Hey guys, thank you so much for all the reviews, negative and positive. This chapter isn't as good but I promise you it will get better. A special thanks to: free-to-fly-2010 you comment inspired me the most, and yes I promise that something "fitting" will happen to Charlie :)
Jasper picked me up again and we were flying through the woods. I could see that he was still angry so I thought of a way to distract him. "Do you still love Alice?" I ask. Suddenly, the world jolts, as he comes to an immediate stop and looks down at me.
"Do I still love Alice?" he repeats, confused. I nod and he answers, "Of course I still love Alice."
"But do you still love her?" I emphasis it to get my point across.
"We'll talk about this later, they can still hear us." He replies.
"What are they saying?" I ask, wishing I had the capability to hear a well as him.
"They are arguing on whether they should come after us, and Alice is trying to persuade them that I'm not 'Jasper' anymore."
"What do you think?" My voice gives away the tiny amount of fear I'm feeling. Jasper sets me down and contemplates this for a moment. He looks as if he's lost in a memory of long ago.
"She is referring to when I was in Maria's army. No one ever called me by my real name." He stares down at me for a second then asks, "Did Edward ever tell you about the God of War?"
"Yes, he said he also fought in the southern wars. That he was a merciless leader who never lost a fight. He told me his name was feared by all you kind." I answer to the best of my knowledge of what Edward has told me.
Jasper sighs and says so quietly I barely hear him, "That was me, Isabella."
I'm stunned into silence for a moment. My thoughts turn to mush as I take this in. Edward had always sounded afraid of this God of War, when in reality it was only Jasper. We stood in silence for a couple of minutes, but it's not an awkward kind. Just to lighten the mood I try to project a little anger and mutter, "I go by Bella."
He chuckles at this and sighs, "Time to talk." My brows furrow in confusion. Then I remember why he pulled me out here in the first place.
"Why did you hurt yourself?" his voice his quiet and doesn't reveal the anger I'm sure he feels right now.
"It's a selfish reason." Jasper doesn't reply and realize he's waiting for me to explain. "I didn't know what else to do. It hurt when you all left, it hurt worse when Charlie hit me. It made me feel weak that everyone I loved could hurt me and I was helpless. The pain is different when you do it yourself; it's satisfying. I thought about killing myself but I could never bring myself to do it. I probably sound crazy to you."
What I really wanted in that moment was someone to hug me to tell me everything would be alright. But Jasper has a way of surprising you. "I'm not going to pat you on the back for hurting yourself, Bella." His words are hard, and remind me to stop feeling sorry for myself. It's funny that this was just what I really needed.
Jasper holds out his hand and I take it. "The house is just up here." He shows me to a plain looking house in the middle of the woods. It's not large, but certainly not small. "This is where I go when I need time to think." He explains. "And you probably need to sleep right now. The guest room is down the hall, first door on your right." We walk in and he follows me to my room. "I need to hunt and I don't think you would be willing, so I'll see you in the morning." He says but still doesn't leave. I turn around towards him and gasp at how close he is.
"Jasper?" his hand falls upon my cheek my eyes close as I try to fight from leaning into him.
"Bella, please, do not believe a word that your father has said to you. Edward either. I've brought you here to tell you some secrets of his. I know what he told you in the woods and don't you dare believe it. You are so much stronger than you know." He tells me as his crimson eyes bore into mine. My heart flutters as I think of Jasper as salty sweet. He has one side that is fierce and evil, but it's his belief in the truth that makes him irresistibly sweet in times like these.
"Thank you Jasper." He nods and turns to leave. I return my eyes upon the bed and notice how tired I am. Unfortunately, I had no time to bring clothes so I jump into bed in the ones I have on, and almost immediately fall asleep. The last thought in my head was, did Jasper just joke about me being willing for him to drink from me?
JPOV (you know you were waiting for it!)
I returned from my hunting trip, to find Bella fast asleep in the guest room where I left her. I walk in quietly and stand next to her. She's amazingly beautiful, even with the scars and bruises. I can't help but breathe in her delectable scent. The burn in my throat flares once again, but I promise myself not to ruin this. Alice told me my mate was soon to arrive, and that I had known her for a long time, just not really known her. Is it possible that it's Bella? I push that thought away thinking of its absurdity.
Bella rolls over in her sleep and hugs the pillow next to her tightly. I feel a pang of jealousy over the pillow. Whoa! I'm losing it! I think to myself. I was not just jealous of a fucking pillow. "Jasper…" she sighs, and my stomach tightens. She just said my name. I can feel her radiating contentment. God, if I ever see Edward again I'm going to make sure he has a slow, painful death for ever hurting this angel. The sun begins to shine through the window so I flash downstairs, and wait in anticipation for Bella to wake up.
BPOV
As I wake up, I sit up and massage the cramp in my neck. I slept without a single nightmare last night, for the first time in a year. I felt safe here with Jasper while I know it should be the opposite. I rush to the bathroom and take a warm shower hoping that he won't mind. When I'm done I step out and stare in the mirror. The sight looks nothing like me. Dark circles under my eyes, purple bruises from head to toe, and I don't dare turn to look at my back.
I walk back into my room in just the towel. The window is open and I stare outside for a moment lost in thoughts, when I hear the door open. Jasper is standing there with wide eyes. I say nothing, thinking he'll just close the door and leave but suddenly he walks forward. I'm sure he can feel my shock and fear but he ignores it.
"What is this?" he asks. He's suddenly standing behind me and I feel his cool finger trace the scars that completely cover my back. "Can I see?" he asks quietly.
"No" this topic is off limits for sure.
"Why?" he asks. And since I can't think of a good reason I lower the towel in the back a little so he can see the full design. He gasps in surprise. "Oh my god… who did this to you?" His voice is dripping with anger.
"Victoria. But I'm not saying anything else right now okay?" I plead.
"His hands trace the angel wings that she had carved into my back so long ago. I had learned to embrace them and not dread them. They really were beautiful in the light; unless you look closely it could just be a large pale tattoo.
"I'll kill her." His voice is strained and he looks me in the eyes. In this moment I become extremely frightened. Victoria had haunted me off and on since they had been gone. Saying each time that my death would come, but not before I suffered enough. She told me if the Cullen's ever found out of her visits that it would get worse, much worse.
"Why are you scared?"
"You can't let her know you know."
Jasper studies my face for a moment. "You really are a danger magnet." He says at last. He picks my clothes up off the floor. "Get dressed, we can stop at the Cullen's and get you some clothes, then you have a lot of explaining to do." He says and leaves the room, and I almost don't notice the peace he sends me using his gift.
Well, I didn't leave you a cliffy in this chapter. Honestly, this chapter sucked in my mind, but I promise the next will have some dark humor in it. So leave me some reviews, and tell me what you want to see happen in the future, the first 5 will get their wish. Thnx!