Only For You (Twilight Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twelve

They emerged one by one from the forest edge, ranging a dozen meters apart. The first male into the clearing fell back immediately, allowing the other male to take the front, orienting himself around the tall, dark-haired man in a manner that clearly displayed who led the pack. The third was a woman; from this distance, all I could see of her was that her hair was a startling shade of red. They closed ranks before they continued cautiously toward Edward's family, 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 see how different they were from the Cullens. Their walk was catlike, a gait that seemed constantly on the edge of shifting into a crouch. They dressed in the ordinary gear of backpackers: jeans and casual button-down shirts in heavy, weatherproof fabrics. The clothes were frayed, though, with wear, and they were barefoot. Both men had cropped hair, but the woman's brilliant orange hair was filled with leaves and debris from the woods. Their sharp eyes carefully took in the more polished, urbane stance of Carlisle, who, flanked by Emmett and Jasper, stepped guardedly forward to meet them. Without any seeming communication between them, they each straightened into a more casual, erect bearing.
　　
The man in front was easily the most beautiful, his skin olive-toned beneath the typical pallor, his hair a glossy black. He was of a medium build, hard-muscled, of course, but nothing next to Emmett's brawn. He smiled an easy smile, exposing a flash of gleaming white teeth.
　　
The woman was wilder, her eyes shifting restlessly between the men facing her, and the loose grouping around me, her chaotic hair quivering in the slight breeze. Her posture was distinctly feline. The second male hovered unobtrusively behind them, slighter than the leader, his light brown hair and regular features both nondescript. His eyes, though completely still, somehow seemed the most vigilant.
　　
Their eyes were different, too. Not the gold or black I had come to expect, but a deep burgundy colour that was disturbing and sinister. The dark-haired man, still smiling, stepped toward Carlisle.
　　
"We thought we heard a game," he said in a relaxed voice with the slightest of French accents. "I'm Laurent, these are Victoria and James." He gestured to the vampires beside him.
　　
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett, Jess and Jasper, Rosalie and Emily, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella." He pointed us out in groups, deliberately not calling attention to indivduals. I felt a shock when he said my name.
　　
"Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked sociably.
　　
Carlisle matched Laurent's friendly tone. "Actually, we were just finishing up. 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 neighborhood. 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 tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual conversation; I guessed that Jasper was using his peculiar gift to control the situation.
　　
"What's your hunting range?" Laurent casually inquired. Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry.

"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." Laurent rocked back on his heels slightly.
　　
"Permanent? How do you manage that?" There was honest curiosity in his voice.
　　
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably?" Carlisle invited.

"It's a rather long story. "James and Victoria exchanged a surprised look at the mention of the word "home," but Laurent controlled his expression better.
　　
"That sounds very interesting, and welcome." His smile was genial.

"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." His eyes moved appreciatively over Carlisle's refined appearance.
　　
"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand," Carlisle explained.
　　
"Of course." Laurent nodded. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway," he laughed.
　　
"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us - Emmett and Alice, you can go with Edward and Bella to get the Jeep," he casually added.
　　
Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking.
　　Bella's hair ruffled with the light breeze, Edward stiffened, and the second male, James, suddenly whipped his head around, scrutinizing Bella, his nostrils flaring. As much as I wasn't talking to my cousin I didn't want her to get hurt so I stood over by her and grabbed her wrist.

"They can't smell me," I hissed as quietly as possible. Edward nodded in agreement

A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defence, a feral snarl ripping from his throat.
　　
"What's 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.
　　
"They're with us." Carlisle's firm rebuff was directed toward James. He stopped realizing he had just talk about us not Bella.

"There is two of them?" Victoria hissed. James' eyes darted towards me and his eyes filled with hunger. Rosalie darted in front of me and crouched like Edward.
　　
"Laurent seemed to catch Bella's scent less powerfully than James, but awareness now dawned on his face.
　　
"You brought snacks?" he asked, his expression incredulous as he took an involuntary step forward, "And one that does not have a scent"

Edward snarled even more ferociously, harshly, his lip curling high above his glistening, bared teeth. Laurent stepped back again.
　　
"I said they're with us," Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.
　　
"But they are human," Laurent protested. The words were not at all aggressive, merely astounded.
　　
"Yes." Emmett was very much in evidence at Carlisle's side, his eyes on James. James slowly straightened out of his crouch, but his eyes never left me, his nostrils still wide. Edward stayed tensed like a lion in front of me. When Laurent spoke, his tone was soothing - trying to defuse the sudden hostility. "It appears we have a lot to learn about each other."

"Indeed." Carlisle's voice was still cool.
　　
"But we'd like to accept your invitation." His eyes flicked toward me and back to Carlisle.

"And, of course, we will not harm the human girls. We won't hunt in your range, as I said."
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 measured Laurent's open expression for a moment before he spoke.
　　
"We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?" he called. They gathered together, blocking us from view as they converged. Alice was instantly at our side, and Emmett fell back slowly, his eyes locked on James as he backed toward us.
　　
"Let's go, Bella." Edward's voice was low and bleak. Alice looked at me.

"You too Emily," Alice said. I looked at Rose who nodded at me and I followed Edward and Bella towards the car