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Author's Note: This is my longest chapter up-to-date. Phew. Hopefully, everyone enjoys it! Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows! I truly appreciate your kind words!
The Soldier
Chapter Ten: "The Native"
A weathered ranch house ended the mystery. Chipped, red paint acted as a light tower amongst the forestry. The building oozed comfort; snippets of the past flickered within the immortal's mind. She galloped across the backyard, knowing the western entrance opened into a living room. Quickly, the soldier knocked down the pine door. A native man, sitting in a wheelchair, shouted in surprise. Bella ignored him, laying the werewolf onto a lumpy sofa. The teenager's vitals seemed okay. Sleep aided in his recovery. Much like vampires, werewolves healed at an accelerated rate.
"Leech," the disabled man declared. The soldier turned from the pup, facing him. Upon seeing her face, the native's tone shifted into disbelief. "Bella?"
"You need to call a doctor," the immortal advised. "He's been bitten by a vampire. I removed the venom from his bloodstream, but he might need a transfusion."
Confused, the native wheeled towards the couch. He removed the white cloth to examine the wound. Already, the bite had sealed. Silver crescent marks glowed against the teenager's dark complexion. "You saved him," he assessed. Bella answered with silence. In the distance, four sets of footsteps pounded against the earth – more vampires. The coven had scented their tracks. The clinging stench of their fallen comrade provided a trail.
"Stay in the house," she commanded. "More are coming."
As she exited the home, newborns plowed onto the property. Pure hatred blackened their irises. However, the sight of the soldier's scars halted their approach. Standing shirtless, Bella personified death. She released a chilling growl, causing one to flee the promising battleground. Unfortunately, the others overthrew their fear. They attacked as a unit. The aged immortal prepared for the ambush. No infant would destroy her; she was a Whitlock.
As Peter had educated her, the group used their arms. Their intention was to crush with brute strength. Expecting the play, the soldier dove to the ground, swiping a leg beneath them. Comically, the newborns stumbled onto the floor. Bella picked the largest male to begin the death sentences. She jumped onto his stomach, biting into his neck. He screamed in agony. The immortal silenced him with a resounding rip.
The physically youngest newborn leapt on the soldier's back. It was a female. "You killed Jim," she hissed. The words fell between deaf ears. Bella grabbed the child's waist, flipping the vampire over her head. Shocked by the move, the girl wasted too much time. The soldier held down the newborn's body and decapitated her.
A sharp pain shot through the immortal's shoulder. The final newborn pumped venom beneath the skin. However, he latched four inches away from the sweet spot. Bella kicked the infant into a tree. The large timber cracked upon impact; its trunk collided with the forest floor. Like lightening, she darted to the boy, but a werewolf won the race. Large, russet jaws clamped on the child's head, severing it from his body. The sweet smell of victory permeated the reservation.
Bella returned to the original battle scene and dismembered the other bodies. The wolf's eyes followed her movements. She gifted him with a small smile, attempting to ease the tension. It seemed to work until the other mongrels arrived. A grey werewolf interrupted the peace by charging at her. The soldier faked right and punted the smelly creature. He sailed into a dilapidated garage. "I don't want to hurt you," she promised. Of course, the mutts disbelieved her. Another wolf aimed to kill, but like his brother, the immortal slammed him into a hard structure.
"Enough," ceased the disputes. The handicapped native rolled onto the back deck. Wide lips frowned at the pack's display. "Bella saved your brother's life – and mine. She will be treated as a Cullen. Once we've received answers, she will be escorted from our lands. Until then, you will not harm her. That is your chief's command."
The soldier dropped the borrowed Zippo onto the newborns' limbs. Violet plumes rose towards the sky. Bella walked to the elder residing in the wheelchair. The native's authority shifted into curiosity. "That was some fight," he applauded. "Where did you learn to fight like that? Did the Cullens teach you?"
"I learned to fight in basic training. However, after being turned, another vampire furthered my skills to combat immortals," Bella informed. "I am not a Cullen."
"They didn't change you?"
"No, an unknown vampire changed me during enemy crossfire. I was with my platoon, The Roughnecks, in the Middle East. After we were bombed, my maker found me. I should be dead, but mercenaries interrupted his feeding."
The chieftain nodded. A sympathetic expression graced his features. He extended a calloused hand and patted her bare forearm. Bella relished the warm touch. However, the native pulled back upon hearing a wolf's snarl. "Well," he sighed, "let's head into the house. We can continue talking in there." With that, he moved towards the back entrance. The soldier offered push him inside, but he declined. "I can handle it, Bella. Thank you."
Gradually, the pack morphed into their human forms. Including the wounded pup, there totaled eight wolves. The males radiated heat causing a horrible smell. Bella stopped breathing when everyone entered the den. She felt completely out of her comfort zone. Much like the newborns, the wolves wore faces of hatred. The soldier needed to tread lightly – no slips of the tongue. Truthfully, she wanted to get the hell out of dodge. Supernatural enemies should never be confined to such small spaces. However, the elderly native deemed the room appropriate; humans were idiotic.
"Bella, I would like to ask you a few questions," the chief cleared, "but first, tell us how you became a vampire. You said that you were changed on active duty. What happened afterward? It's been two years since you were reported dead. We need details."
"Okay," she agreed. "I woke-up as a vampire in the desert. My maker deserted me after I began to turn. Once I awoke, I headed towards water. I lived my first two years in the ocean, learning how to control my thirst. My main objective was to find Charlie. I wanted to meet him.
"I entered the United States from the Gulf of Mexico. A vampire, Peter, greeted me on the beach. He is the prodigy of Jasper – a vampire that lives with the Cullen Coven. Peter welcomed me into his home; he extended my combat training. After a few days in Texas, I continued my search for Charlie. Alice Cullen informed me that he lived in Forks, Washington. However, she suggested that I take a detour in California. In Los Angeles, I found my mate – Randall."
The native held up his hand, interrupting the summary. "You speak of your father as if he is a stranger. Why?"
"Most vampires lose their human memories. I wasn't exempt from this rule. I can only remember the people that caused me pain," Bella explained. "For instance, the only person that I recognize in this room is Jacob. When I look at his face, I feel…," pausing to the taste word, "abandonment."
"That's bullshit, Bella," Jacob exclaimed. "You left without a goodbye!"
"Probably," she shrugged, "I don't remember."
"Why do you want to see Charlie," the chief redirected. "You can't possibly want him to see you like this? He has finally accepted your death. What would you even tell him?"
"I don't know. For a long time, I knew his face. He had no name. But, none-the-less, his face helped me control the monster. I wanted to be better because of him. It's only recently that I learned he was my father. I had hoped that knowing the wolves, he might be more accepting of my… changes."
"Bella," the native sighed, "Charlie doesn't know our secret. Sometimes, I wish he did. It would make protecting him easier, but like you, we must maintain anonymity."
"Protect him from what?"
"Leeches," Jacob intercepted. "Months after you left, vampires began crawling all over Forks. They seem to be looking for you. We think someone is turning kids and sending them onto our lands."
"Yeah, they've been coming in large groups – crazy ass bitches. Once they learned about us, it's been nonstop," an unknown wolf added.
The newfound information sidestepped her previous goal. Before killing the Frenchman, he'd mentioned that Victoria was searching for her. Having lost her mate, the diabolical cunt had motive for revenge. She created a newborn army to distract the werewolves; it led to years of chase. The redhead's plan revolved around Charlie. Most likely, she'd use him as bait. However, what did she expect to achieve? Bella had enlisted upon graduating high school. Even if she'd survived the war, it'd be four years before she'd return to Washington – if she even planned on it. Maybe, his untimely death would have temporarily excused her from duty. Whatever the case, Victoria had become the immortal's main priority. She and her flock were to become ash.
"I request permission to stay," Bella asked the chief. "If Victoria is plotting to kill my father, I will to deal with her. This is not your tribe's responsibility."
"Charlie is my best-friend, Jake's godfather. He is an honorary member of this tribe. If you want to stay in Forks, you're welcome too. However, I must ask you to follow the original treaty," he decreed. "You will stay off our lands. If you feed from a human being, the pack will be forced to kill you. Also, I must insist that you stay away from Charlie. If you truly love him, you'll let him go."
Bella ignored his altruistic concluding statements. Instead, she mentioned Randall. "I need my mate to be included in the treaty. He is a human drinker, but I'll ask him to refrain while in your territory. Knowing him, he'll do it."
The chief wanted to decline; it was written across his face. Even the wolves growled at the notion. However, ever the diplomat, the native agreed. Bella gifted him with a brilliant smile. "Thank you! I'll give you my phone number so we can remain in contact. I'll call with any new information." Then, the conference ended. Two werewolves escorted her to the main road, while the others aided in their brother's recovery. All-in-all, the evening could have gone much worse.