Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight. That includes James, Laurent, and Victoria.
REVISED
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Aubrey felt her heart thumping in her chest as the four strangers emerged from the woods, looking unthreatening overall except for the way they walked, hunched, like predators. Marek squeezed her close reassuringly and she looked up at him, her eyes connecting with his. He winked and looked back at the new arrivals, his jaw set in a sort of determined grimace. Aubrey looked away and back at the field as well, leaning in closer to Marek apprehensively.
They were approaching the Cullens down on the field, who had now stopped playing and were watching them as well, gathering along the sidelines by Edward, Bella, Marek, and Aubrey. Aubrey could make out the newcomers as three pale dark-haired males and a female with flaming red hair. They straightened out of their hunterlike stances as they approached, perhaps in an attempt to appear more civilized.
The woman seemed wildest next to a slight, recessive, alert man with light brown hair. On that man's other side, a straight-backed, stone-faced man with long straight dark hair that fell over his eyes stood next to an olive-toned man with beautiful glossy black hair. Their most astonishing feature, one they all shared, was their deep burgundy irises. She had only seen eyes anywhere near this color once, and that time a girl had disappeared from Forks, along with her family.
The three outsiders reached them, finally, the glossy-haired man smiling, exposing bright white teeth. He stepped forward from his comrades, drawing the attention onto himself. As he spoke, a slight French accent was detectable.
"We thought we heard a game," he said with a casual tone. "I'm Laurent, these are Victoria, Roger, and James." He waved a hand at his companions: the red-haired woman, long-haired man, and furtive man respectively. Aubrey noticed Roger was staring at Marek unblinkingly. Marek's eyes, in turn, were fixed back on him, cold as ice.
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Rosalie, Jasper, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella, Marek and Aubrey," said Carlisle, pointing out everyone in groups. Aubrey's insides squirmed when her name was called and she kept her eyes pointing past the three vampires in front of her. Marek casually tightened the arm around her waist, pulling her in closer, his eyes still fixated on Roger's.
"Do you have room for a few more players?" asked Laurent.
"Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?" asked Carlisle in a friendly, conversational voice. Convincing.
"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?" asked Laurent.
"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," said Carlisle. Aubrey noted how the tension was barely noticable now. She glanced at Jasper, who looked very casual.
"Permanent?" Laurent asked in awe. "How do you manage that?"
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably?" suggested Carlisle. "It's a rather long story."
"That sounds very interesting, and welcome," said Laurent. "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 inconspicuous, you understand," said Carlisle.
"Of course," said Laurent, nodding. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway." He laughed.
"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us. Emmett and Alice, you can go with Edward and Bella to get the Jeep. Marek, you and Aubrey can go retrieve your car as well."
Without warning, The vampire named James suddenly snapped his head around to stare at Bella, nostrils flared. Aubrey felt Marek stiffen beside her and her heart thumped in her chest. What was going on? Had they smelled Bella? Marek's grip was tightening painfully now and Aubrey realized that Roger's eyes were fixed on her, wide as a comprehension stole over him. His mouth, however, instead of turning down in a snarl, twisted into a most insane-looking smile. His wine-colored eyes flicked ever so slightly between Marek and Aubrey, looking bemused. Marek leaned forward and snarled viciously, baring his teeth. Roger chuckled darkly, his voice musky and deep, like shadows.
"What's this?" exclaimed Laurent in surprise. Edward and James had both sunk to crouches, teeth bared at one another. James feinted to the side, Edward matching his change in pose. The female was bending slightly, her eyes on Aubrey. Marek didn't move, his lips peeled back over his teeth still as he watched Roger avidly. Aubrey winced slightly as his fingers dug into her ribs, but the pain wasn't too bad.
"She's with us," said Carlisle, mainly to James. "As is Aubrey." That was directed at Roger.
"You brought a snack?" asked Laurent, taking an involuntary step towards Bella. Edward glanced at him severely.
"I said they're with us," repeated Carlisle sternly.
"But they're human," argued Laurent, astounded.
"Yes," said Emmett, scrutinizing Roger and James, who slowly straightened, his eyes remaining on Bella. They flicked to Aubrey once or twice, but it was obvious who his main interest was. Edward remained tense, protectively in front of Bella.
"It appears we have a lot to learn about each other," said Laurent, trying to distract from the hostility.
"Indeed," said Carlisle cooly.
"But we'd like to accept your invitation," continued Laurent, his eyes flicking to the humans briefly before returning to Carlisle. "And, of course, we will not harm the human girls. We won't hunt in your range, as I said."
This granted him an irritated glance from James. Roger didn't seem fazed; the twisted smile widened ever so slightly. Victoria's eyes were flicking from face to face, connecting with James's eyes briefly. Carlisle spoke after a moment of thought.
"We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme." The three called vampires drew themselves alongside Carlisle, blocking Bella and Aubrey from view. Emmett fell back warily, eyes on James and Roger.
"Alright, come on," said Marek, pulling Aubrey along with his unrelenting grip. As they retreated after Alice and Emmett, Aubrey could still feel Roger's watchful stare boring into her back.
Once they were hidden by the trees, the vampires picked up their charges and broke into a run. Aubrey watched the trees rush by at alarming speed as the tension from before collapsed into extreme worry. They reached the Jeep, clambering in without slowing down. Edward took his place in the driver's seat, placing Bella in the back to be strapped in by Emmett. When Marek began to set Aubrey in the backseat next to Bella she immediately clamped her arms around his neck, refusing to separate from him. He stopped, holding her lightly, much to Edward's disapproval.
The ride back down was terrible and dark, and rough and fast, two combinations that did not go together very well. The Jeep hit the road, speeding up as the tires pulled against the asphalt at 70 mph, and they started away from Forks.
"Where are we going?" asked Bella. Nobody answered. "Dammit, Edward! Where are you taking me?"
"We have to get you away from here, far away, now," said Edward. Aubrey didn't take her face out of the crook of Marek's neck. He seemed not to mind. Her eyes were shut tight and she was pressing her face in against the cloth of his jacket, feeling her jolting heartbeat throughout the extent of her immovable body.
"Turn around! You have to take me home!" shouted Bella, struggling in her harness.
"I need to get home. I can't leave," murmured Aubrey, opening her eyes and looking up at Marek. He didn't meet her gaze, watching the road to the side.
"Emmett," said Edward. Emmett took hold of Bella's hands.
"No! Edward! No, you can't do this," she resisted.
"I have to, Bella, now please be quiet," said Edward.
"I have to get back to my dad," said Aubrey.
"I can't take you back, Aubrey, he'll follow you there," said Marek. Aubrey felt her breathing speed up.
"I have to get back! I have to!" she said more forcefully.
"Aubrey, we can't--"
"He'll think I left! I have to get back! I can't just leave him!" Aubrey began shouting.
"I won't be quiet! 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!" Bella was shouting.
"Take me back! Take me back, you bastard! TAKE ME BACK!"
"Marek, calm Aubrey down," said Edward coldly from the front, looking at him from the rearview mirror. "Bella...calm down. We've been there before."
"Not over me you don't! You're not ruining everything over me!" shouted Bella, struggling.
"Take us back!" shouted Aubrey. Marek tightened his hold on her slightly, forcing her face back into his jacket so that she couldn't speak.
"Edward, pull over," said Alice. Edward shot her a look, speeding up. "Edward, let's just talk this through..."
"You don't understand!" roared Edward in anger. "He's a tracker, Alice, did you see that!? He's a tracker! And that Roger! He lives for violence! He's sick! And he wants her!" He jerked his head at Aubrey.
"Pull over, Edward," said Alice, a slight edge to it now. The speed increased. "Do it, Edward."
"Listen to me, Alice. I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession, and he wants her, Alice. Aubrey too, but 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." Bella suddenly gasped.
"Charlie! You can't leave him there! you can't leave him!" she shouted, thrashing.
"She's right," said Alice. The car slowed down a little. "Let's just look at our options for a minute." The car slowed some more, finally stopping on the shoulder of the highway.
"There are no options," hissed Edward.
"I'm not leaving Charlie!" yelled Bella. Muffled cries came from Aubrey as she screamed into Marek's jacket. Edward turned around and saw.
"Let her breathe, Marek!" he cried in alarm. Marek loosened his grip and Aubrey lurched up, gasping.
"I can't just leave Dad like this! Not with them around!" she panted.
"We have to take them back," said Emmett.
"No," said Edward.
"They're no match for us, Edward. They won't be able to touch them."
"They'll wait."
"I can wait too," said Emmett.
"Yes, but you can't wait in two places at once," pointed out Marek. "And we have two targets here."
"We can split into groups," said Emmett.
"You didn't see...you don't understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he's unshakable. We'd have to kill him," said Edward.
"That's an option," said Emmett.
"I like that one," growled Marek.
"And the female. She's with him. If it turns into a fight, the leader will go with them, too."
"There are enough of us," said Emmett.
"Don't we get a say in this?" asked Aubrey.
"No!" shouted Edward and Marek.
"There's another option," said Alice calmly.
"There. is. no. other. option!" shouted Edward, turning to her in absolute fury, his voice a snarl. Everyone looked at him in surprise except Alice. They stared each other down.
"Does anyone want to hear my plan?" asked Bella after a minute.
"No," growled Edward. Alice glared at him.
"Listen, you take me back--"
"No."
"You take me back. I tell my dad I want to go home to Phoenix. I pack my bags. We wait til 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," said Emmett in surprise.
"It might work...and we simply can't leave her father unprotected. You know that," said Alice. All eyes turned to Edward.
"It's too dangerous. I don't want him within a hundred miles of her," he said.
"Edward, he's not getting through us," said Emmett.
"I don't see him attacking. He'll try to wait for us to leave her alone," said Alice after a moment.
"It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen."
"I demand that you take me home," said Bella firmly. There was a pause in which Edward placed his fingers on his temples, squeezing his eyes shut. "Please..." Edward didn't look up.
"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. I don't care what he says to you. You have fifteen minutes. Do you hear me? Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep."
"You're forgetting Aubrey," said Emmett after a moment. Edward hit the steering wheel furiously and the frame shuddered.
"There aren't enough of us to handle both of them!" he growled. Aubrey looked at Marek, who's face was suddenly unreadable.
"I'll take care of Aubrey," he said. "We'll meet back at the house. If you see or sense anything different, call me." Alice looked at him.
"Marek, you know I can't see you or Aubrey if you're--"
"I know," interrupted Marek in a growl. "But keep us informed of everything going on outside ourselves."
"How will you get to the house?" asked Edward.
"Drop us off at my car and we'll work something out on our own to save time," said Marek.
"Fine," said Edward. The Jeep sprang to life, spinning in a squealing U-turn and jetting off down the highway back to Forks.
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