All rights belong to SM. Thank you to MistyC for being the beta for this story, and for the awesome banner. I basically said hey this is gonna kind be about this with these guys but I'm not really sure what they are going to be doing or what it's about. Can you give me a banner? She nailed it as always. This story is written about 18 chapters on Tricky Raven. I will post a chapter every couple days. If you want to jump ahead you can check out later chapters at Tricky Raven. I write this story along with Atonement which is why both are taking longer.

Now, technical details. This story is inspired by a comic book called Witchblade. I have never read it so it won't be a crossover. Only certain details I read on the Wiki page about the comic and how the main charactersmain characters powers work will be used. I may even screw around with that some. If by some chance you read Witchblade or did (?) and think man this is a lot like Witchblade that's why. Also the introduction here will be in third person. The story however will probably be in character POV and third person. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I am enjoying writing it. If you like it and want to see it here shoot me some reviews but be gentle.

Chapter 1

Charlie Swan was at the end of his rope. His only child, his little girl had been ghosting through life for three months. Now she was sick. Not just depressed. She had been tired more often than normal. Spending days in bed. Charlie thought the depression had just gotten worse.

When he checked on her last week he knew better. She was running a fever. She was sweating. She vomited when any type of food or drink was consumed. Charlie had taken her to the hospital. Twice. Labs had been drawn. He expected to hear that she had a virus. A new flu strain. Something. She had hardly been eating and this was going to make her health even worse. She had just started to get better.

Being with Jake made her better. But now this.

The results came back both times. No virus. No meningitis. No cancer. No reason she should be sick. Tomorrow Charlie had scheduled to take her to a doctor in Seattle. Something was causing his little girl to waste away.

To top it off he had to sit in his living room while his daughter slept upstairs, and listen to his oldest friend and a man Charlie always looked to like a fatherbrother spout off bullshit about the Cullens.

"Look, I hate the little bastard too Billy. Yes I should have listened to you when you warned me about letting Bella around him, but at the time you did only give gave me some tribal legend bullshit. Plus I may not know a damn thing about raising a girl but I know enough that if you tell a teenage girl she can't have some boy she is going to go after him that much harder."

"Vampires, Charlie."

"Billy, cut it the fuck out. You have had way too many. Maybe you should check your blood sugar."

"We are telling you the truth. You are the only non membernon-member of the tribe to ever hear the truth."

"What? That you think the Cullen's sleep in coffins? Hell Billy everybody knows that. It's not a well keptwell-kept secret."

"Rumors are one thing Charlie. We are telling you the truth! Why the hell won't you listen to me!? You think I would lie about Bella's safety and health? What the hell is wrong with you old man?" Billy practically roared.

"You wanna keep your voice down? Bella is asleep."

"She will die soon without help." Old Quil said softly. "Already the pallor of death has set upon her. It has been 6 months since she returned from Arizona, with the mark of a cold one. She survived. The venom was removed, but not all. Not all. It stayed at the surface. It clung to the like that was were near. The cold ones left. The venom needs a new home. It will take her heart. It works its way there now."

Charlie stared at Quil, wondering if he would have to have the man committed soon.

"Somehow Bella survived the bite of a vampire. We have discussed this at council and believe the venom must have been sucked out of her. Probably by a Cullen. But there is no way he could have gotten it all. It remains Charlie. It is making her sick now."

"It is not some venom! What the hell are you people talking about!? She is sick. You want me to believe a vampire bit her? Get out. Both of you. I don't have time to play with you. I want to get her well and on a plane to Florida because as much as I love her I recognize this place has been hell on her and I let her down. I'm taking her to Seattle. Then as soon as she is able I will fly her myself to Florida. She just needs to….feel better." Charlie finished defeated.

"Charlie…" Billy started.

"Get out."

"Why don't you ask the child?" Old Quil offered.

"Leave her alone…"

"It's true Dad." A scratchy tired voice said from the top of the stairs.

"Bella?"

"Dad, everything they said was true. The Cullen's are vampires. A vampire did bite me in Phoenix. Edward sucked the venom out. That's where I got the scar on my wrist. It's also why it is always cold. I can feel it there beneath my skin. But the coldness is spreading. I didn't notice it at first but my whole arm and shoulder stay cold now. I'm scared. I'm really scared Dad."

Charlie walked towards the stairs. Bella came down to meet him. Her feet fell out from beneath her and Charlie caught her before she could hit the steps. He realized how light she was. She was never large but now she was even smaller. He also touched her arm. Bella was right. It was freezing cold.

Charlie picked up his daughter and carried her to the couch.

He thought she had passed out again. Instead she opened her eyes and stared at him.

"It's true Dad. I figured it out myself. Let me tell you how."

An hour later Bella was asleep again. She had fought to stay awake to finish the story. Charlie was in tears. He didn't want to believe her. But her voice…Bella had never lied to him. She hadn't told him about this but he hadn't asked. He would not have believed her anyway. Not unless two men he knew well weren't sitting here telling him crazy stories about vampires and wolves, only to have his daughter confirm it.

Bella's breathing had gotten to a steady rhythm.

"Carlisle Cullen? Can he save her?" Charlie asked, grasping for hope.

"You would trust him?!" Billy asked sharply.

"She is my life! I would sell my soul to the devil at this point!" Charlie countered.

"All Carlisle Cullen could do would be to change her into vampire quicker. She may survive the change. She would be a vampire. The venom slowly going through her body, I have no idea if she would turn into one of the cold ones or if the process would kill her. At this point it does not seem she will be able to survive the venom changing her cells slowly." Old Quil calmly explained.

"So my only hope is to somehow contact the Cullen's and have Carlisle turn her into a vampire quickly or she dies?"

"Being a vampire is death Charlie." Billy countered.

"Another word Billy and I will knock you out of your fucking chair." Charlie growled quietly.

"There is another option." Old Quil whispered.

"What?" Charlie was desperate. He would do anything at this point.

"Let me take her. I know of a place and a man who may be able to help her. She will need to stay with me for a year there. But I believe I can help her."

"When do we leave?" Charlie asked.

"We don't. She and I go. We have work to do. You stay here. Make sure she gets a diploma. Say she has a disease. She has enough credits to graduate I am sure. She is a smart girl. Let her mother think she is still here. Bella can call her from where we are to uphold the lie."

"You expect me to let you take my daughter for over a year, to some friend's house where you can practice tribal medicine on her? Why can't you do it here?"

"I need something my friend has. She will need it to live. He does not allow others to come to his land. You cannot come. You can visit at times away from his land. But Bella and I have much work to do."

Old Quil gazed at the sleeping form. He knew when he saw her with Jacob. Were it not for the venom in her system Jacob would imprint on her. Because of the venom he never would. He would also never imprint on another. One only has a single soul mate. They could still love though. Fate had something bigger in store for Bella Swan than being a vampire or an imprint. She had an eye for the supernatural. The supernatural had an eye for her.

Chris would know for sure. He was the keeper. He had told Quil twenty years ago to watch. Quil had. He knew it would be important. Not only to his tribe but perhaps the world.

"You're asking me to put a lot of trust in you Quil. You're asking me to give you the most important thing in my world."

"I'm asking you to let me save her."

"What if I told the doctor in Seattle about this venom stuff?"

"He wouldn't know what to do. This cannot be cured by modern medicine."

"I have to try." Charlie argued.

"The chance of her dying increases every minute you delay." Old Quil responded calmly.

Charlie was at a crossroads. He was sweating though it was cool in the house. Bella's breath hitched a little as she slept. Her face was drawn in. She was beginning to look starved. His daughter looked very, very breakable.

"Charlie you have been like a son to me nearly your whole life. Your daughter has a destiny. Her road will not be easy. But that destiny can end before it ever gets started if you don't let me save her life. I am asking you to look in your heart and decide one thing. Would you rather trust your daughter's life with a medical doctor in Seattle or with me?"

Charlie met the old man's eyes. Old Quil had always been there for him. Charlie's own father died when Charlie was a boy. He always saw Quil as a larger than life figure. The Medicine Man of the Tribe. What boy wouldn't idolize that?

Now however he was a man. A man whose only child's life depended on the decision he made here and now. Charlie met the old man's eyes. Eyes that seemed to look at you but also past you, as if another world is going on around you that only he can see. Charlie supposed it was true.

"Billy. Sit with her. I…I'm going to get her a bag ready. I want phone calls every could hours or so while you do this magic crap you plan to to do Quil. If she dies don't bother coming back. I'll find you and end you myself before I go with her. Understand?"

Quil could have responded a number of ways. Sarcastic, defensive, light hearted. InsteadInstead, he simply met Charlie's eyes and nodded.

"I have a feeling if I can't save her there may not be anything worth coming back to eventually." He mumbled as Charlie rose to prepare his daughter's bags. Billy's eyes met Old Quil's.

"Do you think she could be the one he has been searching for?" Billy asked him quietly.

"Six times since the venom was tamed has a woman been found who was infected with venom but not changed. We knew when we saw the bite on her wrist. It was only a matter of time before the venom spread. It needs to be controlled. The bracelet is the only thing in existence that can do that."

"The responsibility, Quil." Billy whispered sadly.

"You heard her tale of how that bite occurred. She went to the vampire prepared to die for her mother. She is up to the responsibility. I will not place it on her wrist until she decides herself though. I will do everything in my power to heal her without it if this is what she wishes."

"The Cullen's. They will come back for her. I'm surprised they stayed away this long."

"Billy the Cullen's will be the least of this girl's problem. The bracelet will break any vampire enticements she felt before. She will see them for what they really are." Quil argued a bit more forcefully. He had waited for her. He had found her. He had convinced her father. Now the Chief of his own Tribe was having doubts.

"There will never be another Billy. Do you want your son to live, never finding the one meant to be by his side? Imprint or not it is destiny that they be together. The Spirits have told me so. So much relies on this young girl."

Bella picked that moment to groan in her sleep and clutch her shoulder.

"Let's concentrate on keeping her alive Quil."

"It is all connected Billy."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. You know how Chris is. Very private. No outsiders. He knows me. He doesn't know you."

Billy nodded. He had never met Chris Jennings. But Quil had spoken of his importance for many years. Quil was convinced the survival of the Tribe and perhaps the world was connected to a cowboy rancher recluse in Wyoming. Billy had seen young men in his tribe turn into giant wolves over the past year. Sam, Paul, Jared, now Embry. He knew better to dismiss crazy notions. The entire damn world was crazy. If Old Quil said the fate of the Tribe and the world rested on the shoulders of the dying 18 year old girl sleeping beside them and his 16 year old son who was he to argue.

Charlie came down 20 minutes later to find the two men sitting in silence, staring at his daughter. He had three bags in his hands. Without a word he walked out to Billy's truck and placed the bags in the bed. Walking back in he lifted Bella in his arms who barely moved.

"Baby? Bella baby?"

"Dad?" Bella answered, waking slightly.

"Darlin you are going to go with Old Quil. He can help you. He can make you feel better. I can't come but I will be calling and as soon as Quil says itsit's okay, I will be down to get you. Do you understand?"

Bella really didn't. She was cold, she could barely stay awake and she was dizzy. Bella nodded however. She was not in the mood to argue. As scared as she was, she almost welcomed death. She felt dead already.

Charlie stood by Billy, tears running down his face as Old Quil drove Billy's truck away. Once the truck was out of site he turned to his oldest friend.

"Tell me I didn't just kill my daughter, Billy."

"You just saved her life Charlie." And possibly the rest of the world, he didn't add on.

"Come inside and tell me more about these vampires. I need to know everything." Charlie told him gruffly. Like Bella when Charlie made a decision he stuck it out. He would be told everything. Billy hoped he didn't beat Bella's location out of him and run off with her after he told him. It might be best for Sam to come over for this conversation.

Bella eventually awoke clearly to the sound of very loud music. Due to the slight bumpiness on the surface below her and the familiar hum of the engine she surmised quickly that she was lying on the seat of a vehicle. She looked up expecting to see Jacob, or Charlie. Instead she saw a man she only knew in passing. A long haired old man wearing blue jeans and a denim jacket. His long hair hung wild. He was tapping the steering wheel of the truck he was driving. Bella didn't recognize the interior.

She thought back to her last waking period. She seemed to remember telling Charlie the truth about the Cullen's. Billy and Old Quil had been there. Yes, she had definitely told Charlie. Where was her father?

Where was she?

"What is going on?" Bella said but doubted she could be heard over the music.

Old Quil looked down and smiled at her.

"Good morning Little Swan. We have many hours of travel to go before we can stop. When we get to where we are going we will work on getting you feeling better. Until then you relax and let Old Quil handle things." He winked at her and patted her head.

What the hell? Bella sat up slowly, fighting off the urge to lay back down when dizziness hit her.

"Where are we going?"

"Casper Wyoming. At least around Casper. It's beautiful. You will love it."

"Where is my dad? Why am I with you? Why are we going to Casper Wyoming? What the fuck is going on?" Bella yelled with what little strength she had.

"My, my. You do have a filthy mouth. Good. I was afraid I would have to watch my language. Now, your Dad is at home, you are with me because you are dying due to a vampire bite and since that isn't covered under Charlie's insurance placepolicy you have to rely on old medicine man treatment and as far as what the fuck is going on, you are dying. I figure you have a week left to live. Unless, you listen to me and trust me and let me do what I do. Been a medicine man for a long time girl. Relax."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Bella asked.

"You trusted vampires and look where that got you. You really got anything to lose at this point?"

Bella didn't say anything but silently agreed that trusting vampires ahdhad not gotten her anywhere but near death.

"Why Casper?"

"A friend has something we need. We will go there. Now, sit back and enjoy the ride."

Old Quil reached over to the volume button and turned the music louder.

"What are you listening to?" Bella practically screamed.

"Indian Outlaw! Tim McGraw!" he yelled over the music. Old Quil continued thumping his palms on the steering wheel to the sound of the music.

"Isn't that song very offensive and perpetuates stereotypes?" Jacob had ranted about this once.

"Yes it is and yes it does. Still I love it. So shut up or sing along."

Bella was about to respond when the lethargy struck her once again and she blacked out.

Bella drifted in and out of consciences. For how long she had no clue. It could have been minutes or days.

Her first clear thought that she could grab on to was chanting in the air. She didn't understand the language. She was on a very warm, very soft blanket. She opened her eyes and saw Old Quil. He sat by her and was chanting. A fire was nearby. It was dark. She saw millions of stars in the sky. She knew she wasn't in Forks on that fact alone.

Quil smiled down at her.

"Welcome back little Swan."

Bella was about to respond when she lifted her arm. Her arm was heavy. Thick bandages that felt wet were wrapped around her wrist.

"Will it hold?" A strange voice asked.

"For now." Quil responded.

"Forecast?"

Quil shook his head in the negative.

"It doesn't matter. I knew it when I saw her. I think she is the one. Not many others I could imagine have a story like that. You did good, friend. You found her."

Bella looked to her other side. Sitting on a stool in the campsite was a tall slim man in a cowboy hat. The fire illuminated his face. He had a beautiful smile. Bella placed him between the age of 40 and 50 years old. Similar to her father.

"Howdy. May I call you Bella?" The strange man asked, smiling in the darkness.

"Yeah…"

"Bella, my name is Chris Jennings. This here is my ranch. I would have brought you inside but you know Indians and their insistence on doing everything outside. I want to welcome you to your new home. Mi casa su casa. You feelin better?"

Was she?. Bella noticed she wasn't as cold, especially her arm and shoulder.

"Yeah. Yeah I do." Bella said somewhat in shock.

"Good. Come on in and I can show you around and get you some food. Ya hungry?"

"Yeah…I am." Bella couldn't remember the last time she had been this hungry.

"What did you do Quil? Did you heal me?" Bella asked, the old man.

"No. I merely treated you. Healing will have to be discussed. Treatments can only hold for so long. Before any conversation can happen we need to get you fed little Swan. You should probably call your father. He is worried about you. Then we have much to discuss."

"Like what?" Bella asked Quil.

It was Chris that answered.

"Like vampires, werewolves, ancient prophecies and relics, the venom in your blood, the coming war to end all wars and an ancient line of warrior witches to start. We will get to the complicated stuff later."