AN… Once again, thank you to my pre-reader, prettyflour. YOU ROCK!

Soo.. this is a silly little tid-bit, and I just HAD to share it…
I JUST got home from a very long day out with the Hubs…
ostensibly for Valentine's Day. Guess what he decided to
take me to do today? …(wait for it)….
He took me to an indoor gun range so that I could shoot
a fully automatic rifle, but since he wanted to keep it a
secret, I didn't have two forms of identification with me,
so I had to take a rain check! LMAO… such a romantically
unique man I am married to! LOL He DID however, take
me out for a lobster dinner, and then we ordered some
friggin' awesome ribs to take home and eat later… so
even though I didn't get a card or flowers, I did have an
amazing dinner. I hope that you all have a wonderful
Valentine's Day!

Now, on to more pressing issues… this chapter is my
shortest to date…. BUT…. I think that you are going to
love me! Oh, well, love me, or hate me… I really hope
that you will let me know. Reviews make me happy
like Edward in his birthday suit, sitting on my bed.
(Well, not that I have ever experienced THAT, but I
Do have a great imagination! ;))

Chapter 27

Explosive Consequences

Leah POV

Jacob and Alice were absolutely broken, and feeling destitute. The Cullens at large were extremely saddened. I had to get away from the depression. If they wanted to sit around, and mope, I was going to let them. I was sad too, but I would be damned if I was going to sit around on my hands hopelessly.

I began to form a plan. If the vampire that raped me had indeed been the one to take Bella, and was still nearby, I wondered if it was conceivable that he was in the same area that he was when I happened across him? I distinctly remembered where that was. I grabbed Edward by the shoulders, and forced him to look into my eyes.

"Edward, there are two choices that can be made right now. We can all choose to sit around and mourn our lack of clues, and foresight, doing absolutely nothing… or we can take a chance and seek out this asshole, and at least attempt to do something pro-active to save Bella. Which will it be?"

"What can we do? Alice can't see anything, the trail ended at the road, obviously in a car. We have NO idea who this vampire is or where he might have taken her. We don't know what his motivation was. We are literally blind here." He sounded wounded and put out at having to answer my question. "What would you have me do? I know that there is the possibility that she is your sister, but don't make the mistake of thinking you are the only person here that cares!"

"I am NOT implying that. I am outright stating that you and your family have become so dependent on your 'gifts' that you have forgotten how to problem solve without them. I have never had a gift to rely on, just my gut to follow. Right now, my gut is telling me that we should seek this monster out… starting with his only known location. I know that there was an old shack not too far from where I came across him. Maybe we should check it out. Maybe that is where he stays. It's worth a shot." I shrugged.

"Leah, I think that you are brilliant." Carlisle smiled. (although the smile didn't quite reach his eyes) "We can't just sit here, completely impotent any longer. Your logic is sound." Then he turned and looked to Jasper. "Jasper, you have always been our go-to strategist… does this sound like a good idea to you?"

Jasper stared into the distance for a few moments before he spoke. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. "Yes, it is a sound strategy. Even if it doesn't pan-out, it is better than sitting here with our thumbs up our asses. I do think however, that Alice and Esme should stay here, just in case…" his voice trailed off.

"It's settled, then. We will go with Leah, and check out the area where she ran into this… monster, and we will see if we can't find some trace of him. Who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky, and find more than just clues." Carlisle stated, resolved.

"It would take a miracle." Jacob and Edward stated at the same time.

"Isn't that what we all just prayed for?" Carlisle asked earnestly. Edward sighed, and Jacob shrugged. I looked Carlisle in the eyes and gave him a firm nod. We had indeed prayed, and asked for protection and guidance. Maybe God would answer us… for the first time in what felt like forever, I could feel faith inside of my bones. A part of me believed that this was not just a guess from my gut… a part of me was feeling like I was following the hand of Providence. For Bella's sake, I had to believe it.

"Right, let's get going, then. I ran hard for about an hour and a half that evening. We need to move." Jake and I phased, and we took off running, leaving Esme and Alice on the porch. Alice was still a wreck, in spite of all of the calm that Jasper had been throwing at her. I doubted that anything would change her current state, aside from seeing Bella returned to us safely. We all hoped for unharmed, but I don't think any of us really believed that this would be the case. None of us wanted to think about the many possibilities.

The seven of us took off, full tilt. Everyone was surprised when I was not only able to keep up with Edward, but I led the way… not just because I happened to know the way, as Edward and Emmett actually remembered the place I had described to them, but because I was actually running faster than him. I had always been the fastest werewolf, but now I was actually faster than the fastest vampire I knew. Had it not been for the terrible reason we were racing, it would have been completely exhilarating.

When I neared the area of that horrible experience from not long enough ago, I slowed. I was reluctant to actually set foot on the site of my disgrace. I phased and dressed at the river I had washed in as I waited for everyone else to catch up. Edward reached my side, and took my hand into his own.

"Thank you. I know it has to be hard for you to come back here." He kissed my forehead, then looked deeply into my eyes. "And thank you for setting us all straight back there. We needed a kick in the pants." He gave me a wry smile. I nodded in response, and rested my forehead against his while we waited for Jake and his family to catch up to us, which didn't take too long. Within five minutes, we were all assembled, deciding to spread out, and try to catch the scent of this unknown vampire as we headed in the direction of the old shack.

It didn't take long before Rose caught the scent. She got our attention, and we all descended on her location. Jake maintained his wolf form as we followed the trail. I stayed in my human form, clinging to my mate's hand. When the shack came into view, it was obvious that someone had been staying there for some time. The place had been fixed up quite a bit, and there was a generator running behind it. There were bars over blacked-out windows at one end of the small building. There had been enough repairs and construction that it was not really much of a "shack" any more. It looked more like a well-kept cabin, with a newly refurbished roof and porch, new windows, and a nicely re-built chimney. We made sure to stay low and out of sight as we approached.

Edward requested that I phase, he wanted me to be strong enough to defend myself if it came to that. I kissed him softly, and complied with his request, knowing that he was right… it would be much easier to defend myself as the wolf. As soon as I phased, I noticed it… there was a familiar charge in the air.

Jake, do you feel it? The static? I asked.

Yes, I wonder where they are? They seem to be on the verge, but whoever it is-is fighting it. He answered.

I can hear the vampire's thoughts… he's got her. She looks different somehow… Edward was filling me in on what he was hearing and seeing. Jake seemed surprised to find that he could communicate openly with Edward through our link. I was relieved to find that this had not changed, that I could still link with the wolves, and Edward… at least in this form.

Is it just me, or does she seem taller? Jacob asked us as he looked at her through Edward's head, and the strange vampire's eyes. What are those marks on her arms? Are those BITES? Jake asked, horrified.

It appears so, yes… but it doesn't seem that she is changing. Edward responded.

She's shaking really hard…. Wait! Do you smell that? You've got to be kidding me… Edward's eyes were opening wide, to the point that he looked like they could pop out of their sockets.

~UUaAP~

Bella POV

I don't know if it is day or night. I have lost all track of time. It seems like Red-eyes has left me alone for a long time. I managed to sleep for a while. I woke up a little while ago. I am not sure why. I didn't feel right. Ironic, no? Like I should expect to feel right at this moment? I have been systematically and sadistically tortured by a vampire. This is the second time that I have been trapped one on one with a vampire who gets his kicks out of causing me pain. I find that I really hate vampires. (Cullens excluded.)

The warmth I noticed hours ago has spread. I have cramps and stiffness in my joints. My muscles ache as well. Something is really wrong. Based on my experience with James, and now Red-eyes, venom burns like fire, it doesn't just make you feel warm all over. Right now, the coolness of the air in the room is welcome. I hope I am not becoming ill with some sort of infection.

I stand up, and begin to stretch out my arms and legs. My muscles feel so tight. While reaching over my head with both arms, it hits me… everything appears off-kilter to me. Like the world around me has shifted somehow, I just can't put my finger on it. At least not until Red-eyes hears me stirring and re-enters the room. Then suddenly I notice the difference… he doesn't seem as tall to me anymore, and he smells… gross. Kind of like someone poured a bit of milk into a vat of honey and left it for a few days… sickeningly sweet, and incredibly soured. I am enraged at the sight of him, and find that I am trembling.

As my breathing increases, and my heart rate soars, my anger boils over. I know what is coming. A small part of me fears it, I can't make this change. It is too much. Nothing in life will ever be the same. The bigger part of me is embracing this. I had been hoping for a way out, and now biology was calling. Maybe God has heard my prayers, and the cry of my heart. I don't know what triggered this, but as I watch the crimson eyes widen, a snarl breaks out of my lips, and I feel the atmosphere charge. There is a sudden shimmer, almost like the summertime heat rising off of the pavement… it is surrounding me, and in my hatred for this monster in front of me, I allow it to take me. I wanted to be strong… I wanted forever… as I burst open into another creature entirely, I realize that I AM stronger, and I have the option of forever… and in this moment, Red-eyes has every reason to be looking at me in utter terror.

~UUaAP~

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This week's recommendations… I really liked both of these.
(then again, I really like A LOT of the stories I read here!)

High Anxiety by EdwardsBloodType
Summary… Cute, trendy Bella returns home to escape the heartache of her past. She immediately befriends neighbors Jasper and Edward, bonding with them in the tree house out back. Bella and Edward discover they have more in common than they ever dreamed of. AH A/U

Animate Me by Abstract Way
Summary… Professional animator Edward worships cartoon exec Bella from afar by day and draws her in his comic book late at night. When this Daffy Duck-loving geek comes face to face with his dream girl, will his fantasy world come to life?