Chapter 10: "Look Alive"
Izzy POV: (same day)
The morning started out pretty rough with Circe stealing the last of the coffee. I guess I deserve it since I've been giving her such a hard time about Mike. I mean it's just too funny when Mike follows her around like a lost puppy all work day. When we got to work Circe was immediately approached by Mike. I did my best to not laugh at her predicament and I started working on the displays near the register. I was close enough to still hear Mike make a fool of himself.
"Well Mike I haven't seen your boyfriend here, so you tell me." I heard Circe make her kill-shot. I laughed as she scurried up to the front with me. God, one day she's going to get us fired. I gave her what sympathy I could muster towards her Mike situation. When Circe started pouting on the register, I took my leave to clean out all the dressing rooms. "I swear I am the only person who actually works here," I thought as I cleaned up the disastrous changing room. I spotted Circe talking to some hikers who seemed to be arguing with each other. Thankfully Mike was nowhere to be found, so I shot off a quick text recap of my day to Jake hoping he would enjoy the drama. He always got a good laugh at Mike's expense. Circe finally broke away from the hikers and came over to the shelves I was stocking.
"Did you hear about any animal attacks lately?" Circe searched my face looking for an answer.
"My dad said they've dealt with a few lately. You know how people and animals mix." I scrunched up my nose trying to hide my growing suspicion. Charlie had something about the attacks, but they sounded suspicious to me. I just couldn't place why the attacks were so unusual.
"Yeah, but the guy said it looked like a giant bear." Circe seemed doubtful of that. I froze thinking the only thing that could be that big was the Quileute wolves. I debated the best answer.
"Maybe he should get his eyes checked," I quipped. Whew, Nice save. I mentally high-fived myself. Thankfully, she started laughing. I went back to stocking shelves while Circe helped by cleaning up packing material. I checked my phone for the time, hoping Jake texted me back. Almost free.
"Hey, get off your phone." I startled at the voice coming from behind. I turned to see Jacob's arm crossed against his broad chest with a smug look on his face.
"You caught me!" I threw up my hands in surrender and Jake laughed at my display.
"Paul and I decided to come to pick you two up. I think he wanted to have a word with your boss."
"What Paul doesn't like Mike sniffing around Circe," I said mockingly.
"You know how territorial wolves are," Jacob said with a wink. We both started laughing and I motioned for him to follow me toward the employee room to grab my stuff. Apparently, our timing was perfect and we walked up to the end of Mike and Paul's confrontation. I asked if Circe was ready so we could leave and she ran back to collect her belongings.
"So… I am going to take Circe out tonight," Paul said rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. It made me laugh to see him so nervous. Jacob always told me how big of a ladies-man Paul had been, but it seems like Circe drew him like Siren.
"Well you two have fun," Jake replied while throwing an arm around my shoulder, "Bells and I have some pack business to take care of." A confused look must have crossed my face because Jake said we would discuss it on the drive. I nodded my agreement and he directed me out the front of the store and to my truck. We started on the drive to La Push and waited for Jake to bring up the 'pack business'.
"Have you heard about the attacks lately?" Jake asked. I gave him a nod.
"A little. Charlie spared me the gory details. I also heard some hikers say they saw a giant bear. I'm guessing the bear was someone from the pack?" I gave him a sly smile.
"Well, yes and no," Jacob stated solemnly. I paused when I heard how serious his voice was. Jake was always so fun and energetic and it was uncommon to hear him speak this way.
"Yes, the 'bear' is usually one of us. No, they are not animal attacks."
"What do you mean, Jake?" I had to slow my truck down so I could give him more of my attention.
"Bells, we've been trying to catch two vampires… their scent isn't familiar." I knew he was letting me know the Cullens were not back. I tried to calm myself down before I spoke again, but my heart was about to beat right out of my chest.
"What are they doing here?" I barely voiced.
"Well, when we are chasing them down as wolves it doesn't really lead to conversation." Jacob laughed. "It seems that they are searching for something. We found trails near the Cullen house. Some trails circle around the Res, others around town." My stomach dropped at the thought of two nomads stalking around Forks.
"Can you describe them? Have you gotten that close?" I could barely contain my panic.
"Yeah, one leech is dark-skinned with dreadlocks and the other is a female with crazy red hair. We've gotten close to grabbing the male, but the female is so hard to catch." My heart almost stopped in my chest. I quickly pulled over to the side of the road. The panic in my chest was too much and I swiftly opened my truck door and puked all over the damp pavement. Victoria and Laurent were back. I could only guess they were back from me. How long have they been following me? How close had they gotten? I threw up once more and leaned back into the truck throwing my head back against the headrest. My head was pounding and I was sweaty from puking, my wavy hair sticking to the back of my neck. Jacob reached over and hauled me into the passenger's seat.
"What's wrong, Bells?" I laid my sweaty face against the glass.
"They are here for me. The Cullens destroyed Victoria's mate… the vampire that bit me. She's probably come back to finish the job. Laurent was one of the coven mates." I could feel Jake begin to tremble.
"We need to go to Sam's and tell the pack immediately." He slid over to the driver's seat and pushed my truck to its limits trying to get down to La Push. This was all my fault; now, so many of my friends are in trouble. Jake pulled up to Sam's cozy home and pulled me out the door with him. He carried me to the house and entered without even knocking.
"Sam, it's an emergency. We need to call the pack." I never heard Jake's voice so commanding as he looked at his Alpha. Sam nodded to Embry, who was eating muffins on the couch, and Embry took off to the back door shedding his clothes as he went. We heard a long, loud howl before Embry made his entrance back into the house. Within five minutes, the pack, excluding Paul, was standing in Sam's small living room.
"What's the emergency, Jacob?" Sam questioned.
"Bella knows who the leeches are and what they are trying to find." The pack looked toward me and Jake gave me a reassuring nudge.
"They are the coven mates of the vampire the Cullens killed to protect me." I wrung my hands trying to calm myself down. "The redhead, Victoria, was James's mate. I think she is back to avenge his death and that would mean killing me." I looked down to my feet when I finished. Goddamn Edward leaving me with this mess.
"Thanks for letting us know; it will help to know they have a target," Sam responded. We all fell into silence debating what to do next.
"If Bella is the target then maybe we can use her as bait," Embry suggested.
"NO, IT'S TOO DANGEROUS," Jake said from beside me. The pack spoke in hushed tones. I hadn't thought about actually being able to help but it was a decent idea. I mulled it over in my head as Jake was staring down Embry. If looks could kill.
"Enough!" Sam commanded. The murmuring from the pack fell silent at Sam's command.
"It's a good idea," I thought aloud, "It's the only way for me to help. I could lure them somewhere and draw them out into the open." I didn't look up; I was afraid of Jake's glare.
"I won't let you sacrifice yourself," Jacob gasped out. He pulled me into a tight hug.
"It won't be a suicide mission, Jake. All I have to do is lure them out into the open maybe even draw some blood to sweeten the deal. I'm the perfect vampire bait." Jacob shook his head clearly not agreeing.
"I think it will work Bella and I'm willing to try if you want to," Sam agreed. Jake looked astonished at Sam's agreement. Sam seeing Jake's disapproval said, "It's time to end this Jake. Innocent people are dying and this may be our best chance." Jake nodded reluctantly at Sam. Jacob couldn't ignore the logic.
"I just have one request: I want Circe out of the area so she doesn't get hurt," I added. At least if I didn't survive, she'd be safe.
"That can be arranged. Now let's discuss strategy," Sam answered. The pack started throwing around ideas while I contemplated how crazy my short life had been. This time tomorrow we would be standing around the sweet, purple smoke of a vampire fire or I, with possibly some of the pack, would be dead. Simple. As. That.
It's wild how suddenly a life could change. How someone's simple choice could cause a major impact on your life. I wish I could have washed my hands of this just as Edward had, but when had my life ever been easy? I was born to ill-matched parents, a mother who never was truly a mother. I was ill placed in the human world, always on the fringe and never fitting in. I was promised eternal life, an escape, and had it yanked away. I came out of my depression to find a true friend, we had a hopeful future. I had a hopeful future. Now everything teetered on the edge, threatening to fall taking me with it. I stuffed all of my despair deep into the back of my mind, slamming the metaphorical door on it. There was no more time for self-pity, we had vampires to kill.
A/N: Suuuuppppp?! I disappeared for bit. Hope everyone had a good holiday. I'll be straight with y'all. This chapter was short and it was like pulling teeth for me to write. I'm ready to get TF outta Forks. You know? My mind is writing later chapters, but we need to tie up some loose ends here first. Hopefully, one more big chapter should do it.
And *freaking* shout out to all those reading, reviewing and PMing me. Any support has been tremendous. This is my first attempt at writing, so bless y'all for battling through this with me.