Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Claws

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 16:

“So she said nothing?” Rose asked once again. “She just walked out without a word? And she still hasn’t called?”

“She said she needed time. Those count as words, right?” Bella asked and closed her eyes. She was seated in front of Alice’s mirror, enjoying the feel of her hair being brushed. It had been a difficult week. Bella had managed to make it to school every day on time and stay for the entire day. That alone depressed the girl. Alice running a brush through her hair after braiding a strand felt like heaven compared to the rest of the week. Rose and Esme sat on the bed and listened to her… whine and moped as well.

This was all Billy Black’s fault.

Bella wished she could believe that but it was actually her fault. She was the one who had done it. Somehow her screwed up genetics managed to latch onto Quileute mating magic and she unknowingly brought an innocent person into the complete mess that was her life.

After accompanying Bella to Billy Blacks the day after her talk with the Chief, Leah sat in silence, listening to the man talk about spirit warriors and Taha Aki, Ephraim Black and the history of the wolf pack and cold ones.

Then he told her about imprinting.

She asked him to go over it three times. Billy was gentle in his tone, never lost patience and his explanations gave Bella more information than she had read in the journal.

After the third run through, as the clock approached 10 PM, Leah told him she understood.

The two girls walked outside, Bella not knowing what to say. She opened her mouth, stumbling for anything but Leah held her hand up and looked only at the ground.

“I need time. I’ll call you.” Leah told her and walked off, leaving Bella still at a loss as to what to say. Deciding there really wasn’t anything to say, Bella left. It had been an entire week and she heard nothing from Leah. The pain in her chest remained, a constant reminder of the distance from her friend.

Rose growled. “No those aren’t words! She should have called you by now. Have you tried calling her yet?”

“And say what?” Bella asked. “Hey so what do you think about being magically linked to a monster through no choice of your own? Pretty neat, huh? That would go down well. She probably wants me to stay away from her. Leah has never had a problem with shyness. If she wanted to see me, she would just come over or call. She doesn’t so she hasn’t. It’s pretty simple. It’s also for the best. The farther away she is from this the better.”

Esme stood up and walked over, kneeling next to the girl and cupping her cheek gently.

“It’s a lot to take in. Bella, she has grown up in a very traditional community. I would bet there are things inside her that she has buried, feelings she has ignored and to have them brought up, exposed by the Chief of the Tribe could not have been easy.” the woman told her. “She will come around, I promise.”

Bella shrugged her shoulders. She thought of asking Alice to paint her nails but never having painted nails Bella did not know if it would make her claws glossy. Not the best way to intimidate a supernatural creature, having pointy, glittery blue claws.

“I suppose. but no one is asking her to face anything. Leah isn’t gay. I don’t love her, she doesn’t love me. I’m only part shifter. I’m a damn tri-bred if you take into account the vampire venom that boosts my strength. This imprint thing must have gotten it wrong.”

No one said a word for a moment.

“Fuck it, I’m calling her.”

Bella twirled from the seat and tackled Rose, taking the phone from her hand.

“No!”

“You have been more depressed than usual all week! You are making Piano Edward look happy in comparison! You may not love her but this is obviously screwing with you and it needs to be talked out.” Rose argued. “If you won’t do it I will.”

“No, you won’t.” Bella told her threateningly.

“Watch me. I don’t need your phone. I can find her number easily.”

Bella got off of Rose and let the blonde sit up on the bed.

“Please don’t.” Bella told her quietly.

Esme shook her head towards Rosalie. “Let her handle this her own way Rose. I think the cookies should be ready. Why don’t you come downstairs in a bit and I will have some cold milk ready to go with them?”

Bella grinned at the woman. “You are so awesome.”

“Of course I am.” Esme winked at her and moved quickly to the kitchen.

Alice took a strand of Bella’s hair and considered braiding it as well.

“I like just the one strand.” Alice decided. “You ever think about coloring? Your hair is beautiful but sometimes a drastic change can make a person feel better. Maybe we can go shopping in the morning? Would that make you feel better?”

Bella shrugged her shoulders then nodded. She did like clothes and she enjoyed spending Alice’s money. Wearing the same basic outfits her entire life gave her an appreciation for choice and variety. Despite the numerous outfits her and Ty had purchased Bella most always wore blue jeans and her black leather jacket with some top underneath that she barely paid mind to. It was easier to ride her bike. The idea of wearing skirts more often had her considering using one of the Cullen cars instead of riding every day. It wasn’t like they were going to run out of them.

“Want me to paint your nails?” Alice offered. “I realize you probably won’t like glitter but there are always different…”

“Maybe tomorrow.” Bella stopped her. A large part of her was curious what it would be like to have painted finger and toe nails. They had worked on makeup during the week and though the feel of it on her skin annoyed her at first, she did enjoy the effect. “There are cookies calling my name and I have to get to them before they cool and the chocolate chips don’t ooze from my mouth when I swallow.”

Bella stood up and turned around, looking over her shoulder in the mirror. Not for the first time she wished she still had the long thick hair she had as a girl. Julie had beautiful blonde hair that fell to the middle of her back. She had to keep it up on missions and in training but at night the hair fell free and Bella never got tired of seeing it messy, surrounding her face on their pillow.

“Rose…”

Rose threw up her hands. “Your business. For now…”

Deciding that was as much a concession as she would get, she made her escape for the kitchen until Carlisle’s voice stopped her.

“Could I have a moment?”

Bella suddenly felt ice inside her. She had given the man a DNA sample three days ago as well as a blood sample that was very difficult to take considering she was basically impervious to any metal like a normal needle. They finally found a gauge that he thought would do the job. Carlisle with great speed and uncanny accuracy pushed the needle in and drew the blood before her skin closed around the puncture in a couple seconds.

It hurt like hell but there was no other choice, short of Bella opening her own skin with her claws and neither considered that a viable option.

Bella slowly walked into Carlisle’s office which he had converted to a research lab. She recognized the purpose of some of these machines from the research room at the base and could imagine the cost of them.

“So, what’s up? Am I changing?” she asked, taking a seat across from him.

Though his smile was warming it wasn’t convincing.

“Not in the way you fear. I’ve gone over your records from the Facility and the ones Vivian pulled. You are… stronger. The venom in your blood seems to be increasing a bit. You shouldn’t have been able to pull the vampire’s head apart like you did. Have you ever been strong enough to do that to a vampire? Twist the neck and then pull the skull apart with your hands and no slices or bites to the throat?”

Bella shook her head slightly.

“The good news is your DNA does not seem to be mutating at all. I am concerned about why the venom count is growing but your internal organs seem not to be affected. We need to keep a close watch, perhaps twice a week if possible.”

Bella agreed immediately. She had felt stronger fighting that vampire. At first, she told herself he had no skill and while he was not the most adept at physical combat, he was still a vampire. Bella relied on speed, weapons and her body’s deadly gifts. She had never physically mauled a vampire in that fashion before.

“Any chance I could get some of that ammunition?” Carlisle asked. “I would like to see if I can fashion a needle from it.”

“Of course.” Bella told him. “Ty brought weapons for everyone. I can hear him downstairs playing video games with Jasper. If any of you ever go into the field with me, you will need them. I hope none of you ever do.” she admitted.

“And as your doctor I would recommend you stay out of the field as well. Perhaps the increase in venom has something to do with adrenalin. The more you fight, the stronger your body feels it needs to become. If you have any craving for blood, straight blood I mean, let me know immediately.”

Bella laughed until she realized he wasn’t joking.

“Yeah, definitely.” she promised.

“Good. How is everything else? Mental health is important as well. The connection between the mind and body is profound and often overlooked. Stress can cause…”

“I’m not stressed. I need to hunt. If I could just find something to hunt, I would feel so much better.”

Carlisle closed his eyes. The two had talked this over twice and Bella was adamant. She would not stop, no matter what.

“Thanks for everything Carlisle. So new DNA test and blood sample Monday?”

He nodded and watched the girl leave quickly, no doubt wanting cookies and wishing she had some giant monster to kill. Turning back to his screen, the man looked at her blood test results and DNA then began going through the methods these bastards who called themselves doctors used to turn newborn babies into genetic weapons. Somewhere in the massive amount of data was a way to stop this, fix this, treat this. The work kept him from rushing to Peru and killing every human that walked out of that base.

The next morning Bella was up early as usual, and as usual she found Esme in the kitchen with Charlie cooking. Esme had taken it on herself to teach Charlie new recipes that Bella might like.

Somehow Bella’s life had gotten to the point that seeing a vampire with her biological father on a Saturday morning did not seem strange anymore. Neither did the hug Esme gave her every damn time she saw her. Every instinct Bella had in her past about vampires, the cool, smooth skin, the scent, none of it set her on edge around Esme or any of the Cullens.

Her Dad once again asked like every day how her previous night had been even if she were at home. He knew but it was his way of indirectly asking if Leah had called.

She wouldn’t admit how much the Leah thing was tearing her up. Rose brought it up enough for her.

The day did take a turn for the better at 9 AM, all thanks to Jack Webb.

Esme and Charlie may have tensed when the man showed up with a solemn look on his face but Bella felt a thrill shoot through her.

He found something.

“Connolly is taking Edward and Jasper to New York. They are leaving in three hours out of Port Angeles. We found the first target. Information gathering only but we hope this guy could give us a lead on who is who on the US Government side of things.” he told the two concerned adults and the annoyed teen.

“That’s great. You don’t look happy though. That means you found something and don’t want me going after it but you don’t really have a choice because if I found out you hid this from me, I would never trust you again.” Bella told him quickly.

“It’s probably nothing,” Webb told her carefully, “just drunk hunters, but there has been a Big Foot sighting in the Yukon. They did find a mutilated deer and Vivian ran the video they posted of the thing. Of course it’s a quick shot and looks like bullshit on YouTube but she says its authentic. Something big is out there.”

“Any recent disappearances?” Bella asked.

“No. Whatever it is, I don’t think it has harmed any humans.”

“We don’t get paid to think, do we? We get paid to kill. Sasquatches are dangerous. We need to get to the location and I can start tracking from there.”

The man nodded, expecting as much. “Dante is getting the chopper ready.”

“I should go home and dress for the occasion.” Esme said and tried to escape but Bella’s hand on her shoulder stopped the woman.

“You can’t go.”

“You agreed we could help, remember?” Esme reminded her.

“Not you.”

Esme stared at the girl, not willing to give in. “If I don’t go, you don’t go.”

Bella could not allow that to happen. She grudgingly agreed to let the Cullens in but she mostly considered Emmett and Jasper in those plans. Honestly, she would have been most comfortable with only Jasper. When they fought the newborn, Edward and Emmett had held the vampire’s arms. It was Jasper who tore the head off. Jasper had fought in the Southern Wars. He had a killer instinct.

She did not think the other Cullens weak. It was just the thought of these nice people turning into killers disturbed her. Esme, Edward, Alice, Rose. They weren’t… her. Not yet and Bella hoped they never would be.

So Bella played the only card she had.

“We need that compound, remember? You and Emmett were going to be there all weekend, getting the materials from your friends in Alaska and framing the place, figuring out where to lay the foundation. That needs to get done, right?”

“This is more important.”

“No, it isn’t.”

The two stood at a standstill, neither one giving in.

“Jack, if we don’t go, does Bella go?”

To Bella’s extreme annoyance he shook his head. “One phone call to Dante and that chopper stays on the ground. She can run of course but you can follow and Bella does have her limits. I would imagine it would make her pretty tired, a trek of that distance.”

“I’ll take Alice and Rose.” Bella conceded. “Not you. Please.”

“I can fight…”

“Esme! Please? Not you. I’m going to find and kill this thing. I don’t want you to see me like I will have to be. I don’t want you to see me like that. Please? Go to Alaska, get started. Let me worry about Big Foot for now.”

Esme stared at her for a moment and looked at Charlie. The man had an ashen face, no doubt remembering the last time Bella went into the wild and came home shredded.

“I’ve already called Alice and Rose.” Jack told the woman. “Alice squealed, something about having made her and Rose outfits to match Bella’s? They will be there. We will get her back to you both.”

So it was that at 6 PM that night, after a long chopper flight complete with an impatient Bella during a refueling stop that two vampires and a Jaguar shifter raced across the Yukon territory searching for the strongest scents and finding mutilated deer and one very dead large Bear that had been killed only days ago.

Bella knew the instant her feet hit the ground that there was a scent of something supernatural. It was not a Lycan, werewolf, or Wendigo so she had that going for her.

Finally she found the strongest scent trail at just past midnight. Alice and Rose had stayed by her side but a step back, admitting to themselves that they may be stronger but when it came to tracking neither could compete with Bella. The two had never seen her in action before, only hearing stories from Jasper, Emmett and Edward.

Despite being vampires both girls knew who the true predator was. The Jaguar girl moved through the thick forest like most people walked across their own lawn.

Bella finally stopped in front of a small depression in the ground.

“Dante, do you have my position?”

“Yep. You got a confirmation?”

“I do. Stay Northeast, have the team, rappel down, cover a half moon on the ground and stay behind a very big trunk. If this thing slips past me it isn’t going to be quiet. You hear heavy footsteps coming towards you open fire. These things are big but slow. It’s going to take a lot of rounds to bring it down. No worries though. It won’t get past me.”

Bella looked at Rose and Alice then decided to hand her side arm over to the blonde.

“What are you doing? We have our own guns, see? Are you blind now?” Rose asked.

“See that brush? There is a small dug out depression in the ground, probably home to that very large, very dead bear we saw not long ago. It is hiding out in there. I can’t fight him inside so I will have to draw him out. You are my back up, remember Rose? I’m going to slash his throat. These creatures don’t have the healing ability that others do but their hide is very strong. If it looks like I am going to be killed, unload into him and do your best not to shoot me, okay? Now stay here and keep watch, both of you. This thing is likely as strong as you are so do not underestimate it. If it gets past me aim for the eyes.”

Bella left the two standing high up in a tree. The two Cullen girls had no choice but to watch her from above and wait for an opportunity to get involved.

“She is going to fight this thing with her fists.” Alice whispered, worriedly.

“You saw that?”

“No, I saw her face. If you run out of bullets take my gun. I’m not sure how good I would be with it. I’ll get Bella out, you shoot.” Alice decided and the two waited.

They did not have to wait long.

Bella slashed the brush away and stood in front of the slight open mound that led underground.

Then she transformed and roared, loudly enough that Alice and Rose flinched above.

The girl did not have to wait long. Bella could hear the massive creature shuffling around his cozy hideout, no doubt excited, thinking there was new prey to kill.

The girl felt the familiar surge of adrenalin and something else. She felt the need to destroy. After dealing with her life being turned upside down, imprinting, a vampire killing an old man in her territory, the worry over the Organization and what would happen if Mother found out what they were planning, her concern over her changing body, Bella needed a fight. She needed to destroy something.

The creature crawled out and she backed up, giving him space.

He was huge, not quite seven feet tall but his body was massive in width. The claws on the end of his fingers were huge, ten times what hers were.

Bella swung, hitting the monster in the middle of the chest and sending him to the ground.

It stood up and she swung again with a roar, connecting with its primate like face. She knew she had broken nothing. It didn’t matter. She could slash later. Right now she didn’t need blood, she needed a fight.

Unfortunately she did not get it.

The Sasquatch stumbled away, trying to push past her and moved causing her to slide forward and trip it, sending them both to the ground. The girl straddled it and began swinging, not understanding why the massive creature was not fighting back.

“Fight me damn you! Fight me!”

The monster finally raised its arms and Bella prepared for a blow, prepared to dodge, to launch herself back, but none of that was necessary.

Instead it let out a mournful sound and blocked its face with its arms to stop her blows.

“Fight me!” she screamed inches from its face.

The creature turned its head away, still on its back and refused to fight her. It chanced a look at her when the blows stopped.

Bella gasped.

The look in his eyes stopped her cold. While it resembled a primate in features, she saw something in those eyes.

Fear. It was afraid of her. She was sitting on its chest and felt its rapid breathing.

The monster was afraid of her.

Bella stood up and stepped away from the creature. Her appearance returned to her human form.

“You’ve never killed a human, have you? You aren’t a killer. You aren’t me.” she said, talking more to herself. “What am I doing? You just want to hide, to survive.”

Bella slowly approached the creature, who was looking at her with even wider eyes, taking in her different appearance. She pulled its arm gently and it moved into a sitting position as the girl squatted in front of it.

“I’m sorry.” she whispered. “I’m going now. I had no… I’m sorry.”

Bella stumbled away then began walking into the forest with her back to the creature, not concerned at all. It was a monster by human standards, no doubt. So was she. She could have destroyed it, killed an innocent creature and for what? Because some drunk hunters saw something they shouldn’t have?

No, she would have destroyed it because she wanted a fight. She needed a fight. Her life was based on fighting.

At some point, Bella realized she was on the ground crying, sobbing, face first on the forest floor. She felt cool arms pick her up and hold her, then another set.

“Let it out.” she recognized Alice’s voice.

So Bella did. The girl had no idea how long she sat on the ground, being held by two vampires while crying, making herself completely defenseless. For once she didn’t care.

When the girl regained her senses, she saw Jack, Ty and Dante standing in front of her. Dante to her surprise had a tear in his eye.

“Tell the organization we successfully killed a Sasquatch in the Yukon. I want to go home.”

“What held you back?” Jack asked her.

Bella shrugged her shoulders and stood up. “It was innocent. It was gentle and… I don’t want to be that kind of monster. If I killed it, I would be no better than a Lycan. My chest is killing me. Let’s go home, please?”

Dante patted her on the shoulder. “You made the right call.”

Bella actually called Charlie. She wasn’t sure why, having no doubt Jack kept the man up to speed. She just wanted him to know she was okay. She didn’t want him to worry. The relief in his voice made her feel good.

Her emotions were changing, everything she thought about her family, herself, right and wrong, good and evil, it was all changing and that scared Bella worse than the possibility of vampire venom destroying her cells or her DNA mutating.

After a very long flight with another refueling stop, and a drive back from Port Angeles after unloading the gear, it was 8 AM by the time Rose pulled into the Swan driveway with a sleeping Bella in the passenger seat.

Had Bella been awake she would have felt the relief in her chest, not needing to see Leah’s truck in the drive to know the girl was present. Unfortunately for Leah Clearwater it was Rose who was awake and in her face on the porch where the Quileute girl stood waiting.

“You have some damn nerve! I can’t believe I let you hit my brother with a crowbar! You haven’t spoken to her in a week! Do you know what that did to her? Some damn friend! Now you are here? You couldn’t have called first?!”

“I know I screwed up, okay?” Leah told her in a defeated voice. “I didn’t call her because I was afraid, she wouldn’t answer.”

Rose scoffed and crossed her arms, glaring at the girl. “That’s a stupid fucking reason. We were on a mission yesterday. She could have been killed because she was distracted thinking about you! Worried about how she hurt you! You may not have liked what you heard but to ignore her for a week? I should put you in your truck and throw it to La Push!”

“Rose stop.” Bella’s tired voice called from the car, having woken from the volume of Rose’s voice. “It’s okay.”

“The hell it is.” Rose hissed and pointed at Leah. “Hurt her again and you will see me without her around, I promise you.”

Rose walked to Bella and hugged her then left with a final glare at Leah. Bella walked slowly towards her, she supposed imprint.

“Hey bestie.” Bella greeted her, trying to sound humorous and failing miserably.

Leah flinched at her tone, knowing she deserved it.

“I’m sorry I haven’t called or came by.”

Bella shrugged her shoulders. “You needed time. No big deal.” Then she shook her head. “Actually it is a big deal. Not even a text to let me know you are okay? You just walked out of Black’s and never looked back. I thought we were friends, remember? I gave you what you wanted, I left you alone and you couldn’t have sent one damn text saying you were okay and we would talk soon? Or how about I am finally freaked out and don’t want to see you again? It would have been better than nothing.”

“Yeah. I… I’m sorry. It was a lot but I could… are you okay? I knew you were gone, farther than normal. You had to fight a monster? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. And yeah, I guess I did have to fight a monster, in a way.” Bella told her, not wanting to explain that yesterday she had been the monster and almost lost the battle.

“So, can we talk?” Leah asked hesitantly. “Or are you going to tell me you need time? I would probably deserve that and it would take your sarcasm skills to an epic level.”

Bella slightly grinned and motioned to her to come inside. Once the door was open, Charlie was waiting for her.

“You okay? Jack said you were and I know you said you were but…”

“I’m fine Dad… Charlie… I mean… I’m kind of tired. Didn’t sleep much on the chopper. Leah wants to talk and then I am going to sleep for a few hours. Wake me up for the game tonight, okay?”

Charlie was a bit in shock. Bella may have been punch drunk and tired but she had called him Dad? He heard that, or was it his imagination?

Not caring if he bothered her, he wrapped his daughter in a hug that she returned. He had known Leah had been on the porch but had not invited her in since she didn’t knock. He wasn’t exactly happy with her at the moment.

Bella walked slowly to her room, Leah following and they took their customary positions, Bella in the rocking chair and Leah sitting on the edge of her bed.

“I don’t get it.” Bella started. “I read some more, I’ve been learning everything I can about these damn legends and tribal magic and stuff. Billy told you, it didn’t have to mean more than… it doesn’t mean we are destined to be lovers. We can still be friends. I get that it sucks to be connected to me like this and I am sorry this happened. It’s cool. I’m not mad. I get that you needed some time but you have to know this doesn’t mean anything has to change… right? I know what you are Leah. Maybe we are just meant to be like sisters or…”

“Bella stop.” Leah told her. “I have had a lot of time to think about this. I was going to tell you sooner but I was scared okay? It’s no excuse, I told you I don’t scare easily but this time I guess I did.”

Bella said nothing, suspecting Leah was not done.

“I’ve never felt passion for a man or a woman. At least not until I met you. I dream about you every night, doing things I didn’t know could be done. I… I’ve tried denying it but… I know this imprinting thing is wrong. I know I can love you, I want to, maybe I already do. You are so strong and beautiful, loving despite everything you have been through, fierce and understanding…”

“Leah?” Bella asked, trying to understand what she was saying very quickly. Dreams? Leah dreamed about her?

“Just let me say this. I’ve had to come to grips and admit some truths to myself these past days. My biggest problem isn’t that I am and have been insanely attracted to you since I first laid eyes on you or you are the most amazing person I have ever met. My problem is this soulmate stuff.”

Bella nodded. “Yeah, I get it. That should freak you out. It would anybody.”

“But not you.” Leah told her.

Bella said nothing. It was true not much freaked her out. Plus she was processing that Leah had pretty much just said she wanted her and had no idea what to do about that.

“I’m not freaked out.” Leah continued. “The idea of being linked to you doesn’t bother me, it really doesn’t. Here is my problem. How can I be your soulmate when you will never love me like you love Julie?”