Chapter 7
I sat and watched as the waves came crashing in on a tranquil Eva. She stood just about waist deep in the water that I had to assume must have been freezing with her face turned upwards towards the, for once, visible sun. The waves hardly seemed to bother her and not for the first time I found myself envious of my beautiful sister. Even after losing one of her best childhood friends she seemed to be managing and taking everything in stride. It was unsettling to see someone actually cope with the grief they were feeling, from my perspective, after watching everything be shoved under the rug of war to make way for the next bitter tragedy.
It had been a week since Lauren had been found by her mother in her perfect baby pink room. There had been so many theories floating around meddlesome Forks but nothing that even came close to the truth that I saw every time I shut my eyes. I could still remember with crystal clarity the awkward rushed car journey I'd endured with Edward, Emmett and Jasper as we flew down the main road to Seattle trying to catch Victoria before she had completely fled the scene of the crime. Her scent had faded quickly past Seattle. The cunning monster had used the waters at the port to disguise her path easily.
"Alright Girl you need to start talking," Jasper had said in frustration after he'd let out a guttural moan of displeasure at finding the trail dead. Reaching out he'd pulled me to face him roughly from where I'd been standing looking out at the ships as if she'd left a clue especially for me to decipher. It was a stormy day and the four of us were stood by the car calculating our next move.
"Let go of me," I said trying to tug my arm free from his firm grasp. He was pressing horribly on the scar that Bellatrix had gifted me as a reminder of my true 'place' in wizardry society. My wand entered my hand easily from the holster I always wore.
"This isn't a game anymore," Jasper spat out angrily letting his Southern accent seep into his every word.
"And you think it is for me?" I asked meeting his icy eyes tartly. I could tell he was nervous for the safety of his 'family' but couldn't he tell that I was too for my own?
"Subtle digs in school? Your past making dramatic appearances at our own house? It certainly seems so," Emmett accused from Jasper's left. I couldn't help but notice how Edward hadn't turned from examining the port, I wished he would. I wanted to know what he was thinking about more than anything in that moment for reasons I couldn't understand.
"Alright fine," I said finally managing to pull my hand free from Jasper's grasp, stumbling back a little in the process. I knew deep down I wouldn't have been able to if he hadn't allowed it but it still felt like a victory to me. "I knew Victoria's mate James. We had a common enemy," I stated hesitantly.
"Not so vague," Edward said firmly, finally ending his silence. He still hadn't turned to face me yet.
"James was like me some time ago until this enemy, Tom I suppose we can call him, turned him as part of an experiment maybe thirty years ago," I explained stubbornly keeping my eyes on the back of Edward's head as if willing him to turn.
"Like you?" Jasper finally asked moving closer to where I stood blocking my view of Edward forcing me to meet his eyes.
"We can... make things happen," I tried to explain indistinctly. It simply wasn't safe for them to know this, not for me or them.
"Things?" Edward asked finally turning to face me and stand next to Jasper, curiosity marring his features. I sighed perhaps realising this would need a demonstration. Turning away from them to exam the wild waves toss a small fisherman's boat attached to the dock up and down I quickly made my decision. I needed some help in this fight and there was no way I was contacting Harry again, I needed time to consider his proposition. Looking around and seeing no immediate witnesses I concealed my wand up my sleeve, not quite ready for them to know how cliché witch craft really was, and magically lifted a large rock in front of me. I could hear the gasps of shock behind me as all three vampires registered what was happening.
Edward moved first brushing my shoulder with his arm sending shivers up my spine. He reached out and waved his hands under the rock as if trying to rationalise the situation.
"There's nothing there," he confirmed to his brothers.
"How do we know this isn't some trick?" Emmett asked, disbelief clear in his tone of voice. Growling in frustration I quickly waved my wand challenging the sea to answer my call. A small wave rushed over the edge of the dock drenching him in freezing water. As if against his wishes Jasper let out a snort of amusement and Edward a wry chuckle. Ignoring the boys I hopped into the front seat of the fancy car ready for this trip to be over. After a moment they hurried in all with questions ready on the tips of their tongues.
"What else can you do?" Edward asked winning their silent competition about who would ask the questions as he started the car up. I turned in my seat and cast a quick drying charm on Emmett much to his surprise. It was comical to me that he was too bemused to even be mad about me soaking him. There was a full thirty seconds of silence in the car as everyone examined Emmett.
"How can-," Jasper began but I cut him off before we lost track of the matter at hand.
"I'm only telling you this because a girl died in your territory. This is no time for Q and A," I declared sternly even though I'd been enjoying the look on their perplexed faces.
"Right," Edward said having the decency to look a bit ashamed at their antics. "So about James?" He inquired hesitantly. I took a moment to consider how I'd finish James's story.
"Well when James turned he lost all the abilities that we are gifted with," I said with regret lacing my words. "He was the first of our kind to change into one of you and to live without our magic is unnatural, he once described it to me as it being comparable to forgetting how to breathe," I finished sadly.
"So he went mad?" Emmett guessed finally finding his voice after my charms.
"Not exactly, he wanted revenge on the monster who committed this horrible act. Which was perfect for us really because we were already fighting Vol- Tom," I belatedly corrected. "He loved being involved in our world again and then his mate, Victoria, showed up and it got harder and harder for him to control his bloodlust," I explained cautiously. "To cut a long tragic story short he murdered one of my injured friends in a frenzy on the battlefield and I killed him," I replied staring out the passenger window not ready to face the inquiring eyes of Edward. "She must have lucked out and picked up a trace of my scent in Forks and took it out on Lauren," I said bitterly in reference to Victoria.
"You can't possibly blame yourself for that?" Edward asked in disbelief. I snorted derisively before I could help it, I was a regular Jessica Fletcher. "Someone would have died that day anyway maybe not Lauren but some poor hiker with a family who loved him too. What difference does it make really? She needs to be stopped," he said confidently.
"Lauren didn't even get a chance to live," I asserted. "That makes a difference to me," I continued finally turning my head in resentment to meet his golden eyes that were switching from me to the road.
"Killed? You said you killed James?" Jasper asked incredulously from behind me. I met his eyes in the passenger mirror and nodded before apparating out of the car abruptly ending the conversation.
I arrived at my house in my room and thanked Merlin silently that it was empty. Rushing out I headed straight for Eva's room holding my breath and with ever step regretting leaving her with the rest of the bloodsuckers. Flinging her bedroom door open I almost sobbed my relief at the sight of her cuddled up at the end of her bed.
"Hermione, I think you were right," she cried hopping of the bed and heading towards me. She was heaving giant intakes of air as tears streamed down her face. "Dad-" she tried but a sob overtook her.
"Oh Eva," I lamented rushing towards her before I knew what I was doing and taking her in my arms.
"Dad rushed out of the house an hour ago without even saying goodbye. Rosalie and Alice dropped me here. I don't understand... I don't understand," she mumbled into my shoulder as she tried to control her breathing.
"Shhh," I tried to comfort as I sat her on the bed. "Lie down," I pressed and it was a testament to how distressed she was that she obeyed me without comment.
"Is she really..?" Eva tried to ask but a horrible gasp overtook her. I recognised instantly that she knew deep down what had happened to Lauren. "Don't leave me," she asked terrified clinging to my arm.
"Never," I whispered gently, though I didn't know how truthful that statement was. I began to stoke her hair and make soothing noises that I had never had to do with Ron or Harry, men were so different to woman in their coping mechanisms. Her eyes shut closed after a few minutes but tears still fell onto her soaked pillow. I decided sadly what I had to do, to take away this terror and unease. I might not have been able to rid her of her grief at Lauren's passing but at least I could do this.
"Obliviate," I mumbled softly with my wand pressed to her cheek with tears brimming in my eyes. Then I was truly alone.
I had stoically avoided any interaction with the Cullens for the next week as news of Lauren's death spilled through the halls of Forks High School. They seemed to understand, or maybe they just thought that any association with the chief's daughter during such a suspicious time would be detrimental to their continued existence. Eva seemed especially confused when Alice greeted her in the halls. I supposed that they'd have some discussion that morning that merited a salutation but I couldn't be sure, the only member I could ask wouldn't remember.
With all that happened I couldn't bring myself to deny Eva the beach trip that her friends were taking to remember Lauren. I suppose I could admit to myself that I was a little curious about the anigmus that haunted La Push beach as well.
"I'm really sorry about what happened to that girl," a boy's voice dragged me out of my musings. I whipped around from my position on the rock I had been using to watch my sister.
"Thanks but I hardly knew her," I admitted with a small smile. He was a native to the land with long dark hair and an honest look that made him quite endearing at a first glance.
"Charlie's mysterious daughter right?" The boy asked and suddenly a vague memory hit me hard.
"Jacob, God you're old," I couldn't help myself exclaim. He let out a bark of laughter at my shout.
"Same to you," he replied with a grin. Three of his friends joined us from where they'd been talking to Angela, Jessica and Mike at the van.
"You two know each other?" One of them asked, he was tall and lean, more of a man then the other three. If I was a guessing girl I'd say I'd found an anigmus.
"This here is Chief Swan's daughter," Jacob explained with an easy smile. "Hermione, Paul. Paul, Hermione," he introduced. "And these two fools are Quil and Empry," he stated pointing at the other two boys that were more Jacobs age.
"Oh I see," Paul said with a sly grin. "Trying to get all friendly with the sister to ease your way into the family," he continued with a laugh which earned him a weak punch in the shoulder from a blushing Jacob. I couldn't help myself grin as I noticed Jacob's furtive glances in Eva's direction to make sure she wasn't in hearing distance. She wasn't, she was still standing in the water with a faraway look on her pretty face.
"Interesting," I said with a smirk at Jacob's expense, it was fun to tease a little after the stressful week.
"So what's your story Hermione?" Paul asked with a flirtatious smile glad I was playing along. He really was good looking with broad muscular shoulders and an angular face decorated with stubble. All he was wearing were his swim trunks and Hermione had to struggle to not examine his toned chest.
"You better watch yourself there flirting with a taken girl," Jessica called from the van trying to involve herself in the fun.
"Taken? Already? Those Forks boys move fast," Paul commented with a low whistle. "Who's the lucky boy?" He asked mischievously.
"Your guess is as good as mine," I joked back but really I was on edge I had an idea who Jessica was alluding to and I wasn't sure if that might get me in trouble in an area like this.
"Edward Cullen of course," Jessica answered the question that had never been directed at her. The reaction was instantaneous. Paul's jaw tightened and he took a small step back from where he'd been leaning on the rock near me.
"You're dating a Cullen?" He asked incredulously.
"Of course she's not that's just some nonsense that Lau-," Eva began from behind me, I'd not even noticed her leave the water. Her wet suit was untied and down at her waist exposing the top of her bikini. The sentence was obviously too painful for her to continue and Jacob perhaps sensing her awkwardness picked up the conversation.
"That's a weird rumour," he said with a small smile.
"We don't exactly get on," I said trying to put an end to the subject. Eva snorted inelegantly.
"More like he flirts with you shamelessly and you deny him for some ridiculous reason nobody knows," she said waving her hands in the air as if to exaggerate my foolishness. I watched Paul's expression switch from defensive to curious as if trying to work out what was so special about little 'ole me.
"Maybe your sister's just being wise," Paul said to Eva with a small smile at the younger girl. Eva let out a groan of annoyance once more at yet another crazy person denying the Cullens.
"Unlikely," Eva mumbled.
"He has been pretty attentive to you," Angela said from the car as if voicing a question she'd had for a long time.
"The Cullens don't come here," Paul stated firmly looking me in the eye as if trying to warn me. I supposed it must have been awful having to watch someone being fed like a ferret to a hippogriff.
"God how painfully vague," Eva responded to Paul. "If you have some proper dirt spit it out," she pressed further. Paul remained silent but to his credit looked frustrated at having to do so. "See no one has any real reasons why you shouldn't accept his advances," Eva said with a wink. It was the first time she'd joked all week and I couldn't help but feel relieved that she was finally opening up.
"Don't worry Paul, that's not happening in any immediate future of mine," I said disguising my comfort as flirting. He gave me a funny look as if recognising what I was doing but gave a small smile in return anyway.
Hours passed on the beach until eventually night had fallen and Mike and Ben were starting up the camp fire. I didn't leave my rock to move closer preferring to keep my distance from the mourning friends that were joined by Jacob who was sitting close to Eva. They were recounting tails of Lauren's childhood which most of them had been a part of. I couldn't bring myself to get involved when it was mostly my fault they wouldn't get the opportunity to be involved in her adult life. I heaved a sigh of regret at the situation I found myself in. Soon Victoria would be back to investigate that scent and all the backup I had were some vegetarian vampires. 'God life had funny twists and turns,' I thought to myself sardonically.
"Cullen's dangerous," Paul said unexpectedly from beside her. I jumped about an inch off the rock I'd been precariously balanced on and toppled into the sand.
"Merlin Paul! Give a girl a little warning," I complained, he was lucky I hadn't hexed him, my right arm had been extended with my sleeve barely hiding my wand. He only laughed at my reaction reaching out a hand to help me up which I took hesitantly. We both stood leaning against the rock staring out at the camp fire.
"You already knew that though didn't you?" He asked already knowing the answer. I nodded minutely, growing uncomfortable with how easy he was reading me.
"You're playing with fire darling," he stated almost as if he was commiserating with her. Before I could articulate an appropriate response he was walking off in the opposite direction of the bon fire. I followed him with my eyes as he walked up the beach until he was completely lost in the darkness. I sat there contemplating how accurate Paul's assessment of the situation was until a howl broke though my thoughts. Freezing I listened and watched the darkness as the howling continued. 'Well that was one way to punctuate your warning Paul,' I thought bitterly settling on my rock once again ready for a restless night.
Sorry it's been so long everyone, I got really sick and am now recovering nicely from surgery. A review would be much appreciated, thanks very much for the reviews on the last chapter.
