Chapter Four

Bella

When I got back to the Hotel Room Peter was there, sitting on the bed, shirt off, trying to stop venom leaking from a deep bite wound on his shoulder. Without even thinking I grabbed a towel and held it over the wound, trying to ignore the feel of his cool skin against my warm fingers and the shape of his muscles under the pale skin.

"Thanks Bella. Fuck that hurt!"

"Hows the other guy?"

"Burning well when I left him."

That made me laugh out loud, something that had been alien to me for so long.

"So am I safe?"

He shook his head, serious once more.

"No, Maria knows there was at least one human around and she's sent her two best men looking for your scent trail. She's scared the Volturi will find out she may have allowed humans to find out their secret."

"So I need to leave Mexico?"

"It won't solve your problem with these two. They'll go to any lengths for her."

"What am I supposed to do then? I'm not playing hide and go seek for the rest of my life."

"God your even more feisty than I thought."

"Jasper told you about me?"

"Not really no, he wasn't in any fit state to tell me much at all except goodbye"

"Make sense Peter before I take a lighter to your ass."

"OK, OK, Last time I saw Jasper as you call him, was shortly after the accident at your party and he was in a hell of a state. Blamed himself for everything, ruining your life, your happiness, letting the Cullens down. I tried to talk him round but he'd made his mind up he really was the monster the Cullens said he was, or thought he was."

"They said what? How could they?"

"Yeah great kicking the poor bastard when he was already down. Now you know why I hate them so much. Scratch the surface and the shiny veneer peels back to show the decay underneath."

"So what did he do? And how did you recognise me?"

" When he went the next day he left all his stuff behind for us to dispose of. Went while we were hunting so we couldn't stop him, or try at least. In his room I found a photograph ripped down the middle. one half was in tiny pieces on the floor but the other half was on the pillow."

"It was me?"

"Yep. Alice was in tiny pieces on the floor. It appeared he'd been looking at your half before he left."

"Where did he go? And why were you at that village?"

"Sensible questions and pertinent to the discussion at hand. He went back to Maria and I've been tracking him. Trying to contact him, get him to see sense.

"Maria? I don't know the story but wasn't she the one who changed him? He fought for her didn't he? And he's gone back? Why? Why would he do that?"

"Because he believes he is a monster, only fit for her company. He's tired of struggling to be a good person when everyone still thinks the worst of him."

"It was him who attacked that village?"

"Yeah and with each successive attack he loses a bit more of himself, becoming the monster who is The Major."

"So what do we do?"

"We? There is no fucking we. You get to safety or as close as I can get you then I carry on looking."

"You already said there's nowhere to go safe from my pursuers."

"Shit yes I did didn't I. Ironic really because if I stay with you I'm sure to run into the Major."

"Its Jasper hunting me?"

"No it's Maria's Major hunting you and there's a big fucking difference believe me, although I don't think he knows its you yet. I messed up the scents pretty well."

"What's the difference between Jasper and his alter ego?"

"Its like the difference between a tiny fluffy kitten and a big mean fucking tiger with raging tooth ache."

I looked at him sceptically,

"You don't believe me do you?"

I shook my head

"No I don't"

"Well lets hope you never have to find out just how right I am. Now come on, we need to move fast."

Despite not believing his exaggerated picture of Major Jasper I was happy to go along with him. He was my best chance to find Jasper and put things right. I felt that by doing this I could help myself too, selfish but true never the less.

Peter

This Bella Swan was a real piece of work. No arguments just did as I asked and we left within half an hour. My shoulder still ached like a bit but as soon as I got round to hunting it would heal quickly enough. I could hardly leave her vulnerable while I went for a snack and taking her with me just wasn't an option.

"Peter, who's the other one hunting me?"

I'd forgotten I mentioned two, shit!

"An animal called Nathan. He got demoted when the Major turned back up so he's got something tom prove. He's meaner than a rattlesnake and twice as deadly."

"Great! I have the Dynamic Duo after me!"

I laughed at her light-hearted name for the two deadly predators on her trail.

"Yeah so it's a good job you've got Superman on your side."

She looked around inquiringly before smiling at me,

"Come on then Man of Steel, let's get you a cape and some tights."

I could see what The Major found attractive about this human even if he wasn't willing to acknowledge it. All I had to do was to keep her alive long enough for him to recognize her, provided there was enough Jasper Hale left when they finally met.

Bella

I had no idea where we were headed and I really didn't care, I was back where I felt most at ease, in the world of the vampires. It hadn't taken long to work out that Peter hunted humans, the muddy brown eyes were merely red ones covered by brown contacts.

"So you hunt humans?"

"Yes. Is that going to be a problem?"

"Not as long as you don't try taking a bite out of me or some poor innocent human walking by"

"I hunt scum exclusively. Would be muggers, rapists, drug dealers, murderers, all the denizens of the night, swimming in the ocean of humanity believing they are the scariest motherfuckers out there"

"Till you come along and prove them wrong"

"something like that, yes"

We drove for hours, through the border and headed north for a while.

"Can you tell me where were going or is it a secret?"

"Home for now then we need to find a way of keeping you safe from pursuit."

"I need to speak to Jasper. I have to explain that I don't blame him for what happened. That the Cullens had no right to make him feel guilty and worthless. He's destroying himself for no reason Peter and it's not right."

"There's just one tiny fucking problem with that scenario"

"Go on"

"I can't guarantee you'll get a chance to talk before he attacks"

"I'll take my chances Peter. Jasper deserves that much of me."

We stopped for me to eat and use the facilities and Peter disappeared to hunt although I knew he didn't go far. I was beginning to like this earthy but loyal man. He had been putting himself at risk for the sake of friendship and then again to save a human he only thought he recognized. I wondered what his home would be like thinking back to the shack in Mexico and who the other we was. About four hours later I found out the answers to my musings. Home was a log built cabin in the hills and there was indeed a wife who looked angry and confused when she first laid eyes on me then I saw the expression change to one of pure amazement.

Apologies for this but I'm off on my travels again tomorrow so I won't be posting regularly for a week but I will try to put up a few. I will however still be writing so look out for extra Chapters when I get back. Jules x

P.S Please leave a review if you can. Thank you.