Chapter Twenty One
Bella
I sat open-mouthed as Edward explained what had happened,
"Are you telling me that Carlisle turned Jasper into some kind of killing machine purely to kill me? He decided I should die because I upset you? God, I knew you were the favourite but even so it sounds a little far-fetched. Are you sure someone isn't pulling your leg Edward?"
"I'd like to think so but I'm afraid not. I had heard of Samuel, Carlisle told me part of his story and he is quite capable of changing Jasper's personality. He's a magnifier, whatever your gift he can make it more powerful, turn it against you. He can warp you to his will Bella. Jasper is an empath so it wouldn't be difficult to force him to lose control of his mind and let the part of him that was Major Whitlock take over."
"But you said he's worse than he ever was?"
"Yes, Alice says the part that helped keep his excesses in check is the part that Samuel destroyed so he has no conscience now, nothing to hold him back. He will kill you Bella if we can't find a way to stop him."
"There has to be a way though, some way of bringing him back?"
"That depends on how much damage Samuel did."
"Why can't you find this Samuel and get him to reverse what he did?"
"Because he's dead. He was Jaspers first victim or so Alice says and I don't think she's mistaken."
"What about Carlisle? Can't he find some way to help Jasper? It's all his fault after all. If you beg him to help he wont be able to say no and he knows all the gifted vampires doesn't he?"
He hesitated and I closed my eyes in horror,
"Oh God, he's killed Carlisle too hasn't he?"
Edward nodded taking his eyes off the road to study me and I could see how sorry he was.
"I think so but Bella none of this is your fault"
I stared at him,
"Can you read my mind now Edward?"
"No, but I know you Bella, you take on all the guilt of the world. You are not responsible for what Carlisle did."
I turned away biting my lip to stop the retort that hovered there but he nodded,
"I know, its mine. If I hadn't shown how devastated I was when you left none of this would have happened. I'm sorry, I never meant for any of this but I will do all I can to keep you safe"
"Can you though?"
I wondered if he would lie to me but again he turned his head to look at me and shook his head,
"No Bella. If he catches up with us I can't defeat him but I will give you time to run and hopefully Alice and his friends will be close enough to help you."
His words touched me, despite leaving him, breaking his heart, Edward was still prepared to die for me, it was humbling.
"I'm sorry I hurt you Edward, it wasn't intentional but I couldn't lie to you."
"I know, and thank you for that."
"Are the others working on a way to save Jasper too?"
There was that tiny hesitation again and I knew the answer,
"They aren't are they? They think he's beyond help that's why they've gone to get his friends isn't it? Alice has seen they are the only ones who might be able to stop him...kill him"
The thought of that stopped me dead, I couldn't breathe and there was a crushing pain in my chest.
"Bella lets concentrate on keeping ahead of danger for now. We need to decide on a direction and as Alice should in Boulder by now it might be wise to head that way, at least we're heading in the right direction to get help, hopefully."
"Hopefully?"
"Yes, Alice is trying to persuade Jaspers friends to help us save you and by doing so to maybe save him but there is a slight problem, the Whitlocks hate us, Alice especially. We're just hoping they love Jasper enough to stop him but if they do it wont be for us but for him."
"Do you think they will...agree to help that is?"
"It's difficult to say. First Alice has to speak to them and Peter Whitlock is as likely to kill her as listen to her."
"Oh, then maybe I could speak to him."
"Why do you think he'll listen to you? He's a human hunter Bella, he'd see you as a snack.
"Maybe I can persuade him that helping Jasper is more important than draining me, if he's a true friend."
"Its risky but if Alice fails I guess its worth a shot."
Alice
As we drove up to the Whitlock place I could see they had company, there were three figures sitting on the porch and all three turned as they heard the car. I knew the moment Peter recognised me because he stiffened and said something to the other two then came leisurely down the steps to wait, arms folded and a cold smile on his face. With a sigh I stopped the car,
"Perhaps it would be better if I spoke to him Alice"
I shook my head,
"He doesn't like any of us Esme. Just stay here for now"
I got out of the car and he looked me up and down then moved his head to stare at Esme.
"Well, well, if it isn't the wicked witch of the east, I see you've brought another one with you."
"Peter, I know you don't like me, or any of us for that matter, but for now get over it. There's trouble with Jasper and we need your help"
He shook his head,
"Don't know who you're talking about. I haven't seen him for...lets see, twenty years. I guess he decided we weren't important enough to keep in touch with."
"And that was my fault of course. OK I apologise, I was wrong, you were right. Happy now?"
"Nope, so why don't you turn that little car round and get the hell off my property before I remove that spiteful head from that pretty little body."
He turned to go back up the steps so I grabbed his arm and pulled him back round.
"You listen to me, Jasper's gone and The Major is back only twice as ruthless as he was and he's looking to kill."
Peters eyes narrowed and suddenly I looked up the steps, Garrett stood there,
"You already knew didn't you? That's why he's here. Good, because we really needs your help."
I saw a conflict of interests on Peters face, he wanted information but at the same time he really wanted to carry out his threat.
"Peter, lets hear what Alice has to say, she obviously knows more than we do, it could be helpful."
Peters laugh at Garretts words was chilling but he stood aside and I ran up to speak to the others. I explained as quickly as I could everything that I knew and Peters face grew darker with each second.
"I always knew you'd be the death of him Alice Cullen and I was right. Why didn't you stop the good doctor?"
Peter was beyond angry, he hadn't uttered one curse yet.
"I was busy with my own revenge. I'm not proud of it and I stopped as soon as I realised it wasn't Bella's fault. That's when I saw what Carlisle had done. I tried to get everyone away safely then came to find you."
"Yeah well that makes sense, save the Cullens first."
"Peter please."
He ignored Charlotte's plea,
"Never heard of any Samuel what about you Garrett?"
Garrett shook his head,
"Nope but it would take some gift to turn The Major back on so..."
"Why don't you try Darius, he might know something."
Peter scowled at Charlotte's suggestion but took his phone out,
"We're running out of time Peter, please"
"No, you are running out of time, your family is running out of time and this human girl is running out of time. We on the other hand have plenty of time and so does The Major. The carnage might be a little difficult to hide but we'll find a way and once he's finished his programmed killing spree it will be easier to tackle him."
I closed my eyes in frustration then decided to take a gamble but at that moment Darius answered.