Jacob, you can't run away from this.
Sam's thinking resonated in his head.
I can't think; too many minds.
Jacob raced on. Soon the river would divide into half a dozen shoals. The crossings would be less strenuous there.
Why is it always Bella?
Bella doesn't care about you." Leah's thinking answered back. "None of them do.
Leah, be quiet.
Sam wants me to come back. Why can't he leave me alone?
You need to be with the pack.
Sam's thoughts continued to respond to his own. Jacob raced on. Running at this time felt as natural as breathing. He could not countenance the idea of stopping.
Jacob, we're here for you.
Sam was at home with Emily and their two year old son, Aidan, when the nearby howl of a wolf alerted him to some new activity that required the attention of the pack. Emily was clearly perturbed by the call and vehemently voiced her displeasure. It was not often that Sam was pulled away by the business of the pack and she had always been accepting of this in the past. However; it was the poor timing of this summons that made it hard for her to bear.
"It's Christmas day, what could be so important that you have to leave now?"
"I have to go," Sam urged in a pleading tone. "It could be important."
Emily grudgingly gave in to his apologetic request and hated herself for doing so a second behind.
Sam peeled off his shirt, shoes and socks before going to the entranceway at the front of the house. He unfastened his pants and opened the door. A shock of cold air rushed into the home. Sam quickly pushed his pants and underpants down about his ankles and then phased into his wolf form. The large black canine stepped out of his remaining clothing and raced off into snow covered wilderness beyond. Emily, with practiced proficiency, quickly secured his clothes and shut the door behind him.
Almost immediately Sam heard the rambling thoughts of Jacob racing through his mind like a monologue. He was in pain and Sam could feel it. Anger welled up in him. It took a conscious effort from him to realize that this was not his own. Nessie, the problem was Nessie. Bella was taking her away. Bella, always Bella, why was she always doing this to me? No, it's not me, Sam quickly corrected his thinking. This is Jacob's pain. She's doing this to Jacob.
He's angry. He's so angry; Cody's thoughts reverberated inside Sam's mind.
Who else is here, Sam thought? He could feel them, but their minds were doing more comprehending than thinking. Leah's mind suddenly reacted to his pondering, followed by Paul, Seth and Jared. Good, he thought. We need to get the others. We need to get them all.
Sam knew that the collective mood of the pack was shaped by their individual inputs. He also knew that, on average, a strong emotional presence outweighed seven times its number of unruffled thinking. There was no doubt in his mind that Jacob's mood would exceed the average. The only question he had was did they have the numbers to restrain his torment?
He did not run for long before coming to a stop. Sam traversed a distance just great enough to conceal him from the eyes of passersby on the roads and popular trails within the area. He padded about between a stand of three trees as he monitored the minds floating about in his head. Shortly, a faint howl in the distance gave confirmation to what was transacting within Jared's mind. A second howl in the opposite direction confirmed what Sam comprehended in Seth's mind.
Good, the others will be here soon, Sam briefly thought. He turned his attention back onto Jacob and tried to reason him out of his rage. It took all of his concentration to separate his own emotions from Jacob's. He spewed positive assertions into the void that cross-connected their collective minds. Even as he did this he could feel Paul's and Leah's minds working against him. He doesn't need to hear this, Sam insisted in his thoughts. He knew that Paul and Leah had lingering biases against the Cullens simply because they were vampires. He could feel Jacob's pain giving sanction to this normally suppressed sensitivity. There were only three within the pack that did not share this inclination, he being one of them.
Sam feared what Jacob might do while in this state of mind. This was something that all within the pack feared about the others and themselves most of all. They were all aware that their transition into shape-shifters came with a terrible temper that was hard to contain when provoked. The last thing any of them wanted was to be exposed for what they were, and/or thought to be a danger to the public. Because of this fear of what one of them might do, they instinctively became their own support group. Racing to the aid of one of their number was the most common motive for rallying together.
How could she do this?
Sam felt Quil Ateara's mind register within the group. Not now, Quil, Jacob needs us.
Quil instantly responded to Sam's urging and began harden himself against Jacob's emotions. In defiance of his own feelings on the subject, he pushed out positive thoughts. Each one was designed to soothe Jacob's rage. All were tossed off as though they were butterflies trying to penetrate to the heart of a tornado. A minute later Embry joined him in this effort. He was followed over the next seven minutes by ten more shape-shifters, one after the other. All of them grudgingly appealed to Jacob's tolerance.
She's not worth it.
She'll be back.
She won't leave.
Jacob's mind did battle with this torrent of rationalizations designed to adjust his thinking and moderate his mood. An hour into this assault it felt to Sam that the tide of his emotion was turning away from his rage. Ideas for practical solutions for his dilemma began to seep into his thinking. The pack was quick to endorse this discussion.
You can live without her. It has been done before. Embry's thinking rang like a bell among the whole.
Many times, Paul supported.
Stories of past Quileute shape-shifters had been passed down by more than twenty generations of their ancestors. Replete within these narratives were accounts of many shape-shifters outliving their spouses. There were also a few regarding tribal members rejecting the affections of a shape-shifter.
I don't know how to live without Nessie. Jacob pined out his response to this thinking.
Liwanu imprinted on another after his mate died. Walter quickly retaliated in his mind.
So did Kitchi, Jared rallied in his thoughts.
These thoughts only served to remind Jacob of the many more that lived out their lives alone after the loss of their mate. Sam quickly reacted to Jacob's perception. But they lived on. You can do this, Jacob.
There were several stories of shape-shifters who lived detached lives alongside the person who rejected them. Memories of these Quileute members faintly echoed in the thoughts of all their, except Jacob. The pack tried to suppress these recollections for his sake. Jacob gave no thought to them as he droned on in his mind about the difficulty he faced trying to live without Nessie. Most of these stories reflected a negative future for him. It was well known by those members of the Quileute that collected and preserved the stories of their ancestors that these situations were breeding grounds for strife, and in more than half of these tales one or more of the individuals who played a part in them died a violent death.
The most common cause for these deadly endings was the triangle effect that this unrequited love had on the pack. The linked minds of the shape-shifters made it unavoidable for all to share in the suffering of the one that was rejected. The resentment this stirred up within their numbers provoked enmity towards the non-shape-shifter who rejected this attention and rage towards the pack by the shape-shifter compelled to love her or him. Their propensity for uncontrollable anger did the rest. Despite his best efforts, Sam's mind relentlessly pestered him with worry about this dynamic within their ranks.
You should forget Nessie, Paul resounded in his head. In time you will find someone to replace her.
I can't forget her, Jacob reacted without thought. You know I can't forget her.
Nessie is not going anywhere, Leah reassured in
response. She loves Jacob. She can't leave him.
Of all the shape-shifters, outside of Jacob, Leah was the one most closely bonded to Nessie. The fact that they were both female, they shared each other's secret and they both could out-sprint a deer, made their friendship nearly a predestined occurrence. Leah was reluctant to believe that Nessie would abandon Jacob and held fast to this thinking throughout this telepathic conference call. Sam took hope out of Leah's assertion more so than anyone else. He desperately wanted an alternate ending to this scenario.
The vampires can try all they want, but they'll never sever Nessie's love for you.
Yes, this is all the doings of those vampires, Paul's emotions boiled up in reaction to Leah's thinking. Edward has always been against Jacob, and Bella never wanted Nessie to have anything to do with him.
Sam could feel Jacob's emotions surge with defiance in reaction to these accusations.
We may have a treaty with them, but that doesn't make them our friends. Cody's thinking erupted into this free-for-all.
I don't trust the Cullens. Quil threw in his support for these feelings. I believe they pretend to be our friends because they need us.
There was growing support for Quil's position as a wave emotions swelled within their numbers. Jacob's growing concurrence with this view was the primary fuel for this storm of resentment.
They've been trying to separate us from the beginning. This thought fumed inside Jacob's head repeatedly.
She wants to be like them, Leah asserted to the group.
She'll never be like them, Jacob raged in his thoughts. No matter how hard she tries, no matter how hard they try, she'll never be one of them.
She'll be back; Leah encouraged an instant behind Jacob's outburst. This is her home. This is the only place where she can be herself.
Sam could feel Jacob's resolve growing. A realization suddenly popped into his mind. Jacob's running had stopped. He could feel him contemplating a future with Nessie in it. He could feel himself being swept along in a wave of anti-Cullen sentiment. His separate feelings were helpless against this tide of bitterness that was poisoning them. He rallied to the call of defiance against the insincerity of the vampire family.
This pretense of an alliance with the Cullens is over. We will honor our treaty and no more.
Jacob turned about and started his trek for home.
5- Ominous Silence
Following the Christmas holiday break, Nessie returned to Berkley, California. She had no further contact with Jacob or the Quileute shape-shifters during the remainder of her stay on the peninsula. What made this so unusual was the holiday season. She expected some calls of well wishes from several within the pack. She became even more concerned when Leah failed to return any of the five calls she made to her. Nessie surmised that the pack had rallied around Jacob and were intentionally ignoring her. She left for college with the hope that tempers would cool down over time and all would return to as it was by her return in the summer.
The Cullen vampires gave little notice to the silence coming from the shape-shifters because they were not accustomed to any contact from them. They did their best to reassure Nessie that the shape-shifters would likely forgive her in time and to convince her not to worry if they did not. "They have to understand that this is your life to live." The entire Cullen vampire family echoed this sentiment to her. The vampire family, minus Rosalie and Emmett, left the peninsula on the same day that Nessie set off for Berkley. Rosalie and Emmett stayed behind to care for the house and stand watch over the peninsula. This they agreed to do until Bella and Edward came to relieve them at the start of the next summer.
The Swans, unlike the Cullens, were accustomed to quite a bit of contact from select members of the Quileute. Most of the members they spoke to regularly had no knowledge of vampires or shape-shifters. Because of this Charlie and Renee were not expecting to hear any news about the Quileute shape-shifters. They did hear news from Billy that Jacob was hurt by Nessie's plan to leave Washington State, but that he was dealing with it. The Swans, especially Renee, were keen to acquire any information they could about this situation. They did not, however, seek it out.
Charlie's and Renee's position on the subject of Jacob and Nessie mirrored the Cullens in most respects. Their first concern was for Nessie. Her wants and wishes came first. How their thinking differed from the Cullens was with regards to their belief in what those wants and wishes were. Renee, more so than Charlie, took Nessie's claim, that she was not passionately in-love with Jacob, with a grain of salt. Both of the Swans thought that this match was close to being perfect and they feared that Nessie's resistance was not a wise decision. However, this notwithstanding, Charlie and Renee were committed to supporting Nessie no matter what.
The shape-shifters in general were of no particular interest to Charlie and Renee, and they expected to hear nothing from or about them. They were, however, given to believe something was amiss by Nessie's numerous inquiries to them regarding several of their members. In response to this, the Swans relayed her questions to Billy. The answer they received was, to them, of indeterminate value.
"Billy says that the wolves have been unusually moody lately. Why, he doesn't know. He says they're not talking much to him either."
This report from Charlie only heightened Nessie's concern. She, more so than any other outsider, understood how the temperament of the pack was shaped by the input of all of its members.
"Did they say anything about me?"
"No, not really, Billy seems to think that they're more upset with Bella and Edward than they are with you. Just give them time sweetheart. I'm sure you'll hear from them eventually."
Billy imbued no ominous intentions into this report and the Swans inferred none from it. Nessie took from it some hope that all would be forgiven in time.
The Cullen vampires had little regard for the shape-shifters. For the most part, they saw their safety and well-being as a responsibility, but they had no illusion of a close friendship. From their perspective the shape-shifters were an ally and as such an acquaintance they were obliged to protect. However, the line of division that the shape-shifters guarded fiercely kept them forever in their minds as potential adversaries. They understood that Nessie did not share in this distinction. She had always been given free access onto Quileute land and was nearly regarded by them as a member of the pack. She ran with them frequently during the formative months of her life and reveled in their company whenever she was in the forest. The Cullen vampires knew that there was a close relationship between her and them, and had no ill feelings for it.
The Cullen vampires saw the break-up between Nessie and Jacob as a necessary step in her life, if she was to lead one without him. They were prepared to enforce this separation without regard to the pain it inflicted upon the shape-shifters. Nessie's feelings on the matter were far more of a concern for them. They hung on to her every remark and decision and supported it without regard for where it led.
For the remainder of Nessie's sophomore year, the Cullen vampires, minus Rosalie and Emmett, took up residence in distant locals where they could openly move about that community without the concern of being recognized. At the start of the next summer, Bella and Edward returned to the Olympic Peninsula with plans that encompassed Nessie.
"Where," Nessie queried in a surprised tone?
"Wherever you like," Edward responded quickly.
"We thought you might like to spend this summer someplace other than on the peninsula," Bella enthusiastically supported with Emmett and Rosalie standing nearby nodding in agreement.
Nessie was excited by this offer, but she had no illusions about what had prompted this.
"Who's going to be on the peninsula," Nessie questioned all present?"
"Carlisle and Esme will be here," Rosalie assured a second behind.
"Will I have time to take care of a few things here," Nessie pondered to Bella?
"We thought we could take off today," Bella announced cautio
usly. "But if you have plans, I guess we could hold off for a day or two."
Their plan to spend the summer traveling with Nessie was motivated by a desire to distance her from Jacob and the shape-shifters in general. They were aware through communications with Nessie that none of the shape-shifters had responded to her calls. It was agreed upon by all of the Cullen vampires that an extension of their separation through the summer would be best for all concerned.
"Yeah, I think I would like to spend a few days on the peninsula." Nessie spoke her reply gently. "I want to talk to Leah."
"Leah will be here when you get back," Emmett countered in a dismissive voice.
Nessie had just then returned from the University of California Berkley when she was ambushed with this by Bella, Edward, Rosalie and Emmett. She stood in the living-room of their home, pondering the offer as they looked on.
"It's just that I want to know how Jacob is doing," Nessie returned in an unsure voice.
"Honey, if there was anything wrong, I'm sure someone would have told you," Rosalie remarked in a tone laced with worry.
"It's not what they would tell me that I want to know," Nessie sharply reacted. "It's what they're not telling me that I want to know."
The Cullen vampires were unsure what the appropriate response was to this. They could see that Nessie's feelings for Jacob were greater than they were given to believe by her past remarks on the subject. They each hesitated to ponder what reply they should give.
"Do you know something?" Nessie blasted her query into the silence between them in an alarmed tone.
"No," Bella quickly answered back. "We haven't heard anything. They haven't been talking to us either."
Nessie relaxed her posture a little in response to this report. A brief silence engulfed the group and then Emmett loudly filled it.
"Carlisle and Esme will be here in two days, so why don't we make plans to leave then."
"Okay," Nessie eagerly agreed.
Rosalie, Bella and Edward agreed in turn and then the phone rang.
The Malevolent Vampire Page 4
