Thank you if you added this to your favourites/alerts. I am going to try my best to update quickly. I have the whole story planned out in my head, just need to put it down on paper :-) Enjoy x
CHAPTER FOUR
It had been weeks since the Volturi's visit and life was gradually getting back to normal. Even Edward seemed more relaxed, though I think that in part was due to Jasper's return. Jasper had a way of making an atmosphere change; everything now was back to being calm and business like. Edward was very good at his job, but he left the day-to-day management of Twilight to Jasper, who was much better at keeping everyone under control. Most of the girls who worked here came from very difficult backgrounds and Twilight helped to turn them around. Jasper was more responsible for that than anyone else; he came across as hard and cold, but he could read people better than they could read themselves and his harshness was often born of necessity rather than cruelty. As I turned the corner, I nearly crashed straight into the man on my mind.
"Good evening, Mr Hale," I said, politely. Jasper regarded me steadily, his hands behind his back, as he surveyed me through thoughtful golden-brown eyes.
"Good evening, Isabella. You are well?" If possible he looked at me even more closely.
"Yes, thank you," I replied, smiling a little nervously. Jasper still intimidated me a little, even though I had seen his softer side when James was killed. He had been kind to me then, in his own way and I found that I could respect him more than fear him.
"I heard from Alice that you have met the Volturi." I bowed my head and he sighed. "Alice was in a lot of trouble for that, Isabella. She should not have put you in that position."
"She was scared," I said, immediately defending my friend.
"Yes, so she said," he replied, but made no further comment. "Will you come with me to my office? I have something for you."
Surprised, I followed him down the corridor to his office, where he closed the door firmly behind him and headed across to his desk, opened the drawer and took out a small package. He passed it across to me and watched as I opened it carefully. Two small charms rolled out; one was in the shape of an apple, very like the one I already had, but encrusted with what looked like diamonds. The other was a silver wolf. I looked up at him, puzzled and Jasper smiled.
"The apple, as I am sure you could guess was designed by Edward and will provide you with a direct link to him. If for any reason he does not appear quickly enough, the wolf will put you straight in touch with Jacob."
"Jacob?" I echoed, looking up at him, surprised.
"Your wolf friend proved very useful the last time we had any trouble, Isabella. I am not prepared to take any risks. The threat is as yet unknown and so I am covering all bases so to speak."
"What did Jacob say when you told him?" I asked, turning the wolf charm over in my hand, noting that it was a lot simpler than Edward's beautifully engraved diamond apple.
"He will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. The wolves are linked telepathically and so if you are in trouble and he cannot get here, one of his pack will. You will be very well protected. However, you will need to wear your bracelet at all times, Isabella, not just at work." He gave me a stern look, as if expecting me to object, but I simply nodded.
"Of course, Mr Hale," I said. Jasper smiled at me.
"Isabella, do you think perhaps you could call me Jasper? We are practically family now after all."
"I guess so, Jasper," I said, giving him a shy smile. Jasper returned my smile with a small one of his own and then his face settled back into a serious expression.
"Hold out your arm, Isabella. I will attach the charms to your bracelet for you. They won't come loose, I promise you."
I held out my arm and he took my wrist in his cold hand, carefully attaching the charms and giving them a tug to make sure they were secure. I looked down at them and smiled; they might be an unfortunate necessity, but they were very pretty.
"Try out Edward's now," said Jasper. I took the diamond apple between my fingers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Seconds later, Edward burst through the door, his eyes looking about wildly. "I think we can safely say it works," said Jasper, with a wry smile.
"Don't do that to me, Jasper!" exclaimed Edward, but he didn't look annoyed, more relieved.
"We had to check it was effective, Edward, especially as you insisted on all the added sparkle!" Jasper rolled his eyes as he said this and I giggled.
"Well, had to make sure my charm was better than Jake's, didn't I?" he said, smugly. I didn't take him too seriously. Since Jacob took out Laurent, Edward had got to know my best friend a little better and any jealousy issues he might have had had gone by the by, which was a huge relief to me. I loved Jacob and I couldn't give him up; he had done too much for me after my dad was killed.
"So, this will guarantee her safety?" Edward was saying. Jasper shrugged.
"As long as either you or Jacob gets to her quickly enough yes," he replied.
"Wolf boy won't get the chance to get there first," muttered Edward, with a grin. I dug him in the ribs with my elbow and giggled; I couldn't take him seriously.
"I'd best get to work," I said. Edward caught me before I went out of the door, his eyes suddenly serious.
"Please be careful, my love," he said. I smiled and leaned up to kiss his lips.
"I always am," I replied.
The figure sat at the table in the corner was cloaked in shadow, making it difficult to determine who or what they were. A feeling of trepidation flooded me for a moment, but I forced it away, reminding myself once again that I was no weak human. I was a powerful vampire, strong and fast. And if I wasn't strong or fast enough, my charms would bring people who were. The rest of the club was quiet; hardly anyone was in which was not unusual for a Tuesday night. Emmett was leaning on the bar, chatting with the staff there, looking bored. Rosalie was in the corner filing her nails; she was singing later on and already looked as if she was wondering why bother for so few people. At least I had a table to serve, to keep me occupied.
"Good evening, my name is Isabella and I will be serving you tonight," I said, plastering a smile on my face. The figure moved slightly but did not speak. I still couldn't see any of the figure's features and it was a little disconcerting to say the least.
"Would you like to see a menu?" I asked, politely. The figure nodded and I breathed a sigh of relief; perhaps they couldn't speak; I was making a fuss about nothing. Reaching behind me, I picked up a leather bound booklet and smiled as I handed it over. The figure suddenly got to its feet and I gasped as it loomed over me, impossibly tall. My fingers found the diamond apple and I squeezed it tightly. A hand reached out and grasped my wrist restraining me and another touched my face. The sound of many voices chanting filled my ears and white hot liquid seemed to surge through my veins, making me cry out in agony. Black and red swam before my eyes and as I collapsed to the floor I heard Edward shouting my name.
"Bella? Edward?" The voice entered my consciousness, making my eyes flutter open. A shiver ran down my spine and I struggled to sit up.
"Oh God, Bella!" Rosalie was suddenly beside me, her arms wrapped round me helping me to my feet. I brought a hand to my head, trying to bring the room into focus as I was overwhelmed with dizziness. My eyes suddenly found the prone figure of Edward and I gasped.
"Edward!" His name escaped my lips as a breath, my voice catching in my throat. Jasper looked up from where he was crouched over him.
"How the hell did this happen, Emmett?" he was demanding. I glanced across at Emmett who was standing behind Rosalie now and the big man shrugged.
"Everything was fine. It was a quiet night and..." He broke off, glancing across at me uncomfortably. "Bella, are you ok? You look flushed..." His voice trailed off, as the impossibility of that statement hit us. To be flushed I would have to be... human.
Jasper left Edward's side and came across to me, tilting my face towards him.
"Get your hands off of my Isabella." The cold tone of that usually velvet voice made us all start and as I looked past Jasper, I saw that Edward had risen to his feet. His face was hardened, his body held in a defensive stance and what scared me the most; his eyes were pure black.
