Chapter Sixty Six

Peter

I made our apologies for the sudden departure and the company were very understanding, sending their best wishes for a speedy recovery to Bella. No one had noticed the damage to the truck thus far and someone finding the unconscious man in the shadows had called 911. He had been taken off to the ER along with his very embarrassed wife.

I listened in to various conversations and noticed that everyone was of the same opinion. That Dougie, Megan's victim, the town alcoholic had staggered outside and slipped over banging his head on a curb and breaking his hand trying to stop his fall.

I was about to leave when the young guy who had shown such an interest in Megan earlier came over.

"Excuse me. Do you think it would be OK to call on Megan tomorrow? I mean would it be inconvenient with her mom being ill?"

I felt like telling him to fuck off but decided diplomacy was called for so I bit that back and managed a smile.

"It might be better if you left it a day or so. She might pick it up off her mom, she looked pretty pale too by the time they left."

He looked downcast but nodded his understanding.

"Would you tell her that I asked about her and tell her I'll be in touch in a couple of days?"

"Sure, will do. No problem."

I didn't know what was going on back at the ranch but I doubted that Megan would want to see anyone, even Romeo here, for some time. In fact, strong and clever as she was, Megan had been devastated by what had happened and I doubted she would regain her confidence any time soon. Besides, he wasn't exactly the kind of guy that I thought would satisfy her.

By the time I got back the shit had really hit the fan. Charlotte took me to one side and told me what had happened. The whole fucking story.

"So, she has the gifts of everyone she comes in contact with? Fuck me. Poor kid, her mind must be reeling. No wonder she's so scared and depressed. What's happening now?"

"Megan's shut herself in the bathroom and won't let anyone in. Bella's tried, the Major too. He's climbing the walls. He wanted to break the door down but we managed to persuade him to give her some space. This has really torn them apart. She told them she wished she'd never been born."

"Wow! That's harsh. I'm glad I told that young lad who'd been sniffing around Megan to stay away."

"I can't see her being in any state to see him for a very long time. Megan is quite strong but she's fallen to pieces over this."

"Do you think we should stay? Or would they be better off if we left?"

"I don't know. I'll go and see."

I was happy to stay outside in the meantime. I didn't do emotional scenes, never had done, and I wasn't about to start now unless the Major really needed me.

When Charlotte came back out shaking her head I admit I was relieved and happy to go home.

"I told them if they needed anything just to call."

"Right. Well, that's one situation I am not sorry to be getting the fuck away from."

Bella

I sat outside the bathroom door talking soothingly to Megan but she made no response. All I could hear was her breathing which was fast and her heartbeat which was also quicker than normal. She was very emotional and despite Jasper's best efforts she wouldn't talk to either of us or allow him to calm her. In fact, she appeared to be using my shield to prevent him from doing so which was a worry. Megan had never used any of her gifts against us.

"Meg, please open the door or at least speak to me. I love you and I'm worried about you."

There was a muted sob but nothing else and I wasn't sure I could prevent Jasper from breaking the door down for long. He paced back and forth in the bedroom, his fists clenched and his jaw set. It had hurt him when Meg had said she wished she'd never been born, mainly on my behalf I think, but I understood.

She was trying to cope with all the mixed emotions that her maturing body was causing, she then had the gifts that had been soaked up by her body and I think she was feeling so isolated right now. She desperately wanted a relationship and yet both thus far had failed. Darius had left and Alec had turned out not to be the kind of guy Megan had thought he was.

I carried on talking to her, trying to make her understand that I knew how she felt and why she felt as she did. I wasn't sure telling her that Trey was still interested was a good move but I was getting desperate.

"Peter said Trey was asking if he could visit in a few days. That's good isn't it?"

"Good? Why? So I can throw a truck at him too?"

"That won't happen again. Not now you know what you are capable of. You can control it and I doubt Trey would give you any reason to do anything like that."

"You don't know that. No one does. I feel like an unstable nuclear reactor. I frighten myself. Just leave me alone, please. Go away."

Jasper strode over to the door.

"Meg, open this door. If you want to hide then do it in your room but I will not have you locking yourself away like this. You're upsetting your mom and she just wants to help."

"No one can help me. I'm a freak and I'm dangerous."

"That's crap. Stop acting like a drama queen. Now you come out or I'm coming in."

I tried to stop him but Jasper banged the door and a second later it opened and Meg came out.

"Happy now?"

Jasper stared at her, neither of us had ever heard her speak to either of us like that before.

"No. I'm not happy because you're distressed and I don't know what to do to help. So, tell me, tell your mom. Give us something."

She shook her head and then began to cry and slumped to the floor in a heap.

He fell to his knees beside her and picked her up in his arms holding her close and laying his face on top of her head.

I took one of her hands and sat quietly listening as he spoke to her in the most gentle voice I had ever heard.

"Baby, remember I told you that I would always be here for you? I meant it and I'm here. Don't try to lock us out. Your mom and I love you and we'll do all we can to help you through this. It's not the end for you, it's just another challenge to overcome and I know my Meg is strong enough to do that. Nothing has changed, you're still the sweet little girl I fought the wolf boy for and looked after. You trusted me then so what's changed?"

She buried her head in his shoulder and sobbed until finally, her breathing evened out. She had exhausted herself so much that she had fallen asleep but at least she wasn't breaking her heart any longer. Jasper had worked his magic on her just as he had on me and I loved seeing this side to him. It was something only Meg had really seen before and it showed the hidden depths to his character.

He stood holding her like a small child and carried her through to her room laying her gently on the bed and covering her with the coverlet.

"Let her sleep, she's exhausted. We can try to talk to her tomorrow. I guess it's down to us to teach her self control. Why didn't I think of that before?"

"Don't start beating yourself up about this, Jasper. We're both equally to blame but it's not too late to put it right. She's going through so much right now. She's becoming a woman, she's desperate to grow up and find love, and I hate to say it and I know she'd deny it but she's missing Darius."

"Well, I guess if he was still around none of this would have happened but we can hardly blame him. I just hope we can help her get her confidence back."

"And if we can't? She is so scared of being left on her own."

"She will never be on her own. We just have to make sure she realizes that, Bella."

Megan

When I woke up I felt no better. I never wanted to leave my room again. I just wanted to curl up and die. It had never occurred to me that I might be any danger to humans. Yes, it had been easier to be around others who knew what I was but I hardly ever got any chances to interact with humans and now? The very first time I had been let loose in a social gathering of them I had almost killed one.

There were no other vampires my own age. Immortal children were banned and most vampires were turned in their twenties. What if I stopped maturing before that age? Suddenly Alec seemed a better bet after all, despite his many shortcomings.

It wasn't as if there were other hybrids I could socialize with. We were as rare as hen's teeth. Why oh why had Darius run out on me? I had thought we had something going between us, I felt the connection but obviously I'd been mistaken because he hadn't.

I felt the tears begin to fall again and lay back closing my eyes and letting myself wallow in my misery.

Mom came in and asked me if I wanted anything to eat but I had no appetite so eventually, she left. I knew she would be back or dad, and then I would be forced to make an appearance downstairs but I didn't feel like eating or talking. I didn't want to see anyone.

Dad came up in the afternoon and when I said I still wasn't hungry he insisted I come down anyhow. I did but I just played with my food, a seafood lasagna mom had cooked especially for me, feeling all eyes on me and my plate.

"Meg, you need to eat even if you don't feel hungry."

I took a mouthful and chewed but it tasted like sawdust and I struggled to swallow it even with a gulp of milk.

"Can I be excused, please? I'm very tired and I have a headache and a sore throat."

Mom glanced at dad and suddenly I felt very guilty. She looked so worried about me.

"I'll get you something for your headache. Would you like some ice cream?"

"No thanks. I'll just go to bed."

"Ok sweetheart. Maybe you'll feel better tomorrow. Peter and Charlotte will be over."

I groaned inwardly but tried to smile then kissed them both and escaped upstairs.

Knowing that someone would be sure to check on me I undressed and climbed into bed taking my phone with me.

I scrolled through my mail but there was nothing. No emails from Darius or Alec not that I had expected either but I could live in hope. Even Jane had stopped contacting me since I broke up with her brother.

Feeling even more miserable I went into my gallery and started scrolling through the pictures. Me and Alec in Volterra, me with Alec, Jane, and our other friends in the citadel. At least there I wouldn't feel so alone or weird and out of place. Maybe I should go there. I was sure Sulplicia would find a place for me and a job and I wouldn't need to worry about hurting anyone there, but I would still be the odd one out. I would be the half-vampire, the hybrid among pure vampires. Was there anywhere I could feel I belonged? Anywhere I could feel at home and safe?

Going back further I found a couple of photos of mom and dad's wedding. All smiling faces, everyone with their partners and happy, all except me. If I'd been with Alec maybe he would have come to be my escort but I wasn't good enough for him. I knew that and it's probably why I had lost him in the end.

I stopped when I got to one photo of mom and dad because in the background was Darius and my heart stopped. My mouth went dry and I felt sick. Why did I have to see that tonight of all nights?

I raced to the bathroom and knelt down by the toilet just in time to throw up. It seemed to go on forever and I was only faintly aware of a cool hand on my brow holding my hair back and rubbing my back.

Then when I finally stopped, feeling washed out and dizzy, I felt myself lifted into my dad's arms. He didn't say anything, just laid me down on my bed where mom waited with a wet sponge and a glass of water. She wiped my face and handed me the glass to swill my mouth.

"Lay down and try to get some sleep. If you're still feeling unwell in the morning I'll call Carlisle."

I couldn't be bothered to answer, I felt too sick, so I just closed my eyes and found myself drifting away but even then I could see Darius standing there watching me. If only he was really here instead of only in my dreams.

Bella

We had heard the noise and understood that Megan was sick, I just hoped it was shock from yesterday because if she really was sick then I had no idea what to do. If she'd been human I could have given her something, but I was worried I might have made her sick with the pain meds I had given her. Carlisle said her metabolism would alter as she matured and I hadn't given it a thought.

Sitting beside her I watched as she drifted to sleep with the help of her dad and then took her hand in mine. It felt hotter but that might just be my imagination.

"Don't worry, Bella. She just got herself all worked up. She'll be better by morning."

"And if she's not? I can't lose her Jasper. Not now."

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back to hold me close while allowing me to keep a hold of Megan's hand.

"If not then we'll call Carlisle as you said. For now, I think she needs to know that we're here for her."

I picked up her phone and stared at the photograph seeing what might have upset her. Darius was standing in the background smiling faintly.

"I wish he was here. I know it would make a difference to her."

He took it from me and snapped it shut.

"Yeah, well he's not and I refuse to go hunting for him. If he's still alive then he's either a fool or brain dead and if he does turn up I might just beat the crap out of him anyway."

I sighed knowing he was as worried about Megan as I was and felt equally as useless to help. Hopefully, he was right and she would be better by morning. We would just have to wait and see.