I just want to take a quick moment to say a great, big thank you to everyone who had added this story to their alert/favorite list, and to all of you who have left such wonderful reviews! Your support is so awesome and so appreciated! Sorry for the long wait between chapters, but it just happens, ya know? The good news is that we're actually drawing closer to the end of Part 1, which is really exciting! I'm probably going to focus purely on this story so that I can get Part 1 finished! In summary - hopefully you guys won't have to wait quite as long for the next update!
Anywho, without futher ado, here's the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Twilight, only the OC's.
Chapter Fifteen
The nomad vampires were very different from the Cullen's, Danielle could see that almost straight away.
Where Jasper and his family carried themselves in a refined, more humanly fashion, these vampires seemed more like jungle cats who looked ready to pounce at a moment's notice. As they drew closer, she could sense that there was an aura of wildness to them that the Cullen's didn't possess. Their clothes were normal enough, but the fabric was frayed, dirty, and tattered, as if they had been worn non stop for quite some time. The two males had a commanding, intimidating atmosphere to them, while the lone female, a vampire with red, wild hair, gave off a sinister vibe that instantly made Danielle feel uneasy. When the strange vampires finally came to a stop in front of the Cullen's, she could see that their eyes were bright red rather than the pretty amber she was used to seeing. She had to fight the sudden urge to move even closer to Jasper – moving would just draw their attention to herself, which was exactly what Jasper had said not to do.
Carlisle stepped forward to greet them. Emmett stepped forward too, so that he stood at Carlisle's shoulder like a body guard, his massive arms crossed over his chest and his expression more serious than Danielle had ever seen.
"Hello," Carlisle said in a polite, friendly tone.
The dark skinned male stepped forward, giving an easy smile. "Hello," he said in return. "We heard you playing and thought we would come and introduce ourselves," he then added. His voice was smooth and held a light French accent. "I'm Laurent. This is Victoria and James," he introduced, gesturing to the two behind him. It seemed as though Laurent was the leader of their small coven.
"My name is Carlisle, and this is my family," Carlisle said in return, gesturing to them.
The three vampires began to scan their eyes over the Cullen's with interest. Knowing that her blue eyes would be more than enough to give away the fact that she wasn't a vampire if the nomads saw them, Danielle lowered her chin the slightest bit so that the bill of her cap would hide her eyes, but not so much that it was obvious she was trying to avoid eye contact. For a second or two she could feel a lingering gaze on her as one of the nomads stared in her direction, or maybe she just thought they were staring at her because she was so scared that they would realize she was a human. Either way, the feeling finally went away when Carlisle spoke again.
"What brings you to the area?" he asked.
"We are just passing through," Laurent answered. "We are headed north, to Canada. We were curious to see who was in the neighborhood, though. We haven't had much company other than our own for quite some time," he explained.
"This region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves," Carlisle responded with a small nod.
"What is your hunting range?" Laurent inquired curiously.
"The Olympic Range here, then up and down the coast ranges on occasion," Carlisle told him. "We keep a permanent residence nearby, so we avoid hunting in these parts."
"A permanent residence?" Laurent echoed with surprise. "Such a thing is possible?"
"Indeed, it is," Carlisle confirmed. "We are not the only ones of our kind, either. There is another permanent settlement like ours near Denali."
"However do you manage it?" Laurent asked curiously.
"That is quite a long story," Carlisle said, and though Danielle couldn't see his expression, she could hear the easy smile in his tone. "If you would like, you may return to our home with us, where I would be more than happy to discuss our way of life."
Laurent shared a brief look with the vampire named James, before he gave Carlisle a nod. "We would like that very much," he answered.
"Wonderful," Carlisle said. "Allow my wife and I to show you the way while the others collect our belongings," he suggested.
Danielle resisted the urge to breathe a sigh of relief as Carlisle and Esme began to step away from the group, gesturing for the nomad vampires to follow them. Even Jasper seemed to relax, because the tension in his shoulders had begun to noticeably ease now that this encounter seemed to be coming to an end. The wild looking nomads were leaving, and she and Bella had both somehow managed to hide the fact that they were not vampires. Carlisle and Esme would lead the vampires away, and then they would be safe to leave the field and get as far away from the nomads as Forks allowed them to. It had been a close call, but in the end, it was no harm, no foul.
But then Laurent laughed and held up a hand. "Wait a moment, Carlisle," he said, which made Carlisle and Esme pause. "There is no need to rush off just yet. We have all the time in the world to talk," he pointed out. "Your game sounded fun. Why don't we stay here a little longer and play a few more rounds?"
"Yeah," the red-haired woman finally spoke up. Danielle instantly shivered at the sound of her voice. "Let's play. I've got a wicked curveball," she said with a smirk.
Danielle was tense again, as was Jasper. She chanced a look at Carlisle, who seemed as though he wanted to say no to the suggestion. She wanted him to say no, too. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that the nomads would discover the truth about her and Bella – and very quickly – if they resumed their game as normal. But after a second, Carlisle smiled and nodded, which made her stomach flip uneasily.
"Sure," he said with a nod. "A few of us were about to leave anyway," he then added. "You can take their spots."
"Perfect," Laurent said with a smirk.
Emmett and Alice moved to talk to the nomads, speaking louder than necessary and making sure to stand so that they were blocking Danielle and Bella. It seemed as though they were trying to keep the vampires distracted. At the same moment, Carlisle shot a meaningful look at Edward first, then Jasper, before nodding his head toward the jeep to indicate that they should leave. Jasper placed a hand on Danielle's back, angling his body so that he was in front of her, and started to lead her away. Edward did the same with Bella.
They had barely even made it a step before the wind suddenly picked up. Danielle felt it against her skin and caressing the short ponytail that stuck out from the small hole in the back of her baseball cap. In front of her, Bella's long hair began to sway around her shoulders, the dark tresses floating up with the breeze and dancing around like flames of a fire.
It happened very quickly. One moment, everything was calm – in the next, Edward had dropped into a defensive crouch in front of Bella, a vicious snarl tearing from his throat as his hardened gaze locked on James. Danielle jumped with surprise, unsure what had happened to cause Edward to react in such a way, until realization caught up to her swiftly. The wind rustling Bella's long hair must have carried her scent to the nomads, and James, having detected it quickly, was now in a crouch himself and gazing at Bella with hunger.
The rest of the Cullen's were on the defensive now, hissing warningly as James continued to eye Bella like she was a piece of meat. Jasper had an arm in front of Danielle, a low growl rumbling in his chest, his eyes dark and narrowed as he glared at the nomads. Danielle's blood ran cold as she braced herself, knowing that at any second for the nomads would look at her next and realize that she was a human, too.
But as she looked at the three, she realized not a single one of them was paying attention to her. Laurent and Victoria seemed equal parts confused and surprised as they stared at Bella, while James was so focused on Bella that he was hardly paying attention to anyone else. Danielle didn't know why, couldn't possibly begin to explain how they had missed the fact that there were two humans present, but they seemed completely oblivious to the fact that she was not a vampire.
Laurent took a step closer, which made the Cullen's hiss and growl in warning again. Danielle came to the quick decision that if the nomads thought she was a vampire, then she wasn't going to do anything to disprove that. Without thinking, she mimicked the vampires around her, hissing defensively. Doing so made her feel like the absolute biggest idiot on the planet, and she was fairly confident that Emmett would have taunted her mercilessly if the situation hadn't been so dire, but if it helped her blend in and was enough to have the nomads continuing to believe she was a vampire, then so be it. Jasper glanced at her quickly, as if surprised he had heard the sound come from her, before nodding once in what seemed like a signal to continue her charade.
Laurent stopped at once, but his eyes continued to dart between Edward and Bella. "What's this?" he asked in obvious surprise.
"She's with us," Carlisle answered firmly, though Danielle couldn't tell if that was directed more toward Laurent or at James.
"You brought a snack?" James asked, his tone almost one of amusement as his darkened eyes continued to gaze at Bella.
I said she's with us," Carlisle repeated, his tone taking on a dangerous edge that she had not thought the otherwise gentle vampire capable of possessing.
"But she's human," Laurent pointed out, as if theya needed reminding.
"Yes, she is," Carlisle responded simply.
There was a tense moment of silence after that. The Cullen's and the nomads continued to stare one another down, neither party looking willing to make the first move. Danielle held her breath, her gaze flickering from Carlisle, to Laurent, then to James, her inner anxiety over the entire situation almost too much to bear. The feeling of being watched again hit her, and with a subtle, downward tilt of her chin, she once again made sure the bill of her hat kept her eyes hidden from view.
"James," Laurent finally said. "Enough of this. Let us go."
It took a moment, but eventually James straightened from his crouch. Edward stayed planted in front of Bella, his eyes fierce and burning as he glared at James. The nomad vampire merely smirked, his expression one of amusement, as he finally took a step backward.
"It is clear that our presence amongst your…family…is no longer desired," Laurent said to Carlisle. "We shall be on our way now."
With that being said, Laurent placed a firm hand on James' shoulder and pinned him with a pointed stare. While the Cullen's remained on their guard, James finally turned to leave. Laurent followed, but the woman remained where she was for a moment longer than seemed necessary. Danielle realized then that it was Victoria who had been watching her, as the sensation of being stared at didn't finally go away until after Victoria turned to leave with her companions.
Nobody moved for a long few minutes, and though Danielle would have loved nothing more than to leave and get someplace that felt a little safer, she could tell by the way the Cullen's continued to stare in the direction the nomads had gone that they were making absolutely sure the other vampires left. When the Cullen's visibly relaxed, she took that as a sign that the nomads were indeed gone.
"Everyone back to the house," Carlisle ordered. "Now."
The next thing she knew, Jasper was leading her back to the jeep with a firm hand on her back, his lips pulled into a deep frown and his eyes glancing untrustingly at the thick of trees that the nomads had disappeared into. She noticed that the rest of the Cullen's were following them as Jasper climbed into the backseat with her and made quick work of securing her harness – everyone still looked to be very much on their guard. Once Bella had been secured in the front seat, Edward took his place behind the wheel and cast a look at Danielle over his shoulder.
"Keys?" he asked.
Danielle had forgotten that Jasper had given the keys to her should thea need for her and Bella to escape arise. She shoved a hand into her pocket and handed them to Edward. Her hand was still trembling, and when Jasper saw it, he took her hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze.
A moment later the jeep roared to life as Edward put the key in the ignition, then, as the rest of the Cullen's flanked the monstrous vehicle like a band of body guards, they left the field behind and headed back for the Cullen house.
It was a tense, silent drive, and whether it was because her mind was too overwhelmed with thoughts to focus or if it was because Edward was driving even faster than usual, she wasn't sure, but they seemed to reach the Cullen house in record timing. The moment Edward parked in the driveway, Jasper released her from her harness and helped her out of the jeep. Almost immediately, she and Bella were shepherded inside.
Everyone went into the living room, but nobody sat down. Danielle stood quietly next to Bella and Esme while Jasper and Emmett did a quick walk around the room, looking through the windows to make sure nothing – or rather, no one – was outside. Carlisle and Edward talked in hushed, hurried voices to one another, while Rosalie paced a little, her arms crossed tightly across her chest and her eyes darting every so often toward Danielle and Bella. As for Alice, she stood by herself, her eyes unfocused and her expression blank, leaving Danielle with the distinct impression that she was having more visions. Edward, Danielle noticed, turned his attention away from Carlisle every so often to look at his sister, which led her to believe that he was using his power to see whatever Alice was seeing.
Bella finally cleared her throat to catch the attention of the room. "So…" She trailed off uncertainly for a second. "Does someone wanna tell me what's going on?"
"We need to discuss the situation at hand," Carlisle answered, stepping into the center of the room with Edward. "As I am sure you know already, what happened with the nomads in that field was…not desirable," he admitted.
"But they're gone," Danielle said with a frown.
"Yes, they are," Carlisle confirmed. "For now, anyway," he added.
Danielle felt alarm shoot down her spine. "You think they'll come back?" she asked.
Carlisle sighed and shot a look at Edward, who was watching Alice again with an increasingly deep frown. "It is a possibility that we would be unwise to ignore," he stated. "They took a great interest in Bella, James especially," he said, keeping his tone gentle so as not to alarm Bella. "It is not implausible to think he might try to make contact with her."
"That's one way of putting it," Edward snapped, finally turning his attention to them. Upon seeing the uncertain looks that came his direction, he heaved and shifted on his feet, looking agitated. "James is a tracker," he revealed, and though Danielle had no idea what that meant, the expressions that overtook the faces of the rest of the Cullen's let her know that it wasn't anything good. "I saw his mind. Tracking is his obsession. And after the way I reacted in the field, the way I protected her…" Edward shook his head. "He wants Bella, and he'll stop at nothing to get to her."
Danielle gaped in surprise, then looked at Bella. Her eyes had gone wide, both out of shock and out of fear, and she had gone a shade paler than usual. Danielle immediately wrapped an arm around Bella's shoulders and pulled her in tight to her side, to offer both comfort and at least some sense of protection.
"What do we do?" Esme asked, looking from Edward to Carlisle, then back again.
Edward stared at Bella for a long moment, then shook his head. "We have to get her as far away from James as possible," he stated plainly. "We need to take her somewhere safe. Forks is too dangerous right now."
His words were enough to make Bella snap back to reality. "What?" she asked, shrugging Danielle's am off her shoulders and staring at Edward with furrowed brows. "Leave Forks?" When Edward just nodded, Bella shook her head. "No," she said with a surprising amount of authority. "I can't do that."
"This isn't up for discussion, Bella," Edward countered tersely. "Your life is in danger."
"But I can't just leave. I have to go home," Bella argued.
"You cannot go home," Edward growled in response. "He'll follow your scent there. It's the first place he'll look."
Bella's eyes widened with fear. "But my dad is there!"
"We'll keep him protected once we've gotten you out of here," Edward replied shortly.
"Okay, even if you do that, he'll still freak out when I don't come home. He knows I was with you tonight. He'll think you've kidnapped me or something!" she pointed out.
Edward was beginning to look impatient with the discussion. "I don't care. You have to go. If you don't, you will not be safe, and I refuse to sit back and do nothing while James hunts you down. Emmett, Rosalie – go to Bella's house and pack enough of her things to see her through the next week," he then ordered, turning his back on Bella to address the two. "We need to leave as soon as possible, before James has the chance to put his plans into motion."
"I am not – " Rosalie began to argue at once.
"Ed, man, maybe we should – " Emmett said at the same time.
"Just do it!" Edward snapped over both of them.
"Edward, would you listen to me?" Bella finally interrupted loudly, making everyone go silent and look to her again. "I can't just disappear. Do you have any idea what my dad will do if I just drop off the face of the planet? He'll get all the cops in town – probably in the state – looking for me! He'll call the FBI! They'll be all over you guys!" she exclaimed. "Everything here will be ruined – your jobs, your reputation, your lives!"
"We've been through this before, Bella," Carlisle said, sounding eerily calm compared to Bella's near hysterical tone. "We know what we're doing. We can handle it."
Bella wasn't convinced. "I won't be the reason you get run out of Forks. There has to be another way," she insisted.
"There isn't another way!" Edward finally roared.
"Edward!" Esme reprimanded directly after, frowning deeply at his reaction.
Danielle had flinched at the ferocity of Edward's voice and taken an unconscious step backward. When she bumped into something hard and cold, she realized Jasper had been behind her the whole time, only she'd been so caught up in the conversation she had been unaware of his presence. He placed a steadying hand on her back and stepped closer, so that he was right by her side.
Edward took a calming breath, then stepped forward to grab Bella's hands. "Bella, this has to happen," he said in a gentler tone. "I saw his mind, and I've seen the visions that Alice has had since we left the field. He'll start his hunt tonight, and he won't stop until he has you," he explained. "We have to get you somewhere safe while we get take care of him. It'll only be for a few days, maybe a week at most."
"Wait, you're gonna kill him?" Danielle blurted out, her eyes wide.
"It's the only way to ensure he can't come after Bella," Edward told her. "Or anyone else," he added with a meaningful look in her direction.
Jasper tensed next to her. "He won't come anywhere near Danielle," he growled threateningly.
"Not if we get rid of him, he won't," Edward said with a firm nod.
"This is the way it has to be," Carlisle agreed, though he was frowning as he did so. "I do not condone the killing of another vampire, even one as sadistic as James…but it will have to be done if we want to ensure their safety."
Danielle didn't like the thought of Jasper – or anyone in his family, for that matter – participating in any killing that might take place, but didn't voice it aloud. She just wrapped her arms around herself as a tense silence fell over the room, her mind racing with everything that had been said thus far. Finally, Bella heaved, which had everyone looking at her.
"Fine," she said, albeit with some reluctance. "I'll leave Forks. But," she continued, her tone firm, "I won't just leave without going home first. Take me home so I can pack my own bags. I'll tell my dad that we broke up or something and that I can't stay around here anymore. Hopefully that tracker will be watching and will see us run, that way he'll know I'm not there anymore and won't bother Charlie. Once my dad is convinced I'm leaving on my own free will and everyone is safe, then you can take me any damn place you want to," she concluded.
Everyone took a long moment to consider what she had said, before, one by one, they began to look at Edward for his reaction to the plan. Carlisle was the one to speak first. "It isn't a bad idea," he said encouragingly. "We can take Bella somewhere far away, keep her protected while we lead James away from Forks and ensure he will not be able to hurt anyone else."
Edward glanced at Carlisle, then turned to Alice, who was no longer having visions but had still remained quiet during the exchange. "Will it work?"
Alice nodded almost at once. "It will."
Edward nodded in acceptance, then turned back to Bella. "I'll take you to Phoenix. It's the safest place I can think of right now," he said. "I'll keep you safe there while the others handle James."
"Not you, Edward," Carlisle said with a shake of his head, which made Edward shoot him sharp look. "James will expect that she will be with you," Carlisle told him with raised brows. "If you go with her, he will follow. Stay here, help us lead him away from Forks and away from Bella. Someone else can protect her in your stead."
"I can do it," Alice immediately volunteered. "I'll be able to see if anything changes with his plans. I'll see trouble if it's coming."
"You can't go alone," Esme pointed out.
"I can go," Emmett volunteered.
"You will not," Rosalie instantly snapped.
"I agree," Carlisle said, nodding to Rosalie. "James got a very good look at you in the field. He might expect you to help protect her, as well. You should stay behind."
"Who else does that leave then?" Danielle had to ask.
Nearly every eye in the room turned to Jasper, who furrowed his brows and frowned. "Bella will need the best protection possible, just in case something goes awry," Carlisle said when he saw how unconvinced Jasper was. "You are our strongest fighter, Jasper, and you've had interactions with trackers before, which means that you know how they operate. You are most qualified for this task. It should be you."
Jasper still said nothing, but when his eyes flashed to Danielle's, she was able to decipher exactly what was going through his mind. He didn't want to leave Forks – more specifically, he didn't want to leave her. Danielle didn't like the idea of Jasper leaving, either, simply because she didn't want to be separated from him. But then a selfish voice in her head reminded her that if he was with Bella and Alice, then he wouldn't have to fight any of the nomads. That was enough to make her feel more accepting of the plan. She'd rather Jasper be gone for a few days than hunting down a bunch of wild nomads who might try to kill him.
"Carlisle's right," Danielle told him. "Bella needs all the protection she can get. You should go with her."
"But Danielle – " Jasper started to argue.
"The matter is settled," Edward interrupted, evidently thinking Danielle's encouragement was enough to solidify the plan.
"The matter is not settled," Jasper growled, his eyes narrowing into a glare.
"Jasper – " Danielle began to say.
"I can't just leave you while the nomads are out there," he said, whipping back around to face her. "I need to be here, so I can protect you."
"I'm not the one in danger here, Jasper," Danielle reminded him. "Those vampires aren't interested in me. They didn't even realize I was human."
"Yeah, why is that by the way?" Bella interjected, looking between the Cullen's. "How could they pick up my scent, but not hers?"
"It has to be Alice's clothes," Carlisle answered, which had Danielle's glancing down at her own attire. She had forgotten that nearly every article of clothing she wore belonged to Alice. "Alice's scent is all over them. Between that and how distracted they were by Bella, they must not have noticed Danielle's scent."
"I acted like a vampire, too," she admitted with a blush. "I hissed."
Emmett snorted in obvious amusement. "You what?"
"Emmett," Carlisle said sharply, his stern gaze plainly stating that now wasn't the time.
Emmett quieted down again at once. Jasper took the silence as his cue to start talking again.
"They might not have realized Danielle was a human in the field, but do you honestly think they won't figure it out?" Jasper asked to get the conversation back on track. "Bella's scent is in Danielle's house. And if they happen to follow her scent across the street, they will surely pick up on mine, which is all around Danielle's house. It will catch their attention, and it won't take long for them to realize not only that Danielle was in the field with us tonight, but also that she is human. They could use her to get to Bella, and I cannot let that happen."
"He makes a good point," Emmett spoke up, his expression a little uneasy in response to Jasper's words. "They don't know Dani's human yet, but it's not too far fetched to think that they might figure it out eventually. She could be in danger, too."
"Thank you, Emmett," Jasper said, satisfied that someone had agreed with him.
Danielle looked from Jasper to Emmett, then back to Jasper. "Look, I think you guys are getting a little carried away with this," she argued. "If the tracker sees Bella leave, he won't have any reason to look in my house for her," Danielle tried to reason. "It won't matter whether or not her scent is there, because he'll already know she's gone."
"But that doesn't solve the problem of him smelling me in the area," Jasper countered. "It's a risk that I am not willing to take. You cannot stay home, Danielle. Not right now." He paused, then he gave her a look of determination. "Come with us to Phoenix," he said.
"Absolutely not," Danielle argued back. "How do you think it'll look if we all leave at the same time? My mother will go ballistic and people will start to get suspicious, which is what we don't want." Danielle reached for Jasper's hand and gave it a squeeze. "I need to stay here. I can keep up the façade while you're gone, make sure things stay calm here and that Bella's dad doesn't go insane when she leaves," she explained. "I'll be fine at home, Jazz," she assured him in a tone that was both firm and gentle at the same time. "I'm not the one at risk. We need to focus on the main concern here, and that's Bella."
"You are my main concern," Jasper countered without missing a beat. "Danielle, I can't…I just…" He trailed off and shook his head, his eyes closing tightly as he struggled to voice whatever was in his mind. He didn't need to voice his feelings aloud, though. She could feel every ounce of his fear and concern.
Danielle smiled gently and placed a hand on Jasper's cheek, which had his eyes opening to meet hers again. "It's gonna be alright," she said with confidence. "Go to Phoenix. Protect Bella. I'll be right here waiting for you when you come back."
Jasper stared into her eyes for a moment, before whipping around to give Alice a hard stare. "Do you see them finding her? Is she in any sort of danger?" he demanded.
Alice's eyes unfocused for a moment as she thought long and hard about what Jasper had just asked. Finally, she blinked and came back to reality. "No," she said with confidence.
Jasper turned back to Danielle, and for a few seconds the room was dead silent as everyone waited for his decision. "Alright," Jasper finally said, his tone reluctant and tinged with frustration. "I'll go to Phoenix and you will…stay here."
"Thank you, Jasper," Edward said, obviously grateful to him for his willingness, as reluctantly given as it might be, to leave Forks and protect Bella.
Jasper merely glanced at his brother, before looking pointedly at the rest of his family. "You'll make sure nothing happens to her?" he asked.
"Nobody will come anywhere near Dani," Emmett said with a firm nod. "You have my word."
Jasper nodded, then looked at Danielle again, a number of emotions flying through his eyes, all of which she could feel radiating off of him at the same exact time. He was not doing much to control his power – he seemed too upset with this entire situation to keep a rein on himself.
"It's settled then," Edward said quietly. "I'll escort you home," he then said to Bella. "Go straight to your room and pack the first things your hands touch, then get in your truck. You have fifteen minutes. I'll be waiting for you there." Edward turned to Emmett. "Emmett, come with us for protection," he ordered. "You as well, Alice," he added. "We'll need you there to warn us if James makes any last minute decisions."
"Okay, but I don't see him attacking tonight," Alice said.
Edward shook his head. "I'm not taking any chances." Alice just nodded in understanding. "We should go. The sooner we can get Bella out of here, the better." While Alice and Emmett moved to leave and help escort Bella back home, Edward and Bella stayed where they were for a moment longer. "Dani? Do you want us to take you home now?" Edward asked.
The thought of being separated from Jasper so quickly made something akin to fear shoot down her spine. It was too soon, too fast. She didn't want to say goodbye already. Judging by the look on Jasper's face, he didn't want to say goodbye either.
"I'd like to stay here a little longer and see them off," she said, reaching to grab Jasper's hand and giving it a tight squeeze. "If that's alright," she added.
"Of course it is," Carlisle said, giving her a smile that was both supportive and understanding. "Go and get Bella's things," he then instructed Edward with a pat to his shoulder. "And be quick about it."
Edward nodded, and after Danielle shared one last long look with Bella, they finally left.
Once Edward, Bella, Emmett, and Alice were gone, an uneasy silence fell over the Cullen house. Rosalie soon breezed out of the room, heading, Danielle assumed, for her and Emmett's bedroom. Carlisle went to stand by the window, his arms crossing over his chest as he watched the surrounding landscape with sharp, alert eyes. After a few seconds, Jasper squeezed her hand.
"I'm going to talk to Carlisle for a moment," he said.
After Danielle nodded, Jasper pressed a kiss to her temple before stepping over to join Carlisle, the two quickly falling into hushed conversation. Now alone, Danielle wrapped her arms around herself, unsure what to do while they waited. Esme soon appeared by her side, giving her a warm, comforting smile.
"Would you like some tea, Dani?" she asked.
Danielle hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Sure."
Esme put an arm around her, then led her into the kitchen. While Danielle took a seat at the table located near the window, Esme began to move around the kitchen. Soon enough, she had a kettle of water on the stove and a mug, as well as a jar of loose-leaf tea, resting on the counter. Esme joined her at the table while they waited for the water to boil, claiming the seat across from her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.
"I'm alright, I guess," Danielle said with a nod. "As good as I can be, considering there's a whacko vampire out there who wants to kill my best friend and that the guy I love now has to take her to Phoenix to hide out while his family kills said whacko vampire."
Esme smiled sympathetically. "It's a lot to take in, I know," she said consoling. "It isn't normally like this, I promise. But every so often, problems arise that we have to…deal with," she explained. "We can handle it, though."
Danielle nodded slowly. "I trust that y'all know what you're doing," she said. "I just…hate that all of this happened."
"Me, too," Esme agreed. "But just so you know, I'm very impressed with the way you and Bella are handling all of this," she said, reaching across the table to place a cold hand on top of hers. "Anyone else in your position would have run away screaming by now. You're both very strong young women, and I couldn't have chosen better partners for my sons."
Danielle flushed at the very kind, but also very unexpected praise. "Thank you, Esme."
Esme smiled. "You're welcome."
The kettle began to whistle shortly after that, which prompted Esme to get up from her seat and fix Danielle a cup of tea. Once Esme had set the mug on the table on front of her, Danielle wrapped both hands around it, sighing as the warmth of the cup seeped into her cold hands. She raised the cup to her nose to smell the tea, smiling at the pleasant aroma.
"I'm surprised you have stuff like this lying around," she commented, waiting for the tea to cool before drinking it. "I know human food is disgusting to vampires, but what about drinks? Is tea still part of your…diet?"
Esme smiled and shook her head. "Not really. It sort of tastes like drinking mud," she admitted. "But I loved it in my human life, and I just can't seem to stop myself from buying it whenever I come across something that smells particularly delicious. Old habits, I suppose," she concluded with a shrug.
Danielle smiled in understanding, then gently blew on the hot liquid to cool it down before taking a sip. "It's good," she said with a nod, ignoring the way the still too-hot liquid burned her esophagus.
"I'm glad you like it," Esme said.
A companionable silence fell between them for the next few minutes. Danielle slowly sipped her tea, while Esme looked out the window, her brows creasing with concern every so often. No doubt she was worried about Bella, Edward, Alice, and Emmett. This time, it was Danielle who reached across the table to place a hand on Esme's. It seemed to take the vampire by surprise, because her eyes flashed down to Danielle's hand, before jumping up to meet her gaze.
"They'll be alright," Danielle said soothingly.
Esme smiled gratefully for a moment, then sighed heavily. "I just worry," she admitted.
Danielle nodded. "I know," she sympathized. "But they'll be back soon. You'll see."
Their private moment finally came to an end when Jasper came walking into the kitchen. He stopped next to Danielle's chair, his gaze flickering back and forth between her and Esme. "Everything alright?" he asked.
Danielle smiled and nodded. "Fine. Just having a little…girl time," she said, flashing a quick smile in Esme's direction. "How about you?" she asked raising her brows at Jasper. "What were you and Carlisle talking about?"
"I'm fine. Carlisle and I were just ironing out some details before I leave with Alice and Bella," Jasper answered.
Danielle didn't say anything in response, just nodded her understanding. They held each other's gaze for the next few seconds, neither saying anything, but both watching the other intently. Danielle suddenly wanted to be alone with him, just so they could get a few precious moments of privacy before he left.
"Why don't you two go upstairs for a bit?" Esme suddenly suggested, obviously sensing that the two needed some time to themselves.
Jasper nodded, then grabbed Danielle's hand and helped her up out of her chair. With one last smile directed at Esme over her shoulder, she let Jasper lead her upstairs. Not a word was spoken between them as they headed for Jasper's bedroom, but she could feel the tension rolling off of him in waves as he led her to his room and ushered her inside.
Jasper closed the door behind them, then turned to face her, his eyes intense and unwavering as he stared into her eyes. Danielle stared back for a moment, but when his intent gaze became too much for her to hold, she cleared her throat and began to walk around his room.
"You should probably pack a bag or something," she suggested, just for something to say. "You'll need a few outfits, some toiletries. You should take a charger for your phone, too," she listed off quickly. "You should also take – "
But she didn't get to finish telling him what else he should take with him to Phoenix, because suddenly Jasper was right in front of her, his hands resting on either side of her face and his lips claiming hers in an urgent kiss. Danielle returned his kiss without hesitation, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him as tightly as she could. His power began to go haywire again, letting her feel exactly what he was feeling – desperation, love, worry, desire…but most of all, fear. Danielle held him even tighter, trying to reassure him with her kiss that everything would be fine, that he had nothing to fear.
He finally pulled his lips from hers so that he could press his forehead against her own. Danielle slid her fingers into his blonde hair, unable to help the frown of guilt that pulled her lips downward. "I'm sorry," she whispered, knowing that her decision not to go to Phoenix was a large part of the reason for Jasper's current distress. "But it's better this way."
There was pain in his eyes as he stared back at her, which had a deep ache taking up residence in her chest. "I just...don't want to let you go," he said. "I hate that I won't be here with you." A new wave of fear rolled off of him as he frowned at her. "What if something goes wrong while I'm gone? If something happened to you…I wouldn't survive it, Danielle."
"Nothing is gonna happen," Danielle said with more confidence than she actually felt. Sure she was worried, and yes, she was scared. But right now, she needed to be strong for Jasper. "You and Alice will keep Bella safe, while Carlisle and the others will lead James out of Forks and make sure he can never hurt anyone ever again. Everything will be fine, Jasper. You'll see," she finished with an encouraging nod.
Jasper sighed heavily and pulled her closer, as if he was afraid she might disappear if he let her go. "That's what I'm trying to convince myself," he murmured.
Danielle smiled, then placed one last peck on his lips before pulling away. "We really should pack you a bag, though," she said to change the subject and, hopefully, get his mind off things a bit. "Why don't you change while I get started?"
Jasper nodded, then grabbed the clothes he had been wearing earlier and disappeared into his bathroom to change out of his baseball gear. While he did that, Danielle went into the closet, where she located a small duffel bag. She tossed the duffel back into his room, then began flicking through his clothes. After picking out enough outfits to see him through at least a week, she went back into his room, folded them into neat piles, and packed them in the duffel. Just as she stuffed his phone and the charger that went with it into the side pocket, Jasper reentered the room, tossing his baseball gear aside carelessly. Danielle smiled at him over her shoulder, then sighed and leaned back into him as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I packed enough stuff to get you through at least a week," she said. "Hopefully you won't be gone that long, though."
"Hopefully not," Jasper agreed.
Danielle turned in his arms, resting her hands comfortably on waist. "What are you gonna do in Phoenix?" she asked curiously. "There's a hell of a lot more sun there than there is here. Not ideal weather circumstances for someone who sparkles."
"We'll stay indoors, I suppose," Jasper answered with a shrug. "Given the circumstances, I don't think going sightseeing or shopping around will be very high on our priority list."
"Yeah, I guess not," Danielle agreed.
Jasper grabbed the bill of the cap she wore and tugged it off gently, before tossing it away. The move made a stray lock of hair fall over her face, which had him tucking it behind her ear. "What will you do while we're gone?" he asked.
Danielle shrugged. "Go about normal, daily life, I guess," she said. "And try not to drive myself insane with worry while you're gone," she added with a humorless laugh.
Jasper frowned, and for a moment Danielle thought he might ask her to come to Phoenix again. He didn't, though, and instead pinned her with a serious look. "I'll be in contact with you the entire time I'm gone," he said. "I know I told you I would not be that overbearing, overprotective boyfriend, but with everything that is happening, I'm going to have to break that promise. Expect a lot of phone calls from me while we're apart."
"I'm fine with that," Danielle said with a nod. "I wanna know everything that's happening on your end."
"And I want to know about everything that is happening here," Jasper said in return.
"Deal," Danielle said.
Jasper just nodded once in response.
Danielle took a moment to hug him, resting her head comfortably on his chest and releasing a small sigh as his long arms wrapped securely around her shoulders. The lack of a heartbeat beneath her ear was no longer surprising or unnerving, nor was the coolness of his skin, which she could feel beginning to slowly seep through the material of his shirt. In that moment, as they stood in his room with their arms around one another, the dangers outside ceased to exist for a second or two. She felt safe with Jasper, as if nothing could harm her. But it couldn't last, because Jasper would soon be leaving. And it was unsure just when exactly he would be returning.
"How much more time do you think we have?" she asked.
"Not nearly long enough," Jasper answered, his deep voice echoing pleasantly beneath her ear. "Then again, no time with you is ever long enough."
Danielle lifted her head and gave him a small smile. "Does that mean you plan to keep me around for a while?" she asked jokingly, just to try to diffuse some of the heaviness that had been hanging over them since she had decided not to go to Phoenix.
Jasper moved his hand to rest it on her neck, his amber eyes serious and determined as he peered at her unblinkingly. "Darlin', when this mess is over, I am never letting you out of my sight again," he told her seriously. "You are stuck with me forever."
Danielle smiled gently. "Forever sounds nice," she said, her voice almost a whisper.
Jasper finally flashed a hint of a smile, then leaned down to kiss her again. "I love you," he said against her lips. "I love you so very much."
Danielle felt her throat tighten with emotion, but refused to let that emotion get the better of her. "I love you, too, Jasper. With all my heart," she said, before pulling him in for another long kiss.
Jasper eventually pulled his lips from hers, then sighed and raised a hand to caress her cheek, his eyes flickering over her features as if trying to memorize what she looked like. Finally, Jasper released her and stepped backward. "We should head downstairs and see if anyone has heard anything from the others," he suggested, though he didn't sound overly enthused about it. "Why don't you change back into your clothes and meet me down there when you've finished?"
Danielle nodded, then, after Jasper grabbed the bag she had packed for him, they left his bedroom. Jasper continued on downstairs to rejoin his family, but Danielle headed for Alice's room, where she had left her clothes prior to going to play baseball. As she changed, she thought about how lighthearted and carefree they had all been just a few hours ago – it was strange how quickly that had all changed. What had started as a fun night had turned into one of fear and uncertainty, and she suddenly found herself wishing she could go back in time and warn their themselves against going anywhere near that field. Maybe then the nomads would never have come to speak to the Cullen's, maybe then James would have never set his sights on Bella, and maybe then they would not be faced with the hard decisions that had been made because of that.
Danielle had just finished putting on her shoes when the vibrating of her phone caught her attention. She pulled it from her back pocket, frowning a little when she saw it was her mother calling. She knew enough time had passed for Bella and Edward to have made it to the Swan house by now, but she had no idea if her mother knew anything about Bella's plans to leave Forks.
"Hey, mom," she greeted.
"Dani, are you with Bella?" Lynne asked, sounding stressed and worried.
Danielle stiffened. She knew it then – Bella had made it home, she had executed her plan to get away from her father, and, apparently, Charlie had told Lynne about it. "No. I'm with Jasper," she answered.
Lynne heaved. "What in the world is going on?" she hissed. "Charlie just showed up at the door looking as if he'd been given two weeks to live and saying that Bella ran away," she proceeded to say. "You were with her tonight, right? What happened?"
"I don't know really," she lied in a rush. "One minute everything was fine, then she and Edward started fighting and things escalated so fast."
"Did he do something to her?" Lynne demanded, leaving her with little doubt as to what she was really asking.
"No! Nothing like that. He would never do that," Danielle said hurriedly. "Like I said, I don't know what they were fighting about exactly. But Bella got really upset and couldn't be reasoned with."
"So she just decided to run away?" Lynne asked incredulously. "Why didn't you try to stop her, Dani? Why didn't you talk her out of it?"
Danielle suddenly realized that her not returning when Bella had might have been an error in judgement. After all, as her best friend it would only make sense that she would have gone home with Bella to try to talk her down from anything rash. She realized she needed to come up with an excuse for her absence, and quick, before her mother had the chance to get suspicious of anything.
"She and Edward left before I could talk to her about anything," she lied. "I stayed back with Jasper so she and Edward would have privacy to hash things out. I had no idea she was gonna run away. If I had known, I would've gone with her!"
Lynne heaved on her end of the line. When she didn't ask anymore question, Danielle took that as the sign that she had accepted her excuse. "Charlie is an absolute mess. This whole thing is a mess."
"Let me try to call her and see if I can talk some sense into her," Danielle said, already moving toward the door so that she could go downstairs and tell the Cullen's that Edward and Bella were on their way back.
"Okay. Have Jasper bring you home while you do that. I want you back here," Lynne instructed.
"Okay," Danielle agreed. "I'll see you soon."
She ended the call and shoved her phone into her pocket, then left Alice's room and began to head downstairs. She could hear the voices of Jasper and his family as they conversed in the living room and quickened her pace, jogging down the stairs in her haste to get to them and relay the news.
"Guys, Edward and Bella are on their way back," she announced as she hit the bottom step. "And my mom called and Charlie is freaking out – "
Danielle suddenly stopped short, her heart lurching in her chest. Jasper was in the living room, as was Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie. But there was another vampire, too, one she had seen for the first time that very night.
Laurent stood from the couch, his red eyes trained on her. Jasper was by her side in the blink of an eye, angling his body so that he stood between her and the nomad. Laurent's eyebrows stitched together for a moment, before they raised in surprise.
"Another human?" he asked, looking to Carlisle in astonishment.
"Indeed she is," Carlisle confirmed.
"We did not know. We did not realize it. We thought she was simply another vampire," Laurent said with wonderment. She saw his nostrils flare for a moment as he smelled the air. "Although, I cannot see how we did not notice your scent when I can smell it so clearly now."
"She was wearing clothing belonging to a vampire at the time. Her scent was overshadowed by the scent clinging to the clothes," Carlisle explained, which had Laurent nodding in understanding.
Danielle glanced around at the Cullen's, who seemed far too comfortable with Laurent's presence for her taste. Why were they acting so calm and so casually? He was one of the nomads, one of the vampires responsible for all of the chaos that had ensued tonight. Why were they not ripping this guy to shreds?
"Okay, what the hell is going on here?" Danielle finally demanded. "Why the hell is he here?" she asked, pointing a finger at Laurent. "And why the hell is everyone okay with it?"
Laurent eyebrows rose at her tone and her language, before he smirked with amusement. "A feisty human," he commented, before looking at Jasper. "Perhaps now I am beginning to understand why you took her as your lover," he said.
Jasper said nothing, just narrowed his eyes warningly. Carlisle took that moment to step forward, drawing the attention of the room back to him. "To answer your question, Dani, Laurent is here on peaceful terms," he said. "He means no harm. He merely came here to warn us about James."
"Warn us about what exactly?" Danielle asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"About his ruthlessness, his trickiness, and his determination to succeed whenever he sets his sights on someone," Laurent answered. "I have been following James for some time, and I have not once seen him fail when he has decided to hunt someone down."
Danielle frowned with confusion. She had been sure that Laurent was the leader of the nomads, but the way he spoke suggested otherwise. "You make it sound like he's the one in charge of your little gang."
"He is," Carlisle interjected. "Apparently James has Laurent act as though he is in charge in order to throw off anyone they encounter and not draw attention to himself."
"As I said, he is tricky," Laurent said with a wry smile.
Danielle moved around Jasper, who had been standing before her like a sentry, his jaw set and his eyes fixed on Laurent. He shot her a sharp look, one that said she had better stay where she was. Danielle just placed a comforting hand on his arm and remained by his side. Laurent saw the whole exchange, and she did not miss the way he glanced between her and Jasper with something akin to fascination.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" she asked, turning her attention back to Laurent. "Why help us?"
"I grow weary of James' ways," Laurent answered. "I admit I am intrigued by the lifestyle that this coven leads. I wish to walk a new road, experience a new way of life that does not involve James and Victoria."
"He's not staying here, right?" Danielle asked Carlisle, not bothering to conceal her dislike of the vampire.
"No," Carlisle said. "He has decided to keep his distance while we deal with James and Victoria. He will go to stay with our friends in Denali. They will accept him and help him with this new path."
Danielle nodded in understanding.
"Laurent should probably be going now," Jasper spoke up for the first time. "I do not think Edward will take kindly to his presence if he is still here when they arrive." Danielle had a feeling it wasn't Edward's reaction that Jasper was worried about – she thought it more likely that Jasper just didn't want Laurent around her any longer than was necessary.
"I'd like to speak with him just a little while longer, actually," Carlisle said, giving Jasper a meaningful look. "Why don't you follow me into my office?" he suggested to Laurent, motioning toward the office door with a sweep of his hand.
Laurent nodded, then headed off with Carlisle. Danielle did not miss the way Laurent eyed her as he walked past, nor did she miss the low growl of warning Jasper let loose when the nomad's eyes lingered on her for longer than he liked.
"Well, that was an unpleasant surprise," Danielle huffed once Carlisle and Laurent had disappeared into the office. "When did he get here?"
"While you were changing and talking to your mother on the phone," Jasper answered. Danielle nodded, thinking it would have been nice to get a little warning before coming downstairs, but decided not to comment on it. "What did you mother have to say?" he asked with furrowed brows.
Danielle quickly told Jasper, Esme, and Rosalie – who listened with little interest – about Charlie turning up at her mother's house in shambles and the lies she had had to come up with to explain why she hadn't attempted to stop Bella from running away. "I feel really bad for Charlie," she admitted, sighing heavily as she rubbed a hand over her face. "And if I feel this bad, I can't even imagine how Bella must feel."
"It's what's best for him," Jasper reminded her. "Everything will be better once James and Victoria are taken care of."
Danielle nodded, then raised her brows questioningly. "Speaking of James and Victoria, did Laurent say where they were?"
"Apparently they went into town to start tracking down Bella," he said with a frown.
Danielle couldn't help the alarm that zinged through her nerves. "So its possible they've found their way to Bella's house by now?" Jasper gave a slight nod, which made her sigh uneasily. "I guess that's not all bad," she said, trying to stay optimistic. "If they found her house, maybe they saw her leave and won't bother hanging around there anymore, which means we won't be in danger there." She chose not to think about any worst case scenarios, like James and Victoria following the others back to the Cullen house or launching any surprise attacks on Bella, Edward, Emmett, and Alice on the road.
"Let us hope that's the case," Jasper agreed. "I will feel a lot more comfortable if I know you're not anywhere near James and Victoria."
Danielle smiled and reached for his hand to give it a squeeze. "That makes two of us."
Danielle turned her eyes to the window after that, searching the dark trees for any signs of movement outside the house. There was nothing out of the ordinary to see, just the gentle swaying of the trees and rustling of bushes as they moved with the wind, but that didn't ease any of the anxiety in her belly. The fact remained that James and Victoria were still out there somewhere, and until her friends were safe and the two nomads had been dealt with, there would be no relaxing on her part.
It seemed to take a lifetime, but finally, Bella and her three Cullen escorts returned. Though they looked alert and stressed and, on Bella's part, incredibly guilty, they were completely unharmed, which was an enormous relief to all. They arrived just as Carlisle was showing Laurent out of the house, and, as Jasper had predicted, Edward did not take kindly to the vampires presence and immediately assumed the worst. The situation was quickly explained to him, however, which had Edward relaxing enough to listen to what Laurent had come to say. After the nomad vampire delivered his warning directly to Edward and Bella, he finally left the Cullen house.
There was no point in delaying the inevitable after that. Danielle and Bella, as well as the entire Cullen family, made their way into the garage, where they began to make quick work of packing up Jasper's car for the trip to Phoenix. While the Cullen's discussed their plans for laying out a false trail for James to follow using Bella's clothes, Danielle stood with her friend a little ways away, trying hard not to let her worry and fear get the better of her.
"You'll be safe with Jasper and Alice," she said reassuringly. "They won't let anything happen to you."
"I know," Bella said with a sigh. "I'm worried about Edward," she admitted quietly, shooting a brief look in her boyfriend's direction. "I'm afraid he'll do something rash and get himself hurt."
Danielle understood her concern, but smiled reassuringly none the less. "Something tells me he knows how to take care of himself," she said. "Besides," she added, "I don't think he'd do anything that would result in you guys not being able to be together. He's too crazy about you to let that happen."
Bella just nodded, not looking entirely convinced that Edward wouldn't do something rash to protect her.
The vibrating of her cell phone had Danielle pulling the phone from her pocket and checking the caller ID. Upon seeing that it was her mother calling – likely wanting to know where she was and why she wasn't home yet – she sighed and silenced the call before sticking it back in her pocket.
"Your mom?" Bella asked knowingly.
Danielle nodded in confirmation. "She's probably worried that I haven't come home yet," she said. "She called me after you left your house wanting to know what the hell was going on. Charlie went over there and told her what had happened."
Bella pressed her lips together tightly. "Was he…was he okay?"
Danielle hesitated before answering. Lying about Charlie's current emotional condition felt wrong, but she didn't want to make Bella feel any worse than she clearly already did, either. "About as okay as could be expected, I guess," she answered vaguely.
"So not good then," Bella deciphered. She heaved and rubbed her eyes, before shaking her head. "I feel like such a jerk. I had to say some awful things to get him to let me leave," she confesses. "The look on his face when I left…I don't think I'll ever forget it."
Danielle placed a hand on Bella's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "You had to do it, Bella. It's for his own good," she said. "And Charlie loves you. Whatever you said, he'll forgive you for it."
Bella smiled halfheartedly. "I hope so."
Their conversation was interrupted when Jasper and Edward appeared beside them. Neither vampire looked particularly happy, and as Alice slid gracefully into the passenger seat of Jasper's car, Danielle knew it was because the time had come for everyone to say goodbye.
"It's time to go," Edward said grimly.
Danielle and Bella both nodded, before looking back to each other. At the same time, they moved forward to hug one another fiercely. A lump formed in Danielle's throat as she squeezed her friend in a tight hug, her worry for Bella increasing tenfold now that it was time to part ways.
"I'll do whatever I can to help Charlie," she said in Bella's ear. "I'll make sure he's okay while you're gone."
Bella nodded against her shoulder. "I'll keep can eye on Jasper for you, alright?"
Danielle smiled sadly and nodded. "And I'll do my best to keep an eye on Edward, too," she promised in return.
They pulled back to be able to look at one another, but didn't release each other entirely. "Take care of yourself, alright?" Bella said earnestly. "Just…watch your back and lay low."
"I think I'm supposed to be telling you that," Danielle said with a small smirk.
"You're the one staying in Forks, remember?" Bella shot back. She hesitated, then raised her brows. "It's not too late to change your mind, Dani. You can still come with us."
"And invoke my mother's wrath when I drop off the face of the planet?" Danielle asked with a quirked brow. "She'd hunt us down and kill us all herself," she said, which made Bella smirk a bit in response. "I'll be fine," Danielle continued, uttering the same words for what felt like the hundredth time that night. "The Cullen's will make sure nothing happens to me. You just worry about keeping yourself safe, alright?"
Bella just nodded in return.
The two shared one more fierce hug, before they finally separated for good. Bella flashed her one last smile, then moved to join Edward, who led her away from the others for a moment of privacy. Danielle soon turned her full attention to Jasper, who stepped in close and grabbed her hand. He didn't look like he was holding up very well – all of the worry and stress he was carrying with him swirled clear as day in his eyes.
"This isn't goodbye forever, Jazz," Danielle said quietly.
Jasper frowned and shook his head. "It's still goodbye for too long," he countered.
"It'll only be a couple days," she said optimistically. "We can make it a couple days."
Jasper nodded once in agreement. "Emmett will take you home once we've left," he said. "I've asked him to stay with you while the rest of the family leads James and Victoria out of Forks."
"Won't the others need his help taking down James?" she asked.
"He'll still help them. Once they have run the nomads out of town, Emmett will join them to dispose of James. Until then, his job is to make sure you're safe," Jasper said firmly.
"Okay," Danielle said. Despite feeling fairly confident that she was not in imminent danger, she did feel a little better knowing that Emmett would be close by until the coast was clear.
Jasper looked at her for a moment, then lifted a hand to her cheek, his cold fingertips gently gliding along her cheekbone. "Stay indoors tonight. And I know you feel bad for Charlie, but do not go to Bella's house to talk to him. It isn't safe." Danielle frowned at that command, but before she could say anything about it, Jasper gave her a firm look. "Promise me you won't go over there, Danielle."
Danielle sighed, then nodded. "I won't go."
"Thank you," Jasper said.
He then leaned down to give her a lingering kiss, pulling her in tight against his chest. Even though she knew his family was only feet away, and though she normally would have shied away from displaying this sort of affection in front of them, she wrapped her arms tightly around Jasper's neck to kiss him firmer, wanting to make the most of this moment while she could. After a few seconds, Jasper pulled his lips from hers to hug her, his nose burying into her hair.
"I'll call you soon," he promised.
"I'll be waiting by the phone," she said in return.
Jasper managed a smile. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
He kissed her one last time, then, reluctantly, they parted from each other. Jasper gave her a long look, then went to open the driver's side door of his car and slid in behind the wheel. Danielle went to stand next to Esme, who wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. They all watched as Bella and Edward said his last goodbyes to each other, before Edward finally helped Bella into the backseat and closed the door behind her.
"Drive fast. Be safe," Edward told them.
"We'll take good care of her," Alice promised. "I'll call if I see anything."
Edward nodded, then stepped back to join Danielle and the rest of the Cullen's. Jasper turned his head to give Danielle one last look, before starting the car. She gave him one more smile, then with Edward and Esme on either side of her and the stinging threat of tears beginning to prickle in her eyes, she watched as the car pulled forward out of the garage, then disappeared into the dark night.
Oh, the drama! Thoughts?