A long dormant beast stirred deep within Carlisle as he stared at his son while his mate's anguished cry continued to echo in his head. The beast rose, straining against the chains that tightly bound it. It spoke of retribution for the wrongs committed against him and his beautiful Esme. It encouraged him to reaffirm his position as leader in the eyes of his coven by punishing the whelp that stood so boldly trying to claim Carlisle's precious mate as his own. The same whelp that had been a hair's breadth away from taking the coven leader's soul from him forever.
The beast began to growl, softly at first but growing ever louder as it welled up in Carlisle's chest. It pulled violently against its chains demanding to be set free to exact righteous justice that is knew Carlisle wasn't strong enough to deliver. Usually Esme was his strength but she couldn't save him now as the beast's bondage began to fail.
"Get out of my sight, Jasper," Carlisle growled through clenched teeth as he felt the links of chain weaken. He wouldn't leave Esme's side so he had to make his son quit the field of battle while he still was able to exert a measure of control. If the beast slipped its tether he feared for his son, knowing there would be no stopping it until its fury had been spent.
"Out of my sight, NOW!"
Jasper snarled at his father, eyes flashing in anger.
"How dare you order me. Who in the hell do you think you are?"
Carlisle got to his feet, growling deeply at his errant son. "I am your leader, boy. You will stand down now and show me the proper respect."
It was that same phrase again that gnawed at Jasper's psyche. Who was this lesser male to claim a position of authority over him? The only one who could command him was Maria and she had yet to speak a word in this others defense so he obviously needed to be shown his place at the bottom of the pecking order. Jasper bared his teeth as he hissed at the blond.
"You are NOT my leader. You answer to me."
"Jazz, calm down. You don't know what you are saying." Alice stepped between her husband and her father to try to defuse the growing tension. "Look at me, Jazzy." She was reaching to touch his arm when she suddenly found herself flying through the air as her mate slapped her angrily away. Alice slid hard along the ground before skidding to a stop then hopped back to her feet with tears in her eyes.
The chain gave way sending Carlisle's beast raging towards Jasper with a ferocious roar. Dimly, Carlisle heard Esme scream for him to stop but the beast was in control now with him helplessly being dragged along behind. Carlisle watched in disconnected horror as the beast back handed his honey haired son across the face dropping him to the ground like a bag of stones.
Jasper was swiftly on his feet growling like a feral thing, matching the black eyed beast that snarled in his face. His tongue touched the split in his lip licking the tinted venom that flowed from the wound before his spit could heal it. The taste of his venom mingling with elk blood from his morning hunt fueled his fury. In his rage he leaped upon Carlisle forcing him to stagger backward as the coven leader fought to regain his footing.
The beast dug his heels in then grasped the youngster firmly and tossed him across the yard landing Jasper at Edward's feet. Edward made a grab for his brother but the battle worn solider was too quick and slipped skillfully from his grasp with a warning growl. If need be he would break all of them starting with this one. As his glare pierced Edward, he momentarily lost sight of his true enemy; a mistake that proved costly.
Carlisle's arms wrapped around his son pulling him down to the ground into a spitting howling brawl. Rolling around in the dirt, Jasper managed to get an arm free and let fly a solid punch to his father's jaw. The beast snarled in the boy's face before answering with a blow of his own to the youth's side. Carlisle heard the muffled snap of bone as ribs gave way under the impact while a yowl of pain filled the air.
Jasper clawed and kicked madly as he fought to dislodge himself from the steel clutch of his father while they tumbled across the leaf littered ground. The solider was the better fighter but greater age and experience coupled with unabated rage over the treatment of his mate and daughter gave Carlisle an unexpected advantage as he wrestled with his son. He barely registered the powerful blows that the boy inflicted on his body but he returned them in kind.
Carlisle instantly became aware of a vice like hold wrapping around his chest trying to pry him from his adversary.
"Pops. Come on, Pops, let him go." Emmett held Carlisle with his good arm while struggling with the nagging pain of his injured shoulder. "For mom and Alice's sake, you two need to call a truce."
The beast struck back at the muscular boy attempting to subdue him by slamming the back of his head hard into the boy's face. Emmett's agonizing cry mixed with the hissing snarls coming from the battle as he stumbled back landing in the waiting arms of his wife.
The battle royal had drawn Rosalie's attention from the house. Her mother's admonishment that had sent her from the garage had her wishing to keep a low profile so she stayed away when it all started but hearing her monkey man screech caused her to come rushing to his defense. Whoever wanted a piece of him would have to go through her first. She growled low at her father as she realized he was the cause of Emmett's latest agony but as the beast's furious eyes bore into hers she backed away shielding her mate from further damage.
"Enough of this!" The beast growled in frustration as he dealt a stunning blow to his assailant's temple. Throwing his head back, he unleashed an otherworldly rage filled bellow warning any would be challenger of his alpha status then dropped his eyes to stare into the boy's.
Jasper's movements ceased as he laid pinned beneath his father whose primal scream still rang in his ears. The cold aftershock of Carlisle's fury was slowly awaking him from the nightmare that held him in it's grip. With his world coming back into focus, the reality of what he had done and the current peril he was facing crashed over him along with the roiling waves of Carlisle's rage. Jasper gasped when he saw a murderous expression on his father's face as the elder snarled.
The beast's coal black eyes registered the shock and terror on the boy's face. Good. You should quake with fear before me, fledgling. His knee compressed Jasper's breastbone while his strong hands held his son's shoulders firmly against the unyielding forest floor. The beast roared in triumph over his foe then caught the whelp's throat between his teeth.
Jasper closed his eyes as he awaited death's cold embrace. His leader's teeth closed ever so slightly breaching the integrity of his flesh as his ragged breath sounded loudly in the youth's ears. He was marginally aware of a voice speaking near him but paid it no heed as he awaited for the darkness to finally claim him.
"Carlisle! Carlisle listen to me! Look at me, my love. Carlisle, I know that you're still in there. Stop this madness and comeback to your family."
While the children maintained a safe distance, Esme knelt on the ground at Jasper's head, her hand resting lightly on her husband's arm. The burning venom caused her to shiver but she did her best to ignore the pain. Her son's safety and her husband's welfare overshadowed her physical distress. Seeing Carlisle's bite closing more firmly caused her panic to rise.
"Carlisle, you have to let him go. Don't do this to him. ... Don't do this to us."
Obsidian eyes slowly shifted from the fallen youth to Esme's face. Her expression was one of agony, desperation and extreme terror. The beast growled, ratcheting his jaws tighter to punish the boy for causing the emotions that marred his mate's fine features.
"Carlisle, please." Crystal tears of venom escaped Esme's gentle eyes as she pleaded with her husband for the life of their son.
NO. Carlisle's eyes shut tightly to block out the sight of his Esme's anguish. Jasper had caused her pain but Carlisle knew that the deeper despair was his own doing. His body tensed as he battled fiercely to restrain his beast but the harder he pushed the greater the beast resisted.
Without warning Carlisle released his son and leaped to his feet. He glanced at his children processing their looks of disbelief, fear and loathing. The expression of debilitating grief on Esme's face caused his frozen heart to fracture. As he dropped his eyes to hide his shame from his family his focus fell on his brave solider son who now sprawled at his feet unmoving. The battle replayed in his head until it stopped on a vision of pure unadulterated terror in Jasper's expressive eyes.
What had he done? What have I become? Carlisle glanced back at his family once more then turned away from their accusatory eyes and raced off into the forest before he could cause them more suffering.
Alice ran to Jasper and dropped to the ground at her mate's side, gently touching his face. "Jazzy open your eyes. It's alright. It's over."
Jasper kept his eyes shut as he briskly shook his head.
"Jasper," Esme's voice was soft and calming. "Son, please look at me."
Again the fair haired solider shook his head. He knew what he had done, the pain he had caused. He had harmed his family and now could not bring himself to face his crimes nor those he had wronged. He flinched at his mother's touch as she examined the wounds on his throat.
"Venom?"
The anxiety in her tone brought tears to his closed eyes. How could she be worried about him after what he had done to her?
"Jasper, are you in pain?" Her voice carried a seriousness that demanded a truthful response.
His broken ribs ached but he shook his head. "I'm okay, momma. It was a dry bite." His body visibly shook as he was overcome by emotion.
"Shh, honey. It's over. Calm down, baby."
"Momma, I have Jazz." Alice's quiet voice caused a whimper to come from her mate. She ran a hand through his hair trying to comfort him but he turned his face away from her in shame. Alice sighed softly at her lover but quickly looked to her mother. "Go. He needs you now. He isn't going to let the rest of us close and he shouldn't be alone. Please, momma. Jazz is safe but daddy is suffering all by himself." Her eyes unfocused and when she spoke again her tone pleaded with Esme. "Let daddy know that we love him." She shook her head slightly. "We'll never leave him." Her amber eyes flicked up to her mother's worried countenance. "I... I don't know... He needs your love and forgiveness." A tear rolled down Alice's cheek as her visions overwhelmed her.
Esme nodded as she got to her feet. She wanted to care for her children but she knew that Alice was right. They all needed Carlisle and right now he needed her to be his strength so that her love could lead him back into the security and love of his family's arms.
"Jasper, son, I want you to listen to me. I have never felt the need to do this before by as your mother I am ordering you to look at me."
She watched her son try to resist but eventually his respect for her authority forced him to obey. Swallowing hard he opened his eyes and struggled to accept his mother's loving gaze.
"Do you see? I'm fine. There is nothing that has transpired here today that can not be forgiven. Understand?" She raised an eyebrow to stress her words." I think it would be best if you and Alice go on a little hunt. Some fresh blood will help calm you."
He looked away but nodded in agreement.
Esme turned her attention towards the rest of her flock. "It wouldn't be a bad idea for all of you to feed. Em, let Edward and Rose help you."
"Aw, mom."
"Baby bear, I know but you aren't going to be up to par until your father can fix that broken wing." Esme noticed a look that passed between Edward and Emmett. "No. You will not do it yourselves." She glanced directly at her daughter. "Rose, if you all do decide to hunt, please immobilize that shoulder but don't let anyone else touch Em until I get back."
Rosalie smiled at her mother. "He'll be in the same damaged state when you return. Don't worry, mom. I won't let Edward tear Em's arm off."
"HEY, I resent that remark."
Rosalie shoved Edward slightly away from her mate. "Em is my toy and I won't have you breaking him."
Esme smiled weakly, glad to see some of the tension among her children being released. It was going to be a long rough road before the wounds to her family were fully healed but at least this appeared to be a promising start.
Her heart grew heavier as she noticed Jasper's continuing attempts to avoid Alice's love and acceptance. Esme sighed knowing that Carlisle would be just as stubborn as his son when it came to accepting forgiveness and even worse when it came to forgiving himself. Frustrating bullheaded men.
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
With that she slipped into the protection of the forest. She had to find Carlisle quickly before he had too much time to descend into the blackness of self loathing and guilt. She knew from experience how he would allow remorse to consume him. She also know that he would resist her efforts to show him that he was still cherished by her and the children. Knowing what laid before here caused her pace to slow slightly as she followed his scent deeper into the forest letting her mind wander. He was a wounded animal whom she had every intention of backing into a corner. She could only hope her love could break through his resistance and be able to bring him home.
AN: Esme will have to get that beast back in its cage but I get the feeling that Carlisle is going to fight her every step of the way. Jasper is going to have a hard time coming to grips with having hurt his mother and his mate. ... I'm not sure if father or son is the most angst ridden at this point. Then there is poor Em with his bum shoulder. Hope Pops gets his act together quickly so he can put that loveable bear back together.
Thanks one and all for the wonderful reviews, adds, pms and the like. It's really humbling to find this odd trek into the Cullen world so accepted when I have been hesitant to delve into it. Glad I took the leap after all.
Sorry for typos and such, guys. I posted this sucker at 2am. LOL. Proofreading goes astray around that time of the night, I'm afraid. I'll go back and try to edit out the worst when I'm more awake.
