Chapter Fifty Eight

Eleazer

For a second I thought Edward had gone too far and either Emmett or Jasper were going to kill him but Bella acted just the right way and averted it. Carlisle ran through and out into the night to find Edward and Josie, not the smartest of moves but it was impossible to stop him and the temperature in the house went from red heat to cold in seconds. Jasper came back into the main room with Bella holding her close and death still flashing dangerously close to the surface in his face.

"Eleazer I think it would be best if Bella and I left. Darius has invited us to his place and I think it would be safer for all if Edward and I were in different states."

"I agree Jasper but I'll be sorry to see you go, we all will. What about you Charlie?"

"You're welcome to join us Charlie."

"Or stay on a while longer here."

"Thanks Eleazer and you Jasper but if the crisis is over I have to go back, don't forget I have a job to go back to but I did wonder if perhaps...Tanya?"

She looked at me apologetically before replying to his unasked question.

"I'd very much like to go with you Charlie if that's what you're asking."

He nodded and pulled her close.

"Be careful Charlie. Don't forget the Quileutes."

"You think they might try to hurt Tanya?"

"No but you need to be careful all the same."

"I will but if Tanya's happy to come back with me then I'm happy to take her."

Irina and Kate were very upset but they understood that their sister had found her mate at last and after she and Charlie promised to visit again soon they were somewhat mollified.

Bella

I was sad at the thought of leaving all our new friends, and Emmett especially, but there was far too much tension in the atmosphere and I was happy at the thought of getting away from Edward and the bitch he was mixed up with.

"Pack your things Bella while I ring Peter and Charlotte. They'll come with us, Peter wont be able to resist the invitation. I'm sure you'll get on with Charlotte but Peter will be a bit of a culture shock."

"You do realize she's missing out on graduating Jasper?"

"Yes Charlie but for now I think she's safer with me. At least until I'm sure about the Romanians and I need to find Dante too. He wont bother you but he might blame Bella or me for his fall from grace and I have a promise to fulfil."

"Keep in touch, I want to know Bella is OK. You look after her properly Jasper. I'll speak to the school and tell them she's been ill."

"I will Charlie. Don't worry."

I could see Dad was still a little concerned at me going off with Jasper and his unknown friends but he also knew I would be safe.

"Hey Bella, you can explain to your mother, she'll never believe me whatever I say. Stick with the illness story, Mono or something should cover it."

I nodded, that would be an interesting conversation!

"Should I mention Tanya?"

He closed his eyes and groaned,

"I guess she'll have to know but lets keep it quiet for a while longer if we can eh?"

I nodded, having asked the question only in fun, but he was going to have an unusual conversation himself in the not too distant future. I decided that for now I might avoid questions about dad, she'd be like a bloodhound with my little piece of news if she didn't have a coronary when I told her I wasn't going to finish school, not yet anyway, because I was ill. I just hoped we could avoid her rushing to "look after" me. Which would be an excuse to nose around my new friends. I must admit I only felt truly safe when I was with Jasper, the thought of Dante and the faceless Romanians freaked me out almost as much as the thought of my mother visiting!

Jasper

While Bella packed her things and Rose packed mine for me I rang Peter who had been waiting not so patiently for word on what was going on. He wasn't going to be happy there wouldn't be a fight but would be a little mollified when he learned our new destination. He and Darius were a little too alike to make things very comfortable but Peter always saw that as a challenge and I wanted his assistance keeping Bella safe. I waited for Peter to answer ready for the moans I knew were coming.

"About fucking time! So when are we going?"

"We aren't. Not to Romania anyway, its off, but I do want your help to keep Bella safe and track down Dante. He and I have an appointment."

"Wait a minute, no fighting?"

"No, no fight."

"No Romania?"

"No."

"It's a security detail?"

"Yes."

"This Bella? She's the human you got yourself into a lather over?"

"My mate, yes."

"Why don't you just change her? Make things a whole lot easier all round."

"I will but not yet."

"Why the fuck not? You enjoying the warm body too much?"

"Enough. You in or not?"

"Well we've come this far so why not, where we going?"

"Cape Cod."

"What the fuck is in Cape Cod apart from fish?"

"A friend has invited us to visit."

His voice became suspicious,

"A friend? What friend?"

"Darius."

""Oh great things just get better and better! That miserable bastard just delights in taking the piss."

"And that's alien to you I guess? You said you were in."

"Yeah well that was before you told me we were going to visit the Barracuda in his lair."

"He loves you too Peter. Besides don't you want to meet Bella?"

"Not that fucking much. Hell you can come visit us instead or afterwards if his invitation is that fucking important."

"Peter, he's done me some favours, I owe him."

"Well I don't and I'm not getting within ten miles of the miserable fucker."

"Then I guess we're going on our own, I think Garrett will be there.".

"He's going there? He hates Darius as much as I do."

"Yes but he's more willing to help me than you. I'll see you some time Peter. Thanks for coming."

"Hey wait. Oh fuck count us in, but if he starts anything I wont be held responsible for my actions."

"You never are Peter."

He mumbled something and rang off, so the visit was going to be interesting! Between Peter's bitching, Garrett winding him up, and Darius sticking his oar in at every opportunity Bella would be totally confused by it all! I just hope she got on with Charlotte, I needed one person in my corner.

Bella

I said a sad farewell to all my new friends and gave Emmett an extra hug before ignoring a contrite Edward's apologies and getting in the car Eleazer was loaning us for the trip to the airport.

"Don't worry Bella, the girls will pick it up when they go hunt next, we have another car. Take care and enjoy your trip."

He sounded less than sure as he said this and I wondered just how deep the antagonism between Peter and Darius was. I asked Jasper but he just rolled his eyes.

"Bella they don't really hate each other they just try to outdo each other. Peter is very outspoken so please don't be upset by whatever he says. He's really a very good friend, Oh yes, and he has a tendency to colourful language, its something I've tried to work on over the years but with little or no success."

I couldn't wait to meet him, he sounded like a Pit bull with Tourettes! Darius I was more intrigued by because Jasper would only say he was different.

"How? How is he different?"

"He prefers machines to people and he hates most of our race and all of yours."

"This is going to be fun!"

He grinned,

"Actually I think it might be."