Charlie was waiting for us when we got home, all of the house lights were on and I saw the curtains shift slightly in the window. Edward slowly pulled up to the house and parked behind the truck. "He's not here." Edward said tensly. "Let's go." I turned to look at the back of the jeep to see Emmet help Bella out of the harness.
"Don't worry, Bella." Emmett said. "We'll take care of things quickly."
"Alice, Emmett." The two nodded and disappeared from the jeep. I slid from my seat as Edward blurred over to Bella's side. He helped her out and we hurried to the porch. "Fifteen minutes." Edward warned us.
"I can do this." Bella sniffed. She grabbed Edward's face. "I love you. I will always love you, no matter what happens now."
"Nothing is going to happen to you."
"Just follow the plan, ok? Keep Charlie safe for me. He's not going to like me much after this, and I want to have the chance to apologise later."
"Guys." I whispered urgently, falling into my American accent in case Charlie was listening in. "We need to get going asap."
"One more thing." Bella insisted. "Don't listen to another word I say tonight." Bella pressed a quick kiss to Edward's lips before shoving him back. "Go away, Edward!" Bella screamed. She opened the door and bolted inside. I blinked for a second before it clicked into place.
"Edward, Bella doesn't want to see you anymore." I said. I gave him look. "Get off our property!" I turned on my heel and slammed the door in his face.
"Bella?" Charlie called. He was hovering in the lounge room, waiting for us.
"Leave me alone!" Bella screamed as she bolted up the stairs. I followed her quickly with Charlie close behind. Bella slammed her door just as we reached it.
"Alex?" Charlie questioned. "What the hell happened?"
"I have no idea." I told him. "I was asleep in the car and next thing I know they're screaming at each other and we're at the house."
"Bella? Are you ok? What's going on." Charlie asked through the door.
"I'm going home." Bella told him through the door.
"Did he break up with you?"
"No!"
"What happened, Bella?"
"I broke up with him!"
"I'll be in the truck, go." I heard Edward mutter. The door unlocked and Bella pushed past us.
"Bella." I called, playing up the act as Bella hurried down the stairs. "Bella, please just talk to me. What happened between you two?" Charlie scurried after Bella with me close behind. Charlie caught Bella's elbow in the kitchen, spinning her around.
"I thought you liked him."
"I do like him." Bella insisted, tears spilling down her cheeks. "That's the problem. I can't do this anymore! I can't put down any more roots here! I don't want to end up trapped in this stupid, boring town like mum! I'm not going to make the same dumb mistake she did. I hate it! I can't stay here another minute!" My eyes widened, playing the part for Charlie. I knew we had to make Charlie hurt. He dropped Bella's arms as if he'd been burnt. Bella turned and walked to the door.
"Bells, you can't leave now, it's nighttime." Charlie whispered.
"I'll sleep in the truck if I get tried."
"Just wait another week. Renée will be back by then."
"What?"
"She called while you two were out." Charlie continued hurriedly, as if he wanted to get it all out before Bella unfroze. "Things aren't going so well in Florida, and if Bill doesn't get signed by the end of the week, they're going back to Arizona. The assistant coach of the Sidewinders said they might have a spot for another shortstop." Bella shook her head.
"I have a key." Bella muttered, turning the doorknob and stepping out. "Just let me go, Charlie." Bella said as Charlie reached out to her. "It didn't work out, Ok? I really, really hate Forks!" Bella's words had their desired affect, and Charlie froze on the spot.
"I'll look after her." I said to Charlie, backing towards the front door. "I'll keep her safe, and I'll call tomorrow." Charlie didn't respond, staring at nothing. I turned. "Bella!" I called, pretending to be frantic. "Wait up!" I pulled myself into the truck at the same time as Bella. In the darkness, Charlie couldn't see Bella and I swap seats. I pulled out of the driveway and started to drive away from our house. Edward pulled Bella into his arms the second he appeared in the cab. Lights flashed behind us and Bella looked back frantically.
"It's just Allice." Edward assured.
"The tracker?" Bella questioned.
"He heard the end of your performance?"
"Charlie?"
"The tracker followed us, he's running behind us now."
"Can we outrun him?"
"No one out-runs a tracker." I answered, my Gaelic tone reappearing. "Can you hear Victoria?" I asked, glancing at Edward as I made my way to the Cullen household. Edward shook his head.
"Who is she to you?" Edward asked me. "Jasper said your emotions were all over the place when you saw her, and her thoughts were pin-pointed on you, you smelt familiar to her."
"That…" I sucked in an unnecessary breath. "Victoria is my daughter. I gave her up the day I became a Newborn and I kept tabs on her but one day she disappeared and I assumed she had died but…" I felt venom stinging my eyes but nothing could escape. "I feel like a failure." The truck shuddered. Edward clamped a hand over Bella's mouth to muffle a scream.
"It's Emmett." Once he was sure Bella was calm, Edward released his hand and snaked it around Bella once more. "It's ok Bella, you're going to be safe." We were silent for a couple moments. "I didn't realise you were still so bored with small-town life. It seemed like you were adjusting fairly well, especially recently. Maybe I was just flattering myself that I was making more interesting for you."
"I wasn't being nice." Bella admitted. "That was the same thing my mum said when she left him, You could say I was hitting below the belt."
"Don't worry, he'll forgive you." Edward assured. "Bella, it's going to be alright."
"But it won't be all right when I'm not with you."
"We'll be together in a few days, don't forget this was your plan."
"It was the best idea, of course, it was mine." Bella paused. "Why did this happen, why me?" My grip tightened around the steering wheel.
"It's my fault. I was a fool to expose you like that."
"That's not what I meant. I was there, big deal, it didn't bother the other two. Why did this James decide to kill me? There're people all over the place, why me?"
"I got a good look at his mind tonight." Edward started. "I'm not sure if there's anything I could have done to avoid this, once he saw you. It is partially your fault, if you didn't smell so appalling delicious, he might not have bothered you. But when I defended you, well that made it a lot worse. He's not used to being thwarted, no matter how insignificant the object. He thinks of himself as a hunter and nothing else. His existence is consumed with tracking-"
"Wait." I but in softly. "If his life is consumed with the hunt, what's his relationship with Victoria? Are they mates?" Edward shook his head.
"James thinks of her as a plaything, a puppet he can control."
"A plaything?" I snarled. "If we have to kill him, let me be the one to rip his head from his shoulders."
"You have my word, you can do it yourself." Edward then turned back to Bella. "So, a challenge is all he wants out of life. Suddenly we've presented him with a beautiful challenge, a clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting the one vulnerable element. You wouldn't believe how chaotic he is now. It's his favourite game, and we've just made it his most exciting game ever." There was a brief pause. "But if I had stood by, he would have killed you right then."
"I thought...I didn't smell the same to others...as I do to you." Bella asked slowly.
"You don't." I assured her. "Everyone as their Amhránaí, in Italian it's Cantante, and the literal English translation of that is 'Singer', a Human who's blood smell is too good to resist. Everyone's gets at least one in their immortal life. Despite that, you just being a human is tempting enough for some trackers."
"Alex, I don't think we have any choice but to kill him now." Edward told me. I nodded in agreement.
"How can you kill a Vampire?" Bella questioned.
"The only way to be sure is to tear him to shreds, and then burn the pieces."
"And the other two will fight with him?"
"Victoria will, she's too deep into his manipulation." A rumble echoed in my chest. "I'm not sure about Laurent. They don't java a strong bond, he's only with them for convenience. He was embarrassed by James in the meadow…"
"But James and Victoria, they'll try to kill you." I could feel Bella's eyes flash between Edward and I.
"Bella, don't you dare waste time worrying about us. Your only concern is keeping yourself safe and please, please, trying not to be reckless."
"Is he still following?"
"Yes. He won't attack the house, though, not tonight." I turned onto the invisible road that lead to the Cullen house. The lights were on inside, and Bella's door was open before I parked. Emmett grabbed Bella and he, Edward, Alice and I blurred through the door. I was in first, and froze when I saw who was standing in the house, letting out a snarl. "He's tracking us." Edward announced once Bella was set down. Alice danced over to Jasper as Laraunt frowned.
"I was afraid of that." The olive-skin man muttered. Alice whispered something in Jasper's ear and they disappeared up the stairs together. Rosalie appeared at Emmet's side, and turne furious when her eyes landed on Bella.
"What will he do?" Carlisle asked.
"I'm sorry." Laurent responded. "I was afraid, when your boy there defended her, that would set bim off."
"Can you stop him?" Laurent shook his head.
"Nothing stops James when he gets started."
"We'll stop him." Emmett promised.
"You can't bring him down. I've never seen anything like him in my three-hundred years. He's absolutely lethal. That's why I joined his coven." Laurent glanced at Bella and then looked back at Carlisle. "Are you sure it's worth it." Just as Edward roared, a snarl made it past my lips. Rosalie placed a hand on my arm to calm me down.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to make a choice." Carlisle told him sadly.
"I'm intrigued by the life you've created here." Laurent admitted after a second. "But I won't get in the middle of this. I bear none of you any enmity, but I won't go up against James. I think I will head north, to that clan in Denali." Laurent paused. "Don't underestimate James. He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses. He's every bit as comfortable in the Human world as you seem to be, and he won't come at you head on...I'm sorry for what's been unleashed here. Truly sorry." Laurent bowed his head in remorse.
"Go in peace." Carlisle said. Laurent looked around the house before blurring out the door and into the night. "How close?" Carlisle asked Edward.
"About three miles out past the river, he's circling around to meet up with the female."
"What's the plan."
"We'll lead him off, and then Alex, Jasper and Alice will run her south."
"And then?"
"As soon as Bella's clear, we hunt him."
"I guess there's no other choice." Carlisle sighed. Edward turned to Rosalie.
"Go upstairs and trade clothes." Edward ordered.
"Why should I?" Rosalie demanded angrily. "What is she to me? Except a menace, a danger you've chosen to inflict on all of us."
"Rose…" Emmett trailed off, placing a hand on Rosalie's shoulder, however she shrugged it off sharply. Edward than turned to Esme.
"Esme?" He pleaded. Esme appeared at Bella's side.
"Of course." The caramel haired woman muttere before picking Bella up and disappearing.
"There's something that you all have to promise me." I spoke up. Everyone turned to me. "The redhead, Victoria, you can't kill her."
"Why not?" Rosalie asked me with a glare.
"Because she's my daughter. I want to talk to her, she's being manipulated by James." Carlisle nodded.
"Of course." He replied.
"Thank you." And with that, everyone blurred around the house prepping.
"Esme and Rosalie will be taking your truck, Bella." Edward said to Bella. "Alex, Alice, Jasper, take the Mercedes, you'll need the dark tint in the south. We're taing the jeep."
"Alice." Carlisle spoke up. "Will they take the bait?" Alice closed her eyes and stilled. When her eyes opened, she seemed to have some clarity.
"He'll track you." Alice reported. "The woman will follow the truck because Alex's scent is all over it, she'll follow that. We should be able to leave after that."
"Let's go." Carlisle headed towards the kitchen. Edward kissed Bella before he, Carlisle and Emmett disappeared. I wrapped my arm around Bella as she silently cried. Esme's phone vibrated and it appeared in her hand.
"Now." She said. Rosalie nodded at me before stalking out the door. Esme gebntly touched mine and Bella's cheeks before following. "Be safe." She pleaded. It was a moment before the sound of the truck reached our ears. The phone in Alice's hand was at her ear before it went off.
"Edward say's the woman-" Alice caught my glare. "Victoria." She corrected. "Is on Esme's trail. I'll get the car." Alice disappeared.
"You're wrong, you know." Jasper said quietly. "Both of you."
"What?" Bella questioned.
"I can feel what you're both feeling right now. Bella, you are worth it. And Alex, you're not a failure."
"I'm not. If anything happens to them it will be for nothing."
"You're wrong." I told him. "That's my daughter out there trying to kill us, I failed as a mother." Alice then re-appeared.
"May I?" Alice asked Bella.
"You're the first one to ask permission." Alice scooped Bella into her arms and the three of us ran.