A/N: I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this. Please read and leave reviews.
21. Close Encounter
They came towards us one by one; they didn't stand close to one another. The first one who came out of the forest was the tracker. He caught a whiff of Bella's scent, this was as bad as it can get, it appealed to him, but it wasn't strong enough for him to sense her here with us now. There are a lot of them, better let Laurent make the conversation; he's better in keeping the peace and I could figure out our next move. He let Laurent take the lead, pretending that he is their leader. Laurent's thoughts were peaceful, he didn't smell Bella and he was wary. There was a woman also, but her thoughts were almost incoherent from the speed in which they occurred, her thoughts were confident; she was just waiting to see what will turn out now.
They were all surprised as they saw us, looking clean and with new clothes. Carlisle stepped forward towards them and Emmett and Jasper flanked him, they knew I wouldn't move from Bella's side now. As Carlisle got closer to them they straightened themselves from almost crouch position out of respect and show that they came in peace. Laurent stepped forward from their line.
The woman was alert, but she didn't make any decisions of her own, she just looked at us one by one quickly judging the danger. The tracker, James, stayed behind; trying to look casual, but I could see his mind. Flashes of his memories were floating, he is very good at what he does and I saw different tracking expeditions of humans whom he tracked and killed. I tensed my standing and he noticed that. Could it be? James thought; they are protecting the human that its smell is in the air, its blood smell so sweet, sweeter than I smelled in a long time. Will they fight to protect a human? Defend a human? There are many of them, but if I could separate them surly we can take out those who are watching for the human. The human scent is all around them but which one of them is it? Is it still here? He thought as they came to a stop. The male with the bronze hair seems very protective if he is the one protecting the human it will be perfect. I'll follow him to get to the human it is probably the best course of action. Strong protectors fighting to protect the frail human creature, this is perfect. I was a statue at Bell's side, this was as worse as it can get, he wants her.
Alice saw it too, her vision was blurry since the hunter hasn't decided which plan of chasing to take, but she saw him running, I guessed after me and Bella. Jasper sensed the strongest emotions; mine and Alice's distress and the ecstasy coming from the tracker, he didn't understand it, but I did.
"We thought we heard a game," Laurent said in a relaxed voice. "I'm Laurent, these are Victoria and James," He said and gestured towards the others. "I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella." Carlisle introduced us, deliberately not pointing at us by name, but in groups, hoping Bella won't be noticed. But my stressed position did standout from the rest. "Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked sociably, he still wasn't aware of James' plan and I wasn't sure if he would join him, he seemed relatively peaceful. Victoria was a different matter, she was very confident that things would work out on their favor. "Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?" Carlisle asked in a friendly voice. Jasper was starting to use his gift and slowly melting the tension. "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." He didn't know of their change in plans, but he didn't say that he was also curious to see if we were really so many, such an unusual condition with our kind. "No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitors, like your selves." Laurent continued with the casual conversation, more at ease now with Jasper's gift. But James was alert; he was waiting for the conversation to end to see which direction of action to take, he took in the calm atmosphere in the air as confidence.
I felt so tensed that it felt like the pressure to stay in place and protect her would break me, I felt harder than ice, and colder. How did it come to this? How could I put Bella at such risk? But how could I have known that they would come here, earlier than they should? I was furious at myself mostly, but I couldn't think of it, I had to protect Bella.
When Carlisle was mentioning that we have a permanent residence nearby they were all surprised, never hearing of such a thing before. Laurent rocked on his heels slightly, "Permanent? How do you manage that?" He asked with obvious curiosity. "Why don't you come back home with us and we can talk comfortably? It's a rather long story." Carlisle invited them to our house, hoping they will take the invitation, so I can take Bella away from here. He saw, as did I, that we need to take her far away quickly. James and Victoria exchanged a surprised look at the word "home". James saw in his mind that it can complicate things if all of us will watch the human all the time; it surprised me that he knew that we would all protect her, but I assumed it's part of his gift. I barely noticed what Laurent and Carlisle were talking about most of the time I just noticed James thoughts and Bella beside me. She was frightened and shocked to the point she froze into place; she was as motionless as any of us. I noticed that Bella shivered in response to Laurent saying that they ate in Seattle. I wasn't the only one noticing her shiver; James tried to inconspicuously examine her.
Carlisle invited them again to our house and casually suggesting that Alice, Emmett, myself and Bella take the jeep. I did notice that he wanted Alice with me so I'll know if they decided to go after her, he didn't know that it was already decided. He also wanted Emmett with us since he was the strongest.
Alice saw that the tracker wouldn't follow us immediately, Emmett's size and obvious strength was a part of his diction, but he was forming other planes also. Everything else was blurry in Alice's visions, and he was still undecided as I noticed from his mind.
Then everything changed, the wind blew and ruffled Bella's hair, carrying a concentrated wave of her scent towards James. I stiffened as the scent registered in him again only more powerfully. James looked at Bella and scrutinized her with nostrils flaring, taking in her scent, and my posture next to her. He wanted her blood and wanted our fighting to protect her. He wanted to try and kill her now, testing if it will trigger me, but if I won't defend her he will kill her now. James took a hunting position and I immediately took in a defensive crouch baring my teeth and snarling as a sign of warning. He took in my warning with a smile on his face; it was exactly what he wanted. Jasper sensed his ecstasy again, and he was worrying about the reason behind it, why would a warning made someone happy? I could also hear from him that Bella was petrified.
Victoria and Laurent also noticed what was going on; they were both surprised and then caught Bella's scent. "What's this?" Laurent asked in surprise. Victoria was looking at us one by, preparing to attack the first person who will try and stop James; she won't fight me since she understands from all so many years with James that this is what he wants. Bella's scent in the air meant little to her, she wasn't thirsty and the threat in front of her was too much to ignore. James was still testing my defense, he shifted to the side trying to go around me, but I adjusted myself before he could complete a move. "She's with us," Carlisle said to James, and he realized exactly how bad it's going to get. That James was going to try and hunt Bella down.
"You brought a snack?" Laurent asked and took an automatic step forward towards the appealing smell; though he wasn't thirsty, it didn't matter. I snarled ferocious snarls and my lips curling even higher above my teeth, another warning, and Laurent took an automatic step back. "I said she's with us," Carlisle told them both in a harsh voice, as all my family moved closer, preparing, Emmett was dying for a fight. "But she's human," Laurent protested astonished. "Yes," Emmett said looking at James, ready to help me take him out if he took another step towards Bella, I've got your back bro, he thought. Jasper was also tense sensing we may end up fighting. James estimated his chances looking at all of us in his peripheral vision, he noticed Emmett's position and size and straightened from his crouch, he would not attack us here, where he is in a disadvantage. I remained crouched, not letting my guard down for a second.
Laurent sensed our hostility and ready positions and talked in a soothing voice trying to calm things down, "It appears we have a lot to learn about each other." Carlisle just answered in a cool voice, "Indeed." Laurent seemed eager to get out of this situation, "But we'd like to accept your invitation." His eyes flickered towards Bella and then back to Carlisle, "And, of course, we will not harm the human girl. We won't hunt in your range, as I said." He was trying to calm us down, I wasn't sure if he'll join James' hunt, he was afraid of us and our reaction. He didn't approve of James' reactions, he thought he was provoking us. James gave Laurent a deep look of disbelieve, he wanted to start hunting her down now, and he wanted Laurent's help, but he realized he can't rely on it. Victoria was looking at everyone her glance flickering, James gave her a long look, converting that he wanted to hunt Bella and she understood him they'll both try to hunt her. I was beyond furious; I wanted to destroy them myself, so they could never hurt Bella.
Carlisle measured Laurent expression Edward, I will take them to the house, hopefully I could persuade them not to harm Bella, but you should take Bella away, I will call you when I'll know what they'll decide. Carlisle thought his plan for me, and I agreed with it, I didn't have another choice. "We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?" Carlisle called; they gathered walking to him, while blocking me and Bella from the other view. It didn't help, James thought about taking the invitation and twisting into an opportunity. Alice was at Bella's side immediately, she was so worried, and she saw the tracker coming back to town to find Bella's scent there and follow it. Emmett fell back last, his eyes never leaving James's. It was time to get Bella out. I took a deep breath to gather control over myself, the control I needed to handle Bella with the gentleness she required. I was furious with myself, but more furious at the person that threatened Bella.
sorry about the headline of the previous chapter. I don't know how to change it now but the game was chapter 20 not 19.
