I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Chapter 25: Scent and Legends (BPOV)
Edward adjusted me in his lap, so he could easily hold the book at the same time.
"This next chapter is called Scent." his velvety voice spoke clearly.
The chapter started with Bella thinking it was ridiculous for Edward to leave for Jacob to come.
"They're never going to be friends, Bella," Alice told me sympathetically.
"I know, but my bookself probably wishes." I told her.
Edward's siblings were all laughing while his parents were shaking their heads, but their faces showed them clearly amused by Edwards's antics in the book. Edward himself looked mischievous.
"What did I miss? What are you up to in the book?" I asked him. He just shrugged and tried to keep reading. I placed my hand over the page he was reading.
"Tell me, now please?" I inquired again, he remained silent. "Alice?"
"He is marking his territory. By breathing on you he is marking you with his scent for Jacob to find," she said giggling.
"Real mature, Edward," I told him, fighting a smile and removed my hand from the book.
"Be glad it wasn't the dog. We all know how dogs mark their territory." Emmett snickered.
"Ewww." Rose, Alice and I moaned.
Back in the book Jacob had arrived so quietly when he arrived that he surprised book Bella. She was giving him grief for not wearing a shirt. She thought he was arrogant about his muscles.
"You think that is impressive baby sister, look at this?" Emmett stood up and removed his shirt.
"Now wait a minute, just because you have biceps doesn't mean you have the abs." Jasper now stood and removed his shirt. I just turned my head, so I was only looking at Edward. I wonder if he would take his off too, well I could dream right? Was it fair that book Bella had seen him without a shirt and I hadn't? He looked at me amused and kissed my cheek.
"Maybe later," he whispered into my ear.
"Will you two buffoons put your shirts back on. No one but your wives wants to see that." Edward glared at the two, who were now flexing and posing around the room. They put their shirts on and sat down.
Edward resumed reading. Jacob was telling her he didn't wear a shirt because it was easier just carrying his pants. Jacob went to checkout the scent in book Bella's room only to scare her when he returned again.
"Sounds like Jacob needs a collar with a bell." Alice giggled.
I was a little put out by Jacob's comment about the smell of my room.
"My room doesn't smell bad." I grumbled. I may not be a neat freak, but I would never let my room get like that.
"He probably thinks it smells due to how much time Edward spends in there. Especially, in your bed. " Jasper snickered and I blushed red.
Jacob was curious about what book Bella thought about having a vampire boyfriend and if it freaked her out. I could see Edward beaming, as he read. Jacob then wanted to know if we kissed. As a response, Edward started kissing my neck working his way up to my lips. My heart beat hard in my chest before he stopped.
Jacob then wanted to know when she was going to be changed.
"You would've thought she would have learned by now not to say anything," I sighed.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust when Jacob cut his hand and book Bella tried to take care of him.
"I still think it quite amusing, you faint at the sight of blood." Emmett laughed.
"The smell of it, not the sight." I huffed.
"It's unusual, for a human." Carlisle put in, but it wasn't in amusement, he looked clearly curious.
Carlisle also seemed interested when Edward read how fast Jacob healed.
"Wish I could study that. I wonder how it works? It's a shame it couldn't be something used to help people in ERs." Carlisle eyes were alive with excitement.
Book Bella went on a cleaning binge that Jacob made fun of.
"Thanks for the thought, but if you're doing that for me, the wolf's blood will not smell good." Edward kissed my forehead.
"Oh," was my only response. It did make sense if I thought about it, if they were repulsed by the smell of the wolves, why not the blood too.
Edward started to read again. This time Jacob was asking what it was like to have a werewolf as a best friend. When book Bella said it was fine when he was being nice, he responded by hugging her and was instantly repulsed. Edward and his family started laughing.
"Happy now?" I asked him, trying not to giggle. He just nodded, laughing too hard to speak.
Jacob was now trying to convince her to come to La Push for a bonfire. He made fun of book Bella saying she had to ask and he responded by indirectly calling Edward abusive and controlling.
"You're not abusive." I huffed at the insinuation.
"No, but he is controlling," Rose replied miffed. Edward hissed at her.
When Edward came back in the book, he asked if I had stabbed Jacob.
"Opps, I guess she is not as OCD as Jacob thought." I joked about missing the knife.
"See, Bella, I told you. You could get into Dartmouth." Edward smiled at me. I rolled my eyes. Of course this started off a disagreement with book Bella and Edward about college.
"I could always go to Dartmouth later. The only reason why your bookself wants it to be now is to delay me." I looked at him critically.
"Perhaps, but I really don't want you to have regrets later on." He pressed.
I flinched at the comment Edward made about people I know being dead and gone in a few decades.
"He is right though." Rose said matter of factly.
"Just because I will not see them anymore, doesn't mean I can't wait for when they're dead." I said sadly. Edward rubbed my back.
"So I didn't do anything with her clothes." Alice looked relieved, when Edward in the book said he was sure Alice didn't do it.
"That is not a good thing. That means her visitor took her things for her scent." Jasper told her. She looked alarmed again. In fact, the whole room was nervous.
"Why would they need my scent?" I asked.
"We're not sure yet." Edward answered, hugging me tightly and exchanged a glance with Jasper. I looked over at Jasper questionably. He paused before answering.
"I'm not sure yet. I rather not speculate out loud about it yet." he answered me.
In the book, Edward called Carlisle. They discussed the matter, plus Seattle.
"I'm afraid that I'm going to be right," Jasper sighed.
"Why isn't the Volturi doing anything about it?" Emmett asked.
"Let's be glad they aren't yet. It would lead to them checking on Bella," Edward said.
"What is going on?" I asked.
"Since it's obvious there are vampires out of control in Seattle, we might have to take care of it ourselves to avoid the Volturi coming here." Edward answered me honestly. I was half expecting him to avoid the question again.
When Edward in the book mentioned how useful Jasper would be and that book Bella would have to ask him for the answers, I looked at Jasper again myself. He chuckled.
"I'm sure book you will ask me. So why don't we wait for the book to tell the story." He gave me a small smile.
Edward in the book asked if I wanted to go to the bonfire, saying it was my decision, he wasn't my father.
"Then, why was he acting like her father," Alice asked.
"He wasn't trying to be her father, he is just scared for her safety," Edward grumbled.
"And was jealous." Emmett pointed out.
"Maybe a little." he admitted softly. I felt instantly bad, my bookself was hurting Edward.
In the book Edward was trusting book Bella to be safe in La Push for a few hours. With the conditions of Edward and Jacob meeting at the border and Bella had a cell phone on her.
Book Bella decided to bring the bike back to La Push and make Jacob either keep it or sell it and keep the money, since he put in all the hard work to fix it.
"That is very nice of you Bella," Esme told me.
"I guess it would be the only fair thing to do if I was no longer going to ride it again." I shrugged my shoulders.
I was surprised what came next when Edward said he bought himself a bike, but of course it was bigger and better than mine.
"You bought a bike to ride with Bella?" Jasper asked in surprise.
"That is so sweet." Alice sighed.
My bookself however, didn't quite agree. All she could see was the parallel difference between the bikes and Edward and me. I could see why.
"Bella, that certainly is not true," Esme whispered.
"Bella, love, I wish I could find a way to prove to you how wonderful and beautiful you are. You are not some broken tricycle compared to me. I guess I'm just going to have to tell you every day until it's engrained in your beautiful brain." Edward's bronze eyes bored into mine, filled with sincerity. I blushed and went to turn my head, he wouldn't let me, instead he held my chin with his long fingers and kissed me until my heart raced.
"You can't expect me to believe that you, who hates to drive under 100pmh, would enjoy riding with me?" I still found this a little hard to believe.
"If you were having fun, of course I would," he insisted.
"Well, I hope I'm not disappointing you, since I'm not planning on riding a motorcycle," I told him with a small smile. He just gave me a wink before going back to reading.
"I'm a little confused. You want to crash?" Esme asked.
"I think it's the thrill of the possibility. Edward never would let her get hurt and she knows that. Jacob on the other hand wouldn't stop it from happening." Jasper inferred.
"That is just messed up," Rose stated. I had to admit it did sound kind of stupid. Edward just shook his head.
"If it's a consolation, Edward, I think Jasper is right. Bella is more for the rush of it then who she riding with," Alice offered and he just shrugged his shoulders.
"I thought my bookself decided to stop all together anyways," I pointed out.
"Do you think that would last?" Emmett seemed curious and I shrugged in response, who knows what is going through that girl's head, she even surprises me at times.
In the book, Edward insisted on a helmet and jacket.
"My bookself is right, please if you do this, wear a helmet. I really do love what it would protect," Edward practically begged.
"Not too mention it's the state law," Carlisle interjected. "Does your bookself even have her motorcycle license?"
"I doubt it, since Charlie would find out if she did," I said a little sheepishly, even if it wasn't me who was actually on the motorcycle.
"Bella, you're a rebel," Emmett cried pretending to be shocked.
"Actually, since she usually rides it in La Push, she maybe exempt from state laws," Jasper mentioned and Edward gave him a dirty look.
Book Bella agreed to wear the helmet and jacket and Edward even told her she looked sexy in it. Edward looked a little sheepish as he read that part. I started to blush, Edward has called me beautiful before, but not sexy. I might have to think about that look for future reference.
"My, my, looks like my baby brother is growing up and noticing girls." Emmett snickered.
"He took noticed of Bella nearly a year ago, idiot," Rose said as she smacked of the side of the head.
Edward dropped off book Bella and she felt like she did when her parents used to pass her off.
"Great, I thought I was done with that stage of my life," I sighed. Edward gave me an apologetic look.
"Was it really that bad?" Esme asked.
"It was just awkward, always feeling like I was in the middle," I sighed and Edward rubbed his thumb in circles on the back of the hand he was holding.
Edward gave her a big passionate kiss in front of Jacob that left me blushing in reality.
"Trying to prove a point, Edward," Jasper snickered along with Emmett; Edward smirked in response. Apparently Edward didn't mind his bookself being ungentlemanly and more like a normal teenage boyfriend at times, anymore.
Jacob tried to test his limits by hugging me even though I tried to push him off.
"He needs to learn more about personal space and body language," Rose said angrily. Why did book Bella continue to be friends with this guy, oh yeah, he kept making her feel guilty every time she tried to say goodbye. Rose is right, I need a bigger backbone.
Edward finished the book and closed it with a snap. He handed it over to Esme. His face remained calm, but I could see that there was more going on behind his eyes. He looked down at me, smiled and gave me a chase kiss.
Esme smiled over at us and opened the book. "This chapter is titled Legends," she announced. Carlisle's eyes lit up brighter than the Christmas tree in the room.
"The Quileute's legends, I will love to hear them," the good doctor said excitedly as he tried to read over Esme's shoulder. She pulled the book from his view.
"Excuse me, little boy, but you're just going to have to wait like the rest of us," she teasingly scolded, he looked a little sheepish as the rest of us started to laugh.
The chapter started out with the cookout part of the bonfire.
"Okay that is just really gross." I was disgusted by the amount of food they had eaten. The rest of the Cullens looked a little disgusted as well.
"Bella is still a vampire girl," Emmett said with a smirk.
"Of course I'm," I said with a smile as I cuddled back into Edward's arms which he tighten immediately.
Esme read as I thought more about who was at the council meeting, something didn't make sense.
"She's wrong," I murmured, which I did not realize was out loud to everyone was looking at me, I blushed.
"I think Seth might have changed, they already described a big growth spurt in a small amount of time. If possible, maybe Leah or she was imprinted on. No one told Jacob about the wolves before and Billy is head of the council. Leah wasn't told earlier when she was Sam's girlfriend. So, a sudden change of heart doesn't make sense. Technically, if Harry was on the council they could have told those two then.
"Seth does seem like a possibility, but it seems like only the boys change, not the girls, so I doubt Leah." Carlisle thought over my response.
"Why so many wolves though. There were only three before, to our five. We only added two vampires and a human to our family." Edward said curiously, I liked how he counted me as family.
"Maybe it's because the human is a danger magnet," Emmett teased and I stuck my tongue out at him, which only caused him to laugh.
"What about the situation going on in Seattle? Is that close enough to effect them?" I asked.
"If they're right and vampires trigger the change it very well could be," Jasper admitted a little worriedly.
At this point of the chapter, the legends started. Everyone stayed quiet as they could tell Carlisle was dying to hear the stories. They were known as spirit warriors, the men separated from their bodies to defend their tribe by controlling the wind and animals.
"Fascinating, I wonder if they are still capable of something like that?" Carlisle spoke intrigued. The thought made me shiver a bit and Edward pulled me close.
The legends continued about Utlapa turning on the tribe and taking over Taha Aki's body. To try and save his people Taha Aki merged his spirit with a body of a wolf. Eventually the two turned into a new man with great strength to kill Utlapa.
"Hmm, it seems the Quileutes may not be true werewolves, something I have been wondering about since we were last here. I believe that the term shape shifter maybe more correct."
"How so?" Jasper asked.
"Well, for one, they don't need the moon to influence their phasing. Two, they are more protectors, and werewolves are not." Edward was in agreement with Carlisle.
"Well, then, if they aren't really werewolves why, the animosity between your two groups?" I asked.
"That is a good question, Bella." Carlisle replied, not really answering.
In the legends Taha Aki had many sons who all could shape shift. The story of the third wife began as Taha Aki decided to no longer shape shift after marrying his third wife, his true spirit match.
"Three wives, lucky dog," Emmett said without thinking. A resound smack off the side off his head and Rose moved from her seat as she sat next to Edward and me on the couch.
"Idiot," Jasper chuckled softly.
The story started with the Maka tribe blaming the wolves for killing some of their people. When the wolves went to investigate they found a sweet smell. How book Bella was affected by the story was much to Jacob's humor. To the humor of most of the Cullens too, which caught my attention.
"You smell sweet to the wolves don't you?" I asked already knowing the answer. There were a few snickers and Edward answered.
"Yes, apparently we do," he gave me a half smile.
"They are purposely trying to scare me, aren't they? Are they that stupid! I do realize the difference between the vampires that drink humans and those who drink animals," I vented. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Edward smiling.
Esme continued, the legends as the tribe continued to search for what was destroying her tribe. The tribe eventually found the vampire and discovered how to destroy it. However, the first vampire had a mate who obviously wanted revenge. The third wife killed herself to distract the vampire in order to save her people.
"She gave her life for her people, how noble," Esme admired.
"Wow. This story definitely explains why they hate vampires so much," Emmett sighed.
"I guess that answers my earlier question." I said biting my lip. Here I was hoping that maybe the two groups could be civil one day.
The legends ended with the story of the Cullens.
"Hey Bella that is us!" Emmett said excitedly.
"Naw Really," I said sarcastically, as rest of the Cullens started to laugh.
"I'm so glad I got to hear those legends." Carlisle was still very excited.
Book Bella apparently fell asleep thinking about the third wife.
"Why am I getting a bad feeling about you thinking about her too much?" Edward almost groaned. I shrugged, I could see my bookself's point what she did was noble.
When book Bella awoke, she was at the border and Jacob had called Edward.
"Wow, he called Edward rather then trying to keep her there." Alice was even surprised.
"He probably figured Bella would be unhappy with him for allowing that to happen," Jasper added in.
Book Bella was telling Edward how good the legends were and how she wished he was there.
"You should give yourself more credit, Bella. The way you perceive and notice things, I'm sure you would get most of the legends correct," Carlisle praised me.
Book Bella waited for Edward by the window when she got home.
"Silly girl, you're bookself should've just gotten into bed. She was both tired and cold," Edward told me.
"She probably wouldn't have slept well until you're bookself was there," I answered him kissing his jaw.
"It's rather pointless for Jacob to be running circles around my house while Edward is there," I mentioned.
"That is true, you would be protected with him there. Even if someone made a snap decision before I could see it, he would be aware because of his ability," Alice agreed with me.
"Not too mention he would be pissed. Edward would be in bed with Bella." Jasper added
Book Bella had a dream that night of Rose attacking Billy in wolf form. She tried to stop them, and discovered a knife in my hands.
"Weird dream." Emmett chuckled.
"I'm sorry." I looked shyly at Rose.
"Why? It said it was because I was beautiful and could take on the wolf. I'm not offended at all." She shrugged it off. Phew, I'm glad, because who likes a pissed off Rose.
Book Bella comments about just the scent of Edward makes her bad dreams disappear, I saw Edward smile widely and he kissed my forehead.
"I'm sorry Esme could the repeat that title of that book again?" Thinking I must have missed heard which book Edward was reading.
"Wuthering Heights." She repeated clearly amused.
"But, Edward, haven't you read that book before? Why would you bother reading it again, if it's such a bad book?" I batted my eyes trying to appear all innocent. His family was chuckling. He smirked reached over and started to tickle me, causing me to squeal.
"Stop." I tried to gasp out between my laughter.
"I'm sure I have my reasons," he finally said, clearly amused by my now very red face.
According to Edward in the book, he could see him relating to Heathcliff. Then, later on, book Bella found a passage that she believed that Edward might have been reading. Crap, I thought so, Wuthering Heights is going to be to this book, like Romeo and Juliet was to the last. Which means Edward in the book was jealous of Jacob, but wouldn't ask her to not see again or hurt him, because he wouldn't want to hurt me.
"I think your bookself might have been right the first time. I think she just refuses to admit it, because she doesn't want to believe it could be possible," Jasper mentioned.
"She doesn't believe that it's possible because she knows that her whole heart belongs to Edward, so she can't see Jacob being a problem." I said softly. Jasper was going to say something else, but Edward glared at him. He pulled me into a tight hug, inside I was starting to feel sick. I was getting more and more scared that my bookself was going to hurt Edward. I felt Jasper send me some calming waves.
"Are you okay, Bella?" Esme asked and I realized she was done with this chapter. I nodded and put a small smile on my face and nodded.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews.