The Whispering Woods

Chapter Forty-Two

Mike's mother, all spit and polish with platinum blonde hair, just a few inches shorter than her six-foot son, gave them a sinister smile. "If it isn't the chief's illustrious daughter, the often-infamous Bella Swan."

"Beatrice," Bella stated stiffly. She had to work hard not to react to the smell the woman gave off. Most people didn't seem to notice, but she did. And from the look on Edward's face, he did, too.

It wasn't her imagination then? Good, she was starting to think she was imagining things.

The scent of decay lingered between them, Mike's eyes volleying between his mother and Bella. Edward noticed Mike was confused, but before he could ask what was his problem, the smell had become too much.

"Fucking hell, did you two just come up from the morgue?" Edward tried to prevent gagging, but he was about to lose his lunch.

"Excuse me?" Beatrice snarled. The look she sent him held Edward captive, his body unable to move away despite the instinct to do so.

Bella stepped between Edward and Mike's mother. "Back off."

"You can see her true…" Mike started to whisper in wonder, swallowing hard. There was something in his eyes that begged Bella for an explanation. "No one has ever…"

"Mike, let's go now." Beatrice grabbed her son's arm, her nails biting through his skin despite the sweater he wore. "We have business to attend to."

Bella hissed as the woman walked past her. "I'll see you again soon, B."

Beatrice looked over her shoulder and smirked. "Sure, come on over anytime, my dear."

"Not going to happen. Neutral ground and also, stay away from Jessica, tell your husband to do the same."

The woman looked shocked, but quickly covered it up with an upbeat, "See you soon."

Bella shook her head when Edward motioned to follow them. Why would they be in the hospital?

"Don't bother, she works here." She gestured toward the administrative wing of the small hospital. "Or at least I think she does."

Edward looked at her, confusion tightening his brow. "Care to explain?"

"Sure, as soon as we find out if I'm right about my father."

Edward looked in the direction Mike and his mother disappeared toward and nodded. "If you can't explain her, can you explain how someone could live without a heart?"

"I don't know." She shrugged when Edward glared at her. "I agreed not to keep secrets and you still have so much to learn from what I've gathered over the years, but something like that, I have no clue. That kind of magic isn't something I could do."

"That kind of magic is dark or black, whatever they call it," Edward surmised aloud. "It's been in a lot of folklore; hell, it's been on very popular shows and movies. You have one's heart, you control it."

"I always thought it was meant to be more of a metaphor for love or an obsessive kind of love, not literal. Yet, you're right, what's that show with the evil queen?"

"Jesus, I don't know, but if his heart is missing, why does she need it?"

"To stop him from investigating them or…" Bella's eyes widened.

"Or to keep you and the others under her thumb." Edward slid his hands up her neck and cradled her face. "We won't let anything else happen to him, Bella. We'll find a way to get back his heart, if what you saw is true."

"How are we supposed to help if we don't know their pasts? We have no idea what we're capable of, and who do we go for answers?"

"I'm not sure, but we'll figure it out together."

Bella took a deep breath, finding a sense of calm in Edward's green eyes that soothed her. "It's just another thing on our list of what the fuck."

"What's one more thing?" He smiled, earning one in return. A look at her soft lips had him pressing his on hers and groaned when she molded her body against his.

"We have to stop meeting like this?" Bella's uncle Garrett hissed from behind them. They jumped apart and looked shocked for a moment, they hadn't heard him. "Considering everything that's happening, you two need to avoid that bubble when you're out in public. Always be on alert."

Bella blushed, hating that they got caught again, by her uncle no less, so fucking awkward. "We'll keep that in mind."

Garrett's skeptical look clearly indicated he had doubts. "Come on, before we bump into someone we shouldn't."

"You mean like Beatrice?" Bella kept with her uncle's fast and long stride, Edward right beside her.

"Who the fuck is Beatrice?" Garrett came to an abrupt stop at Bella's incredulous look. "Bella, who the hell is Beatrice?"

"Uh, Mike's mother."

Garrett looked at them both as if they'd sprung extra heads or something. "Mike's birth mother Beatrice died shortly after he was born."

"No." Bella shook her head.

"Yes, she did." Garrett was adamant. "Shortly after she died, Mike's father married her sister who'd come down to help. Agatha, I think was her name, but she died in a car accident about two years later, then he was in a short relationship with Crystal, but she up and left suddenly."

"I have no idea who they all are, but I've known Mike's mother since I was a child. Her name is Beatrice, with platinum blonde hair, about as tall as you."

"Fuck me, what the hell are you talking about? Cynthia, his current wife, is petite with dark hair and blue eyes."

"The blue eyes are right, but she's a blonde."

"Bella's right and she smells like something that was put away wet and allowed to mold."

Bella looked at Edward and nodded. "Right?"

"Are you saying that she looks different to you both?"

As if summoned by their conversation, Beatrice rounded the corner of the hallway they stood in and glared.

"Blonde hair, see?" Bella gestured with her eyes, but noticed her uncle only stare at the woman, swaying slightly. "Fuck!" She put herself in front of her uncle and glared at the witch, Edward quick to do the same. Garrett's awareness returned almost instantly.

Bella stood her ground. "I don't know what you are, but I'm onto you, lady!"

Beatrice smiled. "Bring it on. But know this: it's too late. The convergence cannot be stopped."

AN: Let me say first, thanks to my beta Midnight Cougar, she makes it all better. Any mistakes are mine since I'm incapable of leaving well enough alone. lol. Okay, let me tell you, I thought I was busy before but it didn't compare to adding a new member to the family on 02-02-2020! Damien is a cutie and sweet and I'm trying not to panic when I think my youngest is trying to raise a child. Then the unthinkable happened, I lost my cousin, who is younger than me to a heart attack the day after Damien was born. Its been tough but I somehow managed to find some time to write. Hopefully, I can get some more time this week. If you'd like to help, I have my and Venmo info on my Twitter and Facebook accounts. I can found on Twitter under ericastwilight and on Facebook (where you'll find some baby pics) under Erica Marroquin or Ericastwilight Fanfiction.'

Thanks for all your support, you've been amazing, the gifts sent for the baby are greatly appreciated. Love you!