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Chapter 15

Jonath's Story

"Edward, don't worry so much. She'll come around in a minute. I think she should even be able to hear us by now."

Alice's voice sounded far away.

"Bella? Bella, can you hear me?" His voice sounded fearful. "Bella, my angel, you are safe. You don't have to be afraid. I'll take care of you; we'll all protect you!"

Slowly I understood what had happened.

The woman had appeared and wanted to kill me. At least that's what I believed. But I had eight vampires protecting me. She didn't stand a chance. But why did Edward say they would still protect me? Had the woman escaped?

I opened my eyes.

"Bella, I'm so sorry! She's still alive. We didn't get her; she has a gift! I'm so sorry for everything!"

It sounded like there was more to it than that! Wait a minute, what had this woman said when she was standing in front of us? Something about Jo! Oh no, she was talking about Jo as if he was her lover and that he wanted me for himself? What was that all about? Was Jonath really still my friend?

"Bella, Jo is and always has been your friend and always will be, trust me! He went with the woman for you. We all don't know if he's coming back. Even Alice can't see anything. She's pretty frustrated."

Good, the woman left, I was relieved ... wait a minute, Jo went with her?

"Edward! Why did he go with her? What's the point? I want to Jo! He can't be doing that! What's he got to do with that woman anyway? Edward, what is this all about?"

I must have jumped up quite hysterically, because Edward gently pushed me back onto his bed.

Now I also saw where I was - in Edward's room.

"Calm down, Bella, it's going to be okay. Jasper and Emmett are chasing the two right now. They're trying to get Jo back! And what he has to do with Victoria, he'd better tell you himself!", he said calmly to me!

He also managed to calm me down a bit.

I wondered what time it was.

"Bella, it's already Monday. It's almost 2:00 p.m. You have been unconscious for almost sixteen hours. I was so worried about you."

Sixteen hours? Oh! I was shocked. 'Can you please hold me all the way, Edward? I'm so scared,' I thought, and slid a little to the side in his bed so he could sit down next to me.

He took me in his arms, and I immediately felt a little safer.

I don't know how long we sat like that. It seemed like hours when neither of us said anything.

Edward must have been listening to my racing thoughts while I slowly calmed down more and more.

"Jo's right here, Bella ...," Edward said suddenly. "Jasper and Emmett have him with them. I can already hear their thoughts."

Thank God was the only thing I could think.

When there was a knock on the door not five minutes later, Edward slowly got up.

"I will leave you alone with him now, my angel. Nothing can happen to you, I'm not far away! Promise!"

I just nodded. I was not capable of more!

Edward opened the door and Jonath entered.

He looked glum!

I sat up a bit, eager to hear what he had to tell me.

Edward had already closed the door behind him.

Jo sat down with me on the bed, but far away from me on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry, Bella, I just didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid that if I told you the truth, you wouldn't want to see me again. I've already told my story to the Cullens, I never dared with you. Bella, you are my best friend, I care so much about you! I never dared to tell you! Please forgive me."

I looked at him uncomprehendingly.

What was he apologizing for? I didn't understand anything right now!

"Bella, I think it's time to tell you my story!"

I nodded.

I've wanted to hear those for a long time, he just dodged them every time I asked!

"I was turned 167 years ago, Bella ..." he took a deep breath, "... by Victoria, the woman who killed Angela!"

WHAT? He hadn't really said that now, had he?

I felt dizzy and was on the brink of collapsing again when Edward suddenly rushed into the room and took me in his arms.

"Jonath, I think that's enough for today. She's about to collapse!", Edward said sternly.

'No, it's okay. Just stay with me and hold me and I can manage it. Please, I want to know!'

He looked at me for a long time, but then nodded.

"Okay Jonath, she's dying to hear it, but I'm going to stay here!" he said sternly to him again.

Jo looked at me sadly, but then continued.

"Victoria turned me then. She found me badly injured on the side of the road. Why I was hurt and lying there, I still don't know. She turned me because she found there was something interesting about me, as she told me later. She introduced me to the world of vampires, taught me to hunt humans and to defend myself against fellow vampires."

I flinched at these words, but Edward held me tightly!

"Victoria and I became something of a couple. We didn't really love each other, but complemented each other very well! One day, when we came across other vampires - other vampires with golden eyes - I realized that I was not happy killing humans. I suggested this way of life to Victoria, but we argued, and she ended up attacking me. She was about to tear me to pieces - she was a lot more experienced than me - then I discovered my gift. I let her feel my pain and was able to get away from her. But I made a mistake - I stayed with her. She tried over and over again to get me to go back to my old nutrition."

I faltered.

I suspected something bad! Edward suddenly tensed up. What was wrong with him?

Before I could ask, however, Jo continued to speak.

"Bella, Victoria wanted you to be my meal that night while she was eating Angela. I couldn't bring myself to do that. I tried to save you both, but I couldn't. I'm so sorry."

He looked down at the floor in shame.

Inside me everything was spinning, I really could not stand more!

"That's enough for today, Jonath. Now please leave my room! Bella can't anymore."

Edward looked angry; he was almost growling.

When the door slammed shut behind Jo, I burst into tears. I cried and cried while Edward pulled me onto his lap, slowly rocking me back and forth and murmuring soothing words in my ear.

At some point I fell asleep.

That night my nightmares returned, even though Edward held me tightly in his arms all night. He even had to wake me up four times because I started screaming loudly and lashing out.