Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Venom

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 21:

Bella POV

“First of all let me apologize for my actions the last time I was in your home. I was a bit rude. I have been under a lot of pressure lately, as we all have. I’m afraid I was out of line.” I told them. Chris says make nice. Fine. I will make nice.

Jake and I decided to come inside on our own. No one else. The Pack of course was outside. Old Quil was projecting somewhere in this room and Chris was nearby remote viewing. But Jake and I would be the ones to get the information.

“Out of line? You blew open the door! You threw Edward’s head through the door! Your boyfriend killed Alice! You lit her up with fire from your hand! You threw a damn knife into my husband’s leg!” Rose recapped nicely.

“Yes. Like I said, I was out of line. Although I will not apologize for Alice. She threatened my future children. You of all people can understand my reaction, Rose.”

“You killed Jasper. How the hell did you kill Jasper?” Emmett asked.

“I have my ways. The same way I killed Victoria and her horde of newborns. I killed Laurent as well. I have killed vampires who threatened me. What else would you expect me to do?”

“How… you…” Emmett stuttered.

“Edward threatened you Bella? I find that hard to believe. He loves you.” Esme said quietly.

“I didn’t kill Edward. I could have. It would have been as simple as lighting a match. I didn’t. Edward spied on Jake and I and became very jealous. He entered my room uninvited and touched me. I’m afraid if a vampire touches me… well Jasper found out.” I told them truthfully.

“What do you want with us Bella?” Carlisle asked.

“The Volturi, they are being led by a vampire named Irkalla. She is coming to visit you soon. In a few days I imagine based on your conversation with your friends. She plans to start a war against humans. I cannot let that happen.”

“The Volturi has always strived to keep humans ignorant of the existence of vampires, Bella.” Carlisle said.

“The Volturi are no more. They are like the rest of vampires. There are no more covens Carlisle. No more families. All vampires serve her.”

“Bella you know we have always had respect for life. I am a doctor! I would never join her. None of us would.”

“I’m considering it.” Rose whispered. Jake looked at her sharply.

“Carlisle you wouldn’t have a choice.” I told him.

“There is always a choice!”

“She can control you! Don’t you get it? This is no run of the mill vampire Carlisle.”

“Then what exactly is she?”

“She is the first.” I told him.

That seemed to bring quiet to the room.

“How do you… what is your role in this Bella?” Esme asked.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Emmett asked.

“Is there a difference? I am going to war. The Wolf Pack and I are going to war to save our species. Sides have been chosen Carlisle. I don’t want to hurt your family any more than I have done already. Once she is dead you can go on with your existence.”

No one said a word.

“Tell us about the Alaskan vampires.” Jake told Carlisle.

“No.”

“Excuse me?” Jake responded quickly.

Carlisle answered.

“I won’t tell you about them. You will kill them. They feed from animals, the same as we do. They have been our friends for years. Centuries in my case. I will not betray them. Do what you must, Jacob Black.”

“We wish to convince them to leave. The more vampires here the more Irkalla has to control.” Jacob explained.

“I understand. They are our family. Do what you must. We will not betray them.”

While Carlisle was talking, his thoughts were focused on his extended family. Kate. Electric shock with a touch. Eleazar. Can read other vampires gifts. Not an offensive skill. The rest ungifted. Kate was the one we had to watch out for. I would take her.

I listened to the thoughts of Esme. Denali. They would come in a car. Most likely on… yes, the Cullen’s traveled the 101 when they visited. The Denali’s would come that way as well.

“Carlisle…”

“Jacob. It’s okay. I respect Carlisle’s loyalty to his friends. Understand though Carlisle. When they are here they are considered the enemy. Any vampire present is a potential weapon for Irkalla.”

“Including us, Bella?” Esme asked.

“Yes.”

“So you will kill us as well?” Esme whispered.

“If I must. I hope it doesn’t come to that Esme. But make no mistake. This is a fight we fully intend to win. We must. Humans will not be slaves to vampires. We won’t be meals kept in camps. I am sorry Carlisle.”

“I suppose we are at an impasse then. I also do not want to see humans turned to slaves. What would you like us to do Bella? If we cannot fight her why won’t you let us leave?”

“I need to get close to her Carlisle. If I am with you when she arrives she won’t see me as a threat. If she knows you are not here, she will never come. If I can end her quickly there would be no need to kill your family.”

“I understand. What will you do when the Denali’s arrive?”

“I don’t know Carlisle.” I lied. I never thought of myself as a liar. I still didn’t. Okay, so I was a liar. But I told the truth when I said there was nothing I wouldn’t do to win this fight. Winning this fight meant that every vampire in the world needed to die for good this time. Harsh? Yes. But vampires were also harsh when they drained the blood from humans. They were killers. When a man eating lion is on the plains of Africa, hunters gather to put that lion down. I was now a hunter, and there were many, many lions.

“We will be taking your cell phones. I will be here in two days. You will act as if I am a human pet, if you will. Perhaps someone you are considering changing. That shouldn’t be a stretch, should it Esme?”

She looked away from me. Not surprising.

“You wanted nothing more than to be a vampire once.” Rose hissed.

“And you want nothing more to be human. I expected you would be sympathetic to our cause Rose.”

“You threaten my family and you expect sympathy?”

“No Rose. I expect you to play your role and give your family a chance at survival.”

Rose stormed out of the room. I should have read her thoughts. She is the wild card. The others will play ball. Her I was not as sure of. Nothing is guaranteed. Not victory, certainly not life.

“Well, I suppose it is time to go. I will be here in two days. Stay quiet and pray to God that I can take her down. Then we can all go on with our lives.”

Jake gathered the phones. Rose tossed hers down the stairs. Jared was listening for outgoing cals but I didn’t want to take a chance. Jake and I stood up and walked out. Once we were a safe distance away, he asked the question I knew was on his mind.

“Still want to kill them?”

“Want to? I don’t know. But I will.” I told him honestly.

“Bella, you know how much I want them dead. But if that is too difficult for you…”

“They are the enemy, Jake. They go down. Every vampire goes down, whether they are a nice person or not. I didn’t lie to them about one thing. This is war, and I fully intend to win. Now take me home.”

“Your house or mine.”

“I don’t care. Home is where you are Jake.”

Jake POV

I took Bella to her house. I knew Charlie had been wanting to spend more time with her. Last night I slept by her side, holding her all night. I wasn’t able to make love to her. Neither of us wanted to take a chance of waking Charlie. It was fine though. It was enough to feel her in my arms. We talked quietly until she drifted off to sleep at 3 AM.

She told me her fears. Bella put on a brave face in front of most, but she was frightened. I knew the feeling. I told her about my first phase. Listening to the legends. Realizing what I would have to do. The first time I bit into a leech and vomiting when the adrenalin wore off. How badly I wanted nothing else but her.

She told me about her fear of watching the changes in herself every day. Watching her hair thin and grow dark. Looking at eyes every morning that looked less and less like her own every day. Her worry over my reaction to her appearance. Her worry over losing herself. She told me that she lost herself to Cullen and then to the bracelet and she was afraid of never finding who she was again.

We both agreed with one certainty. When we held each other the fear went away.

That was enough for us.

We sat on the couch tonight watching a ballgame with Charlie. Bella fried chicken, a skill she learned in Wyoming that didn’t involve magic.

“That was damn good Bella. Glad it wasn’t only bad habits you picked up in Wyoming.” Charlie said casually.

Wait.

“Bad habits?” I asked. Bella was looking at the television, suddenly very engrossed in the baseball game.

“Oh, you mean you didn’t know Jake?” Charlie asked, grinning.

“Know what, Charlie?”

“Nothing Jake.” Bella mumbled and sent a chilling look towards Charlie.

“I just figured with your heightened senses and everything you would have known about Bella’s new habit.”

“Dad!”

“What? I wouldn’t think you had secrets from your soul mate Bella.”

“What habit?” I asked her. She didn’t look happy.

“A few times I may have tried smokeless tobacco.” Bella said in a huff.

“Oh. That doesn’t seem like such a big deal.”

“A few times Bella?” Charlie asked.

“Dad. Cut it out.” Bella hissed.

“Sorry Bella. I was just picking on you.”

“How many time is a few times Bella?” I asked, curious.

“It doesn’t matter. I quit.”

“That’s good. I mean it’s not like it could hurt you…” I reasoned.

“That was my point!” Bella agreed.

“But the thought of you spitting that black stuff is sort of disgusting.” I finished my thought.

“And that was my point.” Charlie said.

Bella sighed and curled closer into me.

“It doesn’t matter. I quit. Moving on.”

I smiled at her tone. Sometimes she seemed so in control. Other times she seemed like a girl being caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to be.

“Well I suppose we all need to get some sleep. Big day tomorrow. Early start and all. No idea when they are going to roll in. Could be out there all day.” Charlie said as the news went off.

He stood up and stretched his arms.

“Yeah, he’s right Jake. I need some sleep too. See you at 6?”

“I’ll be here Bells.”

She kissed me goodnight and whispered in my ear.

Thirty minutes later Charlie was snoring peacefully. Her window slid open. A quick trip up her tree and I was in front of her. She only had a tee shirt on.

“Good morning.” She whispered.

“I thought I would get an early start on the day.” I told her honestly.

She reached out and I grabbed her tiny hand, letting her lead me to the covers. I took my shirt off and climbed underneath feeling her warm body mold into my side. To my dismay she was wearing panties. I suppose she thought that might help us focus on sleeping but it was having the opposite effect on me.

I slowly ran my hand over her ass.

“Jake…”

“What?”

“Sleep.”

I sighed and closed my eyes. She moved in a little closer. The feel of her steady breathing was enough for me though. Soon I was drifting off into a deep sleep. I was nearly there when I noticed an absence of noise. Specifically the absence of Charlie’s snoring.

“Bella?” I whispered.

“He’s up. Closet.”

I moved quickly and silently, shutting the door a split second before Charlie opened her bedroom door.

This was ridiculous. Before he moved back in we could have been here all night alone with no interruptions. I should have taken her to my house. I get that he wants to spend time with her but treating her like she is a 17 year old girl and not a woman with the weight of the world on her small shoulders…

“Dad?”

“Hey Bells. Just checking on you.”

“I’m fine Dad.” Bella told him sleepily.

“Course you are. Nervous about tomorrow?” Charlie asked her.

“Yeah. I mean they are supposedly like the Cullen’s but they are vampires. Vampires who we plan to kill.”

“Well I don’t want to keep you up. Just need to do my security check. You go right back to bed.”

Oh damn. Glad I had shorts on.

“What security check?” Bella asked.

“Bella I am your guide and your father. I need to make sure no vampires are hanging out waiting to ambush you in the house. I’ll be just a bit.”

I head his footsteps heading towards me. He was outside the door. The doorknob turned. This would be awkward.

Charlie stood before me. Staring at me.

“Okay. No vampires in the closet.” Charlie looked up and down. I looked over his shoulder and saw Bella’s eyes glowing a bright blue.

Charlie couldn’t see me.

He turned and walked towards the bedroom door. Finally…

“Hey Bella?”

“Yes Dad?”

“That’s a neat trick. I couldn’t see him at all. Very impressive baby girl. Don’t keep her up late Jake, See the two of you in the morning.”

I walked out as Charlie closed the door.

“Think he smelled me?”

Bella rolled her eyes and rolled back the covers.

“Get under the covers wolf man.”

Narrator POV

The black SUV rolled down the 101 carrying very nervous vampires. Being summoned by the Volturi was unusual in itself. Being called to the Cullen’s to meet the Volturi was very strange indeed.

“It must have to do with that human Edward is so fascinated on. He should have turned her months ago.” Tanya seethed.

“That has nothing to do with us.” Irina reasoned.

“We knew Irina. We knew and did nothing. Let him play the human along, risking exposure for all of us.” Tanya answered her. She had thought of this many times over the past months. Even discussed killing the human with Laurent to protect her coven. Now Laurent was gone.

“Perhaps they can help me determine what happened to Laurent.”

“He ran off Irina!” Kate argued. “He is a nomad. They get bored”

“Look at the fellow there walking. You don’t see many cowboys walking in this part of the world.” Carmen said quietly.

Along the side of the rode strode a tall, lean man in his early fifties. He smiled as the vehicle drove by. Once the car was out of sight he tipped his silver cowboy hat up and looked towards the sky.

Within seconds a bolt of lightning hit a large tree at the edge of the road, causing it to fall across both lanes. The 101 would be closed for a while.

Chris took out his phone and sent a text to Old Quil.

Three miles away Old Quil breathed a sigh of relief. Although not a crowded road they had to be certain no other cars became involved. So far so good. Quil could have done what is necessary to ensure human lives weren’t lost but it would have taken a great reservoir of strength.

Instead he simply turned around and called down the lightning from the sky. Chris had taught him this practice many years ago. Simple Earth magic that comes in handy for times like these.

A large tree crashed against the highway, covering both lanes. Old Quil stepped into the forest to watch the show.

The Denali’s heard the tree fall behind them. They heard the tree fall in front of them although from a greater distance away.

None commented, but all caught that this was not a coincidence.

They continued driving until they came upon a strange site on the road. A girl in a cowboy hat riding a horse.

“You certainly don’t see that every day in Washington.” Eleazar commented mostly to himself.

They parked the car and stepped out. The girl and her horse trotted in front of them.

“Road’s closed up ahead.” Bella told the five vampires.

“Perhaps we should turn around then.” Carmen said hesitantly. The bracelet that girl was wearing. It seemed to glow and was making her very uncomfortable.

“Roads closed back there as well. This is where your road ends.”

The five vampires watched as the lovely young lady dismounted her steed and took off her hat. She slipped her feet out of her boot’s. Her horse trotted back.

“I understand you are good people for the most part. This isn’t personal.” Bella whispered.

She then pulled Kate out and through the backseat window.

Kate had been watching the proceedings with a kind of surrealism. Now however reality crashed back in and she had a… she wasn’t sure what she had on her.

Bella armored up, striking Kate with her right fist to the jaw. Landing on top of her, she was not surprised to see Kate’s hand go directly for her face. The hand touched armor but Bella could feel the power radiating underneath her fingers. It frightened her and excited her simultaneously.

Clutching each other in a death roll the two combatants moved to the side of the road. The vampires moved to help their sister with the armor clad teenage girl who seemed to be able to wrestle with vampires.

Before one of them could make a step though, the forest on both sides of the road came alive.

Jake was nervous. Not only was the love of his life battling a leech in front of him but four more were present. Jake had brought Leah, Sam, Jared and Paul to the battle, leaving Embry and Quil to be babysat by the youngest pack members while they babysat the Cullen’s.

Jake had faith in the contingent he brought. But this was the first time they would battle this many leeches at once.

On the other hand the Denali’s didn’t know they existed unless the Cullen’s told them. Bella did not believe they did. It was good enough for him.

Eleazar panicked. Seeing five very large wolves step out of the trees set every survival instinct he had on edge. He wanted to grab Carmen and run.

The problem was there was no place to run to.

The trees shook with the sound of the howls radiating from the wolves. Eleazar prepared to fight but he knew it was hopeless. There would be no victory today.

Jake saw the fear in the male’s eyes. It was all the confidence he needed as he thought one simple order every wolf knew.

“Attack.”

Bella and Kate had exchanged blows and retreated farther into the dense forest. They finally both found their feet.

“What are you?” Kate hissed.

Bella said nothing.

“Fine.” Kate moved towards the witch. The witch raised her right hand and a blast of blue light erupted.

After it passed, Kate looked down, surprised to find herself still standing.

Until she saw the hole in her chest that went clean through.

“How did you do that?” she whispered a split second before Bella’s sword took her head. A simple chant and Kate Denali was no more. Thunder stepped out of the woods and Bella mounted the beast. It was time to check on the others.

Rushing back to the highway, Bella found that not much was left. The four other vampires were in a fire on the side of the road. The wolves retreated slowly to the tree line and reemerged fully dressed.

Bella ran to Jake, wrapping her arms around him.

“We’re good too, Swan.” Paul commented snidely.

Bella laughed. “I’m glad Paul.” She told him honestly.

“So that seemed pretty easy…” Jared tried.

“Don’t get excited. This was warm up. Tomorrow is the main event.”

The wolves seemed to take this in stride.

“So what are we going to do with the SUV?”‘ Leah asked.

“Move it to the side of the road. Charlie can claim it later as abandoned property.” Jake instructed him.

“Come on guys. Let’s head back to La Push. I’m hungry.” Bella said.

Twenty miles away Quil and Embry sat in the woods by the Cullen house watching carefully. The Cullen’s had not made a move to escape house arrest since Bella placed them on it. But neither Quil nor Embry wanted to be the ones who were on duty when they did escape.

So it was with this single minded focus on the Cullen house that they never noticed the vampire named Demetri in the trees high above, upwind of the wolves.

Demetri sat watching the wolves for nearly an hour. His first instinct had been to warn Irkalla of the presence of these monsters. For surely they were lying in wait for her and all of them.

Turning to leave though, Demetri was hit by another thought. The thought of two faces.

Alec and Jane were two of the most sadistic creatures he had ever ran across. Jane at least. Alec did as he was told.

Everyone knew what Irkalla and Nergal made Jane and Alec do every night. To them. To each other. The look on their faces when they emerged from wherever Irkalla had them stationed that night.

Demetri’s thoughts carried over to the townships that he had participated in the slaughtering of. The bodies left behind on the street. The children… what she did with the children.

No.

Demetri knew what he would do. He would keep this to himself. Should the wolves arrive he would attempt to take Alec and Jane away. Attempt to get himself and them out of harm’s way. And far away they would run. Far away from this evil woman and her mate.

Demetri did not know what these wolves could do. But they were his only chance at seeing Irkalla dead.

At this point he would take any chance he could find. Even if it meant he died as well. Dying would be better than living under her rule.