reaching dusk (WATTY Awards 2013)

chapter 11

okay so what u think so far I need to finish this fast for WATTY awards

Nessie POV

We made the drive from La Push to Forks in record time. It was torture as we had to pry ourselves off the beach, away from our perfect night together, but we both knew we couldn't escape our fate for long- or my fate at least. Jacob kept the gas pedal floored as until we had almost reached the winding road leading to our house snapping the silver phone shut as we turned onto the driveway. He had been on the phone with my father practically the entire way home, getting all the details of Alice's newest vision.

I felt every bit of the bliss from our wedding night slither off of me as we pulled into the garage. Jacob parked my father's car in it's normal spot and cut the engine.

"It looks like Emmett and Rose made it back last night," I said eying their car on the opposite side of the garage.

"Perfect. I have been working on new material to use on Barbie." I was sure under normal circumstances humor would have colored his statement, but his words sounded strained.

I sat still in the front seat with my hand on the door handle, but I couldn't bring myself to open it. I sat staring at the wall through the car window. Jacob took my hand in his and kissed the top of it lightly letting his lips trail up my arm. He pulled me softly so that I leaned up against him and wrapped his arms around me.

"I love you" he whispered into my hair.

I dropped my hand from the door handle and reach around to embrace him. I wanted to tell him to start the car and we would just run for it, but I thought of my family inside and how hurt they would be. Plus, it wasn't very practical- we couldn't keep running forever. No, I would go in and face my destiny head on.

I took a deep breath and pulled myself out of Jacob's arms. Be brave, I thought as I flung the car door open and walked out of the garage slamming the door behind me.

Jacob fell into step behind me as I kept a deliberate, slow human pace towards the house.

"Ugh!" he said disgusted.

"What?" I looked over beside me to see him twist his face around into a sour expression.

"That smell….it's awful. I feel like I snorted ice water up my nose!" he replied.

He crinkled his nose at the scent filling the air. I could smell it too. It was the same sweet smell of my family all blended together, but each individual blend was distinct…and greatly amplified so I knew the Volturi were here.

"I thought you'd be used to it by now," I said trying to keep my tone light. I didn't want anymore confrontation between the wolves and the guard. We would all have work as a team soon.

A wry smile spread across his face.

"For the most part, but these vamps smell different…probably the all you can eat human buffet they stopped at on the way." I chuckled a little under my breath at his candor regarding vampires. I had only really been exposed to one type of lifestyle so I had no problem adhering to our family's rules, but I also knew how powerful the scent and taste of human blood could be.

"Not everyone is like us, Jake. Try to remember they are here to help, okay? Besides, they know our rules…they won't be feeding here." He shuddered a little on the reference to feeding.

"Dirty leeches."

"Hey, easy on the profanity! I'm half vampire, in case you forgot?" I knew he wasn't referring to me specifically, but I still couldn't help the retort. He unscrewed the repulsive expression from his face immediately and replaced it with a sly smile.