16 CH 16
While Emmett's attack sent me flying halfway across the clearing, he too was sent tumbling a few dozen feet, due to a double kick strike to his chest at the last moment.
My attack saved me from the worst of Emmett's final punch, barely giving me a few cracks on my arms and one at the bridge of my nose. By the time Edythe flashed up to me, the cracks had already healed up mostly. As she traced the cracks worriedly, the last of the cracks faded too like a dream.
"My power grows stronger as the sample material it is taken from gets better." I said with a grin, getting a relieved look and a hug from Edythe.
"I was worried" Edythe said "You had never tried out the transformations using the bracelet before. I didn't want to have any complication found out at the very last moment."
"It is fine" I assured her "Practicing with any metal gives me the same amount of training as all of them. Only the level of power is different, which can be remedied with a basic spar, like the one I had with Emmett. Now I am ready for the game."
Edythe also grinned excitedly with me at that. Soon, Edward arrived with Bella and all the Cullens got a few teasing jabs in about Edward and Bella kissing, and Edward laughing.
While that was going on, Alice pranced up to say "It's time" in a freaky prophet like tone, following which there was rumble from the sky, as if heavens agreed with her.
"Eerie like Hell, isn't it?" Emmett asked with a grin and I nodded.
Alice was the sweetest and most friendly person I had ever met, but she often acted in a extremely freaky and weird manner.
However, it was by no fault of her own. I was told by Edythe that Alice had no memory of her time as a human, so all her life it was her powers and visions that taught her how to live and behave.
The teams were: Edward, Alice, Jasper and Carlisle in Team one, while Edythe, Rosalie, Emmett and me in Team 2. Esme became the referee and Bella our cheerleader.
Though it was our turn to bat first, Edward and Alice combo turned out deadly when fielding. Alice could see all possibilities while pitching and Edward would read her mind to position himself appropriately to get us out easily.
My turn to bat was met with horrible humiliation, as Alice managed to strike me out twice before I could barely hit the third in a grounding shot.
However, Carlisle crashed into me with the ball, before I could cover more than a single base with my run. Edythe gave a consoling smile and took revenge for me, reading Alice's mind in return and striking in a way that scored us a home run.
I chatted a bit with Esme and Bella while I took a break after getting out. Bella admitted that watching them play like that in such a fast pace was quite the rush, and that she was jealous of me for me being able to participate.
I teased her more about that while sending her a grin of smug satisfaction, which earned me a playful punch from her.
Though I barely contributed any meaningful to my team, Edythe and Emmett combo did manage to balance out the score for our team constantly.
Emmett was the strongest batsman and hit the hardest, while Edythe was jut as fast as Edward and picked up the slack I left in the team.
As the thunderstorm and the game progressed, the competition got more intense. Playful razzing became common, I was shocked to see even Carlisle participated in the trash talking of the weakest link of our team, namely me.
Cheating became rampant, Edward and Edythe purposely blocking various players through mind reading and Alice calling out moves of the players in advance to confuse them.
I too found out a method to cheat using my powers, Which Esme banned after I used it barely twice. I had managed to modify the structure and length of the bat at the precise moment of the hit, making sudden changes in the future prediction Alice.
This resulted in me scoring a lot of points thanks to the advantage I gained. However, Edward objected after the second time I did it, as the shape at the time I hit was more like a shovel than a bat. Esme agreed with Edward's objection and thus my trick was banned.
Our game progressed at a breakneck pace and we were having lots of fun. But as they say, good things don't last. It was right at the time when it was again my turn to bat with Alice was smirking at me.
She was in her pose and ready to throw the ball at a bullet speed, when she suddenly stiffened for a second before looking at Edward and Edythe in horror.
Edward swiftly ran next to Bella and Esme, while Edythe lifted me by my waist before flashing next to Esme and putting me down. With Alice's rapid speech that only Vampire's could get, she instructed them all to form a group around Bella and me, masking our scent.
"What happened?" Bella asked worriedly. I too looked for anyone who would explain it to me. Edward and Edythe were silent like a statue, staring at a certain direction with rapt attention. In the end Alice was the one who graced us with an explanation, once she was done with her vision.
"I didn't realize this future could happen." She said rapidly "Their decision changed after hearing us play. They had made plans to move on from Forks after a bit of Hunting, but seeing so many of us in one place and playing ball, they decided to intrude and participate." She said with a worry.
"More vampires?" I guessed "and not the good kind in relation to humans I am guessing?" Edythe looked at me briefly to give a nod of affirmation, before she went back to her staring.
Soon everyone could see what Alice, Edward and Edythe were staring at the direction for.
They emerged on the field one by one, three of them as graceful as all vampires are by default. The first to emerge was a light-brown-haired male, who soon stepped to the side diagonally and let the dark-skinned male take the lead, to demonstrate who led this pack.
The female of the trio was the last to arrive, taking a spot close to the first male. She ran a hand through her hair that had a startling reddish shade. The three of them observed the Cullen family with excitement and natural respect as they slowly stepped forward.
It was apparent at a glance that they were not as used to the civilized world as Cullens were. Their steps held a cat-like feral grace that was only seen in wild predators.
They wore ordinary gear of backpackers; jeans, casual button-down shirts, all in heavy waterproof fabrics. Their clothes were worn out, showing that they had been in the wild for a long time.
Even their looks were a little feral, both men having short-cropped hair, the kind of look a survivalist would have. The woman did have long brilliant orange curls, but they were rough, filled with dirt, leaves, and debris of the woods.
They carefully took in the Cullens numbers and their relaxed stance, understanding the unspoken message. As such, they too straightened their posture and became more casual and erect.
The olive-skinned guy in the lead seemed to be the most beautiful one of the trio and also their leader. But my eyes were grabbed by the other two vampires following him. There was something so animalistic and freaky about them that I could feel shivers run down my spine.
However, what was most distinctive about them was their eyes. They were a burgundy color that made it apparent how different they were from the Cullens.
The olive-skinned man with the dark hair took the lead and stepped forward to address Carlisle.
"We thought we heard a game." he said in a relaxed voice that had a slight french accent "I am Laurent, and these are Victoria and James." he gestured to his companions.
"Hi, I am Carlisle." Carlisle nodded and gestured towards us, "This is my family: Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Esme, Alice, Edward, Bella, Edythe, and Krishna."
As they were talking, I suddenly had an inspiration and gently opened a small bottle of water I had in my pocket. I had brought it to quench thirst since we would be playing ball. I discreetly spilled a little amount of water on my palms and concentrated.
Soon, I felt the change come over me as I started feeling connected to all forms of water, even moisture in the air. Edythe noticed the change as she momentarily turned to me while sniffing gently. Her eyes lit up at my actions and she nodded in approval.
