Smoke & Mirrors

Chapter 3

 "A smoking punch is something you couldn't see coming"
     ~Unknown

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  Even as she kept up her speed, Vesper came to the quick realization that she was beginning to slowly lag behind. She knew she might have to step in eventually and help lose the wolves behind. It wasn't exactly her favorite at the point but from the outlook she had of things, there wouldn't be any choice. She could tell from her distance that the wolves were closing in on their ankles. Those bloody slobbery mutts Vesper thought to herself.

  Letting out an exasperated sigh and rolling her eyes, she took the large leap across of the deep rocky stream. Below her she could seewith clear detail the water caressing the smooth dark rocks below. It was a detail any normal human would find peacful and so would Vesper, if it weren't for the current scenerio. 'Into the wolf's den we go' Vesper thought to herself. She landed with a soft thud on the forest floor only a few feet away from the richly accented vampires.

  Then she was back on the chase, this time she was the one chasing the Romanians and there were slobbery forest rats at her ankles. She looked back at the wolves and gave, what she thought was the leader of the pack, a sly wink. She could instantly tell this angered the wolf even more as he gave a viscous snarl. This made Vesper giggle. What a fool. Even in the middle of several problems there was always enough time for the vampires to toy with the wolves.

  For hundreds of years the wolves and the vampires had been at a constant battle with each other. Always at each others tails, no pun intended. They were always fighting and very rarely came to any sort of agreements. It was never anything as severe as the conflict within the covens of vampires itself, yet it was always a perpetual problem. It was a conflict even Vesper didn't quite understand, however, she still wasn't exactly below teasing the slobbering beasts. Apparently, neither were the Romanians for that matter as they quickly began to jump their way up the trees around them.

  Vesper watched the two ancient men jumping amongst the trees and caught onto their idea. She jumped up into the trees after them and began to bounce around the pine like a game of pong on steroids. Ever so often she would cross paths with one or the other of the men who seemed to almost completely disregard her.

  As the three vampires had planned, the small pack of four wolves were instantly confused and running over each other. It was like watching a wave of very angry growling fur puffs rolling about. Laughing and jumping about the trees Vesper looked down to see the largest wolf begin to regain its composure. Both of the Romanians jumped back down to Earth landing on a nearby stone wedged into the ground. However, Vesper remained in the trees watching the scene below unfold.

  Once Vladimir and Stefan had both landed firmly on the ground they took a seat, back to back, on the ground behind. They still continued to lightly tease the oversized pups by making kissing noses at the wolves and laughing. They knew they were essentially untouchable by the mutts. The wolves were back to their feet and already snarling again, but they almost totally disregarded Vesper who safely rested on a branch just behind the pack. She continued to observe the odd interaction between both groups.

  "Vladimir. Stefan. You're a long way from home," spoke an all to familiar voice that Vesper recognized instantly. Carlisle Cullen stepped up to the Romanians along with several other vampires Vesper could only assume were either family or witnesses.

  "We heard that the Volturi were moving against you, but that you would not stand alone," spoke the pale vampire called Vladimir.

  "We didn't do what we were accused of," Carlisle replied sharply in defense. This made the Romanians smile a little more and brought another response from Vladimir.

  "We do not care what you did, Carlisle."
  "We have been waiting a millennium for the Italian scum to be challenged," spoke Vladimir's companion, Stefan. At the one word scum Vesper cringed lightly and squinted. Carlisle spoke again.

  "It is not our plan to fight the Volturi." It wasn't unlike carlisle to avoid a fight, he was naturally a kind hearted human. The thought made Vesper relax again.

  "Shame. Aro's witnesses will be so disappointed," spoke Vladimir again. Once again the Romanian caused a shift in comfort for Vesper. The mention of that name was enough to keep her permanently on edge from her branch up above. It was a name that burned like a fire in her mind. A name and a person she would rather avoid at all cost.

  "They enjoy a good fight," finished Stefan, giving his friend a childish smile. Even Vesper knew this, very well. A man Vesper had never seen before wearing a long leather coat stepped forward to Carlisle.

  "Aro's witnesses?" he questioned Carlisle. Before Carlisle could even open his mouth Vladimir was already speaking.

  "Awh. Still hoping they'll listen?" Using this as her que, Vesper dropped down from her perch in the tree. She landed right in the center of the the three groups; the wolves, the Cullens, and the Romanians. Vesper smiled as almost everyone was startled by her surprise appearance.

  "Perhaps they may, Vladimir. The Volturi aren't as insane as you may think. It isn't like they're the one's attempting to enslave humanity," Vesper spoke walking around kicking dirt without making any eye contact with the Romanians. She decided it was best considering how daring her decision was to speak out in such a way. At any moment one of the two could tear her head off in less than a second.

  She could feel the eyes of every being, vampire and wolf alike, on her, especially that of the Romanians. The only welcoming smile she could see was that of Carlisle's.

  "I'm certainly glad to see you again Vesper. Welcome to Forks," Carlisle spoke to the slightly smoking vampire in front of him. He turned his body to the side a little while still making eye contact with Vesper. "Vesper may be one of our greatest allies." Vesper tensed up again at what he meant. It wasn't just her gift but it was her past that made a powerful gambling piece.

  "Perhaps...," Vesper spoke softly with a half smile at Carlisle. "Why are we here Carlisle? What's this conflict you have with the Volturi?" Carlisle only smiled at her questions.

  "Come. Let's talk about this in the house. It'll be better if you see what the conflict is." Vesper nodded and each of the Vampires and wolfs began to follow Carlisle. As Vesper walked she felt the glare of a very angry alpha wolf as he and his pack past her. If that wasn't bad, both of her shoulders were clipped as the Romanians passed her. She caught the glare of them as they passed and as she passed her eyes from one man to the other that's when she smelled it.