Jasper's POV
"So what do we do now?" Emmett mutters from somewhere behind me.
"We wait." Alice says.
I held Gwen's body in my arms, shacking her occasionally; she wouldn't wake up.
"Edward?" I asked.
"I don't know." He sounds as defeated as I did. "It's hard to make out. Like her mind is resetting itself."
"She's protecting herself." Carlisle's voice is monotone. "After that…"
The last of the newborns were thrown into the smoldering piles almost an hour ago now. It had all happened so fast. The battle was over before most of us even realized what was going on. Gwen had done it all by herself. Every last one of those filthy newborns was shattered by her hand.
I've never seen someone so powerful. The scene keeps playing through my head.
"Her eyes." I murmured to myself.
"I've never seen anything like it." Carlisle comments.
She had been in so much pain. I could feel that before her screams silenced all of us. Both of her eyes had turned the same ice blue and glowed as if touched by God. They looked so unnerving, unnatural. A nearly tangible presence spread through the field; no one could move. After a moment only the newborns were affected, the rest of us could only watch. In unison the newborns screamed to match Gwen's perfectly. I could feel their anguish. I wouldn't wish this on even the foulest of souls.
My family along with the wolves were stuck in some kind of paralysis. Then the newborns began to move. It looked as if someone was physically forcing their limbs as they moved in awkward jerking spurts. The newborn closest to me, a man in his mid-20s, raised his hands to grip the sides of his head. He began to scream louder as he slowly applied more force. The boy collapsed to the ground; his head caved in.
Esme and Alice had started screaming then.
All the newborns followed a similar process. Some mimicked the boy at my feet and crushed their skulls. Others removed their heads from their shoulders. All of them screamed and cursed and I felt every shred of agony as they ended their lives. One girl, with a fairly young face and long brunette hair, stood out. She looked around panicked, but alive. It was as if Gwen couldn't decide if she should be spared or not. Then like the others she started to scream. Her hands started to reach for her neck when she just snapped out of it. She looked around frantically, still unable to move.
A moment passed.
Gwen's eyes turned completely black, as if someone had turned a switch, and she crumpled to the ground. The paralysis lifted and I was at her side before I registered the thought.
It's been an hour now and she was still out. Her eyes had returned to their normal patchwork of blue and orange.
The newborn Gwen had spared was curled up at Emmett's feet. We figured she may still be in shock from Gwen's possession. Carlisle was still deciding what should be done with her, but he decided not to make any judgments until Gwen had returned to us. She had spared her for a reason after all.
Edward wasn't too pleased by this. He thought one newborn was enough.
My family and the wolves suddenly turned to face the forest. Something was coming. I turned to look, but from my current position I was unable to see much.
"The Volturi will be here soon." Alice said softly from my side.
I nodded for her to join the others. She let out a quiet sigh before leaving me. I carefully lifted Gwen into my arms and moved to stand behind our family so she was blocked from view. If they attack I have to get Gwen away from here. Aro could not get his hands on her. I wouldn't allow it.
Another moment passed. Jane, Demetri, Felix, and Alec took their time to approach us. I couldn't help but notice how Alec's eyes combed through us, searching. Reflexively I tightened my hold on Gwen and turned my body to shield her. Alec's eyes honed in on me and his jaw flexed.
"I see we missed all the fun." Jane's voice sent a chill through my body.
"It was quite the spectacle, I only wish you'd been here for it." Edward retorted.
Carlisle put a warning hand on Edwards shoulder.
"Restrain yourself, son." He muttered.
Carlisle moved forward to stand before us.
"Please forgive my son." Carlisle said, "However as your services are no longer necessary, I suggest you take your leave."
Jane clucked her tongue and took a few steps closer to us. She tilted her head as her eyes swept over us. A small smile touched her lips and she looked back to her fellow guard members.
"I don't know boys." She drawled. "I count two newborns that still need our attention."
I growled a low warning sound, as did the wolves and my brothers. Jane hesitated.
"New pets?" She commented.
"Old friends." Carlisle smiled.
"How quaint." She muttered. "Now bring the newborns forward so my work can be done."
Carlisle sighed and made a distressed face.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Jane." Carlisle said after a moment. "These girls are a part of this family."
"Where you the one who turned them?" Felix sneered.
"No howev-"
"Then I don't see a reason we should respect your tie to these girls." Felix growled.
"Please Carlisle, you're an old friend of the Master's. Don't cause any more trouble." Jane warned. "You're 'family' is lucky I haven't already reported your crimes."
A beat.
"What crimes." Carlisle asks, his voice guarded and low.
Jane smiled then.
"Fuck." Edward mutters just loud enough for me to hear.
"Demetri." Jane commends.
Demetri quickly disappears into the forest. He returns moments later with a human girl.
The girl was fairly thin with dark skin and large almond shaped eyes. Her hands were bound together and a cloth gag placed in her mouth. A large bandage covered the side of her neck; blood was seeping through. Bruises covered nearly ever visible patch of skin.
Demetri tore the bandage from her skin and shoved her forward, causing her to stumble and crash hard to the ground. She squirmed and managed to right herself to a kneeling position before us.
A wail suddenly pierced the air.
The newborn had somehow slipped Emmett's watch and was running toward the human. The Volturi didn't react as she pinned the human to the ground. The newborns teeth were just at the human's neck when a wolf tore her off.
Seth was merciless as he ripped and crushed the newborn into a mangled heap. Esme breezed over to the human and snatched her up, bringing her to safety behind our family.
"Well that solves one problem." Jane smirked.
Demetri tossed a lighter on the newborns remains.
We all watched for a while as the girl's body burned. It was over too quickly for her. Tragic.
Edward turned to look at me and then the human. I followed his gaze. The girl did smell familiar. Like I've seen her somewhere in a dream.
When the human looked up at Edward and her eyes nearly fell out of her head. She thrashed and tried to scream through the gag. Esme held her tight and tried to calm her down. Seth was by her side in an instant, shielding her from me. A strong cloud of fear surrounded her.
"So she recognizes you." Jane says.
Edward opened his mouth but quickly closed it when no wards came forth.
"That girl right there is the lone survivor to the… escapades of Major Jasper Whitlock and Edward Anthony Masen. Would the two guilty parties please step forward?" Jane mocked.
A lump formed in my throat. This can't be real. I didn't know the girl. I wasn't in control. I couldn't stop.
Alice come to my side and took my face in her hands.
"It's going to be ok." She whispered to me. "I'll hold her."
It took me a moment to comprehend the situation. I had to give Gwen to her.
Gently I slid Gwen into Alice's arms. The Volturi's eyes honed in on Gwen in an instant.
"Keep her away from them." I told my wife.
She nodded.
My family reluctantly made a path for Edward and me to stand accused.
"Jasper Whitlock-"
"Cullen." I muttered.
Jane's attention snapped to me and I felt my skin crawl.
"What."
"My name is Jasper Cullen." I paused. "Ma'am."
"Whatever." She mumbled. "Jasper Cullen you slaughtered an innocent gathering of humans and neglected to clean up the mess. Leaving that much carnage tends to arouse the human populations imagination. Not only that but you left one of them alive. An eye witness to vampire race. Do you have anything to say about this disgusting display of neglect?" Jane purred.
Small bits and scraps of memories began filling my mind. I was guilty, there was no questioning that. I killed all those people. After so many years of working to control myself just to have it all thrown away in one night. So many lives taken by my hand as if I was making up for lost time. The worst was that I was there, mentally. I knew what I was doing. I just couldn't stop. I couldn't stop. Gwen.
I broke out of my thoughts then.
"I was possessed, you little witch." I snarled.
Immediately the pain hit me. Flowing through ever vein. Burning every cell. This felt worse than the dozens of scars that crisscrossed by skin. Worse than the pain what brought me into this new life.
I fell to my knees and howled in pain.
I will never regret what I said.
A familiar screech tuned out my cry of agony and suddenly the pain was gone all together. All attention was turned toward Alice and the screaming newborn in her arms.
Gwen's eyes snapped open, back to glowing with their unnatural power. After a second her eyes returned once again to normal and her scream was silenced.
Alice still held her in her arms. Gwen looked dazed and very confused. Like a child waking up from their afternoon nap only to find it's dark outside. Gen blinked a few times. Then a few times more.
Slowly, Alice placed Gwen on her feet. She wobbled a bit but Carlisle was there to catch her. She looked very weak.
"How are you feeling?" Carlisle asked.
He began checking her eyes and her other senses as if she'd suffered a concussion.
"Tired. What happened? What's going on?" She asked.
No one said anything at first.
"These two are about to be sentenced to death." Jane piped up.
"What?!" She panicked
Her sudden burst of energy was short lived and her knees gave out, sending her to the ground. Carlisle helped her to her feet but she quickly dismissed him. I could feel her embarrassment.
Gwen slowly made her way to stand in front of Edward and me. I gave her a small smile but all I got in return were eyes that threatened tears. She stumbled once again and I caught her easily and steadied her on her feet.
I caught a small movement from the corner of my eye. Alec was fidgeting with his robe, his eyes on Gwen.
"I'm ok." She said quickly, trying to stand on her own.
Edward sighed and pulled her face to his in one fluid motion. Gwen struggled for a moment.
"You're making a fool of yourself." Edward muttered in her ear.
She was still then.
Gwen and Edward made eye contact and they seemed to communicate for a moment. Gwen's expression turned to pure horror and guilt was flowing from her in waves.
She heaved a heavy sigh and Edward gingerly let her face go. Gwen straightened up as tall as she could manage and moved to stand between the two lines. She looked so fragile out there. My little baby bird.
"Edward and Jasper are not to be blamed for what happened." Gwen spoke up. "It was all my fault."
Gwen turned to look at me for a moment before facing front.
"I take full responsibility for my actions." Her voice faded out to nothing.
There was a long pause while Jane decided what her next move was. A mix of emotions, anger, betrayal, loneliness, all swirled around her in a haze.
Jane looked down at her feet for a moment and twisted the ring on her finger. She looked so innocent and exposed in that instant. Something I was unaware Jane could be.
Her gaze locked on to Gwen then. He eyes narrowed.
"Kill her." Jane commanded.
Without hesitation Felix leapt forward and lunged for Gwen. Gwen was slow to react, still drained. She lifted her hands up to shield her from the attack. Her scream sounded far away in my ears as I charged toward her.
She couldn't be gone that easy.
Felix's hands just grabbed her shoulders when he unexpectedly stopped. The massive vampire stood awkwardly at an angle. His eyes were wide and hollow, as if the life had just vanished from his body. Felix began to sway before choosing a side and collapsing to the ground.
Alec appeared behind him. There was death in his eyes and a rage I've never felt before. I glanced down. Felix's spine was in his hand. Alec crouched down to look Felix in the eye.
"I told you not to touch her." Alec snarled in his ear.
Alec swiftly stomped down on Felix's neck, removing the head. He tossed the spine on the ground and crouched down to help Gwen to her feet.
"Alec." Jane muttered in astonishment. "What have you done?" she whispered.
"I resigned." Alec voice was stern and absolute.
Alec unclipped his robe and let it fall to the ground. He yanked the chain, which held the Volturi emblem, and tossed it to Jane's feet.
"Alec, stop." All menace left her voice. She sounded like a child.
"Jane, I'm done." Alec said. "I told you it wasn't enough. I can't live like that anymore. Let me go."
The whole world seemed to go silent in that instant. No one moved. No one spoke. We all just watched. The unthinkable was happening. Aro's guard was falling apart. Something so set in stone and absolute was vanquished in an instant. All for the newborn no one knew.
I glanced over at Gwen then. She looked human the way she was slumped over, her eyes drooped. She was such a strong creature yet so delicate. She couldn't possibly know what she's done. Alec's love for her was about to topple the oldest government in history.
I felt the wave of anguish before Jane reacted. She screamed like a caged animal as she lunged at Gwen. Before Jane even touched her, Gwen was sent to her knees by the pain of Jane's gift. They collided and Jane appeared on top after a short scuffle.
Jane was plucked off Gwen instantaneously.
Alec held her from behind and snarled. He swiftly sunk his teeth into his sister's neck. When he bit down harder Jane's scream filled the forest.
With Jane's gift she rarely has to experience close combat with another vampire. She's never felt another's teeth on her skin. Now Alec…
Alec abruptly pulled away and shoved her toward Demetri, who hasn't reacted to a single thing that's taken place. Jane scrambled to her feet and looked at Alec. I've never seen a look of betrayal so deep in my entire existence.
"Demetri, take her away before I kill her." Alec snarled.
Demetri breezed forward and took Jane up in his arms. He gave Alec a small nod and vanished into the trees.
"So one more addition to the family?" Emmett laughed.
