Chapter Twenty Seven: Death's Visit
Over the following weeks the red head continued to dance around the pack, her scent circling the area, but never getting close enough that she would fall into the pack's plan. The few times that the pack gave chase when the scent was fresh enough to follow, they never got close, only getting the occasional flash of red hair before would disappear into water or jump off a cliff and vanish from sight. The pack's frustration was building the longer this game continues, but every trap they set for her she seemed to toe around, coming close but always retreating at the last moment and leaving the boys more frustrated than they were before.
The hunting party for the wolves continued, Charlie and some of the other officers leading the charge while Harry covered the pack's trail as best as he could. We all understood that the hunt was done with the best of intentions, but only served to complicate any actions the pack would take as they had to be careful to stay clear of the hunting party while also trying to track down and trap the red head.
After Bella and I had come so close to the wolves on our hike Uncle Charlie was hesitant to leave us alone. Charlie had made plans with Billy to keep me in La Push though I was more than happy to oblige him, more comfortable in La Push than I ever would be in Forks. Bella had made her own 'arrangements'; she was all but attached to Jake's hip when he wasn't on patrol and hung around Billy's and first beach when he was. Bella's near constant presence was irritating as she spent less time being helpful and more as a hindrance.
When Embry was off patrol he was like a god sent as we escaped Billy's cramped house to spend time just the two of us. Lately the time he could spend along with me was dwindling and becoming less and less often as the pack tried their hardest to get the red head. More often than not I got to see Embry when he showed up to Emily's for dinners or pack meetings. The feeling of longing that I had felt while at the Clearwaters' weeks ago was now a normal occurrence as I longed for the day when our time was dictated by a psychic vampire and her erratic movements through the area as she tried to get around the boys to get at Bella.
It was in those moments that I would admire Embry's ability to remain calm despite the pressure and chaos. I knew Embry was feeling it just like the rest of the guys, but not by his outbursts or other displays of frustration, but by the tension in his shoulders and the way he held me just a little bit tighter in the few moments we got to spend together. I knew Embry most long for the days before he phased when we were free to do as we pleased, only Charlie and Tiffany's rule to comply with instead of Sam's and the tribal elders as he was held at the beck and call of his destiny to protect people who had long ago turned their back on him for his unknown paternity.
Even as I admired Embry's ability to remain calm it didn't hold a candle to Billy's ability to act as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening outside his door. Billy had always been a stoic man, but I had though that should Jake ever be put in danger that the mask would break, that he would be revealed to be as much of an emotional person as the rest of us. Billy talked about the wolves and the vampires as if he was talking about the weather, as if this was how life had always been inside of a legend coming to life before our eyes for the last year. Even though Bella's presence and constant worry was agitating, there were times it was easier to take than Billy acting like we were the ones acting unreasonably.
Today was one of the rare times I was able to see outside the confines of Emily's as both he and Jake were off patrol and were able to sit down to a meal here at Billy's. Billy's table only had four chairs, but Embry had quickly fixed that problem by pulling me into his lap and not letting me up even as I blushed and wiggled at the strange feeling of being such a position in front of Billy. At Emily's the action had no effect as Sam and Jared did the same to Kim and Emily, but here the act was strangely intimate and felt inappropriate in front of Billy's ever observing eyes.
Despite how uncomfortable the position had made me at first, the feeling of sitting on hard wood made my heart sink when the call went out and Jake and Embry went running out the door. I was never a religious person, only going to church when gran forced me on holidays, but when the calls went up I couldn't help but pray. It felt like the only thing I could do beside sit around and wait.
"I'm going to the beach." Bella announced moments after the door shut behind the boys. Neither Billy or I said a thing as she collected her jacket and walked out the door. With the door slamming shut for the second time I stood to start cleaning up, only to be stopped by Billy's large hand over mine.
"You don't have to worry about them so much, Anna. They were built for this." Billy said his eyes holding mine while I fought the tears that were stinging the back of my eyes.
"I know they were built for this, but it doesn't change that I know the risks just as you do. I won't be able to stop worrying till this is all over and I get to see with my own eyes that their all alright." I choked out and Billy nodded as he moved his hand.
"How do you stay so calm?" I asked after a long moment, looking at Billy pleadingly for the answer.
"When I remember our stories. There have only been two reasons why our protectors have been defeated. When they are outnumbered and when they have lacked the knowledge of our enemy. In today's circumstance neither of those things apply." Billy explained and I took a deep breath and nodded as I swallowed back the tears.
"Will you give me another lesson?" I asked once I knew my voice wouldn't crack. Billy smiled and nodded for me to follow his into the living room. Since I had been spending so much time with Billy I had asked him to teach me Quileute, I knew some of the basics since my mom was always speaking Quileute and had started teaching Aiden and I before she died.
Billy loved teaching me, he smiled through most of our lessons. Most members of the tribe were unable to speak Quileute fluently, mostly speaking general phrases like 'i love you', 'hello', 'good bye', only elderly tribe members, tribal elders and the children of the elders spoke the language fluently. English had over taken the Quileute language in 1970's and some members had stopped speaking it all together.
We were mid-lesson when Ms. Lonefeather knocked on the door. She lived down the road next door to Harry and Sue. Once she started knocking she didn't stop till I opened the door and the look of panic on her face was enough to send a shock of fear through my body.
"Oh, thank God, Anna. You need to take Billy to the hospital. Harry had a heart attack, they loaded him in an ambulance and they're taking him to Forks Hospital." She rushed out and I stood frozen for a second before I pulled the door open further to let her in out of the rain.
"Will you help me get him in the car? I can't do it alone." She nodded and I rushed back into the house to get Billy.
"Whoa! What's going on? Where are we going?" Billy asked, grabbing a hold on the chair's armrests as I started pushing him toward the door quickly.
"Tell you in the car." I said and carefully pushed Billy down the small ramp. Ms. Lonefeather shut the door to the house behind us and rushed around me to open the door to the car. Billy tried to help us the best he could and we quickly managed to get him into the passenger seat. Folding up the chair, I haphazardly shoved it into the backseat and rushed around the car to get in the driver's seat.
"What's got you acting like a mad woman?" Billy asked I shifted the car into drive.
"Harry had a heart attack, they're taking him to the hospital now." I said, turning onto the main road and gunning the engine as the rain started coming down harder. I was grateful that most of the police department was likely at the hospital or returning to the station as I sped down the road, ignoring the speed limits.
Forks had never seemed so far away then when I was racing down the road thinking the worst. The minutes seemed like hours as the rain pounded down around us making the road and the trees hard to see. I pulled into the hospital and parked against the sidewalk where I knew I wasn't supposed to, but it would easier to get Billy out and into the hospital from there. Thankfully Uncle Charlie must have been waiting and helped to get Billy back into his chair.
The waiting room was near empty the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. There were a few people sitting and reading magazines as they wanted on whoever they were with while the small group here for Harry all sat watching the doors as they wanted on news. Sue, Leah and Seth were nowhere to be seen as we entered and I looked to Uncle Charlie for answers. We moved away into a nearby hallway as not disturb the others.
"What happened?" I whispered.
"Sue said that Harry had just gotten back to the house, had flipped on the Tv while she was cooking. All she heard was a yell and when she checked on him he was clutching his chest. The medics got him here as quick as they could, the doc just let Sue in to see him quick, but their not optimistic." Uncle Charlie choked up a little and I wrapped my arms around him tight.
We joined the others in the waiting room and sat close together as we waited for news. An hour passed before the doors opened and Sue came out, the tears falling down her face telling us all we needed to know. Charlie stood to comfort her while I sat next to Billy in disbelief.
Uncle Charlie carefully led Sue out of the hospital while Billy and I followed. I dropped Billy off at the Clearwaters' before heading over to Emily's where I knew the pack would be if they weren't still out chasing the red head.
Pulling up to Emily's I was glad to see the lights on and several people walking around inside. The door was open as usual as I let myself inside only to be pulled into a tight hug as soon as I walked through. I didn't even have to look up to know who's arm I was in, the comfort and safety I felt was enough as I finally let the tears fall, sobbing into Embry's chest. He kissed the top of my head and held me for a long moment till I could collect myself again.
"I can't believe he's gone." I choked and Embry nodded as Paul walked closer.
"Yeah, well we've got other problems."Paul stated and I looked to him concerned.
"Paul, not tonight." Embry said and Paul shook his head.
"Would you rather she finds out when she gets home?" Paul asked and I looked between the two confused.
"Find out what? What happened?" I asked and Embry sighed before looking to Paul pointedly. Paul rolled his eyes and cleared his throat.
"Bella went cliff diving today." Paul said casually. I felt like my eyes were about to bulge out of my head.
"She did what?" I asked, my voice coming out in a whisper though I wanted to yell.
"Jake and I heard her scream when we were chasing the red head near the cliffs. Saw her hit the water right after we watched the red head jump into the ocean. Jake jumped in after her, dragged her to shore." Paul explained and for once I wished Bella was in the room because I wanted to strangle her.
"Is she alive?" I asked through my teeth.
"Yeah." Paul nodded and I ran a hand through my hair, pulling at the roots in frustration.
"Was she trying to kill herself?" I asked and Paul shrugged.
"We're not sure. It was either that or just shear stupidity." Paul said and I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"This is the last thing Charlie needs." I whispered and Embry pulled me closer to his side.
"Jake took her home, but we got another problem." Paul continued.
"What now?" I exclaimed and Paul cringed.
"Harry's heart attack triggered Seth and Leah to phase." Embry said gently and I looked to him in disbelief.
"Leah?" I asked and he nodded.
"But girls can't phase." I stated and he shrugged.
"That's what we thought." Paul grumbled.
"When it rains, it pours doesn't it?" I asked rhetorically and walked into the living room to sit down.