So here it is - the third task. I hope you like it after all this time waiting for it.
Chapter 35.
Bella couldn't believe it was the day of the third task already; the last couple of days had passed quickly, both her and Jasper spending time with their family and with the Volturi. Since her return to Volterra the Volturi had been very nice to both her and Jasper and it made her feel as if they wanted them to succeed at this bond as much as her and her family did.
She was sitting on the bed in their room waiting for Demetri to come and get the two of them and take them to the same room as the other tasks had been in. Jasper was pacing backwards and forwards across the room and Bella watched him move; a small crease appearing across her forehead as the tension grew in the room. He was now in his second hour of pacing and while she'd initially been pleased to see him move after the four hours of standing and staring out of the window; that had quickly disappeared and she was now close to breaking point. "Will you come over here?" she said; her voice much sharper than she intended it to be.
He stopped and looked at her; his eyes widening as he sensed her frustration. In the blink of an eye he was sitting beside her and she reached for his hand and squeezed it; enough to make him wince as she forgot her own strength.
Bella definitely felt a lot better now than she had when she'd returned to Volterra and her relationship with Jasper seemed to be back on an even keel since the slight confusion regarding her second gift. Her alleged gifts still scared her a little and she wished she had some vague idea on how she was supposed to get some control over them.
Just two nights ago Jasper had told her they were going to have to practice; especially with learning to control her ability to amplify his gift. She'd begun to get angry when she saw the smirk on his face but as he proceeded to remind her what that 'practice' would entail, even she could see there were some benefits to it. In fact as he made her scream his name for the umpteenth time that night she's seen very little wrong with the concept.
Of course in the cold light of day worry had begun to form in her mind and the upcoming third task had been weighing heavily on both of them. Their family has not said anything initially; all witnessing the growing strain in both of them; a strain which increased further after the time they spent with Aro, Caius and Marcus; when the details of the task were finalized and Jasper and Bella got confirmation of what it was. Finally last night the family had held an intervention of sorts and Jasper and Bella had been forced to reveal just what the task was going to be. At first they'd been angry and it had taken Rose an hour to calm Emmett down; in fact there was a fist sized hole in the wall of their parents room which lay witness to just how angry he'd been. Of course their anger did little to assuage the tension in the room and as Jasper and Bella sat silently watching them it just grew further as the emotions swirling in the room escalated; forming a vicious circle as it affected Jasper who was unable to stop himself from projecting them back in the room.
Even Bella didn't help as the closeness she had to Jasper; in tandem with the heightened emotions in the room just built it further. Bella felt awful as she realized what was happening and set herself the task of distracting Jasper from the difficult emotions and replacing them with much nicer alternatives. Of course, creating a sideshow for the family as she took her mission to heart had not been her original plan but, as was usually the case; they got caught up in what they were doing and it wasn't until there was a pointed cough from Carlisle that she even remembered they were still there. It was at that point Bella was glad she was now a vampire and only Jasper would be aware of the embarrassment she felt. However her plan ended, it had the effect she'd intended it to; in that the atmosphere in the room had been lightened albeit at the expense of her and her mate.
Once they'd finished laughing at the two of them; Jasper and Bella had managed to calm themselves down somewhat and the family had taken the opportunity to discuss the task more. The evening ended with all of them feeling resigned to what was going to happen but knowing they were unable to change anything.
So now Bella sat; waiting. She was trying to keep her hopes high but as the minutes passed they eventually began to fall. So much could go wrong in the next hour or so and she wished there was something she could do to make it easier for them both.
"We're going to be okay, Bella." He whispered; obviously sensing the building anxiety she was feeling.
"You don't know that, Jazz." Again her voice had an edge to it that made her cringe. "I just wish there was something I could do to make this easier for us. We both know this is the hardest task we're going to face. We know what is going to happen when we're in that room and I hate that we have to go through this."
"I do too but I'd willingly go through it if it means you get to be mine." He said softly.
Bella looked at his face and her eyes locked with his. He reached for her and dragged her onto his lap; her head nuzzling his neck and shoulder as she felt him wrap his arms around her. "I love you, Jasper Whitlock." She whispered against his neck.
There was a light tap on the door and they both reluctantly got to their feet. Jasper opened the door and found Demetri on the other side, "Hi," he said, smiling at them both.
Bella grabbed hold of Jasper's hand as another wave of nerves hit her; closely followed by the calm he sent her. "I guess we'd better get going then." Jasper said; pulling Bella out into the corridor. Bella was being almost dragged down the corridor by Jasper; her feet would hardly move and she had never been so reluctant to go anywhere.
As they reached the door to the room Demetri stopped and turned to face them both; the look on his face now serious. "This is where we part. I'll be in the room when you enter. You need to wait here until Aro opens the door for you." He looked to the ground briefly before lifting his eyes to look at them again, "I probably shouldn't say this but I hope you both are successful with this task."
"Thank you Demetri. It means a lot to us both for you to say that." Jasper said.
Demetri nodded his head and then slipped through the door; shutting it behind him. Bella hugged Jasper tightly, words failing her as she realized this was the moment of truth and the biggest challenge either of them had to face.
*B-o-B*
The door opened and Aro was standing in front of them. "Come in, Jasper, Bella." They walked through the door, hand in hand, making their way to the center of the room. Aro followed after them and then stood in front of them.
Jasper looked at his family and saw the pained expressions on their faces; the energy in the room was already affecting him and he knew it was only going to get worse.
Caius and Marcus moved from where they were sitting and stood either side of Aro. "We are gathered here to begin the third and final task of the bond of brotherhood being entered into by Jasper Whitlock." Caius began. "Can you both verify that you've been informed of the details of this task and understand what it is you are about to undertake?"
"We do." Jasper said as Bella nodded beside him.
"Our audience has been briefed on what is about to happen." Aro said; he turned his head and nodded to Demetri.
Demetri looked at Jasper briefly and then led the guard from where they stood to stand around the edge of the room; circling around the pair. Demetri nodded to Felix who walked from where he stood to the door Jasper and Bella had not long walked through; he turned his head slightly and smirked at them both before opening the door. Silence fell in the room and then in the distance they could all hear the murmur of voices; gradually getting closer to the room.
Bella tensed as she stood with Jasper and he squeezed her hand; trying to reassure her. It didn't work; thirty seconds later the scent of the approaching noise hit and Jasper could feel the burn Bella was experiencing in the back of his throat. He pulled her towards him and wrapped his arm around her waist; her head burying against his chest.
Footsteps could now be heard and the tension in the room increased further as a small murmur from those watching went up. Jasper could feel the tension in Bella increasing and he was all too aware that she could run from him at any moment. He let go of her hand and brushed his hand through her hair; his mouth moving to her ear and murmuring gentle words of reassurance and love to her.
The noise became much louder and then they were everywhere; humans of all shapes and sizes; all ages and races; milling into the room and staring around the room in wonder. As soon as they entered the room Bella began to growl softly and Jasper could feel her body shaking in his arms. He closed his eyes and concentrated on sending her as many calm feelings as he could muster. There was another benefit for him because as much as he concentrated on Bella; it made it slightly easier for him to ignore what he was feeling; the thirst of every vampire in the room starting to scratch at the back of his throat. Jasper glanced at the time and saw the seconds ticking by ominously slowly; there was still a long time to go before this torture was over.
Bella was beginning to struggle in his arms slightly and he tightened his hold on her; his fear of her getting away from him intensifying. Jasper remembered how talking to her had got through to her the last time this had occurred and he hoped it would have the same affect this time; although this time was much more difficult because the humans were closer and there were more of them. And God his throat was burning; he was longing for just one taste; the desire for it was only getting worse.
He tried for the one distraction he thought would work; kissing Bella passionately. It seemed to be working; she stopped struggling in his arms and he could almost fool himself into thinking they weren't in the situation they were in. She pulled herself closer to him and deepened the kiss; her tongue sweeping into his mouth and brushing against his.
They were more than halfway through the task now and Jasper could only hope it would get easier for them both. His throat felt so tight and he was longing for this to be over; he wanted to get out of this room and back in their room; with Bella. He wanted this to be over so they could get on with their life; so the threat of James hurting them would no longer be an issue. He wanted to make love to his mate and show her how much he cared for her; he wanted to fuck her hard for hours until she couldn't move without remembering what it was like to have him in her. His body was reacting to hers being pressed against it and the need to take her here and now was become more than a quick wish; there would be little that would stop him from doing just that.
The humans were still walking around the room; none of them really understanding how much danger they were really in. A few of them had noticed the gathering of people in the room but they had no understanding of just why they were there; of how they were the bait and it was only a matter of time before one of them learnt that fact; the hard way.
Jasper could feel how the members of the Volturi household were all longing to drink from their visitors and their need was only making it harder for him. Aro, Caius and Marcus were watching them in interest and while their thirst was present; they were intrigued by the fact Bella hadn't attacked the humans yet; a part of Jasper was just as surprised; she wasn't even halfway through her first year as a vampire and she was resisting the temptation to drain the humans present. She really was a wonder and she was his wonder; no one else's.
The guard as they stood around the room were a mixture of varying emotions; Jasper could sense each one and he was unsure how to read what they were feeling; it was at times like this he wished he had Edward's gift as well. Several of them were beginning to feel frustrated and he could only surmise it was because they were waiting for the bloodbath they'd expected.
Jasper closed his eyes and his senses; trying to concentrate on just himself and Bella; blocking everyone else out. It was a lot harder to do than he would've wished it to be but he had to try because much more of this and he'd be on his knees; the pressure of their thirst would overwhelm him.
There was a growl of anger from the far side of the room and a murmur went round the room which Jasper couldn't work out the reason for. A sharp cry of pain from one of the humans and then the smell hit; blood had been spilled and the room began to descend into chaos.
TBC
A/N: So what did you think? Was it what you expected? Let me know and send me a review. Now obviously I've left you on the edge of cliff but the next chapter will be posted later today...