FAGE 9

Title: Red Horizon

Written for: Mama4Dukes

Written By: Speklez

Rating: M for language (literally for language. There are NO adult situations)

Summary/Prompt used: When Edward left, not all of the Cullens gave Bella a 'clean break'.

A/N~ Okay, so, for my readers waiting for Jagged Edges: I hate to say it, but the wait is going to continue for a little longer. I have a book release upcoming, and that takes priority over fanfictions. This story is completed, and will post throughout the day. As soon as my time opens up to allow for free writing, I will be continuing JE, but I'm not sure when that's going to be. Bare with me, though, and I'll get back to it as soon as I can~ promise.

Chapter 1 BPOV

I stood frozen, eyes wide as I looked at the man that stood in the middle of my bedroom floor, gazing back at me with a look I couldn't decipher. It had been months since the last time I saw his face, and I was truly beginning to wonder if I had finally lost my damn mind.

I licked my lips as my brows drew down in confusion. "Jasper?"

He looked just as I remembered, though he didn't wear the remorse or regret he had the night of my birthday. He didn't even look a little sorry for taking a snap at me or being the reason I was abandoned. He just crossed his arms and cocked his head. "You're surprised to see me. Interesting."

Crossing my own arms, I looked down. "I thought I would never see any of you again, so yeah, I'm a little surprised to see you here."

"But you're not afraid."

Eyes snapping back up, I sucked in a breath before shaking my head. "Not really. I'm just curious as to why. If you're here to apologi..."

I was cut off by a very loud snort as Jasper's face melted into impassiveness. "What the fuck would I have to apologize for? I'm not the one that did anything wrong."

Now I was getting a little angry. "You tried to eat me."

He snorted again, and this time, he smirked too. "What's your point? Eating humans is what I'm designed to do. I fail to see how following my nature is me doing something wrong when you went against your own and was there at all." I had nothing to say to that, so he continued. "Like I said, I'm not the one that did anything wrong."

Pressing my lips together, I looked away for a long moment before I cut my eyes back, a little more irritation in my voice. "Then why are you here?"

He simply lifted a shoulder. "Just because I didn't do anything wrong doesn't mean I don't feel bad about what happened. No, you never should have been brought into our coven. We never should have been a part of your life. However, you did, and we were. Those two facts puts both you and us in a very precarious situation, and I'm not a fan of being in those. I've been in enough over the years, and I'll be damned if someone else's decisions and actions keep me in one."

I had a feeling I knew what he was getting at, but I just had to make sure. "You're talking about your rules, aren't you? The one about humans knowing." He nodded and I gulped. "What are you going to do?"

He rolled his eyes and moved across the room, taking a seat on the top of my desk. He then propped his feet on the chair and laced his fingers together between his bent knees as he leaned forward on his thighs. "Surprisingly, I'm not here to actually hurt you. Though I should just snap your neck and be on my way. I'm not going to, but you need to listen to me. You're here, alone, and there is a very good chance of what I'm sure will be a shock to him, that Edward was wrong. You have enemies, Bella. Enemies you shouldn't have, and that's our fault. We left without making sure those enemies weren't going to be a problem because that little asshole knows how to throw a tantrum. I can't, in good conscience, simply leave you to your fate against these enemies without giving you at least an ass's hair of a chance to survive.. even if the rest of them can. I'm not built to leave lady in what is basically a hopeless situation."

Sitting down on my bed, I looked at him with an expression that was a cross between confusion and fear. "What are you talking about? Did Alice see something?"

Again, Jasper just shrugged. "Dunno. Didn't ask. Probably wouldn't tell me even if she did. What I do know is vampires, and a lot of those want you dead."

I'm pretty sure my heart stopped. I felt cold, and for a moment, I know I wasn't breathing. When I caught my breath, I whimpered. "Victoria." Jasper gave a sharp nod, and I swallowed hard. "I thought she wasn't supposed to be a problem."

There was a quiet growl on the air, and Jasper glared at the wall. "That's what the rest are convinced about, too. I know better, which is why I'm here." He stood then, reached into his front pocket, and pulled out a cell phone. "When I leave, you are never going to see me again. I will not come back, and no one else will either. You can keep trying to email, call, text, whatever you want, but you are never going to get an answer." That was when he held up the phone between his thumb and forefinger. "This phone is restricted. There is one number programmed. If you are ever in any trouble, or see anyone you know isn't human, call it."

I looked at the phone for a short moment before I looked back at Jasper. "Who's going to be on the other end?"

He set the phone down on my desk and walked to my door, clearly getting ready to leave. "A friend of mine."

When his hand touched the doorknob, I shot off my bed, crying out for him to wait. I felt tears in my eyes as I looked at the vampire looking back at me. My throat was tight, but I forced the words out. "I'm really never going to see you again? Any of them?"

He shook his head, making my heart shatter. "No. I know it doesn't feel like it, seem like it, but believe me when I say it's for the best, for everyone. The one thing Edward had always been right about is that we are no good for you. What you have yet to either realize or even give a fuck about is, you're are no good for us either. Inter-species relations aside Bella, you shouldn't know, and we shouldn't allow you to know and live. It's only a matter of time before people find out. This isn't something that can be kept a secret forever. It will get out, and when it does, Victoria will be the least of your problems... and ours."

I licked my lips again, and took a step forward. "Who's on the other side of the phone?"

A slow smirk pulled at the corner of Jasper's lips as his eyes sparked with a malicious amusement. "The only person on the planet that can help you." When I jolted, he chuckled in his throat. "Just remember, there are more than just vampires out there, and all supernaturals are dangerous. If you want to live, you'll use the phone when you find them... or when they find you."

It wasn't long after that I found out I attracted all things supernatural, and I didn't like all things supernatural. I wasn't a fan of the pack down the highway, and I stayed away from them as best I could. They were preachy, judgy, and just... really cold when it came to me and my past relationship with a coven of vampires. But, no matter how far out of my way I went to stay out of theirs, they didn't offer me the same. They hovered, and not in a good way. It was uncomfortable, and nothing I said made them stop. I wasn't sure if it was because of Jake, or my dad, or whatever their reasons were, but it set me on edge more than it put me at ease.

Jake told me more than once they were 'protectors', but I certainly didn't feel protected. I felt like I was I was being corralled like livestock or hunted like prey and it past irritating and annoying weeks ago. I didn't know why they were always there, and none of them would tell me. What I did know was, I didn't like it. It scared me, horribly.

So that's what brought me here, a year after I last saw Jasper, looking at the never used phone with my bottom lip between my teeth, thumb hovering over send. I could hear them moving around the forest through my open window after they were told in no uncertain terms to leave me the fuck alone.

Looking up from the screen, I saw a blur of red and steeled myself as I closed the window and hit the green button.

Setting my phone to my ear, I waited, counting the rings. It took four before there was a deep, smooth voice in my ear. "This is what you're gonna do."