Disclaimer: This story is rated T/ M (Mature) Content may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. It will most likely contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, suicidal ideations, and strong language.
Part 1 Old Friends & New
Layla's Pov
Jacob was stationed out front in Syd's yard; nostrils flared again with that piercing dark gaze.
Despite its harshness, butterflies swam in my stomach, and I smiled. "Where have you been?" He demanded.
"Hey, Jake. Relax—random shopping trip." I popped the back as proof. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought, why not make use of my day?"
"You didn't think to call me?" Jacob peered in the back seat, full of stuff. "I didn't take you as the mall crawling type."
"You shouldn't be doing all that, Layla. What about your recovery?" Jacob lectured me.
"I am tired," I sighed. "So, who'd you go with?" he demanded again. "No one. All me this time."
"Even worse," Jacob grumbled, grabbing bags and inviting himself inside.
On Sunday, when I was supposed to pass the picture to Caleb, I was sandwiched between Iris and Jacob in the pew.
After my field day yesterday, I guess Jake had decided to keep tabs on me instead of sending Seth.
I slid past Jacob's seat in my pleated dress. "Where are you going?" he whispered, holding my waist, keeping me from moving.
"Bathroom." I slipped out of the sanctuary, glancing back to see if he would attempt to follow.
I adjusted my headband and booked it past the lobby to the street, then the cafe down the block.
It was busier than usual, and I pushed through the crowd, scanning for the young vampire. Caleb found me in a booth.
"I can't stay long, " I told him, sliding him the photograph. His eyes feasted on the piece of film. "Thank you. You don't know what this means to me."
"Do you think you'll ever see them again, or is this it?" I asked him. Caleb shook his head. His dark crimson eyes were almost black today.
"You're Foscari's favorite, so you haven't seen him at his worst yet. I've seen him manipulate others using living family members. Sometimes, he likes to test loyalty without compulsion, but that's rare and never ends well. It takes a lot to hurt a vampire, and playing with our emotions is the best way to break us, " he explained.
"How did you get wrapped up in all this?" "I didn't come back from my first big DJ gig. It was at an underground rave in Seattle on a school night. I snuck out. A bunch of newborn vampires escaped their cage last year and found us. Foscari's coven locked everyone inside the rave as they 'sorted out the matter.'
"No one was supposed to make it that night. I remember the pile of bodies on the dance floor the vampires executed. Only Tessa and I survived the attack. If you can call it that. I think Niccolo didn't want his numbers to go down that far, so he kept us around."
I stared at him in horror. Caleb tilted my jaw up with one finger. "People are staring." "Oops." I shut my gaping mouth.
"My contract is simple. I can pursue my dreams as a musician if I continue to make money and draw in blood for the master. In my downtime, I'm his lackey. Technically, I'm Vitaly's underling, and Tessa is under Greta, but we still answer to both. Niccolo's coven is comparable to the mob. Everyone answers to someone."
I had so many more questions about the vampire realm and how it worked, but from the sound of it, I couldn't imagine how trapped Caleb was, for eternity.
"Is this servitude forever?" "I don't know. Once, Niccolo and Vitaly offered someone their freedom when it was earned. But the thought of wandering this world as a monster alone with no memories into the unknown... the coven provides a safety net and a sense of collective humanity. The smart ones figure that out and stay. Others who are disobedient or don't have any talent-" "Get disposed of." I completed his sentence.
"Yes," Caleb stood up. "We'll meet again. Thank you for today." He bumped into the back of a stout man and froze in place. It was Caleb's father.
"Sorry, there, son. I didn't see you there." Pain and shame flickered across the young vampire's face.
"No problem," Caleb mumbled. "You look familiar, " he said. "I guess I have one of those faces." Caleb tried to brush him off and leave through the crowd.
"You look like a musician. My son had an armband like that." "I am," Caleb responded.
"Hey, If you know a Caleb Reed or see him on the road, can you tell him I'm proud of him? He can come home whenever; we won't be mad."
"Of course." Caleb disappeared when his father's order was called. I ran out the door after Caleb.
"Caleb?" "Don't touch me!" Caleb snapped, moving before I could reach him. "I'm so sorry. I-" I didn't know what to say.
Caleb ripped up the picture and threw it away. He looked as if he was crying, but no tears came out.
"I've already gone too far." In a quick movement, he was gone.
Jacob stood in the lobby, looking for me. "I'm sorry, I had to go next door," I excused myself.
He wrapped an arm around me and guided us towards the outside. Iris looked peeved that Jake had stolen me away.
I was her loophole out of confirmation. Iris narrowed her blue eyes and pushed up her glasses at me from across the space.
"Actually, Jake. I have to help Iris with something. I'll meet you later, okay?" "What are you doing?" He arched a brow.
"More shopping." I shoved him out the door and waved Iris on. She smiled, catching up with me.
Jacob refused to leave us and waited outside every storefront we visited.
Jacob's Pov
I was paranoid Layla was trying to give me the slip. I half-heartedly listened to her conversations with Iris, who wasn't as informed about the theater accident. I didn't enjoy reliving or hearing Layla speak on it again. I was sure it was harder for her, but with Iris, she was less hesitant to spill the beans.
"Try on the Teal one." Layla held up a long gown. She was bussing dresses back and forth for her friend. "Don't you need a dress? EJ said you were coming with us."
"No, I'm good; I have something." "What about blue or black?" I heard the curtain roll back. "Honestly, red's a power move with your red hair." "It doesn't clash?"
I zoned out of the girl gab. I hadn't thought twice about the dance or if Layla wanted to go. With everything going on, it just wasn't on my radar.
That and none of my old clothes fit, including the one suit I had, the hand me down from my dad. Maybe I could find a way to crash the dance anyway.
A sickly sweet vampire scent wafted in the sea breeze. It was faint and growing thinner. I called Sam to report it so I could stay with my imprint.
Night of the FHS Homecoming dance
Friday
I was packing the car to sleep over at Iris's after homecoming to kick off Thanksgiving break.
"Heading out?" Jacob asked me. I wished he had asked me to the dance. "Yeah, just about."
Jacob's first of many certification tests to become a mechanic were taking place in Tacoma this week. Billie was tagging along for the mecca of bass pro shops there. They'd be back and forth for a while. I wasn't sure if I was attending the Uley's annual feast when Jake may or may not be there.
"I thought you would have been all dolled up by now." Jacob looked mildly disappointed. "Guess you're missing out."
"I'm sorry I forgot about the dance, Layla. I'd go with you if I had time or a suit." His explanation eased my mind. "Don't push yourself tonight," Jake added.
"I won't." Not with how I've been feeling lately.
"I know it's lame, and I have no right to ask since I'm not going, but can you not dance with too many guys tonight?" Jacob requested.
"You act like I'm popular." I snorted a laugh. I was far from it these days unless it happened to be a certain supernatural creature stalking me in Seattle.
"Seth's going. If you need anything, he'll be there." He said. I rolled my eyes and pushed him away lightly.
"Or you can call me." He pursued me to the driver's side. "I'm not going to interrupt your testing," I said, crossing my arms.
"Please, it's not that serious. There's a bunch of waiting around." "Okay, fine." I smiled up at him.
The height difference was too significant to kiss him on the cheek, so I hugged him.
"Good luck," I mumbled into his core."Thanks. We'll do something when I get back." He braced me tighter until I recoiled from my wound.
Forks High's Homecoming theme was a 007 casino scene.
Everyone was decked out in super spy glam. Iris settled on a short royal blue number, while EJ wore a white suit edged in black trim with a bright pink carnation. We took two turns dancing with him before the girls discovered his hidden talent.
I stood on the sidelines, enjoying the atmosphere and sipping punch. Iris was pleasantly surprised to catch the eye of a cute boy from her physics class.
Seth found me in the back of the room and pulled me on the outskirts of the crowded dancefloor.
"Are you having fun? " He asked, pulling me into a dance. "As much as I can manage." I tugged up my sweater, hiding my bandages.
"Jake will be back soon," Seth assured me. "It's okay." I was trying to be understanding, but disappointment seeped in.
Seth spun me carefully, and my tea-length dress swung with me. The music changed to a slower pace for couples.
"Do you have a date you should be with?" I asked him. "Nah, I got in with a friend of a friend." I wrapped my arms around Seth's shoulders.
He wasn't a giant like Jacob but Seth was taller than EJ. I leaned against his chest to hide my face. "I miss him," I whispered. "I know."
"He's different now, and I feel like it's all my fault," I mumbled, the observation I've been stewing on. "It's not," Seth assured me. "Have a little faith in him. I wouldn't stick my neck out for just anyone."
"Maybe you would." I laughed, sniffing from the cold night air. "Maybe." He laughed. "Can I cut in?" EJ asked. "Yeah, man."
We traded partners. A random girl glided off with Seth, and EJ took us outside, where string lights lit the basketball court.
He walked us to a secluded bench to rest and watch our classmates from afar.
"I don't think I'll be able to move tomorrow," EJ complained. He hadn't had a break since he stepped into the dance. "You know you can say no." I laughed at him.
"I guess... Can I show you something?" EJ asked, switching gears. "What's that?"
He leaned in and touched my temple with his fingertips. His face was centimeters from mine.
"Um, EJ? Do you need to be that close?" I don't know how to describe it, but when he touched me, I saw a vision of earlier tonight through his eyes.
"What was that?" I flinched; a ripple of fear sent pins and needles down my nerve endings. "Layla?" EJ held onto my hand and frantically looked at me, or should I say through me.
"Hey, can we use the bench for pictures?" Four kids came by for a group photo. "Yes, of course." EJ grabbed me and moved us behind the school building.
"Weird kid." "Why was he out alone talking to himself?"
"Am I invisible?" I spoke in an alarmed whisper. EJ nodded, "Yes." I took a few deep breaths. "Let me know when it stops," I asked.
Just then, Seth came by calling for me. "Hey, have you seen Layla? I have a surprise for her."
"No. I think she went back home." EJ fibbed, blocking my invisible body with his.
"Darn, Jake snuck in for her. I'll tell him he can go." Seth bounded off. I peeked around the corner and saw Jacob scouting the dance for me.
I felt like someone had turned me into a pumpkin before midnight. "Do you know how to turn it off?" EJ asked when Seth was far enough away.
"No, EJ. I had no idea this was a thing until a few days ago," I hissed, frustrated. "Follow me." EJ walked me out discretely to the parking lot.
There was no sense in me staying at Homecoming in this condition.
"What happened?" he whispered. "I don't know. What about you? How did you do that?"
"I've always been like this. I feared your response before, but I guess we're even." EJ mumbled. "Sure." I fumbled with my keys.
EJ stood on guard and contemplated our next move. We climbed into my car so he didn't look crazy talking to himself.
"Does your family know?" I asked him. "No. No one knows. Hey, You're back!" EJ flipped down the visor mirror for me to see. "Oh, Thank God." I breathed.
"Okay, what did you want to show me? Your ability, or was there something else?" "I don't think now is a great time." Iris knocked on the car window.
"What are you guys doing?" she asked through the glass. "EJ was tired. I was going to drive him home," I explained.
She climbed into the backseat when I unlocked the door. "What a night. I think I could go now, too."
I dropped off EJ first. He glanced back. I nodded, signaling we'd discuss our freaky abnormalities soon. Iris was already snoring in the backseat.
Once we arrived at her house, I woke her up. When she fumbled into bed, I helped her get comfortable.
"That was fun," she sighed, removing her earrings. "It was," I tugged off her strappy heels. "Did I tell you I kissed Henry?" She sighed a giggle.
"No, you'll have to tell me about it later." I laughed. "It was alright; It was a nice way to end the night."
Iris faded into dreamland, and I sat on her floor with my back pressed up against the bedframe.
The smell of homemade waffles and the offensive beams of sunlight woke us. We groaned in unison as someone yanked up the blinds.
"Come on, girls. Time to get up." "Mom." Iris groaned. "I can't have you sleep the day away; it's already noon. Now come downstairs."
We ate breakfast in our homecoming gowns, laughing at Iris's bedhead and smeared makeup. She smirked, eyeing how my headband had become one with my hair.
"Don't bother getting a shower; just wash your face and get dressed. The house has to be clean before our cousins come over."
Iris groaned. "Do you need help?" I asked. I hadn't planned much for fall break.
"No, dear, not in your condition. You're welcome to join us on the day of. Wait, is that insensitive or..."
"No, I'd love to stop by. I'll check my schedule." I washed my plate and proceeded to leave with Iris behind me.
"You seriously don't have to come; my cousins are hella annoying." "I'm sure it will be fine."
I was off to see if EJ could meet me. When I called to ask, he said something about the Cullens visiting family in Denali.
Syd was at work. No fall break could keep him from caring for the wolves at the sanctuary.
I balanced the box I found on the front porch. Yawning, I pried it open. The holy water was here.
I held the vials of water to the lighting. They didn't seem all that special, but they were supposed to be blessed.
How horrible would it be if this plan didn't work? At worst, the betrayal would result in my death. I hoped it would be quick.
The door knocker rapped repeatedly. I frowned, sliding the vials into my purse before answering.
"Ashely!" I screamed in delight. My best friend surprised me, jumping up and down.
Embry stood off to the side behind her, watching her every move.
"How did you find me?" It wasn't like there were many signs this far on the rez or street lamps to guide her here.
"Embry helped me." She smiled back at him, and I watched him blush and turned away.
"I stopped by the convenience store for directions, and he knew you! How great was that?!" Ashely wheeled her massive suitcase inside.
"Thanks, Embry." I shut the door in his face, wanting alone time with my friend. "Nice dress. Where did you get it?""A friend's aunt gave it to me."
"She's got great taste, AH! It's so good to see you! Go get cleaned up so we can talk and do all the things."
A visit from Ash was not what I was expecting and everything I needed. I gave her a quick La Push tour and escaped to Port Angeles for dinner.
She was only staying for a few days before flying to her dad's side of the family in Phoenix, Arizona, and then bouncing back to LA, where her mom lived.
Days later
Ashely and I were visiting the hot springs on her last day here.
"The Mendez and Mesa's are not getting along this year, huh?" It wasn't easy keeping up with all her relatives.
I lowered myself into the sulfuric pools when Ashely's face fell. My halter bathing suit top exposed the taped-up wounds.
I wasn't sure if I should get them wet, so I stayed in the shallow end.
"Oh. I've been so preoccupied with catching you up to speed with me that I..." "It's okay. We don't have to talk about it." I preferred we didn't.
"How's B?" "Brianna's never been better... I think she's able to thrive now that Logan's gone. It's his parents that are distraught."
We leaned back on the rocks and let the bubbling hot water melt our muscles.
"Care if we join you, ladies?" Quil and Embry had found us. I frowned. No matter where we went, Embry seemed to pop up.
"Sure, why not?" Ashely looked at me enthusiastically. I could tell she thought Embry was cute, but over the past few days, Ashely had been whining about her wishy-washy boyfriend, whom she had accumulated from this year's neighborhood Halloween bash.
I gave her a warning glance. I didn't want her to give him the wrong idea. It might have already been too late. How Embry looked at her made me think he'd died and gone to heaven.
I couldn't blame him. Ashely had angelic features, natural golden hair, pale blue eyes, and she was commercially pretty—the American dream.
We always used to joke that we got switched at birth. My mom, Lily, descended from Norwegian beauties, fit Ashley's aesthetic better.
I was clearly mixed with darker features: hair, skin, and eyes. It made more sense that I'd visually fit in with her Mexican heritage.
I tolerated the boys who joined us since my time with Ash was coming to a close. Quil played wingman to Embry oggling her sequined pink bikini.
"So, do you have a boyfriend?" Embry built up enough courage after all this time. "Um, I do, actually," Ashely confessed after casually flirting with him for several minutes. I felt a tinge of sympathy for Embry as he tried to hide his crestfallen disappointment.
"Do you have room for one more?" I lifted my head in surprise and had to bite the inside of my cheek when I saw Jacob.
"Is this the infamous Jacob Black?" Ashely grinned at me. Her response was mortifying, and I sunk into the waters to hide.
"I'm infamous?" Jake chuckled. "I thought you were in Tacoma?" I questioned; I cleared my throat from the high pitch.
"You don't want to get your bandages wet." He pulled me over to him. Jake kept his large hands around my bare waist, fingers overlapping.
Ashely was eating this up—no doubt she planned to play Cupid later.
"I passed my first test with flying colors. The hard part is pulling Billie away from all the new fishing gear." Jacob held me close to himself.
Ashely weighed in before I could become overly concerned with all the places his burning skin was meeting mine.
"You guys all have the same tattoo." She stroked Embry's shoulder. His mopping attitude melted away, and he flexed his arm to show it off. "Tribal thing," he bragged.
I hadn't noticed that before. I brushed Jacob's arm, and he turned for me. It was there—a patterned circle with a wolf at the center embedded in his shoulder.
"That's kind of hot. We were thinking of getting one once," Ashely pointed at me. "You were." I denied, rolling my eyes.
"Miss Prude wouldn't go for it. I thought a dolphin on my ankle would be cute." She lifted her leg to show Embry.
Then Ashely went on another story time tangent about our family's joint spring break two years ago to Prague. It was a good story, funny but totally embarrassing.
"We almost thought we had our first kiss with the same guy! It turns out we each spent the day with the other's twin. Who would have thought? We almost went through a falling out to planning a double wedding!" Ashely giggled.
"I dunno about that. They weren't that cute," I mumbled.
Ashely's love life sort of thrived after that point. In contrast, my starting point was much later.
Jacob shifted me in his arms to give me a disgruntled look. I didn't realize we were entangled this whole time. "Oops," Ashley mumbled.
I looked up at him sheepishly, ready to leave the hot spring to escape his pending puppy eyes.
We invited the guys over for pizza when I went to dry off. Embry eagerly agreed where Quil bowed out. I'm sure he felt like this was crashing a double date.
Jacob's lingering gaze swept over me; the admiration was not at all crude but full of... something else I couldn't place.
For once, I didn't feel self-conscious and was grateful for how I was built. Ashely smiling in my peripheral vision ruined the moment.
Jacob's Pov
After movie pizza night, Syd kicked us out. Embry hung around the woods surrounding the house in his wolf form.
Listening in on a girl's sleepover felt wrong, but Embry was hopelessly imprinted on Ashely.
If I had met Layla for the first time in a bikini, I was sure I couldn't stay away, either.
They sat in her bedroom, dimly lit by the desk lamp and a strong nail polish scent emanating from the cracked window.
"So you and Jacob are the most beautiful couple I've seen. I don't think Sports Illustrated could have done better." Ashely nudged Layla.
"Right," Layla spoke sarcastically. "Seriously, you guys could be on the cover of a romance novel. I think he has an eight-pack."
I snorted a laugh. Layla shook her head.
"He was doting on you and looking at you like… I don't know. Like you're the only one in the world for him or something." Ashley persisted.
'And you told me we should go home.' Embry scoffed at me. I had to admit this was getting interesting.
"I think he really likes you, Layla. I was worried there when you went all radio silent on me, but you have my blessing, bestie." "Thanks. That's okay."
"You can't tell me you don't like him," Ashely stated. Layla let out a deep sigh. "Okay, what don't you like about him?" She pressed.
Embry's imprint crawled on the bed closer to mine. We crept closer to the house.
"He's so, so stubborn." Layla attempted to explain. "Criminal." Ashely bantered. "And sarcastic, " Layla continued. "Calling the kettle black. Go on," Ashely giggled.
"I don't know Ash. On the surface, Jake seems perfect, and sometimes I really do want to be with him..." "But?" "But he doesn't always keep promises."
My wolf ears tilted back on my head. "I know he has good intentions and means well…" "Give me an example," Ashely asked. "He's not always there when he says."
"Do you think there's another girl?" she gasped. "I don't think so; I hope not. There's this girl, Molly…"
I snorted, 'Like I would ever entertain the town snag.' 'She has liked you since the change,' Embry noted.
'I'd never-' 'I know Jake.' Embry lifted his snout to the window.
"Huh, so you think a double-life thing might be happening?" "I think I'm just anxious. After the whole Logan thing…he waited a long time to come around." Layla choked out his name, and I flinched.
Ashely wrapped her arms around Layla. "I dunno. Sometimes, I think, like, there's something wrong with me, that I'm too messed up. I just want Jacob to be happy. He's so good, and I'm not-" Layla started crying into her friend.
I whined at the sound. What did she mean? We were meant for each other, and I loved her more than anything.
"I've put him through too much." "Like what? I swear if you say you're a burden one more time, I'm gonna slap you." "Ouch! Cheap shot. That's my bad arm."
"Hey, the Logan thing was not your fault. If it weren't you, it definitely would have for sure been someone else. Brianna is proof of that. And the cliff dive you told me about- Who could have called that? Not me."
"I saw it all, Ash. The way he bled out. Logan was still looking at me. He said he was sorry." Layla's breath gasped faster and shorter.
Ashely held her, and I wished I could be up there.
Embry winced at the memories replayed in my head. 'I would have done the same thing, Jake.'
They were up until the early morning hours, closing the gap of missed time, and others reminisced.
Embry didn't enjoy hearing about Ashely's current boyfriend. Seeing him planning to be the relationship highjacker Quil used to be was funny.
At the crack of dawn, before the sun kissed the sky, I heard the back screen door creak open and slam shut.
Embry was asleep, wrapped around the trunk of a nearby tree. I shook the dew off my fur and rounded the house to watch Layla stepping into the grass.
She was barefoot, still in her pajamas, and wrapped in a blanket. Layla took deep, even breaths. Puffs of cold materialized in the chilled morning air.
I wish I could read her thoughts. I hoped it wasn't the nightmares again.
"Hello." She looked straight at me with polarizing eyes—one brown, the other silver.
My ears lowered to my skull, and I stepped away. "No, wait." Layla took a few steps toward me.
"Were you protecting me that day?" She tilted her head at me, biting her lip for an answer.
Layla waited for my response. I bowed my big wolf head.
"Without you, I'd probably be dead." Layla stepped toward me again, testing her bravery and slowly closing the gap between us. I stepped back again.
"Wolf bear." She touched my chin. The blanket slid off her shoulders. I let her small hands capture my snout.
Her mismatched eyes searched mine and stroked the bridge of my nose. A low, surprised whine escaped my throat.
"It's not your fault." She whispered, comforting me. The simple phrase broke me.
Baseball-sized teardrops leaked out of the corners of my eyes. "You didn't kill him," Layla gripped my fur.
What did she mean? Was she dismissing what I did?
"A person, more like a monster with red eyes, kicked the back of Logan's head so hard it broke his neck. Your other wolf friends chased them off."
I blinked away my cloudy vision. The heavy iron-like slate of guilt that weighed on me for weeks slid off my back in a single sheet.
I hugged her with my neck as she stroked my fur.
"Thank you." Layla pulled away and picked up the blanket again to head back to the house.
Later that morning
It was good for Layla to have Ashely, someone she trusted who could lighten up the mood. To see my imprint open up and lower her guard was refreshing.
Layla's smile was freed, and the light in her eyes returned to normal.
All the progress was almost stolen again once we dropped her friend off at the airport. The only one more heartbroken than Layla was Embry.
"Are you sure you don't want to come home with me?" Ashely embraced Layla in a chokehold. "Soon," Layla promised, tapping her shoulder for release.
"Maybe you guys could come too?" Ashely pulled away to look at Embry. "All you have to do is call." He would make it work.
I'm sure Embry would be ready to run through Oregon and California if he had to. "I hope so." Ashely beamed at him.
Part 2 Holy Water
Thanksgiving Super Bowl kick-off, Uley's Place
Layla's Pov
"Are you trying to break Ashely up with her boyfriend?" I accused Embry. "Whaaaat? No way. Wait, did she say something happened?" He was up to something.
"Well, liking every picture and post on social media is making Kenneth mad." I lectured him. Quil snorted out some of his Pepsi.
"His name is Kenneth?" He was about to roast his name.
"Ugh, yeah, but that's beside the point. It looks like you're talking to Ashely behind his back." "What if I am talking to her?" Embry's cheeky grin spread.
"Ever heard 'how it starts is how it ends?'" "Go easy on him." Jacob came to his rescue by trying to soften me up.
"Whatever, I warned him." "You don't have to get defensive. Embry genuinely likes Ashely." I walked through Emily's buffet line with Jake so he could get seconds.
"I'm not mad at Embry. I want him to be fair and respect her feelings. Ashely is sensitive and wears her heart on her sleeve, and sometimes boys take advantage of that." I crunched a potato chip in my mouth.
"He'll be careful," Jacob assured me. "I hope so. He's so far away, and Ashely can get easily distracted-"
"Hey, stop worrying. Only eating." Jacob kissed my temple and shoved another chip full of dip in my mouth.
"Come sit." He nudged me towards the living room with his elbow.
"I would, but I promised Iris I'd swing by and check on her. Her cousins are driving her up the wall." I explained. "I'll come with you."
"No, stay. I'll be back before halftime." I inched out the door before he could find a place to rest his plate.
The Turstin House
"Thank God you're here, " Iris said, stepping outside and shutting the door behind her. "You believe in a deity now?" I handed her the plate of brownies I swiped.
"You've converted me. Let's go, " she spoke sarcastically.
"Where do you think you're going?" A thicker woman with short, dirty blond hair opened the door and waved us in.
"Aunt Mauve," Iris sighed. "Introduce us to your friend!" She grasped my arm and pulled me forcefully into the party.
A replay of a rugby tournament was playing on the TV instead of the Super Bowl.
The living room was packed with family, friends, and food. Little ones ran past us, knocking a side table over. Iris began yelling at the elementary kids.
"I'm surprised you have any friends." A bow with dark auburn hair spoke. "We thought you made 'er up." The other sounded.
"Yes, Yes, Awh!" The boys around our age insulted Iris while staring at the screen.
"Go ahead, grab yourself a drink and a plate." "Thanks." I wedge myself through the crowded house.
"I'm Aunt Keeva. My sister is in the kitchen." This woman looked nearly identical to Iris's mom. Splayed face of freckles, deep red hair, and dark blue eyes that were almost grey. Her crooked smile differed from her sister's.
"Come on, put some meat on those bones." Mrs. Turstin greeted me warmly. Everyone was so handsy and loud. They must have started happy hour early.
I took a mug of hot apple cider with a sweet roll and went to look for Iris, who had disappeared behind me.
When I rounded the corner, I ran straight into one of her cousins, drenching him in what smelled like spiked cider.
He snorted, wiping his face. "My nose! It fecking burns. Who put whisky in the fecking cider." "I'm so sorry..." I grasped my thin napkin, wiping him down.
"Rowan, calm down. It's not the end of the world." Aunt Keeva cautioned him.
"Ha! That's what you get!" Iris laughed at him. "Rowan?" I mumbled. Why did that name seem familiar?
"It's not like he deserves worse, " The other boy cackled.
Then I saw why he seemed familiar. Rowan looked at me with silver eyes, just like my mother's, just like my one.
"Are you okay, Layla?" Iris cut in. "I think I need more napkins," I mumbled, becoming awkwardly timid when I realized that was now using the sweet bread roll to clean Rowan's chest.
She ran to grab some more. Rowan leaned on the hall frame. He towered over me, and his wolfish grin grew.
"Trying to butter me up, are you?" It seemed like he was trying to make his silvery, sing-song voice more husky than it was.
I could feel the confusion and heat flood my face. I didn't process his words. It had been so long since I'd seen my mother's eyes, so I looked into them intently.
Rowan's overconfidence faltered, and his humor fled.
The other intimating dark-haired young man shoved Rowan off, but it wasn't to my aid. He went on to eat the bread from my hand.
"Won't you butter my biscuit instead? Hm, sweet thing." He licked the honey butter off my fingers and winked at Rowan, almost to provoke him.
I recoiled, wiping my desecrated hand on my jeans. "Jesus Christ, Mckenna." Rowan shoved him away.
"Back up. Can't you see you're scaring her?" Iris yelled at them.
Aunt Keeva kicked them outside. They were too busy roughhousing for no reason. I went to the bathroom to clean up.
"Sorry, they're a bunch of pigs. I warned you." Iris met me there. "Yeah, you did."
I stayed later than intended. What I thought were minutes became hours.
It had been so long since Iris and I had time to hang out one-on-one that I slept over. Syd was fine with it, but I felt like I disappointed Jake.
As usual, Iris fell asleep first. I woke up mid-sleep, parched for water.
I tip-toed toward the kitchen for a glass. In the pitch-black, I paused to detour their small library; the books Iris translated were sealed away.
I tugged on the cabinet that concealed the legends, and the glass door made a sharp screech.
I don't know why, but I wanted to take one more look at the books before I did something stupid tomorrow.
"What are you doing?" I jumped, jostling the cabinet. Rowan's silver eyes glowed in the dark. He reached behind me to replace the book I pulled out.
I grasped his necklace dangling in my face as he leaned into me. The silver ring on the chain was the same one in my dream.
The Celtic swirls embedded into the rim shaped into a wolf. "Hey." Rowan snagged it back and repeated his question. "What are ya do'in?"
"I came down for water, but..." Rowan rolled his eyes at my lame excuse and leaned in further; I assumed to hear better.
"Do you think they're real?" I whispered desperately. "What?" He arched a brow when it took me too long to answer.
"Werewolves." I knew it was a long shot, and I sounded crazy, but this was my last chance before the holy water.
Rowan's dark, auburn hair brushed my nose. "Why do you ask about myth and legend?" He whispered harshly.
"No reason. Sorry, I bothered you." I looked down, ashamed, and shimmied out from him and the shelves to return to Iris's room.
Upstairs, she was still fast asleep, snoring. I lay awake with a dry throat, plotting my leave for Seattle first thing in the morning.
Layla's Pov
It was before daybreak, and I went to leave before anyone woke.
I hardly slept. I'd like to blame the holy water mission or the reminder on my phone that today was my parent's custody hearing, but what haunted me was Rowan's eyes.
His were molten mercury, truer silver than my mother's, hinting at light blue.
Halfway down the stairs, I heard whispers. Iris's family was from Ireland, and the time difference was about eight hours, if I remember correctly.
"Are you sure?" It was Aunt Keeva. "I dunno, the whiskey didn't help," Rowan grumbled.
"I understand. I'll make sure McKenna will keep to himself." Aunt Keeva's excitement was hushed. "Without 'em known'."
Their chairs drew back, and I descended the stairs quicker, stepping on several squeaky stairs.
Rowan was there before I could reach the bottom, blocking it with his arms. The way he glared at me made me think he was expecting someone else.
Or maybe he was upset that I never apologized for rummaging through his family's things.
I slipped on the carpeted stair runner and collapsed into him. He caught me with one arm and stood me upright.
"Easy. Where yah going so early?" Rowan asked me. I was too tongue-tied to answer. "Calm down." He grumbled.
"I'll put on some tea." Aunt Keeva grinned. I stared up at his eyes one more time. For someone so bold, he self-consciously glanced away.
"I have to get going." I took the opportunity to leave. "Wait." He grabbed my wounded shoulder.
"Don't." I hissed in pain. "Layla!" Iris dashed down the steps.
"You can't touch her like that." Then she pushed Rowan out of the way into the railing.
"I'm okay. I'm heading out. My parents' hearing is today. I changed my mind; I really want to be there." I explained.
"That's a long drive. Do you need me to come with you?" Iris picked up on my desperation.
"Nice try." Aunt Keeva called quietly from the living room. She sat down a tea tray.
"I'll be okay." I hugged bony Iris, burying my face in her shoulder. "Your heartbeat is running a mile a minute. Did you make coffee without me?"
I lifted my gaze and locked eyes with Rowan. Fearful of my next step in Seattle.
"Goodbye, Iris," I mumbled, pulling away. "Rowan, I'm sorry. About before."
When he took a step towards me, I darted out the door.
My father didn't want me to be present today when things got ugly between him and my mother, so I contacted Bethany, her assistant.
My nerves were a wreck, and I was worried I'd disappear into thin air again. That seemed to happen when my emotions were at an all-time high in the range of anxiety or fear. And I was feeling that way too much lately.
I met Bethany first at the base Hampton Hotel, where a local restaurant and bar were located.
She informed me that I arrived just after hearing my custody battle revisions.
"Lily's not here," Bethany stated blankly. I stared back at her. "She didn't come to fight for me?" My throat tightened, and tears of fury built up behind my eyes.
"Now, keep it down. I've been doing everything I can not to liquidate all her assets." Bethany explained, stressed.
"You're unbelievable. I'm not some weak child you have to tip-toe around. I'm not stupid. I never have been." I seethed. Standing up, I accidentally jostled the glassware on the table.
"I know. It's always been me and you helping your mom." Bethany tossed down bills on the table before chasing after me.
"How did that work out?" I snapped back at her. "The moment anyone else struggles, they're banished. Zach's somewhere in the Alps, and I'm soooo lucky. I got banned inside the US."
Bethany looked like she was choking on something. I hope it was her pride or all the lies she's fed me.
"It was for the best. When she's better, Lily will explain everything herself. She will want to." Bethany pleaded with me.
I stopped mid-step in the middle of the sidewalk. "Something the matter?" Niccolo's satin Italian accent drew our attention.
"Tell her not to contact me with any more lies and only reach out to me if it's urgent." I gritted my teeth.
Bethany shuttered, a shiver running down her spine at the sight of him. Her mouth flapped dryly.
"Layla, who is this?" Bethany stammered. "Do as she said." Niccolo compelled in a venomously sweet tone.
He smiled politely at her, then averted his creepy crimson gaze to me.
"Shall we?" He held his hand out for me to take. "Yes."
Niccolo Foscari was quite scary when he wanted to be, and I had never been relieved to see him until now.
Maybe it was because today was just that horrible; a vampire could improve it. Or the more probable answer was I wanted one person to be on my side, even if it was the villain sucking the life out of me. Just this once. I told myself in the heat of the moment.
"Layla, stay with me. Please," Bethany begged. "Let's keep in touch," I repeated her infamous parting line.
I discretely drank a vile one of the holy water. In fifteen minutes, I'd be tapped of my blood, and Niccolo could drink it.
If that didn't work, I'd attempt to pour the second vile onto him directly.
I almost felt bad for what I was about to do, but he had used me first.
Niccolo stood up for me without knowing the details, and here I was, hoping he'd die. I've never killed anything before.
I wondered if this was wrong. If the same rules applied to a 600-year-old plus blood-sucking entity.
He'd lived more than many men's lives. So, was his time up anyway?
If only I could get him alone.
"What's wrong? Your heart rate is through the roof," Niccolo asked me, grazing his fingertips over IV tubes.
I lowered my voice, although I knew they could all hear me. "Having so many vampires around is unnerving," I explained. "You're right. Leave us," Niccolo ordered.
Everyone besides his right-hand woman, Justina, left. The compelled human nurse finished my blood work.
"Are you not going to drink?" I questioned. "It's been too long since I've drank from you. I might get overly excited."
I lifted the tube with droplets of blood left in it and looked up at him through my eyelashes. I was daring him with the temptation.
He took the tube seductively into his mouth, and I tried not to gag as Niccolo sucked out the droplets of my blood.
His eyes rolled back, and the dull crimson became brighter by a fraction. I fought back a smile and settled into a curious, masked expression.
Niccolo looked at me questioningly. "You're getting brave, my little field mouse."
"I have to be." As I stood up, I tilted the open vile of holy water in my sleeve over his hand and flicked it up into his face.
Niccolo sputtered. Justina laughed, hiding her face with her clipboard. Vitaly poked his head into the room, curious about the commotion.
The coven leader grasped my wrist and yanked me toward him. I panicked. He wasn't being burned like acid or scorched like in the movies.
He applied a fraction of pressure to my wrist, and the vile fell out of my hand. Niccolo caught it mid-air and read the label.
He laughed in my face. I burned with embarrassment. As he let go. I fell to my knees in between his legs.
"Nice try. I don't think anyone's ever done this before," Niccolo laughed harder.
"Holy water," Justina said between stifled giggles to Vitaly, who burst into unexpected, terrifying laughter.
Niccolo then pulled the rosary necklace from my cleavage and snapped it off my neck with a flick of his fingers.
"Trinkets don't stop monsters like me. I should be upset about you trying to come against me, but I don't think I've laughed like that in over two hundred years." Niccolo sighed. I hung my head in shame.
When the laughter died down, he dismissed the last two vampires with a wave. I tried to scramble for the door.
"No, no. Come back here, " I slowly stood up and turned to face him. "Crawl. On your knees. Ask for me to forgive you." I felt my body move to his orders.
"Wasn't that embarrassing enough?" "You did that to yourself." Niccolo arched a brow.
"You can't blame a prey trying to escape a predator," I crawled closer, fraying my stalkings.
"Forgive me." I choked. "Again. Sincerely." He ordered. My knees were getting rug burn. "Please, Niccolo, I'm sorry about the holy water."
He held out his hand for me to kiss it. Trembling, I did. His skin was ice cold and smooth as marble. The sick look of pleasure glinting in his eyes was unsettling.
"Get up." I stood at once, trembling. He gripped my jaw firmly in one hand and ground the rosary into gold dust with the other.
"Go ahead. Tell me whose you are." Fearful tears swam in my eyes. "Yours," I squeaked.
"Say it right," he hissed lowly. "I'm yours, Niccolo." I looked away, defeated.
"Good." In a quick movement, he turned my head and kissed my neck.
I scrambled in his grasp, grabbing his shirt, hair, anything to push myself away.
"Don't. Move," Niccolo ordered in a dangerous tone. I froze, clinging to him. "You're getting me too excited, mi amore."
I hiccupped a sob, and a shiver ran down my spine when his cool lips grazed me again.
He traveled farther down my neck than the last time. I closed my eyes, trying not to focus on where.
I suddenly felt light-headed, and my grip on his shirt loosened. "Please, Nic-" I gasped.
Niccolo pulled away when Justina cleared her throat, like a mother who caught her child playing with food instead of eating it.
I was left to my own devices, trapped in my birdcage windowed room looking down on Seattle streets.
I was stuck in time out until I calmed down enough, and Niccolo drank his fill. I securely prayed the first vile of holy water mixed with my blood would work on him.
Of course, it didn't, and when he came to my room, he stood on the threshold and gloated by drinking a bag in front of me.
Caleb was right. I had only seen the favorable side of Niccolo until now. Things could always take a nose dive.
"Freedom awaits, my Bella." Humiliated and horrified, I left the penthouse to check on my father across town.
Nothing could get worse, right?
Justina drove with me, bursting out in random stifled giggles along the way to Wren's place.
I thought my dad would be celebrating since he won. But when I let myself in, he was drunk as a skunk.
"Dad?" "Daughter." He swayed in his unbuttoned sweat-through shirt and loosened the tie.
"How'd things go?" I drew out the question skeptically. "Your skank of a mother didn't show up. That's what." He poured himself another glass of scotch.
"I thought out of all the people, it would be you she cared about. Lily doesn't give a fuck about me or your bastard brother."
I didn't know what to do. It's been a while since I've seen him this belligerent.
"Yeah, me too," I mumbled. "You're with me now, and you see her holidays. If the slut shows up." He snorted.
"Stop calling her those names! I know this sucks, but you loved her once!"
One minute, I was standing. The next, I was on the floor with my ear ringing.
"Shut up! You don't know shit!" Wren fell back into his armchair, completely plastered, eyes glassed over.
My face felt swollen and pulsated. Tears of anger spilled over.
"Fuck you. I was there. I've always been there! For you and her! If you'd only been able to suck it the fuck up sometimes-" He threw the glass and its contents at me with poor aim. It shattered against the wall and again on the floor.
"Give me to Syd! I can't stand you!" I screamed, kicking over his expensive bar cart.
It crashed, and I turned around to see him not cursing, fighting, or getting up to scold me. Wren passed out.
"Dad?" He let out a jagged snore. Too angry to think, I grabbed my coat and staggered down the stairs.
"Take me home," I ordered Justina. "I can't do that, " she said, turning the car around to Niccolo's building.
"No, please don't," I begged. He was the last person I wanted to see.
"We are all under certain compulsion orders. If anyone is to harm you, we must first assist you, then report to the master."
With an ice pack pressed to my face, I re-entered his penthouse. Justina gripped my elbow, dragging me along beside her.
Niccolo dismissed his group of vampires, who left in a blur. "What is it?" His eyes scanned me and sharpened on the wound.
A trickle of blood ran down my nose. I guess a shard from the glass Wren threw nicked me. "Please don't kill him," I begged.
Niccolo removed the ice pack to reveal the swollen mess. "Her father," Justina stated. "He was drunk," I chimed in if that was any better of an excuse.
"And you didn't bring him to me?" Niccolo was so calm and calculated that it numbed me more than the ice.
"Has he done this before, mi la tua encante?" I held up one finger. "When they decided on the divorce." He blamed me for hiding the affair.
Of course, I had no idea and was just obedient to Lily. Again, he was intoxicated that time, too. When my brother saw what happened, Zach fought Wren.
They didn't have a good relationship since.
"This will not go unpunished." "You can't-" The words came out wrong. Niccolo sidestepped me.
"Do not tell me what I can or cannot do.- No one punishes you except me." He looked to Justina, a silent order to take me home.
Then Vitaly joined him, and we parted ways.
"Niccolo has a fuse. Once it's lit, it will burn for a while. His reward and punishment system helps keep all of us accountable and him going to extremes."
I didn't care to listen. I got the picture of the tyrannical vampire. I could hardly hear out of one ear and feel my face.
"Call if you need help with anything," Justina informed me in the parking garage. "Help?" I glared at her.
What a joke when I wouldn't be in any sort of state if it weren't for her vampire kind.
A look of sympathy crossed her perfect features. "You'd be surprised. Good night. I'll make sure Nic doesn't go too far."
The drive back to La Push was long, not because of cops pulling anyone over for a breathalyzer but because of what was on my mind.
Niccolo wouldn't kill my father, would he? Should I have demanded to stay witness to his punishment?
I pulled my jacket's hood up to evade the rain. I was glad everyone was still at Emily's the day after the Super Bowl.
No one should see me like this: half-swollen eyelid shut and puffy cheek.
I fled to the bathroom to clean up and retreated to my room before Syd could find me.
Surely, the mark would go away in the morning, and I could return to human life...for a while.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading. I know one of my chapters is the equivalent of two combined, but I hope it will be worth the read since the plot is picking up.