It was grey in the sky, chilly breezes cutting through the trees from time to time. She was just wandering, and then jumped at the splitting crack of thunder around her. There was no lightning, though. Another crack, even louder now, sounding more like boulders crashing than thunder. Still no lightning. The noises were disturbing, and intriguing. She walked carefully through the trees, hoping to follow the sounds that seemed to come from everywhere. And then she saw. There was a large clearing maybe twenty feet away and several people were playing baseball. They were all gorgeous, strikingly and unusually so. She watched carefully and when a thin, beautiful blonde swung the baseball bat, the collision with the ball created the thunderous sound. And then the woman seemed to flit around the bases like a breeze, blurring and hard to see she moved so fast, as a big, brawny man lunged like lightning after the flying ball. People couldn't move that fast, couldn't hit baseballs that hard. So what was this? Was she perhaps dreaming the entire scene?
Something happened, then. The smallest girl in the game, a tiny thing with spiky brown hair, started acting weird. She drew the attention of a tall blonde male, and then everyone was focused on her. She turned and looked behind her, towards another section of the forest. Just a mere two seconds later, more beautiful figures emerged. They were also impossibly fast, gliding across the ground with ease. There were three of them and the man in lead had dark silky hair, with an olive complexion across his pale skin. The woman was pale and wiry, with flaming red hair. The one that really caught her attention though was the last one to arrive - tall, sandy blonde hair pulled back, stubble across his strong jaw, and a slight, cocky smile on his face. The most striking aspect of them was their eyes - unnaturally, a brilliant red.
Turning back to the baseball players, she watched in confusion and disbelief at the entire scene before her. The team had formatted into some protective shield around a small, brown haired girl. The girl didn't look as beautiful as the ones surrounding her, but she was familiar. A tall, passive, bronze haired boy stood in front of her, his arms out carefully to shield her. That's how she was familiar - Bella Swan, the new student. Chief Swan's kid. The boy in front of her was Edward Cullen, heartthrob of the city. And then it dawned on her, these were all the Cullens. She'd just never seen them all together before. Some exchange was obviously transferring between Carlisle Cullen - she recognized him now - and the dark haired male arrival. The man seemed to be smiling often, with Carlisle, but they were the only ones. The red-haired woman was eyeing each of the Cullens, while the handsome blonde male was scoping the scene entirely. He sniffed the air peculiarly, looked around again, then focused on the two men's discussion. Something was arranged because the Cullens started to retreat, Edward protectively hovering around Bella. A couple of the other kids were doing the same. And then as if from Hell specifically, a strong gust of wind whirled through the trees, past her, and around the two parties, before vanishing. Everyone stiffened. The rugged male arrival inhaled deeply, closing his eyes in bliss, then let go with a shuddering sigh. He focused on Bella, and Edward snarled protectively. But the red-head, Jasper (that was his name, right?), Alice and Rosalie had all turned their attention to the woods. To where she was standing. After a couple short seconds, the others noticed, and sniffed the air slightly, then gazed the same direction.
"You over there, step out!" The huge, dark haired Cullen shouted to her. She trembled, disturbed by the scene before her. These people were not human.
Carlisle stepped forward. "We mean you no harm, don't worry. We'd just like to see you."
She hesitated again, but gave in without any further persuasion. Carlisle was a kind man, he would keep his word, right? Once she stepped forward, out of the trees and into the clearing, things changed again. Rosalie and Jasper's eyes narrowed, Esme and Carlisle reflected the same concern, Emmett and Alice exchanged a glance, while Edward did nothing. Bella peeked out from behind him and her eyes widened. The other three were studying her, especially the blonde. His taunting smirk was back, and his red eyes seemed to glow brighter when he saw her looking at him.
"Come here." Carlisle encouraged. She stepped closer obediently, uncomfortable and sensing danger. She felt like she was surrounded by mountain lions. Carlisle instinctvely adjusted so she was behind him, further from the three strangers. "What's your name?" He asked gently.
She opened her mouth, stuttering slightly from fear. "A-Andrea."
He tried to smile. "Andrea, okay. What all have you seen?"
"She was going for a walk and heard what she thought was strange thunder." A deep, smooth voice interrupted. Andrea glanced over to see Edward Cullen speaking. "She found us playing, and watched. She saw them," His eyes flicked to the blonde, red-head, and dark-haired group. "And was curious. She knows something's wrong with us." His dark gold stare was hard and she had to look away quickly.
Carlisle nodded. "Okay. Stay by Bella. Alice, watch out for her."
The little brown haired girl nodded, and flitted over to Andrea's side, then in a flash had her standing beside Bella. Bella smiled nervously but said nothing, looking with everyone else back at the three intruders.
"I'm afraid this seems to have changed things, and our game will have to be cancelled. Sorry, maybe we can catch you another time?" Carlisle was speaking, his voice gentle and a forced kind smile on his handsome face.
The dark haired man smiled just as forced in return. "That's a shame."
Another slight breeze, and everyone stiffened again. The attractive blonde inhaled again, sighed, and now eyed just Andrea, rather than Bella. "Mmmm." He sighed heavily. "Something smells good."
Alice hissed in return but he just smirked at her, paying little attention. He took a step forward and all of the Cullens closed closer around Andrea and Bella, snarling and growling. The red-head female hissed like a wild cat, the dark-haired leader did nothing, while the blonde let loose a deep, rumbling growl. Still smiling.
"There's nothing here for you." Carlisle replied calmly. "Now please, it is getting late and this girl needs to get home." Andrea could only assume they meant her. And now that things were even more obvious, she was beginning to have an idea what these hissing, growling people were. She hoped Carlisle actually planned on taking her home.
"Yes, of course." The dark-haired man nodded, and he and the woman turned to stride away, back into the forest. The blonde walked slowly backwards for a few seconds, eyes traveling with unnerving ease across Andrea's body while he still smirked, sexily dangerous. Emmett growled once and the man smiled even wider, white teeth flashing, then turned and disappeared into the dark trees.
At once, Alice was dragging Andrea towards a car, all of the Cullens around them. "Wh-" Andrea started, but she was shoved in the passenger seat to the car first.
Carlisle climbed into the driver's seat, Alice in the back, and Emmett on top. The others and Bella were in a seperate vehicle. The car sped forward, winding quickly down roads. The headlights weren't even on, but still they never faltered.
Andrea glanced around outside. "What's happening?" She asked in a small voice.
"You're being hunted." Carlisle answered smoothly.
"Hunted?" That didn't sound good.
He glanced at her. "Do you know what we are?" She shrugged. "Do you? I know you have an idea."
"Uhm, well," He gave her another look. "Vampires?"
Her answer was a short, curt, nod. All the color drained out of her face. Not possible. "Well, you're being hunted. By those vampires we just met."
"So you're not hunting me?"
A slight smile flicked across his pale lips. "No, we're different. We don't live off humans." He glanced in the rearview mirror. "They do."
"And that blonde one is a tracker." Alice piped up from the back seat. "He's chosen you."
"Wh-why me?"
"I don't totally know, but Edward does. I think he wants to see how far we'll go to protect a human we don't even know. To see if maybe one of us will even turn on you, just to make him lay off." She paused. "Plus, you of course smell delicious." Andrea winced but Alice continued. "Odd that none of us noticed you before hand, with your smell and all. I guess we were too focused on James and his coven."
Carlisle nodded. "Yes, that's probably it. Edward didn't even pick up her thoughts."
"My thoughts?" Andrea asked, confused.
"Some of us have..abilities. Alice here can see the future, but it's not 100% reliable. Edward hears thoughts. Jasper controls emotions. James is a tracker. Very deadly." He added, as if it was necessary.
"I think the James one sort of knew I was there."
Carlisle glanced over at her curiously. "How so?"
"I noticed him sniffing the air some, and looking around. I just don't think he knew I was that close."
Carlisle nodded, watching the dark road as they continued to speed along. "I see. Like I said, we were all occupied-"
"This is going all wrong." Alice interrupted and Carlisle glanced in the reviewmirror at her.
"What's wrong, Alice?"
The pixie's small face was furrowed in thought and frustration. "When James, Victoria and Laurent first came in, I saw us playing a very awkward game of baseball with them. Then when James smelled Bella, I saw him going after her. He was supposed to be after her, not some girl!" Her little voice was angry.
Carlisle flashed a sympathetic glance at Andrea and Alice. "Things change Alice, you of all people know that."
"Yes, yes." She answered dismissively.
"So just because I was stupid enough to go for a walk in a thunder storm, now I'm Bambi?" Andrea countered nervously.
Carlisle actually smiled, even if it was strained. "Don't worry. He won't get to you. You've got all of us to-"
"Carlisle, watch out!!!" Alice screamed suddenly, and both Carlisle and Andrea glanced back to see her problem. Then with a crunch, and grind, the car dipped dangerously forward, the back end flying up. Andrea screamed as she felt herself heaved into the air in the vehicle and Carlisle swore aloud. They saw a large, pale body get flung from the top of the car into the trees. Emmett. Then after spinning to the side with a screech, the car toppled over. Andrea was dangling upside down, restrained by her seat belt as the blood rushed to her head.
"Andrea, are you alright?" Carlisle asked gently.
Andrea glanced at him. He was hanging upside down as well, but appeared fine. "I-I think so. What the h-" The passenger side door detatched from the car with a crunch, then flew into the dark trees, interrupting Andrea's sentence. She jumped as a gorgeously handsome blonde man appeared, scarlet eyes glittering.
"Hello." He grinned, and in a flash, slashed apart the seat belt with his teeth. Andrea cried out as she fell, but a cold, hard arm caught her and quickly deposited her onto the pavement beside the wrecked vehicle. The front looked like it had hit a tree in the middle of the road. Andrea sat on the cold ground, terrified and confused by all that had happened in the past twenty seconds.
"Andrea!" Carlisle's voice came from inside the car, and in a flash he was standing on the opposite side of the vehicle. "James, just let her go." He said gently.
"Oh no, this has been too much fun." James smiled devlishly. "I was honestly hoping for more of a challenge, what with so many of you, but this will do." Several blurs of pale skin, growling and hissing, and then Andrea was shocked to see the red-head (Victoria?) holding Alice, with her little arms pinned behind her back and white teeth at her throat. Another blur and Laurent had Carlisle in the same position.
"You son of a bitch!" Everyone turned at Emmett's deep growl, as he finally emerged from the trees. He rushed forward, but was halted by several hisses from Victoria and Laurent. James stayed calm, a constant smirk on his handsome face.
"Easy now, big guy." James taunted Emmett. "Don't want anyone getting hurt."
"You're outnumbered, Tracker!" Rosalie's pretty voice came from the shadows, and then she stepped forward, close to Emmett. Esme appeared as well, several feet behind Carlisle and Laurent. Jasper inched out of the trees near Alice.
James was unfased. "Where's your mind-reader, and the other girl?" He asked casually. "Send them off to hide, did you? Hah. Be thankful I'm not so interested in that human." His grin was deadly. And Andrea was attracted to it.
"We'll rip you apart, Tracker! And we will take our time!" Emmett was practically roaring now, thrilled at the thought of a fight.
"Oh no you won't." James answered assuredly. "You don't want to risk your family." He sneered the word, and Victoria and Laurent chuckled in response. James finally grabbed Andrea's arm, lifting her up from the ground. His cold arm wound around her waist, pulling her close to his icy body. "The girl comes with me. Your silly family gets to stay in one piece. That's the only deal."
"We can tear you apart easily!" Emmett growled, but Esme shushed him.
"Carlisle.." Esme started, worried.
Carlisle's blue eyes studied everyone on the road, then met Andrea's surprisingly calm gaze. "..okay." He hesitantly answered.
"What?!" Alice and Esme yelped in unison.
"There is no other way." Carlisle explained. "If Rose, Emmett or you, Esme, do anything, he'll kill her and they will kill us." His eyes flicked to Alice.
"But Carlisle, he will kill her!" Esme protested loudly, motherly instincts kicking in.
Carlisle didn't answer, just looked down, ashamed. But his family came first.
"It's alright." Andrea finally spoke, softly. Everyone looked at her and she glanced nervously around at all the beautiful faces. "Really, it's alright. I'm not part of you guys, and I'm just causing a huge risk for everyone. I'm sorry."
They all stared for a long moment, then Carlisle nodded. "If there was anyway we could-"
"I know." She interrupted. Dr. Carlisle was perhaps the kindest person - being - she'd ever met. She knew he would do anything to keep her protected, but not risk his family.
"I'm sorry, Andrea." Carlisle apologized.
"It's alright Carlisle, you did what you could." She smiled faintly. "I'm alright with this." And she was. In honesty she knew she would die, but that didn't prevent her from being drawn to the rugged blonde hunter holding her.
"Oh now this is touching!" James exclaimed with a throaty laugh. "Human with no attatchments to the vampire family risks her life for them all!" He chuckled. "What a fantastic headline that would be." He stepped behind Andrea, cold hands on her shoulders as he leaned close to her ear. "You're smart, girl, you know you can't get away from me." He murmured, smooth voice seductive in her ear. He exhaled softly as his cold lips trailed up her jaw and to her ear, the scent of his breath inticing. "I just can't wait to find out how you taste.."
Andrea trembled, his voice a purr. She still wasn't scared, not really. She was intranced.
James sighed heavily one more time against her skin, then pulled back, confident smile back. "Now this has been all very nice, but we must get a move on. Don't even dare try to follow us, you know it won't work. I could hide from the moon if I so wanted." He chuckled, and scooped Andrea into his arms smoothly, bridal-style. "Now to claim the prize." He grinned and stepped backwards, into the shadowed trees. His smile fell as he glanced seriously at Victoria and Laurent, then in a flash he was gone. Both Victoria and Laurent hadn't expected to be left behind. They looked at each other and released each Cullen before standing together behind the mangled car.
"So you two are left here, to our lack of pity eh?" Emmett smirked. "James really seems like a great guy."
Victoria snarled, but Carlisle just stepped forward. "Where is he taking her?"
"How should we know?" The red-head hissed.
"We will find out what you know." Carlisle's voice was hard.
"Which is nothing. You will find out nothing!" The woman continued to snarl.
Carlisle looked at Jasper and Emmett, then nodded.
James could hear the screams from miles away.
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