Chapter Nine

Jasper and Emmett crouched defensively, readying themselves to repel me the second I lunged. I remained standing, but my muscles were tightened and ready to propel me forward at a moments notice. Seconds ticked by, as we stood staring across the clearing from each other, waiting for someone to make a move. Then Emmett rushed me. Reflexively, I slid my right foot back about ten inches, twisted my torso, and planted my left palm in the middle of his shoulder-blades. He appeared shocked that I had not only completely avoided his attack, but countered using his own force against him. Dust swirled and he attempted to regain his balance, but I didn't give him the chance. In one fluid movement, I brought my elbow into where his kidneys should have been and pulled my knee into his chest as he fell. This all happened in about two seconds, and I had acted completely on instinct. When I looked up, the others were staring wide-eyed at Emmett, lying flat on his face. He jumped up and swung, but I dodged it neatly, and pulled his fist into the ground. I apologized after I had knocked him flat again. Asagi had to explain that I had meant no harm and was truly sorry, before Emmett would let me any nearer the house. When I finally was allowed to enter the house, I could no longer smell the blood or the awful scent that I could not identify. Carlisle Cullen seemed quite taken with the fact that I had simply reacted and not thought through my actions in the fight with Emmett. He asked me questions about my improved senses as well. "Somehow," he explained, "Your sharpened senses must act with your reflexes, which would make it possible for the body to react fast enough that the brain doesn't even realize it has moved in an unnatural fashion." I considered his words carefully before responding. "In other words, if I start to sense a threat, I act before I can even comprehend what's happened." "Yes,that is precisely the case," he stated, "Which is probably the reason Alice couldn't see what your reaction would to Emmett would have been." He could obviously see my confused expression, and began to explain.