(16) Salegrosas
Jasper clutched Alice's arm and kept calling her name. Edward looked confused and didn't look me in the eyes. Alice stood there trembling with that look of terror. I tried to glance around to see what made her so uneasy. The store had not changed the clothes were still on the racks, the disco ball was shimmering under the lights, and the salesgirl was busy chatting on her cell phone.
Alice shifted her eyes and began to focus on her surroundings. Jasper leaned forward to her and was whispering something in her ear. Alice murmured a phrase too quickly I didn't understand what she said. The salesgirl kept glancing our way from time to time.
The dim light in the store was mildly flickering. I grabbed Edward's arm digging my nails deep in his forearm. He didn't even flinch. The salesgirl was getting more suspicious by the second. She hung up her cell phone the jeweled case snapping shut.
"Edward, what's wrong?" I asked quietly and Edward stared ahead with a look of concentration on his perfect face. His eyebrows rose making a defined curve in his forehead. Jasper held Alice's hand and tried soothing words to comfort her. I immediately felt the calmness emanating from him.
"We can't leave. They know we're here." Edward said firmly speaking only to Alice and Jasper. Jasper looked like he wanted to argue with Edward's reasoning but Alice touched his arm.
"We can't I couldn't see anything blinded by a force so strong. My thoughts were confused and I was trying to focus on any significant detail. I have nothing." Alice replied and looked desperately at Edward.
"What's going on?" I was so frustrated they were speaking in a code that I could not decipher. What was happening? Who were they talking about?
Edward leaned towards me and whispered so the salesgirl could not overhear. I leaned forward expectantly; finally the mysterious conversation was going to make sense. "Alice sees a trio of vampires the (Salegrosas) coming to the store. They are Mexican vampires very volatile. They are second only to the Volturi. I can't get into any details. Please, stay quiet. Oh, don't look the female in the eyes." His final warnings.
My stomach twisted as I took in this new information. What the heck were Mexican vampires? Why are they coming? Most importantly why couldn't I look at the female?
The store doors banged open with a deafening crack. I saw the disco ball waver under the strength of the door slamming open. The store lights were flickering weakly. Edward suddenly moved me behind him.
A man towered in the front entrance. His dark shirt blowing in the breezy air that turned chilly. He had a taut chest with defined abs that I could see peeking out of his flapping shirt. His black hair was to his shoulders and wavy. His face frightened me. A face that declared victory from a challenge he hadn't begun. The face was the same pale shade as the Cullen's but no hint of golden tint was in his fiery red eyes.
Two figures walked in the store behind him. Another man and woman stood by his side. I had a dreadful feeling of déjà vu. The man was beside him possessing the same look in his eyes. He had luminescent skin on the parts of his body I could see. He was practically covered head to toe wearing a black turtleneck, black motorcycle gloves, and black leather pants. His head was shaved and his lean body was muscular even defined in his clothing.
The women stood back behind the two men. She was elongated matching the heights of both men beside her. She reminded me of a store mannequin still, white, and posed for no reason. Her cascading black hair blew in the wind giving the only movement to her frame. I didn't get a good luck at her since I was avoiding her gaze.
Jasper and Edward moved to the front in stance watching our visitors. The salesgirl looked back and forth between the groups. I could feel her inadequacy as she took in the beauty of both parties she was stuck in my world. The music stopped playing and the salesgirl rose weakly from her spot behind the counter.
The man who entered the store first turned to her. "Leave, NOW!" His voice filling with authority tinged with a slight accent making his words dangerous.
The salesgirl grabbed her cell phone and went to the back of the store traveling against the wall. She was shaking as I watched her clumsily leave and gave me a look of terror before she banged the door shut.
"Alejandro de la Fuentes! What brings you to California?" Edward asked cautiously choosing his phrasing very carefully. I knew he didn't want to upset the vampires, which made me anxious. His tone was an enormous difference from the greetings of the two vampires on the pier. He was being guarded lacing his words just right. It sent cold trickles down my spine.
"You know of me. I guess I should be flattered. I am also guessing you should be informed on my reign in Mexico. Now since you know me, introduce yourselves." Alejandro murmured choosing to stand in the doorway. He hadn't moved one inch.
"I am Edward Cullen this is Alice, Bella, and Jasper." Edward's introductions were ambiguous attracting Alejandro's attention.
"Hmm, the mind reader she is extremely talented." He pointed to his head. "I have a strong connection to her sonar waves. Most interesting. She is very cerebral which can be quite handy when disrupting her reading patterns." His smirk lasted a second then the dark tint returned to his eyes.
Jasper moved forward deliberately clenching his fist. Edward put his arm out in front of him and shook his head. Alice stood in the back of Jasper fuming from Alejandro's words.
"What do you want, Alejandro? Money, land? What do you seek?" Edward asked frustrated at the game Alejandro was playing.
"Edward, are you upset with me? Here I come all the way to this paltry shop to find the most intriguing vampires and you treat me with hostility. Unfortunately for you I was already in the area hunting, well we were hunting. I heard of the pier incident and what can I say I was fascinated to meet you."
"And did we satisfy your curiosity?" Edward muttered with scorn he was done challenging Alejandro.
"No." Alejandro murmured. "You did not. She did." He pointed straight at me. I gulped and my breath was coming out in trickles.
"Oh how frivolous of me. I didn't make the proper introductions of my associates." He smiled impishly and looked at me. I was weak with fear. I was terrified to look but could not tear my eyes away from him.
"This is Palo, he is my rogue bodyguard. It would be wise to never upset him. The suffering would be endless." Alejandro emphasized the last word making the threat known. Palo looked at no one. He simply stood like a statue making no sound furthering Alejandro's warning.
"This beauty is Malirosa. She is my other bodyguard. Malirosa has a very short temper." He halted and turned to Malirosa. "Lovely, of course you can play just let me finish." The introductions were only for my benefit because the Cullen's were aware of the Mexican vampires. I averted my eyes to not stare at Malirosa following Edward's warning.
"Now, we must negotiate." Alejandro stated and stared at Edward.
"There is no negotiation." Edward said defiantly.
"Young friend, you haven't heard my terms. Don't be foolish it's not in your nature." Alejandro drawled coming back to his accented language.
"I don't need to hear Alejandro. I know your intentions and never in your wildest dreams would I agree to that. You would have to kill me or go through me. Which is not likely to happen." His voice was menacing a final warning to the enemy.
"Young man you are so confidant but that can lead to stupidity. Can your confidence protect you or make you weak? Is it worth it to protect one girl at the cost of your entire family?"
"You are not getting her. You want money you can have as much as you want. You need land or homes take what we have. The girl is not being negotiated ever." Edward moved me closer to him. Alejandro stared with amusement in his eyes. He was elated that Edward had a strong response to the offer.
"Stupid arrogant fool." Alejandro whispered.
I felt a penetrating stare. I knew the direction it was coming from a danger zone. Malirosa stood off to the side. She was motionless intently looking at the Cullen's and me.
I pulled my eyes down and stared at the floor. The standoff was reaching a point. In a western this would be the part where the two male characters paced thirty steps in opposite directions. At the end they would turn and face one another. Their fate would be left to their opponent. The fastest gun drawer would win but at what price? The movie would end when the hero pulled his gun a second before the opponent. I grimaced.
I looked at the corner of the room. I saw our reflection. Alejandro in front of his trio and Edward in front of his family and me. The rules of the Wild West were the same but our cowboys were advanced killing machines. It wasn't fair for Edward to endanger his whole family because of me. I thought of what Alejandro's possible purpose could be for wanting me. I couldn't predict the future or read minds? What's my talent? The room was too quiet. I looked up and stared at Edward his eyes which were dark and stone cold.
Jasper and Alice were standing side by side with clouded vision. They were too still even for a vampire. I saw the direction of their gaze only one pinpoint to look. Malirosa.
I bravely looked up and saw Alejandro smile at me offering his hand for me. I thought Edward would rip his arm out. I waited and waited. Nothing. What's wrong with him?
