Moonlight
Half way there I began to recognize where we were going. The Cullen's house. So that's why they weren't very happy. The house still looked just as graceful and still painted in the same soft, faded white and three stories high. I could hear the familiar sound of the river close by, hidden in the obscurity of the forest, but it didn't have the familiar feeling of home. It was too light and open to me after spending so long in Emily's cozy little kitchen.
The three of us walked through the deep shade up to the porch and through the already open door. The inside looked the same as well, untouched by time. Very bright, very open and very, very large. And waiting to greet us, standing just to the left of the door, on a raised portion of the floor by the spectacular grand piano, was Edward, Esme, Carslie, Alice and Rosalie.
After so many years you'd think I would have gotten used to their unnatural good looks yet I couldn't help but be struck again by Carslie's youth, his outrageous perfection. Esme too was just as beautiful with her heart shaped faced framed by soft, caramel-coloured hair, but this time her eyes were filled with tears that she could never shed. Next to her was Alice in her pixielike form, her deep black, cropped hair pointing in every direction. She too looked sad, but resigned. Rosalie moved to stand next to Emmett, looking curious, and took his hand.
Only Edward stood on his own on the other side of the piano, his stony face unreadable, his body as still as a statue. I tried not to look at him for too long. No matter how much I hated him I didn't want to lead him on.
"Hello" I said my voice carefully level and casual. I was about to go on but Alice held up a tiny hand, cutting me off.
"Please, Bella" she pleaded. "I am truly sorry for what happened. It was a mistake. A big mistake. We thought you would be safer without us around, only it seems it's only made things worse and I hope you can forgive us for what has happened. You'll always be my sister, no matter what."
I watched her for a long moment, debating, before continuing. "I'm afraid, Alice, that you can no longer be mine." Her face fell but I ignored this. "These wounds you've created will never heal, and for that I may never be able to forgive you for. However, I am willing to forgive a little because you really were just trying to protect me, no matter how much it failed. So maybe it would be best to just stay friends and see where things go."
Her face lit up lighter than a kid on Christmas Eve and she bounded over to me, laughing, and hugged me around the waist. I looked over her head at Carslie and Esme, both looking so sad it was heartbreaking, and I think I understood why. No matter how much they loved me they would always take Edward's side, because he was like a son to them and he was their entire world. And I could relate to that. I couldn't image not siding with the pack in any argument now. I gave them a short nod, letting them know I understood, and they gave me two small, watery smiles.
"Well" Emmett boomed happily "that went better than I thought it would. We were expecting something like fucking World War three or some shit like that!"
Rosalie rolled her eyes and wacked him on the back of the head with her hand, but she was smiling. He pouted and rubbed the back of his head theatrically. For the rest of the day we played video games (which I lost epically at every go) and Esme made me some dinner which was nice.
"You know what, Bella" Rosalie said to me as we walked to her car at around 8 in the evening.
"What?"
"You are far too forgiving for your own good" she answered.
I paused outside the passenger door. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was too forgiving. I never could keep a grudge. But I had other things on my mind.0
"Why did you hate me?" I asked a little timidly. Just because I was on good terms with her didn't mean I wasn't still scared shitless.
Rose sighed. "I guess it was because you were human" she finally admitted. "I was mainly jealous that you had a life I could never have. You could grow old and have children and die as a wrinkly old woman. But it was also because I was angry at you."
"Angry at me? Why?"
"You could have everything I couldn't, everything I craved for, and you were willing to throw it away because of one man who comes along and declares his unconditional love for you. You had a choice and you were choosing wrong!"
I flinched back from her fierce expression. She stared at me for a long moment and, slowly, the fervor in her eyes dimmed.
"That was why I left in the first place and how I persuaded Emmett to come with you" she continued. "I told him that you would be better off with a normal life with a human husband who could give everything you could ever want. Despite his absolute devotion to you, Emmett understood where I was coming from and so we left with the others." Suddenly she smiled. "What we didn't plan was for you to fall madly in love with a werewolf. I mean, come on, Swan, you could do better than that!"
We laughed together and the iciness in the car was broken.
Rosalie drove me home where Paul was waiting for me in my bedroom. After saying good night to Charlie I half walked half sprinted up the stairs and literally threw myself into Paul's arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. Chuckling, he pulled me close and inhaled my hair.
"You're taking me with you tonight" I whispered, letting him pull me onto my bed beside him.
"Bella" he sighed, his eyes worried as he scanned my face "you're worn out."
"You think I could sleep?" I demanded in harsh whisper.
He could tell how worried I was beginning to get and that I was about to lose it. "This is going to be easy, Bella. The Empath says that these newborns don't even know we exists and will be completely taken by surprise. And with them divided, and confused, there won't be enough for the rest of us to kill. Someone may even have to sit out" he teased.
"Piece of cake" I mumbled tonelessly against his warm chest. "Especially when all of you turn on each other."
I didn't have to see his face to know that he was frowning.
"I can't deny that it will me…difficult for me not to attack the filthy bloodsucker- especially after what he did to you-" at this a violent shudder ran through his entire body, rattling me, but soon subsided "but I think I can control myself. Sam has already given me a double Alpha command and got Jake and Embry on my tail incase I fuck up. It's gonna be fine. Trust me."
I did trust him; I really did. But people- well, vampires and werewolves really, but still- people I loved were going to get hurt. Hurt because of me. Again. I wished my bad luck would focus a little more carefully. I felt like yelling up at the empty sky: It's me you want- over here! Just me! I tried to think of a way that I could do exactly that-force my bad luck to focus on me. Maybe I could go meet Victoria by myself, and demand she left the Cullens and the Wolves alone in exchange for my life. It wouldn't be easy. I would have to wait, bide my time…
I was still alert and tense when Paul pulled us both up into a sitting position, worried etched upon his face for my sake.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay and sleep?"
I gave him a sour look.
He sighed, and scooped me up in his arms before he jumped from my window. He quickly set me on my feet and pulling off his cut-offs, grinning at my embarrassment. Then he phased into the silver wolf I knew and loved well, bending down so I could clamber on. Finally he raced through the black, quiet forest with me on his back, and even in his run I could feel the elation. He ran the way he did when it was just us, just for enjoyment, just for the feel of the wind ruffling his fur and to hear my squeals of fear whenever he got too close to a tree for comfort. It was the kind of thing that, during less anxious times, would have made me happy.
We met the rest of the pack two or three miles away from the open field, already in wolf form and it struck me how beautiful they looked with the moonlight making their fur shin and standing so proud and tall. Sam was in the lead, of course. Unbelievably huge, black as midnight, once a monster straight out of nightmares. But now as I look at him I realized just how…fluffy…he was. It was rather adorable.
They obviously weren't happy about me being there but Paul must have said something because none of them made a more to send me back home to my bed. Instead they began to run at full speed towards the clearing where we were meeting the Cullens. Over my squeals of delight and the wind I could have sworn I heard the pack laughing at me.
I could see the others all there; Esme, Emmett and Rosalie sitting on a bare outcropping of rock, were the closest to us, maybe a hundred yards away. Much further out I could see Jasper, Alice, Edward and Carlisle a couple of yards further from the others. When we came into view Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie grinned simultaneously and ran to me. I slid of Paul's back and stumbled on the uneven ground. Emmett's strong arms steadied me before pulling me into a big bear hug.
"Belly-boo" he cheered and Rose and Jasper laughed at his childishness.
"Hey Emmett" I gasped, struggling to breathe.
"Air Emmett" Rose reminded him.
"Sorry" he said sheepishly, placing me carefully back on the ground. Paul nudged me with his nose worriedly and I smiled, letting him know I was okay.
"Hey Jazz, hey Rose" I grinned at them, letting them pull me into a much gentler hug.
"Hey Darlin'" Jazz said and calm washed over me. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't bring myself to be annoyed at him for it. It was then that I noticed for the first time that Alice did not look as optimistic as the others. She stood a little aside staring of into the distance, her lips pushed out in a pout.
"Is there something with Alice" I asked curiously.
The three of them chuckled. "Now that the werewolves are here she can't see anything that will happen now" Jasper explained. "It makes her uncomfortable to be blind."
Alice heard his low, smooth voice and looked up, sticking her tongue out at him. He laughed again, more fondly this time.
Finally, Carlisle came over deliberately front of the Vampires to face the Werewolves. It was a careful movement, designed to reassure.
"Welcome" he greeted them.
"Thank you" Edward responded in a strange, flat tone and I jumped, not realizing that everyone had gathered together now. Edward spoke again in the same detached voice, speaking Sam's words. "We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control."
"That is more than enough" Carlisle answered. "My son Jasper"-he gestured to where Jasper stood, tense and ready-"has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."
"They are different from you" Edward asked for Sam.
Carlisle nodded. "They are all very new- only months old to this life. Children, in a way. They will have no skills or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you- it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves."
A rumble passed down the shadowy line of wolves, a low growling mutter that somehow managed to sound enthusiastic. It made me smile, but it also made me sick with worry. I felt another wave of calm hit me and I raised an eyebrow at Jasper who shrugged, smirking.
"We are willing to take more than our share, I necessary" Edward translated, his tone less indifferent now.
I gave a small cough. "Not too many I'm sure. I still want all of you home in one peace."
The wolves coughed out a laugh and Carlisle smile.
"We'll see how it plays out."
"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?"
"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path."
"Thank you for the information. We will watch."
With a sighing sound, the eyes sank closer to the ground one set at a time.
It was silent for two heartbeats, and then Jasper took a step into the empty space between the Vampires and the Werewolves and Carlisle took a step back. It wasn't hard for me to see him- his skin was bright against the darkness. Jasper through a wary glance towards Edward, who nodded, and then Jasper turned his back to the werewolves. He sighed, clearly uncomfortable. It was obvious that, despite my friendship with both of them, neither mythical creature got on well with the other.
I sat down next to Paul's wolf and stared up at the bright silver clouds, not wanting to watch the fight. My imagination had more than enough fuel. A breeze blew through the clearing, and I shivered. Paul scooted himself closer to me, pressing his fur against my left side and I sighed contently, snuggling into him.
"Thanks" I murmured.
The killing games continued, and I stared up at the full moon which shined moonlight down on those I loved the most, letting tears form in my eyes for one last time.