Chapter 3: Blood and Venom

Carlisle's golden eyes flickered to the small bruise forming and he frowned with concern. "Bella?" He asked again, not really ready to know the answer. Esme reaches across the table and lays her hand over hers. "Is everything alright between you and Edward?" Bella looked down and shook her head no. Emmett cracked his knuckles and stood abruptly. "Let me know what he did. I'll take care of it.." He trailed off looking at his little Swan.

She shook her head no once again. "It's nothing. Edward just...he was being an ass. Don't worry. It scared me more than hurt. Just a little bruise. It'll heal by next week."

Jasper's red eyes too flickered to Bella's neck and another piece of this puzzle clicked into place. It just confirmed his suspicion that Bella was indeed not Edward's mate. He hummed and sat at the head of the table. He looked to Carlisle first. "Why is she human? You could change her." He stated. It was an obvious statement and as the leader Carlisle should take what's given as an opportunity. "Edward.." Jasper cut him off there. "Shouldn't matter. You are placing your coven in danger by allowing a human to live in your presence. From my knowledge she is his singer. You care about Isabella quite a lot. Why risk Edwards temptation? An accident can occur just as easy so why put her and yourselves in that position? You're bringing The Volturi down on your doorstep. It's the equivalent to her getting a paper cut and the resulting devastation that the two outcomes possess is death. You know the rules Carlisle Cullen, and that number one rule is to never let a human know of our presence." He turned to Bella next. "Isabella, I was called here to protect you and your family. The best way to protect your family is for your change. I keep my word but I also value opinions. Do you want to be changed? And not for them or Edward, but for yourself? What do you want?"

Bella looked deep in thought. She knew the obvious answer but the family would see it as a sacrifice. "May I speak with you alone Major?" The remaining Cullens we're shocked to say the least. Jasper's red eyes pierced into hers looking for anything he could out of the ordinary.

He stood and held out his hand and Bella's warm hand was in his within seconds. Walking from the dinnng area, he walked down the long hallway once again but this time took the door that led outside and to a little trail of woods. Bella followed without hesitation. They walked a little ways until Jasper was sure they were out of hearing range.

He leaned against a tree and watched her for the moment. "I assume your answer is yes as I could feel your desperation." Bella cocked her head to the side. "I'm an empath. I can feel and manipulate emotions. You want to be changed but the reason is not for your full happiness correct?"

Bella nodded and sat down on the dry ground. "Yes. Victoria will stop at nothing. Just when you think you've got her, she manages to gain the upper hand. She will stop at nothing to kill me. To torture me to the brink of unimaginable pain. While yes I want to change because I will have a family, but not for Edward anymore. Not after he left me alone in the woods. He felt as if it would be best to leave hoping to draw Victoria away. But it did the opposite. She toyed with me. Played me. She took the only family I cared about away from me. So I want to change and not only to protect myself but for vengeance. So yes I would like to be changed, but once all is said and done what will there be to live for?"

She looked into his red eyes, once again feeling a sense of familiarity. Something about him made her curious. He had this air about him that screamed sexy but 'not to be fucked with' vibe. Jasper too cocked his head to the side and slowly approached her. He squatted down to her level and her brown eyes swirled with hints of caramel.

It was like a switch really. Something inside of him clicked. His body couldn't help but lean forward and her hands grasped at his button down shirt for dear life. He was drowning her in his sweet earthy scent. His red eyes too swirled under her gaze and it was so mesmerizing that Bella could stare in his eyes all day.

He breathed deeply and let out a slow growl as his eyes found a figure behind her. Watching them. That was one thing Jasper did not like. Being interrupted. Especially when he was having a moment with whom he now suspected was his mate.

"What?" He asked standing straight. Bella was behind him in a matter of seconds. Seems like she knows where she belongs already. He thought while eyeing his scout named Josiah.

Josiah bowed his head baring his neck a little. "The Captain and his mate have arrived." Jasper nodded and made his way down the small path. When he didn't feel Bella behind him or hear her foot steps, he turned around to see her staring at her hand. He was so engrossed in the intrusion and not used to having to pay attention to certain smells, he didn't smell the sweet scent of her blood. "Shit." She muttered and wiped it off on her shirt. "Josiah!" Jasper warned baring his teeth at the dark haired male. He made his way in front of Bella standing his ground. "You come near her and I will end you." Josiah's now dark eyes flickered toward Bella and Jasper.

"She's just a human. What importance is she?" Bella couldn't help but feel she was missing a big detail. The Major could let his scout kill her as her humanity is causing disruption in his controlled camp already. "I am your Major. Do not question me." Josiah crouched down and Bella couldn't help but grab onto his shirt. As if she could protect me. Hmm. Such a sweet little thing. "Why not? Since these vampires and their food have been here you've paid no attention to your own. You're always playing with this human. Checking on it." He hissed. Truth be told it's only been a day, but Jasper was always making rounds. Always watching his people.

"This human is mine. What I do with her is my business. Challenge me if you dare but it will be in front of ours. You will die by my hand and everyone shall see when you challenge Major Whitlock."

Josiah ran off giving Jasper chase to the compound. Without a word he swiftly grabbed Bella and ran off in the direction Josiah went. "You don't understand right now, but when this happens you must watch. I want you to see just who I am." Bella nodded and held on tightly. Seconds, she found herself on the balcony gathered by her family. Under her was a ring of dirt. A dark skinned vampire came into the middle and looked upon everyone. "Josiah has claimed challenge against Major Jasper Whitlock and his throne. If you shall gain hand, what shall you do Josiah?" His voice boomed and Bella could tell it was tradition for challengers to say what they will do for the compound. "I would be a better leader and the first thing I wil do is dine on that sweet smelling human and we share her like a buffet!" A few cheered but many remained quiet knowing Josiah wouldn't come out alive. Jasper's eyes settled on every single cheer as they would be up for execution. If they cheer now, they are a danger to his human.

Bella worried her lip and she felt an unfamiliar presence next to her. A vampire resembling Jasper stood next to her. He had a darker shade of blonde and his eyes were a tad darker. "He'll be fine. Watch." He didn't look at her but she did as told and watched as he tore his shirt from his body.

"YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME BOY?! I MADE YOU! AND I WILL TAKE JOY IN ENGING YOU..." Bella could barely follow the movement and with the dust kicking up it was hard to see. She watched anyway, watching in worry but amazement. The vampire would reach but never close enough. Jasper laughed and it was so dark it made Bella shiver. The Cullens watched on in amazement. He was taunting Josiah and Bella found it a great tactic as it made him angrier. Josiah took the bait and lunged. His head was ripped away in seconds. Bella's eyes roamed over his body and couldn't help but feel a little lustful but shot it down that she was still in a relationship.

Everyone was silent and a small fire was going as Josiah's body was thrown in whole. His head was put on a pike. Jasper turned to everyone, his eyes black and his face twisted into madness. He snarled at each and every person who bared witness to see. "ANYONE ELSE WISH TO CHALLENGE MY HAND?! AS I SAID THIS MORNING, THAT HUMAN IS OFF LIMITS. GO AGAINST ME AND YOU SHALL WISH GOD WAS HERE BECAUSE I WILL SHOW YOU NO MERCY!"

Right then and there, Bella cared about nothing but the man in the ring that was defending her life in less than 24 hours. He was magnificent. And what exactly did that mean for Bella Swan? It meant everything, as her whole future was now in correspondence with the most dangerous vampire in the world. She was his and he was going to make sure that not only she but that little vampire of hers knew it too...