Chapter 14: Da Game

ALICE CULLEN

"Hey!" Edward called out. I immediately saw what he was planning and my face brightened. "Who's up for a game of vampire baseball?"

"How do you play vampire baseball?" Susan asked.

"Just baseball with a triple-sized field to accommodate our strength," I told her. "Monster baseball, now, I suppose."

"Normally we need a thunderstorm to conceal the noise," Carlisle said. "But the town knows that the Monster Convention is here, so we can be as loud as we want. Link can be first captain since it's his birthday, and Alice should be the second because she'll kill us all if she doesn't get at least some amount of control over the situation."

"That's right!" I said cheerfully. "Let's go!"

I skipped to our baseball clearing and was followed by the entire party. "Link picks first," Carlisle said sternly. "Nine players to a team."

"Jake," Link said quickly.

I gaped as all the events for the rest of the game vanished. Jacob smirked at me, and I growled.

"Insectosaurus," I said.

"Good choice," Link said. "Insecto is the worst baseball player in the Western and Northern hemispheres combined, but sure. Whatever works for you. Susan."

I bit my lip and scanned the crowd. "Edward," I said decisively.

"Ah, Emmett," Link said.

"Quil."

"Uh…" Link scanned the crowd. "Um… big, quiet, bird kid."

"Fang," that boy said. "My name's Fang. Thanks."

"Yeah, Fang," Link said. "Get over here."

"Bella," I said.

"Um, Alice?" Jasper piped up. "Husband in the lineup?"

"You know I love you, Jasper, but I want to win."

"Jasper," Link said.

"Damn it," he muttered, joining Link's lineup.

"Jared," I said.

"Max," he said.

"Dr. Cockroach."

"Kate."

"Garrett."

"Carlisle."

"And… Tanya. Okay, Link's team bats. I'll pitch. Insectosaurus, go deep. Jared catches. This is gonna rock! Let's go! Lah, lah, la-la-la, you set my soul alight…"

I hopped to the pitchers' mound as Link hefted a bat. He isn't as strong as a vampire, but he deflected my fastball elegantly. It bounced off of Insectosaurus' belly and the other fielders grappled for it. Link managed to run a single. Jacob came up to bat, and the ball once again hit Insectosaurus, resulting in another single.

"I think I picked the right guy to be my outfielder," I taunted.

"Oh, yeah, he's got all the baseball skills of a giant wall," Link retorted. "Susan? Teach 'em a lesson."

Susan was up to bat next. She crouched down as low as she could, which still put her hitting zone about ten feet up. I pitched and she hit it brilliantly; it went straight over Insectosaurus' head and vanished far into the sky.

"You want us to actually round the bases, or just give us the three points right now?" Link said innocently.

"Eh, I don't wanna play anymore," I muttered.

"Ooh, bad sport," Emmett said in a stage whisper.

I squinted straight up, where I could faintly see the baseball against the gray clouds. It looked to be about a thousand feet up and perhaps a two-hundred-foot arc. But that wasn't the only thing I saw.

"Carlisle," I said. "You'll be getting a phone call from Marcus."

"Marcus?" Carlisle repeated. His cell phone immediately rang. I knew what the conversation would entail, but I listened intently anyway.

"Hello?" Carlisle said.

"Carlisle, it's Marcus," a deadpan voice replied. "It has come to my attention that you are hosting the first annual Monster Convention."

"Yes. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. Aro and I have agreed it best not to tell Caius. I just felt I should let you know that you're not exactly putting the greatest effort you can into protecting the secret."

Susan leaned in towards Bella. "Who exactly are the Volturi? What do they do?"

"They're vampires, three thousand years old at least," Bella told her. "Aro is the leader, and when he makes physical contact with someone he gets their entire life history. Marcus can sense the bonds between people, and Caius… well, Caius's superpower is being a phenomenal a-hole. Not the most powerful gifts in the world. They've got some henchmen, but most of them use mind attacks, so if you stick with me you should be fine. They only have a few fighters. Please, stop worrying about them. If for some reason they decide to come for you, we'll know and we'll protect you. They know perfectly well that we can whoop their hides."

"I appreciate your concern, Marcus," Carlisle said, "but I can assure you that the Modesto Monsters and the Flock can both be trusted. Although none of them approve of the 'natural' diet. You should all really give vegetarianism a try."

"I'll pass that along to Aro," Marcus said dryly.

Carlisle hung up. "Okay," he said. "Let's finish this game!"