Chapter 21

Esme POV

It has been fourteen days since Carlisle went to go and get Bella back and he still hasn't returned, but to be honest I don't have any pain in my chest from my mating bond and I don't know if that should worry me, but it doesn't. I'm enjoying my free time and not having to worry about what mood he will be in.

When Peter and Emmett came back saying that they had lost Edward I was relieved because I couldn't believe that he would do anything to hurt Bella. I could hear them with their mates before Jasper came back and I couldn't blame them, as I was sure Jasper would be really pissed off. Alice was good and stayed in the corner naked showing everything she had whilst wearing Master's collar and lead. I was surprised when I saw the lead, as he had never used one before so all I could think was how angry he must have been, but what really surprised me was how turned on I got looking at Alice like that.

When Jasper came back and they all went to the "room" I was expecting Peter and Emmett to be in a whole world of pain but he didn't do anything he listened and let Bella answer for him. Now that was a first if Alice had ever tried that she would have been in pain for at least a week.

But what happened next shocked not only me but also the entire coven when Master agreed that Bella was now Mistress and then she showed Alice that she was Jasper's mate. I have enjoyed having Alice around and we have been able to help each other with some of the tasks that we have been given by Jasper and Bella.

The boys have started to train Bella how to use her powers so that she is never as vulnerable again. They have been attacking her whenever they feel like it and she has been able to use her shield well, she has learnt to put her shield around others so that they are protected as well but this works best with Jasper but she can do it most of the time with everyone else.

One day while she was training Peter grabbed her and took her to the "room" he was just starting to tie her to the bench when all hell broke loose. The wind picked up and the rain came down hard, and as Peter managed to get each arm and leg tied the wind got worse, when he had all of her tied every window in the house shattered and using her shield she threw Peter out the house across the river breaking numerous trees on his landing. The worst thing was the blood-curdling scream that was coming from Bella and as we all tried to get to her she put her shield up and nobody could get in. I rang Jasper and told him he needed to return from his hunt straight away.

"Jasper you have to come home now. Bella needs you." I said

"What do you mean she needs me and who is screaming like that?" he replied

"That's Bella and she has her shield up and won't let us near her. Please hurry." I begged.

The line went dead and I knew he was on his way. The next two hours felt like an eternity in hell, Bella didn't stop screaming once.

I remember Jasper telling Bella two weeks ago that it was important that they train her and that there would be situations that she wouldn't like but that he would always be near and that she needed to remember that it was only training. I think that today Peter has decided to push her training without Jasper's knowledge and I wouldn't want to be Peter when Jasper has dealt with Bella.

Jasper runs straight up the stairs and stops dead when he sees the position his mate is in. the pure fury that is rolling off him is not going to help anyone.

"Jasper please calm down and try to talk to Bella she needs you now." I said

He just nodded his head and stood still calming himself down. Once this was done he walked up to her shield and started to softly talk to his mate. In all the years I have known him I have never heard him so loving and gentle with anyone. But what he is saying has me worried about things in Bella's past.

"Baby, you are safe. You are not in Florida. They will never hurt you again. I will not let anyone hurt you that way ever again. Please trust me. You are a strong person. You took care of yourself and nobody can hurt you unless you let them. Please Baby let me in. Let me get you out, only I will come in, I won't let anyone else in with me. Please Baby I love you and I need you. Please, please let me in." Jasper says.

Jasper keeps saying these things to her, and her screams do stop but it takes a while for her to drop her shield, as soon as she does Jasper is by her side untying her and holding her in his arms gently rocking her.

Bella looks up and her eyes are blank it's like she isn't there anymore. Jasper gently lifts her and takes her to their room and lies down with her on the bed. It is seventy-two hours later before she talks and during this time Jasper hasn't left her and Peter hasn't returned but Charlotte went after him and rang to say he was fine and they would be back in a few days.

I have asked Alice if she can see any visions on Jasper and Bella but she says when she tries to look for Bella it goes all foggy and she can see nothing. I decide that I need to talk to Alice and then Jasper to try and get some answers.

"Alice I know that this is not what you wanted when you can back but can you now see that Jasper and Bella are mates and you will not come between them?" I asked.

"No this is not what I thought it would be like when I got back but you are right that they are mates and I won't try to come between them. Do you know why Bella reacted like she has today?" Alice replied.

"No I don't know but I would say something bad has happened in her past and I'm sure if Jasper feels we should know he will inform us. But what are you going to do now? I love having you around and I think that having you here has made it so that I have not missed Carlisle these past two weeks." I said.

"I want to stay with you but if Carlisle comes back I won't be able too and then I don't know what I will do. Would you be ok with me staying if Master said it was ok?" She asked me.

"I would love you to stay and I don't know why but I don't think Carlisle will be back. Can you see him coming back? He has changed so much this last two years; I feel I don't know him." I said.

"I can see him but I'm sorry to say he is with a woman and a human one at that and they appear to know each other very well. I'm sorry I don't want to hurt you Esme you know that you mean the world to me." She said.

I smile at Alice and then organize for her to go out hunting with Emmett and Rose. This leaves me in the house with Jasper and Bella and we will be able to talk without being overheard.

I ask Jasper and Bella to come downstairs so that I can talk to them. When they arrive Bella still looks scared and Jasper looks a little lost.

"Thank you for coming down to talk to me. I know that you have things that you need to sort out but I felt that I needed to talk to you alone. I don't know what caused all this but I feel that I might be able to help Bella with her fear of the "room". If you want to tell me that is fine but I will not push you for answers. Would you like me to try to help you Bella?" I asked

"I'm not sure how you think you can help me. You enjoy going into the "pain room". You have no fear or apprehension of going in there." Bella answered.

"Esme how do you think you can help?" Jasper asked.

"As you have said I enjoy going into the "room" and yes most of the time I don't fear it but some times when I know I have done wrong and Carlisle takes me in there I am scared, however whenever Master takes me in there even for punishment I know I deserve it and have nothing to fear. Bella when you go in there you appear to fear the loss of control, because when you went in there as Mistress you were ok, so is that your main fear?" I asked.

"Yes that is a big part of my fear but not all of it." Bella answered.

"Do you think if you could conquer that fear would the other fears be less and be manageable?" I questioned.

"Yes I think that it could be but how do I get past this fear?" Bella wondered.

"If Master would agree I think that I know a way to help with your fear but Master would need to think about what I suggest carefully first." I say.