Destiny

~22~

Destinee sat at the kitchen and was doing homework while Charlie was watching a game. She was on edge and anxious. Then she heard her phone ringing.
"Hey Jake. Just checking to see how you're doing. And to say I'm sorry, about, you know... how I feel and... hope the flu passes fast. Call me."
Destinee listened a bit. She too tried to call and text Jacob. But she also didn't get an answer, just like Bella.

Bella climbed out of her truck, seeing the empty spot where Edward used to park. She also saw Eric and Angela canoodling, couples everywhere. She put her head down and hurried to class.
"Hi Jake. Your dad said you have mono. He won't let me visit but... would you call me?" Destinee called Jacob again before she went inside the school.

Destinee heard how Bella paced her room, knowing she didn't want to sleep and dream. Bella eyed the phone, waiting for it to ring.
"Me again. I just... need to hear your voice..." she said on the mailbox.

Bella was on the phone, leaving yet another message, her desperation having reached its peak. In the living room, Charlie and Harry checked their fishing gear.
"Jacob. Please. Call me."
She hung up and leaned her forehead against the phone. Charlie entered.
"Harry and I will be back by three..."
He stopped when he saw her. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's mono, Bells."
"He's too sick to even call?"
"Man are you selfish", Destinee mumbled when she strode around them into the kitchen.
Bella gave her a little shove. Destinee stumbled and turned to glare at Bella. She really hoped that it wasn't sprained.
"Bella", Charlie scolded.
"You just gotta wait it out."
"You know, I don't have to go fishing..."
Bella formed a smile.
"No, go. I'll call Jess or someone"
"Good. But stay here or at Jess's. No hikes or anything. We're issuing a warning about those bears."
Bella nodded.
"Desti is cooking again. Don't wait for me."

Bella tried to navigate her way to the meadow. She referred to a map, a compass. She tried a trail. It didn't look familiar. She backtracked and tried another. Finally, she saw a clearing ahead and hurried toward it. Bella stepped into the clearing, hopeful, but her face fell. In contrast to the warmth of her memory, the meadow was cold, gloomy and cloudy,... and no Edward. She closed her eyes, trying to force Edward here. Her eyes opened on the empty, overcast meadow. Bella sank to her knees, tears threatening. But then she heard a rustling noise. She turned toward it and peered into the woods. Another rustling noise came from another part of the woods. She spun toward it. Then she turned and jumped when she found. Laurent was standing just ten yards away. Bella couldn't believe her eyes.
"Laurent?"
"Bella."
She beamed, realizing he was real.
"Laurent!" she exclaimed happily.
"I must admit, I didn't expect to find you here."
"I live here. But you... I thought you were in Alaska with Carlisle's friend."
"Tanya, I was. It was kind of him to arrange, given my association with James and Victoria, 'The Enemy'."
"You tried to help us."
Laurent began to stroll in a slow arc around her, his eyes assessing her.
"I went to visit the Cullens, but their house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of a pet of theirs?"
Bella's smile faltered, fear beginning to dawn on her.
"Um... something like that."
"Do the Cullens visit often?" he asked.
Suddenly, Edward's illusion appeared between them.

"Lie."

"Absolutely. All the time", Bella said.
"Lie better."
"I'll tell them you stopped by."
Edward faded. Throughout, he reappeared when he spoke, then fade again. Bella tried to look relaxed.
"Will they be able to reach you in Alaska?"
"I don't think so. Tanya's 'vegetarian' family was pleasant enough. But the dietary restrictions were difficult-living on nothing but animals."
Suddenly, he was standing inches from her. She now saw his eyes, which were a dark blood-red.
"Tell me Bella. Do you ever feel compelled to... cheat?"
Bella involuntarily took a step away from him.
"But that's not why I left. I came back here as a favor to Victoria."
"You're still friends."
Laurent shrugged.
"More or less. She asked me to get the lay of the land with the Cullens. Because, well... I'm afraid Victoria is quite put out with you."
"That's... too bad."
"Yes. She feels it's only fair to kill that other girl, that sister of yours, given your mate killed hers. Eye for an eye."
Edward's illusion appeared again.
"Threaten him."
"Edward will know who did it. He'll come after both of you."
"I don't think he will. After all, how much could you mean to him if he left you both here unprotected? Victoria sent me here for information. She won't be happy about my killing you."
"No, Laurent..."
"No, no, no. Don't be upset. I'm doing you a kindness. Victoria plans on killing you slowly, painfully... whereas I'll make it very quick. And you smell so... mouth watering."
He was facing her, taking in her scent, his bloodlust building. Her eyes darted around. Escape was impossible. The only thing she saw was the illusion of Edward, looking at her with alarm.
"Edward. I love you", Bella whispered barely audible.

Meanwhile

Destinee stood in the kitchen, preparing food when again a strange feeling tugged at her heart and a light emitted from there. It went from her heart to her charm-less bracelet. A symbol that looked like a wolf appeared. The light emerged and flew through the window towards the forest. It stopped near the pack of the La Push wolves. They looked at it confused as it formed the silhouette of Destinee. They didn't recognized her, only that it was a girl. She rose a finger and pointed towards the direction where the clearing, Bella was currently standing in, was. The wolves caught the smell of a vampire and looked into the pointed direction. They looked back but the light was gone. They immediately sprung into action.

Laurent was milliseconds away from biting. Then abruptly, his expression changed. He saw something in the forest behind Bella and it terrified him.
"I... don't believe it."
He stepped back. Bella was confused as she realized that he was no longer focused on her. She followed his eyes, slowly turning to find an enormous black wolf behind her. He was skulking out of the darkness of the woods. It stalked towards them, a low disturbing growl inited throat, sharp teeth gleaming. Bella was trapped between the two killers.
"Don't. Move", Edward whispered in her ear.
The wolf slunkcloser to Bella, a mere twenty feet from where she stood. Then four more wolves soundlessly emerged from the trees, flanking the black wolf. They were the size of small horses, all of different hues: dark silver, chocolate, ash and russet- brown. Their hackles were up, lips curling and bodies crouched, ready to spring. Bella was frozen with fear as they came toward her. The russet-brown wolf was the closest and looked directly at her. Laurent continued to retreat, then suddenly, almost simultaneously Laurent bolted across the meadow and the wolves sprung toward Bella and leapt right over her in pursuit of Laurent. Their thunderous snarls and snaps shook her as the pack sprinted after the vampire, surrounding him before he reached the tree line. Laurent swung at the dark silver wolf, smacking the wolf half-way across the meadow. Another wolf lunged at Laurent. He kicked it and it sailed into a tree, splintering it. The two wolves recovered and lurched back to the pack which closed in on Laurent. It was impossible to know who will prevail. Bella didn't stay to find out. She raced into the woods.

Bella ran franticly, tearing down the hillside, tripping and quickly picking herself up before running again. She dashed out of the tree line and to her truck. She jumped in and pealed out.

Bella bursted into the house, out of breath. Charlie and Harry Clearwater were washing their fishing gear. Charlie spun around. They had returned. Destinee stopped making food for a moment and looked confused to her adoptive sister.
"Bella? What's wrong?" Charlie asked.
"They're not giant bears... I saw them. Up in a meadow..."
Destinee looked to Harry who stiffened. He felt the look and moved his eyes to her.
"Charlie said you can't go into the woods", Destinee chimed in.
"Exactly my words", Charlie agreed.
"What did you see, Bella?" Harry asked.
"Wolves. They're wolves, Dad. Five of them. The size of... of cars. I swear. They went after... something... and I ran."
Destinee knew that with 'something', Bella meant a vampire.
Charlie grabbed up the phone.
"Harry, can you get some men from the rez?" Charlie asked Harry while he dialed.
"Sure. Yeah. I'll just..."
Harry seems more concerned than gung-ho as he slipped out.
"Jerry? Put a hunting party together... tranq guns, large caliber shotguns... there's something dangerous out there", Charlie spoke into the phone.
'Something dangerous. Victoria', Destinee thought as her eyes darted to Bella.
Charlie hung up and went to his gun cabinet.
"I've gotta go to the station."
"You two okay here? You want to come with?"
"Actually, I... need to see a friend."
"And I'll stay with the food", it came from Destinee.