magic • j. hale [✓]

Chapter 25

The dark haired man stepped forward, smiling, towards Carlisle. "We thought we heard a game. I'm Laurent, this is Victoria and James."

Carlisle nodded and introduced himself as well. "I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Jasper and Ariella, Edward and Bella."

"Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked. Ariella could tell that he was from France, there was a slight tinge of a French accent hidden behind his perfect English.

"We were actually just finishing up. But we'd be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?" Carlisle asked, with a friendly tone.

"We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in the neighborhood. We haven't run into company in a long time." Laurent stated.

"No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor like yourselves." Carlisle responded. The once tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual conversation, and Ariella could tell that Jasper had something to do with it. She squeezed his hand gently, causing him to look at her. She smiled gently, and he returned it lovingly.

"Well, if you'd like to chat, then we can head over to our home?" Carlisle invited. "Don't take offense, but I'm afraid your hunting activities has caused quite a problem for us."

"Ah, pardon." Laurent nodded. "It certainly won't happen again. We just fed outside of Seattle anyway."

"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us – Ariella, Jasper, you can go with Edward and Bella to get the jeep." Carlisle added casually. Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle uttered those words. Bella's hair ruffled with the breeze, which made all the vampires in the area be aware of the fact that she was human. Edward stiffened, and James suddenly whipped his head around and scrutinized Bella.

The tense atmosphere returned, this time a hundred times worse. James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Ariella growled and stepped forward in front of all the Cullens, facing James head on. Ariella snarled as Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense. Bella looked at Cullens and her sister, who were risking their whole existence to keep her safe.

"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed in open surprise. Ariella didn't back off, still snarling at James. James didn't relax his crouch as well, not daring to back down on Ariella.

"She's with us." Carlisle's words were directed towards James.

"You brought a snack?" Laurent asked, his expression incredulous as he involuntarily took a step forward. Ariella stuck an arm out and pointed it towards Laurent. Golden mist flew out from her fingertips and stopped the dark-haired vampire on his tracks.

"She is with us." Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.

"But she's human!" Laurent protested. Ariella growled at his words.

"So were you at one point in your petty murderous life." Ariella hissed. "But that was before you became a vampire who feeds on beings that were like you once."