The Man in the Long Black Coat, Chapter Ten

She had the golden brown eyes of an animal feeder. They all did. Edward could hardly keep his disgust in check as he looked upon the pathetic group. How dare they call themselves vampires.

"I neither want nor need your help," he said. “Even if I thought you were capable of providing it.”

The little one who'd spoken smiled wide.

"You and I are going to be the best of friends," she said. "Like brother and sister." She was practically squeaking as she talked. Edward scanned her thoughts. She was genuine. She believed the propaganda she spewed.

At least these vampires were not from the Volturi. He'd be headless already against a group this large.

"I don't have time for this," Edward said. He knew he had to check on Bella. There was no telling when the Volturi would show up again. No telling what they'd already discovered about Felix's death.

He turned to go.

"Bella's fine," the girl said. "I can't wait to meet her."

Edward spun back around. "How do you know that? And what makes you think you'll meet her? You'll stay away if you know what's good for you."

The big man laughed. The striking blond next to him rolled her eyes.

"Carlisle?" said the small one.

The vampire in the back of the group stepped forward.

"Proper introductions are in order," the man said. "I'm Carlisle Cullen, and this is my family."

"Esme Cullen," said the dark-haired woman with him.

"I'm Emmett," the big guy said.

"Rosalie," said the blond.

"I'm Alice," said the chipper one. She gestured toward the only vamp left, a tall, silent ball of muscle to her right. "And this is Jasper. The love of my life."

She beamed like the teenage girl she once was and still appeared to be.

"Alice sees the future," Carlisle explained. "It is her gift. We, as a family, try to use it to render aid when one of our kind is heading for trouble. We know the Volturi well. We have something of an understanding with them."

"A family?" Edward said. He laughed. "Yeah. I've heard of so-called families like yours. Denying your true nature, pretending you can blend in with the humans. You cower. You hide behind a facade. You are slaves to humanity's superstitions. Feeding on animals like second-class citizens. You disgust me."

Edward saw Jasper clench his jaw, highlighting a criss-cross of faint scars. The muscles in his forearms tensed. Edward faced him, ready for whatever he was about to deliver. He sensed that Jasper’s struggle mirrored his own.

"We like to think of ourselves as vegetarians," the one called Carlisle said, casually moving between the two men. "We co-exist with humans. We live rich lives, Edward. One should not judge what one does not understand."

"You do nothing but delay your inevitable demise," Edward spat. “And you suffer, willingly. I have no use for your kind. You people don't live. You just float."

He began walking away.

"We're staying in a cabin up near the lake," Carlisle called after him. "Come. Find us. It shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Edward made for Bella's house, his anger barely under control. How dare they, he thought. He spent the day angry, watching over Bella from his spot in the woods.

Charlie came home after the sun had gone down. It was near 10 p.m. He looked weary and exhausted, though his thoughts gave nothing away. He was concerned only about Bella.

She had already retreated to her room, though. Edward assumed she didn’t want to continue her confrontation with Charlie from earlier in the day. It took all of Edward’s strength not to go to her. He knew he shouldn’t. His presence in her life did nothing but complicate it. He didn’t know why, but he felt guilty about what he’d done to her. He’d put her life in danger, and now there was little he could do about it.

He watched the house all night, brooding over what he had gotten himself into, over the arrival of this vampire “family” that he wanted nothing to do with, over how he was going to protect Bella alone.

Before the sun began to rise behind him, Edward stirred. He approached the house from behind, listening for signs of movement. He knew from experience that humans were most vulnerable in the moments before dawn.

Edward hunched down and quickly made his way through the grass, covered in morning dew. He settled in beneath the porch. He wanted to be closer than the woods in case of trouble, but not in the open. He did not want Bella, or especially Charlie, to see him.

Soon, the morning edition of the Forks Forum hit the ground with a thud, the Sunday ads weighing it down. Edward spied the headline. It was written in a font so large it covered nearly the entire front page.

Grisly Murder

Killer at Large

Oh no, he thought. He’d completely forgotten about Waylon, the scumbag at the cemetery. A missing teenager was one thing. But a body that had been bled out and abandoned could do nothing but bring unwanted attention. He imagined there were not many murders in Forks. This rare, brutal one would galvanize the town. He was already in enough trouble with the Volturi and under suspicion by the police. This was too much. He knew he should leave and never come back.

He heard footsteps and ducked back under the porch. He could see Bella through the slats between the wood as she bent to pick up the newspaper.

“What the fuck is this?”

She sat down at the small table on the porch. She opened the paper quickly, abandoning her coffee.

“Oh no,” she said. “Not Mr. Forge.” She was quiet as she read the rest of the article. She got up, ripped the front door open, and slammed it closed.

“Charlie! Why didn’t you tell me about Mr. Forge?”

She was crying then, banging on her father’s bedroom door.

“Bells, what’s wrong?” Edward heard the door open. He remained under the porch, uncertain.

“Waylon Forge is dead? Are you kidding me? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Calm down. You were asleep when I got home. I was going to tell you first thing in the morning.” He sighed. “The last thing I wanted was for you to read it in the paper. I’m so sorry, Bells.”

“What happened?”

“He was found in the maintenance shed at the cemetery. He was barely recognizable, he’d lost so much blood.”

She stalked off, pounding down the stairs. The front door flew open a moment later, and she virtually leapt off the porch as she headed for the woods. “Edward, you motherfucker,” she muttered under her breath.

He considered leaving, but he knew he couldn’t. So he crawled out from under the porch and went after her.

“Bella. Wait.”

She turned as she passed the first tree.

“You did this, didn’t you?” She waved the newspaper in his face.

Edward said nothing.

“You fucker!” She hit him in the face, smacking the jagged scar that ran down his cheek. She winced after and cradled her injured hand.

“I should tell Charlie,” she said.

“You don’t want to do that.” He took her hand in his and caressed it as softly as he knew how.

“And why not? You tell me nothing. You stalk around here like some kind of monster. You leave a girl without her father. For what?”

“I am a monster,” he said, releasing her hand and turning around. “Get that through your thick head, girl. Killing humans is what I do. It is no different than you having a hamburger for lunch. We are each here to fulfill our destinies.”

She touched his shoulder and forced him to face her. “Don’t give me that crap again, Edward.”

He winced when he heard her speak his name again.

“If that were true, you’d have killed me long ago. You decide what you’re going to be, just like the rest of us. There’s a person in there, behind the mask.” She ran her fingers over his scar. “And you know it, whether or not you’ll admit it.”

They each stood there, looking at the ground.

“He was sick, Bella. Remember how I told you I read people’s thoughts? Well, his were unclean. Disgusting memories. Sickening, the way only mankind can be. He has a daughter?”

“Yeah, Michelle used to babysit me when I was little. But what’s she got to do with it?”

He waited for her to realize what he was saying.

“No. It can’t be true,” she said, covering her mouth with her hands. “He abused his own daughter?”

“He did.”

She ran back toward her house. Edward let her go. She would come to learn the truth about humanity one day, or she would not. Either way, it did not change the face that every man was vile, every man’s thoughts depraved.

He watched her go, stomping through the damp grass as she slapped the newspaper against her leg. He imagined what would happen if he simply chased after her and took her in his arms. He would look into her eyes and help her learn the truth. He would inhale her scent. He would brush his hands through her hair as he tilted her head back.

Something slammed into him from behind, ending his brief daydream. His body went soaring, stopped only by the branches of a massive oak.

He bounced off the tree and hit the ground face first, but righted himself quickly and crouched into a fighting stance.

“Demetri,” he said.

Before him stood a lean, tightly wound vampire with olive skin and long black hair. He was smiling.

“When Felix didn’t return, Aro decided to send a professional,” the vampire said.

Edward did not speak. He knew Demetri’s tactics. The man was a phenomenal tracker, able to hunt down anyone, no matter where they were, no matter who they might be. He somehow locked into their minds and was able to track them as if they had GPS devices attached.

But Demetri was more than that. He was also smooth. Edward knew it would be in his best interest not to engage Demetri in a verbal sparring match. He would surely lose.

So he said nothing.

“Do you want to play, or would you rather just come with me? The Volturi has long needed a man with your ability, Edward. You may join us, or you may die. It’s your choice.”

Edward said nothing.

“Play it is then,” Demetri said.

He lunged for Edward, and Edward ducked to the ground. He quickly rose to his feet, expecting Demetri to be on the attack.

Instead, he saw Emmett Cullen holding the lithe vampire in the air by his shirt. Carlisle stood to the side.

“You can put him down, Emmett,” Carlisle said.

The giant gently lowered Demetri until his feet were back on the ground.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Edward said.

Carlisle all but ignored him and turned toward Demetri.

“We’ve come to discuss the truce,” he said.

“I can handle myself,” Edward said, getting between the two men, facing Carlisle. “I don’t need your protection.”

Emmett smirked. Demetri growled. Carlisle tensed.

A new voice entered the conversation.

“What’s the hell’s going on here?”

Bella stood behind them all, the shotgun at hip level. It was cocked and ready.

Demetri lunged for her, but Edward was too fast. He had the tracker in a headlock and pinned to the ground before he took his first step.

“Touch her and die,” he said through gritted teeth. He was not surprised that he hadn’t sensed Bella approach, now that he’d become used to her. But for her to sneak up on Demetri like that was phenomenal. It made Edward wonder if Demetri’s powers didn’t work on her, either.

Demetri looked directly at Edward. “You’ll regret doing that.”

Edward let him up, but stayed between him and Bella.

“Who are these people, Edward?” Bella said.

He approached her and put his arm over her shoulder, protectively. He put his hand on the shotgun and forced its barrel toward the ground.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said. “It’s dangerous.”

“I thought I heard something, and, well. I thought you might need help again.”

“Oh this is delicious!” Demetri said. “Was it she who dispatched Felix? Oh, please tell me it is so.”

“She’s none of your business,” Edward said.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” Carlisle said. He approached them both while Emmett stood close by.

“Let’s talk, shall we?” He looked from one to the other as each of them nodded. “And this appears to concern you as well, Miss Swan. Please stay if you’d like.”

“You couldn’t chase me out of here with a pack of vampires,” she said. “Hi, by the way. I’m Bella. But I guess you know that already. Who the hell are you?”

He chuckled. “I am Carlisle Cullen. This is Emmett,” he said. “The rest of my family is as eager to meet you as was I. It is delightful.”

He took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth. She caught her breath, but Edward only rolled his eyes as Carlisle kissed her hand.

“Enough with the pleasantries,” Demetri said. He watched Bella for a moment, and Edward scanned his mind. Demetri was considering whether to bring up that having a human in their midst was strictly against the rules, but he badly wanted to track her. Edward was certain now that Demetri was as powerless when it came to Bella’s mind as he was. He couldn’t use his ability to track her.

He saw her as a challenge.

“You mentioned the truce?” Demetri continued. “I can only surmise you mean the agreement the Volturi has with your family.”

“Indeed I do.”

“But surely you don’t mean to save this one,” he said, nodding at Edward. “The man is beyond hope.”

“We’ll judge that for ourselves, tracker. You bring this message to Aro: We get him for a month. If he’s able to adopt our ways within that time, you’ll leave him be. If not, then you know what happens.”

“What if I don’t agree to any of this?” Edward said.

“Then you’ll come with me,” Demetri said, “and Aro will decide what to do with you."

-30-

A/N Edward has wedged himself into a corner here. Do you think he’ll be able to do it? Will he even try? I cannot wait to write the next chapter. So much coolness is about to go down.

Many thanks are due to wife/beta/resident hot chick MazzyStarla, without whom all the cool tracker stuff might not have materialized. It differs from canon because I wanted it to, not because Mazzy got it wrong. She knows more about Twilight than anyone else in my house. Me? Let’s just say I like my vampires a little darker than Ms. Meyer does. ;)

Speaking of Mazzy, did y’all see the news? Her story is up for Fic of the Week at The Lemonade Stand! Woohoo! Pretty thrilling news over here in the cracked household. If you haven’t already, give her fic a read. Go vote for it if you like it. She’ll appreciate it.