Alice glanced warily towards the forest.
The rest of the Cullens quickly moved over and soon got into a circular formation.
Bella was standing in the back, clearly being protected.
Alice moved closer to Silas, she felt an uncomfortable presence in the group closing in.
Silas glanced over, he felt her unease.
He remembered a plot from his previous life, Alice had been hunted by James as a human.
And had later been turned by another vampire to be saved from James.
Silas narrowed his eyes.
Well… it doesn't matter if I remember right, let's just kill James… better safe than sorry, right?
Although he doesn't think she remembers James…
Carlisle stepped forward taking the natural leader position as the leader of the coven.
Three figures slowly made their way out of the woods.
You can say whatever you want about them and their actions and beliefs… but they had quite the arrival.
That walk in was quite impressive.
Silas took notes, I might use that one in the future.
Silas overheard the conversation between Bella and Edward.
He was apologizing for bringing her here.
What a victim mindset, like she isn't her own person and can make the decision if she wants to be here.
Silas rolled his eyes.
I get what he's saying, but he once again displays his emo mode when he takes all the blame on himself.
This can be both an argument for and against free will.
Bella used her free will to come here, thus she is responsible for her actions.
And Edward didn't have free will since the arrival of these vampires was out of his knowledge and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Thus he had no free will in causing Bella's misfortune.
Free will is one of the biggest copes to put blame on oneself, and others.
But for things that are literally out of your control, using free will to pin that blame on a person is just trying to make that person a slave.
It's to make a person appear as freely choosing so you can put blame and punishment on them.
Afterall no one is responsible for existing.
Anyway.
Laurent on the other side was rapidly approaching Carlisle, since both had taken a leader role
"I am Laurent and this is Victoria, and James." He said and motioned towards the longhaired blond man.
He was currently staring intently at the Cullens, clearly he didn't think as much as Laurent did.
Carlisle moved his head sideways, motioning towards the people behind.
"I am Carlisle, and this is my family."
"Hello." Laurent responded.
James kept having a provocative stare off against Emmett and Jasper.
When his gaze met Alice's, Silas could feel her anxiety.
He reached out his hand and grabbed hers.
"What's wrong?" He whispered right beside her ear, just enough for even a vampire to hear.
Alice shook her head.
"Nothing."
Silas glanced at James.
Carlisle looked at Laurent and said.
"I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused something of a mess for us."
Laurent made an apologetic face.
"Our apologies."
"We didn't realize the territory had been claimed."
Carlisle wasn't amused.
"Yeah… well, we maintain a permanent residence nearby."
Laurent was taken aback, then turned to look at James.
"Really?"
James ignored him and kept having a stare contest with Edward, and the others.
Laurent turned back to Carlisle.
"We won't be a problem anymore."
"We were just passing through."
Viktoria stepped forward and smiled.
"The humans were tracking us, but we led them east."
She lowered her tone to a near whisper.
"You should be safe."
Carlisle smiled diplomatically.
"Excellent." Carlisle looked back and forth between his family.
A short awkwardness filled the air.
"So… could you use three more players?" Laurent asked, with a chuckle in his tone.
Alice felt increasingly uncomfortable, she looked back and forth between her family, and took yet another step closer to Silas.
The faces of the Cullens grew increasingly grim.
They too could feel the tension in the air.
Seeing their hesitation Laurent pushed.
"Ohh~ come one, just one game?"
Carlisle sighed.
"Eh, sure why not."
"A few of us were leaving so you could take their place."
"We'll bat first."
Carlisle threw the ball at Laurent.
Just as it was about to hit him Victoria caught it.
She smiled, ignorant of the atmosphere.
"I'm the one with the wicked curve ball."
Trying to steer the conversation to a less hostile place, Jasper smiled and leaned back.
"Ohh~ I think we can handle that."
Hearing that Laurent clapped.
"Ooo~"
The Cullens laughed along.
Everything to ease the atmosphere.
Laurent turned to walk away and Victoria followed.
"We'll see."
The Cullens also turned to walk away, to send at least Bella away.
James lingered, continuing with his creepy staring.
Just as he was about to follow Laurent and Victoria a wind flew by.
James, like a shark smelling blood, took a deep breath.
He turned to Bella and Edward.
"You brought a snack."
The Cullens quickly reinforced Edward and Bella.
And Laurent and Victoria backed up James.
"A human?" Laurent said with a surprised tone.
Carlisle started at Laurent then said.
"The girl is with us… I think it's best if you leave."
They both weighed their options for a second then Laurent spoke out.
"I can see that the game is over."
"I think it's best if we leave now."
Laurent backed away, as if he was facing a ferocious animal.
He then turned to look at James who wasn't backing down.
"James! Let's leave."
James curled his lips but still left his confrontational position.
Viktoria saw James back down and followed his lead.
The Cullens watched the trio leave, James embraced Victoria with his arm and smelled her hair.
Then he shot a provocative glare backwards.
He had clearly not let this go.
Silas put on a thoughtful expression.
No one had commented on him… was he invisible?
He must at least kinda smell human.
Carlisle turened around to his family.
"Get Bella out of here."
"Go!" He urged Edward and pushed him towards the car.
Edward snapped out of his thoughts and grabbed Bella, dragging her towards the car.
Silas followed his movements and watched how he got Bella in the car and in a panic struggled to put on Bella's seatbelt.
Weird thing to do, by the way. It should be way easier for her to do it herself.
Just then she spoke out.
"I've got it, I've got it, I'm alright." She said in an excited tone.
Edward quickly closed the door and ran around to the other side.
The second he sat down Bella started to question him.
"What? So now he's coming after me?"
Edward didn't answer, he put the car in drive and drove off.
Silas smacked his lips, then turned to Alice.
She was still a little out of it.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Silas asked and rubbed her back.
Alice hesitated then looked at him.
"I… I don't know why, but that James makes me feel scared."
Silas nodded.
"No need to worry, I'll protect you, he's just some pscho."
Alice hesitated.
"It didn't feel like that, it was weird… like some kind of deja vu."
"But… I hope you're right."
Hearing this it just solidified his choice in killing James… he'll kill the other two when he's at it.
No need to keep it around.
But seeing Alice like this he needed something to distract her.
"So… I know I'm not human… but why was I ignored by them?"
"Don't I smell good?"
Alice's worried expression froze for a second then she laughed.
"You're worried about being rejected as food by vampires?"
Silas nodded.
"Yeah, it makes me feel unwanted."
Alice couldn't help but giggle.
"I don't know, to me you don't really smell anything… but even if you smelled really bad I would still want you."
Silas laughed, then leaned in to kiss her.
"That's sweet of you."
While they were having a romantic moment, the rest of the Cullens were panicking.
What to do?
...
That's it for this week!
This week's been great. Sadly, the whole finale didn't fit into it, but we'll be back at it next week.
Hope you enjoyed the chapters. Mwah~
CHAPTER END.