Chapter Forty Five
Jasper
I didn't know how to tell Bella what I'd just heard and I was so angry I needed to get Bella to support. Carlisle and Esme were the best I could think of. I ran so fast she didn't have time or breath to question me and I didn't stop until we got to the Cullen house. Carlisle must have heard me coming because he was there at the door when I stopped. "Jasper, come in. Alice has just told us, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say." I put Bella down and went back outside to vent my anger on a nearby tree. Emmett joined me, "What's the plan Jazz? We have to find the fucker and finish him." I shook my head "No, we need to keep Bella and Charlie safe. He'll try for her father next." I was so angry that I hadn't heard her follow Emmett outside. "Jasper?" I turned to see her white tear-stained face. I went and put my arm around her, "I'm sorry Bella I never realized he'd do something like that." Her eyes opened wide, "It was Edward wasn't it? He's the one who killed Renee and Phil." I nodded, "Yes. I guess because we got you back from him." She shook her head and walked slowly back into the house. I looked helplessly to Emmett, "Well he 'aint gonna get my little sis again, I promise you that. I get my hands on the bastard I'll kill him." I patted him on the arm, "I appreciate that Em but we need to get him before he does anything else."
Bella
I remembered his threats, Renee, Charlie, Angela, Jessica and Mike. All their lives were at risk because of me, I had to do something, but what. I knew the Cullens could keep me safe and probably Charlie but who would look out for my friends? Edward was fast and he would do anything to get me back. I just didn't know what to do. When Jasper and Emmett came back in he told me what Edward had said to him. "He said to tell you to remember his threats. He intends to go through his list and he's just sorry he took them out of order." I held his hand as he spoke, to stop myself from screaming. Rose came down and put her arm around my shoulder, "I'm sorry we didn't catch him Bella but we won't stop trying." I smiled at her as Alice came down stairs. She looked from Jasper to me before smiling weakly. "Bella I wasn't looking, I'm sorry. I never thought he might try anything like this." As I looked at her I saw a warning look on her face. She came over and took my hand from Jasper. He turned, his eyes blazing, but she ignored him. "Bella I need to talk to you privately." There was a message in her look so I turned to Jasper, "I'm OK Jasper, really." He wasn't happy but he watched as I walked outside with Alice.
Alice
I'd seen a few different possible futures for Bella and I needed to warn her of the outcomes of some of her choices. "Bella I know you have lots of ideas running through your head but please be careful what you decide to do. She looked at me and sighed, "So Alice, tell me what I should do." I shook my head, "I can't Bella. If I tell you how to act that will change the future again. It has to be your decision but I can tell you of some outcomes if that will help." She nodded, "OK Lets try the first one. I stay here and you look after me and Charlie." I made a face, "That's the worst option you could take. We keep you safe and usually Charlie, but your friends die and Edward still gets away. She looked so pained that I looked at the door expecting Jasper to appear. "OK Alice. Number 2. I stay and tell Charlie about Edward." I shook my head, "Charlie will try to find Edward and he gets killed, then Edward starts on your friends. We stop him eventually but its going to be a blood bath." Bella had gone white.
"You don't need to tell me option three Bella. If you leave and go to Edward things are slightly different. Charlie lives but he's never the same because he doesn't know what happened to you. Your friends live out their lives in ignorance. OK So far but..." She looked at me, "But what?" I didn't want to tell her this but she asked, "But Jasper goes to Mexico and Maria kills him, Emmett and Rose blame themselves for not stopping Edward and then you, they eventually leave the family. Carlisle and Esme try to contact Edward but he wont speak to them and you, well...you live in misery for a few years before he finally kills you. I'm afraid there isn't a good option." She pulled me into the trees. "Alice can't you alter any of these? If I leave a letter for the others?" I looked unsure, "I don't know Bella. It's all in flux at the moment." She looked so unhappy. "Is there any way I can save Jasper too?" I sighed, "Well not really." She caught my hesitation. "Alice? Tell me?" I didn't want to tell her but I had no choice, "If you tell Jasper that you have to go. Tell the truth, that Edward did rape you and you can't stay with him because it would be a life lived in a lie. That you feel a connection with Edward now because of what happened. I don't think he'll go to Mexico but I don't think he'll ever recover either."
Bella
I looked at her in horror, "What do you mean tell the truth Alice? What do you know?" She grimaced, "I'm sorry Bella. I know Carlisle lied to save you and Jasper. Edward did have sex with you while you were unconscious. Jasper will get the truth out of Carlisle and he'll think you kept it from him. He'll be devastated but he won't kill himself. He'll feel he has to live with the guilt of not keeping you safe, of letting you down". I couldn't breath. Carlisle had lied to me! He'd lied to Jasper. The crazy thing was that I wanted to believe it although I knew in my heart it must be a lie. My body had told me differently but I ignored it, I wanted to believe him so much. If it was true then I wasn't worthy of Jasper. I had nothing left to give him. It had been stolen from me. I looked at Alice, "Where is he?" She knew who I meant, but she shook her head. "Alice I need to know." She was obviously torn but in the end she whispered, "He's in Port Angeles, at the Red Lion Hotel." I nodded looking back at the house, "Do I have time to get away?" she was torn, "Bella..." I scowled at her. "Yes, if you leave after Jazz and Emmett go hunting later." I nodded, "Thanks Alice" I hugged her briefly before walking back to the house.
Carlisle
I knew there was something wrong when Alice and Bella came back inside. Bella looked at me with disappointment and I wondered if she felt I hadn't help to catch Edward. I would do more this time. I went over to her, "Bella I'm so sorry about your mother, I wish we could have prevented it." She moved back out of my reach as I put a hand out to her. "It's too late for regrets Carlisle." then she walked over to Jasper and stood beside him but not touching him, which I thought was odd, they were always touching. I heard her ask Jasper to take her home, she wanted to be there for Charlie when he got back. He had wanted her to stay here but she was adamant and he agreed reluctantly. I knew he was going hunting with Emmett later and I decided to watch the house, we would keep them both safe this time.