Chapter Thirty Three

Justin

I had no idea how Bella would feel about me now, knowing it was my brother who had killed her parents and then almost killed her. Not to mention everything that had happened to her in between. I just hoped she would remember all I had done that Christmas and since. I didn't want her to think I had been a party to James attack or had known anything about it but I wasn't sure she would give me time to tell her my story. Alice seemed to think things would turn out alright but I was extremely nervous all the same and when she moved forward I tensed but then she motioned Alice and I to one side and the relief flooded through me.

Bella

James stood smiling as if he didn't have a care in the world and I felt all the rage I had been suppressing flood my body. From the corner of my eye I saw Emmett and Peter move forward only to be stilled by a gesture from Jasper, he knew this was my time. I needed this, some form of payback for everything that had happened to me and to my parents. James rolled his shoulders and crooked a finger at me,

"Come on then little girl, let's see how good you are without an ax."

Those words brought back vivid memories of my parents bodies, bloody and broken lying lifeless on the ground and the sound of the ax as it slid across his granite skin. Well this time I had more formidable weapons, my own body.

Jasper

I watched, confident that Bella could take James, she had an distinct advantage in that she was a newborn so faster and more powerful than James despite his years of experience but I was ready to act if it became necessary. Peter too was ready, his fists clenched, and I knew he was dying to wade in, any kind of a fight was Peter's type. James was fast but I could see he was rusty, he didn't fight other vampires very often and certainly not newborns or he wouldn't make the stupid mistakes that were glaringly obvious to both Peter and I. Bella was a natural, holding back at first to see what he would do but then she launched herself forward and he only narrowly avoided her snapping teeth and flashing nails. The second time she anticipated his move and caught him across the face with her nails leaving four deep lacerations that dripped venom onto his shirt as he backpedaled to escape the snapping teeth.

He got a bite of his own in on the next encounter ripping the shoulder of her sweater but only nipping the skin below. It was enough to push Bella over the edge and she was on him before he could back away to a safe distance. He went over backwards and she was there tearing at his limbs and snapping her teeth to rip off an ear and take a chunk of cheek away which she spat out contemptuously. We heard a ripping sound and his left arm flew through the air as he screamed in rage but he was finished and we all knew it. Bella's voice as she tore him apart was loud enough to be heard over the screeching and snapping,

"This is for my mom...that's for killing my dad...this is for the hell they put me through in that clinic you bastard."

Eventually I calmed her down until it was safe to approach and as I took her in my arms Peter and Emmett began to pick up the pieces but she turned back anger still flashing in her eyes,

"Leave him. I want to watch him burn."

They looked at me and I nodded so they stacked the body parts together and Justin stepped forward. I wondered for a second if he were going to plead for his brother's life but then he offered Bella a lighter which she took with a nod of thanks and bending down set light to the heap which flared up skyward, then she stood watching until the flames died away before allowing me to take her back inside.

Justin

I had offered the lighter to prove where my allegiance lay but I still wanted to explain to Bella what had happened between James and myself. When I asked if I could speak to her for a few minutes she nodded looking at me neutrally and I sat down opposite.

"I don't know how much you know about my relationship with my brother but I would like to explain Bella, it would make me feel easier."

"Go ahead Justin but let me tell you I don't regret what I just did."

"He owed you that debt Bella. James and I were transformed at the same time and we hunted together for years just taking what we needed but as time went on James began to enjoy the hunt, the terror of his victims and that worried me. I killed humans to survive but I tried to make it as quick and painless as I could and I never left prey alive to suffer, nor did I ever change a human. My brother found a companion, a woman called Victoria who was as vindictive and cruel as he was and when they started hunting together I refused to go along. I was ready to leave when I saw Alice and that was the impetus. I upped and left and I never saw him again until a few days ago when Alice and I captured him. He couldn't believe I would act against him and the shock when I did gave me the edge. I honestly didn't know if I could take him, he was always the faster of us, the better fighter, but he'd gotten lazy taking on only humans, I was lucky I guess."

Bella was silent for a moment then she leaned across and touched my knee,

"Thank you for that Justin but I never doubted your loyalty. I'm just sorry you had to see your brother die. Do you know what happened to his companion Victoria?"

I shook my head,

"I never mentioned her and there was no sign of her when we found James but if she comes looking for him, I'll be ready."

"She won't Justin."

Alice came up and wrapped her arms around me from behind the chair,

"I saw what happened as James was dying. Victoria left him about ten years ago. She came across her mate, another nomad called Laurent and went off with him, she didn't even leave a message for James who tracked her for the next five years. When he finally found her he watched their routine then killed Laurent while she was away and left his headless body lying next to a pile of ashes for her to find. She went crazy after that tracking him in turn and there was a terrible fight which of course he won. After that she joined her precious mate in a pile of ashes. I think in a way James never recovered from her leaving him, his death was probably a happy release although I know you don't want to hear that Bella. I don't feel sorry for him though, he was a savage pure and simple and a sadistic one at that. The world is a much better place without him."

Bella sat back her face grave,

"All I want is my son back in my arms Alice."

"I know and I wish I could help, I really do Bella, I feel so helpless, that's why I went off to join Justin. At least I was doing something productive but we will find all three of them I'm sure."

"I hope so Alice, this not knowing is tearing me apart and I dread to think how Rosalie feels. I had three days before I remembered everything, she's lived through every second of their kidnap. Do you think Darius will find anything Jasper?"

He nodded and I couldn't help adding,

"After seeing what he is capable of over Christmas Bella, I don't think there is anything Darius can't do."

She sighed and lay her head on Jasper's shoulder,

"I hope you're right Justin but if not what can we do? Where do we start looking? There are so many reservations and if they aren't on one of those they could be anywhere, abroad even."

"No, the Quileutes don't have those kinds of connections or finances. The children haven't been taken overseas that I am sure of, besides Darius would have found a paper trail by now if they had."

I was sure Jasper was right although Bella still didn't look one hundred percent convinced.