Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 13:
Once phased, Brad and Greg run for my back woods; Devon and Aiden are splitting up to cover the house. I turn around to look at Taha, who is already seeking my eyes. He dips his head down enough to brush his muzzle against my cheek, causing me to smile slightly, “Thanks. I just hate not knowing. I can’t seem to just sit still when things are happening. I need something to fill the silence.”
Taha looks toward the kitchen, I guess thinking I’d like to bake. I let out a breath and nod, feeling like the kitchen is the place to be. “Yes, but not to bake. To brew. The medicine room is still in need of elixirs and things for you and the coyotes. They may need something, if someone gets hurt.”
I get a feeling of warmth coming from him, then ask, “Speaking of injuries, yours is still healing well, right? No tugging or pain?”
He gives me a wolfy smile as I get a feeling of both comfort and strength. I nod as we start to make our way toward the medicine room, “I’m glad. I know you’re probably tired of me fussing over you, but Taha… I was really scared for you. I love Old Quil, and I’ve seen him perform some incredible rituals, but I never heard of him healing something anywhere close to your injuries.”
Taha nudges my side gently while the comfort feeling strengthens, so I pat his side and smile, then offer, “I’ll be right back. You probably already know, but there’s no way to access the outside from down there.” With a nod from him, I’m off down the stairs to the medicine room.
Luckily, someone was nice enough to leave a decent sized basket down here, so I’m able to load everything I need in one go. The last thing I place in the basket is the medicine journal of Gran Hurit’s, then I turn off the light and close the door.
Taha sits tall in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room as I plop the basket down next to the kitchen island. I get to work on a fever elixir recipe, and without even realizing I’m doing it, soon I’m humming “Demons” by Imagine Dragons.
By the time I reach the chorus, I’m singing it out loud, not just humming the tune. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It’s where my demons hide, it’s where my demo-”
I look at Taha with wide eyes as the song registers. I always associated it with Edward, and how he acted about his vampire nature around me, trying to hide it all from me. Realizing I’m singing it now makes my skin nearly crawl. “Taha… tell me it’s not him. Tell me it’s someone from the Volturi. Tell me my bad dream and the song I was just singing… tell me they aren’t some weird type of premonition that it’s Edward attacking the rez.”
His eyes close for a minute, and when they reopen, they look sad. He shakes his head no.
The glass bottle falls from my hand before shattering on the floor. I don’t even know which situation it’s for when I shout, “Fuck!” Probably both.
Taha moves to come to me, but I shake my head as I promise, “No, I’m fine. Don’t move or you could spread the glass more. Let me clean it up real quick.”
I quickly grab the broom and dustpan from the laundry, and it only takes a minute or two for me to sweep away all evidence of glass. My eyes meet Taha’s, and I get a feeling of worry from him. I let out a breath, then ask, “Worry? Why are you worried about me? I’ve done the fragile flower ordeal with him. I didn’t particularly care for it, or for who I became because of it. I won’t go back to him, and I’m not scared of him.”
Taha makes a snorting huff sound, then eyes me intently. I roll my eyes, assuring him again, “I’m not scared of him. Yes, I’m scared, but not of him. I’m scared of a coyote coming back hurt. I’m scared I won’t be able to help this time. I’m scared…” My voice cracks, but I continue, “I’m scared that you might not be healed enough to fight him… that he’ll…”
I shake my head, start to fill new glass bottles on the island as I swallow the lump in my throat, then meet the white wolf’s concerned gaze. “I’m tired, Taha. I’m tired of not being able to do anything with that fear. I just want a way to channel it, you know?”
Just as I fill the last bottle on the island, I hear the sound of fighting in the back yard and get a feeling of needing to stay from Taha. I nod, so he turns around and slowly stalks toward the living room french doors. Though I stay in the kitchen, I can’t help that my feet take me to the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. I can hear Edward outside, telling someone they won’t stop him. That I belong with him, and they can’t keep me hidden from him.
I have to make myself breathe steadily. His words make the edges of my vision tint with red.
Fighting. I see a coyote backhanded, and he flies into the post of the covered patio off my living room, which gives way under the force of the coyote’s momentum. Another yelps as Edward kicks him hard in the front leg, then Edward is running again. My hands are gripping the doorway; it’s the only thing stopping me from rushing out to help the hurt coyotes.
Three coyotes are chasing Edward. I see two collide as Edward flips into the air to avoid being caught, then he’s dashing toward the dining room french doors. He sees Taha and grins… then his grin twists into a warped smirk as he gets closer. Though Taha had already moved closer to me, now he moves to block Edward from reaching me.
My vision isn’t just tinted red at the edges anymore. All I’m seeing is red. Edward has gone too far, and he’s set his sights on Taha. Just as I think Edward’s going to barrel into the dining room, Zander crashes into him from the side, Edward’s left arm in his jaws.
They’re near the treeline in the next second, fighting, but Taha seems worried. I cry out as Taha makes his way back into the living room and out the french doors, “No. Taha, don’t!”
Fuck this. I can’t just stay here.
My hands unclench, letting go of the doorway, and I find myself just inside the living room french doors, behind Taha. My breath hitches in my throat as I look out to see Zander being slung into the trees, then hear branches breaking as he crashes through the brush.
Just then Edward stills, and I can see him inhale as his head whips in my direction.
Shit. My blood. No stopping him. He’ll tear Taha apart before he gives up.
Edward is barreling toward me, but Taha braces himself for impact as he lets loose the most menacing growl I’ve heard. I can’t let it happen.
The next thing I know, I’m growling loudly as I land on all fours, then leaping over Taha. My paws swipe, and my jaws miraculously lock onto the temples of Edward’s head. Without a thought, I’m shaking my head. I hear a metallic screeching sound, and I feel Taha pulling the torso. One more vigorous shake; Edward’s head comes free from his body.
I quickly check to make sure Taha is okay, then hear Zander say softly in my mind, Good job, Little Coyote. I’ve started a fire on the picnic island. We can dispose of him there.
I think to myself, Shit… did I really phase? Is everyone okay? Did any of the other Cullens show up? I growled… and paws… and Jesus H Christ, this is gross. Vampire hair is disgusting!
Unsurprisingly, I hear several coyotes and a wolf chuckling at my inner monologue, so I chuckle in my mind, Oh, stuff it, Mighty Wolf. I think I’m doing pretty damn good for someone who didn’t think they’d ever phase. Forgive me the few minutes it takes me to get used to the fact that I have paws, ok? Or maybe that I have my ex-boyfriend’s bodiless head locked in my jaws. Yeah, a few minutes to acclimate sounds pretty good.
We reach the creek and I drop the head into the fire, then I turn enough to see Taha dragging the rest of the body. He stops near me, nudges his nose against my cheek, then thinks, We need proof of death for his coven, Bella.
Without a pause, my eyes drop to Edward’s wrist as I think, The leather cuff on his wrist. He never took it off, and it was the coven crest. Oh, if I’m right, there should be a flattened bottle cap in the front right pocket of his pants. His family all knew he carried that as a reminder of me when we weren’t together.
It’s only seconds later that Aiden bends down in his human form wearing only a pair of shorts. He removes the cuff, then reaches into the pocket of Edward’s pants. I’m not surprised at all to see his hand come back out holding the bottle cap. I nod, then drag the body by the arm toward the fire.
As soon as the headless body ignites, I hear Taha saying softly in my mind, Bella, your coyote form is already shimmering. Time to shift back, or your muscles will ache all night trying to recover. Zander grabbed the sheet from your room, and will protect your modesty as you shift back.
I can feel my energy draining, so I nod in Taha’s general direction, then follow Zander a few feet away. He offers as he holds the sheet out wide and turns his head to the side, “Think about being on two legs, little coyote. Think about your favorite food, about Charlie’s fatherly hugs, and how warm and cozy your bed is. Think about how much you love cooking in your kitchen. Calm thoughts.”
I try to do as he says. Just as I realize how completely wiped I am, I’m standing on two shaky legs instead of four. Blackness creeps into my vision, but I’m suddenly wrapped in the sheet as Zander carries me toward the house. “Come on. Bed rest for you, little coyote. Your body wasn’t prepared for this, and now you’re out of juice. You need to recover and rest.”
I only have time to see that Taha is following us back to the house before the blackness descends.
Once phased, Brad and Greg run for my back woods; Devon and Aiden are splitting up to cover the house. I turn around to look at Taha, who is already seeking my eyes. He dips his head down enough to brush his muzzle against my cheek, causing me to smile slightly, “Thanks. I just hate not knowing. I can’t seem to just sit still when things are happening. I need something to fill the silence.”
Taha looks toward the kitchen, I guess thinking I’d like to bake. I let out a breath and nod, feeling like the kitchen is the place to be. “Yes, but not to bake. To brew. The medicine room is still in need of elixirs and things for you and the coyotes. They may need something, if someone gets hurt.”
I get a feeling of warmth coming from him, then ask, “Speaking of injuries, yours is still healing well, right? No tugging or pain?”
He gives me a wolfy smile as I get a feeling of both comfort and strength. I nod as we start to make our way toward the medicine room, “I’m glad. I know you’re probably tired of me fussing over you, but Taha… I was really scared for you. I love Old Quil, and I’ve seen him perform some incredible rituals, but I never heard of him healing something anywhere close to your injuries.”
Taha nudges my side gently while the comfort feeling strengthens, so I pat his side and smile, then offer, “I’ll be right back. You probably already know, but there’s no way to access the outside from down there.” With a nod from him, I’m off down the stairs to the medicine room.
Luckily, someone was nice enough to leave a decent sized basket down here, so I’m able to load everything I need in one go. The last thing I place in the basket is the medicine journal of Gran Hurit’s, then I turn off the light and close the door.
Taha sits tall in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room as I plop the basket down next to the kitchen island. I get to work on a fever elixir recipe, and without even realizing I’m doing it, soon I’m humming “Demons” by Imagine Dragons.
By the time I reach the chorus, I’m singing it out loud, not just humming the tune. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It’s where my demons hide, it’s where my demo-”
I look at Taha with wide eyes as the song registers. I always associated it with Edward, and how he acted about his vampire nature around me, trying to hide it all from me. Realizing I’m singing it now makes my skin nearly crawl. “Taha… tell me it’s not him. Tell me it’s someone from the Volturi. Tell me my bad dream and the song I was just singing… tell me they aren’t some weird type of premonition that it’s Edward attacking the rez.”
His eyes close for a minute, and when they reopen, they look sad. He shakes his head no.
The glass bottle falls from my hand before shattering on the floor. I don’t even know which situation it’s for when I shout, “Fuck!” Probably both.
Taha moves to come to me, but I shake my head as I promise, “No, I’m fine. Don’t move or you could spread the glass more. Let me clean it up real quick.”
I quickly grab the broom and dustpan from the laundry, and it only takes a minute or two for me to sweep away all evidence of glass. My eyes meet Taha’s, and I get a feeling of worry from him. I let out a breath, then ask, “Worry? Why are you worried about me? I’ve done the fragile flower ordeal with him. I didn’t particularly care for it, or for who I became because of it. I won’t go back to him, and I’m not scared of him.”
Taha makes a snorting huff sound, then eyes me intently. I roll my eyes, assuring him again, “I’m not scared of him. Yes, I’m scared, but not of him. I’m scared of a coyote coming back hurt. I’m scared I won’t be able to help this time. I’m scared…” My voice cracks, but I continue, “I’m scared that you might not be healed enough to fight him… that he’ll…”
I shake my head, start to fill new glass bottles on the island as I swallow the lump in my throat, then meet the white wolf’s concerned gaze. “I’m tired, Taha. I’m tired of not being able to do anything with that fear. I just want a way to channel it, you know?”
Just as I fill the last bottle on the island, I hear the sound of fighting in the back yard and get a feeling of needing to stay from Taha. I nod, so he turns around and slowly stalks toward the living room french doors. Though I stay in the kitchen, I can’t help that my feet take me to the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. I can hear Edward outside, telling someone they won’t stop him. That I belong with him, and they can’t keep me hidden from him.
I have to make myself breathe steadily. His words make the edges of my vision tint with red.
Fighting. I see a coyote backhanded, and he flies into the post of the covered patio off my living room, which gives way under the force of the coyote’s momentum. Another yelps as Edward kicks him hard in the front leg, then Edward is running again. My hands are gripping the doorway; it’s the only thing stopping me from rushing out to help the hurt coyotes.
Three coyotes are chasing Edward. I see two collide as Edward flips into the air to avoid being caught, then he’s dashing toward the dining room french doors. He sees Taha and grins… then his grin twists into a warped smirk as he gets closer. Though Taha had already moved closer to me, now he moves to block Edward from reaching me.
My vision isn’t just tinted red at the edges anymore. All I’m seeing is red. Edward has gone too far, and he’s set his sights on Taha. Just as I think Edward’s going to barrel into the dining room, Zander crashes into him from the side, Edward’s left arm in his jaws.
They’re near the treeline in the next second, fighting, but Taha seems worried. I cry out as Taha makes his way back into the living room and out the french doors, “No. Taha, don’t!”
Fuck this. I can’t just stay here.
My hands unclench, letting go of the doorway, and I find myself just inside the living room french doors, behind Taha. My breath hitches in my throat as I look out to see Zander being slung into the trees, then hear branches breaking as he crashes through the brush.
Just then Edward stills, and I can see him inhale as his head whips in my direction.
Shit. My blood. No stopping him. He’ll tear Taha apart before he gives up.
Edward is barreling toward me, but Taha braces himself for impact as he lets loose the most menacing growl I’ve heard. I can’t let it happen.
The next thing I know, I’m growling loudly as I land on all fours, then leaping over Taha. My paws swipe, and my jaws miraculously lock onto the temples of Edward’s head. Without a thought, I’m shaking my head. I hear a metallic screeching sound, and I feel Taha pulling the torso. One more vigorous shake; Edward’s head comes free from his body.
I quickly check to make sure Taha is okay, then hear Zander say softly in my mind, Good job, Little Coyote. I’ve started a fire on the picnic island. We can dispose of him there.
I think to myself, Shit… did I really phase? Is everyone okay? Did any of the other Cullens show up? I growled… and paws… and Jesus H Christ, this is gross. Vampire hair is disgusting!
Unsurprisingly, I hear several coyotes and a wolf chuckling at my inner monologue, so I chuckle in my mind, Oh, stuff it, Mighty Wolf. I think I’m doing pretty damn good for someone who didn’t think they’d ever phase. Forgive me the few minutes it takes me to get used to the fact that I have paws, ok? Or maybe that I have my ex-boyfriend’s bodiless head locked in my jaws. Yeah, a few minutes to acclimate sounds pretty good.
We reach the creek and I drop the head into the fire, then I turn enough to see Taha dragging the rest of the body. He stops near me, nudges his nose against my cheek, then thinks, We need proof of death for his coven, Bella.
Without a pause, my eyes drop to Edward’s wrist as I think, The leather cuff on his wrist. He never took it off, and it was the coven crest. Oh, if I’m right, there should be a flattened bottle cap in the front right pocket of his pants. His family all knew he carried that as a reminder of me when we weren’t together.
It’s only seconds later that Aiden bends down in his human form wearing only a pair of shorts. He removes the cuff, then reaches into the pocket of Edward’s pants. I’m not surprised at all to see his hand come back out holding the bottle cap. I nod, then drag the body by the arm toward the fire.
As soon as the headless body ignites, I hear Taha saying softly in my mind, Bella, your coyote form is already shimmering. Time to shift back, or your muscles will ache all night trying to recover. Zander grabbed the sheet from your room, and will protect your modesty as you shift back.
I can feel my energy draining, so I nod in Taha’s general direction, then follow Zander a few feet away. He offers as he holds the sheet out wide and turns his head to the side, “Think about being on two legs, little coyote. Think about your favorite food, about Charlie’s fatherly hugs, and how warm and cozy your bed is. Think about how much you love cooking in your kitchen. Calm thoughts.”
I try to do as he says. Just as I realize how completely wiped I am, I’m standing on two shaky legs instead of four. Blackness creeps into my vision, but I’m suddenly wrapped in the sheet as Zander carries me toward the house. “Come on. Bed rest for you, little coyote. Your body wasn’t prepared for this, and now you’re out of juice. You need to recover and rest.”
I only have time to see that Taha is following us back to the house before the blackness descends.