Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

a/n: Sorry it's so short, but I had a little writers block, I now have a direction I want to go. The next chapter will be longer.

Please review.

Chapter 29

The Number Three

The night air was blowing swiftly through the trees as me and Emmett raced through the forest, the lion we were chasing was a juvenile. It sprinted through the forest and up a tree, stopping on the highest branch it could crouch on. I looked at it as its jaw flexed and a sharp hiss escaped its chest. Next thing I knew Emmett was leaping to grab a branch and I grabbed his leg jerking him down in mid air. He fell to the ground with a thud.

"Jasper what the hell!" He snapped, picking himself up off the ground and brushing the dead leaves and dirt off his jeans. He turned to look at me.

"Its Jared you jack ass. You bite into his ass and you're liable to break your teeth." I said laughing. He got Emmett every time. Jared then jumped down, circling us once till he sprinted away. A minute or two passed and Jared came walking toward us, he abandoned the animal he possessed and entered his own body.

"God Emmett you fall for it every time! Sorry to invite myself but those girls are getting on my nerves, seriously Tanya has got to get a personality, and I can't stand how self righteous and conceded she is. "He said laughing. He walked to us and sat on a nearby rock.

"I have to agree, Rosalie is about ten seconds away from pounding in her face, she wouldn't stop flirting with Edward, and it was making Bella extremely irritated."Emmett replied.

"I can't wait for this party to be over. Just one more day, and that bitch is out of here." I said smirking. I couldn't stand her either, I don't think any of them really liked her. We all laughed and me and Emmett found a spot in front of Jared on the forest floor.

"So how are things with you and Jaina?" Jared asked, smiling a toothy smile.

"Awesome, I have to admit she scared the shit out of me." I said, not sure if I should say anything.

"What happened, come on tell us." Emmett practically begged.

"It's kind of personal but I'll tell you all anyway. Well we were going at it, right, and it was the first time since, well you all know, and she was on top of me and her hand is right over my heart. Next thing I knew, I was hearing a drumming noise, and I thought it was her, but then I felt it. I knew exactly what was going on. She was making my heart beat, and it freaked me out. It was more than just that, I mean I actually started to feel cold, because the window was open and there was a strong breeze washing over us. My skin got goose bumps. I panicked. I was scared if she held on any longer, she would have regenerated me straight back to human. She said she did it so I wouldn't want to kill her while…

"While what?" Emmett said as he looked at me with a mischievous grin.

"Well, I have a problem, trying to hold back my want for blood, when we are that close, and her heart drives me insane. She was trying to avoid me turning on her." I explained, smirking back.

"Did it work? Did you want to hurt her after?" Jared asked concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah, I guess it worked. I didn't even think about her blood. But still, I can't have her doing that any more. If she turned me human, I couldn't deal with that. I like who I am, and what I am. I don't want to be anything but what I already am." I confessed.

"Then turn her, and you won't have to worry." Emmett said. It was like a slap in the face.

"Is that the answer to everything? Turn her, damn it Em. I thought you would understand." I said, looking disappointed.

"Why don't you want to turn her Jasper?" Jared asked his emotions were concern and a want for understanding.

"I can't watch her burn. I don't want to be the cause of her to feel like that. I'm not ready. She has been through so much; I just want a few years for her to be human. Then I'll be strong enough to endure her emotions as well as mine. Remember I'm an empath, I have to feel all her fear while it happens." I explained.

"I understand. I would want that for any of us. We didn't have the option. Our transformations were sudden. We didn't realize that we would never be able to know human comfort such as sleeping and dreaming and don't forget eating. I would kill to be able to eat real food again. I agree that she should be allowed a time for her to enjoy those things before there stripped from her, and she is forced to live our lives" Jared said sympathizing with me.

"Yeah, I guess so but I don't see anything wrong with our lives. I love being me." Emmett said proudly.

"We know Em, and yes there are advantages, we have gifts, and when she is turned we will be able to hunt, and she will join us on all our explorations without worrying about getting hurt. I know." I said trying to appease him.

"Well her gift is a little scary; I would talk to Carlisle before she attempts it again. You don't want to have to go through the whole process of burning if she makes a mistake and regenerates you back to human." Jared said, concern coating his voice.

"Yeah, I will. Maybe after everyone leaves. We should get back. I need to get back to my human." I said springing to my feet and rushing back home. The others followed right behind me. I didn't slow down till I hit the door, only to throw it open and I ran up the steps. The second I opened Jaina's door I was hit with a burning smell, it was faint. I looked around to see what was on fire, or about to blaze when I could find nothing. The smell was coming from the window.

I stepped closer and saw the white transparent curtains blowing in and out of the open window, that's when it caught my eye. The curtains were smeared with ash. I couldn't understand it, I ran over to Jaina, she was sleeping peacefully but what I saw slammed into me and set me into a panic. On her light tan cheek was a hand print of soot. It looked as if someone grazed their fingers across her cheek. I grabbed her hands to see if she did it to herself, but her hands were pristine. Not a speck of ash. I woke her up, shaking her.

"Jaina baby, wake up! Someone was in here; did you hear or see anything?" I began questioning her, my voice shaking.

"What…No, I was sleeping, who was here?" She asked looking around the room. I wiped my finger across the black smudge on her face and showed her. She looked at it with a confused look.

"It's ash Jaina. It's all over the curtains, and it's all over your face." I stated, feeling stressed from the fact that someone got in the house without anyone knowing and relived that whoever it was left her unharmed.

"I don't understand. Who would do this? Do you think it was Tanya or Jesse?" she asked.

"I don't know but I'm about to find out." I said thinking about the possibilities. Tanya was a bitch, maybe it was her way of getting under Jaina's skin. It was more than obvious that she had a problem with me and Edward marrying humans. She never directly said it. But she didn't have to. I could feel it. That was one of the reason I had avoided them as much as possible. She also knew about the Phoenix incident as I'm sure Carlisle had mentioned it to Eleazar. I ran downstairs into the family room, everyone was still gathered talking and relaxing on the large couches. I walked up to Tanya to confront her.

"Tell me the truth and don't fucken lie, were you the one in Jaina's room smearing ash on her and the window? I asked anger rising, as I pointed my finger at her.

"Jasper, what on earth are you talking about dear. I wasn't even in your room. Ask Esme if you don't believe me, I was with her the entire time. Besides I wouldn't touch soot and risk ruining my dress. It was expensive." She said, her voice sticky sweet. I hated her, but I knew she was telling the truth.

"Fine, if not you, then which one of you did it?" I demanded. Esme stood and walked over to me, Carlisle joined her.

"Son, what is going on, that you would come down here and harass our guests?" Esme whispered. I could feel she was feeling slightly embarrassed by my outburst.

"Carlisle come with me, and see for yourself." I said my voice low.

"If you all will excuse us, I will be right back." Carlisle said smiling to the guests. We walked up the stairs in human speed. When we reached my open door he stopped.

"Can you smell that?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's smoke." I answered.

"No underneath it, its smells like burnt flesh." He whispered.

"What?" I said stunned. Carlisle walked over to Jaina who was sitting on our bed, her knees pulled to her chest.

"Jaina, may I examine you?" he asked. She nodded approval. He ran downstairs and was up before she could blink, carrying a med bag with him. He pulled out a vial, and removed some of the ash from her face, placing it in the container and sealing it.

"Get me a wet cloth for her face Jasper." He said, while pulling out his light shining it in her eyes. I returned and Carlisle took the wet cloth from me and wiped the ash from her face. He gasped softly tuning her head to the side. What I saw sent me from confused to panic. I didn't understand. On the side of her throat, was a roman numeral three, encased in a circle. The mark was a faint red, four shades darker then her skin with a red tinge. The mark was raised, and the size was about a half inch by half inch.

"What is this?" he whispered.

"What is what?" Jaina asked, her eyes widening with horror, unsure of what it was we were referring to.

"Looks like the number three. What the hell would do this, leave her branded?" I asked my voice shaking.

"Something branded me?" Jaina shrieked, her eyes widening, as she reached her hand to her throat feeling the embossment.

"Calm down, sweetheart, let me finish examining it." Carlisle said, in his soft tone, calming her. Carlisle gently took her chin in his hand and turned her head to look at the other side. His eyes narrowed as he eyes settled on the bite marks I left on her.

"Whatever marked her also bit her here." He stated.

"No…No that was me…"I stammered feeling a little embarrassed.

"Oh .I see. Well, I don't know who or what could have left a mark like that, some characteristics say it's a burn, only the skin wasn't damaged, there is no blistering, or scorch marks here. It looks like it just rose out of her skin. Does it hurt?" He asked her. She had been so scared though out the exam. She had a look of fear plastered on her face, and her heartbeat was racing.

"No…I didn't feel a thing…I don't understand, what any of this means. Who would do this?" she asked almost crying. She was so fragile. She was so vulnerable; whatever did this had come and gone, leaving only ash and the number three. Her eyes searched mine for some kind of answer. All I could do was push a wave of calm into her. I was panicking internally; I didn't want her feelings to enhance my own fears.

"It's okay Jaina, everything will be okay. Let me worry about it. I promise I won't let anything happen to you." I said softly, hoping she would believe me. I didn't even believe myself. I didn't know what troubles were coming, but I was certain, that it wasn't over yet, it was the just the beginning. I threw another wave of calm, over her.

I laid her under the covers and walked to her window, shutting it and locking it. If anything came, it would have to break the glass, alerting us of its presence. Me and Carlisle went down stairs to talk to the others. They were just as confused as us. Eleazar and Carlisle talked over possibilities, but none seemed to fit. Tanya Kate and Carmen, all looked at me with sympathy, as I was unintentionally projecting my insecurity on them. I was scared, and until it surfaced I would have no clue what it was I was dealing with.

"All we can do is wait. Tomorrow is the party, let's focus on that. We don't want to spoil Bella's special day. I'll research after our guest departs. We will figure this out Jasper, just keep it together. I need you calm. If not for yourself be strong for Jaina." Carlisle said, sitting next to me and patting my back. He was right. There was absolutely nothing that could be done. I looked at Alice, she was trying to find her visions but there was nothing.

"Sorry Jasper, it's all black. Whatever it is, its blocking me. We will just have to be careful, and keep an eye out for her." Alice said, trying to sound confident.

"Me and Emmett will keep guard around the house tonight, in case that thing shows up again." Jared said, his voice full of concern and determination as he wanted to protect her has much as I did.

"I appreciate that, I'm going to get back to her. I don't want to leave her alone, anymore then I have to." I said, standing from my seat on the couch. I walked up the stairs human speed, and walked into Jaina's room. I looked to the bed and saw she was gone. Panic filtered into me, until I heard a heartbeat, and realized she was in the bathroom. I heard the sink turn on and off, and the door began to move. She was standing in the door way, her face wore a mask of apprehension. I knew she was scared.

"I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I'm so scared; I'm so tired of being afraid. Every time I think things are going to be okay, something awful happens." She said, her tone, reflecting the fear, she was pulsing.

"Nothing bad has happened yet. Jaina, we don't know what or why this happened, for all we know, this thing might not even be hostile. It didn't hurt you, and it had a chance. We just have to be calm, and wait to see if it returns." I said to her, my voice confident and my face a mask of calm. If she could see through me, she would see I was lying. I was terrified, but it would do her no good to worry along with me. I needed her calm. I told her exactly what she needed to hear. She shook her head in understanding, and crawled under the covers of the bed. I sat on the side of the bed next to her, and stroked her hair. I began to hum a song I learned in childhood, and pushed wave after wave of relaxation, till she finally drifted to sleep. I watched her, unsure if maybe her subconscious did this, maybe there was still a little fire, inside my beloved; laying dormant. I didn't know. I couldn't think of what else it could be. I waited and watched as her eyes began to shift under the lids and dreams began to lift there veils, in her mind.

Jaina's P.O.V.

Darkness illuminated by fire, Pillars of smoke that seemed to form black columns like a garden of ash and ember. In the center was a door that stood before me. It was just there in the middle of all of it; erected without walls, or support of any kind. It was like it forged into time itself. In the center of the door was a roman numeral three that glowed like burning coal. I heard a screeching sound behind it and the beating of wings. I reached for the door, and brought my fingers to the door knob, I retracted immediately as it was scorching hot. I felt a burning sensation on my neck and reached for it.

It was the mark, burning under my fingertips. I hissed at the pain and pulled my hand away. I didn't understand. The screeching became louder, and I covered my ears in pain. Then the screeching halted. The silence was odd, the fires around me made no sound, and the wind blowing the smoke ceased. It was like time itself was frozen, then I heard a humming noise, and it grew louder, till it formed one ominous voice. By three you will suffer.

I shot awake, almost head butting Jasper as I rose swiftly from a lying position to a sitting one.

"Are you okay, what did you dream about?" he asked his face twisted in a confused and helpless look. As swiftly as it came, it left, and all I could recall were five words.

"By three I will suffer." I whispered. I placed my hand over the mark on my throat. I looked into his eyes, and they were swimming in confusion. His confusion was replaced swiftly with a look of warmness and absolute calm. He smiled at me.

"It must be a mixture of the mark on your neck and all that is going on is altering your dreams. You're not going to suffer; as long as I live I will do everything in my power to keep you safe." He said smiling at me and brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Something inside of me didn't trust his light mood, and the way he acted like everything was okay, but I couldn't argue with him either. He gently placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me down on my back so I could return to my slumber. I yawned as he again pressed in waves of relaxation. I drifted back into a dreamless slumber.