***Thanks for all of the love over the last chapter. I didn't have time to respond back to everyone, but I thought you might like the chapter a few days earlier instead. I hope I wasn't wrong.
***Thanks beta girls. I could never get these chapters out as fast as I do without the two of you!
***You all know I don't own anything, but this Darkward is mine. Enjoy…
JPOV
Bella was finally starting to move, so I slipped back into bed with her and pulled her into my arms.
"Hmm," she sighed. "Jasper."
"Yes, darlin'," I said, as I kissed her hair.
"What time is it?"
"Noon," I laughed.
"Oh," she jumped up. "Why did you let me sleep so long?"
"You had a busy night trying to keep up with your vampire," I smiled.
"My vampire," she smiled. "Is incredible."
"So is my human," I laughed.
"You hunted," she observed.
"How did you know that?"
"Your eyes are always the most brilliant shade of gold just after you feed."
"I'm glad you like them," I said. "It wasn't always that way, you know."
"I know," she frowned. "But that's in the past."
"It is," I said. "And, we have a whole new life in front of us." While she slept, I planned. I had a few things to do to make what I wanted happen. "I've started you a bath and I've made you lunch."
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Just up to the main house," I said.
"Can't I come?"
"You can meet me there if you want," I smiled. "I need to speak to Carlisle."
"About?"
"Things," I smiled. "It's all good, I promise."
"Okay," she said. "I'll let you be cryptic because I'm hungry."
"Thanks," I said. "What would you like to do today?"
"Snuggle on the couch with you, eat Chinese food, and not get around to watching a movie," she smirked.
"I see," I smiled. "And why won't we be watching that movie?"
"Because you can't keep your hands off me," she laughed.
"I think it's the other way around," I said.
"I say we're even."
"Agreed," I leaned in and kissed her softly. "Meet me at the house. You can visit with Rose and Alice and then we'll come back here and spend a quiet evening."
"Not too quiet?"
"You're so wicked," I said. "But, I like it."
"Jasper," she said, as I started to walk out of the room, but then I turned and stared at her. I could feel everything she was projecting. She was wrapped in the sheets, her hair was tangled and flowing down her back and her lips were swollen from my assault last night, but she was the most exquisite creature I had ever seen.
"I love you too, Bella," I smiled.
I ran to the house and flew up to Carlisle's study. He looked up and smiled.
"Have a good night?" he asked.
"I did," I said.
"You seem extremely happy and Bella looks more radiant every time I see her. You two belong together and I'm so glad you found one another."
"That's one of the reasons I'm here," I said. "I want to ask the chief if I can marry Bella. I know he's going to say we're too young."
"Probably," he laughed. "But if he only knew."
"Then he'd really say no," I said.
"I guess you're right," he smiled, and I felt how sympathetic he was to my plight. Bella was too young and her father would probably want her to wait, but I knew she was the only one for me.
"Charlie will probably be home in a few weeks, and he's not going to appreciate the fact that I built Bella a house and moved her in with me. I'll need to convince him that I respect her and I want to make her my wife. Will you go with me?"
"If you think I can help," he said.
"Well, I thought you can appeal on my behalf, from one father to another?"
"Jasper?"
"Tell him how smart and responsible I am," I said. "I'm going to be a doctor, just like my father, and I have a large trust fund."
"I don't think he'll care about the money, especially if he's anything like his daughter."
"I know, but can you help me?"
"Of course," he said. "I know Bella belongs with you."
"Charlie won't be easy," I reminded him.
"Neither were all of those building inspectors, but I managed to get you the permits to build that house in two weeks, didn't I?
"That's why I'm asking you to come with me," I smiled. "You have a way with humans."
"You're quite the charmer yourself," he smiled. "But, I want Bella in this family too."
"Thanks, Dad," I smiled.
I felt his gratitude. "I'm glad you finally feel part of this coven," he said. "You struggled for so many years and then when Alice left you, you considered leaving us."
"I'm glad I didn't," I said. "I know this is where I'm meant to be. I've always been a Cullen." I ran my hand over the wrist band that I wore that held the family crest.
"I'm happy you finally see that," he said. "I've waited so long for you to figure it out."
"Better late than never," I said, as my phone started to vibrate.
"Go ahead," he said. "Take it."
I glanced down at the display screen.
"It's Peter," I said. "Maybe you should stay and listen."
"If you wish," he said.
"Hey, Peter," I said. "How are you?"
"Jasper," he said, and I felt the distress in his voice. "We may have a problem."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember when I said Phillip had been in France?"
"Yes," I said. "You said he lived there for the past couple of decades. Why is that a big deal?"
"Edward was there as well," he said, and my eyes shot to Carlisle.
"With Phillip?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"I believe so," he said. "Edward and Victoria traveled through here a couple of months ago, wreaking havoc in a small town. One night they stumbled upon a coven and Edward made inappropriate advances toward the leader's mate. She reciprocated and all hell broke loose."
"And then what?" Carlisle asked.
"Another vampire, a nomad with a unique gift or so I'm told, stepped in and tried to diffuse the situation. The coven leader let Edward go, realizing that he was no match for him, but Edward heard his thoughts. The leader was planning on destroying the nomad for interfering, but Edward killed the leader first."
"Leaving the nomad in Edward's debt," I said.
"Phillip?" Carlisle said.
"I think so," Peter said. "I couldn't really confirm it, but the vampire that Edward made advances to said that the nomad was British and he had a different way about him. She said that when she was in the nomad's presence, she was able to tell her mate for the first time that she despised him."
"Fuck!" I shouted. "He made her tell the truth."
"Jasper," Carlisle said. "You have to calm down."
"Calm down?" I said. "That man's been living in this house for weeks, probably spying on Bella for," I stopped. "Bella, I have to go. I left her at the house alone. Unprotected."
"Jasper," Peter said. "We don't know for sure and Edward is nowhere to be found, so don't jump the gun on this."
"It's probably already too late," I said. "Edward has been quiet for too long. What the fuck kind of soldier am I? I let someone infiltrate this house to watch my mate. I knew he wasn't right."
"I'm coming to Forks," Peter said.
"I think you better," I said. "Because I have a feeling I'll need all the help I can get." I flipped the phone shut. "Convinced now?"
"I'm sorry, Jasper," Carlisle said. "I should have gone with your initial instincts from the very beginning."
"Where is Alice?" I asked. "I know she's not here in the house."
"They didn't come home after the gala. She left Esme a voicemail saying that they were taking a trip."
"Where?" I said as I dialed her number, but it immediately went into voicemail.
"Alice," I growled. "You call me the minute you get this fucking message. If you knew anything about this, I'll kill you myself, but not before I make you watch me destroy that traitor."
"Jasper," Carlisle said. "Stop this. You don't know anything yet, but I do not believe that Alice would betray this coven for Edward. Not the Edward he is today, anyway."
I tried to focus. I knew Carlisle was right. We didn't have the facts yet. "I need to get to Bella," I said. "I'll bring her back here and we can figure this out."
"I'll let the others know what's going on," he said, as his office phone began to ring. He glanced at the caller ID. "It's Italy." His emotions were ominous now.
"Hello," Carlisle answered.
"Dr. Cullen?" the female voice said.
"Yes," he said.
"I have Aro on the line for you," she said.
"Very well," he said.
"Carlisle," Aro spoke. "How are you?"
"I'm fine and you?" Carlisle shrugged his shoulders at me.
"I'm well," he said. "How is the family?"
"We're good," he said. "But, I doubt that's why you are calling."
"You seem to be missing one member," he said. "A rather prominent one."
"Do you know where Edward is?" He asked.
"We did," Aro said. "He has been causing quite the disturbance here in Italy, Volterra to be specific. My territory, Carlisle."
"I see," he said. "You have him then?"
"No, he seems to have eluded us," he said.
"He got out of Italy," Carlisle said, and I felt his shock.
"How is that possible?" I asked. "No one gets in or out without your knowledge."
"Aro," Carlisle said. "Jasper is with me."
"Trust me, Jasper," Aro said. "We're as stunned as you are that he made it out of here. Demetri is fit to be tied. No one has ever slipped through his fingers. He is a vampire on a mission. I don't even think that I could control him now."
"What are you planning?" Carlisle asked. "Why are you calling to share this with me?"
"It seems he left behind his accomplice," Aro sighed. "I have agreed to let her live, in captivity of course, and she has helped us figure out where he's headed."
"Here," I said, and suddenly felt sick. I knew it was too late.
"Yes," Aro said. "He's headed straight for Isabella."
"When did he leave Italy?" I asked. "How long do I have?"
"That seems to be in dispute." he said. "We're not sure how many days ago he left."
"Days?" I said. "I have to go."
"Jasper, wait," Aro said. "I know how fond you all are of this human and I don't know if she still has feelings for Edward, so don't any of you think about harboring him. He will pay for his actions in Italy."
"Aro," Carlisle said. "No matter what my son has done, I will not hand him over to you to destroy him."
"Carlisle," I growled. "I'm going to kill him first."
"Jasper, you will do no such thing" Aro said. "I don't want to destroy him. I can't kill a vampire with his gifts. After he completes his punishment, he will join me here. But, I have to find him first. He is extremely strong, immune to most gifts and very cunning. I don't know how he suppressed this side of himself for all of these decades, but he is one of the most powerful vampires I have ever encountered. There's only one destiny for a vampire like that. He belongs here in Italy."
"I have to get to Bella," I said, as I stood up and headed for the door.
"We're on our way," Aro said. "We'll remove him from the situation. Carlisle, my Guard is your only chance at stopping him." The line went silent.
Carlisle looked at me and then shouted, "Go get Bella!" I felt his fear crash into me. "I'll get Emmett and we'll meet you there." He knew how dire this was. If Edward was as powerful as Aro said he was, we didn't stand a chance.
I took off through the trees, trying to stay rational. I wasn't gone that long. He couldn't have gotten to her that fast. I burst through the back door.
"Bella," I screamed. Her lunch was still on the counter, untouched. "Bella, baby," I shouted, as I ran up the steps. I didn't hear her. I knew she wasn't here. I pulled my phone from my pocket and called her cell. Maybe she was outside. I could hope. As soon as I dialed, I heard it ringing as I approached our bedroom. It was on her nightstand, where she always left it when she was home.
I dropped to my knees when I took in his scent. He was in our bedroom, not even ten minutes ago.
"No!" I screamed. "No, no, no!"
Carlisle and Emmett were right behind me, pulling me up off the floor.
"Jazz?" Emmett said, as he looked around the room, searching for Bella. I felt his fear.
"He fucking has her," I screamed, as the sheer terror of the circumstance came over me.
BPOV
I stepped out of the tub and dried myself off as I thought back to the amazing evening Jasper and I had shared the night before. The stairwell sex was probably the most intense experience of my life. I had no idea that anything could feel that good. But, it wasn't just the physical bond, no; it was much more than that. I was connected to Jasper on so many other levels that it sometimes took my breath away. I couldn't even begin to describe what I felt for him, so it was a good thing I didn't have to verbally express it. He knew exactly how I felt, whether I said it or not. I believed that he would know, even if he wasn't an empath. Our love knew no boundaries and it would never end. I was positive that it would grow stronger every day. I took comfort in the fact that nothing could ever come between us. I had never been more positive of anything in my life.
I tightened the towel around my body and stepped into the bedroom. I felt an odd chill run down my spine as I shivered. I looked over at the French doors and saw they were slightly ajar. That was strange, I thought. I didn't remember them being open.
Maybe Jasper was back. I walked over and glanced out, but he wasn't there, so I stepped back in and closed them, but now I felt even colder. It was as if Jasper's frigid body was standing behind me. I felt his breath against the back of my neck as he spoke.
"Hello, love," he whispered against my hair.
I couldn't move. The lump in my throat had formed so quickly and now the tears were starting to spill out of the corners of my eyes. I was wrong; there was one thing that could come between me and Jasper and now he was standing right behind me.
"Edward," I whispered, as he came around me and stood directly in front of me. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that anyway to greet me?" he asked. "I've missed you."
I backed away from him, but he moved with me and now the back of my legs were pressed against the bed.
"How long did you think I would let you play house out here in the woods with my brother?" he asked.
"Edward," I said. "Please just go. I won't tell Jasper you were here."
He laughed. "He'll smell me," he said, as he ran his hand down my arm.
"What do you want?"
"You," he smirked, and I suddenly felt as if I might vomit.
"You can't have me," I said. "You left. You chose Victoria."
"No," he shook his head. "I could never leave you. You weren't ready before, but now I'll make you see the life we can have."
"I have a life," I said. "Look around. This is my house, the one I share with Jasper."
He glanced around the room and then to the bed. "It didn't take you long, did it? I guess it doesn't matter to you which one of us it is, as long as you have a cold body to sleep with. Is Emmett next? Or is it Carlisle?"
"It will only ever be Jasper," I said, realizing there wasn't much I could do to get out of this, but I would try. I slipped past him and moved closer to the door.
I didn't even see him move, but he was standing in front of it before I even got there. "Bella," he sighed. "Let's not play games. You can't out run me, so don't try. This life," he said, as he motioned around the room. "It's over, love. It's time to come back to me."
"Please, Edward," I begged. "I don't want to."
"You will," he smiled, as he reached out to stroke my hair, but I backed away. "Get dressed."
"I'm not going with you," I said. "Jasper will never let you take me."
"I won't have to take you," he said. "You'll come willingly."
"You really have lost your mind," I said. "I'm not going anywhere with you." Maybe if he saw how much I despised him, he'd leave me alone.
"Get dressed or I'll do it for you," he growled, and it was nowhere near as sexy as when Jasper did it. In fact, it was quite scary. He took a step closer to me.
"Okay," I held my hands up. "I'll get dressed." I would do anything I could to avoid him touching me. I walked over to my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. "Can I go in the bathroom?"
"No," he said.
"Edward?"
He rolled his piercing red eyes and turned around so that he wasn't looking at me. "It's not like I haven't seen you naked before."
I was sick just thinking about it. I quickly got dressed, hoping that Jasper would come back, but that probably wasn't going to happen since I was meeting him at the main house. Maybe he would sense my distress.
"I'm finished," I said, as I slipped on my Converse sneakers. He turned and stared at me.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered. "I've missed you so much." He held out his hand for me. "Come, we have to go."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be," he said.
"Why would you think you could come back here after all of this time and make me leave with you? You can't be that desperate, to make me go with you when you know that I don't want you."
He was in my face in an instant. "Don't say things like that," he yelled, and it hurt my ears. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to the French doors.
"No," I screamed, as I planted my feet as hard as I could into the floor. I pushed at him and wiggled as much as I could, but he wrapped his arms around me and held me against his body.
"Listen to me," he said. "You're coming with me either way. You can kick and scream, but you're coming."
"No," I cried. "Jasper will come for me. He won't stop until he finds me."
"We're not going to hide from Jasper, love," he said. "I can't have him following us for eternity."
"Then give up, because he'll never stop," I said.
"Yes," he smirked. "He will, because you're going to tell him to."
"No, I'm not." I said. "I would never do that to him."
"Not even to save his life?"
"What?"
"I'm not heartless," he said. "I'll give you a choice. You come with me and I'll let Jasper live, but if you refuse me, I'll kill him and then you'll come with me. See, you're coming either way."
"What kind of choice is that?" I asked, calling his bluff. "You wouldn't kill him."
"Wouldn't I? I've killed for less, so how could you think I wouldn't kill for you?"
"You know that I would never forgive you," I said. "You wouldn't win."
"I'm willing to take that chance. Are you?"
"You'd risk having me hate you for eternity?"
"That's not the way I see it, love," he said, looking so smug. "We don't take many of our human memories into the next life. If I turn you and you wake to me, I can make it so that Jasper never existed for you. It will be my venom that courses through your veins. Do you know the loyalty you'll have to your creator? There will be nothing for you to hate me for. As a newborn, you'll start over with me, as it should be."
"I could never forget Jasper," I said. "Our connection is too strong."
"Is that a chance you're willing to take?" He asked. "If you do it my way, he still lives. He'll get over you, but if you refuse, you'll be responsible for my actions. Will you risk Jasper's existence?"
"No," I whispered, because I knew I couldn't. I also knew if we didn't leave here soon, Jasper would come looking for me and I didn't want him here. Edward was immune to his gift, so that would put them on a level playing field. Jasper had military experience. He'd be at an advantage. Suddenly I felt hopeful.
"Jasper's older than you," I said. "He's stronger."
Edward found that rather amusing. "That may have been the case before, but maybe we never mentioned that living off animal blood makes us weaker, and thanks to you, Jasper hasn't slipped up in a very long time. I also think it's worth mentioning that when I changed, I not only became immune to gifts, but I developed newborn strength."
"Oh," I swallowed hard. So much for a level playing field.
"Are you still betting on Jasper?"
"Don't do this," I pleaded. "If you love me, you'll go."
"It's because I love you that I can't go," he said. "I found you, that makes you mine and only mine."
"You left me," I said. "Twice."
"The first time I was trying to protect you," he said. "And this last time, I didn't have a choice. I needed to figure out who I was and what I was capable of."
"And you're capable of kidnapping me and killing your brother?"
"I've always been capable of that," he said. "You just helped bring it out of me."
"No," I shook my head.
"I have four volatile newborns with me," he informed me. "They are positioned along the perimeter of the main house. Esme is on her way home from the store. She won't even see them coming."
"No," I felt the warm tears slid down my face. "Stop them." I couldn't get the image of beautiful, motherly Esme out of my head. She didn't deserve this.
"You have the power to keep them all alive," he said. "If you come with me now, I won't hurt them."
"Jasper?"
"I'll leave him alone, as long as he accepts that you're staying with me," he said.
"He'll never accept that," I said.
"He will if you tell him," he said. "Once we're on my territory, I'll let him come to you and you can tell him."
"Please," I begged. "Don't take me away from him. I love him."
"I know you do," he said. "That's why I know you'll protect him." He held out his hand for me to take it. "You're wasting time. Think of Esme, she'll be getting out of her car soon and Carlisle won't get to her fast enough."
My body shook with fear, but what choice did I have? "Stop them," I whispered. "I'll go with you."
He took my hand and led me out the doors. He pulled his phone from his jacket and I heard him tell someone by the name of Riley to back off the main house and meet us at the cabin. I started to feel weak as reality set in. He must have seen it in my face.
"It's okay," he said, as he pulled me onto his back. "This is the way it was always meant to be." I couldn't even scream as he jumped off the balcony and took off past the stream…our stream.
Would I ever see it again?
***Really, what choice did she have? Now, don't kill me yet…let me tell the story. It makes it more interesting that way, don't you think? lol
***I know that many of you have reminded me that Jasper is the God of War and the Major, but we've been there and done that. Let's switch it up a bit and see what happens. I told you I was trying something different. Trust Me?
