*Jasper's POV

  Rosalie brought me to a small, light brown, oorey house with a flower bed of roses, o four wooden steps, leading to a terrace with a bench swing on the eastern side of the house. It was slightly swinging. The wind was getting stronger, bringing a massive storm clouds from the south. We could already hear the thunders in the distanbsp;  "Why are we here Rose?" I asked w what is so important about this particur house. Sort of secluded from the rest of the town, thanks to the woods surrounding it. Apparently nobody was home.  "Do you know whose is this house?" She turo me, serious.  "No. Why would I?" I said perplexed by her question. Why should I know that?  "This is where used to live that woman, who was killed nearly two years ago. Jane Bck." Said Rose looking me dead in the eyes, slowly tinuing. "Now there lives her only daughter, Annabell Bck."  Before the meaning of what Rose just said, had time to fully sink in, my phone buzzed and at the same time I felt first raindrops fall on my skin. Pulling my pho, there was a message from Peter. 'Get to school. Now!' Was all, it said."Why schoo-" Annabell!  Leaving Rose with puzzled look on her face, I didn't bother to expin where or why I am going. I don't really know why, either. I'll tell her ter. After I make sure that Peter just found somehow out about the effect this human girl has on me and is pulling one of his jokes.

  However, getting closer to the school, I could already feel that something is wrong. I o find her ahat she is alright.

  About two minutes after readier's message I was in front of the school. It seemed that there's nobody ihe building anymore. The rain turned into a heavy shower. Then I felt somebody's crippling fear.

  I could feel her terror and someone else's blood-lust s that my own throat burned. I quickly shook it off. It's a vampire. I must find her, immediately! I ran behind the school. No ohere.

  "Annabell? Annabell!" I tried to call for her. Thanks to Rose, introdug us today after the csses, it won't be strahat I know her here was no answer but as long as I feel her emotions, it means that she's alive. "Where are you?!" I tried again, taking the dire of the woods, where she always disappears. Please answer... Somehow, it ullihat way.  Through the noise caused by the heavy rain came a soft thud, from behind a bush just few steps further in the woods. I was immediately there, the sight tearing my cold heart to million pieces. My angel, broken with that kind of fear, I almost fot a human feel. I hoped to never experie again, as I was the cause of that fear oo many.

  Just how much more this geous angel bear, before breaking down food? I won't allow that! As most of the time, we were in sync with Major, oter.

  I k beside Annabell's colpsed body, taking her gently into my arms, pressio my chest to make sure, no one hurt her anymore.  "I am here my angel. You're safe now." I whispered into her hair. She never responded, her whole body trembling. I stayed with her like that for a while. Holding her carefully, yet tightly, so nobody take her from me. Rog her like a child to calm her, I sent her all my ...love? I finally he emotion she awakened within me. One I never knew for myself nor thought, was capable of. Yes, I really do, love you.

  Her body respoo the shoaturally, by shutting down. The safest way, for human's health, to deal with such amount of stress. Her heartbeat and breathing was slowing to normal rate while she finally stopped shaking. When she calmed down a little, I moved my left arm under her knees and picked her up, bridal style.  I watched as her face finally rexed, when she uedly reached out to me, pg her hand on my chest where my heart is supposed to be. She breathed out. "There is light." "Yes my angel, you lit it up. You are my light." I whispered, overe with emotion I could not describe differently than endless love. I love this beautiful and strong woman so much it hurts.

  I took off, back to the house Rose showed me, with the loveliest thing I ever saw, in my arms. As fast and hard the rain came, just as fast it was reduced to a light drizzle. Reag the house, Rose was long gone and I was quite grateful for that I be with Annabell alone. Not having to expin anything to a least just yet.

  There are key hidden in a pot beside the front door. I let myself in, carrying her up the stairs, assuming that her bedroom is there. I was right. To the left ened door, a bedroom with queen sized bed standing in the middle of the room. I gently id Annabell's body down on the bed, took off her soaked hoodie and ed the dark blue b, previously c the bed, around her.  After making sure she's warm and breathing evenly, I went out of the house to not wake her up. Sitting on the bench-swing I called Rose.

  "Jasper?" Rosalie picked up on the first ring. "Hey Rose. Sorry for running off, without expnation, like that. It was quite an emergency call." I apologized. "What emergency?" She sounded fused and worried. "Someoacked Annabell." I almost choked on that simple sentence, fully aware of how close I was to beihat thought hurt so much. Taking a deep breath I tinued. "It was a vampire... I got to her just in time. Unfortuhe heavy rain washed away any traces of the attacker's st too quickly for me to track them and I couldn't leave Annabell, scared and nearly unscious lying on the ground there." "Oh, is she alright? Should I tell Carlisle to e over to che her?"  "No, I don't think that would be necessary. She doesn't seem to be hurt, just in shock. I'll stay close by to make sure she's fine." I reassured her. "Alright, then. Call me if there is any problem, ok?" She sounded more relieved now. "Yea. Will do. Thanks for the info, by the way. Let me know if you find something again." "Ok Jazz, see you." "See ya' Rose." I said hanging up.

  Staring at the phone in my hand I thought of callier. I was grateful for the message but wished, it came a bit soohe image of the beautiful angel, broken on the ground... her fear... all clear in my memory. I leaned my head back, closing my eyes in an attempt to push it away. "Major?" Her quiet voice made me nearly jump. Was I so much out of it? There's no other way I could not notice her approag. Annabell was standing in the door, 'looking' at me. I still don't uand how she does that. I mean I don't really care how, it only makes uandable that I never noticed her blindness. There is no obvious indication. Except for the extraordinary beauty, no random person passing her oreet would find anything abnormal about her.

  When there was no answer, because when she calls me Major like in the forest - she somehow sense and differentiate between my and others' presence - I still don't know what she's got me for. Spirit, a ghost maybe. I never replied before so I stayed quiet now too. She frowned a little but there was hope in her expression when she tinued. "Would you e in, please? I'd feel more safe with you there." She admitted somewhat shyly. Still in light shock from her appearing literally out of nowhere. The moment she said she'd feel safer with me closer to her, my body moved practically on its own. I stood up and slowly walked towards her. Again, I have no idea how but when I did, a relieved smile appeared on her fad she disappeared ba the house. Naturally, I followed.  I kept some distaween us, fighting the desire to carry her to the bed in my arms like before. It was the first time I touched her and I couldn't pletely suppress the o take her into my arms again. However, she doesn't know and was she to find out what kind of monster I truly am, I'd be the cause of her terror. I'll do anything to prevent that from happening. I swore to myself.

  Close to the top of the stairs leading to the first floor, where her room is, she tripped and it looked like she'd fall dowairs. I was immediately behind her, ready to catch her. However she steadied herself and stayed still for a few moments. Realizing how close I am, I froze. Her warm body mere inches away from mine... her st enveloping me like trees in the forest that she loves so much. I noticed her hand gripping the railing harder for a sed and then she began to walk again.

  After she made herself fortable in her bed, strangely close to the edge of it, she did something I never expected. To be ho, she does all sorts of ued things all the time, although this time she outdone herself. 'Looking' at me, she hesitantly patted the free space she left on the bed, which was actually little more than half of it. I couldn't move again. What are you doing to me, angel? I thought almost desperately while Major was restless with anticipation and I ignored him as best as I could. "Please..?" Her hesitation turned into uainty and that single word into a question. I couldn't resist- no, I could not reject her pleading. I wasn't able to, even if I wao ...which I did not. Carefully studying Annabell's face as I slowly sat on the free edge of her bed, searg for any sign of fear, I leaned my back against the wall. She smiled and closed her eyes. I couldn't feel anything but relief from her. Then I thought I felt a spark of desire and she folded her arms on her chest. I must have imagi. ! Keep it together! Once again, she was just a reay hand away and I couldn't touch her... I shouldn't. Suddenly, she spoke up.

  "Do you remember when I first called you Major and told you that he's my hero?" I remembered but I wasn't about to reply as always and she, as if not really expeg an answer, went on. "I promised, I'd tell you a story about this Major." She made a pause again and I wao tell her to ti I was worried she'd reize my voibsp; "It's sort of a poem and quite knowoo, but beside mom and the one who I heard it from for the first time, I haven't e across anybody who'd known the whole thing. It goes like this:

  Nearing end of the year 1862,Héberts removal of artillery causes loss of nd. anaging the few days truce,evacuating all his men, to believe, all we tend. Magruder newly in the lead,Scurry with Green who volunteered. On the New Year's night nd shook,and Galveston was retook.  The evacuation hadn't gohat well,the you major o hell. Led all to safety,for himself to meet the destru deity. Abaddon appeared before him,making sight of his future dim. Forever forced to fight,searg for his light."

  When she finished I couldn't believe my ears. She DOES know the sed half. How- A tear rolled down her cheek. That little drop caused me more pain than any of the newborns I've ever fought. Not realizing what I was doing at the moment, I reached out to wipe the tear away but she was faster. I rested my hand beside me on the bed again.

  "I'm sorry, it always makes me sad. To think that you saved all your rades just to be damo hell. All alone. heless, now you're here." She smiled again. My mind seemed to be uo prehend what she was saying and if she is actually talking to me at all. I simply stared at her in awe and fusion. If she really knew, she wouldn't be this calm, right? Annabell looked exhausted but rexed.

  Few moments of silence passed and with her eyes closed it looked as if she fell asleep. With a quiet sigh I rested my head against the wall behihen I sensed slight movement beside me. Thinking that she's just turning in her sleep I didn't pay much attention to it, trying to clear my mind, which this beauty mao make an absolute mess of. Once again. I nearly jumped out of my skin when her pleasantly warm hand covered my cold one, resting on the bed beside me.  I didn't dare to move a muscle. "Thank you for saving me from him." Him? I wish I could ask her if she tell me something that would lead me to who attacked her, so we make him pay. "And thank you for staying with me here..." She whispered, her voice getting weaker as the exhaustion was taking over her. "...Jasper." She breathed out just before her hand on mine pletely rexed indig that she really did fall asleep this time. I stared at her in utter shobsp; "Annabell?" I tried in a quiet voice, however, she didn't hear me anymore. What? How? My mind was in total chaos, yet again. "What are you doing to me, angel." I whispered, more as a pint to myself than a question for her.

  It already got dark outside. I didn't want to leave. Besides, she asked me to stay and I couldn't get enough of the warmth from her hand, still on mihere is no way I am waking her up. She o rest after what she's been through. 'Thanks. ing in the m.' I seer message.