The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 13 KILLER

IF IT WAS ANYONE BUT JACOB, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, shaking my head as I drove everywhere comply the forest-lined high delegacy to La Push.I thus far wasnt sure if I was domg the right thing, but Id make a compromise with myself.I couldnt condone what Jacob and his friends, his pack, were doing. I understood now what hed verbalize last nightthat I might non demand to agnise him againand I could feed called him as hed suggested, but that felt cowardly. I owed him a face-to-face conversition, at least. I would dissever him to his face that I couldnt erect overlook what was going on. I couldnt be friends with a cut downer and say nonhing, permit the bulgeing suck up across That would make me a monster, too.But I couldnt not warn him, either. I had to do what I could to protect him.I pulled up to the Blacks house with my lips pressed unneurotic into a hard line. It was bad enough that my best friend was a werewolf. Did he have to be a monster, too?The house was dark, no lig hts in the windows, but I didnt care if I woke them. My fist thudded against the front end door with angry energy the sound reverberated finished the debates.Come in, I perceived billy call by and by a minute, and a light flicked on.I twisted the knob it was unlocked. Billy was leaning around an open door agency vindicatory run into the little kitchen, a bathrobe around his shoulders, not in his chair yet. When he saw who it was, his eyes widened briefly, and past his face braided stoic.Well, good morning, Bella. What are you doing up so early?Hey, Billy. I need to talk to Jakewhere is he?Um I dont really have it away, he lied, straight-faced.Do you know what Charlie is doing this morning? I demanded, sick of the stalling.Should I?He and half the early(a) men in town are all out in the woods with guns, hunting giant wolves.Billys expression flickered, and thus went blank.So Id homogeneous to talk to Jake about that, if you dont consciousness, I continued.Billy pursed his thick lips for a long moment. Id bet hes still asleep, he finally give tongue to, nodding toward the small hallway off the front live. Hes out late a lot these days. Kid needs his restprobably you shouldnt wake him.Its my invert, I muttered under my breath as I stalked to the hallway. Billy sighed.Jacobs tiny c recurt of a room was the only door in the yard-long hallway. I didnt b other to knock. I threw the door open it slammed against the wall with a bang.Jacobstill wearing skilful the uniform black cut-off sweats hed worn last nightwas stretched diagonally across the double bed that took up all of his room but a few inches around the edges. Even on a slant, it wasnt long enough his feet hung off the one end and his head off the other. He was fast asleep, snoring lightly with his mouth hanging open. The sound of the door hadnt even make him twitch.His face was peaceful with (deep sleep, all the angry lines smoothed out. on that point were circles under his eyes that I ha dnt noticed to begin with. Despite his ridiculous size, he looked very young now, and very weary. Pity shook me.I stepped rearwards out, and omit the door quietly behind me.Billy stared with curious, guarded eyes as I walked slowly back into the front room.I ideate Ill let him get nigh rest.Billy nodded, and so we gazed at each other for a minute. I was dying to ask him about his part in this.What did he think of what his son had become? But I knew how hed supported Sam from the very beginning, and so I supposed the murders must not bother him. How he confirm that to himself I couldnt imagine.I could see many questions for me in his dark eyes, but he didnt enunciate them either.Look, I said, breaking the loud silence. Ill be down at the beach for a while. When he wakes up, tell him Im waiting for him, okay?Sure, sure, Billy agreed.I wondered if he really would. Well, if he didnt, Id tried, right?I drove down to First Beach and parked in the empty dirt lot. It was still darkt he gloomy predawn of a cloudy dayand when I cut the headlights it was hard to see. I had to let my eyes adjust before I could settle the path that led through the tall hedge of weeds. It was colder here, with the wind whipping off the black water, and I shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my winter jacket. At least the rain had stop.I paced down the beach toward the north seawall. I couldnt see St. throng or the other islands, just the vague shape of the waters edge. I picked my way carefully across the rocks, watching out for drif twood that might trip me.I anchor what I was spirit for before I realized I was looking for it. It materialized out of the gloom when it was just a few feet away a long bone-white driftwood tree isolated deep on the rocks. The roots twisted up at the seaward end, like a hundred brittle tentacles. I couldnt be sure that it was the same tree where Jacob and I had had our first conversationa conversation that had begun so many different, tangled thr eads of my lifebut it seemed to be in about the same place I sat down where Id sat before, and stared out across the invisible sea.Seeing Jacob like thatinnocent and vulnerable in sleephad stolen all my revulsion, dissolved all my anger. I still couldnt turn a blind sye to what was hazard, like Billy seemed to, but I couldnt condemn Jacob for it either. Love didnt work that way, I decided. Once you cared about a person, it was impossible to be logical about them any to a greater extent(prenominal). Jacob was my friend whether he put to deathed people or not. And I didnt know what I was going to do about that.When I pictured him sleeping so peacefully, I felt an overpowering urge to protect him. Completely illogical.Illogical or not, I brooded over the memory his peaceful face, trying to come up with some answer, some way to shelter him, while the sky slowly turned gray.Hi,Bella.Jacobs joint came from the darkness and disgustede me jump. It was soft, almost shy, but Id been expe cting some forewarning from the noisy rocks, and so it still undertakeled me. I could see his silhouette against the plan of attack sunriseit looked enormous.Jake?He stood several paces away, shifting his weight from infantry to foot anxiously.Billy told me you came bydidnt take you very long, did it? I knew you could figure it out.Yeah, I remember the right story now, I whispered.It was quiet for a long moment and, though it was still too dark to see well, my skin prickled as if his eyes were searching my face. There must have been enough light for him to read my expression, because when he spoke again, his voice was suddenly acidic.You could have just called, he said harshly.I nodded. I know.Jacob started pacing along the rocks. If I listened very hard, I could just catch out the gentle brush of his feet on the rocks behind the sound of the waves. The rocks had clattered like castanets for me.Why did you come? he demanded, not halting his angry st force back.I thought it would be better face-to-face.He snorted. Oh, much better.Jacob, I have to warn youAbout the rangers and the hunters? Dont worry about it. We already know.Dont worry about it? I demanded in disbelief. Jake, theyve got guns Theyre setting t knaps and offering rewards andWe can take care of ourselves, he growled, still pacing. Theyre not going to catch anything. Theyre only making it more difficulttheyll start disappearing soon enough, too.Jake I hissed.What? Its just a fact.My voice was pale with revulsion. How can you feel that way? You know these people. Charlies out there The thought make my stomach twist.He came to an abrupt stop. What more can we do? he retorted.The sun turned the clouds a slivery pink above us. I could see his expression now it was angry, frustrated, betrayed.Could you well, try to not be a werewolf? I suggested in a whisper.He threw his hands up in the air. similar I have a choice about it he shouted. And how would that help anything, if youre worried about people disappearing?I dont understand you.He glared at me, his eyes narrowing and his mouth twisting into a snarl. You know what makes me so mad I could just spit?I flinched away from his hostile expression. He seemed to be waiting for an answer, so I shook my head.Youre such a hypocrite, Bellathere you sit, terrified of me How is that fair? His hands shook with anger.Hypocrite? How does being afraid of a monster make me a hypocrite?Ugh he groaned, pressing his trembling fists to his temples and squeezing his eyes shut. Would you listen to yourself?What?He took two steps toward me, leaning over me and glaring with fury. Well, Im so sorry that I cant be the right kind of monster for you, Bella. I guess Im just not as great as a bloodsucker, am I?I jumped to my feet and glared back. No, youre not I shouted. Its not what you are, stupid, its what you doWhats that supposed to mean? He roared, his entire frame quivering with rage.I was taken entirely by surprise when Edwards voice cautioned me. Be very careful, Bella, his velvet voice warned. Dont push him too far. You need to calm him down.Even the voice in my head was making no sense today.I listened to him, though. I would do anything for that voice.Jacob, I pleaded, making my promissory note soft and even. Is it really necessary to kill people, Jacob? Isnt there some other way? I mean, if vampires can find a way to survive without murdering people, couldnt you give it a try, too?He straightened up with a jerk, like my words had sent an electric shock through him. His eyebrows shot up and his eyes stared wide.Killing people? he demanded.What did you think we were lecture about?He wasnt trembling anymore. He looked at me with half-hopeful disbelief. I thought we were talking about your disgust for werewolves.No, Jake, no. Its not that youre a wolf. Thats fine, I promised him, and I knew as I said the words that I meant them. I really didnt care if he turned into a big wolfhe was still Jacob. If you could just find a w ay not to hurt people thats all that upsets me. These ate innocent people, Jake, people like Charlie, and I cant just look the other way while youIs that all? Really? he interrupted me, a grimace breaking across his face. Youre just scared because Im a murderer? Thats the only tenableness?Isnt that drive enough?He started to laugh.Jacob Black, this is so notfunnySure, sure, he agreed, still chortling.He took one long stride and caught me in another vice-tight bear hug.You really, honestly dont mind that I morph into a giant dog? he asked, his voice joyful in my ear.No, I gasped. CantbreatheJakeHe let me go, but took both my hands. Im not a killer, Bella.I studied his face, and it was clear that this was the truth. Relief pulsed through me.Really? I asked.Really, he promised solemnly.I threw my arms around him. It reminded me of that first day with the motorcycleshe was bigger, though, and I felt even more like a child now.Like that other time, he stroked my hair.Sorry I called yo u a hypocrite, he apologized.Sorry I called you a murderer.He laughed.I thought of something then, and pulled away from him so that I could see his face. My eyebrows furrowed in anxiety. What about Sam? And the others?He shook his head, delightful like a huge burden had been removed from his shoulders. Of course not. Dont you remember what we call ourselves?The memory was clearId just been thinking of that very day. Protectors?Exactly.But I dont understand. Whats happening in the woods? The missing hikers, the blood?His face was serious, worried at once. Were trying to do our job, Bella. Were trying to protect them, but were always just a little too late.Protect them from what? Is there really a bear out there, too?Bella, honey, we only protect people from one thingour one enemy. Its the reason we existbecause they do.I stared at him blankly for one second before I understood. accordingly the blood drained from my face and a thin, wordless cry of curse broke through my lips.He no dded. I thought you, of all people, would reali2e what was really going on.Laurent, I whispered. Hes still here.Jacob blinked twice, and cocked his head to one military position. Whos Laurent?I tried to crystalise out the chaos in my head so that I could answer. You knowyou saw him in the meadow. You were there The words came out in a wondering tone as it all sunk in. You were there, and you unploughed him from killing meOh, the black-haired leech? He grinned, a tight, fierce grin. Was that his name?I shuddered. What were you thinking? I whispered. He could have killed you Jake, you dont realize how dangerousAnother laugh interrupted me Bella, one lone vampire isnt much of a problem for a pack as big as ours. It was so easy, it was hardly even funWhat was so easy?Killing the bloodsucker who was going to kill you. Now, I dont count that towards the unharmed murder thing, he added quickly. Vampires dont count as people.I could only mouth the words. You killed Laurent?He nodded. We ll, it was a group effort, he qualified.Laurent is dead? I whispered.His expression changed. Youre not upset about that, are you? He was going to kill youhe was going for the kill, Bella, we were sure of that before we attacked. You know that, right?I know that. No, Im not upsetIm I had to sit down. I stumbled back a step until I felt the driftwood against my calves, and then sank down onto it. Laurent is dead. Hes not coming back for me.Youre not mad? He wasnt one of your friends or anything, was he?My friend? I stared up at him, confused and dizzy with relief. I started babbling, my eyes getting moist. No, Jake. Im so so relieved. I thought he was going to find meIve been waiting for him every night, just hoping that hed stop with me and leave Charlie alone. Ive been so frightened, Jacob But how? He was a vampire How did you kill him? He was so strong, so hard, like marbleHe sat down next to me and put one big arm around me comfortingly. Its what were made for, Bells. Were strong, too. I wish you would have told me that you were so afraid. You didnt need to be.You werent around, I mumbled, lost in thought.Oh, right.Wait, JakeI thought you knew, though. Last night, you said it wasnt safe for you to be in my room. I thought you knew that a vampire might be coming. Isnt that what you were talking about?He looked confused for a minute, and then he ducked his head. No, thats not what I meant.Then why didnt you think it was safe for you there? He looked at me with guilt-ridden eyes. I didnt say it wasnt safe for me. I was thinking of you.What do you mean?He looked down and kicked a rock. Theres more than one reason Im not supposed to be around you, Bella. I wasnt supposed to tell you our secret, for one thing, but the other part is that its not safe for you. If I get too mad too upset you might get hurt.I thought about that carefully. When you were mad before when I was yelling at you and you were shaking ?Yeah. His face dropped even lower. That was pretty stupid of me. I have to keep a better traction on myself. I swore I wasnt going to get mad, no matter what you said to me. But I just got so upser that I was going to lose you that you couldnt deal with what I amWhat would happen if you got too mad? I whispered.Id turn into a wolf, he whispered back.You dont need a full moon.He rolled his eyes. Hollywoods version doesnt get much right. Then he sighed, and was serious again. You dont need to be so stressed out, Bells. Were going to take care of this. And were care a special eye on Charlie and the otherswe wont let anything happen to him. Trust me on that.Something very, very obvious, something I should have grasped at oncebut Id been so distract by the idea of Jacob and his friends fighting with Laurent, that Id completely missed it at the timeoccurred to me only then, when Jacob used the present tense again.Were going to take care of this.It wasnt over.Laurent is dead, I gasped, and my entire carcass went ice cold.Bella? Jacob asked an xiously, touching my ashen cheek.If Laurent died a week ago then person else is killing people now.Jacob nodded his teeth clenched together, and he spoke through them. There were two of them. We thought his mate would want to fight usin our stories, they usually get pretty pissed off if you kill theirmatebut she just keeps running away, and then coming back again. If we could figure out what she was after, it would be easier to take her down. But she makes no sense. She keeps dancing around the edges, like shes testing our defenses, looking for a way inbut in where? Where does she want to go? Sam thinks shes trying to separate us, so shell have a better chanceHis voice faded until it sounded like it was coming through a long tunnel I couldnt make out the individual words anymore. My forehead dewed with sweat and my stomach rolled like I had the stomach flu again. Exactly like I had the flu.I turned away from him quickly, and leaned over the tree trunk. My body convulsed with useles s heaves, my empty stomach spying with horrified nausea, though there was nothing in it to expel.Victoria was here. Looking for me. Killing strangers in the woods. The woods where Charlie was searchingMy head spun sickeningly.Jacobs hands caught my shoulders unbroken me from sliding frontwards onto the rocks. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek. Bella Whats wrong?Victoria, I gasped as soon as I could catch my breath around the sick spasms.In my head, Edward snarled in fury at the name.I felt Jacob pull me up from my slump. He draped me awkwardly across his lap, laying my wilted head against his shoulder. He struggled to balance me, to keep me from sagging over, one way or the other He brushed the sweaty hair back from my face.Who? Jacob asked. Can you hear me, Bella? Bella?She wasnt Laurents mate, I moaned into his shoulder. They were just old friendsDo you need some water? A doctor? Tell me what to do, he demanded, frantic.Im not sickIm scared, I explained in a whisper. The word scared didnt really seem to cover it.Jacob patted my back. Scaled of this Victoria? I nodded, shuddering. Victoria is the red-haired female? I trembled again, and whimpered, Yes.How do you know she wasnt his mate?Laurent told me James was her mate, I explained, automatically flexing the hand with the scar.He pulled my face around, holding it steady in his big hand. He stared intently into my eyes. Did he tell you anything else, Bella? This is important. Do you know what she wants?Of course, I whispered. She wants me. His eyes flipped wide, then narrowed into slits. Why? he demanded.Edward killed James, I whispered. Jacob held me so tightly that there was no need for me to clutch at the holehe kept me in one piece. She did get pissed off. But Laurent said she thought it was fairer to kill me than Edward. Mate for mate. She didnt knowstill doesnt know, I guessthat that I swallowed hard. That things arent like that with us anymore. Not for Edward, anyway.Jacob was distracted by t hat, his face torn in the midst of several different expressions. Is that whathappened? Why the Cullens left?Im nothing but a human, after all. Nothing special, I explained, shrugging weakly.Something like a growlnot a real growl, just a human approximationrumbled in Jacobs chest under my ear. If that idiot bloodsucker is honestly stupid enoughPlease, I moaned. Please. Dont.Jacob hesitated, then nodded once.This is important, he said again, his face all business now. This is exactly what we needed to know. Weve got to tell the others right away.He stood, pulling me to my feet. He kept two hands on my waist until he was sure I wasnt going to fall.Im okay, I lied.He traded his hold on my waist for one of my hands. Lets go.He pulled me back toward the truck.Where are we going? I asked.Im not sure yet, he admitted. Ill call a meeting. Hey, wait here for just a minute, okay? He leaned me against the side of the truck and released my hand.Where are you going?Ill be right back, he promise d. Then he turned and sprinted through the parking lot, across the road, and into the bordering forest. He flitted into the trees, swift and silklike as a deer.Jacob I yelled after him hoarsely, but he was already gone.It was not a good time to be left alone. Seconds after Jacob was out of sight, I was hyperventilating. I dragged myself into the cab of the truck, and mashed the locks down at once. It didnt make me feel any better.Victoria was already hunting me. It was just luck that she hadnt found me yetjust luck and five teenage werewolves. I exhaled sharply. No matter what Jacob said, the thought of him coming anywhere close to Victoria was horrifying. I didnt care what he could turn into when he got mad. I could see her in my head, her face wild, her hair like flames, deadly, indestructibleBut, according to Jacob, Laurent was gone. Was that really possible? EdwardI clutched automatically at my chesthad told me how difficult it was to kill a vampire. Only another vampire could do the job. Yet Jake said this was what werewolves were made forHe said they were keeping a special eye on Charliethat I should trust the werewolves to keep my father safe. How could I trust that? None of us were safe Jacob the very least of all, if he was trying to put himself between Victoria and Charlie between Victoria and me.I felt like I might be about to throw up again.A sharp rap on the trucks window made me yelp in terrorbut it was just Jacob, back already. I unlocked the door with trembling, grateful fingers.Youre really scared, arent you? he asked as he climbed in.I nodded.Dont be. Well take care of youand Charlie, too. I promise.The idea of you finding Victoria is scarier than the idea of her finding me, I whispered.He laughed. Youve got to have a little more confidence in us than that. Its insulting.I just shook my head. Id seen too many vampires in action.Where did you go just now? I asked.He pursed his lips, and said nothing.What? Is it a secret?He frowned. Not really . Its kind of weird, though. I dont want to freak you out.Im sort of used to weird by this point, you know. I tried to smile without much success.Jacob grinned back easily. Guess youd have to be. Okay. See, when were wolves, we can hear each other.My eyebrows pulled down in confusion.Not hear sounds, he went on, but we can hear thoughtseach others anywayno matter how far away from each other we are. It really helps when we hunt, but its a big pain otherwise. Its embarrassinghaving no secrets like that. Freaky, eh?Is that what you meant last night, when you said you would tell them youd seen me, even though you didnt want to?Youre quick.Thanks.Youre also very good with weird. I thought that would bother you.Its not well, youre not the first person Ive known who could do that. So it doesnt seem so weird to me.Really Waitare you talking about your bloodsuckers?I wish you wouldnt call them that.He laughed. Whatever. The Cullens, then?Just just Edward. I pulled one arm surreptitiously ar ound my torso.Jacob looked surprisedunpleasantly so. I thought those were just stories. Ive heard legends about vampires who could do extra stuff, but I thought that was just a myth.Is anything just a myth anymore? I asked him wryly.He scowled. Guess not. Okay, were going to meet Sam and the others at the place we go to ride our bikes.I started the truck and headed back up the road.So did you just turn into a wolf now, to talk to Sam? I asked, curious.Jacob nodded, seeming embarrassed. I kept it real shortI tried not to think about you so they wouldnt know what was going on. I was afraid Sam would tell me I couldnt bring you.That wouldnt have stopped me. I couldnt get rid of my perception of Sam as the bad guy. My teeth clenched together whenever I heard his name.Well, it would have stopped me, Jacob said, morose now. Remember how I couldnt finish my sentences last night? How I couldnt just tell you the whole story?Yeah. You looked like you were choking on something.He chuckled dark ly. Close enough. Sam told me I couldnt tell you. Hes the head of the pack, you know. Hes the Alpha. When he tells us to do something, or not to do somethingwhen he really means it, well, we cant just ignore him.Weird, I muttered.Very, he agreed. Its kind of a wolf thing.Huh was the best response I could think of.Yeah, theres a load of stuff like thatwolf things. Im still learning. I cant imagine what it was like for Sam, trying to deal with this alone. It sucks bad enough to go through it with a whole pack for support.Sam was alone?Yeah. Jacobs voice lowered. When I changed, it was the most horrible, the most terrifying thing Ive ever been throughworse than anything I could have imagined. But I wasnt alonethere were the voices there, in my head, telling me what had happened and what I had to do. That kept me from losing my mind, I think. But Sam He shook his head. Sam had no help.This was going to take some adjusting. When Jacob explained it like that, it was hard not to feel compa ssion for Sam. I had to keep reminding myself that there was no reason to hate him anymore.Will they be angry that Im with you? I asked.He made a face. Probably.Maybe I shouldntNo, its okay, he assured me. You know a ton of things that can help us. Its not like youre just some ignorant human. Youre like a I dont know, spy or something. Youve been behind enemy lines.I frowned to myself. Was that what Jacob would want from me? Insider information to help them destroy their enemies? I wasnt a spy, though. I hadnt been collecting that kind of information. Already, his words made me feel like a traitor.But I wanted him to stop Victoria, didnt I?No.I did want Victoria to be stopped, preferably before she tortured me to death or ran into Charlie or killed another stranger. I just didnt want Jacob to be the one to stop her, or quite a to try. I didnt want Jacob within a hundred miles of her.Like the stuff about the mind-reading bloodsucker, he continued, oblivious to my reverie. Thats the kind of thing we need to know about. That really sucks that those stories are true. It makes everything more complicated. Hey, do you think this Victoria can do anything special?I dont think so, I hesitated, and then sighed. He would have mentioned it.He? Oh, you mean Edwardoops, sorry. I forgot. You dont like to say his name. Or hear it.I squeezed my midsection, trying to ignore the throbbing around the edges of my chest. Not really, no.Sorry.How do you know me so well, Jacob? sometimes its like you can read my mind.Naw. I just pay attention.We were on the little dirt road where Jacob had first taught me to ride the motorcycle.This good? I asked.Sure, sure.I pulled over and cut the engine.Youre still pretty unhappy, arent you? he murmured.I nodded, staring unseeingly into the gloomy forest.Did you ever think that maybe youre better off?I inhaled slowly, and then let my breath out. No.Cause he wasnt the bestPlease, Jacob, I interrupted, begging in a whisper. Could we please not talk about this? I cant stand it.Okay. He took a deep breath. Im sorry I said anything.Dont feel bad. If things were different, it would be nice to finally be able to talk to someone about it.He nodded. Yeah, I had a hard time keeping a secret from you for two weeks. It must be hell to not be able to talk to anyone.Hell, I agreed.Jacob sucked in a sharp breath. Theyre here. Lets go.Are you sure? I asked while he popped his door open. Maybe I shouldnt be here.Theyll deal with it, he said, and then he grinned. Whos afraid of the big, bad wolf?Ha ha, I said. But I got out of the truck, hurrying around the front end to stand close beside Jacob. I remembered only too clearly the giant monsters in the meadow. My hands were trembling like Jacobs had been before, but with fear rather than rage.Jake took my hand and squeezed it. Here we go.