"Jasper? What happened to you?" I couldn't believe that a Cullen, or a Hale in his case, could look so dishevelled at any point.

"Perhaps I should ask that question to you," he threw back in his Southern drawl.

I was still sitting on the muddy ground from where I had fallen. I tested my shaky knees before allowing myself to get up.

"I just heard a bad news." My tear-stricken face couldn't be more obvious. "It's about Charlie."

He sighed deeply. He started to step closer to me but halted. He was still many feet away from me.

"What's wrong?" I asked. I looked around me. We were deep in the forest and the only light was coming from the moon above us.

"Is there somebody else here?" I asked curiously. I wasn't expecting Edward or Alice. If they were here, they would have come first before Jasper did. But I couldn't understand Jasper's hesitation to approach me.

"What's wrong? I repeated.

"Are you scared of me?" He asked in a gentle tone.

"Of course not! Why would I be scared?" I was incredulous. Then I suddenly remembered why he thought I would react that way around him.

"Oh, Jasper," I exclaimed. "Didn't Edward tell you? There was nothing to be sorry for. I know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose. I know it. Believe in what I'm saying because I wouldn't lie about it."

Jasper had always worn that emotionless mask of his at any given time. Perhaps it was only Alice who could open him up. But it was difficult for me not to know how he felt inside.

"It's not just that, Bella," he said quietly. "I know your sufferings. I could feel them and I know how much you've hurt. Edward was a fool but it is still my fault that things have turned out for worse."

My forehead creased. "How would you know how I feel? You weren't here. You all left."

He sighed. "Maybe I should start from the beginning. Bella," he looked into my eyes. "I'm Macto."

My eyes flew wide open. It all seemed surreal but the puzzle was finally falling into place. When I talked to Macto, I knew the person seemed familiar. I bet he wasn't just an ordinary student in school, but somebody who was more or better than that.

"But...but why?" I stammered.

"Don't you know what Macto means?" His lips twitched. "I thought you were a wide reader. Macto in Latin can mean two different things. One is honor. I joined the Confederate States Army to serve and to gain honor to my name.

"When I...I lost my head and attacked you, I couldn't believe I lost my self-control just like that. And what's worse is that it had to be someone my brother is very in love with. I have wronged you and Edward."

I shook my head. "No, Jasper. Please don't think of yourself that way. It was my fault; I was too clumsy."

Not listening to me, he continued, "Therefore, I reacted against his will to leave this town. I can't just abandon what I have undone."

I ran to him and embraced him. Alice was right to love a man like him. Feeling shy, I removed myself away from him gently and continued my questioning.

"Where's Alice? Isn't she with you?" I couldn't imagine the two of them getting separated. I blamed myself silently.

"It's not your fault. This is entirely my decision. I told Alice about my decision and although she wanted to be the one to stay instead, I convinced her that it was a duty I need to accomplish on my own. She was the one who suggested the History paper. She saw it as the best way to get your attention." He smiled at the memory of Alice.

"Where is she now?"

"She was in Biloxi visiting her niece who's still alive," he informed me. "She's on her way here now. She knows about Charlie."

I dropped my head as I remembered the present.

"He was just in the house this morning," I whispered. "He wanted to join the fishing competition."

"That's another thing I need to talk to you about," he said.

My eyes emitted fear as they looked at him. What could be worse?

"There's another reason why I stayed." He sighed. "I had worked many years in a war and I know how fury and revenge can wreak havoc for decades and decades. I'd witnessed all the deaths and even caused them with my own hands."

I began to feel frantic as his words were beginning to hit me. All too sudden, he calmed me as if he was anticipating it.

"James is dead. But he left in his stead the wrath of his mate, Victoria."

I recalled the fire-haired beauty on that fateful night at the field. "She's come to kill me," I managed to whisper.

He nodded curtly. "I knew it was bound to happen. Nothing could induce more anger than a woman scorned." He shook his head in exasperation.

"Did she...Charlie?" I couldn't breathe.

He didn't answer or move. No facial expressions at all. He just let me search in his eyes and I knew.

He spoke again. "And that's why I chose the name Macto. It also means 'to punish'. Because that's what I assure you will happen as soon as I found her.

"She was a very cunning woman. If James was a good tracker, she was as equally good as an eluder. Even Alice had a hard time finding her next course," he explained.

"Was she the one who...who entered my room?"

He grinned sheepishly. "No, that was me. I went in to check up on you. I could smell her around your house so I needed to enter your room to see how close she had been to you. She knew I was around hunting her. At least that set her back for a while."

Until she got Charlie.

"Had she been in my room?" I asked.

He shook his head no. "But she got a chance when Charlie went to La Push. She knew I couldn't enter the soil there." He cursed silently, but it seemed that it was just not Victoria he was angry about, but something else too.

"They said he drowned." I looked at him to confirm it.

"I can't attest to that yet. However it happened, she must be involved," he said firmly.

"What should we do now?" I didn't really care about myself. Two men that I loved the most were already gone.

He didn't answer. Instead, he smelled deeply and narrowed his eyes. I turned around and looked sideways. I still couldn't see or hear another's presence, besides the fact that it was totally dark around us. I could even barely see anything three feet away.

"Is she here?" I whispered.

"Not she," was his short reply.

A moment passed and I heard something crunch the leaves on the ground. I clutched Jasper's sleeves and searched for his reaction. He was like a rock.

Then the figure spoke. His voice was husky, as if he hadn't spoken for a long time, but to my ears, it was still a soothing baritone that could warm the coldest part of my body.

"Bella," said an angel's voice.

"Edward?"