Sunset

Chapter Four

Edward, Emmett and Jacob returned the following day with nothing to report. Maria was almost going stir-crazy. The idea that her attacker was still out there, and could be killing innocent people like she had been was tearing her up inside. She so badly wanted to rid this world of him, or torture him enough for him to understand how he’d squashed her spirit. She remained silent for the next few days, stewing in her angry soup of thoughts.

One day she stormed into Carlisle’s office, a plan forming in her brain.

“Carlisle, I need to leave,” she announced.

If the doctor felt stunned, he didn’t show it. “But you’ve only been here a few weeks,” he sounded almost hurt that she was leaving. “What prompted this?”

“I just feel like I’ve been living on charity,” Maria had cooked up a few lies in order to get out. “I don’t want to bring attention to your home, anyway. You already have nine vampires and sometimes a werewolf living here, you don’t need me to burden you.”

Carlisle looked at her incredulously. “Maria, that’s a joke, and you know it. It’s no problem to have you here, but if you really wish to leave, that is up to you.”

Maria nodded. “Thank you, Carlisle, for your hospitality.”

“May I ask where you would be off to?” He asked.

“I was thinking of going back to Vancouver, but I don’t know if I’m ready for that,” Maria actually had no idea where she was going to live; she only knew where she was going to.

“Can we at least call a rental car for you?” He gave her a small smile.

Maria didn’t have to ask to get Alice to pack her a small suitcase of clothing. It seemed that she always had more clothing than necessary.

Carlisle had called the rental company, and to Maria’s great surprise, it was a BMW series 1 convertible in a soft blue. She gaped at Carlisle as he handed the man his credit card to swipe.

“You didn’t have to pay for it!” Maria gasped as she placed her suitcase in the backseat. “I would’ve-“

Carlisle silenced her with a shake of his head. “No, its no problem. You can use the car as long as you like, and just take it back to the rental place when you’re done with it.”

She hugged Carlisle in thanks, as the whole coven came to see her off. She’d been on good terms with everyone, excluding Renesmee and Jacob – she still smelling of human blood, and Jacob because Maria was still not entirely comfortable with werewolves.

Edward looked at her, an almost angry expression on his face. He had read her thoughts and knew what she was doing. How could she have forgotten that he could see right through her?

“I’ll drive her to the border,” Edward volunteered. Esme and Carlisle gave him an inquiring look. “Besides, I think she’ll enjoy having some company, won’t you, Maria?” He shot a look at her that dared her to say no.

“Yeah, I’d love it,” She said, her voice sounding stronger than she felt.

“Alright,” Carlisle patted the hood of the car. “Well, come back whenever you want.”

“Our house is an open home,” Esme smiled warmly at her.

“See you, Maria,” Rosalie said quietly. “Don’t be a stranger.”

Edward hopped in the drivers seat as Maria entered the passenger side.

“I’ll be back soon,” Edward told Carlisle, and kissed Bella goodbye.

The blue convertible sped down the winding dirt driveway.

“Why didn’t you tell them what you’re doing?” Edward hissed as soon as they were on the highway.

Maria swallowed – or went through the motions of it, anyway. “I don’t want the rest of you to get involved. This is my battle, and I don’t want to get your family into trouble with the Volturi.”

Edward rolled his eyes, and generously applied pressure to the gas. It seemed the car was struggling to keep up with itself. “You’re practically family now, you know that?”

“What?” Maria was genuinely surprised. She knew that Carlisle was being hospitable, but they considered her family?

“Don’t tell me you had no idea,” he said in disbelief. “I didn’t think you were that dense,” Maria glared at him. “Okay, well I didn’t know you couldn’t understand the difference between being kind and being polite. Did you know that Rosalie genuinely appreciated you opening up to her about being transformed? She’s never felt as close to a female as she is to you. Alice really likes you. Carlisle sees you as practically a sister – since you’re closer to him in age, and the same goes for Esme. You really had no idea?”

Maria felt her throat knotting up. She shook her head, not trusting her voice to speak.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you,” Edward’s voice softened.

“It’s okay,” Maria sighed.

“So what’s the truth? I don’t want to sift through your thoughts,” He said kindly.

Maria took a deep breath, and the knot in her throat unclenched. “Part of it is – I really miss my own family, and I –“ She breathed deeply again. “It really tears me apart that I can’t see them again, but spending time with your family – it’s just too hard.”

Edward nodded, and rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. He slowed the car down. “Tell me the rest of your plan.”

“I want to find this guy – my ‘killer’ – and give him a piece of my mind. Away from the werewolf territory, and away from your home. I don’t want to endanger your existence here.”

Edward thought it out in his head. “Perfectly understandable,” he nodded. “You do realize that because you’re only a few weeks old, you could’ve easily put your foot through the car floor when you eased onto the gas?”

“Yeah, but you could do that too.”

Edward shook his head. “Not my point. You’re only a few weeks old, so human blood might not be as tempting as it would have been, but your strength is still through the roof. You’re not totally used to it yet, but it could be used to your advantage in a fight.”

Realization came to Maria and a grin pulled across her face. “You’re right…”

“I’m not letting you do it alone, though,” he said quietly.

Maria stared at him. “Why the hell not?”

“If there are more of them, I don’t want you to be, say, one on three, or even one on four.”

She couldn’t feasibly argue that point. He had her there.

“So, I’m going to help you catch the scent of these guys,” Edward continued. “We’ll find them together, and possibly kill them. Deal?”

Maria sighed. “Okay.”

“You sound dissatisfied.”

“Well, I did want to do this by myself.”

“God,” he muttered. “You’re thick.”

“Shut up,” she laughed, and gave him a sucker-punch to the shoulder.

“Ouch,” Edward whined. “You don’t know your strength yet, remember?”

“Oh,” Maria grinned. “Right.”

They stopped at a motel in Sequim to stay for the night, and so in the morning, they could search for the scent trail by foot in the mountains. Edward had whipped out a small cell phone – probably the latest model, Maria thought – and told Carlisle calmly of their plan. Carlisle was of course delighted that that was the reason Maria decided to leave, and alternatively, he was very serious about considering her plan. He also reassured Bella that he would be home soon – Maria thought she sounded slightly jealous.

Maria hadn’t even thought of Edward in the romantic way, and she didn’t intend to. He was attractive, but so was the entire Cullen family. She found it odd that Bella would even think that, but then, she hadn’t really connected with the woman during her stay. Whatever, she thought, and quickly switched thought trains when Edward clicked the phone shut.

Maria watched Animal Planet all night while Edward read the bible from the nightstand drawer.

Footage of a vicious lion attack on a herd of gazelles flickered on the screen in front of her. A lioness’ claws raked the flank of a gazelle, tearing its flesh easily. The feline tore at the neck of the animal, ripping it’s jugular and killing it. It shared the carcass with the rest of its herd.

Is that what I look like when I kill an animal? Maria thought, sadness touching her heart for a moment.

Hearing her thoughts, Edward comforted her by rubbing her forearm gently.

In wee hours of the morning, they found a hiking path into the mountains.

They were quiet for a while until Edward struck up a conversation.

“So,” he said. “Why are you so determined to find this guy? Is it because one of his little pack could be your love interest? Or is it purely out of malevolence?”

If she had blood, she would have blushed. She hadn’t actually thought of that possibility.

“I hadn’t thought of that until you said it,” she said. “You’re giving me too many good ideas,” she laughed. She realized how wonderful her voice sounded when it reached her ears.

Edward chuckled.

Without warning, he lunged at her, fists whirling. She dodged his fists, barely. Instinctively she leapt into a tree above the path.

“What the hell was that, Edward?” She yelled.

“Testing your reflexes,” He laughed loudly. “You’ll need them if you’re to fight a pack of vampires.”

“You could’ve told me!”

“Ah, ah, ah,” He waggled a finger at her. “You would have known it was coming.”

“That’s generally the idea,” she said sarcastically. She let go of the tree, and landed lightly on her feet on the gravel path.

“You’re pretty fast,” he added. “I’m the fastest one in the coven, and you dodged me. But, then again, you are a newborn,” he smirked at her.

“Oh, you did not just go there,” Maria grinned.

She lunged at him this time, performing acrobatics she’d never thought she’d have the ability to do. He reacted with a counter almost every time. She surprised herself with her own laughter; she liked this. No, not like – love. She loved fighting with him. It was so fun, so carefree. She guessed it must have been the immortal part – if you can’t die, and you don’t need sleep, you can go on forever.

They sparred all the way up the mountain. At the top, Edward gave in.

“I’ll be lucky if my limbs don’t start falling apart today,” he laughed. “I hope you were holding back a little.”

Maria rocked back on her heels, still smiling. “Yeah, I was,” she laughed as well. “I didn’t want to hurt you again.”

“That’s very considerate,” Edward told her.

They climbed the last part of the mountain, reaching the top, just as the sun rose above the other peaks across the valley. Maria gasped.

“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered as the sky was aflame with pinks, purples, oranges and blues.

Edward nodded.

A gust of wind brought a horrid stench to Maria’s nose. Instantly, all of her nerves and instincts said to fight. “Edward,” she grunted through gritted teeth. “What the – fuck – is that smell?”

“It would appear that we found the pack,” he said grimly.

Please review! I've got the rest of the story planned out, so there's definately more coming.