Chapter 25 - Discovered

When Nessie and I got to the clearing, Embry and Jake were already playing ball. We sat and watched for a while, Nessie on my knee to keep her off the damp earth, a thick coat between me and her to keep her warm.

Embry was obviously the better of the two players. He could work the ball with either of his feet with such precision that Jacob didn't stand much of a chance. Jacob would occasionally make use of his extra speed and strength to get a goal but they weren't a match for Embry's talent.

"Wow, Embry, you could play for one of the big teams."

"Well, if I didn't keep turning into a wolf I could," he laughed, "can't see that going down well in the middle of a game with all the crowd watching."

Jake came and slumped down next to me. He wasn't in the least bit breathless after his efforts. "Your turn now, vampire girl."

"Hey, that's no way to talk to me you know. Think what I could be in your future." Nessie scrambled on to him gratefully, pleased both to have Jacob to herself and to have his hot body to sit on.

"OK Mom, just don't tackle him. I want him to be able to run a patrol tonight, a broken leg will take at least a day to mend."

"OK, got it."

This was the first time I'd tried anything physical with a non-vampire and I was a bit wary. They did heal fast, the wolves, but I'd no intention of causing anyone any pain.

"Let's start with a few gentle passes," Embry suggested.

I misjudged the first one. Expecting the ball to be heavy like I remembered from school, I sent it flying off into the forest. I fetched it, only glad I'd not got it so wrong that I'd popped it.

After that the passing wasn't bad. I could easily get the ball directly to Embry's feet from a distance of fifty feet or more.

"Well, that would put you up with the internationals in the human world," Jacob commented.

"OK let's try dribbling."

Embry set out a series of sticks for us to dribble the ball around.

"Now the trick is to not look at the ball, Bella."

"OK, show me first."

He expertly maneuvered the ball around the sticks at a run, but is was slow enough for me to catch what he was doing.

I took the ball and going more slowly, but faster than a walk, controlled the ball with my feet and successfully got round the sticks.

"Not bad at all, but this time a little faster and keep the ball well into your feet or an opponent will have it off you."

I was just trying again when I heard someone approaching at speed. I wasn't sure who it was.

I grabbed Nessie and pushed her behind me, "Get out of here you two", I hissed.

"No chance," they said in unison and phased.

Jacob took center point facing the direction of the intruder, Embry on his right and me on his left, with Nessie behind us.

The footsteps stopped and after a second the intruder strolled into the clearing. It was Demetri.

Hell, this was not good, not good at all. The second day he is here he finds me with a couple of wolves.

"Bella, sorry to startle you, I mean you no harm," he had stopped at the edge of the clearing, surprised I presumed by my company and our defensive formation.

"I'm sorry Demetri," I relaxed my stance and walked forward a few pace in front of the wolves. "I don't recognize you gait yet. I didn't know who it was, you've caught me having a bit of soccer practice with my friends, this is Jacob and this is Embry. They only phased as I thought there might be a stranger coming." It felt odd introducing them in their wolf forms.

Demetri beamed. He walked forward and kissed me on the cheeks, then turned to the wolves, "I'm delighted to met you both, be assured I don't mean you any harm or trouble. I just thought I'd take a stroll and see what Nessie was doing with her time."

At this Nessie flitted over to Demetri and jumped up into his surprised arms, but he caught her expertly, obviously his fatherly instincts were still there. She touched his check and he smiled again seeing her explanation of the situation.

"Of course I'm not here to cause your friends trouble Nessie," he reassured her. "I wish I'd been here to see some of the soccer first hand. It looks very skilful in your memory."

"Jake, Embry," Nessie called, still in Demetri's arms, "can you play again, pleeease." She flashed Jacob a huge grin, which I would have found hard to resist and which must have just melted Jacob.

Jacob whined softly then the wolves ran off into the woods.

"Did I say something wrong?" Demetri asked, popping Nessie back on the floor. "I had no intention of intruding on your game." His face look sincere and apologetic. This morning he was wearing more casual clothes suitable for the forest - jeans, jumper and a hiker's jacket. He was clearly trying to fit in with the locals. His eyes were the strange black they had been yesterday.

"They are just phasing back I think. They don't like to do so in public because they need to change back into clothes." I kicked at what was left of one of Embry's shoes so that it landed at the base of the nearest tree.

"Oh, of course, that makes sense. I'm sure it is a little inconvenient for them at times."

"Yes, I think it isn't easy when there are women and children around. They try to maintain a little dignity."

A moment later Jacob and Embry walked back into the clearing in human form, complete with clothes, new ones. I guess they had some stashed somewhere. Their old shorts were in slivers on the floor.

"It's easier to shake hands this way," Jacob said walking up to Demetri. "My name is Jacob Black, I'm one of the pack leaders in these parts."

I was struck again by the authority in his voice. He smiled down at Demetri as they shook hands. Jacob at six foot seven dwarfed Demetri who was five foot ten at most.

Their handshake was friendly. Embry, clearly still on edge, stayed at the back of the clearing.

"I've not come here to interrupt your recreation, please continue. Maybe I can learn a thing or two. I don't get to play much myself"

"Well, we were just doing a few technique drills with Bella, rather than anything competitive," Jacob responded.

I felt the need to explain why I was here with the wolves. It looked bad but maybe he'd see the reasoning behind it, and realize it was all innocent enough.

My explanation spilled out in a rush, "I was so bad at sport when I was human and Emmett used to tease me so much that I thought that I ought to have a little practice before I have to play in front of the whole family I don't want to be the butt of his jokes for the next century."

"We'd better get to work then," Demetri said, taking off his jacket and hanging it on a small branch.

The wolves relaxed at this gesture, clearly happy for another pair of feet to join us.

"We can't tackle the wolves, Demetri," I said, foreseeing a flaw in his plan. "They aren't made of stone like us. They are tough, but not that tough in human form."

"I thought that, let me just see you do your dribbling drill."

I tried again. This time I was faster and kept the ball much closer in to my feet as Embry had said.

Demetri took a turn and although quicker than me, wasn't as expert with the ball as Embry, which pleased me to see.

After a few more minutes all the men were discussing their favorite professional players, none of whom I'd heard of. Demetri favored a Brazilian call Pele, who had retired from playing the game many years previously. The wolves admired the current players. Embry idolized an Englishman called David something while Jacob argued for a Frenchman called Zee something. I'd no idea that this game was so international, but one thing was clear - there were few Americans at the top of the sport. The banter between the three of them was relaxed and friendly. We were all laughing and commenting on each other as we completed our drills as if this was a totally normal situation. It struck me how surreal it was to be playing ball with a member of the Volturi guard and two wolves. My life was full of truly strange events. What would Aro make of this when Demetri got home?

Embry was just showing us a one-to-one drill that I could practice with Demetri and he could do with Jacob when we heard another two sets of footsteps running at top speed towards us. I could tell it was Alice and Jasper. We all waited for them not bothering to start again until we knew what their mission was. Surely if they were running that fast they had a mission.

The two of them arrived in the clearing and suddenly the happy relaxed feeling we had felt was chilled. Jasper was doing his mood shifting again, and as they reached us Alice gave me an exasperated stare.

"There you are, I've been worried sick. We had to come and follow Demetri's trail to find you. You'd totally blanked out of my vision, Bella, and then Demetri went missing as well. I thought ... well I wasn't sure what to think but I guess these two explain it." She looked over at the wolves.

"Can't you see the wolves Alice?" Demetri asked.

"It can be tricky," Alice reluctantly admitted, "I'm getting better at seeing past them to those around them but ... did you phase?" She looked accusingly at Jacob.

"Only because we weren't sure that it was a friend who was approaching because none of us recognized the footsteps. Better to be safe than sorry, especially when we have Nessie with us," Jacob explained, smiling at her. "There was no need for you to panic."

I couldn't take any more of this. "I think we should call it a day now. This place is too near town for any bigger games. We might make too much noise and have some human come to investigate.

Shall we go fix you some eggs for lunch, Nessie?"

"Yes please Mom," she squealed, "can Jake come home with us too?"

"I think that he and Embry have things to do Nessie, but they are both very welcome of course."

"I'll come by the house tomorrow, if that's OK," Jacob said, picking Nessie up. "Oh don't look like that kid, you've plenty of people to keep you entertained for the afternoon."

Authors Note

Hi Reader,

Just to let you know that I usual publish a chapter each evening Monday to Friday.

I'd really like to hear what you think about the story. Please drop me a review in the box below. It doesn't matter how long or short the review is they are always good to receive.

Best wishes

C.