Chapter 3:
The boys weren't all that happy with listening to what the vampires said, but after I'd heard a few complaints about them not wanting to trust them, I told them it was better to be safe then sorry and just go along with it. After all these boys wanted Victoria for themselves and if they didn't take the chance that the red-head would turn up they might miss the opportunity.
They'd shut up after that, well to me anyway.
Saturday came around quickly, and in the time that it took to come, I learnt that Edward had all but forced Bella to take a trip to Florida. Esme had given Bella a set of plane tickets for her last birthday so that she could visit her mother. Edward had brought it up with Charlie and the man agreed, until of course it was mentioned that Edward would be going with her. Bella had told me about the argument they'd gotten into and that Edward had just decided they were going, mainly because they are going to expire.
I just sat there and didn't say much. I knew the real reason Edward wanted Bella to leave the state was because Victoria was coming. It seemed like a bit too much when he never left her side, but I guess Edward was more worried about how Bella would feel to know Victoria was close. I could imagine she'd freak, but more for the Cullens as they were going after her.
I was basically being chained up on Saturday morning. It was ridiculous, it was like they didn't trust me. I guess that was acceptable with all I'd done so far. But still, I knew this was important and not something to mess around with. I didn't need to be chained to my bed, I wasn't stupid enough to jeopardise this.
Apparently my bother and his pack didn't agree with me.
"I do not need locking up." I said as I sat on my bed after I'd gotten home from work. James had, somehow, gotten his hands on some hand cuffs.
"This is way too overkill! I promised to stay isn't that enough?" I argued
"Yeah, well knowing you, you won't stay here, you'll go and get yourself into trouble. Probably by finding the leech." James said
"I am not an idiot." I defended "I don't know what I am and aren't capable of and I'd probably just get in the way." I confessed
"Glad we can agree." James smirked
"Because of that I am not leaving this house. I already promised Alice I wouldn't leave I'm not going to break that promise."
"Sis, no offence but you'll probably just get worried that you haven't heard anything and then go running off to find out what the news is. In that time you'll get into trouble." James thought
"I won't leave until someone comes and tells me. Unless it's been more then three hours then I'd definitely leave because if you took that long then you're either dead or in another state." I confessed
"Actions speak louder then words Lex, I know you hate sitting on the sidelines."
"That's all I've been doing I think I'm used to it by now!" I confessed as I crossed my arms
"Yeah but now you can do things that you think might be able to help." James said
"No, it'll get in the way. I'm too unpredictable." I confessed
"Exactly." James smirked, I scowled at him
"If you tie me down then mum and dad are going to get suspicious, they know I could never get in with you guys and Victoria." I persuaded
"Yeah, they also know you'll get into some other kind of trouble." James disagreed
"I will not." I said stubbornly. I stood up and walked towards my door "I will not be chained up like a dog!" I decided strongly as I opened the door. I rushed to the steps as I heard James get up behind me. He wasn't just arguing with me, Sam had ordered him to watch me till the sun began to set. Though I think James might have requested it.
"If you're that worried, I'll wait with Emily, then she can keep an eye one me." I said as I descended the stairs.
"She can't stop you from leaving." James said from behind me
"Yeah cause I totally want to do that and cause Emily to have a heart attack from worry." I said rolling my eyes. I walked to the kitchen just as the back door opened, Jacob, Quil and Embry all walked in.
I groaned.
"Where are you going?" Embry wondered
"No where!" I said strongly "Is it a crime to be in my own kitchen?" I asked
"Jeez what's got you all rivalled up?" Quil wondered
"James is treating me like I don't have a brain! He's planning on handcuffing me to something so I don't leave. Is my word not good enough?" I asked
"No." they all answered. I groaned again.
"So much for trust."
"We trust you to run away." Embry smirked. I glared at him.
"By the way, Sam sent us, said we're meeting early." Jacob spoke. Everyone stopped and looked at me.
I dashed out of the kitchen, the four boys on my heels
"Where are you going?" Embry asked
"Away from you." I confessed. I ran into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it
"You break my mother's door she'll kill you." I warned
"It'll be your fault." James said
"No it wont." I argued
"What's the bet she'll jump out the window?" Quil asked
"High if she knows she can make it." James admitted. I turned to the window, I probably could jump out. I walked over to it and opened it.
"She opened it." Embry realised
"We probably gave her the idea." Jacob sighed
"I'll go outside." Quil suggested and I heard his footsteps descend the stairs. There was a small window sill and I knew my bedroom window was just around the corner of the house.
I looked up at the gutter, what were the chances I could walk along the roof?
I sat on the open window as I heard Quil get to the back door. I grabbed the gutter and stood on the window sill before pushing with my feet and swinging around and onto the tiles of the roof. I smirked before I stood up and walked further up the roof to the top. I could hear Quil lazily trudging around to face the bathroom window as I hid on the other side of the roof top.
"Uh guys," Quil called, James' window opened
"What?" James asked
"The window's open." Quil said as he rounded the corner to talk up to James.
"I can't hear anything, she's not in there." Embry admitted
"Well if she isn't in the bathroom or outside then where is she?" Jacob wondered
"Where do think she'd go?" James asked "You're her friends."
"She's your sister." Embry reminded him. There was a howl in the distance and there was silence for a second.
"I'll go see what's up." Quil said before he turned and walked off into the trees.
I peaked over the top of the roof, being as silent as possible. I wondered if they could get up here? I'd expect that they'd break the gutter if they did what I did.
I looked around, the only tree in my backyard, separate from the tree line, was too far from the house for them to use it to get to the roof. Unless they jumped of course, and they probably could make it.
I couldn't think of another way for them to get up here except to climb through a window.
I ducked as Quil emerged from the trees.
"So what's up?" Embry asked
"Sam was telling us to hurry up."
"We have to go already?" James asked
"Narr, not at least till it gets dark but he knows we'll have a bit of trouble and he wants to have a meeting before we go into action." Quil explained
"Did he have any idea on Lex?" Jacob asked
"No but Leah did," Quil confessed "She said that if the window was open and Lex was missing to check the roof."
Damn Leah! Why the hell did she have to know me so well?
"Why didn't we think of that?" Embry muttered
"Cause we didn't think she'd be able to get up there." James admitted
"How are we meant to see up there?" Quil asked
"Look." James explained "Our roof only has two sides so she has to be on one side or the other." I looked around, if they put someone on both sides of the house they'd see me. I needed another plan.
"Okay, and then how are we going to get her down after we find her?" Jacob wondered
"Good question," James sighed
"Can we get up there?" Quil asked
"Maybe…" James mumbled thinking.
Good they were thinking, that gave me some time to think. The roof only had one of it's own exits that didn't include the earth below me, and that was the chimney. Unfortunately I wasn't entirely up for getting covered in soot at the moment and our chimney was bound to guarantee that.
Could I sneak in through the window if they were distracted? It didn't have to be my window, just an open one.
I heard the back door go and peered over the roof, Quil was gone. I looked towards the ground on my side of the roof but know one was there either.
Quickly, I moved back over the roofs point and quietly walked towards the bathroom window again. They currently thought it was empty, so why not use that to my advantage.
I lied down on the roof and peered down into the bathroom, the door was still shut and locked.
I smirked.
I listened, the boys were down in the kitchen.
"She has to come down eventually." Embry said
"Yeah, when we've left." James knew
"I believe she'll stay." Quil said
"Huh, why? Cause she promised the blood sucker?" James wondered. I was insulted by the amount of faith he had in me.
I grabbed the edge of the gutter with one hand and quietly cartwheeled onto the open window ledge. My new skills always amazed me when it came to stealth.
I stood at the bathroom door, I can't remember how noisy the lock was, it was bound to click when I unlocked it… Do I risk it? Or should I just stay here till they leave?
"Come on, lets at least check the roof." Jacob decided and I heard the door go again. I waited a few seconds before unlocking the door ever so quietly as their footsteps sounded from the grass outside. I opened the door, shut it again behind me and ducked into my bedroom.
"She's not here either." James said annoyed
"How the hell does she do that?" Quil asked
"Cats are known for their stealth." Embry remembered
"Well where is she?" James wondered
"Think she jumped down and ran off?" Jacob offered
"No, her scents not out here anywhere." Embry noticed
"Why is she being difficult." James grumbled
"Because you're trying to handcuff her." Quil reminded him
"Still," James grumbled.
"Bet you she's back inside." Jacob sighed
"How?"
"The bathroom window's still open," he reminded them
"So she's trapped herself in there again." Embry said
"Come on," James said quietly. I listened for their footsteps, four sets went through the back door and then up the stairs. They stopped at the bathroom door and there was a pause for a minute.
This was actually ridiculous. Can't they just give up and leave me alone already? A little trust goes a long way nowadays.
I heard the bathroom door handle turn and the door opened
"I swear she locked that…" Embry muttered
"So she walked out." Quil noticed, I jumped behind my door as James opened it, he didn't open it all the way so I didn't have to worried about being hit in the nose.
I guess I still shouldn't have been surprised though when he suddenly leaned around the door and grabbed my arm.
"Ow!" I complained as he pulled me over to my bed.
"Nice try." he complimented
"I'd win in any hide and seek game." I smirked. I heard a click before looking at my wrist, James had handcuffed me to my own bed. I shook my wrist and the cuffs rattled. I glared at him before using my free hand to swing at him. I got him before he had the chance to move and his shoulder made a satisfying crunch under my fist.
"Ouch! Jeez!" He swore holding it
"I am going to break so much more then that when I break out!" I promised. I pulled on the cuffs. These things shouldn't be able to hold me with my strength.
"Try all you want, their made of titanium. Apparently that's strong." James informed me
"Where the hell did you get such a thing?" I asked confused, he didn't answer just walked to the door were the other three were watching. I heard a click as his shoulder healed.
"Mum had them." he admitted
"Where the hell did she get titanium hand cuffs?" I demanded, he shrugged
"I found them in her room."
"You went through mum's stuff?" I asked, my eyebrows raised in surprise
"Yep." I knew he was trying to sound like he didn't care, he usually used it when he wanted me to think the parent in question knew what he'd done. Normally they never did.
"Mum's going to kill you." I promised "If I don't do it first." I yanked on the cuffs again. Even a strong element shouldn't be a problem.
"See you later sis, don't hurt yourself." James warned before he disappeared into the hallway
"Sorry Lex." Embry muttered and he disappeared too, Quil waved, gave me a look and left also.
"I'll come let you out when it's over." Jacob promised before he too left me. I listened to them descend the stairs and walk out the backdoor before I was truly left alone.
I could feel that my eyes had changed colour into their beautiful molten gold in response to my anger. It was just building and building at the moment.
I yanked on the cuffs again but they still didn't surrender. I could feel a small pain beginning to surface in my wrist where the handcuffs were digging into my skin.
"I'm going to murder him!" I muttered angrily to myself. The sun had set and the darkness fell on the house, but I could see fine.
I needed to get out of the handcuff before my parents got home, I didn't need to explain anything weird to them, they'd only get suspicious. And me handcuffed to a bed, whether it was just by one arm, was suspicious.
I shook my arm again, the clattering of the titanium against the wood and metal of my bed frame sounding again. I groaned and sat down, my arm hanging from the cuff.
Now what? I was stuck and I had maybe half an hour to an hour before my rents showed up. My bobby pins were on the other side of the room so I couldn't pick the lock and none of them were conveniently lying around on my bedside table.
I glared at the cuffs, hoping they'd just break for me. I was really weak if I couldn't even break some titanium.
I stared at the metal before I realised something. Cat's had free floating clavicle and this allowed them to move through any space that fitted their heads. Did this mean I'd be able to just, pull my hand out of the cuffs? I should be able to with the flexibility I had.
I used my free hand and grabbed the cuff around my wrist before tucking my thumb in pointing all my fingers before I pulled my hand away. My hand slipped right through the cuff with ease.
"Ha, don't need to break it." I smirked, I walked over to my dresser and grabbed a bobby pin before tinkering with the lock on the cuffs for a while. It eventually opened and released my bed frame. I walked out of my room and into James' throwing the cuffs onto his bed before descending my stairs.
I shook my hand a bit, waiting for the irritation from the cuffs to disappear as I grabbed a glass of water.
I was all willing to stay at home for them all, but now, after treating me like that, I wasn't feeling as caring. I placed my glass on the sink and headed for the back door. I didn't care where I went as long as I wasn't here.
Just before I left, I got an idea. I walked back into the kitchen and grabbed the note pad we kept in there. I wrote a note to my brother before running it upstairs and setting it on the handcuffs. I left the house, not bothering to care about the panic that would arise when everyone eventually got home.
I walked casually through the trees, I could smell the boys scents as they lead towards the boundary line. I didn't know where the line was, or I didn't know exactly where the werewolves and vampires considered the line to be, they were very specific about that.
I could go and take a look, make myself familiar with the line, for everyone else's sake. Of course that immediately meant going to the border line in which Victoria was jumping over from side to side. I didn't know exactly where they were.
I could leave the house and cause a bit of panic for when everything was over, but I could not jump into the middle of a three way battle. I couldn't cause that kind of trouble for everyone.
I jumped up onto a log and jumped lazily to the branch hanging above my head, hanging by my hands for a second before I hoisted myself up.
They'd been gone for about fifteen minutes, was that enough time for a chase that looked like a rewinded DVD to finish?
I tapped my back pocket, my phone was sitting their comfortably. At least I could call someone when it was all over, to ask if it was all over. Thirty minutes seemed reasonable enough.
I jumped onto another branch before walking along it. I was really just waisting time. I had no real reason for being out here. My anger at James had subsided for the moment the same with my annoyance at my musketeers for leaving me there.
I wasn't going home though. I refused to go home. Not for a while anyway.
After walking across branches and through about ten trees I came to a stop and sat down, my back to the tree trunk. I removed my phone before starting to play some solitaire to pass the time.
After a while I heard footsteps. I stopped moving and basically froze before pressing the lock button on my phone, shutting off the light of the screen. I looked down as the footsteps approached me. They weren't paws and there was only two of steps at a time so it wasn't one of the wolves.
This was human. Or a version of it.
I took a subtle breath and the sweet smell of a vampire reached my nose. It wasn't one of the Cullens, but it was familiar.
I stood up on the branch and turned to look at the ground just as the pale white figure came into view.
"I thought I recognised that scent." she smiled at me, the smile didn't have the same effect on me as it did last time we'd met.
"Well, I guess I know how the chase went." I answered, looking down as her red hair blew around her face in the icy breeze.
"Didn't you learn about walking around alone from our last meeting?" Victoria asked
"Things change." I stated as I crouched down on the branch, the fingertips of my right hand just brushing the bark. I wonder if I could kill her… if that happened then Bella would definitely feel better. The questioned was; was it worth risking?
"So what happened? Last I heard you had company." I said, her smile grew
"As if they'd be able to keep up with me." Victoria boasted "Plus it doesn't help their case when they fight each other." Oh great, so the Cullens and wolves had a misunderstanding that allowed Victoria here to escape.
"Now what could you be doing out here?" Victoria wondered
"I live around here. What do you think you're doing? You don't want to be caught standing around on this turf." I warned, I think my face was slowly turning into a glare.
"It doesn't seem to bother you." she answered
"Guess being born here and being friends with the land protectors gives me a free pass." I said "Plus I'm not a harm to the residents here."
"Aww," she cooed "I'm not here to harm your precious tribe."
"No, you already did that." I reminded her "Because of that you have a target pinned on your head."
"I didn't realise how popular I was around here." Victoria smiled
"You realise you have nine huge, angry canines and seven pissed off, gifted vampires after you?" I asked
"I think I only counted six vampires," Victoria answered. How bloody cocky could you get?
"As if he'd leave her side when you're coming around. He wont leave her and run off like you did to James." I confessed, Bella had told me enough of the story for me to know Victoria had not helped in the hunt at all.
She didn't like my answer and her lips pulled back to expose her teeth as she snarled at me. Her hands were balled into fists and her knuckles were whiter then the rest of her.
Victoria suddenly jumped at me, her jump was naturally powerful and she came flying right at me. I stood up and took a step back along the tree as Victoria whizzed right past me, the breeze of her movements moving my hair.
She hit the ground not far off and spun to turn toward me. She examined me as I stood on the branch easily.
"What are you trying to do Victoria?" I asked as she watched me "All you ever do is run through, you never make a move, it's just the same old pattern. What's the point in just running around?" I wondered. Victoria's angry expression disappeared and was replaced with a smirk
"Got to get a lay out of the land somehow." she said
"You already have that, you've been here enough times, plus you sent Laurent for that. This visit had nothing to do with that nor did it have anything to do with Bella, you didn't even bother going towards her house, if you had, you wouldn't be here." What could she possibly be scheming? A layout of the land I knew she already had from her many visits. She knew where the boarder was too, so what was the point? What was the point in risking her life?
"You didn't seem at all surprised when the Cullens and pack were waiting for you…?" I realised. I didn't get an answer, but the smile stayed. She knew they would be there?
Was that what she wanted? Was she playing with Alice's visions? Testing them? How the hell did she even know of them? How did she know the Cullens could do those things? I might have mentioned that they were gifted but that doesn't tell her what they can do.
"You know," Victoria began "You moved oddly fast for a human…" she confessed as she examined me again
"Just cause someone looks human doesn't mean they are. Look at you for example."
"Someone's been doing their homework." Victoria smiled
"Didn't need to." I admitted "I grew up here and here we have histories that are self explanatory."
"So you know what I am and yet you're still not afraid." Victoria looked like she was impressed
"I have no reason to be afraid of you." I confessed. I could keep up with her speed and as long as she didn't touch me then I didn't need to worry about her strength. If Alice of all people couldn't catch me then Victoria probably couldn't either. Though I don't want to get to cocky.
"Looks like I was right, you are a special one."
"So that's why you liked me." I said, a sly smile entering my face "And here everyone thought it was something to worry about." she looked at me a little confused
"What are you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know." I said seriously, truthfully I didn't want her to know, though I had no idea either.
"Looks like my leverage is going to be a little more difficult then I thought." Victoria said, she sounded as though she was more talking to herself then me.
"What do you need me for leverage for?" I questioned. Victoria just smiled before she turned and suddenly ran away.
I looked around, listened, smelled, trying to find a reason why she left, but there wasn't one. I was alone. And to think I was doing well in getting answers out of her.
I exhaled and crossed my arms, standing there for a few minutes before I remembered the hunt had been over for a while and I was still out here. Only now did I realise I was about to receive an earful, from everyone.
I sighed before turning and jumping off through the trees. I checked my watch as I ran, it was about eleven o'clock. I wonder if anyone was still awake… well other then those running the rounds. I guess the best way to check that was to go to Emily's first, if the place was dark and empty I'd just return home and go to bed. I didn't mind putting off my incoming scolding till tomorrow.
Unfortunately, when I reached Emily's the lights were all still on. I could hear talking from inside, all of the pack were here.
"She still not back?" Leah asked
"No." James answered. I guessed he'd been home to check if I was there.
"How did she get out of the handcuffs?" Embry wondered
"I don't know but only one of them were unlocked and that would have been the one locked on the bed frame.
"She didn't break them?" Jared asked
"No." James repeated, I heard him sigh "I knew she'd run off."
"Didn't you say she ran off because you locked her up?" Seth asked
"She said that, she wrote me a note saying she was leaving because of the way I treated her."
"Handcuffing her wasn't exactly nice." Leah backed me up "You can't blame her for wanting to punish you in return." I smirked, Leah understood.
"Running off while that bloodsucker's still loose is not the way to do it." James growled. I jumped out of the tree and landed on the grass
"Sure we shouldn't be looking for her?" Quil asked
"No, she'll find us eventually." Jacob spoke. I opened the door and walked in
"Plus when someone runs away, they usually want to be left alone." I said before turning to see them all in the lounge room. They all just stared at me
"So, she got away did she?" I asked
"Where the hell have you been?" James asked
"Away from you." I said simply
"You promised you'd stay," he reminded me
"I was very willing and happy to stay put in the house until you decided you couldn't trust me and handcuffed me!" I snapped at him "Fat lot of luck that did you." I smirked
"How did you get out?" Embry asked
"I slipped my hand out." I smiled, they stared at me "Flexible joints." I shrugged "I then used a bobby pin to unlock it from my bed, that was trickier then I thought." I admitted
"Where are you been?" Jacob wondered
"In a tree." I shrugged "Wasting time really."
"So, what happened with Victoria?" I asked before anyone else could scold me again
"The leeches got in the way." Jared said
"'es', which ones?" I asked
"The big one," Jacob sneered, I thought
"Emmett?" I asked,
"He crossed into our land." Embry said
"He crossed the line?" I repeated, they didn't respond as I thought "Wait, wait, wait, you mean to tell me that you let the red-head get away because you thought one of the Cullens was out of line?" I asked
"He was out of line." Paul spat
"I don't give a shit!" I yelled at him, my eyes changing "Victoria is more important then you being overly protective."
"It's our land…" Jared began
"And if you frickin caught Victoria they'd have no reason to go near it again! Are you seriously so stupid that you had to let one stupid insignificant thing distract you from what's really important?" I scolded
"Them coming on our land is important!" Paul snapped
"Let me guess, you're the one who decided to let the killer get away!" I shot at him
"They're all killers!"
"But which one has actually been a fucking threat?! The one you let escape that's who!" I shouted "I told you this would happen!" I admitted "Remember, I told you that if you didn't put your differences aside she'd slip right by you! And that's exactly what happened!"
"I can't believe you all! You lot need to get your bloody priorities straight. Because you decided to pick a useless fight you might have just allowed Victoria to kill another innocent person!" I was surprised Sam hadn't jumped in to tell me that protecting the land was important, I guess he realised they let the opportunity slip because of such a thing.
"I wonder if you'd all feel guiltier if it was me she decided to kill next." I muttered
"You?" Jacob asked
"Come on, I was out in the forest and she was still loose, as if you didn't expect she'd run into me." I confessed
"She attacked you?" James asked pissed
"No." I said "Where'd you get that idea from?" I questioned
"You didn't see her?" Embry wondered
"Cause I did. She just didn't attack me." I admitted
"This is why I tried to make you to stay home!" James snapped at me
"Well if you'd all killed her it wouldn't have happened." I said simply. I turned around, finished yelling at them and headed for the door. Seriously, Emmett had a toe over line and Paul decided that he was more important? You'd think they'd be smart enough to realise where the real danger actually was.
