Chapter 25

"Ember!"

I turned toward Carlisle's voice, and he was at my side in an instant. He gasped at the sight of Jasper as he knelt down and slid a bag from his shoulder.

"Please tell me that is what I think it is," I said.

He nodded, unzipping the bag. I had to hold the first few small bags of blood for Jasper before he was able to take over. I wasn't sure how many Carlisle had in the bag, but Jasper drained every one of them. By the time he had finished, the wounds on his body had closed up, leaving light scars behind.

"Thank you, Carlisle," he said when he had finished. "How many did you bring?"

Of course he was right down to business, his question referring to the number they brought to fight.

"Twenty-four," Carlisle answered. "Eighteen of our kind and six wolves."

"Six wolves?" Jasper and I asked in unison.

He nodded. "Apparently Jared, Leah, and Quil weren't on the reservation when the attack happened...One day last week when Jacob phased, Jared happened to be in his wolf form at the same time...That is how we found them."

"Where's Caius?" I asked, my anger building again.

Jasper took my hand in his and squeezed it gently, sending a wave of calm through me.

"We haven't found him yet," Carlisle answered. "Most of the wolves have been destroyed. Aro wants Caius brought to him alive."

A hiss escaped my lips. Jasper squeezed my hand a little harder.

"And if he isn't?" I growled.

Carlisle looked to Jasper with pleading eyes, to which Jasper gave a quick nod. With that, Carlisle returned the way he had come. I turned to Jasper, fuming.

"He can't do that!" I shouted. "Who does he think he-"

Jasper pulled me into his arms and crashed his lips to mine in a fiery kiss, silencing my rant. I could taste the blood still lingering in his mouth, intoxicating combined with the flavor that was just...Jasper. I whimpered when he pulled away.

He looked me square in the eyes, his hands planted firmly on my shoulders. "I just want to get through this, and still have you and my family on the other side. We will not do anything to provoke the Volturi...Understand?"

I lowered my head and nodded. As much as I would have loved to kill Caius myself, more than anything I just wanted to put it all behind me, and move forward with Jasper.

We set off in the opposite direction Carlisle had gone, following the narrow hallways hand-in-hand. Soon we crossed Caius' scent and followed it out of the building.

We had no more than stepped outside before Jasper was pummeled by a wolf. They rolled several yards before Jasper threw the animal off of him, a vicious snarl ripping from his chest. The two of them circled each other, Jasper's body in a crouch, his arms slightly flared and fingers splayed; the wolf held his head low, ears back and teeth bared.

I wanted to help, but I could do nothing but stand in awe.

Jasper was a sight to behold.

His muscles flexed under skin as he stalked the beast, his mind calculating the best approach. His eyes followed each tiny movement, his lip curling back in a menacing growl as the wolf lunged. I watched, entranced, as Jasper bolted forward, twisting at the last second to avoid the animal's jaws and lock his own on its throat.

I was so entranced by the scene unfolding before me, I didn't notice the vampire stalking me. He tackled me, knocking the air from my lungs in a whoosh. He pinned me to the ground, sitting on my hips and drawing his arm back to strike.

Jasper snarled and lunged, but was thwarted by another vampire.

Then, I recognized the vampire I held frozen on top of me.

Michael...The one responsible for the loss of Jasper's memories.

A low growl began to build in my chest, escalating as the pressure I put on him increased. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, but there was nothing he could do. I was livid...So angry at him for what he had done to Jasper and many others. A small whimper broke free from his lips, then he was gone.

My head snapped to the sound of Jasper's cry. He had collapsed to the ground, next to the vampire he had just dispatched, his head in his hands and his eyes squeezed shut in pain. Just as I reached him, his body fell slack.

"Jasper!" I screamed, pulling him into my arms. "Jasper? Jasper, no! Please, baby...Open your eyes!" I cried, shaking him. He gasped, his eyelids fluttering open. I nearly collapsed in relief. "Jasper?...Are you okay?"

He focused his eyes on mine. He was overcome with emotion as he drew in a shaky breath.

"I...remember everything," he said, almost in a whisper.

"Everything?"

A smile broke across his face as he nodded, pulling me into his arms and holding me there. I could hear by the thoughts of others that we had gained allies as other vampires regained their memories. Some turned and fled, knowing they had just been fighting against the Volturi and fearing repercussion. The fight was as good as won.

Only one thing left to attend to.

"Come on, baby," I purred in Jasper's ear. "Let's finish this." He nodded, and we stood, picking up where we'd left off following Caius' scent.

We ran for miles into the forest. Soon I could hear the sound of heartbeats and cries of terror. When we broke through into a clearing, I found out why.

The Quileute wolves had captured Caius and were tormenting and toying with him.

"Stop!" Jasper cried, gaining their attention.

One of the wolves growled in our direction.

"He wants to know why," I translated.

"Trust me, I know you'd like nothing more than to destroy him, and I believe you have every right to." Jasper spoke with understanding and sympathy. "But Aro has demanded to have him brought back alive." When several of the wolves snarled, Jasper's eyes turned pleading. "Please...you have lost enough. Crossing the Volturi will only cost you more...I beg you."

The one I knew as Jacob stepped forward, and pushed Caius toward us with his massive head.

"Thank you," I whispered.

We escorted Cauis back, flanked by the wolves. They wanted to know what would become of him, to see that he would pay for the atrocities he had committed.

We returned to find Carlisle and Edward standing and speaking with another vampire. He had ghostly pale skin and long black hair. He looked frail.

"Is that Aro?" I muttered in disbelief. Jasper nodded reverently. "He's not as scary looking as I thought."

Jasper cut his eyes at me, his brow furrowed and shook his head. Appearance isn't everything, darlin'...Please don't cross him.

I rolled my eyes, but nodded in consent.

As we approached, Aro turned, his gaze falling on the man who had betrayed him. Without a word, he stepped forward and snatched Caius's hand into his own.

I looked to Jasper, confused.

Aro can see every thought you've ever had with one touch. Everything Caius has done or even thought of doing, Aro now knows, Jasper explained.

Impressive, I thought.

Aro glared at Caius and lifted his eyes to the trees where the wolves stood, waiting.

"You have committed vile offenses, brother," Aro spoke, his voice even. "But none as horrific as what you've done to them."

"I destroyed a threat!" Caius defended.

"Women and children?" Aro shouted. "What harm could they pose?"

Caius dropped his head, knowing he had nothing in his defense.

"I'm finished here. I believe it only proper justice to turn you over to them, to carry out your sentence as they see fit...Felix?"

Jasper flinched at the overwhelming fear that flooded over Caius, and released his arm as a very large vampire stepped around Aro and seized him. His pleading and cries went unanswered as he was dragged to his fate. Once silence filled the air, Aro turned, his crimson eyes falling on me. He smiled and stretched out his hand.

"You must be Ember...I've heard much about you from your new family."

I grinned, probably a little too smug for Jasper's liking, and laid my hand in Aro's, knowing he would see nothing. "Nice to meet you," I said.

A wide smile graced his face as he turned to Jasper.

"Major Whitlock...quite the catch you have here...Do you mind?" He held his hand out, and Jasper grasped it, giving me a crooked grin. I guess Aro was accustomed to getting what he wanted, one way or another. "What a marvelous creature," Aro breathed, not taking his eyes from me. "You are effected with your mate's abilities and young Bella's...but neither mine or Edward's...I wonder..." He turned to a very young-looking girl with long, blonde hair. "Jane?"

Jasper gasped and grabbed my hand.

I felt nothing when her eyes locked on mine, but whatever she was doing channeled through me into Jasper. He crumpled to the ground, crying out in agony.

I glared at Jane, halting her assault and bringing her to her knees, screaming in pain.

Jasper was instantly on his feet, standing between us with his hands on my shoulders. "Ember, stop! I'm fine!"

"Astounding," Aro murmured.

I laid my head against Jasper's chest as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

"I want to go home," I muttered, answering aloud the question in Aro's mind of weather or not I would join his guard.

He chuckled and turned to Carlisle. "You and your family may go, dear friend. We will clean up here, thank you for all you've done."