Spider-Girl

Chapter 21: Horriying Clearing

             While his mom goes fishing with Charlie and Harry and Eliza is with Sue and Leah, Nigel is hanging out with his cousin Bella. Bella is happy for it.

          "Nigel," Bella says as she goes downstairs at her dad's house. "I know this clearing in the woods with a bunch of beautiful wild flowers. Would you like to see it?"

           Nigel jumps up off the couch with a smile. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

           Bella smiles. "Go get your coat, Nigel, and we'll go."

           Nigel walks to the utility room while Bella puts her own jacket on. Bella seriously meant what she said to Wyn, she'd watch Nigel. She does want to bond with him; she realized how much she missed him when she came out of her unresponsive state. She even missed his and Eliza's birthdays, and Wyn's.

           "I'm ready!" Nigel says as he rejoins Bella's side. "Let's go!"

           Bella and Nigel leave the house and the teenager leads her seven year old cousin through the woods, and along a trail she found a while back. She'd rather take the shrubby part, the harder part, but she's choosing to make it easier for her little cousin. 

               Soon, they find the clearing. "My ex boyfriend brought me here. It still kind of hurts," Bella tells her cousin.

              "It's okay if you want to cry," Nigel says kindly and he hears a rustling noise.

            As soon as Bella sees laurent, she pushes Nigel behind her... or tries to. Nigel manages to get out of her arms and he steps to the side, watching the red eyed man study Bella.

            "Bella," Laurent speaks.

            "Laurent!" Bella gasps in a panic, she grabs Nigel's bicep and puts him behind her.

             "I must admit, I didn't expect to find you here," Laurent claims. "With a child, I might add." He glances at an intigued Nigel and back to the human in question.

           "We live here," Bella states. "But you - I thought you were in Alaska with Carlisle's friends."

             "Irina... I was," Laurent replies. "It was kind of him to arrange, given my association with James and Victoria...the enemy."

           "You tried to help us," Bella claims.

        Laurent begins to slowly stroll around Bella, Nigel is standing off to the side. Laurent doesn't even bother him, he won't harm a child. Rather Victoria asks him to or not, it's not in his nature to harm a child.

           "I went to visit the Cullens, but their house is empty," Laurent finally speaks as he stands still in front of her, Nigel is watching in interest. "I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you some sort of pet of theirs?"

             Bella's face falls slightly, fear dawning on her at the realization of Nigel being far from her, and where this conversation is heading. "Um... something like that."

           "Do the Cullens visit offen?" Laurent asks.

         "Lie," the illusion of Edward says.

          "Absolutely," Bella lies. "All the time."

         "Lie better," the illusion states.

         "I'll tell them you stopped by," Bella claims. "Will they be able to reach you in Alaska?" She asks when she calms a little.

            "I don't think so," Laurent replies. "Irina's vegetarian family was pleasant enough. But the dietary restrictions were difficult - living on nothing but animals." And then suddenly, he is in front of Bella - his speed causing Nigel's eyes to widen in both horror and curious it. "Tell me, Bella," Laurent says conspiratorially, "do you ever feel compelled to... cheat?"