I love it when inspiration strikes:D It means faster writing, ergo faster updates. I hope you like the chapter. Thanks to '-'IncubusHelen'-' and Epic Skittles for their reviews. On with the show!


Chapter 9

The next two days were torture. Sitting around waiting to die was nearly as painful as the three-day transformation that made me immortal. There was one ginormous difference between the change and waiting for the Volturi: I'd actually wanted to die the first time. This time…not so much. Now, I had so much more to live for…Jasper, my siblings, my newfound parents, and my father. A paltry month was not enough time to get to know the man who'd given me my human life. I wanted so much more, and I know he did, too.

Obviously, none of us wanted to die. Happiness was ours now, and giving that up would suck. We all racked our brains to try to find something that would stop the blood bath (no pun intended) that would happen when the rulers of our world arrived. I damned Shamus to the deepest, fieriest pits of Hell for causing this and prayed for a way to stop him.

Alice preferred to make more constructive use of her time by trying to see the outcome of our plans. The rest of the family also used their time more judicially when plotting. Emmett and Edward sparred with each other, trying to find new moves to incapacitate quickly and permanently. Jasper, my sisters and I gave pointers from the sidelines. Carlisle and Esme made arrangements for alternate living accommodations, should we survive this battle.

As for our time together, we spent the most with our spousal units. I felt bad for my father, who was proverbially left out in the cold as the ninth wheel. I made it a point to spend my ritual hour with him on both days. We still shared stories about one another, like we'd know these things about each other forever, when in all reality we knew it'd be more like hours. Neither of us cared; we shared anyway. The rest of the family joined us occasionally in our discussions, as well.

We found ourselves staying in the same room for a large chunk of the day and night. The nine of us found comfort in each other's presence and basked in it while we had the opportunity. Emmett and Edward tried to beat my father at any game imaginable while their wives and I shook our heads at their childishness. Jasper joined them when the emotions got to be too much for him to handle. I knew it helped him take his mind off everyone's underlying fear and sorrow, so I couldn't begrudge him that time.

It was in the middle of one such session, which happened to be an epic game of War, that Alice and I simultaneously had a vision about the upcoming battle. I gasped and heard her do the same as my world went black.

The back yard is full of angry-looking red-eyed vampires. At the center of the crowd stands the legendary Volturi. Their skin is paper thin and pastier than any vampire's skin I've ever seen. Aro, clearly in charge of everything around him, finally looks at me. I fight back a shiver and gaze back at him, trying to hide my fear. Jasper's hand squeezes my shoulder, but I refuse to break eye contact with the monster in front of me. His sudden smile sickens me.

"Hello, dear. Congratulations on your marriage and subsequent change. It is a pity that we must destroy you and your new family for your crimes, especially since you are so powerful."

"We've done nothing wrong Aro," Carlisle steps forward bravely.

I nearly flinch as I watch him approach our now enemies without protection. Edward growls his agreement behind me. Aro smiles at my second father like he is an infant who does not understand his parent's punishment. It is clearly patronizing and enrages me further, all the while scaring me witless. My husband's hold is the only thing between me and this arrogant asshole's death. Regardless, I know what will stop him; I know what I have to do…I hope my family understands.

"Aro, may I speak to you and your brothers…alone?"

I snapped back to the present and bolted into a sitting position. Jasper had to flinch back to stop me from head-butting him. Regardless of that evasive maneuver, my hands flew out to my sides and hit him square in the chest. Hearing the air rush out of his useless lungs brought my attention to him.

"Damn it, woman! Watch where you aim those things."

"Sorry, Jazz. Alice, what did you see?"

She turned to me with horror in her eyes.

"Why did you do that, Sam? What are you planning?"

The rest of the family (barring Edward, who'd seen both of our visions) looked at us both in confusion. Emmett was the first to demand information.

"Damn you both, would someone please tell the rest of us what the hell is going on here?"

"Watch your mouth, Em," I corrected automatically, "Calm down. I know what's going to stop the Volturi."

Alice snorted, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Doing what you're thinking of doing will not save us," she spat.

Ah…she's already seen what I'm going to tell Aro. Shit.

Jasper suddenly spun me around, his anger flowing through me as his hands gripped my arms. If I'd been human, the grip would have turned my bones into dust. As a vampire, I barely flinched…until I met his eyes. Crap! He figured it out! Fear dominated any other emotion in them, and it silenced the angry expletives on my tongue.

"Samantha, you aren't--?"

I sighed, standing and grabbing his hand, dragging him into the hall and out the front door. This needed to be said in private and quickly…before it was too late. He needed to keep this quiet from the rest, or it wouldn't ever work.

Jasper POV

I followed my wife into the forest, still angry about the vision she'd had. She suddenly stopped, jarring me out of the haze I'd been in since we'd left the house. Finally focused on reality, I felt the fear, determination, sorrow, love; the rush of emotion confused me. My hands framed her face, forcing her to look at me.

"Samantha, what is going on here?"

"Jazz…"

I waited as she calmed herself with my help. When she looked into my eyes again, they were void of anything. The blankness sent a bolt of anxiety and fear through me. I instinctively knew something terrible was going to happen. My eyes widened as she spoke.

"Jasper, I can't let all of you die. Your family, my father…you."

"They're your family, too, lovely."

She sighed, her tiny hand covering my lips.

"Shut up and let me finish. I know how to stop them from hurting you, Jasper. Aro clearly wants to use my power for his own gain. I'm going to offer myself to him…but only if he spares your lives."

"NO," I roared.

"Jasper, I have to…it's the only way now," she whispered, staring at her feet.

I babbled as my brain tried to make sense of what my wife was going to do.

"We can fight them off, Samantha. We're strong enough to stop them, so don't worry. I know we'll win."

She shook her head, framing my face with her hands. I did the same to her, trying to keep her from doing what I knew she was going to d for our family.

"I love you, Samantha. You can't do this to me…us. I need you. Please, my love. We just found each other again. Don't leave me."

Her hands moved to cover my mouth. I stared down at her, panicked. Her emotionless mask cracked and crumbled and she threw herself into my arms, burying her face in my chest while she sobbed.

"I love you, too, Jasper. Leaving you is almost going to kill me. But, we'll both survive. Your—our family will, too. I have to do this, Jazz…I have to save them."

She sensed the skepticism in my silence and pulled back, staring into my eyes once more. The depth of love and sadness there made my heart swell and break in the same non-existent beat.

"This can't work, darlin'."

"It can…and it will. Aro won't hurt me, honey. He wants what I have to offer too badly to do that. My deal will save all of us. What else can I do? Please, Jasper, help me do this."

Her eyes begged me to trust her as the air whooshed from my lungs. My eyes closed as I gently pushed her away from my body. I heard her gasp as I backed away, trying to put more distance between us. The sound tore the rest of my heart out, but I knew this had to be done.

"Jasper--?"

"Go. NOW," I screamed when she hesitated. I opened my eyes to see her staring back at me, un-shed-able tears filling her now slightly orange eyes. They match her father's, I thought with bitterness.

"I can only stop our—my family for so long. They won't let you go if they know what you're up to. Alice has probably already seen it. Stop the Volturi from finding us…I'll tell everyone what you've done once you've had ample time to get to Aro. Good luck…and thank you for our lives."

I turned to go and was almost out of the clearing when she whispered to my retreating figure.

"I'll love you forever. Please, forgive me."

There's nothing to forgive, my one and only love. I'll love you forever and a day. Forgive me for the pain you're in now. I hope it will make it easier for you to do what you have to do. We'll all miss you for the rest of our lives. Be safe, my Samantha.

My POV

Oh, God, what have I done? I sank to my knees as I watched my husband run into the forest. He hates me now. How could I do this to him? I gathered my courage. No, Sam, you have to do this. It will keep him and your—his family alive. He's giving you a head start. Go to Aro before Alice can see enough to tell the family and stop you.

I shook myself metaphorically and physically and got to my feet, my emotions now buried deep. My emotionless zombie phase had officially begun. Now…to find the bastard who's the cause of it. I ran off through the woods, heading to where I knew Aro would be 'hunting' with his guard in preparation for the fight they thought was coming. I was smug as I thought of his thwarted plan to kill my—Jasper's family. I bet he's never lost anything in his whole existence. Guess what, asshole: you lost to me the minute you messed with family.


The Volturi's smelled like a musty attic or basement that's been unused for thousands of years. I wrinkled my nose as I came upon the clearing where they'd just finished massacring a group of tourists from Seattle. Those poor people. I hope they won't make me feed as they do…I couldn't live with myself. Pushing the thought from my head, I made myself known to the guard. The second biggest vampire I'd ever seen was in my face in a second, his hands trapping my own in his iron grasp.

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here," he screamed in my face. I almost flinched back, but did my best to glare at him as I spoke.

"Back off, Goliath. I'm not going to hurt any of you; I just want to speak with Aro."

A watery voice from behind Mr. Jolly Green Giant sent shivers down my spine; I knew that voice. It had inspired the terror that had inevitably led me here. My eyes sought him out. The vision I'd had hadn't shown me the sinister glint in Aro's eyes that hid behind the pretense of civility.

"Felix, you may let her go. This lovely young one means no harm. Hello, my dear. Would you care to join me on a walk," he asked as Felix (AKA tall fry) glared at me once and backed away completely. I nodded and walked to him, cautiously taking the arm he offered as we walked into the surrounding forest. The bastard Shamus caught my eye and winked before we were out of sight of the camp. I shuddered.

"I assume you are here about your father, child," Aro broke my reverie.

"Yes. And my—the Cullens. You know who I am and what my power is, Aro. I am willing to give you my…services in exchange for their safety."

He looked honestly intrigued. I mentally crossed my fingers that he would take me up. I knew he would, of course, but there was still a chance he'd kill us all anyway. I held my breath as he deliberated. I wish Jasper was here to tell me what he was feeling, I thought as I watched a thousand different emotions flitter across his face. Suddenly, the stony impartial mask was back in place.

"You tempt me, dear. I assume you have more stipulations than just the lives of your family."

It sounds like he's going to accept, no matter what I ask of him. His gluttony for power made this easier than I thought.

"I do. The Cullens and my father are not to be harmed. All of our lives are spared. If I become part of your guard, I will not feed on humans. I also ask for one last communication to the others; they need to know what's gone on here today. My service is yours if you meet these conditions. Do you agree?"

"Hmm…if it were only me, the deal would be done. However, there is the matter of my brothers. I must speak with them before any decision can be made."

I nodded, trying to look grateful and respectful rather than the impatient and angry I was actually feeling. He bought it; his smile totally creeped me out.

"Fabulous. Come with me back to our…camp. You may wait with the guard while we conference about your offer."

After he'd led us back, he called for his brothers and gathered with them in a tent that was in the center of the clearing. Felix was assigned to watch me and offered me a seat (which in giant dumb ass speak means pushing me around and shoving me onto a rock). I cringed away as Shamus stared at me across the distance. Trying to ignore him, my mind raced as I waited for the Volturi to come out. My eyes never left the flaps of the tent's entrance.

An eternity later, their paper-thin skin flashed in the diluted sunlight filtering through the trees. In formation, they glided to me, stopping about twenty feet away.

"It is done. Welcome to the Volturi, Samantha Whitlock."

Thank God. I love you, Jasper. Please, be safe.


Songs for the chapter: Saved-The Spill Canvas (Jasper) & Goodbye to You-Michelle Branch

Please...don't kill me! hides behind bullett-proof glass This was what came of my inspiration. I am not doing this to be evil to my characters. They told me what happened to them, so don't blame me. If you want to rip my head off...or if you want to pat me on the back for the plot twist that will surely bring many more chapters, review. You'll get a snippet of chapter 10 for your time. Thanks for reading either way. Samantha