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 Overwhelm
Jacob's Pov
Layla was throwing me through a loop. I knew she was embarrassed after Quil and Embry walked in on us, but she kept her distance all week.
"Is this some Catholic guilt bull crap, or what?" I asked. Layla turned on her heel to face me.
"If it was, what are you going to do about it?" She challenged. "And what if I wanted to save myself for marriage?" Layla lowered her voice. "Sorry," I muttered.
"I admit that I was at fault, Jacob. Not you, okay? So don't apologize." Eavesdroppers craned a listening ear to our lover's quarrel.
"Okay, but you don't have to pull away like I did something wrong. I feel like you're punishing me or something."
"That's the thing. You're not doing anything wrong. I would like some space, though." She shut her locker and headed out of the school.
"Space? For what?" I banged my fist on the locker and busted it with minimal effort.
After class, Cullen Manor
Layla's Pov
EJ was eagerly waiting for me. I ran into the string bean's arms, and he spun me around until I was dizzy.
"It's good to see you." "You have no idea." I couldn't wait to run off to his room to chat.
"Ever since your accident, my family has been taking too many precautions about my safety," EJ explained. "Oh."
"Don't worry about me. It's your safety that has me worried." I followed him to Esme's garden; nothing was in bloom, but the bushes hid us well.
"Why's that?" "Promise you'll let me show you everything until the end." EJ squeezed my hand. "Okay?" "Please. You deserve to know."
"Alright, you have my promise." I wouldn't tell a soul. "I have to be touching you for this to work."
"Sure." I held still for him, staring into his bright emerald eyes.
"Let me show you the late life of Bella Swan." EJ projected into my mind.
It was hard not to flinch away when the pictures, thoughts, and feelings flooded me.
"This is Charlie's daughter?" I whispered. "Yes. Questions later, please," EJ continued.
I saw life through this girl's eyes. These weren't EJ's memories, so how did he possess them?
Her arrival in Forks. The red truck Charlie bought off Billie with Jacob at hs side. I felt EJ skip forward here and there.
Passing through the faces of his family, whom I had already met, and then I saw one I hadn't: Edward Cullen.
"Promise me you won't fall into the ocean." His smooth, comely voice echoed in Bella's head as she climbed into Mike Newton's van. They headed to First Beach for some fun in the rare wink of the Pacific sun. Then a younger, beloved Jacob with long hair, a baby face, and baggy clothes approach the group. I watched him blush as Bella beckoned him to tell her of the La Push Legends. For some reason, the stories seemed all too familiar.
"Layla, I-" EJ pulled away and squinted like he had a migraine. "Please, show me more," I begged.
When I was new here, I asked numerous times about Bella Swan, but no one, including Jacob, answered me fully. And now that I saw why, and I was intensely invested.
"This is the part I'm not supposed to show you," EJ explained. "I promised," I repeated with conviction. He continued with his impressive gift, sharing the visions.
"They're-" EJ placed a finger over his mouth to signify silence, then stood up. The Cullens were vampires, but not the kind I had faced before.
Ones that feasted on animals instead of people. Those genuinely trying to lead a parallel life to humans. I had to say I was a little impressed.
EJ smirked then swallowed to coat his dry throat, feeling intensely thirsty. Greyish bags were developing under his eyes.
"I haven't pushed myself this far before. You'll have to come back another time." "Okay, but I have to tell you something too."
I know what Rowan said, but EJ had already witnessed my ability to turn invisible. So, this didn't count.
"What?" We walked back up to the house. "I'm Fae." He tilted his head curiously and smiled, popping a dimple in his cheek.
After I drove off from Cullen Manor, I felt the guilt seep in.
Here, Rowan was helping me move mountains in all the ways I couldn't and in all the ways that mattered to me most.
I knew EJ wouldn't hurt me. He was human like me, flesh and blood, with a heartbeat. He had an odd power, so maybe he was a type of Fae, too.
But if that were true, why was he living with a coven of 'vegetarian' vampires?
My only logical conclusion was that EJ's last 'living' family member was one of the Cullens, and they were kind enough to let him stay instead of handing him over to the sketchy US adoption system.
I didn't know if this was a good deduction or wishful thinking, but I stuck to that theory until EJ told me otherwise.
At the local Gym, a day later
"You should be off the treadmill by now." Rowan lectured me. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to running uphill 24/7." I panted.
"Five miles a day is nothing. Come on. You're going to take a break, then lift."
I was already sweating buckets while Rowan had completed his workout without so much as a drop of perspiration.
Lightheaded, I watched him do some pull-ups while I chugged down water.
His tank top rode up, and his grey sweatpants dipped down, revealing a v-cut under his flexed abdomen.
The girl on the stair stepper behind me misstepped and tumbled to the floor.
Rowan stifled his laughter and landed in front of me. "See something you like?" "How are you not sweating?" I asked.
"I'm used to going all night," he winked. "Now, let's go. Chest press." He hovered over me as I lay flat on my back. "I'm not sure about this, Rowan."
"You're telling me you have zero aggression against that vampire of yours. This is the place to let it out." "Maybe I do, but I'm not you. I'm not a-"
"No buts. No excuses. You're going to give it your all or die trying. Right?" Rowan let go of the bar. I didn't expect the it to weigh more than the weights.
"Right," I grunted, pushing up. When I started seeing spots, the weight slipped. Rowan caught it before it crushed me and dismantled it with ease.
"Are you eating enough? I can't have you passing out on the daily." He lectured me again. I sighed, sitting up slowly.
"When I asked for your help. This is not what I meant." "Clearly, you can't outrun a squirrel without me."
"Please, Rowan. I have two and a half weeks before I see him again." "What?" Had I not told him?
"I told you he had an ability." I lowered my voice when someone walked by. "Get cleaned up so we can figure this out."
The rain wasn't cooperating with our usual outdoor meet-up spot. Showered and in comfortable clothes, I convinced Iris a sleepover was in store.
Around midnight, when the house was quiet, I snuck into Rowan's room. "Now tell me what you were talkin' about." He crossed his arms.
"Can't you put on a shirt?" "It's my room. Now quit stallin'."
I brought my tabbed version of Dracula from last semester and dog-eared the pages with his powers. I waited for him to flip through it.
When he landed on the power of compulsion, Rowan's eyes widened. I held up one finger. "One vampire, the first vampire." He said.
We had our game of charades until I pushed the compulsion on myself too far. I must have passed out because I woke beside Iris in her bed.
He'd managed to guess the coven leader had the power of compulsion and was the same vampire after me.
Rowan also narrowed our game of charades to yes-or-no questions, my humming signaling a maybe or try again.
It wasn't a perfect system, but it was progress.
"How many have you seen?" I faced away from him, beginning to count on my fingers.
"No, no fucking way." Rowan's mouth dropped when I couldn't pinpoint a number; apparently, more than ten was an astronomical amount.
"You two seem to be getting along," Iris noted. "What can I say? I'm quite likable." Rowan winked at me.
"Come on, we've got mass." Anne coaxed us out the door.
It was a dreary Sunday—a funeral service dedicated to two devout church members. The prayers were lengthy, and candlelit vigil for them even longer.
Rowan wouldn't leave the pew or stop glaring at the caskets. "Come on." Iris hissed at him.
"Go on. This could be a lot for him." Anne walked away with Iris on her arm, candle in hand, while I stayed with him.
"I never got to bury my dad," Rowan muttered bitterly, glowering ahead. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I don't want to bury anyone else. Including you." He rasped.
"Wow, Rowan. I didn't think you cared. I thought you were the vampire killer vigilante, and I was the poor, unfortunate soul who got in your way."
Rowan cracked a humorless smirk and shook his head.
Rowan's Pov
I abruptly rose from the pew and marched out, unable to contain my anger and frustration. I thought I had time, the woods, and the cover of nightfall on my side.
Instead, this powerful bloodsucker was sitting pretty in the city with a naive, compelled girl chasing after him like his portable snack. It made my blood boil.
"Rowan, what's wrong? What did I say?" Layla whispered in a rush, hot on my heels.
"You could have led with hey, I only have four weeks to live. Now, I have less than two weeks to plan." I pace back and forth.
"If you haven't noticed. I haven't been able to say anything to anyone." Layla's pitch climbed with her desperation.
I can't involve the council, or else Layla's human life will be ruined the moment anyone finds out she has silver blood. They haven't solved my father's murder or found my mother, which is mighty suspicious since my father had a seat on the council. And if anything happens to Layla, Zach will kill me when he emerges from his turn year.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck." It was against the werewolf code to leave a vampire alive. According to the rules, if they escaped our wrath, I would be obligated to send for a pack, the closest pack, and there were no known werewolf clans in North America.
"Rowan, calm down."
We were on our own—a suicide mission with two potentials to carry on the silver bloodline. Wolves would go to war with each other for one silver genetic carrier alone, but to put Layla on the map like that...would pull her into a century of werewolf politics and force her to become a trophy of power and a mother of wolves.
"We'll think of something. I've managed to stay alive for months." She tried to manage my temper, which made me more upset.
"Months?! You know it takes precisely one moment for a-" "Can I help you two?" A pastor found us arguing in the entryway behind closed doors.
"No. We're fine." I stated.
On the brink of tears, Layla ran out of the church.
I ran from the small Cathedral and down the dock of downtown Port Angeles after her. "Layla! Stop! I'm sorry."
She ripped her arm away from me. "I know my situation better than you do! You don't have to berate me about it," she said.
Hot tears streamed down her face. I stood there listening to her vent pent-up emotion.
"You're not the only one suffering!" She punched the air between us. I almost laughed, vindictively, but I didn't.
"He has my dad, Rowan! I wonder every day if he's okay." Layla's tears weren't stopping any time soon, so I pulled her into my chest and held her there.
She fought, squirming in my grasp until she tired herself out and lost all her fight. "How are yah?" I mumbled.
"If I don't do what Niccolo says, there are always consequences," Layla whispered flatly. "The last time I disobeyed him, I tried running away; I almost killed Wren."
There was much she had gone through that I didn't know of, and it was a miracle Layla was still here.
And it was really stupid of her mother and filthy brother to leave her alone unprotected.
"Let's get something to eat, yah?" I offered.
At the Turstin house
"What I'm about to say may be insensitive, but it's the truth." I started. Layla rested her spoon.
"It's something my father told me once. He said if there was a burning building and it was me or you, I'd choose you."
She looked away glassy-eyed. Layla knew this was true. Any parent would sacrifice themself for their child.
"If your dad were in his right mind, he would want you to be free." "But he's family. You only get one dad-"
"Don't I know it!" I banged my fist on the countertop, shaking the glassware. I couldn't hold it together. I lost it, crying over a weak meal.
After a moment, Layla came around the table and wrapped her arms around me apologetically and in solitude.
Holding her arm, I fumbled with the silver ring around my neck to calm down.
Layla's Pov
"Every time I go, I come back. Niccolo treats visits like transactions and pays me for my donations," I explained to Rowan. He looked at me like I was crazy.
"He pays you money?" "Yes, or anything I ask within his limitations." "Which are?" He asked. "I don't know, but with his ability, what do you think?"
"Hm," Rowan mulled over this information. "But I'm not so sure he'll be so eager to grant a big request after the holy water situation," I mumbled to myself.
His eyes flashed up with equal parts curiosity and horror. "It didn't work, the Vatican or the basilica's. Granted I purchased it online but-"
Rowan dropped his face into his hands. "Of course, that didn't work; you need to get a- Ugh!" He groaned in frustration.
"Be nice. I was trying to stay alive." "Mary, Mother of Jaysus. How are you alive?"
I sighed and shrugged. "Whenever this is, I'm coming with you." "No, he could kill you." I denied his request.
"I won't interfere unless the vampire endangers your life," Rowan promised. "He's not the only one with an ability," I argued.
"I don't care. I need to see this for myself." It would cut down on hours of charades and questioning. I tapped on the cover of the Dracula book.
"There's one more clue in here for you. Call me when you figure it out. It might make your mission impossible."
Jacob's Pov
"I figured I'd find you here," I said. Layla stood up from the riverside behind Syd's place. I greeted her with a quick embrace.
"Where have you been? I thought you'd be freer after last semester..." I trailed off because we both didn't like talking about what happened last October.
"Between making up hours for gym class and helping Iris, I've been booked, haven't I?" She gently pushed me away.
"Coach Kel is letting you do that?" "Yeah, it beats running around the track without headphones." Layla sighed, exhausted.
"Why don't we hang out inside for a while? It's a little cold for you." "It's alright." She walked on.
"Anything else new? How's your mom and dad?" I kicked a pinecone from our path. "I haven't heard much." The topic weighed on her.
"Do you think you're going to visit him this month?" Talking to her was starting to feel more like an interrogation than a conversation.
"I'm not sure." "You promised to let me know." I reminded her. "I know." She shivered as she walked in the direction of Syd's place.
"Want to come over to my house?" "I'm sorry, Jake. I have a lot of homework to catch up on."
"Then, I guess I'll see you later? When everyone's asleep." I leaned down to kiss her.
"Sure." Layla turned her head so my kiss landed on her cheek.
Layla's Pov
I had ignored Jacob's knock on my window that night, pretending to be asleep when I was journaling.
He tried to tug at the window sill, but I had locked the latch prior. "Layla, I know you're in there." I shoved my journal aside and tucked myself into a tight ball.
"I know when something is bothering you. Just talk to me." The shitty latch broke, and the wind fluttered my curtains.
"Layla?" Jacob saw right through me. I sat invisibly on my bed, watching him. Hoping he wouldn't try to enter.
"Please." He turned and sat on the ledge of my roof. I got up and slowly backed out of the room.
The Following Day
"Where were you?" "I guess I fell asleep on the couch." I made up in biology the next day.
"Not that. I figured as much. I meant at lunch." Jacob questioned. "In the library." "Doing what?"
"Does it matter?" I was researching any recorded indigenous folklore to prove the legends in EJ's visions were real.
Deep in my intution, I felt like they were. It wouldn't hurt to find a few things on invisible Fae either, but I didn't want Jacob to think I was a nut.
Between classes, Molly hovered between my locker and Embry's.
If she was shooting her shot, it was a waste. In all his spare time, he was on the phone with Ashely.
"Are you done with Jacob?" That caught me off guard, and I glared at her. "What are you talking about?"
"I've seen you with your new snag in the gym." She observed my expression carefully.
"So it's a crime to have a personal trainer? I'm making up hours after my injuries; ask Coach."
"No need to get all defensive. They're both hot." Her pearly smile was facetious.
"If you're still with Jake, I'll leave him alone. But I'll be asking the other one for some lessons."
"Do whatever you want, Molly. No one's stopping you." I slammed my locker and stomped off.
"What did she say?" Kim found me fuming in the girl's bathroom. "Nothing, she's such a-" "Slut?" She finished what I didn't want to say.
"Yeah." "Don't worry about her. Jake won't let Molly do anything." Kim consoled me. "I hope not," I muttered unconvinced.
"I heard Hawaii went well." She bated for information, but I couldn't trust her not to tell April or her boyfriend Jared.
"Sort of, I really miss the sun." My sun. I thought as the bell rang. I left her by the sink.
After School
"Do you want me to drive you? I can pick you up after my apprenticeship." Jacob's winter break with Bob's Autoshop was over, so he was back to work.
"No, I'm good. I have an errand to run after." I parted with Jacob in the school parking lot. I hated walking away from him.
Rowan was waiting for me, and the cardio portion was getting easier. Later, onto the weights, he stopped me every other minute to readjust my position.
"Mind if I join you?" Molly squeezed her way into the free weights. "Not at all." Rowan gave her a coy smile. I think he enjoyed the attention.
He caught my upset expression in the mirror, and his smile grew. "Don't worry. I'm not done with you." I rolled my eyes and went to set the weights down.
"This is stupid. We need to be planning things." I tore off my sweaty shirt and stuffed it in my gym bag.
"Excuse me, can you show me how to use these?" Molly asked Rowan, who had trouble looking away from me. I crossed my arms and glared at him.
"You pick 'em up and put 'em down. It's not that hard." He smarted, giving her the cold shoulder. For whatever reason, that made me happy.
"You're such a dote when you're angry," Rowan grumbled, picking up my bag and taking my hand.
I showered at the Turstin house. Iris was at debate team, her dad was trucking on the road again, and Anne was working late.
Dressed, I sat on the end of his bed, combing my wet hair while Rowan rattled off the list of powers from the Dracula book to have.
"Flying." "No." "Mindreading." "Nope, but close." "Give me a clue." He paced the floor.
"I can't remember," I emphasized. "Great." "I can't remember." I embellished again, locking eyes with him.
"Shit. What does he look like? Is it a he or she?" I nodded my head once. His charades began, moving his hand for a height, amongst other things.
"How often have you seen him?" "Sometimes. He's not to use his ability on me anymore." "Why's that?" Rowan asked, but I didn't answer, gathering my things.
"They'll be back soon," I said. "Wait, Layla. Why don't we pretend to date? That way, we won't have to sneak around as much." "I don't want to lie to Iris."
"Aren't we lying to her now?" He questioned. I didn't think of it like that. "You said it was to keep her safe." "So?" he followed me downstairs.
"Won't your fraternization with me inhibit your dating life?" I questioned jokingly. "I've had my fun. I'm all yours." Rowan stopped me.
I made a discontented face. Iris had warned me about him, and he knew it too.
"I don't want to lie or sneak around more than I need to," I repeated. "There's nothing about me you like?"
The words were teasing, but I couldn't tell if he was serious.
"Good night, Rowan." "Is there someone else?" He questioned. I slowed my steps to my Ford Escape.
"He won't ever be safe. I can't protect this house, you, and him, too." Rowan called out again. Despair stopped me in my tracks.
"What about when this is all over?" I asked myself more than him.
"Like I said before. The supernatural for humans has its way of destroying the lives of the ordinary." "But I'm human too."
"You're Fae, descended from werewolves. As much as I'd like you to escape it...It finds the best of us at the worst of times."
Rowan unintentionally sliced me with his words, and his sliver stare solidified the truth. A lump of emotion bobbed in my throat.
I couldn't give up on Jake. I wasn't sure I was able to. "Not me. It ends with me," I retorted, referring to my bad luck, and slammed my car door.
"Layla, wait!" Rowan ran after my car down the street. He caught up in seconds with his speed, and I stopped to roll down my window.
"Promise me you won't do anything reckless. Not without me."
"Fine." I sighed. "Good girl." Rowan leaned in and kissed my cheek.
Friday, I skipped meeting up with Rowan to catch up with EJ.
I needed some time off away from him and the gym. My thighs ached as I climbed the steps to EJ's house.
"Welcome." Esme smiled. "Hi, how are you?" Not much has changed since I found out about their vampirism.
It did make me more cautious, but my unsettling fear of Niccolo's coven was much more notable.
"Good. I've found a few new project homes lately, so I've been busy." "That's good. Victorian?" "One of them." She gracefully glided aside.
"I think EJ is still in his room," Rose called from the kitchen. I climbed up to meet EJ, wondering what was keeping him.
A piano piece echoed from his spacious room. It was slow, soft, and building, with the melody swelling in and out.
"How beautiful," I sat on the bench with him. His dancing fingers slowed and repeated one key sorrowfully.
"I was worried you wouldn't come." EJ's smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'm here. I'll always be here." I whispered assuringly.
He glanced at the door as if waiting for something to happen. "Emmets home to distract Rose." EJ played the key again. "Esme's stepping out. Carsisle's at work."
EJ put on a CD with the same music he was playing and returned to his spot. "Make sure you're touching me." I nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder.
The visions came again. Blurry but getting brighter in my mind. Bella's thoughts echoed strangely, I saw what she saw, and sometimes I felt what she felt.
The abandonment in the woods. Months of depression without her love, Edward. A crazy outing with Jessica brought about hallucinations of her ex-boyfriend and vampire Edward Cullen. Then there was Jacob again, pure, bright, and sunny, her hope for living. I winced at the commonality, hoping it would end there.
"Are you okay?" EJ's playing with the music slowed. "I'm fine. Keep going." He nodded, and I touched him again.
Bella came by the Black's place with the broken dirt bikes, and their friendship blossomed in Jacob's garage. Then I saw Quil and Embry stop by to tease them.
It hurt to know how many people knew about Bella; so far, only Seth has been willing to be somewhat honest with me.
The more I saw, the more reasons I knew why Jake didn't want to tell me: playdates, hiking, homework, sneaking behind parental figures to build dangerous dirt bikes. The same dirt bikes rotting in Jacob's garage now that he didn't want me to touch or us to ride.
After a while, I let go and fell into the piano. "Sorry," I apologized, not being able to keep up. "Are you okay?" EJ asked me.
"Dinner's ready." Rosalie flew into the room with a sharp knock. When she saw nothing was wrong, she relaxed.
"EJ's a good teacher. I think I'm a bad student." I laughed awkwardly, getting up. EJ glanced at me, looking tired himself.
The visions EJ projected exhausted what was left of my good mood. There was so much to reflect on.
Between Rowan blowing up my phone and Jacob waiting for me at home, didn't make things any better.
By the time I consoled Jacob, it was late, and I had to call Rowan before he thought I was up to no good.
After a string of complaints, Rowan was ready to talk. "Syd has to drive us. I can't get out of that. You can stay at Wren's place while I donate."
Rowan's silence on the line was contemplative. "You said others make donations across town? Where?"
"If I tell you, how do I know you won't go without me?" I questioned. "I told you the first step was a survey mission."
Part 2 Mission Impossible
"Game night tonight?" Jacob asked me. I had stopped by to see him before Rowan and I did something stupid in Seattle.
"I'm actually hanging out with Iris and her cousin. We'll hit the bookstore, maybe catch a movie, then maybe stop at their place." I rambled.
"You two are joined at the hip these days," he grumbled. "When's the last time you called Ashley? Why not invite her here again?" Jake continued.
"Nice." I went to leave, and Jacob followed me. "Okay, okay. I had to say something for Embry. But seriously, I haven't seen you in a while. I miss you."
His puppy dog eyes ate at me. "Then maybe I'll bring them around next time." "Good." He gave me a parting hug, and I held on too long.
"Sorry." I apologized, pulling away. "Don't be. I'm always right here." He pulled my hand over his chest.
"Later, Jake." I hesitantly reflected a smile. Then, rounding the corner onto the main strip, I ran into Rowan, who was gagging at what he had just witnessed.
"What are you doing?" I pushed past him to Syd's truck parked on the street. "Seriously? That's your man?" Rowan scoffed. I ignored him.
"He's playing you by the book. Telln' yah what you want to hear." "Drop it." I clicked the seatbelt in place. He didn't know Jake.
After the new information I gleaned from EJ, I was already self-conscious about my relationship with Jacob.
"Oh really, I bet he's the overbearing type." "Jake's just concerned." I countered. "Because of what happened last October and the filthy Logan character."
"How do you know about that?" "Iris told me you were shot. I was curious, so I did some digging. Not that it was hard to back up an old phone."
Rowan held up the cell phone I gave him to keep in touch. "You're unbelievable." I shook my head, and a bit peeved he broke into my privacy.
"I'd let you do anything you wanted... like to me, for example," Rowan teased.
His crooked smile made my cheeks flush, and I turned away to look upon the open road.
Seattle
Rowan's Pov
We stood at the entrance of Wren's apartment. "You know where," Layla said, looking up at me with big, worrisome brown eyes.
"I'll meet you here when I'm done," I assured her. "Who is this?" Someone spoke behind us. "Niccolo." Her eyes widened.
I stepped aside to see the bloodsucker and his minion. I had very little space to take them both with Layla this close.
"Introduce us." His crimson gaze swept over me, but his words affected Layla. "This is Rowan-" "Layla's boyfriend. And you?" I stepped between them.
Every hair on my neck bristled, and my jaw automatically clenched. The vampire's tight smile was condescending.
"A colleague and a friend." It took everything in me not to do what I was born to and drip him apart.
The filthy vampire brushed Layla's hair. She stood rigidly in place.
How the hell could I fecking leave her like this? "He was just running an errand for me." She hinted me to leave on my mission.
"Oh?" Niccolo asked. "See you later." I leaned in and quickly pecked Layla on the cheek to gauge the vampire's reaction.
I didn't like what I saw on the vampire's face—utter predator possessiveness.
I made the trip quick, and I fought to make it efficient. I cut the line, earning a few complaints.
Then I was greeted by the same female vampire I saw on New Year's Eve, the one who shoved a helpless victim in between two vampires.
"I'm Tessa, Fill this out and hand this to him." She pointed to a ghostly pale vampire in an all-black suit. His features matched the description I charaded out of Layla.
That was the one, the mind wiper to be wary of.
I falsified the documents and took a slow casual pace to the blood drawing station, committing everything to memory.
It seemed like a normal donation site. I rolled up my sleeve and pre-punctured a place on my arm discreetly so the human nurse had no trouble obtaining my blood.
If legends were correct, my blood could harm the vampire who drank it. The thought made me smile.
"All done. Thank you for your donation, honey. Your payment is at the exit with Vitaly." The stone-cold Russian vampire handed me an envelope of cash.
They were paying me to kill them. I thought smugly to myself. "Hold on." He grabbed my shoulder, and I tensed up.
"You are O positive, not negative," he informed me. "Oh," I smirked and headed out.
"Hey!" Another vampire caught me on the front steps. I didn't know this one. He handed me a flyer.
"My next show is in two weeks. Discounted tickets with a free plus one if you bring the flyer." I nodded wordlessly, taking it with me.
And an invitation to pick off more of his filthy vampire friends. I thought, folding the paper into my jeans.
Returning to Wren's apartment, I was grateful my nose was still broken.
I might've turned if I had to encounter all these vampires and had to smell them.
"We were wrapping up dinner." Justina, another leech belonging to Niccolo, led me to the dining room with human hostages.
"Join us." Niccolo extended his arm—an arm I would love to break between my teeth.
"Tell us about yourself." He compelled. Layla warned me about this part. 'Tell the truth, but be vague.' That was her advice.
"I moved from Ireland to Forks to be closer with family. I met Layla here through a friend."
"Tell me, was it love at first sight?" Niccolo probed. "Something like that. I was fond of her since I met her."
I hate this compulsion trick. It didn't give you much time to think. "Is this true, Layla? Was it the same for you?" He compelled her next.
"Rowan took me off guard, and he doesn't cease to surprise me with his affections." Layla hid a jab in there.
Syd and her father seemed merrily oblivious to themselves. They were possibly compelled for privacy.
"Hm, Salute. To youth and young love." Niccolo lifted the wine glass that I now noticed was filled with Layla's blood. Bile rose in my throat.
My head swam with disgust, and my veins pumped with rage. "Are you not feeling well?" Layla's hand squeezed mine under the table.
"No, I think we should go." The blue contacts she made me wear itched to the point of burning, and my muscles ached to stretch into the form I wanted.
"She'll be a moment. Go wait outside." Niccolo ordered me. Fuck this vampire. My body moved on its own to do as he said.
Layla's Pov
Niccolo and I were alone again. He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles.
"I know the men in your family may have already told you, but young boys are only after one thing."
"I thought you wanted me to live a human life for the next eight years." "I did, and I do. My Bella, I wish no harm to come to you."
I pulled away from him. "I don't believe you." Was Niccolo jealous now? The last time we met, he couldn't wait to punish me and took pleasure in making his point.
Niccolo twisted the stem of his glass in contemplation. "I could compel him to be whatever you wanted, or If he ever breaks your heart, you could come to me."
"I want ordinary girl experiences, Niccolo. I don't know how serious this is, and I'm not sure if it will last... unlike some people, violence and revenge isn't my second language." His eyes snapped up to where I now stood.
He finished my blood in his cup, and stood with me. "Now, what payment do you want?" "I thought you were upset with me."
"Your punishment is over. I forgive, but I do not forget," he warned. "Wow, that might be the one thing we have in common," I mumbled.
Before his intimidation could wrack my bones with fear, I went to leave. "We will have eternity to sort things out, my Bella. Let's make good on our part."
Forever with him? Never.
"Would you be willing to let my father go? Wipe Wren's mind; let him start over somewhere else..." Niccolo stared unblinking at me long and hard.
"If you move in with me." I couldn't, and he saw that I wouldn't. "Then can you compel him to stop drinking and move on from my mother?"
Even after all these years, I knew Wren was still in love with her.
"I will wean him off substances, and we'll see how the rest follows. Not all men can face their demons," Niccolo answered.
"Have you told her about March Mayhem?" Justina appeared beside us.
"Ah, that's weeks away, but for the month of March, I allow my coven to feed freely. It's the only time I might ask you to stay away from Seattle."
"Why's that? I thought you were all about order?" I questioned.
"Too much restriction is bad. I don't want to breed contempt in my coven. Don't worry; I send most of us out of the state," Niccolo explained.
Rowan was nowhere to be found outside or by Syd's truck. Anxiety wracked my chest, thinking Rowan wasn't careful enough.
Grandpa dropped me off in Port Angeles, where he had picked us up so I could move freely. I had to find my werewolf.
I drove to the first place I thought of—our spot in the woods. "Rowan!" I called his name over and over again for what felt like hours.
My throat was sore, and I was about to turn around to try the Turstin house when I couldn't recognize where I was. I had wandered until I was lost.
The large ferns bounced behind me. Grey fur blended behind trees, and its stature crouched down from being on its hind legs.
So, this was his other form. He wasn't as large as the wolves I've seen in these woods, but he was more sizable than the ones in the wildlife reserve.
Rowan circled behind the trees. His upper half was noticeably more muscular than his elongated torso.
I was sure he'd look more supernatural if he remained upright on his hind legs.
On all fours, he looked just like a wolf. A ghostly one that could easily blend into the fog on a stormy day.
"Rowan?" I asked again, becoming nervous. What if it wasn't him?
"Yes," He growled. "You can talk like this?" His body began to change back to his human form.
"Hey!" I blocked out his naked body with my hand. When Rowan yanked on a pair of sweatpants stashed in the woods, he stepped past the ferns.
"Where have you been? I've been worried sick that something happened to you!" My hoarse voice cracked from all the previous yelling.
"You should be worried about yourself," he said, clearing his gravelly throat and spitting. "Did you find out what you needed?" I asked.
He cautiously stepped forward. Why wasn't he talking to me?
"Let's get some tea. You've been out here too long." Rowan said, taking my icy hand.
I couldn't believe I wandered so far that we were closer to his place than my car.
"Come on." He ordered. Exhausted, I didn't argue, and I climbed onto his muscular back.
His Aunt Anne was home. She made tea for us while Rowan cleaned up. I warmed myself by their stove.
"You two seem to be getting along." Iris's mom noted with a wink. "Sure." "I won't say anything, but don't keep it from Iris too long."
She left the room to speak with Rowan, then headed out for her night shift.
"You're not scared of me?" Rowan plucked stray pine needles from my windblown hair. "I've seen worse." Even after the peppermint tea, it hurt to speak.
I could feel waves of frustration roll off him. "What are we going to do now? You have your intel, so spill." I probed.
"That's for me to carry out. You're off the hook now," he said, leaning into his dresser.
"I thought we were in this together. What do you mean?" I pleaded, feeling alone and exposed.
No one else had seen my greatest fear up close and personal like this.
"I'm going back to pick them off one by one," Rowan told me. "Right now? You can't!"
My voice was gone, so I shook his crossed arms and mouthed. 'Tell me you won't.'
"You can't tell me not to kill vampires. They all deserve to die. We take a vow-"
I clung to his core. 'I don't want to lose you.' I couldn't hear my own voice; it was like a gasp of air.
"Settle down. I know what I'm doing." He stroked the back of my hair, not bothering to remove me.
Part 3 Jealousy
As a ploy to distract Rowan from hunting vampires, I mentioned the things La Push had to offer.
The Forks forecast was supposedly sunny this coming weekend, breaking free from the winter norm thanks to global warming.
I was surprised he agreed. Maybe Rowan wasn't in a rush to throw his life away.
Once he heard about the dirt bike trails, he did everything he could to rope Iris in with us.
I wasn't sure if he felt bad about purposefully leaving her out of our supernatural shenanigans or if Rowan wanted to make fun of Iris's lack of coordination.
Either way, with his knowledge of my balling vampire budget, he was on the hunt for a pair of dirt bikes while Syd helped me revive my brother's bike.
The Following Friday
I stood off to the side of the trail, waiting for Iris and Rowan. Jacob and Quil, unable to talk me down from dirt biking, stayed with me.
I had a funny feeling Embry made a bet with Quil about my demise, and Jacob was standing by to 'save me.'
Soon enough, the Turstin cousins arrived, and they brought along a friend from school.
I couldn't help but notice the familiar blue and red dirt bikes Rowan single-handedly unloaded from the truck bed.
Jacob seemed to hone in on them, too.
"Um, where did you get these?" I asked Rowan, who rolled over on the blue one.
"I found 'em eBay and bought 'em from an old cripple in the village. I paid him a lil extra if you don't mind." He winked at me. "Sure, that's fine."
Jacob crushed his can of Pepsi and marched over to us. "Oh look, Bigfoot." "Rowan," I warned him.
"Who's this?" Jake demanded. "Iris's cousin, Rowan Turstin." I introduced. Iris rolled up on the red bike she was too tall for.
They didn't seem to need or want an introduction; by how they interacted, it was like they'd already had an encounter.
"And this is my friend Jacob Black." I awkwardly finished. "You're not riding with him." Jacob didn't break his glare towards Rowan.
"It's my bike, Jake. I'm going to ride whenever with whoever I want." Iris and I were annoyed that the stand-off was delaying our plans.
"You heard her." Rowan's arrogant smirk grew into a victorious smile.
"Only, I think Iris should switch with me." I hopped off Zach's old bike and climbed on the iffy-looking red one.
Iris was new to this and needed a bike her size to practice. "All set?" Rowan rolled onto the path with Tyson, the boy Iris invited.
"You can't be serious, Layla. Riding bikes with him?" Jacob protested. "Who cares? It's just dirt bikes, right?" I asked hime, a little vindictive, knowing what I did now.
I flipped down my helmet's visor and revved the engine. This bike was nowhere near on par with Zach's, but I could manage. It rumbled under me in a jerking motion.
I followed my friends, who took on the winding turns. Rowan blew by Iris, scaring her off the path—Tyson, who I learned was on Iris's debate team, was fairly good at this. I picked up the pace, enjoying the brine breeze and the small jumps.
When Iris jumped back on the trail where intersected paths met, she emerged from behind a thick tree. I slammed on my brakes before we could collide.
Iris turned sharply and floored the gas to evade me, running into Tyson's bike at the bottom of the hill. She flew to the ground, landing in a weird position.
Rowan laughed instead of checking on her first. "Iris!" I rode down fishtailing in the mud. "Are you alright, Iris?" Tyson asked as she cradled her wrist.
"I think I need to go to the ER."
Why did this happen to Iris when she rarely wanted to try new things?
In the back of my mind, I was grateful that fate had chosen someone else to pick on.
"She'll be fine. It's just a sprain. Tyson's got some ice on her." Rowan explained while Tyson helped Iris.
"That's good. Do you think she hates me for this? It was my idea." "Nah, I'm already getting all the credit," Rowan assured me.
"We should go again sometime. Maybe just us two?" He asked. It would be hard to convince Iris to come out again.
"I'd like that. If you want, I can keep the bikes in Syd's barn." "Nah, I got to fix what we broke." He gave me a lingering hug, looking over my shoulder.
Rowan took Zach's bike and left me with the crappy red one—Bella's bike. I didn't know how to feel about that.
"That's Iris's cousin you've been hanging out with?" Jacob confronted me.
"Um, yeah, why?" I walked beside the red bike, rolling it over gravel since they didn't put enough gas in it.
"You've been sleeping over at her place a lot lately," Jacob said, taking the bike from me when it was getting heavy. "And?" "He's a guy." He stated.
"Rowan has his own life. It's not like he sticks around for the girly stuff." I muttered self-consciously. Jacob pondered, clearly not happy about this turn of events.
"He's not a good guy Layla. I'd prefer it if you didn't hang out with him." Jacob bossed. I quickened my pace to gather the handlebars from him.
"Why do you say that? It's not like you know him." I defended. "And you do? The guy's a player and an asshole." Jacob didn't let up.
I silently seethed next to him for telling me what I could or couldn't do.
"Leave this in my garage; I can fix it up later. In the meantime, we can grab some lunch."
"I'm good." I continued wheeling it to Syd's place, five more miles up the road... "Layla?"
"I fixed Zach's bike fine myself," I muttered. "And I built this bike from scratch." Jacob countered. "And it still sucks." I hissed under my breath.
His long arms stopped the bike from moving, picked it up, and propped it on its side.
"What is this about? I'm willing to help you despite being against this."
"I don't get why you're against it in the first place! It's something fun to do. I gave you a chance, but you said no." I crossed my arms.
"So you take my bikes behind my back to make a point," Jacob stated.
"I didn't do anything! I didn't know Rowan would go and buy your stuff. If anything, you should take it up with Billie."
"Fine." "Okay, then." I strode around him to end this fight. "Layla, wait." Jacob groaned, jogging up to me.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I don't like you judging my friends." I sighed. "I'm not judging your friends—just him."
I shook my head, annoyed. "I wouldn't say anything if I didn't care, Layla." Jacob tried to backtrack.
"I know." I suddenly felt the stress pulse in my ears, and the sensation under my skin felt like invisibility was coming on.
I paced faster, pushing back the feeling, leaning towards the trees.
"Rowan's like me. He's new to this place, and he's lost his family..." "So he has the sympathy vote," Jake said heartlessly.
"How can you say that? His dad died, and his mom is missing." At least Jacob listened.
"Rowan found him... after a break-in. They still don't know what happened or who did it. That's why he's here." I explained, pushing back the odd sensation.
"I'm sorry you guys don't get along. I won't bring Rowan around if he bothers you that much, but I will be there for him." I made my firm boundaries known.
"Excuse me, I didn't know it was that deep." Jacob still seemed bent, but now he knew some of the truth, lessening my guilt.
Later
Syd made us join the cookout at Sam Uley's house. Most of the pack, plus their families were gathered there.
I sat in the backyard with Jacob and his friends, who were playing cornhole and play fought in the grass.
I picked at my veggie burger and ate my chips. Jacob chowed down on his third burger, and something about it made my mouth water.
"What?" Jake wiped his face, and I couldn't stop staring. "Oh, Do you want a bite?" "Don't be silly." I forced myself to look away.
"One bite won't hurt." He coaxed me, holding it out to me. I looked up at him. "Fine."
I bit the burger in his hand. I've never liked the texture or taste of meat, until now.
"Mmm." I bit into it again and again like a starving animal. By the end, I was basically licking the sauce off Jacob's fingers.
"Should we leave you two alone?" Quil chuckled. "Sorry." I removed myself immediately. "Don't be. I'll make us another one."
My stomach growled ravenously. "It must be because of all the workouts," I mumbled. A cell phone next to me dinged. I think it was Jacob's.
I went to put it on silent, but I was curious who would contact Jake when everyone he knew was present.
I knew it was overreaching, I looked anyway. Some girl named Alani, with a heart emoji next to her name, sent him a suggestive bikini pic.
'Finally found a whole sand dollar...' She was super fit, gorgeously tan, and had a tribal swirling tattoo swirling her core.
By the looks of it, Alani was a local surfer from Kauai.
My heart sunk deep in my chest, and I fought the anxiety coupled with jealousy. In December, I left Jacob hanging in Hawaii because the vampire had ordered me to.
I wouldn't have thought he'd hook up with someone else as soon as I left. Did I offend him that much, or was Jacob secretly playing the field?
I flipped over the phone before he came back. My appetite vanished, though my stomach snarled at me.
"I'm glad you're weaning off rabbit food. You haven't been eating well since Hawaii," Jacob handed me a plate.
I nibbled at the edge of the bun and sat silently, watching the guys tussle in front of us.
February
The text from Alani bothered me more than it should. I couldn't say anything because we weren't officially 'together.'
And Rowan reconfirmed my fear that I had to stay away from Jake to keep him safe. So, where did that leave us?
Was it irrational to want Jacob to wait until the Seattle coven was killed? Or would he move on because I was being too flakey?
I wound the serpentine roads into the dense forest where EJ lived.
I sighed, waiting for him to answer. The Cullens were finally lifting some of the restrictions he was under.
We were able to pace the property, which stretched on for miles. I trudged behind EJ, who seemed to know where we were going.
When we found a nice spot in a dormant meadow, it was still chilly, and the earth was dampen from previous rain.
The bare birch, mixed with evergreens, created a luminous green atmosphere that felt mystical in nature.
EJ held a hand out, igniting a strange sense of Deja Vu, like I had seen this in a dream long ago.
"This is the part I wanted to warn you about." I took his hand, and he lowered us to the blanket he brought out.
EJ's unique ability to show me visions through physical touch never ceases to astound me. Bella's memories flooded to the surface, picking up where we left off.
The third wheel 'not at date' with Mike Newton and Jacob Black. Everyone became sick after the showing. Jake dropped off the face of the earth for weeks, while Bella missed him more than ever each day. Her wandering in the woods, where EJ and I were now, reminiscing about the Cullens found a vampire, Laurent, who planned to make her into a meal. Victoria's plans to murder Bella slowly in retaliation to Cullens killing James were revealed.
The large wolves, familiar ones, emerged from the woods to defend Bella from the vampire. My stomach twisted in knots.
Days later, Bella searched to confront Jacob. She eventually found him after loitering outside his house. Sam and the others radiated hostility, and Jacob no longer wished to be friends with her. Bella's despair wained, and Jacob reappeared that night, climbing into her room to hash things out.
Progressively, the visions became harder to watch.
"Should we take a break?" EJ paused to take a drink from his enclosed cup.
"Sure." I reached out for a sip, but he reflexively pulled it away and gave me a water bottle instead.
His emerald green eyes showed brighter, and he took a deep breath. I re-engaged with his hands, palms facing up.
Bella's dreams led her to conclude that the Quilute legends were real. Jacob and his pack of friends were shapeshifting wolves.
To confirm this, she drove down to La Push immediately to be greeted by Billie, who tried to turn her away. She waited on the beach after warning Billie about hunters in the woods. She sat by the familiar bleach-out tree when Jacob went to meet her.
"The legends are true?" I asked, whispering to EJ, stunned. "Yes."
He continued to show me what Bella saw: They stood with their cut-off shorts, stern expressions, and chopped ink-black hair—looking identical, like brothers. They moved fluidly as if they were linked. Sam stepped out, almost as livid as Paul. "Is she more important than the tribe, Jacob? The safety of Forks?" I heard Sam's deep voice scold Jacob, who didn't seem phased at the reaction. "She can help." Jake defended her. "Why can't you follow the rules like the rest of us?" Paul trembled and shook. Jacob stepped in front of Bella. "Yeah, protect her." He yelled, shifting into a giant grey wolf.
I gasped.
Then Jacob sprinted forward, throwing himself into the air. His body trembled and split, and with a ripping sound, he shifted in the blink of an eye into a large russet wolf. With snarling and snapping, Jacob shouldered the Paul wolf into the woods for a brawl.
"You see why I had to warn you." EJ waved a hand in my face when I didn't respond. "Yes, it's very kind of you." I sat with my head in my hands.
EJ touched my shoulder to read my thoughts. "You feel lied to." He murmured. "I was lied to, but it was their secret to keep..." I shook my head, confused.
I'd have to connect the dots when EJ wasn't here helping me.
"Please, I want to know more," I stammered. EJ nodded, siping his concealed drink, which smelt coppery.
Then EJ proceeded to show me: The wolves hunting Victoria. Bella's restlessness, leading her to a cliff dive alone. Her final vision of Edward. Flamign red hair in the water. Jacob saving Bella from the ocean. Seth's dad, Harry, had a heart attack. Jacob driving her back to Charlie's. Bella conflicted about giving into her feelings about Jacob Black.
Alice returns to the house to check on Charlie and finds Bella alive. Jacob comes to protect Bella from Alice. He answers the phone to tell Edward about the funeral. The vision ends when Bella left with Alice for Italy in order to recover Edward from the Voltori.
EJ pulled away from me, prying my individual fingers off his own in order to free himself.
"Layla? I think that's all for today." He spoke louder, breaking me out of my stunned state. "Yes?" I blinked, more aware of him now.
"I think we should head back. We've been out here for more than an hour. Rosalie might get worried." EJ stood, then reached down to help me up.
"Okay, yeah, of course," I said. "Are you okay?" EJ gently held my wrist. "I don't know," I confessed.
"Will you be safe?" He questioned. "I'll be careful." I agreed.
EJ frowned when I couldn't take a straight step. "I'll carry you," he said, flinging me onto his back.
I noted his strange strength and speed that didn't seem to match his stature, but I couldn't care less with more pressing things flooding my mind.