Chapter Twenty Seven
Peter
My cell phone went off as we traveled, it was a text message from Char. Jasper had turned up at our place again and she was going try and keep him there as long as possible but he was set on destruction. She said he was worse than when he'd left us although I could hardly believe that. I told the others and Bella agreed to forgo her comfort break if it meant we'd get there quicker. She was really game, grabbing food on the wing and being as quick as possible when she had to stop. She even slept in the truck on either my shoulder or Em's as we took turns at driving. Not because we got tired but just to relieve the boredom. The more I saw of Bella the more I realized she was probably right for the Major. There were no airs or graces about her and she obviously cared about him because she insisted we drive on even when she was feeling shitty. That was quite often in the back of the truck sometimes, travel sickness they call it, but I thought it was Em's driving.
We were only a few hours away when I got another text from Char, Jasper was about to leave and she couldn't delay him any longer. She wanted to know how long we were going to be. I told her about two hours and she promised to try but he was saddling chieftain so I knew he was going for good this time, and if he went we wouldn't get him back. Bella offered to speak to him on the phone but Char was frightened that if he knew we were coming he'd think we were just trying to stop him from going, he wouldn't believe we had Bella with us. He was a suspicious fucker sometimes.
Bells was in a terrible state, shouting for Em to drive faster with tears in her eyes. Char had promised to text if he left and the longer my phone stayed silent the better. We were now only about 20 minutes out and we all had our fingers crossed. Bella was white-faced and her knuckles were white from clenching her fists. I could see the house in the distance when I saw a dust trail leading away in our direction. He wasn't headed South after all, so where was he going? Not that it mattered as long as he was headed for us.
Jasper
I wanted one last ride across the countryside, to feel the wind through my hair, its caress against my skin, the only touch it would ever feel now. chieftain ran like the wind himself, glad to be out of his paddock and I leaned forward to pat his neck and tell him my plans. One who wouldn't try to talk me round or examine me for my motives, judge me. It felt good to be on my stallion again and I realized how much I has missed riding. Alice hated it, horses make your clothes smell she complained so, like so much else chieftain had been retired. I was grateful that Peter had kept him in good shape for me and now we both enjoyed our last ride. Memories of my time in the Confederate Army flooded back as we galloped. The fighting, and the quiet times when we sat around a fire and listened to a soldier singing Lorena. I hadn't thought about that in too long and now it added to my melancholy.
When I looked up again I saw Emmett's truck approaching and swore. I didn't want any more goodbyes so I kicked my heels and sent chieftain into the trees. Away from my old friends and South towards my end, a welcome relief. I knew the truck couldn't follow me but Peter and Em could and would. I jumped down and sent chieftain on his way, he knew what to do. He would run on for a couple of miles before heading home and hopefully they would follow.
My mind was fracturing, I could feel the stress lines getting bigger and bigger. The beast was roaring, offering me peace from the misery and I was too tired to fight him any more. If they followed me they would find themselves confronted by him. To die at the hands of a friend was as good a death as by my enemies. At least Peter would understand and know what was left of Jasper Whitlock would be grateful. I ran as I'd never ran, ignoring the branches that tugged at my hair and caught my clothes. I said a final farewell to the earth and opened the cage. As the beast snarled his approval the final part of me went to hide in the furthest recesses of my brain. Hiding and waiting, waiting for it all to stop, for the beast to hunt me down and crush me completely, as I hoped he would now, as I knew he would.
Emmett
Peter jumped from the truck and asked me to drive Bella to the house, "I saw his face Em. It's not safe for Bella now. Get her inside and safe then drive to the end of the road. The forest disappears there and you might catch him coming out. If you do, remember don't hesitate, he's not Jazz any more. The Major has taken over. So get him down and keep him there. Kill him Em. He'll thank you for it". I couldn't kill my brother, but I would try to stop him if I could.
Bella
I saw the magnificent horse and rider approach before pulling up, the stallion rearing up and then turning for the trees. Peter said it was Jasper although I couldn't see anything except dusty blond hair, yet I knew he was right. There was a connection, I couldn't explain but I would have know Jasper anywhere. My heart beat faster and my mouth went dry. It was then I heard Peter's shouted instructions as he jumped out of the truck. Kill Jasper? I was in danger? Emmett screeched to a halt and a beautiful vampire woman came out, her face a mask of sorrow. She opened my door and pulled me out, Emmett racing away as soon as I was clear. The woman rushed me into the house and closed the door before putting me down. "Hi Bella I'm Charlotte, Peter's wife. I'm so sorry its come to this, but you would have been killed if we hadn't got you away".
I looked at her horrified, "That was Jasper wasn't it? And he's trying to get himself killed? Why? I don't understand. I don't understand any of it". Char led me to a chair and sat me down, talking in a quiet voice. "Bella I'm not sure how to explain it all to you but Jazz had to go. He just couldn't take any more. I think he's asking to die. Better at the hands of his friends than Maria". I shook my head, panic welling up inside me, "No" I screamed, "No, we have go save him". She shook her head, "It's too late Bella. He's already gone. There's only the shell left, just the Major". I got up and ran to the window. In the far distance I could just make out Emmett's truck throwing up clouds of dust as it raced away. "We have to stop them. We can't let them kill him, he's still there. I know it, I can feel it here". I put my hand to my chest. Char's eyes widened, "What? What did you say?" I looked at her, tears pouring down my cheeks, "I know he's still there, I can feel him". My voice died to a whisper as Char looked deep into my eyes. "You can feel him? Jasper?" I nodded.
"Shit. Quick girl". She dragged me outside into a beat up old truck and swore as she started the engine. "I hope to God you're right girl or we could both be driving to our death". The truck took off like a racing car and we sped after Emmett. "Can you still feel him?" she asked anxiously. I nodded, "Yes. Its weaker now but I can". She ground the accelerator to the floor and we leaped forward. "Tell me if you lose him Bella. Its very important that I know". I nodded but I knew I couldn't tell her or she'd stop the truck and I had to try and save him at all costs. Before we saw anything I could hear savage snarls and breaking wood. "Shit" exclaimed Char, "we may be too late. Get out and run. You still feel him?" she looked at me a little distrustfully but I nodded "Yes I do". And I did, but so faintly now that it was almost the ghost of a feeling.