This is pretty long. I kind of just kept going but I'm sure you don't mind that. -lol- Now, we have two more chapters left. Well, actually, one more chapter and then an Epilogue. I was thinking of doing a New Moon thing to this, but I decided not to. Because I already have the ending made up. And I like it that way. Sorry ya'll!! -lol-

You have a little sneak peek at the end of what's to come in the next chapter. So, I hope you all review. I am really proud of this chapter. I don't know why, but I love how it turned out. And I hope ya'll do to!!

Chapter 19: Hunter

Tommy's family was having a baseball game tonight. It was a tradition they did for every first of every month. So he decided to invite me to see how vampires play the all American sport. We got to a dirt road in front of the woods. I stepped out of the viper first and then he followed me and came by my side. I stared at it skeptically. There wasn't even a trail. How were we going to get through that mess of trees? Tommy bent down a little and I shook my head. "Oh no, we are not running through that," I said pointing at the woods.

Tommy stood up straight and tilted his head. "Why not?" he asked.

"Do you see all the trees there?" I asked rhetorically.

"You've ran with me before, sweets," he smiled and walked towards me.

"Yea, but there was an actual trail that time."

He smiled even wider and walked closer to me until my back reached the viper. He looked at me with his beautiful golden eyes. I gulped as his face got closer to me. Now he was only mere inches away from me. "What are you afraid of?" he asked and I had to concentrate.

"Hitting a tree and dying," I confessed.

"Jude, Jude, do you actually think I would hit a tree?" Tommy's head reached down and kissed the hollow of my neck. Then he moved down to my shoulder.

"No, but I might hit…a tree." I could hear my own voice trembling.

He played with some strains of my hair and kissed up my neck and whispered very seductively in my ear, "I won't let you hit a tree honey. I promise you." I gulped again, and I knew he had won this fight. "Do you believe me?"

I nodded my head and Tommy kissed me. I really should've known better. I knew that earlier was just a fluke and he could hardly control himself then. But I just couldn't stop myself. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He stumbled into me and I parted my lips slightly. Tommy groaned and got out of my embrace swiftly. "Damn it, Jude!" he shouted.

I tried to get my breathing under control. I could hear Tommy gasping too. "I'm sorry," I apologized. It was the only thing I could get out at the moment. I saw him run a hand through his hair frustrated.

"I swear you'll be the death of me, Jude, I swear it."

I put on an angry face as he grabbed me and put me on his back. I closed my eyes and about a minute later we were at a clearing. I was a little dizzy when he set me down and I fell on the wet grass. "Ow!" I squealed loudly. Tommy looked down at me and chuckled. I rolled my eyes and got up refusing Tommy's hand that he had offered.

He looked at me confused. I was pissed off at him right now. I let out a frustrated sigh and refused to look at him. "Jude?" he asked.

"What do you want, Quincy?" I growled.

"Are you mad?" I stayed silent. "You are, I can tell."

"Oh, you're a smart one aren't you," I replied sarcastically.

"What did I do?"

"You'll be the death of me, Jude, I swear it," I mimicked in a low voice. "You were mad at me for a common human…" I searched for the right word. "…instinct."

He smiled sadly at me and grabbed my hand. "I wasn't mad at you."

"Well, you sure seemed like it."

"I was mad at myself. I keep putting you in danger." He lowered his head in shame. "It's not fair to you," he sighed.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Stop doing that?"

Tommy looked at me in confusion. His perfect face scrunched in confusion. "Doing what?"

"Being so ashamed. You should never be ashamed for loving someone. You're not dangerous." He opened his mouth to protest put I put my finger to his perfect sleeps to silence him. "If you were going to do anything you would've done it by now. You're a lot stronger than you think."

He smiled at me and took my hand. He kissed each one of my fingers and then my palm. Then he led me to a path through the trees. When we finally came to a clearing I saw Karma practicing her pitching with Kwest. Sadie was practicing her running, and Shay was talking to D. Portia was standing on the sidelines smiling. Everyone turned to us and gestured to Tommy to come over. I went over to Portia and smiled at her.

I noticed that this was no ordinary baseball diamond. Each base was at least a quarter mile apart. I looked around questionably. Could the pitcher's mound really be that far from home base too? They all took their places on the field. Shay was up first to bat and Karma was pitching. But she didn't have a glove. Soon, Portia said in a clear voice, "Play ball!"

Suddenly, the ball that was in Karma's hand went into Kwest's who was the empire. I didn't even see it go by. Karma smiled and Kwest handed the ball back to her. She smirked at Shay and the winked at him. He winked back and waited for the pitch. All I heard next was a large boom that sounded like thunder echo off the mountains. My mouth became agape, knowing that had to be a homerun. But I was wrong. "Out!" Portia yelled. I looked over at the woods and saw Tommy with the ball in his hand. Shay dropped the bat angrily and walked off.

"How did he—" I started.

"Shay might be the strongest, but Tommy's the fastest," Portia explained.

I just nodded my head and watched the rest of the game. It was the last inning and Sadie was pitching. She pulled the ball behind her and right before she let it go, her face became blank. The ball dropped the ground and rolled next to Tommy's feet. They all stared at her cautiously. I didn't know what was going on. Then I remembered that Sadie could have visions of the future. Portia looked worried along with everyone else.

Tommy gasped and Sadie finally regained composure. Sadie looked at Tommy knowing he had read her mind. He looked a little edgy and everyone ran to her. I was left standing alone on the sidelines. Tommy came to me and held me closely to him. I knew something must've been wrong. The way he was holding me was not affectionately. It was out of protection. It was out of fear. I looked at him a little frighten. "What's going on?" I whispered.

"Sades had a vision," he responded to me.

"I just didn't see it until now," Sadie explained to the group surrounding her. "They must've been indecisive."

"Or really good at keeping their decisions on the down low," Karma said to her. "What are we going to do?"

"Listen, we don't know exactly why they're here," Darius told them to calm them.

"We do know they don't belong here," Tommy said as the group turned to us.

"What about Tommy's human?" Karma asked. That made me a little tense. I did have a name. "Her blood doesn't only attract Tommy, you know. They will wonder why we have her. The truth could create drama that we don't need."

"We'll make up some excuse," Portia said quietly.

"Can someone please tell me what is going on?" I whined to everyone. I hated being out of the loop about everything. If I was supposed to be part of their family soon, then I wanted to know what was happening. It wouldn't be fair to leave me out of everything that was happening with the Quincies. Sadie looked at me and sighed. She walked over to me and tucked a lock of my blonde hair behind me ear.

"There are some traveling vampires coming by in a moment," she explained. "Now, we usually don't worry about visitors, but now, we have you. Like Karma said, if we tell them the truth, they'll ask questions. Some might not be so wonderful either. And your smell," she continued. "You're smell is very radiant. They might need to hunt and they might want to hunt you."

I gasped backed further into Tommy's arms. Tommy glared at Sadie. "Did you have to tell her that?" He growled.

"Should I leave?" I asked.

Sadie shook her head. "It's too late their coming in a couple of seconds."

Just then three people came from a hidden path in the trees. I knew right away they were the vampires coming through. The whole group including me looked at them as they walked toward us. I tried not to recoil and stand my ground. I looked at every one of them. But the one that caught my eye and scared me the most was the middle vampire. He had blood-red eyes that looked straight at me in wonder. Then he smirked. I shuddered instinctively.

Darius walked up to them and held out his hand. A young man, who seemed to be the leader of the group, smiled and shook his hand as well. The leader was tall and his face seemed he was about in his mid twenties. He had beautiful blonde hair and garnet eyes. There was also a lady next to him. She had long black hair and looked Asian. She was outstandingly stunning. Her body was more perfect than a supermodel. Her smile was brilliant too and even shined in the dark. Then, the last man on the left was a shady character. He had brown hair that went down to his neckline, and red eyes. His body was too good to be true, but his face scared me the most. He kept looking at me and I swear his mouth was watering. He looked so evil and I held onto Tommy's body tighter.

I could tell Tommy was looking at him intently. Then he gasped and growled at him. I looked up at him wondering what he had heard. "No hunting on our grounds!" Tommy shouted clearly.

"We have no intentions," the blonde vampire said.

"Not all of you," Tommy growled again as he looked at the other male vampire.

"Hunter will go nowhere near here," he assured.

Hunter looked at his leader like he was crazy. Then he let out a small growl and crossed his arms angrily. Portia stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Darius's waist. "What are your names?" Portia asked.

"I'm Alex," the blonde vampire said. "This lovely woman next to me is EJ and you already know that's Hunter."

"Where are you headed?" Shay asked as he held onto Karma's hand and moved her closer to her. Karma smiled at him affectionately.

"Alaska," EJ said. "We hear that there's a colony up there."

Darius nodded. "You're correct. We use to be up there."

Tommy growled again at Hunter. He held me protectively. "Well, we'll be heading out. It was nice to meet the famous Quincies."

Darius nodded again. "Same here."

After they were out of sight Sadie nodded at Shay and Tommy. Tommy put me on his back and I instinctively closed my eyes as we ran. When we finally made it back to the car Sadie and Shay were already in it. Tommy literally threw me in the backseat next to Shay. I put on my seatbelt not sure of what was happening. After a moment of driving I realized we were going the opposite direction of Forks.

"Well?" Tommy said.

"Yes," Sadie whispered.

Tommy tensed up more and kept driving. "What's going on?" I asked whoever wanted to answer me. No one said anything. "Where are you taking me!?"

"Hunter is not only his name, Jude," Tommy explained. "He hunts humans as a game. And you're his new playmate. He'll follow your scent back to your house. We have to get you out of here."

I thought about it for a minute. "Wait! We have to go back!" I shouted. We couldn't leave. Stuart was still at the house. I couldn't just leave.

"Are you insane?" Shay asked me.

"No, we have to back! Tommy please! Stuart is at the house!" I yelled at him.

"No," he growled.

"I can't just leave him to die!" I tried to take off my seatbelt but Tommy saw.

"Shay," he said. Shay nodded and held my hands together. I tried to break free but it didn't work. Tears were forming in my eyes. I couldn't just leave my dad back there. Hunter would find him and kill him. And it would be because of me. It would all be because of me. Again, I tried to free my hands but Shay held on tightly.

"She has a point," Sadie said, taking my side.

"No, we can't go back," he tried to convince her.

"Please," I pleaded. "I need to go back! Just let me go there and tell him some lie." That's when an idea clicked in my head. I was about to open my mouth and then Sadie gasped.

"Perfect," she squealed and looked at Tommy.

Tommy looked back and stared at her intently. I knew he must be reading her mind. Tommy sighed frustrated and took a sharp U-turn in the middle of the road. I was afraid we were going to flip over. I could tell we were driving back to the house. I knew they already knew my plan. All I was going to do was go in and tell my dad that I had had it here in Forks and tell him I'm moving to Toronto to go live with mom and Don. That way, Hunter would see that I was going away, and know not to look there. Stuart would be safe from harm. Hunter would be watching too.

After that, I would go to Toronto, and the vampires would take it from there. I saw my house as we pulled up and I took a deep breath readying myself. It was going to be hard. I knew I was going to hurt him, but it was the only way to keep him from getting killed. I just had to be fast. Tommy wouldn't want to be kept waiting. "Jude, you have to make this quick," Tommy said. "In and out in about fifteen minutes, ok?"

I nodded. I was about to move when I noticed I couldn't. I looked down and then looked back up at Shay. "Shay," I said and moved my gaze to my wrists he held so effortlessly.

"Oh, sorry about that," Shay apologized. "My bad."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door. I literally ran up the driveway trying not to trip over air and just waste more time. I went up to the door and took one more deep breath. I put on my best angry face. I slammed the door open and it hit the wall. For a minute there I thought I had put a hole in it. I stifled a gasp at how loud it was and I saw Stuart emerge from the kitchen with chips in his hands. He was obviously about to watch a game. I bit my lip as he looked at me curiously.

I had to keep my head in what was happening. "I'm done," I whispered harshly to him.

He put down the chips and walked into the living room until he was right in front of me. I just glared at him. "Done?" Stuart asked.

"I've had it here in Forks," I said sharply. "I can't take it anymore! I'm moving back with mom!" I ran upstairs and Stuart followed me hurriedly.

"Wait, honey, what happened?" He asked frantically as I grabbed a backpack and started to put various clothes in it. I glanced at him once and then quickly turned away. I couldn't see the pain in his face.

"Everyone here, sucks. I just can't do it anymore!" I shouted fiercely. I saw Stuart wince and quickly regretted my plan. I closed my eyes and tears started to fall. "I'm moving back to Toronto. I have enough money to buy my own ticket. I'll call her on the way."

"Honey, please don't go." His eyes were pleading and I almost lost my will power. I closed my eyes briefly and tears pooled over.

"Stuart, I can't take it any longer."

"But what happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Just please, let me go." I zipped up my bag and ran out of there. I was running out of time. I felt Stuart grab my wrist and tears were also showing in his eyes. This was probably the hardest thing I'd ever have to do. Hurting Stuart was the last thing I wanted to do. "Goodbye, dad."

I made it out barely alive and ran to Tommy's viper. Sadie looked at out dad staring out the window and I knew, if she could, she would cry. I could see the pain in both of their faces and I cried. Shay put me into a brotherly embrace and Tommy looked at me apologetically. Then I heard him hiss. I looked at him and his fangs were showing. I slammed on the gas and we went flying. I was pushed back to the seat and I quickly put on my seatbelt. I glanced around me frantically.

Hunter had seen, and now he was trying to follow us. I knew I didn't know much about vampires, but I knew what to expect. My eyes darted to every place outside the windows. I was searching for him even though I knew I would never catch him with my naked eye. I looked at the speed and we were going almost 180. I tried not to panic, knowing that Tommy wouldn't swerve. He was an excellent driver. I just hoped no one we knew would figure out his was a vampire and tell him while he was driving this speed.

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It was late and we were still driving. I would have thought we would've taken the plane to Santa Barbra but it looked like the Quincies had other plans. Sadie tried to encourage me to go asleep but I couldn't. My heart was pounding out of my chest and worries just filled my mind. What if Hunter figured out our plan? What if somehow they couldn't fight him off? I had never been so surrounded by danger and it scared the crap out of me. Every single time I closed my eyes I could see Hunter's piercing eyes looking at me as if he was ready to pounce on his prey. So, I tried to keep myself entertained. I played road trip games with myself and counting sheep in my head. I wanted to keep my mind off of a vicious vampire hunting for me, but it wasn't working.

We stopped finally after another two hours and I found that we were only a couple of blocks from the old apartment. I knew my mom had yet to sell it, just in case she wanted to come back anytime. I pointed to the direction and we suddenly made it. I grabbed my backpack and led them inside the building. We were climbing up the stairs when questions came to mind. "How do we know he didn't follow us all the way over here?" I asked any of them that would answer me.

"We lost him a while back," Tommy answered. "He decided to take a shortcut to Toronto."

"So, what are the plans now?" I asked.

"Me, you, and Shay are going to stay here," Sadie explained. "Tommy and the rest are going to go to Toronto and try to cut him off."

I turned around swiftly on the stairs and stared at Tommy. "You're leaving?" I said outraged.

"I'm the only one fast enough, my sweets," he velvet voice echoed off the walls. It sounded like a choir in perfect harmony. "B-but what if he…what if they are all in it together? Can't he…wouldn't he try to…" I trailed off. I didn't know exactly how to put my fear into words.

"I'm insulted," Tommy said keeping his voice light. He put on that crooked smile he knew I couldn't resist. It made me weak in the knees. "You clearly underestimate me."

I rolled my eyes as we climbed the last flight of stairs. We went down the hall and came to the apart. I looked in under the flower pot next to the door and found the extra key Victoria had hidden there. I pushed the key in and unlocked the door. I opened it slowly making sure there was no one inside it and then fully opened it. I stepped inside and inhaled. I didn't realize how much I missed this place until just then. It still smelt like sugar cookies and cinnamon. That smell seemed so foreign to me now. It had been so long.

I walked up to Tommy and embraced him. He kissed my head softly and rested his cheek on my head. After a moment he finally pulled away. "Do you have to go?" I whispered hopefully.

He nodded. "I'll be back soon, love," he tried to reassure me. It wasn't working too well. I just nodded and he kissed my nose one last time before literally disappearing right in front of my eyes. I sighed and closed the door.

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I woke up to find myself in my old bed in my old room. I looked around to find my clock. Then I realized it wasn't in there anymore. I could scarcely remember the night before and my head was pounding It felt like someone had beaten me with a bat during the whole night and then pains is just coming. I climbed out of bed and walked to the living room. Shay was drawing something and Sadie kept nodding her head and pointing things out.

"What's going on Sades?" I asked. "Any word from Tommy or the others yet?"

Sadie shook her head sadly. "But I think we might have a lead on where exactly he is," Sadie reassured. "Toronto is such a big place so I'm trying to figure out where he is."

I sat on the arm of the chair and looked at what Shay was drawing. It was a long hallway with an English Victorian look to it. There were pictures of various instruments, and music sheets. The floor was wooden and then there was a door that was opened on the right side of the hall. This place looked oddly familiar to me, but I couldn't remember what it was. I bit my lower lip and Shay looked at me funny. "What's up?" he asked.

"I think I know this place," I whispered more to me than anyone else. I took the sketch in my hand and gasped. "Is this where he's supposed to be?" Shay and Sadie nodded. "Oh no, this is not good."

"What's wrong?" Sadie asked.

"He isn't in Toronto. He's right here in Santa Barbra…3 blocks from here. That's a music academy. I…I use to go there for lessons when I was little."

They both gasped and that's when Shay took out his cell phone. He had called D and told him what I had said. I looked at the picture again and I was showing Sadie everything she had seen in her vision. My stomach was in knots as I thought of the situation. He was just a few blocks away from me. He could come here anytime and…I couldn't think about it. I looked at the reaction in Shay's face. I had never seen him so serious. He snapped his cell phone shut and looked at us.

"D wants us to send Jude to her mom in Toronto," Shay said as he grabbed my backpack from the floor.

Suddenly, my phone rang. I looked at the Caller ID and I didn't recognize the number. I picked it up cautiously. "Hello," I answered.

"How you doing?" Hunters voice came through the phone. I stood very still. I didn't know how to react. "Just to tell you, you're not that smart. But I am. And if you ever want to see your mom again then you'll do as I say. Your mom is right here with me, and I hope that you'll cooperate. Now, say yes mom everything's fine."

"Yes mom, everything's fine," I said with a sigh. I tried to play the part as good as I could. I had to look annoyed and not frighten.

"Good girl," he praised sarcastically. "Now say yes or no. Are you're 'friends' near you?"

"Yes," I responded.

"Then try to get away from them. While doing this, say yes mom, I know."

I got up from the couch and started to walk to my room. "Yes mom, I know." I shut the door behind me and whispered to make sure Sadie and Shay couldn't hear me. "I think you're bluffing."

"I don't bluff, dear Jude," Hunter said.

Then I heard a scream in the background. "Jude!" My mom yelled. I put my hand over my mouth as tears came into my eyes.

"So will you do as I say?"

"Yes, I will."

"Good. So you better get here without any of your friends and your mother would be set free. If they follow you, I won't only kill you and your mother, but them too. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Say see you later mom," he said and I could tell he was smiling triumphantly on the other side of the phone.

"See you later mom," I said quietly and hung up the phone. I took a shaky breath in. He had gone to Toronto. Just to get my mom. I couldn't go to Toronto. But if I would tell any of them that I had to go after a vicious vampire, they would follow me. I had to go alone. I just needed a plan, and fast. I convince Sadie and Shay that it was my mom asking what happened between Stuart and I, and that I told her I would be there in a few hours.

As I passed through the airport I made sure I dragged behind a little. It wasn't very hard. If I had kept up with them, I'd be jogging. I clutched to the letter I had in my hand for Tommy. He was supposed to be getting off a plane and then leaving with me. I hated to do this to him; to all of them. They were like my family. No, they were my family. But I couldn't risk their lives and my mother's. We made it to our gate and I sat down with them. I put my backpack next to me and put the letter on. I saw Tommy come out of the departure gate. I had to restrain myself to run up and kiss him. Sadie and Shay stood up and then a wave a people followed closed behind Tommy. This was my chance.

I quickly ran in the crowd before any of them could stop me. I disappeared in the crowd and then ran. I made sure I stayed in the crowd. "Jude!" I heard Tommy yell over the crowd of people talking. I closed my eyes and pushed myself harder. "Jude!" His voice wasn't making it any easier. He sounded fearful, and pained.

The only thing I could think about was my mom and Hunter. Hunter torturing her, and making her scream that scream I heard on the phone. I needed to save her. I didn't care what he did to me as long as Victoria was ok. I made it out of the airport and took a second to catch my breath. The music academy was only a couple of blocks away. This time, when I ran to go save my mother, I could imagine Tommy reading my letter that I left him. I could see the worry on his face as he analyzed every word I wrote to him.

Tommy,
My love I am so sorry. I had to go and save my mom,
He has her and I can't let him kill her.
He wants me and only me so please don't follow me.
I don't mean to hurt you, Sadie, or anyone like this.
But I have to do this on my own because he threaten to kill you.
I can't have your blood on my hands.
Please understand this is the only way.
Just remember I love you so much and I am very sorry!
Good bye.

Your Love,
Jude Harrison

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I walked into the academy barely being able to breathe. I had just stopped running. The hall was exactly like the image Shay drew. It felt so cold and it sent a cold spell through me. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself. I had to find Victoria. I saw the door that was opened. It was the old T.V. room where I and a bunch of other kids would go to relax after lessons. There was a light lit inside and I heard some incoherent voices. One sounded like my mom and I jogged to get to her.

I went inside and the T.V. was on in the dark little room. There was a tape inside. It was of my mom and I. "Jude, I'm not sure I can do this," my mom had said to me. It was the day I convinced her to go bungee jumping with me off the cliffs in the Arizona.

"It's ok mom," I assured her. "It will be tons of fun."

She nodded and we both got strapped in. We held onto one another and jumped. She screamed the same scream I had heard and yelled my name. "Jude!" I gasped finally realizing what had happened. I had been tricked. Abruptly, I felt a hand go over my mouth and drag me out of the room. I started to kick and thrash about but it did no good. He threw me to the ground and kicked me in the side. I held my abdomen as he laughed at me.

He turned me over so I was facing the ceiling. "Took you long enough," Hunter said irritated.

"You tricked me, you bastard!" I yelled at him.

"Please, Jude, do you really think I would go through all that trouble?" He asked me. "I knew you weren't going to Toronto. You're not that good of an actor. So, I hid away—pretended to take a shortcut. I made it to your house before you did and stole some videos until I found the perfect one. I knew I could fool you. Compassion is one of the many weaknesses you and the Quincies have."

"It's not a weakness," I spat back at him. "It's an ability. We have the ability to care and love. It's the best feeling in the world. And you'll never be able to know that because you don't have the strength."

I kicked him in the groin but all it did was make him stumble back a little and hiss. I got up from the floor and tried to run down the hall. Hunter grabbed me by my neck and literally threw me into the wall. He grabbed again by my hair and I flew to the other side into the window. I screamed in pain as I felt the tiny pieces of glass cutting through my skin. He inhaled the scent of my blood as it trickled down my arms.

"Mm," He said as he closed his eyes. "So…mouthwatering; tempting."

He moved closer to me. He grabbed my face and licked the blood off my cheek where a piece of glass had cut. My heart was beating so fast and my breath was ragged. I felt like I was going to pass out. I was wishing to. He savored the taste of my blood in his mouth. He opened it again and I saw the fangs. Hunter grabbed me by my arms and put me to the edge of stairs. I stared at him afraid and he pushed me.

I felt every single stair hit my leg and my head. My body was tumbling doing flips going down. I made it to the basement and landed on the cold, hard, cement. I saw him stalk down the stairs and looked at me. "Ready?"

To his surprise I said, "Born ready."

He smirked and when I saw his fangs revealed. I closed my eyes and felt excruciating pain. I screamed and my world went black.

Sneak Peek-Chapter 20:

"Oh, my god! No, Jude! No, no, no, no! Please don't do this to me. Jude, my love, wake up!" I heard his dry sobs but there was nothing I could do.

"Please! Put out the fire! Stop the pain!" I screamed out.

"Sadie saw it didn't she? She saw me...and you...and everything."