I'd like to thank brankl1 for the review on Chapter 17! That was the ONLY review that I got! You need to step it up, guys! I NEED...No, I LIVE for your opinions. But, even though I was struck with this terrible tragedy, I'm still writing Chapter 18! Yea!
I like switching between character's P. so much, that I'm Leah and Seth are sharing this chapter! And, beware, it has a MAJOR surprise! Read and find out!
~SashaFierce12.0
Chapter 18
Leah's P.o.V.
I pulled my long sleeved purple shirt over my bulging stomach. I was five months along now, and finally starting to show. Emily, Jazmyn, and Kim had gotten so excited when they could finally 'see the baby.' They practically made little dents in the floor what with all the jumping they were doing. A couple of days ago, I could actually feel the baby kicking me! It was so exciting, and now I knew that she could hear me. She. It was Girls' Day. Jake and I still hadn't found the perfect names if the baby turned out to be a girl, or if the baby turned out to be a boy. But we were trying. I walked down the stairs with one of my hands on my back, and another on my stomach. Morning sickness was over, thank goodness, but was instantly replaced with swollen ankles and backaches.
Humph, it was better than puking my guts out every single day.
"Hi, Leah!" Emily rushed over and hugged me, then rubbed my belly. "Hi, baby!" I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Did Jake come over?" I asked, taking a seat on the couch. Emily shook her head.
"At least not yet. I know that he'll be here soon, though...So will the other boys," she replied, then returned to her place in the kitchen. "I think Sam took them on a run, or something," she added in quickly. I nodded suspiciously.
"Yeah, now it's a girls' day!" Rachael laughed. Rebecca was here, too. She had mysteriously appeared out of nowhere a couple of months ago. That day when everyone had disappeared and left me with Claire was still fuzzy in my mind. What had they been doing? I was always thinking about it. And, they were still doing it! Leaving for hours, and then turning up as if nothing had happened. I looked at the door hopefully when it opened, then sighed when I saw it was just Jazmyn and Claire.
"Can you believe that it's still snowing?" Jazmyn exclaimed. She pulled off her coat and scarf. I took a glance outside. "It's March!" I laughed. The snowflakes were huge, but landed on the powdery ground softly. I rubbed my stomach some more and hummed a tune that had been stuck in my head for the past couple of weeks.
"And the waves roll low...Waves, roll high...And...So it goes," I sighed, remembering the little lullaby that Mom used to sing to Seth and I before we went to bed. Allison kicked a little. I chuckled...Allison...
No. It's just not perfect...
"Miss Kiki says that the grain dog saw his shadow!" Claire said, referring to her daycare teacher. Kim raised an eyebrow.
"'Grain dog?" she asked. Claire nodded, taking a sip out of her juice box. I looked at them in realization.
"Oh! Ground hog!" I laughed. The others giggled with me. Sandra gave me a hard kick.
Sandra? No...
The door opened and the Pack immediately rushed inside. I smiled in relief.
"Where's Seth?" Jazmyn asked, looking around.
"Patrol," Collin answered. Jazmyn nodded, and continued reading her book. I stood up when Jacob came in.
"Hey, Jakey!" I gave him a hug and he planted kisses on my forehead, cheeks, nose, and then my lips. I rubbed my stomach when we pulled away. "Sophia, Daddy's home." I frowned a little when she didn't kick.
"I kind of like that...Sophia..." Jacob replied, leading me back towards the couch. "Sit down. You don't need to be standing," he commanded. I rolled my eyes, but did as he told. I replaced my hands on my stomach and closed my eyes, starting to hum again.
"Bright blue...Endless skies..." I sang softly, and grinned when the baby started kicking again. "Jake! Give me your hand!" I took it without waiting for an answer. I placed his hand on my belly and hummed again. The baby started to kick. Jacob beamed, then looked at me with soft eyes.
"She likes the sound of your voice..." he told me. I looked down, blushing. "Does it hurt?" Jacob asked. I shook my head.
"No. It just feels kind of weird. Like she's trying to get out, or something," I explained. Then I laughed, Jazmyn's head shot up at the sound.
"What's so funny? I need to know since I'm not the one who's causing it!" I looked at Jake and smiled.
"Nothing, Jazz," he told her, then sat back. He pulled my legs up onto his lap and started to massage my feet. I closed my eyes, and continued rubbing my stomach and singing.
"Waves try to measure...The things that we treasure...Wave hello, and wave...Goodbye," I giggled a little bit when Alyssa continued to kick with pleasure. "Alyssa..." I thought aloud. Jacob looked up at me.
"What?"
"I was trying out a new name. It's Girls' Day, you know," I told him matter-of-factly. He smiled.
"I was meaning to share some with you. I came up with two today. Ready?" I nodded, my eyes still closed. He rubbed my ankles softly. "Brielle..." he said. I thought about it. Pretty...I shook my head.
It didn't sound right.
"Okay...Cailynn." I thought some more. Then I sighed, shaking my head. I opened my eyes.
"Sorry, Jake. I just want the name to be perfect, you know?" I closed my eyes again, drifting in and out of sleep.
"We could always name the baby after me, of course," Jazmyn said from the other couch. I didn't have to have my eyes open to know that Rachael was hitting her with a pillow. I smiled. Jacob was doing such a good job with my feet. And it made me so...
Tired...
"Jake...What about...Danielle?" I yawned. I opened one eye to see him shake his head. I nodded a little then laid back again. "Gab...Rielle?" I yawned again. I heard Jacob's deep chuckle.
"Go to sleep, Leah," he told me. I yawned some more.
"But I still..." I yawned again. "...We still need to come up...With a name..."
"Sleep," Jacob laughed. I sighed and snuggled into the warmness of Emily's couch.
"Hello..."
But I was already asleep before I could even finish the song.
00000000000000000000
Seth's P.o.V.
I picked up speed as I rounded the perimeter. I was on patrol, and enjoying every second of it.
Why?
Because I was absolutely alone. No one to share thoughts with, no Sam barking commands everywhere...Just me. I loved the way that the powdery stuff called snow felt against my hot paws. How the snowflakes would land on my eyes and I would have to blink them a couple of times just to clear them so I could see...How I had my thoughts all to myself...
I wonder how Mom is?
Whoa. That just scared the crap out of me! I know. Scaring yourself with a question...Kind of weird. But it did. I slowed to a little trot.
My nightmares came back...With a vengeance. I had been having them every night for the past week. And they were always the same as before...Only she had succeeded in actually killing me this time.
I shook my head. I wouldn't let them get to me. Not after what happened before. I started to run again. Getting faster with every step. As if...As if running faster would get me away from it all.
Psh...Only in my dreams...
That is...If I actually could dream anymore. All I seemed to get was nightmares.
Okay. Once more around the border, and then I'll be finished.
I continued running. And that's when I smelled it. I skidded to a stop, leaving a long trail of snow in my tracks.
Vampire.
I let out three long howls, and waited for everyone to phase.
"What's wrong, Seth?" Sam asked when he and the others had changed. I could tell by his voice that he was strictly in 'alpha mode.'
"You smell it? Vampire," I replied. Everyone was caught up to me now, and we were sprinting to the source of the smell. Paul let out an enthusiastic bark.
"Hell, yeah! I love catching me some vampies!" he thought excitedly. More barks followed in agreement. Mine was one of them.
"Guys, focus!" Sam snapped. We shut up after that. The smell got stronger as we neared a space of strong light. "Quiet, now. It's in the clearing." Together, we crept towards the clearing. I could hear faint music...Like someone was singing.
"We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way..." it sang. But by the voice, I could tell it was a lady.
"A little late for Christmas carols, isn't it?" Jake thought sarcastically. By now, we were in the opening, staying close to the shadows cast by the snow covered trees. The vampire was making a snowman. She was rolling up the head when Sam decided to make our presence known. He growled. The vampire froze, her back towards us. She had silky-looking brown hair that went down to the middle of her back. Her skin was the same russet tone as ours...
Only paler.
"So, are you going to kill me now? Rip me apart limb from limb? Burn me?" She set the snowball on top of the other mounds of snow, then went to pick up two twigs by a nearby tree. She didn't sound sarcastic. Not at all. She actually sounded curious. Kind of weird...
"Who is she?" Quil asked.
"Do you think she's the one behind all the disappearances?" Embry thought.
"I don't know. But we should wait and find out," Sam answered. The woman kept on singing. Her voice...I know it from somewhere.
"She sounds...So familiar," I added. But nobody was really listening to me. They were all focused on the mysterious singing lady putting rocks onto the snowman's face.
"In the meadow we can build a snowman..." She giggled. I jumped. I knew that giggle...
But who's was it?
"You know her, Seth?" Collin asked.
"I think. I-I don't know," I finally said, defeated.
"He'll say...What are you guys doing just sitting there? Aren't you going to do something about the crazy vampire building a snowman on your territory?" She actually sounded kind of mad. Frustrated. She smoothed out the edges on the little snow figurine. "Why don't you guys phase, and we can talk properly? It's no fun having a one way conversation, you know," she said.
"She knows we're shape-shifters?" Jared asked surprised. I mentally rolled my eyes.
"Why else would she be talking to us if she didn't know?" I answered sarcastically. The guys continued to look around in hesitation.
"Aww, c'mon! I won't bite!" the vampire laughed at her own cheesy joke. That was it. I KNEW that laugh.
But why couldn't I figure out who's it was? I had to find out who she was. I just had to.
"I'm phasing," I said, ripping my shorts off my leg.
"No, Seth, don't-" but I didn't hear the rest of Sam's thoughts. I phased back and pulled on my shorts. I saw Sam shake his head, and soon the other guys were pulling on shorts. We all looked at the vampire as she dusted off her hands. I held my breath as she brushed a lock of her hair back and turned around. My mouth dropped. She smiled.
"Hello, Sethy."
I didn't need a mirror to know that my face had paled.
"M-Mom?"
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Leah's P.o.V.
My eyes shot open and my hands instantly flew to my stomach when the door banged open. The guys came back in, and someone was behind them. I could have sworn that my heart stopped when I saw who it was. The baby started to kick and I rubbed my stomach out of instinct.
"J-Jake..." I started to stand up and back towards the stairs. She was a vampire. I could tell. I knew it. Her hair was longer...Shinier. Her eyes were a fiery orange color. Not the same warm brown that they used to be. She was pale. Not as pale as Carlisle and the Cullens...But pale. And I could faintly smell poppies.
Yep. Definitely a vampire.
"It's okay, Lee. She's not going to hurt anyone," Jacob held my hands and looked deeply into my eyes. I nodded.
"O-okay. Okay," I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to recover from the shock of all this. The baby started up again, and I rubbed my belly, trying to soothe her.
"How far along are you, Leah?" Mom asked. I froze for a second, reminding myself that it was still Mom. She just...Changed. Yeah. She just changed a little over the past few months.
A little? Try a whole lot!
"F-five months," I answered. My eyes had suddenly found Jacob's hands very interesting, and I kept them there. My mom made something like a cooing sound. I heard someone walking.
"Sit down, Sue," Emily said. "Would you like a cookie? Something to drink?" She must have asked that out of habit.
"Oh, no. It's okay. I've already eaten," Mom answered automatically. I stiffened.
Silence.
"Are you the one behind all the disappearances, Sue?" Sam asked. He didn't sound mad. Just calm. Well...Calm and demanding.
"Oh, Lord, no. I could never do that to anyone!" she answered. "When...It happened...I instantly sought out the help of the Cullens-" I heard a few low growls throughout the room. "-and they helped me. So...I'm kind of like a 'vegetarian.'" She giggled, and I couldn't help but giggle, too.
That sure never changed.
When our laughs died out, it was silent again. That was until I heard a chair clatter.
"Why are you here, Mom?" Seth asked. He sounded on the verge of tears. And, for some reason, my vision blurred. "You've done enough already!" I glanced up, and saw that he was looking at me. His voice softened. "Do you know all the scars you left behind?" I looked at Mom. If she could cry, I bet that's what she would be doing right now.
"I came...I came for two things. One, I came to ask for your forgiveness," she paused for a second, as if waiting to see if anyone would protest. "What I did was uncalled for. I could probably come up with a whole list of excuses right now...But when I try them in my head, they all turn out to sound downright stupid. Leah?" she looked at me. "I'm sorry. I'm so, sincerely sorry," she kind of scrunched up her nose; something she did when she was trying not to cry.
Humph, old habits never die out.
"Could you please forgive me?" she pleaded. I searched her eyes for any signs that she was lying. I could find any. Either she was truly sincere, or she was a great actress. I went for the first one. From the way her voice sounded, I knew with all my heart, that she actually came for forgiveness.
And forgiveness she'll get.
I couldn't say anything. I didn't know what to say. I went for the next best thing. I held my arms out wide, and she carefully stood up to embrace me. We stayed like that for a while, me sniffing, and Mom just hugging me. Finally we pulled away. I smiled.
"Seth?" Mom looked at him. He was looking down, and shaking. I looked at Jazmyn, and she rushed over to him. She gave him a side hug, and he immediately stopped. He looked up at my mom and sniffed. "Can you forgive me?" she asked. Seth looked like he was having a little mental battle with himself.
"I-I..." he started. Then he went silent. Oh, crap. He kind of smiled, then shrugged. He walked upstairs. Jazmyn looked at me, then followed him. It was quiet again.
"What's that second thing you were here for, Sue?" Sam asked Mom. All trace of emotions were gone from her face instantly. She looked serious now.
"The Cullens told me to come and warn you," she said. "Victoria's gathered an army of newborns together-"
"So she's the one behind all this disappearing crap," Paul growled. He started to shake, but Rachael put her hand on his shoulder. He stopped.
"Yes. She is. She's gathered them together, and has declared war. They're coming by the hundreds. The Cullens want to work together. Fight together. They think...I think...We can win," she finished. She looked at all the werewolves around the room.
"I...Guess...But only this once," Sam said. He paused, as if waiting for groans of protest.
It was silent.
"Great. I'll go tell the news," Mom said. She was about to leave, when Sam stopped her.
"When do we leave?" he asked.
"...Soon. I'll come when we're ready. Be ready. At any time today," and with that, she sprinted out the door.
"Today..." Jacob whispered.
"Guys," Sam started. "Phase. Head out to the forest. She wants us to be ready...We'll be ready."
"I'll get Seth," Brady announced. He headed up the stairs. I stood up with Jacob.
"Go kick some vampire ass for me, 'kay, Jake?" I was trying to lighten up the mood, but it wasn't working. I was already starting to sniff back tears. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, cheeks, nose, and then finally my lips. This one was so passionate. As if it was the last one we'd ever have. That only made me cry more. We pulled away. "Stay safe, okay?" he just nodded, and then turned to walk out the door. I grabbed his shoulder, and he turned around. "Promise me. Come back in one piece." He kissed my cheek.
"I promise." I nodded.
"You promised."
Okay, I hope you guys liked it! The next chapters are going to be really short! Umm...You'll see when I update! Which...Will hopefully be this week!
~SashaFierce12.0