Chapter Twenty Nine

Bella

I knew they were there beside me, both of them, the two men who had sworn never to leave me, told me of their love but all I could think of was the burning in my throat and the rage that burned deep within me. I had been scared I might forget what Victoria had done when I woke as a vampire but instead I saw each death as I burned, Charlie, Phil, Renee, and the others, at the school and since and those missing, Alice and poor Jessica frozen on the mountainside and the rage just grew and grew but then when I opened my eyes it receded to be replaced by the love I felt for the two men watching me warily. The burn in my throat raged as the discussed what I might hunt and the vampire in me woke up, I would decide what I hunted, I would catch my prey, then they would teach me what it meant to be a vampire and how to harness the power of my gift and we would hunt Victoria down along with the Romanians and I would kill each one not stopping until their corpses burned in a heap before me. I would have my revenge for everyone I loved who now lived no more. I ran from the house to the shore and there the waves reminded me of Renee's burial and the sweet words Peter had said over her body before they consigned her to the deep. I felt them come up behind me and knew I needed to act fast.

The swim was wonderful without the need to breathe and knowing I would never get tired. I swam as fast as I could away from the island away from Peter and Jasper and towards something, some living thing whose blood would quench the fire in my throat and the hunger in my belly. I swam towards the larger islands unsure what I would find but knowing I needed blood to quench my thirst and satisfy my hunger. I climbed ashore on an uninhabited part of a large key and wandered through the undergrowth listening for the tell tale thump of a heart, any heart pumping blood around a creatures body. I caught a crocodile first laughing as its wicked teeth left no mark on my arms as it snapped its mouth shut. Its blood tasted strange to me but it helped my thirst and then I found a deer whose blood was much more satisfying. I was about to swim further in search of larger prey when I heard a sound that stopped me in my tracks, a beating heart and an aroma that had my mouth watering. I approached silently from behind and saw a man who was hunting the deer with a rifle. He looked big and strong and I was about to back away when he turned sensing me and smiled, a cold lecherous smile that told me exactly what he was thinking and I stopped, turning back to face him

"Well hello beautiful, are you on your own?"

He peered behind me and seeing no one else the smile broadened,

"Well why don't you come here, if you're lost old Hank here will help you"

His smile became wider and he licked his lips.

I stepped forward and his smile died as he saw my red eyes. He started to back away but tripped on the body of the deer he'd shot and fell on his ass. Now it was my turn to smile,

"Well Hank, shall we have some fun?"

He tried to scrabble up and run but I was much too fast and had him pinned to the ground struggling frantically.

"What are you? Let me go"

I shook my head and opened my mouth bringing my teeth down into his neck feeling his skin slice open and the warm salty blood fill my mouth. I couldn't stop and by the time I was full he was dead, his body drained of blood. I should have felt remorse for taking a human life but I didn't, I felt strong and alive and I understood why Jasper had so much difficulty changing tom a diet of animal blood. Against human blood it was like salty water and I knew which I preferred. I threw his body in the ocean and swam away from the island back towards home wondering what kind of reception I would get. Would they be out looking for me or would they be waiting patiently for my return? I was a vampire now and well able to take care of myself, I didn't need body guards any longer but I needed friends, I needed family, and they were all I had. Suddenly I felt bad about the way I had run off leaving them to worry about what I might do. They didn't know if I had any self control, they didn't know that I wouldn't find a party of tourists and kill them all in a blood fuelled frenzy and the fact I hadn't didn't make it right.

By the time I got back to the little beach I felt terrible and I started back along the path to the house my head hung in shame. As I reached sight of the house I looked up to see the two of them sitting on the swing seat watching my approach. I hesitated then hoping to get it over I spoke hurriedly,

"I'm really sorry for going off like that. I know I shouldn't have but..."

I had no excuse so I stopped talking and then noticed that neither of them looked angry or reproachful just relieved I was back safely. I ran to them throwing a wet arm around each and hugging them so tightly I heard Peter groan

"Fuck me, if you're gonna be this demonstrative I'm getting g a Kevlar vest"

I laughed in relief and kissed them both so happy to be back with my family. I squeezed in between them and told them exactly what I had done not stopping until I arrived back on the island.

"Did I do OK?"

Jasper pulled me close to him,

"Bella, you ran, you fed, you covered your tracks and you came back, what more could we ask of you?"

I nodded sighed in relief then levered myself up again.

"I'm going to shower then you can tell me what I've missed."

I ran in not bothering about the window, stripped off and got in the shower then realised I hadn't got the shampoo so I shouted for some help and Jasper appeared

"Yes?"

"Could you pass me the shampoo only I'm all wet and I don't want to drip all over the floor"

The shower door slid open and he stood there smiling, his eyes taking a good look at what was on offer.

"Why don't you join me? You can wash my hair for me."

"You sure Bella?"

"Of course"

He stepped into the cubicle still wearing his shorts and proceeded to wash my hair for me and I knew he would rinse it and go if I didn't stop him and suddenly I wanted to stop him desperately so I turned and wrapped my arms around him and our lips met. The kiss was warm and eager and I felt his hunger as my own. Stepping back I pulled his shorts off happy that's all he was wearing and he took me there in the shower, leaning against the wall as if it were the end of time and we had to experience each other before the world exploded. Instead he exploded inside me and then we hugged, the cold water running over us and disappearing down the drain as I watched, my head on his shoulder wondering what I would say to Peter when I saw him. I didn't want to hurt him, I loved him too but...I didn't understand this feeling, these feelings at all and just for now I didn't even care.