Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Venom

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 26:

Jake POV

The disaster was worse than we thought at first. Eighty six people, including Chris died. One hundred and twenty tribe members sustained injuries.

There was absolutely no way to keep this a secret. 911 had been called and Forks EMS responded. Soon Port Angeles EMS was on scene as well. Police could not be stopped. With police came the feds. They had been investigating the nearby town that had been eradicated by Irkalla so they were already close. The FBI felt that Agent Burk must have followed a lead and been taken. Agents interviewed everyone they could talk to. Most people were confused and had been running in terror. Not many people saw us. Those that did mentioned seeing large wolves attacking the superhuman killers and saving them. The FBI passed off wolf sightings as delusions of panicked people. I wondered how long though that would remain. If enough… it didn’t matter. I debated telling the feds. I talked to Dad about it. The Council held a secret meeting. All vampires though were burned. Without a body we would have to phase to prove the truth. No one wanted the feds to know about us. Who knows what they would try to do. Labs and tests immediately popped into my head. Let them hear their tales of giant wolves. They didn’t know who we were. They certainly couldn’t prove it.

The Pack had avoided the feds. Unfortunately my father could not. As Chief of the tribe he basically had to say he was not here at the time of the attack. Someone told a fed that my father had been in a wheelchair for the past fifteen years. Questions were asked about his health. Old Quil cited tribal medicine and patient confidentiality.

This whole thing was a fucking mess. Chris had been declared dead on scene by Charlie. He falsified the cause of death as blood loss by a wound to the neck. The bullet went through his body and was recovered by Old Quil. We didn’t need a bullet from Charlie’s gun found in the body. An autopsy would be problematic. Sue was working on it. She thought she may be able to falsify an autopsy report that could be slipped into the others.

Two people died of broken necks.

They had been turning.

I was holding Bella who had passed out from hyperventilating. I didn’t know.

Sam did it. He hasn’t spoken much since then.

The Makah reservation had set up shelters for the survivors while the investigation was going on and homes could be rebuilt. Funerals however would have to be had on tribal land. Emily’s sister and brother in law would be buried here. Emily’s parents died four years ago in a car wreck. She now had custody of Claire, Quil’s unexpected imprint. We haven’t even been able to comprehend what the hell that is all about. Chris would also be buried here.

Bella told me once that the vampires took Serena’s body, hoping that she had somehow the bracelet had merged into her body. He never found her body.

The man saved four imprints. He would be here, where his grave could be tended and he could be honored.

Bella was in Forks with Renee, Charlie and Dad. Dad was explaining the legends. Legends seemed a silly word. Legends are stories. What we dealt with was very real. I decided I had enough of looking at the destruction. My house had been flattened, the leeches being drawn to my scent I’m sure. The shed remained unharmed. Rachel was packing everything with me. We would be staying at Charlie’s. With La Push empty after the funerals the whole pack would be staying in Forks until we could decide our next move.

My phone buzzed. I hoped it was Bella. She had been so quiet. She ate what was put in front of her but she seemed lifeless. I wanted to do more than hold her but I didn’t know what. I had absolutely no words to comfort her now. Because of what she learned from Burk’s head we made it in time to save many lives. But she blamed the deaths on herself. I don’t know what she thought she could have done differently. I should have left more wolves behind. But the numbers… the only reason we won that fight, if it could be called winning, is because Bella levitated forty feet in the air and began firing incredibly powerful explosions of raw energy from her right hand with uncanny accuracy, destroying every vampire she hit with a single blast.

I admit watching her I was in awe and a bit afraid. Her eyes were solid black. Still beautiful but so not her. I loved her with everything I had in me but in my dreams her brown eyes were looking into mine.

“Jake?”

I turned to see Embry had showed up. I figured he would be helping his Mom move to her mother’s. She was giving him hell about not coming. It was becoming clear to me that the parents would have to know everything. I really didn’t see much point in keeping the secret from those who needed to know. Parents were going to need to know. After what happened in La Push and growing up around the legends, it shouldn’t be hard to convince them.

“Yeah Embry?”

“I need your help, man.”

“Mom giving you hell?” I guessed.

“No. It’s Quil.”

Oh. Yeah.

“Where is he?”

“At the spot we used to camp. Jake he’s messed up. He is real messed up. This imprint has him freaking out. He feels Chris died because of him. He’s afraid Bella is going to hate him forever. He thinks everyone is going to see him as a child molester or something and Emily and Sam will hate him. He’s messed up Jake. He won’t listen to me. But…”

“You think he will listen to me?”

“Could you try?”

I nodded. Of course I would. He and Embry were my best friends. Always had been and always would be. They were also my pack. We were all hurting. If I could lessen that I would.

I ran towards our old hang out in the woods. I stayed human but picked up speed when I hit the trees. I wanted no one phasing while the feds were here. There really wasn’t a Rez to protect right now. Just land. The tribe that made it home had scattered for now.

I found him ten minutes later sitting in a tree house we had set up when we were kids. His eyes were open. They were blood shot. He had been crying. It was a look I recognized well in many faces, mine included.

“Hey buddy,” I greeted him, having a seat on the floor next to him.

“Jake. Embry tell you to come talk to me?”

“He said you had a lot of shit you were dealing with and you might need to talk.” I acknowledged.

“We all got shit Jake. All of us. How is Bella?”

“She is…” I stared to say fine. But there was no point in lying, “not good.”

Quil nodded.

“She hates me, doesn’t she?”

“What? Quil, Bella does not hate you. Nobody blames you. It was not your fault. You had no way of knowing that would happen.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the imprint.

“Jake how is this even possible? What the hell is wrong with me?”

“What the hell makes you think something is wrong with you?”

“I imprinted on a baby? She is three! Paul gets Rachel, Jared gets Kim, you and Bella may as well have imprinted. Sam and Emily! I… Jake! I mean c’mon. What kind of freak am I? I get that I’m immature but really? I’m supposed to wait until she is what? Eighteen? Nineteen? Hope she wants a guy older than her. I don’t even want that Jake!”

“Damn it Quil why does no one remember what was said about imprinting? It says the imprint makes the wolf a better person. The wolf will be what the imprint needs. It never said it was an instant girlfriend. It doesn’t have to be a girlfriend at all! Remember? Be whatever the imprint needs. Lover, brother, best friend? Just because the other imprinted couples are lovers doesn’t mean they all have to be. Have you thought that this will allow you to have any relationship you want without having to worry about imprinting on a female who needs a boyfriend?”

“I thought we couldn’t have relationships outside of an imprint?” he asked quietly.

“Maybe because all the imprints so far have been couples. With an imprint who didn’t need that who knows what could happen? How do you feel about her Quil?”

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

“I just want to protect her. I want her safe.” He whispered.

“It’s obvious you are supposed to be a protector. A guide. A big brother. Maybe a father figure. You realize you imprinted on her seconds after both her parents died? That’s what she needs Quil.”

“You think so? I’m no father figure Jake. She will have Sam for that. How the hell am I going to help raise her when I’m a kid myself? How can I have a relationship with a girl where a child is more important than a girlfriend or a wife?”

“Every parent in the world does it.” I told him honestly. Except maybe Renee but I will keep that thought to myself.

“Yeah. I guess. But me Jake?”

“The imprint makes the wolf better as well. Maybe you need to grow up a little bit.” I told him bluntly.

Judging by his silence maybe I was too blunt.

“You’re right Jake.”

“Quil you are a fun guy. You make people laugh. That’s a good thing. But you also need to temper that some. I’m not saying you should change who you are. You are a good person .A weird person but a good person. Your one of my best friends. Don’t change who you are. Just be what that little girl needs. She needs family. Be family.”

Quil nodded and then hugged me. It wasn’t the first time. Quil was a hugger.

He left the tree house and took off for La Push. I think it would be time to call a meeting. We needed to get issues in the open. We needed to be on the same page. I couldn’t sit back and wait for Dad to make decisions. He had enough to deal with. I needed my Pack united and in the right frame of mind. As much as possible.

I was about to get down when I heard him. Footsteps in the forest. Human scent. Must be one of the feds.

Then I smelt the other scent. That sweet bitter scent of decay.

A vampire. Must be a straggler. Looking over the remains of the last attack. Maybe curiosity brought him here.

He couldn’t see me. He wasn’t looking in my direction anyway. He was smiling from the top of a tree at the man in the suit looking intently at the ground.

The vampire looked like a typical teen. His hair looked like it belonged in the seventies so he must have been a teen for a while now.

This was going to be a problem. I couldn’t save the agent without revealing what I was. I recognized him. He met with my Dad. He was the head agent in charge. Fucking great.

The vampire moved closer. I was a hundred feet away. If I saved this guy it would cause so many fucking problems.

Still enough people had died. I would deal with the consequences. If nothing else, maybe no one would believe him.

The leech was making his move. Time to make mine.

Bella POV

I should have felt anger. Annoyance. Something. I felt nothing, listening to Renee rant and rave.

Billy had explained everything to her. Faced with what she saw in La Push the problem was not convincing her that we were telling the truth. The problem is she did not like the truth.

“I can’t believe you Charlie! I would have believed you! You could have told me. You could have shown me these giant wolves. Instead you let our daughter go off to Wyoming with strangers for 6 months when she was near death? You didn’t go with her? What the hell is wrong with you? She was nearly killed? You are encouraging this?”

Charlie sat with his head down. Billy as well.

“Shut up.”

I looked up to see who said that and realized I did.

“Bella…”

“Shut up. I brought you here for your safety. Not for a damn lecture. I’ve taken care of you damn near my whole life. I love you but you are not going to come in here and yell at Dad. Shut up.”

Okay, I was beginning to feel annoyed.

“Bella…”

“Why don’t you ask yourself why it was so easy for us to fool you?” I suggested.

“Wh… what?”

“I honestly thought it would be a problem. How will we keep Mom from visiting? She will want to be there for graduation. What will we do? She will know something is up. How can I disappear for so long and she be kept in the dark. Impossible right? I mean this is my mom we are talking about. Sure I moved here so she could have fun with her boy toy but she would be involved in my life. She would want to come down and meet boyfriends. Especially after she saw how tore up I was after Sam pulled me out of the forest. Mom will want to visit often to make sure I’m okay.”

Renee said nothing so I continued. I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t have to and I wasn’t in the mood.

“But it was easy. Even when Charlie told you I was hiding from the Cullen’s and we told them I was living in Florida. I figured you would ask questions. No. Truthfully I could still be in Wyoming and you wouldn’t have a clue. Not a damn clue. Why didn’t Charlie tell you? Why the hell should he? Why should I? Obviously La Push isn’t as safe as I thought it would be. Nowhere is safe. So why don’t you go back to Florida? Dad and I take care of each other. I don’t need you here. I asked you down because I love you and wanted you safe but if you think you are going to come down and second guess Dad after everything he has been through you can leave here and go to hell. People have died. I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

I stood up and walked outside. I needed air. I needed… Jake. I needed some warmth.

I opened my mind to see if he was phased. I know he told the Pack not to. Not with the FBI swarming La Push but it was worth a shot.

He was phased. He was… A fucking leech. Damn it! Oh shit. A Fed. He is going to see everything. He is going to freak.

I had to get there. I ran to the woods behind the backyard and armored up. Only one way to get there in time.

“ Jake?”

“ Bella?”

“ Take him out. I’m coming baby.”

My wings spread and I shot up over the trees. I could feel Jake’s location. As long as I didn’t think about it, I would find him quickly. Ever since we marked each other I am always aware of his general location, even subconsciously.

I watched him fight the leech through his eyes. The vampire really had no chance. He was fighting the most powerful wolf in Quileute history. My man. It was a foregone conclusion.

Jake cracked the bastards head off as I flew over. The agent was on his ass on the ground watching. Of course he wouldn’t run. That may be best… wait. Jake turned towards him. Phase already Jake.

That asshole pulled his gun. He’s pointing it at him.

“ Bella if I phase he will recognize me.”

“ Well you are scaring the fuck out of him right now.”

“ What do you want me to do?”

“ Wag your tail or something! He’s pulling a gun!”

I freaked. Jake would not be hurt.

The agent fired as I landed in front of Jake. Landing, I placed my right hand up and my glove spread wide blocking the bullet.

“Have you lost your fucking mind?!” I screamed at the agent. He jumped back. I suppose the two of us did make a site.

“Uh… freeze?” He raised his gun again. I reached out with my grappling hook and grabbed it, throwing it to my feet.

“Want to guess what I am grabbing next if you point a gun at me again?” I asked.

“ Bella?” Jake asked in my head.

“ Don’t phase. I will handle this.”

“What are you? What was he? What is that dog behind you?” he stuttered.

“He is a wolf. Not a dog. Show some respect. You would be a bloodless corpse right now if not for him. What is your name?”

“Uh… I’m FBI. I’ll ask the questions,” he tried.

“You don’t have a gun. I can fly and I have a giant wolf behind me. I’ll ask the questions.”

“Fair enough.” He whispered.

I walked closer to him. He was looking at my…

I realized I didn’t have much armor on. I spread the thankfully silver metal over my body completely. No reason to give a free show.

“How… what are you wearing?”

“I ask the questions. What is your name?”

“Graham Levoi.”

He was a good looking guy. Sandy blond hair, around 6’2″. Looked to be in decent shape. Hopefully he had a brain in his head.

“Look me in the eyes.” He was still gazing at my outfit. He looked up and I locked onto his gaze.

“You never saw the wolf. You were never attacked. You never saw me. You are going to forget this happened.” I told him softly.

He blinked.

“Lady, if I live to be a hundred I will never forget what just happened.”

“ That didn’t work.” Jake unnecessarily pointed out in my head.

“ His mind is too strong.”

“ Can you try harder?”

“ I might inadvertently give him a lobotomy.” I pointed out.

“Agent Levoi we have a problem. You were almost killed by a vampire. That thing on the ground is a vampire. Around fifty of those things attacked La Push two days ago. Armies of these things have been destroying cities in the US and Europe. But I’m afraid I can’t let the government find out about the giant wolf behind me. I imagine that will bring a whole slew of problems we don’t need. So what am I going to do with you?”

He backed up.

“Did you just see me drop from the sky? Did you see how fast this wolf is? Where do you think you are going to go?” I asked him.

“I suppose we can keep this to ourselves. I go my way and you two go yours?” He asked.

“Really? I’m supposed to buy that?” I grinned.

“I…” he shut up. At least he wasn’t a liar.

I looked to Jake. He rolled his eyes.

“ Sorry. Maybe I should have let the leech have him.” Jake said.

“ It’s not who you are baby.” I thought back to him.

“Agent Levoi, I need you to come with me. I am going to explain everything. I believe you are a man of your word or you would have lied to me just now. It is important you keep your mouth shut. After I explain everything to you, you will give me your word to keep this to yourself.”

“If I don’t?” he whispered.

“I have made many hard decisions over the past week. I hope you won’t force me to make another hard decision. But if I have to, I will. Let’s go.”

“ Bella?”

“ Go home Jake. I will see you at Charlie’s. I will handle this.”

“ Bella don’t kill him.”

“ I won’t.” I told him. It disturbed me a bit that he would think I would. It also disturbed me that the thought crossed my mind.

“ Just burn the damn thing Jake. I will see you in a couple hours.”

I grabbed Levoi by his shoulders. He stiffened up.

“You afraid of heights Graham?”

“I don’t think so.” He told me, looking very nervous.

“Hold on then.”

I lifted him off the ground and he threw his arms around my shoulders. There was only one place I could think to take him. Halfway up a mountain to a certain meadow. It was a good place to show off.

We landed five minutes later. Despite the soft landing, he vomited when his feet hit the ground. Luckily I was able to jump back before he spewed on me. Gross. Chris would be laughing his ass off at me.

That thought brought me down.

“So what are you going to do with me?” Graham looked nervous. Understandable.

“I’m going to tell you a story. You are going to listen. Then we will talk about where we go from here.

The story took longer than a couple hours. When it was over. Agent Levoi vomited again.

I sat on the ground and relaxed while he gathered himself together.

He finally sat down across from me on the ground.

“So you and this pack of wolves… what are you planning on doing now?”

“I learned quite a bit from Burk’s mind. I know some highly placed leeches posing as humans in government. Highly placed government officials. I’m going after them. I also have a general idea of where large groups of vampires that Irkalla left behind are feeding. At least the areas. I’m going to look for them. I don’t expect them to stay together, now that the central leadership is out. I am concerned some of these other highly placed vampires may try to take her place and run their own revolution. That’s why they have to go. The numbers will be higher for a few years but my friends and I are going to do our best to knock them back before they get any idea of going public. That’s the best I got right now.”

Graham nodded.

“You don’t think the government can take the body parts of these things and figure out a way to kill them?”

“No. I don’t.”

Graham said nothing.

“I’m sorry about your friend.” I told him Chris was killed by a vampire. As far as I was concerned he was.

I simply looked away. I couldn’t think about it right now.

“So where do we go from here?” Graham asked.

“I suppose that’s up to you.” I told him honestly.

“Keep my mouth shut or die?” he chuckled. There was no humor in it.

“No. I’m not a killer. At least of humans. If you say anything, I am taking my friends and disappearing. I won’t let the government take them. The government sure as hell won’t take me. What you will do is instead of me spending my time ridding the world of these fucking monsters, I will spend my time hiding from your people and doing my best not to kill them. I need you on board Agent Levoi.”

Graham stood up and walked around for a bit. Perhaps I should throw some tree limbs and tell him he couldn’t outrun me. Call him my lamb or something.

“ Let’s not.” Jake said in my head.

“ Still phased?” I knew he had been listening.

“ Yep.”

“ Where are you at?” I knew he was close.

“ About a hundred yards away. You think I would be far away?”

“ Never crossed my mind.” I told him truthfully.

“Okay, Graham said. Suddenly.

“Okay?”

“Okay. I’ll keep this to myself. I’ll help keep this stuff about wolves in the dark. But I want in.”

“You want in?” I asked.

“Yeah. We are going to work together. You are going to need someone inside the Government. Someone who can help cover things up, get you information on people. I can help you. I can’t just learn this and close my eyes and pretend it didn’t happen. I want to help.”

“Why? Why do you want this nightmare?” I certainly didn’t.

“What is more important than this Bella? I got into law enforcement to help people. To protect. I can’t imagine a bigger threat. I want in.”

“People have died, who have tried to help.”

“I got no family, no kids, no girlfriend. My career is my life. I want in Bella. I can help you.”

“ He’s right Bella.” Jake concurred. Maybe the spirits were giving us a break.

I reached out my hand. He took it. “Welcome aboard Agent Levoi. Give me your number. I will call you. We will be having a planning meeting tomorrow night. I will let you know the time and place.”

“Tomorrow night? Shouldn’t we do this sooner?”

“No. First I have… I have to bury my friend tomorrow morning. Tomorrow night we make our plans.”

“How am I going to get back? I have to make sure the interviews are continuing and start to look for statements I may have to hide.”

“I’ll fly you back to where you left your gun.”

“Do we have to?”

“You can ride the giant wolf if you prefer.” I told him.

“I guess flying it is.”

I dropped Agent Levoi off and took off immediately for home. It was amazing how natural this flying thing was becoming. I knew I was becoming stronger. Stronger every day. I wondered when it would end. What would I be capable of next month? Would the whites of my eyes turn black? When would I be more witch than human? Would Jake still want me?

When I reached home, to my surprise Renee was waiting in the backyard sitting in a lawn chair. I looked down and was surprised to see my armor was still silver. Of course I hadn’t actually fought anything today.

“Mom? What are you doing out here?”

“Waiting for my super heroine daughter to drop down from the sky.” She grinned a little at least when she said it. Even in the dark I could tell she had been crying.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I realize it was a lot to take in.”

“Yes but you said nothing that wasn’t true. I have been kind of a horrible mother.”

“You aren’t horrible. I shouldn’t have… we lied to you. I guess we should have told you.”

“No. I would have freaked. Charlie handled it much better than I would. I apologized to him. I would like to stay. Bring Phil if you don’t mind. I want to be here. I want to try to support you. I’m proud of you. I’m scared to death after hearing what you have had. How you were injured…”

“They told you that!” Damn it.

“I wanted to know Bella. I wanted to know everything.”

I looked at the ground. I really didn’t know what to say. Usually moments like this I would talk to Chris.

That brought tears to my eyes.

Mom wrapped her arms around me. My armor didn’t bother her apparently.

“Shhh, don’t cry baby. It will be okay.”

“It won’t Mom.”

“Yes it will. You are strong. It will be okay.” She kissed my cheek. I looked over her shoulder and saw Jake and Dad standing by the window watching.

“I don’t know what we are going to be doing Mom. I don’t know where safe is anymore. But we will figure it out tomorrow. Tell Phil to fly down here. We will find a safe place.” I whispered in her ear.

“Why don’t you come inside and eat? Billy said all your friends are coming. This Pack? Sam is feeling very down. Emily is upset. It sounds like you all need to be together tonight.”

I wasn’t hungry. But if I didn’t eat, Jake would be upset. It would be good for everyone to be together. We needed each other.

“Okay. But I need to do something first. You can help me.”

“Anything Bella.”

“I need to cut my hair. Then I have to figure out what I am going to say at Chris’s funeral. I have to get ready to say goodbye.”

I needed to grieve. Then it would be time to move. No more surprise attacks. No more waiting for vampires to show themselves.

I would grieve. Then I would hunt.