Chapter Ten

Jasper

I wandered from place to place but I couldn't outrun the feelings of frustration and anger, they just seemed to get more intense. I knew a part of this was guilt at the way I had left Forks. To treat Bella that way after she had accepted us like no one else ever had, to welcome her into the family and then just walk away without a word of explanation was indefensible. Edward may have decided it was safer but he was a fool and I had known that. I should have stood up and refused to act in such a way, even Rosalie and Emmett had voiced their condemnation of such an action but I had kept silent. Part of that was relief that Edward would no longer be in Bella's life but that was no excuse. I had been a coward and a fool and now I was paying for it.

I had driven the others away, even Rosalie who had only ever shown me kindness and acceptance. I hated myself and projected those feelings onto those who loved me. Or was I really the monster Maria had told me I was? Was The Major sneaking back, taking control of my thoughts again? I didn't know what to do or who to believe, there was in fact only one thing I was still sure of, I needed to see Bella, to apologize and hope she would not only forgive me but also see what she meant to me. It might already be too late, she could have fallen in love with a human, Mike or Eric, even Tyler maybe, and to see that would destroy my dreams and ruin my future but if I stayed away how could I ever hope to win her affection? I had to go back, Edward be damned.

Bella

Peter became a permanent fixture in my life, he was like the older brother I had never had, always there ready to cheer me up when I was down, to protect me and be someone to talk to who would not judge me however crazy or stupid I might seem. With him around I no longer felt there was such a hole in my life, I could cope again although I still missed one person and there again Peter made things easier. He would tell me stories about his time with Jasper and at such times it was as if I could feel his presence. There was a lot Peter didn't talk about, I knew their shared history had been in part bleak and bloody, Edward had made sure of that but neither did he hide things from me. If I asked he would answer me truthfully, he had both promised and warned me of that. Peter was nothing like the Cullens, he didn't try to mother me, he didn't see me as a weakling who needed a babysitter but he cared, much more than they had ever done in so many ways.

When he wasn't around when he went off to hunt, I missed him and I knew I was moody and difficult at such times so I tended to go off on my own with a book and find a quiet spot in the trees opposite the house if the weather allowed.

I knew the wolves were upset that I had a new vampire companion, Jacob had passed on a message from Sam, the pack Alpha,

"If you insist on continuing your fraternization with the leeches we wash our hands of you."

That didn't bother me, they were almost as paranoid about my safety as the Cullens had been. Since ignoring the warning I no longer sensed the wolves watching the house or eyes on me as I went about my life and the sense of freedom this afforded me was exhilarating.

What I should have remembered was that James may be dead but he had not been alone. I had forgotten about the red haired Victoria and the ambivalent Laurent, his two travelling companions. To have forgotten them was both stupid and dangerous but I had no idea they might come looking for revenge after all this time.

I had been sitting for an hour reading The Great Gatsby in preparation for a paper we had been set yesterday in English when I became uneasy. Putting the book down I looked around but I appeared to be alone. It was very quiet out here…..yes too quiet, I couldn't even hear a bird singing, something had frightened them off. Deciding the best thing to do was to go home as quickly as I could I put my book back in the backpack I had brought with me and slung it over my shoulder then turned to retrace my steps. I hadn't even reached the edge of the clearing when there was a movement before me and I gasped as I recognized Laurent standing there smiling at me.

"Bella! All alone? Where are your bodyguards?"

I thought quickly if he thought they were close by I might still be safe.

"Edward is meeting me soon."

"Really? I saw no signs of life at the house as I passed and I heard a rumor that they had become bored with their pet and left you behind."

"Well, you heard wrong."

His expression told me that he didn't believe me and I felt my heart racing.

"What a pity, they kill our leader and leave you to take the punishment, hardly the actions of a lover. but then I thought Edward was wrong for you. Does it still hurt? Being abandoned I mean. Maybe I can help, put you out of your misery and avenge James' murder in one action. I promise it will be quick, I never approved of James' habit of playing with his food and better that I kill you than Victoria, she can be so vindictive."

I took a couple of steps backwards but knew it was futile to try to escape, I couldn't outrun a vampire nor could I fight one, so I stopped.

"I didn't kill James, it was his own fault for coming after me."

What was the point of this? I couldn't talk him out of killing me that much was obvious. It was so unfair, if he had found me just a few months ago I would have been glad of his threat, but now…..I wanted to live!

He moved so swiftly that he had my face between his hands before I could blink.

"You smell divine. Don't fight me, Bella, relax and it will be over in a second."

He opened his mouth and I closed my eyes tensing instinctively waiting for the sharp pain as his teeth sliced into the soft flesh of my neck.

Suddenly I found myself flying through the air to land on my back hard enough to knock all the breath out of my body. I could hear snarls and the sound of blows then silence. Had Victoria followed Laurent? Was she determined to take revenge personally for her mate's death? I tried to take in enough air to enable me to move, or scream, not that either would help me much but then strong arms lifted me from the ground and I found myself gazing into a familiar face,

"Peter? Thank God, I thought I was dead."

"I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I? Who was he?"

I turned to look at the pile of still smoking ash,

"Laurent, remember me telling you about James? That was one of his group."

Peter looked around,

"What about the redhead?"

I shrugged,

"I don't think they were together thank goodness."

He grinned,

"Don't you think I could have taken them both? Shame on you Bella. Now come on, let's get you home before any more old acquaintances show up."

My legs were still shaking and he scooped me up and ran, as a result, we were back in the house in seconds but I didn't breath again until the door was closed and only then because Peter was here, my savior!