KISS ME, KILL YOU
Chapter Seven: The Dog Takes Charge
Bella met Rosalie and Alice in the middle of the large crowd of townspeople gathered in Forks Square. Along with most of the humans, there were representatives from every species, coven and organization. And they were all pretty agitated.
"Listen, guys," Alice gathered her sisters in close and whispered, "This is not going to be good."
"What do you think?" Rosalie asked quietly.
"There's a great aura of malevolence. The humans are planning something monumental. Weird...I see Jake given a position of power and importance."
"Jake? Jacob Black? The bratty wolf that used to skinny dip with us when we were kids??" Rosalie asked incredulously.
Mayor Ben Cheney stepped up to the podium. Jake and the six other pack members were standing behind him all wearing their black leather biker jackets, shirtless and worn out jeans.
"My friends, neighbors, good people of Forks," the Mayor began, "I've got wonderful news for you. Yesterday, a group of LeStat Vampires were apprehended by Jacob Black of the Quileute Pack. They have been positively identified without a shadow of a doubt as the so-called 'Decapitators' that have been feeding and murdering our citizens."
The crowd cheered enthusiastically, going wild with the relief brought by the Mayors' declaration.
"Jake? Bring out your prisoners!" The mayor shouted.
The crowd was chanting JACOB BLACK!! JACOB BLACK!! JACOB BLACK!!
He nodded to the Mayor then shouted something to his pack mates in Quileute. Sam, Paul and Seth immediately went into the courthouse. Quil and Embry closed ranks, flanking Jake.
The crowd gasped in unison as Sam, Paul and Seth returned wheeling out the three LeStats in contraptions very similar to the one used on Hannibal Lechter in 'Silence of the Lambs.'
People started booing and tossing soft drinks and popcorn at the three prisoners.
Mayor Cheney gestured for Jake to come forward. The crowd went crazy hooting and hollering, chanting JACOB BLACK! JACOB BLACK ! as he took the podium.
"Good citizens of Forks!" Jake stepped up to the microphone, hushing the crowd. "Last night, the head of a child from our tribe was found on tribal lands between Forks and La Push." Gesturing to the LeStats he continued angrily, "These freakish abominations were already in chains on the reservation. This is no longer just a Forks problem but a Quileute problem as well. You know our tribe. Our pack has lived in peaceful coexistence with you all for centuries. We have raised generations of children side by side together. Our lands together have been a safe harbor for a wealth of species as diverse as you will find anywhere else on God's green Earth.
"But when one species preys on another in our backyard, it not only breaks the peace that we know and love in our towns, it changes the very heart of us and puts us all in danger. It is time to secure the future for our children by restoring the peace to our lands. I can not and will not raise cubs in an atmosphere of fear.
"One fallen would be tragic, but sixteen taken out of our towns is inexcusable and warrants drastic action. Sixteen lives gone, sixteen futures snuffed out by cruel, heartless, vicious bloodsuckers and they're still out there watching and waiting to claim another one of us.
"And they are out there somewhere right now, watching us. Watching for any weakness to strike and suck the very life out of you, your children, your mom, your dad and toss aside your head like so much garbage. And God help us all—what are they doing with the bodies??
"I say get rid of ALL bloodsuckers and anyone who protects them. Anyone who isn't human or werewolf is not your friend!
"Let's make our towns safe for our children!! CITIZENS OF FORKS! WHAT DO YOU SAY??"
The crowd around them went insane howling in approval, chanting 'WOLF!! WOLF!! WOLF!!' like Jake was a God damned celebrity. And he was eating it up. You could see the power mad look on his face.
The Mayor got to the mic with obvious enthusiasm, holding Jake's hand up while the human citizens of Forks jumped and shouted like their home team was winning the Super Bowl.
"An announcement! Shhhh—people please!" The Mayor could not control the crowd. All they wanted was more of the Wolf. Jake growled loudly and they hushed immediately.
"All city council members will report to my chambers for an emergency meeting in five minutes."
"Bella..." Alice whispered, thoroughly panicked.
"I know Alice," Bella put her arm around her, "Let's go quietly. Grab Rosalie."
"Did you hear...??" Rosalie's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Shhh...let's get back to my house." Bella squeezed her hand.
When they got to Bella's car, she opened the doors and said to her sisters, "Call the drinks ASAP my place."
"Tyler will meet us there in ten minutes. What are we going to do with them?" Alice whispered as the crowd started leaving.
"Ok, Eric's on the way there." Rosalie whispered, "What about Mike? Is he on the way?"
Bella frowned, "Voice mail...hey Mike, it's me. I need those receipts for today. Bring them by in 10 minutes."
She shut the phone and pursed her lips in thought. That was their code to let Mike know that Bella needed to feed. Knowing Mike he'd be half naked and waiting by the time they got there.
"We wipe them," Bella sighed, "then we fire them from their jobs with us."
Alice and Rosalie groaned. This meant that they would have to erase they guys' memories of every feeding for the past six months. Bella was the only one with strong enough abilities to do this.
"Then, " Bella continued, "we will have to go outside the area to feed. It's too risky now. If they find out we're Vampires..."
"Ya, the Salem Witch trials will look like a happy bonfire on the beach compared to the roasting we'll get." Alice said drearily.
When they got to Bella's estate, Eric and Tyler were waiting, concern all over their faces from the goings on at the town meeting.
But no Mike.
Bella easily wiped all memories of the feedings. She searched for every memory they had of her and her sisters that did not pertain to the work they did at their shops, then removed them.
With that done, Alice and Rosalie proceeded with giving the two men their pink slips along with a very generous severance package that should tide them over until they could find other work.
Bella continued to call Mike on his cell, getting his voice mail every time. The house phone rang. Bella sprang up to get it, thinking it had to be Mike.
"Mike?" She said anxiously.
"Hello this is Mayor Benjamin Cheney..."
"Who is it Bella?" Rosalie called, "Is it Mike?"
"No, it's a recorded announcement from the Mayor." She put it on speaker phone.
'Good citizens of Forks. In order to put an end to the nightmare we have been experiencing once and for all, all Vampires, Witches, Gypsies, Sorcerers, Harpies, Banshees, High Priestesses of Voodoo, Hoodoo and Satan, Roman Catholic Clergymen and Disciples of Nathan Explosion will report to the Courthouse on Main Street for classification and re- districting. Anyone not reporting will be placed into immediate custody. Thank you for your cooperation in putting an end to this dark period in Forks history.'
A knock on the door made them all jump. Bella answered the door. Jake was at the door with Quil and Embry behind him like his own personal Secret Service or some shit.
"Listen, Bells, here is a personal invitation that we're passing out to everybody who is in the 'suspicious zone.'" He handed over a flyer to her.
"The what??"
"I wanted to bring this by personally. It's for Alice. But don't worry, I know she's cool. Me and the pack are in charge at the Courthouse. I'll take good care of her, don't worry."
"Alice?? Why??" Rosalie and Alice came to stand beside Bella. The three girls locked elbows.
"Geez Bells..she owns that fucking psychic shop. What the hell did you think? That she would be exempt because we were friends as children? Pfft!"
"Jake! You know very well that she's a phony! The whole town knows it's just an act for the tourists!!"
"Christ Jake! Have you completely lost your mind?? They could arrest her for nothing!" Rosalie yelled at him.
"Hey! If she's a fake, we'll know and she'll be set free. Like I said, don't worry about it. Alice, when you report, come find me. I'll take care of you, ok?" 'Hungry Like the Wolf' ring tone played on his cell. "It's the Mayor calling, I gotta go."
He turned on his heel and left with Quil and Embry following closely behind.
Alice opened up the piece of paper:
SUMMONS TO APPEAR:
ALICE BRANDON-SWAN
1313 Mockingbird Lane
Forks, WA
BY ORDER OF HIS HONOR, MAYOR BENJAMIN JEREMIAH CHENEY
THE CITIZEN NAMED HEREIN IS TO REPORT TO FORKS COUNTY COURTHOUSE NO LATER THAN TWO HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF GUARANTEEING LIBERTY, JUSTICE AND ABOVE ALL, NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE CITIZEN MUST PROVIDE VERIFIABLE PROOF OF IDENTIFICAION, PROOF OF RESIDENCY, PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, PROOF OF IMMIGRATION OR ALIEN STATUS AND PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT.
IF YOU CANNOT PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MAY BE DETAINED UNTIL THEY CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUING GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
WARNING
IF YOU DO NOT APPEAR ON TIME WHEN SERVED THIS NOTICE OR CHOOSE TO IGNORE THIS SUMMONS YOU WILL BE CONTACTED AND POSSIBLY DETAINED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
"This is unbelievable." Rosalie commented.
As Alice silently gathered up the documents required, Bella and Rosalie got busy on their phones trying to locate the General and his entourage.
"They're not at Motel 6, the Ramada or the Holiday Inn," Rosalie said gloomily, closing her phone.
"Hmm..Ya know what?" Bella said thoughtfully, "I let Edward off at the corner of Maple and Ginkgo...I wonder..." She grabbed the Yellow Pages quickly and then punched the numbers on her cell.
"Dragonfly Inn? Do you have an Edward Cullen listed on your register? Uh huh...This is Sal's Pizzeria and I have a delivery..what room is he in again? 515 ? Oh ya...that's right. Thanks" Click.
"Bingo!"
"Do you think they'll be able to help me?" Alice said in a little voice.
Bella and Rosalie gathered around their sister and hugged each other tightly.
"What's the worse case scenario...they find out you're a Vampire and we have to move to California? Geez, we'll fit right in!" Bella laughed, trying to coax a smile from Alice, "I really don't think we have anything to worry about. We've been through much worse."
"We could always force these Warriors to mate with us and move to Volterra," Rosalie smiled.
"First of all, I don't think we'd have to force them from what you've told me and second of all...Volterra Rose?? ICK!!" Bella made a gag sound.
"Ok, so we live in Florence and they commute to work," Rosalie conceded, "Either way, I'm not worried, Alice."
When they arrived at the courthouse, there must have been close to 500 people jammed into queues in the lobby and more were arriving. Old friends and neighbors of theirs that were also considered part of the 'fringe element' of Forks were lined up as well as people they've never seen before that, judging by their roughly sewn clothes, beards and wild hair, must have been living up in the hills.
They found the line marked 'A thru M' and got behind a group of people all dressed in Renaissance clothing. Bella checked her cell phone for the hundredth time.
"Still no Mike?" Rosalie asked her.
"It's not like him to ignore me, even if he is pissed off at me."
"I told you not to fuck with him. I knew he'd come back to bite you in the ass."
"Ick." Bella shuddered then added, "You know, I don't see any human feeders here."
"I know, me neither. I saw George Bloodslut from the Disciples of Nathan Explosion on our way in." Rosalie stated, looking around.
"Ya, and Blythe Lilywhite and the others from Crescent Moon Coven are behind us." Bella noted, "They only drink from deer and coyote. This is weird. Something else is going on here. Like a piece of the puzzle is missing, I just don't know what. Alice? Anything?"
"I wish I could see something, anything that would help. I keep seeing stuff that just doesn't make sense." Alice whispered.
"Like what??" Rosalie asked as quietly as she could but still loud enough to be heard above the din of the crowd.
"Well...like Gladiator fights. Naked Gladiator fights."
"I told you to stop obsessively watching '300' before you went to bed every night, but did you listen?" Rosalie teased.
"Jousting matches." Alice continued, ignoring her sister, "But not on horseback. See? All useless. I have no idea what it means."
"Well, it looks like we're going to be stuck here for a while. I'm gonna make myself useful and go check out the General's room." Bella said, checking her cell one more time.
"Be careful, Bella," Alice said and hugged her.
"Don't do anything stupid like get naked and forget why you're there." Rosalie teased, "Oh! And tell Emmett to call me!"
"Yeah, give Jasper my cell number, will you?"
"Look, don't hold your breath, girls." Bella frowned.
"They just may be laying low until all this crap blows over." Alice said hopefully.
"Or...Could be since the LeStats have been caught, they've gone back where they came from." Bella suggested, trying not to sound too disappointed.
"Ok, Miss grumpy gills...I just don't think they'd leave without saying good-bye. Unless..."
Rosalie stared down Bella hoping to elicit a confession.
"Bella...did you tell Edward to fuck off??"
"Well? Not exactly in those words..." Bella looked at the floor, "I guess he could've taken it that way, but that's not the way I meant it."
"BELLA!!" They cursed and stomped their feet.
"Keep me informed on what's happening, ok? I'll be back as soon as I can." Bella turned around and weaved her way out.
Her car was completely blocked in at the public lot. "Fuck me!" She shouted stomping her feet and throwing her arms up in angry frustration.
"Not if you were the last pussy on the planet, " some stupid frat boys laughed and pointed.
Bella looked at the large gathering of human idiots who were standing around harassing the poor souls that were only answering their summonses to appear. Of course, the three bitches of Forks, Jessica, Angela and Lauren were laughing their slutty asses off along with their boyfriends. Mike was there, standing next to Jess, along with Tyler and Eric too. He didn't make eye contact whatsoever.
"Mike," Bella called to him, "I need to you a minute."
"Fuck off, Bella, he quits. He's not working at that pathetic little book store or for your skanky ass anymore." Jess snarled.
"Mike. Let's go." Bella said firmly.
"Tell her Mikey, tell the bitch."
"That's right, Bella. I quit."
"Well. This isn't very cool to do it this way. I'll need to see you, though, and give you your final paycheck and stuff. Why don't you come with me back to the store right now and I'll cut you a check."
"Keep it." He said, still not looking up.
"You heard him Swan. Now beat it before we beat you and your sisters back into the dirt where you belong." Lauren spat out.
She didn't care what the bitches were saying, it was the look on Mike's face that bothered her. She wasn't sure what was going on with him. She'd figure it out later. Right now, she had to see what Edward, Jasper and Emmett were up to. She had a feeling Alice was going to need all the help she could get.
Bella got her backpack out from the trunk of her car. Entering the bathroom at the abandoned Chevron station four blocks over, she quickly changed into her night patrolling clothes: Black leather one piece cat suit with Velcro at strategic places, black steel-toed combat boots, black leather gloves. She tightly French braided her hair and then stuck it up under a black knit cap. To conceal the weapons she carried, she drew on her black trench coat.
She easily slipped in and out of the shadows unnoticed as she made her way across Forks to the DragonFly Inn on Maple Terrace. She climbed up the drainpipe that ran from the roof down and eased open the wooden sash hallway window five floors up.
It was close to midnight by now, so it was pretty quiet at the Inn. Slinking down the hall, she came to 515 and pressed her ear against the door. No sound. She couldn't feel his presence in there. Unlocking the door with her mind, she slowly opened it. Reaching into her inside pocket, Bella pulled out a mini mag flashlight, and started to look around.
The old fashioned style four poster bed was messed up. The two pillows were piled up and had the impression of his head denting the goose down. She sat on the bed and picked up the top pillow. Holding it to her face, Bella took in a deep breath and inhaled his scent into her. She laid back on the bed and let the fragrance fill her. Her body reacted immediately, her nipples growing tight, the juncture between her thighs becoming wet and aching.
She started to undo the Velcro fly on her suit when Rosalie's words echoed in her mind:
"Don't do anything stupid like get naked and forget why you're there."
With a groan, Bella got up, carefully replacing the pillow and the dent. She shined her flashlight around the room. Spotting a notepad on the desk she walked over to investigate.
On the top page was the address of the Inn and some doodles. On the second page was a pencil sketch. It was the most remarkable likeness of Bella, laying naked on her bed. Tears stung her eyes as she read the words written in a most elegant script beneath the drawing,
'My Angel'
Flipping to the next page was a long list that went on for 10 pages. It was a list of names. Blythe Lilywhite, Mark Moonglow, Aaron Longstaff, Lisa Pendragon. "These are all the members of the 'Crescent Moon Coven,'" she whispered out loud to herself as she read all 42 names on the list.
Turning to the next page, she saw George Bloodslut's name along with the names of the other 162 members of 'The Disciples of Nathan Explosion.' All 43 family members of the Zatopek Gypsies Tribe were listed on another page. And then when she flipped another page over her heart stopped.
Forks, Washington, USA: Local Amaranthine Vampires, Warrior Class
Mary Alice Brandon-Swan
Parents: Deceased.
Sisters: Isabella Marie Swan, Coven Leader
Rosalie Lillian Hale-Swan
Currently residing in Forks, Washington State, USA
On the last page the list there was even more startling:
Quileute Pack--La Push Reservation
Volturi Contact: Jacob Black, Alpha
Quil
Embry
Sam
Paul
Seth
Billy
Old Quil
Colin
Brady
Jared
Rachel
Rebecca
Kim
Sue
Emily
Leah
Claire
The implications of what this could mean began to grip Bella. The pack was certainly keeping the last twelve names a well hidden secret from the rest of Forks. The elder Tribe members were said to have relinquished their Werewolf status years ago, obviously that was an untrue rumor. And the females and the cubs?? How long have they been pack members?? The Pack was huge. Eighteen members in this pack alone. Shit!
Well, this just added more to the whole mystery of the insanity of what was happening in Forks. Surely the Mayor and the town council had no idea just how big the pack had gotten, Bella thought to herself, it's bigger than the whole God damned Forks Police Department. The power they could wield was unimaginable if they wanted to go that way. And from the looks of things, Jacob was going that way big time.
And just what part did Edward play in all of this? What was his true mission? Whose side was he on?
Before her head could explode with all the new information and the thought of what this all could possibly lead to, Bella slipped into the shadows and headed back to the Courthouse.
A/N: Whew! The Wolf crap is hitting the fan now! I hope you're enjoying the ride. Next chapter...a little fluff...a little lemon...a little blood and gore? Who knows? Muahahaha! Your wonderful reviews asked a lot of good questions like did Edward, Jasper and Emmett kill the Quileute cub? Hmmm?
I see your wonderful adds-why not leave a review too? Makes the creative juices flow!
Love and Lemondrops to all of you...BSL