Chapter Two
Jasper
I went to Seattle first and called on Jenks to liquidate some shares so I had an easily obtainable cache of money then caught a flight to Rio to find Edward. I had toyed with the idea of going to Forks and seeing how Bella was but I knew she wouldn't want to see me, I couldn't put right what I had done and it was best to stay away. The flight was like most, boring and too long and I was glad to see the airport but Jenks had traced Edward to a hotel on the outskirts of the city so I didn't have to go hunting for him. I wasn't looking forward to this meeting but I knew it was necessary so I went straight there, the night life swirling around me. The hotel was one of the best, as I had expected, and I smelled him before I got inside the lobby, he was on his way out and he wasn't alone. I found it difficult to believe who was on his arm as he came out smiling and feeling very content. He stopped abruptly when he saw me and his companion looked over with a smile,
"Jasper! What are you doing here? Is there a problem?"
I shook my head,
"I was just passing through and told Esme I'd look you up. She misses you and hoped I might persuade you to go home, now I've left."
"I don't think so, not now."
"Maybe you could ring, speak to her, let her know you are OK. She'll be happy to know you aren't alone any longer."
He smiled at Heidi, a member of the Volturi now if memory served me right.
"I will, Carlisle knows Heidi so we might visit."
Heidi smiled at me,
"It's been a long time Major, still travelling?"
"Yes. You left the Volturi?"
"For a while, things get a little quiet there sometimes and I like to travel too. I was surprised to run into Edward here and alone. We're going hunting, would you join us?"
I shook my head looking at Edward but his eyes were still golden,
"No, I haven't changed my eating habits but I like to watch Heidi hunt, very sensual."
I made my apologies and left them to it, had Alice seen who Edward was mixed up with? I wondered if Aro had sent Heidi out to "catch" Edward for the Volturi, I wouldn't put it past him if he'd heard the Cullens had split up. I just hoped he hadn't heard why or Bella might be in danger but I guessed Alice would have seen that and done something, she had been very fond of Bella.
I stayed just long enough to hunt before catching another flight, this time to Switzerland but the flight was more interesting, I wasn't the only vampire in the cabin, four rows in front of me and sitting alone was Garrett. I hadn't seen him for years and as he recognized my scent he turned smiling,
"Major! What a surprise, come and sit with me, we can catch up."
"What were you doing in Rio? I never took you for a carnival enthusiast."
"I'm not but it gives me plenty of targets and there are so many people around in weird costumes that I feel quite normal."
"Still stalking the English?"
"How did you guess? There are always plenty here to choose from. Where's Alice?"
"We aren't together any longer."
"Oh, sorry. So where are you headed?"
"I'm going to visit Emmett and Rose."
"They left Carlisle? What happened?"
"It's a long story Garrett but I'm sure Carlisle will tell you when you see him next."
"Are you staying in Switzerland long?"
"No idea but probably not. I'm thinking about travelling for a while, feeling a bit unsettled. What about you?"
"Visiting a friend."
He smiled and I got the message, he was visiting a lady friend.
"Anyone I know?"
"I doubt it, she's not a fighter"
It was a sad statement but true, all my friends were fighters, it was how we had met. We talked about friends in common, I hadn't seen Peter and Charlotte for years and they were my closest friends, Alice had argued with Peter the first time they met and had kept away from each other ever since. I'd missed them and suddenly decided that's where I would go as soon as I finished here. At the terminal we parted but it had made the flight more bearable and I was more relaxed than usual as I made my way to the house my brother and sister had rented. It was in the mountains but that wasn't a problem to me, I just ran, glad to be able to stretch my legs in the fresh Swiss air. When I knocked on the door it was Rose who answered and she looked pleased to see me pulling me into a hug,
"Emmett its Jazz"
I found myself yanked inside by my brother who also hugged me,
"Jazz its great to see you. Where's Alice?"
"In Denali or she was when I left, we've split."
"Oh no. Why?"
"Things just slipped, we drifted apart. The whole family is fragmented. Edward's still in Rio and he's got involved with an ex Volturi, Heidi. It worries me a little because she's a fisher."
"A what?"
Emmett looked puzzled as he ushered me through to the lounge,
"What's a fisher?"
"Usually she finds and collects together humans for the Volturi to feed on"
"You think she's trying to collect Edward for the Volturi?"
"It did occur to me but he's a big boy now so he has to make his own mistakes."
"He hasn't been back to the family since we left Forks has he?"
"No, and Esme is really feeling it, she's only got Alice now, that's why I'm here. I wondered if you might visit if not move back. I think we have to get beyond Edward's human."
"Rose keeps trying to persuade me to visit but I'm not sure. It just feels like we let Bella down just running away without a word. I miss her, I liked her."
"I know but its Esme and Carlisle who are suffering now. They really miss you both and it was all my fault Emmett not theirs."
"I don't think it was anyone's fault except Edwards, he knew she was his singer and a human but he insisted on dragging her into our lives and then had a hissy fit when the inevitable happened. It wasn't your fault Jazz, I keep telling Emmett that and it certainly wasn't Esmes. If you're going to blame anyone it should be Carlisle, after all he was our father figure, he should have explained to Edward how idiotic his behavior was, he could have exposed us, were lucky the Volturi didn't come up and kill us all for blind stupidity."
"OK Rose, we know what you think. You've told us often enough"
Emmett sounded weary but I hadn't heard Rose blame Carlisle before. She'd obviously given the situation a great deal of thought and I guess she had a valid point although I'd never looked at it that way before.
"How is Bella? Has anyone checked on her?"
"No Emmett and nobody's going to, it would be madness. Edward is out of her life and so are we, just as it should be. See Jazz, that's one reason I don't want to go back to the States, Em just wouldn't be able to stop himself going back to Forks to check on Bella Swan and that's too dangerous, it's over, in the past and that's where it should stay."
"She's right Emmett. We'd probably do more harm than good chasing her up now. Its been a year she'll have graduated and probably moved out of state anyway. Maybe she and Charlie both moved or maybe she got over Edward quickly, she's probably got a new man in her life now. She's human Emmett, and vampires and humans don't mix."
