They emerged one by one from the forest edge, ranging a dozen metersapart. The first male into the clearing fell back immediately, allowingthe other male to take the front, orienting himself around the tall,dark-haired man in a manner that clearly displayed who led the pack. Thethird was a woman; from this distance, all I could see of her was thather 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 itencounters 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 ofshifting into a crouch. They dressed in the ordinary gear of backpackers:

　　jeans and casual button-down shirts in heavy, weatherproof fabrics. Theclothes were frayed, though, with wear, and they were barefoot. Both menhad cropped hair, but the woman's brilliant orange hair was filled withleaves and debris from the woods.

　　Their sharp eyes carefully took in the more polished, urbane stance ofCarlisle, who, flanked by Emmett and Jasper, stepped guardedly forward tomeet them. Without any seeming communication between them, they eachstraightened into a more casual, erect bearing.

　　The man in front was easily the most beautiful, his skin olive-tonedbeneath the typical pallor, his hair a glossy black. He was of a mediumbuild, hard-muscled, of course, but nothing next to Emmett's brawn. Hesmiled an easy smile, exposing a flash of gleaming white teeth.

　　The woman was wilder, her eyes shifting restlessly between the men facingher, and the loose grouping around me, her chaotic hair quivering in theslight breeze. Her posture was distinctly feline. The second male hoveredunobtrusively behind them, slighter than the leader, his light brown hairand regular features both nondescript. His eyes, though completely still,somehow seemed the most vigilant.

　　Their eyes were different, too. Not the gold or black I had come toexpect, but a deep burgundy color that was disturbing and sinister.

　　The dark-haired man, still smiling, stepped toward Carlisle.

　　"We thought we heard a game," he said in a relaxed voice with theslightest 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 andAlice, Edward and Bella." He pointed us out in groups, deliberately notcalling 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 justfinishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are youplanning to stay in the area for long?""We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in theneighborhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time.""No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasionalvisitor, like yourselves."The tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual conversation; Iguessed 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 Rangehere, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We keep a permanentresidence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up nearDenali."Laurent rocked back on his heels slightly.

　　"Permanent? How do you manage that?" There was honest curiosity in hisvoice.

　　"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talkcomfortably?" Carlisle invited. "It's a rather long story."James and Victoria exchanged a surprised look at the mention of the word"home," but Laurent controlled his expression better.

　　"That sounds very interesting, and welcome." His smile was genial. "We'vebeen on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had thechance to clean up in a while." His eyes moved appreciatively overCarlisle's refined appearance.

　　"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain fromhunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, youunderstand," Carlisle explained.

　　"Of course." Laurent nodded. "We certainly won't encroach on yourterritory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway," he laughed. A shiverran up my spine.

　　"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us — Emmett and Alice,you can go with Edward and Bella to get the Jeep," he casually added.

　　Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking.

　　My hair ruffled with the light breeze, Edward stiffened, and the secondmale, James, suddenly whipped his head around, scrutinizing me, hisnostrils flaring.

　　A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forwardinto a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feralsnarl ripping from his throat.

　　It was nothing like the playful sounds I'd heard from him this morning;it was the single most menacing thing I had ever heard, and chills ranfrom the crown of my head to the back of my heels.

　　"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed in open surprise. Neither James norEdward relaxed their aggressive poses. James feinted slightly to theside, and Edward shifted in response.

　　"She's with us." Carlisle's firm rebuff was directed toward James.

　　Laurent seemed to catch my scent less powerfully than James, butawareness now dawned on his face.

　　"You brought a snack?" he asked, his expression incredulous as he took aninvoluntary step forward.

　　Edward snarled even more ferociously, harshly, his lip curling high abovehis glistening, bared teeth. Laurent stepped back again.

　　"I said she's with us," Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.

　　"But she's human," Laurent protested. The words were not at allaggressive, merely astounded.

　　"Yes." Emmett was very much in evidence at Carlisle's side, his eyes onJames. James slowly straightened out of his crouch, but his eyes neverleft me, his nostrils still wide. Edward stayed tensed like a lion infront of me.

　　When Laurent spoke, his tone was soothing — trying to defuse the suddenhostility. "It appears we have a lot to learn about each other.""Indeed." Carlisle's voice was still cool.

　　"But we'd like to accept your invitation." His eyes flicked toward me andback to Carlisle. "And, of course, we will not harm the human girl. Wewon't hunt in your range, as I said."James glanced in disbelief and aggravation at Laurent and exchangedanother brief look with Victoria, whose eyes still flickered edgily fromface to face.

　　Carlisle measured Laurent's open expression for a moment before he spoke.

　　"We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?" he called. They gatheredtogether, blocking me from view as they converged. Alice was instantly atmy side, and Emmett fell back slowly, his eyes locked on James as hebacked toward us.

　　"Let's go, Bella." Edward's voice was low and bleak.

　　This whole time I'd been rooted in place, terrified into absoluteimmobility. Edward had to grip my elbow and pull sharply to break mytrance. Alice and Emmett were close behind us, hiding me. I stumbledalongside Edward, still stunned with fear. I couldn't hear if the maingroup had left yet. Edward's impatience was almost tangible as we movedat human speed to the forest edge.

　　Once we were into the trees, Edward slung me over his back withoutbreaking stride. I gripped as tightly as possible as he took off, theothers close on his heels. I kept my head down, but my eyes, wide withfright, wouldn't close. They plunged through the now-black forest likewraiths. The sense of exhilaration that usually seemed to possess Edwardas he ran was completely absent, replaced by a fury that consumed him anddrove him still faster. Even with me on his back, the others trailedbehind.

　　We reached the Jeep in an impossibly short time, and Edward barely slowedas he flung me in the backseat.

　　"Strap her in," he ordered Emmett, who slid in beside me.

　　Alice was already in the front seat, and Edward was starting the engine.

　　It roared to life and we swerved backward, spinning around to face thewinding road.

　　Edward was growling something too fast for me to understand, but itsounded a lot like a string of profanities.

　　The jolting trip was much worse this time, and the darkness only made itmore frightening. Emmett and Alice both glared out the side windows.

　　We hit the main road, and though our speed increased, I could see muchbetter where we were going. And we were headed south, away from Forks.

　　"Where are we going?" I asked.

　　No one answered. No one even looked at me.

　　"Dammit, Edward! Where are you taking me?""We have to get you away from here — far away — now." He didn't lookback, his eyes on the road. The speedometer read a hundred and five milesan hour.

　　"Turn around! You have to take me home!" I shouted. I struggled with thestupid harness, tearing at the straps.

　　"Emmett," Edward said grimly.

　　And Emmett secured my hands in his steely grasp.

　　"No! Edward! No, you can't do this.""I have to, Bella, now please be............