CHAPTER EIGHT

THE GAME

The next day Bella came into my room and blurted out, "Wanna play baseball with the Cullens?"

I rubbed my eyes and gave her a look that said 'you're crazy' and asked, "What are you talking about?" I was only 60% sure that she was there. I didn't get any sleep last night.

Bella sighed, "Edward wants me to watch him and his family play baseball to see what it's like. Jasper asked me to invite you. Wanna come?"

"Now?" I whined.

Bella chuckled, "No, around noon."

I laid back on my bed a groaned, "That's early!"

Bella playfully glared at me and pulled my pillow from my head. I yelled out, "Hey!" but she ignored, "You need to get out of the house."

"I was just at the beach with Embry!" I argued.

Bella stuttered a retort to that, because she knew I was right, so she just said, "Jasper misses you. So you're coming."

I groaned a buried my face into my mattress, "You're evil."

I heard her walk away, calling out, "Hurry and get ready!"

I slept in another hour before I got up and got dressed in a thick long sleeve burgundy shirt, dark black skinny jeans and rain boots. I grabbed my black coat and walked out. When I got to the dining room where my dad was cleaning his rifle, I heard Bella blurt out, "I have a date with Edward Cullen."

I almost laughed at dad's face.

He said, "He's too old for you." He had no idea how right he was.

But Bella shook her head, "We're both juniors. I thought you liked the Cullens."

"And I thought you weren't interested in any of the boys in town," Dad quipped. He had her there.

"Edward doesn't live 'in town.' And it's in the early stage and-" yeah right, how does 'I am irrevocably in love with him' qualify as 'sill in the early stage'? "-whatever, he's outside right now."

"Now? He's out there?" Dad asked.

Bella nodded, uncomfortable, "He wants to meet you. Officially."

"Good." Dad muttered. He cocked his rifle in mock-seriousness, "Bring him in!"

I walked in just as Edward was about to come in.

"Be nice, okay?" Bella pleaded, "He's …. important."

Dad nodded at her just as Edward entered in a park and gloves.

He looked nervous – what kind of vampire is he – "Chief Swan. I wanted to formally introduce myself. I'm Edward." He extended his hand. Dad took and grunted, "Hello."

"I won't keep Bella and Callie out late tonight. We're just going to go play baseball with my family."

Dad looked relieved when he heard I was going with. "Bella's going to play baseball?"

"Yes, sir," Edward answered, "That's the plan."

"Well," Dad muttered, "Good luck with that."

Edward looked my dad in the eye, "I'll keep them safe, sir, I promise."

As he left, Dad held us back, "You two got your pepper spray?"

I nodded and held it out.

Storm clouds gathered in the sky as we pulled up in Emmett's jeep. I took in the rough baseball diamond, set into an enormous field in the lap of the Olympic peaks.

Esme and Emmett came up to greet us. Esme smiled, "Good thing you're here. We need an umpire."

Emmett gave us a crooked grin, "She thinks we cheat."

"I know you cheat," Esme grinned as she pulled Bella over to stand behind her and I came to stand at the side, "Call 'em as you see 'em, Bella."

Jasper smiled upon seeing me and came to greet me with a kiss on the cheek, "Glad you're here, darling."

I smiled at him, "Got dragged out of bed to watch vampires play baseball. I should totally post that on my space."

Jasper laughed at me and put his arm around my shoulder as he waited for his turn to bat.

Thunder cracked loudly and Alice grinned, "It's time."

As soon as they started playing, I knew why they needed thunder. Whenever they whacked the ball or smashed into each other, the sound resonated like thunder in the sky.

It was so much fun to watch them play. They blurred around the grass gracefully. Even in sports, they could be graceful.

But suddenly, Alice gasped, "Stop!"

They all froze. Edward came immediately to Bella's side and Jasper to mine as Alice and the others came to group with us.

Alice looked worried, "I didn't see them. They're coming fast."

"You said they left the country-" Rosalie started.

"They did, but then they heard us..." Alice looked at Edward, "And changed their minds."

Edward murmured to Bella and me, "Put your hair down."

"Like that'll help," Rosalie glared, "I could smell her from across the field." But she was ignored.

Edward looked pained as he put his arm around my sister, "I shouldn't have brought you here. I'm so sorry."

I heard Bella ask why but my eyes were trained on the edge of the forest. There was a faint rustle. But then three figures emerged. One was a rough looking man with nothing but low riding jeans and a leather jacket with many rips and pins in them. He had a woman close to him. She had fiery red hair in tight ringlets, dressed in cargo pants, a green halter top and an enormous fur coat across her shoulders. They both had messy hair that looks like they've been sleeping on the ground. The third person was a man with dark ebony skin and dark dreadlocks wearing a smooth jacket, no shirt and dark wash jeans. They were all barefoot and had matching scarlet red eyes that looked sinister and evil compared to the Cullen's gold eyes.

Dreadlocks spoke, holding up a baseball, "I believe this belongs to you." He tossed the ball – even though it went blindingly fast – and Carlisle caught it easily.

The Doctor smiled politely, "Thank you."

"Could you use three more players?" He asked, hopeful.

I shrunk into Jasper's side as Carlisle answered, "Of course. Some of our family was leaving, you can take their place."

Dreadlocks smiled, pleased, "I'm Laurent. This is Victoria. And James."

Dr. Cullen smiled, "Would you like to bat first?"

Laurent picked up the bat as the Cullens took the field. Carlisle took up catcher while Edward was on first, his eyes trained on James the whole time.

Jasper stuck to my side and Bella stood with us by the Jeep.

Before the game continued, Dr. Cullen approached Laurent, "I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused something of a mess for us."

Laurent answered politely, apologetic, "Our apologies. We didn't realize the territory had been claimed."

"Yes, we maintain a permanent residence."

The three red eyed vampires looked surprised. But as usual Laurent spoke, "Really? Well, we won't be a problem anymore."

The red head smirked in agreement, "The humans were tracking us, but we led them East-"

Alice pitched the ball and Laurent slammed it. But Emmett was up in a tree the next millisecond and caught it no problem. Laurent looked pissed but was secretly dancing on his proverbial grave inwardly.

The rebel – James – bat next and slammed the ball with force unmatched.

But when James was passing us, the wind blew Bella's hair forward. James suddenly screeched to a halt and his head whipped around at her and he lurched into a crouch, his nostrils flaring excitedly. His eyes locked on Bella, "You brought a snack."

Edward sprung in front of Bella and crouched, baring his teeth. Jasper stood protectively in front of me.

Victoria and Laurent lined up behind James.

Carlise stepped in, "The girls are with us."

Laurent tried to play mediator, "We won't harm them."

But Emmett was ready for a fight, "Just try it."

Carlise sighed, "I think it best if you leave."

Laurent nodded, "Yes, I can see the game is over. We'll go now. James?"

James wasn't listening. His eyes never left Edward's enraged ones. Laurent put a hand on James' shoulder and finally, James backed off. He threw an arm over Victoria and strutted off into the woods and disappeared.

Esme immediately began to gather the bats as her husband spoke, "Get Bella and Callie out of here. We'll follow them."

Jasper gave me a kiss on my forehead before he followed his father and a reluctant Rosalie after the human drinkers.

Edward scooped Bella up and put her into the jeep. I followed and got into the back.

Edward started strapping Bella in until she snapped, "I've got it!"

When Edward got into the jeep and started driving I couldn't help but ask, "So now some deranged vampire is after my sister!"

"James is a tracker," Edward answered, "I saw his mind. The hunt is his obsession, and my reaction set him off," the tires spun as Edward drove maniacally, "We're a large clan of strong fighters all protecting a vulnerable human. I just made this his most exciting game ever."

Bella blanched with the dawning realization of what she has done.

"The first place he'll go is your house. He'll track your scent there."

Bella looked horrified and I felt the breath leave me, "What? Charlie's there. He's in danger because of me. Because of us!"

"Then we'll lead the tracker away from him. Somehow."

"We have to leave!" I shouted.

Edward gave me a look, "What?"

I rolled my eyes, "We have to leave. Or make it seem to James that we're leaving. You said he's gonna track us there so he'll theoretically be there when we get there. So if he heard Bella freak out and say she's leaving and I follow her, he won't have any reason to stick around the house and my dad will be out of danger."

When we got home, that's what we did. And it almost broke my heart.

Bella put on quite a show. She ran into the house after almost pushing me in and shouted at Edward, "I said leave me alone!" She slammed the screen door in his face.

Edward pleaded, "Bella, don't do this. Just think about it, please."

"Get out!" Bella shouted, heading for the stairs, "It's over."

Dad came into the room after Bella slammed the wooden door in Edward's face, "Bella? What happened?"

"I have to get out of this place. Out of Forks. I'm leaving. Now."

She ran upstairs with me and dad in tow. I sighed, "Bella, think about this. This is ridiculous."

Bella slammed her door behind her – she loves slamming those doors – and dad and I came up to it, knocking.

"Bells. Did he hurt you?"

Bella yanked the door open and answered in clipped tones, "No, dad."

"Then what?" Dad sighed, "Did he break up with you?"

"I broke up with him," Bella answered as she shoved bathroom necessities into her bag.

"I thought you liked him," Dad said confused.

Bella shrugged, "That's why I have to leave. I don't want this. I want to go home." She walked out and started walking down the stairs.

"Your mother's not even in Phoenix."

"She'll come home. I'll call her from the road." Bella put her bag by the door.

"You can't drive home now. I'll take you to the airport in the morning if you're really set on going." But I could tell Dad didn't want her to go.

"I want to drive," Bella insisted as she hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, "I need time to think. I'll pull into a motel in a few hours. I promise."

She reached for the door but dad stopped her, "Bells, I know I'm not around much, but I can change that. We can do more things together."

Bella took a deep breath and I dreaded to think of how she was going to hurt Dad. "Like watch more baseball on the flat screen? Or go to the same diner? Steak and berry cobbler every night? That's you, Dad. Not me."

Even I felt my hear break for dad and I was tempted to reach out to him and tell him the truth. But I couldn't.

"... I just got you both back."

Bella reached for the door again, "And if I don't get out now, I'm going to get stuck here like mom." With that she pushed out the door.

I whispered tearfully to dad, "I'll talk some sense into her." I leaned up and kissed his cheek and ran after Bella.

Bella sped away in her truck as soon as I was inside. Suddenly Edward was outside her car window, "He'll forgive you. Slide over."

Bella slid closer to me and Edward slid in smoothly, taking the wheel. Bella slumped in her seat, "His face... I said the same words my mom used when she left him."

"It was the only way he'd let you go," Edward assured her. He floored it. "Your father's safe now, Bella. The tracker is following us."

We were soon at the Cullen manor and we pulled into the garage. But we all froze when we saw Laurent exiting. "Why is he here!" I shouted.

"He came to warn us, about James." Carlisle assured us. We back off slightly.

Laurent looked grave, "I've grown tired of his games. But he's got unparalleled senses. Absolutely lethal. I've never seen anything like him in three hundred years... and the woman, Victoria, will back him. Don't underestimate her."

He sighed as he took his leave, "I'm truly sorry for what's been unleashed here."

Everyone spring into action besides me and Rosalie. She glared at nothing until she saw me scared. She put her arm around me and leaned back against the counter.

Jasper kissed my forehead soothingly before addressing Edward, "I've had to fight our kind before. We're hard to kill."

"But not impossible," Edward answered, "We'll tear him up."

"And burn the pieces," Emmett smirked.

"I don't relish killing another creature. Even a sadistic one like James," Carlisle told us.

"If he doesn't get to one of us first," Rosalie muttered.

"This is insane," Bella bursted out, "You can't put yourselves in danger like this because of me."

"Too late," Rosalie snarled at her.

Edward shot Rosalie a look. But he grabbed two sets of keys off the hook, throwing one to his father, "I'll run Bella south, while you lead the tracker away-"

"No, Edward," I interrupted, "The tracker knows you won't leave Bella. He'll follow you."

"She's right," Esme agreed with me.

Alice stepped forward, "I'll go with Bella. Jasper and I will drive her to Phoenix. I'll keep her safe."

Edward studied her, "Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?"

She nodded. She took the keys as Edward pulled clothes out of Bella's suitcase and tossed them to Esme and Rosalie. "Put these on so the tracker will pick up Bella's scent."

Rosalie dropped the clothes, "Why should I? What is she to me?"

I looked up at her and whispered, "Rosalie. Please."

She looked down at my face and sighed through her nose. I picked up the clothes and started putting them on. "What are you doing?"

"One of you will just have to carry me. I'm her sister. I'm assuming I smell like her too and I look like her. He'll follow me."

"Callie..." I heard Bella say from the SUV. I looked at her and said, "I'll be fine. This isn't another suicide attempt, I promise."

I could look at the Cullens' faces as I revealed one of my darkest secrets. Bella reluctantly nodded to me and she and Edward took a moment.

After they pulled away, Edward hoisted me up on his back and told me to close my eyes. I did. Emmett and us took off into the woods. I felt the wind whip at my face. Every now and again we'd stop so I could rub against a tree to spread my scent.

When Edward suddenly stopped, I opened my eyes, "What?"

Edward blanched, "He's figured it out."

"What does that mean?"

But he didn't answer. He just kept running. But he didn't warn me so my eyes stayed open. The motions and blurs of the passing trees made me dizzy. In a second we were back int the garage and Edward tossed me to Rosalie and flipped on his phone.

Three minutes later, he hung up and addressed us. "James is going to the ballet studio?"

I groaned at the memory, "When we were little, Bella and I took lessons. We hated it."

Edward glared at nothing, "Bella slipped away. We have to get to Phoenix."

"I'm coming." I said as I got into the car.

"No," Edward denied me, "It's too dangerous."

I looked him in the eye, "This isn't up to you, Edward. You may be her boyfriend, but I'm her sister. And no matter what, I will always come before you."

Needless to say he let me come.

We took a plane to Phoenix to save time. And with Edward's driving we were at a hotel in no time. He insisted that I stay at the hotel and it took Rosalie staying with me for me to agree.

We sat at the couch before I felt my stomach drop, "I have to go to the bathroom."

Rosalie shot up, suspiciously. I looked at her and spoke placating, "I promise. Just the bathroom."

She calmed down after that. The thing is that I had to go into another room to get to the bathroom and who else would be waiting there but Victoria.

She gave me a sinister look, "You're not her."

"I see you fell for our diversion then," I said, trying to be brave. But inside I felt cold. This was it.

Victoria looked pissed, "You'll pay."

With that she whipped me into her arms and jumped out the window, landing on the ground three stories below with ease. But she tossed me on the floor and I felt my head crack against the concrete.

Victoria circled me, "You thought you could out smart me?" She snorted at that, "You're nothing but a weak little human. The Cullens pet."

I glared up at her, "Either way. You lost."

She smirked at me, "And how did I lose?"

I smirked right back, "Because right about now, I'm guessing Edward's ripping your lover boy's head off. Good riddance." I sounded cruel. I wanted to. She deserved it.

The smirk fell off her face and she let out a pained howl in rage. She suddenly lifted her foot and kicked me in the stomach. I flew through the air. Luckily there weren't any building or anything behind the hotel. Just desert. I eventually fell to the ground and rolled almost seven feet away.

I gasped at the pain that shot up my spine. I heard the wind move and Victoria was right in front of me again. But I heard the wind again and saw that Rosalie stood behind the red headed bitch.

I smirk. Victoria glared at me, "What are you so happy about?"

"Me," Rosalie answered. And she swung at Victoria. But she was quick and caught Rosalie's arm. They twisted in the air and swung at each other, their feet shifting on the desert floor to flow with their bodies. It almost looked like they were dancing.

Soon they both forgot about each other and tried to get through the other to me.

"Callie," Rosalie yelled, "Run! Get inside with the crowds!"

I tried to get up but when my torso was jarred a sharp pain shot up my spine again and I screamed.

Victoria smashed Rosalie to the ground and sprung at me. She wrapped her hand around my neck and squeezed only slightly, "I like to see them beg for their lives."

I gasped for air, and I only got enough to say, "Never."

Victoria must have thought I was too annoying to play with, for then she sunk her fangs into my shoulder. I screamed as fire spread throughout my veins and I felt my heart beat faster and faster.

Rosalie ripped Victoria off of me and the red head sprinted away. Rosalie looked down at me screaming in pain. Suddenly Esme was at my side, I think. I could barely tell through the haze. When did she get here?

"You have to suck out the venom, Rose. You have to."

Rosalie looked pained but she leaned down, whispering in my ear, "Shh. It'll be okay. I'm so sorry." With that she sunk her fangs into my shoulder.

I felt warm. I felt dizzy. I felt more than saw the blackness envelope my eyes. And then all there was was black.

Dun dun duuuuun... Will she become a vampire? You don't know.

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