Chapter Forty Four

Bella

All I had wanted to do was to rest but it seemed the fates had other ideas. Standing under the light that dimly illuminated the walkway was a figure I recognized because I'd seen him before. What the hell was Johnny H doing here? And how did he know where I was?

It seemed the Guardians leader had been following me. He probably knew what had happened back at Eleazar's place in that case. He must know I would be coming for him unless of course, he was unaware that I now knew the truth about him and his lie of omission. Somehow I got the impression that very little eluded his notice. He was like Aro in that respect. They both understood that knowledge was power.

Behind him, standing a few feet back in the semi shadows were two other figures. They looked huge in the shadows and I wondered if he had come with backup in order to kill me. Well, if so he would have one hell of a battle on his hands.

Relieved that I was decent and therefore not at a disadvantage I opened the door and stood tensed, ready to react at the first sign of danger. We stared at each other until he finally broke the silence.

"Bella. I assumed you would be coming to see me after visiting Eleazar and as Paul is still in our village I decided it might be more prudent to meet you on neutral territory."

"How thoughtful of you. I must say that I'm surprised."

He raised an eyebrow in enquiry, "Oh, why is that?"

"You didn't strike me as a particularly thoughtful or caring person."

He grimaced, "I guess I deserve that and I would like to apologize if you'll allow me. Could I come in?"

I glanced over his shoulder at the two silent figures watching us.

"They will stay outside, but I would very much like to talk to you and as you appear to be alone this seems a perfect time."

I stood to one side and he walked past me into the room. Only when I was sure his friends would remain where they stood did I close the door and turn to face him.

"I'm listening, but I warn you Jasper will be back soon and he's not particularly fond of surprises if you get my drift."

Something then occurred to me, "But of course you know that. Seeing as how you've obviously been having me followed. I guess you thought it would be easier to get me to talk to you if I was alone. Just remember, I'm not vulnerable this time."

Johnny nodded, " You want me to admit as much? Then certainly I have been watching your progress although it hasn't been easy. As for your vulnerability, you'll forgive me if I point out that you were never vulnerable, Bella. Not even the first time we met. I would also like you to understand that I have no grievance with The Major. Our paths have never crossed."

I folded my arms, "Well? You said you wanted to talk to me so go ahead, talk."

"You are angry that I didn't tell you the ramifications of using your gift. I suspect that someone told you the truth of that which is interesting as only a handful of people know that. Perhaps Aro? He would certainly like to think he could use such knowledge as a wedge between us."

He saw the surprise in my eyes although I recovered quickly.

"Oh yes. I have my spies in Volterra just as the Volturi have theirs close to me. It's something you learn to live with and it prevents surprises. Just like The Major neither the Volturi nor I are particularly fond of those."

"So, why didn't you tell me? Were you afraid I wouldn't agree to work with the hunters if I knew it would kill me? And just to be perfectly clear there is no US."

He ignored my last words and carried on answering my question.

"No. It was apparent that you didn't care about your own survival. I didn't tell you because I thought you would assume I was trying to manipulate you. It would have made you even more determined to kill vampires."

"Guardians too. You're just as bad as they are."

He sighed, "Yes, and no. Aro and I both try to walk a narrow path between evil and good. Vampires kill humans to live, it's their nature but he tries very hard to control who they kill. You don't hear about mass slaughters, do you? And why do you think he allowed your friend to be changed by Maria?"

I frowned and he nodded, "Yes, I know all about that. Not because he didn't care about another human losing his life and becoming a vampire but because he knew the Southern covens were getting out of control and he didn't have the resources at the time to sort it out any other way.

Your friend prevented a war between the southern covens that would have seen the slaughter of thousands of humans. With The Major at her side, Maria was powerful enough to shut down Carlos and all the other warring leaders vying for control."

He had wrong-footed me. I wasn't sure what to say to that.

"As for the guardians. Well, you have seen how dangerous we can be. Paul is just one example of how horribly wrong things can go. Without strong and consistent leadership the guardians could be as dangerous as the vampires to the humans around them."

My eyes narrowed at his words and he nodded slowly, his expression sombre.

"Yes. I thought you might have learned my secret. Were you going to use it against me?"

"I'm not sure although I think it would be very damaging for you if it got out. My first thought was to kill you and then Paul. I hadn't looked beyond that. Pathetic I know but I was going on my feelings at the time."

"Something has changed, Bella. You are no longer driven by hatred and despair. Ironic that it took one of the enemy to heal your mental wounds. Does that fill you with conflict? Or have you come to terms with the knowledge that not all demons are inherently evil any more than all angels are inherently good."

I suddenly wished Jasper was here. I hated feeling like a child again and Johnny H made me feel like a naive schoolgirl.

"I am sorry, Bella. Perhaps I was wrong. I should have told you the truth. I'm relieved that I have an opportunity to apologize."

"So, you came here to apologize to me?"

"I came to ask for a truce."

I frowned, "A truce?"

"Yes. We live in dangerous times. There is less room on the planet for vampires as more and more humans spread out from the towns and cities. Nomads are forced to hunt in more populated areas with more risk of their existence becoming known. Imagine what would happen then. The humans would hunt them down and destroy them but in turn, the vampires would fight back. There would be a bloodbath."

"I still don't understand."

"The guardians are a check on the vampires. We keep them honest as the saying goes. My people monitor their activities and Aro knows if we sense danger we will act. It's why I aided the hunters. Vampires such as Victoria, James and Caius Volturi are a risk neither of us is willing to live with. Aro does his part and I do mine."

I nodded as understanding dawned, "And if the guardians knew what you really are they would probably kill you. Certainly turn against you and the continuity you mentioned would be over."

"Something like that, yes."

"What I want to know is how come no one suspected?"

"Why should they? A guardian prolongs their life by spending a lot of it in spirit form and the original spirit warriors became immortal. As one of the originals, the only one still alive, I am immortal."

"But you're not. Not an original are you?"

"Oh yes. I'm one of the first spirit warriors. I take it you've heard the legends from Jacob Black? Oh, he sends his apologies. He feels responsible for all of this."

I remembered Jasper telling me how Darius had saved Jake from the pursuing Volturi and shook my head, "Jake isn't responsible. He tried to warn me. I should have listened to him. I'm glad he's OK."

"I'll tell him."

I was thinking about the legends I had heard at the Quileute village about the spirit warriors and the Cold Ones.

"I don't remember all the stories but Jake said the Quileutes were the first spirit warriors."

"No. He is wrong. The first spirit warriors are much older. It was they who led the tribe that became the Quileutes to their present home. The first spirit warriors came into existence because of a tragedy. A tribeswoman who fell in love with a beautiful creature she met secretly in the woods."

"A vampire!"

He nodded, "Yes. So you see, you and I are very alike. The magic that ran in the veins of the tribesmen was magnified by the venom of the vampire. The woman, my mother, was the evolution of the spirit warriors. It was noticed that I was different from the day of my birth and my mother feared that she would be banished from the tribe but instead, she was taken under the protection of our shaman who knew what had happened. He had seen it in his visions and what it foretold.

A little of my blood was given to every male child on the day of his manhood so the mix of venom and magic was passed on to every male member of the tribe who carried it in his genes and when danger came we were prepared to meet it. That's how we survived the terrible war between the Volturi and the Romanians centuries ago.

My people think of me as their father and in a strange way, I am. They rely on me to look after them, to uphold the laws and keep the peace with the vampires. You could ruin all that by telling them my secret. I know that. I am merely asking that you don't. The future of the guardian tribes is in your hands now, Bella."

I backed away and sat down hard on the edge of the bed unable to make sense of what he told me. It was close to the information Darius had passed on to me and filled in the blanks.

It actually made a warped kind of symmetry. Johnny H was a hybrid who protected his people from the vampires and I was the hybrid with the power to destroy them. Only now I held in my hands the power to destroy not only the vampires but the guardians too. If I had known this a few weeks ago I would have been celebrating. Now, however, it just felt like too much power for one person to hold.

Johnny sat beside me and held out a hand, "I'm sorry, Bella. It's a lot for one person to be burdened with. I would never have told you but someone forced my hand.

I can't stop you if you decide to tell my people the truth but I can ask that you think before acting, For all our sakes."

I snorted and he looked alarmed.

"I'm sorry but it just occurred to me that I was thinking earlier how you Jasper and Darius seem so similar. I just never understood why."

He sighed but said nothing. He was waiting to hear his fate, I could feel the tension radiating from him.

"I need time to think about it. It's just too much right now."

He stood and placed a hand on my shoulder, "I understand. I'll be waiting for you back in the village once you decide. I won't come again. Thank you for listening, Bella."

I felt his hand lift, a warm sensation lingering on my shoulder, and then he was gone and I was alone again.

All I wanted was some peace right now. I didn't need any more complications. Why did life keep throwing them at me? Hadn't I been through enough? Endured too much already? I threw myself down on the bed and found I was crying. Not with sadness but with frustration and weariness. I felt as I had when I first woke up in the hospital after the attack and I hated it.

I must have been so deep in my own misery that I never heard the door open. The first I knew of Jasper's return was when I felt his arms around me lifting me and cradling me close to his chest.

"What happened? Did he hurt you, Bella?"

I was so relieved I couldn't speak for a few minutes but slowly I was able to spit out the story in bits and pieces.

"So now I have the fate of humankind in my hands too. No pressure of course."

Jasper didn't say anything at first he just held me, smoothing my hair and rocking me gently like a mother would comfort a child. He knew exactly what I needed at that moment and gave it.

Only later when I pulled myself together did he speak,

"I should never have left you alone, not in his backyard."

"Jasper, I can look after myself. I know it doesn't look like it at the moment but I can. I was never in any danger."

"Physical maybe not but he left you a mental trainwreck."

I thumped his chest with one hand.

As I cradled my throbbing hand against my chest I asked myself, did I never learn?

"I am not a train wreck. I'm just exhausted. Everything that's happened just overwhelmed me for a minute. But thanks for caring."

He sighed heavily, pulled me into his arms and whispered in my ear, "If you haven't worked it out by now I'll just have to tell you. I love you Bella Swan and I will always worry and always care about you. Now, forget Johnny H for a while. Come on, you need to sleep."

I tried to protest but he just ignored me. Sweeping me off my feet he laid me on the bed, pulled the covers up over me and settled on the edge taking my hand.

"Do as you're told just for once and sleep, Bella. You need some rest."

As I began to remonstrate, I mean how could I possibly relax and sleep with all I had whirling around in my head? I felt my eyes becoming heavy.

"Hey, not fair. You promised not to do this."

He smiled, "I know. You can think of a suitable punishment for my transgression in the morning. Sweet dreams my love."

A suitable punishment? Oh, I would, but not until the morning. That was the beginning of another day.