533AN: Sorry for the delay this was supposed to be up a week ago but I had a mishap. ENJOY!
Chapter 16
Bella ran to the door knowing she wasn't going to see anything. She could slightly smell Jasper as his scent disappeared into the wind.
"Will he come back?" she croaked weakly. She set her large watery eyes on Carlisle who was still holding Demetri's severed head, sporting his own shocked expression.
"I'm sure he will. Just give him time." Carlisle answered in monotone voice, not giving any indication that he was completely uncertain of his answer. He had never seen Jasper act this way, move that way, behead anyone.
Everyone in the house sported equally horrified and shocked expressions as Bella looked around the room for further reassurance.
She returned to Caius who enveloped her in a hug while Aro placed a reassuring hand on her back. The room was silent as Felix moved to retrieve Demetri's head from Carlisle. He picked up the twitching corpse and moved towards the door.
"Where are you taking him?" Carlisle asked and stepped towards Felix.
Felix answered softly, "I'm going to take him to the city to reassemble and feed him. I'll be back in a few hours."
The Cullens cringed when they heard the word feed, but did nothing to stop Felix, that was their choice to make. Caius moved to sit again with Bella in his lap. Despite her 5'5" frame she seemed very small in his arms. She was softly crying as if she had been to blame for everything.
She knew Jasper hated the monster he was with Maria and she knew that when he relieved Demetri of his head that was where he was instantly transported back to. She was aware that he had not killed another vampire since joining the Cullens over 50 years ago. She knew this was bad.
Mistaking her tears for fear of Jasper, Caius told her, "It's okay, he wouldn't hurt you and he'll be back."
She nodded, that was what she wanted to hear and Caius gave it to her. But, she didn't think he knew the full extent of the problem.
Alice chose this moment to speak up. "He's running from himself. I can't see what's going to happen. But I do know that he thinks he's a monster, the Major, the Prince of Death, the God of War… this could be bad, very bad."
Bella's fears were confirmed with those words. Her silent tears began coming faster as she buried her head in Caius' chest.
"Surely it's not as bad as all that?" Aro questioned.
Bella couldn't believe he didn't get it, after all, Aro had all of Jasper's memories and thoughts up until about 10 years ago, she thought.
"Aro?" Carlisle called to gain his attention. All eyes on the paternal figure. "Do you recall Jasper's memory being anything like what you just saw?"
Rather than answer the question, Aro asked in return, "Are you asking about something specific, Carlisle?"
Bella was curious about this too and looked around the room, everyone's curious eyes on Carlisle waiting for the answer.
"Well… I've never seen a vampire have completely black eyes like that. The whites had disappeared. Have you ever seen that?"
Aro thought for a moment and searched his memory for Jasper's memories. Jasper's memories didn't include a mirror, so he was unsure of the answer to that. Jasper never saw himself when he was angry. Aro had no other frame of reference as he never met another survivor of the Southern Wars. He knew of Peter and Charlotte, of course. But only knew of them, he had never met them. Maria had been eradicated by the Volturi many years ago but his guards took care of it, Aro wasn't present.
"Honestly, Carlisle. I don't know. Jasper's memories are through his eyes, not of his eyes. I have never met another survivor of the Southern Wars. I'm sorry."
Carlisle nodded. "What about his speed? I've never seen a vampire move that fast. Have you?"
Aro looked around the room for a moment and noticed Caius shake his head almost imperceptibly in answer to Carlisle's question. Caius hadn't seen anything like it.
Carlisle continued after a moment. "Edward has always been our fastest in the family but now I wonder if Jasper wasn't down playing his speed."
Edward scoffed slightly but quickly looked away when seeing Carlisle's memory of Jasper's speed. Edward had to wonder if all those times he raced Jasper if he didn't let him win? Edward became lost in his own memories of Jasper unbeknownst to the rest of the room.
Aro nodded in response to Carlisle. "I fear saying this that it sounds ridiculous but it appears Jasper is some sort of super vampire."
The tension in the room got to Emmett with that last comment and he burst out laughing. "A super vampire? Really? Come on this is Jasper!"
Rose smacked Emmett's arm "Emmett!" she admonished.
"No Rose. Come on, Carlisle! A super vampire? Really? Come on. We've lived with Jasper for over fifty years and the only super ability he has is his empathy. I'm sure everything else just seemed like it was abnormal because everyone was upset and face it, Jasper is the picture of calm. He rarely finds a reason to have ruffled feathers. That is until Bella came along. No offense," he directed his last comment to Bella who just stared at him.
"Emmett, you weren't there. You didn't see what we saw," Carlisle responded. "I for one have never seen the Jasper that I have seen today. Never. You are right. He does not get upset. There is very little he cares about enough to get this upset." Carlisle's gaze landed on Bella, who shrunk back into Caius' chest feeling as though it was her fault.
Carlisle quickly apologized realizing how he made her feel.
*****SMBDW*****
Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest Jasper was running. He knew unless he wanted to swim, he couldn't go north and if he went south, he'd lose the cover of the forest intermittently. His emotions were so conflicted he didn't know what he was feeling but he knew what he was thinking. "I'm a monster. I'm the monster that ran the Southern Wars. I'm the Major, the God of War. I didn't kill Demetri but I was close. Demetri, a vampire who threatened him and his mate. He felt he was more defending her than himself, though the threat was directed at him. Demetri was an angry threatening vampire and he was too close to Bella.
Bella.
Bella.
Bella.
Her name was a mantra in his head but he couldn't make himself change direction. He ran south. He was too close to the ocean. He followed the trees back West but continued to run. When they gave way to open country he slowed and followed the tree line the best he could. He couldn't think of anything other than Bella.
Bella cried out for him to stop. Bella, he had just gotten her back, was reconciling with her and now she knows what truly horrible things he's capable of. She witnessed him lose it. She'll be scared of him.
Jasper was lost in self-loathing as he crossed some main roads and continued south. Night would soon settle in and he would be able to continue with speed under the cover of darkness. But where? Where could he go. Everything was where he just left, Bella, his family, Alice. He had given up a wonderful existence with Alice for Bella. He knew he didn't have a choice and he didn't regret Bella, but he did regret the grief and loneliness that Alice felt. That was his fault.
Alice, his former love, his best-friend, his savior. She had done so much for him and this is how he repays her. He was a monster. Monster all along he just didn't realize it. He growled and pushed his legs faster running across another main road and into a more wooded area as he continued to head south. The pull in his chest told him he was going the wrong way, but really what kind of life could he give Bella?
Bella. Underneath it all she was a sweet, young, lost girl. She didn't know half the things she thought she did. She was incredibly immature but maturity only comes with age and she is only seventeen. He's nearly two hundred. He's seen more lifetimes than even Emmett, Rosalie, Esme or Edward. Carlisle was the only one older than him in the family.
Carlisle the ever concerned, loving father. He was a true father to Jasper. He doesn't remember his real father but would like to think he was like Carlisle. Compassionate, wanting to help others, loving to everyone in the family. Carlisle was a man he wanted to be like. He knew he could never be that compassionate, people irritated him and smelled too good. But Jasper wanted to be kind, he wanted to be loving, he wanted to provide for his mate and family.
Jasper let his mind go blank, he couldn't think about his family; Edward, Emmett, Rosalie, Esme. He couldn't think how he let this thing inside him show them all that he was a monster, to be feared. He felt their fear. He knew everyone was scared of him now.
He couldn't go back.
He ran.
At the Cullen manor eight vampires and one human sat silently, listening to the human's heartbeat. She had cried herself to sleep on Caius' chest. She was certain Jasper was never coming back and she could feel the pull as he moved further and further away from her.
Esme approached Caius as a concerned parent, "I have a room made up for her. If you would like to put her to bed?"
Caius nodded and stood up with Bella in his arms, trying to not jostle her. He remembered fondly when she was little and would fall asleep in the strangest places in the palace. She fell asleep in the large empty ballroom because she was pretending to have a party. She fell asleep in an unused tower pretending to be Rapunzel. She fell asleep a lot in his office, Aro's study, and Marcus' library. She usually wanted to be with someone.
Caius laid her in the bed Esme turned down and looked lovingly at her face while he covered her up. Her eyes weren't puffy or red despite the amount of crying she had done. Her skin was porcelain perfection. Caius knew she had received her venom shot. It seemed to have made some minor changes to her skin tone, her scent, and her ability to heal. Her face still smelled of the salty tears but there was more sweetness to them now. Caius sighed as he turned the lights out and followed Esme back to the living room.
"So what do we do?" Esme asked, looking around at all the solemn faces. "Go after him?"
"No," Alice stated. She looked towards Aro. "He needs time to cool down. I don't think we should call too soon either. He will probably toss the phone or crush it and then we have no connection to him. I say we give him time."
Aro pondered Alice's suggestion and tried his best to search memories of Jasper when he was upset. The problem was Jasper didn't get upset like this. These circumstances had never been presented. He doesn't back down from a fight, he doesn't lose, and now that Bella is involved it's all quite confusing. The one thing Jasper prided himself on was control. The ability to control himself and others if needed. His behavior in the Southern Wars was justified. It was kill or be killed and he didn't fail.
Aro watched his memories of Jasper beheading people just like he did Demetri, flicking the flint on a match with his finger and dropping it on the body before moving on. He was efficient, calculated, a warrior. Aro just couldn't see that his movements were abnormal. His speed always seemed appropriate, his thoughts about being successful, about getting to his next meal and Maria. About please her and basically ruling the world. He wasn't a megalomaniac but he was certain of his ability to win and survive. He was certain of his ability to lead an army and he was certain of his ability to please his mistress.
After an hour or so, everyone had been silent until Caius addressed Alice formally, "You are not able to see him, correct?"
She shook her head as she answered, "No."
"Peter can!" Rose popped up with a soft smile on her face. "Peter, he called and told us Jasper was on his way home. Jasper asked how we knew because he didn't tell anyone he was coming home. Peter's power works on him. We could call Peter?" Rose looked around the room in excitement hoping she found a good solution.
Carlisle nodded. "We can call Peter. Should we wait for Bella?"
About that time, they heard her feet hit the floor as she padded out of the room. Looking more awake than she should, she rejoined the vampires. "Wait for me for what?"
The vampires thought nothing of Bella only taking a nap or the fact that she had heard the last bit of conversation from so far away and brought her up to date on their idea to call Peter.
Carlisle pulled his phone out and dialed the one person he always was thankful for. If it wasn't for Peter, Jasper would not have made it to them. Peter though, never his son, was certainly family. He had attempted to bring Peter into their way of life and their family but vampire wasn't interested. He prefers the life he has with his wife and Carlisle could not fault him for it.
Peter answered on the second ring, "You let the lion out of the cage and don't know how to put it back, huh Doc?"
"Uh, well… not exactly how I'd put that. What can you tell us, Peter?" Carlisle stumbled over his words hoping Peter was not going to say that Jasper was going on a murderous rampage somewhere. He felt his non-beating heart jump into his throat.
With a smile in his voice, Peter answered, "I'd say give him a day or two to cool off then call him. I don't know what he's going to do he hasn't made any decisions."
"Peter!" Alice growled at him.
Everyone had confused looks why Alice was suddenly angry with Peter. "His power doesn't work based on decisions, mine does. He's being an asshole and Now Is Not The Time!" She emphasized for Peter's benefit.
"Fine, fine. He'll be home in 2-3 days. I'm not exactly sure. But don't call him, the Pixie is right he'll destroy his phone if you do."
"How did he know what she said?" Caius asked the room.
"He just does!" All the Cullens' chorused together and then giggled.
"Sure, you all get mad at me for trying to make a joke but can make your own," Peter replied indignant, though he was only joking.
The mood lightened slightly in the room but they were smiling now at least.
"What's going to happen, Peter?" Bella asked from a chair she sat herself in across the room.
"Well Darlin', that's a loaded question and I don't have all yer answers. I can say he'll come home with his tail between his legs. You will be a couple and the prophecy that y'all worried about is bogus."
With that he hung up. Not so much as a good-bye.
Now, the Volturi were upset and wanted to know, how the prophecy can be bogus?
"Call him back!" Aro demanded walking to Carlisle.
"He won't answer," Alice stated.
"You know this? Or you're guessing?" Carlisle asked, to appease Aro.
Alice looked at Aro for her answer, "He's decided not to answer if you call back, there's nothing more for him to say."
After a moment of quiet, "He's going to look for Jasper," Alice stated.
Most of the family didn't notice her eyes become unfocused as she watched Peter search for Jasper but Edward was able to see the whole thing. He had stayed quiet, wondering if Jasper was really who he said. Edward was not second guessing Jasper's past, his scars were testament enough to that, but second guessing his knowledge of the man.
Aro became lost in his thoughts that the prophecy was not real. How could that be? He wondered.
"Bella?" Esme asked, getting the attention of others including the girl, whom she desired to get to know. Her new daughter. "Would you like something to eat? I can make you something. We have food here."
"Why do you have food?" Caius inquired, almost repulsed by the idea.
"Because I have a family of seven and we have to keep up appearances. If they do not see the new family in town at least once a week at the store, they'll question it. Small towns are nice, but everyone knows what everyone else does. This includes the grocery shopping," Esme answered almost exasperated that Caius couldn't figure that out on his own.
"Is that not a waste of food?" Caius inquired. He was intrigued at the lengths this coven goes to in order to function in the human world. School, work, grocery shopping. It all seemed quite unnecessary and tedious to the elder.
*****SMBDW*****
Jasper had stopped somewhere in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and noted that the sun would be coming up soon. He began searching for shelter, a large tree, cave preferably, to wait out what was sure to be a sunny day. Finding a group of giant sequoias ahead, Jasper headed for those. Plenty of cover without hassle.
As he climbed onto a low branch of a very old sequoia, he began to wonder what he should do next? He couldn't stay out in the wild forever. He didn't want to be away from his mate or his home. He lost his temper. He could have hurt her. He was protecting her. He scared her. He scared them all.
His mind spiraled into concern that he was going to have issues with Demetri specifically and the Volturi as a whole for attacking their guard, their king before that. How much are they willing to put up with before they decide he is not worth their trouble?
He couldn't be expected to stand there and let them kill him. He couldn't take his mate from her family.
Her family.
That was the biggest issue. He didn't want her around them. They were bad influences. They didn't know how to raise a human girl and even though they placed her with a human family, they still had a large influence on her upbringing.
Jasper sighed and threw his head against the tree. It groaned slightly at the impact but he wasn't trying to hurt it. The tree was probably older than him and he wasn't about destroying something so majestic.
The sunny rays filtered through the trees as Jasper sat on his branch. It was calm, the sounds of nature had taken away many of his anxieties. He decided to just sit in the moment. Turning his brain off the best he could and focus on the sun's rays, the birds, the insects, the chipmunks and the squirrels. He could hear a few deer but they could sense a predator in the area and didn't come very close. Everything went on without a care in the world. His problems were not their problems.
This forest was so much drier than the forests in Washington. He forgot what it was like to be further south, the heat, the dry air, the smell of dirt and foliage not indigenous to the Northwest. Until the sun's rays died out, Jasper sat there in the moment, thinking of nothing only feeling.
As the sun set and twilight began with cool winds, Jasper jumped from his tree. He had yet to decide what to do but he knew sitting in a tree wasn't going to help his problems any longer. He was thankful for the respite, the time to just be. But now he needed a plan. He headed towards the city. Sacramento wasn't far. He had seen the signs for it as he passed. He would back track.
AN: So, had to have some fluff while he was away. Sorry. Got a little stuck here too as I had a good a chapter and lost half of it The second time around is never as good as the first in my book…pun intended. Tell me what y'all think needs to happen when he gets home? I'll be honest, having some trouble could use some feedback.