The Bear
Chapter 17 The Bear
"This is good land," Demetri said as he surveyed the virgin forest surrounding the cliff he was standing upon. He and Felix were deep inside the Olympic Peninsula. There wasn't a human for miles and so they felt comfortable standing in all their sparkling glory in the rare Washington sunshine.
"Much different than Italy," Felix nodded. He sipped from one of the travel mugs they had bought at the Shell station in town proclaiming that 'It's Fine in Forks.' They had waited until they had reached this remote place before trying SdL and discovered it was like heaven on their tongues. Felix stood, one hand resting on his hip, the other cradling the cup of SdL and marveled as he looked over the landscape. He'd never felt so free.
"You can truly have a good run here. There's not a building or road for miles," said his friend. Demetri and Felix had been paired as the muscle of the Volturi guard for years but they would have been friends despite the compulsion they'd been under. They simply meshed.
Looking down at his mug, Felix said, "And this stuff, this SdL, is amazing. Imagine not having to live in the shadows any longer? We could do just about anything we want to. We could even go to Disneyland!"
"Disney World is better. More options." Demetri had studied the possibilities. It had been his secret dream to become a cast member at the happiest place on earth. It didn't matter that Disney World was in Florida, the Sunshine State, because many of the costumes the cast members wore completely covered their bodies. He would never be exposed to the sun and reveal his glittery skin. Imagine being able to go to the Magic Kingdom every day and to always be surrounded by happy people! He hadn't realized how depressed he had been living among the gloomy Volturi in gloomier Voltura, even with Corin's Xanax. Now, he was free of all of that.
"Perhaps we should commit to Sanctuary. It wouldn't be like committing to Aro." Demetri said this with a sneer. The two vampires had compared notes, now that they were free of Chelsea's bond, and were becoming more and more disgusted at how they had been manipulated over the centuries.
"I don't know about that," said Felix. "No matter what Carlisle said, do you really think we'd be welcome? We've made many enemies by being Aro's toadies."
"You have a point. Perhaps we can do something to win their trust?"
"Like what?"
"Did you see how Sulpicia ran off with Aro's parts?"
"How could I forget? Her shrieks just about deafened me."
"She surprised me, to be honest. I never would have believed she'd have the cojones to ax Marcus and then run off with what she could find of Aro."
"What she could find…? Didn't she retrieve all of him?"
"Well, she got his main body parts. But in his struggle with Marcus, one of Aro's fingers broke off. I picked it up." Demetri fished in his vest pocket and pulled out a delicate, stony pinkie.
"Damn! Without that, Sulpicia will never be able to fuse Aro back together. It won't work unless you have all the pieces."
"I know it. I don't want that μπάσταρδος to be resurrected anyway. If any of us deserve to be ended, it was he."
"So, how can we prove to the Cullens that we are sincere?"
"Hunt Sulpicia down and bring her to them—without Aro's remains, of course. I can easily find her." Demetri had been prized by Aro because of his tracking talent. Now he could put it to good use for a better cause.
"Do you think the Cullens want her?"
"Probably not, but what they want less is a crazed vampire running loose on the American continents creating chaos and terror among the humans."
"That's true, but how can we make her come with us?"
"Well, we'll burn this thing first," he said, holding up Aro's finger. "Then, we'll make her an offer she can't refuse."
Having finished the SdL, the two vampires turned to find Sulpicia, but not without Felix saying, "You've definitely been watching too many mafia movies."
We stood with the Quileutes watching the vampire twins twitch on the ground and wondered what we should do about them. Carlisle sighed. "I don't think they'd be amenable to our way of life. They are truly unstable individuals and would wreak havoc no matter where they were. Aro was only able to contain them through the bonds Chelsea wove, plus the fact he allowed them to torture people now and then."
"Delightful creatures, aren't they?" Leah commented as she circled and studied the terrible twins.
"Why don't we just end them now?" Jasper suggested. He was flexing his fingers, like he was getting ready to 'pop their caps'. I wondered what his preferred technique was.
Shaking his head, Carlisle said, "That is unfair. It's what the Volturi would have done and you see what has become of them. It is evident that the Volturi's existence was misery for most of them."
Finishing her perusal of the twins, Leah said, "The Volturi suffered from a common malady: hubris. Overweening pride is always the cause of its own downfall. I've seen it many a time in my long life. Besides, the Volturi took themselves way too seriously. Not a shred of a sense of humor among them. What a way to go through life, eh?"
I snuck a look at Edward and saw that he was looking a little chagrinned. He was naturally a serious person, but I think that was going to change or I would drive him batty. I have a terrible habit of laughing at just the wrong times.
However, we still hadn't decided what to do about Jane and Alec. I was beginning to feel sorry for them. They'd been self-inflicting their own punishment for a while now. That must suck.
"But Carlisle, turning those two loose is like holding a rattle snake by its tail. The business end will get you sooner or later," Emmett said. It seemed like he agreed with Jasper.
"No. We must convince them to comply with Sanctuary laws or go back to the Eastern hemisphere. I will not kill someone out of hand."
"They have killed plenty without any reason themselves, Carlisle," Rosalie said.
"It doesn't matter, Rose. I will not stoop to Volturi tactics. Maybe our example will do them good."
At this point, Leah interjected, "Perhaps I can convince them to behave themselves." In a second, she'd shifted into dead Aro's form. She looked so much like him that for a scary minute I thought Sulpicia had succeeded in reuniting his head with his body. Smiling she turned to me and handed me an envelope. "You'll need that later." Mystified, I took it and slid it into my hoodie pocket.
"What will you do, Leah?" Carlisle asked.
"I'll get Bella to release her shield on them then I, or rather, Aro will talk some sense into them. Now Bella, once it has become apparent that they are no longer suffering, pop another reverse shield on them. If they don't try to use their powers, they'll just be the normal kind of creepy that vampires are anyway, present company…well, you must admit, you guys are sort of peculiar."
Shrugging, she went on, "The minute they try using their powers, they'll fry themselves. Honestly, I think that would be a good punishment for them: never to be able to use their powers again."
"That's a good point, but do you know if Bella's reverse shield is permanent?" Edward asked.
"It showed no sign of fading. In fact, it seems to me the more Jane and Alec fight against it, the stronger it got," Leah said.
Just to be on the safe side, we cleared the field of bystanders much to the wolves' dismay. But after Leah did some intense mind-meld arguing that the rest of us couldn't hear—and she had called us peculiar—they moved off with Harry in their midst.
"The wolf-pack have a good point, one that you didn't hear. Jane and Alec may not be able to zap us anymore, but they are still vampires and still formidable."
Emmett flexed his arms and said, "Don't worry, we can handle those two. As far as vampires go, they're puny."
So, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie stood strategically around Jane and Alec and waited for Leah's signal.
"Ready?" I asked Leah/Aro.
"Yes. I am ready to go. Let us begin." I didn't realize exactly what she meant by that when she spoke, but it became clear to me afterwards.
I pulled the bubbles from around Alec and Jane. As they slowly recovered, they sat up and looked around in utter astonishment. They had a fragile, haunted expression in their eyes. I think they finally realized just how diabolical their talent was, at least as applied to themselves. I had a strong feeling that they really didn't care how it affected others.
"My Lord Aro, what has happened?" Jane asked as she slowly got to her feet. Alec had also regained his footing and went over to stand next to his sister. They were always strongest when they were side by side.
Aro/Leah answered, "It seems as though we have met our match and we have been given a choice, we must stay here and live as they do, or return home and promise never to come to west again."
"No! That can't be possible!" Jane exclaimed.
"But it is, my dear. Our powers have been used against us."
"How?" Alec asked.
Aro/Leah pointed at me and said, "Meet Isabella Cullen. She's a newborn but she has an amazing talent, one she used quite effectively on you."
Jane glared at me and then lowered her head, as though she was going to try to zap me.
Aro/Leah stopped her. "I wouldn't do that, unless you want to immolate yourself again."
Jane lifted her head and looked at Aro/Leah in fear. She hadn't forgotten how traumatic her experience with her own power had been.
Aro/Leah strolled towards the twin vampires as she said, "You see Bella, there, is a shield—a very powerful shield. In fact, she can shield any being with special talent so that their talents turn back on them. When Bella and the other Quileute arrived here, she immediately put her reverse shield around the two of you. You didn't know it or feel it until you tried to use your talents on her. All your power just bounced back onto you. I believe you are aware of what happened then."
Alec visibly shivered and grasped his sister's hand. "Don't use your powers, sister. Just, don't!"
"What are we to do, Lord Aro?" Jane asked in a petulant tone.
"We have been given a generous choice."
Jane happened to notice the pyre of purple flames and smoke. "Who burns?"
"James as a traitor and Marcus."
"Lord Marcus?" Alec said in shock.
Before anyone could answer, Edward said urgently, "Victoria is here! She's coming to kill…"
But it was too late, all I saw was a flash of red and suddenly both Jane and Alec lay headless on the ground. Victoria stood in front of Aro/Leah and growled, "You will die!"
Leah, still in Aro's form, just smiled and opened her arms. She did not say a word when Victoria leaped upon her. Blood sprayed from Leah's neck and torso as she dropped to the ground and instantly changed back into the frail, old woman she truly was.
Mystified, Victoria stood back and said, "Aro was human?" but she never got further. Two ravening wolves pounced on her and ripped her to shreds.
I ran over to Leah, sobbing her name and kneeling on the ground next to her. I lifted my hands to try to stop the bleeding when suddenly the scent of her blood washed over me and my sobs turned to a roar. Suddenly, Edward was pulling me away from her, his arms wrapped around me as he buried my face into his shoulder to try to block the scent of human blood. I started to shudder when I realized what I had been about to do and my sobs returned, and I just let go. I could only make Leah's situation worse. I had never felt so entirely helpless. However, I had forgotten about Carlisle.
Carlisle shouted to Esme, "Get my bag!" as he ran to take my place. He ripped his shirt off, bunched it up and placed it over the gaping wound in Leah's chest. It didn't take Esme long to return with the medical supplies and Carlisle quickly started to do what he could to save Leah's life, but he looked very grim. We were surrounded by the wolf pack, who had summarily thrown Victoria, Jane, and Alec's remains on the fire, but except for Edward and Carlisle, my Cullen family had gone back into the house. I guess, vegetarians though they were, the scent of fresh human blood was enough to bring out the worst in them.
"Auntie! Auntie!" Harry cried as he knelt on the other side of Carlisle. He tenderly took her hand as tears streamed down his cheeks. Carlisle looked up at Harry and shook his head. There was nothing more he could do.
Feebly, Leah sighed and in a voice that even I could barely hear said, "Hush, Harry. I welcome this."
"But you can't leave us! We need you."
"No…you need the Walalo, not me." She paused and shut her eyes, as though garnering her fast fading strength.
Then she said, "Read the letter Bella has, it explains all." She shut her eyes again.
Harry looked up at me as I stood in Edward's arms. I remembered the letter she'd given me, but I hardly had paid attention at the time, there was so much else going on. I felt for it in my pocket and pulled it out to show it to Harry. He nodded then looked back down at his greatly beloved aunt.
Leah opened her eyes one last time and gazed fondly at her nephew. She said faintly, as though her words were a part of the zephyr breeze that seemed to be carrying her away, "Take me home. Play John Denver." She smiled as her eyes drifted shut, sighed once more, and was gone.
Harry gently lifted his many times great-aunt and tenderly carried her to Billy's pickup. He was followed by an honor guard of yipping and howling wolves who encircled the truck as Harry laid her down on the soil she so loved and was a part of. He got a blanket out from under the seat in the cab. It was obviously a very valuable talisman. Incorporated within the fabric was an intricately woven stylized Quileute Bear. It was a wonder it was kept in Billy's beat-up truck. Harry settled the blanket over Leah and spread it over her from head to toe. Going to the cab, he got inside, started it up and slowly drove out of the Cullen's drive. Before passing us, he paused and said. "You must follow us as we take her home."
The wolves fell into line on either side of the truck, as John Denver started warbling 'Take Me Home Country Road,' and escorted it up to the highway. Esme had quietly arrived and given Carlisle a fresh shirt and soon Edward, Carlisle and I followed as Harry had requested. I heaved gasping sobs at intervals and Edward looked at me, with a worried frown. I tried to look reassuring, but I was really shaken. I had only known Leah for one day, and yet I felt as though I had known her my whole life. It wasn't fair. Honestly, there weren't many people I'd met in life that I seemed to instantly bond with, besides Edward—and that was a different thing altogether. Leah and I were so in tune. I didn't want her to leave.
John Denver crooned "take me home to the place I belong" but I noticed he was singing Quileute place names in place of the more familiar West Virginia, the Shenandoah River. It sure sounded like John Denver singing. However, the minute we crossed over into the reservation territory, he stopped and was replaced by hauntingly beautiful tribal drums and singing. The closer we got to La Push, the more people lined the road, in respect and tears. How did they know this had happened so quickly? More things to think about later.
We pulled up in front of the council hall to be greeted by all the tribal elders, dressed in their ceremonial best, and the somber music stopped.
Harry stepped out of the truck and said, "I have brought home Leah Clearwater, Walalo to our tribe."
The Quileute hold their burial rites sacred and private, so I will not describe what we witnessed here, out of respect, but there was a time when an elder asked Harry, "What news did Walalo leave?"
Harry said, "She left a letter with Isabella Cullen."
Once more all eyes were on me, and the elder asked, "Would you please read Walalo's words?"
Like I had a choice?
AN
Mπάσταρδος means bastard in Greek, I think. Demetri was Greek in origin. Forgive me if I don't have that correct. I used Google Translate and we all know how well that works.