Chapter Fifty Four

Bella

It was annoying that he'd let me win but then in a way it wasn't, it was good to see him so playful, like a young man, not a seasoned and bloodied warrior. Sometimes I forgot that he and the others were young men, in body if not experience. I hadn't changed my mind about Alice though, I would go head to head with her. I knew she could anticipate my moves but sooner or later we would meet and she would pay for hurting my Jasper, knowing all along he had been mine not hers. As we headed back hand in hand he started to speak again,

"What do you want to do now Bella? I really wanted us to have more time before you became like me, to get to know each other better but it just wasn't to be."

"I think we need to talk about what happened"

He looked concerned and I followed his train of thought,

"I don't mean about you changing me although that's part of it all. The mystery"

"Mystery?"

"Yes. When I was taken away and woke up in that warehouse"

"Warehouse?"

"Oh I forgot I hadn't told you what happened. There wasn't any time was there?"

The thing I couldn't get out of my mind was the escape from Victoria, what had happened? What invisible force stopped her from reaching me? Was it the same force that had kept me safe from the pain of the transformation? I needed to speak to Jazz about it and this was the first time and probably the only time we would be alone for a while, the house was too full of ears.

"Jasper I need to tell you something. I need your help"

"Help? You will always have that my love, but what's wrong? You know I'll do anything for you"

He pulled me close again and as our bodies touched all thoughts of the strange force evaporated in the face of my greed for him. Later I tried again, only this time I made sure we were both dressed, at least after a fashion and only our hands were touching.

"What was it you wanted to talk about before we got side tracked?"

"Have you ever heard of an invisible force?"

"No, you mean like a ghost army?"

"No, I mean like a protective field that can keep someone safe from harm?"

"A shield you mean?"

"I'm not sure, what's that?"

"Aro has his own bodyguard called Renata, as long as she is touching him he is protected from external threats."

"Yes"

I hurried on excitedly,

"That's it. That kind of thing, she protects him, does it work for her too?"

"I have no idea, she's only used as his private protection but I guess so, why?"

"I think I may have something like that. When I was running away from Victoria she almost caught me but it seemed she couldn't actually touch me, she was stopped a few inches from my body."

"And you think it was a shield you were projecting unconsciously?"

"I think so but that's not all. When you bit me I was unconscious and when I woke up it felt as if I were inside a stretchy bubble. When I put a finger through it I felt as if I were in a furnace but inside the bubble it was quiet and cool. I thought it was you keeping me safe but I don't now, I think it was something working inside me. I think maybe it was like Renata."

"Well if it is then I don't need to worry about you now, you'll always be safe."

"If it works on everything maybe"

"There's no way of telling until you're in a dangerous situation and there's no way I'm letting you get into any danger, but its good to know."

"Do you think we should tell the others?"

"It's up to you darlin' but thank you for asking"

"Jazz we're a team now, we share everything"

He nodded and we started back but my last words had me thinking, we share everything, did that mean maybe we shared my shield. It was an exciting concept but one I hoped I'd never have to test out.

Jasper

Bella had her mind set on confronting Alice and nothing I said would change it, I wasn't worried for her physically, but revenge was as damaging to the person getting it as to the victim and I feared Bella might suffer afterwards especially if she were forced to kill Alice. I had to be very careful though, Bella may be an amazing newborn but she still had a temper and was quick to rile. Not for herself, she shrugged off everything the guys tried in order to wind her up, Charlotte was slightly different because as a female she was still a potential threat in Bella eyes and it would take a while before Bella was confident enough in her hold on me. The trouble came when she felt I was being threatened, even if only in jest. Her protective instinct overrode everything, even her usual calm thought processes. When Emmett pounced on me outside spoiling for a fight which I was used to, she snarled and forced him to back away quickly. It was a strange sensation having someone other than Peter watch my back.

Peter

We watched as they finally walked back and I had to grin at the state of The Majors clothes,

"Get a tiger by the tail did you Major?"

He grinned back,

"And it was well worth it Peter"

Bella smiled and slapped his arm and we all followed them into the house now knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were connected in every way.

"Peter. I have a puzzle and I'd like to discuss it with all of you"

I nodded as we all sat down,

"The floor is yours Bella."

She proceeded to tell us what happened when Victoria snatched her from here, waking up in the warehouse and the strange events of her escape.

"You battered your way out using a chair leg? Bad ass Bella."

She grinned at Garrett who rubbed his head in remembrance of the branch incident.

"That's not important, it's what happened after, that is. Victoria couldn't touch me, it was like there was an invisible wall between us, very similar to the bubble I was in while I was changing. What was it? I thought Jasper was doing it, protecting me, but I'd forgotten about earlier with Victoria. What happened to Victoria anyway?"

Garrett stood up and took a theatrical bow,

"Your enemy is no more My Lady. I'll explain things when you've finished."

I saw The Major tense slightly at Garrett's words but Bella touched his hand and he relaxed again. I'd never seen anything like it, she could read his every thought, every emotion, and did exactly what he needed her to do to calm him or sooth him, a true mated pair!