Chapter 15: Back to Forks
The airport was empty except for a handful of people. We had no baggage to give and I wanted to keep my laptop and purse. We sat in silence. I was dreading our return. Truth is I had not prepared myself for it. Not the funeral but simply the town and what it stood for. We boarded the plain. It was midnight and we'd land in Port Angeles in 7 hours. I asked for a pillow and slept most of the flight. Dad did the same. We were woken up by the stewardess a few minutes before landing. It was raining. I tried not to take it like a sign but compared to the sunny days in Mystic Falls it was difficult. We hailed a taxi and went home. The funeral would be held at the rez at 11 o'clock. That gave us at least 4 hours to relax and get ready, as dad wanted to go earlier.
I retreated to my room to lay down for a while and text Angie and Mike to tell them I was back today and call Elena to see if there were news about Caroline. I wanted to talk to Damon too but he didn't answer his phone. I took a shower and got dressed in a black pair of jeans & a simple black top. Dad was similarly dressed in a black suit that actually buttoned! Considering that dad and I have the same love for shopping I'm pretty sure he has this tuxedo since I was born.
'I guess being around a few women helps', I thought dryly.
Since dad was on leave we took the impala and I drove. Dad was too busy staring out of the window and frankly who can blame him. He, Harry and Billy were friends before I was even born. I reached and touched his shoulder.
I pulled put of Billy's house and we walked the short distance to Harry's. A few half naked men were waiting outside; I could hear them speak in hushed voices about a leech. Apparently a 'leech' was lurking around town the last days but left this morning. One of them was ... Jake?
"Jacob?"
He turned and looked at me with a cold gaze. I couldn't help but straighten up as well.
"I guess you're not sick anymore"
"And you're back"
"Shouldn't I be?"
He was about to say something but an old man came out and shushed the men. After that he said the funeral was about to start. I turned and walked up to dad who was sitting next to Billy. Billy nodded when he saw me and I did the same. It was a somber affair. A few people took the step to give eulogies. Billy spoke about Harry and their friendship. His wife Sue was next and spoke about what a good man he was and last was one of the half naked men who talked about his legacy. I felt eyes on me and I turned to look behind me and I saw the rest of the half naked men all glaring. When the funeral was over dad and I stood by Sue who turned to dad's chest to cry and Billy, and Harry's kids. I remembered his daughter from my childhood visits here. I didn't remember his son but I did remember Harry had a daughter. I heard a hiss and a low growl. I turned to see Harry's daughter Leah who was shaking. Badly. Instinctively I took a step to the side and she did the same.
"Leah?"
"You! It's your fault and you show up at my father's funeral?"
"What are you talking about Leah?"
"Don't play innocent!"
"What did I do?"
Her shaking got worse, one of the men tried to calm her down but she wasn't listening, instead she got closer to me and shook harder. I screamed as she exploded and instinctively threw my hands up. In her place was a massive, long, lean grey animal. A wolf? I felt my eyes widen as the full extend of La Push legends came back to me. Werewolves.
"Another legend claims that we descended from wolves — and that the wolves are our brothers still. It's against tribal law to kill them. Then there are the stories about the cold ones." His voice dropped a little lower.
"The cold ones?" I asked, not faking my intrigue now.
"Yes. There are stories of the cold ones as old as the wolf legends, and some much more recent. According to legend, my own great-grandfather knew some of them. He was the one who made the treaty that kept them off our land." He rolled his eyes.
"Your great-grandfather?" I encouraged.
"He was a tribal elder, like my father. You see, the cold ones are the natural enemies of the wolf—well, not the wolf, really, but the wolves that turn into men, like our ancestors. You would call them werewolves."
"It's true"
"Bella?"
"You're werewolves"
The girl (?) in front of me kept hissing and growling and I realized that while I was lost in thought she had gotten a lot closer and was almost touching me. She leapt and I closed my eyes waiting to me hit but nothing happened. Slowly I opened my eyes to see her fallen on the side staring at me surprised. I looked around to see everyone looking at us. Dad was almost white as he turned to Billy demanding explanations, about Leah about everything and what I meant by werewolves. Billy remained silent. I had enough and I spoke up.
"The local legends say the rez men turn into wolves' dad"
"Is it true?"
Billy still refused to answer so dad kept going
"Of course it's true I just saw it. Why didn't you ever tell me? Is anyone going to talk?"
"I'll tell you. But first let's sit down"
Billy said and moved in the direction of his house. We all took a seat in the back yard. Leah had calmed down and was back to human and dressed in a black sundress.
As we were all together Billy started talking about the local legends. He did say that vampires or cold ones to be precise are enemies of werewolves but didn't name the cold ones as Cullens. To say dad was pissed would be an understatement. He was hurt and angry.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I couldn't"
"You didn't trust me?"
"We aren't allowed"
"Allowed?"
"By whom Billy?"
"Chief of the tribe"
"Last time I checked you are the chief"
"I was the last chief, Charlie. But now since the werewolf gene is activated Sam is the alpha and chief"
"Jake told me the legends last year. I put two and two together today when Leah..."
"So Jake was allowed but you weren't? Do you even buy what you're selling Billy? How stupid do you think I am?"
"It wasn't up to me"
Dad shook his head sadly
"Yes, it was. You, Harry and I have been friends for years, you should have trusted me, and you couldn't. There is a whole part of you and I don't know it. I'm sorry Billy but I don't know you"
He got up and I followed, we got in the car and drove home. The fridge was empty so we made a quick stop at the grocery store to get a six pack and we sat in the back yard.
"There is something else dad"
"What?"
"The other half of the la push legends is also true. There are cold ones."
"What? Here? Who?"
"Who do they hate dad? The Cullens are vampires"
"What? They look nothing like the ones in Mystic Falls."
"They're different species, I'm sure if Carlisle were here he'd explain it."
"How long have you known?"
"Almost since the beginning"
At dad's 'what the heck' look I kept talking and ended up telling him everything. Starting with the Tyler's van and finishing with my birthday and Victoria's visit the night before we left. In his favor dad didn't freak out but accepted it. He didn't like the fact that he'd been lied to but understood my reasoning. I told him about James biting me and the improvements I saw in myself, including my balance and the Gilbert device working on me. Dad simply chuckled and told me that at least I wouldn't bear anymore bruised everywhere I went. I stuck my tongue out at him.
His phone rang and it was Liz Forbes. Caroline was still in ICU and the mayor was dead. He had gone down when the Gilbert device worked and his death was still unknown to the public. She needed help and asked dad if we'd go back. There was a possibility they might need a new chief as sheriff Forbes was the only member of the founding families still alive. John Gilbert had been found stabbed to death, the mayor was dead and his wife wasn't herself a descendant but simply married to one and the Salvatore brothers are too young. Dad earned their trust. At his questioning glance I nodded. A new start was something we needed. He agreed and we'd return within the week. We decided he'd keep his job here considering he had about one more week of vacation and I still had spring break ahead of me. We'd see how things went at Mystic Falls and decide later. I went to bed for a while to check my emails and dad wanted to see TV. On my pillow were a letter and a box.
Dear Bella,
Thank you for agreeing to talk to me the other day. I admit I was so intent on revenge I could easily harm you. Thinking of your story I went in Phoenix first. I found James dismembered in a basement underneath the dance studio. There is something else you need to know. We weren't in Forks on that field by accident. Alice Brandon or Cullen invited us there. We were supposed to scare you but it went out of hand. I can't explain more in a letter. This is our cell phone number; feel free to call if you need anything. We both owe you. 4087304133 (fictional number obviously).
ps I found a loose board in your floor, the box was inside.
Victoria, James
I just sat there and re read the letter. James was alive and off my trail. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry considering he claimed that Alice invited them. I wanted to call but was it a good idea? Wasn't I supposed to look forward? I moved to the box. It was my birthday presents. The photos, the plane tickets, Alice's necklace, everything. I started crying in anger and went downstairs to show them to dad who got mad when he read the letter and saw the box. HE let me cry on his shoulder. I slept for a few hours. When I woke up I felt a lot better and remembered the plane tickets. They were for Jacksonville and under my name. The good thing was their expiration date was not until spring break. We had enough time to use them.
I grabbed them and went downstairs to find Angie, Ben & Mike setting up two pizzas and dad almost out of the door.
"Hello"
"Bella!" Angie rushed to give me a hug.
"We brought dinner and we'll see movies." Mike said
"O...K..."
"I'll go out for a while Bells."
"Ok dad, be careful and don't drive if you drink too much, ok?"
Dad nodded and I settled in for a movie night with my friends. I had missed them so much. We had fun watching a mix of comedies and horror films. Angie tried to interrogate me about the boys in mystic falls and if I planned on replacing them all for new people. Shocked I replied no, I just made a couple more friends.
Next thing I knew it was morning and dad was waking everyone up with coffee to go to school. I bid my friends goodbye and promised to meet them after school. Over breakfast I told dad about the tickets and that we could leave anytime. We only needed to change them. So we decided we'd do the same thing we did by coming here.
We'd change them for a night flight for Richmond. My car should be in the parking lot still. The question was, were we coming back after or staying in Mystic Falls?
