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"I believe this belongs to you," The man in the middle spoke as he held up the baseball before throwing it to Carlisle, the coven leader catching it. "Thank you," Carlisle responded with a kind smile. "I am Laurent. And this is Victoria and James," Laurent introduced as James looked them all over until his eyes locked with Anna's, she didn't look away ─ keeping his gaze to ensure he understood that he didn't scare her.

"I am Carlisle and this is my family," Carlisle introduced as he looked around at the tense coven that watched the three nomads carefully. "I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused a thing of a mess for us," Carlisle informed them. "Our apologies. We didn't realise the territory had been claimed," Laurent replied though he kept a stoic expression upon his face.

"Yeah, well... we maintain a permanent residence nearby," Carlisle told them in hopes it would push them out of Forks quicker. "Really?" Laurent asked surprised as James and Edward stared each other down, Anna's gaze had moved to Victoria and the two hadn't looked away. "Well, we won't be a problem anymore. We were just passing through," Laurent explained to the family before Victoria spoke, "The humans were tracking us but we lead them East. You should be safe."

"Excellent," Carlisle replied to her as Laurent surveyed the family. "So, could you use three more players?" Laurent asked them before noticing their wary expressions, "Come on. Just one game." Anna leaned into Jasper more as she noticed James' smirk. "Sure. Why not? A few of us were leaving, you could take their place," Carlisle informed them. "We'll bat first," Colton stated with his usual smirk. "I'm the one with the wicked curveball," Victoria replied to him.

"Well, I think I can handle that," Colton challenged. "We shall see," Laurent added with a smirk on his face as Jasper and Edward lead Bella and Anna away from the others. The wind suddenly picked up and blew Anna and Bella's scent straight towards the nomads gaining James' full attention. "You brought some snacks," James said as he went to rush the twins, the Cullens instantly moved into a defensive stance.

"A human?" Laurent asked incredulously as Anna gripped onto Jasper's hand knowing that he'd be the one to fight first and despite believing that Jasper would win that fight, she wouldn't risk the safety of the family. "The girls are with us. I think it's best if you leave," Carlisle warned them as James and Edward stared each other down. "I can see the game is over. We'll go now," Laurent told them with a bow of his head before stepping away.

"James," Laurent called, the blond nomad followed after him before sparing another glance towards Anna. "Get them out of here!" Carlisle ordered his two sons. Anna didn't hesitate to walk with Jasper, the two quickly approached Jasper's car and got in. "He's coming after Bella and I, isn't he?" Anna asked Jasper, his hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"He's a tracker, Anna. He lives for the chase. You and Bella aren't safe here," Jasper replied as he followed behind Edward and Bella. "The reaction that Edward and I gave him, just made this his most exciting game ever. He's not gonna stop," Jasper continued, he was trying his best not to go after James. "What will you all do?" Anna asked him as she took steady breaths, she needed to be calm so Jasper was calm.

"We have to kill him. Rip him apart and burn the pieces," Jasper told her as she reached over and rested her hand on his thigh, the action settled him enough to lessen the grip on the steering wheel. "Where are we going?" Anna asked him. "Away from Forks, far away from Forks," Jasper replied while Anna ran her free hand through her hair. "My dad, Jas. I can't just leave him behind to get hurt," Anna told him softly as her eyes watered.

"Edward's heading there with Bella, they'll handle it," Jasper told her after looking at his phone, he turned down the road towards his home. The couple headed inside quickly and Rosalie instantly pulled Anna into her arms, the human girl let a tear fall before taking in a steady breath. "It's gonna be okay, Beth. We'll make sure," Rosalie whispered to Anna.

Laurent had shown up to the house to warn the family about James but it only put Jasper on edge. The only thing Laurent warned Anna about was the one thing that could take her away from Jasper ─ Anna was James' blood singer. The family made their way into the garage after Bella and Edward had shown up, the twins sat on the bench next to each other with a tight grip on each other's hands.

"What did you tell dad?" Anna whispered to her sister as the Cullens prepared everything for their next move. "Edward and I faked a breakup and I told him that I was gonna drive to Arizona, said you were waiting for me and that you were coming with me. I said the same thing mom did when she left him," Bella told her before resting her head on Anna's shoulder, the two saddened knowing how much this would affect Charlie.

"I've had to fight our kind before. They're not easy to kill," Jasper told everyone as he stood next to Anna. "But not impossible," Emmett replied to Jasper as Colton nodded along. "We'll tear them apart and burn the pieces," Colton spoke up without hesitation. "I don't relish the thought of killing another creature, even a sadistic one like James," Carlisle told them with a frown. "What if he kills one of us first?" Rosalie asked causing Anna and Bella to falter.

"Jasper and I will run Bella and Anna south. Can you lead the tracker away from here?" Edward asked Carlisle who shook his head at his sons. "No, Edward. James knows you won't leave Bella. Nor would Jasper leave Anna. He'll follow you," Carlisle warned them. "He's right," Anna spoke up as she looked at both of them. "I'll go with them. Colton and I will drive them south. I'll keep them safe," Alice offered with a smile.

"Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?" Edward asked her as Jasper looked at Anna, she smiled in reassurance. "Rosalie, Esme, could you put these on so the tracker will pick up Bella and Anna's scent?" Edward asked them as he held out two jackets ─ one was Bellas and the other was Anna's. "Why? What is she to me?" Rosalie asked before glancing at Bella. "Rose..." Anna breathed out before grabbing her jacket and handing it to her.

"For you," Rosalie replied before pulling on Anna's jacket. "At least it suits you," Anna told Rosalie before they hugged. Anna climbed into the back of Alice's car, Jasper followed her and leaned into the window. "Once this is over, I'll come to get you, darlin'. And I don't plan to leave your side. I won't let you get hurt," Jasper promised before the two kissed ─ unlike Bella and Edward ─ Jasper and Anna didn't need more words, their actions spoke louder than anything else.

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It wasn't long till Alice, Colton, Anna and Bella reached Arizona, Anna and Bella were seated in the living room of their hotel room waiting for any news. "What is it? What do you see?" Colton asked Alice gaining the twins' attention, they walked over to see Alice zoned out. "He's figured it out. The tracker, he just changed course," Alice told them, Anna grabbed Bella's hand. "Where will it take him, Alice?" Colton asked her before she began drawing.

"Mirrors. A room full of mirrors," Alice replied. "Edward said the visions weren't always certain," Bella expressed to Colton who nodded. "She sees the course people are on while they're on it. If they change their minds, the vision changes," Colton explained to the twins. "Okay, so the course that the tracker's on now is gonna lead him to a ballet studio?" Bella asked as Anna looked at the drawing. "You've been there?" Colton asked her.

"We both took lessons as a kid. The school we went to had an arch just like that," Anna told them in full honesty as she looked at the drawing. Anna stepped away from them as Bella's phone rang, she answered it as Anna took slow breaths. Anna's phone rang and she pulled it out thinking it was Jasper but was surprised to see it was her mother calling instead.

"Hey, Mom, I'm glad you got Bella's message. What are you doing home?" Anna asked her as she leaned against the wall. "Anna? Anna, where are you?" Renée frantically spoke through the phone causing Anna to stand up straight, an uncomfortable shiver down her spine. "Calm down, mom. I'm fine. Bella and I are fine," Anna reassured her as she took in steady breaths. Bella approached Anna who held out the phone for her to hear.

"Anna? Where's Bella?" Renée asked in the same worried tone. "She's here with me. We'll explain everything later, I promise," Anna assured her mother as she looked at Bella, the twins sharing saddened expressions. "Mom, are you there?" Bella asked after it went quiet. "Forks High School doesn't protect its students' privacy very well. It was just too easy for Victoria to find your previous address," James' chilling voice came through through the phone.

"It's a nice house you have here. I was prepared to wait for you, but then Mom came home after she received a very worried call from your dad, and it all worked out quite well," James continued in a taunting tone as Bella grabbed the phone from Anna, the blonde curled up her fists angrily. The wave of anger that washed over her was strong and she wanted nothing more than to make James beg her for mercy.

"Wait, wait... Don't touch her! Don't..." Bella begged into the phone but Anna couldn't hear the responses as she looked out the window. "Where should we meet you?" Bella asked. Anna looked at her sister with a nod, it may seem stupid but they wouldn't risk their mother's life. "How about your old ballet studio? And I'll know if you bring any strays. Poor mommy would pay the price for that mistake," James warned them before hanging up the phone.

Alice and Colton had left to check out of the hotel, Jasper and Edward had made separate plans to split the twins and take off until James was dead. But Anna and Bella had other plans in mind, the two managed to sneak away from Alice and Colton due to Anna being able to slip through Alice's blindspots. They both climbed into a taxi, told the driver to take them to the studio they once loved with every part of them.

Anna had never had much thought into how she would die. She was never worried about death when there was so much life to enjoy in its short time, but after she met Jasper ─ that changed for her. Anna knew that one day, she wanted to turn and become a vampire ─ she wanted eternity with the Southern vampire she loved.

She hadn't told him but she hoped he knew ─ she hoped he knew that she'd never want to leave him. And as she holds her sister's hand, watching the scenery go by as they headed towards their potential and possibly inevitable death ─ she thanked whatever God out there let her fall in love with her Southern prince ─ Because she never thought she would ever fall so deeply in love.

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Rosemary Speaks

I'll be honest, Bella's decision to "save" her mother may be stupid considering we know the outcome but if I was in her shoes; I would've done the same very thing.

Anna admitted to herself that she loves Jasper but she hasn't told him. Will she get the chance too?

And she's James' blood singer which means that the tracker might get himself a full course meal.

See you next chapter!