Chapter Twenty Nine

Billy

When Seth burst in dripping water all over the floor I knew things had gone badly wrong.

"We just heard from Sam, they're all dead except Leah who's a prisoner and he's on his way back. He said one of the leeches bit Bella Swan."

"All dead? Jake too?"

As I said this in shock Harry came through the door a face like thunder,

"Dead? Sam's the only one left? See what your plan got you? A whole generation of young men dead and my daughter in the hands of the Cullens"

"The pack knew the risks when they left Harry but it worked, they wont have died in vain, we have the excuse we need to kill the Cullens, every one of them."

"Who with Billy? Who is going to kill the Cullens? You? Me? Sue? The pack is gone, there is no one to kill the leeches."

He was right of course but all I could think of was my boy and avenging his murder.

"Seth, go fetch Quil and Sue. We'll contact Johnny H, he can't refuse us aid now, we'll use the other guardian tribes to help us eradicate the leeches."

Harry pointed a finger accusingly at me,

"Are you going to tell him what really happened Billy? If he finds out the truth after you lie to him it could mean the end for our tribe. We'll be out casts protected by no one."

"I'll tell him as much as he needs to make a decision Harry and you will keep your mouth shut. Don't forget your daughter is being held by the leeches and one wrong move from you, they'll kill her. Johnny H can send help to rescue her."

I slumped into one of the chairs as Seth left on his errand,

"Harry I know you disapproved of our methods and I agree the price was far too high but the leeches had already ruined the lives of our youths, this way they will never do so again. No more young people have to live with the curse of the wolf."

"And it was worth your son Jakes, life to realise that?"

"My son died a warriors death. You didn't see what this was doing to him Harry. Jake hated the very thought of phasing, he didn't want to be a party to any of it. He wanted to grow up, open a garage and find a wife, have children and live as a man. Instead he was forced to change his form and fight demons for us. Our elders should never have agreed to the treaty and now its gone, no vampires will ever find sanctuary here again."

There was no point in arguing with him and his points were valid but not at the cost of our young men, not at the cost of my daughter's life. I had no one to ask to help me rescue Leah unless Johnny H came through for us and if that were to happen I couldn't rock the boat. If he knew what had really happened he would cut us off completely and there would be no hope for my daughter.

Sam

As I entered the village I could see word had got round about the death of the pack, lights were off in the cabins as all the tribe sat around a bonfire talking quietly. Heads turned as I walked slowly to Billy's watching me in silence, did they blame me? None of them knew the truth, only that the pack were out and ambushed by the leeches. There was nothing I could say until I knew how the elders planned to approach the subject so I kept my peace. Seeing Harry in the cabin with the other elders I knew I might be in for a rough time. I had no idea where Leah was and even if I discovered her whereabouts I was alone and there was no way I could free her. Billy motioned me to sit down and Quil looked at me solemnly,

"We share your grief at the loss of your brothers Samuel but their deaths will not be in vain. We have discussed the matter and are about to contact Denali for help but before we do our story, the one we tell our leader, must be a constant one."

"You mean we can't slip up and tell the truth Quil"

I turned my gaze on Harry who was sitting forward in his chair,

"The truth is we tried to rid ourselves of the Cullens and died trying. That's a noble reason wouldn't you say?"

"Not when it involves plotting the death of an innocent human girl, no I don't think its noble at all."

"Bella Swan was involved with one of the leeches, they would never have left us in peace Harry. You are lucky, your daughter will be coming home soon, others have lost their kin. Would you make their loss in vain? We have it within our power to rid our lands of the leeches for ever now and I for one want that, we all do"

"Not at the loss of our honour Sam. That is a price we should never have to pay"

"And if you tell Johnny H the truth, what will it gain you? The ostracization of the Quileute tribe? Once the leeches know we are unprotected they would swarm in and our people would be wiped out. You have no choice Harry but to stand with us."

Harry

I got up from my chair shaking my head, I had done many things in my long life I was not proud of but this was a step too far,

"I cannot stand with you, I will not lie."

"Then leave, but when Leah's body is returned to you, if it is, remember that for her the sacrifice was wasted, her father condemned her and her people."

"Leah's death will be on your hands Sam, yours and the rest of you who sanctioned this plan. You have brought dishonour on our tribe and I cam only hang my head in shame that I didn't try to stop you. Sue, we're leaving"

I held out my hand to my wife and waited,

"Harry, if we leave we lose Leah."

"We've already lost her Sue, if not to death then to the honour she would have bestowed on us by being a guardian. I'm leaving Sue, if you stay then I can only grieve your loss too but I will not be a party to the lies and deception necessary to bring the other guardians in to help us."

I could see my wife was torn, like me she prayed for our daughter to survive and come home, but if the Cullens killed her it would be a just execution. Where had we gone so wrong? When had we lost our way?

It soon became obvious that Sue was not leaving with me,

"Please Harry, sit down and see what Johnny H has to say, he will get our daughter back I'm sure."

"No Sue. I will try to free our daughter in my own way but I will not be party to this, not any longer."

I turned and walked slowly from the cabin feeling twice my age and with the weight of the world on my shoulders. All I could do would be to talk to Carlisle Cullen and try to appeal to his inherent goodness. I didn't see him executing my daughter but The Major? Well he was another matter entirely. I hadn't told the others who the mystery man they had encountered was but they would learn soon enough and that would make the situation even more dangerous.