Chapter Twenty One

Bella

I knew it was Jasper who saved me from the smoke and flames wrapped securely in a wet towel but when the car door closed and I heard his words I panicked, struggling to get free of my restraint. When I sat up I saw a face I didn't know watching me in the rear view mirror. He smiled,

"Hello, I understand you are The Majors mate, I'm Christos, a friend."

"Where's Jasper?"

"He stayed behind to make sure there were no loose ends left laying around but he'll catch us up soon enough."

"Are you a friend of his?"

"No, an admirer but not a friend. I'm a friend of a friend but when I was asked to help I was more than willing, he is even better than his press suggests."

I lay back throwing the wet towel on the floor after rubbing my face and hands with it then closed my eyes. My great attempt to escape and save Jasper from harm could well have cost him his life, I couldn't even do that without messing up! Well if I couldn't save him by running away then I would stay, hope he forgave me and would keep me safe as he'd promised. The only reason he could have had for coming after me was the one he'd given me at the very start, he did love me and I knew in my heart I loved him too. I was lucky to be getting a second chance and knew I had to make the most of the opportunity.

I started coughing, my throat was dry and scratchy,

"Could we stop to get a drink? I think I must have inhaled some of the smoke."

He looked dubious,

"I promise not to try running away. I learned my lesson already"

I coughed again, a long hacking cough and he pulled up at the next gas station giving me strict instructions to keep down out of sight.

"Just a precaution"

I nodded and crouched down on the floor in the back of the car until he was back on the road. He handed me a bottle of water,

"Sorry, I just grabbed the first bottle I came to"

"Its fine thank you."

I took a few swigs and my raw throat felt better for it, by the time I finished the bottle Christos was pulling in to the back of a disused gas station parking in the darkest corner and turning to look at me.

"Now why has a human girl got the Volturi all steamed up? You don't look very scary or important to me but then what do I know? Perhaps its better I don't know."

"Thank you for helping Jasper."

He smiled and looked much younger.

"You're welcome...Bella is it?"

"Yes."

He was about to speak again when his head whipped round then he relaxed.

"It seems the Major is back. It was very nice to meet you Bella."

He got out of the car and stood talking to Jasper for a few minutes before nodding and jogging into the darkness of the trees that bordered the lot. I was apprehensive now, alone with Jasper and about to face his anger or whatever it was he was feeling towards me.

Jasper

I felt Bella's apprehension but she had no need to fear me, I was just so relieved to get her back safe and sound. I opened the back door and proffered my hand. She looked at it a little unsure then took it and climbed out to stand looking at me, her face much whiter than normal.

"Jasper I'm so..."

I put a finger to her lips and shook my head,

"No need Bella. You were scared yet you took the decision to try to keep me safe. That just shows how much you do love me and I hope to show you how much I love you if you give me a chance"

She shook her head tears rolling down her face, and wiping them away with the back of her hand touched my face with it.

"I know. You already showed me. I'm just sorry I made it necessary but I really was concerned for you. I made a mess of things didn't I?"

"No darlin' you did what you thought was for the best at the time but please promise me you won't do it again. Next time I might not be in time and that would kill me."

She nodded her lip quivering,

"I won't"

I touched her lips with mine momentarily, then pulled back.

"Right. I think we need to get out of the country before the Volturi send anyone else after us."

"I don't have any papers, I can't leave."

His phone buzzed and he looked at it with a smile,

"I think someone else has that covered."

Bella

I listened to his side of the conversation,

"Alice?"

"OK, good luck"

He put the phone away and nodded,

"We have to go. Alice has things arranged as best she can but from now on we're on our own. She's worried Edward might hear a stray thought so she doesn't want him to find out anything from her."

"Who told the Volturi about us if not Alice or Edward?"

"The friend Alice enlisted to help her persuade Edward you were dead. It turns out she was a sleeper for Aro."

"So he knows I'm alive. What about Edward? Won't Aro tell him?"

"I don't think so. Aro wants you for himself would be my guess but I don't know anything really. Alice arranged for Darius to provide us with fake papers. They'll be waiting at the airport along with a courier."

"Who?"

"No idea. I just hope Alice didn't tell whoever it is too much. I'd like at least a few hours respite before we have to start running again, but this time we'll do it together."

I nodded,

"Yeah, I didn't do so well on my own did I?"

Jasper

We were at the airport an hour later and walked slowly into the terminal, wary of Volturi guards on the look out for us to attempt to fly out. As I looked around I heard a familiar voice,

"Christ they let all sorts of rabble in here these days"

Spinning round I saw Peter and Garrett standing there with another vampire I didn't know.

"You're the courier?"

"What did you expect for fuck sake? A little red jacket with lots of gold braid wrapped round it like a fucking Christmas decoration. I thought you'd be pleased to see us, shows how wrong I can be"

Bella looked at Peter apprehensively until he smiled and charm oozed from every pore,

"You must be The Major's friend who is in trouble. Char was right about it being a woman, but a human? She never told me that. So young lady what trouble have you gotten The Major involved in this time?"

"Peter we don't have time for small talk right now."

Garrett spoke then,

"Major I know you feel like ripping his head off but try to restrain yourself. This is Jerome, a friend of Darius and he's come to help."

"How and what are you doing here?"

"Now that's an interesting question...which I will endeavour it answer fast enough to keep my head attached. Darius contacted us to say you were looking someone who was in trouble and you would probably need help. Once the Volturi showed up at your place our hands were free again so we flew here to wait for you. As the person you were looking for had been seen going into your apartment we knew you wouldn't be far behind. Jerome here has a pilot's licence and Darius has kindly rented us a private jet, luckily one with a long range so we don't have to worry about where we choose to go. I'm hoping while we travel you can tell us what exactly is going on because frankly I'm fucking confused. You and a human?"