Chapter Thirty Two

Jasper

Bella was fast even for a newborn and by the time I caught up with her two men were dead and drained. I blamed myself for letting her go on ahead knowing she was still angry but it was too late now. All I could do was hide the evidence of her attack and get her away from here. I saw the second she realized what she had done. Her face changed from excited to horrified and she looked at the two bodies discarded like crumpled sweet papers. Then she sank to the ground and buried her head in her hands, sobbing dry tears. I put the two bodies inside the tent out of sight and went to her picking her up in my arms and talking to her soothingly.

"Its OK Bella, we'll soon clear this up. It was my fault not yours. I should have been more vigilant,"

"I killed them Jazz. Two men with lives and families. I killed them and drank their blood"

"I know Bella and I'm sorry, but it is our nature and you are so young. It's always difficult to avoid temptation and you tried so hard. These things happen sometimes."

"I don't want to be a killer Jazz. Please don't let me do that again."

"I won't Bella. Stick with me and I'll keep you from doing anything like it again. Now I have to dispose of the bodies."

"Bury them?"

"No it has to look like they died from a bear attack or something. Otherwise it will start a manhunt."

"So how?"

"You stay here. Leave it to me"

"No. I caused this mess, I want to help put it right."

I nodded and ripped the tent from its pegs using a sharp rock to put slashes in the nylon then dragging it and the bodies over the ground. Our biggest problem was there was no blood left and a bear or mountain lion attack would have left plenty of it soaked into the ground. I picked the bodies up and tangled them up in the ripped tent before dragging it over to the fire and watching as the flames licked round them and the nylon. I heard Bella behind me coughing and choking and went to her pulling her into my arms.

"I feel sick, how could I do that?"

"I'm afraid it's in our nature Bella. I've done the best I can, lets hope it fools the authorities. With luck they won't be found for some time and the weather will help us."

I lead her away from the site of her attack and back to the car. She didn't speak as I drove on and I knew she was blaming herself for the deaths.

"Bella, I told you it wouldn't be easy."

"How do you control yourself Jazz? You went to a school full of humans for years, you live almost as one with them, how?"

"Many years of trial and error and struggling Bella. It can be done but its hard. You will always crave human blood, whatever Edward may have told you. He had a spell some years ago when he rebelled and killed quite a number of humans before going back to Carlisle. I'll help you."

She moved over to sit close to me and took my hand in hers.

"I'm a killer Jazz. I never thought I would be tempted by a human but its impossible to fight the craving."

"No, just very hard but you'll do it Bella I know you will."

By the time we reached the first place we were going to look at it was getting towards dusk and the agent showed us round very quickly before leaving us to explore the outside of the derelict property and its land. Bella had kept me between her and the agent and stopped breathing but she was still very tense.

"What do you think Bella?"

"It's such a beautiful and peaceful spot. Do you think you can repair the house?"

"Yes, we can do it together, as long as you like the location"

She looked around at the view, mountains in the distance and meadows and pasture land stretched out as far as the eye could see.

"I love it."

"Then I'll ring the agent in the morning and see what we can do about the price."

Bella

Within a month the house and its vast land was ours and we started the renovation work. It wasn't long before we were joined by our friends, having heard what we'd bought although I had no idea how.

Peter and Char were impressed with the work we'd already done and the guys were soon lost in deep discussion about horses and possibly even cows! Charlotte saw my face and laughed taking me by the arm. "Don't worry Bella, they always get carried away with a new venture. How are you finding your new life?"

I told her shamefaced about my slip and she nodded understandingly.

"It's a shock to the system but it happens with most newborns. Have you slipped again?"

I shook my head, horrified at the very idea of killing more innocent humans.

"I steer clear of them. I haven't even been into town yet. I'm so scared I'll do something terrible."

"You won't, it sounds like it was a special set of circumstances, the visit from the Cullens, the plane journey, the nervous excitement of finding a home. You'll be fine now I'm sure."

The guys made a trip into town the next week, looking for horses to buy, leaving Char and I alone but I felt more confident now, I was hunting regularly and I hadn't come across any more humans. As we cleared the yard of old timber the guys had replaced in the house we saw a figure walking towards the house. He'd appeared from nowhere hands in his pockets and whistling. I called Charlotte who looked out of the window and smiled,

"So Garrett has finally decided to visit."

We went out to meet him and he bowed low as always, with a smile on his handsome face,

"What are you doing here Garrett? There must be trouble brewing"

"Now that's not exactly a friendly greeting Charlotte my beauty. Where are they anyway?"

"In town, looking at horses"

"When they could be looking at two such beautiful ladies? They're mad, the pair of them. Well I'll wait if you don't mind."

He pulled a chair up and sat on the porch putting his feet up on the rail and closing his eyes.

"Just pretend I'm not here Bella. Most people do."

"Fat chance of that Garrett. Come on Bella lets finish moving this old lumber to the barn."

Garrett glanced over but didn't offer to help and Char grinned.

"He knows I want to talk about him"

"Women always do."

I laughed and we took the rest of the old floorboards down to the barn for a bonfire later in the week.

Why do you think there's trouble brewing just because Garrett turns up Char?"

"Usually when he turns up it's because trouble is brewing. He always seems to hear about it before anyone else but he does have an extremely good intelligence network and its helped us in the past. I'll be glad when the guys get back."

"Should I be worried?"

"Not yet but I'll bet there's trouble coming in our direction and moving fast in fact I wouldn't be surprised if Peter isn't feeling it too"