They emerge one by one, my eyes searching intently for the blonde vampire that attacked me. That went after Alex. The first to emerge is a tall, dark-skinned woman, her white shirt blowing in the wind, and tight curls haloing her head. At her side is a small, smiling man with startling red hair — wild and flowing. He looks over his shoulders, his laughter whispering through the breeze as she appears.
Jane rushes to him, lifting him in the air and kissing his cheek almost tenderly. They cautiously approach the coven, the man visually anxious, his back nearly meeting Jane's chest. It is almost like they haven't interacted with others of their own kind in ages.
Their movements are distinct from the others'. They aren't even trying to fake human — their limbs move fluidly, and legs are bent slightly, ready to pounce on anything that calls to them. And Jane, oh devilish Jane, her fingers twitch with anticipation. The tallest woman's shirt contrasts her skin tone starkly, but her strange affinity for dress clothes covered in dirt and blood is almost normal next to the man's torn clothing and Jane's choice to keep the tattered, blue shirt that Charlie ripped to shreds with her pistol, with the addition of a tank-top for, I can only assume, modesty. The big difference? Her hair. She cut it, it's shaved down to the scalp.
And her face, once the man isn't looking at her, is stone.
While the man picks leaves from his hair, the tall, dark-skinned woman approaches Clarice with a wide, friendly smile. And when she smiles, to my surprise, her fangs aren't nearly as pronounced as Edythe's were when I saw her true face. She rakes her glossy black curls from her face, looking down at the red-haired man with a raised brow.
He stands at her right hand; his posture better fitting a cat than a human. He looks around frantically, curiously, tugging on her arm and pointing at Roland and Ezra and even at me, apparently unaware of my human status. Jane stays behind him, hand protectively — no, possessively — on his shoulder. Her stays still, eyes locked on Clarice and her casual approach.
With twenty glowing red eyes around me, I press closer to Edythe's side as the leader of the nomads opens her mouth.
"We thought we heard a game," she says with a thick French accent. "Vincent is a massive baseball fan," she gestures to the small man, whose nose scrunches when he smiles. "I am Laura, and sourpuss back here is Jane." Jane nods stiffly, Clarice returning the gesture with a friendlier air.
"A pleasure, mademoiselle. I'm Clarice Cullen, and this is my family. Emma, Jasmine, Roland, Ezra, Edythe, Alex, and Beau." She waves her hand over us, letting the newcomers assume who is who. My stomach churns when she mentions my name, and from the corner of my eye, I notice Alex hiding just a bit behind Jasmine's body.
"Such a large group!" Vincent says with a chuckle. "How in the world do you keep from tearing each other apart?"
"That's the miracle work of my daughter," she says as Jasmine appears at her side. "Jasmine is the master of keeping us calm. Would you like a demonstration?"
"Yes!"
"No," Jane snaps, and Vincent flinches, pulling back. No one misses that, but anything off script risks Jane running off before we can kill her. Patience, Beau...
"Maybe another time," Laura offers, glaring down at Jane. "We were on our way to Canada when we heard you through the coast. It's been a while since we've seen others. We got curious. And Vincent is impossible to live with when he wants to investigate something."
"I'm honestly surprised to see anyone out here myself," Clarice nudges Jasmine, who nods. "We are the only ones who stay in this region, and nomads are difficult to come by nowadays."
I feel the air shift; the mood changing from tense curiosity to a simple, casual, normal conversation. I look at Jasmine and my lip twitches in a smile. Clever move, cowgirl.
"What's your range? We will be careful around it."
Clarice waves off the assumption right under Laura's words. "The Olympic range is where we stay, and just in Alaska is another permanent residence belonging to the Denalis. They stay out of sight completely, though. Best of luck finding them."
Laura and Vincent exchange a look, his back straightening. "Permanent? You mean, you don't travel? What about the humans?"
"I'd be happy to explain at the house, if you're interested. We were ending our game anyway, and it's a lot more comfortable around the fireplace." Even Jane shows shock on her face when Clarice mentions having a house. Laura smiles fondly.
"That sounds ... wonderful. And a lot better than resting in trees or hollows. And, if it's alright, might we get cleaned up a bit?" She nods to their tattered, stained clothing. "It's been about a month since we last got blasted with a hose."
"I call dibs on holding the power washer!" Emma pipes up, earning a slap on the shoulder from Roland.
"Haha! I like your — what, daughter? — already." Laura looks at the others and nods, showing that they'll go with Clarice and the others to the house. Edythe leans down and presses her lips to my ear.
"Now would be a splendid opportunity to weed her out. Which one?"
"Jane," I fluff out my hair, stepping away from Edythe so my hair, my scent, can be caught by the flowing breeze.
"And, if it's alright, we'd ask that you not hunt in our territory." Clarice says tentatively, clasping her hands together. "We're trying to stay incognito, you understand."
"Oh, of course! We'd never risk exposure. Besides, we already ate."
"I could always go for a bite," Jane comments, flashing her teeth and playfully biting at Vincent's neck. He giggles and bats her away, his cheeks turning a light pink. I fix my shirt just in time to see Jane's eyes turn to me.
Three things happen simultaneously. Jane's face floods with recognition, and the lust that I cannot — or will not — place returns to her eyes. Laura and Vincent turn rigid, realizing that not everything is what they assumed. And Edythe growls deeply, hands cracking as her claws willingly emerge.
"What's this?" Laura looks at Clarice with wide, surprised eyes. "A human?" Clarice lays a hand on her shoulder and states calmly.
"He is with us, our friend." She looks at Jane, her face taking on a dangerous statue quality. "And she tried to kill him." Laura and Vincent look at me with wide, confused eyes. Then Laura turns her confusion to anger at Jane. She catches her before Jane can lunge forward and slams her into the dirt.
"Jane, what the hell did you do?" She looks at me, brows furrowed guiltily. "Even under his scent, you can tell he's around vampires. You could have killed us all. He's not even a remarkable looking human." Edythe scoffs at that.
"I don't care about how she looks, Laura," Jane licks her lips, eyes locked on me, "it's what he can do. No human deserves that power. And since he can fight back, it makes the hunt so much more delicious. Plus," she wraps her fingers around Laura's ankle, "the Volturi would approve."
"Fight back?" Vincent questions, looking at the brace around my wrist.
"Enough, Jane. He is not ours, and He is not yours. Leave it be." Laura faces Clarice and lowers her head, hand over her chest. "My apologies, it seems we have a lot to learn about each other."
"Indeed. But I'm afraid we can't just let her go after what she's done. Surely you understand." Clarice says coolly, an unusual edge to her voice. "His mother is the police chief, and she nearly killed her. She risked the exposure of us all with her little adventure."
"No, please!" Vincent grabs Clarice by the arm, looking around at us all. "Please, don't... I love her, she's my mate. Please, can't we talk this out. Why do you even care so much about the humans, anyway?"
"Vincent, it's one human boy. We won't touch him. And we won't go after any humans while we're in your range. Vous avez ma parole."
Clarice measures Laura's expression for a moment. "You and Vincent can come with us. As for Jane ... I'm sorry."
"At the least, wait until Vincent and I have gone. I'd rather not see it, and I know he feels the same." Laura moves away from Jane, taking Vincent by the arm. She says something to him softly, and his face floods with tears.
"You can come with us," Ezra gestures to himself, Alex, and Emma. "We've got clothes you two can fit into." He approaches Vincent and cups his cheek, his warmth and kindness helping the other man calm down a bit. Jasmine and Roland swap places with the emotional nomads, gripping Jane by the arms and holding her down.
This entire situation strikes me as odd. By Edythe's face and Alex's compliance, neither of them see anything bad coming. They made their choices, their thoughts are in order. But I can't help but feel that this is completely out of character for Jane. Because in my dream, she didn't hold back.
In my dream, her rage and possessiveness were uncontrolled. Her eyes, locked on me, show a horrific level of self-control. She isn't like my mind showed her. I feel sparks fly from my hands, my body rooted to the ground, eyes checking for even a millimeter of change in her body language.
Edythe approaches her, jaw unhinging in a show of dominance. Jane tore the nurse's head off her shoulders. What is Edythe, with her lion-like jaws and crystalline claws, planning on doing to Jane? Tearing her head off? Ripping her limb-from-limb?
Too easy.
And to my horror, it all happens in slow motion. Edythe's eyes nearly pop from her skull as Jane tears Roland to the ground, cracks Jasmine's jaw, and guns it to the forest with the trees shaking from the force of her speed. Before I can blink, I'm in Emma's jeep, strapped down in the front seat.
"What just happened?" Roland demands from beside me, holding his arm to his chest. "She nearly ripped my damn arm off! How did you not see that coming, Edythe?"
"Her mind changed before I could even hear. It's like this is some kind of game to her. I'm sure Alex will call any second to tell us where she's going next." As if on cue, her phone rings. "Hey! What? So, what should...? Oh... oh no.."
"I don't like this at all," Jasmine says from the front seat, leaning on her fist. "So, what, she changes her mind too quickly? Is that what he's saying?"
"That's what I understood," Edythe says, only barely managing not to crush her phone in her hands. "She's gone into a zone of sorts, and knowing that Beau is friends with vampires seems to have heightened this for her. We need to get Beau underground and hunt her."
"Uh, no!" I lean forward and hit the back of Edythe's headrest, deserving the snarl she sends back at me. "You're not hiding me like I'm some relic. If she's after me, she could find anyone I've interacted with just by my scent. No, we need to think ahead. Were any of you hunters in your human lives?"
"Emma was!" Roland says, pulling out his phone. Emma doesn't reply, making his entire body go rigid.
"And so was I. Or, well, a vaquera, but it still counts." Oh lord, I'll have to ask her about that later. "If she's using your scent, then we could use deer hunting techniques. Spread Beau's scent around to confuse her while we hone in on her location. It's basically the opposite of what you'd want to happen while spraying deer piss on your clothes."
"Thank God I grew up in Chicago..." Edythe checks the street before gunning it. "At least Charlie is safe. Clarice says her hiding place is so far out of the way she barely found it. And there is no trace of Beau there."
"But there are traces at Jesse's house. And she likes young boys, I think she'd even prefer if I were younger," I shiver, remembering how furious he was at losing the chance to change or kill Alex. "We need to make sure she doesn't think to go there. Take me home."
"She'll go there before anywhere else, Beau!" Edythe snaps, her teeth making a loud clicking sound.
"Exactly. If I get there and make it seem like there's no reason I'd be at his house, then she'll avoid him completely to get to me." I pull out my phone and start texting Jess, knowing I won't make a lick of sense to him.
Me: Jess, I'm going to call you in about twenty minutes. Play along with what I say, tell Angel about it too. Nothing that I'll say is true, I promise.
Jess: is typing
Jess: Beau, what's going on?
Me: I can't say. Just wait for me to call, be in your room when you see my name pop up. And trust me.
Jess: ... okay. I trust you, Beau. But you better explain.
Me: As much as I possibly can.
Roland leans up and flicks Edythe on the ear. "Hey, pull over. Beau looks pale."
"He always looks pale, Roe."
"Smartass, I think he's going to puke!"
"I'm not," I curl up a bit and press my forehead to my knees. "I'm just thinking. But... thanks, Roland. Edythe, when is she going to start? Can Alex see that, at least?"
"She'll start once the sun is fully down. She likes the darkness, it keeps her hidden." The steering wheel cracks in her palms. "If she thinks she can even get close to you..."
"Edythe, she won't. And if she does, she's no match for you three."
"Unless the man and the leader join her, then we'll have a bit of an issue," Jasmine reasons, and I kick the back of her seat. "Hey!"
"Thanks for the morale boost..." I grumble, watching us get further into town and closer to my house. I'm betting on Jane checking my house out, especially while I'm there. We can try to misdirect her, make sure she stays as far away from people as possible. And ... I think I know the perfect place to drive her toward.
"Do we have any other options?" Roland asks, straightening in his seat. "Let's at least consider them for a second."
Edythe slams on the breaks, making me grateful that I'm strapped in like a toddler.
"Dammit Roe, there are no options here!"
"I will not risk her attacking our friends." I state flatly, "you're taking me to my house, I'm packing a bag, and we'll go from there. You just have to trust me. She's no match for all of us, she has to realize that at some level. And if she goes for the others, at least Vincent will fight with her. We'll just have to play it by ear," I decide, looking distantly out the window. "Whatever happens to me, just make sure Jane dies. Okay?" Edythe's eyes lock on me in the mirror and she growls softly.
"Jasmine... give me something."
"He's thought this out quickly, and like all other plans, there's always the chance for a flub. But as of right now, it's all we have. And it's the best chance of getting him somewhere familiar." She turns and looks at me. "Where are you luring her?"
"My great-grandpa's cabin. She'll know where it is, so she can get there while we set a trap for her." I puff my chest out proudly, and Jasmine nods.
"Better than nothing."
We pull up to the house, a few lights on to my surprise. I guess Charlie doesn't want people to think we abandoned the house. Her cruiser is even here. Edythe parks behind my truck, his head checking around quickly, checking every shadow and scent, just in case something is off. The engine cuts, and we sit motionless for a solid minute.
"She isn't here," Edythe says softly. "But her scent is on the wind. Whatever you're planning on, do it now." Roland helps me unbuckle and ruffles my hair.
"You can do this." He squeezes my hand reassuringly and nods, his angelic face in a soft, fearful smile. I mirror her and take in a deep breath. "One of us will be here in just a few minutes to fetch you, before she has the chance to sneak up. I promise."
"I trust you." I look at her, Jasmine, and Edythe, feeling tears sting the corners of my eyes. Every plan is flawless until it's time to be executed. Not knowing if I'll ever see them again, I take in every little detail — from the scar over Jasmine's lip to Roland's beauty mark and Edythe's hollow eyes — and let out a breath.
"You have fifteen minutes max to pack a bag and get in the cruiser," Edythe says, facing forward, hands locked on the steering wheel. It's a warning. Any longer, and everything could fall apart. I sniff and wipe my eyes, opening my door and sliding out.
My voice comes out at a volume unfamiliar to me. A scream, a shriek, a roar. Faux fury directed dead at Edythe. "I never want to see you again, Cullen! You fucking freak, you nearly got me killed!" I kick the tire and storm into the house, pulling out my phone and hitting Jesse's contact.
"Beau...?" He answers with a hesitant whisper.
"I'm done, Jess. I'm leaving Forks." I say between sniffles and sobs. I race up the stairs, catching myself on the railing before barging into the bathroom. I gather hygiene products to stuff in my backpack while Jesse stammers over his reply.
"You're what? Wh-why? Is everything okay?"
"No, it's not!" I grab my backpack and empty it of everything school related, save my little black notebook. I put them in a smaller pocket and gather up clothes, keys, money — anything and everything I could need. "It's so sick of it here. Of the rain, of the clouds, of the people...there's no way I can stay here another school year."
"... people...? Beau, what happened?"
"Edythe! Edythe happened, okay? She waltzes into my shitty life and just turns it all to Hell." I look around and go down the hallway to Charlie's room, grabbing her bomber jacket and zipping it to my chin. It just barely fits, and smells like her perfume. Like comfort. I nuzzle into it, tears falling faster down my cheeks. "This place is horrible enough without me having a damn stalker."
You know what? That isn't a total lie.
"Stalking! Beau, why didn't you tell me sooner? Or your mom? You don't have to leave Forks because of one asshole who can't read between the lines!" He's frantic now, panting softly with shuffling in the background. He covers the microphone, but I hear him tell his dad he doesn't care if it's time for dinner and that he needs the car keys. My breath catches in my throat and I zip my bag up.
"It isn't just her, Jess. My dad was right, this place is just ... I can't risk putting down any more roots here. Not Edythe, not you and Angel and Erica ... I can't stay here. I don't want to be trapped in this boring, stupid, dead-end town like my mom!" I grip my hair and start down the stairs, turning off every light I come across. "I'm not making the same idiotic mistake she did. I'm escaping, like Dad. I will not stay here for another damn minute!"
"Beau, it's past sundown. Where can you even go?" Jesse tries to reason, his crying audible through his stuffy, difficult speaking. "No, wait, come to my house. Stay the night. Stay a week, I don't care. If it's about what you said at school, we can get the adults involved, we can keep you safe... please, please come here."
I swallow down a sob, my heart twisting with every whimper and pained pant on the other end of the line.
"Just let me go, Jess. My mom already has. It didn't work out. I hate it here. Nothing and no-one is going to change that." I hang up on him, letting my words sink into the slamming of the front door. I look at the cruiser, wiping my cheeks and taking a seat on the passenger side.
Edythe ignites the engine and I cling to my bag, pulling the collar of Charlie's jacket up to mimic her rare, comforting hugs. Her cool hand lies on my arm, and my hand slides over it as my body trembles, hiccups and sobs finally escaping my throat. I hate this. I hate every second of this. Even without Edythe's touch, my skin feels like splintering ice. We have to pass Jesse's house to leave the town. I can't even look up.
Edythe sighs. "He wants to talk to his dad, but she keeps reminding herself of the text you sent, and what you talked about in school. He's texting Angel, though he still doesn't know how to explain...you called me a stalker?" Her voice cracks, sounding genuinely hurt.
"I didn't know what else to say...I'm sorry, babe." I grip her hand tightly. "Where is she?"
"Right behind us. She didn't see you get in the passenger seat, and she doesn't seem to be aware of me. Though, from the smell of it, I'd be impressed if she detected either of us," I look up in time to see her hold a half-empty pouch of tobacco. "And as for your little play, she heard pretty well all of it. She's focused on you right now, not on Jesse, or anyone else with your scent." She accelerates, the cruiser revving in excitement.
"It's Emma," Edythe says a millisecond before a loud thud hits the trunk of the car. I watch Emma settle in, leaning on the window. "She's listening for Jane. Apparently, we're needed at the house. At the least, we'll be safe enough there to plan further ahead. Jane won't go where there are more vampires than she knows she can handle."
I nod, laying my head back on my backpack. Edythe's cool hands brush through my hair, gently tucking loose hairs behind my ear.
"Beau, darling, don't hurt your face..."
"I'm a terrible person..."
"What...? Beau, it was an act. Even Jesse knows it was. You didn't mean a word of it."
"If you had asked me just a couple months ago, I would have said the same thing. It's...God, I don't want to sound like a dick, but it's how my dad described Forks to me. Boring. Stupid. Stuck. Oppressive. Using his own words, even as a precaution, made my stomach churn."
"And it stuck with her. Now she thinks no one human will be looking for you. She's focused on you. I know you said she likes them young, but ... every time I dig for the trigger that set her off, your face morphs with Alex's. It's like she sees you two as the same."
"..." I lean back, closing my eyes. My mind goes through her comments on my youth, on how boys keep getting prettier. How she'd preferred if I was younger. Her possessive body language, as though I belonged to her from the moment she spotted me in the forest. Jane's beautiful, ethereal face shatters into fury and disgust when she realized that the doctor changed Alex before she could stake her claim.
When did she see him?
How long was she watching him? Did she wait until he was a teenager on purpose? What kind of hunter goes for the cowering, injured fawn that can't even defend himself?
A piss-poor shot. That's who.
"What if the thrill of the chase isn't the only thing she enjoys?" I offer, opening my eyes and watching the rain dance on the windshield. "What if it's the kill itself? How easy is it to kill a human? Especially as a vampire. She's just another serial killer too cowardly to pick on someone her own size."
Edythe slows to a stop, and I look up, spotting the Cullen house just a few feet away. She parks and kills the truck, holding her fingers at her lips, letting out a deep breath. She blinks a couple times, acknowledges Emma knocking on the window and saying we need to go in, and then looks at me.
"Just this once, Beau ... I hope your intuition is wrong."