Edward made an excuse for us to leave, while I searched for Nessie. It was kind of a frantic search, but I found her playing with the Graysons two youngest kids. I looked at the kids for a moment. Were the children the same as their father whatever he was? Because, at that moment, I didn t know what Lyle Grayson was. I only knew he wasn t exactly human. If he was human, Edward would have been able to penetrate his mind. Instead, he had hit a brick wall.
Before Edward, Nessie and I could make a bee-line for the front door, Charlie and Lyle found us. Edward stared at Lyle. A small frown ran across his lips.
Leaving so soon? Lyle asked.
Bella s got a bug or something, Edward said, Must be the cold air. I m sorry, Mr. Grayson. It looks like a great party.
Sometimes these things are unavoidable, Lyle said.
Bella? Charlie asked, Are you okay?
I ll talk to you later, Dad, I said, You stay and have fun.
Nessie could stay, Bella, Charlie offered, And I can drop her off after the party.
Yeah, Mommy! Nessie said, Please?
I looked at Edward. He shook his head. I nodded and knelt beside Nessie.
Nessie, I said, Have you forgotten? We got our own party tomorrow. Don t you want to be rested up? It s going to be a long day!
Nessie sighed and looked from me to Charlie.
Your Mommy is right, Nessie, Charlie said, I ll see you again tomorrow at your party. Okay?
Nessie nodded.
It was really nice to meet you, Lyle said, Don t be a stranger now that you know where we live.
Edward nodded and nudged me and Nessie out of the house.
Will Charlie be okay? I asked Edward, as we walked toward the car.
He can take care of himself, Edward said.
Are you going to tell Carlisle? I asked, About this, I mean?
I intend to as soon as we get home, Edward said.
What do you think the Graysons are? I asked, Vampires?
I can read most Vampires minds, Edward said, Besides if Lyle was a vampire, he would avoid the daylight.
Shape-shifters? I asked.
I can read their minds too, Edward said, Don t worry. Carlisle will know.
As I got into the passenger seat of the car, I told myself that I wanted to find out what the Graysons were for myself. There was only one way to do that but at the moment there were more pressing issues on my mind.
Those children, I said, They look so innocent. Care-free. Whatever Lyle is are they --?
I can t exactly say at the moment, Edward said, Carlisle will know.
Can you guess what they are? I asked.
I have my thoughts, Edward said, If I m right well I hope I m not for the Graysons sake.
I don t want any riddles, Edward! I said, my voice loud, What are they?
Carlisle can explain better, Edward said, Please don t ask me anymore.
I sighed and nodded, though I was still mad. I wanted to know what Lyle was. I wanted to know if all of the Graysons were affected. Those poor children. If they were anything like I imagined well, I couldn t imagine it.
A little more than half-an-hour later, we arrived back at the house. We got out of the car and walked into the house.
Nessie, I said, Why don t you go play or watch TV? The grown-ups need to talk, okay?
Nessie nodded and walked out of the entrance room.
Dad? Edward called out, Carlisle? Are you here?
Yes! Carlisle said, and he appeared at the top of the stairs, What is it? Why are you back from the party so early.
Something happened, Edward said.
What? Carlisle asked, and he rushed to the bottom of the stairs, Is anyone hurt? Nessie --
We re fine, Dad, Edward said, Nobody got hurt.
Then what s wrong? Carlisle asked.
I don t know, Edward said, I m confused. I couldn t read Lyle Grayson s mind. There aren t many in this world that can block my ability.
You re right, Carlisle said.
I m confused, I said, looking from Edward to Carlisle.
Bella, Carlisle said, You aren t the only creature in this world who can block Edward s ability. The only other possibly explanation I have is that the Lyle Grayson is a werewolf.
My jaw dropped. A werewolf?
I don t understand, Dad, Edward said, Didn t Marcus say he killed the last of them?
He was wrong, apparently, Carlisle said.
I tried to speak up, but Carlisle interrupted me.
How many people are in Grayson s family? Carlisle asked.
Eight, Edward said, Lyle, his wife, and his six children.
Did you read his wife s mind? Carlisle asked.
I didn t even try, Edward said, I don t know why. I m sorry. But I did try his oldest boy. I couldn t get a thing.
Wait, I said, both of my hands raised in a stopping motion, Wait just a minute. Werewolves? Like real, genuine werewolves? Like the creatures from the stories.
No, Bella, Edward said, Not like the creatures from the stories.
I don t understand, I said, confused.
The stories humans tell about werewolves, Carlisle said, Are just that stories. They make up these stories to scare people. They use them for campfires or bedtime stories. The werewolves they talk about don t exist. Real, genuine werewolves are different. Much different, Bella. No human knows about the real werewolves because most humans who cross them aren t able to talk about them.
Why? I asked.
Edward and Carlisle stared at me.
They killed them? I asked, my eyes wide.
Carlisle nodded grimly.
So tell me about the werewolves, I said.
I know very little about real werewolves, Carlisle said, But I know enough. Werewolves aren t just vulnerable to the full moon. They transform under any moonlight.
That would explain a lot, I said, The Graysons are rarely seen outside during the night. And I did think it was strange for Lyle and his family to move here. But now it definitely explains it. All this cloud cover would block the moon most of the time.
Carlisle nodded.
How big do they get? I asked.
Nearly twice their human size, Edward said.
Actually about one-and-a-half times, Carlisle said, Still they tower over any normal human.
And vampire, Edward said.
And vampire, Carlisle agreed.
Can they be killed? I asked.
Of course, Carlisle said, Otherwise, how was Marcus was able to defeat some of them?
So how do you kill them? I asked, Silver bullets...
It s a myth, Bella Edward said, simply.
As far as I know, Carlisle said, Vampire venom is the only sure way of killing them.
Other than destroying the moon, Edward said.
Edward! I said, Be serious!
The old tales, Carlisle continued, tell about wars between vampires and werewolves. But there is no happy ending with those stories. Vampires have one true enemy.
Werewolves, I said.
That is why we were so worried about the Quileutes at first, Carlisle said, nodding.
The mention of Jacob s tribe sparked something in my mind.
Leah, I said.
What? Carlisle said.
Leah Clearwater imprinted on Lyle s oldest son, I said.
Edward laughed.
Wow, he said, Who knew that Leah would actually be the first in her tribe to imprint an actual wolf!
Leah Clearwater has found her imprint? Rosalie s voice rang out.
I looked up the stairs. Rosalie and Emmett were standing there.
It s a wolf? Emmett asked, Wait? Is it Jacob?
It s an actual werewolf, Em, Edward said.
Rosalie s jaw dropped, and I noticed Emmet s nostrils flare up.
Hang on just a moment, I said, raising my hands again, I want to know something.
Carlisle and Edward looked at me.
Those children, I said, The other two children I saw. One was about Nessie s age and the other was definitely younger. Are they werewolves?
Carlisle only frowned.
No! I said, yelling, No way!
Bella, Edward said, It s not our choice.
Do you realize what you re saying?! I asked, If Vampires and Werewolves are enemies, there is only one thing we can do. Well, I won t be a part of it when we re talking about children!
We don t have to kill them, Emmett said.
What are you talking about? I asked, When they find out we re vampires--
Dad, Emmett interrupted me, Do you remember the old tales?
Of course, Carlisle said, For the most part.
What about detransformation? Emmett asked.
What is he talking about? I asked.
It s basically a cure, Bella, Emmett said.
When it comes to comparing human stories, Carlisle said, with the real stories, there is actually one comparison. If a human is bitten, they will become a werewolf. That is the most common way of creating a werewolf. The other is natural birth. That is when it gets complicated. If both mates are werewolves, then their children will definitely be werewolves. If only one mate is a werewolf, there is a fifty-percent chance that the children will be werewolves.
So there is still a chance some of the kids aren t werewolves? I asked, happy for some possible good news.
We don t know if Lyle s wife is a werewolf, Edward said.
So we ll have to find out, I said, shrugging, And what does this have to do with detransformation?
It s a cure, Carlisle said, Like Em said. But it is also very complicated, and very rare.
Also it s almost impossible, Emmett scoffed.
How is it done? I asked.
Only vampire venom can cure a werewolf, Carlisle said.
But, I said, very confused at this point, I thought that killed them.
I did say it was complicated, Carlisle said, You remember what happened after James attacked you?
Vaguely, I said.
My human memories were a bit fuzzy now.
It s the same with werewolves, Carlisle said, You can cure a werewolf with just the right amount of venom.
You can also kill them with just the right amount as well, Emmett said, grinning.
Can you cure a human, I asked, Between the time they re bitten and the time they become a werewolf?
It s plausible, Carlisle said.
There is a reason I say it is almost impossible, Bella, Emmett said, Because a vampire would have to be crazy, even suicidal, to get close enough to a Werewolf with full intentions of curing them. Most werewolves don t want to be cured.
Suddenly, Emmett gave his booming laugh and I heard birds cawing outside.
Though I suppose, Emmett said, his laugh continuing, if you really are a suicidal vampire, it s smarter to go to the werewolves than the Volturi. At least the werewolves don t play with their food.
So there are a pack of werewolves in Forks? Rosalie asked.
There is a good chance, Rose, Carlisle said.
Exciting, Rose said, sarcasm ringing in her voice, I had almost forgotten how fun a violent existence was. Tell me when the fun begins, will you? I m going back to my reading.
She walked away and disappeared down the hallway.
We really are going to have to kill them? I asked, frowning, Are we?
If it comes to that, Bella, Carlisle said.
Can t we try and cure them? I asked.
Not many werewolves want to be cured, Bella, Edward said.
Besides, Carlisle said, Have you forgotten? If the Graysons are werewolves, then they are probably responsible for the recent incidents around up north and in Kalaloch. If that is true, then they are pretty violent. And it is more than likely that they won t stop.
Oh my gosh, I gasped, Dad!
I ran out of the room before anyone could respond and went straight for the telephone. I dialed so quickly that I messed up and had to do it again.
Please be there, I pleaded, as the phone rang.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Hello, Charlie s voice said.
Dad! I said, relieved, Thank god.
This is Charlie Swan, Charlie s voice said, and I painfully realized it was the answering machine, I am not here right now, so leave a message after the beep. If this is a real emergency, you need to call the police station or the hospital. Thanks and I ll get back with you as soon as possible.
Beep.
Dad? I said, frantically, Dad? Please be there. Okay, fine. Please call me when you get this. I m going to try your cell-phone.
I hung up then dialed again. Ring. Ring.
Hello? Charlie s voice said.
Dad? I asked.
Bella? Charlie said.
Thank god, I said again.
What is it, honey? Charlie asked.
Um I began.
I didn t exactly know where to begin.
Where are you? I asked.
I just left the Grayson s house, Charlie said, I m on my way home. Why? Are you okay?
I m fine, I lied, I just wanted to hear your voice.
Bella, you re not fine, Charlie said, I can hear it in your voice. What is it?
I sighed. Damn Charlie and his fatherly ways of worrying about me!
I don t know right now, I said, Look, I ll talk to you at the party tomorrow. It s at noon, okay? I ll tell you then.
Or not.
Look, I said, I need to go.
Bella? Charlie said, Isabella --?
I hung up the phone, and immediately felt bad about it. If I knew my father like I did, he would probably be on his way over here. I groaned.
-
I waited, pacing around the living room, for my father. I didn t know if he would come by or not. Finally, at nine-o-clock, when I was sure he wouldn t come by, I escorted Nessie to the cottage to tuck her into bed.
Mommy? Nessie said, when she climbed into bed, Tell me a story.
What do you want to hear? I asked, thinking a nice story would calm me down, Cinderella? Three Bears?
How did you and Daddy meet? Nessie asked.
I was surprised Nessie suggested this.
You ve never heard that story? I asked.
Nessie shook her head.
Well, I said, sitting down on the end of her bed, You know I lived with Renee before I came to Forks, right?
Nessie nodded. Though she had never met my mother, I had told Nessie stories about her over the past few months.
Well, when I came to Forks, I said, I moved in with Grampa. I was a Junior in High School. That is where I met Daddy. But did you know Daddy was scared of me at first?
Nessie s jaw dropped.
No! she gasped, giggling, Really?!
Really, I said, nodding.
Why? Nessie asked.
Well, I said, Daddy thought he might hurt me.
Why would Daddy want to hurt you, Mommy? Nessie said, frowning.
He didn t want to, I said, He was just afraid he would. You know I didn t used to be a vampire, right? That I used to be human?
Kind of like me! Nessie said.
Kind of, yeah, I said, Well, since I was a human and your Daddy was a vampire, it was kind of hard for us to be around each other. At first, your Daddy thought he might bite me, and that wouldn t have been good for me. He got used to me then, and we became friends, and then we fell in love.
Why would anyone want to hurt you? Nessie asked.
Well, I said, People are afraid of what we are. Because they don t understand us. Humans are usually afraid of what they can t explain. And there are other things out there too.
Would they hurt me? Nessie asked.
I felt a pain in my chest. If I had a beating heart, this would have truly stopped it dead. I sighed, trying to avoid the thoughts about the werewolves.
You know Daddy and I would never let anyone hurt you, I said, Right?
Nessie nodded.
You know why? I asked.
Nessie shrugged.
Because you are mine and Daddy s little angel, I said, smiling.
And Jakey s, Nessie said, laughing.
And Jakey s, I agreed with a sigh, Now. I think it s time for you to go to sleep. It s a big day for you tomorrow. Right?
Nessie nodded, happily.
And for you! she said.
Yeah, I said, And for me.
I smiled and kissed my daughter on her forehead.
Close those beautiful eyes now, I said, smiling at Nessie.
Good night, Mommy, Nessie said, as I stood up, I love you.
Hearing those three little words from my daughter warmed me up a great deal.
I love you too, sweetheart, I said, smiling.
I turned off the light and closed the door behind me. I sighed and looked at the blank wall across from me. I had to do something or I was going to go crazy. The thoughts of werewolves in Forks were jumping in and out of my mind. I walked down the hallway and stopped at a doorway. It wasn t the doorway to my room, but the doorway to the small storage closet. I opened it and searched for a box. A few moments later, I found it and carried it out of the closet. Inside were my ancient computer and everything that went with it.
Edward offered to buy me a laptop, and put the old computer out with the trash. I immediately had to refuse. I couldn t throw away my old computer. It was a personal treasure. Like a old stamp or a rare first-edition baseball card, signed by the person that was depicted on it. Esme had hooked up the cottage with internet when she built the place. So I set my computer on the kitchen table, and plugged it in. It was still slow as ever, but I was used to it. I logged onto the internet and immediately checked my e-mail. There wasn t the usual e-mail by Renee there. I didn t expect it.
Renee thought I was still sick in my death bed and neither I, nor Charlie as far as I knew, told her otherwise. It felt bad to think about, but I really didn t expect to see my mother ever again, and I was fine with it. I forced myself to close the e-mail, if only to keep myself from e-mailing my mother and telling her everything.
I went to my favorite search site, and typed in Werewolves . I pressed enter, and it took a few minutes to bring up the results. I searched for an hour for myths of werewolves and all were tales told by humans. I was still searching when Edward entered the cottage.
Bella? Edward called.
In the kitchen! I replied.
What are you doing? Edward said, walking over to me.
Research, I said.
There isn t going to be anything about the old tales, Bella, Edward said, sighing.
Why not? I asked, How do you think I found out about vampires when you wouldn t tell me?
You found the one story that turned out to be true, Bella, Edward said, The one story the Volturi hadn t taken down from the internet because it is close to human vampire tales. There are no old tales about werewolves on the internet because all of them include vampires. Those stories are the true ones. Those stories are the ones the humans can never find out about.
Speaking of that, I said, We have to tell my father.
Bella, Edward said, with a sigh.
I m not going to let Jacob get framed for something he didn t do, I said, growled, because we were cowards and decided to keep the story to ourselves! Besides, don t you think the Quileutes need to know as well. They are involved as long as Leah is in love with one!
Bella, Edward said, again, I don t think --
I don t care if you think it is smart or not, I said, This is my father and my friends we re talking about. Not just some normal human!
I sighed.
Look, I continued, I won t tell my father what we are. I ll only tell him what the Graysons are. I won t let him cross their paths again without knowing what they are. Even then, I won t let him cross paths with them. I will truly kill them before they get in breathing range of my father again.
This is quite the change, Edward said, Earlier, you refused to kill them. What changed your mind?
You didn t hear my father s voice when I called him tonight, I said, You didn t hear our daughter s voice when I tucked her into bed. She wanted to know why someone would want to hurt us. She asked me why anyone would want to hurt her, Edward!
I closed my eyes, trying to keep from seeing the terrible visions I was thinking.
You didn t tell her about the werewolves, did you? Edward asked.
No, I said, shaking my head.
Good, Edward said, muttered, It is better that she just forgets the Graysons. Why did she ask about that anyway?
What? I asked. Because of my research, I had momentarily forgotten about the bedtime story I told Nessie, Oh. She wanted to know how I met you. I told her you were afraid of me at first. You know how you were afraid you d hurt me.
I ll never forget that feeling, Bella, Edward muttered, It s one of the few moments in my long existence when I was truly scared about something.
It s okay to get scared, I said, Even vampires need to fear something.
I fear one thing, Bella, Edward said, You know what that is.
I nodded. It was same thing I feared: The deaths of the people I loved dearly. And if it was my choice, I would do everything in my power to keep that from happening. Even if it meant that I left this world forever