Chapter Thirteen

Bella

I thought about Alice's words as I finished my meal, there was more in there than I'd caught at first.

"So Jasper gave up when he couldn't find love? Is there no one who cares about him at all?"

"You do"

"I mean anyone who could help him?"

"Oh, you mean vampire friends? Yes he has two, maybe three, but they can't do anything alone and why should they try?"

"Because as you say he's dying inside."

"I think he may already be dead Bella."

"No, I don't believe that. He didn't try to kill me so he still has something inside. How do I contact these friends of his Alice? If you wont help maybe they will."

"I can give you a contact number for them but they wont be able to get through to him alone, only his mate can do that"

"Alice, we can find his mate when he's safely out of that cage."

"You don't understand Bella. The cage that holds him captive is inside him. He could break free of his restraints if he had a good reason to do so. The fact he doesn't just proves he's given up."

"Why didn't you see this Alice? When you travelled with him? Before he left why didn't you warn him?"

"It wouldn't have helped Bella, I told you his love hadn't been born. He was looking for something that didn't exist at the time."

"But it does now, you said it did. Can we find her? Will she help to get him out?"

"That would depend on whether she loves him as much as he loves her."

"Well how do we find out?"

"We can't, only he can do that"

"Alice please. Just one straight answer. Can we save him?"

"Why do you want to?"

" That's a question not an answer Alice. He's a sentient being in pain what am I supposed to do? Walk past, forget I saw him? Alice, I need your help, I can't stand aside and let those men abuse and kill him to make a few bucks."

"Then turn your head away, think of something else. Pretend you never went to Seattle, never saw him. You'll never see him again if you don't look and soon it will be all over and life will go on as it always has."

"I don't believe you're saying that. How can I Alice? I spoke to him, I saw him, I touched him. He exists and he's in terrible trouble."

"And Edward?"

"What about Edward? I can't see him putting his Superman cape on and coming to the rescue."

"That's right. Edward would insist you never talk about it again, he'd take you away from Forks, far away from anything that might remind you and talk you into submission. Bella you don't know what you are asking me to help you with."

"Then tell me Alice. Stop playing games and lay it out for me"

"OK I might be able to help you but there's something very important that you need to know first. If you do this, if you help, if you go to Chicago to try and find Jasper Whitlock you will lose Edward, you will lose Jake, and all your friends on the Reservation. You will probably never see Charlie again or Renee. These are things you have to take into account. I'm not scare mongering just telling you like it is. He is dangerous, he is wild, and he is incredibly difficult. Are you prepared to give up everything to help a man who may already be beyond your help?"

"Are you sure about what you are saying Alice or are you trying to scare me? If I help him and we can point him in the right direction to find his mate then my job is done and I can put things right with Charlie and Renee. As for Edward well we both know that's over and Jake and I aren't getting on too well as you saw demonstrated earlier."

"I shouldn't need to scare you Bella and if he didn't then there's no hope for the rest of us. He's about the scariest thing in our world."

I drank my coffee in silence for a while thinking while Alice drew patterns in the froth on her coffee. Then pushing away my empty plate I sighed and she looked up.

"OK I'll try to get the number for his friends and hook up with my contacts in Chicago, give me a few minutes"

Taking a tiny cell phone from her jacket pocket she walked outside, so she knew I'd decided. I knew Edward and I were heading for the rocks, I couldn't be moved around and controlled like a puppet much as I adored him. Jake? I thought that relationship was already dead in the water. But Charlie and Renee? Well mum had someone now who would look after her, I didn't have to worry about her any longer but Charlie, I'd only just got to really know my dad but if I'd stayed with Edward I would have lost him anyway, they disliked each other so much, so it was inevitable really.

When Alice came back in she grabbed a napkin and scribbled something on it but she kept it in her hand.

"Alice you've seen my future, is it really tied in some way to that man in the cage or his mate?"

"I can't answer that Bella, too many unknowns. Do you want it to be?"

"What kind of question is that? You just told me he's dangerous and wild, why would he be interested in me?"

"Your question should have been why would I be interested in him? The fact it wasn't tells me more than I wanted to know. You can't do this alone you know, there are too many variables involved but I'm not sure bringing in the family would help, well Edward will talk them out of it and besides its only Em interested and he's outvoted"

"You saw that? Why do I think you're more involved in this than you are letting on?"

"Bella I have to walk a very narrow path so I don't influence your future or mine, you make the decisions then I can tell you what happens next, up to a point."

"Why up to a point?"

"Because there are always variables."

"Your friend! What did he say?"

"He's heard rumours nothing more but he wont get involved, too dangerous. So we need to find someone else."

"Oh right I'll just dial 911 Superhero shall I?"

She looked at her watch,

"Right, show time, you have to go show your dad what we bought, Edward wont be back until this evening so I'll come over later if I can and I may have some news then."

"What about his friends?"

"If I don't have any luck you'll have to try them."

Charlie

I was surprised Alice didn't come in with Bells but she was coming back later. Looking at the mountain of bags strewn around the sitting room I was shocked,

"So you really did go shopping then, can I see?"

She smiled looking nervous,

"Sure dad"

As she tipped the things out I saw relief on her face, jumpers, shirts, pants, and a couple of long brightly coloured skirts. Another bag contained two pairs of shoes, one very serviceable, the other strappy but not too high.

"Someone's got good taste, did Alice pick these?"

She nodded and grabbing the clothes up in her arms took them upstairs. One bag she'd left behind so I followed her up with it. As she looked in she grinned,

"That one's for you dad"

Inside was a new fishing hat and a pair of leather gloves.

"You shouldn't spend your money on me but thanks, my old fishing hat is falling apart."

I touched her arm in thanks and went back downstairs to get ready for work, it was nice getting a present from Bella, we weren't into that kind of thing normally. Alice seemed to be a good influence on her.