Bella
Not my problem.
Not my problem.
Not my problem.
I chanted this over and over with such intensity it might as well have been a spell.
Not my problem.
Isn't it just a little, though?
"No, it's not!" I said aloud as I peeled off the herbal face mask. I was supposed to do it gently but I was so irritated I ended ripping the whole thing off. I winced, my cheeks stinging.
"Um...Bella?" Alice sat cross legged on my bed, flipping through a magazine. Her short, inky hair was brushed and oiled and now in tight curl rollers against her scalp. She had already done her light makeup, not that a vampire would need it but she did look nice with shimmery eye shadow and darker pink lips. "You okay?"
"Im fine." I was not fine.
Victoria tried to drag me back into her crap. The moment I had brought her back to life was the moment I was done with her bullshit. I had stupidly thought as long as it wasn't in Forks then it wasn't my problem. She can go join whatever cult she pleased and since the wolves didn't heed my warning, I wasn't going to do anything.
Jacob Black, werewolf warlock protégé, was on his own.
Besides, tonight was prom and as stupid as it was, it was a big deal. High school graduation was a big deal--that was a week and a half away. After that, I had a job interview at a Port Angeles bookstore. It wasn't my problem.
Except maybe it was.
Who knew if Victoria and the Acolytes of Eternity actually wanted Jacob? I mean...really...no, no they definitely wanted Jacob. It would be dumb as hell when they knew of a warlock who could turn into a wolf, whose magic was so untapped the dude was like a pop can left in the freezer. He could explode any minute.
They might attack next week or the next or the next. Who knew? Not me because it wasn't my problem.
Victoria is my problem.
I ached. I really ached deep inside because I didn't want to hate her. I didn't want to fight her. I didn't want to be at war with her. She crafted a future through violence and darkness and I had been on the coattails, following her into it unknowingly when I picked up necromancy. She should have died that night, but I brought her back and she should have died again in the fire but I had been too weak to watch her die a second time.
"Bella!" Alice waved her hand in front of my face and I started. She had jumped off the bed and now stood on her toes to get my attention. "Hey! Are you okay?"
"Fine." I lied. "Do you really not see the wolves?"
"I already looked, Bella. I looked at your future and it's clear. Whatever involvement the wolves have, I can't see." Alice assured me. "I can't see Victoria, either but I think that's because she's blocking me like you did. I see an empty space where a body should be. With the wolves, I don't even see a scene--no background, no noise. Just blackness." She sighed irritably. "It gives me a headache."
This didn't make me feel better..
"Just focus on getting ready. Here, let me undo the curlers." Alice directed me to sit and began to unpin and unwind the big green curlers that bound my hair up.
My dress hung on the back of my door. I loved it, I really did but it just served as a reminder of what Victoria had said.
No. No, I had my dad. I had Edward and Alice. I liked Emmett enough. Elizabeth was nice to talk to.
It's not the same... the voice berated me..
I ignored it.
"If you care, or if you don't, I did see that Mike Newton was sent to a mental health rehab instead of jail for trying to stab you." Alice told me. "He'll be out in six months and send you flowers."
"Poor Mike." I sighed. "I hate he got caught up in this."
Once Alice was done, I got up and went straight to the small wooden box on my shelf. I pulled out a perfectly rolled joint.
"Should you be getting high right now?" Alice asked me as she pulled her prom dress out of the bag.
"Its this or alcohol, Alice. One mellows me out and the other makes me take my clothes off."
"Okay..." She trailed off and I looked over at her. Her eyes were glazed and far away and she held her head with a slight tilt. It lasted for only a few seconds before her head popped back up. "Oh!"
"What, Alice?" I felt worry clench my gut.
But she smiled broadly. "Oh, nothing."
I went downstairs with the joint to go smoke it in the backyard so I didn't get the smell on Alice's dress. I sat on the back stoop, a jittery feeling spreading across my body. Why was I so nervous? Prom jitters or Jacob-Could-Die jitters?
Prom jitters.
I took in the backyard. I liked it, what Charlie's been doing with it. It wasn't fenced in but Charlie planned to build a fence this summer. We planned a vegetable and fruit garden as well as a whole section of the yard for magical herbs. Charlie showed me the patio set he planned to buy and the string lights to hang up all along the fence. I could see it because he had sketched it out in such detail.
The woods bordered the line where our property ended. I stared into it, my mind buzzing like a bee was trapped inside.
I loved my dad. I did. It was awesome having someone like him as a parent because he wasn't strict, he wasn't controlling, he was understanding and gave me space when needed and comfort when wanted. I imagined what it would have been like to grow up with him here my entire life. I never would have met Victoria, Charlie probably would have found some wood witch to train me. I would have gone to a school everyday, made solid friends and come home to a decent dinner. I would have had love and stability and encouragement.
Marie was all about portion control. How many nights did I go to bed hungry because she deemed broccoli being enough nutrients? Up until I was a teen, she even picked out my clothes.
Charlie was a good guy and I had been an utter bitch to him.
"Hiya, kid."
I jumped, looking up at Charlie as he poked his head out of the back screen door. I moved a little as he came out and sat beside me. "Hey." I offered him the joint.
He took it and puffed on it a little. "I just want to tell you I'm sorry I didn't have your back last night."
"Dont apologize." I insisted. "You're right, it's out of your hands."
Charlie passed me the joint back. "You know, being a witch isn't your only heritage."
"Oh?" Was I finally going to have a full, detailed story about where it was my father was actually from?
"Yeah...I'm Canadian." Charlie gave me a shit eating grin and I elbowed his shoulder. He laughed. "No. Bella, this summer I'd like it if I trained you a little bit to use those swords I have stock piled. Maybe after you're proficient, we can forge you your very own."
"Sure. Crazy witch with a sword, what could go wrong ?" I laughed.
We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Alice was probably giving us space.
"Hey, Dad?"
"Yeah?'
"Are we gonna talk about the seven dead bodies you have in the backyard?" I asked him seriously.
"Oh." He seemed confused that it was even an issue. "Your mothers boyfriends."
"Oooh, ouch." I winced.
"Ouch for them, not me, Bella. I'm the one who killed them. Okay, the last one literally tripped over that rug we have in the kitchen and bashed his head on the end of the counter." He shrugged. "But I'll still claim that one."
"Renee really messed us up, didn't she?"
"I think so...I also like to pretend it's a product of her upbringing with Marie. I was her rebellious phase." Charlie scoffed and took back the joint. "I just think Renee wasn't mean for this life which meant she wasn't meant for me. But I got a stellar kid out of it." He patted my back.
"Did you?" I mumbled.
"Bella." He huffed. "You are the coolest kid I could have ever hoped to have. You're a strong, powerful young woman with quick whit, a fierce inner strength and a tremendous confidence. You may have a mouth on you, but you're kind and compassionate and open minded. How many teenagers would be okay with their dad being an aggressive bisexual from another realm?"
"I'm sorry, what fucking realm?" These were the only words that came out despite the fact my dad talked me up and was making me cry like a little baby.
"Fuck!" Charlie coughed, checking his watch. "Bells, you gotta go get ready."
"Shit!" I hopped up and dashed inside.
If I didn't get my shit together I was going to be late to my own prom.
Alice left shortly after we finished dressing to meet Jasper. She left just as Edward arrived.
Was it possible to orgasm from seeing a vampire in a suit?
Oooh, he looked crisp. Charlie opened the door for Edward, inviting him in while I sorted through my clutch purse. My eyes bugged out of my head.
Edward was a god in a suit. A god of lust and desire. Of love. Eros to my Psyche. My mouth watered.
This suit fit him well, hugging his lean frame. The jacket was blue black velvet, the same exact shade and texture to match my dress. Beneath that he wore a black button down, open at his collarbone. I could see the chain of the blood locket, just barley peeking out. His slacks were a very snug fit and my eyes fell to the pointed toes of his dress boots. My eyes tracked back up, a smile spreading across my face. I took note of the boutonniere, a white carnation.
"Dont you look spiffy, Dipshit." Charlie greeted Edward, allowing him to step further into the house.
"Thanks, Sheriff Shitstain." Edward said the words rather quickly, as if he forced them out.
Charlie stared at him, unblinking and Edward stared back, even more immobile. I looked between the two, annoyed.
Then Charlie snorted a laugh. "That sucks. Come up with a better one, Edward."
Edward relaxed a little and turned his attention to me. He took in my appearance, starting with my face and working down. My make up was dark, with smokey eyes and dark red lips. My hair was half up, half down with large, voluminous curls and several small braids. I wore a black choker chain around my neck. Edward seemed to appreciate my dress more now that he saw it on me.
"You look stunning." He swept closer, ducking his head down to plant a rather chaste (but still appreciated) kiss on my lips.
When he pulled away, he took my right wrist and produced a small wooden box that carried a white carnation corsage inside. It had a black ribbon as a tie.
We weren't going to make it to prom without me jumping on his dick.
Charlie took pictures of us in front of the mantel of the fireplace, having us do the typical prom poses together with promises to send copies to Esme and Carlisle. Before we left, I hugged my dad's neck.
"I love you, Dad."
Charlie pulled back, eyes glistening. His mustache twitched. "I love you, too. I'll see you in the morning."
"Ha. Okay." I let go and waved at him as Edward opened the door of his Volvo for me. I watched him hungrily as he closed my door and in a barley there blur, flit to the other side of the car to get in.
"You look amazing in a suit." I told him. Of course he looked amazing in anything, everything and especially nothing. My stomach seemed to curl even tighter with nerves as he linked our fingers together and brought my hand to his lips.
He kissed my knuckles. "I know."
I laughed and off we went to prom.
The prom wasn't being held at the high school.
It was being held at some inn about twenty minutes out of town that. It was gorgeous, really. It sat on a beautiful, green property that was luscious with thick plant life and towering trees. The reminded me more of a church than an inn, with a cathedral ceiling and roof. The large double doors were dark wood with iron fixtures. A worn stone path led from the more modern parking lot to the doors. Inside, the floors alternated from hard wood to stone. The French wall panels were covered in antique art. There were multiple hallways leading in different directions, to different rooms but the main focus was the very room the front doors opened to. The dance floor.
It was beautiful, timeless...and the Monte Cristo theme was terrible. Oh my God. It was gaudy. Whoever was running this shin dig had put in actual gambling tables? Like, why were teenagers gambling? As beautiful as this inn was, it was giving teenagers access to beds? What the fuck?
After the whole Angela thing, then the Mike thing, you would think there would be more of a damper on the party we arrived to.
Nope.
Maybe it was because Angela was there, sitting in a chair next to her date while people took turns checking on her while she proudly showed off her shaved sides hairstyle. I smiled and waved at her as Edward looped his arm around my waist. He was getting all kinds of stares and I felt a sense of pride well in my chest.
"She's healed remarkably well." Edward noted, following me to the snack table.
"I know, almost like magic." I agreed and he shot me a knowing smile.
Look, I couldn't heal heal her but I did...speed stuff up a little. It was sort of risky, I mean having to heal so quick could be problematic but so far Angela seems like she's doing well. I've decided after Mike to maybe keep my distance from the kids after school.
"You have no idea how dependent I am on your blanket of silence now." Edward sighed, leaning close to speak to me. The music wasn't loud but I'm sure it would be hard to explain "blanket of silence" to someone who accidentally overheard.
"You have no idea how dependent I am on that dick." I cracked the joke without really thinking and Ben Chenney, who had come up to the table to grab some napkins, retreated back rather quickly.
"You're nervous." Edward studied my face, his lips tugging into a frown.
"No. No, I'm not. I'm fine." I shoved a craxker into my mouth and grabbed his hand, tugging him along. "What exactly is the blanket of silence?' I asked, changing the subject as we made our way outside to the back.
A beautiful, fairy like garden was set up and past that was railing that over looked a lake. We drifted along a path, towards the railing and passed the gazebo.
"Its either blanket of silence or bubble of comfort." Edward shrugged. "I've grown so accustomed to everything being silent when I'm around you that when we're not together, the voices are quite terrible."
I stood at the railing, gripping the iron. It made my hands sweat, or maybe it was my nerves. Edward's arms caged me in, his hands cupping over mine and he dropped a kiss to a spot on my neck. I sank against his chest, content and happy and just genuinely pleased I was in such a moment with him.
"I think there's alot of things I'm dependent on." He admitted gently. "I've never been with someone so much and we're together every single day, almost every hour."
"Is that a bad thing? Isn't that what couples do?' I turned around to face him. His arms still caged me in. A blue tint filmed the air as day turned to night. Twilight, I suppose. I hadnt considered that maybe we did spend too much time together. To me it didn't feel like enough.
"No, it's not a bad thing." He chuckled. "I love spending all my time with you. It feels as if you're an appendage, something I would need desperately once you're gone."
"How romantic." I draped my wrist across my forhead. "I'm an appendage!"
Edward laughed loudly and kissed my neck, this time lingering. When he pulled away, I was all kinds of warm for all kinds of reasons. I bit my lip and his green eyes flicked to it. "Bella." He warned softly.
"We can be quiet." I said.
"No, you can't." He tore his eyes from my lips. "Alice told me you asked her to look for Jacob's future."
I didn't care for the change of subject and showed it by tossing my head back and groaning. "Why won't they listen? Am I the only one who is actually bothered by the murder cult that wants to take over America and use a little werewolf boy to do it?"
"Jacob Black is hardly little, love. He should be safe, surrounded by an entire pack of werewolves."
I scoffed.
"Do you miss Victoria?" He asked me suddenly.
I blinked at him, straightening up. "Why?" I asked slowly.
He pursed his lips. "I just...she offered you a new coven. It's been sitting on my mind. Are you lonely?"
"I miss who she used to be." I admitted. "As for being lonely, I'll be fine. It's just a new adjustment." I snaked my arms around his waist, reaching up on my toes to playfully bite his chin. It'd be weird to do this to a human guy but Edward loved it.
"Bella." He warned again. "Lets dance."
I was happy he dropped it, content with flirting and dancing for the rest of the night. The other Cullens arrived, Emmett swaggering in with the absolute BAMF mate of his on his arm. My mouth fell open seeing Rosalie look like a queen.
While Emmett wore a rather plain black and white tux, Rosalie wore red. God, it was her color. It was a floor length mermaid gown with a deep sweetheart neckline. Her golden hair was long and swept to her hips, a red rose behind her ear.
"Bella, stop looking at my sister like that." Edward asked quietly. Pleadingly.
I shook my head and closed my mouth.
If Rosalie was a queen, Alice was a princess in her shimmery purple dress. Alice was already leading Jasper towards us and he looked pretty spiffy in his suit and cowboy boots.
"Bella!" Alice sang happily, clasping her gloved hands over mine. "We have to get pictures done!" She was already dragging me over to the picture booth. I cast a smile back at Edward only to find him listening intently and warily to something Jasper was informing him of.
Something was up.
Edward would tell me, I trusted that. If it were so terrible perhaps Jasper would inform me, too. Maybe it was vampire family drama? I wasn't involved, I suppose.
Well, I was involved with Edward but it's not like I was in the family Christmas card.
Alice and I took a variety of pictures, starting with the typical prom pose with my arms around her. The photographer found that funny. Edward soon took Alice's place, swooping in to push Alice out of the frame and to draw me into a kiss just as the camera flashed.
All in all, a pretty good prom..
We ended up outside, Edward guiding me to the fairy lit gazebo as music played from the dance hall. Two couples conveniently stopped dancing and left as we entered and Edward drew me to his chest.
"Bella." He pressed a kiss to my cheek as we danced, my arm winding around his neck and my other hand gripping his hand. "I need to talk to you."
"Okay." I felt a little breathless from the intensity of his green eyes. I remembered when they were gold. He looked more human, less like the big bad vampire he was capable of being.
"I love you. Not just love. You're my mate." At this word he swung me sharply around and we continued dancing. "That means alot to vampires. It's an eternal thing. Forever. Its binding."
Where was this going?
"I want to plan out my forever with you." He clenched his jaw but not in an angry way. No, from the slope of his brows he looked worried. Nervous. "You gave me a vial of your blood to show how committed you are to me. While you love me, I don't question that, I know mate means very little to you in our bond. I want us to...further our relationship--"
"I don't want to be a vampire!" The words didn't slip out, they fucking sprinted.
He stopped talking, blinking down at me. "What?"
"I do love you. So much it hurts but I don't want to be a vampire." My voice was high. "I...I dont want you to think I'm judging you or think less of you. I'm so sorry, baby, but I don't want to be a vampire."
"No! Oh my God, Bella, no!" He panicked and slumped down to my height, his hands gripping my arms. He stared directly into my eyes. "Love, that's not what I was going to say. I respect your decision to stay human and I would never once offer something as irreversible as vampirism."
I was relieved, laughing loudly and throwing my arms back around him. I felt like an idiot. "Oh my God, I'm sorry."
"Dont be. Looking back now, I can see how the build up--" He was talking rapidly, nerves playing on his face. I reached up and kissed him, silencing him.
He growled, a purring in his chest vibrating my breasts as I pressed against him. I sank my fingers into his hair, arching my body along his and already plotting where he could fuck me real quick. My hand ran down his chest, pulling at his belt before outright cupping him through his pants.
He was hard, straining the seam of his pants. Oh how easy it would be to find one of those rooms or even a quiet corner and just let him slide in me. That's how wet I was. How ready I was. I was always and would always be ready for him.
"Bella." He wasn't warning me now, but kissing so hungrily I wondered if he might accidentally nip me with his teeth. "I need..."
Someone cleared their throat. Loudly.
Reality came back in with an attitude. Edward and I broke away, panting and our eyes met very briefly before we turned our heads while continuing our embrace.
A Quileute man--or boy, I couldn't tell with the werewolves--stood very awkwardly at the entrance of the gazebo. I recognized him as one of Jacob's friends from the trial.
"Hi." He looked thoroughly disgusted, his whole form folded insecurily. His hair wasn't as long as Jacob's and he wore a flannel without the sleeves over a long sleeved shirt. Sort of ironic.
"Can we help you?" Edward twitched in my hand and I quickly removed my hand from his cock.
"Uh..." He winced. "Yeah. Um...we lost Jacob."
"Oh, he'll be fine! He's a big bad werewolf! Oh, we take care of our own!" I mocked in a deep, gruff voice as Billy Black and Harry Clearwater glowered at me from inside of their Ford Bronco. Billy was behind the wheel. They were parked the furthest from the dance, nearly at the road that lead to the lot itself. Quil trailed behind me. Edward opted to stay with his family until they left.
"Are you done?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"No!" I snapped. "How in the fuck did you lose your own son?"
Billy's eyes turned black. His lips curled in a snarl. "Watch yourself, witch."
"Or what?" I thundered back, magic coursing over my body as my anger rippled out. My hair lifted all around me, defying gravity as it curled up like I was a troll doll.
Billy looked away from me, glowering out the windshield instead.
"Okay, okay. You were right." Harry sighed. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Yes. Thank you." I calmed down, my hair falling around my shoulders. "Now...how did you lose Jacob?"
"We were both on patrol tonight." Harry began. "He caught that dead rot scent near the treaty line and followed it to Cullen land. Some red eyed vampire showed up and then Jacob's mind went blank."
"Jacob's mind?"
"We share a hive mentality when we're phased. We see what others see and communicate that way." Harry explained.
"Can you describe the vampire?" I asked.
"She was about six feet tall, black hair. She wore a fur coat." His mouth settled into a distasteful line. "As far as I could see, she didn't even touch him. He just...stopped." There was more worry in Harry's voice than on Billy's face.
Quil had ambled around me, not wanting to get too close as he slid into the backseat of the Bronco. I ignored him.
"If there are vampires involved, the Cullens need to be notified." I told him. "I'll find Jacob, don't worry."
Billy snorted. "We're not."
"I can tell." I said icily. "Maybe if you worried, he WOULDNT BE KIDNAPPED BY A MAGIC DEATH CULT!" I yelled angrily and kicked the stupid tire of their stupid car and broke my stupid fucking shoe--!!!!!
Edward appeared, wrapping his arms around my neck and back. "Okay, time to calm down!" Edward chuckled nervously into my hair. "You are drawing attention and I don't know how to explain magic death cult to the humans."
He stroked my hair while I raged silently, arms crossed and glowering at Harry who looked awkwardly between Edward and I.
"How do we find Jacob?" Harry demanded. "Like what are we looking at?"
"Death. Death. You're looking at him dying, his soul moving to the after life and then his body being possessed and used by someone evil. I told you this when I saw you naked at my dad's house!"
Billy and Quil both snapped their furrowed gazes at Harry who turned bright red beneath his russet skin. He cleared his throat. "You're misremembering...I wasn't naked. How quickly can you find Jacob?"
I rubbed my temples. "A vampire is involved." I told Edward, glaring at my broken shoe. I lifted my leg to peel it off and then took the other one off, standing barefoot in the parking lot. "Maybe more. Victoria told me there's a coven. If witches and vampires came together, this could be a big fight we're going into. We need numbers to rescue Jacob if he isn't already dead."
Now Billy looked worried.
"We'll rendezvous at my house." I told Harry, not Billy. I liked Harry more, especially if he was doing some poly thing with Charlie. Would that make him my step dad? "Bring everyone over."
Edward nodded. "What will you do?"
"I have to go home and get my shit and track Jacob." I was sorting through the spells I did know and have practiced versus the spells I have only ever read over. There were different ways to track someone but there were also different ways to hide someone. It was usually a battle of whose magic would prevail.
Would Victoria be the one who cast a cloaking spell?
Would she be the one to kill Jacob?
"Go." Edward kissed my nose.
I groaned in frustration before shading from my one and only prom back to my house.
Why couldn't I have nice things?
A note to my readers
This is my first fanfiction and I've been an avid Twilight reader (book and fanfic) for years. Seeing all your positive feedback has really given me confidence in my writing as I've been too shy to share anything original I've written down.
I love your feedback and I love your criticism because it'll make me a better writer . I absolutely get a high from your reviews which catapultes me into burst writing several chapters at a time.
I cannot express enough how much your feedback has made me so much more sure of myself in my writing. I love my version of Edward and Bella and i love that you love them, too.
A few more chapters to come
Please leave a review and follow me for the follow up story WICKED WAYS