Into the Woods
By: Everleigh Allen
Chapter 25
Edward pulled into Bella's driveway and turned off the car but sat there just glaring at the house.
Billy Black's van was already there, parked next to the cruiser like it was in some kind of warped solidarity thing.
"What are they thinking?" Bella asked, not wanting to get out of the warmth of the Volvo yet.
Alice sat in the backseat next to Jasper who apparently was there to calm things when or if they were to get too heated.
Edward stared at the house for a moment and then frowned.
"I don't get much… just small talk about fishing but the underlining tension is there. Billy is thinking that you are blowing things out of proportion and worries about your relationship with the vampires."
"He's not worried about Jake getting arrested?"
Edward shook his head. "He's not willing to think about that aspect. He thinks that if this were to go to court the judge would be sympathetic as Jake is the only caretaker to his crippled father."
Bella snorted a scoff. "Yeah, he's a real keeper."
"Let's just go in." Alice said, opening the door with a laugh. "He's going to totally flip with all of us vampires coming in!"
"I'm sure he'll be calling for reinforcements." Jasper drawled. "He'd be dumb not to."
"Well, let's get inside before they catch our scent." Edward got out of his car and then rushed toward Bella's door to open it for her.
The Swan house was quiet as they walked up the porch.
Alice was busy texting and then placed the phone in her pocket and waited while Bella opened the door, inviting everyone in and ignoring the way Billy was glaring at her.
Never had he done that before and it was certainly not going to help the issues at hand, either.
So, she glared right back. "What's up Billy?"
Charlie stood up and gestured the guests to sit down, already on edge.
"I wanted to talk to you and your father. Alone." Billy bit out. His eyes were like little slits of darkness on his round face.
"Oh, well, how disappointed you must be," Bella flicked her hand flippantly before she flopped onto the couch. Edward sat down next to her as Alice sat next to Charlie. Jasper was strategically placed in the chair closest to Billy. "Let's get this over with."
"Bella!" Charlie scolded, shaking his head. But his mustache twitched as if he had smirked.
She was his father's daughter after all.
Bella sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. The teenager was coming out, full force. "You wanted to talk to me."
Billy sighed and sat back in his seat.
He suddenly looked very old and tired; very different than his young, idiotic son.
"I wanted to say that I don't condone Jake's behavior or his actions, as irrational as they seem to you. Since your arrival he has not been himself. I do believe I know why."
Edward was staring at Billy with an angry stare.
"Why?" Bella gave Billy a blank stare.
"Bella, you are rejecting his imprint on you and I don't know how or why. You are causing him unnecessary pain." He gave her a pleading look, willing her to understand. To give in.
"Not possible." Bella shook her head. "You're just as delusional as your son!"
"It is possible and it is plausible! The moment he saw you years ago, he had to be around you, he knew you were the one."
"Well, the feeling isn't mutual, trust me."
Billy sighed. He reached out to Bella in what could have been construed as comfort, but she knew better. He dropped his hand and continued. "Imprinting isn't always a perfect thing, dear. You're like my daughter," he smiled, but it didn't meet his eyes because it was a lie. "I wouldn't lie to you. These vampires have means to control you, steer you in unconventional… unnatural ways, and it seems that they already have."
Bella's eyes bugged out for a moment. "Just wait right there! You can't say things like that, Billy!"
But Billy wasn't going to stop, "Jake is so much better for you. He's warm, eats food... He has a pulse-"
"You- you have no idea what you're talking about. Edward has warmth." She looked at him and winked. Luckily, Charlie missed the gesture, but Billy didn't.
How does one to plead to someone as stubborn as Bella?
"I know this is hard for you to understand being so young and naive. They're ultimately dead, Bella. Walking, talking dead who only survive by devastation and demise other beings!" Billy was getting angry. His arms were clutching at his armrests as if they were the only thing holding him back. He leaned as forward as he could as if he about to come at her.
"They're undead, not dead. They sit right here, listening politely to your hateful words-"
"Open your eyes, little girl!" Billy seethed. His temper got away from him for a moment and Edward stood up, standing to the side of his mate, ready to defend her, if needed.
What Bella and Charlie didn't know was that the house was surrounded with wolves, except for Jake.
Edward, Alice, and Jasper were aware and watchful.
Alice was sending play by plays of possible scenarios, based on tempers and thoughts via text to Rosalie, Emmett, Carlisle, and Esme. They were close by, as needed.
At least one wolf was growling quietly, ominously, outside.
Finally, Billy sat back in his chair and shook his head.
"Edward, please sit down," Bella said, pulling on his hand. She was instantly assaulted by the aggressive thoughts from Billy.
I don't see what Jake even sees in her, anymore. She obviously enjoys this game she's playing with those bloodsuckers! Stupid, thoughtless child. Jake could do so much better than Bella! Charlie was better off without all her drama. If she even knew…. If she even knew.
"If I only knew what?" Bella spit out, as Edward released her hand, pulling it away from her.
"What?" Billy asked with confusion.
Charlie gave his daughter a curious stare. He had sat there watching the ordeal, ready to step in if needed, but so far, there wasn't anything said or done that he deemed needing his consideration. "Bella? What are you talking about? Billy never said anything-"
"He thinks he knows me or at least something about me. I want to know what he meant because as far as I know the only think he knows of me is that Jake and I used to have playdates as children and used to make mud pies. Maybe it's that Jake liked to pull my pigtails when I was seven. I want to know what it is."
"It doesn't matter what I think, Bella." Billy scoffed, shaking his head but his wincey eyes were wide and watchful at Edward.
Edward looked like he wanted to throttle Billy one moment and then sat in disbelief the next.
Bella made a mental to ask Edward what Billy was thinking, later.
"I'm here to set you straight," Billy bit out. "Not to divulge tribe legends to our adversaries."
"I think it's a little late for that!" Bella scoffed, "And you're actually here to convince me not to press charges on your son, remember?"
If Billy could look any more acerbic, it was then.
"My son has done nothing wrong, Bella!" He sneered, "He tried to protect what he considers his." Billy said under his breath. What was lost on Bella and Charlie, Edward and the other vampires heard perfectly.
"Now, Billy, that's not true and you know it." Charlie said gruffly, obviously put off that Billy was now practically attacking his child and her safety in their home. "A false police call and taking my child against her will from the safety of her home is very serious. Let's get practical, my friend."
"Only because we are friends, Charlie, am I sitting here still imploring your daughter to see reason."
"What reason? There hasn't been any reasonable thing said so far! It's unreasonable to say my girl is your son's "imprint" and that it justifies his criminal behavior!" He scoffed shaking his head in disbelief. He was definitely the tree to Bella's apple.
"Vampires seem way more preferable than the volatile wolves! I bet if I look outside the yard would be covered in werewolves!"
Alice nodded.
"I don't like it any more than you do! But vampires are monsters, Charlie! Why else do people go missing?"
"Probably bears and other wildlife," Bella interjected helpfully.
Billy glared at her.
"Bears, vampires, werewolves, and what are next- Wizards, witches, and fairies? Is there a goblin somewhere I need to worry about next?" Charlie was wonderfully sarcastic.
"No, no goblins. Gross." Bella snickered. "I have taste."
"For vampirism," Alice giggled lightly. "But without the whole Hematomania aspects of it." She flicked her hands dismissively and everyone in the room moved to glare at her with shock or disgust.
Bella narrowed her eyes, "You're hilarious, Alice, but not entirely helpful."
"What? You're obviously not into Lycanthropy or keen to their imprinting, oh, I mean imposing nature! Not to mention they smell horrendous, no offense Billy, it's not like you can help it, I am sure."
Edward was shaking his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as Jasper just laughed at his girl. She was right.
Bella just nodded because Alice was right, the wolves had poor pheromone qualities, unlike her Edward.
He was delicious in smell and taste!
Not to mention, strikingly gorgeous.
"End your relationship with the Cullen's, Bella!" Billy yelled out in frustration causing all eyes to instantly find him. "Or the treaty may need to be amended or dismissed." His eyes met with Edward's.
"Oh, you're too much! You've tried everything else and so you're going there? You want to threaten them with my compliance?" Bella laughed out, bemused.
Edward, who was standing in anger sat back down, reigning himself as Charlie started to worry about him being violent in his home.
Once he was calm, Edward quietly said, "If the elders wish to amend the treaty that's fine with us. We have no problem with its dissolution."
"Yes," Jasper drawled, "Those little pups are nothing compared to the Civil War battlefields or the Vampire armies. Plus, we would no longer feel obligated to steer other man-eating vampires away from your reservation." Jasper pushed a bit of fear laced with anxiety toward Billy before he turned to Charlie and winked. "We would, however, keep our promises to those residing in the town of Forks."
Charlie flushed, looking away.
Oh, but Billy fumed and was about to spout off until Charlie stopped him.
"I think enough thinly veiled threats have been made for one day and everything needing to be said has been said on both sides." Charlie sighed with exasperation before turning his attention to his friend. "Billy, the ink on Jake's temporary restraining order is still wet. As your friend speaking, he better maintain the distance that he is ordered to respect. There is a report and charges to be filed, if he doesn't."
"Charlie, see reason!" Billy chided.
But Charlie just raised his hand in silence, shaking his head and staring down his friend. "I mean it, Billy. Bella's safety is my first priority. Our friendship comes second, if not third to the law."
"I guess we know where we stand." Billy grunted, pushing himself away from the group.
"I guess we do- and only because you put out the dividing line," Charlie sighed.
Billy moved towards the door, on his way out.
He wheeled himself through the front door as Charlie held it open.
Once out on the pavement, Billy turned around and looked at Bella imploringly as she stood next to Charlie at the door, "End this, before it's too late."
"It already is too late," Bella turned and went back into the house, trying to hide how upset she really was.
She hated that she was made the reason that a lifelong friendship seemed to be diminishing. That was Billy's choice.
But Bella would not be giving up Edward, no matter what.
.
A/N: So now Bella and Edward have bonded, Billy is covering for Jake and trying to get Bella to submit to their will. HA! Never.
You can find me on Facebook. I added one of my paintings to the cover picture. :D It is, of course, a forest scene.
And yes, I will be continuing "The Scavenger Hunt" but it has a different name and not on fanfiction. If you like this story you'll like that.
There were more questions about whom or what that man was in Alice's vision. He's basically a man who has an attachment of the woman he killed. Her soul was released when he died (Alice's "two days" warning.) She was basically seeing what he did to someone else and thus showing himself as evil.
I'm pretty immune to most of that kind of stuff, I guess. It doesn't bother me the same way it bothers others because I "see" it all the time as a haunted person. That portion of the story was an actual dream I had. Fun times. I also have normal dreams like buying art canvases on sale and people stealing them from my cart. HA! What are dreams you have?