<strong>Bella,</strong>The Hunt [Marcus Dupont, Frederick Martin, Viktor Martin, Kolette de Brest, Antoine LaFleur, Bella]<br/><br/>They had traveled for almost an hour. Through overgrown brush, along wildlife trails...over a stream, and through the woods. Bella was furious now.<em>Oh, I can't stand her. I mean him. Either of them!</em>Her eyes stayed firmly ahead, but her mind was aware of every little giggle Kolette made. Every saccharine comment Viktor offered back distressed her. She had no idea why she felt the way she did, but Bella was growing more and more convinced that she was smitten with Viktor.<em>Him? Of all people, Bella, really? Him?</em><br/><br/>She picked up her pace, coming close to Viktor's brother. "Are we almost there yet? Aren't there plenty of deer in this forest?" Frederick didn't immediately answer her back. He was studying the ground, looking for tracks, and following the fresh injuries on nearby tree saplings. "I mean, can't we just shoot and kill something and get back to Avonleigh already?"<br/><br/>Frederick looked back at her, concerned by the tone in her words. Bella, always so beautiful and charming, seemed like quite the mess today. Her red curls were disheveled and frazzled, and her face look flushed. "Let's, umm...let's break for ten minutes or so, to give everyone a chance to rest," he called out finally, and then speaking to Bella, he asked, "Isabelle? Are you, ok?<br/><br/>She shook her head, a mild frown on her pink lips. "Yes. I mean no. I'll be okay, Frederick. I just...miss Lily is all," she lied. "A bit concerned for where she went."<br/><br/>Frederick chuckled back. "That brat can take care of herself, Isabelle, you know that. We'll be back at Avonleigh soon enough, and you'll be able to brag to her about the buck you took down all on your own." He put a finger to her mouth, and pushed one sunken corner up into an exaggerated smile. "Have some fun, okay? For me?"<br/><br/>She nodded, trying to smile. Her heart, however, was beating erratically. The joy of infatuation would swell up in her as she pondered on Viktor, and each traitorous moment he spent with Kolette clutched at those feelings, breaking her inside. Half the time there were butterflies in her stomach, but when they weren't fluttering, she felt sick and nauseous inside. She walked over to a nearby tree, slipping around it, and gazed off into the woods.