Online Predator Chapter 54

The scene Jasper and Bella came across when they entered the reservation was pure chaos. Peter and Garrett both had a hold of Riley who was covered in blood.

"What's going on?" Jasper asked, keeping in front of Bella to protect her.

Peter and Garrett's fear spiked and neither of them answered Jasper.

"What's going on?" Jasper repeated.

Peter's eyes went to Bella for a moment before going back to Jasper.

Jasper growled and left Bella to get in Peter's face.

"Answer me, Soldier," Jasper said.

Peter stood up straighter. "The newborn got away from us, Major."

"How?"

"I don't know," Peter said, "honestly. I… I think we underestimated him, we gave him too much freedom." Peter dropped his head. "I'm sorry, Major."

What was he sorry for? There was more to this, Jasper knew it.

"What aren't you telling me?" Jasper asked.

Peter looked towards Garrett, but Garrett's head was dropped, he wanted no part of this.

"Someone tell me." Jasper took a step back.

No one spoke, not even Alice who was unusually quiet for once. Jasper darted left, around Peter, not Garrett, and grabbed Alice. His hand wrapped around her throat and he spun her so that he was holding her back against his chest. Alice didn't bother struggling.

"Tell me," Jasper said, "or I'll kill the seer."

"Jasper," Bella tried, but he growled loudly and she stayed back.

"It wasn't my fault," Peter said, "please don't kill me."

"Tell me," Jasper said.

Garrett lifted his head. "The newborn feasted on the closest human," he said. "We got there in time, they're not dead, but… they're making the change."

That was not ideal, but not a major problem.

"Kill them," Jasper said.

"It's not that simple," Garrett said, "the human is Bella's father."

"What?" Bella stepped forward. She made it to Jasper's side. "Put her down," Bella told Jasper, "she's human, she had no part of this."

Jasper set Alice down and focused on his mate. Her father was making the change, Riley had bitten Charlie. Riley. Jasper changed focus and charged Riley.

"Stop it," Bella screamed at him.

Jasper had enough sense to stop. He turned to face Bella.

"No," Jasper said, "this newborn was part of James' coven, I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance, now he's taken your father's life, Bella."

"Where's my father now?" Bella asked, ignoring Jasper.

"With Carlisle," Garrett answered.

"With his mate?" Bella questioned.

"It remains to be seen," Alice said, "but yes."

"Then he's safe," Bella said, focusing back on Jasper, "and this newborn was only acting on his instincts, right?"

"What is your problem?" Jasper asked her. "This vampire killed your dad."

"So?" Bella said. "In some ways this is better. I'll never have to watch him die. He can be with me for life."

"I don't want that," Jasper said, "you're mine."

Bella was sick of all of this. "Can I see him?" Bella asked the others. "Is it safe for me?"

"Yes," Alice answered, "he's at our house."

"Can someone take me please?" Bella asked.

"I can," Jasper offered.

"No," Bella said, "I… I need some time alone, to process everything."

Jasper could feel that she didn't trust him right now.

"Take Carlisle's car," Alice said, "it's just down the road, he ran back with your father."

Before Bella left, she said one more warning. "Nobody is to kill Riley, not until we know if he's Edward's true mate or not."

And then she left. Carlisle's car was there and the keys were still in the ignition. Bella was surprised that Jasper hadn't tried to come with her. She hoped she wasn't too unfair on him, but if Jasper was going to kill Riley then what would stop him from killing her father? She doubted Carlisle would be able to beat Jasper in a fight.

Bella arrived and she could hear her father's screams from outside. Her heart broke for him. She knocked, but no one answered, so she made her way inside. She passed a frightful looking Edward in the living room, but she didn't stop. She made her way closer to the screams. The door was cracked open and she peered in.

Charlie was lying on the floor and Carlisle was standing over him.

"I'm so sorry," Carlisle muttered, "this is all my fault. You're okay, Charlie, I'm here. It will all be over soon. Think of Bella, your daughter, she loves you so much. Remember that you were a police officer, the Chief of Police, you were so good at your job. Remember… Remember me, if you want to, if you think I'm important enough."

Carlisle dropped his head.

Bella didn't want to intrude on what seemed to be a private moment, but her father was in so much pain and she needed to see if her presence could help him. As she got closer, Carlisle straightened his posture, let go of Charlie's hand and stood up.

"Is he okay?" Bella asked.

"Yes," Carlisle's voice was shaky, "he was lucky the others got to him before he was drained dry. I'm sorry, Bella."

"Don't be," Bella said, "can I have a moment with him?"

"I'm not leaving," Carlisle said, "it's too risky. I won't let you die too."

Bella accepted his answer. Perhaps Carlisle was her father's mate. Bella wasn't sure what she thought about that, but as long as Charlie was happy and not alone, it didn't matter. Bella sat on the floor and took her father's hand.

"I'm here," she told him, "I'm back, I'm safe. I love you so much, Dad. Carlisle's right, everything's going to be okay. You're becoming a vampire, I'm not sure if anyone's told you that yet. …I hate that you're in pain." Bella wished it would stop, and then, all of a sudden, Charlie stopped screaming and his rigid body relaxed. Bella smiled.

"You can't do that," Carlisle said quietly, "you can't remove his pain, it's the one thing that can never happen. He needs to feel the pain, he has to go through all of it, not only because it's a rite of passage, but because then he'll know what he's be putting another human through if he decides to change them."

"I don't want him to be in pain," Bella said, "if I can stop it…"

"He's right," Jasper said.

Carlisle turned around, putting Charlie and Bella behind him. "Get out of my house," Carlisle said.

"No." Jasper crossed his arms against his chest. He was still dressed in his cowboy getup but he'd ditched his hat on the run to Forks.

"This is my house and I don't want you here." Carlisle stood his ground, but so did Jasper.

"Bella's my mate," Jasper said, "Charlie is her father. I'm not leaving."

"Are you his mate?" Bella asked Carlisle.

"I…" Carlisle faltered. "I didn't think I was. When I moved to town, I was connected to him, like with my current children, but he was too old to be a child so I had him as a friend only. Now, in recent light, I can see that it might be plausible."

"He's lying," Jasper said, "Charlie's making the change and with every moment that passes the mating bond grows stronger. Carlisle is still in denial."

"Why?" Bella asked. "My father is a good man."

"Exactly," Carlisle said, "he's a man. I've been waiting for my mate for over three hundred years, my female mate."

"You," Jasper said, "of all people, should know that's not how these things work. We have one mate and we don't get to choose who it is."

"Like you didn't choose Bella?" Carlisle said. "Like you didn't stalk her online, groom her, convince yourself that she's your mate?"

Jasper's blood boiled, but before he could launch himself at Carlisle, Bella stepped in front of him, putting her hand on his chest.

"Don't," she said.

Jasper didn't want to take his eyes off the threat in front of him, but Bella's love drew his attention. She was looking at him so seriously which was amusing to Jasper as she held no power here.

"He's asking for it," Jasper said, not backing down without a fight.

"You need to learn some restraint," Bella said. "You can't keep attacking everyone. This isn't the war, Jasper, you're safe here."

Jasper didn't believe her.

"How long will Charlie be unconscious for?" Bella asked. She still had her shield around him, but she knew she'd have to let it up soon and she didn't want to stick around and hear her father's screams.

"Two days," Carlisle said, "maybe a little longer."

"And I can trust you?" Bella asked Carlisle. "To look after him, to make sure he survives, to call me before he wakes up?"

"Yes," Carlisle said but his word didn't mean much to Bella and Jasper could feel that.

"He's telling the truth," Jasper said.

"Come on." Bella held her hand out for Jasper.

Jasper glared at Carlisle once more, he still wanted to kill the vampire or at least hurt him, but instead, he took Bella's hand and they left the house.

"Now what?" Jasper asked, needing a direction.

"Take me home," Bella said.

It was then that Jasper felt her exhaustion. He hated that he had missed a basic need of hers. Jasper scooped her up and ran through the forest to her house. He didn't stop until he was in her bedroom. He set her down and Bella excused herself from the room. She went to the bathroom and took some clothes with her. Jasper heard the shower running and waited for her to return.

As he waited, he looked around her room. It smelled of her and he liked that. At her desk, there was some older drawings Bella had done and some older photos. She had always been beautiful, Jasper deduced. He took a deep breath, taking in her scent. He liked how she smelled, how she tasted… He wondered if she would let him have some more blood.

Jasper let the thought consume him until Bella came back into the room. She was clean and dressed in pajamas. Jasper's eyes were black and he had a predatory look in his eyes. Bella noticed it, but ignored it as she pulled back the covers and got in bed. Jasper kept his distance, just watching her.

"What?" Bella finally asked. She voice was low and rough, she was moments from falling asleep.

Jasper started stalking towards her, but Bella was too tired to be afraid. Her eyes closed, making her an easy target. Jasper smiled as he hovered above her, her neck vein was pulsing right in front of him. She smelled so good.

"Jasper," Bella mumbled, momentarily stopping him, "will you lay down with me please?"

Her order didn't derail Jasper's plan. He climbed over her and laid down behind, his focus still on her neck. He couldn't look away as he remembered the sweet taste, the warmth of the blood, Bella's willingness. He didn't feel hungry, but that wouldn't stop him.

Bella shifted, turning over and moving down so that her head was on Jasper's chest. From this new angle, Jasper couldn't see her neck. He pushed her hair off it, but even then, he didn't have a clear view and he knew he couldn't get to it without disturbing Bella. Jasper pushed back his desires knowing that now was not the time. Maybe he'd get a taste when Bella woke up. Jasper wrapped his arms around her and held onto her tightly. He closed his eyes and let her peace and calm wash over him.