thejezebeljones

This is my submission to NovelNovice.com's April-May writing prompt, Dialogue. This--again--is an excerpt from an original piece. It's edited to be heavy on dialogue, but not too much. I'm not really sure why LiveJournal keeps putting these huge spaces between paragraphs and it won't let me tab over.. I may switch to blogspot here soon and try it out.

          Nahar pulled over and killed the engine.

 I looked around, confused. “Wait. What? Why are you stopping?”

“Look, I’m just trying to protect you,” Nahar replied, jumping off the bike.

“Protect me?” I clenched my hair in tight fists out of frustration. “Look…Nahar…My sister is my life. I am nothing without her! She is clearly the one in danger here! Now, I demand you get back on here and take me to her.” I tried to look stern but I think I may have come off a bit pouty.

“What about your boyfriend? You don’t look too concerned for him. And don’t call me that.”

“Don’t call you what exactly?”

“Nahar.”

“That’s your name isn’t it?”

“Once upon a time, it was. You can call me River. It’s a loose translation of the word. I prefer it.”

“Alright…” I said slowly. “And I am worried about Derek. Those…things obviously have no compassion for human life. He’s probably a sitting duck. It was obvious who those things were after the second they materialized and it wasn’t Derek. It was Laney. So, yes, I am worried about Derek because he has no way to defend himself.”

Nah…I mean, River, looked at me like I had just told him the sky was green. “Oh, my…” He walked over to where I was still perched on the back of the motorcycle. “This is just getting more and more interesting.”

 “I’m glad my problems amuse you.”

 I jumped off the bike and went completely belligerent. “Why would you do this to me! You didn’t even really see which was she went, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. And it’s best this way, really. We are in way over our heads here.”  He grabbed the handle bars and steered the bike into the safety of the trees, just along the edge of the woods.

I was numb. I had lost Laney and Derek. There was a slim chance that I would ever see them again. And slim just left town with more than an overnight bag in tow. “I can’t believe you did this to me,” I repeated.

          “And she’s not dead, you would know.” He pointed out as I followed him into the forest.

          “I would?”

          “Have you heard the Bean Sidhe tonight?”

          “The Banshee…you mean X-Men?” I asked.

          “Huh?”

          “You know, he had powerful, ear-splitting cries that would incapacitate any attacker… you know, X-Men? One of the greatest comic book series of all time…”

              I could tell he was starting to lose patience with me. “Listen, the Bean Sidhe is not some inconsequential human book character. It is a feeling that is felt deep within your core. The spirit of the Bean Sidhe, the omen of death, comes to us when we have lost a close loved one. Not only is she felt, but you can hear her cries of mourning. There is no mistaking it. Just like your,” he paused and looked down on me in disgust, “X-Man… she cannot be ignored. The scream is so loud it is very painful. Now, tell me, have you heard her screams tonight?”
         "No...but I did once."

The first fanfic I ever wrote. It was originally a one shot but I felt the need for there to be a cliff hanger at the end. One day I may write more. This is not for any novel novice writing prompt. It was for a completely different contest that took place over a year ago. For the last writing prompt, keep on keepin’ on. That means keep scrolling down. :)

Jacob Black

          The anticipation was killing me. Four months. The longest four months of my life. I hadn't seen Nessie since Christmas. It was necessary for the Cullens to move away from Forks. Carlisle had been claiming forty when he could barely pass for thirty. People had started gossiping that he was using some kind of new cosmetic treatment on himself to keep him looking so young. No one really knew that their perfect Dr. Carlisle Cullen was a "vegetarian" vampire, just trying to keep some of his humanity intact. Always trying so hard to be good. His colleagues and patients begged for him to stay, but he came up with some lame excuse that the mother hen, Esme, was ready for a change.

          When the Cullens left the Olympic Peninsula my heart went with them. I had no choice but to follow. I couldn't bear to be away from Nessie for so long, and Bella was so excited to attend Dartmouth. I couldn't deny her that. Nessie was growing at an unreal rate, and I hated to have to miss any of it. After five years of living in New Hampshire with the Cullens, my father grew ill.

          He never was opposed to me moving so far away. He knew how much Nessie meant to me. But my father needed me, and though he would have never asked for my help, I had to be there. Charlie helped out as much as he could but he still had a job to do as the police chief of Forks. Sue was around a lot too, but after Billy's right foot had to be amputated, she was no longer strong enough to take care of him by herself. My sister Rachel and her husband Paul had a newborn on their hands and Rachel was working full time as a Nurse at the hospital in Forks, so they weren't much help either. These past two years were almost unbearable without Nessie.

          After Bella had finished her classes and gotten her master's degree the Cullens decided to move up to Vancouver last August. Nessie had started her freshman year at the University of British Colombia. She was so ecstatic.

          "Jake, I will finally be able to get out and socialize with people besides my family. Since we will be living a lot closer now, I can visit during school breaks!" She explained to me last August over the phone.

          "That's great, Ness!" I was over the moon. She had been dying to be able to go to a real school. The Cullens had home schooled her for the first seven years of her life.

          I couldn't help but wonder if her feelings for me had grown stronger at all. I wondered if something went wrong when I imprinted on her. She was at the physical age of seventeen and still showed no more than a friendship, big brother, type feeling toward me. If that's all she ever wanted, that's all I would ever be. I didn't mind. Whatever makes her happy makes me happy. And if she was happy then everything was right in the world.

          Sitting here in the parking lot of her school next to her car was making me anxious. I couldn't wait to see her perfect face, and her long, dark bronze hair curling around it. It was about time Charlie and Sue settled down and married. Nessie had agreed to come as my date. Even Billy had gotten over the fact that Sue had chosen Charlie but that was a whole different story. Edward, Bella, and Alice had arrived last week to help Sue with wedding preparations. Nessie—being the good student that she was—had to stay behind to take her mid-term exams and would drive down after she was finished with school on Friday.

          Then there she was.

          She was even more beautiful than I remembered. Words could not describe how perfect she was.

          After I snapped out of it, I noticed she was not alone. She was surrounded by three frat boys. I could tell that these were the kind of boys would could pay their way through college. Well, they wouldn't pay themselves; their parents would do it for them. All three were wearing polo, designer shirts and jeans. The ugly green monster inside me reared its head.

          I know I had no reason to be jealous. Nessie was just being Nessie. She could never grasp the effect she had on people. She was wearing nothing but a pair of old jeans and a long sleeve, white t-shirt with a sleeveless, red parka and still the boys flocked to her. I wanted to rip their heads off for looking at her.

          I jumped out of the Rabbit and slammed the door as hard I could. I was surprised the door didn't fall off. I should have put more effort into it, if the door fell off the boys would have been really scared then.

          Nessie's head snapped up and when her deep, chocolate eyes locked with mine all the jealousy nonsense melted away. I tended to forget everything whenever our eyes met.

          "Jake!" She was surprised to see me here.

          She ran into my waiting, open arms.

          The frat boys saw how big I was and walked, hurriedly in the opposite direction of our embrace. Nessie didn't seem to mind that they didn't say goodbye. That made me feel good.

          "I've missed you, Ness." I said, as I kissed her hair softly.

          She gently and politely stepped back from me.

          "I missed you too, Jake. What are you doing here? I was supposed to drive myself down to Forks tonight?"

          "I thought I would surprise you. I figured you would like some company. If you don't want me here I could always turn around and drive all the way back to La Push by myself and consider this a wasted trip." She picked up on the sarcasm in my voice. I knew she wouldn't turn me down.

          "Of course, we can ride together, Jake. You will have to come back to the house though, I need to pack still."

          "Uh, is the blonde going to be there?" Rosalie was still a pain in my rear nothing had changed there in seven years. Every time I had called Nessie's house in the past two years, Rosalie would answer.

          "Yes. She is right here, dog." Click.

          "Of course, Rosalie is going to be there. And I wish you wouldn't be so callous toward her. She is like a second mother to me. I love her dearly. Please be nice...for me?" She gave me that look that I just could not resist.

          "I'll try." It wasn't a lie. I would try...just not very hard.

                    "So, dog, chase any cats lately, or do you prefer chasing your own tail these days." The blond, psycho vampire had that pompous, smug look on her face that I just couldn't stand to look at.

          Nessie was at my side at once, already back from packing her bags. She touched my arm gingerly, and then she was in my head. I saw us standing in the school parking lot. You said you would try.

          I grunted out loud, catching myself before I said anything that would make Nessie angry with me.

          "What's that, pup, bone stuck in your throat," Blondie snickered. I had a feeling she knew that Nessie wouldn't allow me to say anything snide back to her.

          Feeling the tension, Nessie grabbed my elbow and led me out of the house. "So, how is Charlie dealing with all the stress and excitement of his up and coming wedding?" She asked as we started making the drive back to Forks.

          I shrugged. "You know Charlie, he hates being the center of attention, but he is so excited having you and Bella home. He would get married to a different woman every month if it means you two would come home more often."

           Seven years had gone by and Charlie still kept his word. Nessie changed dramatically and the Cullens never did. Charlie played dumb like he didn't even notice. He never even asked a single question. You would of actually thought he didn't notice if it wasn't for the occasional side glances or "humph" he let slip. Sue was about to be his wife and he never asked her once to tell the secrets she knew. And she knew a lot, seeing how her two children were werewolves and all. Charlie still looked at me funny though. I'm not sure if it was because of the one time I phased in front of him, or how I was so attached to his, technically, seven-year-old granddaughter. It was probably a little bit of both.

          I looked over at Nessie in the passenger seat. She was staring at me. I reached out and held her hand in mine.

          I've missed you, she said to me.

          We rode like this in silence to the ferry, then back to Washington, back home.

          It was dark when we pulled up into Charlie's driveway, but not for long. Before I could even put the car in park, Charlie was darting across the front yard to get a hold of Nessie, his front door left open, lighting up the front yard.

          "Ness, you haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you," Charlie said with enthusiasm.

          "See Charlie, I told you she wouldn't age anymore. We are past all that now," I reminded him.

          He gave me one of those side glances and a quick "humph".

          I walked around the back of the car to get Nessie's bags out of the trunk. Then I followed behind Charlie and Nessie who were hand in hand.

          "Ok, Jake, you've had your time, run along now. I'm sure Billy needs your help back at the house. I have some leftovers Sue brought over this morning, and there's not enough for three." He was trying to get rid of me so soon. If he only knew of my connection to his granddaughter, he may not be trying to practically kick me out the front door. Or maybe he would.

          "But, Charlie..."

          Nessie interrupted me before I could protest.

          "It’s okay, Jacob. I'm actually pretty tired. I won't stay up for very much longer." I knew she was putting on a facade for Charlie's sake, so I didn't argue.

          "I'll just go up and put your bags in your room." Before I could even take a step forward Charlie was in front of me with a hard look on his face and his hand pressing on my chest.

          "No. I think you should go now." He gave me a look that I knew I probably shouldn't try to cross him. He probably wouldn't let me back in the house if I ignored his request. Hell, he'd probably arrest me if it kept me away from Renesmee. He was probably thinking about the last time Renesmee visited and stayed over at his house over the Christmas break. I snuck in the window in Bella's old room where Nessie liked to sleep while she was down visiting Forks. We had stayed up most of the night talking. Naturally, Nessie fell asleep, and then I fell asleep watching her sleep. I know my snoring can get out of control but I never thought it would be detrimental to me. It's not a pretty picture when the town's police chief comes busting in the room wearing flannel pajamas, half asleep, crazed, and waving around a shotgun.

          "Okay Grandpa, just let me hug Jacob goodbye and then the evening is all yours." Nessie grabbed my hand and let me outside.

          We held each other in the rain without saying anything. I didn't want to let go. I knew I would see her tomorrow morning but it's just too long for me to be away from her.

          I'll miss you. Come up in about an hour. She had to resort to this kind of communication since we both could feel Charlie starring at us through his living room window. It was very convenient that Nessie had strengthened her "gift" as she grew older. Now all she had to do was touch your bare skin and she would be in your head.

          “I love you. An hour will feel like forever.” I had never been much of a sap before Nessie. She brought it out in me.

          I love you, my Jacob.  Then she ran back inside, with my eyes staring after her.

          I drove home to drop the car off and help Billy get settled in for the night. When I pulled up, the porch light was the only light on. This usually meant that Billy was not at home. Instead of going in and calling around it was quicker just to phase and find out where he was. I walked into the woods, taking off my clothes as I was feeling my body heat up and tremble. Then I was on all fours and the only presence I detected was Leah's. She was in the woods by the beach, where she was most of the time when she came home for a visit. Her thoughts were calm, she was thinking about her Dad.

          Yes, it's just me. Sam picked up your dad about an hour ago. They are having a poker night over at Quil Senior’s house. There is also some game on the television they wanted to watch. She explained, guessing at why I had phased.

          Leah had kept her promise to me after all these years. Three years ago she moved into her own apartment by Washington State in Seattle. She was attending school there and waitressing to pay her own way through. She was taking yoga classes three times a week to manage her temper, only phasing now and then to keep in contact with me and ask about her family. Sometimes when we were both together in our wolf forms, she never said a word, and kept to herself as promised. She rarely thought about Sam anymore.

          Thanks, Leah. See ya tomorrow.

          She didn't say anything more, not even acknowledging that I had thought about her and Sam. I ran out to Charlie's, phased back, got dressed and waited for my hour to be up outside in the big tree next to Renesmee's window. Before I knew it, the window was open. I jumped inside without making a sound. Nessie was sitting on the bed in her pajamas waiting on me. I sat down beside her. She touched my face.

          Don't say anything. Charlie is really suspicious. He may be up in a few minutes to check on me so you can't talk, he'll hear you. I wouldn't be surprised if he is concentrating real hard from his room.

          I nodded my head in agreement. It was fine with me if I could just lay here next to her and stare.

          Jacob, being away from each other is hard for the both of us. Are you sure you don't want me to move down here closer? I am perfectly happy attending Washington State. I would even be happy not going to college and spending all my time here in Forks, I could even stay in the old house. Mom and Dad wouldn't mind me leaving them. They understand how hard it is for us. There is some kind of story we could make up for the locals. The Cullens sold their house to some wealthy socialite or we could just stay hidden and no one would be the wiser…" She started to ramble. I knew something was up because usually her thoughts were coherent. It wasn't like her to not have it together. I raised my hand in protest.

          "Nessie," I whispered to make sure Charlie wouldn't hear, "you don't have to sacrifice your life for me. I want you to be happy and I know you love college life and this is what you always wanted, to be free from being a prisoner in your own home and meeting new people."

          She spoke out loud now, obviously agitated. "Jacob. Did I say I wanted to do this for you? I said it would be best for the both of us."

          I looked at her in confusion. Us? She was so like Bella...wait no… this was more of the Edward in her speaking. She was so self-sacrificing, wanting to give away her happiness for me. I heard a shuffle coming from the next room.

          "Crap. It's Charlie. I'll pick you up tomorrow before the wedding, okay?" She was my date after all. I better do it right. Who was I kidding? I just loved her sitting so close to me in my car. I really didn't have to take her since the person she was staying with, was the person getting married.

          "Okay then. Love you." Then she laid down and shut her eyes.

          "I Love you." I jumped out the window and ran back to La Push at full speed, happy that she agreed to let me drive her to the wedding. Elated over the idea of "us".

          "You look handsome, Jake." I smiled at Nessie's comment on my new light beige outfit Alice insisted I wear today. The weather was perfect for the vampires that were going to be here. It was overcast but not enough for rain. At least I didn't sense any rain. Alice must have seen this as the perfect day and planned it this way. It was probably about all she could "see" since the majority of the guests were going to be wolves.

          A lot of things had changed in seven years down in La Push. Since I was now an Alpha the treaty between the werewolves and the Cullens had mostly become null and void. It would have been a bad day having to explain to Charlie why his daughter and granddaughter couldn't be allowed on Quileute land to attend his wedding. Charlie and Sue let Alice have free reign over the wedding after her persistent begging. This was why Nessie and I were removing our socks and shoes in the parking lot before making the walk to our seats down at the end of First Beach, into the sand. It was what Alice dubbed a "barefoot, beach, wedding". I helped my father out of the car who had also ridden with us. I carried him in his chair to sit him on Charlie's left side as his best man.

          As we made our way down to the water, I noticed the decorations Alice had chosen for the wedding. There were wooden, off-white chairs where lined up on two sides with huge, light beige bows tied on the end of each row. At the end of the aisle there was a beautiful arch, decorated in white lilies. Simple, but elegant.

          "The best man has arrived! We can start now!" Billy shouted as we made our way down the aisle where Charlie and Quil Sr –who was performing the ceremony—were waiting. My dad finally seemed to be over any aversion he had to Charlie and Sue's wedding plans. He seemed genuinely happy for his best friend.

          We made our way back to our seats behind Edward and Bella on Charlie's side. We didn't have any time to talk because Alice was giving everyone the death stare, which meant the ceremony was about to begin. I took notice of how everyone had changed over the past seven years. A married Sam and Emily were sitting in the back row with their newborn son, Isaac, and their three-year-old, Nick. Their oldest son, Joseph, was away preparing to be the ring bearer today.

          Sitting across the aisle from us were Rachel and Paul and my two-year-old niece, Adrianna. She was cute as a button. She obviously didn't get her looks from Paul. One thing she did get from Paul was attitude and a lot of it. You would have thought that kid was a bratty, thirteen year old teenager with the looks she could give you.

          Quil was sitting alone over on the werewolf side. Claire must be getting ready to come down the aisle as flower girl. Claire's mom did not take a liking to Quil so much. She didn't understand the commitment that he had towards her ten-year-old daughter. Emily must have picked her up to bring her here—I didn't think Quil was allowed over anymore. Embry was here with his girlfriend, Kaitlyn. Still no imprinting for him, but he really liked this one—I don't think he really wanted it to happen, at least not with anyone else. I could empathize; I was in his position once. Excluding Charlie, she was the only person here not in on the werewolf and vampire secrets.

          More toward the front sat the newlyweds, Jared and Kim.

          I didn't have time to look around anymore as Alice had started the music on a battery operated stereo and behind us in the sand a white limousine pulled up. Jasper must be the driver. Everyone turned in their seats just as Claire and Joseph stepped out. Claire laid out the white petals perfectly, and Joseph, looking like a miniature Sam, seemed a little embarrassed. It was Leah’s turn next. She was wearing a dress similar to the one Renesmee and Bella were wearing. It was light beige, strapless, satin, and flowed all the way down to the sand. She looked beautiful...for Leah.

          As the music changed everyone stood up to see Sue step from the limousine with Seth's help. Her dress was just a little bit longer than Leah's had been and it made a very small train in the back that flowed across the sand. Her dress was not strapless like the other girls but it was short sleeved and low cut. Seth was crying. I would have to remember to give him hell about it later.

          Everyone was in place and we all sat back down. Nessie grabbed my hand, and I turned to see her staring at me again with a little smirk on her face. She wasn't showing me anything so I wasn't sure what the smirk was about. She turned forward to pay attention to Quil's Grandfather who had started the ceremony. But I couldn't pay attention. Nessie looked so beautiful sitting next to me.

          I heard someone grumble behind me interrupting my thoughts. I turned to see Sam standing up with a furious look on his face; his chair had fallen over in the sand. He was looking out north, down towards the beach. Everyone turned and looked at Sam for a second like I had and then looked down the beach to see what he was so mad about.

          A man, walking casually toward the wedding. This man looked oddly familiar.

          Then it clicked.

          I had seen pictures of this stranger in old family albums of Sam's.

          This man was Joshua Uley.

          How could Alice not see this coming?

                I didn’t even wait for my Dad to stop his lecture before I blurted out, “Are we adopted?”
                Mom grabbed her chest as if she was in congestive heart failure; it would have given Fred Sanford a run for his money. “Are you… Are you… Are you adopted?” She finally choked out. “How dare you!” She accused.

                “Yeah, how dare you, Lizzie,” Laney said in mocked surprise.

                “How could you say something like that to us? Your Father and myself have loved you both since you were born right here,” she paused to catch her breath and wipe her tears, “in this house, on that kitchen table.” She pointed at the now scratched and worn down, mahogany brown table that we ate supper on every afternoon at approximately 6 o’clock for the last 13 years. I felt my mom’s sincerity through her words but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t being completely truthful.

A Mother’s Dilemma

Oh, God. What did I do?

“You know why you had to it, Sharon,” I say out loud to no one but myself. Sitting alone in my small overcrowded bedroom I think of a time when things were much simpler. Giving the girls underdogs on the swing set, teaching them about my Indian heritage and the zodiac. Stupid. Stupid. I know I should have just come out with it but she said that the girls were never to know. They would be in danger. She would be angry with me if she knew that I had even discussed Astrology with them. The twins were to remain completely ignorant. And she promised me I would never see her again.

I guess promises were meant to be broken.

In case she is listening I whisper, “I’m doing my best. You were stupid to think that they would never ask questions. They look nothing like us.”

“Sharon.” I look up to see Benjamin standing in the hall way. His eyes are tired and his light brown curls are in disarray but underneath it all I still see a glimmer of the man I fell in love with in high school. “Quit beating yourself up about it,” he says to me. “We did the right thing by taking the girls in.” He crosses over and sits next to me on our inadequate full size bed. He pulls me into a tight embrace.

“I know,” I say, holding back tears. “We never would have had children otherwise.  I just wonder if we did the right thing by never telling them that they were adopted. Maybe we should have been honest with them from the beginning. We wouldn’t be having this problem now. “

“No,” Benjamin says sternly. He grabs onto my elbows firmly and pulls back to stare at me with a hard gaze. “She said it was dangerous, Sharon. I will not risk their lives! This is not up for discussion. You saw what happened to them. There’s nothing left, Sharon! Do you want that to happen to us? Do you want to see our girls like that?” He starts to raise his voice at me and my tears threaten to spill over. He stands up and walks out only pausing a brief moment to mumble that he’s sorry he yelled before leaving the room.

I let him leave without any grief over yelling at me. His brother and his sister-in-law died yesterday. This is all such cruddy timing. When it rains, it pours. 

 I lay back and try not to think about the gruesome crime scene that I witnessed yesterday. It was all so brutal and pointless. But, when does murder have a point really? After seeing firsthand the bizarre way that they had all been killed I couldn’t help to think that she was involved somehow. The front yard was flooded with cold water in the middle of summer and the house burned with no cause. No gasoline, no electrical problems, none of the pipes had burst and it hasn’t rained any in the past two months. Nothing was stolen from the house.  Yes, I was sure now. This is all her fault. She brought this curse on us and all of my family. My feelings are conflicted when it comes to her. She did give me my girls. They are the best and that counts for something.

My mother was always right about me it seems. I will do anything to get what I want, no matter the consequences. I wanted a baby so very badly and when a perfect stranger came to me and offered me not one…but two perfect babies, how could I pass that up? I wouldn’t have to give up anything. Just keep the secret. Tell no one. Keep the babies safe. Let them grow up as normal as possible. I did all those things; it was easy and came natural to me. But what was the cost? My children learning the truth and never trusting me again? My sanity? Holly’s life?

I just want peace again. I am selfish. I want my daughters to trust me doubtlessly. Is this achievable? Probably not. But I am tenacious and I’m not going to give up on them without a fight. Two days have gone by and neither one of them have spoken two words to me. I know they are upset about everything and the funeral is tomorrow, maybe they will come around soon. All teenagers at some point believe they are adopted, right? I wonder what prompted them to ask such a question.

Oh, hell. Maybe I should just tell them and get it over with. It would be hard but they would get over it eventually. But can I be sure about that?  I am a good mother. I give them everything they need and they seem interested when I tell them about growing up on the reservation. They don’t seem to mind that I am a bit eccentric. They like me for the most part. I am sure they would forgive me with time. But, if I tell them where they really come from, I wouldn’t be able to quash their curiosity completely. They would know that they are different, not human. And I’m not sure they could ever go without seeking answers. I couldn’t have that. I imagine what it would be like to find Laney and Lizzie’s bodies burned, charred and unrecognizable. I shudder at the thought.

                She once told me that the Zodiac was everything and I should take it very seriously. Everything we need to know about ourselves and the universe is written in the stars. She chose me for this reason. When she came across me in the Tarot Parlor we immediately connected. She decided then that I would be the right fit for her twin babies. I am an Aries and a self-absorbed creature.  When I am faced with hard and challenging or easy and ignorant; I will always take the easy road. I decide at that moment that I will take Ben’s advice and never speak of this again to anyone, even to my own children. They will never know and I will have kept the secret.