A/N: (11-21-09) first off I want to thank you all for the many birthday wishes and if you haven't checked it out yet check out my new fic Assassin's Creed.
Also, the Home for the Holidays o/s contest hosted by the Darlins is going on now. Voting Started on Friday and if you liked my o/s Not so Silent Night, please vote for me. There are several Entries and you get two votes each so even if you dont vote for me please vote! There are many amzing authors and fics there that you are sure to find something you like...=) Link is in the second chapter in NSSN
Also too be sure to check out the blog that MaitresseSaint, Kitty Cullen 03 and myself have up now at http://theladiesoftwilight(dot)com
Thanks for all tha amazing reviews and alerts! they make my day and inspire me to write faster for you all! If you are looking for contests or know someone that is PM me and I know of several that are looking for entries :D
and finally a few recs for this chapter:
Fate Had Other Plans by 2TwilightBitches: This is an amazing C/B fic! AH-Mazing...seriously who doesnt like a dirty bad boy doc and and the artsy photog Bella? I LUV IT
The War Inside by Sparabella: this is an amazingly written J/B fic with a tortured soul Jasper. His character is raw in this fic and Love they wrote him as such. GREAT READ
You'll be mine by Jasper's Naughty Girls: Yep another Darlin Collab with Darksper and Bella and a hint of Darkward... NOTHING HOTTER THAN DARKSPER!
The sex adventures of Edward and Bella by LoveIsEdwardBella: THE ONLY HIGHLY CANON FIC you will ever see me rec! lol SMUT galore and the last chapter had me squee'n like a fan girl at the thought of dirty Jasper .... I still say you need to write more of him Morgs! lol xo
Enough of all this, on with the Chapter, ENJOY! and as always R&R!
xoxo
Tish
BPOV
I heard Paul scream out towards Jake and he was visibly shaking. My family immediately took their positions and Jasper placed me behind him. I could only roll my eyes at them all. The situation seemed lost on both Alice and Jake. Their eyes were only fixed on each other. Sam and another boy tried to pull Paul back a bit, so to avoid starting a war. It was once Paul got free of Sam that he charged towards Jake. Jake sensing this turned quickly with Alice behind him. He had one arm twisted around her and the other was shaking as he clenched his fist repeatedly.
Jake looked at his brother and a menacing scowl formed as he spoke tightly.
"Enough!" His tone left no question for argument. The pack looked visibly paled as if they had been struck. I only heard that tone from Sam.
"Tribal law states no harm will come to an imprint or their family, especially by the hands of a brother." He sneered the last word to Paul just as Sam approached cautiously.
"Jake? What have you done? Is this really what you want?" I could not decipher the undertone he was using with Jake. I knew well enough though he wasn't referring to Alice.
"Sam, I am not doing anything, the pack is still yours but I will not allow anyone, including a brother, to destroy what we stand for. Are we not protectors? Do we not guard our imprints and families fiercely? Why is my imprint any different?"
"Do I really need to answer that question?" He scoffed but continued. "I understand what you are getting at and while this is unconventional in every way. That is still our laws and we" he paused and glanced over to Paul with a hard glare before he continued, "will uphold them. I am not sure how the elders will take this news but know that I am on your side brother." He nodded to Jake in a sign of respect; a gesture that Jake returned with a bright smile before turning back his attention to Alice. They were both lost in each other as Sam turned back to us.
"I will call a meeting with the elders and discuss these new events. Besides the four vampires we have been tracking this is a top priority. I will call again and discuss the new terms to our agreement. This changes everything," He whispered the last part mostly to himself.
I felt Jasper stiffen next to me briefly before he talked.
"What do you mean four vampires? Laurent wasn't alone?!"
"No, He wasn't. We have stepped up our patrol greatly, which is something we were meaning to talk to you about as well. The town is blaming us but the missing people are because of them. We always find ourselves a little too late or chasing after them to no avail. There was another male and two female. The male from Jared's description had long dark curly hair almost black while the female who we took as his companion was young looking. She has stark blonde hair, a sadistic smile and shockingly bright red eyes. The one we disposed of, Laurent, was constantly around the other female. She is rather tall and cat like with fiery red wavy hair. She and the male are the ones that have given us the most trouble."
I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my lips. I knew right away that he was speaking of Victoria. What troubled me the most was the man he described was similar to the man in my dreams, the vampire I felt was watching me. I felt the world around me getting dark and Jaspers face was in front of me immediately. I could tell he was speaking but nothing he said got thru.
When was I going to have peace of mind? Why when things are going so well was some psychotic vampires chasing after me?! I heard a labored breathing and realized soon it was my own as I finally heard Jasper call out to me.
"…Bella. Please Bella, what is it? Talk to me Darlin'."
"Why?"I choked out. Next thing I knew he had me in the living room of the Cullen home and in his lap stroking my hair. I leaned into his chest and sobbed. He didn't use his gift on me and I was thankful. I needed to work thru this and I knew the effects of his gift would only cover my state of panic temporarily.
When I finally got my tears and sobbing under control I glanced up and into his golden eyes. I knew my emotions were getting to him as I noticed the circles and darkening of his eyes. I found myself wondering why he would even go thru all this for me. What is it about me that attract vampires so? Either they love me or they hate me. I don't think I ever had a chance.
I could see his eyes darkening at myself loathing before he leaned in and captured my lips in a heated kiss as one arm linked around my waist and the other threaded its way into my hair holding me to him. After several moments he broke the kiss leaning his forehead against mine.
"I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, Darlin', but I will never stop. You. Are. Worth. It! This whole family isn't a family without you. You have changed us Darlin'."
"I know what you are saying but I still can't help but think why me? What is it about me that attract your kind to me so? First I fell for Edward. I become such great friends with Alice. Em is the brother I never thought I would want, but know what I was missing because of him. Esme is the mother I could only dream of. Rose is the big sister I aspire to be like in so many ways. Carlisle, well hell what is there that isn't inspiring about him. Then I attract James and his coven. Then Edward leaves. I gain a new friend and sister in Amara and form this amazing bond with you. I don't see how… why I of all people…a silly human girl could attract so much attention from your kind. Blood out of the picture I would still call to them. What makes me so special?" I ranted off. I stopped there knowing I was in fact doing just that, ranting.
"You do have an uncanny link to the mythological world," he chuckled, "but if you didn't we would of never met. I can't say I am proud of all I have done but would change nothing. Everything in my existence has led me to you. Led our family to you. You are now our family too. Never doubt our love for you Bella. My love for you. I don't know what to say about your power of attraction, sweetheart, but I am certain that no one in our family would change anything." He growled slightly as he said this and I couldn't figure out why. I looked up a bit more and noticed Edward had entered the room. I looked over to him warily before he spoke.
"Bella... do you mind if we spoke for a moment?" I narrowed my eyes slightly before I saw Jasper nod slightly and he placed me onto the cushion next to him. I looked up at him quizzically but he only kissed my lips sweetly before walking out of the living room. His departure left me and Edward there awkwardly.
"Bella…" He sighed raking his hands through his hair and tugging at the ends slightly.
I was about to talk when he rushed to my side and held up a hand to silence me.
"Please let me say this before I don't have the courage to say anything. I heard what you were talking to Jasper about and I understand. I am not here to try to win you back, so to speak. I have already thought through that. I want you to know that besides your serious lack of preservation, there is a heart of an angel in there. You are an old soul with the biggest heart and wondrous mind that I have ever encountered. Our kind doesn't change readily and you have managed to change us all. You have within you something so pure that heals and strengthens at the same time. You have done this to all of us. Our family wouldn't be complete without you. I see this now more than ever. I know you remember James, I want you to think now of what compelled you to run to him instead of away from him." He looked at me pointedly and I knew then what he was getting at.
"You offered yourself up to him to save us as well as your mother. Seven Vampires make up this family, Bella. We could have easily controlled the situation. You offered yourself to him in hopes that no one in this family would suffer in the slightest. You see the humanity in us, not just the charade. You also know of the monster in us and think nothing of it. Your best friend is a werewolf. Your mother is flighty and your father…" he trailed off with a slight chuckle.
"Despite all this in your life you stay grounded, open and loving. Those of our kind that are open to love can see the wonders in you; those that aren't will never understand and will use you and this fact as a game. A sick one at that I might add. I have no doubt in my mind that whatever and whoever you come across you will impact their lives for the better as you did mine, as you did with this family. I know I did horrid things to you and while I cannot say that I am 100% happy about this whole thing I can say that I only want your happiness. While I may not be able to have you the way I wish, I will take what I get. If it means that you are only family to me, than I will take that. I will never know if I will be able to love you like a sister, but you will be family of sorts. I need you in my life, as does my family. I can only hope for your forgiveness when I know I deserve no such thing."He finished speaking looking almost contrite and I was in awe by his devote speech. He has never opened up to me in this sense.
"Edward, I don't know what to say. I doubt I could ever come to terms with everything, but I can forgive you. While I can't say I love you romantically, I do have a love for you and our bond will forever be more than that." I said as I leaned over and embraced him as he kissed the top of my head as he always did.
It was that moment that Amara walked into the room. Edward noticed and got up giving me his signature crooked grin and walked away. As he was passing, they both stopped briefly I knew they were having a quiet conversation. She smiled at him kindly then she put a hand on his shoulder and they both gasped. Soon he glared at her and growled lightly before storming up to his room. I looked at her trying to read what was going on but her eyes were closed tightly. She shook her head before joining me on the couch. She placed one of her hands over mine while she met my gaze kindly and just smiled.
Her smile said it all. I could tell she was about to talk but she stiffened momentarily. I couldn't quite read her expression and before I could think too much into it, the look was gone. I couldn't help but feel somewhat wary about it. It was then that Jasper was downstairs and by my side. He looked at me and Amara raising her brow in a silent question. True I was alarmed but unsure as to why. Everything felt off. Edward soon joined us as well.
"Amara…" I questioned, she only winked in response.
She stood up and began to pace the room. I looked at the two vampires that were sitting with me now on the couch both seemed to be in a protective mode. Their expressions were unreadable but it bothered me greatly.
"What…are…"I trailed off as I realized Amara wasn't pacing but secretly sniffing around the edges of the room. Something was seriously off with this whole situation. She stopped momentarily in a far corner of the room and turned to us.
"You see Bella being what I am and who I am comes with certain heightened abilities. You remember the night I first met three of the Cullen's, the night you became acquainted with Jasper?" I nodded in response, unsure at what she was getting at.
"Do you also remember what Jasper had said to me that night after meeting me? What I said to him?"
I thought back carefully…
They all froze and looked at me. I rolled my eyes at them and turned in Jasper's embrace to reply to her. He kept his arms around my waist and his head rested on my shoulder as I faced her.
"Remember when you said you first saw me? The guy I was with then was their brother for all intents and purposes."
She leaned into me and said warily.
"They are a part of the coven that left you like that?"
I rolled my eyes once again and nodded. She responded with a growl that was cut short and she stood stiff appraising them all. Jasper was eyeing her up. No doubt her emotions were all over the place. But what he said shocked me even more...
"What are you doing here and with her and secondly why are you blocking my gift?"
Stunned I looked frantically between Jasper and Amara.
"Don't worry your lil' heart about that, no powers of our world work on me. As far as why I was here; I came looking for someone and saw what was happening to Bella. She reminded me too much of my own self and I couldn't let that spirit break."
It dawned on me then. No powers of their world work on her.That was the most important statement that I could connect to what was happening now. I looked at her and she saw the recognition in my eyes no doubt as she nodded before speaking once again.
"You see, Bella, while most powers have no effect on me, there are exceptions and limitations to those. Things can slip by unnoticed, but not for long." She growled out the last bit before spinning around and I saw her clutching what looked like air against the farthest corner.
"Reveal yourself, NOW!" She said with a feral roar. Of course hearing this, the rest of the family entered the room. Soon I saw a man come into view dangling above the ground with Amara's had around his throat, her nails were slightly puncturing his skin. He looked shocked at first about it all then became terrified as both men beside me along with Emmett and Amara growled at him.
I allowed myself to get a closer look at him and noticed his face shape his daring eyes and his long flowing curly hair and I felt my body tremble in fear and recognition. Jasper felt this and tightened his hold on me as I gasped.
"You!"