I know you've all been busy guessing who's doing what so I thought I'd put you out of your misery at least a little. Many thanks for the reviews.

Chapter Nine

Peter

I went to see the Major because I had no idea what to do with the last of our clients and no idea how to stop her or keep her safe, I was hoping he might as he knew her.

"Look she wont listen to me, she doesn't trust me, but if she keeps up with the questions its going to come to his attention and we could lose her. We lost too many already because we didn't know who they were. We have a chance with Bella Swan if we can only get her to trust us. She knows you so I'm asking you to take her on. I'll take over yours in return"

"Well thanks for that. And what if I don't want to be handed over like a parcel"

"Alice please, you know what's going on and you know I'll keep you safe. She needs someone she knows. Someone who can gain her trust more easily and he fits the bill".

So far he'd said nothing, just listened to us bicker,

"She may not trust me either"

"No but you stand a better chance than me. She thinks I could be from the enemy camp. I could be working for her father".

He looked at Alice and I knew they'd grown close over the years he'd protected her.

"Tell me what you want"

She shook her head

"It doesn't work like that. I only see the future as it's decided. If I let you go I can't see if I'll be safe but I know she deserves a chance like the one you gave me, so I have no choice. You made it clear a long while ago that I was a job and I accepted that. Now it looks like you have another job to do".

She walked over to me.

"OK you're my saviour now and you'd better do a good job of it"

I smiled

"Now Alice you know I'm good, let me show you how good" and I put my arm around her as we walked off.

Jasper

I sighed as I saw a new task ahead of me, I knew what we were doing was important, vital indeed, but just sometimes I got tired of it all, wishing I could find someone for myself instead of seeing another soul in peril. Bella was the last though, as far as we knew. He hadn't made any more, well he couldn't because Eleazer had left his service, no more finding possible gifts and forcing them into his service. After this I was determined to go away, find myself a quiet spot and build a place of my own, give up on the fighting and hiding from the Volturi, just live for myself and do what I wanted to do. First there had been Maria and then when I left and we found out what a certain member of the Volturi was doing I had another task. They could never be allowed to become that strong or the Nomads like us would cease to exist.

Bella

I was terrified when I got home, I didn't know what to think or who to believe. Forks seemed to be the centre of some kind of conspiracy of silence. The Quileutes knew something had been going on when Charlie and Renee got married but they wouldn't or couldn't stop it. Who was the mystery man? Was he friend or foe? And who were the Cold Ones? When I got upstairs and coaxed my computer to life I typed in Cold Ones and hit enter on Google. I thought I probably wouldn't get many hits but the page filled quickly. As I read the entries one by one my own blood ran cold.

The Cold Ones were well known all over the world under different names but basically they were what I knew as vampires. Billy had been right to call them mythical creatures but it wasn't as simple as that. Renee had believed in them after seemingly meeting one. She died of a blood disorder no doctor could diagnose and the Cold Ones drank blood and created more vampires by biting humans. Had Renee's sickness been caused because she was raped by a vampire? Was their seed as venomous as their bite?

What was I thinking! Renee had fantasized about things over the years and obviously these Cold Ones were one of her fantasies. I wondered if her insanity was catching, after all I was beginning to believe her. But who had written the note found in my room on the faded vellum and what was the significance of the material? I saw the pictures of vampires in black cloaks and my mind ran riot. I needed to speak to Billy again although I wasn't sure if he would even open his door this time. I would leave it till the weekend when I could have Jake for backup.

Bella

The next morning when I got to school there was a difference. The Cullen vehicles were there and Alice was saying goodbye to the guy I'd seen on the road the night before. Emmett, Rose, and Jasper were standing to one side talking and Emmett smiled when I pulled in next to his truck, the only parking space I could see. As I got out I dropped my books and Jasper was there to pick them up for me. His smile made me swallow and gasp for breath as he handed them back to me.

"Are you all right Bella? You look as if you saw a ghost"

I shook my head, "I'm fine. Thanks for picking my books up"

He walked with me to the main entrance ignoring Alice who skipped ahead of us.

"See you at lunch" he said before walking off to class.

I shook my head to clear it and went off to English where Alice sat in a new place next to Edward and in front of Angela and I. As we worked on our new poetry project I couldn't help but overhear their conversation

"I told you Edward, Jazz and I are just friends, its been ages since we were a couple. He's a nice guy, I just hope he finds someone for himself. Peter and I are very happy thank you".

So she and Jasper weren't a couple after all, or at least not any longer. I brought to mind his smile, it still tied my tongue.

AT lunchtime I sat as usual with Angie and the others who were arranging a beach party for the weekend if the weather was good, which was forecast. Angie nudged me,

"Bella, I think the Cullens are watching you again"

I looked over but they were all chatting, heads down.

"No Angie, I think you're seeing things"

"Really? Well Emmett and Jasper seem interested in what you are doing".

I gave it a few minutes and glanced over again, they were all deep in conversation except Jasper and he was indeed watching me. When he saw me looking he smiled and once more my heart skipped a beat.

At the end of school I wandered back absently to my truck with Angie when she stopped suddenly.

"Looks like I'm not needed here"

and she veered off towards Mike and Jess. I looked up to see what she meant and my mouth went dry. Jasper Hale was leaning against the side of my truck watching me. I hesitated then carried on,

"Did you need me for something?"

He smiled and nodded,

"I wondered if you had a few minutes, only I'd like to talk to you".

Jasper Hale wanted to speak to me?

"Sure, where?"

He looked round and I followed his gaze, students were looking over at us,

"Shall we go for a coffee or something, only I think we're causing some consternation here"

I nodded, going scarlet and opened my door,

"Jump in unless you want to follow me" I said.

"No I don't have a car with me. I usually get a lift with Emmett."

Of course he did, I'd seen him get in and out of the monster truck often enough.