Chapter Thirty Three

Bella

It was all too much to take in at once, I was now a vampire, my dad was dead and somehow I had stopped another vampire using his gift against me. Was that what had happened with Edward when he broke into my bedroom? He had fled in pain but was it due to me stopping his gift from working? If so then how long did it last? Not that he would need to read my mind to know what I was thinking. Right now, all I wanted to do was to find him and tear him apart just as he had done to Charlie.

What I didn't understand was why Charlie had to die, my dad had never done anything to Edward. They had only met a few times at social gatherings and perhaps exchanged a dozen words in all. I didn't understand why my dad had even been at the picnic site until Jasper explained that it had been a sheer fluke. If he had been only a few minutes later or the call had been to anywhere else he would be alive now. As it was, Edward had slaughtered my father for no good reason.

I hadn't known what it would feel like to be a vampire and certainly hadn't been ready for the incredible feeling of rage. Jasper had explained that a new vampire's only concern was the thirst which would drive them crazy for the first year or two. Well, I felt the thirst and it was annoying, but my overriding urge was to kill, not to quench my thirst but to gain revenge. Blood I wanted but vengeance I needed and Jasper seemed to understand but then he would, his gift would enable him to feel what I was feeling.

Jasper's gift, why was it that I hadn't affected his gift if I had been responsible for Edward's problem and Arnie's. Although, we only thought Edward had a problem we didn't know for sure. I was confused and angry, thirsty and sad to know I was responsible for Charlie's death. Everything just mounted up until I thought the pressure would make my head explode and then I felt a gentle calming influence and a hand around my waist.

"It's OK darlin', I know everything is overwhelming you right now and I promise you we'll find Edward later but for now what you really need to do is hunt."

I panicked, hunt? How the hell did I do that? I had no idea what I needed to do, no idea how a vampire lived. The Cullens had made it seem so easy, surely they didn't have all these mixed emotions whirling around in their heads and the terrible, distracting burning in their throats all the time?

"I don't know what to do Jasper?"

I sounded miserable and Emmett hearing the tone winked at me encouragingly.

"You'll be fine Bella, it's instinctual and Em and I will be right by your side."

Those words comforted me and Jasper kept me calm as we started my first hunt. He was right of course, it did come naturally, once I scented blood and I ran on ahead eager for the taste of warm blood in my mouth, a thought that would have made me feel sick to my stomach when I was still human.

I was proud of myself for taking down an adult bear and draining it without making too much mess although when I saw the grin on Emmett's face I realized I must look a mess. Looking down I saw I had ripped my shirt and taken one knee out of my jeans. My hands were covered in blood and mud and I wiped them self-consciously on the front of my shirt deciding as it was already ruined it wouldn't make much difference.

"Stop laughing at me, I bet you can't do any better Emmett."

I whirled to see Jasper rearranging his expression from a smirk to innocent and slapped him on the arm. Of course, I'd forgotten that as a new vampire I would be stronger than him and giggled as he staggered backwards. This gave me an idea, I felt full of joy after the hunt, all the misery being temporarily forgotten.

"Hey Emmett, want to wrestle?"

He just couldn't resist the invitation and so found himself flat on his back with my teeth grazing his throat. I felt full of strength and energy and wondered if that were simply because I had just hunted or if vampires always felt this way. I had a lot to learn in my new life, not least how to fight skillfully. That way when I caught up with Edward he wouldn't stand a chance. I intended to avenge Charlie personally although I knew both Jasper and Emmett would be only too willing to help me.

Thinking about that reminded me about the gift the strange vampire had thought I might have. How could I find out without hurting anyone I loved? If I did have a gift that stopped others from working how long did its influence last? And how did I make it work? I had no inkling how to unleash it but I certainly hoped it was long lasting, the idea of the arrogant Edward Cullen without his gift of snooping in other people's heads appealed to me.

We sat together outside the cabin while Jasper explained that it would be better for us to remain here away from humans until I had my thirst under control. I was glad to do that, I didn't want to harm anyone and certainly not commit murder in order to feed.

"What about my gift? It worked on Edward and Arnie but never affected you, Jasper, why?"

"My guess is that it is triggered by rage. You were under attack both times it manifested if Edward's apparent pain was indeed your gift. The trouble is that we don't really know and I don't think it would be a good idea to try triggering it just to find out."

I thought about this,

"Why? Because it might be permanent? Then Edward would never be able to hear anyone's thoughts again and Arnie couldn't paralyse anyone. We need to track down Edward and find out before I kill him."

"There is another way and it would be better to find out before you loose it again, just because it only affected Arnie this time doesn't mean it might not also catch me or someone else with a gift at another time."

I was stricken, thinking how close I may have come to disabling Jasper's gift possibly permanently.

I was about to ask Jasper how when Emmett spoke up,

"You mean Eleazar? We'd have to take Bella to Denali unless he can do it remotely."

I looked questioningly at Jasper who explained that Eleazar was a family friend whose gift was the ability to see the gifts of others, their strengths and weaknesses.

"Does he have to see me?"

"To be honest I don't really know but we can call him and ask."

I waited nervously as Jasper phoned Denali only to find that Eleazar was in Toronto on business.

"Carmen gave me his cell phone number, I'll try him now."

I hoped we didn't have to go all the way to Toronto, I wanted to know now so I could hunt Edward down and kill him slowly and painfully.

"He'll have to meet you Bella but he's willing to come to us under the circumstances. It seems he's been in contact with Carlisle and knows the situation."

"Has he heard from Edward?"

I tensed at Emmett's question then relaxed as Jasper shook his head.

"I doubt Edward would be in contact with anyone we know. He must be aware of the danger he's in and I'd expect him to run and keep his head down."

I was relieved to hear that Eleazar would be here the next day although the thought of meeting another stranger although vouched for by both Jasper and Emmett was stressful. Jasper explained that feeling would wear off once I became more comfortable in my new life.

"Vampires are usually solitary by nature and we tend to see others of our kind as possible rivals. You're lucky in that you have us and a previous knowledge of vampires, that makes things a little easier."

"I hope you're right. I'd hate to take a bite out of your friend."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry, Eleazar can handle himself, he worked for the Volturi at one time so he's no slouch at defending himself."

Jasper had told me about the Volturi and I had automatically seen them as the enemy but as he pointed out, they kept our world from outbursts of violence and the humans in the dark as to our existence.

"We are violent by nature Bella, it takes ruthless and strong leaders to keep us in line. They do what they need to do but in general, they leave us alone if we keep to the rules."

I guess he was right but the sound of them still made me feel apprehensive and I didn't know all the rules but as Emmett pointed out they were simple and few. Keep the humans from finding out about our existence and never come between mates. I thought I could manage that, especially with my two protectors although I knew Emmett would be leaving with Eleazar, he was missing Rosalie and the others needed to know that everything was fine. I didn't mind the idea of being alone with Jasper, we may not be married but we were tied in a much more fundamental way, as vampire mates.