The Promise
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 3:
She went to the bookstore first. It wouldn’t do to have the food sitting in a sun heated truck cab. She didn’t want to poison her poor father with the first dinner she’d cooked since Edward had left. Not a good way to kick off her reentry back into the land of the living. She chuckled at her thoughts as she hopped out of the truck and went into the store.
It was as quiet and the atmosphere as heavy as she remembered it being. It was like there was an unseen presence in the place that just knew what she was and was cautiously watching. She shivered with the feeling and made her way to the counter.
The old woman there eyed her for a moment before saying anything. “May I help you?”
Bella nodded. “Yes, I need seven white candles and a box of the salt you have there.”
The lady commented as she reached for the items. “A full moon ritual? Do you know what you’re doing? It can be a dangerous thing to play with such serious magic.”
Bella handed over her card and the lady ran it through, handing her the bag and receipt.
“Yes, I know what I’m doing. My grandmother left me instructions.”
The old lady sat again, crossing her arms over her chest. “Ah, a family gift then. Good. You’re going to need all the power you have.”
Bella furrowed her brow, a question on the tip of her tongue when the old woman spoke again.
“I see a long journey in your eyes young witch, with much happiness...and, I’m sorry to say, much sadness, but the sadness will be short-lived, for you anyway. Stay strong young one and you will be fine.”
Bella took the bag with a wary smile. “Thank you... I think.”
She got back in her truck, shaking her head. Maybe the old woman got it wrong? Hadn’t she already experienced the sadness? She nodded to herself as she drove. That had to be it, so she dismissed all thought of the old Quiluete lady as she pulled into the grocery store lot.
She was standing at the stove, just finishing up the pasta when Charlie walked in from work. “Man, that smells so good Bells. I’m hungry enough to eat a moose.”
She smirked. “Well beef is what’s for dinner Dad, not moose. Sorry to disappoint.”
He sighed as he popped a beer. “I guess I’ll just have to settle then. Oh, by the way, I invited Billy and Jake. Hope that’s all right?”
She shot him a dark smirk. “I had a feeling Dad, so I made plenty. At least I think I did. Jake eats like a horse these days, so you better take all you want up front before he gets to it.”
He took a drink and shook his head. “I know. Must cost Billy a fortune just to feed the kid. Makes me glad I had a daughter.”
She laughed, shaking the excess water off the pasta. “Glad to know you appreciate me for something Dad, thanks.”
His eyes widened. “That didn’t...I mean...I didn’t mean it like that!” She grinned at him and he scowled. “You know what I mean.”
She nodded, setting everything on the table. “Yeah Dad, I know you love me for more than the fact that I don’t eat much.”
“Exactly.” He turned and walked out. “I’m gonna catch up on the scores until they get here.”
“All right Dad.” She covered everything and grabbed a soda from the fridge, leaning against the counter while she drank it. Jake walked in a few minutes later.
“Damn Bella, whatever you cooked smells great. You sure you won’t marry me?”
She slapped his shoulder as he grinned at her. “Maybe you should concentrate on graduating high school before proposing, eh Jake?”
He sighed. “Yeah, I guess.” His look was serious now as he sat at the table. “So how are you Bells? You look a hella lot better, that’s for sure.”
She slapped his hand as he lifted a cover. “I’m much better Jake. I just needed time to work it all out, that’s all.”
He got up and grabbed a soda from the fridge. “Well that’s good Bells, ‘cause you looked like you were at deaths door for a while there. Frankly, you were scaring the shit outta me.”
She glanced at him as she heard Charlie and Billy making their way into the kitchen. “Well, it’s in the past now Jake. Let’s leave it there, okay?”
He nodded. “My pleasure. If I never have to think about those leeches again…”
She shot him a dirty look. “Jake...the past...leave it there.”
He sighed as Billy rolled up and Charlie sat down. “Right, the past, got it.”
Jake helped her with the clean up after dinner and she was grateful for that, but then he wanted to hang around for a while and she wanted him gone.
She didn’t want him to know about her heritage for some reason, and she really didn’t want him to find out about the ritual she planned to perform later that evening. She was sure he’d ask all kinds of questions and express his opinion...loudly, as he always did, and she didn’t feel like dealing with that.
Now that the clean up was done, they were sitting at the table again, Jake studying her curiously. “Why don’t we go watch a movie in your room Bells? I got time. Billy’s not gonna wanna leave for a while yet.”
Bella yawned and shook her head. “I’m too tired Jake. Got up early this morning and I’ve been going all day, so…”
“Aw, come on Bells.”
She shook her head. “Nope, sorry. I just really want to shower and go to bed.”
He grinned at her. “I could help you out with that.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t think so Jake. Not in this lifetime, or the next. We’re friends Jake and that’s all we’ll ever be.”
He looked down and she could see that he was becoming angry. “Not good enough for ya, eh?”
She sighed. “We’ve been over this Jake. You’re like a brother to me and that’s all I can see you being in my life. I’m just not attracted to you. It’s not something I can force, ya know? Can you try to understand that, please?”
He stood, “Yeah, sure.” ...and walked out.
She shook her head slowly in regret. She hated having to be so blunt with him, but he forced her into it. He just wouldn’t back off of his crush and it was becoming a huge problem between them. She just hoped that their friendship survived it.
She made her way to the stairs, yelling out a goodnight to Charlie as she went. She really was tired, but she didn’t want to miss this opportunity. She’d have to wait another month if she did, so she went straight to the book and began to study up on all that she’d need to do and say.
When she had it all memorized, she went ahead and took a shower. Couldn’t hurt right? And if nothing happened with the ritual, she could come back in and go straight to bed which wasn’t sounding so bad, if she were being honest.
After her shower, she waited, reading back through the ritual and placing all the supplies in a bag until she heard Billy leave and her Dad go to bed. She slipped into the dress, amazed that it was a perfect fit, everywhere. She gave herself a once over in the mirror, shocked at the way the dress hugged and revealed her every curve. She took a breath. ‘Trust in your Grandmother Bella’.
She grabbed the satchel and bag of supplies and headed out, quietly. She sure as hell didn’t want Charlie to see her like this. She wasn’t sure how she’d go about explaining this if he did, and that whole mental ward thing she’d mentioned this morning would probably come back into conversation.
She eased her way out the back door and used the light of the moon to get to the small clearing. She set everything down and found a sturdy stick with a sharp end which she pushed into the ground in the center of where she wanted her circle. She attached a length of string to it loosely, so that she could walk a circle while holding it without it wrapping around the stick. Satisfied with the result, she grabbed the box of salt and opened it, dumping out a steady stream as she walked the circle while keeping the string taut. She stood back when she was done and smiled at the perfect result. Next, she placed the candles, lighting each one as she went. She glanced up at the moon and saw that it was now time to center herself in the circle and begin the chant.
Taking a bracing breath, she grabbed the satchel, stepped carefully into the circle and pulled the stick that was still in the center, tossing it a few feet away as she sat.
She closed her eyes for a moment, and just breathed deeply, trying to settle her nerves as she repeated the chant in her head. When she felt settled, she opened her eyes, raised her hands palms up, and began.
The wolf watched the girl that he wanted more than anyone in this world. He was alarmed to see her setting up some sort of ritual circle. He’d had no idea that she was into that sort of thing, but he wouldn’t interfere, for now. He would watch and wait.
He heard her begin speaking some sort of chant and was shocked when she was surrounded by a soft light that intensified as she kept chanting. The flames on the candles rose in height, and a gentle breeze began to circle around where she sat.
Her voice rose in volume as the light brightened to an almost blinding degree, then there was a brilliant flash...and she was gone, never hearing the mournful howl of a lone, watching wolf.
She went to the bookstore first. It wouldn’t do to have the food sitting in a sun heated truck cab. She didn’t want to poison her poor father with the first dinner she’d cooked since Edward had left. Not a good way to kick off her reentry back into the land of the living. She chuckled at her thoughts as she hopped out of the truck and went into the store.
It was as quiet and the atmosphere as heavy as she remembered it being. It was like there was an unseen presence in the place that just knew what she was and was cautiously watching. She shivered with the feeling and made her way to the counter.
The old woman there eyed her for a moment before saying anything. “May I help you?”
Bella nodded. “Yes, I need seven white candles and a box of the salt you have there.”
The lady commented as she reached for the items. “A full moon ritual? Do you know what you’re doing? It can be a dangerous thing to play with such serious magic.”
Bella handed over her card and the lady ran it through, handing her the bag and receipt.
“Yes, I know what I’m doing. My grandmother left me instructions.”
The old lady sat again, crossing her arms over her chest. “Ah, a family gift then. Good. You’re going to need all the power you have.”
Bella furrowed her brow, a question on the tip of her tongue when the old woman spoke again.
“I see a long journey in your eyes young witch, with much happiness...and, I’m sorry to say, much sadness, but the sadness will be short-lived, for you anyway. Stay strong young one and you will be fine.”
Bella took the bag with a wary smile. “Thank you... I think.”
She got back in her truck, shaking her head. Maybe the old woman got it wrong? Hadn’t she already experienced the sadness? She nodded to herself as she drove. That had to be it, so she dismissed all thought of the old Quiluete lady as she pulled into the grocery store lot.
She was standing at the stove, just finishing up the pasta when Charlie walked in from work. “Man, that smells so good Bells. I’m hungry enough to eat a moose.”
She smirked. “Well beef is what’s for dinner Dad, not moose. Sorry to disappoint.”
He sighed as he popped a beer. “I guess I’ll just have to settle then. Oh, by the way, I invited Billy and Jake. Hope that’s all right?”
She shot him a dark smirk. “I had a feeling Dad, so I made plenty. At least I think I did. Jake eats like a horse these days, so you better take all you want up front before he gets to it.”
He took a drink and shook his head. “I know. Must cost Billy a fortune just to feed the kid. Makes me glad I had a daughter.”
She laughed, shaking the excess water off the pasta. “Glad to know you appreciate me for something Dad, thanks.”
His eyes widened. “That didn’t...I mean...I didn’t mean it like that!” She grinned at him and he scowled. “You know what I mean.”
She nodded, setting everything on the table. “Yeah Dad, I know you love me for more than the fact that I don’t eat much.”
“Exactly.” He turned and walked out. “I’m gonna catch up on the scores until they get here.”
“All right Dad.” She covered everything and grabbed a soda from the fridge, leaning against the counter while she drank it. Jake walked in a few minutes later.
“Damn Bella, whatever you cooked smells great. You sure you won’t marry me?”
She slapped his shoulder as he grinned at her. “Maybe you should concentrate on graduating high school before proposing, eh Jake?”
He sighed. “Yeah, I guess.” His look was serious now as he sat at the table. “So how are you Bells? You look a hella lot better, that’s for sure.”
She slapped his hand as he lifted a cover. “I’m much better Jake. I just needed time to work it all out, that’s all.”
He got up and grabbed a soda from the fridge. “Well that’s good Bells, ‘cause you looked like you were at deaths door for a while there. Frankly, you were scaring the shit outta me.”
She glanced at him as she heard Charlie and Billy making their way into the kitchen. “Well, it’s in the past now Jake. Let’s leave it there, okay?”
He nodded. “My pleasure. If I never have to think about those leeches again…”
She shot him a dirty look. “Jake...the past...leave it there.”
He sighed as Billy rolled up and Charlie sat down. “Right, the past, got it.”
Jake helped her with the clean up after dinner and she was grateful for that, but then he wanted to hang around for a while and she wanted him gone.
She didn’t want him to know about her heritage for some reason, and she really didn’t want him to find out about the ritual she planned to perform later that evening. She was sure he’d ask all kinds of questions and express his opinion...loudly, as he always did, and she didn’t feel like dealing with that.
Now that the clean up was done, they were sitting at the table again, Jake studying her curiously. “Why don’t we go watch a movie in your room Bells? I got time. Billy’s not gonna wanna leave for a while yet.”
Bella yawned and shook her head. “I’m too tired Jake. Got up early this morning and I’ve been going all day, so…”
“Aw, come on Bells.”
She shook her head. “Nope, sorry. I just really want to shower and go to bed.”
He grinned at her. “I could help you out with that.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t think so Jake. Not in this lifetime, or the next. We’re friends Jake and that’s all we’ll ever be.”
He looked down and she could see that he was becoming angry. “Not good enough for ya, eh?”
She sighed. “We’ve been over this Jake. You’re like a brother to me and that’s all I can see you being in my life. I’m just not attracted to you. It’s not something I can force, ya know? Can you try to understand that, please?”
He stood, “Yeah, sure.” ...and walked out.
She shook her head slowly in regret. She hated having to be so blunt with him, but he forced her into it. He just wouldn’t back off of his crush and it was becoming a huge problem between them. She just hoped that their friendship survived it.
She made her way to the stairs, yelling out a goodnight to Charlie as she went. She really was tired, but she didn’t want to miss this opportunity. She’d have to wait another month if she did, so she went straight to the book and began to study up on all that she’d need to do and say.
When she had it all memorized, she went ahead and took a shower. Couldn’t hurt right? And if nothing happened with the ritual, she could come back in and go straight to bed which wasn’t sounding so bad, if she were being honest.
After her shower, she waited, reading back through the ritual and placing all the supplies in a bag until she heard Billy leave and her Dad go to bed. She slipped into the dress, amazed that it was a perfect fit, everywhere. She gave herself a once over in the mirror, shocked at the way the dress hugged and revealed her every curve. She took a breath. ‘Trust in your Grandmother Bella’.
She grabbed the satchel and bag of supplies and headed out, quietly. She sure as hell didn’t want Charlie to see her like this. She wasn’t sure how she’d go about explaining this if he did, and that whole mental ward thing she’d mentioned this morning would probably come back into conversation.
She eased her way out the back door and used the light of the moon to get to the small clearing. She set everything down and found a sturdy stick with a sharp end which she pushed into the ground in the center of where she wanted her circle. She attached a length of string to it loosely, so that she could walk a circle while holding it without it wrapping around the stick. Satisfied with the result, she grabbed the box of salt and opened it, dumping out a steady stream as she walked the circle while keeping the string taut. She stood back when she was done and smiled at the perfect result. Next, she placed the candles, lighting each one as she went. She glanced up at the moon and saw that it was now time to center herself in the circle and begin the chant.
Taking a bracing breath, she grabbed the satchel, stepped carefully into the circle and pulled the stick that was still in the center, tossing it a few feet away as she sat.
She closed her eyes for a moment, and just breathed deeply, trying to settle her nerves as she repeated the chant in her head. When she felt settled, she opened her eyes, raised her hands palms up, and began.
The wolf watched the girl that he wanted more than anyone in this world. He was alarmed to see her setting up some sort of ritual circle. He’d had no idea that she was into that sort of thing, but he wouldn’t interfere, for now. He would watch and wait.
He heard her begin speaking some sort of chant and was shocked when she was surrounded by a soft light that intensified as she kept chanting. The flames on the candles rose in height, and a gentle breeze began to circle around where she sat.
Her voice rose in volume as the light brightened to an almost blinding degree, then there was a brilliant flash...and she was gone, never hearing the mournful howl of a lone, watching wolf.
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.