Chapter 16

"Stop!" Alice shout cut through our lighthearted mood "Nomads! They were passing through but changed course when they heard us playing and headed here! It won't be long."

Damn! This wasn't like last time Jasper's old coven came over. Did we have time for me and Bella to run away and hide?

Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Esme and Carlisle came to our side.

"Can't we get away from here before they arrive?" I asked.

Alice shook her head.

Carlisle said: "We won't let anything happen to you and Bella."

Remembering vampire 101 never expose your neck, don't go off on your own. In a low urgent voice I told Bella: "Get your hair down!"- She just stared at me like a deer in headlights as I was untying my hair, which kind of ticked me off –"NOW!!" I hissed.

That snapped her out of it, though Edward's eyes briefly flickered to mine with anger at how I spoke to Bella. That quickly evaporated when he turned towards the direction of incoming coven. I lowered my cap to hide my very human turquoise eyes and hoped the coven couldn't pickup our scents across the field.

Out of the treeline 3 figures, approached us. Using the top of my peripheral vision I saw in the forefront whom I assumed was the leader shirtless beneath his brown jacket was dark skinned with dreadlocks.

Their leader holding the ball said: "I believe this belongs to you." Then instantaneously threw it.

Effortlessly catching the ball. Carlisle politely said: "Thank you."

"I am Laurent –" the leader introduced himself, "– this is Victoria–" gesturing to a flaming haired woman wearing a dirty white fluffy coat of sorts "–and this is James." he indicated to a pale blonde man.

"I'm Carlisle and this my family." He gestured to us.

Laurent greeted us: "Hello."

"I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused something of a mess for us."

"Our apologies. We didn't realise the territory was spoken for."

Carlisle stated: "Well, we maintain a permanent residence."

"Really?" Laurent seemed intrigued by that. "Well, we won't be a problem anymore. We're passing through."

"The humans were tracking us but we led them east. You should be safe." Victoria said smugly.

"Excellent." Carlisle said.

"So…could you use 3 more players? Oh come on, just one game." Laurent persistently pressed.

Mulling it over Carlisle relented "Sure. Why not? A few of us were leaving. You can take their place. We'll bat first."

Oh the relief I felt, now we'd just have to reach the Jeep and drive far from here, without incident.

Carlisle threw the ball to Laurent but Victoria unexpectedly caught it saying: "I'm the one with the wicked curve ball."

"Oh, I think we can handle it." Jasper confidently smirked.

"Ooh! Ho Ho! Laurent rubbed his hands in excited anticipation.

With prospect of me and Bella away and the other coven distracted by the game my family relaxed a bit…everyone except Edward. He and James were staring down at each other. My thoughts called out to him to get a grip and get me and Bella safely away from here. For whatever reason James backed down 1st and we began heading towards the car. Our nervously awkward walk was going smoothly until a sudden gust of wind blew over us across to the other coven.

Breathing in deeply James said: "And you brought snacks."

Edward pushed Bella behind him and crouched hissing a feral warning at James which returned. My family and I, on reflex ended up crouching down hissing at James like a vampire. Victoria did the same next to James.

Appearing at James' side Laurent said: "They're human?" more as a statement than question.

Trying to calm myself and partially to satisfy my curiosity, with the jig up I stared at their faces. If it weren't for their supernatural beauty, their eerie gracefulness and of course their crimson eyes, their tattered, dirty clothes and bare feet would've made me conclude they're homeless except I knew they were…vampires and most definitely the ones that killed Waylon Forge.

I'm so used to the idea of vampires being so damn beautiful that anything it seemed impossible for humans to even hope to be a 10th as beautiful as one but here when I saw James it was proven not all vampires have supernaturally enhanced beauty that's atleast exceptional by human standards.

And well...James was barely just average looking even by human standards, knowing how vampirism enhances physical beauty made me wonder how he looked when he was human if he ended up being so averagely dull. It wasn't just appearance and most importantly his feeding habits that disturbed me but something about James felt "off".

"The girls are with us. I think it's best you leave." Carlisle said trying to avert an escalation.

Hands raised up Laurent said: "I can clearly see the game is over we best get going..." looking at James locked staring down Edward, he said sternly "…James! Let's go."

That reigned in James and he straighten up, smugly glanced at Bella then me as he turned around. With Victoria by his side he placed his arm around her shoulders, kissing her forehead and parting with a teasing arrogant smirk, as the coven disappeared into the forest.

"Get Bella out of here." Carlisle said to Edward.

Later at home

A low growl escaped from Jasper as he tensed to fight.

Laurent stretched out his palms: "I'm not here for trouble, I came to warn you. Hear me out."

"Alright no harm will befall you if that is your intention." Carlisle assured James.

"I came here on my own to tell you I'm not part James' game. You see James intends to hunt your humans."

"Why is he so interested in them? He must realise they're protected by us." Jasper asked

Laurent answered: "There's a couple of reasons 1st his gift is tracking, once he sets his sights on a target he becomes obsessed to finish the hunt. Then the other girl's blood smells intoxicatingly delicious to him and he wants to feed on it."

"She's a blood singer to him?" I asked Laurent which he replied:

"Yes she is. Then he'll come after you…"–he said looking at me – "though he doesn't want you as badly. You're just desert. You seem to know an awful lot about vampires I'm fascinated to know how you ended being in a coven."

"This isn't about me. You said you've got a warning that might help us." I retorted looking into his crimson eyes adding: "Why would you include him in your coven when he can't be reigned in?" I asked him.

Looking around at my family and then back to me with something akin to admiration and amusement at my audacity he answered like we were socialites at some semi-formal intimate dinner party hosted by the great Gatsby exchanging titillating insight he replied: "I'd reign him in if it were my place."

We were processing what he said then I again I spoke to him: "With the way you carry yourself I assumed you were the leader."

Replying in a social conversational tone: "You flatter me but I'm not the coven's leader it's actually James." He further added: "Unlike other times and having such an odd and large coven protect his prey from him is a novel challenge relishes for potentially more… sport."

"Okay what do you mean other times?" Esme asked concerned.

Breathing in Laurent said: "Apart from hounding running prey to spice things up James stalks other vampires, lone nomads and if that isn't enough, occasionally provokes a coven by killing 1 mate and the survivors either die seeking vengeance or he hounds those fleeing from him. Which is why I've never seen him so insanely obsessed with a hunt. The added thrill of taking out tough fighters spurs him on. I want no part in this."

Hearing all that made me see what an absolute monster James is, one that we have to put down.

We heard the Bella's car pull up and come in the front door to where the table was and saw the rest of our family and Bella come in. When they spotted Laurent they got defensively close to Bella, Carlisle told them Laurent came to explain about James.

"Stop James however you can and Victoria don't underestimate her she's quite resourceful. Now I must leave."

"I'll walk you out and thank you." Carlisle said and did just that.

I felt odd sense of déjà vu as was a hive of activity where as some time ago when Charlotte and Peter had me going away for a few days for my safety. Now my family's safety is threatened by a nomadic vampire.

"I've had to fight our kind before not easy to kill." Jasper said.

"But not impossible." Emmett added.

"Rosalie could you put this on so that James will pickup Bella's scent."

"Why, what is she to me?" I asked.

"Rosalie-" Carlisle gently called to me "-Bella's with Edward she's part of our family and we protect family."

Part of me wished to be a heroine in 1 of those stories who raises up to defend those closest to her, defeat– no screw it– SLAY the villain. I've felt indebted to my family for protecting me and wished to repay them for that.

Putting on her clothes I just didn't expect to be doing so soon ironically my wish would come true.