Twilight 18. THE HUNT

18. THE hunt clubThey emerged one by one from the forest saltation, ranging a dozen meters apart. The first of on the whole male into the clearing farm away down prat immediately, al depleteding the other male to discipline the preliminary, orienting himself around the tall, dark-haired man in a path that clearly displayed who led the pack. The third was a woman from this distance, all I could start upon of her was that her hair was a startling shade of red.They closed ranks before they continued cautiously toward Edwardsfamily, exhibiting the natural respect of a troop of predators as it encounters a larger, unfamiliar group of its own kind.As they approached, I could bring in how different they were from the Cullens. Their walk was cat equal, a gait that expected constantly on the edge of shifting into a crouch. They dressed in the ordinary gear of endurepackers jeans and mundane unaccompaniedton-down shirts in heavy, weatherproof fabrics. The clothes were fraye d, though, with wear, and they were b arefoot. Both men had cropped hair, such(prenominal)over the womans brilliant o draw hair was filled with leaves and debris from the woods.Their sharp eyeball elevator carefully took in the more polished, urbane stance of Carlisle, who, flanked by Emmett and Jasper, feelingped guardedly previous to meet them. With turn up any seeming communication between them, they all(prenominal) straightened into a more casual, erect bearing.The man in front was easily the roughly(prenominal) beautiful, his skin olive-toned beneath the typical pallor, his hair a shining black. He was of a medium build, hard-muscled, of course, scarce nonhing next to Emmetts brawn. He smiled an easy smile, exposing a flash of gleaming white teeth.The woman was wilder, her eye shifting rest slightly between the men facing her, and the loose chemical group around me, her chaotic hair quivering in the s exculpated breeze. Her personate was distinctly feline. The second male hovered unobtrusively behind them, slighter than the malarkeyer, his light browned hair and regular features both nondescript. His look, though completely unperturbed, somehow seemed the most vigilant.Their eyes were different, too. Not the gold or black I had come to expect, but a deep burgundy color that was disturbing and sinister.The dark-haired man, still smiling, stepped toward Carlisle.We thought we divulged a game, he verbalize in a relaxed translator with the slightest of French accents. Im Laurent, these are capital of Seychelles and James. He gestured to the vampires beside him.Im Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella. He pointed us out in groups, deliberately non calling attention to individuals. I felt a shock when he utter my name.Do you create room for a few more players? Laurent asked sociably.Carlisle matched Laurents friendly tone. Actually, we were just destination up. unless wed certainly be interested another time. Are you formulation to stay in the area for long?Were headed north, in fact, but we were amusing to see who was in the neighborhood. We prevailnt run into any company in a long time.No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, identical yourselves.The tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual communication I guessed that Jasper was using his peculiar gift to control the situation.Whats your hunting range? Laurent coolly inquired.Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry. The Olympic Range here, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We keep a permanent domicile nearby. theres another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali.Laurent rocked bear on his heels middling.Permanent? How do you manage that? There was honest rareness in his voice.Why dont you come tush to our home with us and we mop uper talk comfortably? Carlisle invited. Its a rather long story.James and Victoria exchanged a surprised font at the mention of the give-and- offhome, but Laurent controlled his expression better.That buy the farms very interesting, and welcome. His smile was genial. Weve been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we suck innt had the chance to clean up in a sequence. His eyes travel appreciatively over Carlisles refined searchance.Please dont feature for granted offense, but wed appreciate it if youd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand, Carlisle explained.Of course. Laurent nodded. We certainly wont encroach on your territory. We just ate international of Seattle, anyway, he laughed. A shiver ran up my spine.Well show you the way if youd like to run with us Emmett and Alice, you undersurface go with Edward and Bella to follow the landrover, he casually added.Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking. My hair ruffled with the light breeze, Edward stiffened, and the sec ond male, James, suddenly whipped his head around, scrutinizing me, his nostrils flaring.A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarl rive from his throat.It was nothing like the playful sounds Id heard from him this morning it was the single most menacing thing I had ever heard, and chills ran from the crown of my head to the back of my heels.Whats this? Laurent exclaimed in open surprise. Neither James nor Edward relaxed their aggressive poses. James feinted slightly to the side, and Edward shifted in response.Shes with us. Carlisles firm rebuff was directed toward James. Laurent seemed to catch my scent less powerfully than James, but awareness now dawned on his face.You brought a sting? he asked, his expression incredulous as he took an involuntary step forward.Edward snarled even more ferociously, harshly, his lip curling high supra his glistening, bared teeth. Laurent stepped back again.I give tongue to shes with us, Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.But shes human, Laurent protested. The words were not at all aggressive, moreover astounded.Yes. Emmett was very much in evidence at Carlisles side, his eyes on James. James slowly straightened out of his crouch, but his eyes never go away me, his nostrils still wide. Edward stayed tensed like a lion in front of me.When Laurent spoke, his tone was soothing proveing to defuse the sudden hostility. It appears we have a lot to learn about each other.Indeed. Carlisles voice was still cool.But wed like to accept your invitation. His eyes flicked toward me and back to Carlisle. And, of course, we exit not suffering the human girl. We wont hunt in your range, as I verbalize.James glanced in disbelief and aggravation at Laurent and exchanged another brief look with Victoria, whose eyes still flickered edgily from face to face.Carlisle mea genuined Laurents open expression for a moment before he spoke. Well show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme? he called. They gathitherd together, stop me from view as they converged. Alice was instantly at my side, and Emmett fell back slowly, his eyes locked on James as hebacked toward us.Lets go, Bella. Edwards voice was low and bleak.This whole time Id been rooted in place, terrified into absolute immobility. Edward had to spellbind my elbow and pull sharply to break my trance. Alice and Emmett were close behind us, secrecy me. I stumbled alongside Edward, still stunned with fear. I couldnt hear if the master(prenominal) group had left yet. Edwards impatience was almost tangible as we moved at human run to the forest edge.Once we were into the trees, Edward slung me over his back without breaking stride. I gripped as tightly as possible as he took off, the others close on his heels. I kept my head down, but my eyes, wide with fright, wouldnt close. They plunged through the now-black forest like wraiths. The sense of exhilaration that usually seemed to possess Edward as he ran was completely absent, replaced by a hydrophobia that consumed him and drove him still submityer. Even with me on his back, the others trailed behind.We reached the Jeep in an impossibly short time, and Edward barely slowed as he flung me in the back empennage.Strap her in, he ordered Emmett, who slid in beside me.Alice was already in the front seat, and Edward was starting the engine. It roared to heart and we swerved backward, spinning around to face the winding road.Edward was growling something too fast for me to understand, but it sounded a lot like a string of profanities.The stony trip was much worse this time, and the darkness only made it more frightening. Emmett and Alice both glared out the side windows.We hit the main road, and though our speed increased, I could see much better where we were freeing. And we were headed south, away from Forks.Where are we deviation? I asked.No one answered. No one even looked at me.Dammit, Edward Where are you taking me?We have to get you away from here farthermost away now. He didnt look back, his eyes on the road. The speedometer read a hundred and five miles an hour.Turn around You have to transport me home I shouted. I struggled with the stupid harness, tearing at the straps.Emmett, Edward said grimly.And Emmett secured my hands in his steely grasp.No Edward No, you cant do this.I have to, Bella, now please be quiet.I wont You have to take me back Charlie will call the FBI Theyll be all over your family Carlisle and Esme Theyll have to leave, to track foreverCalm down, Bella. His voice was cold. Weve been there before.Not over me, you dont Youre not ruining everything over me I struggled violently, with total futility.Alice spoke for the first time. Edward, pull over.He flashed her a hard look, and and so sped up.Edward, lets just talk this through.You dont understand, he roared in frustration. Id never heard his voice so loud it was thunderous in the confines of the Jeep. The speedometer neared one hundred and fifteen. Hes a tracker, Alice, did you see that? Hes a trackerI felt Emmett stiffen next to me, and I wondered at his reaction to the word. It meant something more to the three of them than it did to me I wanted to understand, but there was no opening for me to ask.Pull over, Edward. Alices tone was reasonable, but there was a ring of authority in it Id never heard before.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 doesnt know where -He interrupted her. How long do you think it will take him to cross her scent in township? His plan was already set before the words were out of Laurents mouth.I gasped, knowing where my scent would lead. Charlie You cant leave him there You cant leave him I thrashed against the harness.Shes right, Alice said.The car slowed slightly.Lets just look at our survival of the fittests for a minute, Alice coaxed.The car slowed again, more noticeably, and thusly suddenly we screeched to a stop on the shoulder of the highway. I flew against the harness, and because slammed back into the seat.There are no options, Edward hissed.Im not leaving Charlie I yelled.He ignored me completely.We have to take her back, Emmett finally spoke.No. Edward was absolute.Hes no match for us, Edward. He wont be able to touch her.Hell see.Emmett smiled. I can wait, too.You didnt see you dont understand. Once he commits to a hunt, hes unshakable. Wed have to kill him.Emmett didnt seem upset by the idea. Thats an option.And the female. Shes with him. If it turns into a fight, the leader will go with them, too.There are decent of us.Theres another option, Alice said quietly.Edward turned on her in fury, his voice a blistering snarl. There is no other optionEmmett and I both stared at him in shock, but Alice seemed unsurprised. The silence las ted for a long minute as Edward and Alice stared each other down.I broke it. Does anyone want to hear my plan?No, Edward growled. Alice glared at him, finally provoked.Listen, I pleaded. You take me back.No, he interrupted.I glared at him and continued. You take me back. I tell my public address system I want to go home to Phoenix. I pack my bags. We wait till this tracker is watching, and then we run. Hell follow us and leave Charlie alone. Charlie wont call the FBI on your family. Then you can take me any damned place you want.They stared at me, stunned.Its not a bad idea, really. Emmetts surprise was definitely an insult.It might engage and we simply cant leave her father unprotected. You know that, Alice said.Everyone looked at Edward.Its too sedate I dont want him within a hundred miles of her.Emmett was supremely confident. Edward, hes not getting through us.Alice thought for a minute. I dont see him attacking. Hell try to wait for us to leave her alone.It wont take long for him to realize thats not pass to happen.I demand that you take me home. I tried to sound firm.Edward pressed his fingers to his temples and squeezed his eyes shut.Please, I said in a much smaller voice.He didnt look up. When he spoke, his voice sounded worn.Youre leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees or not. You tell Charlie that you cant stand another minute in Forks. Tell him any(prenominal) story works. Pack the first things your hands touch, and then get in your truck. I dont care what he says to you. You have fifteen legal proceeding. Do you hear me? Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep.The Jeep rumbled to life, and he spun us around, the tires squealing. The needle on the speedometer started to race up the dial.Emmett? I asked, facial expression pointedly at my hands.Oh, sorry. He let me loose.A few minutes passed in silence, other than the roar of the engine. Then Edward spoke again.This is how its freeing to happen. When we get to the house, if th e tracker is not there, I will walk her to the door. Then she has fifteen minutes. He glared at me in the rearview mirror. Emmett, you take the outside of the house. Alice, you get the truck. Ill be privileged as long as she is. After shes out, you two can take the Jeep home and tell Carlisle.No way, Emmett broke in. Im with you.Think it through, Emmett. I dont know how long Ill be gone.Until we know how far this is going to go, Im with you.Edward sighed. If the tracker is there, he continued grimly, we keep driving.Were going to make it there before him, Alice said confidently.Edward seemed to accept that. Whatever his problem with Alice was, he didnt doubt her now.What are we going to do with the Jeep? she asked.His voice had a hard edge. Youre driving it home.No, Im not, she said calmly.The unintelligible stream of profanities started again.We cant all fit in my truck, I whispered.Edward didnt appear to hear me.I think you should let me go alone, I said even more quietly.He hear d that.Bella, please just do this my way, just this once, he said between clenched teeth.Listen, Charlies not an imbecile, I protested. If youre not in town tomorrow, hes going to get suspicious.Thats irrelevant. Well make sure hes safe, and thats all that matters.Then what about this tracker? He saw the way you acted tonight. Hes going to think youre with me, wherever you are.Emmett looked at me, insultingly surprised again. Edward, listen to her, he urged. I think shes right.Yes, she is, Alice agreed.I cant do that. Edwards voice was icy.Emmett should stay, too, I continued. He definitely got an eyeful of Emmett.What? Emmett turned on me.Youll get a better disco biscuit at him if you stay, Alice agreed.Edward stared at her incredulously. You think I should let her go alone?Of course not, Alice said. Jasper and I will take her.I cant do that, Edward repeated, but this time there was a trace of defeat in his voice. The logic was working on him.I tried to be persuasive. Hang out he re for a week - I saw his expression in the mirror and amended - a few days. Let Charlie see you havent kidnapped me, and lead this James on a wild-goose chase. Make sure hes completely off my trail. Then come and meet me. Take a roundabout route, of course, and then Jasper and Alice can go home.I could see him beginning to consider it. correspond you where?Phoenix. Of course.No. Hell hear thats where youre going, he said impatiently.And youll make it look like thats a ruse, obviously. Hell know that well know that hes listening. Hell never believe Im actually going where I say I am going.Shes diabolical, Emmett chuckled.And if that doesnt work?There are several million people in Phoenix, I informed him.Its not that hard to find a phone book.I wont go home.Oh? he inquired, a dangerous note in his voice.Im quite old enough to get my own place.Edward, well be with her, Alice reminded him.What are you going to do in Phoenix? he asked her scathingly.Stay indoors.I kind of like it. Emmet t was thought about cornering James, no doubt.Shut up, Emmett.Look, if we try to take him down while shes still around, theres a much better chance that someone will get hurt shell get hurt, or you will, trying to protect her. Now, if we get him alone He trailed off with a slow smile. I was right.The Jeep was crawling slowly along now as we drove into town. disdain my brave talk, I could feel the hairs on my arms standing up. I thought about Charlie, alone in the house, and tried to be courageous.Bella. Edwards voice was very soft. Alice and Emmett looked out their windows. If you let anything happen to yourself- anything at all Im place you personally responsible. Do you understand that?Yes, I gulped.He turned to Alice. shtup Jasper regale this?Give him some credit, Edward. Hes been doing very, very well, all things considered.Can you handle this? he asked.And graceful little Alice pulled back her lips in a repulsive grimace and let loose with a guttural snarl that had me co wering against the seat in terror.Edward smiled at her. But keep your opinions to yourself, he muttered suddenly.