"What happened? Why are we having a meeting?" Sue frowns as she gets out of her car at Billy Black's house, pulling her hoodie tighter around her. Seth doesn't say anything and leads the way to the campfire that they had quickly set up. The pack was all sitting around it, tense and uncomfortable. Most of them had their imprints with them. Cecilia was seen standing at what appeared to be the focal point of the circle, her grandmother was standing next to her. "Seth, what happened?"
"You'll see in a minute, I promise. I don't really understand it." Seth sits next to her and glances around, "everyone that was called is here from our side." The Cullens run out of the woods, calmly approaching the wolves. A few of the younger ones jump slightly as they still weren't used to the vampires approaching so quickly and quietly. The pale faces take their usual place and look at Cecilia. Jacob stands up and calls for attention as a few wolves were talking.
"Most of you already know that we were attacked by three vampires today. Cecilia knows them and we're here to find out more about how. Cecilia, take it away." Jacob sits back down with Renesmee who was looking on worriedly. Jasper sends out calming feelings toward everyone as he could feel the agitation that was brewing under everyone's skin. Cecilia clears her throat and takes a step forward, her heart beating rapidly.
"First off, I wanted to say that I am so sorry for today. I really truly didn't mean for any harm to come to anyone. I had no idea." In the fire light, Seth could see that her throat was slightly bruised but she had tried to cover it up with makeup. He felt bad for her but wanted to know why she had lied to them. A lie of omission but still a lie. "I am also sorry for lying to you, even if I didn't technically lie by some standards. I mean, I just-"
"Take a deep breath and speak," Primrose advices, taking her granddaughter's hand. "You're a part of this pack. You have a voice here." Cecilia gives her grandmotehr a tight smile and nods, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"Most of you, if not all of you, already know that my mother was a Dream Walker. I don't know her full story but I know that she tried to gain too much power too fast by advancing her training. This caused her to have more access to the darker, more painful side of Dream Walking. It caused her nightmares and dellussions. When I was about eleven years old, she began to try to find ways to deal with it and, well there's no easy way to say this, she became a drug addict. She lost her job and I tried to find ways to make money but it wasn't easy. I mean, I was only eleven… Her dealer took pity on me. He was a powerful man in New York. A guy named Vincent. He had hits out on people and was ruthless but he liked my mom and I for some reason.
"So I worked out a deal with him. He would give my mom only the best product for cheap and I would sell drugs to kids…" Cecilia glances down at the ground, her shame overwhelming her. "It was mostly marijuana to the high schoolers in the area. I mean, nobody questions a kid with a backpack at a school, ya know? Then a few years ago he had me move up to the colleges. I mostly sold Adderall to college students. When he tried to get me to move up to anything higher than that, I protested… That's when he showed me just how mean he could be." Her hand travels to her side unconciously as she speaks, "he had a group of guys beat me up in an allyway and leave me there. One pulled a knife out. He didn't stab me but he got me pretty good in the side… That's when Roman found me. He and I worked the same areas, we were sort of friends and partners… He dropped me at the hospital. After that I still worked for Vincent but Roman stuck close to me, to protect me.
"Being fifteen this led to feelings…" She glances at Seth before looking back into the fire, "we started dating. With my mom going in and out of my life, I was put in foster care. One of those houses happened to be Roman's house. As a foster kid you're not supposed to date your foster siblings but we thought we could get away with it. With that and the fights at school, I got in a lot of trouble." At this point Primrose steps forward to take over.
"That's how she ended up here. The social worker couldn't place her in a home again but her only other option was a group home. So, she reached out to me and asked if I would take her in. Of course I said yes. When Cecilia got here we agreed that no one needed to know. I didn't know for sure that she was a Dream Walker, I thought it would be better if you all didn't know. I thought that you would judge her for it. Most of this is on me and I accept that."
"So what about Vincent now? What is he doing? How did you not know he was a vampire?" Paul asks, leaning forward.
"When the social worker came to talk to me, I thought she brought the police by to bust me. My mom was on probation and I had some drugs on me to sell. I ran and left the drugs behind. Thankfully, my social worker convinced the police officer not to tell on me about the drugs since I was leaving. Illegal but I am grateful. But me leaving the drugs cost Vincent sales. I could have easily passed it off. That's why I thought he was here but… I don't know. As for Vincent being a vampire? I didn't know the stories my mom spouted off were true until I got here and then I didn't think about him. Looking back, it's kind of clear that that's what he was. I had no clue when I was in New York though."
"What else should we know about Vincent and Roman? It is obvious they're not going to leave us alone." Jasper asks, his military mind going.
"Vincent likes to mess with people. After he had me beat up, he welcomed me back with open arms. He treated it like he was a father who had just spanked his child for doing something minor. As for Roman, he is just as eccentric as Vincent. He comes from a messed up home but not like me. His parents were rich but he liked doing something that was dangerous and wrong. Vincent is like a second father to him, treating him like he's his own son. My guess is that that's how he's manipulating Roman. The two guys that were with him worship Roman, think he's the second coming practically. They'll do anything for him."
"And what about your mom?" Billy asks from his chair, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"From the way Roman talked… She's alive." Primrose grips her granddaughter's hand tighter at this, holding her breath slightly. "I don't know if that means she's a vampire or what. Whatever the case, we need to be on high alert. Before Roman left, he said that there was a surprise he couldn't ruin later and that I would know when to come and see him."
"What could that mean?" Carlisle questions, frowning. "Some sort of signal?"
"I'm guessing. There were a few that we would use to let each other know we needed to talk, even when we weren't supposed to talk." The group takes a moment to take everything in and think it over. For Cecilia it was the most painful minute she had endured yet and that includes the few times her mother overdosed on her. She couldn't help but look at Seth and wonder what he was thinking as he stared into the fire. She wished, more than anything, that she had told him before the truth came out in the unfortunate manner that it had. She needed to know that their friendship would be okay.
"Jacob, what do you want to do?" Billy asks his son, breaking the silence. The entire pack looks toward the young alpha.
"Cecilia is obviously the main target. Just like Miss Primrose said, she's a member of this pack. We protect her as such." None of the wolves argue, nodding their heads in agreement. "We'll do extra patrols. Cullens, would you mind helping with this?"
The family shares a very quick look before Carlisle agrees that they will. "We will protect her as if she were our own, we owe your pack that." Jacob shares a quick nod before he continues.
"While she's at school, I want someone to keep eyes on her and protect her. We don't know when or where he'll attack next but we need to be ready. If you see or sense anything, you get her out and you alert as many pack members as you can. We'll work out details more tomorrow. Meet back here at six p.m. tomorrow and we'll fill everyone in then. For now, pack you're dismissed." The pack and the imprints that were there all file out, some disappearing into vehicles and some run into the woods to run home. The Cullens talk with Jacob before they run into the woods. Renesmee walks over to Cecilia who was collecting herself outside the ring of light from the fire. The two young women share a look before hugging each other tightly.
"It's going to be okay, I promise." Renesmee assures her friend, giving her a soft squeeze.
"I feel like shit… I brought this on the pack."
"Hey, at least you didn't bring the whole Volturi down like I did." Renesmee gives her a weak smile, trying to crack a joke. Jacob walks over to the young ladies and puts his hand on Renesmee's back.
"Jacob, this really isn't necessary. Whatever I brought down, I need to handle, alone." Jacob cuts her off before she can say anymore.
"No. You're a member of this pack, we handle things like this together. That's how we survive. We try to handle issues this big alone and that's when we get hurt or killed. Someone will check by your house throughout the night, I don't want you to worry. As soon as he gets on our lands, he's a dead man." Jacob gives her a half smile, "this is what we do. We kill vampires. Well, except for the Cullens of course. Now you and your grandma should go home. This has taken a lot out of her and I'm sure it has you too. I'll see you tomorrow." Rensmee and Jacob give her one last smile each before they walk off. Cecilia pulls her coat around her tighter and wipes her eyes before approaching her grandmother who was talking in hushed tones to Billy. The two elders stop talking as they hear Cecilia walking up.
"Ready to go?" Primrose asks with a small smile, "my old bones are about frozen over here." Cecilia nods and shoves her hands in her pockets, "we'll see you tomorrow Billy."
"See ya tomorrow Primrose. Sleep well Cecilia." Billy wheels himself up toward the house as the fire dwindles to embers. The two women head toward the cars and Cecilia glances around the dark yard for any sign of Seth but doesn't see him. Her heart practically breaks as she climbs in the car and shuts the door.
"Don't worry about Seth, he'll be alright."
"I hope so." Cecilia says while cranking up the car and pulling out of the driveway. The women drive the short way home with only the sound of the heat blasting. As soon as Cecilia pulls into the driveway, the two women head into the house and go to their separate rooms without so much as a goodnight. Cecilia strips off her many layers and looks in the mirror, touching the light scar on her side and then letting her hand trail up to the bruises on her neck. It seemed she'd have to wear turtlenecks and scarves for the next week or so. With tears in her eyes, Cecilia reaches into her drawer and pulls on a pair of her comfiest sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt. Crawling in to bed, she stares at the ceiling and wishes for dreams to come.
