Shadow: Part One

Bella sat with her head tucked delicately in her arms, her hair flowing over her shoulders. Today had been a tiring day, school had ended and Edward was supposed to meet her at the mouth of the forest any time now. She lifted her head up clumsily, her eyes feeling heavy and her mouth dry. Bella heard a rustling in the brush, but she could see no one.

"Edward?" She called, hoping the man she loved most would come walking heroically behind her with her favorite crooked smile playing across his lips. Instead, she came face to face with a girl who looked to be about her age. Her eyes shimmered in the sun and Bella gasped at the color of them. They were a deep, honey color, much like Edward's after he goes hunting.

"Um, hi." The girl said shyly, she folded her hands and looked around.

"What are you doing here? You do know this forest is a dangerous place, or at least it can be…?" Bella said warning.

The girl nodded and ran off.

She's so fast. Bella thought, her eyes still following the mysterious stranger. I wonder if Edward's seen her yet…

And as if he had heard her, Edward came running to her from his Volvo.

"Bella, sorry for being late." He smiled and kissed her carefully.

"I was getting really worried, you're never late. Has something happened?" Bella asked, her voice curious. Edward's face-hardened and he touched Bella's face.

"They've got a new queen Bells." Edward said, his voice low.

"What?" Bella asked.

"Jacob's pack, they have a new queen and I think she was just here."

Bella shook her head and stepped backward. "That girl? That sweet, innocent looking girl?" Bella couldn't believe it, not that shy girl who barely spoke. She couldn't be the queen of so many Lycans.

"Yes, didn't you see her eyes?" Edward asked, suddenly becoming uneasy.

"I did…" Bella said, looking in the direction that held Edward's gaze. She saw black shadows gathering in the forest's depths.

"They're here, Bella Swan. Alice saw them in one of her visions. She was right, there are many of them. They want to make a different treaty, probably one not too suiting for us. Alice said one of them would try to help us, though."

"Maybe it will be Jacob…" Bella said hoping, but in her heart she seriously doubted it.

Edward sighed and grabbed her hand. "If we don't leave soon, they'll come out. Come on, sorry about ruining our afternoon."

"It isn't your fault. I'd choose being at your place with a couple of vampires than be in a forest swarming with werewolves."