Chapter 11

"Why are you here?" Alec demanded, stepping over me. His muscles tensed ready to attack defend at any moment.

"Alice called and told me to wait for you two here and I quote, 'make sure you didn't do anything." Jasper smiled and sat up on the bed. "It's nice to see you again, Bella."

Quickly, I got to my feet and stepped around Alec. Jasper hadn't changed an inch, he had the same blonde hair except now I could slight highlights in it, and he had the same shiny, gold eyes that were currently staring into my blood red ones. I looked down at my feet, ashamed. At least in Volterra no one judged me, I hadn't wanted to kill the girl. I'd lost control.

"Enjoying human blood?" Jasper asked, he sounded genuinely curious. "I remember what it was like to drink human blood…" He trailed off as a ravenous look crossed his features. "That was a long time ago." I hadn't known that Jasper used to drink human blood; I'd been told he had less control than the others but not that he was a murderer.

Shaking my head, I mentally rolled my eyes at myself, I was judging Jasper after being annoyed with him for judging me. I'd done what he did and there was a part of me, a big part of me, which wanted to do it again, and again. "I don't particularly like drinking human blood but I don't have a choice in the matter."

Jasper nodded, looking at Alec who had calmed down which was probably Jaspers doing. "Why are you here? I know it's to do with us, we're the only coven of vampires for over a hundred miles."

"We need to talk to Edward and if you try to stop us, I have no problem with killing any of you." Alec said, calmly. If he was human I would have said he sounded like a psychopath but a vampires instinct was to kill, I couldn't say he was insane for something that was natural, could I?

Rolling his eyes, Jasper smirked. "I think we both know who would win a fight between us, Alec. You even think about hurting me or my wife, I will kill you. I don't have a problem with killing either."

Shifting uncomfortably, Alec turned back to face me. "Maybe, you should go for a walk Bella?" He suggested. I looked at him confused, why would I want to go for a walk? Did he want me out the way so he and Jasper could have a fight to the death, I shivered. That was a horrible thought.

"I'm fine here." I stated, crossing my arms over my chest. As much as Edward had hurt me, I couldn't let his family suffer because I was bitter. I had to stay and make sure no one killed each other.

Alice finally walked into the room then, she seemed to have calmed down a bit now. "Hello." She smiled, walking into Jasper's open arms. "Have you finally decided to cooperate and tell me why you're here to talk to Edward?"

"I need to ask him some questions." Alec said. "You'll find out when we ask him tomorrow." He said. "Now if you'd be kind enough to leave, it would be much appreciated." He smiled politely and gestured for them to exit through the door.

"I don't want Bella coming to the house." Alice stated, "He was heartbroken when she left him for you." Alice hissed, narrowing her eyes at Alec. "He shouldn't have to go through that again."

"First of all, Alec and I are not together. Secondly, Edward broke up with me; Alec and Felix have been helping me go through being broken hearted so if you thought he was hurt he must be a good actor." I snapped, losing my temper. That seemed to happen too much now I was a vampire; someone only had to say one small thing to provoke me. "Leave." I hissed, how many times would I have to tell Alice before she realised Edward was in the wrong, not me.

Alice glared at me and opened her mouth to say something but was stopped when Jasper placed a hand on her shoulder. "She's telling the truth." Jasper said, gently. "Edward really did hurt her." I saw the guilt on Alice's face immediately.

"He broke up with you?" Alice said, in a small voice. "He lied to me?"

I simply nodded, in response. I wasn't enjoying this reminder of my old life; my chest felt like it was in flames and it was all because of Edward. Jaspers fixated stare was starting to freak me out when I realised he could feel how I felt.

"Alice, I don't think it's smart for Bella to talk about this. Things have happened we don't understand, let's go talk to Edward. Talk to Bella tomorrow." Jasper said, I wasn't sure whether he was doing this to spare me the pain or spare himself. I knew I wouldn't wish the pain on my worst enemy but Jasper was used to pain, wasn't he?

A look was shared between the two vampires and then they both turned to face Alec who had remained extremely quiet until now. "We expect we'll see you tomorrow morning to sort this all out?" Alice said, flashing him a brilliant white smile that seemed to glow, I'd never noticed how bright her smile was now. Maybe it was because she had been human last time she had seen her, vampires were designed to seduce humans into being their prey. Seduce wasn't the right word, trap maybe but definitely not seduce. A vampire seducing you implied something romantic or gentle; I had learnt vampires were rarely either.

Alec simply nodded in their direction and waited for them to leave, which they did immediately. I didn't think it was possible for even a vampire to move that fast, I barely saw them leave. The door was slammed behind them by Alec who quickly took me into his arms. I looked up at him, confused. What was he doing?

"Do you want to know what that surprise was?" Alec asked me, which only confused me more. Surely he should be explaining the whole Edward thing to me and how we were meant to deal with everything. "Please can I show you what the surprise was?" He pleaded.

"Yes." I said, curious. It was obviously important to him.

For the second time Alec's lips descended onto to mine, his lips caressed mine in loving embrace. His arms wrapped around me like a silk sheet and I melted into him and his kiss. My vision was foggy after he pulled back and I had no idea how much time had passed, a second? A minute?

"Surprise." Alec smiled at me, "I just wanted you to know that I like you and if you like me too you shouldn't let Caius stand in our way. But I understand what Edward did hurt you, I just want you to tell me how you feel honestly." He said and my mind turned into a whirlwind.

Did I like Alec him like that? I knew I craved his attention and more than anything I wanted him to like me and be my friend. For some reason his opinion meant a lot to me even when I had barely known him. Felix had called us lovers from our first meeting, maybe he had seen something I hadn't? Maybe I was too obsessed with Edward to see how good and kind Alec truly was.

"Bella?" Alec said gently, he looked vulnerable. I'd never seen Alec like this before and I couldn't bear to let him feel like that, I knew my answer instantly.
"I like you a lot but I'm not sure if I'm ready for a real relationship." I told him honestly, he smiled at me. His whole face lighting up, it was as if he was a small kid on Christmas morning.

"Why don't we just see how things go?" He smiled, "I won't push you."

"I'd like that." I told him, honestly. "I'd like that a lot."

Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.

Albert Einstein