Chapter Fifty Two
Bella
Everything was the same, yet so different, Jasper was even more striking despite the terrible scars I could now see so much clearer. Peter and Charlotte I recognized although something was telling me she was a rival which was stupid, she was Peter's mate and no threat to me, so I choked down my urge to snarl at her. Peter and Garrett stood by the door relaxed but watchful and it took a few seconds to realize it was me they were watching so warily. They were afraid of me, as a newborn I should have been tearing the place apart and attacking them all but I felt...how did I feel? I tried to take stock of my feelings there were so many of them all vying for my attention that it was confusing.
"Take your time darlin', remember everything is new to you"
His voice was like a soothing balm to my troubled mind and I did as he said pulling a calm aura from him to wrap around me. He felt me leeching it from him and his eyes widened slightly in surprise but he didn't speak. I examined my feelings, there was a burn in my throat that got worse if I concentrated on it so I shied away from that. I would have to hunt soon and that idea scared me because I had no idea how to. I felt a peace, a warm glow from Jasper and I knew it was his love cocooning me. At the very back of all these feelings though was a glowing ember of rage, not a general feeling, this was very specific to someone, nothing to do with frustration or fear at waking up, but aimed at a specific target. I wasn't going to let it bother me now, this was for later, when I understood my new body, new life, and what I was capable of. All these feelings went through my mind in an instant as if there were the merest hesitation in my speech.
"Peter, Garrett, thank you for helping Jazz"
My voice stopped me speaking more, it was almost the same but more melodic, as if a little higher, a little sweeter. I turned my eyes on Charlotte, bracing inwardly against the jealousy I felt.
"Hi Charlotte"
"Hello Bella, are you OK? We were really worried about you"
"Worried?"
"Yes darlin, it was the strangest transformation I ever witnessed,"
"You are one weird little newborn"
Peter smiled as he said that.
I laughed and it reminded me of Alice's tinkling Tinkerbell laugh. Alice! The nugget of rage flared momentarily. Alice had a lot to answer for and I was going to make very sure that she did. Now I was like her it would be so much easier, no more pathetic weak Human but an adversary as strong and clever as her. I pushed the thoughts away as I saw Jasper register the anger and tension. I smiled and put my hand to his cheek, his skin felt so soft now and I felt calm radiating from him, he was topping me up!
"Its OK Jazz. I have control, really"
"Well you fucking shouldn't have"
Peter sounded aggrieved.
"There I was, ready to wrestle a snarling blood crazed newborn to the floor and she turns out to be nothing more than a fluffy kitten. There's no justice in this world."
We all laughed at his crest fallen expression
Garrett
Bella Swan was turning out to be a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. I'd never understood that quote from Churchill before today but now I did. Everything about her was a mystery and I really wanted to see how she would develop. I just hoped I'd be allowed to stick around and find out. Jasper stood up, pulling her with him,
"Thirsty?"
She nodded nervously,
"It'll be all right Bella its instinctual, just let your body take over. We'll be here waiting when you get back"
She smiled at me, grateful for the reassurance and with encouragement from Peter,
"Just imagine the place is on fire and you don't want to get your ass burned"
She jumped out the window with Jazz and we heard her cry of delight when she landed cat like below and they were soon out of sight.
Peter
"What the fuck happened there Garrett? She's amazing. I can't wait to see what she does next."
"I think once she gets over her initial awkwardness she has something in mind"
"Yeah, I'll bet the Major does too!"
The smack round the head was expected but it still stung,
"I don't think Garrett meant that." she snapped.
"Well I do, its been way too long since The Major got laid."
I ducked this time and thought I'd got away with it, then she reversed her hand and caught me on the back swing.
"Damn it woman you're going to scramble my brains doing that."
Garrett snorted,
"What brains Peter? I thought you lost the few remaining brain cells years ago"
"Fuck you too Garrett"
Bella
I could hear the squabble as we ran into the trees and looked at Jasper's grin,
"Is that right Jazz?"
"What?"
"You haven't been laid in a while?"
He looked at me and his grin became wider,
"Sure is Miss Bella, but I aim on putting that right real soon"
I poured on the speed and left him behind, exhilarated by the feel of the air whistling past me and hearing all the creatures of the woods go quiet as I approached. When I finally stopped to let him catch up he pulled me into his arms.
"No running now. You have to hunt"
The burn in my throat had intensified and I nodded,
"What do I do?"
"Just listen and tell me what you hear."
I concentrated, blocking out sounds as I determined what they were, a bird flying overhead, a beetle scurrying through the dead leaves on the ground, a squirrel jumping from tree to tree, then I heard a sound that had my mouth watering. A dull thudding and I turned my head to zero in on its position. Without a second thought I crouched low and eased forward silently until I was close enough to see the source of the sound. There were three Elk grazing in a sunlit clearing, all wary but not aware of me. I sized them up, I wanted the male, the biggest of the three and was about to spring forward when I sensed something else close by. Whipping my head round I saw a figure approaching through a red mist and automatically crouched again ready to spring, before the mist cleared and I recognized Jasper. He stopped, watching me, before sinking to the ground. I turned back and again took stock of the Elks positions. If I was swift enough I could get all three, or was I being over-confident? I started my attack, moving so fast I was on the first before they lifted their heads. The second managed a single step of flight before it too went down, and the third almost made it back into the trees but it was just fractionally too late.
Jasper
She was beautiful as she stalked the Elk and I moved closer to watch when I suddenly realized she had turned to look at me, seeing me as a possible adversary, so I sat down showing her I wasn't a threat to her kills. She got all three in a second she was that fast, I'd never seen anything quite like it.
"Jasper, you want to join me for Dinner?"
I got up startled, it was unheard of for a newborn to allow anyone near their kill let alone share it so I walked forward slowly. She stood smiling amid the carcasses and held out her hand to me so I joined her and we started to feed together, a feeling of utter contentment flowing between us. It was the most amazing feeling and experience I'd ever had and when we finished I threw the drained carcases into the undergrowth. They would make a meal for the local coyotes or wolves.
