Chapter 25
I reached the river and tried to single out Nessie's scent I'd seen her that morning and her scent was still fresh in my mind, I'd just found the place at which she'd crossed the river and not a second too soon Edward, Bella and Carlisle showed up, the worry was obvious on Bella's face, although we didn't really like each other I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but I knew Nessie would not have left her family had she not had a good reason. Edward smiled at me having heard my reasoning for Nessie's departure.
"Thank-you Fable we know, I'm sure she's just fine" he said but the smile didn't reach his eyes, poor Bella if she could cry from the look on her face she'd be balling on the floor like a baby. I try to think loudly so Edward will hear me, this is where Ness crossed, and we should cross too and see if we can pick up the scent.
"Yes I agree" Edward says to me before turning to his family to address them "We should cross the river here, we'll split up to cover more ground, Carlisle if you would stay with Bella, I suppose I'm the only who one who can communicate with Fable"
"Yes that makes sense" Carlisle agrees
Gee nothing quite like being picked last for the team I think to myself but of course Edward's heard my sarcastic thoughts
"I don't believe now is the best time for sarcasm Fable" he says. Carlisle and Bella leap across the river, rather impressively I must say. But I'm now faced with a problem, I hate water how the hell am I going to get across, if I was alone I'd find a swallow part to walk across in human form or follow the river until I found a manmade bridge or a convenient branch.
"Would you like me to carry you?" Edward sighs. Of course I don't want to be carried I'm not an infant but I don't see any other quick fixes here, oh god this is humiliating. Edward huffs at my thoughts clearly growing impatient, he picks me up like I weigh nothing and leaps across the river the way Carlisle and Bella did with no hindrance on my part. he lets me down and I scramble to my feet thankful to be back on the ground. It doesn't take long for me to pick up Nessie but it's obvious she's darted around and leaped all over the place to try and throw off anyone who might try to pursue her, clever girl.
"Yes, she is" says Edward solemnly, I try to think loudly so he'll hear me, Ness is clever I'm sure she knows what she's doing, don't worry we'll find her.
"I wish I shared your optimism Fable" he says "and Fable? If I can here your snide remarks I can certainly hear you when you're actually addressing me you don't need to think quite so loud" he says smirking
Smart ass. He laughs; obviously I didn't think that comment quite quietly enough. At one point Nessie's scent disappears up a tree then doesn't reappear for another fifty yards in the opposite direction, when I come across another scent my body stiffens, did Nessie meet someone out here?
"What is it another vampire" Edward asks
It smells like one, I follow Nessie's trail a little father but its growing faint and it's over powered by the scent of two other vampires even Edward's presence is throwing me off. I know this scent, but it can only mean it belongs to a vampire I've encountered before. It doesn't belong to one of the Cullen's I can tell the difference between bloodsucker and vegetarian. The Bette Noire.
"Are you certain? I'm not detecting anything?" he asks, of course he isn't his face isn't as close to the ground, of course I'm sure as much as I'd like to be wrong I know I'm not, I mentally ask Edward to go for help, he's faster than me and I can't see us surviving this fight without the help of the wolves.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea" he says quietly, so quiet I barley hear.
He had better go now while he still can, they're close and he knows it too, I can handle them long enough for you to get back up, I don't give a shit about the treaty and neither will Jake just please go. I turn and hiss quietly at him he glares at me then in an instant he's gone sprinting back to the reservation all I can do is hope he and the wolves don't take too long, that and hope I can hold my own against the Bette Noire long enough to make this worth it. All at once I'm dizzy and nauseous, and experiencing one of the worst headaches I've ever had, I know Cheryl is one of the two vampires that are about to close in on me, it's her way of disarming her opponent before she's even on them.
"Well, well, well, Fable Lushnovic? What a coincidence" says the curly blonde I know is Adelie
"And all alone too?" says Cheryl "Father won't be happy with our killing her, will he Adelie?"
"Well maybe a little happy" Adelie disagrees
"But I think we owe it to Godwin, to see that she really suffers" says Cheryl and she frowns at me making my head hurt even more so much I can barley take it. They exchange a glance and start laughing
"Pitiful isn't it?" sniggers Adelie "So weak" But I just stand my ground the more they stand there and monologue the closer Edward and the wolves get and these two bitches aren't going to know what hit them. "I think it would be rather poetic to finish her the way I killed her mate don't you agree Cheryl?"
"Oh that would be beautiful" Cheryl says grinning. Then I snap, fuck the wolves I'm finishing this bitch myself. I lunge at Adelie and she tumbles to the ground, Cheryl dives on me her hands locked around my neck and I kick my back legs into her stomach to kick her off, she rolls across the floor and I grab her hand between my teeth and rip it off, she screams in pain and the pain in my head subsides at her loss of concentration, but before I can finish her Adelie grabs me from behind and spins me to face her.
"Say hello to lover boy for me" she spits then sinks her teeth into my shoulder. I feel the venom spreading and I feel myself grow week "you won't hurt my family again" then Adelie raises her hand to my now human arm and wraps it around the skin just above my elbow, the heat is excruciating, it's so hot that where she touches me feels like ice, I should be dead, or atleast unconscious it's so painful, my eye's screw up tight and I hear a girl screaming, the sound is chilling and It's not until hot tears spill out of my eyes that I realise it's me. suddenly we're both flying through the air and we hit a tree, it splinters and cracks under out weight the blow causing Cheryl to finally release my arm but the cool air on it makes it sting and hurt even more, I look around trying to determine the source of our sudden flight and see Teague's big black wolf standing over us he grabs Cheryl around the waist with his massive jaws and she screams, not in pain but in sheer terror. She reaches up and her hand touches his face, he reels back whimpering in pain and the smell of singed fur and burnt flesh fills my nose once again. Why is Teague here alone? Then I recall Skar telling me how he was faster than the other wolves by a lot, he beat them all here, but where is Edward? Probably with his family making sure they're safe. Cheryl is on Teague's back in seconds and he thrashes around trying to shake her loose, Adelie gets to her feet and goes to help her sister, but I tackle her I'm weak and human but it's enough to throw her off balance, she's stronger and manages to pin me on my back she grabs a fist full of my hair and raises my head off the floor before ploughing back into the ground over and over again until I can feel myself blacking out then she bites me on my neck pumping even more venom into my veins. Mt vision clouds out of the corner of my eye I see Russ fighting with Cheryl she's fast and cunning, I know he's losing then Gabriel leaps on her back and I know he'll save him because I can't I already know Adelie's about to kill me. But it's not Gabe and it's not Russ, the huge black wolf is Teague and the cat is Micah. Wait Micah? From somewhere I gather the strength to scream out his name. Then I see the three Cullen's show up flanked by Jake and Seth. For next few seconds I fall in and out of consciousness. I see Adelie put her palm to my cheek but nothing happens I see Jake and Edward tear Cheryl's head from her shoulders I see Micah fly into Carlisle sending them both crashing to the ground then I see Adelie crouched defensively over her sister clutching her head in her arms desperately trying to fasten it back on.
"Go ahead!" Adelie screeches "Kill us both, then you'll have the Volturi to answer to"
"Stop!" Carlisle shouts "she's right the Bette Noire are a respected coven the Volturi would be sure to look into their deaths" Jake growls taking another step towards Cheryl and Adelie but Edward pulls him back
"Jacob no, the Volturi have left you alone under the agreement that you only defend on your own land, if you breech that Aro will have the reason he's been waiting for" Edward reasons
"Adelie take what's left of your sister and leave, tell your father to abandon whatever plans he has here, you will not be granted this leniency again, do we understand each other?" Carlisle says addressing Adelie, she nods and when I open my eyes again she's gone and Teague's face is over mine full with concern
"Fable? Fable?" he whispers. I try I really try but I can't keep my eyes open and I feel them flutter closed "Carlisle!" Teague shouts and when my eyes open the next time the good doctor is working over me he's covered my naked body with his suit jacket but all I feel is pain everywhere.
"Tell Bella I said thanks" I choke out and Carlisle just gives me a confused look, he doesn't know what I talking about but I know it was Bella's shield that stopped Cheryl from using her ability when she had me pinned to this very spot. "And that I think Ness is heading for sea-tac" I say and Carlisle nods
"Edward?" Carlisle calls and then fast as lightning Edward is by his side
"Thank you Fable, Bella and I shall head there now" he says and with that he's gone, I hope they catch her; Nessie should never have left without atleast an explanation. I know better than anyone that running from your problems solves nothing, in fact you only end up with more.
"Is she going to be alright?" Micah asks dropping to his knees next to Teague, he's alright thank god he's ok I give him a weak smile, I try to lift my hand to touch his face but I can't move
"You're safe" I whisper and Micah bursts into tears, Teague wraps an arm around my poor little nephew
"Sure he is I promised didn't I" Teague says brushing my hair back, I try to smile but the world is spinning and everything is growing darker and I barley manage to get out a response before everything goes completely black.
"Teague" the name leaves my mouth barley a whisper, I wanted to thank him but I don't get out more than his name I just hope he knows I'm grateful to him, I try to open my eyes once more but I can't. I know Micah will be safe with the wolves and the Cullen's that will have to be comfort enough, I can still hear their voices panicking as I slip away but I can't stop myself and in the end I stop fighting and let go, my last thought is of Skar his unusual eyes, his smile, his kiss and i realise my heart doesn't feel heavy anymore.