A/N: I'm putting the author's note here because although you'll all skip it and go straight to the chapter, I'm afraid you will be too angry with me to read what I have to say at the bottom. Thank you all for reviewing, you are all wondrous! Especially those who have told me they understand why I must do this and it can't always be a happy ending. As you can see, I update more or in variation with how many reviews I receive. Even if they are story alerts/author alerts, I'll update quicker. More at the bottom.
Disclaimer: None of this is mine, just the concept and drama. All characters and abilities of these characters are from the mind of Stephenie Meyer. Thank you.
"Don't speak unless you're spoken to," Jane mused, going over rules that only a child would need.
"Jane, I'm sure that I can—" I began, though I knew it was unnecessary. If given the order, I would be gone in a second and she would gladly take the reign.
"And don't say my name," she stood in front of the door and looked me over, her neck craning to look up at me. "God, for someone with so much military background you'd think you would have some kind of manners etched into that brain of yours." Before I could answer with a snide remark, she opened the door. "In," she ordered and I was already in just enough for her to follow after me and shut the door. Jane flew across the room to Aro's side like a feline companion, joining Renata at his other side, behind him, though unnecessary. I could already tell that there were more precautions now that I have arrived.
Demetri, Alec, and Chelsea stood on the opposite corner, but were oddly far from Marcus and Caius as if they didn't ask for protection or shunned it away, too convinced that I didn't pose any threat and perhaps convinced Aro with my ability that I was use of keeping – though that wasn't all false.
I remembered Carlisle talking of the Volturi and Maria had as well. Chelsea, I vaguely remember Carlisle discussing her, though he never brought up the Volturi. I had been in his study, marveling over his pictures. She can manipulate relationships… If only she could break the bond I felt chained to Alice and I. Relieve her pain and my own.
Demetri…. He was a tracker; the best, so Maria said. He could find anyone as soon as he recognized the tenor of his or her mind. Alec, Jane's brother… Alec could numb a victim; taste, touch, vision, hearing, everything… My mind silently took note not to speak to them unless spoken to. If I did leave, I wouldn't want them having any advantage.
Caius sat on the velvet-upholstered chair next to Aro, leaning over as if they just finished a chat. He straightened up and Marcus sighed, as lethargic as Caius, cupping his cheek in his hand and leaning his elbow against the armrest of the chair next to Caius. Aro stood next to Caius, farthest from Marcus, who looked the most adverse to my arrival—or my solo arrival.
"Jasper, is it?" Caius questioned and I bowed my head silently in respect. He sighed, bored – that much I could feel. "Alright, show us what the hell Aro saw in you." Jane took a step forward in a threatening stance. She looked back at Caius, Marcus, and Aro for a nod of approval and as soon as Caius sighed and waved his hand, the pain was focused on her.
"STOP!" Jane screamed, but I didn't, merely took a step forward, advancing only five inches in her direction as she closed her eyes and writhed in pain; the same pain that she tried to inflict on me. She struggled to gain control, sending me deeper in my focus as I narrowed my eyes. That's when I noticed something; when the stare lingered on her leg, she'd grip it in pain, her arm, she'd let it fall limp, her head and her body stiffened. Aro took note of this as the three brothers whom I longed to please, chatted casually, noting my every move.
"I thought you were bluffing, Aro, I did," Caius grumbled, intrigued by my third advance. Marcus sat up, clasping his hands together and watching me intently, the boredom left the room as soon as Caius waved his hand.
I fought with myself; the pain was horrible to watch and yet gave me so much pleasure to watch the power I held over her. While the innocent waves of lust I had playfully sent toward Alice when I felt even the slightest bit of boredom, this was exhilarating and… well, that frightened me.
"Do you notice his gaze, brothers?" Aro said proudly. "Where ere he stares, the pain is focused. Jasper, the heart," he commanded, making me smirk involuntarily. My gaze tore to her chest and she erupted in a thrilling and gut-wrenching, glass-breaking screech that tore through the casual conversation.
"Enough." And immediately my gaze and stance relaxed as I looked up at the Volturi, looking for approval. Silence erupted as Jane angrily stood up, fuming as she smacked Alec upside the head to regain the little dignity she had salvaged. Marcus, who hadn't spoke a word throughout this session, was the one to break the silence with a small, but resonating solo round of applause. I let out a breath.
Aro smiled proudly as well as Caius. "We'll obviously need him to switch his diet, immediately. The human blood will perhaps make this ability stronger," he continued, ceasing his claps and standing from his velvet throne. He looked at his brothers in annoyance of their silence.
"Yes, yes, of course," Aro and Caius muttered simultaneously. "I agree, completely."
Marcus stood and stepped down from his chair, circling around me. "But your heart is somewhere else," my eyes shut and I stiffened when he noted that. Right, he could foresee relationships. "No need to feel embarrassed." I was far from that. He certainly wasn't in tune to emotions. "Chelsea can fix that easily, now the bond may remain with the other since she isn't in reach of Chelsea's prodigy," he waved a hand over and my eyes opened wearily. I was going to have no connection to Alice anymore… Oh god, my love—my Alice… How can it be so simple?
This fact horrified me. When Chelsea was at Marcus' side, I flinched and Marcus chuckled. "You won't realize what you've lost," another wave of his hand and Alec stood by him, smiling in his being needed. The pain that ripped through me ceased as Alec received a nod from Marcus. My bones felt spongy and I felt extremely light-headed; I didn't know that was possible for a vampire to feel.
Chelsea circled me as Marcus took a step back and my breathing stopped all together. Her hand traced my shoulder, across my back to my other shoulder making me shudder, the numbing confusing me in the same instance. And then something I didn't expect; Chelsea began kneading the muscles in my back, smiling and murmuring what sounded like an incantation to my plugged hearing. "Do you feel it? She doesn't mean anything, she doesn't want you, she deserves better," I wasn't sure if this voice was my conscience or Chelsea.
"She'll move on, Jasper, take care of yourself, fend for yourself, and don't give into distractions so easily…" Chelsea gripped my upper arms, loosening her hold and just as Alec let go of his hold, Chelsea snapped my back toward her behind me, my shoulder blades grinding together. I felt a bit of me release as I closed my eyes tightly in discomfort. "That's all Alice is, a distraction…"
"What's her name?" this was Chelsea now. I opened my eyes as she let go of me and stepped back.
"Alice," I answered immediately.
"Perhaps I need a bit more time to coax this bond out of him," Chelsea said, not breaking eye contact with me. Marcus nodded, noting the strong bond we had. "Take it to his room, we're done here."
Chelsea nodded, but Aro stopped her. "Stay, Chelsea, this always intrigues me," he ordered. Marcus sighed and looked toward Caius. "Brothers, you may leave and enjoy the meal awaiting you in the next room, I'll be sure to join you with our new member as soon as this is over," Aro announced.
Caius looked toward Jane and Demetri who stood side-by-side in a moment, following their masters out. Chelsea was behind me again and Alec sent me in a numbing state once again. Aro circled us with Renata behind him, so close her arms were glued to his cloak. My eyes closed as I fought through what was happening to me. I felt the pattern, Chelsea would hit a new pressure point or a new nerve, cracking my back and releasing the gut-wrenching pain simultaneous with Alec relieving my numbness. Each thread of Alice and my relationship was being unwoven one stitch at a time.
"Her name, Jasper, her name," Chelsea would demand after each of these patterns. When I would answer correctly, it began again. Each time I hesitated longer as if trying to remember. The numbing threw my mind out of balance. I could lie right now and keep these ties at home. What was the use? I should suffer through the same pain and remembrance that Alice was suffering through now.
"Her name."
My mind was blank, a clean slate, as I shot to attention and was exhausted, not sure if that was exactly how I felt or if this was Alec's hold on me. "Something with an A—" I struggled to grasp her name. Who was I even speaking of? Had it not been only a moment ago that I uttered this name that she begged for? "Or was it an E…" My eyes shot open and my back was released, my stature slumped over and I lost my balance, collapsing in a pathetic heap on the stone cold ground. How could I be so utterly pathetic? This girl had this tight of a hold on me? Honestly, who had I become?
Aro smiled in approval, letting out a sigh of relief. "That was—exquisite, Chelsea, enthralling, truly." I slowly rose to my feet and Alice stepped back, the confusion being lifted from me without time to find a center of balance in my aura. My emotions were jumbled, oddly put back in order and I felt nothing; numb as if Alec still held me. There was no pain. "Let us get you a meal, shall we?" Aro grinned, presenting the door to me, holding it open. I stepped out, oddly thrilled by the gesture.
The emptiness left my chest vacant and hollow. Alec and Chelsea shared their praises amongst themselves as Aro walked with me to the next room. I found it odd that they mingled with their victims before attacking them. I suppose it was fun to seem human and keep the panic level as low as possible before everyone of the Volturi got their meal and there was certainly enough for everyone. As we shut the door, humans communicated quietly, glancing in our direction. Demetri and Jane stood by the empty fire place that led up to concrete, welcoming Chelsea and Alec, eyeing me warily. I was a threat; that much I knew. Marcus and Caius found their pleasure in two young women, one blonde, and one redhead. "Ah, Jasper," they waved me over. Again, I was sickly pleased by the attention.
"We've become acquainted with two lovely women," venom flooded my mouth. "Georgiana and Charlotte" he pointed to the blonde first, then the redhead. It was hard to keep my mind focused on their introductions.
"Gigi, actually," the blonde corrected in a thick accent, smiling flirtatiously. More venom flooded my mouth, to the point where I was swallowing it down. She eyed me curiously. "Are you alright? You look sick," she noted. Aro walked away as did Caius, leaving me with Marcus.
"Excuse him, ladies, he—" Marcus began.
"Hasn't been around such beauty," I amended. I knew the flattery game; you bring your victim close for a kiss on the neck or a suggestive whisper and then…
'Gigi', or more sophisticated Georgiana, giggled and blushed; the blood flooding to her cheeks had me itching forward. Marcus grinned in approval. "While you two get to know each other… Charlotte," he moved the redhead out of my way. The blonde's scent was intoxicating, sending me into frenzy.
"Well, Jasper," she began, smiling. "Are you single?" she questioned with a raise of her eyebrows. Right, this generation of woman was more forward, I had forgotten.
"Am I standing with anyone else, but you?" I questioned, leaning casually against the wall, taking in her scent with a deep breath. My hand brushed back her blonde locks, off her shoulder and she shuddered under my touch. I grinned, taking a step forward. She leaned in as I did, going to her neck, my nose skimming over the slopes of her skin as I heard and felt her blood pulse against her skin, speeding up the close I got. "Georgiana, was it?" I murmured in a whisper.
"G—Gi—Gigi," she struggled to gasp out and I smiled, laughing coolly against her skin as my lips met her ear.
"Well, Gigi, am I being too forward?" I muttered huskily.
"N—no, I… I don't—mi—mind."
"Are you sure?" I asked coolly. "You seem nervous and flustered," I noted, my lips brushing against her neck.
"No, I—" and then a dull 'ahh' escaped her lips as my teeth clenched hold of her neck. The blood felt amazing pulsing against my tongue as I greedily drained the young blonde. Simultaneous with my bite, the rest of the humans were disposed of, drunk from quickly and tossed as they all watched me in curiosity as I dropped the blonde at my feet, blood staining my teeth that I ran my tongue over to clean.
"Welcome, young Jasper."
A/N: I know, I know, WHAT ABOUT ALICE? YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO THEM! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, OH HALE NO!? OH HALE NO! THIS IS RIDIC! Well, on the bright side of this chapter, I have finally decided on an ending to this story. I had various ideas, but none seemed appropriate. As I was writing Chelsea's incantation/Jasper's conscience, it came to me and I wrote it on a Sticky Widget on my Mac Dashboard. I believe ALL of you reviewers and loyal followers will approve of the ending. I am 100% sure. or... 99.5% sure.
... -hides- Review...?