Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own ideas and mistakes.

Witchy Woman

Handbook for the Recently Deceased

Bella was so nervous during classes that she had to hold herself to her chair for fear that she would levitate. She barely paid attention to her school work and was a little more than embarrassed when her teachers called her on it. Jessica and Mike kept looking at her oddly, but she didn't notice, all she could think about was Edward. Dreading and anticipating his reaction to this new development in their relationship.

Bella walked into the cafeteria looking for Edward, but couldn't find him. She looked for his siblings, but they weren't there either. A thousand different scenarios flashed through her mind. She decided to hone her mind-reading abilities and check up on Edward at the same time; she looked around and spotted Mike. She reached out and touched his mind with hers. She saw a lot of pictures and emotions flash before her eyes, but not wanting to give up, she focused on Mike even harder. Finally the pictures and emotions became sharper and more discernable. She didn't see Edward in any of the memories and thoughts of today and was about to give up until she saw it. One thought of Mike's stood out above the others. The sun. She should have known better. The Cullen's can't come out today because of the sun. Bella breathed a sigh of relief.

Now able to think clearly, Bella sat with Mike and Jessica once again. The day finished with Bella very disappointed, but able to focus once again in class. When Bella got home, she wrote a note to Charlie telling him that she was going to Port Angeles to stop at Irene's store, and then she jumped back in her truck and started off to Port Angeles.

Bella pulled up to Irene's store just after 4 and noticed that Irene had the curtains drawn on the windows. Bella was about to leave when Irene stepped out quickly and waved Bella inside.

Once Bella was inside, Irene turned the open sign on the door and checked all the curtains.

"Why are the curtains closed?" Bella asked Irene. She had thought at first that the woman was trying to hide from someone, but she didn't seem the least bit agitated, if anything, she appeared excited.

"I'm going to show you something." She answered quietly picking up a piece of chalk. "I was doing my ritual tarot reading today and had the briefest vision." Irene started to draw on her wall a large rectangle. "We are going to my secret stash of books." She said knocking on the door three times.

The wall started to shake and the rectangle of wall that she outlined moved backwards, creating a door.

(A/N: Kudos to those who know what movie I got this door from. Day Oh!)

Irene walked through the newly made archway and motioned for Bella to follow her. Bella followed her slowly and was greeted by a room bigger than the store she had just been in filled with bookcase upon bookcase of Wiccan texts.

"Where did you get all of these books?" Bella asked her voice filling with wonder.

"Did it ever occur to you that my line of work is not very lucrative?" Irene asked Bella after a moment of thought. When Bella shook her head she continued. "My parents, Goddess bless them, were very well off, and right after they passed away, I traveled around the world reading and collecting rare Wiccan manuscripts."

"Now, I know you're looking for two specific books, but to find the right ones would take too long for me. I figure with your great powers you could get through most of these books quickly, while I find the most promising books."

"For the first book … hmmm." Irene became silent for a moment than said, "Start with these." Irene flew down four old leather books and landed them in front of Bella.

Bella looked at the titles and said, "How did you know I was looking for a book on Vampires? I thought you said your vision was brief."

Irene smiled mysteriously and just tapped her head and said, "Madame Irene knows all. Now start page surfing while I find more books."

Bella begrudgingly opened the first book and put her hands out. Turning the pages this time was much easier than the day before. She went through the four books within seconds. They each had a few pages on Vampires, but not what she was looking for. Bella waited patiently while Irene flew down a few more books and put the others back.

They continued like this for a few more minutes before Bella found what she was looking for; a book that was filled with the history of many different Vampire covens, including the Cullens.

"I wish I had thought to bring a pen and paper or something." Bella said. She didn't look forward to memorizing the three pages dedicated to Carlisle and his family.

Irene just laughed. She held out her hand and a note book and pen appeared on her hand. In a second the pen stood up of its own accord and started writing.

"Wow, I didn't think you had much power." Bella blushed as she spoke without thinking.

Irene laughed again. "Oh don't worry, you haven't offended me. By human standards, I have a quite a large amount of power. I can do smaller spells like this without much energy, just as you can. What separates us is that as a natural witch you have the capability to perform much larger magics."

Bella was surprised, she hadn't realized just how much Irene knew and was capable of. She felt rather ashamed for underestimating the woman just because she was human.

The pen stopped writing and Irene placed the pad of paper down and started scanning the titles again. "As for the second book … hmmm … enhancing the physical, I suppose …" Irene started mumbling to herself while bringing books to Bella.

Bella didn't question Irene how she knew that Bella was looking for spells to enhance her senses, strength, and resistance to pain. She just started her page turning again. It took half an hour to find the three spells she was looking for. Each time she found one, Irene would set the pen to its little dance, copying the spell word for word, while Bella kept searching.

Irene handed the note book to Bella and they both left the room, to go back to Irene's store.

When Bella stepped across the threshold, she felt something shift around her. She looked outside and noticed it was darker than it should have been. They had only been looking through the books for an hour or so. Bella looked up at the clock and saw that it was seven o'clock.

Irene must have noticed Bella's startled look because she quickly explained to Bella that time moves differently on different planes. "You should probably call your father to tell him that you're on your way home."

Bella nodded and Irene led Bella to her phone. Bella picked up the receiver and started to dial, when she realized the phone was dead. When she pointed this out to Irene, Irene looked rather torn and said that she didn't know what happened. Irene told Bella there was a pay phone two blocks down and one block over and she handed her some change.

Bella probably wouldn't have gone had she seen the expression on Irene's face or heard her say, "I'm sorry little one, but I can't interfere; be safe." She then entered her store and prayed to the goddess that Bella would be fine.

Bella was half way to the payphone when she started to get a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. She felt like someone was following, but every time she glanced back, no one was there. As she reached the payphone she heard a voice say, "Finally, little witch, you are all alone."

Bella froze with her hand on the payphone and turned around slowly. Directly behind her was a necromancer. Despite not ever having seen one before, she knew he was a necromancer by the bandolier of bells he wore across his chest.

"What do you want?" Bella asked willing her voice to be strong and not as frightened as she felt.

"Your powers." The necromancer stated smiling a cruel smile. "And to get them, you must die." And with that the necromancer started advancing on her brandishing an athame at her.

Bella was once again frozen in fear. No! She screamed at herself, I won't let this happen again! And with that she was able to briefly shake herself out of her frozen state. Not even registering the squeal of tire on asphalt, Bella concentrated hard, squinted her eyes and flung the necromancer into the opposite wall.

Bella turned to run away and was confronted with Edward's angry face.

Oh shit!