Author's Note: While I have had Jasper riding around without a helmet in previous chapters, it is actually illegal in the state of Washington. I just didn't want to hide his face. ;) Bella is smart enough to protect her melon obviously and her concerns in this chapter are purely for her bike.
I've gotten my 100th review! Congrats to sam's-lurker-droid for being the lucky poster. Keep the reviews coming!
(Bella)
I could smell bacon frying, sniffing at the air before opening my eyes. I stretched a little bit, realizing I was still holding Jasper's hand in mine from last night. I reluctantly let go, not wanting to release him, but a little embarrassed that I had kept him trapped next to me all night long.
"Morning. Where did Peter and Charlotte go?" I mumbled, looking at the clock. It was barely past 7am. Charlie hadn't been gone for long.
"Charlotte's making you breakfast. She assured me she knew how to cook if you're worried."
I got up, smiling at him. "Not at all, it smells great."
I ran a brush through my hair and made my way downstairs. Char was just plating my food as I walked in. She smiled up at me when I walked in.
"I hope it's alright, I haven't made human food in a long time." She told me.
"It looks and smells delicious." I told her, taking the plate and pulling a fork from the drawer. She had made scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. A hearty, yet simple breakfast. Jasper got me a glass of juice from the fridge, putting it on the table next to me. I devoured the food, channeling my inner Jacob. I had slept for about ten hours and I was starving.
"Thanks Charlotte, it was really good." I praised.
She beamed a smile at me in response as she whipped around the kitchen at vampire speed cleaning up. "No problem! It was fun. Cleaning up is much easier than when I was human too."
"I could have used vampire speed yesterday when I was cooking." I told her. "It took all day and I had to clean between dishes. If I could move like that it would have been a breeze."
"If you need to make more, I could help." she offered. "I don't remember specifics, but the mechanics are still there. I'm pretty sure if you have recipes I could follow them."
I shook my head. "No, I don't think I could pack too much more into the freezer."
"Mind if I steal those boxes you used yesterday out of your recycling Bella?" Peter asked. "We might need them for Jasper's things at the Cullen house."
"Sure." I replied. "Are you sure you won't need more than two boxes? Won't he need to get his clothes and stuff?"
"Nah, those were all things Alice picked out. Not stuff I'd wear willingly." Jasper spoke up. "I did some quick shopping while we were in Seattle, and I can always do some more if I need to. I just want some of my books from the house and few things I saved from my human life."
I finished my juice and Charlotte took my dishes from me, washing them and putting them away. I thanked her again and went up to my room to change out of my pajamas. I could hear Jasper telling them exactly which books he wanted and where he kept the items he was taking from the house.
I closed my bedroom door, blocking out the sound of their conversation as I dressed. I decided on a pair of jeans and a light knit sweater over a white t-shirt. It was dark green and had a v-neck. I brushed out my hair once more and checked myself over in the mirror. Deciding I didn't want the hassle of make-up, knowing it wouldn't fool a vampire anyhow, I declared myself presentable and threw on my shoes quickly.
I unplugged my phone from the charger and dialed Eleazer.
"Bella, so good to hear from you again!" he answered.
"Same to you Eleazer. I wanted to let you know that I will be coming over shortly if that is alright."
"I'm eager to meet you, as is my mate Carmen. We've heard a lot about you."
"All good, I hope?" I joked.
"Of course." he laughed. "We are ready anytime."
"Okay, I'll see you later then."
"Until later, Bella!" he said, hanging up.
I texted Jake, letting him know that I would be at the Cullen house today and would fill Sam in. I sent a text to Sam, not knowing if he was awake yet letting him know to call me when he was and that I would be at the Cullen house.
I went downstairs, joining everyone in the kitchen. The smell of coffee permeated the space. The three of them were holding mugs, sniffing at the dark brew. I was torn between confusion and humor. Deciding I'd rather have some of my own before asking, I made up a cup and leaned against the cabinets, sipping the coffee and watching my odd vampire friends, eyebrow raised.
"Who's idea was the coffee?" I finally asked.
"Peter's." Charlotte said. "He likes the smell of it. I won't let him make it often at home since it's a waste and he tends to go overboard." she laughed. "I don't mind the smell of coffee, but my Peter is a man of extremes." She kissed him softly and he joined in with a soft chuckle.
"Most human food smells vile." Jasper said. "Coffee is one of the few exceptions, as long as there isn't any dairy in it. It's too bad so many humans add milk or cream. Otherwise a coffee shop would be nice to hang out in. Starbucks is really nasty with all their designer drinks. Smells horrible."
"I can't even imagine." I tried to think about it. "I would ask what it smelled like, but I doubt you could give me an answer."
"Not really." Jasper replied.
"You heard my call to Eleazer, I assume?" I changed the subject, still sipping at my coffee.
"Yeah, we are ready to go when you are."
"After we finish our coffee is fine." I smiled and winked at Peter. He lifted his cup towards me in salute.
We rinsed out our cups and put them away before leaving. I was all for leaving them in the sink before Jasper pointed out that if Charlie beat us home it would look funny to find four cups. I told him it wouldn't since the pack was over so often but he didn't want to take the chance. He also ordered Peter to hide his and Char's travel bags under my bed incase anyone looked in my room.
I let him play commander while I got out my jacket and helmet. My bike was under a tarp against the side of the house. I debated showing off my restored Harley that Jake and I worked on. Well, mostly Jake worked on and I watched, but I helped by passing him things. It didn't hold a candle to Jasper's bike though and part of me wanted the excuse to press against him again.
A devious thought snuck into my head, I always could make him ride my bike and take his. I wondered if I could pull it off. Jacob told me that I was good at flirting, but Jasper was an empath, he would know my game before I started. I could feel his eyes on me, I tried sending him calm. I felt alertness come back at me. Busted already.
"What are you up to?" he asked.
"What? Me?" I asked, projecting innocence.
Peter looked between us, smirking.
"Yes you. You are up to something darlin', don't try to pretend otherwise." his eyes narrowed.
I put on my jacket and helmet like a suit of armor, knowing it would help hide any stray expressions that could give me away.
"I don't know what you are talking about Major. You're paranoid." I sent him my false indignance, trying to keep from thinking too hard about his bike. "No more stalling, it's time to go." I opened the door and walked out, leaving him standing there for a moment before he caught up to me.
"I'll figure you out yet." he promised.
"Good luck with that Major, you can't figure out women!" Peter spoke up, earning a look from Charlotte. He pulled her close, grinning. "Best to just give in."
Charlotte rolled her eyes, but held him back, snuggling into his side.
Jasper darted off into the woods to get his bike and my phone rang. I pulled off my helmet and got out my phone.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey Bella, it's Sam."
"Oh, hey. Glad you called. I didn't wanna wake you up."
"It's fine, I was about to get up anyhow. So you're going to the Cullen place today?"
"Yeah."
"I don't think you should go alone Bella. I'll be over after breakfast, just wait for me."
"No, I have Jasper going with me. I don't think it's a good idea if Eleazer and his mate see you guys in wolf form. I don't know if they know about you or not and the fewer vampires there are who know about the pack, the better."
He paused, thinking for a moment. "Are you sure?"
"I'll be fine. If you guys want to patrol around the Cullen house, go for it. Just stay out of sight."
"It would make me feel better. I know eventually you will be going off on your own, becoming one of them... but for now, you are one of us."
"Okay well, eat and come by after. I'm heading there now but don't rush, I'll be taking the bike so it's not like I'll be alone for long and I'll have Jasper with me. He can take care of me until you get there."
"Alright, I'll call you later. Be careful."
"You too, and stay out of sight." I hung up.
Jasper had returned with his bike already. I put my phone back in my purse and gave up on my game. Looks like I would have to give in, taking the equally good consolation prize of sharing a ride with Jasper after all.
"Change of plans." I said. "There is a potential for the pack to be meeting up at some point along the road. It isn't safe for Peter and Char to be running out of sight."
I put my helmet back on to free up my hands and walked over to the side of the house where the tarp covered my bike, unstrapping the bungee cords that held it down. I rolled it up, using the cords to secure the blue canvas to the house, keeping it from blowing around.
"You own a motorcycle?" Jasper asked, shocked.
"You thought I kept a helmet around just for fun? How clumsy do you think I am that I require a helmet?" I said, forgetting he couldn't see my expression through the facemask.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." He sputtered.
"Relax Jasper." I said, sending him my anticipation at the thought of getting to ride with him again. "Peter and Char can ride my bike, I'll ride with you, if that's okay."
"That's fine with me." Peter said, checking out my bike. "Looks like someone put a lot of effort into restoring this thing. Good work on it too."
"My friend Jake, he's a great mechanic. We spent most of the winter in his garage fixing up our bikes." I handed the keys to Peter. "I don't have spare helmets though, so if my Dad or one of his deputies pulls us over, we'll be in trouble." The thought of having my bike impounded was terrifying.
"I'll try not to get pulled over then." He winked at me, taking the keys and climbing on my baby. I sighed, trying not to worry.
"I don't suppose I could convince you to let me drive?" I asked Jasper. Peter started laughing loudly, causing Jasper to growl at him.
"Not a chance." he told me, offering me his hand to help me slide on behind him. I wrapped my arms around him, noticing Charlotte doing the same with Peter.
"Stay close." I told Peter and we were off.
Peter kept my bike level with Jasper's as we drove, taking up the lane. I concentrated on making sure he was driving safely instead of the feel of Jasper under my hands, my earlier playful mood evaporating as we got closer to the Cullen house. Once out of town, I couldn't help but feel a bit elated at the feeling riding always brought out in me.
Before long, we slowed and turned down the nearly hidden driveway. It was hard to spot and for a moment I was glad Jasper was the one navigating. I was sure I'd have blown right past it. Peter dropped back behind us as we took the trail more slowly, not wanting to damage the suspension on the bikes.
They stayed a bit farther back, falling even further behind. I realized they were intending to drop out of sight before we got to the house and I hoped the wolves hadn't gotten here yet. As we pulled up, Jasper hit a button on his keys, opening the garage door, but not driving in. Instead he stopped the bike in front of the front door and parked it.
He helped me dismount before getting off himself, setting my helmet down on the seat. Taking my hand he led me to the entrance, shooting me some reassurance. As we approached, the door opened and we were met by two vampires.
Eleazer was just short of six feet tall with dark brown hair, cut short, only long enough to touch his collar. His skin had a light olive cast to it, as if it was once a deeper color. He was older looking than any of the vampires I had met, if I had to guess his age, I'd say he was in his early 30s. His mate Carmen was beside him, just an inch or two taller than me. She had long dark brown hair, sharing Eleazer's olive tinting in her complexion. She too looked around 30 years old.
"Jasper and Bella!" He greeted us. "Come in." He looked past us, listening to the sound of the slowly approaching motorcycle. "Are we expecting someone else?"
"The rest of my coven will be upstairs in the house while we talk, gathering up some things I left behind." Jasper told him.
"Also, some of the people that have been protecting me might be around in the woods today, but they won't be coming in." I continued.
"Should we wait for them?" Carmen asked, watching the driveway.
"No, they know the way in." Jasper said, leading me inside and closing the door. "Let's go sit in the living room."
"We got some food, incase you are hungry." Eleazer said, looking proud of himself for remembering.
"I ate already, but thank you for thinking about me." I told him smiling as we settled down. I sat in an armchair, Jasper sitting on the arm protectively. I could tell he was on edge just being here, whether it was the place or the company I wasn't sure. Carmen and Eleazer took seats on the couch across from us. "So, how does this work?" I asked Eleazer.
"You don't have to do anything yet, I am already trying to get a feel for your gift." he was looking at me intently. "Jasper, would you mind moving away a bit? It helps if I have less interference."
Jasper looked hesitant to move away from me and I touched him softly, nodding that it was okay. He relented and moved to the other chair, not looking happy about being even a few feet away from me in the presence of unfamiliar vampires.
"Thank you, that makes it easier." Eleazer concentrated on me again. "Strange, I can tell there is something there, but I can't get a read on it. Definitely a shield, you are blocking me now."
"A shield?" I asked.
"Yes, it is a rare talent, very highly prized in our world. When I worked for the Volturi, Aro had me on the lookout for such a gift at all times. He has a woman in his guard named Renata who has a power that is classed as a shield. She is Aro's personal bodyguard, but also protects the other two kings should the need arise. Her gift works differently, I can read her easily.
"Her shield protects from physical attacks by creating a sort of field around her and anyone she is in direct contact with. If someone were to approach her, they would be repelled. Her gift works on the minds of others, implanting the thought in an attacker's mind that they need to go in another direction, leaving them confused as to why they were approaching her or her charges in the first place."
"So a shield is a classification? A type of gift?" I asked.
"Yes, there are many general types, although I have found that no two gifts work exactly the same. A shield is one type. It can be many things, but they all have in common that they can be used defensively to repel others in some way. Some can stop physical attacks. Some can hide their appearance or block sound or scent. Others can stop mental gifts like you can do with Edward. I have even seen a shield once that was able to stop lies." Eleazer explained.
"Really? Stopping lies? How would that work?" I asked, intrigued.
"You are speaking of Maggie of the Irish coven?" Jasper spoke up.
"Yes, Maggie is technically a shield. She is unconventional, but still a shield by definition. Her gift is she can filter lies from the truth through her shield, it's quite unique." He smiled.
"What other types of gifts are there?" I asked.
"One you have seen, and I would be classified as, is a tracker. James was one and the way my power works is like a tracker. Although I don't hunt in the same way James did, I can search just as well in a different way, to find a gift no matter how well it's hidden from me. Usually." he frowned. "You are proving to be a better shield than I can manage.
"Tracking by scent is a skill any vampire can learn, but to have the gift for it is something different than following a trail. I never met James, so I don't know how exactly he used his gift. There is a very skilled tracker with the Volturi who once meeting a person can lock onto their pattern and find them anywhere in the world. He does not need a scent or clue to head straight for them."
I hoped his gift, like Edward's, would fail to work on me. I didn't want to have to worry about the Volturi showing up someday, led like a heat-seeking missile straight to me by this tracker. I sent my unease with the thought to Jasper and it echoed back to me. I was glad Jasper felt like I did about it.
Eleazer watched us with interest. "Ah, you two interact using Jasper's gift. A clever way to speak without speaking."
I sent annoyance at being under the microscope to Jasper and he sent back agreement and amusement. "Yes, I often speak with my gift." Jasper took credit for it.
"What about Edward's gift, what type is that?" I asked, wanting the spotlight off of us.
"His is a passive gift. There are a lot of gifts that fall into that category, but for the most part he can't turn it off and it holds no offensive value besides that which comes from having more information. Jasper's gift is more complicated, both passive and manipulative. In my coven, Kate has the ability to send electricity through her body, shocking anyone she touches at will. She'd be classed as an offensive gift."
I thought about what Eleazer was telling me, it made sense. My phone ringing interrupted my thoughts.
"Excuse me." I said, answering it while I walked into the kitchen. It was my Dad. I had left my new number on the fridge for him.
"Bells?" Charlie greeted me.
"Hey Dad. What's up?"
"Nothing kid. I took off work early to get ready for the fishing trip and saw you were out on your bike. Just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Yeah, I'm fine Dad."
"Good to hear it. You going to be home for dinner? I'm making some of that fish you always complain is in the way. Need to make room for everything I'm going to catch out on the open sea this weekend." he joked.
"Sure, sounds good." I told him.
"Alright, see you tonight then. Be careful."
"I will Dad, love you."
"You too." he hung up.
I got a drink out of the fridge, noting the food the Denali couple had stocked as I did so and went back to the living room.
"Sorry about that, my Dad was just checking up on me."
"Not a problem Bella." Carmen said. "It's good to see you have parents that care about you." she smiled.
"Bella, I'm afraid I can't help you with your gift unless you drop your shield for me. I can't get through it." Eleazer said.
"I don't think I can." I frowned. I had no idea how to go about dropping it, or even if it was possible. I didn't know I had it up if that is what it was.
"I see. It could be that you won't be able to until you are changed." he looked regretful. "Can you extend it?"
"I'm not sure, I've never tried." I looked at him, confused. "I wouldn't know how to start. It's just there, I don't see it or anything." I was getting frustrated. I wasn't sure what he wanted me to do, it was like he was trying to tell me to make the air change color with my mind.
"Don't get upset darlin', he's just trying to help. It will probably be easier when you're one of us." Jasper soothed, sending me some calm.
"I know, but this is weird. I want to figure it out, but it seems so far beyond anything I can understand." I told him, sending him my inadequate feelings.
"You mentioned to me that Bella was able to block you in the past Jasper. Perhaps we could try that." Eleazer said, sounding hopeful.
"I can do that." I said. "Give me a moment first." I tried to relax, drinking from the bottle of water I brought from the kitchen and focusing on blocking out Jasper. I knew I had it when he frowned at me.
"I can't feel much from her at all right now. Just the faintest emotions. It's almost like she isn't there." Jasper said. I felt a prickling sensation on my skin, uncomfortable, but not painful. It went on for a few moments, then stopped. "Did you feel anything a moment ago?"
"A tingling on my skin." I said. "Was that you?"
"I was sending you enough amusement that you should have laughed." he smirked. "Looks like you were able to block me."
"I could see Jasper's gift deflecting, but no change in Bella. Her shield will indeed be very strong. Jasper's abilities are quite powerful. I'm just sorry I can't do more for you at this time. I expect that you will have no problem deflecting any gifts of a mental nature, including Aro's. I wouldn't be surprised if you displayed other aspects as well. You are welcome to visit me in Alaska after your change to explore things further if you would like to." Eleazer said, getting up.
"Sorry to have wasted your time." I told them.
"It wasn't a waste at all, I am glad I got a chance to meet you. You will make a striking immortal. It is a relief to me also, I was very concerned to hear Carlisle had left you here alone. My coven values the laws and I was conflicted greatly as to what I should do. I leave here knowing that Jasper will set things right, so I am happy." He hesitated. "Do you have a date in mind for the change?"
"Not exactly." I told him. "I need to settle things here, to make sure my human life can be over without causing problems for me later."
"Don't wait too long. This plan of yours revolves around you getting to the Volturi before they come to you. Keep in mind that traveling internationally will be difficult in your first year, especially as a vegetarian." he warned.
I chose not to enlighten him that I wasn't sold on Carlisle's life of abstinence, wanting to wait and see what it was like before making up my mind. Instead I nodded, keeping my expression somewhere between thoughtful and serious.
"I understand. We won't wait any longer than we need to." I told him.
"Goodbye then, we will go home now. The girls have been missing us." Carmen said following his lead to the glass wall that backed the house, and preceding him out the door.
"Oh and Jasper," Eleazer paused. "if Carlisle asks me about you, I will tell him what you told me about your status in his coven. However, I won't seek him out. Please, tell him soon. I don't wish to keep secrets from my old friend."
"I will, and I wouldn't ask you to." Jasper said. "Safe travels."
The couple ran after that, lost to my sight almost immediately. Jasper followed their progress a bit longer before relaxing.
"That was interesting." I said.
"It was, but not very informative. He didn't tell us much that we didn't already know." Jasper said, pulling me over to sit with him on the couch.
Peter and Charlotte appeared at the top of the stairs. "I thought they'd never leave." he called down.
"Did you get everything?" Jasper asked.
"Yeah, I put it in your pickup." Peter dropped down in a chair with Charlotte on his lap. "I also moved your bike in the garage with Bella's. Looks like it could rain any time."
"Thanks." I told him, glad my bike wouldn't get soaked. A little water wouldn't hurt it, but I kept it mostly dry to keep the seat in good condition and the metal parts from rusting.
"What's the plan now Major?" Peter asked.
There was a knock on the back door. Sam was standing there with Jacob, both looking serious.
"The plan is we meet the wolves it seems." Jasper answered.