The Cabin

Jacob stayed in his mother's old room that night. He could still smell her there, even after 20 some years. The benefit of having Lycan blood.

It looked like her. Delicate. Calm. Soothing. The soft grey walls and white comforter provided a cool retreat from the hot Savannah sun. Even the wooden floor boards still carried her memory. He could feel her steps as he walked where she once had.

It’s funny when you’re growing up, how you always see your parents as you’ve always known them. It’s difficult to picture them as anything other than the strong grown ups that provided for you. Jacob imagined his mother as a little girl. He tried to picture himself at that age, parentless with only Haldir left to care for you. Considering all that, he thought his mother turned out amazingly well.

He looked through her dresser drawers, closet and desk. They were untouched from the last time she was there. He found some mens clothing. They must’ve been his uncle Jacob’s. He took out all the shirts he could find, he was sure his mother wouldn’t mind. He brought them up to his nose and inhaled the scent of jasmine and chocolate. Jacob had seen pictures of his uncle and he realized how much he looked like him. Sometimes, he wondered if Jacob had been his real father, given the resemblance. It didn’t really matter to him, Logan was his dad. But, he wondered if that’s why he and Tessa had such a strong bond. Different from his siblings. Why she spoiled him and cleaned up his messes, even with Lorena.

Jacob removed the shirt he was wearing and put on the old one that belonged to his uncle. It fit him good, a little loose in the arms and chest. Uncle Jacob must’ve been really built. He’d have to start hitting the weights again once he got home to fill them in.

He went to sleep that night, the most comfortable he had been in a long time. Surrounded in his mother’s things, it was like Tessa was there to tuck him in like when he was a boy.

The next day, Haldir and Jacob went to meet with the Order’s head, Billy. Billy greeted them as they entered the parlor and offered them a drink. Billy was a tall man, taller than both Haldir and Jacob. He had long silver and black hair that curled at the ends. He also had a bushy black and silver beard. When he spoke, he had a thick Scottish accent. Billy looked intimidating.

“So what’re you doin’ here you dirty bastard? Come to join the orgy?” said Billy, quickly knocking down every intimidating image that Jacob had in his mind about him.

“Maybe next time,” said Haldir. “Jacob here is Tessa’s son. He’s come to make amends for the incident that happened.”

“Really? Why? All that’s water under the bridge now. It was made right. It’s done. Don’t even fret about it. You’re sure you won’t stay for the orgy? We have some lovely ladies coming.”

“No Billy. The boys just feeling a bit guilty and wants to relieve himself of that burden. Do you think you can arrange it?” said Haldir.

“I’ll see if they’re interested.”

Haldir stood and shook Billy’s hand. “Wonderful, now I’m going to take Jacob on a little field trip. Let me know.”

Jacob and Haldir left the Order. “Where are we going?” asked Jacob. “You’ll see," Haldir said as he took Jacob’s arm.

When they reappeared they were at an old abandoned farm in the country. There was a farm house that had seen better days. It was a two story home that was white but the paint had mostly peeled away. The shutters were once black but faded from the sun. They walked past it to a small cabin that sat along a road about a hundred yards from the house. The door was hanging off its hinges and the windows had been broken. They walked inside and Jacob was suddenly invaded by the lingering scent of apple pie. Almost exactly like Eliza.

“This was where Eliza was first born and where she first died,” said Haldir.

Jacob gasped and his eyes watered over as he wiped his hand across his mouth. He could feel it. He could see it.

Jacob walked towards the bedroom door and stepped inside, Haldir followed. He stopped beside the bed and looked at the floor. A feeling of joy swept through him and he began to cry and laugh. “This is it, this is where she was born. Her father, he stood here and looked into her eyes. He was so in love. So happy.” Jacobs' throat burned as he tried to control himself. He could hear the echo of Eliza’s cries as she took her first breaths. The cradle she had slept in still lay in the corner. He picked it up. “I’m taking this. She’ll want to have this.” Haldir backed away as Jacob walked back out of the bedroom.

Jacob started to walk to the front door when he suddenly stopped and looked to the floor in front of the kitchen table to his right. He sat the cradle down on the floor and dropped to his knees. A sudden stabbing pain began in his neck and tore through to the side of his face. “Oh Jesus, he cut her throat.” He put both his hands on the dark stained floor. “This is her blood, he killed her here.” Jacob’s bottom lip quivered and the tears flowed freely as he began crying. “She was just a little baby. Why?” Images of Marissa and Erik came into Jacob’s thoughts.

Haldir came to Jacob’s side and put his hand on his shoulder. “Sometimes there is no reason Jacob. Sometimes bad things just happen. That’s why you always have to be ready. Always have to be on guard. There’s always someone waiting to take everything from you for no goddamned reason at all. Imara and her baby were in the wrong place at the wrong time and they were slaughtered because of it. The things your parents do, the things you think are extreme. This is why they do it. Because this can happen.”

Jacob stood, wiped his tears away and picked up the cradle.

Haldir then said, “When Eliza decided to come to this world to live, I promised Imara and Ben that I would watch out for her and keep her safe. I mean to do so. That’s why I brought you here. Why I wanted you to see all this. She has suffered enough for a hundred lifetimes. She is a gift that needs to be protected at all costs. Just like Logan does for Tessa and like they both do for you, your siblings and the Pack. When you have peope you love, people that depend on you, you don’t have the luxury of being Mr. Nice Guy. Do you understand me Jacob?”

Jacob did understand. He would make sure nothing ever happened to anyone he loved. Not Eliza. Not his parents. Not Marissa, Erik or the twins. Whatever it took, he would do it.

“I understand Haldir. Thank you for bringing me here.”