Chapter Seventy Seven

Bella

I was trying really hard to pull myself together for Jasper's sake but it was just impossible. Every time I thought I was getting somewhere I would see Renee or Phil or even poor Sophie…...all dead…... and felt so guilty. Why had I survived when they all died? It didn't seem fair. I had survived long enough for Jasper and his family and friends to trace me, to save not only myself but Kat and Aggie too but then I felt guilty for worrying about myself.

Poor Kat had endured the ill treatment so much longer, she really thought he was her father, that he should love her. How on earth would she cope in the real world with no one of her own. I still had my father and Jasper she had no one. Then Jazz told me that his friends Peter and Charlotte had taken her in. What kind of people would do that? Why weren't the police and the authorities involved? I didn't understand but I couldn't ask Jasper, I had too much spinning around in my head as it was and the thought of having to explain everything to the authorities terrified me.

I hadn't faced Charlie again yet either, what would he think of me? I had watched as his ex wife was ra…..murdered and I couldn't stop it. Would he blame me? Was that why he didn't come to see me? I didn't see how I could have done anything to stop him but maybe Charlie saw things differently. Again I didn't dare ask Jazz about this either, I was terrified of the answer I might get.

When he told me Kat and the baby were coming to see me I wasn't sure whether to be happy or scared. It would be good to see Aggie happy and loved but I still felt guilty I had let her slip from my fingers. Would Kat still hate me? I really hadn't tried to come between her and him, the man she called daddy nor had I wanted Aggie to take her place but I couldn't do anything about it. I had sat trembling as the hands of the clock moved towards the time Kat and Aggie were expected and when I heard the knock on the door I jumped up ready to run into the bathroom and lock myself in but Jazz took my hand smiling at me.

"I promise you this will be fine Bella, Kat asked to see you. I wont leave you I promise, I'll stay at your side."

"Who did you say was coming with Kat and Aggie?"

"My friend Peter and my sister Rose."

I nodded but my mouth was dry and I felt sick as he pulled me gently over to the door and opened it. Kat was the first one through the door looking so pretty in new clothes and all clean. She smiled shyly at Jasper,

"Hello Jasper, I'm Kat."

She held out her hand and he took it returning the greeting and then her eyes focused on me. She stood for a moment and I tensed but then she threw her arms around my waist and hugged me.

"Bella, I missed you."

I wanted to reciprocate but I was frozen, all I could do was speak her name.

She was followed by a man around the same age as Jasper and just as pale and good looking although he wore shades which hid his eyes. He smiled and held out his hand but I just stared, this was one of the men who had found us, rescued us from the cellar, one who had seen the terrible place we lived in, the state we were in and I felt embarrassed. He just nodded and turned to Jasper but I could feel him tense up and remembered a terrible noise in another room and a crash of splintering wood but it went again as quickly as it had come.

He was followed by a beautiful blonde holding a baby in her arms, a baby I hardly recognized. I stepped forward to look more closely and felt a tug on my hand,

"Its Aggie except she's not Aggie any more. Rose and Emmett called her Skye. It was my idea, do you like it?"

I nodded but I couldn't make my mouth work, no sounds come out.

"Kat why don't you take Skye, I think she wants to be fed."

I watched dumbly as the woman handed Kat Skye and a bag with a bottle peeping out of the top. Then she turned her attention to me. smiling as she flicked her hair behind her ear,

"Hello Bella, I'm Rose, Jasper's sister. I've been waiting impatiently to meet you. Shall we sit down?"

I didn't know what to do so I just allowed her to take my hand and sit me down on the couch. I had no idea what to say to any of these people, they were all strangers to me.

Jasper

I could feel Bella's emotions and I knew she was close to another breakdown but I hoped maybe Rose, with her counseling skills, could perhaps get through where I had failed. I wandered over to where Peter sat on the floor with the girl and baby. It was strange, he looked so comfortable, as if he'd always been comfortable around children. Joining them I heard Kat telling Skye that I was Bella's boyfriend and Peter grinned,

"Oh I think he's more than that."

"I thought Bella would be pleased to see us Peter."

"She is Princess, she's just having a hard time."

"It was horrible in that cellar for her. He was so mean to her, more than me."

I listened carefully hoping I might hear more of what had happened to Bella.

"He was always picking on her, he used to beat her and when she was sick he'd make her clean it up. Sometimes he would give me water and her none but I shared it when he wasn't looking if I could. I don't think he was happy with Ellie, I mean Bella, he told me she was my sister but I didn't recognize her. Could I have a drink please Jasper?"

That threw me but I got up quickly and went to fetch her one of the cans of soda I kept in the fridge for Bella. She thanked me then looked over at Bella and Rose before turning back. I could feel she was deciding whether to tell us something and waited impatiently.

When she did start to talk again it was in a very low voice, a whisper and she looked guilty,

"I wasn't very nice to Ellie, I mean Bella, I was jealous of her and of Skye. Do you think she'll forgive me? She looks so frightened and so confused. Do you think she's remembering all the nasty stuff?"

"I think she wants to forget it but that's not easy and she won't tell me. Maybe she'll tell Rose."

"I like Rose but I told Peter, he listened to me and then he told me that it was all over, that he'd taken it all now and I could forget it. I didn't at first but I am now. I thought daddy was going to keep Renee like Sophie. He used to hurt Sophie all the time and she swelled up but she only had Skye and then she died. Skye's lucky to have Rose and Emmett."

I needed to ask a question and hope she would answer it,

"Why did you think he would keep Renee?"

Peter shot me a warning look but Kat just shrugged,

"Because he treated her the same as Sophie."

Before Peter could stop me I asked the question I really wanted to hear the answer to,

"And Bella?"

Peter stood up glaring at me,

"Come on Princess lets take Skye for a walk."

She got up her brow furrowed but as she left with Peter she shook her head,

"No, not Bella."

I found myself heave a sigh of relief, whatever else he had done to Bella he hadn't raped her and I thanked God for that mercy.