Chapter Twenty Five

Jasper

Charlie looked almost resigned,

"Vampires? Now a few days ago that would have got a laugh but after what I've seen I have to ask, do vampires really exist?"

"Oh yes Chief Swan you're talking to one now and you had a family of them living in Forks for some time, the Cullens."

"The Cullens were vampires?"

"Are Chief, vampires are immortal. I am a vampire, Jake and the others know this and that's why they are so anti Bella and I"

Bella walked in then with the two mugs of coffee, handing one to Charlie before sitting on the couch with me and sipping from her mug.

"I take it Bella knows all about the wolves and the vampires?"

"Yes dad, I knew about the Cullens shortly after I moved here, before I knew about the wolves actually"

"And it doesn't bother you, sitting so close to someone who drinks blood?"

"No, because I know Jasper wont harm me any more than Edward would have. They don't drink human blood unlike most vampires."

"Oh really? Then what do you live on Jasper, you and the Cullens?"

"Animal blood Chief, from choice."

"Animal blood? Well I guess it's an improvement. Are the myths regarding vampires true?"

"Which ones Chief?, Every civilisation has its own myths regarding my kind. We don't turn into bats and fly into young maidens rooms to drink their blood night after night and we don't sleep during the day in coffins"

"What about stakes through the heart and sunlight destroying you?"

"A stake through the heart would be a nuisance but as I would be unlikely to stand still long enough for you to try it that's not a problem and sunlight is just an inconvenience."

"Edward Cullen was a vampire yet you went out with him and you were never afraid. Why did he leave?"

Bella was about to answer but I beat her to it.

"That would be my fault Chief Swan. At Bella's party there was an accident and Edward assumed I had tried to attack Bella. He was afraid he couldn't keep her safe in our world so he left."

"No Jasper, Edward left because he got bored, because I was a distraction he was tired of. He told me, he also said he didn't want me any longer. He thought I should lead a normal human life with a human boyfriend."

"And I encouraged Jake the wolf boy to take his place"

Charlie laughed at his own stupidity.

"Which leads to my next question Chief Swan. Why?"

"Why what?"

"You did more than encourage Bella, you forced her into the relationship, you more or less beat her into submission"

"Jasper..."

Bella tried to intervene but I wasn't about to let her.

"Bella, there's something going on with the wolves and I need to know what if I'm going to keep you safe. So Charlie, why did you go to such lengths to get Bella married off to Jacob Black? Why did Harry and Billy want it so badly?"

Charlie looked embarrassed and guilty,

"I made a mistake a long time ago and Harry knew. He blackmailed me into helping him get Bella and Jake together. I don't know why, just that it was real important."

"So, what will he do now? Now he knows you aren't playing ball any longer?"

"I have no idea"

There was a sound as the back door opened and then Harry, Billy and Sam came into the room.

"I didn't hear you knock"

"We didn't Charlie. We were concerned to realize you were in here with a leech and unprotected".

Charlie looked at Sam.

"So you thought bringing a wolf with you would even up the odds a bit? From where I'm sitting the wolves are more dangerous to me than the vampires Harry. It wasn't a vampire who put me in the hospital."

"We're sorry about that. Paul was never supposed to harm a human. Still you are recovering. We came to pick Bella up."

"I don't think so Harry. She's not in love with Jake and I'm not prepared to fight her any longer"

"Really? You know the consequences of your actions?"

"Yes, I know but Bella shouldn't suffer for my crime"

"And that's your final word?"

"That's my final word Harry, do what you have to do"

"You sure about that?"

Charlie nodded then looked at me.

"Why exactly are you here Jasper?"

He was letting me put everything in the open,

"I'm here because Bella is. Putting it simply Chief I'm in love with your daughter and I think she's in love with me."

Harry sneered and Sam growled but Billy just looked at me coldly.

"After your brothers left overs are you?"

I stepped forward but Charlie beat me to it, leaning on his chair.

"You insult my daughter once more Billy and you and I are going to forget we were ever friends."

Billy closed his mouth but Harry looked thunderous at Charlie

"I was blind, I thought you were my friends but you manipulated me, used me to try to get Bella for Jake. I don't know what's going on but I don't think I'll ever trust you again, this friendship is over and so is this discussion. I want you out of my house and out of my daughter's life, period."

I watched as they looked at Charlie in surprise, he had taken me aback, standing up to them like this. Harry got up and glanced menacingly at Charlie before walking out, followed by Sam and Billy.

It was time to find out what happened, what crime Charlie had been guilty of that gave Harry such leverage over him, and see of there were any way of saving him from it, for Bella's sake. The other mystery, why the Quileutes wanted Bella on the res and married to their own was going to be more difficult to find out but it must be a very good one to be prepared to go to such lengths. I knew neither Billy nor Harry would tell me and Jake would see me dead first so it would have to be someone outside the tribe. I wondered if the Volturi were aware of what was happening, Aro didn't miss much that went on in our world but then again he wouldn't normally sit and watch so quietly as his world was manipulated by other creatures but then he didn't know about Bella's ability to hide her thoughts.

Carlisle thought it a gift, one that like my own would become stronger if she became like us. Was this all tied up with her gift? Did the Quileutes know about it somehow? Did they know more than we did? Was it even stronger than we thought, some kind of shield perhaps? If so then it all started to make sense. Bella as a vampire with shielding abilities could pose a threat to the Quileutes and other shape shifters. It could possibly mean their demise, how could they fight for their existence if Bella shielded the Volturi guard? I knew I was reaching but I couldn't see any other logical reason for their actions. We needed to know and sooner rather than later.