Hunting

The dance was extremely fun ending only at 4 o'clock the next morning. We cleared up at vampire speed and were done after two hours, the guests having left already. We finished and the `adults´ left, I started ascending the staircase with the boys, wolf and vampiric behind me, well all boys apart from Alec and the Cullen's.

I turned around, "Alec, you coming with us today?" I asked.

`Of course I wouldn't miss out on the action for anything´ I heard Alec reply in his thoughts as he bounded up the stairs after us. I knew Edward had heard Alec's reply for two reasons; one, I heard it in Alec's mind and I hadn't shielded his mind so Edward must have heard it too. And two, Edward launched himself at Alec.

I heard the Cullen's shocked gasps just as I push out my physical shield pushing Edward back with such force he crashed into the far wall, landing on the floor he was writhing in pain.

"Jane, STOP" Aro said suddenly standing next to Carlisle but for the first time ever she didn't listen to him.

"Janey, it's okay. I'm fine" Alec reassured her, still Edward's writhing didn't cease and I wasn't about to shield the man who broke my heart but I was aware of the fact that Jasper was as much in pain as Edward and I. Having felt save I had removed my mental shield the side effect was if an attack was being projected from someone else onto me I could not put my shield around myself again, not during the attack. "Janey, leave him. Alec's fine, you're wasting your energy. And you're hurting Jasper... and me" I said gently.

Jane instantly stopped and rushed over to me hugging me tightly while whispering, "I'm sorry, Belle. I forgot about that. I was just angry, he had hurt you and now he tried hurting my brother...I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay" I murmured, hugging her back, "I know. But you should apologize to someone else too..."

Jane let go of me and turned to Jasper, "I'm sorry Jasper."

"It's okay" Jasper reassured her smiling.

"Can I come with you today?" Jane asked turning back to us.

I shook my head, "No, Janey, I'm sorry but I'm going out with the boys" her face fell but I continued, "You can come with us to Marseilles tomorrow though." She instantly perked up smiling gleefully, forgetting not being allowed with us.

We nodded goodbye and headed up the stairs, having changed before cleaning we headed straight for the front doors. Once in the safety of the forest the wolves phased, leaving their clothes in a pile at the edge of the forest. They joined us once again and we set of running at vampire speed, I led the way, being the fastest and the only one who knew the way with a flaw. We had once let Corin lead the way and had gotten lost.

We came to the little stream that set the boundary between our private property and Volterra. My legs carried me easily, they stretched forward with every stride, covering the ground with ease. I smiled as I ran. My feet still covered the ground with ease – even with high heels.

`Three more strides´ I thought. Instead I made it two long strides then I jumped – pushing of lightly at the verge of grass. I had forgotten on tiny detail... the trees!

But the trees actually helped, I held onto a sturdy branch swung around it twice then dropped lightly to the floor landing on the balls of my feet.

We reached Convento Noviziato in less than an hour, it was quite secluded and our favourite hunting place. Only the girls didn't know, we never took them here. Felix and I came across it once while we were out running, we showed the other boys but decided against showing the girls.

"There are some grizzlies. We're not going for the wildcats, they don't have enough blood. And we are not going for the Apennine Wolves for the obvious reason" I said glancing at the wolves. "Can you stay here? Give us half an hour, then we'll meet up here and we'll have a little `hunt´."

The wolves nodded and we, vampires, set off again splitting into groups. Afton and Santiago headed south-west, Alec and Corin headed north-east and Demetri, Felix and I headed east. I killed three grizzlies, Felix and Demetri two each. Then we returned to the wolves, the others soon joined us and we split into teams of eight. Alec, Jake, Felix, Demetri, Seth, Paul, Colin and I on one team, Afton, Santiago, Sam, Quil, Jared, Embry, Corin and Brady on another. The others were bait while my team were hunters. The game is simple; two teams, one is bait they have ten minutes spared to hide in the forest, climbing allowed. After ten minutes the hunters were allowed out to hunt, they were to track down the other team and chase them. It was chasing with wolves and vampires in a thick forest. We spent around three hours hunting, then everyone was caught and we headed back to the castle.

Upon returning we found everyone anxiously waiting,

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Where on earth were you?" Jasper asked.

"How come you were gone so long?" Emmett asked.

"The concert has been moved forward to tonight" Heidi explained.

"Do they know?" Alec asked.

Heidi shook her head.

"We were hunting and then played a little game" I reassured Jasper and Emmett. "Heidi, get the girls ready, Leah and the Cullen's included. Corin, you have to get the things for the boys. I'll tell father and then get ready."

They nodded and I ran to my father's office to find Aro, Marcus, Caius, Carlisle, Sulpicia, Didyme, Athendora and Esme all there.

"Father, we're going to Marseilles today, we're leaving in a few minutes. We're taking the Cullen's they can stay backstage. Are you coming?" I asked.

"No, but have fun" Aro said. I nodded and said a fleeting goodbye, I closed the door and ran to my tower.