Chapter Fifty Three
Bella
I never imagined life could be so good, Jasper and I had left the motel to go house hunting in the Colorado mountains. He thought it might be a good idea for me to have some familiar faces close by once I became a vampire and Peter and Charlotte fit the bill perfectly. I actually liked them both very much, mainly because they loved Jasper almost as much as I did, besides Peter was funny and I knew there wasn't much to laugh about in becoming a vampire, unless, of course, you were like my dad. I secretly hoped I might have inherited whatever gene had made the transformation so easy for him but with my luck, it would be just the opposite in my case. I was scared of the process, who wouldn't be? But with Jasper at my side, I knew I could get through it and at the end of my newborn phase, he would be there, my mate, waiting patiently for the woman he loved to return to him.
I knew I couldn't go back to Forks after all that had happened, I could hardly answer the questions that would be fired at me but I had thought I might be able to call Angie just to let her know I was OK and settled. However, as Jasper pointed out that would cause even more questions, why had I contacted her and no one else? Where was I and what had happened to my dad? I would then be forced to speak to the authorities and we'd be back in square one.
"It would be best if you never surfaced again Bella. I'm sure Darius could come up with a cover story for you. All he has to do is to keep you alive long enough to sort out Charlie's affairs and then you could meet with a tragic accident."
I nodded knowing he was right, I had to disappear altogether but the thought of being declared dead still scared me.
"What about Renee? Do I contact her? What do I tell her? It's all so very confusing."
He pulled me into an embrace and kissed the top of my head to soothe me,
"I know and I'm sorry but becoming a vampire means giving up everything, including any relationships you had."
I looked up at him and smiled,
"I guess I'm luckier than most, I still have my dad."
"Yes, you do, and you are."
"Is he still with Darius? I guess I thought I might hear something from him."
"Actually no, I spoke to Darius a little while ago when you were in the bathroom, he said Charlie wanted to go to Volterra to see what was happening with Leah."
I stared at him,
"Charlie's in Volterra now?"
"Yes, as Aro's guest although that's not why he rang, it seems Edward is debating about demanding to speak to you face to face before his trial although I think if you refused the Volturi wouldn't put any pressure on you to do so."
This trial or possible trial worried me, I didn't like Edward but equally, I didn't want to see him die because of something I had said, I just didn't know how I could help. I'd told Aro the truth, I could hardly change my story now but I really didn't want to see Edward or Alice at the moment and Jasper sensed my mixed emotions.
"Edward isn't going to die, Bella, he's worked that out by now. He knows he can make a deal to save himself and all this talk of seeing you is just so he can accuse you of putting his life in danger. You don't have to go to Volterra and he may not push it anyway."
I shook my head,
"Then unless I have to go I won't."
He smiled at me and suddenly my mood lightened but unfortunately, it didn't stay that way for very long.
Two days later as we drove back to our rented apartment Jasper got a call from Carlisle and pulled off the road. I couldn't hear what was said but from his angry expression, it wasn't good news. I wondered if Carlisle had asked him to persuade me to see Edward but when he finished the call he turned to me and took my hands in his.
"Bella, I have some news from Volterra, it's about Charlie."
I gasped,
"Is he…."
Jasper shook his head and smiled but it was a tight angry smile that didn't ease my concern at all.
"No, but he's been involved in an altercation, Leah attacked him and he's been injured."
I was puzzled,
"Injured? Don't vampires self-heal? I mean you're immortal so how can he be injured?"
"Leah attacked and ripped off the side of his face, or a part of it anyway, and then burned it. Vampire flesh can fuse back but wounds don't just magically grow new flesh, I'm afraid he's badly disfigured but he's going to be OK."
I didn't even stop to think, just acted instinctively,
"I have to go to Volterra, I have to see him, Jasper. This is all so unfair and it's all my fault."
He drew me close and spoke softly,
"It's not your fault Bella, it was an accident, Leah managed to get free of her handlers and she's fast and strong as a newborn. She probably has more rage fuelling her than most but of course, we'll go. Carlisle said Aro asked him to call us while he arranges for a flight, he assumed you would want to visit your dad."
We went back to the apartment, somewhere I had joyfully called home, the place where Jasper and I had first lived together as a couple, but today it didn't feel welcoming and I hated Leah for that, in fact, I hated her so much I could taste it and I wondered if that was how a newborn vampire felt, so full of anger that it consumed them. I was confused as my rage seemed to slowly cool before realizing I had Jasper to thank for that.
"Bella, there's no point in wearing yourself out hating Leah until we get to Volterra, then I'll let you hate her as much as you want although there's little you can do about it personally."
"I want to rip her to pieces and burn each piece slowly in front of the bitch but I know I can't. it's times like this I wish I were a vampire already."
He laughed which annoyed me further until he explained,
"And there was me thinking the reason you wanted to become a vampire was to spend eternity with me."
I groaned and even that anger leached away but this time I was the one doing it,
"It is, I'm sorry Jasper, it's just that every time things seem to be settling down so we can relax enjoy ourselves something else happens and it always involves the Quileutes. I mean I know Leah isn't strictly speaking a Quileute any longer but you know what I mean."
"I do, I should have killed her when I had the chance so you see I'm the one to blame, not you. I think this time I might have to finish what I started."
I grabbed his arm,
"No, I don't want you fighting Leah, she's a beast and she's stronger and faster than most newborns you said so yourself. I couldn't bear it if you got hurt, Jasper. Please."
Jasper stopped walking and turned to face me putting his hands on my arms and staring into my face very gravely.
"Bella, I know we haven't really talked about my past and you haven't seen me fight which until now I was very glad about. I have no idea how much if anything Edward told you but in my world, I'm about as good as it gets. Until I met Alice and joined the Cullens it was all I knew. I trained hundreds of newborns, it's how I got my scars."
I frowned getting upset now,
"Which means you can be hurt."
"Hurt, yes, but not killed. There isn't a newborn I can't kill and that's not bragging it's just a statement of fact. Charlie's injuries are ultimately down to me and I will finish this now whatever you, he, or Aro say about it. I just hope you'll back me up."
He was deadly serious and I remembered Edward once telling me that Jasper's nickname before he joined the family had been The God of War. At the time I hadn't believed him, I thought he was just trying to frighten me into staying away from the others, meaning Alice especially. Ironically enough he had always been jealous of the relationship between his sister and me.
I stared back unflinchingly into his eyes and nodded,
"I will, I guess I need to understand the world I'll be joining soon, it's not as civilized and gentle as the world I'm used to but I have faith in you, I know you'll never leave me so if you have to do this I'll be right behind you."
He smiled the tension gone from his face as quickly as it had appeared,
"Thank you, Bella, I promise you it will be OK."
I nodded but of course, despite my words I was still worried about him, it was just human nature. I worried but had faith in his confidence in his own abilities. I still hoped the Volturi might have already acted by the time we arrived but if not maybe Charlie could talk him out of this, I couldn't bear to see him hurt, it was bad enough thinking of my dad being disfigured but Jasper too? No, it was just too horrible to contemplate.
I did my best not to worry too much during the flight, Aro had two first-class tickets waiting for us at the airport and had left instructions that we were not to be disturbed by the cabin crew under any circumstances, but it was hard. A part of my mind was busy imagining what I would see when I met my dad and the other part what might happen if Jasper did fight Leah. Everything had seemed so simple when he returned to Forks free to begin a relationship with me but then everything went so badly wrong, was it an ill omen? Was someone trying to warn me that nothing good would come of this relationship? That I would never be allowed happiness with Jasper? I couldn't believe that I wouldn't, I would fight it all the way.
In Pisa we were met by a car and driver, a vampire Jasper introduced as Wilhelm, and on the drive to Volterra, a drive I should have enjoyed under any other circumstances as I'd never been out of the continental USA before, I questioned him about my dad but he couldn't tell me much.
"I'm very sorry but I wasn't in Volterra when the attack happened, I've only just returned from Germany and Aro asked me to wait and pick you up. All I know is that the wolf girl broke free and attacked the new guy, Charlie and that the brothers are furious with Felix and Santiago for allowing it to happen. Actually, I'm glad I wasn't there, it sounds like a real shit storm blew up. I understand Charlie is your father, I'm sorry, I hadn't met him but I understand he's well-liked."
I smiled and thanked him wishing all the time that Aro could have sent someone who knew something so I wouldn't be sitting here worried sick.
I had to admit that at first sight, the town was breathtaking perched on a hilltop as it was with huge stone walls surrounding it and when we drove through the gate, in actuality a huge stone tunnel that must have been at least twenty feet long as it passed through the outer wall I held my breath. I guess I expected a huge space when in fact the car threaded it's way through narrow alleys always upwards until it finally burst out into a large square bounded by cafes and shops on three sides while the fourth was given over to a tall stone clock tower which fronted a huge stone building as well as providing the entrance to it. Wide stone steps worn with the passage of feet over the centuries led up to the entrance where two people waited coming down to open the doors as the car pulled to a stop. We were here, in the heart of the vampire world yet all I could think about was my dad and seeing him.
The woman who opened the door for me was staggeringly beautiful but then so were all the female vampires I had seen and she smiled,
"Miss Swan, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please follow me, your father is waiting to see you."
I felt Jasper slip his hand around mine and was grateful for its comfort as we walked up the steps and into the gloom of the building.
I wasn't sure what I expected but the entrance hall was just like any other office building with a pretty receptionist, human I noticed with shock, artwork on the walls, and a seating area with magazines lit by subdued table lamps.
There was another set of doors beyond reception and once through there, things changed markedly. The floor was highly polished marble scattered with jewel-colored rugs while the walls were hung with artwork, oil paintings, etchings, watercolors and tapestries that looked antique but in excellent condition. There were very few people around and those we did pass glanced and nodded before continuing on their way. They seemed curious about me but more interested in Jasper, perhaps they knew of his reputation.
We appeared to walk for a long time, up one flight of stairs, along numerous corridors but finally stopped outside a door. The woman knocked softly and must have heard something from within although I heard nothing because she smiled and opened the door standing to one side so we could enter then shut the door and disappeared, presumably back the way we had come.
The room was beautiful, it was actually a suite of rooms with heavy carved wooden furniture and a selection of weapons through the ages displayed on the walls and in cabinets. The kind of room I could see my dad being comfortable in. He sat at the window with a book in one hand but he was looking at me, the good side of his face towards me while another beautiful woman stood behind him with one hand on his shoulder in an oddly intimate way.
I didn't wait for him to move or speak I just flew across the room and flung my arms around his neck in relief. Whatever had happened to him he was OK, he would be fine.
"Well, I didn't expect that."
He laughed but it sounded strange and when I looked at him I could see why, the whole left side of his face from just below his eye to his jawline was missing, or at least there was a covering of skin there but no flesh so the outline of his jaw bone and teeth were visible.
"Oh dad, I am so sorry, this is all my fault. I hate Leah, I hope the Volturi locked her up and threw away the key."
He tried to smile but only one side of his face moved making it looked lopsided.
"I'm fine Bella, it was my own fault for not moving faster, not yours and…"
He glanced over at Jasper who had stayed by the door to give us some space,
"Not yours either Jasper although I know you'll be busy blaming yourself. I was the one who sent her here and it was my decision to come to Volterra to see how she was doing. I guess I know the answer to that one anyway."
He rubbed the damaged side of his face then took the woman's hand.
"I'd like you to meet someone very special, Bella. This is Heidi and she's been very good to me while I've been recovering, well moaning about my luck really. It's a good thing you turned me Jasper or this would have been a whole heap worse. Come in and join us, do you know Heidi?"
Jasper joined us and nodded,
"Yes, well I know of her, we've never actually met. It's good to finally meet you, ma'am."
Heidi giggled and took his outstretched hand.
"I've heard a lot about you too Major, and you, Bella. Your father is very proud of you."
I wasn't sure exactly what was going on between my dad and this Heidi, she was way too young for him and a little too forward by the clothes she was almost wearing, but I was certainly going to make it my business to find out.
