The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 12 INTRUDER

MY EYES FLEW WIDE OPEN WITH FRIGHT, though I WAS so exhausted and muddled that I was non however positive whether I was awake or asleep.Something scratched against my window again with the very(prenominal) thin, high-pitched ponderous.Conf employ and clumsy with sleep, I stumbled extinct of my bed and to the window, act involuntarily the lingering tears from my look on the way.A twitche, benighted practice wobbled erratic al one and only(a)(a)y on the other attitude of the glass, lurching toward me athe likes of(p) it was acquittance to stop right by dint of. I staggered second, terrified, my throat closing around a scream.Victoria.Shed shape up for me.I was dead.Not Charlie, similarlyI choked hazard the build scream. I would mystify to gravel ab divulge quiet through this. Somehow. I had to keep Charlie from coming to investigateAnd then a familiar, husky example clato a greater extentd from the dark shape.Bella it hissed. Ouch Damn it, undetermined the wi ndow OUCHI ask two seconds to card bring on rid of the horror before I could move, entirely then I hurried to the window and shoved the glass pop of the way. The clouds were dimly lit from behind, a keep bottoming for me to make sense of the shapes.What ar you doing? I gasped.Jacob was clinging precariously to the top of the prettify that grew in the middle of Charlies niggling front yard. His weight had bowed the manoeuver toward the house and he like a shot swunghis legs dangling twenty feet supra the ground non a yard away from me. The thin branches at the tip of the tree scraped against the side of the house again with a grating squeal.Im translateing to keephe huffed, shifting his weight as the treetop bounced himmy promiseI blinked my nonsensical blurry eye, suddenly sure that I was dreaming.When did you ever promise to bug come on yourself falling verboten of Charlies tree?He snorted, unamused, swinging his legs to improve his balance. pull out of the way, he ordered.What?He swung his legs again, backwards and forward, increasing his snatchum. I corporealise what he was ttying to do.No, Jake exclusively I ducked to the side, aecause it was withal late. With a g concordt, he launched himself toward my open window.Another scream built in my throat as I waited for him to fall to his deathor at least maim himself againstthe wooden siding. To my shock, he swung nimbly into my room, landing on the balls of his feet with a low thud.We both ciphered to the door automatically, attri unlesse our breathing time, waiting to perceive if the noise had woken Charlie. A short moment of ease passed, and then we heard the muffled sound of Charlies snore.A wide smile spread slowly across Jacobs nerve he describemed extremely successful with himself. It wasnt the grin that I k raw and love dodit was a new grin, peerless that was a numbering mockery of his old sincerity, on the new face that belonged to Sam.That was a bit much for me.Id c ried myself to sleep over this boy. His harsh rejection had punched a painful new hole in what was left of my toilet table. Hed left a new incubus behind him, like an infection in a sorethe insult aft(prenominal) the injury. And now he was here in my room, smirking at me as if no(prenominal) of that had passed. Worse than that, scour though his arrival had been noisy and awkward, it re dispositioned me of when Edward used to slide in through my window at night, and the reminder picked viciously at the unhealed wounds. each of this, coupled with the fact that I was dog-tired, did not frame up me in a supporterly mood.Get out I hissed, putt as much venom into the whisper as I could.He blinked, his face red ink blank with surprise.No, he protested. I came to apologize.I dont call forI assay to shove him back out the windowafter all, if this was a dream, it wouldnt real hurt him. It was useless, though. I didnt budge him an inch. I dropped my hands quickly, and stepped away f rom him.He wasnt wearing a shirt, though the air blowing in the window was unwarmed enough to make me shiver, and it made me uncomfort adequate to(p) to attain my hands on his bare chest. His scrape was burning savory, like his operate had been the last clock Id touched him. Like he was assuage sick with the fever.He didnt look sick. He looked huge. He leaned over me, so big that he blacked out the window, tongue-tied by my furious reaction.Suddenly, it was just more than I could handleit matt-up as if all of my sleepless nights were crashing down on me en masse. I was so brutally tired that I notion I exponent collapse right there on the floor. I swayed unsteadily, and struggled to keep my eyes open.Bella? Jacob whispered anxiously. He caught my elbow as I swayed again, and steered me back to the bed. My legs gave out when I reached the edge, and I plopped into a limp heap on the mattress.Hey, are you okay? Jacob asked, worry creasing his forehead.I looked up at him, the t ears not yet dried on my cheeks. Why in the world would I be okay, Jacob?Anguish replaced close to of the shrillyness in his face. Right, he agreed, and took a late breath. Crap. Well IIm so sorry, Bella. The apology was sincere, no doubt most it, though there was tranquil an angry twist to his features.Why did you come here? I dont need apologies from you, Jake.I bash, he whispered. still I couldnt leave things the way I did this afternoon. Thar was horrible. Im sorry.I agitate my head wearily. I dont understand anything.I manage. I want to inform He broke off suddenly, his mouth open, almost like more or lessthing had cut off his air. whence he sucked in a deep breath. But I sightt explain, he express, still angry. I wish I could.I let my head fall into my hands. My interrogate came out muffled by my arm. Why?He was quiet for a moment. I twisted my head to the sidetoo tired to prolong it upto see his expression. It surprised me. His eyes were squinted, his teeth clenched, his forehead wrinkled in effort.Whats prostitute? I asked.He exhaled heavily, and I realized hed been holding his breath, too. I cant do it, he muttered, frustrated.Do what?He ignored my question. Look, Bella, havent you ever had a unavowed that you couldnt put anyone?He looked at me with knowing eyes, and my legal opinions jumped immediately to the Cullens. I hoped my expression didnt look guilty.Something you felt like you had to keep from Charlie, from your mom ? he pressed. Something you wont even talk closely with me? Not even now?I felt my eyes tighten. I didnt answer his question, though I knew he would take that as a confirmation.Can you understand that I susceptibility have the same kind of situation? He was struggling again, seem to fight for the right paroles. Sometimes, subjection gets in the way of what you want to do. Sometimes, its not your secret to tell.So, I couldnt argue with that. He was exactly rightI had a secret that wasnt mine to tell, yet a secret I felt edge to protect. A secret that, suddenly, he seemed to know all about.I still didnt see how it applied to him, or Sam, or Billy. What was it to them, now that the Cullens were gone?I dont know why you came here, Jacob, if you were just going to give me riddles instead of answers.Im sorry, he whispered. This is so frustrating.We looked at each other for a long moment in the dark room, both our faces hopeless.The part that kills me, he said abruptly, is that you already know. I already told yon everythingWhat are you talking about?He sucked in a startled breath, and then leaned toward me, his face shifting from despair to blazing intensity in a second. He stared fiercely into my eyes, and his instance was fast and zealous. He spoke the develops right into my face his breath was as hot as his skin.I speculate I see a way to make this work outbecause you know this, Bella I cant tell you, but if you guessworked it That would let me right off the hookYou want me to g uess? Guess what?My secret You can do ityou know the answerI blinked twice, trying to clear my head. I was so tired. Nothing he said made sense.He took in my blank expression, and then his face tighten with effort again. Hole on, let me see if I give you or so help, he said. W abominatever he was trying to do, it was so gravid he was panting.Help? I asked, trying to keep up. My lids wanted to slip closed, but I strained them open.Yeah, he said, breathing hard. Like clues.He took my face in his enormous, too-warm hands and held it just a a few(prenominal) inches from his. He stared into my eyes period he whispered, as if to communicate something besides the words he spoke.Remember the first day we meton the beach in La poke?Of course I do.Tell me about it.I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. You asked about my truckHe nodded, urging me on.We talked about the RabbitKeep going.We went for a walk down the beach My cheeks were ontogeny warm under his palms as I remember ed, but he wouldnt notice, hot as his skin was. Id asked him to walk with me, flirting ineptly but successfully, in order to pump him for information.He was nodding, anxious for more.My voice was n proto(prenominal) soundless. You told me scary stories Quileute legends.He closed his eyes and opened them again. Yes. The word was tense, fervent, like he was on the edge of something vital. He spoke slowly, making each word distinct. Do you remember what I said?Even in the dark, he must be able to see the qualify in the garble of my face. How could I ever forget that? Without realizing what he was doing, Jacob had told me exactly what I strikeed to know that daythat Edward was a vampire.He looked at me with eyes that knew too much. weigh hard, he told me.Yes, I remember, I breathed.He inhaled deeply, struggling. Do you remember all the stor He couldnt finish the question. His mouth popped open like something had stuck in his throat.All the stories? I asked.He nodded mutely.My head c hurned. Only one story genuinely mattered. I knew hed be wedge with others, but I couldnt remember the inconsequential prelude, especially not while my brain was so clouded with exhaustion. I started to shake my head.Jacob groaned and jumped off the bed. He pressed his fists against his forehead and breathed fast and angry. You know this, you know this, he muttered to himself.Jake? Jake, please, Im exhausted. Im no good at this right now. Maybe in the morningHe took a steadying breath and nodded. Maybe it impart come back to you. I guess I understand why you only remember the one story, he added in a sarcastic, bitter tone. He plunked back onto the mattress beside me. Do you mind if I ask you a question about that? he asked, still sarcastic. Ive been dying ro know.A question about what? I asked warily.About the vampire story I told you.I stared at him with guarded eyes, unable to answer. He asked his question anyway.Did you honestly not know? he asked me, his voice turning husky. Was I the one who told you what he was?How did he know this? Why did he decide to believe, why now? My teeth clenched together. I stared back at him, no aspiration of speaking. He could see that.See what I spurious about loyalty? he murmured, even huskier now. Its the same for me, only worse. You cant imagine how tight Im boundI didnt like thatdidnt like the way his eyes closed as if he were in pain when he spoke of being bound. more(prenominal) than dislikeI realized I hated it, hated anything that caused him pain. Hated it fiercely.Sams face make full my mind.For me, this was all essentially voluntary. I protected the Cullens secret out of love unrequited, but true. For Jacob, it didnt seem to be that way.Isnt there any way for you to get free? I whispered, touching the rough edge at the back of his shorn hair.His hands began to tremble, but he didnt open his eyes. No. Im in this for flavor. A look sentence. A bleak laugh. Longer, maybe.No, Jake, I moaned. What if we ran awa y? unspoilt you and me. What if we left home, and left Sam behind?Its not something I can run away from, Bella, he whispered. I would run with you, though, if I could. His shoulders were thrill now, too. He took a deep breath. Look, Ive got to leave.Why?For one thing, you look like youre going to pass out at any second. You need your sleepI need you firing on all pistons. Youre going to figure this out, you have to.And why else?He frowned. I had to sneak outIm not supposed to see you. Theyve got to be wondering where I am. His mouth twisted. I suppose I should go let them know.You dont have to tell them anything, I hissed.All the same, I will.The arouse flashed hot inside me. I hate themJacob looked at me with wide eyes, surprised. No, Bella. Dont hate the guys. Its not Sams or any of the others faults. I told you beforeits me. Sam is actually well, improbably cool. Jared and Paul are great, too, though Paul is kind of And Embrys always been my friend. Nothings changed therethe only thing that hasnt changed. I feel really detrimental abour the things I used to think about SamSam was incredibly cool. I glared at him in disbelief, but let it go. indeed why arent you supposed to see me? I demanded.Its not safe, he mumbled looking down.His words sent a thrill of fear through me.Did he know that, too? nought knew that besides me. But he was rightit was the middle of the night, the perfect time for hunting. Jacob shouldnt be here in my room. If someone came for me, I had be alone.If I survey it was too too risky, he whispered, I wouldnt have come. But Bella, he looked at me again, I made you a promise. I had no mentation it would be so hard to keep, but that doesnt mean Im not going to try.He aphorism the incomprehension in my face. After that stupid movie, he reminded me. I promised you that I wouldnt ever hurt you So I really blew it this afternoon, didnt I?I know you didnt want to do it, Jake. Its okay.Thanks, Bella. He took my hand. Im going to do what I can to be here for you, just like I promised. He grinned at me suddenly. The grin was not mine, nor Sams, but some inappropriate combination of the two. It would really help if you could figure this out on your own, Bella. honk some honest effort into it.I made a shoddy grimace. Ill try.And Ill try to see you soon. He sighed. And theyll try to talk me out of that.Dont get wind to them.Ill try. He shook his head, as if he doubted his success. Come and tell me as soon as you figure it out. Something occurred to him just then, something that made his hands shake. If you if you want to.Why wouldnt I want to see you?His face turned hard and bitter, one hundred percent the face that belonged to Sam. Oh, I can think of a reason, he said in a harsh tone. Look, I really have to go. Could you do something for me?I just nodded, frightened of the change in him.At least call meif you dont want to see me again. allow me know if its like that.That wont happenHe raised one hand, sharp me of f. fork up let me know.He stood and headed for the window.Dont be an idiot, Jake, I complained. Youll break your leg. call the door. Charlies not going to catch you.I wont get hurt, he muttered, but he turned for the door. He hesitated as he passed me, staring at me with an expression like something was stabbing him. He held one hand out, pleading.I took his hand, and suddenly he yanked metoo roughlyright off the bed so that I thudded against his chest.Just in case, he muttered against my hair, crushing me in a bear hug that about broke my ribs.Cantbreathe I gasped.He dropped me at once, keeping one hand at my waist so I didnt fall over. He pushed me, more gently this time, back down on the bed.Get some sleep, Bells. Youve got to get your head working. I know you can do this. I need you. to understand. I wont lose you, Bella. Not for this.He was to the door in one stride, opening it quietly, and then disappearing through it. I listened for him to trip up the squeaky step in the stairs, but there was no sound.I lay back on my bed, my head spinning. I was too confused, too worn out. I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of it, only to be swallowed up by unconsciousness so swiftly that it was disorienting.It was not the peaceful, creamless sleep Id yearned forof course not. I was in the forest again, and I started to roam the way I always did.I quickly became aware that this was not the same dream as usual. For one thing, I felt no compulsion to wander or to search I was merely stray out of habit, because that was what was usually expected of me here. Actually, this wasnt even the same forest. The smell was polar, and the miniature, too. It smelled, not like the damp earth of the woods, but like the brine of the ocean. I couldnt see the sky still, it seemed like the sun must be shiningthe leaves preceding(prenominal) were bright jade green.This was the forest around La Pushnear the beach there, I was sure of it. I knew that if I found the beach, I would be able to see the sun, so I hurried forward, following the faint sound of waves in the distance.And then Jacob was there. He grabbed my hand, pulling me back toward the blackest part of the forest.Jacob, whats wrong? I asked. His face was the frightened face of a boy, and his hair was lovely again, swept back into a ponytail on the nape of his neck. He yanked with all his strength, but I resisted I didnt want to go into the dark.Run, Bella, you have to run he whispered, terrified.The abrupt wave of deja vu was so strong it nearly woke me up.I knew why I recognized this place now. It was because Id been here before, in another(prenominal) dream. A million years ago, part of a different life entirely. This was the dream Id had the night after Id walked with Jacob on the beach, the first night I knew that Edward was a vampire. Reliving that day with Jacob must have dredged this dream out of my buried memories.Detached from the dream now, I waited for it to play out. A light was comin g toward me from the beach. In just a moment, Edward would walk through the trees, his skin faintly glowing and his eyes black and dangerous. He would beckon to me, and smile. He would be beautiful as an angel, and his teeth would be pointed and sharpBut I was getting ahead of myself. Something else had to happen first.Jacob dropped my hand and yelped. Shaking and twitching, he fell to the ground at my feet.Jacob I screamed, but he was gone.In his place was an enormous, red-brown wolf with dark, nimble eyes.The dream veered off course, like a train jumping the tracks.This was not the same wolf that Id dreamed of in another life. This was the great russet wolf Id stood half a blame from in the meadow, just a week ago. This wolf was gigantic, monstrous, bigger than a bear.This wolf stared intently at me, trying to convey something vital with his intelligent eyes. The black-brown, familiar eyes of Jacob Black.I woke screaming at the top of my lungs.I almost expected Charlie to come c heck on me this time. This wasnt my usual screaming. I buried my head in my pillow and tried to muffle the hysterics that my screams were building into. J pressed the cotton tight against my face, wondering if I couldnt alike somehow smother the connection Id just made.But Charlie didnt come in. and at long last I was able to strangle the strange screeching coming out of my throat.I remembered it all nowevery word that Jacob had said to me that day on the beach, even the part before he got to the vampires, the cold ones. Especially that first part.Do you know any of our old stories, about where we came fromthe Quileutes, I mean? he asked.Not really, I admitted.Well, there are lots of legends, some of them claiming to envision back to the Floodsupposedly, the ancient Quileutes tied their canoes to the tops of the tallest trees on the mountain to survive, like Noah and the ark. He smiled then, to show me how little stock he put in the histories. Another legend claims that we desce nded from wolvesand that the wolves are our brothers still. Its against tribal law to kill them.Then there are the stories about the cold ones. His voice dropped a little lower.The cold ones?Yes. There are stories of the cold ones as old as the wolf legends, and some much more recent. According to legend, my own great-grandfather knew some of them. He was the one who made the treaty that kept them off our land. Jacob turn his eyes. Your great-grandfather?He was a tribal elder, like my father. You see, the cold ones are the congenital enemies of the wolf well, not the wolf really, but the wolves that turn into men, like our ancestors. You would call them werewolves.Werewolves have enemies?Only one.There was something stuck in my throat, choking me. I tried to swallow it down, but it was lodged there, un-moving. I tried to spit it out.Werewolf, I gasped.Yes, that was the word that I was choking on.The whole world lurched, tilting the wrong way on its axis.What kind of a place was th is? Could a world really pull round where ancient legends went wandering around the borders of tiny, insignificant townsfolks, facing down fabulous monsters? Did this mean every impossible fairy tale was grounded somewhere in absolute truth? Was there anything sane or normal at all, or was everything just magic and ghost stories?I clutched my head in my hands, trying to keep it from exploding.A small, dry voice in the back of my mind asked me what the big deal was. Hadnt I already accepted the mankind of vampires long agoand without all the hysterics that time?Exactly, I wanted to scream back at the voice. Wasnt one myth enough for anyone, enough for a lifespan?Besides, thered never been one moment that I wasnt completely aware that Edward Cullen was above and beyond the ordinary. It wasnt such a surprise to find out what he wasbecause he so obviously was something.But Jacob? Jacob, who was just Jacob, and nothing more than that? Jacob, my friend? Jacob, the only human Id ever been able to relate toAnd he wasnt even human.I fought the urge to scream again.What did this say about me?I knew the answer to that one. It said that there was something deeply wrong with me. Why else would my life be filled with characters from horror movies? Why else would I care so much about them that it would tear big chunks right out of my chest when they went off along their mythical ways?In my head, everything spun and shifted, rearranging so that things that had meant one thing before, now meant something else.There was no cult. There had never been a cult, never been a gang. No, it was much worse than that. It was a deal.A pack of five mind-blowingly gigantic, multihued werewolves that had stalked right past me in Edwards meadowSuddenly, I was in a frantic hurry. I glanced at the clockit was way too early and I didnt care. I had to go to La Push now. I had to see Jacob so he could tell me that I hadnt lost my mind altogether.I pulled on the first clean clothes I could fi nd, not bothering to be sure they matched, and took the stairs two at a time. I almost ran into Charlie as I skidded into the hallway, headed for the door.Where are you going? he asked, as surprised to see me as I was to see him. Do you know what time it is?Yeah. I have to go see Jacob.I thought the thing with SamThat doesnt matter, I have to talk to him right now.Its clean early. He frowned when my expression didnt change. Dont you want breakfast?Not hungry. The words flew through my lips. He was blocking my path to the exit. I considered ducking around him and making a run for it, but I knew I would have to explain that to him later. Ill be back soon, okay?Charlie frowned. Straight to Jacobs house, right? No pelf on the way?Of course not, where would I stop? My words were path together in my hurry.I dont know, he admitted. Its just well, theres been another attackthe wolves again. It was real close to the resort by the hot springstheres a witness this time. The victim was only a dozen yards from the road when he disappeared. His wife saw a huge gray wolf just a few minutes later, while she was searching for him, and ran for help.My stomach dropped like Id hit a corkscrew on a roller coaster. A wolf attacked him?Theres no sign of himjust a little blood again. Charlies face was pained. The rangers are going out armed, taking armed volunteers. Therere a lot of hunters who are eager to be involvedtheres a reward being offered for wolf carcasses. Thats going to mean a lot of firepower out there in the forest, and it worries me. He shook his head. When people get too excited, accidents happenTheyre going to shoot the wolves? My voice shot through three octaves.What else can we do? Whats wrong? he asked, his tense eyes studying my face. I felt faint I must be whiter than usual. You arent turning into a tree-hugger on me, are you?I couldnt answer. If he hadnt been watching me, I would have put my head mingled with my knees. Id forgotten about the missing hikers , the bloody paw prints I hadnt attached those facts to my first realization.Look, honey, dont let this scare you. Just stay in town or on the highwayno stopsokay?Okay, I repeated in a fallible voice.Ive got to go.I looked at him closely for the first time, and saw that he had his gun strapped to his waist and hiking boots on.You arent going out there after the wolves, are you, dada?Ive got to help, Bells. People are disappearing.My voice shot up again, almost hysterical now. No No, dont go. Its too dangerousIve got to do my job, kid. Dont be such a pessimistIll be fine. He turned for the door, and held it open. You leaving?I hesitated, my stomach still spinning in uncomfortable loops. What could I say to stop him? I was too dizzy to think of a solution.Bells?Maybe its too early to go to La Push, I whispered.I agree, he said, and he stepped out into the rain, shutting the door behind him.As soon as he was out of sight, I dropped to the floor and put my head between my knees.Shou ld I go after Charlie? What would I say?And what about Jacob? Jacob was my best friend I involve to warn him. If he really was aI cringed and forced myself to think the wordwerewolf (and I knew it was true, I could feel it), then people would be shooting at him I needed to tell him and his friends that people would try to kill them if they went running around like gigantic wolves. I needed to tell them to stop.They had to stop Charlie was out there in the woods. Would they care about that? I wondered Up until now, only strangers had disappeared. Did that mean anything, or was it just materialise?I needed to believe that Jacob, at least, would care about that. each way, I had to warn him.Or did I?Jacob was my best friend, but was he a monster, too? A real one? A bad one? Should I warn him, if he and his friends were were murderers If they were out slaughtering innocent hikers in cold blood? If they were truly creatures from a horror movie in every sense, would it be wrong to protec t them?It was inevitable that I would have to compare Jacob and his friends to the Cullens. I wrapped my arms around my chest, fighting the hole, while I thought of them.I didnt know anything about werewolves, clearly. I would have expected something closer to the moviesbig hairy half-men creatures or somethingif Id expected anything at all. So I didnt know what made them hunt, whether hunger or thirst or just a desire to kill. It was hard to judge, not knowing that.But it couldnt be worse than what the Cullens endured in their quest to be good. I thought of Esmethe tears started when I pictured her kind, lovely faceand how, as motherly and harming as she was, shedhad to hold her nose, all ashamed, and run from me when I was bleeding. It couldnt be harder than that. I thought of Carlisle, the centuries upon centuries that he had struggled to teach himself to ignore blood, so that he could save lives as a doctor. Nothing could be harder than that.The werewolves had chosen a differen t path.Now, what should I choose?