Chapter Three
Carlisle
I was very glad for Emmett and Jasper's presence. I had hoped Edward would take it better but feared he would react just as he did. I had to admit that so far Alice had nailed it.
We hadn't had much time to plan, Alice had seen Bella's pregnancy only when Bella did and was immediately assailed with several terrible outcomes once Edward knew. Bella's chances of successfully carrying the child weren't high, but as I had told Edward, it was her decision to make.
Unfortunately, every path that spiralled out as a result of Bella remaining with Edward led to tragedy. Alice had been extremely upset as Edward thought through the moves he could make. If I refused to help him, he didn't think it likely but it had been a possibility, then he went to the Volturi. Unfortunately, the results of this outcome were no better for Bella.
The Volturi had stories in the archives of humans who had been inseminated by vampire sires and almost every one led to the death of one or both mother and child. There were also stories of the creatures who were born malformed and died shortly after birth. Aro wouldn't risk Bella's death, he was too intrigued by her gift. He would use it as an excuse to keep her in Volterra which would also give him a hold over Edward and that was something he had always wanted.
As a result of Alice's predictions, the plan was something of a 'make it up as we go along' affair. Thank God it had worked so far. Now I needed to make sure the rest of the family was safe. I was only too aware of the consequences of my actions. Aro would look very unfavourably on what I had done.
Rose had argued with me but Emmett saw what I was doing and eventually persuaded her that they should leave. He would meet up with her in Seattle where she would wait for him after leaving Bella with Alice.
I glanced at Jasper who was waiting patiently to see what else I needed him to do. I knew Alice had spoken to him before she left. She had warned me that Bella may need protection, she had seen something of my plan although she didn't know who Bella was taking sanctuary with or where.
She couldn't know how I was so sure that Bella would remain safe from trackers and I dare not tell her. No one knew of my connection with Maggie or even of her existence and it must stay that way.
"Carlisle, you know Jasper is Bella's only hope if the Volturi or Edward track her down. I know you think you have all angles covered but I fear something could go wrong. Whoever you are sending Bella to must be very powerful but so are the gifts that Aro can bring to his aid."
"Alice, you know that Jasper won't leave you. If he protects anyone it will be you. I promise you that Bella will be perfectly safe."
Alice shook her head, "No, Carlisle. Jasper's path leads in another direction. When I first met him I knew that but he needed me as much as I needed him. We allowed ourselves to believe that our futures were the same. Coming to you wasn't only to help us live as vampires in a way we could accept. There was more to it. I saw us part, I just didn't know when but I do now. Use him, Carlisle. Bella needs him far more than I do."
Alice had spoken to Jasper although I had no idea what she had said to him. All I knew was that she would never do anything to harm him or Bella. He had looked puzzled these past couple of days but had said nothing to anyone except he and Alice were parting and that she was going away.
I was brought out of my reverie by Jasper's voice.
"Alice told me you need me, Carlisle, and I think it was for more than playing your bodyguard. Emmett could have handled Edward without my help."
"Possibly but I couldn't afford to take any chances. And now I have another task for you. A more difficult and possibly dangerous task. I need you to escort Bella to safety."
He frowned at me, "I thought Alice was doing that?"
"Just as you were supposed to. Along with everyone else. I couldn't afford to give anyone the whole story. Bella is in enough danger as it is. We don't have much time but I would like to tell you a story, Jasper. It will help to clarify the situation."
I got up and threw him my car keys, "I'll explain as we drive to the airport. Esme has already left. I decided it would be safer if we travelled separately. All being well we will meet again in a few weeks. Once I know if it's safe to do so."
I knew he was dying to question me but like a good soldier he was content to wait and I spent the first ten minutes collecting my thoughts as he drove out of Forks. This may well be the last time I saw Jasper and I needed him to understand.
I felt him watching me, "Alice told me she wasn't coming back. I take it you knew?"
I nodded, "Yes, although please understand that I'm not the one responsible for her decision. It just made it easier for me to ask you to take on this responsibility. I suppose I owe you an explanation but first a question. Do you ever feel that your life lacks purpose?"
He glanced at me then his attention went back to the road and he shrugged.
" I guess so. I look around and I see others making a life for themselves. You have your medical work, Edward has his music, Esme has her interior design business, Rosalie and Emmett enjoy travelling and he has his computers to occupy him.
I'm not like the others, Carlisle. I don't want to spend eternity studying. There are only so many times you can graduate before it becomes meaningless. I told Alice I needed to find myself, that I was thinking we should leave the family, at least for a while. I guess her goodbye told me that she didn't agree. Do you think she saw all this? Is that why I'm still here?"
"I can't answer that, Jasper. Any more than I can say that this is what you're looking for but Bella certainly needs a friend right now. A friend with your particular skill set."
"Sorry, Carlisle, but I would have thought Bella needed you if anyone."
"No, I would be far too dangerous a companion for Bella under the circumstances. Now, let me tell you my story.
"When I first settled in the United States after leaving Italy I was at a loss, much like you are now. I'd lived in Volterra for years but I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I needed a purpose, a goal.
Anyway, I was a nomad, wandering around and using my medical skills whenever I could to help people. Then one day I found myself drawn to a certain place although I couldn't say why. That is until I came across a young woman, Maggie. She recognized me for what I was because she had been involved with another vampire. I thought at first she might denounce me. I could have been burned if she had, but she needed my help. You see Maggie was pregnant and terrified. She had no idea what to do or if the pregnancy would kill her or the baby.
Maggie had no family, she lived in a shack on a farm in return for helping to look after the livestock. I stayed around and helped when I could and then she gave birth to a baby girl she called Mary.
The farmer was put under pressure from the local people to throw her out for giving birth to a bastard. I think they were terrified that she would name one of them as the father. He would have sent her on her way earlier but I made it worth his while to turn a deaf ear. Once Mary was born he turned Maggie out, the pressure had become too much for him.
Maggie and I travelled west for a few days and then the child became sick. I did everything I could but it wasn't enough and Mary died. Hybrids rarely live, there is too much conflict between the human and vampire genes.
Maggie was devastated. We buried Mary on a hilltop among some trees and I knew Maggie could never leave that spot so I bought the land and gifted it to her. I helped her set it up as a small farm that she could manage more or less on her own. A cow, a couple of pigs, chickens, ducks, you know the sort of thing. I gave her enough money to see her over the first few years until her farm was established and then we parted.
I kept in touch from time to time and discovered that she had married and had two children, Amos and Luke.
The boys died of TB within a month of each other, they were only three and then her husband was killed in an accident so she was all alone again. It wasn't until I visited her a few years after that I discovered she had taken in two orphan children and was caring for them. She told me that she wanted to give back some of the love she hadn't been able to give to Mary and the kindness I had shown her.
I'm sorry, I said I would keep this short. I am being as brief as I can. Anyhow, Maggie's tragedy was that the venom that created her child also made her more or less immortal. All she wanted was to join her babies but although she still aged it was so slow. We still don't know how long she has left."
She was forced to leave the farm eventually when people began to talk but only rented it out and she goes back whenever possible. She also kept up the tradition of helping those who need it."
"That's where you're sending Bella? To Maggie? Why are you so sure that she'll be safe there?"
"I'm not one hundred per cent sure but Maggie has a gift. She has the ability to hide people. She has some kind of shield that makes finding the people she is protecting impossible. We found out quite by accident many years ago when she was helping an abused wife. The husband turned up but despite searching the farmhouse he missed his wife who was hiding in one of the bedrooms. She saw him but he didn't see her. He had no idea how close he had been."
"So, why do you want me to go with Bella? It sounds like you have all the angles covered. I mean does anyone know about your connection to Maggie?"
"No. I've been very careful. The money I send her from time to time is sent via a numbered Swiss bank account that can't be traced back to me and I haven't seen Maggie for a very long time. Even Esme doesn't know of her existence. We decided it was safest for her."
"Then I don't understand my part. What is it that you want me to do?"
"If anything were to happen to Maggie, Bella would immediately become vulnerable. If she survives the birth and the baby lives then she will need a friend who can protect her. Maggie is beginning to weaken now and I haven't anyone else I trust with this."
Jasper was quiet for some time before speaking again.
"You think Edward will go to the Volturi and Aro will want Bella and the baby if they survive. If your friend dies you want me to protect them? You seem to think very highly of me, Carlisle. Do you really think I can protect Bella from the Volturi?"
I smiled, "You're asking the wrong question but I'll give the answer to the one you should be asking. I think you are the only person I can rely on to die before allowing anyone to harm Bella or her child if you give me your word to protect them. So, will you do it?"
He sighed, "It seems to be my destiny to protect Bella. I remember Phoenix. That didn't work out so well, Carlisle. Are you sure?"
I nodded and he sighed heavily.
"OK, Carlisle. But what if it all goes wrong? What if one or both of them die and there's nothing I can do to prevent it?"
I put my hand on his arm, "Then, son. You have done all you possibly can and you have nothing to reproach yourself for. Thank you, Jasper."
"What about you? I mean if Edward goes to Aro then the Volturi are going to come looking for you."
I smiled, "Oh, I'll cross that bridge when I reach it. I've had a thousand lifetimes, Bella is only just beginning hers. We have to give her a chance."
I glanced at my watch, "You can stop here and let me out."
I reached into my pocket and handed him a slip of paper. There are two addresses. One is the location where Alice left Bella. The second is Maggie's. Please destroy them once you've read them and good luck. God speed."
I didn't look back as the car turned and headed away. I had done all I could, now I had to survive whatever storm Edward brought down on my head and pray that my loved ones would be safe and happy wherever they went. I doubted Aro would hunt them down. Any wrath he felt would be aimed at me and I was prepared for that.
Jasper
I ripped the paper into tiny pieces and scattered it along the highway as I drove. I had no idea what I was driving into, only that I hadn't even considered refusing Carlisle's request. It somehow seemed right, something worth doing. The last time I had let Bella slip through my fingers, I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
The motel was only a short drive and I soon pulled up outside a room at the very end of the row, as far from the office as possible making sure the car couldn't be seen from the road. Bella's room was in the opposite row but I was taking no chances. Parked outside from room 8, hers, was a car. One of which I had the key to, found taped to the note with the addresses. Carlisle had worked wonders in the short time he'd had.
It was now getting dark but I waited until the shadows hid me from interested eyes before moving. It also allowed me to ensure that there was no one else watching the motel.
I knocked on Bella's door and waited, hearing her heart beating faster with fear. Then spoke to reassure her.
"It's OK, Bella. It's only me, Jasper."
The door opened a fraction and one terrified brown eye peered out at me before opening further to allow me to enter. Bella had retreated to the bed and was sitting there worrying the counterpane with trembling fingers.
"Hi there. I'm guessing Alice told you to expect me?"
She bit her lip shaking her head in answer to my question, "She just told me to wait here. That Carlisle would send someone to help me. I think you're probably the last person I expected to see in all honesty."
"Yeah, sorry about that but he seemed to think I was the best person to keep you safe. I don't think we need to worry too much. Edward has no idea where you are, hell even I didn't know until about an hour ago, so the chance of him turning up at this particular motel is pretty slim."
"Slim or not I won't feel safe until I reach my destination. Did Carlisle tell you where we're going?"
I nodded, she was terrified and I wondered if her fear might affect the baby.
"We should probably leave right away. It's a long drive and we shouldn't stay in one place too long. Do you think you can sleep in the car? I think rest would be the best thing for both of you."
She stared at me for several seconds, tears running down her cheeks and I wondered what I had said to elicit such a reaction.
"I'm sorry, I…"
She waved me to silence, "No, don't apologize. You're the first person to acknowledge the existence of my baby. Even Carlisle talked of my pregnancy and the child as if I had little chance of doing this. I needed to hear someone who feels like I do. Thank you, Jasper."
I realized then just how fragile Bella was right now. I had thought her strong for making the decision that she had but never thought beyond that point. She was barely more than a child herself, afraid, abandoned by her husband, and carrying a child she was determined to give every chance of survival against almost insurmountable odds.
I walked over and sat beside her,
"Hey, you're doing great. This must be incredibly difficult. Just remember you're not alone. I'm here for as long as you need me, both of you."
She sighed wiping the tears away with the back of her hand, "I thought Edward would be there for us. He should be here, not you. I'm sorry you drew the short straw, Jasper, but I'm glad you're here."
I put a hand around her shoulders and pulled her close, aware of just how vulnerable she was.
"We can do this. Or should I say you can? I have great faith in you, Bella. Now, are you ready?"
Bella got up and excused herself to use the bathroom while I went to the car and checked we were still alone. The car lot was empty except for three or four cars parked outside rooms and the one I had left now deep in the shadows. Smiling I saw a blanket folded on the back seat. Carlisle had thought of everything!
Glancing back I saw Bella peering out of the window. When I nodded she joined me quickly, slipping into the back of the car and stretching out as well as she could with the blanket over her.
"Sorry it's so cold. As soon as the engine warms up I'll turn the heater on."
Receiving no answer I glanced in the rear-view mirror to see she was already drowsy. Exhaustion had finally overcome fear. I hoped that was because she felt safer in my company but maybe I was just flattering myself.
I started the engine, glanced once more at my charge and drove out of the parking lot keeping a watch in the rearview mirror to make sure no one followed us.
