Laurent

Its odd. Once you accept that life is simple long suffering it makes the whole thing a lot easier. I told myself that constantly while away from Edward. I think Bella needed to hear it. To bad I was too far away to tell her.

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"No, not really. Bye." she hung the old phone up in the kitchen. She'd been calling every hour. Evidently Jake was her La Push friend and Billy was his father. He hadn't talked with her for three days. He had "mono". Too bad Bella didn't realize her friend was becoming a wolf. Maybe she wouldn't be freaking out as much if she had. Unlike me.

See, more wolves meant more danger on my half. Sure, I could take on two wolfs, maybe even three, but I had no idea of how many there actually were and no way of finding that out. I was hoping that maybe, when Bella, Jake, and Mike went to movies not to long ago, Jake would spill something. But when Mike got sick, then Jake got sick, I knew there was no way he would have know of it then. That night began the change. They hadn't talked since.

This could be viewed as a good thing. With Jake out of the picture, I didn't have to worry about him getting to comfortable when I wasn't able to watch. Then again, with no Jake…Bella was a sad, sad case.

My head shot up as the Chevy's door slammed after Charlie left. Bella was fed up obviously. I thought that she might be going to Jake's, not to Jessica's where she'd told Charlie she was going, but it wasn't so. She went to the clearing, to the meadow. At least that's where she was heading. It took her way too long to get there and she didn't see the obvious danger that was waiting. I remained in an outer tree, simply watching as she took in the place she loved, but she wasn't satisfied. Then there he was, Laurent. Her voice shrieked his name in pleasure.

My head twisted and my eyes strained. His pupils were red. This was not good.

"Bella?" his voice seemed to endorse her. He came close quickly but allowed a distance between them. He was hungry.

"You remember?!" she asked, happier than before. What was wrong with this girl?

"I didn't expect to see you here?" still coming closer.

"Isn't it the other way around? I do live here. I thought you'd gone to Alaska." she said looking at him with hungry eyes that were being fed.

He tilted his head to the side, a slight smile on his face. "You're right. I did go to Alaska. Still, I didn't expect… When I found the Cullen place empty, I thought they'd moved on." he knew.

"Oh." her voice seemed to register. "They did move on." she told him after a moment of silence.

It was then I started to think of ways to protect her. I could quickly take Laurent out, but that risked Bella seeing me. That risked Edward's and my relationship. It would have to be the last resort. Every resort was like that.

"Do they visit often?" he asked her. It came to my mind then.

"Lie." I whispered to Bella in a voice that seemed to be like Edward's, she was closer than Laurent. He couldn't hear me. He was too tied into Bella.

Her body seemed to tense at the sound. She spoke slowly. "Now and again." she lied trying to make her voice light so he couldn't tell she was lying. She wasn't very good.

"Hmm." he seemed to contemplate that. "The house smelled like it had been vacant for awhile.

"You must lie better than that, Bella." I urged. She had to think before she spoke or else this wasn't going to work.

"I'll have to mention to Carlisle that you stopped by. He'll be sorry they missed your visit." she tried to smile. "But I probably shouldn't mention it to…Edward, I suppose--" she couldn't keep her face. My teeth gritted, her bluff was ruined. "--he has such a temper…well, I'm sure you remember. He's still touchy about the whole James thing." it was a good up play. She rolled her eyes and waved her hand showing her acceptance for Edward's over protectiveness.

"Is he really?" Laurent played along. My last resort was seeming to turn into my first right before my eyes.

"Mm-hmm." she nodded.

I snarled as he got closer.

"So how are things working out in Denali? Carlisle said you were staying with Tanya." her voice was high. She was frightened, she had every right to be.

"I like Tanya very much. And her sister Irina even more…I've never stayed in one place for so long before, and I enjoy the advantages, the novelty of it. But, the restrictions are difficult…I'm surprised that any of them can keep it up for long. Sometimes I cheat." he smirked.

"Oh." her voice shook. "Jasper has problems with that too." she smiled slightly. Taking a small step back.

"Don't move." I whispered to her. It would be dangerous to move.

"Really? Is that why they left?" he asked faking interest.

"No, Jasper is more careful at home."

"Yes. I am, too." he advanced some more.

"Did Victoria ever find you?" she breathed.

"Yes. I actually came here as a favor to her. She won't be happy about this." he shook his head some as he continued to advance.

"About what?" Bella asked as my eyes glared at Laurent. He was close enough to here me now. Close enough to see the anger on my face. He glared back at me then smiled and talked to Bella.

"About killing you." I growled and exposed my teeth as he spoke. Bella took a step back, now far away from frightened. "She wanted to save that part for herself. She's sort of put out with you, Bella."

"Me?" she squeaked, her face had to be a look of disarray.

Shaking his head, he replied, "I know, it seems a little backward to me, too. But James was her mate, and your Edward killed him."

His name sent her further into her hole of emptiness. He to advantage of that.

"She thought it more appropriate to kill you that Edward--fair turnabout, mate for mate. She asked me to get the lay of the land for her, so to speak. I didn't imagine you would be so easy to get to. So maybe her plan was flawed--apparently it wouldn't be the revenge she imagined, since you must not mean very much to him if he left you here unprotected."

Her hand went to her chest with the blow and she stumbled back some.

"I suppose she'll be angry, all the same." he frowned.

"Then why not wait for her." she manage to choke out. I wondered if I'd been able to do the same. Leaving Edward had to be much easier then Edward leaving you. Especially when your life seem to have no existence without him, and the love you thought you share was torn into two.

"Well," he face twisted to a mischievous grin, "you've caught me at a bad time, Bella. I didn't come to this place on Victoria's mission--I was hunting. I'm quite thirsty, and you do smell…simply mouthwatering."

I took a small breath and changed my voice. "Threaten him." I spoke to her, taking advantage of Laurent being caught up in thought of Bella's scent again.

"He'll know it was you," she whispered, obeying my command. "You won't get away with this."

"And why not?" he smiled looking at me and the rest of the surroundings. "The scent will wash away with the net rain. No one will find your body--you'll simply go missing, like so many, many other humans. There's no reason for Edward to think of me, if he cares enough to investigate. This is nothing personal, let me assure you, Bella. Just thirst." he shook his head in an understanding way, as if he had all the right in the world because he was a vampire.

"Beg." I begged. This was going to be the last word I could say. She had to beg for all of us.

"Please." she gasped.

"Look at it this way, Bella. You're very lucky I was the one to find you."

"Am I?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"Yes. I'll be very quick. You wont feel a think, I promise. Oh, I'll lie to Victoria about that later naturally, just to placate her. But if you knew what she had planned for you, Bella…I swear you'd be thanking me for this." he shook his head in disgust and approval.

She didn't move as the wind blew. It sent my hair around my face as I prepared for attack.

"Mouthwatering." he repeated as her sent filled his head.

It was then it came out. The sound of my roar echoed the meadow and froze Laurent. How dare he. He'd just ruined everything. My whole plan to stay as far away from Bella as possible, I just needed to watch over her. I hoped Edward would forgive me for this.

"I don't believe it." was he trying to tempt me more?

How dare he.

A low hiss came out of my mouth, one Bella could not hear.

I first thought it was me that he was looking at. But his eyes were on something behind me, the sight of which froze him solid. A deep growl cut from behind me, right behind me, and the breath sent my hair around like the wind had before.

Laurent began to flee and another wolf started for him.

Werewolves.

I took a deep breath and slowly rotated my body so I was facing the other way. The large wolf, stood staring down at me with deep black eyes.

I put my hands up and open my eyes all the way so he could take in their color.

"I'm not a leech. I'm friends of the Cullen's. Kill the fool, if you don't, I will, but I'd rather not if you don't mind. The treaty won't apply to you since I'm the only good vampire right now, so you are still welcomed here. I'll need all the help I can get protecting this one. Being it I can't go on your land." I nodded back to Bella, not turning away from him.

He shot at me.

I turned to see him going for Laurent.

"Don't move an inch." I whispered to Bella.

The wolf growled again and Laurent froze in his place. Soon another came, then two more. That made five. Bella seemed to jump a little at the other two's appearance. Their heads shot and looked at her. One head twisted and gave her a long look until the largest wolf growl, causing him to turn immediately back to their main focus.

That one was her friend, Jacob.

Laurent then fled and the wolves followed. Bella's knees buckled and she fell onto her backside. I dropped to the ground lightly and sighed. That was too close.

She sat there for a long time, most likely contemplating what she'd just seen. She'd didn't know how a werewolves teeth can cut through a vampires granite skin. She probably only thought they were oversized wolves.

As a breeze blew she got up and began running to where her truck was. It took her longer to get to the truck then it took her to get to the meadow and on the way I could hear the tearing of Laurent's body and the growls of the wolves in their accomplishment. I was extremely happy Bella couldn't hear as well.

When she got home she told Charlie that she went on a hike and not to Jessica's. There was no way to lie I guess with the way she looked and the time it was. She said she saw the bear, then commented on how it wasn't even a bear but a wolf. She told him she wouldn't hike again, which wasn't hard to get out of her. Then Bella found out the Billy lied to her about Jacob going out with friends. When she got to bed she sat there for awhile. Thinking, no doubt about today's events. That and Victoria. I wanted to go in and tell her not to worry about Victoria. She wasn't here. I knew that. I didn't hear her or see her color. Plus she'd sent Laurent to do the dirty work. Nothing to worry about. Edward would be back by the time she came, the whole family would be. Including me.

She put her fist in her mouth before she slept. It muffled the screams that night quite a lot.

Necessary to add disclaimer. I used alot form the New Moon chapter 10 the meadow in this one.
had too.
hope you like. no school = more chapters sooner. hopefully.
r&r as always. love to hear what you all think :]