Cold Front | Paul Lahote

Deux

It was growing warmer and Erica found herself growing increasingly uncomfortable. In her new immortal life, she had found herself attracted to the cold weather. Ice and snow often clung to her like it was a lost child.

Her steps brought frost to the ground, her presence would cause the snow to flurry in the wind. She let her hunger grow, cautious of moving too close to the small town. She didn't need to tip the humans off to anything they would find peculiar. Her goal was too keep the Volturi away from them for their safety and survival.

"The humans are growing curious," Laurent stressed one evening after they had fed.

Erica sat thinking. She was often thinking. Her mind was always working through millions of possibilities. Her mind was always so cluttered and active, moments of peace were rare for her.

"Let them," James said flippantly. Him and Victoria were growing disgustingly close, it didn't take a genius as to what was surely to come.

"If they search and pick too much the Volturi will intervene. They will not hesitate to kill us all," Laurent exclaimed.

Erica stood from her place and stretched unnecessarily. "I will deal with it."

"You want us to come, sister?" James asked unconvincingly.

"No, brother, I can manage on my own." Erica took Laurent by the arm. "Laurent and I will deal with it. You and Victoria will only get it the way."

James fake pouted at his sister. "Now, my dear Erica, that is not very nice."

She laughed lightly. "Enjoy yourself, James. I expect to eat when I return so it would be best that you finish before then."

With bare feet pressing into the earth, she knew that she was leaving footprints behind without a doubt. Her hair whipped around her face and got tangled in branches. She could hear dogs barking at her in the distance, attempting to follow her trail. The shouts of the human law enforcers as they stumbled along to catch her.

A laugh escaped her lips, a smile full blown on her face. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she enjoyed herself. It was like a game; she was the predator playing the prey just waiting to attack. Over her, she heard Laurent's hushed reprimand. He was worried about her getting in trouble, but she was only in trouble if she got caught. Even then she wouldn't be in trouble because she could easily deal with them.

Reaching the border, she swung herself into a tree and perched herself on a branch. The small search party continue on, not noticing that her trail ended.

"That was too close," Laurent told her, his voice too low for anyone else to hear. "They almost had you."

"If they had grown too close, I would have gone faster." Erica patted his chest before swinging through the trees back towards James and Victoria.

"Then why did you let them et so close?" He questioned her

To Erica, the answer was simple and plain. "I was having fun, it was a game, Laurent. Maybe you should ease up some and enjoy your existence."

Moving faster, she felt like she was practically flying over the space. They would be back with the other before she knew it.

If the burning in her throat was anything to go by, then she had lead them farther than she initially planned. Knowing her brother, he was more than likely in a mood because of her prolonged absence.

•••••

She ducked as a tree passed over her head. She moved fast as her brother continued to rage and throw things in his tantrum. In her opinion, his reaction was relatively subdued. She had seen him far angrier, and every time his anger was unnecessary.

"Do you have any idea how long you were both gone for?"

Erica flit around the small space as her brother lunged at her. Victoria and Laurent were somewhere hiding to avoid his fury.

"Well I didn't realize I had a curfew. Next time I'll do a half-ass job and lead them directly to us," the girl spoke sarcastically. "I'll make sure I've returned in time for the witch twins to destroy us."

"Erica-"

"Actually, I believe that the twins would be too grand for our demise, we'll be lucky to get Felix."

Dodging as her brother lunged at her anew, she grunted as his fist made contact with her side. He was quick, but she always thought things out. Flipping and spinning around, she was always able to predict his next move a few moments before he made it.

"Think this through James!" Her voice carried through the trees. "I made the right choice and you know it."

Her brother continued to lunge. She glanced towards Victoria for help, but the girl kept her distance.

"James," the redhead purred. "Maybe we should all just leave the area. It'll be safer for us."

Her brother slowed significantly, giving her the chance to grab and hold him from behind. He tossed and pulled at her but her hold on him was firm.

"Stop it!" she hissed in his ear. "You are acting immature. You are older than I am, start acting like it. We are close to being found, now is not the time to lose our heads."

"What would you suggest then, dearest sister?" he spoke to her through clenched teeth.

"We leave, like Victoria said. We continue on because we have already drawn too much attention to ourselves." Erica's voice held the reason her brother lacked. "The rain is coming as well; you know how much is hate it. Let's us go somewhere more cold."

She eased her hold on him slowly as she felt his anger fade. Her arms held him softly, giving him a loving hug instead of a deathly grip. She clung to his back as he stood and spun her around, their previous argument completely forgotten.

"I don't like the cold though," Victoria whined. "The humans always stay inside."

James and Erica shared a glance before sending the others a sadistic smile.

They spoke together, "It's all the more fun that way."

•••••

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After much consideration, I decided to make my baby Paul the love interest.

Unedited