A/N: Okay, so I've been very bad in the way of updating these. Which isn't fair, especially now as we are getting up to the good bits! As a special Christmas present, I'm giving you this chapter tonight, and then another chapter tomorrow night. This chapter I'm not so fond of - the next, well, it made me cry (I'm a crybaby, I cried in Charlotte's Web :D). That one would have come tonight, but it needs a bit of tweaking. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Four more days till Christmas! XD you know you love me, L.
There were three of them.
Each nomad was tall and graceful like the Cullens, but with a different edge to them. They walked like cats, always ready to make a move, to pounce. They were the predators.
The air seemed to intensify as the nomads came closer, eying us warily. A loud crack of lightning broke out overhead, the thunder booming all around.
I felt Robert move in closer to Bella, making the movement seem natural. Edward copied. Standing just off centre in front of us, the rest of the Cullens gathered. Carlisle stood at the front of the group, flanked by Jasper and Emmett. The other three gathered around them.
The nomads finally came to a halt, curving around each other just like we had. To anyone else, they looked like hippie backpackers, with frayed jeans and dirty checked shirts. They wore no shoes on their feet.
Trying to keep the sound of my breathing slow and even, like Robert had told me, I watched as Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett walked slowly up to the nomads.
The man who stood in the front was beautiful, just like the other two. His skin was dark underneath that vampire pallor I had become used to, olive toned, which matched his glossy black hair. His smile, which showed his pearly white teeth, was not sinister, but was still full of caution.
The woman standing on his right had fiery red hair that stuck out in all directions. She stood on her side, her eyes flickering in all directions, her stance clearly feline.
It was the last male, the one who stood behind the leader, which had caught my attention more than the others, causing me to stand up a bit straighter.
His dirty light brown hair was tied into a loose ponytail, the slight breeze causing wisps to fly around his face. His facial expression would have looked lazy to another person, but his eyes, which were that same dark burgundy colour as the others suggested otherwise. His eyes didn't dart around like the woman's, but scanned the clearing slowly, taking in the scene before him.
It was when his eyes landed on me that I felt the bile rise in my throat. I held his gaze, feeling the fear build up in my stomach. By my side, I could feel Robert tense, unsure of what to do. I tried to relax my body as much as possible, sending Robert the signal that I was okay.
But I was far from okay. How could I be okay? How could he not have a reaction? Robert must have felt my frustration, because I soon heard his calming voice in my head, soothing me. It's not him, Ally. It looks like him, but it is not. It's okay.
I refocused, trying to turn myself back to what was happening in front of me. The leader of the nomads was introducing himself and his companions.
"My name is Laurent." There was a trace of a French accent in his voice. "These are Victoria and James." He nodded his head, introducing the other two. I kept my gaze on the one called James, watching as he hung back. The way he held himself was just all too familiar to me.
Carlisle spoke, but I didn't really bother listening to what he was saying.
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Ally and Robert, Edward and Bella."
"We thought we heard a game going on. Do you by any chance have room for a few more players?" The dark one, Laurent asked.
Carlisle answered, but once again I couldn't be bothered listening. I continued to watch James. Numerous times he had turned his glance on me, each time a small smile playing on his lips.
It was then I felt the atmosphere around us relax as Carlisle and Laurent conversed. I picked up something about hunting ranges, and moved in closer to Robert.
"Are you sure? Positively certain, Robert? I mean, look at his eyes!" I hissed softly in Robert's ear.
Robert nodded slowly. He placed his hand on my lower arm, giving it a quick squeeze.
I'm sure.
I turned my head as I heard my name. Carlisle had suggested that the nomads go back to the Cullen house, and has asked Emmett and Alice to go with Bella, Edward and I to the jeep. I started to move over to Bella, Robert moving his hand down to take my own.
Three things seemed to happen instantaneously. Carlisle had only just finished speaking when a breeze came through the clearing. It brushed against my ponytail, tickling the back of my neck before whipping up Bella's hair, sending the loose strands up and around her face.
She froze, knowing full well without turning her head what the breeze has done.
James, the nomad I had been staring at intently, suddenly disappeared before my eyes. In less than split second he was standing metres away from where Bella and I stood, the other nomads poised in what was a dangerous and sinister cat like pose.
They weren't they only ones to turn predator. At the same time, the Cullens swung into action. Edward has darted in front of Bella, baring his teeth as a snarl came from somewhere in the back of his throat. Carlisle, still flanked by Emmett and Jasper, stood tall and aggressive as the dominant leader of our group. The other surrounded Bella, protecting her.
Robert pulled me in closer to him, so that he could protect both Bella and me. I stood so close to Bella that I could smell the strawberry shampoo scent radiate off her hair. No wonder James was having a fit.
"A human?" Laurent asked incredulously, looking back and forth at Bella and Carlisle. He leant back, breaking the feline stance he had taken.
"She's with us," Carlisle said quietly. His tone was firm, the comment directed at James. The nomad wasn't giving up. He stood so close to where I stood that I could see his nostrils flare at Bella's scent.
I just hoped that none of the nomads would catch wind of mine.
I missed part of the conversation, and I turned my attention back. This was important - my safety and Bella's depended on it.
"We would like to accept your invitation. And of course we would not harm the human girl, or hunt in the immediate range as you requested," Laurent finished speaking. Carlisle had straightened up, adopting a more relaxed but cautious pose.
Baffled, James was looking at Laurent at his decision. All the same, he backed off a little bit, but turned to keep his eye on Edward and Bella.
Carlisle gestured with his hands. "We'll show you the way." He looked at Esme, Jasper and Rosalie quickly before turning to look at Edward pointedly.
Edward whispered something to Bella, but she didn't move. He took her by the elbow, Alice at her other side, and they lead her off. Emmett looked over at me, but I had already started walking quickly in the direction of the Jeep. As soon as we were in the trees, Emmett picked me up in what resembled a bear hug and proceeded to rush towards the Jeep. After the initial shock of Emmett picking me up as if I weighed nothing, I realized that it might look a little strange if one of the nomads saw me hovering in mid air.
When we reached the Jeep, Edward and Alice were strapping Bella in. Emmett put me down and walked around to the other side of the Jeep, waiting for Alice to slide in. Robert jumped into the Jeep before me, pulling me onto his lap and securing my own seatbelt around us both. The others didn't seem bothered about this.
Edward started the Jeep. Soon we were barreling through the forest; Edward's cursing a low hum under the roar of the vehicle.
"Where are you taking me?" I heard Bella demand. I glanced from her to Edward to the others. Emmett stared straight ahead, his mouth set in a tight grim. Alice looked away.
"Dammit Edward! Where are you taking me?" Bella yelled.
"Away," Edward's answer finally came. "As far away from here as possible and right now."
Bella started shaking her head, the movement spreading through her whole body. "No! You have to take me home - Charlie!" she gasped out. Emmett's hands slid around to the buckles, holding Bella in.
She was starting to speak incoherently, and I pressed up against Robert's shoulder, not saying a word. I wasn't the one in danger, this wasn't my fight. Robert's arm snaked around my waist, holding me tightly against him as if I was going to fall out of the Jeep.
Alice spoke up then. "Pull over Edward."
Edward laughed shakily. "No." I saw the speedometer increase.
"Edward, let's just talk this through," came Alice's tinkling voice.
"You don't get it, do you? You don't understand!" Edward had turned to face Alice, still driving at a speed that I'm pretty sure was illegal in all 50 states. "Did you see what he was, Alice? Did you see?" His voice was patronizing, full on condemnation.
"Tracker." I had found my voice, even though it was barely above a whisper. Five heads turned to look at me. "He's a tracker." No one said anything for a moment as Edward roared down the highway.
"Edward," Alice warned in a tone that was unnatural for her. He didn't listen, and kept driving. They started arguing about the tracker, how he was never going to stop until he had fulfilled his challenge - Bella.
Bella suddenly screamed out. "Charlie! We can't leave him there! The tracker…" Once more she was gasping for breath.
"She's right, Edward." Alice's words caused him to slow down a fraction.
"We have to go back," I piped up, earning a glare from Cullen. Alice sighed, exasperated at Edward. "They're both right!"
The car screeched to a halt, and Edward swiveled in his seat. "There are no options. We get Bella out of here. Now." Edward continued fighting with his siblings as Bella and I sat quietly. Already a plan was starting to unfold in my mind. It was a case of getting it past Edward however.
There was a silence after Edward yelled at Alice, and I opened my mouth to say something, but Bella beat me to it.
"Does anyone want to hear what I have to say?" She said hesitantly.
Edward's "No," came almost instantaneously, as did the dirty look Alice sent him. He let Bella continue.
"You take me back," Bella began. "I tell Charlie that I'm going back to Phoenix. I pack my bags and leave, and then you can take me anywhere you want. That way the tracker won't go near Charlie."
Amazing. Bella and I had the same I idea.
"It would work," Alice nodded in approval. Edward growled at her. It was like watching a game of tennis, moving your head from one player to the other.
"Of course it would work," I put in. "I'll stay with Bella. Go inside with her, tell Charlie not to follow Bella because I will. That way the tracker won't be anywhere near Charlie." Alice, Bella and Emmett nodded in approval.
Finally, after what seemed forever, Edward gave in. "You're leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees you or not. You tell Charlie that you can't stand another minute in Forks. Tell him anything - whatever story works. Pack the first things that your hands touch, and then get in the truck and drive. Ally will tell Charlie not to worry, she'll get you to come back home again and follow you. Fifteen minutes. That's as long as I'll give you."
We both nodded. I turned to Robert as the others finalized the plans. Edward started up the Jeep again and we were roaring off once more.
"You know where the keys to the Peugeot are," I whispered to Robert.
He nodded. "On top of War and Peace on your desk." I nodded back.
"I won't have time to pack - grab whatever you can and put it into a bag and then in the car. I'll meet you there - at the car after I tell Charlie not to follow Bella." The words tumbled out of my mouth, thick and heavy. Robert grasped me in a hug as I realized we were on Charlie's street.
--
As the Jeep pulled into the driveway, I noticed all the lights in the house were on. Edward turned the engine on, and as I looked to my left, I noticed Alice and Emmett had already disappeared. Very stealth.
"Okay, this is what will happen," Edward said in a quiet voice to me. "You wait in the car here as Bella and I walk up to the front porch. Once we are there, get out. Bella will do her bit, you come after her. Follow along with whatever she says, and then follow Bella back to my house. Make sure Charlie doesn't follow, you understand?"
I nodded. "I get it Edward. It'll be fine." Edward looked around.
"He's not here. Let's go."
Bella hopped out of the truck, racing towards the door, Edward not far behind. The show had begun.
"Go away Edward!" I heard her yell as she fumbled with the door. Taking this for my queue, I left the Jeep, chasing after Bella. Robert had darted round to the back of the house. Thank God I had left my window half open this morning.
Charlie had already materialized at the sound of Bella's shrieks, standing in the hallway awkwardly. I pushed past Cullen, giving him my dirtiest look before shutting the door in his face. "Bella!" I called at the same time as Charlie.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed, pounding the stairs two at a time. Charlie moved to climb them as well, giving me a bewildered look. I shrugged my shoulders in puzzlement, feeling awkward just standing here. My fifteen seconds of fame was yet to come.
From where I stood, I could hear bits of the argument between Bella and Charlie.
"I'm going home!" Bella's voice rose and wavered. "Did he hurt you?" Charlie asked, his own voice suggesting anger.
A door slammed and some more words were exchanged, and then Bella appeared, running down the stairs.
"Where are you going to go?" I asked.
Bella gave me a sour look.
"Home. Phoenix. Anywhere but here. I can't stay here another minute!"
Charlie recoiled from Bella as if he had been stung by the harsh words. This time, I was completely confused. Obviously this was a personal matter, and I retreated a little bit more into the shadows.
Using the silence, Bella moved towards the door.
"It's nighttime Bells. You can't leave," he whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"I'll sleep in the truck," came Bella's meek response. From where I stood, I had the advantage of seeing her face. Silent tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"Bella," Charlie murmured, reaching for her arm.
Bella shrugged out of his grip. "Just let me go, Charlie." One hand opened the door as she struggled with her bag. "It didn't work out, okay? I really, really, hate Forks!"
I stood still, shocked by Bella's words. They were harsh; I knew that much from what Charlie had told me about his failed marriage with Bella's mother. But to Charlie, they were like poison. He stood rooted in his spot for a few seconds.
I felt something cold slide past me as something fell into the hands I had behind my back. My keys.
"I have to go after her. She - she doesn't know what she's doing. Were they drinking?" Charlie demanded, turning to face me.
"N - No!" I uttered. "I was talking to Dr. Cullen, and the Bella yanked me away and said we were going home. They fought the entire way back - over what, I don't know. I couldn't even get a word in!" I said melodramatically.
Charlie turned to the coat rack, taking his own down. "Stay here, just in case she rings," he instructed.
"No!" I practically screamed, lunging for his coat. Charlie looked at me with a confused look on his face.
"I'll go. I'll follow her until she stops, and then I'll talk to her. She can't get far before she has to stop for petrol," I explained. "It'll be better if I talk to her. You know, girl to girl?" I looked up at Charlie, hoping he was buying it.
He bought it. Sighing, he hung the coat back up. I shrugged my own coat back on, picking up my handbag which I had dropped in the hallway.
"Keep safe. And let me know when she's coming back, okay?" Charlie asked concern on his face. I leaned up and hugged him.
"She'll be fine, Charlie," I said reassuringly as I bolted out the door and into my car. Robert was waiting the passenger seat, overnight bag at his feet. "Let's go Agent 99," I muttered as I sped down Charlie's driveway, trying to catch up to Bella.
My last words to Charlie played over in my head. I had sounded convincing then, but I didn't know if I even had convinced myself.