"Hop on," Emmett smirked and I jumped up onto his back him catching me before I slipped back down. My legs locked around his waist and my arms wound his neck.
"You remember our deal," I growled.
"I don't hit a tree you don't find some way to kill me," He chuckled.
"Good," I smiled and kissed the back of his neck before we were off like a bullet. I watched as the landscape blurred by and kind of found it amazing. Smirking I decided to have some fun and gently brushed my lips over the spot behind his ear.
"Piper," He growled and I smiled against his neck just as the clearing came into view. He slid to a stop and I slipped off also skidding a little bit but Emmett caught me.
"Oh good," Esme said sitting on the outcropping of rocks with Rose and Devan. I gave a smile and wave, walking closer and Emmett lifted me up to sit in the spot Rose and Esme had made before he leaned back against the rock in between my legs.
"Edward and Bella are about here in fact I think I just heard him laugh," Emmett chuckled informing me of what I couldn't hear.
While waiting I looked further out to see Alice and Jasper were throwing a baseball back and forth and Carlisle marking the bases. Just then Edward and Bella came into view and Rose immediately stood and walked to the other side with a sighing Devan behind her. Esme hopped off the rock and Emmett helped me down.
"Was that you we heard, Edward?" Esme asked.
"It sounded like a bear choking," Emmett smirked.
"That was him," Bella smiled slightly.
"Bella was being unintentionally funny," Edward explained quirking his lips up into a small smile.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alice race to where we were, "it's time," she announced just as thunder sounded.
"Eerie, isn't it?" Emmett smirked at Bella adding a small wink, before bending down and giving me a small kiss.
"Let's go," Alice gripped onto his hand and they darted across the field.
"Are you ready for some ball," Edward asked eagerly.
"Go Team!" Bella cheered and I could help the giggle that escaped my lips.
"Shall we go down?" Esme asked the both of us and I nodded looking over at the open mouthed Bella.
"You don't play with them?" Bella asked her.
"No, I prefer to referee," She smiled.
"They cheat," I clarified Esme gave a tiny laugh.
"You should hear the arguments they get into! Actually, I hope you don't, you would think they were raised by a pack of wolves."
"You sound like my mom," Bella laughed.
"Well, I do think of them as my children in most ways. I never could get over my mothering instincts," I frowned when she said this.
"I'm going to go closer," I whispered and Esme gave me an understanding look nodding as I ran ahead. Looking out at the teams I saw Edward far out in left field, Carlisle was in between first and second bases, Alice was on the pitcher's mound and Jasper was catcher. Up to bat was Emmett and he winked back at me before Esme stepped up.
"All right, Batter up." I watched Alice straighten up and waited for either Jasper to catch it or the sound of thunder signaling a hit.
"Was that a strike?" Bella whispered to me.
"If they don't hit it, it's a strike," I whispered back though I don't why I whispered.
Jasper threw the ball back to Alice and I watched her lips quirk up into a smile. Though this time Emmett got it making a thunderous crack.
"Home run," Bella murmured and I smirked shaking my head.
"Wait." I watched for Esme's reaction.
"Out!" Esme shouted.
"Emmett hits the hardest," I explained, "but Edward runs the fastest."
As the inning continued I watched Bella's sort of confused face and saw her jump slightly as Carlisle and Jasper collided.
"Safe," Esme called making Emmett's team up by one.
"What do you think?" Edward asked as they switched spots.
"One thing's for sure, I'll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again." She commented and I couldn't hold in the giggle.
"And it sounds like you did so much of that before," he laughed.
"I am a little disappointed," She teased.
"Why?"
"Well, it would be nice if I could find just one thing you didn't do better than everyone else on the planet." At that I let out a loud laugh before quickly walking away to escape Edwards glare.
Awhile later I turned to her.
"How ya doin Bella?" I asked about more than the game and I think she knew that.
"I'm kind of wondering something." She turned to me and I was a bit surprised but nodded.
"You and Emmett seem a lot more touchy," I guess is a way to put it.
'Can I tell her?' I asked Edward and say his head nod. "Well your blood calls to Edward a lot more than mine does to Emmett, so it's a bit easier for him. Plus Emmett's been around me a bit longer so he's had time to adjust to it."
"Is my blood weird?"
Giggling I shook my head, "Only you Bella…but no umm I have medication that kind of taints my blood so it doesn't have as powerful of effect."
"Oh," she nodded and turned back to the game when Alice suddenly gasped and just like that Edward was at our sides before any of the other had asked what was wrong.
"Alice?" Esme asked tense.
"I didn't see; I couldn't tell," she whispered. As I felt Emmett take me pulling me up against his side.
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked calmly.
"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," she murmured.
"What changed?" Jasper asked, leaning over her Alice protectively.
"They heard us playing, and it changed their path," she said.
Quickly all the eyes flashed to Bella and I.
"How soon?" Carlisle turned to Edward.
"Less than five minutes. They're running; they want to play." He scowled.
"Can you two make it?" He asked both of them but Edward answered.
"No, not carrying…Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."
"How many?" Emmett asked.
"Three," she answered.
"Three!" He scoffed and looked like he was going to accept a fight but I gripped his arm and he looked down at me his eyes quickly changing. Slowly seconds passed as we all looked at Carlisle.
"Let's just continue the game," Carlisle finally decided. "Alice said they were simply curious."
"Jazz," Emmett called and it was immediately understood that he would take his place on the field as Esme took Edwards place. Alice and Esme seemed to hover around us as every kept their eyes on the trees.
"Here put this on," He whispered quickly taking off his jacket and I pulled it on as he put the hood over my head tucking my hair inside and I looked over to see Edward pulling Bella's hair forward.
"The others are coming," Bella stated.
"Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please."
'Are they hungry Edward?' I asked and watched his eyes flick to mine before glancing away. That alone answered my question and I tried to calm my heart instantly.
"That won't help you guys," Alice said softly. "I could smell them across the field."
"I know," Both answered Edward a little more calm that Emmett was. I barely watched as the game went on with Emmett holding a bat and messing around with it but never leaving my side, just as Edward never left Bella's.
Looking up I saw a fierce look on his face, "Em," I whispered so softly that I didn't think it came out but he looked down. "I Love you."
"Love you too Pip," He whispered and leaned down pecking my lips.
Just then I saw Edward zero in on a spot and Emmett quickly mimicked him positioning himself between what was coming and me as everyone turned in the same direction
I watched as they came out one by one from the forest a couple meters apart. The first male fell back allowing the dark haired male to take his place as the leader. The third, a woman with bright red hair emerged last and they all closed ranks before continuing towards us. I had only heard of nomads from the others but seeing them was completely different. They were pure predators, cat-like, they were dressed kind of like back-packers but like back-packers that had been lost in the woods for years with their clothing frayed and worn. Both men had short cropped hair and the womans was filled with leaves and debris.
As their eyes met Carlisle who was flanked by Devan and Jasper they straightened into a more human stance. I examined the man in front with his olive toned skin and glossy hair. He was well built but nothing compared to Emmett. The woman had a wild look about her, her eyes shifting every second as if paranoid. The second male hovered behind them thinner than the leader with light brown hair and regular features. As I looked closer I realized that they're eyes were a deep burgundy not the bright red they should be if they had just fed.
"We thought we heard a game," the dark skinned man said as he stepped toward Carlisle. "I'm Laurent, these are Victoria and James."
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Devan and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Emmett and Piper, Edward and Bella." He pointed us out in groups so he wouldn't call attention to the individuals.
"Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked in a friendly tone.
"Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?" Carlisle asked just as friendly.
"We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in the neighborhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time."
"No this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves."
"What's your hunting range?" Laurent inquired.
"The Olympic Range here, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We keep a permanent residence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali." He answered talking about Tanya and her sister's.
"Permanent? How so you manage that?"
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably?" Carlisle invited. "It's a rather long story."
I saw Victoria and James exchange a look as he said home.
"That sounds very interesting and welcome."He gave an amicable smile. "We've been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had the chance to clean up in a while."
"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay in conspicuous you understand," Carlisle explained.
"Of course," Laurent nodded. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway," he laughed and I could help but wish he'd gotten a lot closer.
"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us. Emmett, Piper and Alice, you can go with Edward and Bella to get the Jeep," he added casually but I kept my eyes on Bella as a wind picked up blowing her scent right past the nomad named James. I felt Emmett discreetly push me back behind him since I hadn't been caught. In a flash both Edward and James were on edge, predatory stances as they bared their teeth. The rest of the family moved around just as protectively.
"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed and I watched as neither James or Edward relented.
"She's with us." Carlisle rebuffed as Laurent caught on.
"You brought a snack?" he asked getting a snarl from Edward in return.
"I said she'd with us," Carlisle corrected in a harder voice.
"But she's human," he protested.
"Yes." Devan gave a almost overpowering presence from beside Carlisle, his eyes on James and he slowly straightened out but Edward kept in his stance.
"It appears we have a lot to learn about each other." Laurent spoke in a soothing tone.
"Indeed," Carlisle nodded.
"But we'd like to accept you invitation," I saw his eyes flick from Bella to Carlisle, "and of course, we will not harm the human girl. We won't hunt on your range, as I said." James glanced at him in disbelief and aggravation.
"We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Devan, Esme?" he called and they gathered together blocked Bella. Alice was instantly at her side and Emmet grabbed my arm both of us jogging behind Alice. I moved with as much grace as I possibly had and Alice fell behind me as Edward practically threw Bella in the jeep. Sticking with the plan that I was a vampire no one helped me up and I was glad I was used to it as I jumped in.
"Strap her in," He ordered and I nodded quickly doing her harness before doing my own. Alice was already in the front seat while Emmett crouched in the back. I heard Edward growling something to fast for me to catch as we raced down the bumpy trail. Alice kept her eyes trained on the scenery around us and I made sure to keep my hair and face covered.
"Where are we going?" Bella asked once we hit the main road and no one answered or even looked back at us.
"Dammit, Edward! Where are you taking me?"
"We have to get you away from here, far away, now."
"Turn around! You have to take me home!" She shouted and started struggling with the harness.
"Piper," Edward said and I gave her a sorry look before gripping onto both her hands and damn was she strong.
"No! Edward! No, you can't do this."
"I have to, Bella, now please be quiet."
"I won't! You have to take me back, Charlie will call the FBI! They'll be all over your family, Carlisle and Esme! They'll have to leave, to hide forever. Not to mention Piper's family," with that Emmett growled slightly.
"Calm down, Bella." His voice cold. "We've been there before and Emmett can run Piper home."
"Stop talking about her," Emmett's growled and I glanced back at his furious face.
"Not over me, you don't! You're not ruining everything over me!" She struggled even more and I had to let go before she scratched me letting Emmett reach around and take over.
"Edward, pull over." Alice spoke and he flashed her a hard look and sped up.
"Edward, let's just talk this through."
"You don't understand," he roared. "He's a tracker, Alice, did you see that? He's a tracker!"
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Emmett stiffen and I also felt my heart speed up the opposite of what it should be doing.
"Pull over, Edward." Alice's tone was reasonable with a hint of authority. "Do it Edward."
"Listen to me, Alice. I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession, and he wants her, Alice, her, specifically. He begins the hunt tonight."
"He doesn't know where…"
"How long do you think it will take him to cross her scent in town? His plan was already set before the words were out of Laurent's mouth."
I heard Bella gasp, "Charlie! You can't leave him there! You can't leave him!" She thrashed around in the harness and I felt one of her nails scrap across my hand.
'Shit!' I looked down and noticed it was just a scratch but quickly slapped my palm over it.
"She's right," I heard Alice say but my eyes were on Emmett and he took a exasperated sigh and instantly his eyes flipped to me.
"Be careful," I whispered and he stopped breathing at all as the car slowed slightly.
"Let's just look at our options for a minute," Alice coaxed and quickly Edward stopped on the shoulder Bella and I both flying forward and slamming back.
'Jesus! Really!'
"There are no options," Edward hissed.
"I'm not leaving Charlie!" Bella yelled only to be ignored as I discreetly checked my hand and saw that the palm of on hand had a tiny stain of blood but it had stopped and I quickly pulled Emmett's jacket over both hands.
"We have to take her back," I spoke.
"No." Edward replied.
"He's no match for us, Edward. He won't be able to touch her." Emmett smirked able to breath again.
"He'll wait."
"I can wait, too." He smiled and I nervously bit my lip.
"You didn't see, you don't understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he's unshakable. We'd have to kill him."
"That's an option."
"And the female. She's with him. If it turns in a fight the leader will go with them, too."
"There are enough of us."
"There's another option," Alice said quietly.
"There. Is. No. Other. Option!" Edward snarled. Emmett, Bella and I looked at him in shock but Alice didn't even flinch. They both stared at each other for a long minute when Bella broke the silence.
"Does anyone want to hear my plan?"
"No," Edward growled and Alice glared at him.
"Listen," She pleaded. "You take me back."
"No," he interrupted and I felt myself start to get angry at him and glared.
"You take me back. I tell my dad I want to go home to Phoenix. I pack my bags. We wait till this tracker is watching and then we run. He'll follow us and leave Charlie alone. Charlie won't call the FBI on your family. Then you can take me any damned place you want."
"It's not a bad idea, really." Emmett said surprised as we all looked at her stunned.
"It might work and we simply can't leave her father unprotected. You know that," I whispered and everyone looked at Edward.
"It's too dangerous, I don't want him within a hundred miles of her."
"Edward, he's not getting through us." Emmett smirked and I rolled my eyes.
"I don't see him attacking. He'll try to wait for us to leave her alone."
"It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen."
"I demand that you take me home," Bella said firmly. As Edward pressed his fingers to his temples.
"Please," Bella added.
"You're leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees or not. You tell Charlie that you can't stand another minute in Forks. Tell him whatever story works. Pack the first things your hands touch and then get in your truck," He said his voice worn. "You have fifteen minutes. Do you hear me? Fifeteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep."
The Jeep started again and he spun around.
"Emmett?" Bella asked and looked down at his hands.
"Oh sorry," He let her loose and looked over at me then down at my hand.
"It's fine," I whispered and tucked it under my other arm and he focused back on the task at hand.
A few minutes passed in silence until Edward spoke again. "This is how it's going to happen. When we get to the house, if the tracker is not there, I will walk her to the door. Then she has fifteen minutes." He glared and Bella in the mirror. "Emmett, you take the outside of the house. Alice, you get the truck. Piper, you stay locked in here so you're scent doesn't get to him. I'll be inside as long as she is. After she's out, you three can take the Jeep home and tell Carlisle."
I saw a regretful look in Emmett's eyes and nodded, "I'm with you," he all but demanded.
"Think it through, Emmett. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"Until we know how far this is going to go, I'm with you."
Edward sighed. "If the tracker is there we keep driving."
"We're going to make it there before him," Alice said confidently and he seemed to accept it. "What are we going to do with the Jeep?" she continued.
"You're driving it home." He said with a hard edge.
"No, I'm not," she said calmly and a stream of something not to be repeated left his mouth.
"I could," I mutter at the same time as Bella whispered, "We can't all fit in my truck." Only to go unnoticed by everyone.
"I think you should let me go alone," Bella said even more quietly but of course that was heard.
"Bella please just do this my way, just this once."
"Listen, Charlie's not an imbecile. If you're not in town tomorrow, he's going to get suspicious."
"That's irrelevant. We'll make sure he's safe, and that all that matters."
"Then what about this tracker? He saw the way you acted tonight. He's going to think you're with me wherever you are."
"Edward, listen to her, I think she's right." Emmett commented.
"Yes, she is," Alice agreed.
"I can't do that," Edward's voice was icy.
"Emmett should stay, too," She continued. "He definitely got an eyeful of Emmett."
"What?" Emmett turned on her.
"You'll get a better crack at him if you stay," Alice agreed.
"You think I should let her go alone?" Edward stared incredulously.
"Of course not," Alice said. "Jasper and I will take her."
"I can't do that," Edward repeated but a bit of defeat was there.
"Hang out here for a week..a few days. Let Charlie see you haven't kidnapped me, and lead this James on a wild-goose chase. Make sure he's completely off my trail. Then come and meet me. Take a roundabout route of course, and then Jasper and Alice can go home."
"Meet you where?"
"Phoenix."
"No. He'll hear thats where you're going."
"And you'll make it look like that's a ruse, obviously. He'll know that we'll know that he's listening. He'll never believe I'm actually going where I say I'm going."
"She's diabolical," Emmett chuckled and I gave a little smirk.
"And if that doesn't work?"
"There are several million people in Phoenix."
"It's not that hard to find a phone book."
"I won't go home."
"Oh?"
"I'm quite old enough to get my own place."
"Edward, we'll be with her," Alice reminded him finally.
"What are you going to do in Phoenix?"
"Stay indoors."
"I kind of like it," Emmett thought.
"Shut up, Emmett."
"Look, if you try to take him down while she's still around, there's a much better chance that someone will get hurt, she'll get hurt, or you will, trying to protect her. Now, if you guys get him alone…" I sighed looking out to see as we entered town.
"Bella." Edward's voice was soft, "If you let anything happen to yourself, anything at all, I'm holding you personally responsible. Do you understand that?"
"Yes," she gulped and he turned to Alice.
"Can Jasper handle this?"
"Give him some credit, Edward. He's been doing well around Piper, very well."
"Can you handle this?" he asked her and she let out a guttural snarl that sent Bella back in her seat in terror and Edward gave a little smile.
"But keep your opinions to yourself," he muttered
"Umm speaking of me…" I interrupted, "Now that we have one thing settled why am I still here?"
"You're staying at the house with Esme just in case," Emmett said in a definite tone like he'd been thinking about it the whole time.
"Alright," I nodded and happy with the choice.
