Sail Into Danger

by Jessica L

Thanksgiving came faster than I expected. Emmett and Rosalie came up to visit us like promised, which didn't exactly go as planned.

We decided to take the sailboat out for a few days and relax on the lake. We settled into dock in Michigan for a while, and happened upon a small area called Benton Harbor. It was a nice area, with decent beaches and a small town atmosphere. What we didn't expect to find was that we weren't the only vampires in the area.

We noticed their scent not long after getting off the boat. We were wandering down a street of little shops, and had stopped in at a little place so Alice could get a scarf she noticed from the window. Their scent was faint in the street, but strong in the store. They were no longer there, but had been there recently. We could tell that there were more than two or three of them, but their exact number was hard to tell. Alice couldn't get much of a read off of them considering she had no idea what to look for.

We purchased the scarf, then went back out onto the street, partially looking for the vampires, and partially wondering if we wanted to find them. After all, we didn't know how civil they would be. We got our answer right away. They found us about twenty minutes after we left the store, as we were perusing the different shops on the street.

We were still debating whether or not we should actively search for the new vampires- probably why Alice couldn't see them, because we couldn't make up our minds- when four well dressed strangers approached us. Equally paired, they looked as though they were going to a fancy dinner. The men were wearing business suits and shirts with no ties, open buttons at the top. The women were wearing nice outfits as well, one in a black dress cut just above her knees, the other in black slacks and a sleeveless black top. They looked very out of place, one couple looked Hispanic and the other Caucasian, both with fine jewelry and wristwatches, shoes and purses of very expensive labels. Things that could not have been purchased in a small town. And of course they both had the blood red eyes of a vampire.

All four vampires smiled wide, friendly smiles when they saw us. It was a gesture meant to be taken as warm and welcoming, but I was not fooled. They did not know about my gift, of course. I saw through them, and could read their thoughts. They were not from this city, and assumed that we were. They could tell instantly from our eyes that we did not eat meat, and therefore assumed they would be stronger than us. A foolish mistake, but at the same time, it meant they were willing to battle. What they wanted to fight for, I did not quite understand.

"Hello, friends." Carlisle said., looking at me for reassurance. I gave him none.
The one appearing to be the leader nodded in response, the Hispanic man in the darker suit.
"Are you from here?" I asked them. My point in this question was more to let them know that we were not looking to fight over territory. I already knew the answer, of course.
"No, we assumed you were." Said the nodder.
"No, just passing through on vacation. Seems like a lovely city though." Carlisle stated, looking at me sideways. He was a fast learner.
"You aren't planning on staying then?"
"Only for the evening." Carlisle answered.
"I would have to request that you leave immediately." The leader said. It sounded more like an order than a request.
"I see. You plan on settling here?" Carlisle asked. I shot him a look, knowing it was an unnecessary question. These vampires were looking for a fight, one they were willing to wage on any terms.
"We don't see any reason not to." Was his answer. His expression turned from friendly to cold.
Carlisle smile back at him and nodded.
"I understand. We shall be on our way. If you don't mind, we will gather our belongings together and be gone by nightfall." He told him.
"You have no longer than nightfall." The leader said, and he took his mate's hand and they began strolling down the street again.

We watched them walk down the sidewalk, as though they were just two couples, happily making their way through town. They made no effort to conceal their eyes, which bothered me a little bit. Then I got an insight into the thoughts of the leader, and shuddered.
"It's a trick." I told Carlisle.
"What is?" He asked me gently.
"The leader, I just read his thoughts. And he is not planning on letting us leave peacefully."

TO BE CONTINUED....
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