When I woke up Sunday morning, Billy and Charlie were already gone and Jake was still asleep so I decided to get the house cleaned up. If I was going to be staying on the weekends, the least I could do was help out when I could. When I was done the small amount of cleaning needed since the last time I was here, I went to wake Jake up. I opened his door and there he was, passed out on his bed, face first in a pillow. He looked peaceful so I gave him a few more minutes and headed to the bathroom. While I showered. I noticed the water at the bottom of the bath turn a slight red and silently cursed my body. My period hit, exactly when I expected it to, but hopefully it would be the last one for a while because one of the side effects of the depo shot was, you lose your period. One of the other side effects is you may bleed off and on for months until your body gets used to it. I was hoping that didn't happen. Luckily, this time I was prepared. When I got out of the shower I slipped in a tampon, dried off and got dressed into some clean clothes.
By the time I was dressed for the day, Jake was finally awake. We ate cereal in comfortable silence and spent the rest of the day at Sam's again. Jake was a bit frustrated but I explained that nothing would be happening anyways because of my period and he relaxed a bit though he hated when I said it would be an entire week. Little did he know though that once the week was over, I was fairly certain we'd take our relationship a bit further. Well, a lot further.
The day was spent relaxing outside in the foggy cool air, chatting about everything and nothing. Being on the reservation was home to me. I felt like there was no way I would ever feel as comfortable as I do on the cloudy beaches of La Push.
The rest of the week was pretty uneventful, spending time at work and with Angela for our project, except Friday. My period stopped by the time school was over which made me beyond happy, and I had a date with Angela, Jessica, Lauren and Alice in Port Angeles for outfits. I didn't originally want Lauren to come but figured Paul would appreciate the attention he'd likely get if she showed up. I'd already purchased the bottom, hollow section of the cake from some company online a d they delivered it to Sam's locked garage, and Jess actually seemed excited about her role tomorrow night. Lauren was a bit skeptical that anyone just turning 16 was hot enough to deserve this kind of attention. I was the oldest in the group at 18 though so none of them should have too big of an issue with the ages of the single guys. Except Seth who was only 14.
When we got to Port Angeles, Alice drove behind me, Angela in my truck and Jess and Lauren in Lauren's car. We got to one of the shops and despite having a vampire with me, I felt like a normal teenager. We tried on clothes and did a Hollywood worthy montage.
Jess ended up finding a few outfits including one for when she pops out of the cake. I wasn't sure how well it would go over with the guys. She asked what would be nice and I said the only thing I could think of at the time.
"They're boys. Everything is sexy to them."
"That is true." She responded before finding the perfect outfit.
Angela got a new swim suit and some yoga pants, Lauren bought a few sexy dresses that were way too short and way too tight and Alice bought half the damn store. When it came to deciding what I wanted, I had no idea. All 4 girls tried to help me by saying how good certain things might look on me and I eventually left the store with a new swim suit, an entire weeks worth of matching bra and panty sets, 3 new dresses that, like Lauren's, were way too short and tight, but Alice insisted when she saw how they looked on me, and the other girls agreed, and 2 pairs of new shoes, one pair even had small one inch heals. We paid for our things and decided to go to the diner for some food.
When we got to the diner, I picked up one of the complimentary newspapers at the front door, and would have fallen over, if it weren't for Alice steadying me. Luckily everyone else was ahead of me and didn't notice.
"What is it?" Alice asked.
I saw a man, nice looking but too perfect to be human but the red eyes were a dead giveaway, holding my scarf out for about two dozen vampires, eyes bright red and looking extremely hungry. I don't know why, but I knew they were newly changed, it was just a feeling I had. There was a newspaper on the floor, "May 14th, 2006" in the top corner and the headline read "DEATH TOLL ON THE RISE. POLICE FEAR GANG ACTIVITY". Then I was back and Alice was staring at me as the three other girls waited to be seated ahead of us.
"What did you see?" Alice asked, again, her face looked worried but calm.
"There was a…" I made sure my voice was low, so no one else could hear. "Vampire with my scarf and I think… I-I dunno." I wasn't sure it was a newborn army, my brain was just saying it was so I didn't want to give her wrong information.
"A seer rarely is wrong about their gut feelings. What is it?" Alice asked, encouraging me through this new part of my life. Honestly having her around when I had a vision was a lot of help. She made me feel less crazy.
"An army of newborn vampires, maybe two dozen. And a newspaper that read May 14th and something about a death toll in Seattle."
"I'll call home and let them know. We'll finish dinner and get going." Alice stepped away while we ate to call home and when we were done, I asked if Jessica could take Angela, thst something came up and Alice followed me home. At one point she drove up and got ahead of me, then slowed and pulled over, forcing me to pull over as well.
"What's wrong? Did you see something?" I asked, hopping out of the truck.
"No, everything's fine I just, I know you aren't a huge fan of us right now but I think you should stay the night with us so we can talk about every little detail in your vision. Something might help us out, figure out their hideout or maybe one of the people they turn and we can get ahead of them. Then tomorrow you can head to the reservation and tell the pack as well. We'll likely need to work together on this given the numbers."
"I think maybe I should stay with Jake."
"Bella, I understand your concern but as someone who has visions, I might be able to help you figure out exactly what you saw. Please. Give me the benefit of the doubt, of not on my ability to be trusted, then on my knowledge of visions?"
"Ok. Yeah. I'll stop by the police station and tell Charlie to stay at Jake's tonight. I don't want him home alone if anyone comes looking for me." The more I thought about the situation, the scarier it was. Two dozen newborn vampires that wouldn't listen to reason? And they all had or will have, my scent. A chill went down my spine, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
We drove to the police station and I asked Charlie to head to La Push for the evening.
"What's going on Bells?" Charlie asked, panic in his voice.
"Nothing we need to worry about just yet, it would just make me feel better knowing you're somewhere safe since I'll be going to the Cullen's and fill them in on a vision I had so they won't be patrolling around the house and then I'll meet you first thing tomorrow and tell everyone down at La Push." I didn't want to worry Charlie but I needed him to understand that I didn't want him home either.
"Alright. I'll call you when I get there."
"Thanks, Dad. I love you." I gave him a hug when I pulled away. Noticed a photo of a boy about my age on his desk, the boy looked just like the one holding my scarf only, he didn't look as perfect.
"Dad, who is this?" I picked up the photo and held it up for him to see.
"Riley Biers, his parents reported him missing over Spring break. His dad brought me this photo of him when he went missing to make missing person posters."
"He isn't missing." I said, feeling a little numb that this poor boy was roped into this mess that revolved around me.
"What are you talking about, Bella?"
"My vision, he's a vampire. I think, maybe the one that was in our house. Victoria is using him. I'll explain everything tomorrow. I need to get to the Cullen's so they know what's going on. Can I take this?"
"Sure. Whatever helps. Just be safe, okay?"
"I won't let anything happen to her." Alice promised, leaning against the open door.
I said bye and headed out with Alice next to me. I hopped back into my truck and Alice once again followed behind me in her car as we drove to her house.
When we arrived, I was greeted with open arms. These vampires who used to be my family wanted to pick up right where they left me, if only I would allow it. I can't say that I didn't miss them but things will never be like they were. I still wanted them in my life, just less. They had taken over my life so much that I literally felt dead when they left me behind, I don't ever want to feel that again.
"Bella," Esme said, holding her arms out for me, and if vampires could cry, she would have been crying in that moment, I could tell. "We are so grateful that you've decided to spend the night with us. Though we do wish it was under better circumstances."
I hugged the woman who'd become like a mother to me, one that actually tries to take care of me instead of the other way around and then moved on to Carlisle who stood there with a large smile on his face.
"Bella, let's sit and talk. Have you eaten?" He asked, leading the way to the living room.
"A little, at the diner. I'm not hungry, but thank you."
"Of course, please, sit." Carlisle sat in a loveseat with Esme at his side, there was a couch with Alice and Jasper and another with Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward. I sat in the spot next to Alice, furthest from Jasper and explained what I saw, in as much detail as possible.
"That explains why I haven't been able to see any of her plans." Alice said, shaking her head. "She hasn't been making any. This Riley Biers has been doing the dirty work to keep us from knowing."
"How would she even know about our abilities?" Edward asked.
"Alaska." I said, jumping up from my seat and pacing across the floor. "Before you guys came back, I… I was trying to find the meadow…" I could see sadness in Edwards eyes as I mentioned looking for our spot. "When I got there, Laurent was there. He'd been spending time in Alaska with your cousin's and Victoria asked him to check if I was still under your protection. They must have told him and he told Victoria. Who knows what all she knows. At the very least about Alice, she knows you're back and can see the future and she knows how to bypass the visions, she knows we have this whole family and the wolves but she might not know how many wolves. I don't think they've seen her since before Quil, Leah and Seth joined but that doesn't mean she hasn't seen them."
"You're right, Bella." Edward agreed, "We have to assume she knows everything if we stand a chance at beating her and this newborn army."
"I know it isn't something you want to do, but…" I stopped pacing now, standing up in the open space in front of the couches. "You need to work with the wolves, and even… they need to know how to survive fighting multiple vampires, they need to know how to survive a newborn."
"I'll set up a meeting with Jacob as soon as possible." Carlisle said.
"No, um, maybe wait until Monday? We have a party planned and we already know that nothing will happen for another month and a half. Let us have the weekend, it might be the only normal one we have for a while."
"Alright. How about you get some sleep and we'll make sure you're safe.
I didn't feel tired but I decided to try anyways and next thing I knew, it was morning.
