Chapter Thirteen

Jasper

By Friday Bella had got used to me appearing to take her from class to class and with my putting my arm around her as we walked. I never repeated the kiss though. I had no idea what had happened. I hadn't meant to kiss her like that, it just happened and there was something in her eyes that I didn't understand. I confined myself to pecks on the cheek but even those left my lips burning and my mind in a whirl, what was happening to me? Peter had noticed I was distracted and commented on it,

"So Major, you got a problem with Bella Swan?"

"No why?"

"Your mind doesn't seem to be on the ball"

"I'm fine Peter. Don't worry about me."

He smirked and walked out arm round Alice

"Now Babe, as I was saying"

He seemed to be getting on rather well with Alice and I wondered if it was out of sight out of mind where his partner Charlotte was concerned.

Bella

Saturday morning I saw with relief it was overcast but dry so the barbecue would be on, the thought of a whole evening with Jasper was very appealing. The part where I introduced Jasper to Charlie however was not. I sat nervously waiting for the bell to ring, watching Charlie as he got ready for work. I was hoping Jasper would get here before Charlie strapped on his gun belt but in the event he was a little later and Charlie was fully armed when the door bell went. I shot to my feet and ran to open it watched by an amused Charlie. When Jasper came in I saw he was totally relaxed which was grossly unfair because I was feeling sick with nerves.

"Hello Chief Swan, I'm Jasper Hale and I'd like to take Bella to the barbecue on the beach this evening."

Charlie attempted to make him sweat a little but Jasper stood there cool and calm and Charlie broke first

"I guess that will be OK as long as you look after her and she's home by midnight"

I groaned but Jasper agreed very seriously and Charlie went off slightly disgruntled at being bested by a mere boy!

He watched Charlie go then came over and put his arm around me,

"Well that wasn't so bad now was it?"

I groaned,

"Maybe not for you but for me.."

He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.

"So what did you want to do today?"

I was surprised,

"Oh I wasn't expecting you to stay."

He looked at me seriously

"Well I don't have to if you've something else to do but I thought perhaps we could spend the day together as I have to be close enough to guard you"

I was flustered

"No I don't have any plans, I just thought you might have"

He laughed and pulled me closer

"Hey you are my job now. I don't get days off"

"How long do you have to look out for me?"

He shrugged his shoulders,

"No idea Bella. We've been guarding Alice for about fifty years now I guess."

"Fifty years? You're going to be with me until I die of old age?"

He stiffened slightly then smiled

"If that's what it takes to keep you safe Bella"

I couldn't conceive of having a job that was ended only when the subject died. What kind of life was that for him? Watching over an old lady, having watched her grow older each year and him still a beautiful boy. I would go from his girlfriend to his mother, then grandmother, what a horrible thought.

"Do you have no idea how long it will be until this Volturi guy gives up on his children?"

"Well there are only three of you left as far as we know and we are guarding all three of you. Alice is already a vampire so guarding her is just a precaution, Shaun is forty now and shows no sign of any special talent so he's probably safe now but Charlotte will stay on him a while longer just in case he's a late developer."

"What about the ones you didn't get to in time?"

"They are members of the Volturi now I'm afraid. Power, she can cause you agony just by looking at you. Alec is even more devastating because he can isolate you, so you hear, see, and feel nothing. Felix has amazing strength and Demitri is the most able tracker in our world. He can find anyone, you cant hide from him. You know Alice's gift so that's about it. There were others who never developed the gifts they were expected to."

"What happened to them?"

"Some went on to live a human life and died of natural causes. Others were tracked down and taken to Volterra. When the gifts still didn't appear after they were changed they were used as general soldiers."

"But with the talents he already has why does he still want Alice and myself?"

Alice's gift would be very powerful, he would be able to see the future. Imagine that talent in the hands of a tyrant."

"And me?"

"Ah Bella, yours he covets most of all. A shield, a powerful shield who negates all the other gifts. It's the Holy Grail of talents."

"But Alice told me I only shield those I love."

"Yes because you are human and its instinctual. Once a vampire you could theoretically wield it at his command."

"But why would I agree to do that?"

"Bella my darlin' you would have no choice. He already has Chelsea, not one of his own children but a talent that is invaluable. She has the ability to make you loyal to him"

I hardly heard his last words, my ability to take in information had frozen when he called me darlin' with that devastating southern accent.

He realized he'd lost me but he thought it was too dreadful for me to comprehend.

"Hey tell you what. How about we take a drive to Port Angeles and buy you a cell phone so you can keep in contact with me easier?"

I nodded, if he'd suggested going to get my fingers amputated I'd have agreed, I really wasn't listening. When he took the truck keys from me I got in the passenger seat automatically. It wasn't until we'd driven in silence for half an hour that he spoke,

"I didn't mean to frighten you Bella, please forgive me"

He stretched out his hand to rub the back of mine and quite subconsciously I turned mine to grasp his with my fingers. Neither of us spoke, but neither did we break the hold.