November 20, 2011
Hello, lovely readers,
This chapter essentially sets the stage for the rest of the story, so I will leave you to the intrigue, except to say: feel free to message me with any questions, comments, concerns, about this chapter or any previous chapters, and I will be happy to answer them as well as I can!
Until next time,
evelyn-shaye
Special thanks to my permanent betas, lost in his golden eyes and Nikki Halen. I'm so grateful to have found two ladies with such wonderful insights.
Chapter Five: Confrontation
We passed the rest of the day in tense silence. Even with Alice's assurance that our gathering this afternoon would be peaceful, my family remained uneasy. Jake was forced to keep a polite distance from me, painfully aware that we were still under first-day scrutiny, but Daddy stayed close by my side and never let go of Momma's hand, his narrowed eyes flitting between each of us at rapid interval. His intensity startled a few innocent freshmen passing by.
So much for making friends with them later, I thought somewhat bitterly. This was not the first day of school that I had envisioned. A part of me had really wanted the option of sitting with Jacob and a few humans at lunch today. The only real humans I spent time with were Grandpa Charlie, Grandma Sue, Billy, Claire, and Emily, and with perfect recall, I knew every little detail about their mortal lives. The thrill of high school was to learn even more, complete the insecure transition into adolescence, and finally develop significant friendships, wasn't it? I hated to miss out from day one.
In spite of that setback, though, I was glad for their company. Were I a typical human teenager, I should have felt awkward toward their protective stances, but I understood that my family needed tangible reassurance of my safety. The mood had shifted from relatively joyful – at least on my part – to potentially dangerous in a short hour.
Momma seemed as nervous as Daddy, no doubt remembering the pain and fear that she'd felt when the Volturi had moved in to destroy me five years ago. It was the same expression that captured her features any time I confronted my prey on a hunt, dropped twenty feet from a tree branch, or came home late from La Push; no matter the threat, I was still vulnerable in her eyes. I squeezed her hand and sent her a happy memory, trying to stave off the worry, but she managed only a weak smile that didn't touch her panicked eyes.
To be honest, I felt a bit like a rebellious teenager and thought that my family was overreacting. Of course I was concerned, but my curiosity far outweighed any nervousness about the upcoming meeting. Daddy glared at me, perhaps skeptical or concerned for my sanity, so I reasoned with him silently.
There's the possibility that these vampires are friendly and prepared to form a sort of alliance, Daddy. If they're agreeable, maybe we could teach them to hunt vegetarian-style. It would probably make attending school easier for them.
He rolled his eyes, not convinced, but momentarily appeased. He could never argue when I sounded so optimistic and compassionate.
Daddy snorted. "Try 'naïve,'" he muttered, but his tone was light. Apparently, I was forgiven for my attitude before. He nodded shortly.
The moment the final bell rang, our family gathered in the hall to make our plans. All around us, human hearts pounded with exertion and excitement as they rushed to their lockers and met up with friends. Not too many tried to engage us in the hall, although a few watched us wistfully; apparently, we were already established as our own separate, unattainable unit.
"When, Alice?" Momma asked quietly, her voice edgy. Daddy was already peering through my aunt's thoughts; he didn't seem too alarmed, but his posture didn't change.
"Their plans haven't changed since lunch hour," she replied. My mind processed her assumed meaning: They aren't interested in a fight…yet. "We will meet them at the left end of the lot in eight minutes, once the initial crowd has pulled out."
We made our way slowly down the hall, trying to blend in with the humans. Jacob and I led the way, and for the second time that day, I reached for his hand and squeezed it tight. He smiled encouragingly but dropped my hand after a meaningful glance from my father.
"Oh, Jacob," Alice called. We turned to face her. "When we get there, keep toward the back of our group with Nessie. It'll help me see if their intent changes, and we don't want to throw them too many surprises at once."
"Do Nessie and I even need to come?" Jacob ventured, wrapping his arm around me protectively. "We could head home and let Carlisle know what's going on." Again, my mind jumped to its own conclusions: He wants me as far from the confrontation as possible. My heart warmed a little.
"Carlisle already knows," Daddy answered dismissively. "We informed him of the situation after lunch. And while I agree that Nessie's safety is a priority, it's pretty likely that the coven has already associated both of you with us. We would gain nothing by withholding your existence from them." He stroked Momma's hand when she frowned.
"The positioning is more of a convenience than a precaution," Alice added. "I have to see." She scowled at the ground, bemused by the limit to her extraordinary talent. Beside her, Jasper cocked his head at me questioningly, and I blushed. I hadn't realized that Jasper's talent had registered my seemingly small reaction to Jacob's protective instinct. I would have to control my shifting emotions around him.
We exited the school and crossed the parking lot under an overcast sky. I was relieved that the sun had no plans to shine today; this meeting could be crucial, and we would need all the cover we could get. I glanced around to see if we drew any attention, but the humans were focused on their new class schedules, back-to-school outfits, and summer relationships, glancing up at random to admire us before returning to the real world.
Hopefully, I would have the chance to truly interact with and learn from my mortal peers before everyone settled into a routine. I wanted to experience human life for myself and not solely from my family's stories and memories.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on this hope, however. We were nearing the edge of the parking lot, where the traditional coven waited in defensive stances.
In the moment it took to reach them, I studied them. The boy in front, presumably their leader, was taller than Daddy, with short, jet black hair and maroon eyes. He had his arms positioned stiffly at his side, as if to fend off an unexpected attack, but they hung casually enough that no human would take notice.
The other boy was shorter, with fair hair that fell gently across his forehead and around his face. He watched us warily from black eyes, the tell-tale sign of thirst, and had his arm wrapped loosely around his mate's waist. The girl was stunningly beautiful. She looked almost Hispanic, with light tan skin and thick black hair that was brushed into a loose fishtail. Her eyes, though, were deep brown, as opposed to the normal red irises associated with our kind.
Daddy addressed us, softly enough that the other vampires would not overhear. "The girl has a practical talent that I've never seen before. She can change her appearance…to an extent. Her height and body structure don't change, but she has control over her eyes, hair, and skin tone. She uses it to appear more human, but it can also be used as an effective disguise."
Jacob tensed beside me, always wary about extra talents, but I nodded with interest. It was, indeed, very practical and a talent that I bet Rosalie would've enjoyed experimenting with.
"Is it a true physical transformation or a mental illusion?" Rosalie asked, confirming my assumption.
Everyone turned to Momma for the answer; if the girl's talent affected the mind, Bella's gift would counter it. "She appears to me to have light brown skin, dark hair, and brown eyes," she informed us. "Is that how you perceive her?" Everyone nodded.
"Completely physical. Much more useful than an illusion," Daddy muttered thoughtfully.
"Do the other two have talents?" Emmett wanted to know.
Daddy delved into their thoughts. "The girl's mate has emphasized intelligence and problem-solving abilities, useful for impossible codes, though it's not an actual talent," he informed us. "Their leader possesses strong leadership skills. That may be a talent, because he is gifted in drawing people to himself and persuading them to follow."
"Is that similar to Chelsea's talent?" Momma asked. "Could he break some ties and solidify others?"
Daddy shrugged. "I don't think he's that powerful. He probably uses it for more practical reasons, since he travels only in a group of three."
Momma nodded thoughtfully. Behind her, Jasper mused with Emmett about the leader's potential talent and how it would play out in a battle situation, and Rosalie muttered nearly indistinctly and with a hint of jealousy about the girl's ability to change her appearance. It seemed that we had much to learn about this coven besides what Daddy had already discovered for us.
The three of them shifted forward slightly as we approached. We fell into a close but fairly relaxed formation, with Daddy, Momma, and Alice in the front, Jasper immediately behind her and beside Rosalie and Emmett, and Jacob and me at the back. That suited me well, even though it was more difficult to see the other coven. I felt more than secure behind my family.
Daddy spoke up first. "Hello," he greeted neutrally.
"Are you the leader of this coven?" the boy with dark hair asked abruptly, abandoning pleasantries. His voice was low but fluid, like cello music, and carried a slight English lilt.
"No, I'm not," Daddy answered. "Our leader and his mate have outside professions. I act only as spokesperson for our coven."
The boy visibly relaxed, and his two companions did the same. "My name is Braden," he informed us. "This is my sister, Leanna, and her mate, Ashton." Leanna waved shyly, while Ashton merely nodded.
Daddy inclined his head in acknowledgement. "I am Edward. This is my mate, Bella; Jasper and Alice; Emmett and Rosalie; and Jacob and Renesmee. We have recently moved here from the Seattle area."
"What brings you to Westhope?" Braden inquired politely. I guessed that he was getting a feel for us, trying to decide if we were a threat.
"Risk of exposure. We'd lived in Forks for over a decade. Some humans were starting to notice."
Braden laughed shortly. "The drawback of attempting to coexist," he remarked. "Though I wonder how your coven escaped notice for that long. I see you have two misfits in your group." He turned narrowed eyes to Jacob and me, his face implying mistrust and detest.
My breath hitched with fear and I instinctively stepped closer to Jake, who stiffened beside me and gripped my hand protectively. "We are not vampires," he confirmed, "but we remain with the Cullen coven for as long as they desire our company." His voice rang with the finality of an Alpha wolf.
Leanna gasped softly, and the boys' eyes widened. "The famous Cullen coven," Leanna breathed in awe.
"You've heard of us?" Momm asked, surprised.
"You're legend among the nomads that witnessed your triumph over the Volturi five years ago," Braden explained, his eyes shining with grudging admiration. "Your story has spread far—farther, I'm sure, than you ever expected and the Volturi ever desired." He laughed again, more loudly this time. His tone of voice and exaggerated reaction suggested nervousness, and I felt a little calmer knowing that we had the upper hand.
"Edward the mind-reader," Leanna murmured. "Bella the shield. Alice, who sees visions. Jasper, who controls emotions. Your talents are world-renowned."
"But then…" Ashton spoke for the first time. His voice was a quiet tenor, whether from shyness or admiration, I couldn't tell. "The girl, Renesmee, is your half-human daughter. And Jacob is one of the shape-shifters."
His and Leanna's eyes turned fearful, and Braden tensed in front of them. Daddy glanced anxiously at Alice, but she made no movement. Jacob wrapped both his arms around me, and I willingly stepped behind him and leaned into his back, barely peeking around his side to see. I didn't like the mistrusting expression on Braden's face or the fact that I couldn't tell what Alice saw in our near future.
"How can you travel with a natural enemy?" Braden accused tightly. "I can smell his stench from here and feel his detestable heat."
Jake quivered against me, offended by Braden's assessment and still wary of the threat to my safety. I reached my hand to his neck and showed him my worry and my desire for him to be calm. Losing your temper won't help anyone right now, and you couldn't phase with me right here anyway.
He stopped shaking immediately but gripped my hand in his. I squeezed him back in response.
In front of us, my entire family, even Rosalie, had crouched defensively. "Jacob and his pack were a key component to our victory five years ago," Momma said venomously. I had never heard such anger in her voice. "He has offered his protection to our daughter and our coven. He poses no threat to us."
Braden stepped back and held his palms forward in surrender. "Forgive us," he pleaded, his voice overly earnest compared to his previous anger. "We don't normally take too kindly to wolves, or to shape-shifters of any kind. I'm sure even you can understand that."
Daddy opened his arms slightly, as if accepting Braden's apology. "Of course. It is difficult even for some of our closest friends to accept our truce with the La Push pack." Braden relaxed, but Daddy's tone was too careful to be truly forgiving. I wished that I could see his face!
"Wait a second," Jacob interrupted. His face was twisted strangely; I didn't recognize his expression. "You mentioned 'shape-shifters of any kind.' You've met others?"
Leanna's mouth fell open in shock, but Braden glared at Jacob. "Surely you know that you're not the only mythological creatures on this earth?" Braden's voice rose sharply. He sounded slightly hysterical, or perhaps merely defensive. "Shape-shifters are many and varied, not limited to a small pack of wolves!"
Leanna leaned forward and made to speak. Braden turned and hissed at her, causing her to skitter back. Ashton stroked her hand with his thumb and watched Braden carefully. His other hand twitched as if to defend his mate, but some unseen force restrained him. Perhaps he couldn't attack because Braden was Leanna's brother?
I watched Braden, too. His response was too evasive, and he certainly didn't need that much force behind it. He was hiding something, something that Leanna seemed prepared to explain but Braden was determined not to reveal.
My family members muttered angrily amongst themselves. Alice, however, interrupted their muted discussion. "No, Edward," she whispered urgently. Everyone faced her. "Goading him will only lead to a fight. He will not reveal this information now."
"When, then?" Emmett demanded, but Alice didn't answer.
Daddy quickly addressed the leader again, his voice more diplomatic. "Braden, perhaps we could move on to another matter. Would your coven consider meeting with our leader to discuss division of territory? We wouldn't want to infringe on your claim to the area."
Braden calmed at his words. "Of course, we'd be happy to exchange hunting strategies," he agreed. "We planned to hunt tonight, so perhaps we could convene at your house on Wednesday night?"
"That would be perfect," Daddy answered. I could hear the relieved smile in his voice. "Until then, we will postpone any further conversation of this nature."
"Absolutely. We can keep our distance at school until an agreement is reached," Braden said, reading the double meaning of my father's words.
Without another word, Braden led his companions away from the parking lot and into the trees that lined both sides of the school. Only when their forms disappeared from view did our group finally relax and expand into a circle.
"Alice, will they track us today?" Daddy asked quietly.
Alice closed her eyes in concentration. When she reopened them, her expression was confused. "No. They're on their way home, and they will hunt once the sun sets."
"Who do they plan to hunt?" Rosalie asked. "That could answer our questions from lunch today."
"I'm not exactly sure," she said in a small voice.
Everyone fell silent. "What do you mean, you're not sure?" Daddy asked stiffly. He read her thoughts and gasped.
"We need to talk to Carlisle," Alice said quickly.
"Yes, we do," Daddy agreed. He looked worried about whatever he'd seen.
He sighed. "Worried doesn't even begin to cover it, Nessie," he muttered. Momma glanced at him nervously.
"Let's go home," he finally said.
No one was left in the parking lot, so we moved with inhuman speed to climb into our two cars. Jake and I slid into the backseat of the Volvo so that Momma could sit up front with Daddy.
I shivered involuntarily. "That was too weird," I muttered to Jacob.
Jake nodded vigorously and wrapped his arm around me again. "I don't trust them at all, and not just because they're normal vampires." He shuddered with disgust. "They were definitely hiding something about shape-shifters, and as one, I feel that I have the right to know."
I agreed with Jacob wholeheartedly. My thoughts returned to my childhood games at playing shape-shifters. So the legends were true? What effect would their existence have on our lives if they were? All at once, I felt both excited and terrified.
"Carlisle will know what to do," Momma said with false confidence. Her attempt fell flat.
We sat in silence for the rest of the ride home. I rested my head on Jake's shoulder, drawing comfort from my protector. He kissed my hair and held me gently. For some reason, my heart fluttered faster than usual.