Chapter Fourteen

Alice

I'd been feeling uneasy for some weeks now, getting headaches as I had once done before just after I became a vampire and before my visions became much clearer. There was something which would affect me, or those close to me and I couldn't quite see who or what. I watched us all closely, but I couldn't see anything. Jazz seemed a little tense, but that wasn't unusual these days, he didn't seem to be able to settle to anything although he never grumbled when I suggested an outing or a holiday and was as attentive as he had been, getting over the distant phase he had been through that had upset me. We had been destined for each other, he was mine and I hated it when he appeared distracted even though I knew he got annoyed sometimes with my unending need to shop for clothes. What he didn't seem to understand was that I couldn't help it.

As a human I never had pretty clothes, all mine were hand me downs of my sister's, that was all I remembered about my human life, having a sister who was the one who had all the new clothes and even they were dowdy and boring, sombre colors with little shape and I wanted to be the Princess now with the pretty clothes. The colors and fabrics and I couldn't help being drawn to them. Luckily I had excellent taste and the rest of the family were happy to leave their wardrobes in my capable hands but Jasper? Well, he just ignored anything I bought that was too bright or modern preferring long tees and sweaters in dark colors and jeans or combats. I despaired sometimes but had to admit he looked super sexy dressed even that way.

I was with Esme when I got the first flash and it only lasted a microsecond, but I knew it meant trouble.

"What's the matter, Alice? You looked dreadful for a second there, did you see something?"

I shrugged, but the feeling of danger stuck in the pit of my stomach and I waited to get more. For the next week I was on edge snapping at everyone but nothing else came through and I began to wonder if I had been daydreaming or just plain mistaken. The next time though I was with Jazz, we had just been hunting and sat talking on a log watching the stars and holding hands like old times when it came again. This time it lasted a second and a half, the face of a girl, that was all, but I knew she was dangerous, to me or to the family I couldn't tell yet. Of course he felt my fear and stood up looking around but I shook my head getting up to face him,

"I've seen something Jazz, trouble coming and it involves a dark-haired girl."

Jasper

I froze feeling sick to my stomach, how had Alice seen Bella? If it was Bella. But something deep inside told me it had to be. I composed myself before I turned to face her looking with what I hoped was husbandly concern,

"Trouble? Are you sure? What girl? What does she do?"

She looked at me unsure,

"I don't know, but this is the second time I've seen her and both times I get this feeling of danger, dread. That's all I've seen but its bad Jazz."

"Do you know anything about her or what she's going to do? Do you recognize her?"

"No, she has dark brown hair almost black and golden brown eyes with pale skin so she can't be a vampire unless she's a hungry animal hunter. I don't know who she is or where she's from. I don't even know why she's dangerous or if it's aimed at me or the family. I have to speak to Carlisle. Maybe he'll understand."

"I doubt it darlin' not if you don't have any more details. Maybe we should go away, take a holiday and relax, you might see more that way."

I had no idea what I would do if Alice did see anymore but I knew I had to get her away from the family just in case, I had to try keeping Bella's secret.

Of course, Alice was more than happy to take a vacation alone with me so all I had to do was to warn Renee and her Grandpa along with Peter and Charlotte. When I finally got away to call, leaving Alice deciding on our destination as it was her treat, Bella herself answered and she sounded so pleased to hear my voice. We chatted for ten minutes before I was able to get Renee on and explained the situation. She went off to tell her Grandfather while Bella and I talked again. She asked me when I was going to visit again, but something told me it might be some time before it would be safe so I prepared her by telling her my boss was sending me to Australia.

"But that's so far Jazz, I'll never see you."

"I'll write and ring you I promise."

She was right of course and I felt the pain of separation stab more deeply.

It was Grandpa who spoke to me next as Bella went off upset at the thought I would be so far away.

"Jasper I think we both know what has to happen, son. I think maybe Bella was so distraught that her shield weakened enough for Alice to see her, thank God that's all she saw but..."

I felt crushed as I knew what he was about to say.

"I know, I can't visit anymore. It's too dangerous."

"Yes and neither can your friends, if Alice gets suspicious then she might have them watched. We need to break off contact with them. We're going to move, it's for the best and I'm not going to tell you where. You can contact us on the cell phone. I'm sorry it's come to this, but it was always a possibility. I'll let you say goodbye to the others but make it quick."

He was right, but that didn't make it any less painful, especially as I told Bella I could only email or call her, no more letters. She cried and that hurt even more but I held my own emotions in check as I spoke to her mother after she ran off again.

"I'm really sorry Renee."

"It's not your fault Jasper, you've done everything you could to keep us safe, but now I think we have to take control of our own lives. I was going to talk to you about Bella anyway. She told me the other day that she is going to marry you when she's old enough, that she knows it because she loves you and she knows you love her. I think she needs the separation, a chance to experience life as a human girl for a while. You and I both know the future binds you two together, but I want her to live first, to experience all a human girl should."

I understood, of course, I had even been worried about how I might react to her once she started to develop and become a teenager although I would never do anything to harm her. It just concerned me that controlling my own urges might become difficult so maybe this separation was for the best, but that didn't mean it hurt any less.

"I understand, but I'll still phone and email whenever I can if that's OK."

"Of course and when the time is right you two will be reunited, For now you have to live your life with Alice and make it real. I don't want you to be unhappy Jazz."

"I know, keep her safe for me Renee and if anything happens ring, Peter, promise me that much."

"I will but with Grandpa we've managed to evade the vampires so far and now Bella has got over her Grandma's death I'm sure her shield will keep her hidden."

When I got back Alice had chosen her vacation spot, Australia! The last place I expected to go with its wall to wall sunshine and heat but apparently Carlisle knew someone who had a house in the outback that we could use for as long as we wanted and Alice was planning a long vacation by the arrangements she was making, even Esme was taken aback when Alice announced we would be away for at least two years. Only in private did she explained her reasoning to me,

"I haven't seen the girl again but if she is a danger then it can't be far off surely so we'll stay away long enough to see if anything happens."

"What about if she's in Australia?"

"She isn't, I felt this was close to the family not just me so as long as we are away from the family then she won't appear."

The old dazzling smile surfaced briefly before she continued,

"I may just change the future by this decision."

What worried me was why Bella would appear at the family's home or at least where we all were, it didn't make any sense but I dare not ask Alice any more questions, I didn't want her to become suspicious of me.