Raum

A Good Liar

Chapter 7: "Endangered"

Edward jumped from Bella's window and sprinted away. Only after covering several miles in the forest did he allow himself to stop and let out a desperate growl. What he had seen in Laurent's mind continued to haunt him. The fire had destroyed the vampire who had tried to steal Bella from him, but the memory of his last mental images wouldn't fade.

Laurent's thirst for Bella's blood had saturated his thoughts so completely that they had infected Edward as well. While reading Laurent's mind, Edward had remembered; he felt as if knives were cutting through his throat, as if he were burning from the inside. His mind had gone back to the alleys where he had stalked his prey, and the scorching flames he had repressed for decades had been fanned again. This time, the call hadn't come from some criminal's blood but from his Bella. Then the thirst had been overwhelmed by hatred for the monster who, in a matter of seconds, could have destroyed all that he cherished in the world. This is what my kind does, Edward thought. With every human we kill, we destroy all the people who lose a friend, a child, a lover because of our curse.

The moment when he had almost bitten Bella to change her resurfaced in his mind. He knelt in a small clearing and pummeled a rock until it was reduced to a pile of debris.

"What did I almost do?" he roared.

An image of Bella lingered in his thoughts; even in his rage, he could still feel her tenderness and the warmth of her love as she had told him that he was her choice. He had confessed to her how much he had suffered when he realized that he had lost his human life for good, yet she was still willing to give up her life for him. He buried his face in his hands, tugging at his hair.

"What should I do?" he groaned.

When he finally resolved to hunt, he did it without any pleasure. Mechanically, he followed the ingrained routine: he gulped down the nourishment that a deer provided him, hid the carcass and went to wash himself. Only when he headed toward Bella's room did he dare to hope again that his existence had a purpose.

He slipped in and stopped in his tracks. Bella had understood that Edward couldn't delay feeding himself and had let him go, promising that she would wait up for him. Instead...a smile passed over Edward's face as he saw her sleeping form. She had fallen asleep half-seated on her bed, with a pillow clutched in her arms. Even in coping with the trauma they had been through only a few hours ago, their kinds were different. While he had poured his anger out, letting his instincts take the lead, his little human had surrendered to the emotions that the past day had forced on her. He tucked her in and went to sit in the rocking chair in the corner. Eyes closed, he listened to Bella's calm breaths; they lulled him into an illusion of slumber.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Sunday morning was heralded by thunder and driving rain. Bella stirred and pulled the blanket almost over her head; for once she slept in, unaware of Edward's presence in her room. Her lips stretched in a satisfied smile as she basked in the warmth of her bed while the rain kept tapping on the window.

But her peace was soon stolen. Edward could pinpoint the moment when she came into consciousness and recalled the previous day; he cringed as he saw anguish spreading on her face at the memory.

"Edward," she gasped.

He rushed to cradle her in his arms. "It's over," he reassured. "You're safe."

She looked toward the door, fearing that she could have awoken her father. "Is Charlie still home?"

"He just left. He was called into work, since a couple of colleagues at the station are sick." Edward caressed her forehead and smoothed the crease between her eyebrows. "What are you thinking?" he asked softly.

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

"Bella, you can ask me anything."

"The wolf," she began. He tensed, and she noticed it but went on. "You talked to it as if it were a human. And why did it attack Laurent and not me? Did you know what was going on?"

He averted his eyes from her and swallowed hard, but the words didn't come out; so he just nodded.

"Would you tell me?" she urged.

"It's not my story to tell." His tone was kind, but his expression had hardened. "I have to follow the rules," he mumbled under his breath.

"Rules and secrets," she huffed. "You sound like–" She pressed a hand to her lips, preventing Jacob's name from being uttered. I'm not supposed to say anything about that, Jake had told her on that day at the reservation when he had disclosed the truth about the Cold Ones. The entire conversation with him came back to her. Bella had always focused only on the part about the vampires, but now she remembered something else. "The wolf legends," she went on, her eyes wide.

Edward broke their embrace and clenched his fists. "So much for secrecy. Is there anything Black hasn't spilled about the treaty?"

"At least he didn't keep things from me," she retorted.

He narrowed his eyes. "Didn't he? How long has it been since you last saw him?"

She pursed her lips in a tight line. "A while," she murmured. "We fought over...well, over my choices, and I didn't think I'd be welcome at the reservation anymore." She shrugged. "Last time I heard, he had mono."

"Mono?" he scoffed. "Is that what they're calling it now?"

Bella frowned. "What do you mean?"

He paced back and forth in the room.

"Come on, Edward," she pressed. "Are we still in a place where I can't be trusted with the truth?"

"I'm not the one who lied to you this time."

"So why aren't you talking to me?" she cried.

"Fine," he snapped. "The russet wolf you saw yesterday is Jacob Black. What he's got isn't mono, it's lycanthropy. Can you understand now why I didn't want you to hang out with the Quileutes?"

"That's absurd!" Bella tried to protest. "Jake said the werewolves were only myths."

Edward quirked an eyebrow at her. "Are we talking about creatures who aren't supposed to exist?" he mocked.

Bella froze. Laurent's kicks to Jacob's flank echoed in her mind, and the memory of the wounded wolf on the ground made her shudder. "Is he...?" She couldn't finish the question.

"He'll be fine," Edward rushed to reassure her. "He was in serious condition, but the wolves recover fast."

"Jake could have died saving me. It's my fault."

"No." Edward took her hand in his. "You don't have anything to feel guilty about."

For a while Bella was lost in her thoughts. "I have to go and talk with him."

"Can't you just give him a phone call?" Edward suggested.

"I've known him for years," she whispered, her voice hollow. "I opened up to him, and he kept this from me."

Edward sighed, understanding where her thoughts were leading her.

Bella swallowed hard, blinking back the angry tears threatening to spill out. "What else am I going to find out? First your lies, now Jake's. Who's the next one who won't trust me?"

He considered many things he could have told her, but thought better and just held her close to his chest.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

For the first time since he'd come back to Forks, Edward actually felt trapped. He wanted to escort Bella as far as the treaty allowed him, but it would have meant going out and about on a Sunday morning in a town where he was believed dead. Too risky. He couldn't do more than make Bella promise she would keep her phone switched on while she was at the reservation and that her visit would be short.

For the first time since she'd known the Blacks, Bella wasn't given a warm welcome at the door.

"Hi, Bella. I guess you came for Jake," Billy told her hastily, still on the doorstep. "But like I already told Charlie, he's got mono, and–"

"I wish it was mono," Bella countered. "I know about the wolf legends. Please don't pretend with me."

Taken aback by her words, Billy opened his mouth, but didn't speak.

"I didn't know the wolf who saved me was Jake, but I saw how hurt he was," Bella went on, her voice trembling. "I just want to visit him."

Billy's expression hardened as she recalled the circumstances which had almost cost his son his life. "He's going to be fine, but now he needs his rest. I'll tell him you came."

"Thank you," she muttered. She started walking toward her truck. At least Edward will be pleased. That visit was definitely short.

Billy called her back. "I'm sorry I've been rude," he apologized. "But I've gone through a lot lately. I spoke with the Elders, and we're all astonished by what that Cullen boy did in the woods. I could have never imagined that one of...them would fight against his own kind to protect a human."

"The Cullens respect the treaty and would never hurt a human," Bella assured. "Edward fought for Jake, too. He saved your son's life."

Billy looked at her in disbelief as she defended the Cullens. "Edward?" he murmured. "At first, when Sam told me that he was alive and back, I almost didn't believe him."

At the mention of Sam, Bella remembered the black wolf who had come out to help Jake; he seemed to be a leader for the other wolves she had spotted in the forest.

"Does Charlie know about this?" Billy went on, angered that his best friend's daughter had chosen one of those bloodsuckers.

Bella flushed at his question. "No, Billy, please. Don't say anything to Charlie."

"Even if I wanted to, I can't talk to him about it. The treaty is still in place, and given what Cullen did, the pack will stay away from him. But as long as the Cold Ones are here, more of our boys will turn into wolves." Billy cringed. He had hoped that Jake wouldn't experience the curse of his wolf heritage and could have a peaceful life, but his hopes had been crushed. "The Elders decided that all the Cullens have to leave," he stated. "But we don't want a war, so I'm willing to give them some time, despite what a couple members of the council suggested."

"I don't think Edward's family is going to come back," Bella admitted. "Anyway, the vampire who attacked Jake and me didn't come because of the Cullens. He came because of me."

"I know." Billy shut his eyes, shaking his head, as if he were having trouble continuing. "The council discussed it, too. Bella, as Charlie's daughter and Jake's best friend, you're family. But your presence here is attracting the worst danger for our tribe." He bowed his head and stared at the hands in his lap. He was a father, too, and couldn't imagine how hurt Charlie would be if he knew the truth.

Bella considered the plans she and Edward were making; she was still determined to leave for college, so he wouldn't have to hide anymore. "I'll leave after graduation."

Billy acknowledged her words with a nod. "That's a good decision. The sooner Cullen's gone, too, the better. If he's still here by summer, I don't know how it'll be possible to avoid a fight."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Back in her car, Bella clicked on the little keys of her cell phone as fast as she could, eager to get in touch with Edward. "I need to talk to you. May I come to your place?" she wrote.

The answer arrived before she had started the truck. "I'm waiting for you at the intersection. Drive safely."

She left the main road and came in sight. As soon as she pulled over, Edward climbed into her car. He circled her shoulders and inhaled her scent deeply, letting out a breath of relief. "How did it go?" he asked.

Jake is my best friend, and yet I couldn't talk to him, she wanted to tell him. She had been denied even the chance to say goodbye to her friend. "I talked with Billy. Jacob needed to rest."

Edward led her inside his house, and they nestled on the couch. He had turned on the heat, guessing that Bella would enjoy some warmth on such a cold and rainy day, and the living room was now cozy. When he draped a blanket around her and kissed her lightly on the lips, she gave him a small smile – the first since she had come back from the reservation.

"The visit didn't go well, did it?"

She shrugged. "Billy thinks it's better if you leave. The Quileutes are grateful for what you did for Jake, but they believe that if you stay, other young men will turn into werewolves."

"The vampire who made them change is now reduced to ashes," Edward pointed out.

Bella tried to keep her tone calm, despite the memory of Laurent's attack. "We can leave anyway, can't we? There's no need for me to stay here after I graduate."

Her tension didn't go unnoticed. Edward put a finger under her chin and tilted up her head until her eyes met his. "Is it your decision, or have the Quileutes told you something?"

Bella kept her voice as steady as possible, choosing her words carefully. "Billy told me it's better if I leave, too."

"How dare they?" Edward growled. "This is your home. They can't force you to do anything!"

She leaned a hand on his cheek and went closer to him. "It's not a big deal, really, and it makes sense. It's not your presence that is really worrying the tribe. Laurent came here because of me, and it's me Victoria is hunting down. If I leave, Charlie and the Quileutes would be safe."

Edward's expression hardened. "Victoria will be taken care of," he vowed, his voice low and cold.

"It's too risky," she objected. She recalled the fight between Laurent and Edward and couldn't stand the thought that Edward would risk his life again to protect her.

"It's necessary," he retorted. "I've waited too long. I should have ended her sooner, but I'm going to fix my mistake. Jasper is helping me track her. She won't have a chance."

"No, Edward, please," Bella pleaded. "You and your family are putting your lives at stake because of me. If something happened to Jasper, what would become of Alice?" Tears prickled at her eyes as she mentioned her best friend.

Edward's expression softened. "As soon as Victoria's found, I'll be the one who will descend on her. I'm not going to endanger Jasper or anyone else. He volunteered to help me, since he has more experience than I with strategies and tracking." He paused; when he spoke again, his voice was shy. "It's his way to reconnect with me after what happened at your birthday party."

Bella reached out for Edward's hand and caressed it. "I forgave Jasper a long time ago," she told him quietly. "I can imagine how hard the last months have been on him. You don't even need to imagine it, since you can read his thoughts. Please, don't carry a grudge."

Edward brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. "The thought of losing you..." he murmured, his voice pained.

She moved closer to him. "I know," she sighed. She took a deep breath before speaking again. "If you're going to fight Victoria–"

"Not if. When," he said curtly.

"You don't have to fight her alone."

He frowned. "Jasper is already helping me."

"I wasn't talking about him."

Edward quirked an eyebrow at her.

"If I were changed, I wouldn't be a liability," Bella suggested. "I might help."

"No," he countered.

"There wouldn't actually be any need to track her, since she wouldn't pose a danger for me anymore," she insisted.

"No," he snapped. A veil of sadness clouded his expression. "If you're still willing to be changed, I'll accept it. But it will be a free choice, not because of this."

"I decided long ago," she retorted.

He looked at her straight in the eyes, his gaze fierce and determined. "I won't let you come into this existence out of fear or because you feel that it's the only way to escape from danger," he promised.

"What about your fears? First James, now Laurent and Victoria...I don't want you to be afraid to lose me."

He shook his head as if trying to rid himself of the idea. "If something happened to me after you'd already been changed..." he mumbled.

Bella's eyes widened. "Don't even say it," she breathed.

She had never considered it, but Edward's course of thoughts was clear. In her eyes, he was indestructible, while she was the weak mortal. But should she lose Edward after her change, she would lose her only reason to abandon her human life. She would be alone, trapped in an endless existence and without any way back. Just the idea of him facing Victoria made her shudder. While no other human had witnessed two vampires fighting and stayed alive after that, Bella had seen Edward go up against James and then kill Laurent to protect her. They were immortal, strong, and unstoppable – and yet they each had been destroyed. Their fate could just as easily have been Edward's.

The memory of Laurent's final message from Victoria sent a shiver down Bella's back.

A mate for a mate.

Thanks for reading!

The next chapter is due to be posted in two weeks. Due to the possible presence of juicy yellow fruits, the rating of this story might change to M in the following chapter. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, An Italian Winter is now complete, and I'm working on new stories.

Thank you! to my wonderful friends Camilla10, Miaokuancha, Marlena580, and Jmolly.

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