Things That Go Bump In the Night
Charlie had woken me for I'd startled rather roughly awake in his arms as soon as he attempted to carry me from the car. I demanded to walk, which I regretted quickly when I realised how my body had started shutting down.
I found the spare key quickly under the flowerpot and it took me only seconds to unlock the door into the house. The Swan property was full with Bella sleeping in the only spare room, meaning I had to take residence in my old house.
I surveyed my inherited property weakly. It brought back painful memories, not of my own but what I'd heard about my birth-parents. It had fallen legally to me after my sixteenth birthday and the property had been something I'd failed to acknowledge since that point. I'd had no need for it, or any desire to return here. It wasn't where I belonged.
I was born and raised in England by my adoptive parents and that had always been how it was. The only contact I had with this place was a few estranged family members, a half brother I hadn't spoken to and Bella. She was my only real connection to Forks and La Push.
The place looked like it hadn't seen any real human touch for years. The lawn was overgrown with wild flowers sweeping across out onto the border of the forest. The bungalow sat in the centre of the circle with its peeling window frames and long dead potted-plants on the porch. I'd doubted it had been entered since my mother had died.
Charlie let me lead while Bella had waited back in the car. She appreciated my need for space. It was a difficult and sensitive subject even now and something I didn't like to discuss with her. I hated the way she was so willing to lose her parents in order to change.
"I don't know if there's any food?" Charlie began to explain and I couldn't help but smile as his voiced echoed of the walls in the small hallway. "But I had a person come over just to check that the water and electric was still working for you".
"I wouldn't expect there to be, this place hasn't been lived in for seventeen years Charlie" I laughed running my finger along the side table. He nodded in agreement with me and went back to carrying my luggage into what used to be my parents bedroom.
The house was tugging on my heart strings and I thought back in protest. I wasn't about to become attached to this place. It was dangerous.
Once again I was thankful that Bella didn't enter with Charlie, because the best thing about Charlie was that he didn't linger. He left me a piece of paper with a few phone numbers scribbled down with one for Jacob highlighted clearly and I recognised Bella's handwriting. I thanked him for the lift and he left.
I pulled out the hearing aids as I wondered through the small bungalow appreciating the space and inhaling the musty scent. Furniture was covered in dust sheets and the figures looked slightly intimidating in the falling evening.
All I could think of doing was lying down. I collapsed fully clothed onto my bed and after dry swallowing a tablet I'd gotten out of my carry on I passed out.
I woke suddenly and I looked around the room panicked. My aids were somewhere in the room but it was too dark to locate them. I sat up and tried to right my jumper which had ridden up and my jeans were crinkled.
A howl caused me to scowl. It was high pitched and loud enough for me to pick up and it had me up and moving within seconds. I shuffled through the house feeling unnerved. My senses were heightened and I didn't feel alone. My body ached and my muscles spazamed.
Throwing back the front door – rather stupidly – I stepped out and surveyed my surroundings in the dim light. It was a pointless exercise but it comforted me to know that I didn't pick up on anymore sounds.
I sniffed the air and tried to decide whether the smell was the house or me. I touched my forehead and upon realising how clammy it was decided it must be me. A shower was in order and I returned to the bedroom and took care of making the bed. I disliked mess greatly and it was something I argued over with my mother. Pacing myself was not my best skill.
By the time I made it to the bathroom I felt ready to return to the bedroom but I pushed on. Stripping of my clothes I shoved them into the laundry basket one of the only furnishings not covered in sheets and flicked on the water for the shower trying to get it to run warm.
It took nearly five minutes before I could enter into the shower and was grateful for the sense to pack more toiletries that my parents had thought I would require because the house was clean out of everything.
A faint crashing sound entered my ears and I knew it must have been louder than it came across. Shutting of the water I yanked at the shower cap dropping it to the floor and picking up my fuchsia-pink towel. Something I could be embarrassed about at a later point.
I moved as quietly as I could out into the hallway my heart threatening to burst out of my chest. I was aiming for the kitchen – to arm myself – when I was slammed into a wall. Quite literally.
My breath became haggard and the only thing keeping my towel up was the body that was pressed against mine as my hands tried to fight them off.
I could hear muffled sounds but nothing formed words and I groaned in pain as my shoulders began to ache at the pressure of the wall.
"Get of me" I grunted trying to push at what I now perceived to be a man as I shoved at his face but he made easy work of pinning my arms either side of my head.
Again I picked up a muffled sound and another forceful push.
"I can't hear you" I cried after an awkward pause the words coming out quickly. "I'm deaf" I sobbed and the man's iron like grasp relented and I felt him turn to look at someone in the room.
A side lamp was suddenly flicked on and the scene before me was revealed.
My attacker looked older than me but his eyes told me otherwise. His face was shaped similarly to my own and we had the same coloured eyes. A bronzing of the skin alerted me to his Quileute origin. My eyes darted from his face to whatever it was that he'd been looking at.
An even older looking man stood in the doorway of the porch. Hostile he posed blocking out any escape for me. My heart fluttered uncontrollably as I took him in. I felt his own eyes drinking me. Then there was a strong tug. The whole earth seemed to stop moving for a few seconds and my breaths were coming out in short gasps. My first attacker turned to look at the man again and they seemed to exchange some heated words.
I flinched again drawing his attention back to me and I dragged my gaze unwillingly back from the handsome man.
"I'm Imogene Francis Morgan" I started and the attacker's eyes widened and he suddenly released my arms and stepped back saying something inaudible again.
I screeched and grabbed the towel keeping it up but coming from the now averted gazes I didn't want to consider how much of my cleavage they had just seen.
"I'm from England, but I was born in La Push to Sarah Morgan, she died three months after I was born and this house was left to me. I'm partially deaf, I suggest if you aren't here to kill me, then you let me go and get my hearing aids so we can talk about what the hell you're doing here?" I asked the first man who was now shaking violently.
I watched him nod and slowly I began to move using the wall as a guideline, I felt the presence of someone walking behind me and I was followed by the second man into my bedroom. I met his gaze once more and took in his features more clearly. He looked to be at least six feet tall, muscles covered every inch of his body and he seemed far to under-dressed in only a pair of shorts and a thin black t-shirt. His skin was the same russet colour as the first man but his hair was slightly darker. Almost black eyes seemed to draw you in and I could feel myself swimming in his orbs. His presence was calming despite the hostile position he continued to take.
I found the aids on the cabinet and he watched me curiously as I fumbled to put them in. I nodded for him to speak once they were safely secured. Carefully I lowered myself onto the bed and groaned when I realised it was no less painful than standing.
"I'm Paul" he began and seemed uncertain under my heavy gaze. It wasn't that I was trying to unnerve him but my aids weren't always best at this hour so I was trying to lip read.
"What do you want with me?" I demanded trying to calm my heart.
"We were out on patrol, and we saw the light on in the house. It's not been lived in for years. We were concerned, we thought something might have been going on" he began a smirk tainting his face at what he'd just implied, and I cut him of holding a hand up.
"Oh God!" I gasped and he looked worried like he was expecting me to pass out. "You're the shape Shifters, you're from the Uley Pack" I stated and was surprised when a low growl came from the hallway.
"What?" he asked with as surprised expression and the first man was standing in the bedroom now.
"How do you know about the Pack?" my attacker asked and I looked from him to Paul.
"Bella Swan" I stated simply and I watched as Paul began to shake with anger. A low pitched slog of curse words left him mouth.
"We need to get Sam" the first man stated and I tilted my head recognising the name. I allowed a blush to creep to my cheeks.
"Look can I please get dressed. I, I understand that this isn't my secret to know. But I know. Now if there are any more of you rocking up I'd really prefer not be in a pink bathing towel for that episode" I stated and I swear Paul actually growled at me.
"Fine" he snapped and looked at the younger man. "Embry" he called as he began to leave the room.
My heart stopped beating. Well at least it felt like it did. I was squawking like a bird and hurrying after the pair.
"Did you just call him Embry?" I shouted at them my voice becoming squeaky with emotion.
"Shit" Paul hissed and looked at Embry. "She's your sister isn't she?" he stated and then began to laugh.
I looked at him with a horrified expression. What about this situation was humorous I didn't know.
"You should go put some clothes on" he stated suddenly flat lining.
"I'll do what the hell I want" I snarled at Paul and turned on my heel hearing another growl as I slammed my bedroom door.
They sent her I think as some sort of peace offering. Either that or they didn't want to risk catching another glimpse of me in a towel. A tall, thin brunette entered the room without even knocking, hardly acknowledging me as I pulled a pale pink blouse over my head. I huffed as I flattened down my hair and eyed her.
"Come on in why don't you" I mumbled defensively "who needs doors?"
"Nice to see your dressed Goldilocks" she teased curtly and I glared at her from across the room.
I admired her slim but toned physique; her legs seemed to extend far past that of most normal people. She wore the same sort of shorts that the rest of the pack had with a simple shirt.
"It's Immie" I said a little too sharply and bit my lip at my own words. "You must be Leah" I extended a hand and to my surprise she actually shook it. A little too firmly, but she still shook it.
I liked her already. She was bitter and twisted from what Bella had told me, but it was a feeling I could relate to. I was always drawn to the wrong people.
"Suppose the Leach-lover told you all about me" she mused rudely flicking her fingers over the cabinets and sliding draws open.
"Bits" I mused and tried not to smile at Bella's nickname, I guess I came up lucky with Goldilocks.
I liked the way Leah's voice came through in my aids. It was loud and crisp making it easy to pick up and I wondered whether she spoke that way intentionally.
"Long way from home" she stated turning back around to eye me.
"Depends on where you call home" I countered and she gave a grin.
"Yeah I guess" she said shrugging and moved back towards the door.
"You didn't freak like Bella did" she stated and I shrugged. "Well I guess I've had the time to compose myself" I said with a smile.
"So you did freak?" she asked curiously and I saw a hint of a smile.
"What about the Wolves, the Vampires or the fact my Goddaughter is marrying one?" I asked trying not to sound sarcastic.
"The wolves" she said as if it was the most obvious.
I shook my head. "No, no the Wolves weren't freaky" I answered her. I'd read up on the tribe stories for a history project about where we were born. So I'd already known the 'tales' about them. "I guess because they protect, because you protect people, it isn't that freaky" I shrugged fumbling with my shirts hem. "Either that or I'm really good with crazy".
Leah laughed at that.
"Sorry" she stated suddenly and becoming serious once more.
"For what?" I said dumbly.
"About Paul and Embry" she replied simply and went to leave the room.
She stopped suddenly and turned back to me looking curious. "Is it true, that he's your brother?" she asked unexpectedly and I managed a soft nod. "I think so".
The garden room as I had named it was truly beautiful. I had retreated there in the bungalow which was now more of a buzz of activity. Well at least I knew it was outside. I could hear the occasional howl of wolves and even clocked eyes on a few in the garden. They knew I wasn't a threat now, so why remain here?
I wasn't in the mood to go and find out. I was tired, hungry and in pain. Never a good combination.
It took only seconds to remove the dust sheets and dump them off into the pantry to reveal a pleasant room beneath the exterior. Two sofas sat opposite each other with a low lying coffee table dividing them. Multiple units were dressed with lamps and potted plants which now lay empty. A small book case was in the one corner and a shag rug covered the tiled floor. The structure of the room was comprised nearly only of glass. It was like a miniature green house but a fan attached to the ceiling helped to keep it at a comfortable temperature. Sliding doors allowed it to open out straight onto the garden and it felt strangely relaxing to be so close to nature without having to actually being out there in the break of dawn.
Lowering myself down onto the sofa chairs I eventually lay out and allowed my eyes to close shut. I wasn't sleeping. I wouldn't be so lucky, but I indulged in some thinking time.
My mother wasn't born to La Push, she was from Forks, which made her an outsider of sorts. My farther, a man who had been forever unnamed was still alive I believe. They'd met in one of the hottest summers on record and so my mother began a passionate affair with the married man. I was conceived accidently and my mother quickly brought what she hoped to become a love nest for her to live in with me and my farther. For she hoped he would leave his wife and family for her. He didn't. But the affair continued. Right up until her death. She was killed out in a storm in Forks when a tree crashed down onto her car.
So I was put up for adoption. Claire and Malcolm from Forks adopted me and shortly after we moved out to England when Malcolm received a new job opening. That was where I resided with my parents until my eighteenth birthday which had just passed. Claire and Malcolm couldn't ever have children, and didn't adopt after me. I always joked I'd traumatised them too much. But in truth I had missed growing up without siblings. I'd always wanted a big family.
Bella came of the scene very quickly. Claire was of some relation to Rene as we spent many a family holiday out first in California and then Arizona. It was after Rene met Phil they decide to get Bella christened and apparently I was one of the only options. Ever since we'd been close.
After Bella moved to Forks though we didn't holiday with her anymore which meant we moved along with technology. Pen-pals turned to emails. It was the only way we had communicated and through a veil of secrecy Bella had given me an in-depth insight into the mysteries of Forks and La Push.
Bella had told me things that she shouldn't off, but it was in a mutual agreement that until such a situation arose as it needed to be disclosed I would keep quiet about it all.
It suited me fine. I wasn't exactly swimming with a long list of people that I could tell about it. Recently I'd been introvert, friendships had become strained and I was able to count the people I actually spoke to on one hand.
Bella was my one connection to Forks and La Push. She'd helped me look back into the past. She'd asked questions to Jake for me after I refused to speak to him directly. She wanted me to dig into my birth-farther but it was something I wasn't interested in doing. I wasn't going to be a home-wrecker. So instead I put more attention into trying to figure out who my half-brother was. It had been something that had slipped of her tongue at one phone call and was something she wouldn't tell me anymore about.
Embry Call. He was born in the same year as me and I knew he was a shape shifter. Bella told me little about him and always shut down when I approached the subject saying she'd said too much already.
I groaned as my aids picked up another low howl and I pulled them out of my ears and slammed them down onto the coffee table and closed my eyes again.
Stupid Wolves.
Authors Note: Hello Readers, so that's the second chapter up. I'd love to know what you thought about it and the introduction of some more characters into the plot. Thank you for reading!
