All credit for the Twilight story and characters belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just enjoy playing with the characters. My thanks to my wonderful beta, EdwardsMate4Ever, and to Jaspersdoll for the title.
Catching Bella
Chapter 13 – Flight and Fight
Jasper snarled, the heat of the bloodlust fueling his thoughts and emotions. This was the immortal who had kidnapped his mate. He didn't want to stop now, he wanted to give them both their final deaths.
The guard moved in front of Stefan, and Jasper leapt at him, landing with his feet on his shoulders. He grabbed the guard's head and twisted, springing forward over Stefan, taking the guard's head off and dropping it in front of Stefan who flinched and jumped to get out from under Jasper's trajectory.
When Jasper landed, he pivoted and turned to face the remaining vampire, snarling. Stefan dropped into a crouch opposite him, and they began their slow circling dance of death.
Jasper paused when he heard Carlisle's voice, calling to them from the Kasbah. In front of him, Stefan froze. Carlisle's voice came again, saying, "Wait."
Wait for what? Bella-hawk dived at the Romanian, screeching and turning at what would have been the top of Stefan's reach, if he had jumped for her. But though Stefan's eyes flicked up, he stayed focused on Jasper.
Jasper smiled at the sight of his little mate trying to distract the Romanian, breaking the blood lust just for a few seconds.
Why had Carlisle said, "Wait"? How many men did the Romanians have there at their fortress? Were Carlisle and Emmett in trouble? Jasper cocked his head at Stefan and gestured to the fortress behind him. The Romanian nodded, and the two turned and sped back toward the Kasbah. The hawk followed them, high above their heads.
As they reached the entrance to the Kasbah, two guards came outside. Jasper turned to the side so that he was facing Stefan and the two guards. He went into a crouch. Was this a trap? I should have killed him when I had the chance. I killed two already, this will just be two more. But this time, I'll take Stefan first.
Stefan was closer than the guards, and he sank into a matching position, ready to fight.
But Jasper's attack was stopped by Carlisle's voice again.
"Jasper, Stefan!" Carlisle said, and they looked up at the window Bella had leapt from.
"Come inside, both of you," Carlisle ordered.
Stefan raised an eyebrow but motioned toward the door.
Jasper said, "After you."
Stefan moved carefully around him and entered, the two new guards following him closely. Jasper looked at them appraisingly, regretting again not having killed Stefan as he passed.
When they reached the fifth floor, Jasper was met by the sight of Emmett and a grizzly bear standing side by side. The bear roared at Jasper, but calmed when Carlisle said, "He's one of mine."
There was the sound of wings, and the hawk appeared at the window. Jasper went to her, put out his hand, and she daintily stepped onto it, leaning down to peck at this thumb. He stroked the soft feathers on her back, admiring the complexity of the coloring. "I'm glad to see you, too," he murmured.
Vladimir watched the interactions with interest. "So, Carlisle seems to believe that the shifter is your mate," he said.
Jasper nodded, pulling the bird closer.
Vladimir looked at Stefan. "Then I would invite you to join us."
Jasper snarled. "My loyalties are with Carlisle, and I'm taking her home."
"We will be taking both the girl and her aunt with us when we leave," Carlisle stated evenly.
Jasper glanced over at him. Carlisle had spent years with the Volturi, so he knew about courts and court customs. The Romanians were some of the oldest vampires in existence. But as the Volturi were their enemies, they couldn't afford to make Carlisle's coven enemies as well.
Vladimir and Stefan exchanged a long look, then turned away. They only needed a few minutes to confer.
"In a gesture of the respect with which we hold you in esteem," Vladimir said, "we shall of course send the young lady back with our best wishes for the future happiness of the Major and his mate."
Jasper, who had barely held himself back from Stefan outside, snarled and sank into a crouch.
Emmett put a hand on his shoulder. "Let's just wait a minute," he told Jasper.
After a pause, Vladimir continued, sounding less certain. "Could her aunt be persuaded to stay with us a little longer…?"
Whatever he was going to say was disrupted by a roar from Mrs. Cope, who dropped to all fours and appeared to be about to charge.
Emmett left Jasper's side and moved next to her. "She understands you, a**hole, and she goes with us."
A smile flicked across Stefan's face. "Are you saying she's your mate?" he asked.
"No, I have a lady at home," replied Emmett, "as you undoubtedly are aware. But she goes with my sister, and that's final."
"I have no wish for a quarrel with your coven, so I bid you go in peace," Stefan replied. "But perhaps in the future, we can call on you?"
"I am open to discussion," Carlisle said coolly, "but there is no favor conferred by releasing my family members, even if it was a misunderstanding. We'll collect the ladies' belongings and leave."
Emmett looked at Carlisle, puzzled.
"I'm sure Mrs. Cope will be more comfortable in her own clothes than in one of our shirts for the long flight home," Carlisle said.
Mrs. Cope-bear growled.
Vladimir snapped his fingers, and a vampress dressed in a simple black dress appeared at his side. Vladimir said a few words to her in Romanian, and the woman dashed away, returning with two suitcase. She walked past the group in the hall and entered the room to pack the contents of the two dressers into two suitcases. As she passed Mrs. Cope-bear, the bear stood up onto two legs and gave a low growl. The vampress flinched but kept moving.
As she worked, Carlisle looked at Stefan.
"Are there any others?" Carlisle asked.
Vladimir held his gaze. "I do not see how that would be any of your concern."
"I am interested if you are holding anyone else here against their will," Carlisle replied evenly.
Stefan said, "What we do is our concern. You live elsewhere, with your own mortal-loving lifestyle."
"I don't want to find that you have found other shifters here," Carlisle replied. "I hear three other heartbeats, and I want to see the mortals."
Stefan paused, listening as well, then nodded. "You are hearing my chef, maid, and tailor. They are employees and here of their own free will."
"I would see them," Carlisle insisted.
"Very well," Stefan said. "But downstairs, away from the bear."
Carlisle nodded. He exchanged a look with Jasper and said, "I'll see them on the landing of the stairs below."
He went down the stairs, preceded by Vladimir. Jasper stood with his back against the stone wall, stroking Bella's wings, keeping his eye trained on Stefan and the two guards. Mrs. Cope went back on all fours, and Emmett gave her a friendly pat between her shoulders. She bumped her head up against him, and he laughed, scratching her between the ears. "We'll be leaving soon," he told her.
Emmett looked relaxed, but Jasper wasn't fooled. Emmett was tense, energized and excited. He was ready for a fight. He and Jasper exchanged looks, and Emmett smiled grimly.
They listened as a small group of people gathered on the floor below. They could hear Vladimir making introductions, and Carlisle addressing each one.
After a few minutes Carlisle and Vladimir returned.
"Their heartbeats and metabolisms are normal," Carlisle said. "They don't show the signs that Bella and Mrs. Cope exhibited of being shifters. I am satisfied. For now. But, no more."
Vladimir looked angry but kept his temper, speaking in carefully measured words. "Eternity is a long time. We help them, as they have difficulty fitting in…"
Mrs. Cope-bear roared.
"This former guest doesn't see it that way," said Emmett, patting her side.
The vampress finished packing and brought two suitcases to the Cullens, never meeting anyone's eyes.
"Thank you," said Carlisle, ever the gentleman. "Jasper, Emmett, let's go."
Once they were outside of the Kasbah, running toward the landing strip, Carlisle visibly relaxed.
Emmett playfully gave the bear a shove in the shoulders with his elbow. "You going to change back?"
The bear growled and nodded in the direction of the airport.
"I agree," Carlisle said, "once on the plane we'll be safe, but you might want to change before we board."
As they approached the aircraft, the bear became more restless. Finally she turned and began loping towards the hills.
Emmett called after her and prepared to follow, but Carlisle stopped him.
"I think she just realized that getting on a plane as a bear was going to be hard," Carlisle said. "Let's give her a few minutes before going after her."
Mrs. Cope-bear disappeared behind a small rock formation, and they waited in silence, with Bella-hawk pecking at the fingers on the hand Jasper was holding her with while he pet her with his other hand.
Finally a voice came from behind the rocks. "Wardrobe," Mrs. Cope called.
Carlisle handed Emmett the pink suitcase they had brought, and he took it out to the rocky outcrop, set it down and returned to the landing strip. After a few moments, Mrs. Cope emerged, smoothing her hair with one hand, pulling the rolling suitcase with the other.
She looked back wistfully at the Kasbah.
"Something wrong?" Carlisle asked.
"I left something behind, a locket," she said. "I didn't see it in this suitcase."
"I'll ask Stefan to mail it," Carlisle said. "Let's go home."
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**And for anyone who read my story Prey for Him, Bella finally got her wings, LOL!