Chapter Seven
My love, my drug…
Bella had never been drunk before, not really. She knew it was part of the life, but she could never bring herself to get that out of control. Maybe it was all of Charlie's lectures growing up; maybe it was the way that drunk people acted. Either way, Bella was content missing that particular college experience. That being the case, Bella Swan had most certainly never been hung over. She had heard the stories and moans from her sorority sisters the mornings after their parties, and it didn't look like a fun ordeal. Still, Bella had to assume that this was as close to a hangover as one could get without actually drinking. It seemed unfair for her to suffer the consequences without first enjoying the supposed euphoria. Her lids were heavy as she worked to peel them open, failing several times before the dull sway of her ceiling fan came into focus. It was dark out – still dark. She had no idea what time it was, but if she had to guess by the amount of moonlight that fought its way through the constant blanket of clouds, she would say well after midnight. How had she gotten here?
She remembered driving home with Paul… she remembered Edward… she remembered the giant wolf. Bella's eyes squeezed closed as the image replayed itself in her mind. No way. That had to be a dream. She must have fallen asleep on the way home and her wild imagination took over. It certainly would explain why Paul would ever say that he liked her. Pushing her body upwards into a sitting position, Bella tried to ignore the dull throb that coursed its way through her skull.
"Be careful." A familiar voice caused her to jump, her eyes cutting to the unmistakable silhouette of Edward in the plush armchair that had sat unattended in the corner of her room since middle school. "You hit your head when you fainted." He offered as he leaned forward to rest his forearms on his knees, but made no move to approach her. For that, at least, she was thankful.
"Wait…" Bella breathed, her eyes moving over the shadows of her room, as if a giant wolf lurked there. "It… it wasn't a dream?" She nearly whimpered, pulling her legs to her chest as Edward stood and slowly approached her bed. Sitting at the end, he watched her carefully.
"No, Bella. It wasn't a dream." His eyes were sharp and hard, as if he were trying to will her to believe him. "Paul Lahote is a monster."
"It doesn't make sense." Bella's hand ran through her hair, wincing as her fingers moved over a defined knot.
"After Paul changed, you fainted and hit your head. He ran off with his tail between his legs and I carried you inside. Luckily, Renee and Charlie were already in bed. You've got a nasty bump, but you should be fine."
Edward was being so callous about the whole thing, Bella almost wondered if this was all some elaborate joke on her behalf. But she had seen it… seen him. Paul had erupted in a ball of snarling silver fur. "You don't seem to be fazed by any of this…" Bella offered as her hands moved over the blanket that covered her legs. Anything to take her mind off the panic attack that was rapidly approaching. "Do you see men turn into giant wolves on a daily basis?" She tried to joke dryly, even as her breath started coming in small gasps.
"Yes." Edward's flat reply caused her eyes to cut to his. She had never seen his face look so… serious before. He looked so uncaring, so… dark. It was like he was a completely different person. "I haven't been completely honest with you. Bella. I didn't want to drag you into this world, but it seems like you walked into it with open arms." His top lip curled in frustration – a look she had seen on his face many times when he was stressed. "My father isn't a minister, and I didn't end up at Brigeton University on accident. My family hunts monsters like Paul Lahote." He let the sentence sink in as his eyes searched her face. She almost wished she knew what she looked like – probably like a ghost. "For generations, the Cullen's have been hunters of everything supernatural. Vampires, werewolves, wendigo, ghosts, witches… anything that preys on humans."
"Wait…" Bella breathed. "Did you say ghosts?" She nearly winced at his exacerbated look.
"Focus, Bella." He sighed. "These monsters – they're everywhere. When I got word from a local hunter that a pack had joined the student body at B.U. I enrolled. I'm actually older than I look, but still the youngest in my family, so it had to be me."
Bella closed her eyes again, as if she could ward off everything he was telling her. It seemed like with every sentence, his words grew darker. All these monsters were real? They weren't Hollywood legends or just stories that parents used to keep their kids in line? Did that mean that Paul was a werewolf? Bella thought werewolves only changed on the full moon. God! It was insane how easily her mind accepted and used the term werewolf! If Paul was dangerous, why hadn't he hurt her? They had been alone enough that he had the opportunity. Maybe he wanted to change her into one too? Was that something he could even do? And Edward… he said his family hunted creatures like Paul. He even lied about his age to get into the same college and track Paul down? But Edward had said pack… did that mean there was more than one werewolf at Brigeton? Suddenly, each one of Paul's friends came to mind. They all had the same build – even Jacob who had been lanky and weak when she saw him last… and then there were the Quileute legends… "So… how old are you really?"
"I'm thirty." He gave her a small smile as she let out a squeak of surprise. "You weren't part of the plan, Bella…" He offered with a sigh. "I wasn't supposed to fall for you. You were just so smart and so unlike everyone else there. My parents even worried you were impacting my mission. I couldn't just walk away from you, but I couldn't be close to you either. I used abstinence as an excuse, but the truth is that it felt unfair to you to be with you physically while there was this big lie between us." His eyes seemed to pierce hers, but he kept his distance. "Then you started hanging out with Lahote… I wasn't sure he was one of them, but I had a feeling. I'm sorry that I lost my temper with you, Bella, but I was angry at myself. I didn't want to bring you into this dark world. I've tried to escape it so many times, but once you're in… you can't get out."
Bella frowned as she thought over what Edward said. He had lied to her… for years. When he knew she was in danger (allegedly), he didn't even try and warn her. "Paul… wouldn't hurt me." She almost said it as a question. "He's had plenty of opportunities to, but he hasn't." Her eyes met his, hard and narrow. "You hurt me."
"I know." Edward sighed and raked a hand through his hair again. "I don't know what Paul wants with you, and I've never seen a werewolf of that size. I have to go back home – to do some research on the Quileute wolves." Standing, Edward watched her for a moment before putting some distance between them. "I'll be back in a few days – a week tops. While I'm gone, I think you should stay away from them. They could still be dangerous." He warned ominously as he moved towards her bedroom door. "And Bella-" he paused, seemingly voicing an afterthought "- I'm sorry I hurt you…"
Bella listened to his footsteps trail down the hall until they were just quiet thumps that slowly blended into the howling wind outside. Sitting in the dark with her arms wrapped around her knees, Bella tried to digest everything she had just learned. Monsters were real. Edward had lied since he met her. Paul turned into a giant wolf… Paul liked her. So, the last wasn't exactly on par with the others, but it still danced in her mind. Bella was sure she was crazy to get so weak-kneed at the idea of a giant wolf liking her. Before she had time to dwell on the thought, a loud thump caused her gaze to jerk upward, freezing on Paul's dark silhouette.
"I thought he'd never shut up." Paul nearly barked in a whisper, his voice deep and gravely. "Isabella…" He called her name like a lover's prayer as his eyes gleamed, even in the minimal light.
In the back of her mind, a tiny voice told Bella to run. To get out of the house and call Edward back, but a larger part was calm. Paul wouldn't hurt her… she hoped. He had more than his fair share of opportunities, yet he had been nothing but kind to her. "Paul…" His name was a whisper on her lips, and she could have sworn she saw him flinch, his long fingers curling tightly into his palms. "What's going on?"
"Well, your ex explained most of it." Even in the darkness and through the distance, Bella could see the heavy frown that pulled at his full lips. "But he's wrong when he says I'm dangerous. I would never hurt you, Bella… not on purpose." He moved slowly, as if he was afraid he would scare her off. When he was close enough, his fingers carefully extended to brush against her hair, stilling when she winced. "How's your head?"
"It's fine." She lied. It throbbed horribly, and she was sure she would have a migraine for days. Still, the feeling of his hot fingers on her scalp pushed the pain to the back of her mind.
"Don't lie to me, Isabella." She shivered as he used her full name for the second time that night. She usually hated when people called her that, but Paul was an exception. Those talented fingers that could bring paint to life danced across her skin again, feather light this time. "I'm sorry you got hurt because of me…"
"It wasn't your fault I fainted… but… what are you, Paul?" She breathed as he slowly sank beside her, still twice her size when sitting. "I gather your legends are true, but Edward said he's never seen a werewolf so big…" She was sure her possible concussion was the only reason she was taking this all so well.
"We were told we were werewolves. Before I overheard Cullen, I didn't know there were other packs out there – that most of that was out there. We knew about the vampires and witches, but all that other shit?" He shook his head in disbelief. "We've even come across a few hunters before. I should have known that prick was one of them." His sharp gaze, blacker than the shadows of her room cut to her. "You have to know I didn't mean to hurt you. We don't hurt people… not on purpose." He reiterated.
"I know." Bella replied before the thought could even really take root in her mind. But she did. Bella knew in her heart that Paul wouldn't hurt her. "I know you wouldn't hurt me Paul. I don't know why or how I know, I just do…"
Paul frowned, his eyes searching her face for something unseen. "There's more, but I think you've had enough crazy for one night. Will you come by tomorrow? I finished the painting." Despite the tense atmosphere and promise of more to come, Paul's lips twitched in a light smile. "I'd really like you to see it before you decide that you don't want anything to do with me…"
"I'll come by." Bella nodded, simply desperate for sleep at this point. Maybe it would all be a dream after all, though she knew that was wishful thinking. "Like I said, Paul… I might not know everything that's going on, but I trust you." Even though she was terrified of what other horrors would come to light.
His long fingers rose to brush gently across her reddened cheek and tangle through her hair before hooking around her neck. He pulled gently, but surely, stopping when his lips pressed to her forehead. They stayed like that for a long moment, Bella's cheeks red and her heart pounding at the nearness of him. Just as the scent of spice and rain began to lull her into a calm state, he pulled back with a ghost of a smile. "Get some sleep, babe. We'll talk more tomorrow." And just as quickly as he had come, he was gone.
The next morning was fairly normal for Bella, as long as she didn't think too hard about the knot on her head or the fact that she was on her way to visit a werewolf. Her parents seemed completely oblivious to anything that had transpired the previous night, which was just as well. As much as Bella would have liked someone to confide in, she didn't want them dragged into all of this. Charlie would probably try and shoot Edward and Paul both. Renee would faint before attempting to vacuum every square inch of the house. No. It was much better that they stayed in the dark. Part of Bella wished that she was still as blissfully ignorant as she had been just twenty-four hours prior. Yesterday, she was simply a girl that liked a boy that went to her school. If Paul could be described as a boy at all. If Edward lied about his age, who was to say Paul wouldn't? What if he was even older than Edward? Suddenly, she felt very much like the new, younger kid on the playground. Did the others think she was stupid for not seeing it? Did Edward think she was naive to have so willingly walked into the wolf's den despite the warning signs? Should she care at all what Edward thought? That last one was loaded. It was true that Edward hadn't exactly been good to Bella, and that he had blatantly lied to her… but for her own safety. Charlie had always praised Bella for her big heart and ability to see the good in everyone, but what if that was what got her killed?
She tried not to dwell on the thought as she pulled up to Paul's tiny house. He had texted her the address this morning along with some vague directions. Normally, Bella wouldn't go off of such things, as she had a bad tendency to get very lost very easily. But the reservation was small, and the locals helpful enough to point her in the right direction if she managed to mess things up. Luckily for Bella, she had managed to track it down, the simple white mailbox brandishing the Lahote name telling her that she had managed to do something right. Pulling into the driveway, Bella cut the engine to her car, pausing at the silence that surrounded her. Sure, Forks was secluded, but there was something about the reservation that was almost other worldly. Okay, so maybe it was a bad thing given her latest intel, but she wasn't afraid. Bella had never been the bravest of people, and she even surprised herself with how well she had taken everything thus far.
Climbing the two weathered, broken stone stairs that led to Paul's porch, Bella stopped to admire the old windchimes that hung from the overhang. They were aged and rusted, the brightly colored porcelain flowers it wore as a crown dull and tarnished with years of being exposed to Washington's less than sunny climate. It didn't fit Paul, and Bella found herself wondering if he hadn't been the one to put them there at all. Paul had only spoken of his parents once in his apartment, and she remembered that he had said his mom had left. There was anger in his words that day, but his eyes… those heavy eyes seemed… broken. She didn't doubt for a minute that Paul missed his mother. Maybe the windchimes were hers and he kept them up regardless of how much anger he held towards the people that raised him.
Tearing her eyes away from them as they quieted in the stillness of the wind, Bella knocked on Paul's front door, pausing on the second knock as it slowly swung open. "Paul?" Bella called, her voice unsure as she pushed the door open a little more. "Paul, it's me!" She called again, louder this time. The warm scent of rain and spice filled her senses as she stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind her. The house was as quiet as it had been outside. No lights were on, but enough entered through the large back windows to illuminate the sitting area. The furniture was mismatched and worn in, but something about the imperfections just made the space seem more lived in. Renee had always sworn by keeping her home up to showroom standards, and at times it felt less like a house and more like a museum. In the center of the room, in front of the abandoned fireplace, were Paul's art supplies.
She knew that she should wait for Paul, but the back of the crisp canvas tucked neatly onto the paint-splattered easel called to her curiosity. Circling it slowly, Bella paused at the image that stared back at her. It was Paul's apartment – at least, a corner of it. The paining was illuminated by the 'light' coming in through the high windows. Dancing in the light rays, Bella could make out tiny flecks that must have been dust. What caught her attention, however, was the portrait of her. She sat in the overstuffed armchair she had grown used to, a book hanging limply in her hands. The detail of those alone was almost enough to make her cry. Each line, each nail… everything was so precise. Her eyes traveled along her own image, following the lines of frizzed mahogany waves that settled into microscopic points on her pale head. Her expression, although not tense was… captivating. Her eyes were shielded under heavy, pinched brows, glistening in a spectrum of brown and gold flakes. Her pale cheeks were flush with a dusty pink that spread over high cheekbones and disappeared behind more curls. Her lips, nearly snarling were pinched tight, but full. The corners of her mouth and crest of her eyebrows were accented with fine lines that showed her ire.
"Jesus fucking Christ…" Bella breathed, nearly jumping out of her skin as her comment was met with a dark chuckle. Spinning on her heels, Bella's wide eyes found Paul's, narrowed with laughter. He stood tall and shirtless, his arms crossed across his broad chest, and his stance relaxed and leaning against the backdoor. How long had he been standing there? Her cheeks flooded with embarrassment at knowing he had been watching her admire his work, and furthermore, had heard her curse.
"Don't be shy, babe. I like my girls to have a bit of a mouth on them." He winked as he straightened, causing Bella's blush to darken. "So… what do you think?"
AN: Sorry this chapter took so long guys, especially since I left you on a cliffhanger! We're in the middle of moving, so things have been hectic here V_V the good news is that we're moving because my husband got a new job! A new job that will allow me to quit my own and write more! So in a month or so, updates should be more regulated! The next chapter might take a little while to come out, but who knows!
Thanks to everyone that reviewed! Just so you guys know, I read every single one of them, and they always make me smile – even the ones that wish Edward death XD
And a very special thank you as always to MisfitsBelieveInSherlockHolmes for being my beta reader!
Reviews are loved!
~AAH
