A/N: I love my beta- she's amaaaazing (kikithebookworm)
Chapter Four: Truman Sleeps as performed by Philip Glass
The wolf's howl pierced the night air and I shivered. I per chanced one short glance behind me, hoping to find Laurent keeping pace. Instead, I found myself deadly alone. I slowed down bringing myself to a halt. Knowing Laurent would hear me, I called out to him.
"Laurent?" I cried. Moments went by without so much as a sound. The forest was eerily quiet, as if all the animals had ran away. There wasn't even a breeze to rustle the tree's leaves. I began to panic. "Laurent!" I cried again, my voice reverberating around me.
I heard a howl once more and what sounded like a whimper. I started to run back towards Laurent when I heard him call to me.
"Run Bella!" His voice was strained and conflicted.
The synapses in my head were popping a mile a minute, telling me to run in the opposite direction, to run as Laurent had told me. I knew he was trying to protect me, but from what? What did we have to fear or run away from? My curiosity got the better of me and I found myself making my way to back to him. Whatever it was that scared him so, I felt I deserved to see. Instinctively, I climbed a large pine tree to the top and began jumping from one tree to the next. My inner predator was telling me that it was probably safer up high than down below, especially if I didn't know what I was preying on.
I flung myself from tree to tree and the closer I got to where I left Laurent, the more I began to panic. I could hear growling and hissing, and I could smell blood. Not only was it blood, but the blood was mixed with the scent of dirt, fur, and wet dog. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Whatever Laurent was fighting smelled disgusting. Finally, I leapt onto the branches of a huge pine and scuttled my way closer to the forest floor. They slowly came into vision.
Laurent, bloody and torn from a fight, was hunched down hissing at his assailant, a lone wolf. The wolf was monstrous in size and its fur was jet black. It growled menacingly at Laurent in response. The beast pounced on Laurent, pinning him to the ground, its jaws snapping at his neck. My hand flew to my mouth to muffle a gasp. The wolf's paw stomped down on Laurent's chest and he cried out in pain. I started to move, ready to pounce on the animal's back, when Laurent's eyes found mine. They were pleading with me to be still. I nodded slowly, my lips quivering. I knew I was about to see my maker perish, and he begged me to do nothing. The wolf snapped several more times at Laurent's neck, and dug his paws into Laurent's chest, his claws leaving gashes and causing blood to be spilt. With one low ominous growl, the wolf used his paw to swipe at Laurent's head, causing it to roll into the trunk of the very tree I was standing in. Again, I gasped in horror at what had happened. Only this time, the sound escaped my body and I saw the ears of the wolf stand up. It slowly stalked over to Laurent's head and stomped on it, his skull crushing in a million pieces. The wolf looked up into the tree and its dark eyes made contact with mine. I scrambled up the tree, trying to put more space between us. When I looked down at the ground, I realized the wolf was gone. That's when I heard his voice.
"Bella?" it asked, low and calm.
I froze, my eyes searching the forest floor. Where was this voice coming from? I gradually descended from the top of the tree, stopping where there were still several feet between me and the forest ground… and Laurent's severed head. Again, the voice called out.
"Bella? It's Sam. We need to talk."
Sam? The Quileute that found me in the forest not so long ago? The Quileute that headed a cult that Jacob was so afraid of? "What is there to talk about?" I called out, my voice shaking.
I heard him laugh, "How about the fact that you're not exactly human anymore." He stepped into view of the tree and I nearly fell out at what I saw. His half-naked body was tan and incredibly muscular, but more importantly, was covered in gashes and blood that were healing themselves?
"What the hell are you?" I asked in wonderment.
"I'm a protector, Bella." He answered so easily, as if it was second nature for him to be this monster.
"A protector of what?" My mind was reeling and I nearly fell out of the tree I was standing in. I hugged the tree tighter, not wanting to go too close to Sam.
"A protector of my people. I protect them from bloodsucking leeches like you." He sniffed the air; I heard a wolf cry in the distance.
I was amazed at what was happening and angry at what he called me. "Bloodsucking leech? How could you call me that, Sam? You know I would never hurt anyone!"
He scoffed, "I know what you are Bella, and it's your nature. I also know that your friend here," he motioned at Laurent's body, "has been feeding in the area. On humans, Bella."
I averted his severe gaze, "I… I…" I stumbled over the right words. I heard another wolf cry in the distance. "How many of you are there?" My curiosity took over once more. I noticed that Sam was now searching the ground for various pieces of wood and throwing them in a pile. No longer feeling threatened, I quietly leapt out of the tree.
Not facing me, he answered. "So far, there are three of us, Paul, Jared, and me. The wolf cry you just heard was Paul." He pulled out a box of matches and set it on fire, tossing it onto the pile of wood. He walked over to Laurent's body and placed it on top of the fire. It hissed and crackled in the heat. "If I were you, I'd get back in that tree." His voice not exactly concerned, but also not exactly joking.
I did as he told and climbed the tree. A few short minutes later, two dark skinned males came through the brush. They were just a beautiful as Sam: tall, dark, and incredibly handsome. I noticed that all three had short cropped hair, not long like Jacob wore his. Shaking my head, I began listening to their conversation.
"I took him down easily." Sam said to the others. "He put up quite a fight. I think he might have broken a few of my bones, but I'm sure I'll live."
One of the others spoke up, "Are there any more?"
Sam's eyes met mine quickly, then looked back to the others. "No Paul. It was just this one. I don't think we have much to worry about anymore."
I cocked my head, confused as to what he had just told Paul. Why would he tell him that I wasn't around? I wanted to come out of the tree, to ask more questions, and to talk to them, but I didn't know how the others would react. Instead, I started to crawl up the tree to get out of eyesight. I barely made it an inch before a tree limb snapped underneath my weight and I felt myself tumbling to the ground. Unlike my natural self, I landed rather gracefully, on my feet. The other two boys turned and faced me quickly, their bodies trembling. I looked up at Sam and gave him a shrug.
"Bella. Don't move." He told me sternly. He turned to the others, "Calm down, both of you. She has not drank human blood and she means us no harm."
Paul growled, "She's a vampire!" His eyes were locked with mine and he seemed to be losing what control he had over his body.
I took a step backward towards the tree, ready to climb it again at a moments notice. This movement seemed to set Paul off completely and my mouth gaped open at the sight before. Paul was transforming… into a wolf. His skin exploded and a wolf took form from the pieces beneath. He was snapping his teeth at me while growling. Instinctively, I dropped to my haunches and hissed at him. This only seemed to make matters worse, as he began to take a step towards me.
"Paul! NO!" Sam yelled above the hissing and growling. He was beginning to tremble as well. "Bella, you must leave. Now."
My eyes never left Paul's as I answered him. "But I want to know more!"
"Go Bella! You don't have time to argue! Go!" he barked at me, orders that I knew I must follow. For some reason, I felt as if he was saving my life.
I quickly leapt to the first branch and climbed as fast as I could. I kept climbing until I was at the top and then began jumping from tree to tree. I could hear heartbeats below me and knew it was the wolves. I picked up pace, jumping as fast as I could. Eventually, the heartbeats seemed to die away and I found myself alone.
I scuttled down the tree to the forest floor and collapsed on the ground. I was breathing heavily, even though there was no need. The events of the day flashed through my head and I began to realize just what it all meant. I really was alone. I left Charlie and Jacob behind. Edward had left me and Laurent was gone. Forever. At these thoughts, I began to dry sob, wishing for tears to fall from my eyes. I sat there hoping the loneliness would go away, when I remembered something. I could go north, to Alaska. I could go to the Denali clan. They would have answers for me; at least I hoped they would.
I sat up and dusted myself off and started to run. Moments later, I was running, fast and hard through the trees. I had been running for several hours when I felt a burning sensation in my throat. I realized it had been almost a full day since I had eaten, so I began tracking the smell. I leapt through the forest, listening for the animal's heartbeat. When I found the predator, I smiled to myself. Grizzly bear.
He had hunted down a small animal and now he was to become my prey. I positioned myself above him on a tree, and jumped down on him, wrapping my arms around its neck. I tightened quickly, knowing the bear would put up a fight, hearing his neck bones crunch under my arms. I brought my lips to its body and drank until I was full. His blood rejuvenated me and made me more aware of my surroundings. This is when I realized I was being watched.
She was beautiful- tall, long blonde hair, deep, red succulent lips, and beautiful hazel eyes. I wiped my mouth with my sleeve as she scolded me.
"Tut, tut my dear, that is no way to keep clean. Now, you do know that this is my hunting ground and you have trespassed." She started walking closer to me.
Astounded at this woman's ability to act so nonchalant at what she had seen allowed me to realize what she was. A vampire. I took this as a good sign and responded. "No, I did not; I was under the assumption that hunting animals was free to anyone. I do apologize, I will leave immediately." I had hoped that I sounded genuine. Truthfully, I just wanted to find Tanya and her sisters. I had so many questions to ask and now that I had a full stomach, I could find them more easily.
"Leave? Why would you want to do that? I see that you live under a vegetarian lifestyle. However, by your lack of effective hunting, I can see that you are but a newborn. How is it that you manage so much control?" She asked me questions that even I didn't know the answer to. How did I manage to control myself? I mean, shouldn't I be attacking every living human being within miles of me?
"My name is Tanya, I'm with the Denali coven here in Alaska. We, too, follow a vegetarian lifestyle. I think that maybe you should come home with me, meet my family. You would like them." Her name brought a smile to my lips and I, of course, agreed.
"Tanya? Denali coven? You are exactly who I've been looking for!" I walked closer to her, and held out my hand. When I noticed the bear's blood on it, I dropped it quickly, giving her an ashamed smile. "My name is Izzy. I'm from Forks. I think you knew the Cullen's." I didn't want to give her my true name, worried that if she knew who I really was, she would inform the Cullen's. Yet, at the same time, I had hoped that my relations with the Cullen's would make this easier for the both of us.
"The Cullen's? Well, my my, aren't you in luck! One of them is actually staying with us right now! I'm sure he would love to see you! Funny, he didn't mention any other vampires in Forks. Come on, I'll take you home. Run with me!" She laughed an angelic laugh and I smiled back at her, nervously. One of the Cullen's is staying with her family and she said it was a HE! I silently prayed it was not Edward. I wasn't ready to face him quite yet.
Loping through the forest after Tanya was rather exhilarating. She was a fast runner, faster than Laurent. I had to push myself harder the normal to keep pace with her as she ran. Within moments, we came upon a house. It was beautiful, walls of windows, and three stories high.
"Come, Izzy. I want you to meet my family." She held out her hand and pulled me into the glass house. I heard voices coming from all directions around me while called to her family.
"Hey you guys! I have someone I want you to meet! Come down here!" She turned and smiled at me, still holding my hand. I was beginning to wonder why she was showing so much hospitality towards me. The rest of her family came down the stairs, one by one. The first woman had pale blonde, shoulder length hair. Her face was angelic, her lips inviting. The next one was darker skinned, almost olive, which is odd considering she is a vampire. Her hair was a deep chestnut brown, falling in curls around her shoulders. The last of the women had silvery blonde hair, just at chin length and spectacular golden eyes that were seemingly rimmed with silver. The only man of the group also had seemingly olive colored skin, with hazel eyes, much like Edwards. This man seemed to emit gentleness.
"This is Kate and then Carmen and Irina. They are my sisters. That young man is Eleazar, Carmen's mate, and where is? Irina, where is Laurent?" I shifted uncomfortably, my eyes averting Irina's gaze.
"Laurent left, Tanya. A few days ago, remember? He went hunting. He said he would be back, but he hasn't returned. I thought he was starting to feel at home here, but with Victoria still out there, I'm beginning to think he went to find her." Irina answered sadly. To me she said, "He was to be my mate."
"Oh, I am so sorry." I had hoped my apology sounded sincere.
"Maybe it was for the best, dear. He was still feeding on humans, and you know we cannot support that type of lifestyle." Carmen said to Irina, giving her a reassuring smile. Irina just nodded her head, as if not fully believing what her sister had told her.
I looked at Tanya, anxious to know which of the Cullen's were here. "Tanya, you mentioned a Cullen was staying here?"
Tanya smiled. "Oh yes, Eleazar, do you happen to know where Edward has gone?" I breathed in quickly and began to shake. I knew if my heart were still beating, it would have jumped out of my chest. I started inching towards the door, ready to sprint if necessary.
Eleazar's velvety voice filled the room. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news Tanya dear, but he moved on. He decided that he had spent enough time in Alaska and that he was going to move onto somewhere new." Tanya looked absolutely offended and her bottom lip began to quiver.
I approached her, "Tanya, are you okay?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine." She seemed to shrug it off like it was nothing, but I could see it wasn't. She continued, "I just, never got to stay goodbye to him. Edward is very special to me." I put my arms around her and gave her an uncomfortable hug.
"It'll be okay. I'm sure he'll return at some point. Edward always was some sort of drifter. He always stayed the longest in Forks. This last time he seemed to have fallen for a human. As if that would have worked." Her voice was full of disdain as she spoke. It was clear that Tanya did not support Edward being in love with me.
"Tanya, would it be okay if I stayed for a while? As you mentioned earlier, I am a newborn, and although I do seem to express control, I worry that I might slip up. I would like to gain a better understanding of who and what I am. Will you help me with that?" I looked into her eyes, hopeful and eager.
"I think that is a wonderful idea, Izzy! Come, I'll show you to your new room!" She seemed authentically happy. To be honest, I was happy. I was beginning to feel that I had found a home where I could be myself, sort of.
As I passed each of Tanya's sisters up the stairs, they hugged me and welcomed me to the family. I felt awkward and uncomfortable at first, but I soon realized that these people were welcoming me into their home- a complete, utter stranger. Eleazar grasped my arm gently, and gave me a smile full of hope and comfort.
He leaned into my ear and whispered, "Welcome to our home Isabella."
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