Once again all rights owned by Stephanie Meyer.
Thank you for the reviews there very pleasant to read.
19. INTRODUCTIONS
As they emerged from the forest I embarked on reading their thoughts immediately. For the majority of their thoughts were absorbed by the amount of us there were. They lived different from our kind and had entirely different philosophies in their hunting styles. They existed as nomads; constantly traveling around, living wherever they preferred. Their appearance was harsh looking, not well groomed, not resembling us in any way. They weren't hungry, as they had hunted recently.
There were three of them; the first male had light brown hair with a slight build. He dropped back and allowed the second male to obtain the lead. The second male had black hair with a medium build. The third was a woman, wilder than the two males, with long chaotic orange hair.
But it was their eyes… their eyes that presented information so easily. Unlike our golden eyes, their eyes were deep burgundy with a sharpness to them, a sharpness that was disturbing and sinister. From their eyes I could see precisely what we were dealing with.
Their philosophies were a different story. The first male was truly concerned with the amount of us. He comprised plenty of questions regarding my family. He attempted to maintain his composure and alter his position to appear calm.
The second male was particularly skeptical in the midst of us; remaining unconvinced of our friendliness. He reserved his guard, producing a stance behind the other two; he paid meticulous attention to us. His eyes extended across my families in front of him before reconciling on mine. He seized my gaze reluctant to back down.
The woman stood next to the first male and was genuinely curious about us with a slight hint of concern. She reserved her guard and her stance detained ready to shift into a crouch instantly.
Merely looking at them, you might distinguish the differences between them and us. They resembled drifters with frayed clothes, barefoot, and leaves and debris from the woods on them. But the authentic difference remained their eyes, eyes never lie, they had fierce and menacing eyes. And you didn't require being our kind to detect this.
It was their thoughts that captivated the majority of my attention. I kept sifting through them to acquire details… details that would warn me of their plans… the actual meaning behind their curiosity. The woman wondered who we all were and where we came from. The one acting as the leader wondered how long we were all together, as this is not normal for our kind, to remain in such a large group.
It was the third man that exceedingly retained my attention. I was not familiar to his mind, but I had heard his thoughts before. He was a tracker! An excellent tracker who spends his existence looking for something to hunt. A tracker could consume his days hunting the object of his affection; it's a game to them providing them a reason to exist.
Presenting me with my biggest concern… this tracker. Not intending him to turn his attention to Bella, her scent alone might peak his interest. But the fact was, she was here with us… a human… providing him all the reason he would require to hunt her.
My attention was on him now, trying to see his mind, what he was thinking. I needed to understand what we were dealing with. He was not the first tracker I had encountered. I was familiar with their tendencies and their abilities.
The apparent leader of this pack smiled and stepped forward to address Carlisle.
"We thought we heard a game," he said in a relaxed voice with a slight French accent. "I'm Laurent, these are Victoria and James." He gestured to the vampires beside him.
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella." He said not lingering on anyone directly.
I cringed when he said Bella's name. I realized why he did it, but it nevertheless didn't appear entirely appropriate.
"Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked sociably.
Carlisle matching Laurent's friendly tone. "Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?"
"We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in the neighborhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time."
"No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves."
The tense atmosphere was calming and things were becoming more casual. Expect for this James, he appeared unconvinced of our friendliness, not prepared to take any chances. I focused attention on him; he had a slight advantage in his thoughts. Sensing something was wrong, he couldn't completely reckon what that was.
"What's your hunting range?" Laurent casually inquired.
Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry.
"The Olympic Range here, up and down the Coast Rangers on occasion. We keep a permanent residence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali."
"Permanent? How do you manage that?" He was genuinely curious.
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably?" Carlisle invited. "It's a rather long story."
Laurent and Victoria appeared surprised by the word home. It resonated through Laurent's head again and again. But James controlled his thoughts better apparently not surprised.
"That sounds very interesting, and welcome." He smiled. "We've been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had the chance to clean up in a while."
"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand," Carlisle explained.
"Of course." Laurent nodded. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway," he laughed.
Not caring for all this discussion regarding hunting in front of Bella. It must be disturbing to her, but currently there wasn't anything I could do. Pressing to maintain my focus, concentrating on where this was headed, the problems we were certain to encounter.
Just then, the breeze caught Bella's hair sending her scent towards James. He picked it up immediately and shifted into a crouch prepared to attack. I bared my teeth, crouching in defense, and growled from my throat. He ascertained immediately she was human.
The thoughts coursed threw his head, he was confused and ready to attack. Never letting up I remained in defense mode, our eyes stayed locked on each other's. It was then I realized he could read my mind; he shared the same gift as I.
"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed surprise.
Neither James nor I altered positions. James shifted slightly to the side and I synchronized his effort. He was assessing the situation, trying to figure out how she fit in. She was here not to kill, but remain as she was. He didn't understand this, he couldn't.
He had never known an attachment to a human before. How could he? Never being around one long enough to consider it. He sure couldn't understand why I would protect her, and I certainly didn't want him to. If he were to figure out my attachment to her that would be enough to excite him. He would see that as an exhilarating challenge.
"She's with us." Carlisle's firm rebuff was directed toward James. Laurent took longer but was now aware of Bella's scent.
I was enraged, baring my teeth further and harshly growling. Laurent stepped back again. He meant know harm to her but didn't comprehend what was going on.
"I said she's with us," Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.
"But she's human," Laurent protested in surprise.
"Yes." Emmett stepped to Carlisle's side, his eyes on James.
James slowly stepped out of his crouch never taking his eyes off Bella. Remaining unchanged I was prepared to attack at a moments notice. Recognizing he couldn't do a great deal at this moment; he would wait… wait for a better occasion… an occasion when she was unaccompanied. Extremely troubled by his thoughts... they were depraved.
Preparing to do anything to protect her, my mind was already running through all the ways I would make him suffer for having such vile and repulsive thoughts about her. All the ways I would make him beg for his life and all the ways I would kill him.
Laurent used a soothing tone attempting to defuse the situation. "It appears we have a lot to learn about each other."
"Indeed." Carlisle's voice was still cool.
"But we'd like to accept your invitation." He looked at Bella, then back to Carlisle. "And, of course, we will not harm the human girl. We won't hunt in your range, as I said."
This was accurate for Laurent, but this wasn't the truth for James. He possessed other ideas that didn't include a friendly chat at our house. I sorted through his thoughts significantly now. He understood the meaning behind my thoughts, he saw the draw she held for me. Shifting threw his thoughts I had to find something that would help me protect Bella. Any kind of weakness he may possess, any detail that may help.
Carlisle glanced at Laurent for a moment prior to speaking. "We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?" he called. The three gathered blocking their view of Bella, Alice stood at her side, and Emmett retreated back to her slowly his eyes remaining on James.
"Let's go, Bella." I said relentlessly.
The entire time this was occurring, Bella stood extremely motionless behind me, she had to be so terrified. I yearned to grab her... hold her... declare to her that she would be safe and sound. But I realized this wasn't completely accurate. I grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her along side of me. Alice and Emmett continued right behind us, shielding her from them. My impatience was apparent as we moved swiftly toward the forest edge.
I didn't stop as we hit the Jeep; I flung Bella into the backseat.
"Strap her in," I ordered Emmett, who got in beside her.
Alice jumped in the front seat and I roared the engine to life, swinging it around to face the winding road.
"What have I done? How could I expose her this way? How foolish of me? No time to think, I've got to get her out of here!" I said much too swiftly for Bella to understand. But the others heard and caught the urgency in my voice.
I hit the main road, turned away from Forks, hitting the gas I sped down the highway. Angry with myself for allowing this to happen! I needed to protect her…I needed to hide her away… far enough removed that he couldn't locate her. Then I would return… return and take care of him.
The monster was attempting to escape; I could sense his interest at what was happening. He treasured hearing the word kill; it was pleasurable for him to hear me speak of that. He wanted to be involved, to be released.
"Where are we going?" Bella asked.
None of us answered. None of us even looked at her.
"Dammit, Edward! Where are you taking me?"
"We have to get you away from here –far away- now." I kept my eyes on the road pushing the speedometer past a hundred miles an hour.
"Turn around! You have to take me home!" She shouted trying to get out of the seatbelt.
"Emmett," I said grimly.
Emmett secured her hands.
"No! Edward! No, you can't do this."
"I have to Bella, now please be quiet."
"I won't! You have to take me back –Charlie will call the FBI! They'll be all over your family- Carlisle and Esme! They'll have to leave, to hide forever!"
"Calm down, Bella." I said coldly. "We've been there before."
"Not over me, you don't! You're not ruining everything over me!" She was struggling to free herself.
"Edward, pull over." Alice spoke.
I flashed her a hard look and sped up.
"Edward, let's just talk this through."
"You don't understand," I roared in frustration, speeding to nearly one hundred and fifteen miles an hour. "He's a tracker, Alice, did you see that? He's a tracker!"
This meant plenty to Alice but meant little to Bella. She contained no idea what a tracker was. A tracker was the worst of our kind. The obsessive quality they possess can be extremely dangerous to a vampire let alone a human. And currently his focus was entirely on Bella. This made the monster extremely angry.
"Pull over, Edward." Alice said with authority in her voice.
I pressed the gas heading over one hundred and twenty miles an hour.
"Do it, Edward."
"Listen to me, Alice. I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession –and he wants her, Alice- her specifically. He begins the hunt tonight."
Leaving town was the only option; I had no other choice. With him in town she couldn't remain here. The urgency became clearer the further out of town I was getting.
"He doesn't know where-"
I interrupted her. "How long do you think it will take him to cross her scent in town? His plan was already set before the words were out of Laurent's mouth."
Bella gasped, "Charlie! You can't leave him there! You can't leave him!" She thrashed against the harness.
Charlie was not the one in danger her –she was. This tracker wanted her and would stop at nothing to get her. Couldn't they understand this?
"She's right," Alice said.
I slowed down slightly.
"Let's just look at our options for a minute," Alice coaxed.
Slowing down even more… I screeched to a stop on the shoulder of the highway. Options… what other options… I couldn't see other options. The monster warned me not to listen, he warned me to keep going. He knew the urgency in the situation we faced, he'd been there before.
"There are no options," I hissed.
"I'm not leaving Charlie!" Bella yelled.
Ignoring her completely.
"We have to take her back," Emmett finally spoke.
Under these circumstances, there was no way I would bring her back. To allow him the possibility of finding her was not an option. The monster was right I needed to get her out of town.
"No." I was absolute.
"He's no match for us, Edward. He won't be able to touch her."
"He'll wait."
He would want as long as he had too, he lived for the challenge.
Emmett smiled. "I can wait, too."
"You didn't see –you don't understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he's unshakable. We'd have to kill him."
"That's an option." Emmett said unmoved by the idea.
For Emmett this was an option, but he didn't realize how difficult that could be. It's not that easy to kill one of our own, especially if they had help.
"And the female. She's with him. If it turns into a fight, the leader will go with them, too."
"There are enough of us."
"There's another option," Alice said quietly.
Turning to her unleashing all of my fury, "There –is –no –other –option!"
Glaring at Alice intently making certain she understood there was no other option. How could she even consider that? Already expressing my opinion on the subject previously, I would certainly not be intimidated into ending Bella's life. This subject was closed and would remain closed eternally.
"Does anyone want to hear my plan?" Bella broke the silence.
Her plan… her plan, how could she have a plan? She didn't even know what we were dealing with.
"No," I growled.
"Listen," She pleaded. "You take me back."
Another one… take her back… never going to happen.
"No," I interrupted.
There was no way I was taking her back. We had to get out of here, and we were wasting precious time.
She glared at me and continued. "You take me back. I tell my dad I want to go home to Phoenix. I pack my bags. We wait till this tracker is watching, and then we run. He'll follow us and leave Charlie alone. Charlie won't call the FBI on your family. Then you can take me any damned place you want."
We all stared at her.
"It's not a bad idea, really." Emmett said surprised.
"It might work –and we simply can't leave her father unprotected. You know that." Alice said.
Everyone looked at me. What could I say? What could I do? This shattered my believe shaking my very core. Not considering this, I needed to get her away from here immediately. Prepared to take the monsters side in this, he was right needing to get her away from here. If anything were to happen to her…
"It's too dangerous –I don't want him within a hundred miles of her."
Emmett was supremely confident. "Edward, he's not getting through us."
Alice thought for a moment. "I don't see him attacking. He'll try to wait for us to leave her alone."
Leave her alone. I'm never going to leave her alone again. Could I ever leave her alone again?
"It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen."
"I demand that you take me home." She tried to sound firm.
Pressing my fingers to my forehead, I squeezed my eyes shut. This can't be happening, I couldn't consider bringing her back. Could I? What if she got hurt, or worse? Had I not placed her in enough danger for one day? She must reconsider her plan; persuade her to see things as I do. She needed to understand exactly whom we were dealing with. That would amend her mind… she would see clearly.
"Please," she pleaded.
That did it… she merely needed to utilize that word… to make me adjust my mind. Unable to resist her while she pleaded with me. How could she do this to me? How could she offer to put herself in that kind of danger? Doesn't she understand, doesn't she realize. And here I am powerless to stop her. The monster was writhing –he angry I was considering this.
Bella's choices were hers to devise. I couldn't say no to her… I wanted to… but I couldn't. She wasn't mine, I didn't own her, if she believed it was best to leave; I would have to allow her to leave. The choice was always hers; I couldn't take that away from her too.
"You're leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees or not. You tell Charlie that you can't stand another minute in Forks. Tell him whatever story works. Pack the first things your hands touch, and then get in your truck. I don't care what he says to you. You have fifteen minutes. Do you hear me? Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep."
Starting the jeep, I spun around and headed back to Forks. Unbelievable the way they convinced me to carry out her plan. Her strategy was not reliable. How did this happen? How did I lose such control over the situation? It was the one thing I never wanted to do, lose control with her. And now, I lost all control… everything was out of my hands.
The monster was angry. He was aching to stop me. He wanted to run with her… far away. He wished to have her all to himself, not giving this tracker the slightest advantage to take her from him.
How could I have been so foolish? My desire had always been to protect her, and now, I put her in the most danger she would ever face. I had to make this right… I had to make her safe again. And if leaving makes her safe, then, that is what we have to do.
Turning my focus to the forest, I desired to be useful. Wanting to determine where he was located and what he was doing. Pressing the gas, I raced down the road. Strategies were formulating, how to proceed and what to do. My thoughts focused on Bella's house, running through every possibility until I came up with a plan.
"This is how it's going to happen. When we get to the house, if the tracker is not there, I will walk her to the door. Then she has fifteen minutes." I glared at her in the rearview mirror. "Emmett, you take the outside of the house. Alice, you get the truck. I'll be inside as long as she is. After she's out, you two can take the jeep home and tell Carlisle."
"No way," Emmett broke in. "I'm with you."
"Think it through, Emmett. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"Until we know how far this is going to go, I'm with you."
Refusing to argue at this moment, I had to keep my mind clear to find him. I needed to be certain we would arrive at the house before him. If he was there I would not stop, I would keep going, and we would have to come up with another plan. Not allowing him to be that close to her, and neither would the monster.
I sighed. "If the tracker is there," I continued grimly, "we keep driving."
"We're going to make it there before him," Alice said confidently.
Well I'm glad Alice can concentrate adequately to continue tracking of him, because I was experiencing trouble with that.
"What are we going to do with the jeep?" She asked.
I had a hard edge to my voice. "You're driving it home."
"No, I'm not," she said calmly.
How could she dispute this mute point with me? Damn, I wish they would stop arguing every opinion. Stupid… unacceptable… idiotic plans!
"We can't all fit in my truck," Bella whispered.
Ignoring her I was reluctant to hear anymore of her strategies. She had already put herself in enough danger for one day. There was nothing more she would do to risk her safety.
"I think you should let me go alone," she said even more quietly.
I couldn't ignore that! She was insane if she thought I would permit her to go alone. Taking her away with me was one thing, but now she wants to go alone, unacceptable. Unable to accept this and I knew the monster never would.
Her choices were not longer hers; I had to put my foot down somewhere. She was being unreasonable, not realizing how much danger she was in. Having to leave was bad enough, but going alone… unprotected… I could not agree to this… it's never going to happen!
"Bella, please just do this my way, just this once," I said clenching my teeth.
"Listen, Charlie's not an imbecile," she protested. "If you're not in town tomorrow, he's going to get suspicious."
Charlie was the least of my problems; her going alone was at the top of my list. No matter how much she pleaded this time, she was not going alone.
"That's irrelevant. We'll make sure he's safe, and that's all that matters."
"Then what about this tracker? He saw the way you acted tonight. He's going to think you're with me, wherever you are."
It's irrelevant what the tracker thinks is going on. The only relevant thing is that she be safe.
Emmett glanced at her, "Edward, listen to her," he argued. "I think she's right."
"Yes, she is," Alice, agreed.
Had everyone completely lost their minds? The only rational one left was the monster and I was inclined to side with him.
"I can't do that." I said coldly.
"Emmett should stay, too," she continued. "He definitely got an eyeful of Emmett."
"What?" Emmett turned to her.
There, finally, someone who would be on my side. Emmett must be thinking she's lost her mind.
"You'll get a better crack at him if you stay," Alice agreed.
How could they do this? Did they really think I would allow her to go off alone?
"You think I should let her go alone?"
"Of course not," Alice said. "Jasper and I will take her."
"I can't do that," I repeated... I was losing this battle... I could feel it. And the monster was outraged at the fact I was losing. He was gasping for air, to be let loose, to be allowed to take control of this situation.
Bella spoke persuasively. "Hang out here for a week-" I cringed at the thought of a week. "-a few days. Let Charlie see you haven't kidnapped me, and lead this James on a wild-goose chase. Make sure he's completely off my trail. Then come and meet me. Take a roundabout route, of course, and then Jasper and Alice can go home."
Absurd, being convinced of this plan. Was I going insane? Leave her -for even a couple of days- when she was in such mortal danger. Do they realize what they are requesting of me? That's comparable to leaving my heart abandoned and hoping it remains beating. This was an impossible situation and their strategy was working.
When I thought of allowing her to leave my stomach twisted, the aching pain returned and my muscles recoiled. The monster was angry… angry at the thought of letting her go. Could a dead heart break because it felt as if mine would? The hollow in my chest ached as if it were empty. The burn in my throat was on fire and my stomach twisted from the hunger. The monster demanded freedom; he stood fast waiting for the command. How was I expected to allow her leave… without me?
How could I spin this back to my plans? There had to be a way to make them see that I could manage this. That I be the one who goes with her; to take her somewhere safe. Why was this so hard to grasp, the fact that it would crush me to let her leave.
But after sifting through the trackers thoughts I was certain he would follow me. After witnessing my reaction on the baseball field, he would never believe I would leave her alone. Consequently their plans were right, I must allow her to go and urge him to follow me. How would I endure this?
"Meet you where?"
"Phoenix."
Phoenix… Phoenix… how could I consider this?
"No. He'll hear that's where you're going," I said impatiently.
"And you'll make it look like that's a ruse, obviously. He'll know that we'll know that he's listening. He'll never believe I'm actually going where I say I am going."
"She's diabolical," Emmett chuckled.
"And if that doesn't work?"
"There are several million people in Phoenix," she informed me.
No, she would be too easy to find in Phoenix.
"It's not that hard to find a phone book."
"I won't go home."
"Oh?" I inquired.
"I'm quite old enough to get my own place."
"Edward, we'll be with her," Alice reminded me.
"What are you going to do in Phoenix?" I asked her.
Needing to convince myself that this was the right decision, it didn't feel like it was, but maybe it was.
"Stay indoors."
"I kind of like it." Emmett was thinking about cornering James, no doubt.
"Shut up, Emmett."
He wasn't thinking of Bella, he was thinking of what he wanted to do to James.
"Look, if we try to take him down while she's still around, there's a much better chance that someone will get hurt –she'll get hurt, or you will, trying to protect her. Now, if we get him alone…" He trailed off with a slow smile.
I can't believe this is occurring like this… not only did I put her in mortal danger… now I must allow her to leave me. This was not reasonable – none of this was reasonable- how could I allow this to happen? This was devastating… it went against all of my instincts. How could I protect her if she wasn't even here? How would I allow her to leave me, I'm not certain it's possible? I couldn't live with myself…
"Bella." I said with a soft voice. "If you let anything happen to yourself –anything at all- I'm holding you personally responsible. Do you understand that?"
"Yes," she gulped.
I turned to Alice and pleaded.
"Can Jasper handle this?"
"Give him some credit, Edward. He's been doing very, very well, all things considered."
"Can you handle this?" I asked.
Alice pulled her lips back in a horrific grimace and let loose with a guttural snarl that had Bella cowering in the backseat. Alice was insulted, but I had to know. If it were anyone except Bella I wouldn't even inquire. Not only was there a sadistic Vampire out to kill her, but now I was sending her away with Jasper, who's not know for his self control yet.
I smiled at her. "But keep your opinions to yourself," I muttered suddenly.
Not pleased with the idea of Bella being alone with Alice. Alice tends to reveal too much and under the circumstances Bella didn't need to hear anything Alice might let slip. She shouldn't be aware of Alice's visions for her future. Weren't things complicated enough without her mentioning anything?
Didn't Bella have enough to deal with? Alice's visions weren't a problem, now that I've established that they would never come true. Bella's future was going to be lived out as a human… I would never turn her into what I was… ever. I merely had to contend with the current problem I've caused.
To be aware this was happening –because I was so arrogant to think I could somehow be with her –was unbearable. If she only had said yes to Mike Newton that day he asked her to the dance, none of this would be occurring. Then again, if she had said yes to him, he might be the one in mortal danger.
The monster emerged with the thought of Mike Newton; he had not forgotten him. He remembered the way he looked at her, the wicked thoughts he had of her. Drawing him back for Mike Newton was not the motivation he needed. He would appear for a greater incentive than Mike Newton.
Mike Newton may have had wicked thoughts about Bella, but I brought evil into her life. That makes me much more appalling than Mike Newton. The fact remains I should have left long ago, and because of my reckless behavior, I would have to allow her to leave me.
How could I live with myself… this was entirely my fault… how would I mend this?
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