Chapter 4 - New Friend

Selene and Bella sprinted through the dense woods, their breathing ragged and heavy. The trees blurred past them, and the forest floor, littered with roots and rocks, seemed determined to trip them up. Bella stumbled again, and Selene, with surprising strength for someone so petite, yanked her back to her feet.

"Honestly, Bella," Selene muttered, half-exasperated, half-amused. "Do you have two left feet?"

"Sorry," Bella panted, her face flushed with exertion and fear. "I'm not exactly... athletic."

"I see that," she teased. They bolted through the dense forest, the shadows cast by the towering trees stretching and elongating in the fading light. Each breath Selene took was a sharp inhalation of the earthy scent of pine and damp moss, mingling with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The forest floor was uneven, and Bella's clumsiness was quickly becoming a liability.

They pushed on, the eerie howls of the wolves echoing behind them. 

"Come on, Bella, we have to keep moving!" She urged, her voice small but laden with urgency. Selene glanced back and saw her sprawled on the ground once again, having tripped over an exposed root.

"Sorry!" Bella exclaimed, scrambling to her feet with a wince. 

Selene reached out, grabbing Bella's arm and pulling her up again. "We're almost there. Just a little further," she reassured her, even though she wasn't entirely sure where "there" was. Her knowledge of Forks' geography was limited, but Bella seemed to have a sense of direction, even if her feet didn't always cooperate.

Selene's mind raced. She had broken the Statute of Wizarding Secrecy by using magic in front of a Muggle, but Bella clearly knew about vampires. She wasn't surprised by Laurent's presence, nor by the fact that he intended to kill her. It was clear that this town held secrets of its own, secrets that perhaps made her transgression less severe. Did that also mean she was aware of the wider supernatural world? If so, Selene might not be in as much trouble as she feared. She sighed inwardly, hoping MACUSA, the American counterpart to the Aurors, wouldn't come knocking on her door.

Finally, they burst out of the woods onto a paved road. Bella's house was in the distance, a welcome sight after their frantic escape. They slowed to a walk, chests heaving, as they approached the safety of Bella's home.

Bella leaned forward, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "Thank you," she panted, her voice shaky. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there."

Selene nodded, still trying to steady her breathing. "You're welcome." She was just glad nobody died today. 

"Alright, I need you to be honest with me." Selene paused, waiting until Bella's eyes met hers. "How do you know about vampires? And why was he trying to kill you?"

Selene glanced at Bella, noting the girl's hesitance and the wary glances she cast in her direction.

The stillness of the evening settled around them, and Selene felt the adrenaline begin to ebb away.

"My name is Selene, Selene Lovegood. You can trust me, Bella," she persuaded gently. 

The girl bit her lip, her eyes darting away. She seemed to be weighing her words carefully. Selene could see the conflict in her expression, the struggle to decide how much to reveal. Finally, Bella's gaze met Selene's.

"I'll tell you," Bella said slowly, her voice trembling slightly. "But you also have to tell me what you did back there. That... whatever it was that made Laurent fall back."

Selene nodded, "I will."

Bella's gaze flickered and took a deep breath, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her shirt. "Laurent... he's part of a group of vampires. They're... they're after me because of something that happened last year. It's a long story, but the short version is, I got involved with vampires, and not all of them are as friendly as the Cullens. Victoria, the one Laurent mentioned, wants revenge."

Bella started to unravel her story. She spoke of her ex-boyfriend, Edward, and his family—the Cullens—who were vampires. She explained their vegetarian lifestyle and the events that led to Victoria and James hunting her, ending with an incident on her birthday that caused the departure of the Cullens and the heartache it caused her.

Selene listened intently, absorbing the weight of Bella's words and the pain etched in her expression. As she finished, Selene moved closer, offering her a comforting hand and a small smile. "I can't believe you dated a vampire," she teased gently, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

Bella managed a small smile in return, grateful for the brief respite from her troubles. Selene couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy for her—facing heartbreak and danger in such quick succession was a cruel twist of fate.

After a moment of quiet reflection, Selene knew it was time to reveal a part of herself to Bella. She began, her voice steady, "I'm a witch."

She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I used magic back there to stun Laurent. It's called a Stupefy Charm. That's what made him fall back."

Bella gaped in fascination but there was no fear or disbelief, only awe. Bella accepted this revelation with unexpected grace, her reaction a testament to her resilience in the face of the extraordinary.

After a few minutes of silence, Bella nodded slowly, the weight of their shared secrets settling between them. "Thank you," she said softly. "For saving me."

"You're welcome," Selene replied with a smile. 

"It seems like I've moved to quite an interesting town," Selene said dryly. "But for now, you're safe. We need to come up with a plan to keep it that way."

At the mention of her safety, Bella's anxiety resurfaced, she voiced her concern about the massive wolves they had encountered.

She felt the need to inform her father, the police chief, about the looming threat.

Bella's urgency to warn her father about the massive wolves propelled them—dragging Selene by her hand—to the house, their quick steps echoing in the quiet neighborhood. Bursting into the kitchen, they found Charlie and another man in conversation, their voices tapering off as they registered our abrupt entrance.

Without preamble, Bella blurted out the news, her words tumbling out in a rush to explain the danger lurking in the woods.

Charlie's brows furrowed in concern, his eyes flicking between Bella and me as he processed the unexpected information.

"Why the hell were you doing out in the woods, Bella?" Charlie asked, his tone tinged with exasperation and worry.

Before Bella could respond, I stepped forward, feeling the weight of the unspoken questions hanging in the air. "Hullo sir, I'm Selene," I introduced myself, mustering a polite smile. "I was with Bella, we were both hiking until we saw the wolves. It was quite... unexpected."

To her surprise, Bella remained tight-lipped, allowing Selene to steer the conversation without revealing the full extent of their encounter in the woods. It was a relief that she didn't divulge details that could complicate matters further.

Charlie and his friend turned their attention to Selene, nodding in acknowledgment of my presence. Pleasantries were exchanged, and as the conversation shifted, Charlie addressed his friend, Harry, suggesting they go hunting together. With a shared understanding, the two men excused themselves and departed, leaving Bella and Selene in the kitchen.

As the door closed behind them, Charlie's parting words lingered in the air, a stern warning to stay inside the house. His gaze lingered on Bella, the unspoken concern evident in his eyes.

Selene turned to Bella, a blend of relief and apprehension swirling within her. "Well, that was... eventful," she remarked, trying to lighten the mood despite the gravity of the situation. Bella managed a weak smile in response, "Yeah, no kidding," her eyes reflecting gratitude for my presence.

They moved to the living room, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them.

Bella broke the silence, her voice laced with worry. "Do you think those wolves are... dead now? Laurent seemed so strong. I mean, he's a vampire."

Selene glanced at Bella, her dark blue irises shimmering with a hint of wisdom.

"Assumptions often lead us astray, Bella. The wolves were not ordinary creatures; they were massive and feral. Perhaps it is not they who fell, but Laurent instead."

Bella frowned, clearly skeptical. "You really think those wolves could take down a vampire?"

"Magic and mystery often cloak the truth," Selene replied in a riddle-like tone, her voice soft but steady. "The russet wolf, in particular, seemed different. When our eyes met, I felt a connection, as if my magic recognized something in the wolf. It was warm and comforting, unlike anything I've felt before."

Bella's curiosity was piqued. "Magic….are there more like you? Witches and wizards, I mean?"

Selene nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, we exist, though we keep to ourselves. You already know of vampires, one type of magical creature in our world. So I think it is alright for you to know about us too. But, Bella, it's crucial you keep this a secret. The magical world thrives in secrecy."

Bella agreed, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I won't tell anyone, I promise. But what do we do about Victoria? I can't fight her—she'll kill me."

Selene's heart ached for Bella. "I will protect you, Bella. As your new friend, I won't let any harm come to you."

Bella looked at Selene, touched by her words. "Friends…..are you sure? I'm sorry you got involved in this mess. You're not from here, are you?"

Selene smiled gently. "I chose to help, Bella. It's not your fault. And yes, I'm new here. I moved from England recently. My accent tends to give that away, doesn't it?"

Bella chuckled softly, the tension easing a bit. "Yeah, it does. Welcome to Forks, Selene."

For a beat of seconds, Bella spoke up again, her hands wringing together nervously. "Victoria knows where I live," she stated, her voice tinged with worry. "I'm scared she'll come here, Selene. I can't stop thinking about it."

Selene's brows furrowed in concern. "That is troubling, Bella. I live at Celestina Cottage beside the River Inn. It's not close enough to protect you immediately if Victoria decides to attack."

Bella's anxiety seemed to deepen at this. "So, what do we do?"

Selene's eyes glinted with determination. "I can ward your house with protective barriers. They will keep out anyone with ill intentions and also alert me the second they are breached. I'll apparate here in an instant if that happens."

Bella looked puzzled. "I'm sorry, what? Wards? Apparate?"

Selene smiled gently, understanding Bella's confusion. "Wards are magical protections I can place around your home. They will act like invisible shields. Apparating is a magical form of teleportation. It allows me to travel from one place to another in the blink of an eye."

Bella nodded slowly, still processing the information. "That sounds... incredible. Can you show me?"

Selene stood up, retrieving her wand from her pocket. "Of course. Watch closely."

She walked to the front door, her wand held steadily in her hand. With a few precise flicks and soft incantations, she began to weave the protective spells around Bella's house. A faint shimmer of magic enveloped the house momentarily, then faded from view.

"Protego Totalum," Selene murmured, casting the final ward. She turned back to Bella, who was watching in awe.

"You can't see it but your house is now protected by several layers of wards. If anyone with ill intentions tries to enter, I will know immediately and be here in a flash," Selene explained. "But for now, try to stay indoors as much as possible. We don't know if Laurent is still out there."

Bella nodded, relief washing over her features. "Thank you, Selene. I feel safer already."

Selene smiled warmly. "That's what friends are for. Here, let's exchange home phone numbers so we can stay in touch."

They quickly exchanged numbers, and Selene took a step back, her wand at the ready. "I'll visit you soon to check on you. Take care, Bella."

With that, Selene disappeared with a soft pop, she vanished from Bella's living room, reappearing moments later in her cozy Celestina Cottage beside the River Inn.

Leaving Bella standing in marvel at the magic she had just witnessed.