I walked towards the rabbit, trying to ignore the stares of the Cullen’s on my back. It wasn’t easy. I could hear Ben start a conversation with them trying to attract their attention, but they answered his questions without so much as glancing at him.
“Where do I sit?” Ben asked opening the door for Alice. Jasper through him a dangerous glare and hopped in after her.
“In the front.” Emmet replied, his voice assertive, as he slipped in after Jasper. Ben opened the front door with a sigh.
This should be a fun ride…he thought wryly. I laughed, and then sighed. His was going to be as bad as mine. I frowned and chewed on my lip as I walked to the car.
Sam, Jared, Quil and Embry were already in the car as I approached. Jacob and Paul were leaning on the side of the car, their faces expressionless.
I sucked in a deep breath and smiled.
“Hi, guys.” I managed to keep my voice light, which I was very happy about.
Paul’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. I tried to ignore that.
Jacob shoved off the car in a quick, subtle movement.
“Hey Bells!” his eyes were black, yet they seemed cautious. “Um, we have a problem.” He started; his voice was huskier than usual. “See, we all don’t fit into the car, so I took the bike today…” he nodded towards the motorcycle just beside his car. “And with one more…well it means, you’re gonna have to ride with me on the bike…if you want.” He added awkwardly, avoiding my eyes.
I smiled. I hadn’t been on a bike in months, and I wanted to try it again.
“I don’t mind riding with you, Jake.” I said still smiling, when he looked up. He appraised me with pursed lips, before he smiled as well.
Sam leaned out of the window.
“Bella and Jacob, you two are gonna have to be in front, so you can show us where to go…” his voice was hard, yet still unsure.
I followed Jacob to the bike, and watched him kick it to life. He picked up the only helmet and held it put for me. I raised my eyebrows, and then laughed. It was good he still thought of me as an actual human; soft and fragile. Then I shuddered at what he’d think when he found out what I actually was.
I hopped on behind him and wrapped my arms around his warm waist. It felt awkward, being this close to him after all the time he’s been gone, yet it still felt nice. Like I was whole again.
“Go straight on the highway, until we hit the I-10.” I instructed, raising my voice so he could hear it. Then I remembered.
Werewolf hearing. Right.
He started down the road and I was conscious of the rabbit idling not too far behind us. I was tossing things around in my head, trying to unscramble my tangled thoughts when I realized there was more than one car behind me. I turned the top of my body and saw the Volvo driving right next to the Rabbit and not too far behind them was Thackery’s Caliber. On this three lane highway, was probably not the best place for a group of werewolves, vampires and witches to be racing. Thackery pushed his way in between the Rabbit and the Volvo, so he was in the middle, yet still in the lead.
Ben, Bella…get in. Nate’s voice was unexpected, yet firm.
You got it Nate. Ben thought. I saw him climb agilely from the sunroof of the Volvo and leap gracefully onto the Caliber’s roof.
I could hear the gasps of shock from both of the cars. Three new people breathing informed me that Rosalie, Carlisle and Esme had joined the group.
Bella...here now! It was Thackery’s voice that ordered me now.
I leaned forward until my face was resting on Jacob’s cheek.
“As soon as I’m off the bike, move to the left, and be fast!” I whispered excitedly. He threw a panicked glance in my direction.
“What are you doing?” he demanded anxiously, looking at me as if I’d gone insane.
“Just do it…” I muttered as it turned my whole body around so that I was going backwards on the road. I rose to my feet, gripping Jacob’s shoulders for support.
“Bella what are you doing?!” more than one person shouted at me. It was a mix of Edward, Jacob, Alice, Esme and Sam. I chuckled.
“Relax, guys…I wont hurt myself.” I let go of Jacob’s arms and jumped. The feeling of the wind against my skin, made me feel as if I were flying, and the car came to me, rather than me go to it. I landed through the sun roof with sudden grace, and buckled my seat belt. As soon as I was safely strapped in, Thackery stomped the gas down and gained the lead. We made it to the clearing before the others could even blink.
We all hopped out of the car, and turned towards the car’s we could see approaching.
“Bella, show them the way in. we have to wait for Gracie-Elle.” Thackery ordered as they disappeared into the darkness. I smiled. Gracie-Elle was Thackery’s little sister and was once a very powerful witch, until her powers were stolen by an evil witch in the early 60’s, well, that’s all I could gather. She was put under a curse to make her look like an elderly lady during the day, but at night she turns into a young girl again. The only problem was the curse doesn’t allow her to talk about the curse.
Very confusing stuff.
I leaned against Thackery’s car, my arms folded across my chest and waited patiently for the others to arrive. It didn’t take long. The Volvo was in my sight not 30 seconds after my brothers left, and the Rabbit not that far behind. I watched as they climbed out of their vehicles one by one, and Jacob skid to sudden, screeching halt, next to Edward, and put down the kick-stand. They all walked towards me hesitantly, Carlisle and Esme throwing curious glances at me and my new appearance. They were in front of me in no time. I pushed myself off the car, and beckoned them to follow me into the forest.
“Wait,” Carlisle begged. I turned and saw that no-one had moved. “Where are the others?” he asked curiously, yet with an edge to the question.
I sighed. And beckoned them with my fingers.
When nobody moved again, I turned my whole body to them and out my hands on my hips.
“I’m giving you the answer,” I snapped at them. “If you didn’t want to know, then why did you ask?”
They all stared at me, their eyes wide.
“Now, if you don’t mind…I’d rather like to get this over with.” I turned back around and stomped into the forest, trying to control my anger. This time I heard them follow me, so I didn’t need to turn around again. Someone was approaching me, at a faster pace than the others. I scanned the person thoughts and the loving and motherly affection to the tenors, I knew it was Esme.
She grabbed my hand, and walked next me, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Bella, honey, what’s happening?” she whispered, her voice thick with layers of concern. I looked at her, and saw her face was full of pain. I smiled at her and squeezed her hand back.
“It’ll all make sense soon,” I promised, knowing that everything will be okay…as long as I am willing to work to make it okay. I could tell she was about to question me, when I could hear my brothers talking. I shushed her quietly and let go of her hand. I walked a few steps ahead.
Here we are…I thought timidly, trying to hide my panic as to what was going to be said.
“Come, friends…do not stand under the wet trees…” Thackery called his voice light, and friendly. Carlisle and Sam took a calculated step forward each and both looked at me anxiously. I nodded in encouragement. They each took a deep breath and walked through the thicket of trees. I watched as all of the vampires and werewolves walked into view of my brothers. As soon as they were out of sight, I climbed the nearest tree, to observe from afar. I would intercede if need be.
I climbed to the highest branch, just above Thackery and got a bird’s eye view of the events about to take place. Carlisle and Sam were at the front of the party, with Emmet, Jasper, Paul and Jared covering their flanks.
“You’ve been causing a lot of trouble for young Bella, you know that?” Thackery started, his voice amused. “If you want to blame someone for what’s happened to her, well blame yourself…”
Emmet and Edward growled, as Jacob and Embry’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“And what might that be?” Carlisle asked, his voice contained, trying to avoid showing any emotion.
Nate and Thai smiled an impish grin, as Ben glared at them. I scanned their thoughts and saw them divvying up their opponents.
“A witch of course…” Thackery stated matter-of-factly, as he took in the looks on the faces before him. Esme and Alice’s jaw dropped, while Rosalie gasped and skipped back a step. All the werewolves, apart from Jacob and Sam, were shaking their heads, choosing not to believe it. Jasper and Emmet exchanged a loaded look, before their eyes wandered around the forest. Edward and Jacob were looking at each other with a look of both horror and pain on their faces.
Not even Carlisle could compose himself.
“I…I…don’t-don’t believe it…” he said to himself, looking at Thackery, his eyes begging for Thackery to say Gotcha!
Thackery smiled kindly.
“It was not all your fault…she never got a choice in this. This…” he struggled to find a polite way of what we are. “Curse…it was born in us…but in Bella and Nate more. They have witch blood on both sides of their family…only true pain can make it arise.” He finished his words with an ancient grief replacing the know-it-all attitude.
“Enough!” Emmet shouted in his booming voice, thrusting past Carlisle about to rip out Thackery’s throat.
I moved at lightning speed, pulling my blade from my jeans, and placing it under Emmet’s throat.
There were gasps of shock from behind him, and an outraged hiss from Rosalie.
“This blade can kill any immortal. If you value your life, back off.” I said to him moving the blade from his jugular, and pushing him back lightly. He was staring at me in shock and disbelief.
Rosalie was between us in no time at all, her hands already claws. She growled at me, fury plain in all her features. I sunk down into my crouch and snarled a warning at her.
“Bring it, Blondie!” I snarled at her, red clouding my vision.
“Look who’s talking!” she spat at me, baring her teeth.
Someone grabbed the tops of my arms and lifted me swiftly away from Rosalie, just as Jasper did the same to her. All my feelings on anger abruptly disappeared, and I felt tranquil and calm. I looked at Jasper and saw that he was looking at me, with a cautious expression.
“Both of you…enough.”
I shrugged out of Gracie-Elle’s firm grip and folded my arms, glaring at the creatures across from me. She still looked old, which probably explained the confused looks in front of me. How could an old lady lift me away with such grace?
“Cullen’s, Quileute’s…this is my sister, Gracie-Elle.” Thackery stated, gesturing to her. They all exchanged looks of disbelief between them.
“Hello, it’s so lovely to meet you all.” I struggled to keep my brooding expression. She sounded so much like my gran.
She threw a withering look at me, and I couldn’t keep it in. I cracked up laughing.
“Bella?” Jacob asked, his voice scared…no not scared. Was it pained? I couldn’t place it. I stopped laughing and looked at him curiously.
“Did it hurt?” he asked, looking at the floor under my feet, not meeting my gaze.
I hesitated. I didn’t want them to know how badly it did hurt. How my long, mahogany hair, receded into my scalp, in a slow and painful way. I didn’t want them to know how it hurt, when all the bones in my body molded to give me my new figure. And worse, I didn’t want to tell them the pain of having my skin being branded with the tattoo which marks me for what I am. When Thackery and the others explained to me, that I have to have a tattoo, at first it didn’t bother me. It wasn’t until after I got it, and it started burning like sticking my hand into live flame, did I get scared. They said it only happens when I am in danger or scared. Little did I know that, that would happen more often than I expected.
“A little,” I admitted, bending the truth until it was almost the shape of a lie. “But it doesn’t hurt any more.”
Edward moved forward hesitantly. He took a deep breath and moved until he was directly in front of me. He hesitantly reached his hand out, and rested it gently on my cheek. My tattoo burned, but I barely noticed it, my heart was pounding too hard to notice anything.
“I’m so sorry Bella.” He murmured his angelic voice thick with grief. “If I’d have known…I wouldn’t have gone.” He dropped his eyes to the floor, and he looked as if he wanted to cry. I leaned forward to catch his eye. He looked up, over my head, trying to hide some emotion he didn’t want to show me.
I reached up and grabbed his face, almost fiercely.
“Don’t!” I growled at him. I moved onto my tip toes and kissed him on the cheek.
There was a loud chorus of “Ooooh,” from both Nate and Thai at that. I planted my feet and took several steps back. I felt an invisible shimmer in the air, which means someone changing forms. I looked over my shoulder and saw Nate standing next to Thai disguised as me.
My jaw dropped as he skipped forward towards the creatures before us.
“Oh, Edward, I love you so much! I promise you, you won’t break my pelvis any more!” he said, doing a ridiculous impersonation of my voice, high pitched, and still skipping. “And Jakey too!” he added, skipping past Carlisle and Sam to stand in front of Jacob. “I love you too, wolf boy! Oh, who will I choose?” he turned back to me, his eyes alight with humor. I snarled at him, preparing to rip his -my- throat out. There was a tremor through the cliff, as something shook it. Everyone froze.
Thackery stepped closer to cliff’s edge, a=then turned to us, a look of horror in his eyes.
“They’re here.”