Emma almost jumped to her feet when she spotted the three men in the bar walking toward them from across the beach. Ethan was already up and moving. His hand went in front of her like her mother's used to when she was forced to hit the brakes too hard in the car. A low growl escaped him as he stepped in front of her.
"Grab him!" Isabelle hissed at her.
Emma glanced at Isabelle as Ethan's sister rose to her feet. Her eyes were intense on Emma as she gestured toward Ethan's extended hand. His rigid posture made her realize he was about to launch himself at the men, something that couldn't happen in public. She didn't understand why these men set Ethan and Stefan off so bad, but Ian also rose to his feet as they continued to approach.
He'd just told her not to touch him, but the instinct to keep him safe caused her to grab his hand. It clenched around hers as he visibly relaxed a little again, but she could feel the hostility still running through his body. The men's eyes were wary as they stopped before the group gathered around her.
"Can we talk to you?" the shortest one asked Stefan.
"You can say whatever it is you have to say, here," Stefan told him.
Ethan stepped further in front of Emma as the red head's eyes landed on her. Ethan glanced at Emma and then back at the men. They couldn't know they could speak freely in front of her. They couldn't have any idea she knew about their species while she was still human.
"Stefan, go and speak with them," he said gruffly.
"Ethan—"
"It's fine," Stefan interrupted Isabelle. "I'll be right back."
"I'm coming with you," Isabelle said.
Stefan shook his head at her as he stepped away from the crowd. "Nothing is going to happen," he assured her.
Isabelle stood uneasily in front of the chairs, but when Emma went to rise, Ethan shook his head. "Stay here," he said.
Ethan kept his eyes on Stefan as he made his way across the sand and toward the ocean with the others. "Why would you let him go alone?" Isabelle demanded.
"They're not killers, Isabelle, but they can't know Emma has any knowledge of our existence," Ethan answered. "Even if they're not killers, they will still do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, and our kind, from being exposed. Besides, nothing is going to happen in broad daylight."
"They're vampires," Emma breathed.
"They are," Ethan confirmed.
How many of them were there? She wondered as she finally understood why they had always acted so strange around those men. Isabelle moved closer as Stefan turned away. The trio watched as Stefan walked back toward them before they disappeared into the crowd. "What did they want?" Isabelle asked when Stefan was close to them.
"They're leaving the island," Stefan answered. "They're catching their plane in a few hours."
Ian frowned as he folded his arms over his chest. "And they had to tell us this why?"
"Because they saw us sitting here and thought they should warn us there’s another group of vampires on the island. Apparently, they had a run in with some of them last night, and it didn't go well. They're leaving before the heat of the local authorities is felt, or hunters are alerted due to the increase in murders and disappearances on the island."
"And you believe them?" Ethan asked.
"I do," Stefan confirmed. "They're frightened, and they plan to escape while they still can."
"That's wise of them," Isabelle muttered. "Maybe we should consider it too."
"Where would we go?" Ethan inquired. "Tristan will follow Emma, and I'm not luring a group of volatile vampires near our family."
"He might not be able to find her if we take her to our house, and if he does find her I can guarantee he'll rethink his actions when he encounters all of us," Ian said.
"Or he'll make even more vampires to come at us with, and we will be putting everyone at risk," Ethan countered.
"What about my family?" Emma inquired. "He's never been to my house, but he knows where I'm from, and he knows my parents’ names. He could find them without a problem. I'm not going anywhere without them, or my friends, if we leave this island."
"No one is leaving the island," Stefan said. "Not yet anyway. For now, we are all still safe here, and it's only a matter of time before they slip up and we're able to get them. If it becomes too dangerous, we'll leave and figure out what we're going to do afterward. Brian is coming, we'll have a better chance of taking them down then, and we can think of a plan when he arrives."
"Who's Brian?" Emma inquired.
"Someone we know," Ethan answered.
From the tone of his voice, she didn't think it was someone he liked or was excited about seeing. "We should stay until he arrives," Isabelle reluctantly agreed.
Emma was so focused on the conversation, she didn't notice the rain clouds rolling in until the sun was completely blacked out. Her head tilted back just in time for a raindrop to fall onto her nose. A small laugh escaped her but judging by the look of the clouds, there would be more to follow.
"We should probably—"
Isabelle's words were drowned out by the deluge of rain suddenly unleashing upon them. The force of the rain stung her skin, Emma threw her arms over her head, but it did nothing to block the water pelting against her. Ethan's arms encircled her and lifted her against him.
"Go to the mall!" Isabelle shouted.
"Make sure Jill and Mandy are safe!" Ethan yelled at her over the rain and the people squealing around them as they scrambled for cover. "I have to get Emma out of here!"
Terror trickled through her as she realized more than rain
