Chapter Thirty Eight
Jasper
Sure enough Raven was back at the table, her arm around Billy's shoulder again and she smiled sneeringly at me.
"Do you have a problem with me?"
Billy looked to her hearing my tone,
"Yes as a matter of fact I have, with you and all your kind"
"Raven please we didn't come here to start a fight."
"Quite obviously not Billy. In fact you seem very cosy with the leeches. Is Jake the only one who sees the problem with that? They're our enemies Billy and I thought they were yours too, but I was wrong"
"Billy, excuse me but as Raven started this confrontation with Bella I'd like to get it out in the open. Perhaps you'd like to tell me about your problem with me"
"Certainly Major Whitlock, you killed my Grandfather in the Southern Conflict, I'd say that qualified as a good reason."
"A lot were killed on both sides during the wars"
"Yes and most of them by you or your soldiers"
"It was a war, people die."
Billy
I didn't like the way Raven had attacked Bella and Jasper but she had a valid point. However it was too long ago and things changed, people changed.
"Raven please, we talked about this. Jasper is here with Bella for Charlie. Let it go"
She stood up suddenly her face a mask of fury,
"You stay Billy, play happy families with the murdering bastard but don't expect me to do the same. I came to see if he had changed and guess what, he hasn't, only now he makes war on his own kind. It seems the Quileute wolves have sold out to the enemy."
With that she spun on her heel and walked out followed almost immediately by Jake who I knew agreed with her assessment of our treaty. Charlie stood up embarrassed,
"I'm sorry Billy. If I'd known Raven had a history with Jasper I wouldn't have brought her along. But you knew so why didn't you at least warn us?"
"I didn't know how deep her feelings went. She only told me she had heard of The Major and was curious to see him for herself. I didn't know her history. I'd better go, see if I can find her and Jake."
Charlie made his apologies promising to ring Bella later and we left.
Jasper
"Well it seems I still have enemies Bella."
"Do you think she'll try anything?"
"I doubt it, even with Jake she doesn't stand a chance of winning a fight. It would be better to kill her but with Billy involved that's not an option."
Little did I know how that would come back to haunt me. Bella and I went hunting in the countryside that night then made love under the stars. As she lay in my arms afterwards tracing my scars which stood out in the moonlight she spoke,
"Do you ever think there will be peace between the vampires and the other creatures?"
"Not as long as vampires hunt humans and the others still have memories of past injuries."
"You really are well known aren't you?"
"Infamous I'm afraid Bella. The trouble was I knew no different and I was the best there was and probably still am. My name sent waves of fear through vampires, humans, and other creatures equally. I was a killer and very good at what I did."
"But not any longer, people change, why can't she see that?"
"Would you if I'd killed Charlie?"
She didn't answer which was honest enough and an answer in itself.
"What are we going to do about Carlisle?"
I sat up pulling her to lean against my chest as I gazed up at the moon,
"He is responsible for all this, what do you think we should do?"
"What would you do Jazz?"
"Take him out in revenge and so he couldn't harm me again but I'm a killer Bella, I see things differently from you"
Bella
I knew Raven had made Jasper think back to his time in Maria's army and it hurt him, it always did. He wasn't a killer now but he was right in his assessment of the Carlisle problem. I didn't want to become a killer but he was dangerous, he'd already cost three humans their lives and I knew he wouldn't stop if only because he always put Edward first. If another girls blood called to him like mine had and she rejected him it would mean more lives lost, more misery.
"If we kill Carlisle would that be the end or would we only be creating more problems? Would Edward or the others blame us and start their own vendetta? Will we never be free of fighting and deceit?"
"Never the fighting, vampires always have to fight to survive sooner or later but the deceit we could possibly avoid if we can explain why Carlisle has to die."
"Wont that just turn them against Edward too?"
"Perhaps but its the best we can do. Bella I'm tired of fighting, tired of being seen as Maria's monster. I want it over, with Carlisle and with Raven if she comes after me, or you."
I could sense the truth of his words in his voice. Thinking about his past I could understand the way he felt, he'd fought for decades, one foe after another, never resting, never ceasing, and that would become wearing on even a vampire. Jasper was a very sensitive soul and it was torture for him to feel the anger and disgust of everyone he met when his identity as the Major was revealed.
"Then we go to the Cullen house now and confront Carlisle. I'd like to hear the justification for his actions."
Getting up I pulled my clothes on, sad to see The Major take over Jasper's mind as conflict drew near.
Jasper
I knew Bella felt my emotions as I felt hers but she was right, the longer this hung over our heads the longer we would feel insecure, wondering what he had planned next for us or our friends. We ran back to the hotel to collect the car then set off for Forks and a showdown with Carlisle. I hoped Esme wasn't involved and would be horrified when she learned what her husband had done, it was a faint hope but I clung to it, I'd done with making war on women and children, at least I hoped so. Their screams of horror and pain still haunted me sometimes although not as often as before I met Bella. She kept my demons at bay with her presence and I loved her even more for that, for the peace she gave me as well as the love and understanding.