Disclaimer:I sadly do not own any of these characters.
Chapter two
Edward pulled me behind him so that he was between me and the eyes. I couldn't be sure who it was and this made me start to hyperventilate. Edward started to growl the terrifying growl that sent shivers down my spine. I realized he was baring his teeth. "Stay behind me Bella. I think he's back."
"What? WHO?" I screamed quietly.
"Hello Bella," a voice with the slightest French accent murmured. At that moment I sat there, stunned, I felt as if I was locked to the seat. My heart sunk. The voice moved closer, "Nice to see you. You know, you should never rely on werewolves to do a job correctly." I tried to build up a response but my lungs were frozen. The gruesome voice was one I trusted in the beginning but soon learned that he was not what he said he was. As the attractive, but horrid, crimson eyes stepped forward, I saw the slick black hair and the perfect pale face.
I opened my mouth to speak but quickly snapped it shut. I couldn't believe my eyes were seeing what they were. Jacob had said that they had killed him-how could this be? I opened my mouth to speak again and this time I was successful, "How, why, I-" okay, I wasn't as successful as I thought. He laughed. It was like listening to a thousand hyenas laughing right in your ear. "L-L-" My tongue refused to work.
"Bella I won't let him hurt you," Edward growled the words. I knew that there must be some horrid plan inside of that disgusting mind of L-L-. I couldn't even THINK his name. Did this have to do with the fact that he threatened to kill me once, if this was true, I should be deathly afraid of Jasper too. I tried to calm myself but just started breathing faster. I could sense that Edward was trying to figure out what his next move would be.
"Oh, how sweet the vampire is protecting his little mortal. Hah, how pathetic. I think you were just saving her for a snack later." This stopped Edward's menacing growl and his breathing all together. He looked hurt. He turned around and cradled me close.
"Edward, you don't think I believe him, do you?" His beautiful topaz eyes turned deathly black and he looked up at the red eyed vampire staring in at us. I was sure that was the end of the vicious man. As soon as Edward started to growl again, the evil immortal ran to the other side of the truck, or just materialized over the truck, he was such a blur there was no way to tell.
"How have you come back? I know werewolves are incredibly unreliable, but I trusted them when they said they killed you. They left vivid pictures in their memories of them pulling your limbs apart and," The crimson eyed menace outside the window winced at the, "I saw-" Edward's eyes got wide. He looked breathless.
"What Edward?" I asked desperate to know the truth. The evil vampire chuckled. "L-L-Laurent…How?" I felt a stabbing pain in my chest as I spoke his name. As I recited the word Laurent, the memories of James' venom flowing through my veins flooded back to me and the desperately thirsty look of Victoria as she tracked me down-and the look of desperation when the werewolves came to destroy Laurent in mine and Edward's Meadow.
Laurent chuckled widely, "As I said, Bella darling, never trust werewolves to do anything correctly. You see they did rip me to shreds and tear my limbs," he winced and looked at Edward who still had not moved a muscle then continued, "The dumb ass dogs were to built up in their glory of ripping me that they did not burn me. As you know, the only way to kill a vampire would be to rip them to shreds and burn them. Those ridiculous hounds were to stupid to remember the burning part. HAH. I waited until those dreadful smelling werewolves waltzed away and then began to pull my limbs together. It took me days to find my left elbow, turns out they threw it in a tree. SO as you can see I am completely untouched." He smiled the cruelest smile known to man.
"No good lousy rotten dogs…" Edward muttered something more unintelligible under his breath.
"Aaah, Edward. Werewolves are most cruel smelling. I wouldn't expect anyone to trust any one of those revolting.. dogs." That cruel smile spread across his perfect face once again. "So Edward, you see, you killed the best tracker I have ever met and the most brilliant, beautiful women I have yet to know. But I do see why you keep Bella around, she does smile quite good, almost…floral like." I shuddered as the words that James spoke to me flooded back from almost a year ago.
Edward began to growl again. This time, it was more of a snarl, I had never been more terrified in my life of him-though I'd never admit it. "If you lay one undead hand on her I will tear you apart before you can say 'Oops'." I sat dazed at the threat that spilled from Edward's mouth. Laurent seemed mesmerized too, for an instant and then shook his head subtly and replied.
"Oh Edward, I don't want to play games like James did. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be to far. So you might want to watch out for everyone you care for." Edward sat dazed at these words, pulled me closer snarling, and glared a Laurent.
"Hah, you can't win! HAH. You foolish vampire." He spoke to no one for the crimson eyes vanished. I began to cry involuntarily.
"Edward, wh-what if he hurts someone? Like Charlie!" My eyes got big at that one.
"Bella! Don't be ridiculous we have dealt with much worse than that fool. He has no one on his side and I doubt he has the guts to go and make a new born army." I took this into consideration. "Oh, and Bella, I don't mind if you go see Jacob, but not tonight."
"I know Edward, I wouldn't leave now if someone paid me." I knew this was a ridiculous comparison but I thought it might fit.
"Bella…" He sighed and chuckled half-heartedly with a smile that got no where near his eyes. I was swimming in his back to 'normal' topaz eyes. I forgot all of my worries at that moment. "Bella," he began again, " I have a theory.. But I don't think you will like me very much when I say it."
"Edward Cullen! I could never like you any less than I do right now. You just saved me from yet another ravenous vampire." As I said the words I realized they sounded like something out of a sci-fi movie. Like that one girl thanking her hero in a gushy tone; those people always bothered me. I shuddered.
"But-"
"No Edward, just tell me."
"Okay," he took a deep breath, though I knew he didn't need it, "Well, I think the werewolves never killed him, or touched him. I think Laurent has sided with them all along and the wolves were just doing a good job of blocking it from their memories when I was near them." I was wrong, I could like him less.
All of the color ran from my face. I didn't know what to say, how could he be so absurd?! I mean I knew Laurent was some kind of dark headed master mind, but the werewolves, I doubted that very much; they were to pig headed. I smiled at this, and concern came onto Edward's face. I saw this and still decided I was not talking to him-yet. I knew I would give in soon; I always did. He was still staring at me an I was beginning to feel self conscious. I looked away and stared out the window instead. Correction, I did stare out the window-for about two seconds. I remembered the red eyes that appeared in the black night just a few minutes ago. I felt tears running down my cheek again. I was reaching my hand up to wipe them away but the cold hand that I knew best beat me to them. He turned his face towards his and forced me to stare into his gorgeous eyes. He pulled his face closer to mine and our lips met. I immediately forgot all of my worries and focused on breathing. How did he always know what I needed? "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I forgive you," I whispered back. He looked at me intently and smiled his crooked smile that I loved best. "You know I love you and could never stay mad at you and I really, really, REALLY don't think the werewolves would do that."
"I don't know Bella, but I love you too." He was always so convincing when I would drown in his butterscotch eyes.
As I came out of his dazzling eyes that I knew, somewhere, somehow, Laurent had been playing us since the first day we saw him on that thunderous baseball field.