Disclaimer I do not own twilight! That honor goes to Stephenie Meyer's!
Thanks dazzleglo for being my Beta especially when i go a little crazy!
The War of the Worlds
Chapter 9
Edward's POV
"No Carlisle! Why do I have to go? Can't Alice and Jasper go alone?"
"Edward, you know why you have to go, we don't want to end up with some else's rejects now do we," he was firm in his decision no matter how hard I tried.
"Carlisle's right we need you to read their minds and make sure they are not screwing with us," I swear it is a conspiracy to keep Bella and me apart.
"When do we have to leave? And how long are we leaving for?" Bella was not going take this news well, especially after yesterday's fight about the wolf pack.
"We'll leave tonight, and then we can drop Jessica off at the medical training center in Seward before the auctions begin. We should be back in five days if all goes well," At least Alice was happy with our impending journey, no doubt shopping would be a requirement.
This was the last thing I wanted to be doing tonight. I had hoped to spend the night making up for my blunder last night. I mean really, what was I thinking? I was actually going to let her leave without even fighting for her. It might have been better if I asked her first if she wanted to leave, but no instead, I practically threw her to the wolves against her wishes. How could I have believed that she would want to run off with the wolf and my unborn child? I guess a quick shopping trip might be in order to woo my mate after all. After admitting defeat, I took the stairs two at a time in search of Bella. She was right where I left her, snug in our bed sleeping soundly. I could watch her sleep forever. When she started shifting suddenly I could see she was struggling with a nightmare before I reached the side of the bed had shot up screaming "NO!" this didn't sit well with me.
"Bella, it's okay, I'm here," she practically tore my shirt off while she was trying to hold onto me.
"What is that scared you so much?"
"Don't let them take me, I don't want to go," she sobbed.
"Bella, no one is going to take you anywhere, you're with me forever," now that I knew how she felt I would never let her go.
"When is she leaving?" I heard the pleading in her voice.
"Today - Carlisle is letting her out the backdoor and since the two minute window is now closed, she won't be getting back inside."
"I want to see her before she leaves, I want her to take a message from me back to her pack," it was all I could not to scream at her.
"No! You're not going anywhere near her or her kind."
"Edward…please, I just want her to tell them to leave us alone. I want to make it clear where I stand on this subject," when she started nibbling on her lip I forgot all about the wolf and attacked the lip with my own mouth.
"MINE!" I playfully growled.
After several minutes of kissing her senseless, I relented and agreed to bring her to the release of the wolf. How is it my attempt to dazzle her into submission ended up being mine? When did she wrap me around her tiny little fingers? Oh - right, the moment I saw her, how could I forget?
"Bella, there is one more thing we have to discuss. I have to go with Alice and Jasper tonight - to acquire more workers. We are going to be gone for about a week," I saw her breathe catch and I knew what the next question would be.
"Are you acquiring more…females?"
"No love…only males, and if I am not mistaken, Alice said it was your idea. Was it not?"
"Well, I just thought…" I think I need to attack that lip again.
At this rate, I was going to be going out of my mind before she delivered. With a groan, I crawled out of bed to open the door for Angela to bring in Bella's breakfast tray. I have never seen Bella run, so when she dashed for the bathroom I was surprised. Everyone heard as Bella sunk next to the toilet as she was overtaken by a wave of morning sickness.
Bella's POV
I have a feeling getting sick in the morning is going to become my regular routine. I don't know why it bothered me that Edward had to go to the auctions. Fresh men would definitely make the ladies in the compound happier, that's for sure. Once Angela had removed the tray from the room, I was feeling a little better and after a warm shower, I was back to myself. Of course, I still had to survive Edward's blackmail of no breakfast, no visit to the wolf. I was determined to keep the eggs and toast down at all costs.
Driving to the compound again made me feel queasy, but wasn't from morning sickness, no this was just sheer terror making my stomach do flip-flops. Jasper and Emmett had her waiting near the back gate. I expected to see a giant wolf, but instead I saw an average sized Indian female. Expecting answers I looked at Edward, he quickly explained that they could change back and forth at will. Edward held me close as he helped me out of the car, it was part of our deal, and I was not allowed anywhere his hand could not reach. The moment she looked at me, I had the sudden desire to hide behind Edward. Even under the hood of my cloak, I could feel her staring at me.
"Not happening mutt! Don't push our generosity," Edward snapped at her.
"What did she say?" Carlisle inquired.
"She wondered if she had enough time to phase and grab Bella away before I could stop her," I placed my hand against Edward's chest to calm his growl.
I sighed and asked, "What is her name?" before I slipped my hood down my back.
"My name is Leah, and you're Bella. We have been looking for you," she said with a smile.
"Yeah…well, about that. I would appreciate it if you and your pack would stop. Please just leave me be."
"You can't seriously want to stay here with them," she snarled.
"They are letting you go because you are with cub, please do they same for me. I want to be here with my mate and unborn child," I pleaded.
"I can't make any guarantees, but I will tell Sam about your request," the sad look on her face told me I should not get my hopes up.
"Thank you, could I ask for you to give this note to Renee for me? I hope it gives her closure," she looked at it for a moment before accepting it.
"Yes…I will, and thank you all for letting me go," she moved towards the gate before turning away from us for the last time.
With a flip of the switch from Rose, Jasper and Emmett opened the gate and sent her back to where she came from.
Leah's POV
The moment the gate opened, I was out of there, running as fast as I could without phasing. Looking over the last few days, it was somewhat surreal; did I really just spend two days with the enemy? Did they really just let me go? I mean they didn't even ask for their dress back, which, of course, I will be giving to Sam and Renee along with her note. Before I had a chance to stop and disrobe, I was assaulted by my two favorite scents, Jacob and Seth. They were close, but I am sure they were waiting to make sure the leeches had not sprung a trap for them. It was time to phase to make sure they didn't have to worry; after all, I had done enough circling and backtracking to ensure they had not followed me. Once the dress was folded neatly with the letter in its pocket, I phased and was greeted by the sweetest voices ever, my family.
"Lee Lee are you alright? Don't worry; the bloodsuckers will die for what they did to you!"
"Jake, I'm fine listen to me, please? They didn't do anything to me. They never touched me; all we did was talk."
"Seriously sis? They didn't hurt you in any way?"
Seth asked in disbelief. I don't think Jacob believed me either by the way he was practically assaulting me with his paws after he had crept out of the woods with Seth following closely behind.
"Seriously Seth, they clothed me and when the doc found out I was with cub as they put it, he just asked all kinds of medical questions. Then they let me go, but not before I had a chance to see Bella for myself. She's…happy and safe there from what I could see and hear."
"You mean to tell me they actually treat her good or is she too scared to leave?"
"No Jake, she's happy and in love. She's treated differently then the workers, but even the workers are treated different here then in Forks. Look, lets just get back and I'll explain everything all at once, okay?"
The pack was closer to the compound then when I had left; I think they were actually going to go in to get me. So with the dress in my teeth we met up with them. I wasn't comfortable having the impending conversation in wolf form, so as soon as I was close enough to walk in, I phased back and entered the new camp. It was nice to see everyone was happy to see me. Sam, of course, was the first one to approach me with his pet by his side. It was hard not to miss that he never took his eyes off the dress I was holding in my hands.
"It's nice to have you back; I heard what you were saying earlier. So she really doesn't want us to rescue her?"
"She won't see it as a rescue, she will see it as you stealing her away from them," I held the dress out for him to take, which he did.
"Do they really treat their humans differently then at Forks?"
"That would be an understatement Embry. Why don't we sit down and talk about it, but I think you might want to give Renee the dress, it was Bella's and she sent her a note," I could see Renee was excited by this.
"So, now that we are seated give us the full run down," Sam sent Renee off to their tent to enjoy her gift.
"Well honestly, besides the weekly contributions, nothing is the same there. The humans have their own compound to do as they please. They pick their own mates; they go to work and home again, that's right, they have single homes. They don't have guards watching their every move. And hey, you'll like this one, they even have old people living there," they all looked at me as if I had lost my mind.
"Maybe it was just an act to fool you into thinking they were different."
"Jared, I'm not stupid they were even decent to me. They even hunt animals for their humans. After they are drained, they bring the carcasses to the humans to eat," I know I looked smug, but I had just spent two days with the enemy and knew more about them then anyone here.
"What did they do with the blood they drained?" this fact was confusing to Jared.
"They um…drank it," I shrugged not understanding the importance.
"Are you saying they feed on animals when they have a blood bank at their disposal?"
"Yes, apparently they prefer to, but they don't want to exhaust the supply of animals for the humans, so they switch off. The doctor says it's why their eyes change color so frequently," Seth chuckled at the idea of vampires eating animals.
"I'm still flabbergasted they let you go?" Jacob said as he continued to hold me with his hands laying flat across my middle.
"Renee what does your letter say?" Sam had sat quietly listening to me, but his eyes never left Renee as she read the note from Bella.
"She said she's happy for me, she's glad I am alive and hopes I am well. She say's she is expecting a child soon and is in love. She does not want to leave the Cullen's. They are her family now; they love and care for her."
"Does this make you sad love?" Sam was staring into Renee's eyes.
"Yes and no, I am happy she is doing so well, but I don't want to take her away and make her unhappy," Sam held her while she tried to reconcile her feelings.
"Leah, do you think they would allow for some sort of truce that would permit Bella to meet with Renee at the fence and at least talk from time to time. Maybe she could even see her grandchild through the fence…"
"Maybe…I could walk up and ask them, if they freak, I could just run back here," Sam seemed to be pondering something.
"No - I'll go…I have put this pack at risk too much already, besides if a truce can be made, I have to be the one who does it."
"Leah, how many are in the coven?"
"I don't know, I only saw seven, but then again my view was limited and it's not like they gave me a tour or anything. There was another house on the opposite end of the property, but I never saw anyone there. The scents were old, so there could be a lot more."
"Okay, so tomorrow I'll go visit the local bloodsuckers and see what they have to say. Who was the head leech?"
"Carlisle Cullen and he's the doctor."
A/N you know you want to review so do it already I'm waiting...
