Chapter 106

Bella

I was so shocked at his movement that I didn't have time to struggle before I was trapped close to his body with a knife at my throat. Jasper turned and I saw death in his eyes,

"Now let's talk about this like civilized men shall we? How much is this little lady worth to you alive and unharmed?"

"You have no idea."

"Well then lets come to an amicable arrangement shall we? First off are you armed?"

Jasper smiled and held up his hands,

"I don't need any weapons, only those I was born with."

The man holding me laughed and relaxed a little,

"Well it seems we have ourselves a real hard man. You won't mind if my friend just checks, makes sure?"

"It's his funeral."

Jasper's attention was fixed on the two men but I knew that whatever happened he would ensure nothing happened to me so I just stood quiet and still waiting for the action to start.

The second man stood up and sauntered over to Jasper, a gun in one hand pointed straight at his chest.

"Just assume the position and don't make any stupid moves. No one needs to get hurt."

"I never make stupid moves but I doubt your employer told you that did he?"

Neither answered but I was sure Jasper was right, this was down to Aro Volturi and I wondered if he knew he had just signed his own death warrant. If he'd seen the look in Jasper's eyes just then he would have. It all happened far too quickly for me to follow and I was sure the guy holding me hadn't seen either or he would have acted. There was a blur of action and the guy with the gun was falling but before he hit the ground I was free of the others grip and there was a high pitched scream from behind me.

"Bella go into the other room, close the door, and stay there until I come for you."

I nodded and did as he instructed slumping down on the bed rubbing the side of my neck where I could still feel the cold of the knife blade. I could feel myself shaking as I heard low murmurs in the other room but couldn't hear the words. There were several more screams and then silence followed by the opening and closing of the front door. I might not know exactly what happened but I could guess the end result and I felt suddenly sick to my stomach, racing to the wash stand and vomiting in the water basin still shaking. I was still there hanging on, too unsteady to make it back to the bed, when I heard the door of the bedroom open and felt Jasper's strong arms around me so I turned into his chest and began to cry.

The Major

It didn't take long to get the whole story out of the remaining attacker, the one who approached me was already dead, the barrel of his gun sticking in his chest and his neck snapped. He was lucky, his friend who had held a knife to Bella's throat wasn't so fortunate, I made him suffer for that and now it would seem I had one more mission to fulfill before I retired The Major for good.

For now though I had to clean up in here so I carried the two bodies out and buried them in the snowdrifts, by the time it thawed they would probably have been found by scavengers and at least partly eaten. Bella's attacker groaned slightly, his spine was snapped but for now he was still alive, just. The freezing temperatures would soon finish the job.

When I was done I went back inside, glancing at the girl, an innocent dragged into the situation, and seeing she had fallen asleep I went through to Bella half expecting her to shrink away from me but instead she turned into me for comfort and all my anger and thirst seeped away to be replaced by the love she felt for me.

"Its over Bella. They're both gone."

"What about the girl?"

"They snatched her off the street to supply all the blood hoping to..."

She put a finger to my lips,

"I know, but I also know you wouldn't have succumbed, you are stronger than that, stronger than anyone realizes."

I wanted to argue but she replaced the finger with her lips just for a second then pulled away,

"Oh God I must smell terrible. I'm so sorry I just...I felt so sick."

I pulled her close again stroking her head,

"You'll never smell of anything but strawberries and love to me Bella. Now I'm going to check on our guest so you can freshen up. Darius won't get here today but maybe the weather will calm for him tomorrow. Until then we'll do all we can for her, she tried to warn me so I owe her."

He left me again and I threw the bowl and it's contents out the window hoping the falling snow would help rinse it out then cursed because I had nothing to put water in to wash my face and clean my teeth. I felt a breeze, he was there in an instant with the bowl all cleaned and put it on the wash stand with a smile,

"I thought maybe you were a little hasty with that."

Before I could thank him he was gone again, vampire speed was something I just couldn't get used to. I washed up and changed my top tying my hair back before joining him in his vigil by the girl.

"Do you think she'll make it?"

He nodded looking a little guilty,

"With a little help. I used a little venom on my finger to help seal the blood vessels, it'll hold a day maybe and hopefully Darius will be here by then. I don't dare use any more, too dangerous."

I nodded, too much in her system and it would trigger the change. As it was I felt jealous, she had his venom and I didn't which was stupid, I had his heart and that's what mattered. He must have felt my jealousy because he smiled and leaned over her to kiss me,

"There is only one woman I ever want my venom inside and that's you Bella, you changed me. The first time I saw you I felt it, you crept up on me and now I'm not the same man."

"Yes you are, The Major is merely a part of who you are, he just got to take control for a while and now he's fading back where he belongs.

He closed his eyes and nodded,

"Maybe you are right but I have one more thing I need him for, then he can go back where he belongs. I need your blessing for this one time Bella."

I looked at him, the plea for understanding in his eyes,

"You want me to give you my blessing to kill Aro Volturi don't you? He's the one who put those men up to this, to make you crack and drink human blood again isn't he?"

"As long as he is alive we will never be safe. Aro wants me back and he will do anything it takes to get me. Those men had orders to kill you to force me back and I will not let any threat to you live. You do understand that don't you? After that I promise you I will never kill again."

I shook my head and he looked torn,

"If not Aro then it will be someone else Jasper, don't you see that? There will always be men who think they can make a name for themselves by beating you, by killing your mate. The sooner I am a vampire and can stand at your side the better. I would never accept a promise from you never to kill again. All I ask is that you avoid conflict if possible."

"Thank you Bella. You have my word on that."