Chapter Forty Six

Bella

She looked up then, brow furrowed then shrugged,

"Sure Bella come on."

I followed her down to the basement where I saw a full size firing range,

"Wow this house boasts all the amenities!"

She laughed.

"It surely does but they don't have to move around like us, not living in such isolation from the humans."

"Does it upset you having to move every few years?"

"Sometimes. I'd like to have a home I could keep but Emmett wouldn't be happy without people around him, family I mean so we move around. So, what did you want advice on Bella?"

"Its embarrassing but is to do with something Emmett said."

"Oh God, it's always embarrassing if Emmett's involved. What did he say this time?"

"Well, he...I'm not sure how to put this...he said nothing happens in my bedroom"

The words came out in a rush and as soon as I stopped speaking I wished I hadn't started. I just knew Rose was going to laugh at me but she didn't. She went very quiet then sat down on a battered leather couch in the furthest corner of the basement and took my hand,

"Bella, Emmett has a good heart but a bad mouth. If he knew how much he'd embarrassed you he would be really upset. The trouble is that guys talk about it more openly and vampires even more. To us there's little that can be truly private with our super senses but we try to pretend it is. Do you want something to happen?"

I nodded looking at the floor so my flaming cheeks wouldn't be so obvious.

"Well, I know Jasper will wait until he thinks you are ready. He wouldn't do anything to hurt or force you into anything. I guess he's just waiting for you to make the first move."

"But I don't know what to do Rose...God this is so embarrassing!"

"Bella never be embarrassed about sex with your mate, the person you intend spending eternity with. The only time you should be ashamed is when something is forced on to you."

Her voice became bitter, had I hit a nerve?

"I'm sorry Rose if I upset you, I didn't mean to."

She laughed harshly and threw her head back before answering,

"You don't know my history so I don't blame you for dragging up old memories. Let me tell you a story Bella, an unhappy one but it does have an ultimately happy ending."

I sat listening to her sad story of the man who instead of marrying her had raped her and watched as his friends did too, leaving her for dead.

"I hated Carlisle for saving me, I wanted to die and I was very bitter for a long time but then I found my Emmett and my life turned around. You see Bella when its the right one you just know, not in a silly breathless heart racing when you see them kind of way. No its more a they are the breath in my body, the only food and water I need to exist way. An ache in the soul when they aren't with you way. Is that how you feel about Jasper?"

I nodded then said, "Yes I do."

"Then he's the one and it will happen quite naturally when you relax in his company. He'll feel your wants and needs and he'll act without conscious thought. Just give it time, its worth waiting for the right moment. I didn't like you Bella because I thought you would bring us trouble and when Edward left I felt I'd been proved right but I don't mind admitting I was wrong. You make my brother's life complete, make him happy and you just accept us all as if we were normal. It's a refreshing change."

"To me you seem normal. Does that make me weird?"

"Probably but I wouldn't worry about it. Your dad is just as crazy and look what he's done, tamed one of the sirens."

We sat quietly for a few minutes then Rose got up and held out her hand.

"Come on sis let's get back before they send a search party for us."

Dante

I had spoken to Stefan and he was delighted with the news Angeline had about the human girl but even more with my plan.

"Do you think it will work Dante?"

"I see no reason why not but that's why I'm going to experiment first. It will be a good test of Veronique's gift better than any other and it could get you what you want, mastery of the most feared warrior in our world."

"Be careful Dante, I don't want to tip our hand to the Volturi, keep it simple and low-key, this test of yours. It's a shame it wont work on several people at once."

"We don't even know if it will work on a human yet. She's only tried it on our kind and one she knows. It may not work on a stranger at all but this way we will and quickly."

Having got the green light from my employer I went to explain to Veronique what I wanted her to do.

"Do you think you can do it from a distance?"

"I see no reason why not but I think I'll need to see my victim if I don't know them."

"And you think it will work on a human?"

"I don't know but I'll feel if it sticks and I can't be too far away to take it back so you can't lose the target or my gift might go with them. That would make me a one hit wonder and useless to you and the Romanians. If I accomplish this task can I go then? To Romania I mean? And join my own kind?"

"Of course. Stefan and Vladimir are awaiting news of your test eagerly. If you can accomplish this task you will be very highly prized by them."

She thought about this then turned her gaze on the wall,

"How powerful do you need it to be? Am I supposed to kill my target?"

"No I think we can go for something a little less than that but I need it to be potent enough to make our point clearly."

"Why aren't I doing the job straight away?"

"Because if you fail I don't want them suspicious of my intentions in Alaska. If they think I came for The Major or one if the Cullens I wont get a second chance. Prove you can do what you promise and then you can really work your magic. Understood?"

She nodded and I held out my hand,

"Its time for your first performance, make it good Veronique."

She smiled taking my hand and following me out of the shack and into the truck,

"I'll drive you as close as I can then we go on foot but you wont have much time on site. Alice will see us coming but she wont know why. How long do you think you'll need?"

"As soon as I see the target I can send my gift. How long do you want the test to be?"

"Oh I think a day at medium strength should give us all we need."

"Then as long as I get close enough that should do it."

"Good. Let's hope you can do it from a distance. If we get a sight if the others you wont even need to come back. You can call it back wherever you are can't you?"

"I think so but I've never tried over any distance".

"Well we'll try and see how it goes. The further away you can be the better for all of us. Too close and we're both dead."