Chapter Twenty Six

Bella

I didn't think I would sleep after all I'd seen and felt the last couple of days but I did and like a baby all thanks I suspected to Jasper. Peter had winked again as Jasper came in with me and stopped at the bedroom door.

"Just remember we're right here if you need us, any time"

"Thank you, both of you for everything"

The next morning I got up and went through to the bathroom listening for my body guards but I didn't hear anything and I started to panic until Jasper's voice floated through the open window,

"Calm down Bella, we're outside when you're ready."

I smiled feeling calmer just hearing his voice and bent to clean my teeth but I remembered to shut the window before showering only to hear Peter's shout of disappointment,

"Now come on Bella, fairs fair and you got an eyeful last night, its our turn this morning"

I heard a crack and yelp of pain and knew Jasper had hit him but in fairness I didn't mind, this kind of ribbing I could cope with especially at the moment. I didn't want to be treated as if I were delicate I needed to be strong and collected because I wanted to ask Jasper to turn me. If I were going to find and kill Victoria then I needed to be like her, a vampire, but I wasn't sure how he would take my request. I wanted to show him I was clear headed and not acting on the spur of the moment so I would bide my time.

I thought I heard voices speaking low as I turned the shower off but the smell of eggs cooking had me scrambling into my clothes hating the thick heavy denim of my jeans and making for the kitchen. Both Jasper and Peter were there and I envied their shorts wondering if they had any to spare when the atmosphere hit me, something had happened, something I wasn't going to like. Peter slid the omelette onto a plate and put it before me at the table before taking a seat opposite next to Jasper. I pushed the plate away no longer hungry,

"What's happened? Tell me please."

"Alice has gone missing Bella and we think its Victoria"

"Alice? Why would Victoria take Alice?"

"We've no idea but Darius is trying to track her down"

"Good, she wont kill her, if she was going to do that she already would have and made sure I knew about it"

Feeling a little better I started to cut my omelette but then I looked at Jasper's face,

"There's more isn't there?"

"Yes Bella I'm afraid so. Alice was looking out for Mike and Jessica. I'm afraid Jessica went missing too. Carlisle found her body on the mountain, she'd frozen to death."

I put a hand to my mouth and scraping the chair back quickly I ran to the bathroom my stomach heaving and tears pouring down my face. Jessica now? Who was next? What could I do?

I felt cool arms around my shoulders and a cool hand on my forehead,

"I'm so sorry Bella but there was no easy way to break it to you."

"Would she stop? If she got me would she stop?"

"No, once Victoria gets an idea in her head she goes on to the bitter end. Even if she had you she wouldn't kill you, she'd just make you watch as she killed everyone who meant anything to you."

"Can you stop her?"

"We're trying but we can't do anything until Darius comes up with a location. I understand Emmett and Rose are on their way home and they'll help."

I leaned back into Jaspers chest and closed my eyes, right now I just wanted to feel safe for a little while and in his arms I did feel safe.

When I finally pulled away from Jasper and went back into the kitchen the omelette was gone to be replaced by a couple of slices of toast and a mug of coffee. Peter winked at me then turned to Jasper.

"Darius wants to speak to you Major. I think he's got something"

My head shot up and I followed the two men into the lounge holding my mug between two hands to stop myself from shaking and spilling it. They didn't try to exclude me and I was grateful especially when I got a look at my third saviour Darius on the screen. He looked at me and nodded curtly,

"Bella its good to finally see you. I'm sorry about your friend but I think I've got something at last. Simon is a cunning little rodent but he's not that clever. I managed to set up a trap door to his computer and I've been sniffing around his hard drive. He's got various alarms and traps but they are kids stuff really. I think I know who Victoria is working for but you're not going to like it"

"Who?"

"Stefan and Vladimir."

"Victoria is working for the Romanians? What is it she's doing that concerns Bella?"

"Well that's the mystery, she's snatched Alice Cullen and I think she's hoping to smoke Bella out but why she wants her I have no idea. I don't think this is only about Bella, its partly a smokescreen. I think she's after some gifts for them. Alice is a good one and she's also targeting Edward. She's got a kind of shopping list but Bella's on there so its my guess they know she has a gift. Any ideas?"

Jasper looked at me as he nodded,

"Bella has a shield, Edward can't read her thoughts and Alice has a job seeing her future but how strong the gift is I have no idea. Who else is she after?"

"Carlisle but I think he's a bargaining chip to use against the Volturi."

"A bargaining chip? I don't follow you."

Darius pulled a face,

"I think we'd better meet face to face. I'll be there by sundown"

He broke the connection and Jasper looked at Peter then me,

"Are you getting the feeling that there's something going on and you're missing it? I feel like a spare dick at a wedding!"

I couldn't help a snort of laughter which turned again to tears and I was so sick of crying!

"Bella, it might be a good idea to see if you can use your shield consciously, direct it because if the Romanians are involved then things could get really dangerous very quickly."

"OK, but how"

I wiped my face with the tissue Peter handed me,

"We go outside and have fun"

I eyed him suspiciously but he looked quite sincere and Jasper nodded,

"It wouldn't hurt to try Bella"

I followed them outside wondering what I was supposed to do, I had no idea how to control this shield they thought I had. Peter looked at me thoughtfully,

"You don't believe you've got a gift do you?"

"Not the kind of gift you think I have, if there's one at all I have no control over it."

"Well I guess we'll just have to find out about that wont we?"

He walked forward smiling,

"Bella Swan I am going to kiss you unless you stop me"

I thought he was joking but he came right up to me and leaned in as if about to do it until I put a hand up to push him away.

"Do you really think a hand can keep me away? I saw you last night in the water when you thought you were alone and I know you saw me so come on a kiss is just the start. You and I are going to make beautiful music between us.""

I looked around for Jasper but he'd disappeared leaving me with Peter and he looked like he wanted a lot more than a kiss. He put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me close as I struggled to get away. It was hopeless, he was bigger and stronger but he wasn't going to take advantage, I wouldn't let him. I brought my knee up to hit him in the groin but he stopped me by turning slightly then I felt his lips on mine. I closed my eyes angry at this violation and suddenly he was gone. I opened them to see him sprawled on the grass twenty feet away beaming,

"Fuck that's strong Bella."

I was seething with anger at his actions but then I saw his smile and understood it had been a test, he was forcing me to defend myself and I had. I'd knocked a vampire on his butt, and I smiled in victory as Jasper came out of the house clapping loudly. He looked at Peter,

"Beautiful music?"

"Hey shut the fuck up I read it somewhere and I thought it sounded good."

Jasper burst out laughing and Peter lunged for him then they went down rolling over and over and I couldn't help giggling although I knew this was just to cheer me up.