The chapters just keep getting longer and longer (: Thank you for your support and (hopefully) enjoy.
They appeared from the woods, gliding above the ground. A blonde vampire fell back to give the front position to his leader, a tall, dark-haired vampire. The third member was a beautiful girl with hair the color of fire. They gave off an air of respect towards my family, although I caught a few hungry, confused glances in my direction and strange looks at my family's eyes. But they walked like they were wild animals hunting prey.
I had never seen vampires so wild. They were a far cry from the outfits from Italian Vogue that Alice dressed us in. The three of them wore ripped jeans and frayed shirts. Maybe they hadn't changed in years, decades, ever. A fine layer of dirt rested on every piece of bare skin. The female had twigs and leaves in her hair. Her crazed, burgundy eyes darted around the field.
Grandpa, flanked by Jasper and Dad, who was obviously sorry to leave my mom and me, approached them. The group straightened into a more casual stance. Their leader smiled, exposing white teeth against his olive-toned pale skin.
"We heard there was a game," he said, with a slightly accented voice.
"Yes. I'm Carlisle. This is my family: Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper, Esme and Jacob, Edward and Bella." Carlisle introduced us in groups, including Bella. Probably a stronger in numbers thing.
"Laurent," the dark-haired vampire said, gesturing to himself, "Victoria and James. Would you mind a few more players?"
"Actually, we were just finishing up," Carlisle said. We were only in the seventh inning, "Perhaps another time. How long will you be in the area?"
"Just passing through, heading up North. We wanted to see who was in the neighborhood. It's been a long time," the stranger said.
"What's your hunting range?" Laurent asked.
"The Olympic Range, and North and South of here sometimes. We keep a permanent residence here as well as another family like ours up in Denali."
"Hmm, how do you manage that?" Laurent asked.
"Why don't you come back to our home and we can talk more?" Carlisle suggested.
James and Victoria were shocked by the word home. Laurent was too, but less obviously.
"That sounds very...interesting and hospitable. We haven't had the chance to clean up in a while," Laurent said.
"Please don't be offeneded, but we would appreciate it if you would not hunt in the immediate area. We try to stay under the radar," Carlisle said politely.
"Of course. We are full from our recent hunt just out of Seattle," Laurent said. I got goosebumps down my arm. Bella shivered beside me. Lots of my friends' dads worked in Seattle. Maybe they had lost a friend or a co-worker. I didn't like having these killers so close to home.
"We'll show you back to our home then. Edward and Rosalie can go with Jacob and Bella to get the Jeep," Carlisle added. A light breeze hit the back of my head. The male, James, turned his head right to me. My mother crouched into a protective stance, and my dad growled warningly, shifting his body to block me from James' sight. James' eyes were hungry, and he was staring at my neck. I had seen that look on a vampire only twice.
One time in New York, a nomad was passing through. He came to our house, broke in actually, because he was curious. Only me and Dad were home. Thankfully, Dad stopped the intruder before he could eat me. The nomad was very embarrassed and left immediately, but when he first saw me there was a crazed look in his black eyes.
Another time was when I was four. My family was visiting. I was playing on my swing-set, jumped off the swing and landed on my arm. I skinned it pretty bad. Everyone noticed the blood. Mom, Dad, and Grandpa were good at staying calm. Grandma, Edward, and Alice could hold their breath and ignore me while Grandpa fixed me up and Mom worried. Jasper had the hardest time though. He didn't try to hunt me, but before he could compose himself, his golden eyes got the same look James had right now. Fortunately, now my uncle was almost as controlled as the rest of my family.
James stepped forward into a crouch. He growled intimidatingly. I heard Edward give an animalistic snarl. I had never heard any vampire growl violently. The only time anyone around my house did that was in jest.
"What do we have here?" Laurent asked. James and Edward relaxed their fighting stances, but their aggressive stare-down remained.
"They are with us," Carlisle said firmly.
"Sure beats crackerjack," James said. Edward growled again, louder. The sound echoed in the clearing.
"They are with us," Carlisle repeated.
"The humans?" Laurent said disbelievingly.
"Yes. You cannot hunt them," Carlisle said.
"It seems we have a lot to discuss," Laurent said.
"It seems so," Carlisle said, calmly.
"We would still like to accept your invitation," Laurent said, "Of course, we will not harm your humans and hunt out of range."
James took his eyes off me and looked at the leader with disbelieving anger. The redhead was still looking around edgily.
"Alice, Jasper, Esme and I will show you the way," Carlisle said. My dad blurred back to my side. He kept his watch on James.
"Let's go, Bella," Edward said. He had to tug on her to get her to move. She was frozen still. The other group was leaving. I watched them over my shoulder as my family walked me and Bella to the car. My family tried to block us from the nomads' sight. It was harder to block me than Bella though, even with my father's huge frame.
When the nomads were far away, Edward put Bella on his back and ran. My mom and dad picked me up from the waist with my arms around their necks, hanging on for dear life. They ran faster than they ever had, overtaking Edward's hasty sprint. We reached the car in a ridiculously short time. I jumped in the back, taking the middle seat. Edward tossed Bella in the back seat roughly. After I expertly did my buckles, I helped Bella strap herself in. Mom and Alice took the passenger seat. Dad was next to me.
Edward drove over the rough terrain without the care he had on the way here. The dark made it scarier.
We hit the road. The signs said we were going away from Forks.
"Where are we going?" Bella said, terrified.
Nobody responded. Somebody tell her! I want to know too.
"Answer me, Edward!" she demanded.
"As far away from Forks as possible," Edward snarled.
"What's going on?" I said. Edward was freaking me out.
"Turn around, Edward. I can't leave Charlie like this. He'll put out an Amber Alert! Your family will have to disappear!" Bella said.
"Will we?" I asked. Bella was scaring me more than Edward.
"Everything's going to be fine, sweetie," Mom said, although no one believed her, not even herself.
"We've had to before. It isn't a big deal," Edward said, calmer. He was right, but that never meant things were okay.
"No it isn't. What's really going on?" I asked. I was tired of being treated like a child.
"Pull over, Edward. Please," Alice said.
"The vampire called James. He's a tracker. Did you know that Alice?" Edward said. Every vampire in the car stiffened. My mom shot a terrified look at me.
The speedometer rose above one-twenty.
"We can talk this through, Edward. Just pull over," Alice said with authority.
"The hunt is his obsession. He won't stop until he has sucked him dry. James will search for him and never stop trying," Edward said, "If we go back, he'll find us. James wants Jacob specifically." My father growled.
"Why Jacob?" My mom asked. She was horrified. I was too. Knowing that I was the exact thing a supersensory, bone-crushing vampire wanted to eat was making my blood run cold.
"James smells something different about Jacob. He's curious and when he gets curious, he becomes obsessive." Edward said. Mom growled.
"We have to go back! I can't leave Charlie!" Bella shrieked. She was thrashing against the harnesses, struggling to unbuckle herself. I took her hands and stilled them. She fought against me, but I could hold her without much trouble.
"No man left behind," I said to Edward. Charlie shouldn't lose his life because of me.
"They're right," Alice said. The car slowed considerably, "If Bella disappears and her father dies, it will be too suspicious. People will never let it go."
"Pull over," Alice repeated. The car screeched to a stop this time. Bella and I flew against our harnesses.
"Let's think this through," Alice said calmly.
"There's nothing to think about," Edward growled.
"Charlie's my family. I'm not abandoning him," Bella said.
"He will not give up until he's found Jake. He'll hunt you down too. Anything that will lead him to him. James won't stop until he's dead," Edward said.
"That's doable," Dad said.
"We'll have to kill his mate too and probably the leader," Edward said.
"We'll still win. You know you can read minds, right?" Emmett said.
"It's a possibility," Mom said, "We can't let him live while he wants Jacob."
"Will anyone hear my plan?" Bella said. Edward sighed exasperatedly and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Speak, Bella," I said.
"You turn around-" Bella said.
"No," Mom growled.
"I tell Charlie I'm going home, that I hate Forks and have to escape. Charlie won't report me missing, and your family can stay here. After that, you can take me all over the goddamn world," Bella said.
Her plan seemed sound to me.
"That's pretty good," Dad said surprised, "Glad to have a good liar in the family."
"It could work," Mom admitted.
"We can't leave her father unprotected," Alice said.
"I don't want him anywhere near her-or Jacob," Edward said. He's not fooling anyone by adding me in there. He just wanted Mom on his side.
"We can split up," Mom suggested.
"Rose!" Alice scolded.
"What?" she said.
"No splitting up," Edward growled. Mom glared at Bella out of the corner of her eye.
"Either way, he's not going to touch them," Dad said confidently.
"I don't see him hurting either of them if we go back together. He wants us to leave Bella alone," Alice said.
"Not happening. He'll figure that out eventually," Edward growled.
"I know," Alice said.
"Take. Me. Home," Bella said, trying to be firm.
Edward rubbed his temples and shut his eyes tightly.
"Please," she added with a voice soft enough to take me to her side. Bella could be persuasive when she wanted to be.
"I know we're in danger, but we can't just vanish without some type of story," I said.
Edward's voice was more than reluctant; he hated giving her what she wanted now. "You have fifteen minutes-"
"Ten," Mom said sharply, "We shouldn't be going back at all."
"You have ten minutes. Tell Charlie whatever will get you out the door. Pack whatever you can get your hands on. Take your truck and don't look back. I don't care what he says," Edward said sternly. He started the Jeep and turned around. I lost my grip on Bella's hands, but the hold was unnecessary now anyway.
"If the tracker isn't there, I'll walk you to the door. Emmett will watch the house. Alice, get the truck. Rosalie, keep Jacob safe, of course."
"When can we leave?" Mom demanded. She didn't care about Bella's safety or keeping her reputation. She had very few priorities-first me, then Dad, then her family. Unlike Grandpa and Dad and everyone else, she did not see Bella as family.
"Once you see me and Bella make it out," Edward said, "I'll take the Jeep and take Bella and Jacob away."
"I'm not leaving Jacob alone," Mom said disbelievingly. Edward should have seen that coming, "I'm coming with."
"I'm in too," Dad said. His reasons were probably the same as Mom's along with the chance for a fight.
"We won't all fit in my car," Bella mumbled.
"Do you really think we're going to run from vampires in that car?" I asked incredulously. Bella shrugged.
"Alice, go to Carlisle when Bella and I leave her house. If the tracker beats us there, we keep driving," Edward said.
"He won't," Alice said confidently.
"Where are we going afterwards?" Mom asked.
"Phoenix," Bella suggested, "He's looking for Jacob. He'll never dream we're going to my home."
The car was a stunned silence again. Okay, guys, humans aren't braindead.
"Nice and diabolical," Dad complimented. I don't know if he was talking about Bella or her idea.
"James won't see it coming," Alice said. She stated it like a fact.
"Okay," Edward agreed, "Rosalie, Emmett, Jacob, Bella, and I will go to Phoenix. Alice, do you think the four of you are capable of taking down James and the others?"
Alice scrunched her perfect face up. "Carlisle and Esme are really no fighters, but I have an advantage and, well, Jasper never loses."
"I'll go where I'm needed," Dad offered. He wanted to be where the action was.
"You should go with them," Mom said. That must be hard to say. "If they have you, we won't need the protection."
Dad nodded.
"Don't you think people will find it a little suspicious that you go out of town as soon as I run away?" Bella asked.
"Meaningless," Edward deemed.
"What will people think? Charlie will blame it all on you," Bella said, "He'll make me move to Florida. I'll never be able to see you again."
"All that matters is that you're safe. The rest we can handle later," Edward said.
"But-"
"We're not risking your and Jacob's lives for the sake of your reputation," Mom snapped. Bella stopped arguing.
The car pulled up on to Bella's street. I looked outside nervously, wondering if the hunter was nearby.
"He's not here," Edward said.
"Don't worry. This'll be over before you know it," Dad said as he helped Bella undo her harness. Bella nodded, but her face was still ridden with worry. She looked like she was about to cry. I squeezed her shaking hand.
"Nothing's going to happen to you," I promised. Bella looked into my eyes and nodded. She trusted me.
"I'm not the one in danger though," she said.
Dad and Aunt Alice slipped out of the car and disappeared into the black night. I wish I could see where they were going. Right now, I wished I was a vampire so I could be helpful instead of a liability.
Edward and Bella got out of the car, Dad hurrying Bella to the door. They reappeared in the light of the porchlight. She said a few things to him, his face remaining harsh and worried. Then she leaped up and kissed him. His face changed to shock. I almost smiled. I had never seen someone surprise my uncle.
My mom slid to the driver's seat. She put her elbows on the steering wheel and put her face in her hands. Her torso quivered, and she sobbed once.
"Mom?" I asked with worry.
My mom sat up and looked at me over her shoulder.
"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, Jacob," she said with certainty.
"I know, Mom," I said. I undid my harness and reached over to hug her. She wrapped her cold arms around me although they didn't feel freezing, they felt comforting.
Mom's body tensed. She pushed me back into my seat. Then Mom put the car in drive and we shot forward. My body slammed back in the seat. I put my harness back on.
"Mom, what's going on?" I asked.
"I smelled him, the tracker. He's near. We're getting out of here," she said.
The passenger door opened. I screamed, but it was just my dad. He climbed in.
"Slow down, let Edward pass us," Dad said.
"Are you crazy?" Mom shrieked.
"Rose, please. We can't let Bella die," Dad said.
Mom snarled. She swerved on to the wrong side of the road, and our speed slowed down. Soon Bella's cheap car was alongside us.
"Jake?" Dad said.
"Yeah, Dad?" I said warily.
"Mom's going to take you, and you're going in Bella's car," he said calmly.
"What?" I screamed. This was insane. Mom climbed into the backseat and put her arms around my waist. She kicked the door open. I yelled and shut my eyes as she jumped from the backseat of the Jeep. When I opened them, I was in the backseat of Bella's car, and my heart was racing. Bella's eyes were the size of baseballs.
"That was crazy," I breathed. Mom was calm if not distressed. Edward pushed Bella's car faster.
"Careful, it's old," Bella murmured, "How can you kill a vampire?"
"Tear him apart, and burn the pieces," Edward said fiercely.
"Will the other two fight with him?" Bella asked.
"The woman will, but Laurent's ties to him are not as strong. He was embarrassed of James in the meadow," Edward said.
"So those two will be trying to kill you?" Bella asked terrified.
"Do not make this about me, Bella. All that matters is that you and Jacob are safe," Edward said.
We pulled up the driveway. The house was lit up, but I couldn't see in the pitch dark forest. Mom opened the door and ran me to the house. Edward had Bella in his arms too. They ran us through the door and set us down in the living room. Laurent was there, talking to Carlisle. Mom growled at him.
"He's tracking him," Edward told him.
"I thought so," Laurent said with his strange accent, "He is unlike anything I have ever seen. His senses are sharper, and the hunt is his obsession. He will never give up."
"We'll have to stop him then," Dad said as he came through the front door.
"Impossible. He is extremely lethal," Laurent warned. He turned back to Carlisle. "When you defended the boy, he saw it as a challenge."
"I think we have a few helpful advantages," Dad said.
"What about Bella?" Edward demanded.
"Who?" Laurent asked.
"Me," Bella said. Her voice was shaky.
"Oh," Laurent said, "He tends to focus on one target. There is something off about the boy's blood. It's different than most humans. I wouldn't say better, but...James likes oddities."
A cry escaped Mom's lips. Her terror was showing through. I put my hand on her shoulder.
"James is an unstoppable force," Laurent said, "You can't bring him down. Are you sure it's worth it?"
Mom, Dad, Edward, and most of my family growled loudly.
"I see," Laurent said.
"It's time to choose," Grandpa said gravely.
"I am intrigued by the life you have created. I have no enmity towards you or your family, but I shall not fight James. I think I will go to Denali. Do not underestimate James. He has a brilliantly strategic mind and will not be forward when he attacks. I am sorry for what has happened here tonight."
"Leave in peace," Carlisle said diplomatically. Laurent nodded and ran out the door.
There was a minute before anyone spoke.
"How far is he?" Grandpa asked. Grandma went to the control panel on the wall. I knew it held the thermostat and a keypad with codes for the house's security features. Esme pressed one of them. Huge metal shutters covered the glass wall.
"A few miles past the river. He's meeting up with the woman," Edward said, "We're going to plant a false trail, and Jasper, Alice, and Rose are taking Bella and Jacob south."
"Then?" Grandpa asked.
"We hunt him," Edward said.
Carlisle nodded. "It's the only choice."
Edward turned to Grandma. "We're going to confuse the tracker. Switch clothes with Bella." Esme nodded and picked up Bella. They blurred up the stairs. Grandpa handed me a backpack. I looked inside. It had a bunch of clothes in it I assumed were for me. Dad was zipping up a similar backpack. Grandpa opened a drawer and pulled out two silver cellphones.
"Should I switch clothes with someone?" I asked.
"Take fresh laundry from the bag," Edward said, "I'll take your clothes."Edward picked me up and ran me to the laundry room. I tried to take off my shirt and pants as quick as possible. Edward threw me fresh clothes as soon as each article was off. He changed too fast for me to notice. Then he ran me back to the front.
Aunt Alice and Grandma carried Bella down the stairs. Bella was wearing Esme's clothes and vice versa. The legs on Bella's jeans were rolled up.
"Esme and I are taking Bella's car," Grandpa said.
"Emmett and I are taking the jeep," Edward said. They must be doing the hunting. I hope James isn't as good a fighter as he is a tracker. My father and uncle were skilled though. Dad was stronger than most vampires, and Edward could anticipate the tracker's every move.
"Take the Mercedes with the dark tint," Edward told Jasper and Alice.
"Alice, can you see if he'll follow the false trail?" Grandpa asked.
Aunt Alice shut her eyes and became still as a statue. She was concentrating on her visions. "The woman will. Then we can leave."
"Let's go," Dad said. He kissed mom quickly but deeply, then hugged me.
"Take care, Jacob," he told me. He shook my hand, and I nodded. I looked over to Edward and Bella. He picked her up and quickly kissed her. Then Edward turned away and gave me quick look before disappearing.
I thought about what that quick look meant. Edward was asking me to take care of Bella. I was only human, and Alice and Jasper had protecting her covered. Her only problem now is that she'll be alone. I thought about what we-I- was putting her through. I and my family were used to protecting me, but she felt like she was more of a problem for us. Now we were making her leave and upset her father for my sake. I looked over my shoulder at Edward. He was getting in the Jeep. He gave me a tiny nod.
I swallowed and walked over to Bella. I hugged her. She looked at me with shiny, tear-stained cheeks. I smiled a little at her just so she would stop crying. Bella wiped her tears away, but they kept coming out. I pulled her in tighter and pet her hair. I held her even when her tears stained my varsity jacket.
Grandpa's phone buzzed. He put it to his ear then closed it.
"Now," he said. Grandpa shook my hand and touched Bella's shoulder before leaving. Esme touched her cheek and hugged me tightly.
"Be careful," Grandpa said as they flew out the door. I heard Bella's engine start.
More waiting.
Mom's phone buzzed. She put it to her ear.
"Edward says the woman took the bait. Let's go," Mom said. She disappeared, and the garage door opened and closed.
"You're not a burden, Bella," Jasper said. That must be why she was so upset. My family was in danger, and she thought she was extending that danger by making them bring her.
"B-but-" she blubbered. I squeezed her lips shut with my fingers.
Bella took her arms from around my waist and folded them across her chest. She gave me a pestered look.
"He's right. It isn't your fault that we're in danger," I said. I let go of her lips.
"If I wasn't here, your family could move you without my involvement. No need to watch Charlie. There would be no other tie that could lead him to you," she said. She was right, but I couldn't tell her that.
"You're worth protecting. Either way we're going to make it out of this," I said confidently.
"Are you sure?" Bella said.
"I promise," I said, "We have a mind-reader, my dad The Incredible Hulk, and a psychic. What does James have? An obsessiveness complex and his girlfriend."
Bella managed a small smile. "I'm still sorry"
"You're family," Alice said, "That means you're as much worth protecting as Jacob is."
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