Can you see me? (Cullens x B.fem reader)

Chapter 26: Hunted

           (Narrator's POV)
As the three vampires leave, Azira turns away from their direction to see Edward rushing Bella to the jeep, understanding the severity of the situation, she exchanges a few words of reassurance of her safety to Rosalie, Alice and Esme before rushing to the jeep as well.

Getting in the backseat as Bella enters the front passenger seat. "Okay, I got it! I'm alright! I'm alright!" Bella stresses to Edward as they both fumble with her seat belt, leaving it at that, Edward rushes into the driver's seat and starts the car, Bella asks him in a panic, "What? Now one is.. he's coming after me?"

Edward drives the jeep away from the field, speeding down the bumpy path through the forest as the air in the car fills with panicked tension to which Azira is unaffected by.

Edward starts explaining seriously as he drives, "Listen to me. James is a tracker, the hunt is his obsession.. I read his mind, my reaction at the field set him off.. I just made this, his most exciting game ever.. he's never gonna stop." Bella asks, "Then what should we do?", "We have to kill him.. rip him apart and burn the pieces." He responds.

"Not if we can get him disinterested with the current target." Azira speaks up from the backseat, having been silent up til this point. Her words earn a confused look from Bella and an immediate objection from Edward, "That's not possible.. he'd never give up.", Azira says no more but her calm expression gives nothing away of her thoughts.

Bella asks with obvious panic going through her every nerve, "Where are we going!?", "Away from the forest. We'll get a ferry to Vancouver-" Edward replies but is cut off as Bella stresses, "I have to go home, now." to which Edward refuses, "You can't go home.. he's gonna trace your scent there and it's the first place he'll look..", "But my dad is there-" Bella tries to reason but Edward yells "It doesn't matter!" Making Bella pause for a moment before insisting, "Yes it does matter, he could get killed because of us..!"

The jeep continues to speed through the forest as Edward strains "Just.. just let me get you out of here first, alright..", "But my dad, we have to go back." Bella responds, not giving up on the decision as she tries to reason "We'll figure out a way to lure the tracker away somehow but we have to go back.."

Silence falls over the two before Azira speaks again, explains logically "Edward. We have to go back.. it'll raise more chaos if Bella suddenly disappears from Forks, her father might launch a search party for her and put other people in more danger.. not to mention it'll be especially sketchy if we manage to get rid of James and come back like nothing happened.. no matter how good an excuse you can come up with, it'll put too much attention on the rest of your coven."

Without another word, Edward makes a turn and drives in direction of Bella's house, Azira then explains to Bella, "Now listen carefully, Bella. When we get to your house, I want you to act as calm as possible, go straight up to your room and pack a bag. I'll handle what to say to your father so he won't ask too many questions, all I need you to do is play along when the moment arises."

Bella nods her head in understanding but there's still a palpable apprehension radiating from her at Azira's instructions. The jeep parks not too far from Bella's house and the two girls step out, rushing into the house finding Charlie relaxed on the couch. Bella rushes upstairs alarming a confused Charlie who gets up immediately but then Azira steps forward, stopping him at the bottom of the stairs with a friendly yet sad smile as she greets,

"Evening, Chief Swan. I'm Azira Grey, one of Bella's classmates in Biology and new to town.", Charlie shakes her extended hand and greets back, "Nice to meet you, Azira. Bella's Biology classmate you said? Mind explaining what's going on?" His question giving away the obvious worry he's feeling for his daughter, seemingly anxious to go check on her upstairs but also wanting to know what the problem is.

Azira continues her act with an emotional undertone to her voice as she explains, "I went to play baseball with the Cullens alongside Bella and just before the game ended i received a call that my uncle was in a serious accident and is in critical condition back in New York where he was still making some arrangements.." tears begin to gloss over Azira's eyes as she continues,

"He was supposed to come join me here in Forks since he's my only living relative and has been my guardian since I was really young.. the news came suddenly and I'm in no position to travel to New York right now, his wife reassured me over the phone but I'm still feeling a bit down.. I.. I don't have anyone close here nor many friends and I live alone currently.. Bella offered to sleep over and keep me company tonight after hearing about my situation.. w..we were hoping you would allow for it?"

Looking up at Charlie with teary eyes and an expression that looked like she was trying her best to stay strong sparked sympathy from him and he couldn't bare to refuse so he gave a nod and patted Azira on the shoulder. It was at this moment the Bella came back downstairs with a packed bag and is caught of guard by the scene she's met with, Azira teary eyed and depressed looking, before she can say anything, Charlie says to her,

"You can go ahead and sleep over at your friend's house but since it's just the two of you, make sure to call me immediately if there's anything wrong that happens. Take care, okay?", hearing his words, Bella manages an awkward nod as she plays along the best she can, making her way to Azira's side and waving bye to her dad before both girls exit the house.

Getting into Bella's truck and driving away, Azira's sad expression shifts back to her usual calm self as though nothing happened, shocking Bella even more so that she can't help but question, "H-How did you come up with a story like that so easily? And fake it so well too? I..I almost believed it myself for second there.."

Azira replies with a lazy grin "I'm simply a good actor. Besides, I figured you wouldn't wanna do or say anything to hurt your father.", Bella casts a thoughtful look at Azira for a few moments before she's startled by Edward who's holding on to the side of the car and peeping through the driver's window, "Your father's gonna be okay.. now let's focus on keeping you safe... why don't you let me drive.." He says, opening the door and making his way in as Bella scoots over to let him take the wheel, now sat in the middle.

"Are you sure my dad is gonna be okay?" Bella asks with shaky breaths, worry and fear weighing heavy on her mind at the gravity of the situation, Edward reassures her, "Don't worry, he's safe. The tracker is following us.", Azira maintains a calm stare out the window, a glint of mischief flickering in the depths of her eyes for but a brief moment.

A bang suddenly rings out and the weight of the car shifts for a moment which startles Bella but Edward reassures her, "Don't worry, it's just Emmett."

Edward drives the girls to a secluded area along the road and explains along the way that Alice and Jasper will stay with them for safety while Him and Rosalie work on redirecting the tracker's route since he won't expect Edward to be away from Bella. They come to a stop allowing Azira and Bella to get out of the truck and into Alice's car which is parked off to the side, they get in the backseats and Jasper drives them to the airport, Alice having already booked four tickets for the flight to Phoenix, Arizona.

The plan sets into motion and before they know it, there staying at a hotel in Phoenix. Bella takes some time to think over the events of the last few hours and what lies ahead, suddenly Alice has a vision that catches Jasper and Azira's attention as they go to her side, "What's wrong?" Jasper asks softly to which Alice responds, "The tracker.. he's changed course. He must've figured out Bella wasn't with Edward.. but I'm also seeing this place.." she trails off as she grabs a pencil and paper, rapidly sketching out a place she's never seen before.

Seeing the drawing, Bella recognizes it and explains that it was an old dance studio she used to go learn ballet at when she was younger. A phone call comes in and Jasper takes it, it's from Edward and he says him, Emmett and Carlisle are on their way to join them in Phoenix to take Bella somewhere safe since they lost the tracker and believe he will be coming here.

Once the call is over, Alice, Jasper, Bella and Azira head to the airport to pick the guys up. After a while of waiting, Bella says she needs to use the bathroom and heads off, leaving the airport without the others noticing, all except Azira who has an intrigued look in her eye as she observes the brunette sneaking off.