(Thomas POV)
Just as the new group was stepping to follow Carlisle home, a gentle breeze blew through the clearing. A mild flutter, brought about from the tail end of the storm front, gasping its last gasp before dissipating. So mild…So…inescapable.
Bella's sent, fresh from her relaxing posture as she saw the potential for violence waver, wafted directly into the stranger's faces.
All four of them took a deep breath, much like a human walking into a fresh bakery. Laurent and Victoria showed a predominantly confused expression by the delicious smell coming from nowhere, Jessy and James, however, shifted immediately into hunting mode. Jasper's camouflage of disinterest around Bella shattered immediately, their focus on her smell caused them to ignore Jasper's abilities without even knowing they were doing so.
Jasper kept it up around himself and Alice, regardless. Just in case he could use the surprise to his advantage.
James stepped forward to be met by Edward as he, too, crouched forward and bared his teeth, a feral snarl ripping from his throat. Loud and menacing, more so than I or Bella had ever seen in a Cullen vampire. James pulled back in shock, but Jessy didn't even pause. He stepped around his brother and tried to brush past me to get to Bella. My anger ripped through me, and faster than ever before, my clothes exploded around me, and I struck forward with my left paw.
The impact blasted the unprepared vampire back, and I tensed to charge forward. I was furious with myself, I had failed to use my claws in that attack. I had grown so used to not using them during training with Jasper and Emmett that it was an unconscious choice this time. This piece of shit had dared try and harm my sister, nothing would save him from my jaws.
Before I could act, though, Alice was standing in front of me with her arms out, blocking me… I roared in frustration at the loss of my prey. It may have well been on the other side of the world now, as Edythe joined Alice. So much for nothing saving him, I thought in frustration.
Carlisle spoke in the most commanding voice I had heard from him to date, "The girl is with us!!!"
James and Victoria skittered to where Jessy had landed, the whole time keeping an eye on us. Not daring to turn their backs on such a threat.
Laurent spoke in surprise, "But she is human?" He was careful to keep his stance neutral, afraid any aggressive movement would erupt in violence, and he was the closest to our group.
I could hear Bella's panicked breathing and feel her eyes locked on me in confusion.
Jessy came to his feet in a furious jump, shoving both James and Victoria away. He looked at me with so much concentrated hatred that he made Johnny seem a loving parent in comparison. James looked at us with something I would have said was foreign to those eyes just moments ago. Excitement. He was quickly whispering to his brother, and what he said must have been the right thing. Jessy calmed down, and the same look of excitement flashed across his face as well. Edward drew in a breath and growled yet again. He either heard what they said or read it from their minds. Either way, he wasn't happy about it.
Laurent, still trying to keep the peace, spoke, "It looks like we have much to learn from you." His tone a piece offering. "Naturally, the girl will be off limits."
Both James and Jessy looked at him in disgust, without a word spoken, everyone understood the looks they were giving Laurent, (You dare speak for us?) then their eyes turned cunning, like they were making plans as they went.
Laurent, seeing this, knew he would no longer be safe with the group. That much was obvious. "How about I go with this group and see what they have to offer us, and then I can find you three afterward?"
James nodded his head, "We will see you soon." His tone was ambiguous at best. Then they turned to head back into the forest.
Alice paused, and her eyes went out of focus for a moment, then she nodded. "Emmett, Edward, and I will escort Bella out of here. The rest of you can head home. It is safe."
I looked at Edward and shouted out in my mind, {"Tell Bella all you know of me and explain that I was waiting until I knew more before endangering her in this world. Do not say anything to Charlie, I don't think he could handle it yet."}
He nodded and pulled Bella around to his back and took off with Emmett in tow. Alice had a brief conversation with Jasper before kissing him and following Edward.
Leaving the forgotten baseball equipment, Carlisle looked at Laurent, "Follow me and I will show you where we live."
The run back was quiet but intense. I kept every sense heightened to the max, in case we were followed. There was no way they wouldn't find the Cullen house if they looked, but I didn't want them to ambush us.
About halfway home, Edythe spoke softly. "Victoria is following us. She has no plan to do anything but gather information right now. She believes James and Jessy went to pick up Bella's trail. Though she also believes that Jessy is more interested in hunting you for the humiliation you dealt him. James is solely focused on Bella and Edward. He has never dealt with someone denying him what he wanted, even Jessy, his older brother, differs to him. Edward protecting Bella from him has triggered an obsession. He now sees this as an exciting game of a large coven of unknown and strong vampires protecting one weak link. I will learn more if the others come within my range, but that is all I can get from Victoria's mind right now."
I thought back to her, {"We need to gather and work out a plan. Alice has one, I am sure. I won't lose Bella, Edythe. I will kill them all before that happens."}
Edythe's voice was filled with worry, "You can't do that, Thomas. Alice had many visions of you fighting tonight. In nearly all of them, you lost. Several times you died."
My mind raced, {"How many of the fights you saw were direct confrontations? Group on group? Were any of them in an ambush situation from our side? I can believe that they are better than me in a face-to-face fight, but even Jasper couldn't predict me in a situation where I hunted him. My species is an ambush killer; I will have to play to those strength's."}
"All the fights I saw were in a group, we were trying to protect Bella. These vampires are not like us, Thomas. They are vicious and well-practiced fighters, but our numbers caused them to talk with us first. Jessy lives for the challenge of battling other vampires, I think you are an unknown...thrill to him. Add in that you embarrassed him in front of his family..."
We were almost to the Cullen house, {"Hunter and Hunted can be a matter of perspective at times, Edythe. I will play to my strengths when I can, playing into theirs would only be a desperate move. Alice gave us a chance to equalize the playing field, without the surprise of them coming up on us, we have a good chance at defending ourselves."}
"We need to get Bella to safety first. She is not able to fight back at all. She is an exposed nerve right now. You must be careful, Thomas. Watching you get hurt and dying so many times has me petrified."
The group had moved to a walk as we entered the yard of the Cullen house. I nuzzled into Edythe's chest with my head and thought of every moment that I have had with her that brought me joy and comfort, letting her share those thoughts. Then I entered the house and went directly to Edythe's room, where she had a dresser full of clothes for me.
As I looked through the clothes, Edythe entered just moments after I had slid on a pair of shorts. I didn't bother with a full outfit for now, there was a large chance I would be shifting again tonight. My conversation with her on the way back had left me with an idea, and I needed to talk with Jasper about it.
Pausing to give Edythe a kiss, I went downstairs to find Carlisle and Esme in conversation with Laurent, while Jasper stood nearby. I could feel my sense of disinterest in Jasper as he stood there, it battled with the questions I had for him. I assumed he was trying to stay ready for any treachery from our guest.
Catching Jasper's eye, I motioned for him to follow me to the garage. "Stay with your parents for a minute, love. I have an idea I need to talk to Jasper about."
She nodded, and Jasper followed me. "What's on your mind, Thomas?" Jasper asked as the door shut.
"Edythe says the woman, Victoria, is out there watching us. What are the chances you can keep up whatever it was that you were doing to stay out of focus with that group?"
Jasper thought for a bit, "It's harder the more I move about, but if I stay slow, it should be doable on the move."
"I was able to sneak up on you when you knew I was coming. I think between the two of us, she should pose little threat. The loss of her may back the other two off enough to get Bella to safety."
Jasper's smile was slightly vicious. "You are quickly becoming my favorite sibling, Thomas. Defensive battles were never my forte."
I chuckled, "Let's get with Edythe and see if we can pinpoint where Victoria is watching us from. With surprise on our side, I would bet that taking any two of them out between us would be possible."
Jasper shook his head, "Emmett will be so mad he missed this."