Disclaimer

All characters and the world depicted in this story belong to Stephanie Meyer. I only own my plot.

Note

I am aware of the cliffhanger in the previous chapter. I freely admit that part of this was my intention. Furthermore, I was unable to carry out the action. I was exhausted and had no idea how to continue. As a result, this chapter resolves only half of what happened at the end of the previous chapter and introduces a more consistent storyline. I want to pay more attention to the relationships between the main characters. That's why this is quite a short transitional chapter.

After all, how long can a single story thread last? Meyer tormented us in this manner for three books. I'm not going to.

"With me, illusions are bound to be shattered. I am here to shatter all illusions. Yes, it will irritate you; it will annoy you—that's my way of functioning and working. I will sabotage you from your very roots! Unless you are totally destroyed as a mind, there is no hope for you."

Osho

Chapter X

The Last Wish

"And I am supposed to trust you?" Jacob muttered angrily while addressing the girl directly.

The bloodsucker had to be commended for having the audacity to approach the wolf—or, to be more precise, the entire wolf pack—directly. The fact that vampires could be so careless and foolish was something he had never anticipated. That was the only way he could explain her unexpected visit to the reservation, unless she truly knew something he did not know before. Most of them instinctively avoided their area.

"No," she admitted. "You have no reason to believe me. I am aware of who I am and what I have become. My name is Bree Tanner. I was changed a year ago by a vampire you killed some time ago. Or more precisely, you tore her apart."

"Which one? There were a lot of them." He responded puzzledly. "There are many of your kind roaming the forests here." So, leech, you must be more specific." He added, disgustedly.

"Victoria." Bree's mouth opened and she blurted the name. "Long, wavy, fire-red hair." She spoke in a melodious voice, briefly describing her creator. "You must remember her." You can not miss someone like that."

"Now I remember. She resisted being caught for a long time. But when we finally got her... the entire forest heard her roar as my brothers and I ripped the bitch to shreds. If you can even call yourself that..." He did not hide his disdain in his voice. "But what does this have to do with Bella?" he asked again, more firmly demanding answers from her.

"She and Riley..." her lips pursed painfully as she spoke his name. "They wanted to form a group of gifted vampires." All in the name of breaking your offensive and "getting the human girl." Riley's unconditional loyalty to Victoria allowed her to select more soldiers for her small army. He thought she was a goddess and that she loved him. Unfortunately, he was her next toy."

"That still does not explain what these two have to do with Bella." Jacob was becoming increasingly agitated.

Brie inhaled deeply. "Victoria desired to make Bella one of us."

"One of you?" Jacob growled lowly, feeling his anger rising inside him.

"She needed her to track down and eliminate the Cullen family." She frequently mentioned that she had a strange ability that blocked the gifts of others. Much like a shield. She desired vengeance for the death of James, her true mate." She clarified.

Jacob was well aware of the true context of the events in Phoenix. Even before her crazy trip to Italy, Bella told him everything that had happened and where the semi-circular scar on her wrist came from.

"So you are saying Bella has a gift that protects her from vampiric powers?" And you expect me to believe you right away?" He burst out laughing. "Can you imagine what that sounds like?"

"You do not have to believe me, but if you want to protect your loved one, you should."

She had a grave look on her face.

"Why are you doing this?" Why... are you putting your life in danger by coming here and saying all of this?" Seth inquired, crouching down next to her on the grass. Not close enough for her scent to bother him.

"I am tired of this life and the insatiable hunger that consumes me from within whenever I think about blood." "After the transformation..." Her voice broke right away. If she could, she would cry right now. "I had everything stolen from me. Including my family. "I am ready to die." She was completely honest in her admission. "Put an end to this hell." Only you have the power to give it to me... But, before that, I would like to atone for my sins by saving at least one human life that I was unable to save before the beast rose again."

"It shifts things." Jacob stuttered in surprise. "So, before I kill you, tell me what I should keep her safe from."

"Against those who will seek her. The Cullems have numerous enemies that few are aware of. Many of my kind are opposed to their way of life and attempts to blend in. To reduce the possibility of revealing their identity, many want to get rid of them. If the vampire community had heard about her abilities, it might have spread widely. Brie looked around the surrounding forest.

How did you learn all of this? Seth asked her again, clearly fascinated.

"I might learn this and that after being around a bunch of vampires for so long, and Victoria being over 500 years old." She gave him a flat smile.

"Enough of this chit-chat." They were interrupted by Jacob, who was clearly irritated by the younger Indian's casual approach to their natural enemy.

"Before I lose patience, just tell me why Bella can not remember anything."

"Let me explain..." Bella poses a threat to my race, as I have already stated. Riley vowed to exact revenge on you after Victoria was killed. So he kidnapped her and held her captive. So he took her hostage and imprisoned her. And I guess it worked." The final phrase was spoken in a barely audible whisper.

"So now everything is known." Jacob came to a cold conclusion, pulling a lighter from the back pocket of his worn shorts. "It is time for you, bloodsucker. I will gladly grant your last wish. Good luck on the other side. "If you still had a soul."

And before Seth could object, he threw it at Bree, who was frozen in place, ready to take her final punishment. The small clearing was filled with the sweet, almost suffocating smell of smoke. There was no yelling. In a matter of seconds, golden flames began to digest the rock-hard body.

Seth's eyes welled up as he watched this scene. He would never wish such a death on anyone. For a split second, he wondered what would have happened if he had met her sooner. What if she was just a normal teenage girl? Something inside him broke as he stared at the burning pile of ash. He felt as if he had lost something significant.

Only Jacob's voice calling him out of his thoughts brought him back to reality.