Queenie: I didn't think I'd have New Moon last this long since I wasn't a big fan of the book. However, the movie was better...still not my favorite out of the Twilight Saga. But whatever. There's probably going to be a least one more chapter for New Moon after this one...two at the most. It still won't be as long as Twilight had been, but close enough. Anyway, enjoy. ;3
As I was getting back from a morning run through the woods I found Bella sitting on the steps of Billy's house. I blinked while removing the earbuds from my ears.
"Feel like going on a hike with me?" She asked.
I slowly nodded my head because that sounded harmless enough, and it didn't involve Jacob...or pining of Edward.
"Just let me change first." I asid. "Are we going far? Should I pack a bag?"
Bella said I probably should, so I went into the house. I changed into a tank top, skinny jeans, and hiking boots. I pulled on a simple light green jacket before grabbing my bag. I went into the kitchen to get a few bottles of water and protein bars. I double checked to make sure I had ambroisa packed then I zipped up my bag. I met Bella outside as she was pacing in front of the house.
"Alright, do you have a place in mind where you want to hike?" I asked.
"Yeah." She said nodding. "There's this clearing with really pretty wild flowers. I want to try and find it."
She wanted to try and find it? Well, this should be a fun day of letting Bella getting us lost before I had to find our way back. I told Bella to lead the way, but she said we'd have to drive part of the way there. I shrugged then went to climb into her truck.
"How are you doing?" Bella asked as she got into the truck. "I never asked you...about...Ellis."
I frowned at the mention of Ellis as Bella started up her truck. I looked down for a moment then stared out the window.
"I'm getting by." I said. "I've lost a lot of people...it hurts, but each time I lose someone it gets easier to bounce back, I guess."
Of course, Ellis had been a hard blow. She did raise me after all. She had been my mother and grandmother. I felt like complete and utter shit until I finally took out that hell hound. I still have nightmares though sometimes. Different ways of Ellis's attack kept playing in my mind. I wasn't there to see it, so my mind tortures me with all these different scenarios.
"I'm sorry." Bella said. "I should have been there for you."
"Well, I'm glad you weren't, honestly." I said. "I'm glad you didn't see the state I was in. I thrive off the image of my unbreakable persona. When people think things don't phase you, they tend not to get into your business when something bad happens, or they don't try to get too close to you."
Bella glanced over at me as I continued looking out the window. As we were driving, I could have sworn I saw large furry shapes going through the woods. Are we being stalked now? The drive lasted about fifteen minutes until Bella parked to the side of the road. We got out, and I glanced behind me to see a large silver wolf peeking out from the trees, and a few yards back was a dark brown one. The silver one dipped its head to be in acknowledgement then bounded off with the brown one when Bella looked back.
"Something wrong?" Bella asked.
"No." I said. "Let's get going. With your sense of direction this will probably take all day."
Bella stuck her tongue out at me, which had me smiling. She seems to be doing a bit better. The two of us headed off into the woods, and I let Bella keep the lead. I helped keep her upright when she stumbled, and offered my hand when the terrain got a little too steap or rocky. I would glance around or pause to take in our surroundings every so often, and Bella would wait silently until I told her it was okay to keep moving.
It took us about half the day to reach a clearing, but it wasn't beauitful or full of flowers. It was completely barren. Bella stepped away from me while kneeling down on the ground. I frowned realizing this wasn't just some clearing. This was the clearing Edward and Bella would come to. Bella had told me about it once. I sighed since I should have known her reason for hiking up here had to deal with Edward. I stood back letting her have a moment to herself.
I stiffened, however, when I sensed a presence. I jerked Bella up to her feet while my spear slithered down into my hand. I stood in front of Bella staring down the vampire that came into the clearing. I narrowed my eyes seeing it was a familiar vampire before us. Bella stood straighter when seeing who it was. I glanced back seeing that she almost seemed happy to see him. What the Hades?
"Bella...Mena." Laurent said softly almost a purr.
Bella muttered his name as he zipped closer to us until he was only a few feet away.
"I didn't expect to find you here...either of you." Laurent admitted.
Well, we live here. What's his damn excuse? I didn't say this out loud as I turned to keep myself facing him as he moved.
"I went to visit the Cullens," He began as he twisted his hair around his finger. "But their house is empty. I'm surprised they left the two of you behind. Weren't you both sort of their pets?"
I felt my eyebrow twitch in annoyance as my hand gripped my spear tightly.
"Yeah, you could say that." Bella said.
"Oh, no he can't." I said. "I am nobody's pet."
I can't believe Bella would agree to something like that. Has she no pride?
"Do the Cullens visit often?" Laurent asked.
"No." I said smoothly. "But Jasper will be returning shortly. We have an arrangement."
Bella looked at me in confusion as Laurent nodded his head. I wasn't lying technically, but graduation was still some time away. So it wasn't shortly...more like in a few months.
"But he's far away, isn't he?" Lauren asked as he continue circling.
I circled with him while keeping Bella behind me the entire time. She clutched onto my arm, but I shook her off since she'd only hinder me if she was hoding on.
"Why are you here?" Bella asked shakingly.
Show no fear, Bella! The predator in him thrives off of it. Again I kept the comment to myself as I watched Laurent like a hawk.
"I came as a...favor for Victoria." Laurent admitted.
This had me standing up even straighter at the mention of that redheaded bitch. Jasper had told me that they figured out Victoria thought Edward was the cause of James's death. She wanted revenge on him.
"She asked me to see if Bella was still under the protection of the Cullens." Laurent said. "Victoria feels that its only fair to kill Edward's mate give he's killed hers. An eye for an eye. She hasn't much interest in you, Mena. Though I suspect that won't stop her from trying to kill you if you get in her way."
I hummed nonchalantly as the gears in my mind went round and round while I tried to form a plan. I could tell Bella to run, and then finish of Laurent. However, who knows how close Victoria is. She might not be in Washington at all, or she's watching as this is all happening.
"Edward will know who did it, and he'll come after you." Bella said weakly. "Same goes for Jasper."
If I didn't have to watch the vampire right now, I'd turn around to hit Bella over the head. That was the worse flimsy threat I've ever heard.
"I don't think they will." Laurent said. "After all how much could you mean to them, if they left you here unprotected?"
"I don't need protection." I spat. "I've taken care of myself for eight years. I can do it a bit longer."
Laurent sighed shaking his head as he looked at Bella and I with a sad look on his face.
"Victoria won't be happy about my killing you." He said. "But I can't help myself. You both are so mouthwatering."
Bella begged him not to, which had me frowning. Gees, no spine with this one. Laurent was suddenly behind me as he caressed Bella's face. I cursed while turning around. I grabbed the back of his jacket to sling him away from Bella. He landed on his feet. He turned towards me, but froze in surprise.
"I don't believe it." Laurent said.
I turned seeing the pack coming out of the woods. I placed my hand on Bella's torso to start pushing her back. Sam glanced over at me with a small huffing leaving between his canines. I nodded knowing he wanted me to get Bella out of here.
"Bella, run." I ordered. "Go."
She didn't have to be told twice. She took off running down the trail as I glanced back at the pack.
"Be careufl." I whispered.
Sam nodded then turned to Laurent before the wolves ran after him, but Jacob paused to touch his cold nose to my forehead. He then ran after the others. I took off after Bella to make sure she didn't kill herself trying to make the trek back down. I caught up with her easily when she tripped over a rock.
"Come on." I said helping her up. "We don't know if Victoria is running around."
I urged her along while making sure to keep alert about my surroundings. I also kept my spear out at the ready.
"Bella, maybe we shouldn't tell him." I said hurrying after her when she jumped out of the truck.
"He needs to know about the monster wolves!" Bella said.
"They're probably dead!" I hissed as I followed her inside the house. "No reason to get Charlie worked up."
I knew it was unlikely the pack was dead since they were made for killing vampires, but I wasn't about to tell Bella that. She didn't listen as she rushed into the kitchen where Charlie and Harry were.
"Dad, I saw them." Bella said urgently.
I sighed following after her. I looked at Harry who looked at me questioningly.
"What's the matter?" Charlie asked.
"In the woods!" Bella said quickly. "They're not bears."
Harry's eyes widened when he realized what Bella was talking about. I looked at him apologetically when his eyes turned to me. I tried to stop her.
"What do you mean in the woods?" Charlie asked. "What the hell were you two doing out in the woods?"
Well, we were off for a little nature hike, but then we ran into an old friend. Then we ran for our lives when old friend wanted to eat us, but before we ran a pack of huge wolves showed up to save the day. That's all.
"They're wolves." Bella said. "I mean, they're like huge wolves."
Oh, this is just getting worse. Sam is going to give me an earful about this. Then I'll probably get in argument with Paul cause he'll say some kind of shit about how I couldn't keep one girl from running off to her father. And I'll end the fight by kicking his ass. Still...it will be such a pain.
"Are you sure about that, Bella?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, we just saw them!" Bella said. "They were after...something."
Harry looked to me, and when I was sure Charlie wasn't looking, I mimed fangs. Harry immediately knew what I was talking about.
"Wolves? You saw them?" Charlie asked.
"Mena saw them too." Bella said as she nodded.
I immediately dropped my fingers that I was using as fangs when Charlie looked to me. I bit my lip then sighed.
"We saw something...they weren't bears that's for sure." I said lamely.
Bella looked at me with a frown, and I frowned right back at her. Well, I'm not pleased with you at the moment either.
"Alright." Charlie said. "Well, Harry, feel like going hunting? Get some of your guys together?"
"Sure, yeah, I'll just..." Harry trailed off. "You need a ride back, Mena?"
I nodded my head while following after Harry. As we went outside, I glanced around the place.
"Now what all happened?" Harry asked.
I quickly filled him in on what happened in the clearing, and I even explained that I knew Laurent. I told him about James and Victoria since the Pack and the elders would need to know about this. I couldn't hunt Victoria alone, and I know she's out there. If she tries to go for Bella, I'll need all the help I can get.
"Victoria is really starting to get on my last damn nerve." I complained to the boys. "She's out there. I can feel it. But she's being a cowarding bitch!"
I shouted that last part to the trees as I paced in aggravation. I've been trying to track down Victoria since we came back from the clearing. Sam and Paul both literarly dragged me back to Billy's when they thought it was too dark for me to be out in the woods with a vampire on the loose. I got back up at the crack of dawn to search, but still no sign of her.
"Temper, temper, Fil." Paul said. "Better be careful."
"Fuck you." I said.
Paul just chuckled since the throwing of insults and the jabs at each other has become very routine for us. Sure, there are times where we still fight, and I still sometimes make him so mad that he literarly explodes.
"We'll find her, Mena." Sam said reassuringly. "Now, is Jake up?"
I shook my head since when I was inside earlier to grab some water he was still unconscious. Don't blame him with how much he goes out at night with the pack. He tries to leave without waking me, but it never works out like that. I then heard footsteps behind me, and I turned seeing Bella.
"Holy Styx." I cursed.
Thunder rolled overhead as Bella marched our way looking pissed off. Well, Bella's version of pissed off.
"What did you do?" She demanded as she glared at Sam. "What did you do?"
She shoved Sam, which had me quickly jerking her away from him. She was playing with something dangerous.
"Take it easy." Sam said remaining calm.
"He didn't want this." Bella said glaring.
I sighed looking at Sam apologetically as I kept a hold of her arms to keep her back. Please, gods, don't let this end badly.
"What did we do? What did he do?" Paul asked sounding pissed. "What did he tell you?"
Sam told them both to calm down as he pushed Paul back away from Bella.
"Nothing. He tells me nothing because he's afraid of you." Bella said.
I shook my head as Jared and Paul both laughed. This definitely wasn't going to end well.
"Bella, that's not it." I said. "Now, come inside. Leave them alone."
"No!" Bella shouted as she shoved me away.
I was so shocked by the gesture that I actually stumbled backwards. Bella then slapped Paul, which had my mouth falling open.
"Too late now." Jared said as Paul started shaking.
"Not helping, Jared." I hissed.
I was pushing Bella back as Sam told me to slowly back her up towards the house. I kept my eyes on Paul as his shaking got worse. Out of all of them she had to hit it had to be the hotheaded one. Sam ordered Paul to calm down, but it didn't work. Paul exploded out of his clothes while turning into a large silver wolf. He snarled at Bella and I as I remained completely still. No sudden movements. Bella then just had to take off running. Shit. Paul lunged forward as I heard Jacob yell out Bella and my names.
In an blink of an eye, I had my spear out. Using the blunt side I gave swing as if I was holding a bat, and it hit Paul in the side of the furry face. He didn't sail far as he would if he was in his human form, but he did get a few seconds of air. He rolled across the ground when he landed as my muscles groaned in protest after hitting such a large force. Paul got up on his paws with another growl leaving his muzzle.
"Paul, calm down!" Sam called out.
I glanced back seeing that Jacob was knelt down next to Bella who had fallen on the ground. Paul once again ignored Sam as he squared off with me. He came at me again, and I used my spear like a pole vault to send me up into the air. I went sailing over him with the back of his fur brushing against my chest. I landed on the ground in crouch as a strand of hair fell in my face.
"Whoa." I heard Jared say from behind me.
I let out a calming breath as Paul turned around to glare at me. I got into a stance to fight him, but then Jacob, who was in his wolf form, tackled Paul to the side. I relaxed as the two rolled around the yard snapping their jaws at each other. They finally rolled off into the woods away from the rest of us.
"Hey, take Bella and Mena back to Emily's place." Sam told Embry and Jared.
He then went after the two who went rolling into the woods. I sighed with a shake of my head. Stupid hotheaded teenage werewolves.
"Guess the wolf's out of the bag." Embry said.
"That's the worst pun I've ever heard." I said shaking my head.
Embry chuckled as he went to help Bella off the ground. Jared stopped beside me to place a hand on my shoulder.
"You okay?" He asked.
I nodded my head as the spear slithered back into place around my neck. I ran my fingers through my hair thinking that could have gone better.
"That was totally badass what you did." Jared said as he pat my on the shoulder. "You actually sent Paul off the ground with that swing."
"Yeah, and my shoulders are going to be sore for a month because of it." I said.
Jared laughed as we went to join Embry and Bella over by her truck. This is going to be fun explaining.
When we arrived at Emily's home, I jumped out of the back the truck with Jared. Embry got out of the driver's side of the truck. They both called out to Emily who was inside as I rolled my shoulders. Bella rolled down the window as I glanced at her.
"I think we should go back and see if Jacob's okay." Bella said.
I snorted as I continued on towards Emily's house with Jared and Embry on either side of me.
"I hope Paul sinks some teeth into him." Jared said. "Serves him right."
I hit Jared in the arm, and he winced while rubbing where I hit him. It's his own fault for wishing that Jacob got hurt.
"No way. Jacob's a natural." Embry said. "Did you see him phase on the fly? I bet five that Paul doesn't touch him."
I rolled my eyes, but wasn't surprised. The boys were always betting on something. Mostly fights that they get into with each other.
"Come on in, Bella." Embry said. "We won't bite."
"Speak for yourself." Jared said.
He went on into the house as Bella finally got out of the truck. I waited for her on the steps while picking up the whiff of homemade cooking. I've been here a few times since all the secrecy was put to rest, and even if I feel bad about it, I can't hate Emily. I know that's probably wrong of me since I'm Leah's friend, but Emily was just so nice. And I understand now why Sam left Leah. It's not his fault about the whole imprint voodoo thingy.
"Oh, Bella, about Emily." I began as I looked to my friend. "Don't stare."
"Yeah, it bugs Sam." Embry added.
Bella asked why would she stare, but Embry and I just continued on into the house. When we reached the kitchen, Jared was already sitting down chewing on something.
"You guys hungry?" Emily, who was faced away from Bella and I, asked. "Like I have to ask."
She then turned towards Bella and I as I stepped into the kitchen. Embry tossed me a muffin, which I caught, as he sat down.
"Mena, welcome back." Emily said smiling. "Who's your friend?"
"Bella Swan." I said nodding to Bella. "It's good to see you, Emily."
Emily nodded with the smile still in place before she gave her attention to Bella.
"Hmm, so you're the other vampire girl." Emily said teasingly. "Hopefully with less of a temper than the first."
"Bite me, Em." I said as I sat down.
Emily laughed as the two boys nearly spit out their muffins in laughter.
"So, uh, you're the wolf girl." Bella said to Emily.
"Hmm, I guess so." Emily said. "Well, I'm engaged to one."
Emily set down the muffins, which the two boys didn't hesitate to attack. She grabbed Jared's wrist, however.
"Save some for your brothers." She said. "And ladies first."
"Well, when you see one let us know." Jared said as he looked at me.
I silently flipped him off while taking a very large and unladylike bite out of my muffin. Emily shook her head smiling at us before she looked over at Bella.
"Muffin?" Emily asked.
Bella thanked her while coming over to stand behind my chair. I tossed her a muffin before knocking Embry's feet out of my lap when he tried to put them there. Embry pouted at me, and I stuck my tongue out at him. Seriously, it was like being with my brothers.
"Leave it to Jacob to find a way around Sam's gag order." Emily said.
"Uh, Jacob didn't tell me." Bella said.
"Not like he could anyway." Embry said.
"Yeah, you guys literarly can't disobey the alpha, right?" I asked. "Sucks to be you."
If I had to follow someone's orders with no way out of it, I'd go completely nuts. I give orders. I don't take them, not without a fight anyway.
"Yeah." Embry said nodding.
He then excitedly told Bella about the wolf telepathy as I snatched up another muffin. Hmm, yummy.
"Hey, these are trade secrets!" Jared said. "This chick runs with vampires."
I rolled my eyes while nibbling on this muffin instead of wolfing it down. Pun not intended.
"You can't actually run with vampires." Bella said awkwardly. "...cause they're fast."
Wow, I wonder how much more awkward this can get. Seriously, if Bella stands any more taunt she'll snap in half.
"Yeah, well we're faster." Jared said. "Freaked out yet?"
Bella said she wasn't as she shook her head. Not surprising. I mean, she used to date a vampire, her friend, meaning me, is a half blood, and her other friend, meaning Jacob, is a werewolf. What's there to be freaked out about now?
"Jake's right." Sam said as he walked into the kitchen. "You're good with weird."
"It's cause she is weird." I said blandly.
Embry and Jared laughed as Sam lovingly greeted Emily as if she was his entire world. Which she is. Jacob and Paul came in next while laughing and joking, so I'm guessing they settled everything. Jared passed some cash to Embry when we saw the bitemarks on Paul's shoulder. Paul sat down next to me while grabbing a muffin. He paused though to look at Bella.
"Sorry." He said.
His grin didn't show any remorse for what happened at all. He then turned to me looking a tad more concerned.
"You okay?" Paul asked.
"For the most part." I said. "My shoulders are a bit stiff. How much you freaking weigh anyway?"
Paul shrugged his shoulders with a chuckle as Jacob stopped beside Bella. Jacob nodded for Bella to follow him, and she glanced at me. My brow quirked wondering why she was silently asking me for permission to leave. I waved her off, so she left with Jacob. I sighed as I watched them go.
"Mena, what's wrong?" Emily asked with concern in her tone.
"Nothing." I said. "These muffins are great by the way, Em."
Emily smiled thanking me, but I could see in her eyes that she was still worried.
"I should probably get back to Billy's place." I said as I stood. "I promised him I'd help him move around some stuff."
I ran my hand through my hair then told everyone that I'd see them later. I left Emily and Sam's place as I stuffed my hands into my pockets. I looked off in the direction Jacob and Bella went with a frown on my face. I wish she'd just leave Jacob alone. She couldn't keep playing with Jacob like she is. She has to know what she's doing is wrong. I don't want my cousin hurt. Especially not by the person I called my first friend here in Forks. I let out another small sigh as I looked up at the cloudy sky. Well, I guess I'll just have to be there for him when things go bad.
I sighed walking out of the woods a few days later after Bella learned the secret of the pack. I've been continuing my search for Victoria, but everytime I thought I was close, she was gone. She's good at evading I'll give her that. I shook my head as I stopped outside the house. It was finally finished, and the new furniture had been moved in yesterday. Steven, who has still yet to look at me directly, said he wasn't ready to return. Frankly, I didn't want to step foot inside either.
"But I have to go in eventually." I said to myself with an unhappy expression.
I went up to the house while pulling out the new keys the contractor had given to me when I came to sign off on some of the paperwork the other day. I unlocked the door, but remained outside for a few seconds. I just looked inside, and the house seemed darker than before. The blood and any previous damage was already fixed up. If I hadn't known what happened here, I probably wouldn't have thought someone nearly bleed to death in this house.
I took a deep breath to steel myself before stepping into the house. I left the door open behind me as I walked down the hall. I glanced around thinking the walls looked rather bare without the family photographs. Most of those were pretty damaged in the attack though. I kept walking through the house feeling colder and more hollow the longer I was inside. It didn't feel right without Ellis here. I was about to head up the stairs when the phone started...ringing?
"What the Hades?" I mumbled.
I went into the kitchen where the phone sat on the counter. I looked at the caller ID to see it was from Paul's cell phone.
"Hello." I answered.
"Fil, you need to check on your idiot friend." Paul said sounding pissed.
I quietly groaned as I wondered what Bella did now. I seriously couldn't take my eyes off that girl...like ever.
"She jumped off the cliffs, Fil!" Paul practically snarled. "Does she love that bloodsucker so much she'd die because she wasn't with him? If Jake hadn't gotten to her, she would be dead."
My eyes widened when hearing what she had done. I then felt my own anger spike. That ridiculously stupid moron! (Clarisse quote from Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters [Movie]) The dive off the cliff might not have killed her, but I think I might.
"Where is she?" I asked trying to remain as calm as possible.
"Jake's taking her home." Paul said with his sounding more calm and somber. "And that's not all...Harry had a heart attack as he was trying to help Charlie hunt us down. That redhead leech was in the area, and Harry was knocked over when Jacob went plowing into the bloodsucker. He's gone, Fil."
My eyes widened again as my heart stopped for a few seconds. No...not Harry. Not so soon after Ellis's death. And what about Seth and Leah? I leaned against the wall while sliding down it with my knees against my chest.
"Fil?" Paul prompted when I remained silent. "Fil, you there?"
"Yeah, I'm here." I said. "Did she get away?"
"Yeah, Jake cut off the pursuit when he sensed Bella was in danger." Paul said sounding pissed off again. "He probably could have had that redheaded bloodsucker if Bella hadn't gone and done something stupid."
I know he's probably right, but I am glad that Bella was alright. Not dead at least. I sighed knowing I better go check on her.
"I need to go see Bella." I said. "I'll be down at the reservation afterwards."
"Alright. Just be careful with the leech running around." Paul said.
I said I would then hung up the phone. I sat there a moment with my mind reeling from the news I just got. Things just keep getting worse and worse. I was about to stand back up when I sensed an inhuman presence. I hurried to my feet while looking up in enough time to see a familiar figure standing in the doorway of the house.
"...Jasper..." I whispered.
Queenie: You probably hate me so much for cutting if off here XD But I had to do it. Sorry. Don't worry the big reunion scene is in the next chapter. Try to wait for it. Until next time, Dearies~