Chapter 3: The Hunter
Author's Notes: So many reviews!! I feel so loved… :3
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Carbon: Wow…you think so? I really try to… My stories are mostly centralized around the emotions the characters feel, to out you better into the story. I'm glad all my effort is paying off. :3
A lot of people, huh? Guess Stephanie is well admired. :3
Beth: Thank you, Beth! I hope you enjoy the rest of my story as well. :3
Arowl: Heh, I warned ya, didn't I? ;3
Shobbs: You'll see… Muahaha!! xD
Dary: No worries. Thanks for the review. :D
Story: What is? O.o;
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Hope this doesn't disappoint. :3
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Running. We had been running for what seemed to be hours, but it was really only moments. Trees were speeding past us as though they were in the same hurry we were, Bella being piggy backed by Edward. No one really seemed surprised by me anymore; they were more focused on who was coming. Alice's words ran through my mind. He's a vampire…and he caught onto Bella's scent. He's…different than the other's we've faced… My eyes narrowed. Alice had been staring at me the whole time…
There's something she isn't telling us… the voice told me. "I know," I muttered.
I felt Alice glance back towards me, but I didn't return the look. I kept running, my heart beating faster as tension quickly spread through me. Something was off…
All of us stopped when we were halfway across a large, open field in the middle of the forest. I sensed it too. "He's here, isn't he," I muttered. I didn't require an answer. There was a dark figure walking slowly towards us from out of the bushes. My ears caught the faint growling over the vampires behind me.
"Well, well, well… It seems the mice have been cornered by the cat…" The vampire was tall and pale, like most others, but his hair was a fiery red that extended down to his hips in a neat ponytail. Black, hungry eyes glanced at us, and then fixed upon Bella.
"Vampires…guarding a human?" he scoffed. "What has the world come to…?" He growled audibly, his sharp, razor teeth clearly visible even from several feet away. I turned around to see Edward pass Bella towards the most beautiful of the female vampires. "Protect her, Rosalie… We shouldn't take long." Rosalie seemed reluctant to do so, but then she turned to the muscular vampire and saw the ferocious look in his eyes. She got the hint.
"Emmett," she stated. The beast like vampire turned around to face Rosalie. "…Try not to have too much fun, okay?" Emmett grinned, nodded, and then turned back towards the 'threat'.
Carlisle spoke up, trying to distract the vampire as Rosalie slowly walked away with Bella. "You realize that you stand no chance against us… There's only one of you after all… Don't you consider that kind of foolish?"
The vampire grinned widely before laughing raucously. There was a dangerous flash in his eyes, and all of a sudden he was behind us, filling the gap Rosalie had created from the group. "Letting the prey separate from the pact…thinking one pretty little vampire will be enough to stop me? I say you're the foolish ones!!" That was enough to set everyone off, Emmett leading them. They rushed towards him at a speed I considered fast even for vampires. The vampire extended his hand and I felt a paralyzing cold suddenly seize my body. I tried to move, but my body remained locked in place, as well as the Cullens…
"Wh-what…?!" Emmett gasped. To me they looked like a couple of statues too beautiful to be real.
The vampire laughed his signature laugh once more. "You see…just as many other vampires have extra abilities, this is mine… I have the ability to paralyze all those who I wish with fear for as long as I want to. So now…" He turned his hungry gaze back towards Rosalie and Bella. Rosalie appeared to be frozen too, but Bella was squirming under Rosalie's hold visibly. It didn't work on her…
"Bella…run," Rosalie muttered. Bella dashed out of Rosalie's frozen arms and towards the forest. The vampire was staring in awe at Bella. He tried to freeze her again, but nothing worked. She was almost back into the woods.
"I don't know what's going on, but you're not getting away!" The mysterious vampire began running towards Bella. Only a few moments and he would have her. She turned around, saw what was coming towards her, and screamed. "Edward!"
"BELLA!!" one of the vampire's hollered. That seemed to snap something inside of me. Their screams echoed inside my head and I snapped out of the paralysis, a symbol on my left hand glowing brightly. Bella had her arms covering her face in an "X" as though it would protect her. The vampire began advancing quicker towards her. The symbol on my hand grew brighter and I appeared in front of Bella. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her protectively as the vampire slammed into my back. There was a loud, thunderous sound that erupted from the collision and the vampire was sent flying backwards.
His eyes were widened to their fullest. He stumbled as he tried to stand up right. "What…who…?" I turned around, one arm still around Bella, my eyes narrowed. I had felt no pain. I felt Bella's gaze burn into me and I turned to look at her, a small smile on my face. "Everything's going to be alright," I assured her. She nodded slowly.
I glanced towards the Cullens, who were as surprised as the enemy. Now...it's my turn to show off, I thought.
Alright!! Been awhile since we've gotten to stretch our wings! The voice inside of me exclaimed. I grinned, stepping in front of Bella protectively, my right hand hovering over the symbol on my left.
"To get to her you'll have to go through me first," I warned, glaring at the vampire who was now brushing himself off. He took one look at the symbol and his face brightened.
"Oho! Now I see! Our leader has told us about you… Bastion, was it?"
My eyes widened. "How do you know my name? Who's your leader?"
Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes, but the grin never left his face. "You'll just have to defeat me to find out."
I felt the rage burn through my body ferociously. I clasped the top of my left hand with my right, covering the symbol. The light grew brighter until it was nearly blinding. Wind suddenly picked up from underneath my feet, and then a bright symbol in light appeared. I was suddenly bathed in light, the radiance enough to rival the sun. It lasted for only a few moments, but when it ceased to reveal me once more, my hair was a striking blonde, my skin incredibly pale, my eyes an icy blue. I had grown an entire foot in height.
I turned towards Bella who was staring at me in utter amazement. "Go back to Edward. I'll take care of him," I told her, my voice now melodic and powerful, the sound seeming to shake the very air itself. It took her awhile for the information to get through, but she finally began running back to Edward, past the vampire who now only had eyes for me. The Cullens were no longer frozen, but they kept their eyes on me as well, as though still immobile.
I turned to look the vampire directly in the eyes. "Now…tell me…who are you, and who is your leader?" I asked demandingly. He smiled slightly.
"My name is Richard. As to who my leader is, you know the rules. Beat me first." He smirked with confidence. I narrowed my glare.
"You do not want to do that…"
The vampire went into a fighting position. "Are you kidding me? After all of the stories I've heard about you angels? No way am I giving up this chance… Wait until the guys at my coven hear about how I defeated the infamous Bastion!"
I curled in my fingers, gathering strength. In pulled in my arms and then thrust them outwards, two large, white wings quickly growing from my back. Stretched to their fullest, they were more than twice the length of my two, large arms. The white was pure and seemed to radiate more light. They flapped a few times, creating a strong breeze, before folding almost protectively behind me.
The vampire came at me with full force, creating a large gust of wind at the incredible speed he used. He threw the hardest punch he could towards my chest, the impact creating a large shockwave and sound that surpassed even that of thunder. My ears tingled slightly from the sheer volume, but I remained unfazed. He left his fist on my chest as though at any moment I would curl up in pain.
"Finished already?" I asked, almost mockingly. Frustrated, he threw another punch towards my chest. This one was slightly stronger than the last, but had no different affect on me. I sighed. "I warned you… Now it's too late to run." I quickly gripped his wrists, locking them in place with my strong hands. He tried to release my hold on him, but I held them with ease on my chest. I looked directly into his eyes, piercing right through him.
"Learn to fear the light!" I screamed, and then the palms of my hands burst forth light onto the wrists of Richard. He began screaming as pain flooded his body, his gaze never leaving my own. I then suddenly stopped, leaving him stunned for a few moments, before thrusting a punch to his own chest. He was sent flying backwards, crashing into trees and shrubbery, creating practically another path from how far he was sent.
Within a moment's notice he was charging back at me again. His anger had made him reckless. I was through with playing around. Flapping my wings, I flew towards Richard, wind and dirt whipping around me by the incredible speed. Within a moment the battle was brought to an end. Both of us collided harshly, but it was obvious Richard was the one hurt. He screamed in pain, but before he could be knocked backwards again, I grabbed onto Richard's shoulders tightly, light bursting from it once more, throwing Richard into further pain.
"Look at me!" I demanded. Richard opened his eyes, which were closed from the pain. I stared deep into them and he winced. I was hurting him within as well with my bright light.
"Who is your leader?" I asked slowly, hovering inches from the ground thanks to my wings. His eyes seemed to glaze over before answering. "Jason," he muttered. My eyes widened. It can't be…
Yet you knew all along, the voice inside me stated.
I had my suspicions, yes, but I had still refused to believe it. …Now…there was no denying it… Jason was…
Bastion, Richard!!! My voice screamed. I quickly snapped out of my trance just as Richard was. I placed my left palm upon on his chest, putting him back into his unconscious state. "You will leave us alone, you understand? If I ever see you or someone else from your clan here ever again…I will not be as merciful," I warned him. He nodded his understanding, mouth slightly open. I dropped him, and he disappeared from sight.
I slowed down the fluttering of my wings, allowing me to plant my feet softly on the ground. My wings flapped just a little more to fold behind my back. I turned around and saw the entire Cullen family staring right back at me. Edward opened his mouth, but I quickly stopped him.
"More explaining to do, I know," I stated, smiling softly.
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Hope you liked it! More to come soon. :3