Chapter Six - Nessie's POV

We were just beginning to search for Jay when the shield collapsed.

It hadn't been a conscious lowering, nor a forced intrusion. It was a collapse: a fractionating of the wall Jay had built up around his mind which took place in less than a single instant.

But it wasn't the shield's sudden destruction that had me crumpling to the ground, gasping for breath.

Sensations. Too many to name at once. Warm and breathless and all-consuming. But the biggest feeling was desire. Hot. Fierce. Demanding.

It sucked me in, pulled me away from my body and into my brother's. Nothing like this had ever happened in our bond, not even when we controlled one another. I lost track of everything around me. I lost track of everything that was me. The only things that existed were Jay and her and their kiss.

As soon as her lips had touched mine, we were both gone. Gasping, we clutched each other tighter, crushing our lips and twisting our tongues together. I could taste her breath, and it was Spring. Not like, not similar - it just was. Sweetness and warmth and sunshine and every single flower I'd smelled before. My hands wove into her hair, tilting her head so that I could deepen our kiss. I was barely able to suck in enough air through my nose to breath, but the burn of my lungs no longer mattered. Nothing mattered except making sure we stayed like this for the rest of eternity.

"Nessie? Ness, what's wrong? Edward!"

Ciel was not content to just be held by me. She used her dominate position to push me down further, the ground somewhat yielding to the pressure. Her hands cupped my face, the silken touch running across my cheek and ears and into my hair, burrowing into the strands. They did not stay still for long until they slipped back down, across my chest and lower...

"Bella - can't - Jay - shield - "

Finally, I had to pull her away, sucking in air as Ciel growled and raked her hands up under my shirt and across my torso. I hissed as her nails scratched me, hard enough for me to feel but still not leave bruises. In one lightning quick motion, I rolled us over so that I was now straddling her. Ignoring her deepening rumbles, I lowered my lips to her neck. A small shred of clarity had returned now that our mouths were no longer fused together, and I remembered not to break the skin as I nibbled on her smooth flesh - I was venomous, after all.

"Hurry now - snap her out of it!"

Hands shook my shoulders - Ciel's, as they wrapped around my - no, not my... - she lifted up my sweater and shirt - wait, I wasn't wearing that - they ran all along my broad chest, fingers tracing the indentations of my muscles - no, I had breasts, not pecs. I was me.

My eyes - my own eyes - opened abruptly, and the world came back. The hands on my shoulders were cold, much colder than Ciel's. Jay's mind began tugging on mine again, and my vision flashed from my mother's worried face to Ciel's flushed one as our lips molded together once more - no! Not our, but his; these were my brother's thoughts, and his alone. Not mine. Not me.

I wrenched myself into my own reality. Before Jay could pull me back, I thrust up a shield between us. Either I was still addled by the experience, or my brother's feelings were too strong, because I could still sense his emotions through the barrier; however, the tugging sensation was now gone.

"Nessie! Nessie, baby, are you alright?" Mom said, an edge of hysteria in her voice. She was crouching in front of me, and at my slight nod she sprang forward to embrace me. I blinked spasmodically, trying to reorient myself as my mom squeezed me hard.

Dad was standing behind her, and he looked just as dazed as I felt. Glancing at me, he rubbed his jaw and said, "EJ dragged me in, too. Those were powerful feelings."

"Yeah," I agreed as Mom released me, helping me to my feet. I didn't stagger as I walked forward and said, "We have to stop them."

"Whose them?" Mom asked in confusion as Dad said, "It has to be you."

"What?" I spun so fast I almost stumbled, which was unheard of for anyone part vampire, half or full. My mind did not seem to have fully settled into my body yet. Trying to shake off the dizziness, I frowned at my father and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean, period?" demanded Mom, crossing her arms as a pucker formed between her brow.

"All in good time, my love," he said to her before turning back to me. "You have to snap him out of it, Ness. Only you could bring him out of this...'spell'. Also, he might prefer it if Bella and I did not see him in his entanglement."

"Oh...ohhhhh." I understood what he was alluding to immediately. On the other end of the shield, Jay's hands were getting a bit exploratory. Blushing despite the seriousness of the situation, I nodded before taking off in my brother's direction. Behind me, I heard my mother interrogating Dad, but I honed my focus on Jay. I speed like an arrow along the path, nearing the place.

My sudden approach caused their attention to flicker, and I used that momentary lapse in their passion to communicate with my brother mentally. Yo, bro - snap out of this!

M-Mei? He sounded startled, one part because of me, but two parts because Ciel had begun to kiss down his chest. Jay's thoughts started to become amorous once more, but I put halt to things once I arrived.

Lying a few feet away were the two, intertwined and nearly blind to the world. Averting my eyes, I cupped my hands to focus my voice in their direction and yelled, "PLAY TIME'S OVER!"

The reaction was instant. Ciel wrenched away from Jay to face me with a snarl, while my brother pushed her behind him and growled at me. It took less than a second for his face to clear as he asked, "Mei? What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing?!" My half-shriek had the desired effect, and both of their faces reddened as they straightened their clothes - or in Jay's case, retrieved them.

Ciel abruptly stood up right and began backing away from my brother. Her eyes had darkened to an indigo shade, and her bruised bottom lip trembled. "I - I didn't mean for this t-to happen..."

She must have been very addled to be stuttering. Jay grabbed her hand before it slipped out of reach, and I saw a shudder run through her at his touch. "Ciel," he murmured quietly, seeming to have totally forgotten my presence as he gently stroked her arm. "The fact is that it did happen. And I don't know what this means either, but..."

He stood to his feet, pulling Ciel to him when she tried to escape. I looked away as his arm slid around her waist, holding her against him. The moment seemed to private for me to witness, though my mind was still connected to my brother's. I heard Jay's voice whisper, "This feeling is too big to ignore, or to forget. It changes everything."

I heard her hair whip back and forth as she shook her head vehemently. "It can't - and it won't. I refuse to let it."

Turning back to them, I saw a glimpse of her dress as she ran away. "Ciel!" Jay called, moving to follow her. But I was there to restrain him, clutching his arm as he struggled to break free.

"Mei...she left..."

Closing my eyes, I could feel his pain and confusion, for both her sudden departure and for his strange feelings. As his shoulders begin quaking, I immediately reached out and gently pressed his head onto my shoulder. Jay's long arms wrapped around my waist as he cried.

Looking to where Ciel had disappeared and reading my brother's conflicting emotions, all I could do was gently stroke his curly hair and croon repeatedly, "I won't leave, Jay. I won't leave, Jay. I won't leave."

* * *

My brother and I were sitting in the big chair as our family bustled around us. Jay had not spoken a word since the incident in the forest, and everyone alternately whispered to each other or shot worried looks in his direction. He couldn't see them as his face was still buried in the sleeve of my sweater, which had deepened to a navy blue with his tears. I'd kept my arms around him this whole time, offering support as he worked through his emotions.

The mixture was so thick and blended that Jay didn't know what to feel, so I'd fielded off all questions with just a glance, keeping my mind attuned with his. Steadily, he was sorting through the mess on his own, so I relaxed a bit and allowed my attention to turn on Jake.

He was sitting on the opposite couch, staring at me with worried eyes. I'd only given him a quick smile when he'd arrived, and then looked after my brother. Now, at my glance, he immediately came forward. Crouching at the side of my arm rest, Jake lifted a hand and swept the ringlets that had escaped my ponytail behind my ears.

"Are you guys alright?" he asked softly, and I nodded swiftly, a bit surprised that he'd inquired to both of our states. Then again, Jake knew more than anyone how connected Jay and I were, and that if one of us suffered the other would as well. It wasn't just our mental reciprocity that made this true - our love and concern for each other was also a driving factor.

Unwrapping my left arm from Jay's still form, but tightening the other, I lifted my hand to his face and held it there. The tension drained away from him as I smiled and said softly, "Yeah, we're going to be fine. Thanks."

Jake turned his head slowly, pressing a kiss to my palm before grabbing it in his own and holding it tighter against his cheek. My heart stuttered in my chest, and as my pulse increased a bright pink began to stain my own cheeks. Looking away nervously, I noticed that all the attention was focused on us, and Dad was giving Jake a fierce glare.

Trying to change the direction of my family's thoughts, I turned back to Jake and asked, "Have the wolves found her yet?"

My brother stirred as Jake frowned, loosening his grip. "No, but they're still searching. I don't think they'll find her though - it seems the trail has gone cold."

To my right, a snort sounded before a semi-hoarse voice snidely said, "Sounds like you're hunting a vampire to kill."

 I snatched my hand out of Jake's weak grasp and gripped my brother in a tight hug. He'd finally spoken, and I immediately asked, "You okay?"

Jay raised his head, green eyes tinged with just the slightest bit of red. His lips were back to normal, no longer puffy from the intense kiss, and they curved in a semi-crooked smile. "I'm fine, Mei. Now will you please stop trying to crush me to death?"

My laughter sounded breathy from relief. Pulling back, I mocked punched his arm and said, "You're immortal, idiot."

He clutched his arm as if terribly wounded. "But not invincible!"

"Near enough," Uncle Emmett spoke up, dimples forming as he grinned widely. "Took you long enough to wake up, Eddie."

"Emmett!" his wife hissed, swatting his arm. "Show some sympathy!"

"It's alright, Aunt Rose," Jay said, his smile growing. "Well, except for the part where he called me Eddie."

Mom came forwards as the rest chuckled, a worried smile on her face. "Is everything alright, EJ?"

"I'm fine, Momma." His use of the old childhood name we'd called our mother seemed to calm her, and she gave Jay a tight hug which he returned. Before she moved away, I pressed my hand to her face a sent her an image of Ciel.

Pursing her lips, Mom remained crouched down in front of us, her dark gold eyes studying her son's face. "Are you ready to talk about what happened?"

Jay leaned back with a heavy sigh, closing his eyes. "I don't really understand it myself," he said ruefully. "One moment, I'm trying to figure her out, and the next...it was like something shifted in me." His lids flew up, confusion and intensity radiating from his gaze. "Like she became the most important thing to me, ever. And when she left, it felt as though a part of me broke off and left with her."

It was silent for a moment before Dad exclaimed, "That's not possible." We turned to face him, but he was looking at Jake, not Jay.

My wolf shrugged his broad shoulders before crossing his arms defensively. "You and the Doc have pointed out the similarities between us more than once. It makes perfect sense according to your various 'theories'."

"Mind bringing us into the loop?" I asked sweetly, and Jake immediately began to fill me in.

"I was just thinking that Junior's descriptions sound like someone who doesn't know what an imprint feels like trying to describe what they're feeling."

"An imprint?" I frowned; we all knew that the wolves had them - Jake and I being a perfect example - but what he was proposing was ridiculous. "But hybrids don't have imprints."

"Who says?" Jake challenged, rising to his feet and pacing to Granddad. "Carlisle, you've studied both species the most. What do you think?"

Granddad's brow was as furrowed as my own. "Well, there certainly are some similarities between the wolf-shifters, such as yourself, and the human-vampire hybrids like Nessie and EJ: an equal number of chromosomes, a higher than average temperature, rapid growth. These alone would not be enough to support your theory, Jacob; however, coupled with EJ's descriptions and your own imprint on Nessie, it could very well be possible that hybrids have the potential to trigger this involuntary mechanism, as well."

"Involuntary is the key word in that explanation," Jay grumbled. "If this...whatever is really imprinting, there will be two girls in for one hell of a rude awakening."

"Language, EJ," Dad said crisply, though his eyes were clearly focused on absorbing this new information.

"What do you mean by 'two girls'?" piped Aunt Alice, her soprano voice filled with curiosity.

Jay flushed and waved her off with a spastic shake of his hand. "Don't worry about it, Auntie! Anyways, the main point is that I'm fine, Ciel is...something, and we're all safe and sound!"

The words had just left his mouth when the doorbell rang. All of us glanced at each other, completely silent. Who could sneak up on a bunch of vampires, hybrids, and wolves?

Dad quickly crossed the room and wrenched open the door, ready to surprise whoever was behind it; however, it was he - and the rest of us - that were in for a shock.

"Ciel?" gasped my brother, and I could feel all of the arrangement he'd done to get himself back in order fall out of place.

Her eyes flashed to him, and I could see the barest flash of regret cross her face before the neutral mask returned. Focusing on my father once more, Ciel said in a low voice, "I've come here to warn you all that you are in very grave danger."

"What are you referring to?" Grandma asked, her face pinching with worry.

Before the girl could respond, Aunt Alice gasped. All eyes turned to her, and I could tell by her blank golden gaze that she was having a vision. But it was not her eyes that got my attention, but her face; mouth open, eyebrows raised, horror etched on every crystalline facet. I had seen that expression before, a long time ago. Only one "unforeseen" vision could make a prophetic vampire look so terrified.

I knew what the danger was. Before Dad, Aunt Alice, or Ciel could tell the rest, I uttered the horrifying truth.

"It's the Volturi." Jay looked at me, the same understanding on his pale face that must have been on mine. I turned away, meeting Jake's wide eyes as I whispered, "They're going to return."

"But this time they're not coming for you two." Ciel's smile was so haunted, I could barely call it a smile at all. Her eyes were darker than I'd ever seen them as she stated, "They're coming for me."

~~~~~

I know this is earlier than I scheduled, but after the last cliffhanger, even I couldn't leave Jay and Ciel hanging. What do you guys think of Jake's imprint theory? What do you think of Ciel's revelation? It all remains to be seen!