Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for a reason.
Chpt 5 Friendly Visit
BPOV
Within a few days we are packed up an' heading for our new home. We part ways in Connecticut, Char an' Jasper heading to Millburn, which even I know is one of the most expensive suburbs of New York, while Pete an' I travel on to New Hampshire.
The closer we get to the Cullens the more nervous I am, the increasing tug at my heart as we move away from Jasper doesn't help. All in all I am nervous an' on edge, which amuses my brother no end.
"You'll make a shit poker player sweet thing." He observes eventually when I've been reduced to gnawin' on my lower lip.
"Sorry." I mutter, realising I've not been good company for the last hour or so. "I'm really wound up about seeing 'em. I never thought I'd have to an' I especially don't like doing it without Jasper."
"You're still mad at 'em." He states calmly.
"I don't know. I suppose so. I thought they cared about me. They abandoned me. An' it really pisses me off that after the way they treated Jasper they'd think he'd go trekkin' down to Rio to look for Alice an' Edward."
"I can understand that sweet thing." He says and then he snickers. "Just don't kill one of 'em, I didn't bring a lighter."
I roll my eyes even though it isn't entirely funny. I'm not a newborn anymore but I sure as hell have a temper like one around strangers, an' that is what the Cullens are to me, strangers.
On the outskirts of our destination Pete pulls into a motel.
"Don't tell me you're tired?" I ask incredulously.
"We need to wash J's scent off us an' change our clothes." He responds.
"I thought I'd just shield us."
"Bella." He says, his words loaded with warning. "The less anyone knows about your gift the better. Carlisle's a curious fucker an' pathetically enthralled of The Volturi. Its best if they know as little as possible, if he asks just tell him you are still a mental shield an' J couldn't always read your emotions. Leave it at that."
Hatin' myself a bit I shower an' change into clean jeans an' a tank with a long sleeve blouse over the top. I don't want the Cullens to see my scars, which makes me angry and uncomfortable because I know full well there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Pete dresses down for the occasion, his contempt for them evident in his choice of clothing.
"Does Char know you're goin' out in public dressed like that?"
"Fuck no." He chortles. "My lil' bundle of hotness is quite proper in some respects. She'd have a shit fit if she could see me now."
His jeans are ripped to shreds, bright green boxers hangin' out of the ass on one side and his t-shirt looks like he's just used it to clean a car engine an' is way too small for him. There's a leather cuff on his wrist an' another thinner one around his neck with a ring on it like a dog collar. He looks like a BDSM pin-up.
"Are you wearin' eye liner?" I ask suspiciously.
"I am." He says regardin' his reflection with satisfaction, batting his eyelashes at me in the mirror. "Do I look pretty? Will I freak out the squares?"
"You're freakin' me out." I mutter.
"Then that's a good start. Lets go lil' sis, my BFF tells me the man of the house is not at the hospital."
"You know that?" I ask, impressed.
"Of course." He chuckles. "I fuckin' rang 'em an' asked if he was there. They said he was off duty, at home with his wife."
I follow him out to the truck, my thoughts sour, I swear to god sometimes his gift is just bein' an annoying asshole.
A few minutes later we swing into the Cullens winding driveway. It's hard to spot and lined with trees which gives me a nasty sense of déjà vu. As we pull up in front of the low wide house Pete reaches over an' gives my hand a squeeze, I let him have a small smile using the emotions I feel about seeing them again to help me slip into a melancholy state befitting a young vampire who has lost their mate.
Before Pete can hand me down from the truck Carlisle and Esme appear at the front door.
With a deep sigh I plaster the smile firmly on my face and walk forward to meet them.
"Bella." Carlisle greets me, a genuine smile on his face. "It's wonderful to see you. What brings you to New Hampshire?"
"Hi Carlisle." I answer quietly. "We came to bring you some news."
His face falls a little, but not as far as Esme's, she looks actively pained and I feel for her slightly, she must be desperately worried about Alice and Edward.
"You'd better come in." He gestures us inside, casting his eyes nervously over Pete as we pass.
Within moments we are stood awkwardly in their living room, the silence packed to bursting with all the things probably shouldn't be said.
"Do you mind if I call Rosalie and Emmett?" Carlisle asks eventually.
I shake my head, not trusting my voice.
They appear instantly, naturally unchanged, Em is grinnin' at me and Rosalie looks like the only thing stopping her from ripping my throat out is supreme boredom.
"Please sit down." Carlisle requests.
Slowly I lower myself into a seat and the other follow suit. The couples sitting together an' Pete perching on the arm of my chair. I take a moment to study them. Of course they haven't changed, they look as preppie and perfect as ever.
"What are they doing here?" Rosalie snarls.
"Rosalie." Carlisle admonishes. "They are guests in our home, please be polite."
Without thinking I turn my eyes to Rosalie. Despite having had so little to do with her she is one of my most abiding human memories of the Cullens, with her stunning blonde beauty and haughty disdain for me she made quite an impression. She stares back at me like I'm something unpleasant she's found on the bottom of her shoe. For a moment I feel like that gangly naïve teenager she despised so much but even as my eyes fall away from hers to find my shoes I remember that I am a woman in my own right now and even if I weren't The Major's Mate I would still have done plenty to be proud of.
Slowly I lift my eyes to hers again, raising my eyebrow slightly. Angrily she jerks her stare away and beside me I hear Pete chuckle, almost like he's read my thoughts.
"We're very pleased you came to see us Bella." Carlisle begins. "I have been trying to contact Jasper, I'm surprised he is not with you?"
"Jasper is dead." I respond in a flat voice.
There is a collective gasp.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Carlisle asks eventually.
I don't answer immediately, instead I watch him impassively as I try to control my anger. No condolences, no regrets about the loss of my mate? No apparent sorrow for someone he once regarded as a son? When he starts to fidget nervously under my scrutiny I ask a question of my own.
"Did you know that Jasper was The Major?" I ask.
"I suspected it." He answers. "He had visitors from time to time." He flicks his glance over Pete.
"Well about twelve months ago we had visitors too." I growl. "He was killed defending his family."
"I am sorry Bella." Carlisle says quietly and somewhat sincerely.
I close my eyes for a moment.
"Would this have been at the same time that Alice and Edward disappeared in South America?" He continues.
I nod.
"I thought they had gone on holiday but Emmett informed me they went to find the vampire they believed was after Jasper."
"Rutilio." I snarl. "He organises big money fights between vampires, he wanted Jasper to fight one of his clients. Jasper refused so Rutilio kidnapped and tortured him."
"How did . . . ." Carlisle begins.
"We rescued him but Rutilio came after us."
"Do you know what happened to Alice and Edward?" He demands suddenly.
"No." I narrow my eyes at him, my voice icy. "All we know is that they left for South America just before Jasper was kidnapped."
"Surely if you have seen this Rutilio you would have asked him about Alice and Edward?"
"Why?" I ask coldly. "We were a little busy trying to survive at the time. Besides if they messed with Rutilio it is possible that they are dead."
Carlisle scowls at me silently for a moment. "Alice and Edward loved you, we treated you as a member of our family. You have become very cold Bella."
"I wasn't given much choice in the matter Carlisle." I snarl, starting out of my chair. Pete grasps the back of my blouse in an attempt to keep me in place, accidently tearing it off me as I surge to my feet.
Another collective gasp.
"Oh Bella." Esme moans. "Your scars."
"I had to fight to survive." I shrug, diverted from my anger at Carlisle. "Like Jasper and the rest of my family."
"You are very different to the sweet girl you once were." Carlisle observes coolly.
"I'm a vampire."
"That is hardly an excuse, Alice and Edward are missing because they went to South America to help you."
"Well they didn't do a very good job Carlisle. I lost my mate and I still don't know whether or not they had anythin' to do with it."
"You aren't seriously suggesting that Alice or Edward would do something to deliberately harm any of you people?" Rosalie sneers.
"I don't know Rosalie." I respond calmly. "All I know is that they went to South America an' a short time later Jasper was taken."
She leaps to her feet, towering over me an' leanin' down into my face with a feral snarl on her perfect lips.
I smile. "Don't make me angry Rosalie. You won't like me when I'm angry."
"Who do you think you are you little piece of trash!"
"Babe." Em lays his hand on her arm urging her to move away.
"No Em. She deserves to know what I think of her. She couldn't get Edward so she went after that Neanderthal Jasper and look where it's gotten her. Covered in scars like a common whore!"
"Oh shit." Pete groans as he sees my eyes go black.
In a flash I whirl her around twisting her arms behind her back an' forcing' her down onto her knees. Before anyone can stop me I push her across the floor holding her beautiful face mere inches from the fire.
"You need to understand somethin' Rosalie." I speak quietly in her ear. "You mean nothing' to me. Nothing. Whether you live or die is of so little interest to me that I cannot even be bothered to think about whether or not I'm gonna shove your pretty little face into this fire."
Behind me I can hear Pete scuffling' with Em an' I assume that Carlisle an' Esme are just standin' there wringing' their hands.
"I won't do it out of respect for Emmett." I growl. "But if you ever call me a whore again I might change my mind. And if you ever say anythin' bad about Jasper I will change my mind."
I pull her body back an' release her, letting her head crash forwards onto the hearth stone. Em flies to her immediately, cradlin' her while she sobs.
Pete comes to stand beside me and we turn to face Carlisle an' Esme.
"I'm sorry." And I am, a little. "I think we have outstayed our welcome. I don't know where Alice an' Edward are an' if I'm honest I don't really care, since we have problems of our own to deal with. However, if we hear anythin' we'll let you know. Pete."
"Yes Ma'am." He says respectfully as he follows me out of the door.