Chapter Seventeen
Jasper
I travelled as far as possible before hunting but eventually my healing body demanded blood and I hadn't the will power to fight it so I took a hiker who happened to wander across my path, leaving the body for the wolves that had started to gather around hungrily. After feeding I felt better and the vision of the girl Bella swam before my eyes. I knew I wasn't going towards her because my very soul called out for me to head east but I couldn't allow myself, if I met her at the moment I might not be able to control myself and I couldn't risk hurting the only human who ever gave me a kind word. Heading for the cabin gave me a purpose and Bella the reason to keep going.
Bella
The phone rang a few times but I let it, if Alice wasn't coming I'd soon know and if it was Charlie I'd say I was in the bathroom. Hearing a car draw up I looked out the window relieved to see Alice step out of her little sports car and bounce up the steps. I opened the door looking around warily.
"Have you see Edward since school?"
She shook her head and close her eyes for a second then sighed in exasperation,
"He's in the tree outside your bedroom window Bella, just keep it shut, he'll get the message eventually. If you'd been any colder today he'd have got frostbite."
"I'm through with him Alice. You know what he did?"
"Yes, I warned him not to but he wouldn't listen and now he has to pay the price, Garrett was very impressed with you Bella. He said you were a real spitfire."
"Yeah well, its over. Now come in and tell me what you found out."
I dragged her into the lounge and sat beside her on the couch, I had been about to take her up to my bedroom in case Charlie came home early but I didn't want Edward listening in.
"Can he hear us?"
"Not from the tree and I'll soon know if he moves, besides Garrett is out there too, watching the watcher, just like a spy movie. Its quite exciting Bella."
"Alice concentrate on Chicago"
She shook her head,
"He didn't go there."
"Where did they take him then? He hasn't been killed has he?"
My voice trailed off at the end.
"No Bella he escaped."
"He's what? He didn't look as if he could when I saw him."
Alice
I needed to impress on Bella how dangerous this could be, Jasper Whitlock on the loose having finally seen her and Edward still not ready to take no for an answer. He thought she would come round in time and perhaps she might have if she hadn't gone to Seattle and seen Jasper. Now he stood no chance at all, she'd seen her love and he'd seen his mate and nothing would stop the two of them from meeting again unless he wasn't able to control himself. Unfortunately that was still a real possibility, he had deteriorated much more than I had anticipated. If he'd gone back to his friends he would have survived so much more easily but then he never did what you expected of him, its what made him so very dangerous.
"Bella I need to tell you something and you must think about it carefully before making any decision."
"You already know my decision Alice"
"No I don't, not this one. Jasper Whitlock is a very dangerous and unstable vampire warrior. I know you want to help him and you have, you gave him the impetus to break out. If that's enough then good, he'll find his own way and you can go on with your life, with or without Edward but there is always a chance that he will come looking for you and may even find you, he isn't a tracker as such, but he's good."
"He only saw me once for a few seconds, why should he try to find me? To kill me?"
"I seriously doubt that but if he's still unstable he could without meaning to."
"I'll risk it, was that all?"
"No. If you do go looking for him it means mixing with other human hunters which in itself is highly dangerous and I must tell you Edward will follow. He is drawn to you so strongly he will pursue you until he knows for certain you are lost to him."
"You mean dead?"
"Not necessarily."
Bella
I thought about all she'd said, the thought that he had escaped filled me not with fear but relief and if he did try to find me then so be it, I couldn't hide from a determined vampire wherever I went. The question was did I want to leave it here? Was I satisfied that he was free even if it meant other humans dying to feed him? The more I thought about him the more intrigued I became, the more I wanted, no needed, to see him again, speak to him, and I couldn't say why. Alice sighed again heavily,
"Charlie is going to kill you if you disappear during term time. You can't do anything until recess but it wont make any difference I don't think he's going anywhere for a while. But I can't help you, I can't go with you."
"Why?"
"Because Jasper would see both Garrett and I as enemies, we didn't part on good terms I'm afraid so you'll have to ask his friends to help. Mine wont get involved, he's just too dangerous."
"OK I'll do that Alice. As soon as school is out, will he wait that long?"
"Wait?"
"Will he be OK until then?"
"Bella he's a vampire warrior isn't that a crazy question? What do you think he's going to do? Have a nervous breakdown?"
"I think he's already had that Alice. You didn't see the state he was in"
"I did"
"Not in the flesh Alice, he was hurting so much"
"How do you know that Bella? You can't feel emotions, that's his gig"
I wondered how to answer her. I had felt his pain but I couldn't explain it.
"How am I going to get away from Charlie?"
"That's another problem. I can't alibi you again, Carlisle will go nuts if I do. Is there anyway you could get away? Any excuse?"
"I could say I was going to visit Renee and hope he doesn't check up on me"
"Not a good idea Bella, if he finds out you lied he'll kill you"
"OK, what are you doing in the holiday?"
"Garrett and I are going on a hunting trip, a farewell one actually, he's headed off afterwards, its time for a parting of the ways"
"I'm so sorry Alice"
"Don't be, we both knew it wasn't a forever thing, we've enjoyed each others company and now its time to look elsewhere"
"What if I told Charlie I was with you? You don't have to say anything and he's hardly likely to ask Carlisle if its true is he?"
She pondered on this for a few seconds,
"OK Bella but you owe me"
"Fine, give me the napkin"
"Oh you remembered"
"Yes Alice I remembered so hand it over."
"Just remember these are human hunters, be careful. They are also Jaspers only true friends so they'll be suspicious of you, take it easy."
"Will do."
She handed over the napkin before leaving and as she went down the steps she turned back,
"Don't forget to lock your window Bella, there are all sorts of nasty creepy crawlies around."
I smiled as I heard a rustle in the trees. Edward was still there and as far as I was concerned there he could stay until he started sprouting leaves or wings I didn't care which.