One hundred and thirteen seconds after Alice had spoken, three figures appeared through the thick branches of the forest. They emerged one by one to form a triangle, rather narrower than one would expect, as they approached us. The man in front was dark skinned, a luminescent sheen somehow managing to make him look pale at the same time, while the other two, standing together and lingering quite far behind the first, were both Caucasian and cadaverously pale as the Cullens were.
In moments, the Cullens formed a large cluster, facing towards the three newcomers. Unsurprisingly, I found myself hidden at the back, out of sight of any one who might be less than friendly towards me – not counting Rosalie that was. I had to admit, it was a relief. I knew the Cullens. The depth of their control, and their dislike for causing the loss of human life, and they still made me nervous. These other three were unknown and much less affectionate towards humans like me, which was enough to make me terrified.
"Good evening," the leading vampire said, his lilting voice soft, "My name is Laurent. This is James -" he gestured to the man "-and Victoria." The woman surveyed the Cullens through thick lashes and very deliberately and dismissively flipped her flaming hair behind her bare shoulder.
Carlisle nodded but didn't say any polite lies about being happy to meet them – I doubted that they would believe them even if he had. "Carlisle Cullen. This is my wife Esme, and my children Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, Emmet, Bella, and Edward." I was surprised when he heaped me in with the rest of his family, though I should have guessed he would do something of the like. I was almost more surprised at how much I liked the thought of becoming a more permanent member of his family. My hand tightened involuntarily on Edward's.
"We didn't realize that this area and its population had already been claimed. I assure you that if we had known, we would have avoided the area." The redhead, Victoria, snorted daintily – I'd never thought that was possible until I saw her do it – and I wondered worriedly what that meant. Noticing my speculation, her eyes narrowed, and then she dismissed me and looked at the man standing next to her. As if of its own accord, her hand drifted up his back, wrinkling the fabric behind it, to drape over the other shoulder, then she turned to look back at me, her eyes full of disgusted superiority. Laurent noticed our exchange and rolled his eyes. For the first time, I noticed that their eyes, so dark they were almost black, were not brown as the Cullens' were when they were thirsty, but a deep, dark red. I stiffened in surprise and panic.
"We heard you playing and wondered if you might have room for a few extra players."
"Actually we were just finishing up. Maybe another time."
"What a pity." Somehow, Laurent seemed genuinely quite upset over having missed the chance to play ball.
Edward stiffened slightly beside me and I tensed, knowing that someone had just thought something that frightened him. James sauntered forward, Victoria still hanging off his shoulder and managing to fill me with fear – or at the very least, apprehension.
"So," he said, an ominous undertone hid beneath his casual drawl, "why are you in such a hurry to leave. You're obviously planning on staying a while or you wouldn't have brought a snack." Victoria's nostrils flared and she stiffened, then relaxed, an almost feral grin spreading across her pale features; she rolled her shoulders in anticipation.
A similar ripple of tension rippled through our group as we realized that we had been discovered. The crowd tightened in front of me and I stepped closer to Edward, hugging his arm to my chest as though it were a life line, my only hope of survival.
"James," Laurent said, sharply, but James kept moving steadily forward without so much as a glance in his companion's direction. With a sigh, Laurent backed away his gaze fall to the grass ground. I may not have been an expert in vampire politics, but that was hard to miss. It seemed James, and not Laurent, was ruler of this coven.
He was within three yards of us now. Victoria unwound herself from James' arms to slink over to us, giving me the impression of a hunting cat. After a few steps, she fell into a hunters crouch, crawling towards us quickly and quietly, her fingers outspread on the ground. Her mouth opened, displaying sharp, white teeth, dripping with the same, red-tinged liquid that I had seen from Edward on that day in the meadow.
"If you've decided to suddenly cut your game short, you must have something to fear." James stopped in front of Carlisle and leaned in until their faces were less than an inch apart. "Are you afraid of us?" he asked quietly, but loud enough for the rest of us to hear. Edward and Emmet snarled almost simultaneously.
"So," James said, his voice still his casual, dangerous, drawl, "It has a bark. But does it have a bite?"
Behind me, I heard someone snicker. I spun, a moment after everyone else – except Carlisle who had the sense not to turn his back on James. Strangely, Jasper didn't turn all the way either. Instead, he turned his head enough to keep both of them within his sight. I wondered again about the 'violent history' that Edward had mentioned.
While everyone's attention had been on James, Victoria had snuck around behind us and now stood in front of me, straightening from her crouch. She inhaled deeply and said, "You smell nice. I'd bet anything you'll taste at least as good." it was the first time I had heard her speak since she had emerged from the trees and her deep, seductive voice did not fit with the character of the woman I saw in front of me.
"No!" Alice all but shrieked, a moment before Victoria struck. In a movement so fast that I hardly saw it, she had grabbed my shoulder and I felt her cool breath against my throat. Edward was faster still. Before Victoria could latch her teeth onto anything I might miss, she was almost fifteen yards away with one hand clutched to her cheek and the other clutched to her wrist. Edward stood between us, teeth bared, and I realized what must have happened. Slowly, Victoria pulled her hand away and I began breathing through my mouth, trying to stay calm despite the blood But, when she pulled her hands away, there was only the same, blue-black liquid that filled her mouth. Venom.
My shoulder hurt where she had gripped it and I was sure that once I changed I would see a hand mark clearly imprinted on it. I rubbed the tender spot gently. Victoria began rubbing her stomach in much the same way and I realized that Edward must have done more than bite her. I was almost sympathetic. Almost. As a rule, I try not to get too emotional over people who want to eat me – okay, so it was a new rule, but it was still valid.
Without warning, Victoria launched herself forward, but as my defenders tensed to spring, James was suddenly in front of her, his hands tangling in her hair. He pulled her close, kissing her cheek where the bite mark was already beginning to scar over. "Now, love, we wouldn't want to start a fight would we?" There was something odd in his voice but I couldn't quite place it. "But, you would have shared, wouldn't you, darling?" I heard him murmur. I nearly gagged. In reply, Victoria pulled herself up, wrapping her long legs around his waist and fastening her lips to his. Edward made a disgusted noise.
Laurent walked up beside us and Edward moved to stay in front of me, though it was clear that Laurent did not intend to attack.
"I must apologize for the behavior of my coven," he said, seeming actually regretful.
"Your apology is accepted," said Carlisle, suddenly beside Edward.
"I think you should leave, now," Edward said softly, in a tone that made belied his calm words.
"I believe you're right," said Laurent, with a sigh, "James, Victoria, I believe that we have outworn our welcome."
With no other communication, James released Victoria who landed delicately in front of him. She spared a moment to spit in my direction and then the three of them disappeared into the trees.
Hardly stopping to get their things, the Cullens were off in the opposite direction. Edward took me in his arms and for once, I was too busy thinking of something else to be concerned with the trees we passed. Despite the added weight of one, hundred and ten pound girl, Edward was still in the front, along with Alice and Carlisle.
"Alice?" Edward asked. I had no idea what he meant but she seemed to.
"I'm sorry Edward. Her thoughts flitted from one idea to another like butterflies. It was almost painful to watch. I don't think she was exactly right in the head before the change and I don't think it helped."
"I was no use either. I was so focused on James that I forgot he wasn't the only dangerous one in his coven."
"Why would you think that?" I asked, confused.
"Laurent isn't like James. He wouldn't want to get into any fight where he's not sure to win. James, on the other hand, doesn't think he could possibly lose. It makes him infinitely more dangerous."
"So why are we running? We already outnumber them two to one, and if Laurent refuses to fight like you say he will, than we're sure to win."
"Bella, James isn't a fighter. He's a hunter. We have to get you away from him before he can decide that you'd make a good target."
"It's too late," Alice said. "He's already made up his mind."
"How long do we have?" Edward asked.
"I don't know!" she said, sounding frustrated but not with him. "I can't see any of them clearly!"
"Why not?"
"I don't know, Edward!"
"Wait!" I said, interrupting the conversation. "What's about to happen to me?"
"I'm not sure, Bella, but I promise I'll keep you safe,"
Some how, I found that hard to believe when we were busy running for our lives through the forest. No, we were all running for my life.
We arrived at his car quickly and Alice leapt nimbly into the back, not bothering to rock the front seat forward. I got in after and Edward was driving away before I'd managed to close the door all the way. I hurried to buckle my seatbelt as the car jerked and bounced over the uneven ground.
As soon as I was finished, I glanced at the two silent vampires and snapped, "Will some body please tell me what is going on?"
Alice put an icy hand on my shoulder. "Bella, those people we just met are hunting you now."
"But you said Laurent wouldn't fight! Why are we running away?"
"We're not running, Bella, but we have to make sure you're safe before we deal with them."
"Then where are we going?" I asked. Where did they think I would be safe?
"To our house. We need to prepare."
I closed my eyes and collapsed back against the leather seat. How had I managed to get into this? A month ago, all I was worried about was making it through high school and now I'd be lucky if I'd survive the night. Why couldn't I have been smart? Why couldn't I have done what anyone else would do and left Edward alone?
If I hadn't agreed to come to his stupid game, none of this wold have happened. If I hadn't come to his house... if I'd run away when he gave me the chance... if I hadn't gone to Port Angeles...
Maybe I should have backed out when Edward gave me the chance. Maybe he'd understood when I didn't. I still loved him but this was crazy. I sighed. I was stuck with it now, though, until this whole thing got resolved. If I survived, then we'd have to see, but for now...
"We're here, Bella," Edward said, the car screeching to a halt in front of his house. He ran up to the door and I hurried after, only to run into him as he froze in the door way.
"Peace, Edward," I heard Carlisle say. "He's come to help us."
"Edward, let us in," Alice called from behind me.
Stiffly, Edward moved to the side and for the first time I saw what was bothering him. It bothered me, too. Laurent was sitting casually on the sectional, his legs crossed and his hands folded on his knees.
"Please continue," said Carlisle, sitting opposite him.
Laurent glanced once at Edward and I and then said, "James is a hunter and his games are very important to him. He will wait years, hunting you down one by one if he has to. The thrill of the hunt is his life, his obsession. Only one thing means more to him than that."
"What's that?"
He raised his eyebrows as though he thought I should know the answer to that. "His mate. Vampires are strongly devoted to their mates and he's much more strongly attached than most. From the moment they saw each other they couldn't be parted. It was rather disgusting to watch. But she doesn't like you very much I'm afraid."
"Why are you telling us?" I asked.
"I've grown tired of their games and I thought you deserved fair warning before hand that they won't give up and you won't be able to find them easily. Victoria especially is very good at staying hidden when she wants too. It's what drew me to her in the first place."
"Will you help us?" Carlisle asked his tone much more polite than mine had been.
Laurent smiled faintly as though he found the idea amusing. "I think not. Have fun." And with that, he got up and strode out the open door.
"Coward," Edward hissed once the other vampire was gone.
Ignoring him, I asked. "Where is everyone?"
"They're out looking for James and Victoria," Carlisle answered. "Bella, we will keep you safe." Then he, too, was gone.
"Bella," Edward said softly, "I promise I won't let them hurt you. You can stay here for the next few days; Alice and I can protect you."
"No!" I said sharply. "Edward I have my own life! I can't just stay here for a few days, I have to go home!"
"Bella, it's not safe.
"You can watch me just as easily there, as here," I told him stubbornly. It's the least you can do after dragging me into this.
For all that he couldn't read my thoughts, Edward seemed to guess what I was thinking. "You don't have to stay with me when this is over, Bella," he said softly. "I'll protect you no matter what."
I sighed and closed my eyes. "I... I don't want to talk about it now. Later, when things are less... chaotic."
He nodded sadly. "I understand."
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Come on, Bella," Alice said, putting a gentle hand on my arm. "Let's take you home."
School the next day was not pleasant. I hadn't gotten any sleep the night before which would have been hard enough, but Edward and Alice hovered over me – the rest were out hunting still – to the point where I couldn't speak with my friends at all. Not to mention, I couldn't focus on any of my classes because I kept seeing James and Victoria in my head with their red eyes and sharp teeth.
Jess was mad at me at the end of the day for not talking to her, which didn't help. Angela at least understood that I was stressed, not just rude. She still left me alone but it definitely helped that she wasn't mad at me.
Edward and Alice were silent as they drove me home. Edward walked me to the door of my house, clearly stressed by the fact that I was stressed. "Do you want me to come in?" He asked.
I sighed. "Will it make a difference?"
"Probably not. But if you'd feel safer..." he trailed off.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I think I need to be alone right now."
"I think I understand. But, I just want you to know that I'll always be there for you if you want me to be."
"I know," I said, smiling at him. "I love you – a lot! – I just want to be alone. This is really hard for me."
"I know," he replied, smiling back at me. Despite the situation, I felt impossibly better at that. He kissed me hesitantly on the cheek and then stepped back to let me into the house.
As soon as I was alone, for the first time all day, I took a deep breath. I felt horrible. It wasn't even just that I knew how much danger I was in. Just thinking about all the lives that James and Victoria had taken – and might continue to take – made me shudder.
I got out the electric mixer and started to throw together some cookies. It wasn't until I was done the dough that I realized I had no chocolate chips. I went into the basement to see if we had any in the storage rooms there but we were out. I sighed. There was simply no way to make chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips.
I put on my coat and walked out to my truck. I paused with my key in the door, wondering if I should call Edward, but then decided against it. After all, the store was only five minutes away and Alice would see me leaving.
The shopping trip ended up taking longer than I had expected because I got distracted browsing the isles for other baking materials that were missing from our cupboards. I walked out some time later with a full shopping bag and sore feet.
I slipped into my car feeling much better than I had earlier that day.
Then I felt icy fingers slipping around my throat.
"Hi there, dinner," I heard Victoria whisper in my ear. Then her hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my screams.
