A/N: Once again, thank you for all of the reviews, and well wishes. My Grandfather passed away in the early hours of this morning, around 2am, surrounded by myself, my mum, and one of my aunts. He was surrounded by love. I held his hand as he passed and it was heartbreaking, but so thankfully peaceful at the end. There's comfort in knowing that he's with my Grandmother now, and no longer in pain, though the feeling is still incredibly raw. I completed the reformatting of this chapter yesterday, before I headed out to the hospital, and I'm posting it now before I head out to be with family. I just wanted to warn those reading this that the next chapter may take a few days, at least, to be posted.

J~A~S~P~E~R

"Then let us begin."

I knew that Carlisle meant Bella no harm. I knew that this needed to be done and that Carlisle was the one to do it. It didn't stop me from wanting to rip him away from her, to take his place. It didn't stop me from wanting to send everyone away so that I had her all to myself. Since the first time I saw Isabella Swan I knew in the most basic of ways that she was mine. But that damn deranged gnome insisted that I was going to hurt her, every single time that my resolve slipped and I decided to go to her Alice would swoop in, screaming for me not to hurt her best friend.

Edward's love was always tainted somehow; he had always been something of an oddball so I didn't dwell too much on it. The need to have Bella be safe is a visceral one, one that Alice and Edward have used to play me like a fucking violin. There are so many things I should've done, things that I shouldn't have believed. And even though what I felt from Edward wasn't what I felt from the other couples in the house, and it wasn't what I felt for Bella now, the belief that she was safe with him until I could control myself properly had been enough to keep me away. For the moment at least none of this was important, though, what mattered was whether or not that son of a bitch had tampered with Bella's mind.

"That's it Bella, deep breaths, now I want you to imagine a stair case. Can you see it?"

"Yes."

"Bella, I would like you to start to walk down and with each step stress will leave your body. Each step relaxes you more and more."

Bella's breathing began to slow as the tension left her limbs, Carlisle kept up his careful coaching and finally she was at the last step. Tasting her emotions was like tasting light its self, she was so clean at that moment, so content, so peaceful.

"Now Bella, with this last step I need you to let go of yourself, open your mind. As your feet come to stand on the ground you are safe, at peace and willing." He waited a few seconds before continuing. "Are you open Bella, are you willing?"

She didn't answer him, just lifted her arm from the bed and offered him her wrist.

Carlisle stiffened. "What are you doing Bella?"

"I am always to be ready." She said in a strange, emotionless monotone.

"Ready for what, Bella?"

"To provide sustenance," she answered without hesitation and still in that dead tone of voice.

Carlisle stared at each other with growing horror as we understood just what Edward had been doing to Bella. Apparently we had been quiet long enough because Bella spoke again.

"Would you like me to make the cut?" She asked and brought out a blade that had been secreted away in her bra; I grabbed it before she brought it to her skin.

She didn't even flinch, no reaction whatsoever…just stayed there with her arm stretched out in silent offering. I thought I had been enraged after finding out about Edward and Alice's deceit. I thought that I had reached my level as I ripped my shit of a wife's leg off. Nothing compared to how I felt at this moment, nothing. That bottom feeding asshole was now nothing but a pile of ashes walking.

"Carlisle." I didn't need to say anything else, he knew what I wanted.

My brother had moved to stand by the bed; I looked up to see rage plain on his face and buzzing around him like an angry shadow. We stared at each other, before he reached down to the hand that was still holding Bella's wrist. The one she retrieved the razor with.

"Let go, Brother," he said softly. It wasn't till that moment that I realised how hard I was gripping her wrist.

"Shit."

I swiftly drew back her sleeve to check for damage. The red hand print caught my notice first, standing out in stark contrast to her creamy skin. Then I noticed the sliver scars, I pulled her sleeve up further and finally ripped it up to her shoulder to uncover more skin. Her arm was covered, at the wrist and elbow, with thin silver marks. They matched the bite mark on her other wrist, he had obviously sealed the cuts with his venom after drinking from her. My low growl was echoed around the room as they all witnessed the evidence of Edward's depravity. I felt Carlisle's hand on my shoulder, comforting. I didn't want comfort, I wanted Edward's ashes. I wanted to hear his screams as I ripped him apart.

Carlisle's voice broke through to me calmly commanding. "Jasper, go to the compound and feed, I will reverse her programming and investigate further."

"I'm not leaving her," I bit out, my voice distorted.

"Carlisle is right, Jasper, take Peter with you. We will have more answers when you get back; you're in no fit state to handle this right now. Bella needs you in full control, go find your calm again."

Eleazar's words made sense; there was no arguing with them. But shit, I didn't want to leave her.

"Come on, Bro, let's get you fed. She's safe here, you know that. She needs you strong, not strung out."

I nodded, got up, followed Peter out of the room, and out of the house. I set off at a run towards the deer park, a few miles away. It wouldn't do for regular hunts, but it was there in a pinch.

"Jasper!" Peter called out from behind me. "No man, no deer for you. Carlisle said to take you to the compound and that's where we're going."

"It'll..."

Peter interrupted me. "Take longer to get there and back, I know that. But a couple of mountain lions will sustain you better than some pussy ass deer. Besides, the run will help to clear your head after that mind fuck."

He didn't wait for an answer, just flitted away from me. The compound is something that we have set up in places that are lacking in decent food for us. England isn't exactly known for its big game. To anyone that asks, it's nothing but an indulgence of a rich business man, to us it's a life line in a country where decimating the rabbit population could be a real problem. It is run by another of the Volturi's human employees, so disposal of the body was no problem. Peter took a perch at the top of one of the trees in the artificial habitat while I gorged myself on mountain lion.

The first animal caught the brunt of my rage and was unidentifiable once I was done with it. The second didn't fare much better, the third got off with a clean death. It was times like this that I missed the rush of human blood. That thought just brought back the memory of Bella's scars. Peter jumped down and landed next to me, waiting for me to speak.

"I'm going to kill him," I stated.

"Yep."

"I'm going to destroy them both."

"Oh yes, they'll definitely get what's coming to them."

I stood. "We need to get back."

He nodded and we sped off, I'd been away from Bella for far too long. Everyone was seated in the living room when he got back, as soon as Bella saw me she jumped up from in between Charley and Kate and ran for me. I met her halfway, catching her as she literally threw herself at me. Her arms wrapped around my neck as her legs wound around my waist and she buried her face in my neck. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, revelling in her scent and everything that it just Bella. She was full of relief, but I didn't miss the underlying fear and almost overwhelming anger. She clung to me with what I was sure, was her full strength. God I loved her, so much so that I could feel absolute happiness at having her in my arms even in the midst of all of this shit.

Her voice was muffled, with a slight tremor, when she finally spoke. "Father told me what that, that bastard had been doing to me. I didn't know, I swear I didn't know. I have no recollection of carrying a razor on me or any discomfort anywhere or making the conscious decision to wear long sleeved shirts."

I sat down with her still entwined around me, stroking her back and enveloping her in a blanket of every positive emotion I could conjure up. My silly girl was looking to blame herself.

"Bella, sweetheart, there ain't no blame for you in all of this. You listen to me now, and listen good..." I raised her head so that she would meet my eyes. "He will pay for this and I swear I will make him suffer for everything that he has done to you."

She nodded and her longing spiked, I smiled knowing that she wanted to curl into me again. I let her relax into me, still stroking up and down her back, laying the odd kiss on top of her head. I could feel her breathing in heavily every so often, her nose close to my skin, my scent offering her even more comfort. I looked to Carlisle, wanting to know what else he uncovered and whether or not he had managed to break Edward's control over Bella.

"The only conditioning that we found was to do with bloodletting, hiding her scars and keeping the razor on her person. We experimented with setting one request ourselves and found that as soon as her shield was back in place that it no longer had any effect. Edward would have had to have Bella in a trance in order to drink from her; it also explains why they didn't take further advantage of her. Yet she carried a razor secreted on her person, without her knowledge, so part of her subconscious remembered the more subtle instructions. The only explanation I have for that is that Edward must have repeated the instructions each time and eventually they took effect. Be assured that I have cleared her mind of the intrusion." He stood and walked to the front of the room, stepping into his role as Elder of our kind. "Tomorrow we begin Bella's training, Edward's actions, while horrific, have shown us that Bella is already capable of controlling her shield. I want to know where they are, what they're doing, what they're planning. Demetri has been unable to get a lock on them, we don't know why. My brothers have requested a formal hearing once they have been caught. The outcome is set in stone, but I am sure that we all want answers."

Eleazar spoke up. "Bella's blood." Everyone looked towards him, curiosity rampant. "The answer to why Demetri is unable to locate them. It's the same principle as the werewolf teeth."

"They drank my blood so that they could utilise my shield? Does that mean that Alice was mute to Edward?" Bella asked without lifting her head from my shoulder.

"No, a vampire cannot absorb the gifts of another through drinking their blood, while I am not doubting that he or they partook in that particular exercise, I would guess that they collected some to keep on their person, as we do with the werewolf teeth," Eleazar explained.

I nodded, my mind working on overdrive. "Makes sense, so we're blind for the moment. Peter, can you get a read on them?"

He shook his head. "Nope, but you know how my gift works; shit just comes to me and I act on it. I don't go looking for shit. Snippets, feelins's, the whole story…no sense does my Yoda sense make."

"Fine, the conventional way it is then." I looked down when Bella sighed against me, fast asleep. Not wanting to leave her side, but needing to stay downstairs, I made her comfortable on the sofa before continuing. "Em, get your nerd hat on and get digging, you know all their aliases but I doubt they're using anything we know. They both have set habits, use them against them but keep in mind that they may have split up. Rose, do your thing with Jenks and get him on the case."

They both sped to their office.

"Eleazar, Kate, you'll be helping Peter and I with Bella's training. We need her ready ASAFP." I watched as Jasper took control of the room. It really was rather impressive. "We need to work based on the notion that we are unlikely to find them; the lack of visions when it comes to us will only keep details away from Alice and Edward. As soon as she sees her future disappear she'll run to wherever it reappears. The same could be done for finding our location. Bella is not to be left with any less than two of us, at any time. Right now I need to get Bella to bed."

"I agree, Jasper, I need to speak with my brothers. We will convene again in a few hours." After dismissing us, Carlisle went to his own office.

I carried Bella to bed, giving her over to Esme to change and then tucked her into the duvet before lying down next to her. I wanted to make sure that she had no nightmares, with everything that is coming up; she's going to need all the quality sleep she can get.

B~E~L~L~A

Waking up feeling well rested and calm was one thing, realising that Carlisle had hypnotised me was quite another. Add onto that being told that Edward had been using me as his personal blood buffet was the proverbial cherry on top. I felt violated, used. I was scared, terrified even. Carlisle promised me that he had cleansed my mind and that my defences had not been completely compromised, though he could only speculate on why the compulsion to hide the razor had remained even after my shield was back in place. His leading theory was that if Edward gave me the instruction every time he hypnotised me that it had eventually stuck.

A horrific thought had occurred to me then, and it had taken me several tries to stop stumbling over my words before I was able to ask if that was the only thing that he had done to me. I needed to know if he had taken my virginity along with my blood. The relief I felt when Carlisle assured me that he had found no such evidence in my mind that that had been the case, but if it would put my mind at rest he was willing to give me a physical examination. Spreading my legs for my father figure and having him fiddle about in my most intimate parts wasn't something that I thought I would ever agree to, but I wanted to know if that bastard had raped me.

Embarrassment be damned.

Carlisle had asked that I wait until he spoke to Jasper and that I definitely agreed to. I had a feeling that Jasper would react badly otherwise. Charley and Kate had tried to keep me busy and distracted as we waited for Jasper and Peter's return. I hated that he wasn't there when I woke up, but more than understood his need to leave. I knew that Peter would look after him. I never meant to, but as soon as I saw him I ran for him. I needed to feel him, to have his coolness surround me, to bask in his tangy scent, to just be with him.

I woke up to find it dark outside, my sleeping pattern was completely fucked up, with no real routine any longer. There were no days and nights for me anymore, simply awake and asleep. Jasper was beside me, tracing his handprint on my wrist and the scars that had been left by Edward. I could hardly see them, and only when in direct light. I was thankful that they weren't that noticeable to me, but it had me looking for them every chance I got.

"Hey," I said softly, I knew what he was thinking. I reached up and tried to smooth out the crease between his brows. "Don't you feel guilty, Jasper, I won't have it. This is in no way your fault."

He shook his head, still not looking at me, his attention fixed on my bruises. "This is though, I hurt you Bella. For god's sake, Peter had to tell me to let go of your wrist."

"You were angry; you had just found out that I had been mind fucked into being Edward's blood donor. I know that you would never cause me harm on purpose. I don't blame you Jasper. I like that you would react so strongly to my pain. It doesn't even hurt, see? I just bruise easily."

I flexed my wrist in demonstration. He was quiet for a moment before finally meeting my eyes and then promptly changing the subject.

"Carlisle talked to me about giving you a pelvic examination. I hadn't even thought about that. I...," his normally calm demeanour cracked, his eyes flashing dark before he hid them behind his lids. "I hadn't even considered that."

"Do you want me to have the exam?" I asked; my voice quiet.

"No, no I don't want to have Carlisle down there, I don't want anyone other than me down there," he laughed humourlessly, missing my inappropriate flush at his words, "but I understand the need, though he did warn me that it might be inconclusive."

I frowned. "How so?"

"Apparently it would be unusual for someone your age and predisposition to falling over to still have an intact hymen. The use of tampons could also have broken it." Brain bleach for the father/mate discussion on my hymen and tampons, please. "He said that there might be evidence of stretching or…or tearing," his voice lowered as he spoke, distorted with the undertone of a growl. "I think I need to agree to the exam for my own sanity. I wouldn't be able to function without knowing one way or the other."

I nodded, understanding completely. I felt exactly the same. "Then we'll have Carlisle do it. Damn, this is gonna be embarrassing."

He chuckled, amusement evident in it this time. It was a welcome sound. "Embarrassment? That's what you're worried about?"

"Hey, leave me to my less consequential worries; it's the easiest one to concentrate on."

He didn't say anything, just cupped my cheek and leaned down to me. I had a second to worry about any possible dragon breath before his lips were on mine and nothing else mattered. The kiss was soft, tentative almost, but my chest tightened and my heart raced all the same. I let him lead, so used to Edward rebuking any advances I made. I was so surprised that I jumped away from him when I felt the icy shock of his tongue against my bottom lip. He was frozen in place, his eyebrows in his hair, obviously wondering what was wrong with the crazy person in front of him.

Personally, I was wondering that same thing. Who the hell jumps away from their sweetie when they're kissing them? Me, apparently. He took in my wide eyes, gaping mouth. Shit, I must look like a freaking blowfish. I made the effort to at least close my mouth.

"Is something wrong? Did you not want me to deepen the kiss?"

Deepen the kiss? I swooned, that just sounded so…so…wonderfully reminiscent of the bodice rippers I secretly read.

Then I snorted, outright, wholly unattractively, snorted. "Nothing is wrong, and of course I would like to have the kiss...er...deepened. But...er..." I did not want to bring Edward up right now. "I had been told that it wasn't possible, that it was too dangerous to...um...you know...deepen the kiss. I've never done…that. Ever. With anyone. It was a bit of a shock."

There, that was almost coherent. The heat that must be coming off my face right now must be reaching nuclear proportions.

"I love that," he said, smiling like the proverbial cat and stroking his icy fingers down my burning cheek.

"Love what? My complete incompetence when it comes to intimacy?"

He didn't laugh, just held my eyes with his golden ones. I watched, enthralled as the pupil expanded, leaving no evidence of their golden hue behind. When he spoke, his voice was thick, almost rough and made every single one of my nerve endings tingle with anticipation.

"I love that you are all mine, that barring certain complications..." his words disappeared into a growl at the end, certain complications being whether or not Edward violated me sexually. "Oh the things I have to teach you, Bella."

Teach me? Oh, I liked the sound of that. I went to him, this time the kiss was heated, passionate and resonated down the length of my body. My hand went to his hair, my body moulded to the front of his and when I felt the wetness of his tongue I tentatively parted my lips for him. My god, the feel of him! I think I groaned, I know I arched into him, pressing against him and when his hand ran down my side, his thumb ghosting over the side of my breast and coming to rest on my thigh, which he then pulled up so that my leg draped over his hip.

My actions were instinctive, rocking my hips against him, swirling my tongue around his. His taste was phenomenal; it was his sweet and tangy scent in concentrate. He grabbed my ass, pulled me harder against him, his chest vibrated with a continuous purr. His mouth left mine and I greedily sucked in the air that I had forgotten I needed. Then his mouth was on my neck; sucking and licking, leaving an icy trail that tingled in the most pleasurable way. He stopped, his face buried in my neck and breathing heavily. I felt him smile against my skin and tried to collect my thoughts back together.

My words came out breathless, strained almost. "Why did you stop?"

"Trust me; it wasn't for lack of want." He proved his point by grinding his 'want' into me, causing me to utter a not so quiet 'fuck!' He brought his head up, his face serious. "Carlisle has asked that we get the exam over and done with so that we can get started on your training."

My eyes did their blowfish impression again, Jesus I'm in a house surrounded by vampires. Each and every one of which would know exactly what we had just been up to. I groaned, hiding my face. How in the world did I forget that? Yeah, I have a feeling that Jasper had something to do with that.

"Right, yes, exam. I'll jump in the shower." I jumped up, slightly unsteady.

Luckily for me Jasper is a vampire and able to move at incredible speed. Otherwise I would've ended up on my ass at the side of the bed.

"Easy there, Darlin'. Do you need help in the shower?" He asked, suggestively.

I giggled, outright giggled and grinned like a moron.

"I...er...don't think that that would be very conducive to me having a quick shower," and then mumbled under my breath "More like a quickie in the shower." Of course, he heard me.

"Oh Darlin', if I were to join you in the shower, I can promise you that nothing about it would be quick."

There he goes again; all sex voice, sex eyes and sex smile. I swallowed, loudly, wondering if he could make my panties disintegrate on sight and trying to remember why we weren't still in bed together...or in the shower for that matter. Overly embarrassing but horribly needed examination!

"Down boy, nothing that you are saying will help me get ready any faster. Scoot!" Brownie points to me, I actually sounded normal.

"No, I don't suppose it would. I'm afraid I'm finding it hard to care about that right now."

His grin was positively sinful and it took a monumental amount of will power, I didn't even know I possessed, to shake my head at him and walk into the bathroom. I swear though, that short walk and the effort it took to walk without falling down, took everything out of me and I had to lean against the sink to gather myself before turning the shower on to warm up.

Jasper was waiting for me when I walked back into the bedroom, bare beneath my robe. His eyes widened slightly, not that I could imagine why, I was wearing a towelling robe and look more like the stay puff marshmallow man, rather than anything sexy. Men.

"Carlisle asked that you lay on the on the towel and cover your legs with the sheet. Call him when you're situated." He paused for a moment, deliberating something. "Do you want me to stay with you?"

"Oh." I hadn't thought about it, as nervous as I was about the whole thing. "Do you want to stay with me?" I can't imagine that it would be easy for him.

"Bella, if you need me here then I will stay."

"No, no I don't think it would be a good idea. It'll be bad enough without witnesses, but...you'll be there as soon as it's over, right? You'll be there as soon as it's done?"

I was close to tears then, the fear of the very real possibility that I had been raped seemed to hit me all at once. One second I was in the bathroom doorway, looking at Jasper from across the room, the next I was in his arms, listening to nonsensical but soothing words and basking in his presence.

"I'll be there, I'll be right in the hall, I promise, Darlin', and I'm not going anywhere ok? As soon as Carlisle tells me he's finished I will be by your side."

"Ok," I breathed in deeply and let it out in a loud whoosh. "Ok, out you go and I'll get ready. Let's get this cleared from over our heads."

With a swift kiss he did as I asked. I tied my hair up in a bun and lay on the towel, covering myself with the sheet per Carlisle's instructions. I stayed in my robe out of convenience. Tears pricked my eyes as panic began to overwhelm me, then all was well and calm and all things warm and cosy. I smiled, and whispered a thank you to Jasper before calling out to Carlisle. He came in a second later, setting his bag of tricks on the bedside table, quietly getting ready for the task ahead. The rest of the house was quiet, the usual background noise absent. I didn't envy Jasper's ability to literally sense the tension in the house.

"Bella, I know that you have never had anything like this done before, so I understand that you are nervous. I will do a visual assessment to begin with; I will warn you before I start the physical exam. It shouldn't hurt, but it might be a little uncomfortable. Do you have any questions?" He spoke so softly, but I could see the worry plain on his face.

I shook my head, fighting to keep control. I didn't want to do this, I hated that this was necessary. I stared at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in the world as Carlisle lifted the sheet.

"Bend your legs, feet flat on the bed, please, Bella?" I did as he asked. "Now, keeping your feet together, allow your knees to drop to either side." Again I did as he asked, exposing myself to him. He was quiet for a moment; I was just trying to visualise myself anywhere but there. "Ok, I'm going to touch you now, Bella. Try and relax for me ok?"

I nodded, emphatically, turning away and looking into the bathroom, the tears finally spilled over when I felt his cold, clinical touch. He was right, it didn't hurt but it was damn uncomfortable, however, it was over much sooner than I expected. I suppose there are many uses for vampire speed. He covered me up and told me he was finished, I sat up and brought my robe tight around me. I heard a snap and turned to see him disposing of a pair of plastic gloves, before calling for Jasper and disappearing into the bathroom. Exactly as he had promised Jasper was by my side before I could blink, he wasted no time in wrapping his arms around me, whispering that it was going to be alright. We both watched as Carlisle came back into the room, Jasper was the only thing that kept me together.

E/N: Leave me some love...