Spitefic: Claire

[elementallove.livejournal.com]

Title: Claire
Author: elementallove 
Words: 2, 604
Inspiration: Quil imprinting on Claire. Because there is so much wrong with it, I don't even know where to begin.
Summary: If Emily could prevent even one person from experiencing the life she was living, especially her baby cousin, she would do anything and everything to make it happen.
Warnings: None

 

When Emily had volunteered to babysit Claire, with Sam, her fiancée, sitting next to her at Amy’s dinner table, Amy had readily agreed, as Claire adored Emily and loved spending time with her. Emily suggested that she stay at Amy’s house with Claire, but Claire had wanted to go out to someone else’s house for a while now, so Amy asked if Emily would mind taking Claire to her house. Emily hadn’t actually seemed too happy, and Amy was going to retract the proposal, when Sam spoke up, saying they would be happy to have Claire over. Emily had looked like she wanted to protest, but Sam looked over at her and it was like a light was flipped. She was suddenly all smiles and agreement, talking about all the fun things Claire and she could do together. Sam had looked satisfied and Amy ignored the small shiver that passed through her at the look on his face. He seemed so nice, and Emily had mentioned at the dinner about how much he had helped her through the bear accident.

Though Amy knew all the gossip about what had happened between Sam and Leah, she didn’t think it was her business to pry, so she didn’t ask how Leah felt about her cousin stealing her boyfriend right out from under her. But, Emily was always such a nice girl and she and Leah were so close. Surely, something had to have happened to break them apart. Amy held her peace, though, and just smiled and made small chat with Sam and Emily for the rest of the night, but she could never shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Emily had come by the next morning and picked Claire up, with Sam waiting outside in the car. Which seemed odd to Amy, as Emily knew how to drive and their houses weren’t far apart. Maybe Sam had wanted to come along just for the trip. But then, why didn’t he get out of the car? Amy shook these thoughts from her head. She had to be at work in thirty minutes and still had to do her hair. She thanked Emily and told her she could bring Claire back anytime after five.

They left and Amy left shortly after to go to work. She pushed all thoughts of strange behavior out of her head and concentrated on the reports her boss wanted typed up. She called Emily on her lunch break to see how things were going. Emily said things were going great, but there was a strange tone to her voice. She seemed upset, angry, and…scared. But she was acting like everything was fine. Amy asked her if she was sure everything was OK, and Emily again stated that things were great and she would bring Claire home at five on the dot. There was a growling sound in the background, and Emily’s voice shook slightly when she said goodbye a second later. Amy looked at the phone strangely. What was that about? She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was so very wrong and was considering going over to Emily’s house to check on her and Claire. But, they had Sam there and he wouldn’t let anything happen to Emily or Claire. Amy went back to work, trying to ignore the little voice in the back of her mind that was saying she wasn’t going to like what happened when Emily brought Claire home.

At five o’clock exactly, Emily and Claire showed up at her door, but they weren’t alone. It wasn’t Sam, but there was another man with them. Emily introduced him as Quil Aetera, one of Sam’s friends. He had offered to give Emily and Claire a ride back to the house since Sam was busy this evening. He had been carrying Claire, who was looking so sleepy. Amy moved to take Claire from him, thanking him for carrying her to the door. He had handed Claire over, but the look on his face made her shudder. It looked like it was physically paining him to give Claire up. Emily was looking more and more upset by the minute, but when Amy turned to her (after taking Claire and backing away a step from Quil, who was starting to creep her out with the way he was looking at her daughter), Emily was all smiles and sunshine again. It was disturbing how she seemed to be able to go back and forth so easily. Amy kind of wished that Quil wasn’t there so she and Emily could talk in private.

After a few minutes of small talk and Quil being unable to take his eyes off of Claire, Emily suggested they get back before Sam started to worry. There was a particular way she phrased that statement that made Amy pause. It sounded so…sinister. Amy bit back the question she wanted to ask, somehow knowing it wasn’t appropriate to ask in front of Quil. Instead, she wished the two good night and thanked them again for taking care of Claire. They left, and Amy carried Claire upstairs to bed, before going to bed herself.

Days passed, and it seemed like Quil was always finding an excuse to come by the house or hang out with Claire. Amy had even started looking into finding a daycare service, as she wasn’t comfortable anymore with letting Claire go to Emily’s house when she knew Quil would be there. He normally was there, however, when he wasn’t stalking their house. It was becoming creepy, but La Push didn’t really have a police force she could go to and the Forks police didn’t have jurisdiction there. If it didn’t stop soon, Amy was going to confront Quil and tell him straight out that she didn’t want him around Claire. The feeling of wrongness just wouldn’t go away, especially when she would catch Emily giving Claire these pitying, scared looks.

One day, Emily showed up at her house out of the blue. It was a weekend and she and Claire had planned on spending a day inside just watching movies and relaxing. Quil was nowhere to be seen that morning, for which Amy was thankful. Emily’s sudden presence caused Amy’s heartbeat to quicken. She doubted she was going to like what her niece was going to say.

Emily asked if she could come in and told Amy to lock the door after her. Claire was sitting in the living room and had run over to Emily when she came in. Emily picked her up and held her tightly against her chest, burying her face in Claire’s black hair. Her shoulders were shaking and Amy realized with a start that she was crying. She quickly ushered Emily and Claire onto the couch, putting an arm around Emily who refused to let Claire go, not that the little girl minded. She was just worried about what had upset her favorite cousin.

They sat like that for a few minutes while Emily regained her self. She finally pulled away from Claire, wiping the tears off her face. Amy offered her a tissue for her nose.

Emily was finally calm enough to talk. “I’m sorry I just barged in her. I didn’t know what else to do. Sam and the others are asleep since they were patrolling until late last night and this was the only time I may have to get away without them knowing,” Emily said, though it was punctuated by sniffles.

Amy stared in horror at her niece. The way she was talking…it was sending a shiver down Amy’s spine. Before she could question Emily about it, however, her niece looked up at her with the most serious expression she had seen on her face in a long time.

“Aunt Amy, do you remember the legends the elders would tell, about the Cold Ones and the Quilete ancestor who defeated them?” Emily asked, stroking Claire’s hair.

Amy nodded, swallowing to clear her throat. “I remember, but Emily, dear, what does this have to do with Sam? Is everything okay between you two?”

Emily just laughed, but the sound was chilling. She sounded like someone who had given up hope and was just waiting for the days to end. “Those legends have everything to do with Sam…and what happened to me.” With that terrifying statement, Emily preceded to tell her aunt the whole truth, about Sam and the Cullens and werewolves. And about the horrifying night when an angry Emily had told Sam that she would never betray Leah, the way he had done.

Amy hadn’t noticed the tear falling from her own eyes, until Claire reached up and wiped one away. Amy quickly grabbed a tissue and scrubbed her face, not wanting Claire to see her crying more than she had. She swallowed thickly and reached for Emily’s hand. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, sweetie. If I had known…”

Before she could finish the sentence, Emily cut her off. “There was nothing you could have done. If I had tried to leave, he probably would have gotten even angrier. That’s why I stay with him. While he may have torn half my face off, I can still walk and move. I still have that little bit of freedom. But if I try to leave, if I act like I’m anything less than perfectly happy with him, I don’t want to think about what he’ll do if he gets very angry.”

Amy felt like being sick. Her niece had been in this abusive, awful relationship and no one seemed to care. She didn’t want to ask, but knew she had to. “Did you tell your parents? About all of it?”

“Oh, I told them,” Emily’s voice was bitter. “They congratulated me. Said I was lucky to have found my imprint. The other half of my soul, and all that. I was carrying on the tribal bloodline. Lucky me…”

She sounded so defeated, so tired that Amy was overtaken by a wave of hatred for her sister and brother-in-law. How dare they tell their daughter that she was lucky to get half her face torn off, that staying with an abusive asshole was lucky! It made Amy sick to her stomach, but Emily wasn’t done explaining.

“That’s what an imprint is, a soul mate. It’s the other half and once a wolf imprints, they will stop at nothing to be with their mate. That’s why I’m here, now,” her gaze shifted to Claire on her lap, who had been staring back and forth between her cousin and her mom for the entire conversation. Amy felt like she really would be sick when the impact of what Emily had said hit her.

“You mean, one of those…those bastards has imprinted on my baby?” With a feeling of dread, Amy realized who it was. “It’s Quil. That little…” She wanted to scream, to throw something, to cry, all at once. All the times he was around Claire, all he was thinking about was continuing the bloodline…

Amy snatched Claire to her chest, wrapping her arms around her baby girl. No one was going to take her away, no one was going to make her be with some abusive boy who had wanted her since she was a baby. The thought made Amy shiver and she held tighter to her daughter.

“That’s what I came to tell you,” Emily said, tears at the corners of her eyes. “You need to take Claire and run. Leave the reservation and get as far away as you can. Leave the country if you can. Just get away from here.”

Amy looked up, staring her niece straight in the face. In that instant, she realized what it would cost Emily for warning them, if she went back. “Come with us. I have enough money saved in the bank for three plane tickets. And I have friends overseas that we can stay with. Some of my clothes will fit you, so you don’t even have to go back and pack. We can just leave right now.”

Emily had tears running down her face now. She was shaking her head, however. “I can’t leave Leah. She’s all alone in the pack. The others think she is too bitter about what happened between her and Sam; they are always yelling at her and constantly telling her not to be so sensitive. She gives as good as she gets, but I know it gets to her sometimes. Besides, Sam would blame her for my disappearance and take his anger out on her. I won’t let that happen. My presence may not help a whole lot, but I can at least make sure she eats and has an ally, even if she hates me because she thinks I’m completely happy with Sam. I hurt her too much. I can’t leave her now.”

Amy was frantic and her head was spinning. Emily couldn’t go back to Sam, not after this. “Leah can come with us. If it’s that bad, she shouldn’t have to stay and put up with it.”

But again, Emily shook her head. “She won’t leave Seth to fight the vampires alone. Above all, Leah cares for her family and she won’t turn her back on them. After everything I did, I can’t turn my back on her.”

Amy opened her mouth again, but Emily was resolute. “Go, Aunt Amy. You’re wasting time arguing with me. Pack whatever you need for you and Claire and leave. The pack shouldn’t be waking up for a few more hours. You only have a little time left to get out of La Push.”

Tears were streaming down Amy’s face as she hugged her niece. “You are the bravest woman I know, Emily. Don’t let him break you,” she whispered. Emily’s own tears were staining Amy’s shirt, but she didn’t mind. They sat like that for a minute before Emily pulled away. “Remember, get out of the country. With the vampire threat in Seattle, the wolves can’t afford to leave La Push and Forks unprotected right now.”

Amy nodded, standing up with Claire clutched tightly in her arms. Emily stood as well, giving Claire a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you, Claire. You’re going to grow up to be a wonderful girl. I love you too, auntie.” Emily hadn’t called her that in a long time and Amy had to swallow back more tears. Emily smiled softly. “Don’t worry about me. As long as Leah is okay, I’ll be alright.”

Emily walked out of her aunt’s house that morning, content with the knowledge that Claire would escape the same fate that destiny had handed to Emily. If she could save even one person from this life, Emily would do anything and everything to make that happen. Even if it meant her death. Her soul had already died the night her free will and half her face had been taken from her. Her physical death wouldn’t mean that much to her, in the long run. But as she climbed behind the driver’s seat of her truck, Emily felt different than she had in a long time. There was still the same fear and hatred and sadness that had been present since this whole nightmare began, but it was like a small part of the burden had been lifted. Her baby cousin was going to be alright. That was more than she could have asked for. It didn’t matter what happened now. So long as her family, her real family, was safe and happy, Emily would be content.

 

Comments

[hoppytoad79.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

[madeleine27.livejournal.com]

This is too awesome for words. It shows just how messed up imprinting is and how characters should normally react. Bravo!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Wooo... Creepy. Stuff off horror movies. Well done!

[melissatreglia]

Oh, Emily. That poor woman! Good on her for staying to help protect Leah and Seth, and for getting Claire out; having the backbone to protect others from the same bad situation she's facing, herself.