CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CLOSER
LEAH CLEARWATER:
.com/watch?v=lkGhDHP093M
Stranded in this spooky town Driven by the strangled vein And it's coming closer You, shimmy shook my bone And it's coming closer
Stop lights are swaying and the phone lines are down
This floor is crackling cold
She took my heart, I think she took my soul
With the moon I run
Far from the carnage of the fiery sun
Showing no mercy I do it again
Open up your eye
You keep on crying, baby
I'll bleed you dry
The skies are blinking at me
I see a storm bubbling up from the sea
And it's coming closer
Leaving me stranded all in love on my own
What do you think of me
Where am I now? Baby where do I sleep
Feel so good but I'm old,
2000 years of chasing taking its toll
( coyright kings of leon 2008 )
The deep pounding of the bass line reverberated around the stadium and deep into my belly. I had butterflies as I sat up in the wings of what was usually home to the BC Lions football team. Their stadium, BC Place in Vancouver had tonight been taken over by my favourite rock band ever in the history of the world Kings Of Leon. The opening sounds of one of my most loved songs of theirs "closer" was sweeping around the stadium over the heads of the fans on the pitch and way up here where we sat in the rafters. Etienne and I were seated in a private VIP box. How did my lovely boyfriend pull this one off? Yes, he really does know the band! In fact he swears that the Followills not only know what he is, but they even wrote the song "closer" about him. I was impressed, very impressed. But also very angry because why in god's name had the dim wit blood sucker never mentioned this momentous news before? Like duh!
So here we were, arms around each other taking in the music and the atmosphere. It was the day before New Years Eve. Tomorrow was my birthday, tomorrow was Jake and Nessie's wedding. By the time the clock struck midnight and a new year arrived they would be husband and wife. Etienne and I were invited to the wedding. Are you surprised? Well I was, a little, but after the events of the meeting which took place between us and the Elders then it really wasn't too much of a surprise. Etienne told the Elders and the Pack all of the information he had on Embry and his Mother. Jacob and Sam were dumbstruck. They couldn't believe what both their father's had done. Sam was shocked to the core that his Father had raped Tiffany, although Sam couldn't even remember his absent father as Sam Snr had left when he was very young. Sam even tried to nullify Tiffany's claims by saying it was only her side of the story we'd heard. Embry had jumped up in defence of his Mother. She had no reason to lie about it he had stated angrily. Jacob was shocked to the core that his father had found out about it all and had not stopped proceedings, instead he had blackmailed Tiffany, threatening her with the return of the very man she feared more than anything in the world. Billy Black defended himself, saying he was only doing what was best for the Pack. His son would never look at him in the same way though. So to cut a long story short, the meeting had gone our way. I was free to do as I pleased with my life, except have relations with a cold one. Did I forget to mention that part? In fact they told Etienne although they were happy he'd gotten the truth from Tiffany ( were they really I asked myself? It certainly didn't make them look good at all!) they wanted him to stay away from the reservation for good.
Of course he agreed, with one provision; he could attend the wedding. We knew it didn't matter what they said. So we had separate invites to the wedding tomorrow? Big deal! I had to go, Jake was a good friend. The main thing the Elders wanted to do now was track down Rebecca, Tiffany and Sam's daughter. They wanted to see what the circumstances were with her, to see if she was a shape shifter. Thankfully the heat was now off me. They decided that since Sam Uley Snr was not around any more and Tiffany was happy to trace her adopted daughter then that is what they would do next. Personally I thought it would only cause trouble, but I may be wrong. Etienne bent to kiss me under the flashing rainbow coloured lights emanating from the stage where the band were rocking out another classic tune. I was so happy right now. My love was back in my arms, no one would stop us being together no matter what orders the Elders and the Pack issued. I gave myself up to the music and Etienne's kiss. It was a perfect night.
After the gig, Etienne drove me back to my home on the reservation. I made him promise he would come back later when the household was all asleep. Seth and his girlfriend were staying over this weekend and my Mom was definitely home. Since the meeting she had stayed home every night, poring over old photos of my Dad and crying. She was so upset about the affair with Tiffany before they'd gotten married. Even worse there was a child from that union. My Mom had never liked Tiffany Call before all this happened, she sure wasn't going to invite her around for cakes and coffee now. Though from what I had heard and seen Tiffany preferred much stronger beverages. Who could blame her though? Her life hadn't been easy, yet she had survived. Now those old wounds were about to be re-opened. I had gained a half brother though, I had a lot to be happy about. Now I could plan my life the way I wanted. With Etienne still a main feature things couldn't be better.
Don't they always say there is a calm just before the storm?