Chapter Twenty Six
Peter
Victoria was right on cue, she appeared behind the tree at the far side of the clearing where I'd left Bella's worn socks. They had the most intense scent and we could see by her behaviour that Victoria sensed a victory, that she was close to her quarry. We were up wind so she wouldn't smell us until it was too late. The Major went one way and I the other in a pincer movement and she was caught before she even knew it. When she saw me she hissed in anger and stalked forward but when she saw the Major she stopped dead, surprise on her features.
"What are you doing here?" She snapped, "You after the girl too? You know Laurent wanted her?"
"Yes I do. He's dead and now its your turn".
"Why? What is she to you? I should have known when you stopped him at the Cullens game. You want her for yourself? Perhaps we could share".
She was trying to edge away but we were way too seasoned to be caught out like that.
"It's no use Victoria, you're a threat and I wont tolerate any threats to Bella".
Her eyes widened in shock. "She's yours isn't she? That scrawny little human has found a way through your thick hide. I'm amazed Major".
"Well amazement is as good an emotion as any to end your life with".
We moved in together and it was soon over, we'd been doing this too long to make mistakes and no one who stood against us had lived to tell the tale. When she'd burned to ashes we started back
"So, decided what you're gonna do about Bells?"
"No, I'm just gonna play it by ear. Make sure she knows what she's doing getting tied up with me. You know what I am Peter, so does Charlotte, Bella has no idea, she's an innocent".
"So were many of the women you killed in the past, didn't stop you then".
"Enough Peter, you're trying my patience.
"OK I'll shut up, not another word, Nada, zip".
"You're still talking Peter".
Jasper
When we got back Peter grabbed Charlotte in their usual hot embrace which was usually my cue to scarper but Bella was sitting on the couch and I didn't want to leave her to watch the floor show.
"You want to take a walk" I said and she got up smiling,
"Sure".
With a last look at the others she followed me out.
"So, did you find her?"
I nodded unsure how much to say,
"And is she dead?"
"Yes".
"Oh well, I'm safe now?"
"No, not yet Bella, there's still the small problem of the Volturi".
"Are they really interested in me though? I'm just a human".
"Yes, a human living with vampires".
"But only recently"
I interrupted her "And they aren't interested in you because your associating with vampires it's because of the possibility of your gift".
"But I don't have a gift, all I did was to stop Edward reading my thoughts and I didn't do that on purpose it just happened".
"Maybe, but if you do have a gift they'll want to find out and keep you in the Guard".
"But I can't make it happen when I choose, it just happens sometimes, and only with Edward. You can feel my emotions, I'm not stopping you".
"True but your gift would only work well if you were changed and the Volturi would do that to get it. So I have to keep you away from them and that's not going to be easy".
"It would be if you changed me, I could protect myself".
"Change you? Who's idea was that?"
"No ones, I just thought about it".
"Yeah well, lets worry about that later. For now you need to get to know me".
"No, you have to get to know me. I'm the unknown quantity around here. Charlotte told me you weren't sure about me".
"Did she now? Well I guess she's right in one respect. I guess we all need to get to know each other".
"That sounds like a good idea Jasper".
We walked into the trees hand in hand not speaking any more but just enjoying each others company. When he held my hand I felt warm all over, nothing like the way I felt when Edward took my hand. This was a totally different, a wonderful feeling, my breath came faster and my hands shook slightly.
"Where do we go now?"
"Did you want to go somewhere?"
"Well Peter doesn't seem too happy about me being here so I thought he might like us to leave".
"Peter is just Peter, he'll get used to having you around, just give him time. Do you feel
uncomfortable being with three human blood drinkers? If you do we can move on".
"The fact you are three human blood drinkers doesn't really occur to me I just don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable?"
"You're worried about making us uncomfortable? You're a strange one Bella".
"Yes its been said before. You'll get used to it in time"
Charlotte.
"How did you get on with the Major?" I looked at his face.
"Still doesn't know what to do but I think he knows how he feels"
"So does Bella. She even asked about being changed. I think its real Peter, we just have to help them along a bit."
"Help them along? And what exactly is that code for? Because I have to tell you I draw the line at doing demonstrations for them."
I shook my head, sometimes Peter could be so difficult and I thought I knew what the problem was. He couldn't quite believe that Jasper had finally found his mate. Also I thought he liked Bella and that made him uncomfortable, he'd never had to interact with humans before on this level. I liked Bella, she had guts, she was ideal for the Major. I also liked her because she was his, I didn't have to feel jealous about the time they spent together, I wasn't alone any longer trying so hard not to resent their friendship.