Chapter Three- Deadline
Jasper's POV- (again, yay!)
"Ari? Ari?" I was being frantic. Why was I being frantic? Hell if I know…
"Ungh…" Ari groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Someone should buy a lottery ticket…" She grumbled bitterly.
"What?" I asked,
"Oh that's only the second time I've been struck by lightning." She sighed then looked up at me, "Um… Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"Put me down." She said firmly. I just remembered I was holding her in my arms. Oops… In a sort of nervous rush I dropped her, but she landed on her feet anyway.
"Smooth." Alice giggled behind me, I sighed loudly. "So, Ari, how do you like your gift?"
Ari gaped, "No freaking way! That's what it is?" Kachiri cleared her throat,
"Well… wasn't that interesting?" Kachiri mused, "How's your head Ari?" As if on cue, Ari stumbled back half a step, I could feel the pain radiating off her. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
"Hades…" Ari hissed loudly, pressing her fingers to her temples.
"Hades?" Alice asked quizzically, Ari continued to rub her forehead,
"I traveled all around the world when I was younger, my mom worked with the UN, we were in Africa and… just something I picked up there." She continued to rub her forehead and kept her eyes shut.
"You sure you're okay sweetie?" Kachiri asked my niece, putting a hand on her shoulder,
"Yeah… fine… but I would recommend not standing near me 'case my head explodes." She grumbled.
"Er… right well… after that interesting episode…" Nahuel started to say, "How much time do we have Alice?"
"Oh…" My angel said, looking into the future, "Oh." She frowned, "We have a little less than twenty-four hours."
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?" Ari exploded, her eyes snapping up and narrowing at Alice. "Why didn't you tell us this before?" She was hissing.
"Because the future changed, okay?" Alice sighed calmly. Ari muttered a few particularly nasty oaths before getting up off the ground. "Someone's grumpy!" Alice said, pointing a figure at Ari like a mother would their young child. Ari continued to curse and rub her temples, grinding her teeth together until the sound grated on my nerves,
"What, are you trying to grind your teeth to dust or something?" I snapped, and was met by an icy black glare. Oh… Oh! Wow… I was stupid. Her eyes were black as pitch all the way around right down to her pupils with no hint of red. Ari needed to hunt before we got anywhere near any humans.
"Ari needs to hunt…" I said slowly, watching her cautiously. Would we have the time to introduce her to vegetarianism?
"We don't have the time to teach her Jasper." My angel said, sorrow coloring her voice. Ari cocked her head to the side like a curious child.
"Teach me what?"
"To hunt animals… but we don't have time… so, just go really quick, okay?" Alice sniffed, "And don't hurt anyone you don't need to. And make sure they don't have a painful death. And don't kill a child. And don't go for someone who has a big family who depends on them. And don't attac-"
"I GET IT!" Ari shouted, "Geez… I'm not going to tear up a town and slaughter all the village people like 'La Chewpacabra'!"
"Okay…" Alice said sadly, "I just… don't like the idea of you killing people, you know?"
Ari sighed, "Yeah, I get it. But I need every advantage I can get… and it's how I've lived Alice."
"I wouldn't call it living…" Alice grumbled, Ari flashed my angel a smile that masked a tumult of pain.
"Neither would I Alice, neither would I." She said and shot off into the woods, her stride lengthening with each footfall and her senses growing more prominent as she slipped into her hunting aura.
Kachiri sighed loudly, "You really know very little about this girl…" She said quietly, putting a hand on my shoulder. I was suddenly very curious,
"Oh?"
"She has a… human side… it's just buried deep. The reason why is that she's relied so heavily on her vampire instincts to keep her alive, also, she doesn't feel human after what she's done. It tears them apart, what their commanders have them do, the modern soldiers life expectancy is… four to six years. No longer." Kachiri sighed heavily and shook her head.
I felt my own remorse and Alice's washing over me, poor Ari… "Have you ever seen her more human side, when she's happy?"
"Once actually, it took a specific person to bring it out though, and you are sort of close as well… she's usually much worse. Won't talk, won't smile…"
Curiosity… "Who brought it out then?" Alice asked, and then gasped, "NO WAY!"
"Yes, future seeing little one, that is right." Kachiri smiled slightly, "The open person who has truly made Ari open up was… a boy." Alice squealed with happiness. I felt a defensive growl building in my chest. After meeting Ari's two male acquaintances, Connor and Alejandro, this boy better be an angel or he'd soon be watching his neck.
"Who?" I snarled. Kachiri raised an eyebrow at me, her emotions churning. Indecision, curiosity… and loyalty, probably to Ari. Not good…
"I… I don't think telling you would resolve any matters. He's not… the best understood boy, but Ari swears he's not as bad as we all presume he is despite his… cruel reputation." She said, calculating each word carefully. I groaned loudly.
"Perfect. She's probably in love with a monster who's just trying to get to her…" I'd tear his head off. If her go t near her ever again, if he had the nerve to hurt her… he wouldn't live to see the light of day ever again. His death would not be quick and merciful either.
"I wouldn't be so quick to assume, Jasper." Kachiri said, "I met him… admittedly, it was awkward, but he cares for her. She however, is seemingly oblivious to the fact that the feeling they shared was more than friendship. I do not believe she knows what love is well enough to identify it."
That was sad. No, I'm dead serious, that she doesn't know what love is… it's… awful. "That's terrible…" was all I could manage. Alice squeezed my hand and I instantly relaxed. What would my life be like if I didn't have her? Would I even still be alive of would I have 'pulled a Romeo/Edward' and gone to the Volturi and asked for death?
Kachiri's quiet chuckle brought me out of my thoughts, "Well… if you are correct about the Cullen's situation with the gathering all these witnesses, and the Volturi, you may very well meet this boy. Ari will certainly recognize him."
What? Oh no… "Is he a witness or a member of the Volturi? Or even a witness for the Volturi?" I asked rapidly. Kachiri held out her two fingers, 'stop'.
"I have already said too much, Ari would be troubled. I shall say no more." She had a sly smile, which I did not trust.
"Say no more about what, Kachiri?" Ari's voice called. She stepped lightly over the tree roots and almost floated over to us. Her irises where a shockingly bright crimson… she… looked… like… a… newborn… Damn. So not cool. She caught my alarmed face,
"Something wrong Jasper?" She asked, quirking her head to the side a bit, like she had before, as if this were her calling card, like Alice's bubbly laugh, or Bella's ducking her head when she's embarrassed, or my brother's odd crooked smile… This was Ari's thing. I found it weird.
"You're eyes, that's all." I said, coughing a little. She frowned,
"I… I'm sorry if I disappointed you…" She said, shame coloring her voice. I sighed,
"No, it just reminds me… of some newborns who attacked us once… You're eyes are surprisingly bright… more so than I thought they would be." I tried to comfort her, wrapping my arm across her shoulder and squeezing it gently.
"Yeah…" she said softly, "it happens."
"GUYS!" Alice said loudly, tapping her foot, "We have a plane to catch, let's go!"
"Plane?" Ari shrieked, panic radiating off her,
"Yes, it's faster and don't even think about bailing because once we get to Forks, you get to be Nahuel's body guard." Alice said firmly, "Let's go, I've got tickets!"
"How?" Ari asked, astounded.
"Never underestimate Alice…" I smiled at my wife and followed her to a tiny airport tucked into the Chilean Andes.
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Fourteen impossibly long hours later we had managed to get our tickets, through some expert persuasion, made it through security, successfully gotten past all humans and we were closing in on the Seattle Airport. Ari was shifting uncomfortably in her seat, her brown contacts were quickly fading. I tossed her the box,
"They're nearly gone." I whispered quietly. She nodded and swiftly replaced them with a new pair, and her eyes became a muddy brown again. We had used this same color for Bella… but it looked odd with her.
"What color were your eyes when you were… human?" I asked, dropping my voice even lower. She gazed out the window, propping her elbows up on the armrest.
"Blue." She said quietly. "Ice blue." She sighed and I could feel the remorse emanating from her, and an almost suffocating guilt.
"It's not your fault." I said, rubbing her shoulder.
"Maybe not…" She said, gazing intently at the clouds, "maybe I could be nineteen and just going to college… maybe I could have a job, and still have a family… but I don't. I chose… to kill though… I could have resisted, but I couldn't find the strength." She sighed heavily, "Sometimes I wish I had actually been injured enough to die that night, perhaps thrown from the passenger seat like my father."
"Ari," I was angered by her wish to die, should she not want this second chance as I did? "Never say that, this is… a new beginning. Now you can have a family." But I knew that may not be all she needed. She needed a purpose…
I sighed heavily. We had purposely surrounded Ari with us, Kachiri in front of her, Nahuel in the seat behind her, and Alice and I next to her.
"Attention passengers, we are beginning our descent to Seattle International Airport. Attencion, estamos…" The announcer trailed off and rambled in several different languages.
"Thank god… I was going to have to punch a hole in this flying blood bank." Ari muttered darkly. I chuckled slightly,
"Well… we'll be in Forks in about one hour." Alice said zoning out, "Right on the nose of the deadline. Ari, I need you to be Nahuel's body guard, go wherever he goes, and don't let anyone have a straight line of attack on him." Alice said this very seriously. I wondered if this meant someone was going to attack Nahuel.
"Yes ma'am." Ari mumbled.
The plane's wheels hit the ground, and we all jerked forward as it decelerated. Ari winched quietly, I felt her slight anxiety. A small smile crept onto my face… Ari was scared of planes. "Why?" I asked her casually, she would know what I was talking about.
"You don't have to know." She hissed under her breath. I sighed and decided not to push her unnecessarily. After all, soon she would have a very tough challenge in front of her once we reached home.
"Please remain seated until the seatbelt sign is turned off." The tired flight attendant said over the intercom. Ari frowned and unbuckled her seatbelt anyway, preparing to bolt off the plane. "Ms… please remain seated." One of them said as they passed by her, he looked tired as well.
"Oh, I'm sorry we're in a bit of a hurry…" Ari almost purred, shooting the boy a sly smile.
"I see… um… well, in that case I'll just keep it our little secret." He stuttered, walking away. Ari leaned back in her seat, smirking proudly.
"Humans are too easy." She muttered to herself.
"You shouldn't do that… it's not nice to dazzle people." Alice chirped. The plane taxied into the gate and we were finally able to leave. We walked calmly enough through the airport, ignoring the usual stares from the humans we walked by. Gawking was not uncommon… I saw many-a-human gawk at our kind's beauty… but they would never be so captivated if they knew our other side.
"It's just so that we can easily get past them. I find that people will give you just about anything when they think that you are worth their time. So…" Ari sighed deeply, "if they want to please me… they don't annoy me and I don't have to use force to get what we want."
"We?" I demanded, "Who is we?"
"Um…" Ari frowned, "I don't know… I'm just so used to always talking to people as if together we are a unit. I suppose I am still in that way of thinking… I am still thinking of what is best for my troops." She sighed heavily as we worked our way through the heavy crowds.
"Your troops?"
"Yeah… after two years I was 'promoted' and I lead a band ten fresh, young recruits. Of course, the number fluctuated because they fought amongst themselves whilst they matured and I trained them." She explained.
Ah… "So you trained a branch for your leader to." I mused, "I trained a group of twenty for my creator… Maria."
Ari smirked, "The girl I stole the flask from two years ago." She chuckled under her breath, "She hates me, absolutely loathes me. She asked for my name… nearly exploded when I said 'Whitlock'."
"Then…" I mumbled confused as I pushed my way past a cluster of loud adults searching for their luggage, "why does she hate you?"
"Oh because I absolutely refused to do anything for her and I sort of… kind of…" She trailed off,
"Spit it out." I said pointedly,
"I kind of stole some money from her." She whispered under her breath as we passed quickly through security.
"Why?" I asked between laughs. Ari shrugged,
"We needed money… for clothes and other supplies. You know, stuff they destroyed because they don't know their own strength." She said as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"Ari…" I groaned, "Stealing is not an acceptable thing on a regular basis!" She rolled her eyes and shoved the door to the outside open. Finally, we were out of the airport, and I felt like I could breathe freely.
"I hate planes and airports." Ari grumbled and started to speed up into a loping jog.
"You just hate people." I corrected as we began to pick up our pace, weaving through the parking garage, that Alice said would get us around to an open place where we could run. Ari snorted,
"So true." She said and moved lithely through the opening space. Alice lead the way as we sped down a dark ally-way. Ari inhaled deeply, a low instinctive growl slipping from her throat. Seattle, Washington was alive with the smell of vampires. "You're brothers?" She asked me, her eyes narrowing,
"Of course." I assured her. Arianna would need some major adjusting before she could ever go out around people. She nodded absently, but I could see her stride lengthening. We moved through the dimly lit city with deft swiftness. The sun was barely rising over the horizon. It would be only minutes now… only minutes until the final deadline and we would loose everything we ever had.
"It'll be fine… it'll be fine." Alice chanted over and over.
There was a slight shift in the wind, "What's the fastest way?" Ari demanded,
"Follow your nose!"
No one had to tell Ari twice. She took one lithe jump and scaled the side of a tall building halting on the top and standing for a split second in the howling wind. I never before realized how scary she looked before now. Honestly, she reminded me of Maria… But somehow she looked… damaged and sad.
It was a split second, then she tore off to the south, moving like a shadow as the sun grew higher and higher in the sky. With each passing second the Volturi were creeping closer to their goal. Killing our entire family.
Now leaving Seattle, come back soon!
Yeah, sure. We'd be back… psych. (Yes, I am a 90's child, sue me.) We made a straight line for the main road out of the city, dodging the many cars whose drivers never even saw us. I followed right on Ari's heels, though it was becoming increasingly hard with her pace.
"Ari! When we get up front, Cauis is going to have someone attack Nahuel!" Alice shouted. I gritted my teeth, "I need you to stop them at all costs so that he can tell his story!"
"Yes ma'am." Was her only reply. I made a silent prayer that the Volturi would not kill my niece or anyone else.
We swerved off the rode and into a thick forest, you could smell my family… and even where that wolf Jacob had been. I could here quiet voices up ahead, straining my ear, my brother spoke loudly and defiantly,
"Why don't you join us, Alice?" Edward. We weren't to late! I felt happiness spike around me, and realized some of it was my own. Ari was devoid of emotion, completely focused on her task. She knew she was going to have to throw herself in front of an attack. God save her.
Edward, we found the half-vampire… he's going to be attacked by a member of the Volturi. I thought as we charged across a small brook to the clearing where we played baseball. I kept a sharp eye out on everything and anything. I caught Edward's nervous glance at Nahuel. Don't worry, I found someone to help. I hope… The last part I did not mean for him to hear, but he did anyway.
Ari snapped to a sudden stop, standing on the edge of the woods, halfway between the Volturi and my family. She then waited for Nahuel, mirroring his steps with hers. Edward sent me a questioning glance and I blocked my thoughts, now was not the time for me to tell the family about Ari.
"What have we here?" Aro's overly excited voice asked. Ari stepped carefully in front of Nahuel, blocking the Volturi's eager advance.
"Proof that you were incorrect in attacking this family." Ari said flatly. Aro leaned back, bemused.
"Ms. Arianna… what a surprise, I thought you were dead!" He looked pointedly at Alec at this point. Alec bowed his head and said nothing, but shot Ari a sideways glance.
"Nice to see you as well," Ari said hotly. With that she retreated down to the lines of my family, taking a place between Edward and Elezear. Elezear stared at Ari, and Edward kept a continuous watch on her as if she was going to strike at him.
"Jasper…" Edward muttered, "who is that?" The unspoken message of, 'Why the hell did you bring such a dangerous here she could ruin everything!' Was heavy in my ears.
She's helping… and I sort of… kind of saved her life. Edward shot me a small glare, mostly because he thinks I'm putting his daughter in danger.
"Well!" Aro called, pulling our attention back to him, "Let us have the story! Shall we meet in the middle again?"
"That seems reasonable." Carlisle said. You have no idea how good it felt to hear my family's voices again.
"Alright, Alec, Felix with me." Aro said and floated forward.
Nahuel looked around, "Ms. Arianna, and…" I interrupted him,
"Why don't you take Ari and Emmett?" I said quickly. I wanted Ari to have some backup when they attacked. Nahuel nodded stiffly and looked around, his eyes falling on Emmett, who was smiling wickedly.
Ari shot him a sideways glance and assessed him as a threat, as her instincts dictated. We all saw it. Emmett took a small step forward and put up his hands in a 'friendly' way. She sniffed condescendingly and walked briskly forward, Nahuel half a step behind her.
"Why Arianna and Emmett, Jasper?" Aro asked me, I felt uneasy under is gaze. He crept me out… He. Was. Not. Normal.
I shrugged, "They'll take care of Nahuel." Aro looked bemused,
"Interesting."
"Indeed, now can we get on with this?" Ari said loudly, her arms folded across her chest, gleaming with hundreds of scars. Alec shifted sideways,
"Good to see you Ari…" He said quietly, not meeting her eyes,
Ari's lips quirked to one side and she tilted her head like she did so often, "Yeah… suppose it's been a while hasn't it?" I noticed Aro watching this conversation with growing interest,
"Two and a half years… if you were wondering. You've grown up quiet a bit." He met her eyes for the first time. I felt the emotions rolling off him and fought back a snarl. HE COULD NOT BE THAT BOY! I though furiously.
"Suppose so…" Ari muttered, "And so have you, from a friend to someone standing on the other line of a small line… with the Volturi, poised to attack and destroy me and those who I am protecting." Her voice was icy. Alec winced,
"I didn't expect to see you here." He muttered,
"Well fate seems to enjoy playing tricks on me, so let's see how it plays out, shall we?" She snapped and turned back to Aro, whose eyes were sparkling happily, "What?" She demanded,
"Oh… now I know why he did not kill you. That is all." Aro chuckled, "Now, Nahuel, can you help us solve this little puzzle?"
And Nahuel began to tell the story which could potentially save us all. Esme walked over to me quietly and gave me and Alice a quick hug. I never let go of my angel's hand.
Edward stood beside me, "Why am I only getting 'Love Drunk' from that girl?" He demanded sourly. I smirked to myself,
"Because it's a catchy song?" I said lamely, shoving my hands in my pocket. I had never heard the song…
"I heard that." He snapped, "Who is she, and what are you and Alice both hiding?" Bella, Rosalie, Esme and Carlisle all looked over at me expectantly.
I stiffened, "Nothing that is important for you to know." I hissed through my teeth, Edward growled at me,
"It matters." He glanced up at my niece who stood tensed by Nahuel's side, "Her thoughts are all over the place! She's more unstable, more dangerous and less controlled than any of us! I. Don't. Want. Her. Around. My. Daughter."
I snarled loudly. How dare he talk about my niece that way! She was putting her neck on the line, literally, for Nahuel! Without her, they would all be piles of ashes right now! He can just smile and be goddamn thankful!
Edward gaped, "Your… your… SHE'S YOUR WHAT?!" He demanded,
Ari looked over at me, "Aw… crap. Way to go Jazz…" She grumbled. "At least I don't let him read my mind."
Aro smiled, "Ms. Whitlock, did the Cullen's not know that you are actually related to Jasper?"
"Well gee Aro, they do know." She growled. Felix chuckled,
"So… what do they think about it? Huh? Does it even matter to you? Or are you just gonna keep on not giving a damn about anyone or anything?" Felix asked her.
"Haven't decided yet. See, my options are, go back home and have a ninety percent chance of being tortured and killed, or stay here and have to meet new people… yuck. So, it's fifty-fifty right now." Ari said,
Carlisle cleared his throat, "Are you really… Jasper's… relative?" He asked her. Ari tilted her head to one side like she did… to much.
"Yep. Guilty." She said, popping the 'p' in yep. Emmett smiled a goofy grin,
"Awesome." His said, Aro cleared his throat,
"Can we come back to the matter at hand?" Aro said, and suddenly it was serious again, "Nahuel, I hope you know that technically you are an anomaly to… and if we vote against the Cullen's, you will be destroyed to." Nahuel said nothing, but there were a few hisses from our ranks.
"ARI, NOW!" Alice screamed suddenly as a grey cloak leapt from the Volturi's line. Demitri sailed through the air straight at Nahuel's neck. Horror radiated from everyone. Nahuel was screwed.
Ari threw herself forward, launching right at Demitri. The two collided in mid-air, Ari successfully blocking his attack and throwing him to the ground. The thunderous crash was resounding. He was back on his feet crouched and ready for a fight while the rest of us except Alice stood dumbstruck.
A ferocious snarl rang from Arianna, "Son of a bitch, you coward! You can't keep your word not to attack, can you?" She snarled, her lip curling over her teeth.
Emmett stood next to her, a low growl adding an additional warning. Demitri stalked forward a step,
"Are you trying to get me to kill you?" Ari demanded angrily, also stalking forward a few steps. I was biting back words of warning, she was practically in Demitri's face, well within striking range.
"Just a little." Demitri smirked, then cleared his throat, "No, actually I'm just trying to distract you…" He smiled wickedly. Ari's eyes popped wide open and she whirled to face Felix, who had stepped between her and Nahuel.
Ari turned to attack Felix, but Demitri snagged her by the wrist. "Emmett!" Alice screamed as Nahuel backed away from Felix. Emmett maneuvered between Felix and Nahuel, growling loudly. The rest of my family tensed to assist them. The Guard was just as ready.
"Let. Go. Of. Me." Ari said through clenched teeth. Demitri smiled maliciously for a split second before Ari decked him full in the face. They were both on the ground in a split second. I was about to run forward…
"Stop!" Aro commanded loudly. Demitri and Arianna continued to attack each other, their teeth inches from each other's necks. "Demitri, stand down!" Demitri tackled Ari to the ground, they both snapped at each other, white teeth flashing and clicking together audibly. "Demitri!"
Ari's eyes glazed over. Oh, crap… "Don't do it Ari!" I yelled. God damnit, not again! I shot forward, running as fast as I could. Ari stood up and held Demitri by his collar. She looked at me out of the corner of her eye and smiled,
"Say goodnight jackass." She whispered.
I closed the distance in three strides and grabbed her wrist, wrenching her backwards as the entire sky lit up with a fantastic and magnificent light. The bolt struck Demitri and narrowly avoided Ari and I. We tumbled backwards and watched the show.