Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Venom

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 28:

Bella POV

I loved this spot. A little clearing by a slowly moving creek. It has always been my favorite place to meditate. It was where Quil first taught me to meditate. I had no idea of how long I had been here. I came at sun up and lost myself.

The peace was amazing. I felt so grounded here at the ranch. It was easier to fight my urges. I hadn’t left this place since we arrived a week ago.

Still though my urges had not completely gone away. Some urges I simply had to scratch. I was drawn out of my center by the shuffling of his feet. Opening my eyes slowly I turned and saw him leaning against a tree. He had that cocky little smile that seemed to be his favorite facial expression, second perhaps to his scowl. He was only wearing denim cut offs. I took a deep breath and stood.

“Good morning Paul.”

“Jake took Rachel and Rebecca into Casper.” He told me stepping closer.

“You really want to do this?” I asked, grinning.

“Oh yeah. I’ve wanted to do this since the first time I saw you when you came back from this place. It’s long overdue.”

“You are a bad boy aren’t you? Not afraid of Jake finding out?”

“He might. I’m good at controlling my thoughts though. I’ll take my chances. This is worth it.”

“When Jake finds out you touched me, oh Paul… I mean the idea of you throwing me to the ground. He will go absolutely homicidal. I’m sure you are having enough problems keeping your thoughts about what you want to do to his sister out of your head. What about Rachel? What would she say?”

He was so excited. I could tell by the look in his pretty eyes. He wanted me so badly.

“Again. Worth it.” He whispered.

“Lead the way then. It’s your funeral. He won’t take it out on me. He will blame you.” I said quietly, trying to hide the excitement in my voice. God I wanted this.

He walked out of the small patch of woods into the open plains.

“So how do you want to do this?” I asked him, my body shivering a bit from the adrenalin I was feeling.

“You take off your clothes. I’ll take off mine and we let nature take its course.”

I looked to my left. There they were. Quil, Embry and Jared. The three new kids were here also. Ricky Greene, Brian Thome and Eric Uley, Sam’s cousin on his father’s side. All 16 years old and all full of energy. I could see the excitement in their eyes. Babies.

“So are you first Paul? Or am I taking all of you at once?”

“Think you can handle all of us? I doubt you can handle me, Swan.” Paul challenged me.

“Oh I can handle all of you and more.”

“Don’t get cocky Paul. She has taken you down twice and hasn’t been really trying.” A new voice said from behind me. That was a surprise.

“Billy? What are you doing here? I didn’t figure you would approve.” The sly old man.

“I’m here to make sure that no one gets carried away. The young ones stay out of this. They are just here to observe. To see how it is done.” Billy told me smiling.

“Well by all means, let’s show them how it’s done Paul.” I took my shirt and bra off and slipped out of my boots. Dropping my jeans and panties I stood clad in bright silver armor. Quil looked nervous.

“We need to talk about rules first,” he said.

“Rules?” I asked. This was war. Practice war anyway.

“Yeah. We are here to show the new guys how to fight a vampire. So you need to act like a vampire.”

“What are you talking about Quil?” I sighed. I was not biting anyone. It was Jared who answered.

“No swords or other sharp objects. We don’t want to be neutered. No flames or those energy blasts you shoot out of your hand. No mind control, yeah we know about it. No flying. No making things around you move and fly at us. No hocus pocus. None of that Spider Man grappling hook thing you shoot out of your hand. You get pinned, you’re down, you touch us with your head, and we are down. Straight up strength and fighting skill. None of those tricks you pull. And if your armor turns black we are calling it a draw and getting the hell out of here. Don’t chase us.”

I nodded. I could agree to those…

“And no nut shots.” Paul added on.

“Bullshit. They can get hit in a fight with a vampire they are fair game.” I glared at him.

He looked worried for the first time. Too damn bad.

“Fine,” he huffed

I turned around while they dropped their shorts and phased. Turning back quickly, I saw Billy had ushered the boys away and were watching the four big canines, about to get their furry asses kicked. Billy was giving them pointers. The puppies circled me.

Time to play.

Jake POV

Rachel and I had brought Rebecca to a diner. It was three so the place was practically empty. We hoped getting her away from the ranch and others we could talk to her in a place she felt less pressure.

We had been at the ranch for a week. Chris’s contractors had been busy while he was in La Push. Four large houses, two stories each, containing eight bedrooms, were waiting for us.

We definitely needed the room. All the Packs parents who were around and involved in their kid’s life had been told along with Kim’s parents. The three new wolves’ parents were killed in the assault on La Push. Those boys were focused. They wanted revenge. That was a good thing but it would need to be controlled.

We had a show and tell session at a clearing, Bella said the Cullen’s played baseball at once, where she first saw the nomads.

The parents saw. A few flipped out. Dad calmed them down. Sue helped as well. Old Quil… probably should have stayed quiet but we managed. Everyone was on board. Even Renee… to a point.

She couldn’t convince her ballplayer to play ball. She made up multiple lies to get him to come to Casper. She told him Bella was sick again. She said she had to stay and she wanted him with her. He told her to stay. He had a season to play. He would see her when it was over. Renee didn’t know what to do. Phil certainly wouldn’t believe vampires over the phone. He may not believe it in person.

Renee debated going to Florida to try to convince Phil in person. Old Quil overheard and told Renee if she left to not bother coming back. Renee told Old Quil that he needed to mind his own business. He told her to focus more on being here for her daughter rather than trying to get laid. Renee told him to go to Hell. He told her to kiss his beautiful bronze native ass.

I know this because the conversation happened in front of a room full of people. Thankfully Bella wasn’t one of them. Renee stayed, but I would be keeping an eye on her.

Rebecca was the other problem. She arrived after the show and tell. Rachel had to lie to her to get her to leave Hawaii. Rach told her Dad was sick. Very sick. When Rachel showed up and saw Dad walking she became very angry. I took her in the woods and tried to explain the legends were real. She yelled. I decided to phase to prove it to her. She freaked and then she phased.

So I probably could have handled that situation better. You live and learn I suppose. Even now though, she did not want to stay. She was angry about living at the Ranch. Being surrounded by the pack. She saw in the other guys’ minds their memories of Bella. She would not go near Bella. Leah was ecstatic at first that there was another female wolf.

Until Rebecca told her she refused to be a freak like Leah.

Leah ran off and Bella ran after her. Four hours later they came back and Leah seemed okay. But I know it hurt.

Rebecca was my sister and I loved her. But she has always been selfish and a bit of a bitch.

“I need money to get back to Hawaii where I belong, Jacob. You lied to get me here. I want to go back where I belong.”

“If you lose your temper you will phase Becca.”

“I can control it.”

“You’ve phased accidentally four times this week.” I pointed out.

“Because I don’t belong here. I need to go home.” She countered.

“Becca…”

“Shut up Rachel! You get a hot guy who is apparently your slave and I turn into a fucking dog. This worked out great for you. Things always work out great for you.”

“Don’t talk to Rachel like that.” I said quietly, trying to stay calm.

“Or what? You gonna boss me around top dog?”

I took a deep breath. Stay calm.

“God you are such a selfish bitch Becca.” Rachel said quietly.

Rachel was not staying calm.

“I just want to live my life.” Becca countered.

“Our home was destroyed by these things. You have a chance to help your family, your people and the whole world and you want to go to fucking Hawaii?” I asked.

“Now you are getting it. Why do I have to get involved? Hell for that matter why are you Alpha? I’m the oldest. Now I’m supposed to take orders from my baby brother? Not fucking likely.”

“Becc…”

“What about school? You have your senior year to go. Instead you are taking orders from Bella Swan. Bella says jump and you jump. This whole thing is ridiculous. I want out.” Becca practically yelled, causing the two diners to look our way.

“Becca…”

“No Rachel. Go home Becca.” I reached into my wallet and pulled out two one hundred dollar bills.

“This is all that I have on me. My boss will call the airport and buy your ticket. I hope you don’t kill anyone.”

I stood up. Rachel’s eyes were glistening but she stood up as well.

“That’s it? Your just letting me go?” Becca asked suspiciously.

“Yeah. I got the weight of the world on my shoulders. We all do. Literally. I have new wolves to train and a wolf pack to lead against vampires’ intent on killing everyone on Earth. Literally. We all face the possibility that when we go in a fight one or none of us may come back. I just watched over eighty of my tribe members buried. I’ve seen the love of my life nearly beaten to death. But back at the Ranch I have family who is willing to accept that and fight with me. Everyone there is dedicated and supportive of each other. Even the parents and especially the imprints. I can’t have you there Becca. This conversation has showed me that. You are only worried about yourself. That’s your right. I can’t have you in the mix even if you wanted to. Go to Hawaii. Go have fun. We don’t need you.”

I stood up and walked out, Rachel by my side. We reached the parking lot and Rebecca caught up.

“Jacob listen! You don’t have to do this. We can leave. Bring Bella if you want. Rachel, bring this Paul guy you are apparently bound to. We can all get a place. No vampires are coming to Hawaii. We don’t have to do this.”

I turned and looked my older sister in the eyes.

“I know I don’t have to do this. I am doing it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s how I was raised. How Mom and Dad both raised all of us. I run from nothing. Look around you. These people, these small town people living in peace? They could be herded in camps and kept for meals. Forced to breed to provide vampires with a constant supply of blood. Humans could become nothing but food for the real monsters out there. Go home Rebecca. We don’t need you. My family is back at the Ranch. I need to check on them.”

I continued walking to Chris’s car, my car according to his will, when I remembered another point I needed to let Becca know about. I stopped and spoke without turning around.

“One thing you are wrong about Becca. You started showing signs of phasing in Hawaii. That means there is a vampire there. Maybe only one who hunts at night. Maybe more. Keep your eyes open. Good luck.”

Rachel and I drove in silence for twenty minutes back to the ranch. Before we drove to the gate, she broke down crying. I pulled over and brought her in for a hug. Nothing was said. Nothing needed to be. Twenty minutes later we pulled up to the house. Seth was standing outside talking to Old Quil by a corral. He saw me and had a panicked look on his face. He tried to casually walk off and failed miserably. I watched him walk faster until he was finally running.

“Seth! Get over here!” Seth stopped. He looked in the distance and then back at me. Then towards the distance. Then his shoulders dropped.

“Something is up.” I murmured to Rachel. Charlie had been sitting on the front porch of Chris’s old house. Bella and I stayed there with Charlie and Old Quil. I heard Charlie say oh shit quietly and slip off in the house.

“Where are you running off too Seth?”

Seth was definitely scared.

“Taking a walk?”

“You were running.”

“Taking a fast walk? How was your trip? Where is Rebecca?” He asked quickly.

I was about to answer him when I heard a boom in the distance. Sounded like something being thrown into the ground. Hard.

Rachel jumped on my back. I suppose she didn’t want to be left behind. I ran.

Over a hill near a stream I know Bella loves to meditate at I saw a group of my Pack including my father standing in a circle. I couldn’t see what exactly was going on but I knew there was a fight. My mind immediately flashed to Leah. She must have pissed someone off or gotten pissed off at someone.

The faces of the circle turned towards me. The expressions went from amusement to fear. Even Dad was worried. They began backing up and I saw them.

Paul was in human form on the ground. Bella was on top of him. He had a hand on her chin and she had one on his throat while her other hand was being locked by his. He was naked and she was in armor.

“What the fuck?!” I screamed.

They both looked up at me.

“Take your hands off of her Paul!” I started trembling.

Paul immediately let go of Bella’s chin and hand.

She hit him in the jaw and laughed. Then reality seemed to hit her. She looked up at me.

“This isn’t what it looks like Jake.” She half smiled.

I continued to tremble.

“Bella could you get off Paul so I can rip him to pieces and then you can explain to me what the fuck this is? Because it looks like you two were fighting. And seeing as how he is nude I would imagine this fight started out with him in wolf form.”

“Oh. I guess it is what it looks like then. But your Dad said it was okay for me to train with the guys.” Bella said quickly.

“I said I was going to make sure it didn’t get out of…” Dad started defensively.

“All the guys? How many of you fuckers hit her?” A chorus of oh fucks were whispered.

Bella stood up. Paul tried to stand and she stomped him in the chest, knocking him back on the ground. He stayed there, laughing.

“Jake calm down. The wolves needed to see how to fight vampires. We have just been showing them scenarios. Paul was showing them how to attack one on one and things got a bit out of hand. He took a shot to the nuts and phased human out of shock and then wouldn’t give up.” Bella explained.

“You’re barely covered. Their scents are all over you. They attacked you? You are my damn mate! They attacked you?”

“Jake calm down…” Bella whispered.

“Phase. You four phase. I’m going to show the new guys how to take down four experienced wolves.” I growled lowly at my “friends.”

“Jake! Cut it out…”

Bella stopped speaking. She collapsed in front of me.

“Bella?”

I knelt down and saw she was breathing. But she unconscious.

“Bella!”

“Calm down Alpha. She has not communed with her sisters since before the battle with Irkalla. They extended her an invitation she couldn’t refuse. She will be up soon,” Old Quil said walking up. I took a deep breath, trying not to panic.

“Everyone go away. Those of you whose scents I find on her, take this opportunity to run.”

Rachel grabbed Paul by the ear and led him away. Embry, Quil and Jared ran.

“You want me to wait with you son?”

“Get her water ready when I bring her back Dad.”

“Okay.”

“I can’t believe you let this happen…”

“She’s a warrior. They are warriors. They had fun. Let it go Jake. Be a leader, not a jealous boyfriend. Where is Rebecca?”

“Gone. Ask Charlie to call the Casper airport and have a plane ticket for Hawaii ready for her to pick up.”

Dad took a deep breath and walked off without another word.

Bella POV

“What the hell?!”

“Welcome little sister. We have wanted to speak to you for a while. Are you ignoring us?”

I saw Ursula. Serena. Sheba. Sonnya. Tamorra, Sarah and more. They were all here. All the witches before me.

“I’ve been busy. I need to get back. My Jacob is about to destroy half his Pack. Where the hell do you get off bringing me here like this?” I was very, very angry. Because I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to face them.

“He’ll be fine. Why are you ignoring us?”

“I…”

“Tell us.” Shanna spoke up.

I took a deep breath and sat on the marble steps before me. The entire room was marble designed like a Roman building. Tamorra saw this building once. Sometimes we were in an Egyptian temple. Other times in a board room. Other times in a room of soft white light.

“I am ashamed.”

“You defeated Irkalla and Nergal. You succeeded. Why are you ashamed?” Ursalla asked me.

“You know.” I mumbled.

“You lost control. You regained control. It has happened to us all at some point.” Serena pointed out.

“I let him die.” I told her not wanting to face her.

“It was his time.” She whispered and wrapped her arms around me.

“I didn’t want to let him go. Why didn’t he stay in the Spirit world? Why hasn’t he crossed back over to visit me?” I asked like a spoiled child who didn’t get the gift she wanted for Christmas.

“He wanted to see me. He knew you would be okay. It was his time to rest. He loves you. You will see him one day. I promise.”

I wiped a tear from my face, I didn’t realized I had cried. Even in a separate plane of existence it seems I can’t escape tears.

“I also have had trouble with my…” I stopped speaking, trying to find the right words.

“You’ve been wanting to fight, fuck, drink, dance and pretty much be a bad, bad girl, haven’t you?” Anne asked, summing up my urges quite nicely.

I nodded my head.

“That’s okay. You should have seen some of the things I pulled in Babylon.” Ursulla said, “That’s why you meditate. You talk to us. You do everything you can to stay normal. You will be fine. But do not ignore us.”

“Apparently I can’t.” I grumbled.

“It took a lot of work to get you here. Not something we want to do often. So don’t make us, okay? We love you.” Serena told me.

“Okay. I will stop by more. I’m sorry.” Ursulla hugged me.

“Don’t be sorry. Just don’t be afraid to talk to us. There is nothing you are going through that we haven’t. You do have it rougher though, kid. You have all our power built up over thousands of years and it ran through you suddenly. You are going to have a difficult time but it will be okay. You have good people in your life. Now we also have information to tell you. One is something Chris should have told you and it slipped his mind and another is a message of sorts.”

“What did Chris not tell me?” I asked immediately.

Serena answered.

“Chris mentioned on the last day he was on your plane of existence that you had been intoxicated. When you heard a vampire was with Charlie, you healed yourself with the armor and were instantly detoxified.”

“Yes,” I agreed quietly, not really wanting to bring that up.

“Do you know why?”

“Yes. Of course. The armor heals me when I need it to.”

“Bella, Chris told me about your time on the ranch when we were reunited. We talked about everything. I found a particular story very entertaining. One about Old Quil driving you to a clinic in Casper?”

Oh God. Towards the end of my time at the ranch, the urge to see Jacob was so strong. I knew I wouldn’t be a virgin long after I returned. I also knew I wanted nothing between the two of us. I lied to Quil about a stomach ache. He didn’t buy it. I finally admitted that I wanted birth control. He gave me hell the entire trip, which went very slowly due to Quil driving twenty below the speed limit. Then he bombarded me with questions about the exam on the way back until I told him details. I told him everything. He shut up after that.

“Yes. I remember.” I remember the look on Old Quil’s face when I described a pap smear exam.

“Bella when the armor heals you, it not only repairs bones and vessels and stops bleeding. It not only fights disease. When it heals you, it clears your body of toxins, like alcohol.”

“Okay. What’s the point?” I didn’t get it.

“Have you had sex since the battle with Irkalla? When your body as healed?”

“Yeah, so what… oh shit.”

“I was afraid of that.” Serena confirmed.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” I yelled.

“You haven’t been back to see us. I thought Chris would have covered it with you. I should have known he wouldn’t talk about that. Probably didn’t even think about it. Not until he saw you heal yourself from alcohol. Then…”

“He was dead.” I finished.

“No. Just not on your plane. Our souls are eternal. But you need to…”

“No! Jake will never let me fight. With Irkalla dead he will say his Pack can take care of vampires. I will have to sneak around to watch his back… what?” All my sisters looked very disturbed.

“About Irkalla….” Ursulla started.

“What about her? Don’t tell me she is alive.”

“No. I’m not saying that. But there has been a disturbance in the Spirit world. Not a large one but similar to the one that occurred when she first started planning her takeover of the human world.”

“Another Irkalla?” I asked. A chill shot through my soul. Ursulla didn’t sound confident.

“No. Not that. We don’t know. But something isn’t right. It may be the large number of dedicated followers she left behind. But… just keep your eyes open. And get a pregnancy test.”

“No. No test. No. Can’t happen. That would be… no.”

“If you are already it doesn’t matter. A test isn’t going to make you pregnant. You either are or aren’t. You need to know.” Sonnya told me. She had a point. I knew many of my sisters had children over the years. But they were able to take time off. Stop hunting. I didn’t have that luxury.

“Just get tested. Visit the Spirit world. See what you can learn.” Ursulla instructed. I suppose I had my marching orders.

“Okay. Will Chris be there?”

“Chris is with me. You will see him one day. He is happy Bella. Be happy for him.” Serena answered with a smile.

A small part of me hated her at that moment.

I closed my eyes without another word and found myself in Jake’s arms on the ground. Not a bad way to wake up. He looked so worried.

A test. Damn it.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah baby. Why don’t you take me inside and calm down. We need to go on a trip.”

“Where to?”

“The Spirit world.” I told him.

“Okay. First I am going to kill Paul.”

“No you’re not. Help me up.”

“Fine. But they know better.”

“You should know better. Your wolves need practice. Let’s go. I’m hungry and I want a bath. You can wash their scents off and replace it with yours.” I grinned. That would relax him enough for the spirit world.

A test? No. I can’t deal with that now. We had work to do.

We walked back to the house hand in hand. He had calmed down. I knew he would. We had the house in sight when Charlie was running towards us. I stopped. This could not be good.

“What’s wrong?” I asked when he was within hearing distance. He held out a phone.

“Graham.” I reached for the phone but Charlie handled it to Jake. What the hell?

“Hello?”

I scooted close so I could hear.

“Jake, are you guys fighting a vampire in Casper airport?” Graham sounded stressed.

“No… why?” Jake asked very quietly.

“Because alerts are going up all over federal and local communications. Apparently a large wolf just destroyed a wall, running out of Natrona. Jake there are going to be cameras. You need to get there. You need to grab those tapes without being seen and grab whoever the hell that is you got running around Wyoming. It’s a big airport Jake. A big city.”

“On it.”

“Call me when you get someone near those tapes. I can tell you how to erase them. Quickly. When the dust settles they will probably email those to the FAA. It’s out in the open then Jake.”

Jake and I took off running for the car. Old Quil tossed me a set of clothes. Black clothes and Black combat boots. His head was in the right place as always.

We hit the road and I turned to Jacob.

“So, I guess your heart to heart with Rebecca didn’t go so well?”