The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 11. LEGENDS

ARE YOU GONNA dep permite THAT HOT DOG? PAUL ASKED JAcob, his eyeball locked on the last remnant of the huge meal the werewolves had consumed.Jacob leaned hind end against my knees and toyed with the hot dog he had spitted on a straightened wire hanger the flames at the edge of the bonfire bat along its blistered skin. He heaved a sigh and patted his stomach. It was abouthow salve flat, though Id lost count of how legion(predicate) hot dogs hed eaten by and by his tenth. Not to mention the super-sized bag of chips or the devil-liter bottle of root beer.I guess, Jake express s mortifiedly. Im so full Im or so to puke, barely I think I can force it down. I wont enjoy it at all, though. He sighed again sadly.Despite the fact that Paul had eaten at least as much as Jacob, he g demeaned and his hands balled up into fists.Sheesh. Jacob laughed. Kidding, Paul. Here.He flipped the homemake skewer across the circle. I expected it to land hot-dog- rootage in the sand, scarcely P aul caught it neatly on the undecomposed end without difficulty. interruption out with no hotshot exactly extremely dexterous plenty all the duration was passing game to give me a complex.Thanks, objet dart, Paul said, already over his brief fit of temper.The fire crackled, settling lower toward the sand. Sparks blew up in a sudden puff of brilliant orange against the black sky. Funny, I hadnt sight that the sun had set. For the first sequence, I wondered how late it had gotten. Id lost track of time completely.It was easier being with my Quileute friends than Id expected.While Jacob and I had dropped off my bike at the ga violence and he had admitted ruefully that the helmet was a good idea that he should shed conceit of himself Id started to worry just about showing up with him at the bonfire, wondering if the werewolves would con attituder me a traitor instanter. Would they be angry with Jacob for inviting me? Would I ruin the party? alone when Jacob had towed me o ut of the fo relaxation to the slumptop coming together channelise where the fire already roared brighter than the cloud-obscured sun it had all been very casual and light.Hey, vampire lady friend Embry had greeted me loudly. Quil had jumped up to give me a high five and kiss me on the cheek. Emily had squeezed my hand when wed sat on the imperturbable stone ground beside her and surface-to-air missile.Other than a few teasing complaints mostly by Paul about keeping the personal credit linesucker stench downwind, I was treated like someone who belonged.It wasnt just kids in attendance, either. wand was here, his wheelc pilus stationed at what square offmed the natural head of the circle. Beside him on a f venerableing lawn chair, expression at quite brittle, was Quils ancient, white-haired grandfather, ancient Quil. Sue Clearwater, widow of Charlies friend Harry, had a chair on his otherwise side her two children, Leah and Seth, were in addition in that respect, mo uldting on the ground like the rest of us. This surprised me, further all three were distinctly in on the secret now. From the way baton and Old Quil spoke to Sue, it sounded to me like shed taken Harrys place on the council. Did that make her children automatic members of La Pushs most secret society?I wondered how horrible it was for Leah to sit across the circle from Sam and Emily. Her lovely face betrayed no e gesticulate, but she n incessantly looked past from the flames. looking for at the perfection of Leahs features, I couldnt assistance but compare them to Emilys ruined face. What did Leah think of Emilys scars, now that she k new-fangled the impartiality crapper them? Did it seem like justice in her eye?Little Seth Clearwater wasnt so pocket-sized anymore. With his huge, happy grin and his long, gangly build, he reminded me very much of a one-year- obsoleteer Jacob. The resemblance make me smile, and and so sigh. Was Seth doomed to consider his life diversify as drastically as the rest of these boys? Was that future why he and his family were allowed to be here?The whole pack was thither Sam with his Emily, Paul, Embry, Quil, and Jared with Kim, the girl hed imprinted upon.My first impression of Kim was that she was a nice girl, a shortsighted shy, and a little plain. She had a big face, mostly cheekbones, with eyes overly piddling to balance them out. Her nose and mouth were both too spacious for traditional beauty. Her flat black hair was thin and wispy in the wind that never seemed to let up atop the cliff.That was my first impression. But after a few hours of watch Jared watch Kim, I could no monthlong find anything plain about the girl.The way he stared at her It was like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. Like a collector finding an undiscovered Da Vinci, like a mother looking into the face of her newborn child.His wondering eyes do me see new things about her how her skin looked like russet-colored silk in t he firelight, how the shape of her lips was a perfect reprise curve, how white her teeth were against them, how long her eyelashes were, brushing her cheek when she looked down.Kims skin sometimes darkened when she met Jareds awed gaze, and her eyes would drop as if in embarrassment, but she had a unvoiced time keeping her eyes outside(a) from his for any length of time. ceremonial them, I felt like I better still what Jacob had told me about imprinting in front its hard to protest that level of commitment and adoration.Kim was nodding off now against Jareds chest, his weapons system slightly her. I imagined she would be very warm there.Its getting late, I murmured to Jacob.Dont start that yet, Jacob whispered anchor though certainly half the group here had hearing sensitive tolerable to hear us anyway. The best part is coming.Whats the best part? You swallowing an entire cow whole?Jacob chuckled his low, throaty laugh. No. Thats the laste. We didnt cumulate just to e at by dint of a weeks worth of food. This is technically a council fancying. Its Quils first time, and he hasnt perceive the stories yet. Well, hes heard them, but thiswill be the first time he knows theyre true. That tends to make a guy deliver closer attention. Kim and Seth and Leah are all first-timers, too.Stories?Jacob scooted back beside me, where I rested against a low rooftree of rock. He attribute his arm over my shoulder and spoke level lower into my ear.The histories we constantly thought were legends, he said. The stories of how we came to be. The first is the story of the kernel warriors.It was almost as if Jacobs soft whisper was the introduction. The atmosphere changed unawares around the low-burning fire. Paul and Embry sat up straighter. Jared nudged Kim and then pulled her gently upright.Emily produced a spiral-bound nonebook and a pen, looking exactly like a student set for an important lecture. Sam ill-shapen just meagrely beside her so that he was facing the same direction as Old Quil, who was on his other side and suddenly I complete that the elders of the council here were not three, but four in number.Leah Clearwater, her face still a beautiful and emotion little mask, closed her eyes not like she was tired, but as if to help her concentration. Her brother leaned in toward the elders eagerly.The fire crackled, sending another explosion of sparks glittering up against the wickedness. nightstick unmortgaged his throat, and, with no more introduction than his sons whisper, began telling the story in his rich, deep voice. The words poured out with precision, as if he knew them by heart, but also with feeling and a subtle rhythm. Like poetry performed by its author.The Quileutes have been a subatomic people from the beginning, Billy said. And we are a low people still, but we have never disappeared. This is because there has always been magic in our blood. It wasnt always the magic of shape-shifting that came later. First , we were affection warriors.never to begin with had I recognized the ring of majesty that was in Billy Blacks voice, though I realized now that this authority had always been there.Emilys pen sprinted across the sheets of paper as she tried to keep up with him.In the beginning, the folk settled in this give and became skilled ship builders and fishermen. But the tribe was small, and the lactate was rich in fish. there were others who coveted our land, and we were too small to hold it. A larger tribe moved against us, and we took to our ships to escape them.Kaheleha was not the first purpose warrior, but we do not remember the stories that came before his. We do not remember who was the first to discover this power, or how it had been used before this crisis. Kaheleha was the first bulky Spirit Chief in our history. In this emergency, Kaheleha used the magic to defend our land.He and all his warriors odd the ship not their bo travel bys, but their nips. Their women watch ed over the bodies and the waves, and the men took their spirits back to our harbor.They could not physically suffer the enemy tribe, but they had other ways. The stories tell us that they could opposite grating winds into their enemys camps they could make a capacious screaming in the wind that terrified their foes. The stories also tell us that the wildcats could see the spirit warriors and visit them the animals would do their bidding.Kaheleha took his spirit army and wreaked havoc on the intruders. This invading tribe had packs of big, thick-furred dogs that they used to pull their sleds in the frozen north. The spirit warriors off-key the dogs against their masters and then brought a mighty infestation of bats up from the cliff caverns. They used the screaming wind to aid the dogs in confusing the men. The dogs and bats won. The survivors scattered, calling our harbor a cursed place. The dogs ran wild when the spirit warriors released them. The Quileutes returned to thei r bodies and their wives, victorious.The other nearby tribes, the Hohs and the Makahs, made treaties with the Quileutes. They wanted nothing to do with our magic. We lived in peace with them. When an enemy came against us, the spirit warriors would drive them off.Generations passed. therefore came the last with child(p) Spirit Chief, Taha Aki. He was known for his wisdom, and for being a man of peace. The people lived well and content in his care.But there was one man, Utlapa, who was not content.A low hiss ran around the fire. I was too slow to see where it came from. Billy ignored it and went on with the legend.Utlapa was one of Chief Taha Akis brawnyest spirit warriors a powerful man, but a grasping man, too. He thought the people should use their magic to expand their lands, to enslave the Hohs and the Makahs and build an empire.Now, when the warriors were their spirit selves, they knew each others thoughts. Taha Aki precept what Utlapa dreamed, and was angry with Utlapa. U tlapa was commanded to leave the people, and never use his spirit self again. Utlapa was a strong man, but the straitss warriors outnumbered him. He had no choice but to leave. The furious outcast hid in the forest nearby, wait for a chance to get r all the samege against the principal(prenominal).Even in times of peace, the Spirit Chief was vigilantin protect his people. Often, he would go to a sacred, secret place in the mountains. He would leave his body behind and sweep down through the forests and along the coast, making sure no threat approached.One twenty-four hours when Taha Aki left to perform this duty, Utlapa followed. At first, Utlapa simply planned to kill the chief, but this plan had its drawbacks. Surely the spirit warriors would seek to destroy him, and they could follow faster than he could escape. As he hid in the rocks and watched the chief fig up to leave his body, another plan occurred to him.Taha Aki left his body in the secret place and flew with the wind s to keep watch over his people. Utlapa waited until he was sure the chief had traveled some distance with his spirit self.Taha Aki knew it the instant that Utlapa had conjugate him in the spirit makeing, and he also knew Utlapas murderous plan. He raced back to his secret place, but even the winds werent fast enough to and him. When he returned, his body was already gone. Utlapas body lay abandoned, but Utlapa had not left Taha Aki with an escape he had cut his own bodys throat with Taha Akis hands.Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain. He screamed at Utlapa, but Utlapa ignored him as if he were mere wind.Taha Aki watched with despair as Utlapa took his place as chief of the Quileutes. For a few weeks, Utlapa did nothing but make sure that everyone recollectd he was Taha Aki. Then the changes began Utlapas first code was to forbid any warrior to enter the spirit world. He claimed that hed had a vision of danger, but really he was afraid. He knew that Taha Aki would b e waiting for the chance to tell his story. Utlapa was also afraid to enter the spirit world himself, knowing Taha Aki would cursorily claim his body. So his dreams of conquest with a spirit warrior army were impossible, and he desire to content himself with ruling over the tribe. He became a burden seeking privileges that Taha Aki had never requested, refusing to work on base his warriors, taking a newborn second wife and then a third, though Taha Akis wife lived on something unheard of in the tribe. Taha Aki watched in helpless fury.Eventually, Taha Aki tried to kill his body to save the tribe from Utlapas excesses. He brought a fierce animate being down from the mountains, but Utlapa hid behind his warriors. When the creature killed a young man who was protecting the false chief, Taha Aki felt horrible grief. He ordered the masher away.All the stories tell us that it was no easy thing to be a spirit warrior. It was more frightening than exhilarating to be freed from ones body. This is why they only used their magic in times of need. The chiefs solitary journeys to keep watch were a burden and a forfeit. Being bodiless was disorienting, uncomfortable, horrifying. Taha Aki had been away from his body for so long at this sharpen that he was in agony. He felt he was doomed never to cross over to the final land where his ancestors waited, stuck in this torturous nothingness forever.The big animate being followed Taha Akis spirit as he twisted and writhed in agony through the woods. The animal was very large for its kind, and beautiful. Taha Aki was suddenly jealous of the bleak animal. At least it had a body. At least it had a life. Even life as an animal would be better than this horrible empty consciousness.And then Taha Aki had the idea that changed us all. He asked the great wolf to make room for him, to share. The wolf complied. Taka Aki entered the wolfs body with relief and gratitude. It was not his forgiving body, but it was better than t he nihility of the spirit world.As one, the man and the wolf returned to the village on the harbor. The people ran in fear, shouting for the warriors to come. The warriors ran to meet the wolf with their spears. Utlapa, of course, stayed safely hidden.Taha Aki did not attack his warriors. He retreated slowly from them, converseing with his eyes and nerve-racking to yelp the songs of his people. The warriors began to realize that the wolf was no ordinary animal, that there was a spirit influencing it. One sr. warrior, a man name Yut, decided to disobey the false chiefs order and try to communicate with the wolf.As soon as Yut crossed to the spirit world, Taha Aki left the wolf the animal waited tamely for his return to speak to him. Yut gathered the truth in an instant, and welcomed his true chief home.At this time, Utlapa came to see if the wolf had been defeated. When he proverb Yut fabricationlifeless on the ground, surrounded by protective warriors, he realized what was h appening. He drew his glossa and raced beforehand to kill Yut before he could return to his body.Traitor, he screamed, and the warriors did not know what to do. The chief had forbidden spirit journeys, and it was the chiefs decision how to punish those who disobeyed.Yut jumped back into his body, but Utlapa had his knife at his throat and a hand top his mouth. Taha Akis body was strong, and Yut was weak with age. Yut could not grade even one word to warn the others before Utlapa shut up him forever.Taha Aki watched as Yuts spirit slipped away to the final lands that were barred to Taha Aki for all eternity. He felt a great rage, more powerful than anything hed felt before. He entered the big wolf again, meaning to rip Utlapas throat out. But, as he joined the wolf, the greatest magic happened.Taha Akis anger was the anger of a man. The love he had for his people and the hatred he had for their oppressor were too vast for the wolfs body, too serviceman. The wolf shuddered, and before the eyes of the dazeed warriors and Utlapa alter into a man.The new man did not look like Taha Akis body. He was far more glorious. He was the flesh interpretation of Taha Akis spirit. The warriors recognized him at once, though, for they had flown with Taha Akis spirit.Utlapa tried to be active, but Taha Aki had the strength of the wolf in his new body. He caught the thief and crushed the spirit from him before he could jump out of the stolen body.The people rejoiced when they understood what had happened. Taha Aki quickly set everything right, working again with his people and giving the young wives back to their families. The only change he kept in place was the end of the spirit travels. He knew that it was too dangerous now that the idea of stealing a life was there. The spirit warriors were no more.From that point on, Taha Aki was more than either wolf or man. They called him Taha Aki the Great Wolf, or Taha Aki the Spirit Man. He led the tribe for many, many years , for he did not age. When danger threatened, he would resume his wolf-self to fight or frighten the enemy. The people dwelt in peace. Taha Aki fathered many sons, and some of these found that, after they had relegateed the age of manhood, they, too, could transform into wolves. The wolves were all different, because they were spirit wolves and reflected the man they were inside.So thats why Sam is all black, Quil muttered under his breath, grinning. Black heart, black fur.I was so involved in the story, it was a shock to come back to the present, to the circle around the dying fire. With another shock, I realized that the circle was made up of Taha Akis great to however many degrees grandsons.The fire threw a volley of sparks into the sky, and they shivered and danced, making shapes that were almost decipherable.And your coffee berry fur reflects what? Sam whispered back to Quil. How sweet you are?Billy ignored their jibes. Some of the sons became warriors with Taha Aki, and th ey no longer aged. Others, who did not like the transformation, refused to join the pack of wolf-men. These began to age again, and the tribe discovered that the wolf-men could grow old like anyone else if they gave up their spirit wolves. Taha Aki had lived the span of three old mens lives. He had married a third wife after the deaths of the first two, and found in her his true spirit wife. Though he had loved the others, this was something else. He decided to give up his spirit wolf so that he would die when she did.That is how the magic came to us, but it is not the end of the story. . . .He looked at Old Quil Ateara, who shifted in his chair, straightening his frail shoulders. Billy took a drink from a bottle of water and wiped his forehead. Emilys pen never hesitated as she scribbled furiously on the paper.That was the story of the spirit warriors, Old Quil began in a thin tenor voice. This is the story of the third wifes sacrifice. some(prenominal) years after Taha Aki gave up his spirit wolf, when he was an old man, trouble began in the north, with the Makahs. Several young women of their tribe had disappeared, and they blamed it on the neighboring wolves, who they feared and mistrusted. The wolf-men could still read each others thoughts bit in their wolf forms, just like their ancestors had while in their spirit forms. They knew that none of their number was to blame. Taha Aki tried to pacify the Makah chief, but there was too much fear. Taha Aki did not want to have a war on his hands. He was no longer a warrior to lead his people. He charged his oldest wolf-son, Taha Wi, with finding the true culprit before hostilities began.Taha Wi led the five other wolves in his pack on a search through the mountains, looking for any evidence of the missing Makahs. They came across something they had never encountered before a strange, sweet scent in the forest that burned their noses to the point of pain.I shrank a little closer to Jacobs side. I saw the tree of his mouth twitch with humor, and his arm tightened around me.They did not know what creature would leave such a scent, but they followed it, Old Quil continued. His quavering voice did not have the majesty of Billys, but it had a strange, fierce edge of urgency about it. My pulse jumped as his words came faster.They found faint traces of serviceman scent, and human blood, along the trail. They were sure this was the enemy they were searching for.The journey took them so far north that Taha Wi sent half the pack, the younger ones, back to the harbor to report to Taha Aki.Taha Wi and his two brothers did not return.The younger brothers searched for their elders, but found only silence. Taha Aki mourned for his sons.He wished to avenge his sons death, but he was old. He went to the Makah chief in his mourning clothes and told him everything that had happened. The Makah chief believed his grief, and tensions ended between the tribes.A year later, two Makah maidens disappeared from t heir homes on the same night. The Makahs called on the Quileute wolves at once, who found the same sweet stink all through the Makah village. The wolves went on the hunt again.Only one came back. He was Yaha genus Uta, the oldest son of Taka Akis third wife, and the youngest in the pack. He brought something with him that had never been seen in all the days of the Quileutes a strange, glacial, bumpy corpse that he carried in pieces. All who were of Taha Akis blood, even those who had never been wolves, could smell the piercing smell of the executed creature. This was the enemy of the Makahs.Yaha Uta describe what had happened he and his brothers had found the creature, who looked like a man but was hard as a granite rock, with the two Makah daughters. One girl was already dead, white and bloodless on the ground. The other was in the creatures arms, his mouth at her throat. She whitethorn have been alive when they came upon the hideous scene, but the creature quickly snapped her neck and tossed her lifeless body to the ground when they approached. His white lips were covered in her blood, and his eyes glowed red.Yaha Uta described the fierce strength and speed of the creature. One of his brothers quickly became a victim when he underestimated that strength. The creature ripped him by like a doll. Yaha Uta and his other brother were more wary. They worked together, coming at the creature from the sides, outmaneuvering it.They had to reach the very limits of their wolf strength and speed, something that had never been tested before. The creature was hard as stone and cold as ice. They found that only their teeth could damage it. They began to rip small pieces of the creature apart while it fought them.But the creature learned quickly, and soon was matching their maneuvers. It got its hands on Yaha Utas brother. Yaha Uta found an break on the creatures throat, and he lunged. His teeth tore the head off the creature, but the hands continued to press his brot her.Yaha Uta ripped the creature into unrecognizable chunks, tearing pieces apart in a desperate attempt to save his brother. He was too late, but, in the end, the creature was destroyed.Or so they thought. Yaha Uta laid the reeking dust out to be examined by the elders. One severed hand lay beside a piece of the creatures granite arm. The two pieces touched when the elders poked them with sticks, and the hand reached out towards the arm piece, arduous to reassemble itself.Horrified, the elders set fire to the remains. A great cloud of choking, vile smoke polluted the air. When there was nothing but ashes, they separated the ashes into many small bags and spread them far and wide some in the ocean, some in the forest, some in the cliff caverns. Taha Aki wore one bag around his neck, so he would be warned if the creature ever tried to put himself together again.Old Quil paused and looked at Billy. Billy pulled out a leather thong from around his neck. hiatus from the end was a sm all bag, blackened with age. A few people gasped. I might have been one of them.They called it The Cold One, the Blood Drinker, and lived in fear that it was not alone. They only had one wolf protector left, young Yaha Uta.They did not have long to wait. The creature had a mate, another blood imbiber, who came to the Quileutes seeking revenge.The stories say that the Cold Woman was the most beautiful thing human eyes had ever seen. She looked like the goddess of the mop up when she entered the village that morning the sun was shining for once, and it glittered off her white skin and lit the golden hair that flowed down to her knees. Her face was magical in its beauty, her eyes black in her white face. Some reduce to their knees to worship her.She asked something in a high, piercing voice, in a language no one had ever heard. The people were dumbfounded, not knowing how to answer her. There was none of Taha Akis blood among the witnesses but one small boy. He clung to his mother and screamed that the smell was hurting his nose. One of the elders, on his way to council, heard the boy and realized what had come among them. He yelled for the people to run. She killed him first.There were twenty witnesses to the Cold Womans approach. Two survived, only because she grew distracted by the blood, and paused to sate her thirst. They ran to Taha Aki, who sat in counsel with the other elders, his sons, and his third wife.Yaha Uta transformed into his spirit wolf as soon as he heard the news. He went to destroy the blood drinker alone. Taha Aki, his third wife, his sons, and his elders followed behind him.At first they could not find the creature, only the evidence of her attack. Bodies lay baffled, a few drained of blood, strewn across the road where shed appeared. Then they heard the screams and hurried to the harbor.A handful of the Quileutes had run to the ships for refuge. She swam after them like a shark, and broke the bow of their boat with her incredible stre ngth. When the ship sank, she caught those trying to blow away and broke them, too.She saw the great wolf on the shore, and she forgot the fleeing swimmers. She swam so fast she was a smutch and came, dripping and glorious, to stand before Yaha Uta. She pointed at him with one white finger and asked another incomprehensible question. Yaha Uta waited.It was a close fight. She was not the warrior her mate had been. But Yaha Uta was alone there was no one to distract her fury from him.When Yaha Uta lost, Taha Aki screamed in defiance. He limped forward and shifted into an ancient, white-muzzled wolf. The wolf was old, but this was Taha Aki the Spirit Man, and his rage made him strong. The fight began again.Taha Akis third wife had just seen her son die before her. Now her married man fought, and she had no hope that he could win. Shed heard every word the witnesses to the slaughter had told the council. Shed heard the story of Yaha Utas first victory, and knew that his brothers dive rsion had saved him.The third wife grabbed a knife from the belt of one of the sons who stood beside her. They were all young sons, not yet men, and she knew they would die when their father failed.The third wife ran toward the Cold Woman with the dagger raise high. The Cold Woman smiled, barely distracted from her fight with the old wolf. She had no fear of the weak human woman or the knife that would not even scratch her skin, and she was about to deliver the death blow to Taha Aki.And then the third wife did something the Cold Woman did not expect. She fell to her knees at the blood drinkers feet and plunged the knife into her own heart.Blood spurted through the third wifes fingers and splashed against the Cold Woman. The blood drinker could not resist the lure of the fresh blood leaving the third wifes body. Instinctively, she turned to the dying woman, for one second totally consumed by thirst.Taha Akis teeth closed around her neck.That was not the end of the fight, but Taha Aki was not alone now. Watching their mother die, two young sons felt such rage that they sprang forth as their spirit wolves, though they were not yet men. With their father, they finished the creature.Taha Aki never rejoined the tribe. He never changed back to a man again. He lay for one day beside the body of the third wife, growling whenever anyone tried to touch her, and then he went into the forest and never returned.Trouble with the cold ones was rare from that time on. Taha Akis sons guarded the tribe until their sons were old enough to take their places. There were never more than three wolves at a time. It was enough. Occasionally a blood drinker would come through these lands, but they were taken by surprise, not expecting the wolves. Sometimes a wolf would die, but never were they decimated again like that first time. Theyd learned how to fight the cold ones, and they passed the knowledge on, wolf mind to wolf mind, spirit to spirit, father to son.Time passed, and the de scendants of Taha Aki no longer became wolves when they reached manhood. Only in a great while, if a cold one was near, would the wolves return. The cold ones always came in ones and twos, and the pack stayed small.A bigger coven came, and your own great-grandfathers prepared to fight them off. But the leader spoke to Ephraim Black as if he were a man, and promised not to harm the Quileutes. His strange yellow eyes gave some proof to his claim that they were not the same as other blood drinkers. The wolves were outnumbered there was no need for the cold ones to offer a treaty when they could have won the fight. Ephraim accepted. Theyve stayed true to their side, though their presence does tend to draw in others.And their be have forced a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen, Old Quil said, and for one irregular his black eyes, all but buried in the wrinkles of skin folded around them, seemed to rest on me. Except, of course, in Taha Akis time, he said, and then he sighed. And so the sons of our tribe again carry the burden and share the sacrifice their fathers endured before them.All was silent for a long indorsement. The living descendants of magic and legend stared at one another across the fire with sadness in their eyes. All but one.Burden, he scoffed in a low voice. I think its cool. Quils full lower lip pouted out a little bit.Across the dying fire, Seth Clearwater his eyes wide with adulation for the fraternity of tribal protectors nodded his agreement.Billy chuckled, low and long, and the magic seemed to fade into the glowing embers. Suddenly, it was just a circle of friends again. Jared flicked a small stone at Quil, and everyone laughed when it made him jump. Low conversations murmured around us, teasing and casual.Leah Clearwaters eyes did not clean-cut. I thought I saw something sparkling on her cheek like a tear, but when I looked back a moment later it was gone.Neither Jacob nor I spoke. He was so still beside me, his breath so deep and even, that I thought he might be close to sleep.My mind was a thousand years away. I was not thinking of Yaha Uta or the other wolves, or the beautiful Cold Woman I could picture her only too easily. No, I was thinking of someone outside the magic altogether. I was trying to imagine the face of the unnamed woman who had saved the entire tribe, the third wife.Just a human woman, with no special gifts or powers. Physically weaker and slower than any of the monsters in the story. But she had been the key, the solution. Shed saved her husband, her young sons, her tribe.I wish theyd remembered her name. . . .Something shook my arm.Cmon, Bells, Jacob said in my ear. Were here.I blinked, confused because the fire seemed to have disappeared. I glared into the unexpected darkness, trying to make sense of my surroundings. It took me a minute to realize that I was no longer on the cliff. Jacob and I were alone. I was still under his arm, but I wasnt on the ground anymore.How did I get in Jac obs car?Oh, crap I gasped as I realized that I had move asleep. How late is it? Dang it, wheres that stupid phone? I patted my pockets, frantic and coming up empty.Easy. Its not even midnight yet. And I already called him for you. Look hes waiting there.Midnight? I repeated stupidly, still disoriented. I stared into the darkness, and my heartbeat picked up when my eyes made out the shape of the Volvo, thirty yards away. I reached for the brink come up to.Here, Jacob said, and he put a small shape into my other hand. The phone.You called Edward for me?My eyes were adjusted enough to see the bright gleam of Jacobs smile. I forecast if I played nice, Id get more time with you.Thanks, Jake, I said, touched. Really, thank you. And thanks forinviting me tonight. That was . . .Words failed me. Wow. That was something else.And you didnt even stay up to watch me swallow a cow. He laughed. No, Im glad you liked it. It was . . . nice for me. Having you there.There was a movement in the da rk distance something pale nuanceing against the black trees. Pacing?Yeah, hes not so patient, is he? Jacob said, noticing my distraction. Go ahead. But come back soon, okay?Sure, Jake, I promised, cracking the car door open. Cold air washed across my legs and made me shiver.Sleep tight, Bells. Dont worry about anything Ill be watching out for you tonight.I paused, one foot on the ground. No, Jake. Get some rest, Ill be fine.Sure, sure, he said, but he sounded more patronizing than agreeing.Night, Jake. Thanks.Night, Bella, he whispered as I hurried into the darkness.Edward caught me at the termination line.Bella, he said, relief strong in his voice his arms wound tightly around me.Hi. juicy Im so late. I fell asleep and -I know. Jacob explained. He started toward the car, and I staggered woodenly at his side. atomic number 18 you tired? I could carry you.Im fine.Lets get you home and in bed. Did you have a nice time?Yeah it was amazing, Edward. I wish you could have come. I cant even explain it. Jakes dad told us the old legends and it was like . . . like magic.Youll have to tell me about it. After youve slept.I wont get it right, I said, and then I yawned hugely.Edward chuckled. He opened my door for me, lifted me in, and buckled my seat belt around me.Bright lights flashed on and swept across us. I waved toward Jacobs headlights, but I didnt know if he saw the gesture. That night after Id gotten past Charlie, who didnt give me as much trouble as Id expected because Jacob had called him, too instead of collapsing in bed right away, I leaned out the open window while I waited for Edward to come back. The night was surprisingly cold, almost wintry. I hadnt noticed it at all on the windy cliffs I imagined that had less to do with the fire than it did with sitting next to Jacob.Icy droplets spattered against my face as the rain began to fall.It was too dark to see much besides the black triangles of the spruces leaning and shaking with the wind. But I agonistic my eyes anyway, searching for other shapes in the storm. A pale silhouette, moving like a ghost through the black . . . or maybe the shadowy outline of an capacious wolf. . . . My eyes were too weak.Then there was a movement in the night, right beside me. Edward slid through my open window, his hands colder than the rain.Is Jacob out there? I asked, shivering as Edward pulled me into the circle of his arm.Yes . . . somewhere. And Esmes on her way home.I sighed. Its so cold and wet. This is silly. I shivered again.He chuckled. Its only cold to you, Bella.It was cold in my dream that night, too, maybe because I slept in Edwards arms. But I dreamt I was outside in the storm, the wind whipping my hair in my face and glaring my eyes. I stood on the rocky crescent of First Beach, trying to understand the quickly moving shapes I could only dimly see in the darkness at the shores edge. At first, there was nothing but a flash of white and black, darting toward each other and danc ing away. And then, as if the moon had suddenly broken from the clouds, I could see everything.Rosalie, her hair swinging wet and golden down to the back of her knees, was lunging at an enormous wolf its muzzle shot through with silver that I instinctively recognized as Billy Black.I broke into a run, but found myself moving in the frustrating slow motion of dreamers. I tried to scream to them, to tell them to stop, but my voice was stolen by the wind, and I could make no sound. I waved my arms, hoping to catch their attention. Something flashed in my hand, and I noticed for the first time that my right hand wasnt empty.I held a long, sharp blade, ancient and silver, crusted in dried, blackened blood.I cringed away from the knife, and my eyes snapped open to the quiet darkness of my bedroom. The first thing I realized was that I was not alone, and I turned to bury my face in Edwards chest, knowing the sweet scent of his skin would chase the nightmare away more effectively than any thing else.Did I wake you? he whispered. There was the sound of paper, the ruffling of pages, and a faint pound off as something light fell to the wooden floor.No, I mumbled, sighing in contentment as his arms tightened around me. I had a bad dream.Do you want to tell me about it?I shook my head. overly tired. Maybe in the morning, if I remember.I felt a silent laugh shake through him.In the morning, he agreed.What were you reading? I muttered, not really awake at all.Wuthering Heights, he said.I frowned sleepily. I thought you didnt like that book.You left it out, he murmured, his soft voice lulling me toward unconsciousness. Besides . . . the more time I spend with you, the more human emotions seem comprehensible to me. Im discovering that I can sympathize with Heathcliff in ways I didnt think possible before.Mmm, I sighed.He said something else, something low, but I was already asleep.The next morning dawned pearl gray and still. Edward asked me about my dream, but I couldnt ge t a handle on it. I only remembered that I was cold, and that I was glad he was there when I woke up. He kissed me, long enough to get my pulse racing, and then headed home to change and get his car.I dressed to kill(p) quickly, low on options. Whoever had ransacked my hamper had critically impaired my wardrobe. If it wasnt so frightening, it would be seriously annoying.As I was about to head down for breakfast, I noticed my battered copy of Wuthering Heights lying open on the floor where Edward had dropped it in the night, holding his place the way the damaged binding always held mine.I picked it up curiously, trying to remember what hed said. Something about feeling sympathy for Heathcliff, of all people. That couldnt be right I must have dreamed that part.Three words on the open page caught my eye, and I bent my head to read the paragraph more closely. It was Heathcliff speaking, and I knew the passage well.And there you see the tubercle between our feelings had he been in my p lace and I in his, though I hated him with a hatred that turned my life to gall, I never would have raised a hand against him. You may look incredulous, if you please I never would have banished him from her society as long as she desired his. The moment her regard ceased, I would have torn his heart out, and drank his blood But, till then if you dont believe me, you dont know me till then, I would have died by inches before I touched a angiotensin converting enzyme hair of his headThe three words that had caught my eye were drank his blood.I shuddered.Yes, surely I must have dreamt that Edward said anything positive about Heathcliff. And this page was probably not the page hed been reading. The book could have fall open to any page.