed, russet-skinned man running into the room.
"Jacob," Bella provided through our private connection.
Finlay yelled something, probably about protecting Bella, but I was focused solely on Jacob. He was dangerous and could snap at any time; if and when he did, I wanted his attack directed at me and not Bella.
The men near me laughed moments after Jacob fashioned a fireball out of thin air. He hurled it at Finlay; it disappeared without the smoke and mirrors a stage magician would use. The ball was there one minute and gone the next.
As adrenaline coursed through me, I stepped forward, addressing Jacob in a steely tone. There'd be no mistake that I was furious with his childish antics. "If she was yours, then she wouldn't have asked me for help in getting away from you." Taking another step, I added, "And you are going to have to go through me to get to her."
"Edward, no," Bella shouted in my mind as I drew a broadsword from out of nowhere.
Jacob's face contorted into a menacing sneer. Reaching a hand around his back, he pulled something out of his pocket. A knife. I wanted to laugh but felt it would antagonize him further, so instead, I asked if he used it to kill Charlie and Renee.
I felt the moment Bella was behind me. "What are you doing? Get back behind the others," I instructed.
"No. I'm not going to lose you, too." Bella's arm raised, her palm outstretched.
Jacob lunged, coming into contact with an invisible wall.
Bella's arm shook violently, but she kept it up. "Why did you kill them, Jacob?"
Jacob confirmed what I have known for a while, what Renee told me. He wanted Bella's powers. Nothing Jacob spewed out was worth my time. He was obsessed with power.
"However, that's not how it feels when magic transfers from one person to another," Bella said. "Edward, tell him what you felt."
"A slight shock, if anything," I remarked. I took another step forward, placing my body somewhat in front of Bella.
Jacob growled and stepped backward a few paces. Charging forward, he came in contact with the invisible wall again. Bella's arm shook a little, and Jacob was propelled backward—more like thrown by two burly, transparent men—and landed on his back near the glass wall.
Jacob obviously wasn't getting the hint. He sprung to his feet, glared at Bella before moving his gaze to me. I didn't see what happened. Bella pushed me to the floor. All I heard was a loud "ka-shh" of breaking glass, and then nothing.
Lifting my head, I looked to my left. Finlay was talking quietly with Brody and two others; I made out "deal with the body" before Brody and the others ran off. Turning to the right, I saw Bella sitting on her knees, trembling. She was in shock. I sat up and wrapped my arms around her.
"I didn't mean to kill him," she muttered over and over.
That explains what I heard Finlay say, I thought.
Bella's POV
I collapsed to my knees the moment Jacob fell into the empty pool tunnel. My hands went to my ears, not knowing if the sound of him hitting the ground below would reverberate up. Edward wrapped his arms around me, drawing me to his chest, and my left arm went around his waist.
"It's over, love," he communicated through our link. "He's dead. Brody and two other guards are heading down to deal with his body before the tide comes in."
I squeezed my eyes shut, muttering how sorry I was before whispering, "I–I–I'm cold."
Warmth surrounded me. "You had no choice," a familiar, deep voice said. "It was your life or Jacob's."
Lifting my head, I saw Dad kneeling beside Edward and me. He had his hand on my shoulder. Mom was standing behind him, smiling down at me. "I know, but I can't help feeling sad. Jacob was my best friend growing up," I whispered.
Dad said nothing for a moment, squeezing my shoulder. "Can't say I fault you for feeling that way, kiddo. And Billy will understand."
"He will?" I said, hiccupping. That made no sense, but I chalked it up to be being in a mild state of shock.
"Yes, Isabella," Mom answered, moving to squat beside Dad. "Billy knew what Jacob could become one day. When he started seeing irreversible changes in Jacob, he came to your father and me, to warn us."
I bit my lip, thinking. "That's why you asked me to break up with him."
"And why we wanted you to meet Edward," Mom said, brushing a hand over my hair. "But the timing of the meeting was off."
My lip went back between my teeth, and Edward reached up, freeing it. The action wasn't unnoticed by my parents. They both smiled.
"And you have our blessing," Dad said. He leaned forward and kissed my cheek and whispered, "We love you."
I blinked and my parents were gone. Maybe mild was an understatement. I was hallucinating; there was no way my parents could have been there.
"I want to go home," I whispered, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "Take me home, Edward."
Edward pressed his lips to the top of my head. "I'll make the necessary arrangements when we get back to the Keep. We'll leave the caves as soon as Brody and the others return."
I didn't like the idea of waiting, of riding a horse, or having others see me in an agitated state. "See you at the Keep, Finlay," I said loudly, vanishing a few seconds later and reappearing in my chambers.
Edward laughed, hugging me to him. "Guess I'll start making calls now, but it will be tomorrow afternoon before we'll be able to leave," he said, consulting his watch.
Grabbing his hand, I stopped him from getting up. I wasn't feeling too good and, for some reason, I couldn't get warm. Leaning forward, I seductively suggested he wait until after a nice, long, hot shower.
He extracted his hand and cupped my face with it. "Bella, no."
I thrust my lip out, pouting.
He backpedalled. "Not that I don't like the idea of helping you wash. However, after what just happened, I don't think it's a good idea."
I turned away, holding my arms across my chest as if to ward off the chill.
"Bella?"
I didn't face him.
"Isabella, love, please look at me."
I didn't.
His hands came to a rest on my shoulders and pulled me around to face him. I closed my eyes, silently refusing to look at him. He caressed my face. "The answer is still no, love. You're in shock, and we both need time to cope with what happened. I'll admit that a shower or, better yet, a bath will do you some good." He sighed. "Jacob was your friend and, despite what he did to you during your captivity, you need to grieve." I went to protest, and he held up his hand. "If only for tonight, love."
My lip trembled, but after a little thought, I realized Edward was right. The only reason I wanted him to join me in the shower me was because I was hurting. I had lost a friend. "Will you come into the bathroom with me, at least? I don't want to be alone."
Edward pressed his lips to my forehead. "I can do that. When we get home, I promise I'll join you in the shower any time you want."
A/N: Thoughts?