Chapter Fifty Six

Garrett

I listened to everything they said, including that Jasper as her sire should be able to help but I agreed with Esme, he wasn't right for her, he was just the kind of vampire I didn't want her to become. She hadn't reached the point of no return yet and if I could only speak to her perhaps I could make her see that. I felt responsible for Bella because I felt something for her, that's why I let her think I was her sire but I'd been stupid. Let my temper get the better of me as it did sometimes and now I needed to attempt to put things right. While the others were still busy talking about whether to ring Jasper or not I sent him a text telling him she was here and that I was going to speak to her, if I could find her that was. If her gift was hiding her then maybe none of us would ever find her, she would find us instead and quite possibly kill us all. I wondered if anyone had thought to tell her father what she was doing? Still it wasn't my place to do so but I crept out without telling the others, knowing Alice and Edward were too busy with the family conference to worry about me yet and when they did realise what I was doing would they come after me? I didn't think so, this was my mess and I would put it right.

Bella

And here comes the first to try a break out, Garrett! How fortunate for the others, he was the one I wanted most of all so I watched to see where he would go. He stood at the end of the yard looking around as if he thought he could sense me if he tried really hard but I wasn't going to make it that easy for him, I wanted him away from the house and the others and after a few minutes he headed into the trees in the opposite direction from me. Smiling I climbed down and stalked him, much like a lion stalks an antelope, quietly and carefully. I couldn't keep my shield so tightly around me as I went but he wasupwind of me so my scent wouldn't give me away and he was almost far enough from the house now so I speeded up a little. Then suddenly he stopped, looking around uneasily as if he felt my presence. His body tensed and he moved more slowly out into a clearing to give himself room to manoeuvre if necessary. I waited to see what he would do but he just stood there looking around as if he knew I was close but not where so I decided to put him out of his misery and I stepped out so he could see me.

Garrett

I could feel Bella was close by, I could almost taste her scent but I couldn't place her, was she playing games with me? It didn't sound like the girl I had felt for but this Bella was a newborn and perhaps we had overestimated her self-control. By what she'd done to the Quileutes I was pretty sure we had and I didn't want to become her next victim. Hearing a rustle in the undergrowth I spun round to see her standing there looking very relaxed. It was Bella but almost everything about her was different, from her looks to her eyes, this wasn't the sweet young girl I had fallen for or the confused and frightened newborn, no this was something entirely different and far more dangerous. I'd heard of this kind of thing happening to newborns who were abandoned by their sires but not often, most were caught and killed before they could become a real danger to anyone but Bella had outwitted us all and from her expression she wasn't done yet.

"Hello Garrett, I've been hoping I might bump into you. I think you have something to tell me."

I put my hands out to show I meant her no harm but she just smiled,

"Bella I'm sorry for everything. I know you blame me for becoming a vampire and I know you're pissed because I let you think I was your sire. I'm sorry, I thought I could be the one, that I could help you become controlled, that we could be together but I didn't make a very good job of it did I?"

"You're sorry? Oh well that's OK then. It excuses you throwing human blood over me, it excuses your lies and deception. I guess Ishould be grateful to you because you tried to help me and failed but you are sorry. Why did my sire leave me?"

I tensed, I really didn't want to get into that and I had no idea what she already knew but I understood if I lied to her and she knew or found out she wouldn't think twice about ending my life.

"I accused him of attacking you. I told Carlisle and the others I thought he was a bad influence, that he was killing you and then thought better of it and changed you to hide his criminal intent. Carlisle was the one who told him to go but your dad wasn't happy at the thought of him being around you either."

"Because of the picture you painted of him. So you are a liar and my sire is a coward who ran away with his tail between his legs. Sounds like I'm better off without either of you or the Cullens. Why did Esme let me think you were my sire?"

"I don't know, you'll have to ask her"

I moved slightly getting into a position I could attack from if necessary but found myself on my knees wrapped in an invisible layer of something that felt like Saran wrap and she had moved closer to stand over me.

"Now that was stupid Garrett, I thought you were more intelligent than that. Every one seems determined to underestimate me since I ran away. I have the ultimate weapon Garrett and anyone who gets in my way, anyone who tries to harm or stop me will feel it, just like you are now but please don't underestimate it, that's only a fraction of my power. I'll let you feel some more"

She raised her hand and I felt the wrap tighten around my body crushing my arms to my sides and then crunching my bones as then pressure got more and more intense. Only my head was free of the tremendous pressure,

"Bella please, I said I'm sorry what more do you want?"

"Revenge Garrett, that's all."

"And killing me will give you that? Do you really think it will make you feel better?"

"It already is funnily enough."

I heard the first crunching sounds as my body started to distort and I cried out feeling venom leaking from places where my flesh had cracked.

"Bella"

She shook her head,

"Don't Garrett, don't waste your breath begging for me to me merciful because I'm not interested in mercy, just pure revenge. Today its you, tomorrow it could be Carlisle, Esme, or even Jasper, but I promise you I will get revenge on everyone who has wronged me so don't feel victimised."

She turned and walked slowly away as the pressure became unbearable and I screamed out in agony but she never faltered or flinched as my body continued to distort and crack.