Veil of Desire - Jasper Hale

2.10

It was a dark, overcast day when Jacob's old truck pulled up in front of Bella's house, Catalina sitting in the back seat with her arms crossed. Bella was in the passenger seat, soaked from head to toe and shivering despite her best attempt to keep calm. Jacob glanced between the two of them, tension radiating off him as he parked the truck.

Catalina leaned forward, her gaze sharp as she looked at Bella. "What were you thinking?" she asked, voice low but laced with frustration.

Bella sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. "I was fine, Lina. I wanted to feel something... I thought it'd be fun."

"Jumping off a cliff? That's what you thought was fun?" Catalina shot back, eyes narrowing. "Bella, you could have died. Do you realize how reckless that was?"

Jacob gave a quick nod of agreement. "Yeah, Bella. I get needing an adrenaline rush, but there are safer ways."

Bella shook her head, frustration flaring as she crossed her arms. "You guys don't understand. You haven't felt..." Her voice dropped. "I just needed to do something. Anything."

Catalina let out a breath, her eyes softening slightly. She understood the feeling all too well, but she wasn't ready to let Bella off the hook. "There's a difference between taking a risk and doing something... reckless, Bella. You have people who care about you."

Before Bella could respond, Jacob's expression shifted, his body tensing. "Wait," he said, his voice low and almost dangerous. "There's... a scent. A vampire." His eyes darted toward the house, his whole demeanor shifting as he sniffed the air, every instinct on alert.

Catalina felt her stomach drop, and she exchanged a quick look with Bella, whose eyes widened in alarm. "Wait, Jacob, what do you mean?" Bella whispered, her gaze darting to the house.

"There's a vampire in there," he said, his voice tight. He looked between them, and Catalina could see his internal struggle—his urge to protect them, to go in first.

Bella and Catalina shared a glance, their concern shifting as they realized who it must be. Bella swallowed, her determination hardening. "It's... it's Alice, isn't it?" she said, more to herself than anyone.

Catalina hesitated, her feet rooted in place as she looked up at the house. She felt a mix of emotions—hope, anger, and apprehension all twisting inside her. Alice. After all this time, and yet...

Bella gave Jacob's arm a quick, reassuring squeeze before slipping out of the truck and heading toward the house. Catalina hesitated but followed reluctantly, her heart pounding. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see Alice after everything, especially with the unresolved anger that had been simmering inside her.

When they entered the house, it was dark, save for a soft glow from the living room. Alice stood there, her expression unreadable, her gaze fixed on Bella and Catalina as they walked in.

"Bella," Alice greeted, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. She took in Bella's soaked appearance, eyes narrowing. "What were you thinking? I thought you were dead! I saw you jumping off a cliff and then my vision stopped!"

"I was cliff jumping. It's fun!"

"It's not fun when i thought you died Bella! That was reckless." She answered.

Catalina let out an ironic chuckle. "Why do you care anyway." No normal human would have heard her mumbling but Alice was no human. She was a vampire.

Bella opened her mouth, but before she could answer, Alice's gaze shifted to Catalina, her face hardening. "And you," Alice said sharply, eyes narrowing as she looked Catalina up and down. "Avoiding my visions? You think that's smart?"