"And you had to go?" Ellis asked.
I sighed nodding my head as I spoke with her through an Iris Message. We were now in Phoenix, and when I messaged my grandparents, Ellis was ready to call Charlie to accuse the Cullens of kidnapping...again
"This is all those vampires' fault." Ellis said.
"Dear, they're protecting our granddaughter right now." Steven said.
"They're the reason she's in this mess!" Ellis retorted.
I sighed wishing she'd just let me finish before she started pointing fingers.
"Grandma, I find trouble without anyone's help." I said. "It's not their fault, and two of them can hear you, so please don't speak so rudely."
This just set her off again about how Jasper ruined me, and turned me against her. I frowned getting really tired of this.
"Please, insert another drachma or uninterrupted service." Iris said.
"No, thanks, I'm done here." I said.
Ellis told me not to hang up, but I waved my hand so the call would end. I didn't want to listen to all this crap.
"Sorry about that." I said to Alice and Jonas.
The two were sitting on the couch in the hotel room, and Bella was sitting on the floor near the TV.
"It's alright." Jonas said. "She only cares about you. We understand."
"Doesn't mean she has to be rude. I chose be friends with you." I said. "And not all my other friends are exactly safe either. I mean, one of my closest friends is a freaking Cyclops! They've been known to eat half bloods! Yet she doesn't say anything about that."
Of course, Tyson doesn't even like hurting flies. Alice got up from the couch to put her arm around me, and she had me sit down in the chair.
"Don't get so worked up." Alice said. "Everything will be okay, I promise."
I nodded my head then hid my face in my hands as I took a deep breath. I needed to remain calm. Hopefully this won't last long.
It's been a few days since we arrived to Phoenix, and being cooped up inside the hotel was starting to get to me. I practically locked myself up in my room, so Bella wouldn't have to see me pace. My ADHD was really starting to get to me, and I was sure that I was going to explode soon. I'm not meant to be hiding away in some little square room with white walls as someone else is out there protecting me.
"This is all bullshit." I growled under my breath.
I had tried everything to keep my mind busy, but nothing was working. I sat down in the middle of my floor to look over my spear again. I touched the spearhead softly, but my thumb was cut slightly.
"Nice and sharp." I said to myself.
There was a knock on my door, and Jonas poked his head inside. I looked up at him as my spear went around my neck again.
"Room service just brought lunch." He said.
I nodded my head though honestly I wasn't hungry. I sighed while getting up from my bed. I went out to the sitting area where Bella was already picking at her food. I sat down at the table as Jonas sat down beside Alice on the couch. I picked up the fork by my plate then sort of just stared at my food.
"Mena, you have to eat." Alice said gently.
"I know...but I feel sick just sitting here...eating...hiding." I said. "That's not what I do. I don't hide. I take care of my own problems. I kill those who are after me. I don't let others do it for me."
The fork, which I had been clutching tightly in my hand bent, and I set it down quickly on the table.
"You're part of our family now, Mena." Jonas said. "We protect our family."
I sighed understanding that, but I don't need protection. I can protect myself. In my family, my siblings and I fight along side each other. We don't protect each other. No one hides behind the other. Sure, we help each other out in battle, but everyone fights together.
"I hate being treated as if I'm weak." I said with a frown. "I know you mean well...I just can't stand it."
Alice and Jonas nodded in understanding as Bella looked at me froma cross the table. Alice then gasped with a glassy look coming into her eye.
"What is it? What do you see?" Jonas asked.
Bella and I looked at Alice curiously as she continued to stare out into the empty air.
"The tracker...he just changed course." Alice said.
I hurried to my feet as Jonas started getting out a pencil and a piece of paper.
"Where will it take him, Alice?" Jonas asked.
"Mirrors." Alice said as Jonas placed the pencil in her hand, and the paper out in front of her. "A room full of mirrors."
Alice started drawing on the paper quickly as Bella came to stand next to me.
"Edward said the visions weren't always certain." Bella said.
"She sees the course the people are on while they're on it." Jonas explained. "If they change their minds, the vision changes."
That's so different than what Will explained how his brief glimpes into the furture are like. He told me that his visions always came true. Of course, his father is the god of prophecies, and those due tend to come true.
"Okay, so the course that the tracker's on now is gonna lead him to a ballet studio?" Bella asked.
Jonas, Alice, and I looked at Bella in surprise as Alice came out of her vision.
"You've been here?" Alice asked.
"I took lessons as a kid." Bella said. "The school I went to had an arch just like that."
If the moment wasn't so tense, and if I was in a better mood, I would have made a crack about wanting to see how little clumsy Bella did in ballet. However, now wasn't the time.
"Was your school here in Phoenix?" Jonas asked.
"Yeah," Bella said.
Her phone then started ringing, so she stepped away to answer, and I placed my hands on my hips while knowing it was about time I start packing.
"Edward, are you okay?" Bella asked.
I left the room to start packing my bag, which was really Alice's bed. She just stuffed some clothes in there for me that she think might fit me while we were at her house. Bella came into my room a few minutes later as I was zipping up the bag.
"Mena, Jasper wants to talk to you." Bella said holding out the phone.
I shook my head while placing my hand over the phone, so it wouldn't pick up my voice.
"I can't use cell phones." I said. "It'll attract monsters to me, and that's the last thing we need right now. Just make sure to tell Jasper I love him, and that I'll be happy to see him soon."
Bella nodded her head before placing the phone to her ear to relay my message to Jasper.
"He wants me to put it on speaker." Bella said pulling it away from her ear. "He said you don't have to talk back, but he wants you to listen."
I nodded as she set the phone on the bed. She left, so to give me some privacy to hear what Jasper needed to say.
"I should be there soon, and afterwards, we're going to go away somewhere, alright? Somewhere to keep you safe, and it'll be just us...I love you, Mena." Jasper said.
I tapped the mic to let him know I heard him as I fought of the tears. A daughter of Ares never cries.
"See you soon, Darlin." He said.
He then hung up, so I hung up Bella's phone as well. I grabbed my small bag of cloths before leaving the room. I handed Bella her phone as I passed her in the hallway, and she went into her room.
"We're going to check out now." Alice said. "Bella is finishing getting ready now. Are you going to wait for her?"
I nodded my head then let Jonas take the bag when he asked for it, and I thanked him for it. The two of them left, and I waited for Bella silently on the couch. When she came out of her room, I saw she didn't have her bag with her.
"Where's your stuff?" I asked.
She jumped as she whirled around with her eyes wide as if she was surprised to still see me in the room.
"Mena...I...I can't leave." Bella said. "The tracker...he has my mom."
I stood up with my shoulders already tense as I stared at Bella waiting for her to explain.
"He just called me, but I thought it was my mom at first." Bella said. "She sounded really scared, Mena. He has her, and said that if you and I don't come to my old ballet studio then he's going to kill her."
I frowned while not believing that this was happening. Shouldn't Alice have seen if James took Bella's mom?
"Let's go then." I said while not happy about any of this. "But you do as I say, got it?"
Bella nodded her head without argument, and I sighed knowing that this wasn't going to end well at all. Bella and I went down into the lobby, and we peeked around the side to see Alice and Jonas at the counter most likely checking us out. I gestured with a jerk of my head for Bella to follow, and the two of us slipped out the door. We grabbed the nearest taxi, and Bella gave the driver the address to the ballet studio. The drive wasn't long enough in my opinion because we were soon stepping back out of the cab.
"Okay, I'm going in first." I said looking to Bella. "You don't come in unless I call for you, got it?"
"But-" Bella began to protest.
"Got it?" I demanded as I had my spear at the ready.
She nodded her reluctantly, and I jerked open the door to start walking in. I did a quick glance around the room, and I made sure to keep turning as I walked.
"Msr. Dwyer?" I called out since I knew the tracker was aware of my presence. "Where are you?"
"Bella?! Bella?!"
I frowned hearing her voice, but she should have known that I wasn't Bella by how I called out.
"No, Mrs. Dwyer, my name is Mena Carter." I said stepping slowly towards where I heard the voice. "I'm a friend of Bella's."
"Bella, where are you?!"
I frowned reaching the door where the voice was coming from, and when I pulled open the door, I saw a small television inside playing what looked like a home movie. I cursed whirling around with my spear raised. James, who was behind me, chuckled even with my spear pointed at his throat.
"I knew there was something fishy by what Bella told me." I said shaking my head. "But even if I tried telling her that, she wouldn't have listened."
"She does appear to be quite stubborn." James said glancing back at the TV where the video was still playing. "You and her just made this too easy, so to make things more interesting, I'm going to make a film of our time together. Then I'm going to go grab Bella from outside, and do the same."
I glared heatedly at him, but I knew he was trying to bait me to attack without thinking.
"I borrowed this from Bella's house." He said holding up a video camera. "Do you think she'll mind? No? That's good."
He turned on the camera while taking a step back, and I kept my eyes trained on him.
"I didn't say anything, Dick." I said. "If you're going to ask a question, then be polite enough to wait for an answer."
"Feisty." He said with his smirk growing. "This is going to make playing with you a lot more fun, and I'm sure Jasper will enjoy watching your attempt to fight me off only to die in the end."
"The only one dying tonight is you." I said while throwing my hidden dagger at him.
He dodged it like I knew he would, and just as he grabbed me, I whirled around my spear to hit him in the head. He hissed in pain then tossed me into the air. I hit one of the mirrors with it shattering from the impact. The wind was knocked out of me a second, and when he had thrown me, I lost hold of my spear.
"I like it." James said smirking. "It adds a great dynamic."
I grit my teeth together while ignoring the blood running down the back of my head. I also pulled out a large shard of glass from my thigh with blood pouring out from there as well. James took a deep breath at the smell of my blood, and he was in front of me in a flash.
"Hmm, I remember the last half blood I ate so well." James said. "And hearing her scream just added to the fun."
I felt my anger boil inside of me, and I felt new adrenaline pump through me. I rolled across the ground then grabbed my spear. I stabbed right through the camera into his shoulder, so he couldn't have fun making his little video. He roared in anger and pain, and he grabbed my wrist holding the spear tightly with the bone breaking. I cried out before I was sent flying through the air again. I hit a pillar harshly, and I hit the ground with a thud. I laid there a second unable to move, and I could hear James closing in on me.
"Mena, Mena!" I heard Bella cry out.
I jerked my head up seeing her running inside, and I cursed as James turned to her with a feral grin on his face.
"I was wondering when you were joining the party." James said stalking towards her. "Dear Mena ruined my fun with the camera, so as punishment, I'm going to drain you dry in front of her."
"Bella, just don't stand there!" I snapped. "Run!"
Bella looked at me with wide eyes before turning to make a run for it. James went to go after her, but I swiftly grabbed my spear despite my broken wrist. I got up then jumped at James to stab him in his leg around his ankle, and he momentarily fell to the ground. It didn't stop him for reaching for Bella, and I watched as he grabbed her leg. I heard her cry out in pain as she hit the ground after a snapping noise reached my ears.
"You're determined to fight until the end, aren't you?" James asked me as I ripped the spear out from his tendon. "Are all of your kind just so stubborn?"
I backed away from him while ready to keep fighting despite how wobbly I felt on my feet.
"I will never beg for my life to anyone, and if I'm going to die, I'm going to take you to the Underworld with me." I said.
James chuckled in amusement as he crouched looking ready to spring. That's when Edward decided to show up. He slammed into James to knock him down, and the two started to have a scuffle. I was about to check on Bella to see if she was okay when Edward was thrown into the window above the glass shattered around him, and James took the moment to zoom over to Bella. He took her wrist into his hands, and my eyes widened when he bit her.
"No!" I snapped as I threw my spear.
James dodged it with the spear going into the ground harmlessly. He tried to get around me to attack me, but Edward tackled him. They started fighting again, and Edward soon got the upperhand as he pinned James to the wall. I hurried over to my spear then gave one last throw. It went straight through James's head, and he went limp. Edward looked over at me in surprise before he dropped James. The others then arrived, and Jasper ran over to my side.
"Mena." He said pulling me into his arms.
"Hey, Major." I said smiling weakly.
He buried his face into my hair while taking deep breaths as if my scent calmed him. As the adrenaline left my body, I realize just how much pain I was in. I also realized how lightheaded I was getting with all the blood I lost. I started going limp in Jasper's arms as the room got fuzzy.
"Mena!" Jasper said in worry as he gently laid me down. "Carlisle!"
Carlisle didn't appear at first, and I looked over seeing he was looking over Edward as he drank from Bella. I only had to guess it was to get rid of the poison. Carlisle was trying to get Edward to let go, and I felt tears enter my eyes as he held on.
"Bella." I said reaching towards her even if she was far away from me. "Please...stop."
I blacked out a second later with Jasper calling me name the last thing I heard.
The sound of beeping assaulted my ears as I finally started waking up from what felt like a deep slumber. As my memories started rushing back, my eyes snapped open as my body went to jerk up instinctively. Two hands gently pushed me back down, and my head snapped to the side to see Jasper.
"Jasper?" I asked.
"Hey, Darlin." He said softly. "You're safe now. It's okay."
My heart monitor stopped beating so frantically as my heart slowed, which was thanks to Jasper's powers calming me down.
"Why am I in a hospital?" I asked.
"I know you don't like then, Mena, but Carlisle couldn't help you without medical equipment." Jasper said as he sat down in the chair beside my bed.
I nodded in understanding even if I didn't want to be here. I looked over myself, and I frown at the cast on my wrist.
"How am I supposed to do anything with this?" I asked waving it around. "I hated the last one."
Jasper chuckled while gently taking my hand to lower it back onto the bed.
"Don't worry, Darlin, I'm here to help you until your healed." Jasper said though his eyes were troubled.
"Okay, what's with the look?" I asked.
"You...you're in here because of me." Jasper said.
I sighed since I should have known that he'd blame himself for this. He needed to get a few things straight in his head.
"Come here." I said scooting over while patting my bed.
He looked at me in confusion, and I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest the best I could without ripping out my IV.
"Either get your ass in the bed, or I'm getting out of it to sit in your lap." I said.
Jasper finally moved to sit down in the bed with me, and even if it was a tight fit, it'd do.
"Do not blame yourself for this." I said wrapping my arms around his torso while resting my head on his shoulder. "Jasper, I'm going to get hurt in my life. It's a hazzard being what I am. Even if I never met you, I'd still find some way to injure myself or wind up in a hospital or even my grave."
Jasper flinched at the mention of grave, but I had to get my point across.
"My point is, with you, without you, I'm going to get in worlds of trouble." I said tilting my head up to look into his eyes. "But with you, I'm much happier."
Jasper's eyes softened, and he leaned down to place his lips over mine. The kiss was soft and gentle, and it was my favorite one so far. He was suddenly back in his chair away from me, and I blinked in confusion. He grinned with amusement in his eyes as my hospital door opened to reveal Ellis and Steven. Oh, I just know this isn't going to end well. I was surprised when Ellis just ignored Jasper while hurrying over to my bedside.
"Oh, my baby, you're okay." Ellis said as she held me. "I was so worried. You have no idea."
I just laid there since I wasn't really able to hug her back. My arms were currently pinned down.
"Let the girl breath, Ellis." Steve said.
Ellis pulled back to wipe at her eyes, and Steve smiled at me as he took my hand.
"Oh, girlie, you gave me quite the scare." Steven said. "You and your momma both always doing things that get you in so much trouble."
I pouted at him since I shouldn't get a scolding. I'm injured and in a hospital here. Jasper chuckled looking amused, so I frowned at him. Ellis glared at him though surprisingly kept her mouth shut. I went to sit up a bit straighter, and I winced at the slight pain in my side.
"Are you feeling okay?" Jasper asked. "Do you need a nurse?"
"No." I said. "If anyone is checking on me, it's going to be Carlisle because I don't trust these strangers."
Ellis frowned looking even more displeased at the mention of Carlisle. However, she'd just have to get over it. I trust him more than any other doctor I'd run into. Unless it was Will, but he's technically not a doctor.
"Darlin, you haven't even met them yet." Jasper said.
"So?" I asked.
Jasper shook his head at me, but there was amusement in his eyes as he smiled.
"So...what time do I get out of here?" I asked.
"Not for at least a week, Darlin." Jasper said.
My eyes widened because there was no way in Hades I was staying here that long, and I was going to let them know this.
"I demand to be released!" I snapped.
"Remind me again why I'm in this thing?" I asked Alice as I glared at myself in the mirror.
I was currently in a creamy white colored strapless dress, and it had a thin later of sparkling lace over it. It went down to the ground, and I'm sure I might actually trip before the night is up. My necklace was still around my neck, and Alice had already finished my make-up.
"Because we're going out to prom to have fun." Alice said. "We're all going. Even Rosalie and Emmett, so stop being a big baby."
I frowned because I really didn't want to be doing this. Ellis hadn't been pleased to hear I was going to prom with Jasper, but she didn't throw up a fuss. I guess she's finally accepted that I'll be doing what I want, which includes dating Jasper. She didn't want him around the house, however, so Alice came to pick me up earlier to bring me here.
"Well, you all suck." I said. "Pun not intended."
Alice let out a laugh as she put the finishing touches on my hair. I grimaced at the brace on my wrist before I pulled it off.
"Mena, you still have a week to wear it." Alice reminded me.
"No." I said simply. "I refuse, and you can't make me."
Alice shook her head at me though she had an amused smile on her face as she finished my hair.
"Perfect." She said smiling. "You're ready. Zayn did a very good job picking out the dress."
I nodded in agreement because I did like the dress even if I think I'm going to fall because of it. Zayn pulled through yet again as he always does when it has to do with fashion. He told me he got a dress just like the one Selena Gomez wore in the movie Monte Carlo, but I never saw the movie. I don't watch much TV.
"Well, he is a fashion expert." I said.
Alice, who was dressed black dress, pulled me out of the room. She helped me down the stairs even if I could walk just fine. Downstairs everyone, but Edward, was waiting. Esme and Carlisle both smiled up at Alice and I as we reached the bottom step.
"Oh, you both look beautiful." Esme said as she kissed my cheek.
"Mena, where's your brace?" Carlisle asked with a soft sigh.
"I lost it like two seconds go." I said smiling.
Carlisle sighed again, but he just shook his head like he didn't want to argue with me.
"Mena." Jasper started sternly.
"Listen here, buddy." I said poking his chest. "I am already uncomfortable wearing this dress and these heels, so don't mess with me."
I poked his chest a few more times, and he smiled at me in amusement. He didn't argue though as he gently caught my wrist. Emmett laughed at the two of us as he kept his arm around Rosalie who had on a bright read dress that went down to the floor with a large slit in the side.
"I understand, ma'am." Jasper said letting his accent slip out some.
I smiled because I'll never get over his accent. Jasper helped me down from the last step, and he put the flower corsage on my brace free wrist. He kissed my knuckles, and there was a camera flash. I blinked turning towards Esme who looked giddy.
"Esme." I whined. "No."
Everyone laughed as I practically hid myself into Jasper's side. He smiled at me as I pressed my head into his shoulder.
"We need pictures to remember this moment." Esme said.
"The moment where I'm going off to meet my doom?" I asked.
Alice rolled her eyes as Esme took a few more pictures. Alice then told all of us to hurry since she didn't work on me for hours for it to go to waste. I shook my head at Alice while tugging Jasper down the last set of stairs. We went to the garage, and the others left out first in Rosalie's car. Jasper led me over to his while opening up the door
"Let's get this over with." I said.
"It won't be that bad, Darlin." Jasper said as he helped me into the car. "We'll stay for an hour, and then we'll go somewhere else."
"I going to hold you to that." I warned him.
Jasper chuckled then pressed a kiss to my forehead. In a flash he was over on the driver's side, and pulling out of the garage. As he drove, he held one of my hands with his, and I played with his fingers absently as I looked out the window.
"It's so weird." I said suddenly.
"What is?" Jasper asked giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
"I never saw myself going back to school let alone go to prom when I had left for the camp." I said looking at him. "I never thought I'd have friends who are normal, and I never saw you coming. But I'm glad you were a surprise."
I leaned over to give him a kiss, and he smiled at me lovingly when I pulled away. He brought up up my hand to his lips, and he kissed my knuckles.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you too, Major." I said grinning.
We arrived at the place the school rented, and Jasper helped me out of his car. I looked around at everything as other students headed towards the building. Jasper told me he'd be right back, and I nodded my head while sitting down ona stone bench as Jasper drove the car to where the student parking was. Edward and Bella ended up pulling up beside me in the volvo, and Edward nodded to me as he got out. He went to help Bella out, and he helped her sit down beside me.
"I'll be right back." He said then left like Jasper.
"So...come here often?" I asked Bella as Edward drove away.
Bella snorted lightly at my attempt to start a conversation, and I grinned in return.
"No not really, how about you?" she asked playing along.
"This is my first time, and it's already one time too many." I said with a sigh.
I then heard a rustle behind us, so I turned my head to see Jacob. He had on a dress shirt and tie, which made me blinking in confusion. What is my cousin doing here dressed like that?
"Bella, Mena." Jacob greeted.
"Jake...hey." Bella said in surprise.
I nodded to him, and he gestured to us looking slightly at a loss of words for the moment.
"Nice." He finally said. "Mena, I didn't know you could actually look like girl."
I rolled my eyes at him as Bella giggled from beside me. Jacob smiled looking pleased to get a laugh from his crush, which had me snorting.
"I didn't know you could clean up so nice either, Runt." I said with a smirk.
Jacob laughed with a grin showing up on his face as Bella asked him if he was crashing with a date.
"No," He said as he sat down on the small remaining portion of the bench. "My dad paid me to come talk to you both. Twenty bucks."
"Let's hear it." Bella said.
I nodded in agreement while wondering what Billy wanted us to hear. It had to be bad since Jacob looked nervous. I frowned actually starting to think I knew what this was about.
"Just don't get mad, okay?" Jacob asked getting nods from Bella and I. "He wants you two to break up with your boyfriends. It's just, he said, quote, 'We'll be watching you.'."
I blinked a few times before letting out a dry chuckle as Jake gave a slightly forced laugh. I understand Billy only cares about me, but he should know I can take care of myself.
"Well, tell him thanks." Bella said.
"Add to pay up." I added. "I'd ask Uncle Billy for extra if I was you."
Jake laughed saying he would as I spotted Jasper. I got up as he reached me, and I noticed him frowning at Jacob. Bella then started getting up, and Jacob went to help her, only for Edward appear while telling Jake 'politely' that he had it.
"Bye, Runt." I said as Bella and I were lead away. "I'm visit later in the week, okay?"
He nodded to the two of us before he left the same way that he came to speak to Bella and I.
"You two are left alone for two minutes, and the wolves descend." Edward said.
I rolled my eyes at Edward as Jasper let out a dry chuckle. Well, aren't you just the comedian, Eddy? Edward grinned at me, which had me frowning. We went up to the arch where we had to get our pictures taken, and I sighed when it was Jasper and my turns.
"You must really dislike me." I said putting on a smile.
"On the contrary, I love you." He said kissing my temple as the camera flashed.
He led me into the building where everything was set up, and we stepped into a room filled with lights flashing, loud music playing, and teenagers dancing.
"Oh gods." I said stepping up closer to Jasper.
"You'll face monsters head on, but try to take you to a dance, you freeze up." Jasper said in amusement.
I frowned up at him, and he chuckled as we walked through the other students while trying not to get in their way.
"Hey, Mena!"
I turned my head seeing Angela over by Eric behind the DJ booth, and I chuckle when seeing Eric 'getting down'. I waved at her as she nudged Eric, who finally noticed Jasper and I, and he waved at me in return. Angela held up her camera, which she had to bring since she was covering the dance for the paper, and she pointed to me then the camera.
"Later." She mouthed.
I groaned though I nodded my head in consent since I could take a few pictures with Angela. I did take some for Esme...albeit reluctantly.
"You're going to get in those pictures too, just so you know." I warned Jasper as he kept his arm around my waist.
"Yes, ma'am." He said.
The music then slowed down suddenly, and before I knew it, Jasper had us spinning gracefully across the floor. He stopped the spin to sway with me gently as most of the other couples were doing. I laid my head against his chest, and he rested his head on top of mine as we continued to sway to the music.
"Now this isn't so bad, is it?" He asked.
"I guess not." I said.
We continued dancing slowly in each others' arms, and I have never been happier in my life. With Jasper at my side, I think the rest of my half blood life will be the best years of my life.
Queenie: Sorry had to end with something a little cheesy XD Well, that's the end of twilight! I'll try to have the first chapter for New Moon up as soon as possible ;D. Thanks for all your love and support so far. I hope I continue to have it through the rest of the story
