Chapter Thirteen

Jasper

Suddenly my senses returned along with my friends and we looked at each other then at the Volturi guard who seemed to be the ones cut off from theirs. The hooded and cloaked figure watched and then made a shooing gesture.

"I don't need telling twice, let's get the fuck out of here Major"

I didn't know how long we had or why the figure was helping us but decided now wasn't the time to ask questions so we took off running back towards the border and possible safety.

"Who the fuck was that? It looked like death is giving us a bye"

I shook my head,

"We'll worry about that later, lets just get away as far as we can before they wake up and come looking for us. Once we get over the border split up. Garrett take Rex and Jonah, make sure they get out of the country asap. Adam get yourself back to Canada and keep your head down, I don't think Aro's interested in you as much as me and thank you for your help."

"My pleasure Major that bitch had it coming and now my sister is avenged."

I think Adam would have been happy to die to avenge his beloved sister!

We shook hands once over the border and split up,

"What about us Major? I guess we're the marked ones."

"We keep moving until we can work out what the hell just happened Peter"

"Yeah, fucking spooky if you ask me. I hate all that hooded figures pointing skeletal fingers, reminds me of ghosts like in Scrooge. That story always frightened the shit outta me"

"It wasn't a ghost Peter, nor did it have skeletal fingers, it was a member of the Volturi."

"Well my dear Char, have you ever seen a member of the guard take out Jane, Alec, and Felix in one fell swoop because I sure as hell haven't."

"The question is why did the guard decide to help us?"

"I don't know darlin' but I'm pretty sure it wasn't with Aro's blessing and that creepy little shit is gonna be chewing his nails down to the fucking elbow in frustration."

Bella

I toyed with the idea of following The Major and his friends but if Felix and the others were still looking for them I would be more use staying out of sight but ready to intervene if it became necessary. The further away they got the more I felt his absence and the more I was convinced he was my mate but how could I approach him? No doubt Aro would be looking for him and his friends, and probably hoping I would be where they were, so to keep them safe I had to keep my distance. It would be hard and painful but he had to survive and I would be a danger to his safety and that of his friends. So it would be a watch and wait job and hope at some time I could speak to him, see him and perhaps explain what had happened and why. I watched as the Volturi party made their way back to the jet and took off, all except Felix, which was the best outcome I could have hoped for. I had heard Edwards conversation with Aro, he really was an idiot! When the jet had gone I approached Felix again and he smiled,

"Somehow I thought I'd see you again Bella. Aro isn't happy with you and neither is Edward"

"Oh I think we feel the same way about Edward Felix."

He nodded and waited for me to speak again,

"I don't want to fight you Felix. What will Aro do?"

"Why ask me Bella?"

"Because you've been with him for centuries Felix. You know how he thinks."

"Aro doesn't like to be bested but he has patience. He will wait, centuries if necessary, but he will watch all that time and when he feels there is an opening he'll send me to mete out justice."

"Would you warn me Felix? I need time to sort out my own future and I can't do that if I have to watch my back constantly."

He smiled,

"I'd like to see your meeting with The Major, it should be interesting but be careful Bella. He too is a dangerous man, be very sure he is what you think he is before you take the final step. We all deserve a chance, at least one, so yes I will warn you if Aro sends the guard out for you or him."

Now I was finally free to act on my feelings but I thought hard about Felix words, about making absolutely sure he was the one, so knowing I could find him again I headed towards Forks to see my father if he were still alive. I'd lost count of just how long I had been a vampire, for all I knew he might have been dead many years, a thought which saddened me.

When I reached Forks I went first to the Cullen house being very careful not to be seen but the house was empty and overgrown. I looked from my spot high in the huge trees that were almost the same as when I'd last seen them, if a little taller. So the Cullens weren't here, was that because it was too soon or had they just decide not to return to Forks? I took my time on my way to Charlie's place almost afraid at what I might find. If he was dead and gone then I had no one left, except perhaps Renee but I didn't want to trace her, it was Charlie I felt closer to these days. The house looked much the same, if a little shabbier, my bedroom window stood open as I had left it for Edward even after he'd left and at the front on blocks stood my red truck rusting away slowly. The front door opened slowly and a stooped greying haired man made his way carefully down the steps to a battered old compact that stood in the space the Cruiser use to occupy. I didn't get a good look at his face but I knew in my heart it was my dad so I followed as he drove slowly and carefully to the town cemetery and parked up. Had he remarried and lost yet another wife? There was plenty of cover so I followed him until he stopped, looking down at a white headstone partially covered in lichen. He stood there for some time without speaking, his head bowed. Then he touched the top of the stone and walked slowly away, his shoulders stooped with age and cares. Once he'd driven off I checked no one else was about and walked to look at the stone and a lump formed in my throat as I read the words.

"Bella, beloved daughter of Charlie and Renee Swan. A gift snatched back before her time."

I stood thinking and didn't see the figure approaching until it spoke,

"Did you know her Miss?"

I looked up to see a stranger standing there and shook my head,

"No, not really."

"Very sad. She killed herself over a boy"

"Really?"

"Yes. Her father visits twice a week, he blames himself, always maintains he should have seen it coming. She had friends on the Reservation, so did he, close ones, but he doesn't have anything to do with them. One of the boys gave her the idea of diving off the cliffs."

"Oh, I see. She was very young"

"Yes. Sometimes we think we know best when we're young. Still, I'm closing the gates now so if you don't want to be shut in you'd better leave."

I nodded and with a final look at my headstone I turned and walked out of the cemetery straight into another figure.

"You came back then"

I looked up, shocked at the words, to see an older version of Jacob Black standing there.

I didn't know what to say so I kept silent,

"I always said you'd survived but everyone else said I was crazy. Have you seen Charlie?"

I nodded,

"Yes I saw him at my grave a few minutes ago. Did he ever remarry?"

"Nope. He never got over your death, gave up his career and shut himself away. He wouldn't speak to anyone, not Harry or Billy, not even Carlisle when he came back after he heard the news.

"Carlisle came back? Why?"

"No idea but whatever he was trying to do didn't work. Are you going to tell him you're still a..."

He didn't finish the word and I knew he couldn't manage to call me alive even now.

"No, I don't think it would help and please don't tell him you've seen me."

"I won't, he's had his heart broken once already."

Jake turned and walked away, washing his hands of me, and I vanished into the trees and headed back south towards a future I hoped was more real than my past.