After seeing the reflection of Madame Satan in the mirror at school, I took every precaution to make sure the house, Bella, and Charlie were safe. I couldn't risk their lives. I found herbs in the woods that I would need for a decent object protection charm. They would at least hold up for a few weeks. Hopefully, Bella would want to go to Port Angeles soon. I wove Charlie a protection charm through the wedding band I know he keeps in his pocket. After all, his love for Renee would serve him. I would need to check that he wouldn't abandon it. Once he did, I would have to get significantly more crafty about it. Bella was much easier. I found an old hammered ring from my collection, charmed it, and gave it to her. I showed her that I had a matching one, and she accepted it with a certain tenderness I hadn't expected. She hasn't taken it off since I gave it to her. Family can be good to you, that way.
In my mind, I considered the apparition to be either anxiety-induced paranoia or the work of someone wanting to mess up my chance of succeeding here. It seemed to be that binary. I didn't think of contacting anyone back home about this. Until there was a threat, it was better to let it be unspoken than reveal weakness. I swore to myself that I would not fall prey to her agenda once more. I've been a pawn in someone else's chessboard before. I will not find myself making the same mistake twice.
My grimoire did not reveal any secrets about people who were ice cold, as hard as a diamond, with having mood ring colored eyes. It was frustrating, to say the least. If they were demons, at least I knew what to do. I reassured myself of that every day. It was especially important when I caught Bella in a longing gaze towards Edward. Protecting her was starting to be a part-time job. If only they would be more friendly. Then, it would be easier to dissect what they are. I knew for certain they were supernatural. The soft mist of power that shrouded some of the family members was the biggest question that I wish I could find the answer to. Maybe they were just another coven that worshiped a different deity. Not everyone could be a satanist.
The change of seasons was the biggest complaint Bella had. She hated the rain as much as anyone could, but the snow disgusted her. On our planned shopping trip at Newton's outfitters, I could tell she was seeking anything that would keep her warm.
"What about this?" I held up a large, marshmallow-like brown jacket. We had practically gone through half of the store at this point.
"It's a great jacket," Mike Newton added. He was drooling over her this whole time. I swear when he saw us walk it he shook like a puppy with excitement. "It'll keep you warm up to -10°F"
"I don't know," She said, lowering her eyes to the ground. "I think it's out of my budget."
"No problem Bells, it's what the store-owner-son's discount is for. Friends and family."
She and I both grimaced at the use of this nickname, as well as his eagerness to be close to her. However, the discount was nice. She won't admit it. To Mike's benefit, it is a great jacket, and they are in the same social circle. If he were to extend this to every 'friend' he had, the family store would be a discount athletic store instead of mid-range. Bella rushed to tell me not to tell Jessica at school. I agreed, but I would've loved to see the look on her face. Maybe Mike would accidentally spill the beans.
I'll give Bella credit, though. When I woke up Monday morning and saw the blanket of snow that covered the truck, I even grimaced. There wasn't nearly enough hot chocolate to ease Bella's fear of driving in any sort of weather, as well as make going to high school in the cold tolerable. Knowing it would make her life easier, I threw on my coat before getting ready and scraped off her car. It was annoying to do manually, but this morning the neighbors were awake and doing the same.
"You should get your license, kiddo" Charlie said to me, walking out to his cruiser.
"Why would I do that when Bella can drive me to school?" I jabbed back at him.
"There may come a day where you want to go somewhere and Bella doesn't want to drive you," I playfully gasped, holding a hand in front of my mouth for dramatic flair. "Tell you what, I'll bring home the practice permit test tonight, and we'll go over it during dinner."
I smiled at him. "That sounds really nice Charlie, thank you."
She was eating breakfast when I walked back into the house. This was my silent signal to get ready, or the truck would leave without me. It was an ongoing threat, often on the days when my hair would not be tamed, but she wouldn't leave me behind.
Her concentrated steps on the driveway nearly failed her as she slipped, but caught herself. We both chuckled at this. Bella had a strong sense of humility. I knew I would pretend to cling to her walking into school, while I was supporting her.
However, that's not what happened that day.
After we parked before I even got the chance to round the front of the truck to grab her elbow, the screeching sound of failing breaks fell on my ears. Bella didn't notice Tyler's excuse of a van hurling towards her without control. Magic flowed out of me, begging to protect my blood. My senses were heightened not only through adrenaline but also by my inert need to protect her. Without hesitation, I summoned a silent spell to warm the patch of ice underneath Bella's feet. I tried to slow time by a few seconds, but I couldn't do this without chanting.
Slow the- I started and then stopped.
Edward Cullen, who had been standing four cars away from her, moved at an inhuman speed towards my cousin. His face was hard in concentration. My eyes had a hard time following his every move, but in the next moment, he became the barrier between the van and Bella. His arm went around her neck, protecting her head. In his concentration, he used his shoulder to break her injury. No sound of bones cracking followed this impact. Instead, the heavy sound of metal alloy meant that the van was conforming to his body.
He misjudged his swing by grabbing Bella, putting too much momentum in her direction downwards.
Leva, I whispered, eager to be able to help. Her head only lightly hit the pavement. This was good, skulls can bounce easily. Maybe that only applied to infants. He and I made eye contact for a brief second, but this was long enough for me to miss the backward inertia of the van. It was like it was determined to kill her.
Then his hands moved so fast they blurred. One was suddenly gripping under the body of the van, and his hands dragged her body, swinging her legs around like a rag doll. He continued his movement until they both hit the tire of the tan car, where he had shifted their bodies to. The van settled against Edward's frame, glass popping, onto the asphalt — exactly where, a second ago, her legs had been.
I stared at him, horrified. There was no telling what Bella was able to see from this. I, however, could dissect nearly all of his actions. This is the moment where I lost all rational train of thought.
"I will protect her." He murmured to me, not breaking eye contact with my cousin. My body filled with so many emotions I could not identify them. I was grateful, but I was angry with the fates. Why was she so accident-prone? It was like living with a danger magnet.
As the screams started I realized with paralyzing horror that I did not think to protect Tyler, whose vehicle had become Edward's tin can to crush. He was talking to her, rationalizing his sudden presence. Bella was too stubborn to let it go. I tried to visualize the scene in my mind, trying to identify the injuries created in both victims, but my magic snapped back at me like a rubber band. It retracted in my mind with such force that it knocked the wind out of me.
And then the mortals caught up to the scene and a crowd of people with tears streaming down their faces, shouting at each other, shouting at Bella and Edward.
"Don't move," someone instructed.
"Get Tyler out of the van!" someone else shouted.
The police and EMS responders could be heard from the other end of town. I no longer cared to focus on Edward. We collaborated in saving Bella, each of us unknown to the other. This would be a problem for later. It took six EMTs and two teachers — Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp — to shift the van far enough away from them to bring the stretchers in. Edward vehemently refused him, and Bella's sweet voice tried to match his vocal authority, but she lost her battle. He informed them that she may have a concussion. I swear I had not seen my cousin so much as frustrated until her eyes glared daggers at Edward when the medical personnel put a neck brace on her. I wanted to take out my phone and take a picture, but I would have gotten so much grief from Charlie about it.
Chief Swan arrived in full force to the scene, only to be distraught by the sight of his daughter on the stretcher. Just one more minute and Bella could have potentially saved a little bit of face. He looked at me, searching quickly for any issues, I gave him a thumbs up and he went back to controlling the scene. Naturally, he escorted the ambulance to the hospital.
The minutes following the departure of the ambulance and police the majority of the school got into their cars and followed, creating a procession that looked like a parade. I figured some were heading to the hospital to tune into the drama of the morning, and the rest were taking the opportunity to play hooky. It cleared out the parking lot, other than the two Cullen vehicles, no more than five empty spaces away.
I realized then that Bella had put her keys in her jacket before the accident. I was stuck. It was also then that my mind caught up to my mistake.
Edward was certainly not human, nor a witch, and I had almost exposed my powers. Not only that, but my powers failed me for a moment. Dread flooded through me.
Looking at the truck for any damage, I heard footsteps approaching me. I turned to see my new ally, Edward Cullen.
"Shouldn't you be following the accident parade?" I snapped at him.
"I could say the same to you," He replied, slightly hostile. His mood ring eyes were reading an onyx color.
"Bella has the keys to the truck, and I don't know how to drive," I admitted, exhaustion creeping into my voice. He turned his head in question, and my nervousness took its opportunity to embarrass me. "In Greendale, I never really needed a car. All my close friends could drive. But you also would be able to just walk through a path in the woods and be in the town center. Things were simpler there.`` I found my eyes welling.
He seemed to soften. It certainly wasn't the response he was expecting. "I'll drive you to the hospital, okay?" His voice was still rough, but I understood this was his way of being kind to me.
I nodded, but I surprisingly found myself accepting the offer of stability. I held onto his elbow so that I would not slip as well. It was perfectly respectable, but I found myself lowering my eyes. I snapped my head back up when I saw the patch of dry pavement that I had melted.
He held the passenger door open for me, and I almost snorted. Teenagers don't do that. I held myself back, promising to be on good behavior. It was tense as he fiddled with the radio, or whatever CD he had in. I didn't try to speak until we turned out of the parking lot, leaving the mutilated van in the rearview mirror.
I cleared my throat and spoke softly. "I know we both know one another played a role in making sure Bella wasn't hurt," I said cautiously. He stiffened. "But, I think we both aren't ready for a secret to be out."
"I don't know what you think happened." He snapped at me, accelerating the speed of the car. I felt an invisible force pushing towards me, trying to break down a wall that couldn't be touched.
"Okay," I said in an aggravated huff. "You don't show me yours, I won't show you mine. We can both agree that Bella cannot know."
He looked at me then, surprised. "Yes, we can."
The rest of the drive was in an understanding silence. Thankfully, due to his legally reckless speed, it was quick. When we got to the hospital, the crowd in the waiting room parted like we were Moses and they were the Red Sea. Once I identified myself as family, I was allowed to go to Bella's room. Edward also followed, mainly because I think his presence scared the RN. Or she found him attractive. Whichever came first.
I sat in the chair furthest from her bed, trying to melt into the walls. I listened with little amusement as Tyler harassed her with apologies. I held my breath as they took her to get an x-ray, fearing the worst. I agonized over Charlie's fear. Guilt threatened to overwhelm me in the sterile environment. Tyler's injuries could have been helped if I had been more attentive during the accident. I didn't care what Edward had to say to anyone. As slyly as I could, I attempted to block out all noise. Dr. Carlisle brought back a positive report on Bella's head, allowing Charlie and I to draw a deep breath.
As she was being discharged, I walked as far as possible away from her and Edward and she accosted him for answers. I knew my interrogation would come later, at home. She insisted on going back to school for the day, and my stomach lurched at the thought. We climbed into the back of the squad, and I felt the weight of my shame threaten to sink me into the ground.
"Charlie," I said, voice quivering. "I know Bella wants to go to school, but can I please go home for the day?"
"Did Edward say something to you?" Bella asked me, eyes brimming with demand. Charlie looked back at us with concern.
"No, no," I began my lie. "I was just having really bad cramps this morning, and with today's excitement I would like to sleep."
It was obvious Charlie was unfamiliar enough with menstrual problems that he let this unconvincing lie slide. Bella looked at me with a sense of understanding, but also a decent amount of betrayal. I knew she wanted me to buffer her for the rest of the school day, but I just couldn't bring myself to muster up the energy. She would forgive me as soon as this was no longer the hottest news in Forks.
Charlie dropped me off in the driveway but didn't leave until he saw me cross the threshold of the front door. My mind was screaming at me by this point, and true to my previous lie, I went upstairs to my room. Salem met me in the kitchen, pawing at me as I went up the stairs. I didn't bother with giving him any attention. He all but scratched me when I reached my door.
I cracked open the door to my room, and there was a figure sitting at my desk chair, face turned towards the window. I didn't fully register this presence until they shifted their position, turning to face me.
"Sabina, what have you done now?" The low voice asked me.
