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〃Three;〃 she answered tersely。
〃Three!〃 he scoffed。 〃Let them e。〃 The steel bands of muscle flexed
along his massive arms。
For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was; Carlisle
deliberated。 Only Emmett seemed unperturbed; the rest stared at
Carlisle's face with anxious eyes。
〃Let's just continue the game;〃 Carlisle finally decided。 His voice was
cool and level。 〃Alice said they were simply curious。〃
All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds。 I
had listened carefully and caught most of it; though I couldn't hear what
Esme now asked Edward with a silent vibration of her lips。 I only saw the
slight shake of his head and the look of relief on her face。
〃You catch; Esme;〃 he said。 〃I'll call it now。〃 And he planted himself in
front of me。
The others returned to the field; warily sweeping the dark forest with
their sharp eyes。 Alice and Esme seemed to orient themselves around where
I stood。
〃Take your hair down;〃 Edward said in a low; even voice。
I obediently slid the rubber band out of my hair and shook it out around
me。
I stated the obvious。 〃The others are ing now。〃
〃Yes; stay very still; keep quiet; and don't move from my side; please。〃
He hid the stress in his voice well; but I could hear it。 He pulled my
long hair forward; around my face。
〃That won't help;〃 Alice said softly。 〃I could smell her across the
field。〃
〃I know。〃 A hint of frustration colored his tone。
Carlisle stood at the plate; and the others joined the game halfheartedly。
〃What did Esme ask you?〃 I whispered。
He hesitated for a second before he answered。 〃Whether they were
thirsty;〃 he muttered unwillingly。
The seconds ticked by; the game progressed with apathy now。 No one dared
to hit harder than a bunt; and Emmett; Rosalie; and Jasper hovered in the
infield。 Now and again; despite the fear that numbed my brain; I was
aware of Rosalie's eyes on me。 They were expressionless; but something
about the way she held her mouth made me think she was angry。
Edward paid no attention to the game at all; eyes and mind ranging the
forest。
〃I'm sorry; Bella;〃 he muttered fiercely。 〃It was stupid; irresponsible;
to expose you like this。 I'm so sorry。〃
I heard his breath stop; and his eyes zeroed in on right field。 He took a
half step; angling himself between me and what was ing。
Carlisle; Emmett; and the others turned in the same direction; hearing
sounds of passage much too faint for my ears。
===========================================================================
18。 THE HUNT
They emerged one by one from the forest edge; ranging a dozen meters
apart。 The first male into the clearing fell back immediately; allowing
the other male to take the front; orienting himself around the tall;
darkhaired man in a manner that clearly displayed who led the pack。 The
third was a woman; from this distance; all I could see of her was that
her hair was a startling shade of red。
They closed ranks before they continued cautiously toward Edward's
family; exhibiting the natural respect of a troop of predators as it
encounters a larger; unfamiliar group of its own kind。
As they approached; I could see how different they were from the Cullens。
Their walk was catlike; a gait that seemed constantly on the edge of
shifting into a crouch。 They dressed in the ordinary gear of backpackers:
jeans and casual buttondown shirts in heavy; weatherproof fabrics。 The
clothes were frayed; though; with wear; and they were barefoot。 Both men
had cropped hair; but the woman's brilliant orange hair was filled with
leaves and debris from the woods。
Their sharp eyes carefully took in the more polished; urbane stance of
Carlisle; who; flanked by Emmett and Jasper; stepped guardedly forward to
meet them。 Without any seeming munication between them; they each
straightened into a more casual; erect bearing。
The man in front was easily the most beautiful; his skin olivetoned
beneath the typical pallor; his hair a glossy black。 He was of a medium
build; hardmuscled; of course; but nothing next to Emmett's brawn。 He
smiled an easy smile; exposing a flash of gleaming white teeth。
The woman was wilder; her eyes shifting restlessly between the men facing
her; and the loose grouping around me; her chaotic hair quivering in the
slight breeze。 Her posture was distinctly feline。 The second male hovered
unobtrusively behind them; slighter than the leader; his light brown hair
and regular features both nondescript。 His eyes; though pletely still;
somehow seemed the most vigilant。
Their eyes were different; too。 Not the gold or black I had e to
expect; but a deep burgundy color that was disturbing and sinister。
The darkhaired man; still smiling; stepped toward Carlisle。
〃We thought we heard a game;〃 he said in a relaxed voice with the
slightest of French accents。 〃I'm Laurent; these are Victoria and James。〃
He gestured to the vampires beside him。
〃I'm Carlisle。 This is my family; Emmett and Jasper; Rosalie; Esme and
Alice; Edward and Bella。〃 He pointed us out in groups; deliberately not
calling attention to individuals。 I felt a shock when he said my name。
〃Do you have room for a few more players?〃 Laurent asked sociably。
Carlisle matched Laurent's friendly tone。 〃Actually; we were just
finishing up。 But we'd certainly be interested another time。 Are you
planning to stay in the area for long?〃
〃We're headed north; in fact; but we were curious to see who was in the
neighborhood。 We haven't run into any pany in a long time。〃
〃No; this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional
visitor; like yourselves。〃
The tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual conversation; I
guessed that Jasper was using his peculiar gift to control the situation。
〃What's your hunting range?〃 Laurent casually inquired。
Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry。 〃The Olympic Range
here; up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion。 We keep a permanent
residence nearby。 There's another permanent settlement li