A Potter Secret

Hiding a Scent

Edward catches her fist. She was dreaming, but the fist was real. Her eyes focus, realizing she swung at Edward. Her heart is racing. "What is it?" Edward asks.

"The intruder- The newborn army. They're all her puppets. Victoria," Bella whispers.

"Alice would've seen if she wanted to make an army," Edward assumes.

"Unless she's hiding behind them, and she's letting someone else decide. Maybe she found out how Alice's visions work."

Edward rises, considering. "Trust me– I want it to be her. I want her that close. To end her myself, with my own hands." She sees the darkness in his face. Not certain what to make of his murderous side.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It's dark. Riley appears in the shadows dragging by the collar a barely conscious, athletic, young man, Tristan. Riley effortlessly pulls Tristan's weight behind him as he traverses the long stretch of the underpass. Tristan tries desperately to focus. The bump on his head prevents lucidity. "Stop- I-" Tristan starts but he's dragged over a stone, crying out in pain. Riley ignores him, finally reaching his destination. He releases Tristan who drops hard to the ground. Tristan's blinded by the darkness, dazed, terrified– he starts to crawl away. He doesn't see a pair of boots step up behind him. He manages to get to his feet, about to run. Suddenly a hand wrenches him backward- It's Victoria.

She forces him to his knees, his back to her. She shoots a smile at Riley – he returns it, backing away from the coming blood. She yanks Tristan's head to the side to expose his neck. "Welcome to the army." She bites down furiously

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Edward exits with Bella on his heels. "I'm not just gonna hide, while you're taking all the risks for me?" Bella demands.

"If it's Victoria involved- I need to keep you as far away from the fight as possible," Edward counters.

"Jasper said that I could be of help."

"We won't need your help. With the wolves in this, it's an easy win. The rest of us, aren't gonna have enough to do."

"Okay, either it's so dangerous that I have to hide- Or it's so easy, that you're gonna be side blind, which is it?"

"It's dangerous for you. It's easy for us."

"I think it's dangerous for us to be apart. How many times we have to prove that? I'll be worrying. You'll be worried. And we'll both feel more horrible," Bella reminds.

Edward sighs, thinking it through, "Okay, you're right."

"So, I'm coming with you."

"No, we've got to stay away together," Edward corrects.

Bella scoffs. "I can't make you choose between me and your family, it's-"

"The only way I can protect you, is to be with you," Edward finishes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jacob faces Bella and Edward. They're in the center of the field. Jasper stands several paces behind Edward. "You're not fighting? What, you pull a muscle or something?" Jacob asks.

Bella looks at him, getting between them. "He's doing it for me. Okay?"

Jacob looks at her, at Edward, shakes his head with disdain. "Whatever. Just tell me the plan."

Jasper steps forward slightly, "This field will give us an advantage in battle. We need to lure the newborns with Bella's scent. It needs to end here."