Chapter Twenty Two

Bella

I didn't know what to expect but the drive was fun, Garrett and Peter spent the whole journey taking the mickey out of each other's driving and navigation skills or lack there of,

"When did you take your driving test? It must have cost a packet in bribes"

"Yeah well Garrett we all know you passed yours in a horse and cart."

"At least I can keep a straight line"

"Rubbish, I've seen fields you ploughed, looked like a drunken snake went on the rampage"

"The farmer wanted something different"

"Sure he did, good job he was blind drunk"

"Oh like your driving examiner"

I turned to Char

"Are they always like this?"

"I don't know much about Garrett but this is tame for Peter. He's editing his language for your sake. Once he's really comfortable in your company the gloves will come off."

Peter looked at me through the mirror and grinned,

"Don't you listen to her Bella. I'm a real Southern gentleman where the ladies are concerned"

"What's that mean, keep them poor, barefoot, and pregnant?"

"Garrett you have no idea how we gentlemen treat the ladies so shut the fuck up."

I couldn't help a smile at that, he was getting comfortable with me quickly.

When we stopped for a comfort break the guys went off, Garrett to hunt and Peter to,

"Make sure he can find his way back to the car. These city dwellers get confused when they see more than two trees"

Charlotte came in with me and while I had something to eat she toyed with a coffee.

"Bella, I know Peter has been avoiding a certain subject but I think you have a right to know. This urge to find The Major, your concern for him, its more than caring for another of Gods creatures you know."

"I saw him giving me a few funny looks, what is it then?"

"I think you and The Major have a connection."

"Connection? I've only seen him once for a few minutes."

"Yes, and yet you came to find us to help you find him again. Garrett told us you'd asked Alice to help you get him out of the cage. Have you ever stopped to examine your own actions, feelings?"

"I guess not but you're right. It was a strange feeling, it is a strange feeling. I need to make sure he's OK. But I don't understand this weird ache, this driving force that's moving me."

"Bella I have a gift, rather like Alice and Jasper. I see relationships"

"In your head you mean?"

"Its strange, a feeling I guess, and I think you and he are connected. Its nebulous at the moment but I think once you find him things will work themselves out."

I didn't really understand what she was saying, whether it was information or a warning, all I knew was that I had to see him again out of that cage and at peace. His tortured eyes haunted me day and night, I wanted to see contentment in them.

Jasper

I went hunting again the next day, forcing myself to track elk and wolf. Their blood eased the thirst without quenching the fire altogether but I would rather live with the residue of the burn than experience the pain of human prey. There was a deep ache in my chest that had expanded over the last week. It felt like my stone heart was being tugged through the wall of my chest, dragging at my body but I had no idea what it meant or how to ease it. The only time it faded was when I closed my eyes and thought about the human girl Bella, my dream healer! I considered travelling to find Peter and Charlotte but I couldn't face anyone, let any one see me so low, so vulnerable.

My strength, my speed, even my will to fight, were draining from my body into the snow-covered ground and I wondered if there were something here in the mountains that could kill a vampire. Another kind of creature like me but who lived on the attributes that made my kind invincible. I spent hours just sitting and watching the changing light as the sun travelled across the sky and finally sank down behind the peaks. I should have appreciated the beauty and splendour of it all but I had no enthusiasm for anything. I hadn't touched a book since I got here and the fire had long ago burned out in the hearth. My clothes were once again dirty and torn from hunting but I hadn't the energy to mend them or find new ones so I went without, it mattered little to me. What I really wanted was to sink down into the snow, become one with the glacier and sleep for eternity.

It was tempting and I even dug such a hole just big enough for my body to curl up into and deep enough that it wouldn't be disturbed by any wildlife. I sat looking at it wondering why I didn't just do it. Feel the cold ice form around me and forget, forget everything, my dreams, my nightmares, my human wraith. My problem was filling the hole once I was in it. What I needed was a heavy snowfall for a few weeks to fill it naturally. As I thought about this I felt the first snowflakes fall onto my naked back, was it a sign? The ache in my chest was easing with each passing hour and I knew I had made the right decision, I would become one with the planet and let my mind roam free, ignoring the thirst and it would ease with my declining strength. If I could just hold on long enough, until I was too weak to dig my way out of the ice I would have won, I could beat my nature and I would. With a final look at the scenery I jumped down into my living grave and pulled down the loose snow I had balanced on the edge to give the fresh falling snow a base to build on. Everything was very quiet except for the creak as the snow settled beneath my weight and I closed my eyes hoping I would never have to open them again.

Bella

We picked up the all terrain vehicle in Whitefish and supplies for me as the "pesky human", Peter's words. I got a hot coffee to go and sat in the back of our new transport with the heater going full blast. The scenery was breathtaking and I could imagine why Jasper might have chosen this place as a refuge, it was quiet and beautiful, balm to a troubled soul.

"How far do we have to go now?"

Peter didn't answer me straight off and I looked up at him. He'd turned in the seat but instead of his usual grin there was a look of intense concentration. Then he shook his head,

"Step on it Garrett something is going on, something I don't like the feel of."

As Garrett put his foot down I touched Peter's shoulder,

"Is it Jasper? What's wrong Peter? Please?"

I felt panic rising in my chest and Charlotte took the coffee from me before I crushed the plastic mug it was in.

"Peter?"

He turned, his eyes bleak,

"I don't know Bella but some thing's going down and it scares the shit out of me."