Mortality

The Storm

It's just beginning to drizzle when the front door opens. There's a surprise visitor, in an old black Ford. Julie and Billy come inside with water on their coats, Julie taking her hair down and shaking it free. Billy waves at me, going toward Carlisle, who is waiting by the stairs.

"I have an elevator set up over here, Mr. Black. Come on, we'll talk in my office. Everyone," he snaps his fingers, eyeballing the three of us, "no listening in. That goes double for Edward and doesn't count at all for Esme." As he says that, she prances up behind him, kissing his cheek and vanishing into a cleverly hidden elevator in the wall.

Julie rushes up to Edward and me with a smile, her eyes flicking over to Edward anxiously. "Hey, tall, pale, and creepy."

"Wonderful to see you again, Ms. Black." He says formally, stiffly, his shaking hands set at my hip. I shake my head, heart skipping a beat when Julie jumps forward and hugs us both. Edward swallows hard, pressing his chest to my back.

"I thought Charlie was joshing when he said you'd be here. What's going on?" I rub the back of my neck and hold up my broken hand. "Holy shit, Bella!"

"The rogue vampires, and one might have set its sights on me. So, we're going to ..."

"Kill him," Edward finishes, "before he can hurt anyone in town. Or on the reservation."

"Are these the same bloodsuckers that have been headed toward us for a while?" She looks at him with wide doe eyes, hands reaching out for his arm. Breaking away from me, he takes Julie's hand and squeezes it. "Are you sure you can get them?"

"After they ran into Bella, their entire path changed. They aren't going to La Push, and we'll make sure they don't turn back. I assume that's what Billy and Carlisle are talking about."

"I think so. My dad doesn't really want to involve me in vampire drama. Says it's why my sisters left us. I don't really believe that, but it's not like I can leave, anyway. Hard to find a decent nurse willing to drive to far out of town."

"I'll have Carlisle ask around. Billy deserves some good home care, and you deserve a break." Edward's body completely relaxes, and he looks over her shoulder. "Why on earth do I smell fish?" Julie turns and gestures outside, toward her truck.

"My dad got some fried fish from Harry Clearwater. We're running it by Charlie's little hiding place on our way home. It's not his normal place, otherwise I coulda taken it myself. He texted Dad with the directions, we'll be there and back before midnight." She pauses and leans in. "His contact is Honeybun." She glances at me, a brow raised.

"Hey," I raise my hands, "what they do on their own time is not my business." Edward chuckles, hiding a grin behind his hand. "I'll keep you updated on what happens, I promise."

"Thank you, Bella." Julie hugs me again, squeezing this time. "I'd hate to lose you before summer. I'm gonna get my motorcycle license and terrorize your old man."

"Call me before you do that." Edward doesn't hide his wicked, horrific smile this time. "I want to get his reaction on camera. With multiple angles. As blackmail material."

"You got it, old man. Speaking of," she looks over her shoulder, to the approaching pair of Carlisle and Billy, "the oldest in the room are arriving."

"Billy is a baby compared to me," Edward jokes, much to Carlisle's chagrin.

"Let's not talk about age right now. I felt old the other day when Esme had to stop me from snapping my smartphone shut." Carlisle shakes his head and gestures to Billy. "I was just told the rogues have been spotted closer to the Quileute reservation, so we've changed the plan. We were going to wait until the storm front had settled in, but with them threatening to breach territories, we can't take the risk."