Chapter Fifty One
Jasper
I left Darius to fill the others in and get rid of the body while I took a confused and horrified Bella back into the bedroom straight into the shower to wipe the blood off her face and torso still holding her close and calming her with my gift.
"Jasper I killed a woman to feed"
"I know and that's my fault. I should have been prepared but Peter's arrival put me off. Its my fault and I'm really sorry Bella. Your thirst will be triggered by any humans you meet until you find your own way to control it."
"Do I have to kill humans to feed?"
"No, I'll teach you to hunt animals but don't feel too bad, its your nature as a vampire."
"I don't want to be a killer Jasper."
"I know but it will be hard to hunt animals."
"Do you think about the humans you've fed on?"
"Sometimes yes. I spent many years hunting humans and then I found Carlisle and with great effort learned to hunt animals instead."
Bella suddenly looked stricken,
"Oh God! Its my fault you went back to hunting humans, I'm so sorry Jasper, can you forgive me?"
I kissed her forehead,
"It was the only way to keep you safe Bella and I don't regret it. We'll hunt together, you'll learn to live on animal blood like I did but there will be accidents unless you cut yourself off from the human world and that's not really possible."
"No, I have to see my parents. I want us to live a normal life or as normal as we can."
"Well lets start by meeting my friends properly. Peter and Charlotte are my oldest friends along with Darius. Peters an acquired taste but I'm sure you'll have him eating out of your hand soon enough."
"Do they hunt humans?"
"Yes but that's their choice and I respect it."
"Darius too?"
"Yes but he wont make a big deal of your choice"
Bella
I finished showering watching as Jasper dressed then left me to compose myself. This was going to be embarrassing and awkward. I'd attacked Jaspers closest friends, a naked blood crazed vampire, and Peters words cut into me making me cringe. Then I pulled myself together, I could do this, I could do anything, I was a vampire. I dressed, glad that Jasper had brought my bag from the hotel and felt better once I was clothed then took a deep breath, old habits die hard, and walked into the other room to face the others. Darius and Charlotte were looking at something on the computer while Jasper and Peter stood at the window laughing at something I'd missed. All heads turned when they heard me but only Peter spoke,
"So this is your mate Major? Not bad but I liked her better naked"
Charlotte glared at him but I could tell that acting embarrassed and defensive would only make things worse so I smiled and walked to Jasper kissing him then turned to Peter,
"Maybe you'd be good enough to return the favour some time. I'm curious."
Peter looked at me a little taken aback as Charlotte laughed,
"Well done Bella, its not often Peter's lost for words. I think you might have met your match Whitlock"
Peter eyed me speculatively then grinned,
"Any time you get bored with the boy and need a real man..."
"Don't look to Peter, you'll want a real man and I can assure you Peters mental age is about on par with a toddler."
"I wasn't thinking about my mental age Einstein, more the mature male body."
"Well if you find one when you look in the mirror I'd run, it means you're in a Gay Bar Peter"
Peter made a rude gesture at Darius then held out his hand and we shook,
"Bella I understand you are a newborn and I'll help you all I can but you break my friends heart and I'll rip yours out and ram it still flaming down that pretty throat. You get the message?"
I nodded,
"Understood Peter, just remember the same is true in reverse except it wont be your heart"
Charlotte giggled while Peter appeared to digest this before nodding,
"We're going to get along just fine Bella. Now when are we going to rip Edwards heart out?"
"Edward? Edward Cullen?"
"Yeah The Major told us that he spilled the beans to Aro so its time he found out the wages of his sin."
"We have another little chore too. Tanya told the Romanians, with or without Edwards help and with or without threats."
"Great, we can take the Mind Reading Ass Hole and the Sex Maniac at the same time. Now that is one female that scares the shit outta me. That one would suck you in and blow you out in bubbles!"
Seeing my frown Jasper filled me in,
"You mean she's a nymphomaniac?"
"Not exactly, a Succubus, she draws all males to her and uses them for her own pleasure."
"Has she ever caught you?"
Jasper shook his head,
"I'm one of the lucky few who genuinely frighten her. She knows my past and of my scars and she keeps her distance."
"Well I don't mind volunteering to distract her"
"I didn't think you would Peter but I think Charlotte might have something to say."
Peter winked at me,
"Charlotte understands, its a sacrifice I'd be making for a friend"
She had come up behind him and put him in a head lock,
"That's where you are wrong Peter. If I find you alone with her I will rip both your heads off and burn them so just keep your distance"
I wasn't sure if Charlotte was joking or not and neither it seemed did Peter because he was very quiet after this although I didn't think it would last.
We sat together discussing the best way to approach Denali,
"Look they don't know me so I think I should go ahead. Tell them I'm looking for The Major and Bella and I heard she was with the Denali clan. They can tell me I'm wrong and I'll leave but at least I'll know who's there. If Tanya and Edward aren't then we'll just have to try the Cullen place."
"OK but be careful. Don't forget Edward can read your thoughts."
"Oh I don't think Edward would want to be inside my head for too long, its not a nice place to be when I put my mind to it."
Jasper and Peter both nodded their agreement so when the others went to hunt before leaving for Alaska I asked Jasper about it.
"Darius was a prisoner of the Volturi for a long while after trying to kill Aro. He was tortured and his mate Sara was killed. He escaped with Caius help but he'd had a really bad time of it. If he thinks about that time Edward will run a mile from his thoughts."
"Why did he try to kill Aro?"
"Aro wanted Darius to join the Volturi and when he refused they snatched his mate Sara. He went to rescue her but they were ready for him and he was captured. They threatened to kill his mate if he continued to refuse. Marcus objected and tried to help Darius escape but Sara was murdered in the attempt and he spent years as a prisoner before Caius who was new to the Volturi heard the story and helped Darius escape successfully this time."
"What about Marcus and Sara's killers?"
"Marcus wasn't able to help any further, Aro had him bound to himself using Chelsea's power. The guards who killed Sara are both dead, Darius tracked them and when they left Volterra he killed them. He wanted Aro too but I think the fact you killed him is enough. That's it for now, lets hunt and then we leave for Alaska."
