Hunter

Yeah, I know. I'm a bastard. But I'm updating now, so you just behave. This chapter is really short, but let me just remind you that it's a filler until I get to Part 2.

You guys would not believe the week I've had. My entire county was completely snowed-in. They actually had to rescue some people on the 402 with helicopters because of the weather. I had to wade through thigh-deep snow just to get out of my driveway! The power shut off twice, which is just perfect considering the temperature's -15 degrees Celsius (5 Fahrenheit)! My house was freezing! I had to go over to a neighbour's house, but of course, their generator broke down. Man, I hate winter!

The only good thing that's happened is that I've started reading Let Me In A.K.A Let The Right One In. It's another vampire book, but it seems more in line with canon vampire lore. I like it.

Oh, and I might as well tell you now. Edward is going to leave her, but I'm going to change how she reacts, and what she does during those four months before she befriends Jacob.

Anyway, here's chapter seventeen. Enjoy!

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Bella's POV

"You don't have to stay here," I explained to my silent vampire boyfriend. I knew he was there, hovering over me as I lay on my back, underneath the Impala. There was definitely an oil leak. I hoped I could fix it before it started to rain again.

We were back in Forks. I had all of Renée's journals and research tucked away in my room. It looked interesting, but I couldn't bring myself to read any of it just yet. It felt too invasive. Renée never let me look at her journal without permission, and that discipline seemed to reach past the grave.

We'd burned her body in a desert near Phoenix. Phil's too. We'd found it in their hotel room. Luckily, the manager hadn't checked on them, otherwise we would've had a bunch of nosey cops asking unanswerable questions.

I had my own questions, like why the hell was a demon so interested in killing Renée? Sure, Hunters were pests, but this seemed so…personal.

"I want to be here," Edward told me. "Are you sure you don't need any help? Rosalie-"

I snorted loudly. "If you think I'm letting that Thorn anywhere near my baby, you must be missing a few buttons from your remote control."

Edward was silent for a few seconds. "Why do you call her Thorn?" he asked.

"You know the old saying, 'Every rose has its thorns.' I thought it was appropriate."

"I wish you'd try to get along with her better."

"I will when she stops acting like a royal bitch!" With that, I shimmied out from under the car and then popped the hood. Everything was fine, but I needed something to do with my hands. I grabbed a wrench and started tightening every slightly loose bolt.

"I'll talk to her if you want. She really is sorry about how she's treated you, but she just doesn't know how to apologize for it."

This placating, cautious Edward got on my nerves. I wished he would just yell at me to stop being so childish. Mom would never let me get away with this attitude.

But, mom's not here right now.

I paused for half a second, then resumed tightening another bolt. "It's not that hard. All she has to do is say, 'Gee Bella, I'm so sorry I insulted your mother and basically mocked your entire heritage. I know that you've spent your whole life saving people, something that I have never even thought to do despite my supernatural advantage. I really hope you can forgive me for being such an asshole even though I'm scum compared to you, and I hope you'll accept an invitation to a fancy ball where we can get dressed up in sexy dresses and show off our ridiculously hot boyfriends.' Honestly, is that really so difficult?"

Edward said nothing, just wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and rested his chin on my head. I stopped moving and breathed in his scent, forcing myself to calm down.

"That's the first time you've mentioned your mother since…" He trailed off.

"Since James used her for a chew toy?" I finished bitterly. I felt Edward flinch and he stepped away, leaving me feeling empty.

"Do you think…maybe…you should talk to someone?" he asked hesitantly. "I don't mean a psychiatrist or anything. Just someone who'll listen. You haven't even told anyone at school. Maybe the school counsellor-"

"Who? Landon? Great idea, Superman. I'll just chat with the guy who thought Renée was abusing me! Come on, Edward, I'm seventeen. Next thing I know I'll be in some foster home with people who won't let me salt the windows or use protective symbols! I might as well just call up Alastair and tell him to send a hellhound to pick me up." I tightened the last bolt with a flourish and slammed the hood down harder than necessary. I turned around and finally met his eyes.

Edward looked awkward, nervous. I was scaring him, I knew, but I just couldn't make myself stop snapping.

"Maybe you could talk to me," he ventured one last time.

I needed him to leave, before I lost it.

"You know, you're right," I said, watching his face fill up with hope. I didn't want to crush it, but the words kept coming. "Come here, I want to lay my head gently on your shoulder. We can cry, hug, maybe even slow dance."

The hope vanished as he realized I was mocking him. Worst of all, I didn't see anger, just pity. I hated that.

"Can you please just leave me alone for a little while?" I begged.

He couldn't deny me that. Slowly, he walked to his car, nodding at me as he drove past.

I leaned against the Impala, closed my eyes, and tried to pretend that any minute Renée would yell at me to get in the car, that we were leaving for another town to kill another monster.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't summon her face or her voice without remembering the edge of panic from my vision, or her body at my feet.

James's death had been too quick. I hoped Alastair was tearing him to pieces right now.

I stood up slowly, opened my eyes…and then slammed the wrench into the windshield of my car.

The glass shattered, falling onto the seats in all different sizes and shapes. I brought the long wrench up again and pounded it against the hood of the car, denting it. I did this again and again until I lost count, until the metal was twisted and gnarled like a rocky cliff side. Then I started on the driver's door, slamming into the handle until it broke off and clattered to the ground. It was only after I heard the sound that I realized I was crying.

I threw the wrench at the front door of my house and collapsed, my back pressed against the side of my car. I put my hands over my face and screamed, not caring if anyone heard me. I tasted blood and realized that I'd cut my hand. I licked the rusty liquid, savouring the burn it caused in my throat. I wanted revenge. I wanted to bathe in the blood of that yellow-eyed son of a bitch, and I wanted to be the one that made him bleed.

I am going to find you, I vowed. And when I do, God help me…

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Like I said, short, but this is just a filler. I'll update again soon. You'll get to see some of the things Renée has been doing since Bella came back, and you might be surprised.

Later, guys.