Mortality

He Never Came Home

"He's tracking us," Edward states upon entering the house. Everyone is standing around Laurent, the red-headed Victoria nowhere in sight. He rubs his temples, shoulders sagging.

"I was afraid of that," the gravelly voiced Frenchman says, eyes closed tight. "I have never seen him react to a human like that before. Not even one he wanted to kill. How does he know you?"

"I uh ... might have run into him a couple days ago. My dad shot his shoulder off." Laurent's eyes go wide.

"Wait! That was you? The witch?" He laughs, holding his stomach. "Ah, jolie petite fille, your father is the one James truly wants then. It is unheard of for a human to injure a vampire so severely. What manner of gun does he have?"

"I honestly don't know...I know it's custom, but he doesn't let me around it." Laurent nods thoughtfully, tapping his chin. "I can honestly only assume the bullets are made of something hard enough to break vampire skin. Maybe diamond?"

"That could work... this is just remarkable. But, all the same, you must kill James now. If there was a chance for his survival, it disappeared when he realized who this girl is. Her father insulted him from, his ranting, and so he wants his revenge. If it means killing a child, so be it. It wouldn't be the first time he took his ... affections for a young woman too far, anyway."

Immediately, Alice appears, clinging to Jasper's side and whispering at the speed of sound in his ear. They both set down a couple duffel bags and go back up the stairs, earning a look of confusion from Rosalie.

"What will he do?" Carlisle asked Laurent, his face and voice hard.

"Chances are, he's wanting to draw the father out. I cannot stop his hunt, nothing can. He is unlike anything I have ever seen, and I've been around for a few centuries." Laurent looks at me, approaching slowly. "But I believe you might be the one weakness he has. You struck him down before your father critically injured him. That was a strike to his pride. And he cannot control his actions when he's enraged. He might ... slip-up. Though, you will have to decide if you're okay with an unlife, should it come to that."

Carlisle looks at Edward and raises his hand. I glance to find Edward's claws back out, his fangs visible. A warning — keep away. His growl echoes through the room, and Laurent takes one step backward.

"Your way of life is interesting, but I don't think it is wise for me to stick around. James may try to use me against you. And I have no qualms with this coven." He looks at Esme. "You said your allies, the Denali, might take me in?"

"If you're truly wanting to change..." she starts.

"Then I will go to them. I wish you all the best of luck. Adieu."

Carlisle steps forward and bows slightly, "Go in peace." A solid minute passes after Laurent vanishes out the door, and Carlisle turns to Edward. "Is he still near?"

"He's rendezvoused with Victoria, three miles past the river. But now that we know there is a definite risk to Charlie, we have to warn him." My phone is out in an instant, his number dialed and tone ringing out to the room.

"You've reached Chief Charles Swan. I can't make it to the phone right now, but if you'll leave a name and num—" I hang up, brows furrowed.

"He ... he always picks up for me. He's answered my texts at 4 in the morning before."

"We need someone to run out to Charlie's hide-out, then." Carlisle volunteers, grabbing a passing Emmett. "You're with me on this."

"No problem."

"What about Bella?" Edward goes to Carlisle, hiding his claws to grab the elder vampire's arm. "She's still in danger."

"Go forward with her plan. Use her to draw James out in a place she knows. It's all we have right now, unless Alice sees something different."