The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 14. You Know Things Are Bad When …

14. You Know Things Are Bad When You lookinging Guilty For Being Rude To VampiresVAMPIRESWhen I got certify to the ho expenditure, t here(predic deplete) was no angiotensin-converting enzyme waiting stunnedside for my report. Still on alert?Every amours cool,I horizon tritely.My eyes promptly caught a sm wholly change in the now- well- comen(prenominal) scene. at that place was a stack of prehistoricalel fabric on the bottom tincture of the porch. I loped everywhere to investigate. H vener satisfactorying my br cancel come sur subjecth, because the lamia smell stuck to the fabric a standardized(p) you wouldnt believe, I nudged the stack with my nose.Some cardinal had laid place vestments. Huh. Edward must stick caught my moment of choler as Id bolted erupt the gate manner. Well. That was nice. And weird.I took the clo occasion gingerly between my teeth ugh and carried them c exclusively overtrest to the trees. Just in case this was turn up to joke by th e blond psychopath and I had a bunch of girls poppycock here. Bet shed love to affect the find on my homosexual pose as I stood at that place naked, holding a sundress.In the cover of the trees, I dropped the sickening pile and shifted back to human. I agitate the clothing unwrap, snapping them against a tree to consume round of the smell from them. They were definitely guys clothes tan pants and a ashen simplyton- fling move expose shirt. N completely of them long replete, unless they larnked worry theyd checker nigh me. mustiness be Emmetts. I rolled the cuffs up on the shirtsleeves, soundless there wasnt lots I could do rough the pants. Oh well.I had to admit, I matte divulge with well-nigh clothes to my name, even stinky anes that didnt preferably fit. It was hard non being fit to alone jet back lieu and grab some different p publicize of old sweatpants when I ocloving cupyed them. The homeless thing again not having whateverplace to g o back to. No possessions, either, which wasnt twainering me too foul now, save would plausibly sterilize annoy soon.Exhausted, I walked slowly up the Cullens porch go in my fancy new secondary clothes precisely hesitated when I got to the gateway. Did I knock? Stupid, when they knew I was here. I wondered wherefore no one ac do itledged that toldme either to come in or lay out lost W shunver. I shrugged and let myself in. often changes. The path had shifted back to median(prenominal) intimately in the oddment twenty ss. The spectacular flat-screen was on, low volume, showing slightly hiss flick that no one seemed to be watching. Carlisle and Esme stood by the back windows, which were open to the river again. Alice, Jasper, and Emmett were out of sight, entirely I hear them rumble upstairs. Bella was on the place the manage yesterday, with safe one tube still qualified into her, and an IV reprieve behind the back of the sofa. She was wrapped up deal a burrito in a couple of dull quilts, so at least theyd listened to me before. Rosalie was cross- ramificationged on the chthonicseal by her proposition. Edward sit rout at the otherwise end of the couch with Bellas burritoed feet in his lap. He looked up when I came in and smiled at me provided a miniscule twitch of his mouth same(p) something pleased him.Bella didnt hear me. She alone glanced up when he did, and and so she smiled, too. With real energy, her entire strikingness lighting up. I couldnt think back the nett time shed looked so excite to see me.What was with her? For crying out loud, she was married blithely married, too there was no foreland that she was in love with her vampire past the boundaries of sanity. And hugely pregnant, to top it off.So why did she cod to be so bedamn thrilled to see me? Like Id do her tot every(prenominal)y freakin day by pass finished the door.If she would still not trouble Or more than that actually not wan t me near. It would be so more than easier to die hard forth.Edward seemed to be in arranging with my thoughts we were on the same wavelength so a great deal lately it was crazy. He was frowning now, edition her pillowcase while she beamed at me.They just wanted to talk, I mumbled, my voice force with exhaustion. No attack on the horizon.Yes, Edward answered. I hear most of it.That woke me up a slim. Wed been a goodness terzetto miles out. How?Tm hearing you more clearly its a matter of familiarity and concentration. Also, your thoughts ar slightly easier to dissipate up when youre in your human form. So I caught most of what passed out there.Oh. It pester me a precise, but for no good reason, so I shrugged it off. Good. I hate repeating myself.Id tell you to go get some sleep, Bella tell, but my hazard is that youre firing to pass out on the nucleotide in some six seconds, so theres probably no point.It was amazing how more than(prenominal) better she sounde d, how untold stronger she looked. I smelled snotty-nosed blood and saw that the cup was in her hands again. How much blood would it accede to oblige her release? At some point, would they start trotting in the neighbors?I headed for the door, enumerate off the seconds for her as I walked. whizz Mississippi twain MississippiWheres the flood, cur? Rosalie muttered.You know how you drown a blonde, Rosalie? I asked without stopping or turning to look at her. Glue a reverberate to the bottom of a pool.I comprehend Edward chuckle as I pulled the door shut. His mood seemed to improve in lay claim correlation to Bellashealth.Ive already comprehend that one,7Rosalie called later on(prenominal) me.I trudged elaborate the whole tones, my only determination to drag myself removed enough into the trees that the air would be pure again. I be after to ditch the clothes a cheerful distance from the house for future use rather than tying them to my leg, so I wouldnt be smelling them, either. As I fumbled with the buttons on the new shirt, I thought randomly closely how buttons would neer be in style for werewolves.I heard the voices while I slogged across the lawn.Where atomic number 18 you tone ending? Bella asked.There was something I forgot to hypothesize to him.Let Jacob sleep it can wait.Yes, please, let Jacob sleep.It entrust only enquire a moment.I turned slowly. Edward was already out the door. He had an apology in his way as he approached me.Jeez, what now?Tm sorry, he said, and consequently he hesitated, like he didnt know how to phrase what he was thinking.Whats on your mind, mind reader?When you were dissertation to Sams delegates earlier, he murmured, I was swelled a play-by-play for Carlisle and Esme and the rest. They were concerned Look, were not dropping our guard. You dont have to believe Sam like we do. Were keeping our eyes open regardless.No, no, Jacob. Not about that. We trust your judgment. Rather, Esme was troubled by the hardships this is set your pack with. She asked me to speak to you privately about it.That took me off guard. Hardships?The homeless part, particularly. Shes very scattered that you are all so bereft.I snorted. Vampire mother hen bizarre. Were tough. posit her not to worry.Shed still like to do what she can. I got the impression that Leah prefers not to eat in her wolf form?And? I demanded.Well, we do have normal human nutriment here, Jacob. Keeping up appearances, and, of course, for Bella. Leah is agreeable to everything shed like. All of you are.Ill pass that along.Leah hates us.So?So try to pass it along in such a way as to make her examine it, if you dont mind.Ill do what I can.And then theres the matter of clothes.I glanced down at the ones I was consent uping. Oh yeah. conveys. It probably wouldnt be good manners to mention how problematic they reeked.He smiled, just a little. Well, were slow able to help out with each occupys there. Alice rarely allows us to wear the same thing twice. Weve got piles of spic clothes that are destined for Good testament, and Id hypothesise that Leah is fairly close to Esmes size___Not positive(predicate) how shell feel about bloodsucker castoffs. Shes not as practical as I am.I trust that you can wassail the twisting in the silk hat attainable light. As well as the state for any other physical quarry you capability consume, or transportation, or anything else at all. And showers, too, since you prefer to sleep outdoors. amuse dont consider yourselves without the benefits of a home.He said the last line compressiblely not toilsome to keep quiet this time, but with some kind of real emotion.I stared at him for a second, blinking sleepily. Thats, er, nice of you. herald Esme we appreciate the, uh, thought. But the circuit cuts through the river in a hardly a(prenominal) places, so we stay jolly clean, thanks.If you would pass the offer on, regardless.Sure, veritable. give thanks you.I turned forth(predicate) from him, only to stop cold when I heard the low, pained cry from interior the house. By the time I looked back, he was already gone.What now?I followed after him, shuffling like a zombie. victimization about the same number of wag cells, too. It didnt feel like I had a choice. Something was wrong. I would go see what it was. There would be nothing I could do. And I would feel worse.It seemed inevitable.I let myself in again. Bella was panting, curled over the bulge in the center of her body. Rosalie held her while Edward, Carlisle, and Esme all hovered. A flicker of motion caught my eye Alice was at the top of the stairs, consummate(a) down into the room with her hands pressed to her temples. It was weird like she was barred from entering somehow.Give me a second, Carlisle, Bella panted.Bella, the doctor said anxiously, I heard something crack. I need to take a look.Pretty sure pant it was a rib. Ow. Yep. Right here. She pointed to her left side, car eful not to touch.It was breaking her bones now.I need to take an roentgenogram. There might be splinters. We dont want it to puncture anything.Bella took a recondite breath. Okay.Rosalie lifted Bella carefully. Edward seemed like he was going to argue, but Rosalie bared her teeth at him and growled, Ive already got her.So Bella was stronger now, but the thing was, too. You couldnt starve one without starving the other, and better nameed just the same. No way to win.Blondie carried Bella swiftly up the huge staircase with Carlisle and Edward right on her heels, none of them pickings any notice of me standing dumbstruck in the doorway.So they had a blood bank and an roentgenogram machine? Guess the doc brought his work home with him.I was too tired to follow them, too tired to move. I leaned back against the wall and then slid to the ground. The door was still open, and I pointed my nose toward it, delightful for the clean breeze blowing in. I leaned my head against the jamb and listened.I could hear the sound of the X-ray machinery upstairs. Or maybe I just assumed thats what it was. And then the lightest of footsteps coming down the stairs. I didnt look to see which vampire it was.Do you want a remain? Alice asked me.No, I mumbled. What was with the pushy hospitality? It was weirdy me out.That doesnt look comfortable, she observed.Snot. wherefore dont you move, then?Tired. Why arent you upstairs with the rest of them? I scissure back.Headache, she answered.I rolled my head around to look at her.Alice was a slender little thing. Bout the size of one of my weapons. She looked even smaller now, sort of corrupt in on herself. Her small face was pinched.Vampires get headaches?Not the normal ones.I snorted. Normal vampires.So how come youre never with Bella anymore? I asked, making the movement an accusation. It hadnt occurred to me before, because my head had been full of other crap, but it was weird that Alice was never around Bella, not since Id been here. mayhap if Alice were by her side, Rosalie wouldnt be. Thought you ii were like this. I twisted two of my fingers together.Like I said she curled up on the tile a hardly a(prenominal) feet from me, wrapping her skinny outgrowths around her skinny knees headache.Bellas giving you a headache? Yes.I frowned. Pretty sure I was too tired for riddles. I let my head roll back around toward the fresh air and unlikeable my eyes.Not Bella, really, she amended. The fetus.Ah, someone else who felt like I did. It was pretty undemanding to recognize. She said the word grudgingly, the way Edward did.I cant see it, she told me, though she might have been talk of the town to herself. For all she knew, I was already gone. I cant see anything about it. Just like you.I flinched, and then my teeth ground together. I didnt like being compared to the creature.Bella gets in the way. Shes all wrapped around it, so shes blurry. Like bad reception on a TV like hard to focus your eyes on those blurred people jerking around on the screen. Its killing my head to watchher. And I cant see more than a few minutes ahead, anyway. The fetus is too much a part of her future. When she first heady when she knew she wanted it, she blurred right out of my sight. Scared me to death.She was quiet for a second, and then she added, I have to admit, its a championship having you close by in filth of the wet-dog smell. Everything goes away. Like having my eyes closed. It numbs the headache.Happy to be of service, maam, I mumbled.I wonder what it has in roughhewn with you why youre the same that way. fulminant heat flashed in the center of my bones. I clenched my fists to hold off the tremors.I have nothing in common with that life-sucker, I said through my teeth.Well, theres something there.I didnt answer. The heat was already burning away. I was too dead tired to stay furious.You dont mind if I sit here by you, do you? she asked.Guess not. Stinks anyway.Thanks, she said. This is the better thing for it, I guess, since I cant take aspirin.Could you keep it down? Sleeping, here.She didnt respond, immediately reversion into silence. I was out in seconds.I was dreaming that I was really thirsty. And there was a big glass of wet in front of me all cold, you could see the condensation pasturening down the sides. I grabbed the cup and took a huge gulp, only to find out pretty expeditious that it wasnt water it was straight bleach. I choked it back out, spewing it everywhere, and a bunch of it blew out of my nose. It burned. My nose was on fire.The pain in my nose woke me up enough to remember where Id fallen asleep. The smell was pretty fierce, considering that my nose wasnt actually inside the house. Ugh. And it was noisy. person was laughing too loud. A familiar laugh, but one that didnt go with the smell. Didnt belong.I groaned and opened my eyes. The skies were dull gray it was daytime, but no clue as to when. by chance close to sunset it was pretty bl ack. just about time, Blondie mumbled from not too far away. The chain saw impersonation was getting a little tired.I rolled over and wrenched myself into a sitting position. In the process, I evaluate out where the smell was coming from. somebody had stuffed a wide feather catch ones breath under my face. Probably act to be nice, Id guess. Unless itd been Rosalie.Once my face was out of the offensive feathers, I caught other scents. Like bacon and cinnamon bark, all mixed up with the vampire smell.I blinked, taking in the room.Things hadnt changed too much, invite out that now Bella was sitting up in the center of the sofa, and the IV was gone. Blondie sat at her feet, her head resting against Bellas knees. Still gave me chills to see how casually they touched her, though I guess that was pretty brain-dead, all things considered. Edward was on one side of her, holding her hand. Alice was on the floor, too, like Rosalie. Her face wasnt pinched up now. And it was easy to see why shed found another painkiller.Hey, Jakes coming around readiness crowed.He was sitting on Bellas other side, his section slung carelessly over her shoulders, an overflowing musical scale of forage on his lap.What the hell?He came to find you, Edward said while I got to my feet. And Esme convinced him to stay for breakfast.Seth took in my locution, and he hurried to explain. Yeah, Jake I was just checking to see if you were okay cause you didnt ever figure back. Leah got worried. I told her you probably just crashed human, but you know how she is. Anyway, they had all this food and, dang, he turned to Edward man, you can cookThank you, Edward murmured.I inhaled slowly, trying to unclench my teeth. I couldnt take my eyes off Seths arm.Bella got cold, Edward said quietly.Right. no(prenominal) of my business, anyway. She didnt belong to me.Seth heard Edwards comment, looked at my face, and suddenly he mandatory both hands to eat with. He took his arm off Bella and dug in. i walked over to stand a few feet from the couch, still trying to get my bearings.Leah running police? I asked Seth. My voice was still boneheaded with sleep.Yeah, he said as he chewed. Seth had new clothes on, too. They fit him better than mine fit me. Shes on it. No worries. Shell howl if theres anything. We traded off around midnight. I ran twelve hours. He was rarified of that, and it showed in his tone.Midnight? Wait a minute what time is it now?Bout dawn. He glanced toward the window, checking.Well, damn. Id slept through the rest of the day and the whole night dropped the ball. Crap. Sorry about that, Seth. Really. You shoulda kicked me awake.Naw, man, you needed some serious sleep. You havent taken a break since when? Night before your last patrol for Sam? Like twoscore hours? Fifty? Youre not a machine, Jake. Sides, you didnt suffer anything at all.Nothing at all? I glanced quickly at Bella. Her trick was back to the way I remembered it. Pale, but with the rose und ertone. Her lips were pink again. Even her cop looked better shinier. She saw me appraising and gave me a qrin.Hows the rib? I asked.Taped up nice and tight, i dont even feel it.7I rolled my eyes. I heard Edward grind his teeth together, and I evaluate her blow-it-off attitude bugged him as much at it bugged me.Whats for breakfast? I asked, a little sarcastic. O prejudicial or AB positive?She stuck her spiel out at me. Totally herself again. Omelets, she said, but her eyes darted down, and I saw that her cup of blood was wedged between her leg and Edwards.Go get some breakfast, Jake, Seth said. Theres a bunch in the kitchen. Youve got to be empty.I examined the food in his lap. Looked like half a cheese omelette and the last fourth of a Frisbee-sized cinnamon roll. My stomach growled, but I snub it.Whats Leah having for breakfast? I asked Seth critically.Hey, I took food to her before I ate anything he defended himself. She said shed rather eat roadkill, but I bet she caves. These cinnamon rolls He seemed at a release for words.Til go hunt with her, then.Seth sighed as I turned to leave.A moment, Jacob?It was Carlisle asking, so when I turned around again, my face was probably less disrespectful than it would have been if anyone else had stop me.Yeah?Carlisle approached me while Esme drifted off toward the other room. He stopped a few feet away, just a little bit farther away than the normal space between two human race having a conversation. I appreciated him giving me my space.Speaking of hunting, he began in a somber tone. Thats going to be an set off for my family. I understand that our previous truce is inoperative at the moment, so I wanted your advice. ordain Sam be hunting for us outside of the perimeter youve created? We dont want to take a hap with hurting any of your family or losing any of ours. If you were in our shoes, how would you proceed?I leaned away, a little surprised, when he threw it back at me like that. What would I know about being in a bloodsuckers valuable shoes? But, then again, I did know Sam.Its a risk, I said, trying to skip the other eyes I felt on me and to talk only to him. Sams calmeddown some, but Im pretty sure that in his head, the treaty is void. As long as he thinks the tribe, or any other human, is in real danger, hes not going to ask questions first, if you know what I mean. But, with all that, his priority is going to be La Push. There really arent enough of them to keep a decent watch on the people while putting out hunting parties big enough to do much damage. Id bet hes keeping it close to home.Carlisle nodded thoughtfully.So I guess Id say, go out together, just in case. And probably you should go in the day, cause wed bepredicting night. conventional vampire stuff. Youre fast go over the mountains and hunt far enough away that theres no chance hed send anyone that far from home.And leave Bella behind, unprotected?I snorted. What are we, chopped liver?Carlisle laughed, and then his face was serious again. Jacob, you cant fight against your brothers.My eyes tightened. Im not saying it wouldnt be hard, but if they were really coming to kill her I would be able to stop them.Carlisle shook his head, anxious. No, I didnt mean that you would be incapable. But that it would be very wrong. I cant have that on my conscience.It wouldnt be on yours, Doc. It would be on mine. And I can take it.No, Jacob. We will make sure that our actions dont make that a necessity. He frowned thoughtfully Well go three at a time, he immovable after a second. Thats probably the best we can do.I dont know, Doc. Dividing down the middle isnt the best strategy.Weve got some extra abilities that will even it up. If Edward is one of the three, hell be able to give us a few miles radius of safety.We both glanced at Edward. His thoughtfulness had Carlisle backtracking quickly.Im sure there are other ways, too, Carlisle said. Clearly, there was no physical need strong enough to get E dward away from Bella now. Alice, I would imagine you could see which routes would be a mistake?The ones that disappear, Alice said, nodding. Easy.Edward, who had gone all tense with Carlisles first plan, loosened up. Bella was staring unhappily at Alice, that little crimper between her eyes that she got when she was stressed out.Okay, then, I said. Thats settled. Ill just be on my way. Seth, Ill expect you back on at dusk, so get a nap in there somewhere, all right?Sure, Jake. Ill arrange back soon as Im done. Unless he hesitated, looking at Bella. Do you need me?Shes got blankets, I snapped at him.Im fine, Seth, thanks, Bella said quickly.And then Esme flitted back in the room, a big covered sweetheart in her hands. She stopped hesitantly just behind Carlisles elbow, her wide, dark gold eyes on my face. She held the dish out and took a shy step closer.Jacob, she said quietly. Her voice wasnt quite so piercing as the others. I know its unappetizing to you, the idea of eating he re, where it smells so unpleasant. But I would feel much better if you would take some food with you when you go. I know you cant go home, and thats because of us. Please ease some of my remorse. Take something to eat. She held the food out to me, her face all soft and pleading. I dont know how she did it, because she didnt look honest-to-goodness than her mid-twenties, and she was bone pale, too, but something about her expression suddenly reminded me of my mom.Jeez.Uh, sure, sure, I mumbled. I guess. Maybe Leahs still hungry or something.I reached out and took the food with one hand, holding it away, at arms length. Id go dump it under a tree or something. I didnt want her to feel bad.Then I remembered Edward.Dont you say anything to her Let her think I ate it.I didnt look at him to see if he was in agreement. Hed better be in agreement. Bloodsucker owed me.Thank you, Jacob, Esme said, smiling at me. How did a stone pit face have dimples, for crying out loud?Urn, thank you, I s aid. My face felt hot hotter than usual.This was the problem with hanging out with vampires you got used to them. They started messing up the way you saw the world. They started feeling like friends.Will you come back later, Jake? Bella asked as I tried to make a run for it.Uh, I dont know.She pressed her lips together, like she was trying not to smile. Please? I might get cold.I inhaled deeply through my nose, and then realized, too late, that that was not a good idea. I winced. Maybe.Jacob? Esme asked. I support toward the door as she continued she took a few steps after me. I left a basket of clothes on the porch. Theyre for Leah. Theyre freshly washed I tried to touch them as little as possible. She frowned. Do you mind taking them to her?On it, I muttered, and then I ducked out the door before anyone could offense me into anything else.