I don't own Twilight, Stephanie Meyers does.

Chapter 29

Bella could feel the pull in her chest, the place where Jasper was. She knew if she closed her eyes and followed that pull she would find him. If she could find him then he could find her. She couldn't let that happen, couldn't let him be hurt.

Sanity started to gain a foot hold in her mind and her running slowed. If she went after Maria then Jasper would follow. She couldn't risk his life, maybe she should turn around. As the thought entered her head the red haze of anger soon followed and what little grip she had on herself started to slip away.

'Stow it away' the thought whispered in her mind. She could tuck that part of her away. Like she did during the change. Block off the piece of her that was attached to Jasper. Wall it off with a wall so high that he would no longer feel her and couldn't follow her.

It wasn't as hard as she thought it would be and she soon found herself on Jasper's porch. It was different this time. Last time she had felt no pain in this place. Now she felt her body moving, felt the hunger that burned her throat, felt the single minded determination. While she could feel it all she still could not break through the madness that had her in its grip.

She wasn't even sure she wanted to. Maria had to pay on that she was sure both in her madness and her sanity.


Jasper began to think as he ran. Things Alice had told him came back to him. She had told him that he messed up her visions. If that were true perhaps he could get to Bella before she attacked Maria, even though Alice's vision said Bella would arrive first.

How could he do that? She had a head start and newborn speed. He had a good idea where Maria was but he wasn't sure. It had been a long time and she probably had moved her headquarters. There was a good chance Bella would find her first.

If he could just feel her again…how had she managed to cut off their connection? He had thought she was his mate, their feelings for each other were so strong. What could break the connection between mates?

Alice had said that she would make it to Maria, that meant Bella was alive. So death wasn't the answer. He shook his head at this thought. His stomach clenched at the thought of her death.

A gift might be able to do it. A shield…it had to be someone with a shield. Edward had never been able to read Bella's mind. Jasper's gift had worked on her though. It had to be Bella that was the shield. If it was an enemy how would Bella make it to Maria like Alice had predicted….Jasper stopped that train of thought. He didn't trust Alice's visions. Hadn't they been wrong many times concerning him?

He just had to deal with what he had and not give up. If Bella was a shield and was shielding herself from him, then she was very powerful. Still no shield was perfect. He didn't believe she could shield herself from the pull of the mating bond completely.

He just needed to concentrate…He began to breathe, not because he needed to but because it helped him center himself, calmed him and helped him focus. Nothing happened and Jasper growled in frustration.

Maybe he was going about this wrong. He was trying to connect to their vampiric bond, but their bond was so much more. He had felt it when they made love. She was a part of him, she completed him, filled him. She had given him a piece of herself that first night and he was sure she couldn't take that away.

He relived the feelings that had rushed through him that night and found that part of him he left with her. He could feel her emotions. It was faint and her anger was almost overwhelming. As he focused on her the feeling grew stronger and he knew where she was.

"I'm coming darlin'." He whispered grimly, hoping that she could hear him and would feel his love for her just as he could feel her anger.


Charlie slowed as he came in sight of the cabin. Someone was there and he felt his nerves begin to jump as Leah came up beside him. He moved in front of her and growled softly.

Leah wasn't happy with that, she shifted and moved beside him. Charlie was about to demand whoever was there make an appearance when a woman came out of the cabin. She was small and her hair was short. She had a mischievous grin on her face and Charlie felt a little of his apprehension fade.

"Hello Charlie, hi Leah." She called in greeting.

"Hello Alice." He finally answered. He hadn't recognized her at first. His sight was so different, everything looked and felt so different. He struggled for a moment as anxiety threatened to overwhelm him. He knew of Alice's gift and her appearance couldn't be a good thing in spite of her grin.

"Bella and Jasper need you. We just need to wait for Garrett and Jacob and then I will take you to her." She told him and then went back into the cabin.

Charlie looked at Leah, she seemed to calm him and he needed that right now if he was going to think clear enough to help his friend and daughter.

He straightened up out of his crouch, took a deep unneeded breath and followed Alice into the cabin. Leah stayed beside him and the brush of her fur beneath his hand helped keep him grounded. Helped keep the fear from taking over. Thoughts of letting Leah go were slowly replaced with thoughts of how much he needed her.


Bella stayed to the shadows. It was easier than she thought it would be to avoid humans. For the most part she stayed away from them but she had fed twice when her hunger and the scent of human blood had gotten too much for her.

She felt no guilt. Maybe later she would but right now only her purpose burned through her. She had to find Maria. She knew she needed to go to Texas and from there she just needed to find vampires willing to direct her.

She stopped suddenly as she felt a familiar touch in her mind…"Jasper…" She whispered whirling around, trying to see him. She could find him nowhere. She searched for his scent but found nothing. She examined her wall and found it intact.

She started to feel uneasy but decided that she would continue on. She ran a little more cautiously but it wasn't enough. She was tackled to the ground suddenly.

She was about to throw off her attacker when his scent caught up to her and instead of pushing him away she pulled him closer. She attacked his lips, kissing him fiercely, her passion for him almost overwhelming the rage.

Almost but not quite. She pulled back and looked up at him. His hood was back on and he was trying to hide his scars from her. Bella growled in anger. He was trying to protect her, trying to get her to change her course. She was hurting him…

Bella squeezed her eyes shut and groaned. She wanted to be able to pull down his hood, kiss every scar, prove she loved him but she knew if she saw his scars it would set off the fury again. She had to take care of Maria, had to make her pay. Only when Maria was dead could she look at those scars the way she had as a human.

"I can't help it…I have to make her pay Jasper." She told him hoping he would understand.

Jasper sat up, he grabbed her hand and pulled it to his lips. He kissed it tenderly and Bella didn't even think of trying to escape she was too caught up in the spell of love he was weaving around her.

"Do you feel it Bella?" He whispered.

Bella struggled, his love helped, calmed her enough that she hadn't attacked him, but the rage simmered.

"Feel what?" She asked unsure if he meant the love he was sending.

"Do you know how I found you? How I managed to catch up to you, even though you are faster than me and shielded me from our mating bond?" He asked.

She couldn't speak so just shook her head. The shield was still in place, part of her was still hiding in the oasis in her mind.

"What we have is more than a normal mating bond. There is a piece of you in me, completing me and a piece of me in you. You can feel it if you try. I found it by remembering our first time together." Jasper told her.

Maybe if she could find this connection she could end this madness. She tried but she couldn't overcome the anger. She remembered the night, remembered the feelings. They were so intense that the memory had survived her change. It didn't reveal this connection for her, though.

She growled her frustration and the anger began to rise again. She threw Jasper off of her and turned to run again. She could out distance him she was sure.

"Bella if you die I will die." Jasper called out stopping her.

She turned to look at him her eyes wide and conflicted. Her fear for his life and her rage at Maria freezing her in place.

"What we have is so much more than a normal bond. I won't live a life of sorrow like Marcus. I will die. We are too connected for either of us to survive without the other." He told her.

Bella felt like screaming as her emotions warred inside her.

"I know what you are feeling Bella. I know you have to do this. I will help you." He told her, then took a tentative step forward. "Let me help you." He pleaded.

She really had no choice. She nodded once then turned to continue her quest. She felt him follow her and she let down her shield. It was useless anyways and she didn't like blocking off any part of their bond.

She looked over at him and gave him a brief, grim smile. He nodded and they ran, neither speaking but both determined. Jasper to keep Bella alive and Bella to kill Maria.


Charlie paced. He had followed Alice into the cabin but had been unable to stay in there. It was too confined and his nerves were to high strung. Leah nudged him and he ran his hand through her fur. She had not shifted back to human form. He wasn't sure why but trusted her to know what was best.

Her ears perked up and her head turned to the forest. A big black wolf emerged from the trees and barked in greeting. Leah returned the bark but didn't leave his side. He was grateful because his instincts were screaming at him to attack this new threat. To protect his mate. His rational mind argued that this was Jacob but it was hard to think straight when the scent of him screamed enemy. Why didn't Leah's scent affect him the same way?

He didn't have time to think about it as he felt Leah stiffen underneath his hand. He looked up to see what bothered her and saw the man who had tried to hurt her before. He crouched down readying his attack when he heard Alice's voice yelling behind him.

"Stop! Charlie this is Garrett we need him!" She yelled.

Charlie stopped but he didn't rise from his attack position. He fought with himself, this was worse than the smell of Jacob. Leah was upset, he could feel it. He wanted…no needed to rip this man apart.

"Leah you have to calm down. If you don't then Charlie won't be able to control himself." Alice called as she slowly approached.

For some reason her words pissed Charlie off more and he snarled, but just as he was about to attack Leah moved in front of him. She looked at him with her big expressive eyes. Charlie felt her calm herself. She nudged his hand, licking his palm.

Charlie took a deep soothing breath and slowly stood upright. Garrett wisely kept his distance.

"The helicopter will be here soon. Leah and Jacob you might want to shift for the ride. I brought you both clothes." Alice said.

Alice walked over to Jacob laying his clothes down and then turned to the cabin. Leah followed and Charlie was glad she wouldn't shift in front of the others.

Now that his instincts were under control something about this man…Garrett…was bugging him. He needed something…

Charlie tilted his head as he focused on the feeling he was getting.

"You need help." He said suddenly. The words were seeming to solidify what was running through him.

Garrett looked at him his eyes narrowing.

"You're looking for someone…" Charlie said pausing. He remembered vaguely the diary he had read before the conflict with this vampire. "Carolyn." The name came to him.

Garrett's eyes widened.

"How did you know? Do you know what happened to her?" He asked quickly.

Charlie tried to grasp the feeling tried to find the answers but none would come. He felt Leah come up beside him. Felt her look between the two in curiosity.

"No, I'm sorry." Charlie said with sincere regret.

"I think…no, I know..." Charlie paused whatever was running through him was intense and would not be ignored. "I feel the need to help you. I have to help you. But first we need to save my daughter." He told him.

Garrett looked at him strangely but said nothing. Leah squeezed his hand and smiled at him. Alice smiled knowingly but kept her peace as they heard the helicopter approaching.


Jasper studied his surroundings. Maria was close. He could sense ten guards. A little less than normal for Maria but still a good amount to deal with.

He looked over at Bella, she was barely controlling herself. He was sending her as much love and calm as he could but he knew it wouldn't be enough.

He grabbed her and kissed her with all the love he had inside of him. If they were going to die then they would do so together and knowing that they loved each other.

"I'll try to distract the guards. You handle Maria." He told her. He knew she needed to do this. She needed to soothe the beast inside her that called for revenge. Though it tore at him he knew she needed to defeat Maria on her own. He would handle the guards and give her the time she needed. Hopefully they would win and be gone before the rest of Maria's army could come to her rescue.

He briefly wondered why they weren't here. It was unusual that Maria had so few of her soldiers around her. He hoped it was luck and not a trap. They had not been discreet on their way here.

Suddenly Bella screamed in rage and ran forward, crashing through a door and running through the guards Jasper had sensed. Her attack was so sudden and vicious that the guards were stunned into immobility for a moment. It was all the time Jasper needed.

He sent out a wave of fear, more powerful than he had ever managed before. He moved quickly, borrowing some strength from the link he shared with Bella. He moved in and out. Beheading two before the others gained their wits and began to fight back.

There was no hope of him beating them but he kept them busy and away from Bella while she fought. He caught a glimpse of her occasionally. She was beautiful in her ferocity. Her newborn strength and speed helped but were not an advantage. Maria was used to fighting newborns and she hadn't survived this long on manipulation alone. She was a fierce fighter.

"You need to think Bella. Don't let your instincts rule you. She knows how to fight newborns. You need to think clearly." Jasper called.

If Bella heard him she gave no indication as she screamed again, reaching out for Maria to grab her in a hold that would crush her. Maria laughed and easily evaded her.

"Is this the only thing you could get to fuck you? I'm not surprised. Does she put a bag over your head before she lets you touch her?" Maria taunted.

Bella screamed again and rushed forward. Jasper tried to call out to her, tried to stop her from giving in to Maria's taunts. Maria wanted her to attack wildly.

Maria grabbed an arm that reached for her and bit her. Bella screamed again, in pain this time. Jasper roared out his rage. He was willing to let Bella have her revenge but not for her to be hurt.

He quickly evaded his opponent and landed an earth shattering punch on Maria's face, sending her flying. He raced to Bella's side. He was so intent on her he wasn't paying attention and the five vampires that were left managed to lay hold of him.

He fought wildly but they held their grasp.

"Don't tear him apart yet. I want him in one piece as he watches me tear his pet apart." Maria said as she walked calmly through the hole in the wall that Jasper had just sent her through.

She walked over to him and pulled down his hood. She sneered as she looked on his face and for a moment Jasper felt the deep shame inside him he always felt when people looked on him.

Bella ran at Maria, but Maria easily sidestepped her.

"Oh, this is fun!" She said laughing as Bella stumbled then righted herself and turned to attack again.

"Bella you have to think!" Jasper called.

One of the guards grabbed his jaw, stopping him from speaking. He held it securely while Jasper struggled. He watched as Bella charged at Maria again and again. This had to stop if Bella couldn't get a hold on her instincts and attack intelligently, they were going to die. Jasper was determined not to let that happen. He finally had happiness, he wasn't ready to give it up.

He stopped his struggles. He filled his mind with love and calm. 'Use my calm, use my memories. You can do it Bella. Find the link.' He thought. Hoping against hope that somehow she would hear him.


Jasper was in danger…Maria was in front of her…Rage ran through her veins.

She charged again and again. Maria was always just out of reach. Her frustration added to her rage, making her moves even sloppier.

'Use my calm, use my memories. You can do it Bella. Find the link.' She heard Jasper's voice and began to search for it.

He was still being held by the guard and she knew he had been unable to speak. How did she hear him? She lay on the ground panting unnecessarily. Maria was laughing but Bella focused on finding where the voice had come from.

It was a thought, a thought inside her…She put up her shield and in her mind's eye she saw Jasper's porch. Sitting on the porch was Jasper. She knew that he had always been there she had just been unable to see him before.

She remembered his words. He had left a piece of himself with her…she smiled and touched his face. His scars were beautiful, they didn't inflame her anger here, only her love.

'Let me help you.' He told her then kissed her.

She felt it like a shock through her body. Her panting stopped. It was unneeded…a leftover human instinct. Her mind cleared and she smiled. She had his knowledge, knew exactly how to take down Maria.

Her smile turned to a smirk and she stood up straight. Maria was still laughing, she hadn't sensed a change.

Bella charged again, seemingly wildly. Just as Maria started to sidestep her, Bella shifted and threw out her arm catching Maria and spinning her off balance.

Within seconds Bella was on top of her. The guards shouted in fear and in their distraction loosened their hold on Jasper.

Her warrior took advantage of it as she had known he would. He engaged them again and Bella sent him her admiration.

Her momentary distraction was enough for Maria to escape her hold. Bella grinned. She had every confidence she would win now. Jasper's memories filled her and she knew all of Maria's moves.

Maria went on the attack. It was Bella's turn to laugh as she used her newborn speed and Jasper's skill to evade her.

Maria threw a sloppy punch that Bella easily eluded, Bella slapped her and drew back, laughing again. Now Maria began to attack in anger and Bella encouraged it. She wanted to humiliate her.

She moved in and slapped her then ran before Maria could grab her twice.

"Bitch!" Maria screamed and charged. Her hands turned into claws as she sought to scratch Bella.

Bella grabbed one of her hands and using her newborn strength tore it from her arm. Maria stared at her arm in surprise. Bella took advantage of the moment and grabbed her arm. She pulled it behind her back, then grabbed the other one pulling them tightly.

Maria struggled to get loose but she was no match for Bella's newborn strength.

Bella knew she could end this now but she wanted Maria to suffer. She looked over at Jasper. He had finished off the last of the guards and dismembered pieces of vampire were strewn across the ground. She felt nothing but pride in her mate.

"Jasper send her the emotions you felt every time someone looked at you in horror or fear. Send her what you felt as she tortured you." Bella asked him.

Maria let out a sob and Bella smiled.

"You deserve more. You deserve to be tortured as you tortured Jasper. But I think I want to live happily with my mate. I think your death will be enough." Bella whispered into her ear.

Maria began to laugh. "It's too late for that."

Bella's smile faded and she looked around her in fear. She could smell them, her army had arrived. Quickly Bella twisted Maria's neck and pulled her head off her body. She threw it aside without a second thought and walked over to Jasper.

He smiled at her and they put their backs together. She held his hand and squeezed it briefly.

"I love you Bella." He told her.

Bella smiled in spite of their situation. "I love you too." She told him.

They let go of their hands but Bella still felt him inside her. She couldn't help but be glad that she had met him, glad that she had a chance to love him. If they were going to die today then at least they would die together. Still… they wouldn't die easily.

They faced Maria's army, back to back, both determined to take as many with them as they could.

Author's note: So sorry for the delay. This was a hard chapter to write for some reason. Next chapter will be the end and I will try to get it to you as soon as I can. I know that was an evil cliffie.