Chapter 8

Reunion

I backed up, pressing myself against the freezing cold glass of the window. I didn't even shiver. I quickly recollected myself. It couldn't be him, it couldn't. Edward left a long time ago. He didn't love me. I wasn't meant to ever see him again. And, even if I was, I can't believe that I was sent to kill him, as a murdering vampire. He wasn't that, was he? Things change, I had learned. Possibly this situation too?

And so I gathered up my emotions and put my tough demeanor back on. I took a step forward and grabbed my gun out of my pocket. I pointed it at him, and new shock registered on his face.

"Bella?" He asked amazed. "What are you doing here?"

I raised my eyebrows. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"

"I live here. And, I asked you first." He responded.

I chuckled darkly, putting on my sarcastic badass façade. "I am here, for your information, because I am on a job. My job." I took in his amazed expression and continued, "So, I guess its true then. You guys really have changed. I didn't expect to have to come and kill you. But, if that's why I've been hired then so be it." I shrugged non-chalantly.

"We haven't done anything. We think that someone knows about us and wants us out. We haven't hurt a single human." He responded dumb-fondly.

"Yeah… not physically." I muttered. Pain flickered across his face. I remembered rule number 3, never trust the enemy. "So, can you give me one good reason why I should believe you?"

He looked surprised. "It's me Bella. I wouldn't lie to you… about this."

I decided to humor him for now. "Fine, if that's the story that you're going with, then I'll call up my team. We can have a meeting about this." I put away my gun and picked up my knife. I looked up while I was refastening it. "Is that okay?"

He shook his head, apparently coming out of a stance. "Uh… yeah, that's fine." He stared at me, while I stared back intimidating. "What happened Bella? You're the female hunter?"

I looked at him curiously. I assumed that he was talking about my new job. "Yes and nothing happened. And what I am is none of your business." I answered sharply.

He looked taken aback. "Oh…" He looked down. "I am curious though, about your life, it wasn't supposed to be this way…"

"Oh, and what way was it supposed to be Cullen." I sneered his name. I couldn't believe how much my personality had changed to him over a year. I still loved him though obviously.

He looked sad. "Later." He mumbled it most likely telling himself. Promising that he'd keep me here until he had answers. That's what he thinks. "And, when I asked what happened, I meant about the bandages." He motioned towards my abdomen. I nodded with realization.

"Oh, that. Stab wound. Pretty standard stuff." I answered casually.

Horror covered his face. "Are you okay? How long ago?"

"I'm pretty surprised that you care so much. And, it was about 2 weeks ago. It was fine, but last time I went clubbing, I think that the dancing opened the wound again. Should be fine soon though." I shrugged. He looked shocked at me. Probably that I wasn't concerned with the fact that I had been stabbed, and probably because I had gone clubbing. Realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I laughed. "Maybe I should call my team before they kill your family."

He nodded, still speechless. I picked up my walkie talkie. I turned it on to Dean's channel. "Hey Dean, over."

I heard fuzz and then his voice responded.

"Yeah, sport, found anything?"

I looked at Edward, "You could say that."

"Need back up?" He asked.

"Nope. Get Lee and Mark. Meet me in the living room." I commanded.

"But, we haven't found anyone." He whined.

"Exactly. Come to the living room and if you see anyone, including one of the vampires, don't kill them." I instructed.

"Why?" He asked incredulous.

"I know them." I eyed Edward again. He was just staring at me.

Silence. Then he responded. "We have to come?" He asked hopefully.

"Oh, suck it up Dean! Just get Mark and Leo, pack up your stuff, and get your ass to the living room!" I yelled and turned off the walkie talkie before he could complain again. I grunted in annoyance.

I looked up at Edward. He looked amazed at me. "What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. Um, you're bleeding."

I looked at my arm that was bleeding from my accident. "Oh." I looked down. I had no clothes to rip. I eyed his shirt. "Do you mind?"

"Huh. Oh, no. Go ahead." He responded. I walked up to him and ripped off some of the bottom of his shirt. I tied it around my wound with my free hand and teeth.

"Coming?" I asked as I waltzed past him and down the stairs.

"Yeah, sorry." He seemed like he was in a daze.

I was very confused. I didn't understand why the hell he cared. He didn't love me, he made that perfectly clear. He left me, hoping that I would move on, and I did, in a sense. So, why was he so amazed at how I talked and dressed and acted? And, why was he so upset that I was a hunter? Why did he care?

"Hey," I called his attention, remembering something important. "Maybe you should call the rest of your clan."

He stuttered, surprised that I had referred to his family as his clan. It was how we had to refer to the enemy though. "Um… y…yeah." He called out their names in a normal voice, his voice a bit shaky. "Rosalie. Emmett. Carlisle. Esme. Jasper. Alice. Come to the living room." With each name I cringed even more noticeably. I missed them more than I imagined. I felt a twinge of fear at seeing them again.

It had been Edward who had stopped loving me. Not the rest of them. Would they be mad that I was here to kill them? Would they be disappointed with what I had become? Would they be happy to see me? Would they not care at all?

I entered into the living room to see a slightly comical scene. I saw on one couch all six summoned Cullen's and on the other couch facing them was a glaring and confused Dean, Mark, and Leo.

Edward and I walked in. He looked at his family while I went to sit with my brothers. I saw out of the corner of my eye a look of desperation in his eyes, as if he didn't want to be away from me.

When I sat down, fully showing myself, they all gasped. I heard all voices at once asking somewhat similar questions.

Jasper and Rosalie: "What happened to you?"

Emmett and Esme: "What are you wearing?"

Carlisle and Alice: "You're the female hunter?"

I felt my mouth twitch, trying to fight off a smile. I answered all questions. "I am a hunter, the female hunter, yes. And, I am wearing clothes." I emphasized clothes with sarcasm. Who cared what I wore? I wore what I wanted to. What was comfortable.

Emmett was the first to speak up to that. "Would you like to explain what happened?"

"I'll tell what I know. My brothers and I were hired to kill a clan of 7 vampires. They have been accused of torturing humans and then killing them. Apparently, those vampires are you guys." I examined them. They all had golden eyes. "Or not…"

"This makes no sense. We haven't done anything. Don't you believe us Bella?" Alice asked desperately.

"I'm not sure at the moment." I answered truthfully. My brothers looked at me nervously. "By the way, these are my brothers Dean, Mark, and Leo." I motioned to them.

"Brothers?" Rosalie asked. I was surprised to see that she was talking directly to me, but I didn't let it show.

I smiled thinking of them. Dean, Mark, and Leo on the other hand looked perplexed and angry. "Yeah, my team. Brothers, actually. We're each other's family, we're all that we've got." I smiled, not even close to being shamed.

And, of course, Emmett with his assumptions and bluntness asked what was most likely on everyone's mind. "You live with them?" He seemed amused.

"Well, not technically, since we are always travelling we don't have a permanent settlement. We move from hotel to hotel. But, in truth, yes, we do live together." I answered casually.

I saw horrified expressions from the Cullens. And, Edward let out a growl. I lifted an eyebrow. I opened my mouth to ask what his problem was when I was interrupted by Mark. "Um, Iz, why are you telling the enemy all this information?"

I looked at him, having forgotten for a moment that they were there. "Oh, yeah, sorry 'bout that guys." I gestured to the Cullens, naming them in order. "These are the Cullens. Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, Jasper, and…" I recollected myself quickly, "And, Edward." That hurt to say his name.

Dean looked shocked. "You mean…?" I nodded grimly. That's when all three of my brothers stood up quickly pointing their guns at the Cullens. The Cullens stood in response all glaring and growling at them. I stepped in front of my brothers and put out my hands in a protective stance. "Why are you protecting them Bella?"

"I'm not." I glanced back at the Cullens, they looked hurt at my words. I returned my glare to my brothers. "They haven't done anything wrong though."

Leo snarled. "They are vampires, that's reason enough to kill them."

Mark added in then, looking angry, "And, he's the one who… right?" He didn't completely finish the question. I nodded sadly, but still determined.

Dean was pissed now, "Then how is that not enough reason!?"

"Because, I once was very close to them, for one, and two, they haven't hurt anyone!"

Alice POV

I watched in awe as the girl that I once knew acted like a stranger. She continued to protect us from her own brothers, despite what we had put her through. I was so happy for her, but a bit upset. How had Bella become a hunter? Why had she chosen such a dangerous life style? She risks her life on a daily basis now.

Suddenly realization hit me. This had happened in my vision. Well, that was one vision that had been answered. I was about to think about the next vision when Carlisle's intellectual voice interrupted my train of thought.

"I'm sorry to interrupt everyone," He apologized gentlemanly. "But, I've thought about this and I think that we ALL have been set up.

Ha. What will happen now? Just keep reading and you'll know. Did I please you all? Thanks. Bye.