CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
( fire and blood. )

  THE FIRE WAS NOT THE SAME.

  No longer did it light up every limb and movement. No, the heat had swept back, yet it still desired for more. Hunger guided her now. The flame in her throat, on her teeth, on her tongue— and a song in the air. A sweet sensation she followed with every turn down the endless labyrinth of this city's forgotten streets.

  It consumed her. Every limb ached with restraint as she followed the shadowy figure leading her deeper into the darkness. He knew she was there. Knew she followed. His fear was so tangible. A delightful roar of flavour on her tongue.

  He knew what she was; a predator seeking prey. She was a wolf and yet... he was no lamb. Shadow could taste the sour scent of death all around him. Knew he danced with it in a way far different than she had. She was a wolf hunting a wolf, who sought to lead her deep enough into the darkness to make his final stand.

  She wouldn't let him get the chance.

  Before he could sense it— before he could even turn to scream— Shadow was upon him. Lithe steps leading her silently and far more swiftly than the eye could see. That song reached a crescendo the moment her teeth met his neck and canines pierced skin.

  With her fingers pressed tightly over his mouth, his shouts were a muffled sound. His fight did nothing. A fruitless struggle as he writhed and screamed beneath her fangs. The blood was a frenzy in her mind and her body.

  She couldn't stop even if she wanted to. She could only delight in it; the hunger satiated with every minute that passed. It was power. It was life.

And it was one she devoured.

→

The scream that wrenched itself from her lips jolted Shadow awake. The fear was her own now as she gulped down air, tasting nothing, yet gagging with the memory of the blood coating her tongue. Shadow bolted for the bathroom, where she promptly emptied her stomach into the toilet.

  Her bed was still empty when she returned. A simple call could fix it, of course. But, Shadow couldn't bring herself to make it. She wasn't one to cling to Jasper's comfort and to start now would only raise questions. Ones she couldn't— and wouldn't— answer.

She searched her memory, trying to reason with herself. This couldn't be a vision. She refused to even consider the possibility. It had to be a nightmare... a fear given form now that she knew what awaited her. There was no other explanation— none that Shadow wanted to hear, anyway.

"Shadow?!" Charlie's frantic voice at the door pulled the Swan girl from her thoughts.

Shadow quickly slid the lock out of place, opening wide enough for him to see that everything was fine. "I'm so sorry," she said quickly, her words breathless. "A spider was crawling on my arm."

Such a lame excuse...

But, it was good enough for her uncle, who immediately sighed. "Christ, Shaden. I thought you were being mauled to death."

The irony of those words left a sick feeling pooling in her stomach. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she apologized, trying for sincerity.

Charlie furrowed his brow. "It's nearly noon." The concern in his voice was as blatant as ever.

She shrugged. "I forgot about an assignment and stayed up late. I promise it won't happen again."

Charlie waved her off. "It's fine," he said quickly. He seemed to hesitate as he lingered by the door. It didn't take him long before he decided to continue, "Just don't work yourself too hard, you know? You'll make your family proud no matter what."

Shadow's smile was a little more genuine. "Thank you, Uncle. I won't," she promised.

He didn't linger much after that. Though, she would've gladly taken an awkward (but endearing) conversation with her uncle over nightmares any day. Now that she was alone, distractions were few and far between.

Of course, it didn't remain that way for long.

"What the hell was that?" Bella demanded almost as soon as the door shut behind her.

Shadow didn't look at her as she fixed up her bed. "Nothing! It was a spider," she insisted.

Unfortunately for Shadow, Bella was not impressed, nor as easily persuaded as her father. "I used to watch you pick up earthworms and spiders when we were kids."

"That was a long time ago." Too long, Shadow realized. It had been far too long since she'd last felt like a kid, or the reckless joy that came with it.

"Spit it out, Shadow. You promised."

Shadow tried her best not to wince at the reminder. Luckily for her, lies weren't required. Not about this.

  "It wasn't a vision," she said, quickly adding on when she saw Bella's doubtful expression, "I mean it. I just keep having these nightmares over and over again."

  "How can you tell the difference?"

  The elder Swan shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it. I just know. The screams and the visions... they all have the same feeling. The same dread."

  The nightmare had been the exact opposite. It wasn't a warning, or an impending doom lurking just around the corner. It was the devouring of life. Death, with none of the woe, only the wonder. The savouring.

  Shadow felt her stomach twist painfully. It was a good thing she had nothing left to throw up. She didn't feel like having to explain that to Bella, who was suddenly over-curious.

  "What are the nightmares about?"

  That was dangerous territory. Too dangerous. Shadow debated the lies she could tell, the truth that she could skirt around. There was a limit, she realized, to how much she was willing to share. Regardless of whether or not it might hurt or betray Bella's trust.

  It was a lucky thing that Jasper decided to make his appearance just then, though, not in the way Shadow had hoped.

  "Shadow! Jasper Hale is at the door for you," Charlie called out, his voice echoing up the stairs and sounding entirely displeased. Shadow felt her face pale, a mirror reaction to her cousin's.

  "Shit. You haven't told him you're seeing Jasper yet," Bella whispered. A futile attempt to keep her voice from reaching the Hale boy's ears. "Oh, he's going to hate this."

  "Just wait until he finds out about you and Edward," Shadow fired back, rushing to shove her legs into a pair of jeans.

  When she was sure that she didn't look like she just rolled out of bed, Shadow made her way downstairs. Her uncle stood by the door, firmly shut despite the guest waiting just outside it. Shadow braced herself, grateful for Bella, who had trailed down the stairs after her in silent support.

  "Anything you wanna tell me, Shaden?" Charlie asked, though he seemed less angry and more unimpressed by the sudden revelation.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't know whether to bring him home to meet you," she admitted, feeling her fingers anxiously knot together. "It's still really new. I promise I'm not getting into any trouble." Shadow didn't think she had to explain what trouble likely meant.

  Her uncle sighed, waving off her concern. "I'm not angry, but I would like a bit of warning next time, please. Preferably before random teenagers show up on the doorstep."

  Shadow nodded with force. "Understood."

  Charlie seemed to hesitate before his expression twisted with discomfort. "I'm sure we don't have to have any kind of talk—"

  "Nope!" Shadow quickly interrupted, the horror of what he was asking washing over her. "No talks needed, thank you."

  At times like this, Shadow was grateful for her uncle's less-than-confrontational nature (and that her mother had beaten her uncle to the punch well-before this moment.) Charlie finally gestured to the door with a grim acceptance, leaving both Shadow and Bella alone to greet Jasper. Mortification made her want to curl up in a ball as she realized the Hale boy had likely heard every word.

And the grin on his face when she opened the door told her he'd done exactly that. "Are you sure we're not getting into any trouble?" He asked, meeting her gaze in a way that told her exactly what he was thinking.

  Shadow felt her face warm as Bella promptly made a face. "Could've lived without that knowledge, thanks."

His grin didn't falter, but the way he avoided Bella's gaze told her he was somewhat abashed. "Sorry."

  Bella waved off the apology as she turned and made her way back inside. "See you later, Shadow," she called over her shoulder as the elder Swan quickly slipped on some shoes.

  As much as she would have loved to bring Jasper inside to visit, her room was the last place she wanted to be. Fleeing the nightmare was easier than confronting it. Not to mention how the living room was definitely not an option, given her uncle's penchant for taking up the couch to lazily browse sports channels.

  So, the Cullen house it was. Not that Shadow was complaining. It gave her plenty more time for practicing and learning the limits of her ability.

  However, just before Shadow could make her quick escape, her uncle's voice rang out from the kitchen, "Hold on!"

  The Swan girl braced herself as she heard the rough scraping of a chair and papers shuffling. When Charlie appeared, there was a manila folder in his hand. He handed it over to Jasper, though his expression told of his reluctance at having to address Shadow's boyfriend.

  "Mind giving this to your old man?" He asked. "Just a couple files from the hospital. I'd do it myself, but the next few days are pretty busy with the search parties and I've got guests coming over tonight."

  Shadow's brow furrowed, "Guests?"

  "Yeah, you remember Jacob Black. Him and his father are coming over to watch the game," Charlie explained.

  The name rang with a vague sense of familiarity that has Shadow nodding. In the short time her family had lived in Forks, there weren't many friends to be had, not even in the rare summer spent here with Bella. But, Jacob she remembered, if not with a little difficulty.

  A young boy, much younger than she would've normally considered for a playmate. He was shy and quiet, but eager to join in on their games of tag at the edge the woods. Shadow would never forget the way he darted between trees, leaping deftly over fallen branches and twisted roots. It had made Shadow bold enough to try it herself, which promptly resulted in a lightly sprained ankle.

  "Alright, well, I'll see you later," Shadow said, trying to hurry things along now that the files had piqued her curiosity. There was no doubt they were related to Waylon's death and if that was the case... well, any details regarding what she might be dealing with couldn't hurt to know.

"She's to back no later than dinner-time," Charlie said, speaking directly to Jasper now, with a sternness Shadow didn't know he could muster.

She grinned in spite of how embarrassing the ordeal should've been, "Yes, yes, and then he'll ask for your blessing in marriage and all that good stuff."

Charlie rolled his eyes at the theatrics. "Alright, alright. Get out of here," he told them, closing the door behind the pair as they stepped out onto the porch.

  Jasper looked at her curiously, "If I did want to ask for your hand in marriage, would he be the one to go to?"

  Shadow made a face. "I mean, if you're in the market for a child bride, then sure." She didn't know how to respond to the question with anything other than dry humour.

  To imagine getting married— if they would ever be allowed that kind of time— felt like such a distant thing. But, the clock was already ticking and even though Shadow was eighteen, she severely doubted Charlie would be blessing any shotgun wedding with Jasper Hale. Bonded or not.

  Jasper smiled as he opened the car door for her. Shadow immediately decided that she didn't like that smile. It was one of quiet mischief. "Don't start getting any ideas."

His grin turned broader when he slid into the driver's seat. "I won't make any promises."

Shadow was stunned, unable to argue despite wanting to, even as the words made some part of her ache with longing. She wanted that, not just for him, but with him. She didn't believe much in the big, grand act of weddings beyond the signing of papers. But, she could picture it; the dress, the aisle, with him waiting just at the end of it.

Knowing that she would never have that left her silent with sudden grief. If Jasper noted any change in her mood, he didn't show it as they pulled out of the driveway. With his attention on the road, Shadow took the opportunity to reach behind her and grab the folder. It was a decent enough distraction from the ever-growing pile of losses she kept building up.

  "What are you doing?" Jasper demanded as she pulled out the papers and began rifling through them.

  "Gathering intel," she replied with a faint smirk. The expression quickly faltered, fingers halting on a page branded simply; Autopsy Report.

  Jasper went still in such a way that told her his careful, human facade was slipping. "Don't," he warned her. "You know you're going to regret it."

  Shadow didn't balk at the lowered timbre of his voice. "I have to know." Because she refused to walk in blind, without knowing what these creatures were capable of. Instinct alone wouldn't be enough, not if she wanted to stop them.

  Ultimately, he was right.

  Shadow just hadn't expected the pictures to be there. The visions alone were horrifying enough without all the graphic details to linger on, but this? This was disturbing in a way that had her stomach crawling up into her throat.

  Jasper slammed on the breaks. Shadow was already scrambling out of her seatbelt when he unlocked the doors, leaving the Swan girl to launch herself out of the vehicle. She made it all of three steps into the ditch before she began retching.

  It was violent— and not just in the way her body shook with cold horror, but the death itself. How she could have expected anything less, she didn't know. Shadow certainly hadn't been expecting the careful design of Waylon's death. She could only wonder whether or not the claw marks were real, or simply carved with great care.

  Her stomach gave another painful lurch at the thought. Jasper was right, she shouldn't have done it. What difference did it make in knowing they were monsters? She was still going to die. Nothing would change that and she didn't want it to.

  It was only time that Shadow needed— and she would fight for it if she had to.

  When she was sure her limbs could hold her up again, Shadow roughly got to her feet. Jasper was still in the vehicle, waiting. His anger lingered like a third presence as he silently shifted the vehicle into gear. The speed with which he drove alone would've been enough to tell her that he was angry.

  Shadow refused to acknowledge it, because she knew what it would force herself to admit; that it was self-inflicted torture. It wasn't enough to suffer through the visions and the nightmares that followed. She had to fan the flames, breathing life into the shame of knowing how useless her power truly was.

  She could not save him.

  When they pulled into the driveway, Shadow was the first to get out. She couldn't bring herself to look at Jasper, too embarrassed by her reaction and too stubborn to admit to her faults. She hardly registered entering the house and meeting Esme until she was asking to use their shower.

Esme watched her with concern, but said nothing as she led her to their guest room. If she had any lingering questions about Shadow and the state she'd arrived in, she didn't voice them. The Swan girl found herself feeling both grateful and guilty for the space.

  The care and the comfort Jasper's family took with her would always be a balm to her wounded heart, but Shadow had to wonder if the sting would ever fade. The knowing that she would never have that same familial understanding with her own flesh and blood. It was hard not to look at her life and only see the cuts that would always bleed.

  And what was she going to do about it? Save for creating and leaving more wounds in her wake. God, the despair never ended.

  So, she buried it. Shadow shoved it down as she stripped and turned the dials to the shower. The biting cold was welcome. Her jaw went tight in her efforts to keep her teeth from chattering as she endured it all. It was all she needed to do. Endure.

But, he would not let her.

Shadow didn't know how much time passed before the knock came. The comfort of the water had faded, she knew that much. She was curled into a corner of the shower, evading most of the stream, save for the few drops of ice reminding her that she was still human. Ill-equipped to handling the cold.

Jasper didn't announce himself. With the subtle pull of their bond, he didn't have to. She felt his presence as he slipped in through the unlocked door. He took to peeling off his own layers in slow, careful motions. It was deliberate enough, leaving plenty of time for her to stop him.

  She didn't.

  When he slid aside the glass door, he reached for the dials. The cold slowly drifted into warm, blissful heat. It brought back enough sensation that Shadow looked up at him.

"I shouldn't have done it," she said softly, but couldn't bring herself to admit anything more.

  Jasper kept silent as he reached for her. She took his hand, letting him help her up. His skin was still cold, but made more tolerable with the warm water cascading down on them. She watched him closely as he picked up the shampoo and began lathering it in his hands.

  As his fingers began to rub soothingly against her scalp, she closed her eyes. "I thought you were angry with me," she whispered, afraid to raise her voice lest anyone else hear.

  Though, given the nature of Jasper's rather bold actions, she didn't doubt that the Cullen family had left the house. Always considerate, where it concerned the privacy of each other. It likely had more to do with giving her space, than it did with allowing them to spend time alone.

  "I'm not angry," Jasper said, his hands halting their motions to rest at the nape of her neck. "I'm frustrated, yes, but not angry."

  Shadow swallowed the apologies that begged to be let out. "I won't lie and say I'm an easy person to be with," she told him.

  Jasper's lips twitched in a clear effort to hold back a smile. "I never asked for easy," he replied, leaning close enough to kiss on her forehead.

  "All I ask is that you take care of yourself. Do the smart thing, not the painful one. You're not alone," he reminded her, his words a whisper against her skin. His mouth drifting down to her shoulder.

  Shadow was overwhelmed with the sudden intimacy and the way his words softened her all over again. "I know," she told him softly, resting her hands against his chest.

In the place where a heartbeat should have echoed, there was only firm skin and the cold realization of what he was. Shadow had no regrets about any of it; for the change that had brought Jasper's mortal life to a halt. It was what had given him the time to find her.

But, the difference in what they were was a grim reminder that their time would be limited. Nothing would change that. Maybe she might survive the terror ahead of her, maybe she might get out unscathed and whole.

It made no difference. She would age. She would die— and take him with her.

Perhaps it was a blessing that her death loomed so close. Shadow resolved herself to trying not to dwell on it too much. Her future was out of her hands now.

  In the meantime, all she could do was follow through on what Jasper had asked her; to be content, with him.

EDITED 05/28/2025 @2:59 AM

AN: Getting back into the feel of writing has been so amazing... I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! We begin kicking up the pace and getting into the very last remaining chapters after this. Vote, comment, and let me know what you think!