36 The Knife Feels like Justice
The chapter belongs to Brian Setzer
"Hold on, Charlie, and we'll see how this works," I said as I drew the knife up and into the air, the rain shimmering down the blade, washing it clean.
At the first streak of lightning with its attendant crash of thunder I brought the knife down and Seth jumped.
"Hey!" he hollered.
"What are you doing?"
Chapter 36 The Knife Feels like Justice
I made a superficial cut to the palm of my left hand. Blood welled up immediately. "Hold Charlie's left palm out," I instructed Seth. He looked sideways at me, his mouth hanging open. "Quick!" I yelled.
He gently pulled Charlie's lifeless hand up and over, his palm facing up. I drew the blade over his palm as I had mine. He never flinched. I hoped we weren't too late.
The magic had indeed come to me. I dropped the knife and clasped our palms together, closing my eyes and saying the words of my great-grandfather. The sire's blood will stain the sacred ground and the tribe will claim him as their own.
My entire arm began to tingle with an unseen electricity. Seth's eyes darted back and forth, from Charlie, to me, then back again. When the tingling faded, I prepared to separate our palms. I knew that if the magic had worked, the wound I had inflicted on Charlie would be in its healing stages; an open gash would mean he was already dead or was too far gone to save.
The rain continued its assault. I braced myself for the worst, closed my eyes, and pried our hands apart. Holding Charlie's hand up, I let the rain wash away the blood, finally opening my eyes to see if I had been in time.
I collapsed on the ground next to him as I saw his palm bore a thin, red line. My grateful tears mingled with the rain as I bent my body over Charlie, saying a prayer of thanks for his life. Seth's sweats that we'd used as a compress were soaked through, but as I lifted them I saw the bleeding has almost stopped and his head wounds were knitting back together as his hand had.
His arm, however, was a different story. The bones had been crushed, from his shoulder to his fingers. They would set in the same way mine had, after I'd been crushed by the crazed newborn. He'd need a doctor, but who could I take him to?
The magic of the tribe had never been used like this before. I knew now that the Alpha had the ability to transform a single individual in his or her lifetime, for the benefit of the pack and the tribe. The reason why I should transform Charlie into a shapeshifter wasn't revealed to me—just that I should do it. I wondered what he'd say when he woke up. He'd probably shout at me, but that would be okay. At least he was alive.
My revelation satisfied me; as I stood, Seth remained kneeling on the ground, obviously trying to wrap his head around what had just occurred. He looked at me as if he'd never seen me before, and he hadn't, not really. He was used to Jake the friend, the kid, the pale imitation of a leader who stood by as Sam, the steward of the Alpha position, became the de-facto leader of the tribe.
It wasn't until the wolves had mutinied against Sam that the reins of leadership had been thrust into my reluctant hands. I didn't know how I would have reacted if Bella hadn't been involved, Bella and the man who lay wounded and broken at my feet.
I tugged Seth up. I slipped off my ragged shorts and the even rattier underwear, gesturing to the deeper woods behind us. "Phase with me."
He trotted towards the path, phasing in mid-air. I did the same. Soft, padded feet made no sound as they landed on the forest floor. I let him hear everything that had happened, from the dream, the conversation with Old Quil, the sighting and the ancient magic that surrounded our tribe.
After a few minutes he nodded his great shaggy head and walked back to the clearing. I followed, grabbing up my boxers and shorts, slipping them on without comment. He said nothing, but didn't look at me the same as he had before.
Without trying, I had assumed the mantle of command over a group of supernatural creatures and an entire tribe of men, women and children. As long as I drew breath, I would be their chief. I smiled as I thought about where I had been a month ago—one wolf among many, as we fought for our lives next to the creatures we despised.
Now I stood alone.
I looked over to the assailant who lay dead in pieces behind us. "We gotta get rid of that," I gestured with a nod of my head. Seth hopped up.
"I'll take care of it." He walked proudly, his naked ass shining. God, why didn't that boy wear any underpants? As I shook my head at him, he phased, carrying the pieces into the woods. A few seconds later I heard a furious digging.
A few minutes later he emerged as the wolf, dirt on his nose, a dirty leather wallet in his mouth. After he dropped it at my feet, he perused the spot where the guy had fallen, making certain he had all the pieces. When he was satisfied, he dug all around the area, turning over the soil so no blood remained. The rain had washed away any visible traces, and now, turned under the soil of the forest, whatever might have remained was hidden forever.
I opened the wallet. There was a Blockbuster video card, eighteen dollars in cash,and a driver's license. Kirby Sanchez. Age 22. I remembered his angry face as he wielded the wooden bat. He didn't look like a Kirby Sanchez. Who does look like a Kirby Sanchez?
I checked on Charlie again as Seth phased back to human. "What'll we do about the dude's car?" he wondered.
"Drive it down the highway and abandon it in the woods. If it's stolen, we don't want it to stay gone too long.
He walked off in the direction of the car and I yelled, "Hey! Don't touch anything!"
"Gotcha! I'll be back soon!"
It would probably take Charlie about a week to go through the transformation, but at the end of that time he could rejoin human society if he wanted to. He could keep his job, live in town, and nobody but we would need to know he had joined the elite society of shape shifters endemic to my tribe.
The downpour had morphed into a steady shower, running in little rivulets down the rocks and along the ground. Charlie had fallen under a huge tree, so we were under a natural shelter of sorts.
He was wet but I was afraid to move him. I'd made up my mind to call Billy when Seth returned, and sat on the damp ground, knees pulled up close to me, in case he regained consciousness.
A half hour passed. A really long half hour, as I wondered if this would really work on an outsider. I worried that someone would see the Cruiser parked up here and come investigate and fretted over Charlie's arm, which would heal in all the wrong ways. Tendrils of anxiety crept toward me, like so many vines from the deep woods, to strangle me into complacency. This situation required action! But what? Leave Charlie here or take him...where? Call...who? When?
Charlie's breathing grew deep and slow, his face shining with the sweat he would endure as his body changed. While not as painful as the transition to vampire, it's uncomfortable, as your skin seems to stretch and all your muscles grow tingly.
I looked up when I heard Seth bounding down the path. He was human, brimming with excitement, a red bundle in one hand, a pair of jeans slung low on his hips.
"You've got pants," I remarked dryly.
"Yeah, they were in the backseat. I found them when I got to the car. Good thing, too, 'cause I sure didn't want to get stopped by a cop for some reason and have to explain why I was toolin' around naked."
"Good idea."
"Guess what else I found." Before I could even formulate a response, he threw his arms up in the air. "Cash! A boatload of it! I drove the car about five miles down and parked it in that thick overgrowth about fifty feet off the highway. Nobody was on the road to see me driving at all, thank God, and when I pulled back there I checked the car out before I left it."
He was smiling broadly, extremely pleased with himself. "I didn't want to carry around that kind of money, so I buried it behind the mile marker sign just down the road. I thought we could get it after we figure out what's going on here."
I patted his bare shoulder. "Good job." I wished I felt happier about it. Cash. That wouldn't help us right now. We needed a doctor. A doctor who wouldn't ask too many questions. The doc at the clinic wasn't skilled enough for what we needed him to do.
"Oh," he remembered, "I took these, too." He handed me some documentation he'd pulled out of the car. "Probably stolen, but I thought we could give the money to Charlie, and if he found out where it had come from, he might want to try and give it back. Better he not know about the guy...at least not right away..."
His voice disappeared at the end there, but he was correct. I took the papers, smiling. "Thanks. That was smart."
He then proffered the makeshift bag. Turned out it was a tablecloth. He sat it on the ground and opened it. His smile was dazzling as he picked up each item and handed it to me.
"Here's a pillow for Charlie," he said distractedly, offering me a small travel pillow. I put it under Charlie's head that before had laid on the hard rock he'd fallen on.
"And an umbrella." He glanced at me, mouth open in jest. "A pretty one, too!" It was pink with Disney princesses on it. I laughed and popped it open, fiddling with it for a minute until I positioned it over Charlie's face. At least that small part of him would stay dry if the rain started up hard again.
I looked back down to spy a small white carton that boasted a picture of a cartoon baker holding a spatula, grinning foolishly. "Don't tell me there's—"
"Yes!" he yelled, as he picked up the box that said Devon Bakery Cinnamon Rolls, Since 1946.
"Damn. I could kiss your face," I whispered. There were six fresh rolls in the box. We each had two and saved two for Charlie. If we were still here when he woke, he'd be starved.
Charlie was still unconscious, or else deep in his transformation. I didn't know if he would react differently, not being a member of the tribe and not bound by our laws and rules surrounding the process. When I got ready to ask Seth for my phone to call Billy, it rang.
Seth grabbed it out of his pouch and tossed it to me. I dove under the little umbrella and snapped it open, not even looking to see who it was first. The voice that greeted me was the sweetest sound I think I've ever heard, and caused relief to swell up inside me.
The four words that he said were the most welcome four words to ever strike my eardrums.
Much better than yes, you can graduate (after nearly failing senior English.) More relieving than It wasn't your fault, (at the intersection of First and Main, when I hit a guy's brand new Toyota as he pulled out of his driveway.) Infinitely preferable to an oldie but a goodie, no, I'm not pregnant, (from my only girlfriend in high school after we'd explored each other in total teen fashion, only to find out she'd then missed her period.) I kept to myself after that little debacle.
"Hello, Jacob? It's Carlisle."
Thank you, God.
"Dr. Cullen."
"Jacob," he said slowly. "Edward spoke to me after you called. I'm on my way. What is Charlie's condition?"
I paused, squeezing my eyes shut, feeling tears prick my lashes. Bloodsuckers. Leeches. I was the leader of my people. I could do better than that for the man who was willing to make a 2500 mile trek back from Alaska. I knew it was for Charlie and Bella that he was coming, but I was the beneficiary as well.
I took a deep breath and crawled out from under the umbrella to find that the rain has slowed to a familiar drizzle. Leaning back against the nearest tree, I said, "Let me tell you what I did."
Ten minutes later it was Dr. Cullen who paused on the other end. I'd told him the whole thing—the dream of the raven, the sighting, what I'd learned from Old Quil, and the actual ritual I'd chanced to save Charlie's life.
"You know, I didn't realize that was even possible, Jacob."
"Me either, doc. Like Quil said, the magic would come to me. When will you be here?" I felt like I could breathe again.
"Right after you called, Edward spoke to me. He was preparing to leave, but I talked him into letting me come in his place. I'm on my way to the airport in Anchorage. Alice got me on the next flight out. That's three hours in the air. I can arrange for a helicopter to ferry me to the Forks hospital. Otherwise, add a couple of hours."
Helicopter...."Not necessary, doc. A few hours either way won't matter now. I'm just worried about his arm. Can we move him?"
"Hmmm. No. Too risky. We don't know how much healing he's done. Can you keep him dry?"
Can we keep him dry. I just sighed.
"Um, no." I looked over and had to chuckle at what we'd done. Charlie lay straight, a pink umbrella propped over his face. Seth had tucked the red tablecloth around him and only his feet were sticking out.
"Please call Billy if you haven't already, and let him know what's happened. I'll be there in a few hours. In the meantime, stage a 'single car accident.' When I get to the house I'll call Charlie's office and tell his deputies that you and Seth found him, wandering and disoriented near the house and brought him to me. I've already let my office know I'll be returning due to a family emergency."
"Thanks, doc. I don't know what to say." I swallowed thickly, the choked-up feeling making a reappearance.
"Don't mention it, Jacob. I'll call you when I land at SeaTac."
While I waited for Seth to return, I called Billy. I let the phone ring, giving him enough time to get to it. The house is small but it's sometimes difficult to maneuver around a smaller space than it is a large one.
After seven rings he answered. Our phone is low-tech. No caller ID. The damn thing still has a cord.
"Hello?"
And my mouth went dry. I opened it to speak, but no sound came out. Not even a gurgle. What was I supposed to tell him? How was I supposed to tell him? As I witnessed Charlie lying on the wet ground, I saw more than an injured man who was struggling for survival. I saw the father of the woman I'd fallen hopelessly in love with, chief of police of Forks, Washington, and my dad's best friend.
It was personal.
"Hello? Anybody there?"
I found my voice, and instead of being small, which is how I felt, it was strong. Clear. The voice of a leader.
"It's me, Jake." I paused again, finding mere words to be wholly inadequate for what had happened on this rainy summer day. Wanting to say, Charlie's been attacked, and to steal him back from death I performed an ancient ritual, I found I just couldn't utter those words aloud. It was like saying I'm not a virgin anymore. Nobody does that, because when you say it out loud like that, it cheapens the experience.
"Are you all right? What's happened?" Billy's voice was as it always was, deep and even. He would use that voice to tell me the house had burned down. He used that voice to tell me my mother had passed away.
I decided to just say it. "Seth and I found Charlie in the woods. He'd been attacked. Seth phased and killed his assailant and then..." I swallowed hard. "It happened, Billy," I whispered. "Just like Old Quil said it would. The magic came to me." The wonder of it was still fresh and new, making me feel special and unique.
I knew that soon, he and I would sit on Quil's back porch again, as I regaled them both with exploits of heroism and daring, when really all I'd done was open myself enough so the magic that floats all about us could find a way in. I was its tool, not the other way 'round.
"When did this happen? And, is Charlie all right?"
"This morning. And I don't know how 'all right' he is. But get this. He was beat up bad, with a baseball bat. Near death. Before I knew what to do I called the only person I thought could save him."
Billy didn't skip a beat.
"You called a Cullen." There was no bitterness in his voice. He loved Charlie like a brother. He would have done the same.
"Yeah, but they're all in Alaska. When I found out they couldn't help me...I just knew what to do! Not long after, Dr. Cullen called me. He's on his way."
"Carlisle is coming here? Why?"
"He didn't know I'd performed the ritual until he was on his way. He said Seth and I could take him to his house and he could undergo his transformation there. We're going to make it look like the cruiser collided with a tree."
There was a pause as I remembered something. "And we can't move him, so Seth and I will stay here with him until Dr. Cullen calls."
"I'll alert the council, so you can expect a visit from your pack here in a few."
My pack. My pack. I felt like I'd grown a little taller.
Billy's parting words were far sweeter than the icing on the coveted cinnamon rolls from the fancy bakery. "You know, in that sketch Old Quil did of the last prophecy, I always thought that brave standing over the injured man looked like you."
I felt a fundamental shift in the universe that cool, rainy day, the day I looked around and saw, for the first time, my true destiny. I snapped the phone shut and looked to the future, unafraid.