The Giver of Life
“Kebi & the Kite”
Chapter Five
Pretending to be a normal human girl proved difficult. A number of things blocked the possibility. The most nerve wracking handicap was her magical touch. Bella struggled throughout the week to rein in the power. She analyzed every detail of her surroundings before making contact. On three separate occasions, she’d spurred the growth of a vegetative snack. Alice presented her with gloves the following Wednesday. The light material created a helpful barrier but earned Bella the nickname: Rogue. Emmett started the pet name out of fun. However, the student body began using it negatively. In all actuality, Bella had become somewhat reclusive. The imprint forced the solitude. She could hardly converse without keeling over. The Cullens worried, Charlie overanalyzed, and Bella played the elusive card. She was becoming quite talented in blocking the pain.
Being ostracized by her classmates wasn’t only due to the strange accessories or odd company. No, the physical changes estranged her. Each passing day, Bella awoke with something new. Her mahogany locks darkened into pure black. It highly resembled wet ink. The bluish shine looked foreign, inhuman. Bella considered cropping her hair to rid of the terror. Of course, Alice forbid any such action. She cooed over its brilliance. Her marble fingers ran through the abnormally soft strands in wonder. It became an annoyingly daily habit.
The thing was, it wasn’t just the hair. Bella’s once vampire-like pallor tanned. The original golden glow had intensified. Her skin shimmered under
any light. She bought bottles of expensive foundation to hide the hue. Long sleeve shirts and scarves became a necessity while interacting with others. Charlie noticed the fashion changes with parental concern. His comments filled all morning and evening meals. He actually suggested making appointments with a psychologist
and doctor. “Something’s not right, Bells,” he’d say. “I can barely recognize you.” True enough. Luckily, she’d invested in contacts to hide outward sensation number three.
It took extreme measures to wake up, get ready, and hide herself. Despite all the ridicule and harsh whispering, Embry’s absence hurt the most. Within seventy-two hours, he’d ruined her. They hadn’t spoken in nearly a week. Bella had hopped into the Chevy several times set on driving to La Push but remained parked. Silently, she prayed for the strength to continue without him. By the grace of some outward force, she managed to climb out of the pickup and continue on with her life.
Come Saturday, the sun fought against the storm clouds. Warm rays touched every surface. Charlie arranged a fishing trip with Billy. It was their first outing together since the
miracle. Her father left a post-it on the refrigerator:
Out fishing. Back home Sunday! For the first time in days, Bella relaxed. She forewent covering her skin and eyes. Instead, she wore a tight fitting tank and sauntered around the house barefoot. It was unbelievably freeing. The priestess cranked up some classic rock and started laundry. That’s how the prowlers found her.
The front door opened with a slight creak. Bella assumed the noise was the heater. She paused a second before pulling towels from the dryer. Her body moved with the electric tunes. When she looked up to time the next load, she noticed a towering shadow. It shrouded the small room with an unsettling darkness. Bella whipped around and saw a vampire standing there. His brilliant ruby irises transfixed by her stillness. She considered screaming, but it’d only irritate him. The house phone rested nearly six feet away. However, she wouldn’t be able to complete a call before he latched. The only logical option was waiting.
“You are Isabella Swan?”
Bella nodded, not trusting her voice. She eyed the immortal carefully taking in his beautiful appearance. Unlike other vampires, his skin had an olive complexion. It stretched across a lean body that sported odd clothing. Her assumption was that this male derived from overseas. His thick accent sounded middle eastern. Bella forced a tight lipped smile to feign comfort. It hardly worked. The eternal man could hear her heart pounding within its ribcage. If only her newly found gifts were offensive.
“Kebi, is this the one?”
“Yes, it is she. The human bears the eyes of the goddess.”
“Excuse me,” Bella choked. Another vampire stood near but remained invisible. It dramatically reduced her chances of escape. Fear reared its ugly head. She took a deep breath and tried regulating her breathing. Carefully, she inched backward to create some distance. The male intruder’s figure loomed over hers. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Are you the priestess of The One Who Is All?”
“Uh, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Isis,” the woman reiterated. Her voice drifted closer to the their position. Bella caught a glimpse of raven hair behind the man. Yet, she still hid. “Have you been touched by the goddess?”
“Why?” The mysterious vampire flashed a dangerous glare. “I mean, why would two immortals care? How could you even possibly know? You don’t seem American.”
“We are not,” he growled. His spheres darkened slightly. It caused an unforeseeable chain reaction. Bella’s fear shifted into ire causing
her irises to shade. She straightened her spine and stared the intruder down. Who were these killers to come into her home without permission? She’d survived through a vampire bite, heartache, and now, some strange transformation. Not once had she’d felt fear. No, she wouldn’t allow two alien vampires to salt the situation. Bella was going through enough without their interference.
“Alright,” she hissed. “What do you want? You can’t just barge into my house without justifiable reason. Sure, you’re vampires. Big whoop. I’ve got enough on my plate. Either you drain me now or get the hell out!”
“You see. The goddess has chosen her,” the woman whispered. Bella parted her lips to continue but ceased at the female’s sudden appearance. Like her partner, she carried shadowed colors and wore odd clothing. Her crimson orbs reflected the surrounding hall. “Fear not. We’ve no desire to feed upon the chosen. It would be a sin to ravage a priestess.”
“Then why are you here?”
“One of our coven witnessed the tide of Her followers. I believe the video depicted you calling upon the sea. The internet is a remarkable invention,” she smiled. “The humans labeled you as Isabella Swan. We traveled from Egypt to claim you. It has been centuries since Isis last chose a mortal. My duty is to secure your destiny. You shall not find such protection here.”
“You’re joking,” Bella huffed.
“I never jest, Priestess. You are at the beginnings of your transformation. Soon, you’ll no longer look human. Even now, you resemble the goddess. How will you survive in the modern world? You can beckon Isis’s creatures and manipulate the dead. There are many things you are unaware. The eyes you hold are but mirrors into the soul. You have only two options, come with us or become one of us. A Christian nation will never understand your position nor accept you. Do you not find it trying to label yourself as a teenage mortal?”
“I am a teenage mortal.”
“Isabella, I am well aware of your true feelings. It is difficult to conceive the severity of these changes, but you must question the future. If I found you, who else might come to Forks? If you know of our kind, then you are aware of the Volturi. They are far older than I and have lived to see many like you. Against your will, they shall take you. We are giving you options. There is nothing here for you. With us, you may be free and use your gifts openly. The people of Egypt would worship you. To hide Isis’s devotion would be to deny the world.”
The ending of Kebi’s speech overpowered Bella’s emotional stability. Her anger snowballed into desperation. She backed herself further into the laundry room slamming into the dryer. It warred beneath her touch. Bella tore her eyes away from the beauties and locked onto the carpeted floor. Her bare feet vibrated with tension.
Why chimed in her mind like a mantra. Was this truly Isis’s plan? The winged deity promised a simple life without pain. Now look at her. Hot tears slid down her cheeks. She threw a clenched fist into the quaking machine. Was she truly to be traded from the Cullens to this murdering clan? What of Embry? He was supposedly her soul mate, but where was he? For nearly a week, he’d been absent. She did feel alone and misunderstood. Even her father thought her to be imbalanced. Bella almost wished she’d stayed in the future to live in agony.
“No,” she cried. “I won’t do it!”
“You must. Either you join us freely or we’ll make you,” the man stated.
Bella’s vision began to blur. Her choices once again taken away from her. She looked up from her lashes and frowned. The couple collectively gasped. Bella knew her eyes to be black from power. She pushed forward standing a foot away from death. “No,” the teenager hissed. “You won’t tell me what to do.” The terrifying voice wasn’t her own. “Get out.” It wasn’t a request, but they remained stiff. “Get out!” Nothing. Bella sneered and felt her unbridled fury snap. Instincts took over. She literally flew pass the intruders into the kitchen window. Glass exploded into the blanketed lawn. She could hear their frustrated pleas but flight took over. Within moments, the ground disappeared and her petite form took to the sky.
The events escalated into an unknown point. Bella found no reason to question the absurdity of a flying human. Things just seemed to happen. Her only objective was to runaway from the stalkers. Catching the wind, she leveled her arms enjoying the burning star. Her neck tilted to catch the sunlight reflecting off her skin. Nothing glittered. In fact, hundreds of feathers covered her outstretched limbs. She attempted to scream but only cawed. Reality sunk in. Somehow, Bella had shifted into a bird. Any other day, the new ability would’ve been cause for a grin. Unfortunately, the teenager saw the impossible change as a another step backward. Kebi was right. She knew nothing about Isis or how to pretend normalcy. If she became angry, would she turn into big bird? How did she even change back?
Her only course of action was to find the wolves. They lived through the trials of animal transformations. The only problem she foresaw was snagging their attention. Sure, she could flap around the pack, but the canines wouldn’t know the girl inside the suit. Bella prayed Embry would feel their connection. The couple wasn’t exactly on speaking terms, but this surpassed unwanted friendships. Determined, she headed east towards the reservation. The typical twenty minute drive lessened by half. Apparently, wings picked up tremendous speed. It explained the vampires lack of chase.
Bella lowered her long form above the canopies. It was extremely difficult to pinpoint Sam’s home. She’d only been to his house once and Embry had driven. Out of all her abilities, the priestess didn’t have super senses. What she wouldn’t give for enhanced hearing or smell. The only advantage she had was knowing the Uley’s lived off the main road. Bella followed the passage until it intercepted with a dirt pathway. She mistook one dwelling before discovering an opening. The shine of three pickups welcomed her gigantic form. With a upturned beak, Bella dove. She soon learned that talons hated flat surfaces.
“Caw, caw,” she screeched. In her head, it sounded different. Bella needn’t care. Four, burly natives stormed outside itching for a fight. The sight of her took them by surprise. She could only imagine. Like the wolves, her inner-beast outsized the typical bird. Standing straight, the kite reached five feet in height. Bella scooted closer to the werewolves trying to look submissive. The feat was impossible. Her neck refused to bow and wings fanned in distress. She whimpered creating a harsh tweet. Her yellow orbs peered at Embry for comfort. Absolute confusion etched on his face. The longing pain dispersed like always, but the unfamiliarity wracked her imprint’s brain. She began waddling towards him. All she wanted was be in his arms.
“What the hell is that,” Paul exclaimed. “Big Bird?”
“Shut up,” Embry snarled.
“What? You got a crush on it or something,” he teased.
Bella ceased all movement and shot the loudmouth a menacing glare. For a instant, she forgot about her hindering shape. The priestess snapped her bill at the dog. She fought the urge to rip his eyes from their sockets. Paul reacted like a pup. He staggered back quivering. Bella cursed at him in bird speak. It earned her a laugh from Jared. “Dude, I think it understood you! This is greatness!” Finally, someone was getting it. She’d hoped her imprint would’ve been the first.
Embry connected the dots soon after. His brown spheres lit up in recognition. He tiptoed to her eagle-like form as if approaching a rapid beast. “Bells,” he whispered. Bella tried to nod forgetting her neck only moved side-to-side. “Is that really you?” To test his theory, his long fingertips graced her protruding breast. Electric tingles detangled her emotional turmoil. She closed the distance between them to create more friction. It aided in many recoveries. The feathers shed onto the earth and left a very naked Bella. Embry clutched her to his chest. “Jesus, Bella. What happened to you? Are you okay?”
She had no response.