WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

≪•◦ CHAPTER FIFTEEN | PLAYING FOLLOW THE SELFLESS HUMAN ◦•≫

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     Alice and Colby pulled into the Cullen house right after Edward and Bella. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the driveway. Emmett jumped out of the bed of Bella's truck with his usual exuberance and sped to the passenger side door, opening it for Colby with a flourish.

     "Are you okay?" Emmett asked, his voice filled with concern as he took Colby's hand and helped her out of the jeep.

Colby nodded, clutching her grimoire tightly to her chest. "Yeah, I'm just grounded when I get back home, and my mom also knows we're together now, which is part of the reason I'm grounded," she said with a sheepish smile.

     Emmett chuckled, his deep voice resonating warmly. "She was bound to find out sooner or later," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze as they walked towards the house.

     As they entered, the atmosphere inside was tense. Edward was standing a few feet from the front door, shielding Bella behind him as his eyes locked on Laurent, who was descending the stairs. A low hiss escaped Edward's lips, and Emmett instinctively moved to shield Colby behind him, his protective instincts kicking in.

     Carlisle stepped forward, raising a hand to signal Edward to stop. "Wait! He came to warn us. About James," Carlisle said, his voice calm but firm.

     Laurent paused on the last step, his expression weary. "This isn't my fight and...I've grown tired of his games. But he's got unparalleled senses, absolutely lethal. I've never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. And the woman, Victoria, don't underestimate her," he warned, his eyes scanning the room.

     The family absorbed his words in silence. Colby peeked from around Emmett, her curiosity piqued despite the danger.

     Laurent's gaze fell on her, and he spoke directly to her. "He may not be after you directly, but he does hold a grudge against witches, and your brother's actions set him off," he said, his tone grave.

   Colby's heart skipped a beat. "Thank you for your help." Carlisle told Laurent. The vampire nodded before leaving the family then ran into the garage. "I've had to fight our kind before. Not easy to kill." Jasper says as he and Emmett open one of the cabinets in the garage, Bella was not glued to Colby's side, "But not impossible. We'll tear him up apart and burn the pieces." Emmett said, his tone firm.

Carlisle stood in the center of the room, his expression somber. "I don't relish the thought of killing another creature. Even a sadistic one like James," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of his words.

Rosalie crossed her arms, her face set in a hard line. "What if he kills one of us first?" she retorted, her eyes flashing with anger and fear.

Edward stepped forward, his jaw clenched. "I'm gonna run Bella south. You lead the tracker away from here," he suggested, his voice tense with urgency.

Carlisle shook his head. "No, Edward. James knows you'd never leave Bella. He'll follow you," he countered, his tone firm.

Alice, who had been standing quietly beside Jasper, spoke up. "I'll go with Bella and Colby. Jasper and I will drive them south. Colby's magic will help us keep Bella safe, Edward," she offered, her voice calm and reassuring.

Edward turned to her, his eyes filled with concern. "Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?" he asked.

Alice nodded. "Yes," she replied.

Edward then looked at Rosalie and Esme. "Rosalie, Esme, could you put these on so the tracker will pick up Bella's and Colby's scents?" he asked, tossing Bella's coat to Rosalie and Colby's coat to Esme.

Rosalie caught the coat but hesitated. "Why?" she asked, her voice tinged with bitterness. "What is she to me?" Rosalie said, speaking of Bella.

Carlisle stepped closer, his gaze steady. "Rosalie, Bella is with Edward. She's a part of this family just like Colby. We protect our family," he said, handing her back Bella's coat.

Rosalie took the coat reluctantly and walked away, her expression conflicted. Esme took Colby's coat and put it on.

Colby, who had been standing quietly beside Emmett, stepped forward. Emmett turned to her, his eyes softening. "Hey, before you go," he said, pulling her into a gentle hug. "I need you to be safe, okay? Use your magic, stay close to Alice and Jasper, I'll come with Edward to come get you once it's safe."

Colby smiled up at him, her heart swelling with affection. "I will, I promise," she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the lips. "You stay safe too. Can't tell my mom I'm with you and not be able to have her actually meet you."

Emmett grinned, his usual confidence shining through. "Always," he said, giving her one last squeeze before letting her go.

Bella was already in the car, her face pale with worry. Edward went to her at the window, his expression softening. "Oh God If anything, no, if anything happens to you I swear to God..." Bella began, her voice trembling.

Edward reached out, stroking her cheek gently. "Nothing's gonna happen. There's seven of us, and there's two of them. And when everything's done, I'm gonna come back and get you," he promised, his voice filled with determination.

Bella nodded, trying to hold back her tears. "Yeah," she whispered. Edward looked deeply into her eyes. "Bella, you are my life now," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

Jasper started the engine, and Edward gave Bella one last reassuring look before stepping back. Two cars left the driveway, heading in opposite directions, each carrying the hopes and fears of those they left behind.

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     On the road, Bella was on the phone, her voice filled with urgency. "Hey, mom, it's me again. Um, you must have let your phone die or something. I'm not in Forks, but everything's okay and I'll explain it...later." Colby looks at Bella and grabs her hand rubbing circles on it with her thumb to soothe Bella's anxiety.

     In the car, Alice held hands with Jasper while Bella looked from the backseat, her mind racing with worry. Colby sat beside Bella, her grimoire open on her lap. She took a deep breath and began to chant softly, her hands moving gracefully over the pages.

     Bella watched Colby, curiosity mingling in her eyes. "What are you doing?" she asked quietly.

      Colby glanced up, her expression focused. "I'm performing a protection spell. It will link you to me, so I can help keep you safe, he's not after me so this should mask you," she explained, her voice steady.

Colby looked down at opened her grimoire, her fingers tracing the ancient symbols on the page. She took a deep breath and began to chant softly, her voice steady and clear.
"Legami a te, proteggimi e proteggiti. Con questo incantesimo, siamo una. Nulla ci separerà, nulla ci farà del male. Uniti siamo forti, uniti siamo sicuri. Protezione e forza, ora e sempre. Così sia." As she spoke, a soft green glow began to emanate from her hands, enveloping both her and Bella in a warm, protective light. The bond between them solidified, creating an unbreakable link that would help keep Bella safe.

Once the spell was done they pulled into a hotel in Phoenix. Once they were situated in a temporary room, Alice suddenly gasped, her eyes wide with a vision. "Uh!" Jasper turned to her, concerned. "What is it? What do you see?" Alice, still holding Jasper's hand, spoke urgently. "The tracker...he just changed course."

Jasper asked, "Where would it take him, Alice?" Alice's eyes unfocused as she saw the vision. "Mirrors, a room full of mirrors." Jasper quickly put a paper in front of Alice and a pencil in her hand. Alice began to draw very fast, as Colby and Bella move closer to them. Bella, watching her, said, "Edward said the visions weren't always certain." Jasper explains as Alice draws, "She sees the course the people are on while they are on it. They change their minds, the visions change." Bella nodded, understanding. "Yeah, so the course the tracker's on now is gonna lead him to a ballet studio?"

Alice, Jasper, and Colby all look at her, surprised. "You've been here?" Alice asked.

Bella nodded. "I took lessons as a kid. The school I went to had an arch just like that." Jasper asked, "Was your school here in Phoenix?" Bella confirmed, "Yeah." Suddenly Bella's phone buzzes and she immediately picks up, "Edward, you okay?"

Edward's voice came through, tense but controlled. "We've lost the tracker. The woman's still in the area. Rosalie and Esme have gone back to Forks to protect your father. I'm coming to get you. And you and I are gonna go somewhere alone. And the others will keep hunting. I'll do whatever it takes to make you safe again."

As Bella ended the call, Colby squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll get through this," she said, her voice filled with determination. Colby's phone buzzes next with a call from Emmett. "Emmett?"

"Are you still with Jasper an Alice?" Emmett asked concerned, "Yeah, why what's wrong?"

"We lost him but I'm going to keep hunting for him with the others, I need you to stay with Jasper and Alice, even after Edward comes to get Bella." Emmett instructed, "I'll keep your family safe, I love you."

Colby's heart swelled at the three words, "I love you too." Colby responded before they ended the call.

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Jasper and Alice prepared to check out at the reception. In the room, Bella was hurriedly packing her stuff, her hands shaking slightly. Colby was beside her, helping to fold clothes and pack them into the suitcase.

"Are you sure you have everything?" Colby asked, her voice soft. Bella nodded, her mind racing. "Yeah, I think so."

Suddenly, Bella's cellphone vibrated. She picked up the call from 'Home,' her heart pounding. "Hey, mom. I'm glad you got my message. What are you doing home?" Bella asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Bella, Bella! Bella? Where are you?" Renee's voice was frantic on the other end.

"Calm down. Everything's fine," Bella tried to reassure her.

"Bella! Bella!" Renee's panic was palpable.

"I'll—I'll explain everything later. Mom, are you there?" Bella's heart pounded as she waited for a response.

A different voice came through the phone, cold and menacing. "Forks High School doesn't protect its students' privacy very well. You know it's just too easy for Victoria to find your previous address. It's a nice house you have here. I was prepared to wait for you. Then Mom came home after she received a very worried call from your Dad. And it all worked out quite well. Hmmm..." James's voice sent chills down Bella's spine.

"Please, wait..." Renee's voice was faint in the background.

"Don't touch her! Don't, okay! Don't!" Bella's voice shook with fear and anger. Colby soon was on high alert at the sudden change in Bella's demeanor.

"You can still save her. But you're gonna have to get away from your friends and that little witch. You'll handle that," James said, his tone mocking, Colby stood close listening in on the conversation.

"Where should I meet you?" Bella asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

"How about your old ballet studio? And I'll know if you bring anyone along. Poor Mom will pay the price for that mistake," James warned before hanging up.

Bella's mind raced as she quickly formulated a plan. She turned to Colby who was grabbing her grimiore, Bella's eyes wide with fear. "You heard that, right? I have to go alone. You need to stay here with Alice and Jasper."

Colby shook her head, her expression resolute. "No way. I'm not letting you do this alone. You'll get yourself killed."

"Colby, please. It's too dangerous," Bella pleaded.

But Colby was already grabbing her own bag. "I'm coming with you, and that's final. My magic can help us. We have a better chance together."

Bella sighed, "Alright, we'll leave in a second, just let me make sure I have everything." Colby nodded. "Okay, just make it quick I'll wait her."

Bella nodded before walking away closing to door to the bedroom part of the hotel room after her.

Colby waited for her for a moment before she got up and opened the door realizing Bella was gone. "Son of bitch." Colby groaned before she sneaked out of the hotel, she sees Bella wave down a taxi and as she got in, she was followed closely by Colby.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked, confusion and shock evident in her voice.

"Playing follow the selfless human. I'm not letting you do this alone, ditching me was rude by the way," Colby said in a hushed tone, her eyes filled with determination.

Bella sighed again but felt a bit of guilt, "I know I'm sorry."

"Just know Alice is going to be pissed."