Chapter Ten

The entire ride home was filled with Angela and Jessica giggling and smiling leaving Bella alone with Edward. I knew Edward would never harm my cousin.

I dropped the girls all off at home and then headed home myself. I unlocked the door and walked in, hanging up my keys.

I saw that Charlie wasn't home yet. I walked into the kitchen with the to go box I had and sat it on the counter, I saw a note on the fridge.

Looking it over, it told me that Charlie would be working late tonight.

I decided to reheat the food and take it over to him. Getting back in the jeep I drove the short distance to the station spotting flashing lights and raised an eyebrow.

I saw Charlie's cruiser and another car; it was a slick black. I recognized it as Carlisle's.

Frowning, I got out just as Edward's Volvo pulled in next to me. He and Bella got out.

"Lena what's happening?" Bella asked.

"I don't know." I told her shrugging before thinking it through and glanced at Edward. "I was just dropping off dinner for Charlie."

'If Carlisle is here, something's wrong' I thought making Edward nod.

Just as I finished that thought Carlisle came walking out.

"Carlisle what's going on?" Edward and I asked at the same time earning a look from Bella. We shared a look.

"Waylon Forge was found in the woods out near his place." Carlisle told us, looking between Edward and I. "I just examined the body."

'Waylon? vampire attack? That's what Quinn meant by something was going to happen'

Edward looked at me sharply, I saw his face darken a little.

'Quinn saw it?''

'I told you we've been sensing something, it's been like this since Bella came to town.'

He nodded.

"He died?" Bella asked looking horrified, I glanced at her nearly forgetting she was there. "How?"

"Animal attack." Carlisle told her,  I watched his eyes flicker to Edward and I noticing we were talking mentally. I turned reading Carlisle's mind.

Bella also noticed the exchange we were having but luckily for me she didn't think about it as much.

"The same kind that killed the security guard down in Mason?" Bella asked.

"Most likely." Carlisle told her calmly, looking at Edward and I again.

"So, it's getting closer to town."

"Waylon lived all the way down on Queet's river." I told her shrugging. "75 miles south."

"But that's-" Bella trailed off.

"Bella mind checking on Charlie?" I asked cutting her off, smiling reassuring. "Waylon was one of his closest friends, I'll be in, in a second."

She frowned at me, but went to the door, pausing for a minute before she walked in. I made sure she was out of ear shot before turning back.

"Something big is coming." I told them. "Whatever it is the girls, and I can feel it."

"Did Quinn see what it or who it was?" Edward asked making me look at him.

"No, she couldn't get a clear view just that there are three of them." I said before looking at Carlisle. "They passed through the barrier a month ago, we've been working on it, whatever it is, it's dark."

They nodded.

"You should join them so Bella doesn't get more suspicious." Edward told me nodding towards the door.

"You should know she's already catching on." I told him making him nod. "The girls and I told her our secret for safety reasons not yours but she's hardheaded, eventually she will figure it out."

That was all I said before walking in to see Charlie nearly in tears, torn up and Bella not sure what to do. He had several maps, pictures and statements in front of him.

"Uncle Charlie, I'm so sorry." I told him moving to his side, hugging him. "I can't believe Waylon is gone."

He was a little more relaxed with me, laying his hand over my forearm.

"Known him going on thirty years." He said sadly. "But don't worry, we're gonna.... we're gonna find this thing."

He let go of my arm and I backed up watching him open one of his drawers.

"In the .... I want you both to start carrying these with you." He told us, holding up two pepper spray bottles.

Bella tried to get out of it while I took mine so Charlie would feel better.

---------------------

Back at home, Charlie was still in distraught as he headed for his bedroom and closed the door.

I frowned putting the dinner I made him in the fridge before heading up to my own, Bella followed.

"I need to talk to you." She told me closing the door behind her.

I dropped my bag down and sat on my bed facing her, reaching out to pick up Piper and put her on my lap petting her.

"About?"

"I think you know." She told me giving me a look.

"Bella, you know I can't tell you anything." I told her sighing.

"It's not breaking the rules if I figure it out myself, is it?" She asked cautiously, pausing pulling out a blue book. "Because I found this book at that bookstore in Port Angeles, and it speaks of legends and stuff.... cold ones that's what Jacob called them right?"

"Yes." I told her nodding; I was hesitant to tell her the truth.

"Edward's hand was cold as ice." She added. "So, I started doing research and I found all this stuff.... about vampires? Am I crazy?"

"Bella you just found out I'm a witch." I told her pointedly. "Crazy isn't even possible anymore."

She looked at me freaked out, from the look on her face I knew that she knew the truth.

Edward was a vampire.

----------

My head was pounding when I woke up, for the first time since my parents died I had a hard time sleeping. I tossed and turned and worried about Bella finding out Edward's secret.

Sighing to myself I groaned a little and turned seeing that it was nearly 6:20, I was behind on my morning routine.

Slowly I got up, looking around my room and pushed my comforter, heading over to my closet. I got dressed in my black skinny jeans, a black tank and my purple, black plaid shirt. I brushed my hair leaving it down and stuffed my feet into my shoes.

I grabbed my carry sleepover bag that I packed last night and a medicine bag I normally carried potions in. I gathered a few other things and headed out, going downstairs.

I passed Bella's room and glanced in, seeing that she was sitting at her computer.

"Hey we'll be leaving in a few minutes." I told her.

She nodded and got ready.

I found Charlie sitting at the table looking out of it and frowned.

"Hey." I greeted moving to the fridge to grab one of my breakfast smoothies, I premade and stopped turning to him, seeing the look on his face.

"Hey." He said back, his voice was broken and tired.

"Are you doing okay?" I asked softly, sitting down beside him and laid a hand over his.

His other hand slowly came up and rested on top of mine.

"I think it's starting to hit home." He told me sadly. "Waylon's really gone."

I frowned at him.

"Don't worry I know you'll find whatever did this." I told him making that a promise in my mind.

He smiled at me softly, he noticed my bags.

"You headed down to the rez?"

"Yeah, was going to have dinner with Leah after school." I told him seeing the look in his eyes. "Did you want me to come home instead? I can do that."

"No, no you go have fun." He told me gently.

Bella came into the kitchen with her stuff.

"You ready to go?" I asked looking at her.

She nodded.

I smiled at her and stood up kissing Charlie's cheek and grabbed my stuff walking out the front door.

Getting in the jeep I stared back at the house for a few minutes before backing up and took off. Bella stared out the window.

I looked over at her seeing the look on her face.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" I asked gently.

"No." She muttered.

We didn't say anything else after that.

---

Pulling into the parking lot of the school, Bella and I got out. The girls decided they didn't want to ride with us.

Anyway, we hung out around the parking lot before the bell rang, Jazz was playing soccer and Quinn was reading at a table.

It was a nice cloudy day, but it was still decent.

Bella grabbed my hand and dragged me with her, I just stared at her and towards a section of woods behind the school.

I also noticed Edward following behind us.

'She knows'

I bit my lip.

"Bella stop." I muttered stopping in the middle of an opening, I made her stop with me and let go of me. I stepped back from her a little.

"I know the truth." She told me.

I sighed running a hand through my hair.

"I didn't say anything at the house because you said Charlie doesn't know about it." She told me. "We've never kept secrets from each other except for the-"

"The fact that I'm a witch." I said cutting her off. "I know but there's reasons I don't want you involved."

"I was already involved the moment I moved here, and you know it." She told me. "He's impossibly fast and strong, eyes change color and sometimes he speaks like he's from a different time and for some reason you know what he is, what his family is... right?."

She looked at me, I stared back for the longest time before sighing.

"Yes." I muttered nodding.

Edward stopped alongside me.

"How old are you?" Bella asked looking at Edward.

Edward and I shared a look.

"Seventeen."

"How long have you been seventeen?" She asked.

There was a long pause before Edward answered.

"A while."

"I know what you are." Bella told him glancing at me, she looked terrified but confident.

"Say it." Edward demanded. "Out loud.... say it."

Bella looked at me, I sighed and nodded giving her permission.

"Vampire." Bella said trembling.

"Are you afraid?" Edward asked.

I crossed my arms and stayed quiet.

"No." She said shaking her head.

"Then ask me the most basic question." Edward told her. "What do we eat?"

I gave Edward a calm look knowing he wasn't going to hurt her.

"You won't hurt me." Bella told him.

Edward grabbed her hand and lead her away.

"Where are we going?" Bella asked looking back at me panicking "Lena."

"It's okay Bella." I told her following quietly.

"Up the mountain, out of the cloudbank." Edward told her glancing back at me as he pulled Bella onto his back. "I need to show her what I look like in the sunlight... come with us."

I nodded knowingly, smirking playfully.

"Last one there has to arm wrestle Em." I told him making him smirk a little.

Edward grinned at me, a mychevious spark played in his eye as he took off. My eyes flashed gold.

----

Suddenly the area spun around, and I was no longer standing in the woods but standing on a mountain side.

I got there just in the nick of time Edward and Bella were standing beside me.  I smiled.

'Witch one, vampire zero.'

Edward rolled his eyes getting back into serious mode.

Bella stared at me wide-eyed.

"Witch Bella." I said reminding her.

"Yeah but I've never seen you do it before." She said impressed. "That was kind of cool."

"Focus we're not here for me, we're here for him.

I nodded towards Edward.

Bella nodded slightly and turned to Edward. He stared at me with appreciation. He started to unbotton his shirt.

"This is why we don't show ourselves in the sunlight." He said stepping into a stream of sunlight. "People would know we're different. This is what I am."

Edward's skin glowed in a million sparkles. I love the Cullens but sometimes it made me laugh cause they looked like a disco ball but it amused me.

I stared at my cousin, seeing how well she was taking it.

Bella took in a sharp breath.

"It's like diamonds." Bella told him. "You're....beautiful."

"This is the skin of a killer Bella." Edward told her making me stare at him in understanding. "I'm a killer."

"I don't believe that." Bella told him shaking her head and gave a small smile of encouragement. She glanced at me for a second.

I suddenly remembered my parents and the vampires that killed them.  Bella was so innocent.  Edward seemed to read my mind because the next second, he got angry and jumped into the air disappearing before appearing next to a fallen tree, half the roots were sticking up.

"I'm the worlds most dangerous predator." He told her grabbing one of the airborne roots and pulled the tree form the ground and threw it across the field where it crashed against a wall of stone. He came towards us and stood in front of us. "Everything about me invites you in. My voice, my face, even my smell, as if I would need any of that......As if you could outrun me! As if you could fight me off unless you're like Elena. I'm designed to kill."

Part of me knew that was true, but I also knew Edward wouldn't do anything like that, not on purpose. He and his family were different that's why my family were friends with them.

My family had a lot of history here and a lot of connections between the rez and the Cullens.

"I don't care." Bella stuttered, standing firm.

"I've killed people." Edward pressed on.

"It doesn't matter." Bella told him.

I found myself smiling at her softly.

'Awe Bella'

Edward's eyes turned to stare at mine before turning back to my cousin, looking stunned.

"I wanted to kill you." He told her admittedly. "I've never wanted a human's blood so much in my life, I'm dangerous."

I stayed quiet moving to a fallen tree and sat on top of it chris-crossing my legs and just watched.

Edward seemed to be in a trance as he moved towards her as Bella had a calm look on her face, trusting him and reached up to up his face but Edward snapped awake and ran away.

Bella looked at me before looking around and found him sitting in a low hanging branch of a tree.

"I trust you.' Bella told him.

"Don't." Edward told her.

"I'm here, if Elena can trust you then I trust you too." Bella told him, she turned to me. "Right?"

"It's not Edward or his family I don't trust." I told her thinking it over. "Our families have always been close since Esther and Carlisle met... but you should never underestimate a vampire or even a witch.."

Edward gave me a look knowing what I meant.

"What do you mean?" Bella asked confused, she joined me sitting on the tree, and Edward jumped down to our side. "What else are you keeping from me."

I just stared at her.

"Things that you can never tell Charlie." I told her making her nod. "The car accident that killed my parents...wasn't an accident" I paused for a minute thinking them, in sadness. "We were attacked, my parents were killed by vampires."

Bella stared at me in shock.

"I was supposed to die with them." I added making her eyes go wider. "I-"

I was cut off by my phone buzzing so I took it out and glanced at it seeing a message from Billy.

'Sam? Sam Uley? He shifted? Now?'

My eyes went wide, I jumped down from the tree instantly landing on my feet.

"I'll tell you more about it at home." I said turning to my cousin. "I have to go, magic emergency."

"What kind of emergency?" She asked standing up. "I'll go with you."

"No." I told her gently. handing her my keys. "No humans allowed.... Could you give my keys to Jazz or Quinn... I won't need it.."

"Okay."

"This will give you and Edward time to talk without me being third wheel."

I didn't give her any chance to protest and teleported out.

-----

"Thanks for coming so fast." Billy told me.

We were headed over to the Uley house, with Harry Clearwater and Old Quil.

I smiled at him.

"No problem, I can't believe this is actually happening." I told him quietly, adjusting my bag. "I thought Sam was different but..." I paused sighing. "I just hope I can be as good as Elise."

"You have the same spirit she did."

Old Quil told me making me smile at him with appreciation. We reached the Uley house and heard groans.

Entering the house, we went into the backyard to the woods where a black mass was, he was shaking angrily, Sam's mother Allison was looking terrified, she looked over spotting us and stared at me.

"Oh Elena thank goodness you're here." She said.

I smiled at her gently, moving to their sides and stared Sam down, muttering a small spell.

'what the hell is this? What am I?'

'Sam you okay?'

'Lena?' The black wolf's head turned to me.

'Yeah, you're gonna be okay Sammy." I told him calmly. 'We just need to turn you back'

'Turn me back? But what the hell happened? Am I really a wolf thing?'

'I am soo sorry this happened to you, it's a long story but you're a shapeshifter, a wolf and me I'm a witch, I'm gonna help you turn back safely.'

I glanced over at Allison.

"He's going to need some clothes." I told her making her nod, she turned and headed into the house. Billy, Harry and Old Quil were watching from the porch.

Opening my medicine bag, I brushed my fingers across the different potions I made and picked one up.  I mixed it together a few days ago, something told me I had to make them so I did. The liquid was blue.

Sam didn't say anything, just watched.

"Okay Sammy listen carefully this will help you calm down enough so you can shift back but only this one time." I told him uncapping the vial. "The next time you'll have to deal with it yourself."

'Next time?! There's a next time?!'

He just stared at me, making me slightly roll my eyes.

"I know you have a lot more questions, and they will be answered later but for now bottoms up." I added holding the vial near his mouth or the wolf's mouth. He opened and I poured it in.

He continued staring at me before he drank the vial and shuddered in disgust.

'That's nasty.'

"Yeah well potions are like that sometimes." I retorted.

Allison walked out handing me the clothes, and I walked over behind a tree laying them down and walked back out.

'Go behind the tree and think of a happy thought'

-------------------

Sam was back in human form, and we sat with the elders talking, now that Sam was a wolf, he would have to break up with Leah and learn to control his emotions and was now in charge of protecting the town for now...unfortunately Sam ran out on us, but we talked and answered every question he asked.

Afterwards I headed over to the Clearwater house with Harry.

-----

"Lena!" Seth exclaimed when I walked through the door, he launched forward and tackled me in a hug.

I giggled but found myself seriously needing the hug after the whole thing with Bella and Edward and Sam I was a little tired.

"Good to see you to Sethy bear." I told him making him groan at the nickname, I ruffled his hair making him groan again. He pulled back. "You driving your sister crazy yet?"

"No."

"Yes."

Leah and Seth said at the same time, Leah pulled me into a hug and dragged me into the house while Seth closed the door behind me.

I just grinned at them.

Sue came walking out of the kitchen followed by a native girl, she was really pretty. I glanced her over.

"Elena. Nice to see you." Sue told me setting the table. "Just in time for dinner."

Leah looked a little upset but shrugged it off and pulled me over to them.

"Lena this is my cousin Emily." Leah told me gesturing to the girl.

"Nice to meet you." The girl greeted.

I smiled at her.

"You too."

"C'mon." Leah said dragging me into her room.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." Sue called after us.

"Okay."

"Seth come help set the table." Harry said making Seth groan. I grinned at that.

-----

Walking into Leah's room, I sat my bag down.

"He's so annoying." Leah said as I sat on the bed, she joined me.

"Oh, c'mon Leah, I wish my parents could have given me a brother or a sister." I told her earning a scoff.

"You can have mine anytime." She retorted.

I frowned at her a little hurt at that.

"Sorry I guess I'm just grumpy." She told me looking sad. "I've been calling Sam all day and he hasn't responded..."

I frowned deeper knowingly, it hurt that I couldn't tell her the truth, it wasn't like Sam wanted to, he had no choice. It was just his fate.

"You don't think he could be seeing someone else do you?" She asked sighing. "Maybe someone prettier?"

"Of course not" I told her smiling softly. "No one is prettier than you."

"What if he breaks up with me?"

"Then you can find someone else, someone better than Sam." I told her shrugging.

She looked at me hurt.

"Sorry Lee-Lee." I told her gently. "I know you love Sam, I guess I'm just not a relationship person."

She sighed and nodded.

The door opened and Seth entered making Leah's head snap over at him.

"Don't you knock?" Leah asked.

"Sorry." He muttered, walking back out and closed the door, a knock tapped on the door seconds later making me grin giggling, Seth entered again. "That better."

Leah just glared at him.

"Mom said dinner's ready, come eat." He said.

"We're coming." I told him standing up. "C'mon Lee."

We stood up and walked out, Seth followed and soon we were sitting around the Clearwater table having a salmon type dinner. Salmon, zucchini and sweet potato, Sue even included a tofu salmon, so I didn't feel left out.

Sue was amazing whenever I came over for dinner, she always had other options for me.

We made small talk as we ate our dinner, then I helped Sue clean up before hugging Leah and giving my goodbyes.

---

Once I was home, it was pretty dark outside. I walked in quiety and headed upstairs to my room. Setting my things down, I stripped out of my clothes, threw on a pair of random fuzzy jammies and went straight to bed.

I fell asleep just as my head hit the pillow.

'What an exhausting day, Bella knows the Cullen's secrets, Sam shifted and Leah's broken heart wonder what's gonna happen next'

----

Knowing that Bella was now dating Edward, it was a little nerve wracking, I mean with no disrespect but my cousin hooking up with a vampire was strange and could be dangerous but I trusted Edward.

The rest of the Cullen's were having mixed feelings about it.

Rosalie is so pissed off that she's been mean to everyone including me but there was nothing I could do about it. Like I said and will keep saying it's fate and a witch cannot change that, well we could I suppose but I still wouldn't.

Why mess with else's future, I just had to trust that Bella was happy while still making sure she was safe. Edward would never hurt her on purpose.

I was standing in the kitchen just before I had to leave for school, cleaning up breakfast dishes and doing my morning chores, Charlie had already left for work and Bella was upstairs gathering her things.

A honk came from outside, I glanced out the window spotting Edward, drying my hands off, I went over glancing up the stairs.

"Bella! Edward's here." I told her before going to open the door and stared at him. "You can come in, Charlie's not here."

He nodded, smiling lightly at me, he came to the door and stood there on the front porch with me.

Bella came down, looking at him over my shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Clearly driving you to school." I retorted. "You get the boyfriend perks now."

I gave her and Edward a small knowing smirk and headed back into the kitchen. Edward just grinned at me.

"Ellie, you coming with us?" Edward asked making me turn back to them.

I picked up my bag rejoining them as I grabbed my keys.

"Nope have no interest in being third wheel." I told him making him smirk. "Besides gotta pick up Quinn and Jazz, we have things to talk about."

I walked moved around the two and headed past Edward's car to my jeep and got in, setting my bag behind my seat, waiting for Edward to pull out before I could and then headed in opposite direction to pick Jazz up first.

------

"So Sam shifted?" Jazz asked

We pulled into the parking lot and into my usual spot, I had told them everything that happened.

"Yup." I said nodding.

"That means something right?" Jazz asked again looking at me in shock and glanced at Quinn in the back. "There hasn't been a shifter in a couple years."

"I know it was kinda surprising to me too." I told them reaching behind to grab my backpack. "I'm not sure what it means but I think Alice's visions and Quinn's dreams are telling us something big is coming. I can feel it."

"Yeah but what?" Quinn asked making me shrug, she sighed.

Getting out, we linked arms and headed to the school, Edward was opening Bella's door for her.

"And Edward and Bella are together now?" Jazz asked in confusion.

"Yup." I told her..

By now everyone was staring at Edward and Bella walking behind us.

"Where have I been?" Jazz asked. "All this stuff happening and I'm just now hearing it."

Quinn and I shared a look, grinning softly.

"Poor Jazz." Quinn said giving her a side hug.

"You know everyone's staring?" I heard Bella ask, making her way through the crowd nervously.

The girls and I stopped by the stairs and turned to see them walking up towards us.

"Not that guy." Edward said gesturing towards a random person with his head. "Never mind, he just looked."

I could see Edward was enjoying this new feeling. He chuckled, smirking.

"I'm breaking all the rules now anyways." He muttered before draping his arm around Bella's shoulder and smiled at the girls and I. "Since I'm going to hell...."

I shook my head in amusement at him, before spotting the rest of the Cullen's sitting in Rosalie's convertible. All of them were watching Edward and Bella. Rosalie glared daggers at them, I could see their auras and felt what they did. Emmett, Alice and Jasper looked confused and weary.

All of their emotions and auras were strong, making me frown.

Jasper's head suddenly turned towards me, probably seeing the look on my face and turned to the others talking quietly and they slowly calmed down, like he could sense that my mood was heavy.

"Thanks Jas." I whispered quietly knowing he could hear me and turned to the girls. "I owe him one."

They nodded.

----------------------------

New Chapter

4/13/2024