Chapter 3: What Trouble Lurks Outside?

Bella's POV

As soon as Edward left I felt myself drift off into slumber again. What seemed like two hours later I felt myself half awake and as I was still lying in bed I felt my stomach knotting up and suddenly I wasn't feeling so good. Chills ran down my spine as I realized what had happened the last time I'd gone asleep. Immediately I was fully awake and sat up looking for a clock. It was 6:45pm…shouldn't Edward be here by now? And why-no how did I sleep so late? As I got out of bed I remembered that Carlisle was here, and decided to go ask what was taking them so long to get back. The minute I was walking down the stairs I heard the door shut. It was Carlisle and he was carrying a cell phone.

"Carlisle?" I asked, stopping at the end of the stairs.

"Bella?! It's good to see that your finally awake! Charlie called, and he was worried about you. I told him you'd be sleeping over again." Carlisle said, while heading towards the counter to set down the phone.

"Carlisle? Where's Edward?" I asked, at the same time as I sat down on the couch.

"I called them about an hour ago they said they would be a bit longer…Edward sends his apologies…" Carlisle replied, a little worried sensing the sadness and worry in my tone.

"Oh…"

All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. As Carlisle went to answer whoever was at the front door, I saw his eyebrows knit together. Soon enough the door opened.

"Yes?" I heard Carlisle ask with curiosity and…what I thought sounded like suspicion in his voice.

Carlisle's POV

The men…no…not men, but vampires that now stood in front of me were over 6 feet in height, one of them taller than the other. The tallest had skin the color of a brownie that had been burnt way too many times to count and with his hair matching his skin color. His eyes though were so dark you couldn't tell if he even had pupils. The other one's complexion was much lighter. His skin was pale and fair…much whiter than mine if that even possible. His eyes…were the strangest colors I've ever seen a vampire ever have. One of them was a neon lime color and the other as black as the other male's. With them was a girl no taller than 5'7. She had pure black hair, magenta eyes, and a lean fit figure…then her skin was so pale it looked like a gleaming pearl. Just looking at her was intoxicating.

"Where is she?" asked the tallest of the three.

"Why, I have no idea of whom you are talking about." I said, straitening my back and looking strait into his empty, sinister eyes.

"She as in a girl who is somewhat 5'4. Hair is brown. Brown eyes. Slender figure. Fair…a past victim of a vampire by the name of James…do you know who she is? Or where, for that matter?" he asked, bluntly.

Oh no! Bella! "I swear I don't know who your talking about…now if you will please make your way off of my property my family will be here soon to convalesce from their hunting trip…" I replied, watching the three warily.

"He's lying." The other man snarled with frustration.

How did he know that!?

I saw the shorter man smirk with satisfaction.

"Let us in your house willingly or we'll be forced to compel our way through as needed." The taller one said, snarling.

"NO! I WILL NOT LET YOU IN MY FAMILY'S HOUSE!" I shouted, preparing myself to go into a crouch.

"SO BE IT!"

Hey! I hoped you all liked the Chapter! That was a glimpse of protective Carlisle up there… ;) PLEASE R&R!!

- Emberseve