Chapter Fifty Eight

Bella

I climbed onto Jay's back reluctantly, I hated being so close to another man, especially one who reminded me so much of my mate. As we rose I wondered if Jazz had met Caius yet, what Maria had said to him, if I would ever see him again. I couldn't imagine living without him at my side. It was with great relief that I finally found myself on terra firma once more and vowed I would never travel that way again, it was far too intimate for comfort as far as I was concerned.

The cabin was small and semi derelict but there was one room that Hunter had prepared for me with a blow up mattress and blankets, a small mirror and towels in the tiny old fashioned bathroom. I guess I should have been thankful the toilet wasn't outside until I saw the toilet was actually a camping loo. Well at least he'd thought of me. There was no running water but a large jug stood by the wooden wash stand with a china bowl standing on top. So I assumed hot water was going to be a luxury. I freshened my face and cleaned my teeth before rejoining the others who were sitting together outside on the rickety porch.

"So Bella, what do you think of your quarters? I tried to think of everything."

I managed a smile as I thanked Hunter for his kindness but I just wanted to be alone so I told the others I would take a walk, promising not to get lost.

"Yeah, plenty of bears and wolves up here who'd see a little girl like you as a free lunch."

"Thanks Peter, I'll remember that."

"Don't want you becoming a meal now do we so stay in hailing distance."

"I will Darius I promise."

In fact I had no intention of going anywhere, just far enough that I had the illusion I was alone so I could think about Jasper and what he was doing.

Darius

I gestured to Charlotte and she gave Bella a few minutes then followed her. She'd keep out of sight but watch over The Major's mate. She was our responsibility now and I for one had no intention of letting The Major down. We sat talking quietly about what we should do next. I didn't like the idea of him being without any back up but at the same time we had Bella to think of and if Caius found out she was alive he would know something was very wrong and probably look on his double with suspicion. He would also send others to kill her and she needed vampires around to keep her safe.

I hadn't been taking any notice of the conversation but then heard Peter,

"Its not right leaving The Major hanging in the wind. Fuck this, some of us should go after him. It doesn't take all of us to babysit one human."

I could see Hunter and Jay agreed with his sentiment but for now we had a job to do,

"We stay here for now. We don't know where The Major is and we could compromise his position until we know more."

"Yeah well that's good for you to say, he's my friend and I say we should be shadowing him."

"We stay here until we hear otherwise. You take one step away from this cabin and I'll stop you Peter."

He glared at me but thankfully didn't make an issue of it for now but I could see trouble in the near future and I hated the thought of having to take Peter on for voicing something I was thinking myself! Bella came back soon after and I could see she had been crying but she managed a smile before saying she was going to bed. It was way too early but no one said anything. She would be feeling her mates absence even as a human in much the same way I assumed Jay, who was restless, was missing his but at least he could talk to Alice on the phone. Bella had no idea what was happening to hers.

The next two weeks Bella gravitated towards Jay even though I could see she resisted it. Not because he looked like The Major but because he knew how she was feeling and could talk to her about it. Peter continued to gripe but so far didn't attempt to persuade the others to join him in a search party for The Major. I wondered just how long it would be before we heard something, probably a while yet. He would hardly find out exactly what he was there for straight away. I doubted Caius would trust anyone that far, not until he was good and ready.

I guess I should have known it was all too good to last and the peace ended quite dramatically one evening when we sat round a campfire talking. Bella was suffering, hugging herself, but at least she was here. She'd only join us for not more than a few minutes at a time for the past two days and I hoped coming out of herself would make things easier for her.

Peter and Charlotte had been hunting with Jay while Hunter, Edward, and I stayed here with Bella and that evening Peter was moaning about how far they'd had to range to find their prey.

"Whose stupid fucking idea was it to set us up here miles from civilization where it's almost impossible to hunt?"

"Mine actually. I wanted Bella well away from any danger."

"Well as a hunter yourself didn't it occur to you that the only food around is fucking animals? That may be OK for Eddy boy here but it's hardly good enough for the rest of us. Fuck me, The Major will be finding it a damn sight easier I'll bet. Caius will be throwing humans at him."

There was a tense silence as Bella's face grew white, the blood draining away. She turned to Peter with horror filled eyes,

"What?"

He looked as if he wished he could take those words back but of course it was too late, the damage was done. Bella turned from him to me,

"Jasper has to hunt humans? But that's what almost destroyed him before. How could you let him. What a fool I've been, I should have realized. He's going to be forced to kill humans and vampires isn't he? And of course he knew that. Why didn't he tell me?"

"Bella he didn't want to upset you."

Charlotte was trying to minimize the shock but Bella wasn't having any of it.

"You knew? You all knew and you let him go? What kind of friends are you?"

Then she turned on Jay,

"As for you…...how could you after all you said about him. You should have gone, you could have done just as well. You're a fighter now and you hunt humans without it destroying you inside."

She got up and stormed into the cabin slamming the rickety door which bounced back open on protesting hinges but she was gone and I didn't think we were going to get over this very easily.

Charlotte

I glared at Peter hardly believing he could say that in front of Bella. We were both worried about The Major sure but our job was to keep Bella safe, not to give her extra reason for nightmares! I got up and followed her in hoping I could talk to her, explain what happened and assure her that The Major knew exactly what he was getting into but she had shut her bedroom door and shoved something against it. I could have smashed my way in but I didn't think that would be very helpful in the situation.

"Bella, please let me in. I can help you understand."

"Go away!"

"Please Bella, The Major wouldn't want you upset."

"So you all lied or withheld the truth? Can I believe anything you say? Just leave me alone Charlotte."

"Bella I'm staying out here until you let me in!"

"Be my guest."

Although I tried talking to her for the next few hours all I heard were sobs and I knew she was breaking her heart at the thought of the things her mate was suffering. There was nothing any of us could say that would make any difference and I cursed Peters big mouth for the distress it had caused.