Chapter Ninety Five
Bella
I must have fallen asleep because I had the weirdest dream. Jasper had told me he was a vampire along with the rest of his family. In fact everyone I had met since I was rescued from the cellar. Even my dad who had been almost killed hunting for me. But that was just ridiculous, a fantasy dreamed up by my poor confused brain. I had really begun to think I might be getting better but then I saw Jasper getting mugged outside the restaurant...
I stopped there because if that were true, if I really had seen him handle that mugger then either he was injured, dead, or he had indeed told me the vampire story. The thought he might be seriously injured or even dead was more than I could take right now and I sat up suddenly terrified only to find him sitting beside me on the bed looking perfectly healthy.
He moved away as I noticed him and spread his hands in a universal gesture meaning I have no intention of hurting you.
"Bella, are you feeling any better? I'm sorry you had to see what happened but at least it forced me to tell you the truth, something I was dreading doing."
"The truth? Then it wasn't a nightmare? I really did hear you tell me that you are a vampire?"
It wasn't a nightmare Bella, I did tell you that but I hope you remember that I also told you I would never hurt you."
I thought about that...yes he had told me and he'd told me he loved me and would keep me safe.
"Charlie too? You said Peter had no choice, that my dad was dying and Peter did it to save him. Was that the only way?"
"I'm afraid so, we can change a human into a vampire or kill them but we can't heal a human."
"What about the Val... the rulers you told me about? Won't they want Charlie killed?"
"No, he's no threat to our world once he became a vampire himself. So long as he keeps what he is a secret he will be allowed to carry on living his new life."
"But by telling me you put me in danger?"
Yes, you're still human and you know our secret and that is against the law."
"Then how come I'm still a human and alive? Haven't they heard about me yet?"
"They know about you, they knew before I discovered you were missing. I was given an ultimatum but it didn't matter once we found you were missing, you were no danger to our world."
"But what about now Jazz? Do they know you found me alive and that I know?"
"I doubt they are aware of your knowledge but they know you are alive."
"So they will be watching to see if I act as if I know your secret. As long as I say nothing they will leave me alone?"
"For now Bella yes but my presence here is putting you in danger, besides I doubt you want me around after hearing all I told you. After all why would you want to continue in a relationship with a monster like me?"
I looked down and saw standing by the door a case, was he thinking of leaving me? I started to panic and he got to his feet,
"You don't need to be scared of me Bella, I decided it would be best if I left but I will always be close enough to watch over you."
"And who is going to send the bad dreams away? Comfort me when I get scared? Hold me tight when I lose it next time?"
He looked so torn.
"Do you trust a vampire to do all those things? Won't you be looking for me to attack you and drain you of all your blood?"
I smiled a little weary myself despite the rest I'd just had,
"I think you'd have done it by now if you were going to, after all who could prove it was you? I'm sure if you had wanted to do that it would have been more easily accomplished in the cellar when you found me. Besides we're an item, too many people know. No, I'm not afraid of what you might do Jasper."
"Then what are you afraid of Bella? Because it's plain you are scared of something."
"I'm afraid of what will happen to me if you go."
"I promise you that nothing will ever happen to you again Bella, I'll watch over you whatever you decide now."
He got up gesturing to the case,
"I thought perhaps I could contact one of your friends from college, or from home. Is there someone you would like to stay with you? Someone you won't be afraid of?"
I got up slowly, my feet were still a little unsteady and weak and I really couldn't afford to fall over right now, it would ruin my plan,
"As a matter of fact there is someone Jasper."
"OK, are you going to ask or would you like me to do it for you? The girls at college know me so I'll just tell them things didn't work out for us and you are having a hard time and need a friend."
"There's no need, I can do it just fine myself."
He stretched out his hand to the phone by the bed apparently to hand it to me but I put my own over his,
"I don't need a phone to do it either. I'm not afraid of you Jazz, I never have been even when you told me the truth about yourself. It never occurred to me to be scared. I was confused and annoyed you had kept it secret but it doesn't change the way I feel about you. I fell in love with the vampire Jasper so why would I want to lose you now? I know things aren't easy right now but you aren't to blame, you and your family and friends put their lives on hold to help you find me. You've stood at my side ever since and they have shown Kat and Skye nothing but kindness when they could quite easily have handed them over to the authorities. I can't think of many humans who would have done the same."
He breathed out in relief and held out his arms,
"I couldn't bear to lose you Bella but I was so scared you would reject me when you knew my real story."
I stepped forward into that familiar embrace feeling safer already. He might be a vampire but he loved me and I loved him, the rest we could work through. There were problems ahead, Charlie and the vampire rulers to name but two yet for now all I wanted and needed was to be in his arms. I knew there I would find the strength to overcome my fears and fit back into the world around me.
Jasper
I didn't deserve someone like Bella but she loved me and whatever I told her now would make no difference to that. I had expected her to reject me knowing my true nature but instead she had seen beyond that to the love I had for her. I still had to explain about mates and the Volturi deadline but that could wait a short while. She had received enough shocks for one day, let her get used to those before I burdened her with more. As I held her close she stopped trembling,
"I think it's about time you took me to meet the family properly Jazz. It must have been hard for them trying not to give themselves away. Now they can be themselves, your friends too. Do you think they would mind if we turned up unannounced, I feel like I want to be introduced to them properly. It would be another hurdle overcome."
Bella
He hesitated,
"It's not a good idea right now Bella, they have a new house guest, someone you might find rather intimidating."
"Oh? Another friend?"
"Not exactly, this is a member of the Volturi guard, come to watch over Kat and Skye."
"Why?"
"Just a precaution, the Volturi gave Carlisle permission to bring the two girls up and I think he's here to check they don't allow the girls to spill our secrets accidentally."
So I couldn't meet the family yet without letting the Volturi know I was aware of their world. Well it could wait but it was disappointing all the same.