The Nomads exited from the forest, about twelve or so meters apart. There were three of them, two men and a woman. The first man to enter the clearing fell back allowing the other one to take point. The one taking point had olive skin and dark hair. The man that fell back had brown hair and pale skin as well. The final Vampire of the trio, the woman, would have taken my breath away if I had one. It was the one person I haven't seen in almost seven-hundred years. Her eyes were now crimson, like that of a Human Drinker in stark contrast to mine and the Cullen's gold. Her hair was full of leaves and she seemed to stalk like a cat. The brown-haired man hovered around her protectively as they stopped a little bit away from us. All three were dressed in backpackers clothes, most likely from their victims, I hope she was keeping safe.
Victoria's eyes shifted between the Coven, the loose ring that was around Bella, the rest of the Coven scattered around, Carlisle's relaxed stance, though I could feel his apprehension, and then finally Victoria's eyes fell to me. Her nose twitched as she took in my scent. I saw her lips titch into a soft snarl, and our eyes met. I couldn't look at her for more than a second before focusing on the Coven leader. The dark-haired man stepped forward with a smile. "We thought we heard a game." He said, far more relaxed than I wished he would be. I could hear the hints of a French accent. "I'm Laurent. These are Victoria and James." Laurent gestured to the Vampires behind him.
"I'm Carlisle." The blonde man introduced. "This is my family. Emmet and Jasper, Rosalie and Alice, Esme and Alex, Edward and Bella." Carlisle gestured to each of us in groups, not calling any attention to one person, though I'm pretty sure with my red hair I was quite noticeable.
"Do you have room for a few more players?"
"Actually, we were just finishing up." Carlisle said. "But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?"
"We're headed north, in fact. But we were curious to see who was in the neighbourhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time."
"No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves." The tone of the conversion faded into a casual one, I was hoping that if it was Jasper, but I kept tense.
"What's your hunting range?"
"The Olympic Range here, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We keep a permanent residence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali." Laurant rocked back on his heels, surprised slightly. His next question was curious.
"Permanent? How do you manage that?"
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably? It's a rather long story." James and Victoria shared a surprised look, it was quick enough to lock eyes but I felt Victoria's eyes return to me.
"That sounds very interesting, and welcome. We've been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had the chance to clean up in a while."
"Please don't take offence, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand."
"Of course." Laurent nodded as he spoke. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle." That's why their eyes were so bright.
"We'll show you the way if you run with us. Emmet, Alice, Alex, you can go with Edward and Bella to get to the jeep." I saw the breeze before I felt it. From behind me, my hair shifted, and my head snapped over to Bella. Her hair was moving too. James lurched into a crouch, and Edward fell into a protective stance in front of Bella, a snarl ripping through his throat.
"What's this?" Laurent mused. Edward and James shifted in sync.
"She's with us." Carlisle said sternly. Laurent seemed to realise hat was happening, and a look of understanding crossed his face.
"You brought a snack?" Laurent took a step forward. I responded, taking one forward myself and letting a deeper snarl echo through the clearing. Laurent took a step back again.
"I said she's with us."
"But she's human!"
"Yes." Emmet moved to Carlisle's side, keeping a hard gaze on James. The Nomad slowly rose from his crouch, keeping his eyes on Bella. Edward, however, didn't relax.
"It appears we have a lot to learn about each other." Laurent realised, trying to defuse the situation. His eyes continued to shift between Carlisle and Bella.
"Indeed." Carlisle replied, still in his calm and collected tone.
"But we'd like to accept your invitation. And of course, we will not harm the human girl. We won't hunt in your range, as I said." James seemed to be shocked at the statement. James tried to share a look with Victoria, but she refused to look away from me.
"We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?" The three moved forward and blocked Bella from view. I turned to Bella, cupping her cheek and turning her head towards me. She seemed to be still in shock, and didn't even register that I was there. Edward gripped Bella's elbow.
"Let's go, Bella." Edward muttered, his voice devoid of any emotion. He had to pull Bella away. I wrapped my arm around Bella to try and keep her upright as Edward practically hauled her away. Emmett and Alice were close behind, keeping Bella hidden. If I had a heart, it would be pounding in my ears. I was so close to my daughter, I was in arms reach of her, but I chose a human over her. How could I? When we were far enough, Edward swung Bella onto her back before the four of us ran. Our feet barely skimmed the ground as we ran. We reached the jeep in no time, and none of us slowed as we hurried to get Bella into the jeep. Bella was in the back, Emmet quickly strapping her in as Alice papeared on Bella's other side. Edward flung himself into the driver seat while I curled up in the passenger seat. Edward was hissing curses as we drove through the winding path to where I asume was not Forks.
"Mo dhia, is máthair uafásach mé." I breathed, clutching my hair.
"Where are we going?" Bella asked.
"She was right there." My eyes were wide as I stared out the front windshield. "She was right there…"
"Damn it Edward! Where are you taking me?"
"We have to get you away from here, far away, now." Edwad replied, his eyes not leaving the road.
"Turn around! You have to take me home!" I heard clinking as Bella tried to take off the harness.
"Emmet." The clinking stopped.
"No! Edward! You can't do this!"
"I have to do this Bella, now please be quiet."
"I won't! You have to take me back, Charlie will call the FBI! They'll be all over your family, Carlisle and Esme! They'll have to leave, to hide forever!"
"Calm down, Bella, we've been there before." Edward told her. "And with Alex's power, it'll be a whole lot easier."
"Not over me you don't!" Bella insnsited. "You're not ruining everything over me!"
"Edward pull over." Alice ordered, her first words since everyone got in the car. I watched as the speedometer move forward. "Edward, let's just talk this through."
"You don't understand!" Edward roared. I could hear the frustration in his voice. "He's a Tracker, Alice, did you see that? He's a tracker!" You've got to be kidding me. My head fell into my hands. One of my daughter's Covenmates is a Tracker.
"Pull over, Edward." Alice repeated. The speedometer inched passed one-twenty. "Do it, Edward."
"Listen to me, Alice. I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession, and he
wants her, Alice, her, specifically. He begins the hunt tonight."
"He doesn't know where —"
"How long do you think it will take him to cross her scent in town? His plan was already set before the words were out of Laurent's mouth."
"Charlie!" Bella gasped. "You can't leave him there! You can't leave him!" I thrashed against the harness.
"She's right." I said, glancing over at Edward. I had dropped my American accent after seeing Victoria, and I had returned to my Galeic tone. The car slowed slightly.
"Let's just look at our options for a minute." Alice coaxed. The car slowed a second time before squeeling to a stop at the shoulder of the highway.
"There are no options." Edward hissed.
"I'm not leaving Charlie!" Bella yelled.
"We have to take her back." Emmettadded.
"No."
"He's no match for us, Edward. He won't be able to touch her."
"He'll wait."
"I can wait, too."
"You didn't see, you don't understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he's unshakable. We'd have to kill him."
"That's an option."
"And the female. She's with him. If it turns into a fight, the leader will go with them, too."
"There are enough of us."
"No one touches her." I hissed.
"Alex, she's psychotic, you haven't seen in her head." I turned to him with a glare, my lips pulling over my teeth.
"She's my daughter." I snarled. "I will deal with her when the time comes."
"There's another option," Alice said quietly. Edward turned in his seat and glared harshly at the pixie-like Vampire.
"There. Is. No. Other. Option!" Edward almost roared. Alice and Edward stared at each other, the silence lasting for a long minute.
"Does anyone want to hear my plan?" Bella asked.
"No," Edward growled. Alice finally glared at Edward, everything getting to her.
"Listen. You take me and Alex back."
"No." he interrupted.
"You take us back. I tell my dad I want to go home to Phoenix and Alex is coming with me because she's Alex. We pack my bags. We wait till this tracker is watching, and then we run. He'll follow us and leave Charlie alone. Charlie won't call the FBI on your family. Then you can take me any damned place you want."
"It's not a bad idea, really." Emmett admitted, though his surprise seemed to be an insult.
"It might work, and we simply can't leave her father unprotected. You know that." Alice said.
"It's too dangerous, I don't want him within a hundred miles of her." Edward insisted.
"Edward, he's a child compared to me." I spoke up. "It'll be hard for him to kill me, he won't get past me."
"I don't see him attacking." Alice said, her eyes glazed. "He'll try to wait for us to leave her alone."
"It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen." Emmett added.
"I demand that you take me home." Bella tried again. "Please." Edward's fingers pressed his fingers to his temple, squeezing his eyes shut.
"You're leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees or not." Edward stated. "You tell Charlie that you can't stand another minute in Forks. Tell him whatever story works. Pack the first things your hands touch, and then get in your truck. I don't care what he says to you. You have fifteen minutes. Do you hear me? Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep." Edward started the jeep again, turned us around and sped us back to Forks. I ran my fingers through my hair. I was going to regret leaving Victoria in the Cullen's hands. It was a few minutes later when Edward spoke up again. "This is how it's going to happen. When we get to the house, if the tracker is not there, I will walk them to the door. Then she has fifteen minutes. Emmett, you take the outside of the house. Alice, you get the truck. I'll be inside as long as they are. After they're out, you two can take the Jeep home and tell Carlisle."
"No way." Emmett but in. "I'm with you."
"Think it through, Emmett. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"Until we know how far this is going to go, I'm with you."
"If the tracker is there, we keep driving."
"We're going to make it there before him," Alice said confidently. "What are we going to do with the Jeep?"
"You're driving it home." Edward told her.
"No, I'm not." Edward started to curse again.
"We can't all fit in my truck." Bella muttered. "I think you should let me go alone."
"Bella, please just do this my way, just this once."
"Listen, Charlie's not an imbecile." I protested. "If you're not in town tomorrow, he's
going to get suspicious."
"Bella, I can always come back and change his memories before we leave." I told her. "So tha'ts itelevent. The Cullens will keep him safe. That's all that matters."
"Then what about this tracker? He saw the way you acted tonight. He's going to think you're with me, wherever you are."
"Edward, listen to her. Emmett pressed. "I think she's right."
"Yes, she is." Alice agreed.
"I can't do that." Edward said. His voice sounded like ice.
"Emmett should stay, too." Bella continued. "He definitely got an eyeful of Emmett."
"What?" Emmett turned on me.
"You'll get a better crack at him if you stay," Alice added.
"You think I should let her go alone?" Edward demanded.
"Of course not." Alice said. "Alex, Jasper and I will take her."
"I can't do that." I could hear that our arguments were winning him over.
"Hang out here for a week." Bella caught Edward's look. "A few days. Let Charlie see you haven't kidnapped me, and lead this James on a wild-goose chase. Make sure he's completely off my trail. Then come and meet me. Take a roundabout route, of course, and then Jasper and Alice can go home."
"Meet you where?"
"Phoenix."
"No. He'll hear that's where you're going."
"And you'll make it look like that's a ruse, obviously. He'll know that we'll know that he's listening. He'll never believe I'm actually going where I say I am going."
"She's diabolical," Emmett chuckled.
"And if that doesn't work?" Edward asked.
"There are several million people in Phoenix."
"It's not that hard to find a phone book."
"I won't go home."
"Oh?"
"I'm quite old enough to get my own place."
"I have enough money to buy one outright." I muttered.
"Edward, we'll be with her." Alice reminded him.
"What are you going to do in Phoenix?" Edward demanded.
"Stay indoors."
"I kind of like it." Emmet mused. I think he liked the idea of taking on James.
"Shut up, Emmett." Edward muttered.
"Look, if we try to take him down while she's still around, there's a much better chance that someone will get hurt, she'll get hurt, or you will, trying to protect her. Now, if we get him alone..." The jeep started to alow as we neared town.
"Bella. If you let anything happen to yourself, anything at all. I'm holding you personally
responsible. Do you understand that?"
"Yes." Edward glanced back at Alice.
"Can Jasper handle this?"
"Give him some credit, Edward. He's been doing very, very well, all things considered." Alice said.
"Can you handle this?" Alice, feeling threatened, snarled at Edward. "But keep your opinions to yourself."