Chapter Seventeen
Bella
When I walked back in Jasper was standing looking at a picture of me as a little girl with Charlie. The only one he wouldn't put away, despite my pleas. "Nice photo" he said putting it back in its place with a wistful look. "I don't have any family photos" he explained. "Really?" I said without thinking, "Why?" He laughed a little bitterly. "No one had family photos then, unless they were real rich and we weren't". It was then that I realised he may only look seventeen or eighteen but he was in reality probably much older. "Can I ask..." I started when he grinned, "Lets just say I fought in the Civil War". My eyes went wide, "You fought in the American Civil War?" He nodded, "Yeah". "Well you're entitled to get a bit weary then" I said thinking back to his earlier comment.
"Thank you. Bella I'm sorry but I overheard your conversation with your Dad and I'm not happy about you being in the house alone all night". "Then stay" I said before I could stop myself. His eyebrow climbed in surprise. "I'd feel safer" I added. The beautiful heart stopping grin was back. "You'd feel happier and safer with a vampire in the house than on your own?" I nodded. He looked torn, "I'm not sure". "Please" I begged. He looked around, "Well if I'm going to stay I need to know the layout of the place. Do you mind?" I shook my head, "Let me give you a guided tour, it wont take long". And it didn't, the last place I showed him was my room. He checked the window and we both heard a growl from outside.
I moved closer to him, "Was that?" He nodded "Yeah. Edward isn't happy I'm in here, with you" he added the last quickly. "Oh well" I opened the window. "Get used to it creep". Then I shut it again. He looked at me with admiration, "And there was me thinking you were a helpless little girl, when in fact you are an Amazon". "Yeah, you should see me when I wear my animal skins and carry a bow". He looked at me and smiled again. "That might be interesting". We stood looking at each other, then he moved. "I should go back down". I couldn't help speaking, "But wouldn't you be better as a guard up here". Oh my, foot in mouth again! "I don't think it would be appropriate" he explained. "Neither would me getting drained by your brother" I argued. "True", he looked round and went over to the window seat, looking out. "Well you get ready for bed and let me know when to come back up OK?" My heart stopped for a second and he seemed to sense it. "If it makes you uncomfortable I can stay...", "No" I said quickly, "It's fine. I'll call you when I'm done". He went out with a contented look on his face. He was a deep one but then if he was as old as he said then I guess he had a right to be deep. I went to shower but as I closed the bathroom door I heard the back door open and I crept back out to listen.
I heard Edward hissing at Jasper "Don't think you'll get her you freak. If she found out your past she'd throw you out instead of asking you to stay. She has no idea how dangerous you really are". Jaspers cool drawl came back at him, "Edward just go. I'm here as security that's all". Edward sneered, "Oh yeah, well I'll bet you said that to all the women you killed you fucking monster". There was a slight scuffle and I heard the door close, "Night Edward" Jasper called as he walked back to the lounge. I went into the bathroom and shut the door quietly. Jasper had killed women.? Edward said he was a monster, what was that all about? I didn't think Dr Cullen would have trusted Jasper here with me if he was dangerous, would he? Or was Jasper the lesser of two evils?
When I had climbed between the sheets I called him and he was here almost as if he'd been waiting outside the door. "Bella you OK? You seem a bit tense". I decided in for a penny "I heard you talking to Edward". "Oh" he said "And you want me to leave?" "No" I said quickly, "No I just wondered why be said you were dangerous". He looked at me very seriously "We are all dangerous Bella. We're vampires with a blood lust". I tried to get more from him "Yes but I heard what he said about you killing women and I just couldn't see it". "Oh" he took a deep breath, "I was a monster Bella, your worst nightmare. Now I hope I'm different". "What happened?" I asked gently pulling my knees up and looking at him. He sat heavily on the window seat. "It's a long and terrible story. Not one for bedtime reading" he leaned his head against the wall.
"You don't have to tell me, I'm sorry if I've upset you". He sat forward again, "No I'm not upset, it's just, I have a hard time Bella. The Cullen way of life is very hard for me but I try, I struggle every day and sometimes I get tired". He looked it too, he looked bone weary and I wanted to put my arms around him. He looked at me, "Can I ask you a question Bella?" "Of course, after all those you've answered for me". He sat for a minute and I wondered what terrible thing he wanted to ask me. "I need to tell, you something first. It might help to explain the question" he ran his fingers through his hair as if pulling his thoughts out. I grinned "OK, shoot". "I'm an empath, which means I can read people's feelings and I must warn you influence them too, but that's not the issue here." he stopped. "OK, got it so far, what's the question?" "Well I'm having great difficulty reading your emotions and as a reader of faces I pretty much suck. What I want to know is, do I frighten you? If not, how do you feel about me? I have a reason for asking by the way. It's not just idle curiosity". I wasn't sure what to say, "Well no, you don't frighten me. I guess you should, but no, you don't. I'm not sure how I feel yet. I like you and I enjoy your company but I know, well knew you and Alice were together so I never thought any further. That's the best I can do for now". I was hedging my bets here, I knew how I thought I really felt but I couldn't tell this gorgeous mesmerizing man that my heart went nuts when he smiled, that my day was brighter when I saw him".
As I thought this I heard a snarl from outside and Edward was there on my window sill. His face distorted as he shouted through the glass. "No Bella. He's not for you. He's an animal, a bloodthirsty killer. Stay away". I shrank back, grasping my pillow although how much defense that would offer against a blood crazed vampire I wasn't sure. Jasper moved incredibly fast to stand between me and the window. Without turning he said "Get in the bathroom and lock the door Bella please". I scurried to do his bidding and found myself crouched in the shower cubicle still holding my magic pillow! I could hear voices even so, "Edward go home. I'm getting tired of your juvenile behavior If you can't control yourself then take off, go to Denali but for fuck sake stop terrorizing Bella. She's not interested in you and you aren't having her if I have to rip your stupid fucking head off". I heard another terrifying snarl then a crash of breaking glass. Oh god had Edward attacked Jasper? Was I alone in the house with one dead vampire and another after my blood? Wait, could you kill a vampire?