A/N: I own nothing including the character I am playing with in this story. I appreciate the chance to use them though.
I know I am using a lot of varying POVs, but I just want to make sure everyone is hear. If it is driving you crazy, please let me know, (or if you love it, let me know that to).
Oh yeah, also, all errors are mine. No Beta is involved in this story, but if one would like to be, let me know!
Chapter 6
Carlisle POV
"We ask? How do you suggest we do this, Edward?" I was floored by the suggestion that the wolves would even consider helping us.
"Carlisle, why wouldn't they help us? They hate everything we are and everything we represent. Why wouldn't they do everything they could to change what we are?" Edward was clearly convinced that this would work.
"OK, Edward, I'll make a call to the tribal council and ask to set up a meeting?" This should be interesting.
I walked into my office and closed the door. I know my family would be nervous about this meeting—the Quileutes were always uncomfortable with us and I had no way of knowing if we would be meeting with the elders or if we would be meeting the new generation of wolves.
Picking up the phone, I dialed the main office at the Quileute Nation. After a few transfers, I was waiting for Chief Black to get on the line.
"Hello"
"Good morning, Chief Black, this is Carlisle Cullen."
"What do you need, Dr. Cullen?" I could hear the hesitancy in his voice immediately.
"I was hoping to schedule a time to meet with you and anyone else you deem necessary to discuss something." I know I was being vague, but how do I explain exactly what I wanted over the phone.
"Why?" He was already getting aggravated. How could this work if I can't even get the meeting scheduled?
"Please, Chief Black. I think you will find it in your interest to meet with us. I believe you will be happy with the developments we wish to discuss with you."
Silence
"Chief?"
"Fine. How does tomorrow, sunset work for you?" I knew he was uncomfortable with this, but I'm sure he felt he owed it to his tribe to be sure the treaty was left intact.
"Yes, that will be perfect. Shall we meet at our home, your office, or someplace more neutral?"
"I think someplace neutral. The treaty line just 30 feet north of the 110."
"Very well. We'll see you then."
No sooner did I hang up the phone that my entire family came bursting through the door. They were silent—waiting for me to fill them in on the details of the conversation. "We will meet tomorrow at sunset near the treaty line."
After some discussion, it was decided that Edward and I would attend the meeting. No doubt they would have a more than just the Chief in the meeting. Edward was obviously needed to explain his plan and of course, I would attend as the family spokesperson. We didn't want to overwhelm them with vampires. Less was definitely more in this case.
It had been 69 years since I last met with the Quileutes. That meeting had been fraught with animosity on both sides. I needed to be sure that this meeting went far smoother that the previous.
Thankfully it was a sunny day today and we wouldn't have to meet in the rain. Not that our group minded the rain, but the humans would be uncomfortable and cold. We needed to be sure that we had ample time to explain what we were asking and answer any questions, without the need to break for weather.
Alice had been trying to get visions all day to tell us what the results of this meeting would be, but she could get none. It was making Jasper nervous and the rest of the family was feeling those effects.
Finally, it was 5:30 in the evening and time to leave for the treaty line. We decided to drive instead of running. They know we are different, but there was no need to rub it in. We climbed into the Mercedes and I drove the speed limit out toward the treaty line, pulling over on an emergency shoulder 30 yards from the line.
I could immediately smell four individuals. They were out of view, just north of the line, but I knew two were either wolves or would be soon enough. As we came through the clearing, I was surprised to see the one in the center was in a wheelchair. I addressed him directly.
"Chief Black, thank you for meeting with us on such short notice. Allow me to introduce my son, Edward." I pointed him as I made the introduction and they nodded slightly. None of us wanted to make sudden movements. If the boy wolves had not yet been changed, we certainly didn't want to be the proverbial straw.
"Dr. Cullen," the Chief nodded in my direction. "This is Harry Clearwater, one of our tribal elders, Sam Uley, and my son, Jacob. Harry and I are familiar with the terms of the treaty. Sam has a… well, he has a vested interest in the outcome of our talks. And Jacob is in line to replace me as Chief so he should be a part of any conversation we have."
"It's my great pleasure to meet you all. Let's get right to it shall we. Edward?"
Edward stepped forward and addressed the men in front of us. He explained the experiments we have conducted and the results we had achieved to date. He was very clear and concise without going into too may technical details. Then he explained the trouble we had with finding a way to inject the serum into one of our systems to take the test to the next level.
The men were hanging on his every word and I could tell that they were intrigued. I was beginning to think that Edward might have been right.
Jacob POV
What a day this had been.
Dad woke me up late in the morning telling me that I didn't have to go to school today because he needed me for some tribe business. (At least I got to sleep in!) Then he spent the next three hours re-telling some of the tribal legends to me, as if I hadn't heard them a million times.
As if my day wasn't strange enough, he then went on to tell me that it was all real and gave me the writings of Taha Aki for me to review.
At 3 o'clock, Sam Uley came over and showed me just how real the legends were. Holy shit! I mean HOLY SHIT. My mind was still reeling from that revelation.
Then, to top off the strangest day ever, I had to meet with "The Cold Ones." Not their descendants—no—the actual Cold Ones from our legends. At least it couldn't get any odder that this, right?
WRONG!
Now, the young one is telling us that he can cure them with some antidote they have concocted in their garage, but they need our help to inject it. Would someone please pinch me, because I must be having some sort of weird, spicy food induced, dream.
Edward POV
"So you see, we need some way to inject the serum into our systems. Even the strongest metals in the world cannot penetrate our skin. But, your wolves can bite through our flesh like they are biting into a stick of butter. If we could somehow get a tooth from one of your wolves, hollow it out, and use it to inject the antidote, I believe it would cut deep enough to make a difference."
They were all just staring at me but their thoughts were clear. The Chief was intrigued by the possibility of eliminating the Cold Ones as they called us. His fellow elder was unsure if we were telling the truth. He wasn't sure why, if we were in fact capable of reversing the "curse" as he called it, we would. He didn't understand why we would give up immortality. Sam, the wolf—yes, he had made the change already—was tempted to change now and test the theory that his teeth could cut into us like butter. The young one, Jacob, was the only one who thought this was a good idea.
"Why not. I mean it's a tooth, right. Why not give them a tooth or two and let them try it. What do we have to lose?"
Sam was the one to finally speak up. "When do you need our decision?"
"As soon as possible would be great. Carlisle and I have concluded our tests and are ready to move on to the next phase of the experiment. We would need the tooth for that phase."
The Chief cleared his throat. "Can you give us a minute?"
Carlisle smiled as kindly as he could and nodded. They moved off into the woods and began quietly talking. We could hear every word, but kept that to ourselves. Why ruin the illusion of privacy?
About twenty minutes later, the Quileutes came back to the clearing with straight faces. Of course, I knew their decision before Chief Black spoke. I couldn't wait to get started!
"We will give you two teeth to start. Sam has agreed to the … donation. In return, we have some conditions."
Carlisle waved his hand at the wrist encouraging Chief Black to continue.
"First, Sam and one other wolf will be present at the time of the experiment. We want to be sure that the antidote works as you say it will and doesn't change you to the non-vegetarian kind. Second, if it does work, we want a supply to be kept on hand on the reservation. That way, we can change any nomads we come across if needed. Lastly, you will tell us all you know of the vampire world so we can fill out our legends and make sure future generations know about your world."
"Edward, is this amenable to you?" Carlisle and my silent conversation continued through the pros and cons of agreeing, but really, we both knew the answer before they finished with the conditions.
"Done." Carlisle moved to shake the Chief's hand. "We will make arrangements in the next week or two to remove the tooth and begin the process. I assume you have no problem with me doing the removal? It would be difficult to explain to any other health care provider."
"That's fine, Dr. Cullen. Let Billy know when you are ready and I will come to you."
We all shook hands and left the clearing. Now we just needed to decide who went first. Most of the family was against animal testing so Carlisle had decided to skip that phase. He thought it was only right to test the antidote on him. After all, he was the reason we were here in the first place. But I had other plans.
I was the only one unattached. If something went wrong with anyone else, we would lose two family members—the one who was injected and his or her mate. Yes, I would be the guinea pig. I had only my life to lose and so much to gain—like a real relationship with Bella!