Alright, I had all intentions of getting this chapter out for Christmas, but I'm sure we all know the saying about good intentions. Between hurting my back and shoulder and a demeening holiday house guest, I haven't had the will to finish the chapter. Really haven't had the will to work work on any story, which bloodofyourlips, leckadams, and ghlover8907 can atest is not normal behavior. I do have the start of the next chapter already in the works, so let's pray that it won't take me so long to get it finished and up.

Anyway... here is the next chapter for everyone's reading enjoyment.

I don't own anything but my pointed elf shoe plots.


The morning came earlier than either Jasper or I would have liked. As much as I wanted to get going with the new training of the guard, or have found out if it truly was Apollo in the forest, I much rather stay curled in bed with my head on my Mate's chest listening to him purr softly. But no, I had to suck it up and at least pretend to be incharge; at least for a little while.

"Alright Jasper," I said with a sigh as I lifted my head from its place on his chest, "I cannot put it off any longer; we need to get up."

"If you say so," he replied as he lifted me off the bed. "I'm going to check with the guards out in the hall and check my email. Maybe not in that order."

I nodded, "I'm going to take a quick shower, then probably do the same; at least with the email." I wanted to check and see if there was anything from Quinn. Him, and his team, were my only early warning when it came to the true movement of Maria and her army; the rest was just conjecture and past experience. It would only get me so far. I also wanted to check on the those watching out for the Cullens. I particularly did not want them having to come here to be protected, but I would if I had too. It didn't mean I would like it in any way shape or form.

"I could join you," Jasper said pulling me from my thoughts as he came to stand next to me. Wrapping his arms around me he said, "Could conserve water together."

"Somehow, I doubt we would save all that much water," I said with a snort.

Jasper shrugged before kissing his mark on my neck, "Just a thought, though it is something that we should revisit again later."

"Whatever," I said rolling my eyes as I gave him a little shove away. If I was going to get anything done, I needed some space from him; I had no control when he was near.

I came out of the bedroom dressed for the day and ready for anything it could throw at me. As much as I would have rather worn a skirt, I knew that in practicality, pants would be better. Yes, I can fight in a skirt, there is more effect when being beaten by a woman in a long skirt or dress, but for comfort pants would be better for this morning. God forbid there be a chance that something might be seen that might be inappropriate; there was no need to push Jasper any further then I really needed. As a newly mated male, he really was doing better than I expected; though I was waiting for everything to become too much for him. For the shit to hit the fan, as the saying goes.

I couldn't help the little tune that I was humming as I walked out into the main room. I scanned the room looking for Jasper, I am conceited enough that I wanted to see Jasper's reaction to my favorite black velvet pants with my kitten heels, with their well known red heels, that made my legs look like they went on for days. My simple red blouse didn't make me look bad either. But Jasper wasn't in the room. The main door was open a crack and I could just make out his voice in the shushed conversation that I could hear. I had all intentions of heading into my office to check the computer, but something made me stop and look back at the door and the hall.

'Who's out there, Jasper,' I asked Jasper through our mental link.

'Just Preston, and surprisingly, Scott,' Jasper sent back completely unfazed by my mental interruptions. Why was Scott out there? Hadn't I made it clear enough that all probational guard were starting completely over starting today? That no one was suppose to be anywhere but in the Center this morning? 'Well, let's find out,' Jasper said when I had voiced my concerns.

My hand made contact with door when I heard Jasper start on Scott. "Is there something that I can help you with, Scott," Jasper asked calmly, probably more calmly then I would have.

"What," Scott asked coming closer to Jasper, and I presumed, Preston who were standing by the door.

'Happy to see his lack of respect just isn't for me,' I sent to Jasper with a mental snort.

"I was just wondering what you were doing here was all," Jasper asked all calm and cool.

Not wanting to miss out on anything, I swung my door open and stepped into the hall. "I would like to know the answer to that as well," I said leaning on the door frame.

"My station is with Preston," Scott said like we were stupid, with a quick gesture to the other guard in the hall; a guard who, by just his facial and body expression, did not want to be dragged into anything containing Scott at this moment.

"No, it's not," I said with a shake of my head. "Apparently, you are guilty of two things. You don't listen and," I pointed to the guard cloak around his shoulders, "you're wearing a rank that doesn't belong to you at this time. Did I not make myself clear on Friday? That, as of then, all probationary guard were starting over completely?"

"I just thought that because I have been in the guard longer than some," Scott's eyes raked over Jasper then snapped back to me, "that you might have made a mistake in skipping me over."

I laughed. There was nothing I could do but laugh. "You honestly thought..." I had to stop there, the laughing had started again. Jasper's hand touched my arm gently and I could feel calming vibes pushing against my shields; it was his quiet way of telling me to settle down. Taking a few deep breaths to stop the giggles that were still threatening, I tried again. "You think that, just because you have been in the probationary guard now for two runs, that I 'mistakenly' forgot to promote you?" The laugh started to bubble up again. "You were passed up the first time in hopes that you would mature, that apparently didn't work the second time around."

"Listen, Bitch," Scott snarled getting up in my face, "we can't all be your fuck bud-." He never got to finish, instead he found himself slammed to the floor with Jasper's knee in his back and Jasper's arms around his neck. If I didn't know better I would have thought Jasper was trying to put him into a sleeper's hold, instead he was slowly pulling his head from the body; the slower the decapitation, the more pain for the decapitated. Bit by bit cracks were starting to form, and it was a show of Jasper's restraint that he stopped at that and looked up at me. With one shake of my head, Jasper turned and whispered something in Scott's ear. I didn't need to be an empath, I could see the fear in his eyes; with each word that Jasper spoke, the wider Scott's eyes became.

I started to bend down to speak face to face with Scott, but then thought better of it. "Jasper, I don't want to lower myself to him; so if you could please.." I trailed off gesturing to move him up. In a split second Jasper had him pinned to the wall with his hand tightly wrapped around Scott's throat holding him just inches off the floor, Jasper's nails were digging into the skin of his neck. "Now, I could easily remove you now from training and have you unceremoniously kicked out on your ass; though that would leave the joy of having you as my 'Bitch' later unfulfilled."

"Such a shame it truly would be," Jasper said with a growl.

"So instead," I paused for a moment, my fingers tapping on my chin. "I think if you are insistent on acting like a spoilt little boy then I am going to treat you as such. You are to head to the Center, go to the left corner farthest from the main door and put your nose into the corner. You are to stay there, are to make no contact with anyone, speak to no one; only I can release you from that position." Scott started to say something, Jasper just tightened his hold. "This isn't up for debate," I said with a shake of my head. "When I walk into the Center you will either be there or you won't. If you aren't then you better already be out of the castle, because you don't want to be brought in front of me again."

Jasper all but threw Scott down the hall adding, "I would go now, if I were you."

"Well, this has been a interesting way to start the morning," I said as I watched as Scott skittered away down the hall and out of site. "Jasper, I think I am going to have a strong cup of coffee while I check my email. You know where to find me if you need me." With a quick peck to his cheek, I turned on my heels and went back into my rooms.

I walked past the couch, grabbing my cell phone from the pocket of my cloak, on the way to the kitchen and the coffee that was calling my name. I remembered being horrified at the idea that once I was turned, that coffee would no longer be an option for me; I thank God daily that, for me, that isn't the case. As I savored my first sip of the day, I scanned through my contacts and dialed Sora's number.

Like normal, she answered on the first ring. "Good morning, Mistress. What can I assist you with?"

"It has occurred to me that the old probationary members need to turn in their cloaks. I should have collected them on Friday," I said while my coffee and I walked into the office.

"I can collect them, if you wish," Sora replied simply. "I am guessing they need to be returned to the tailoring office."

"No, I don't want you to collect them, Sora," I said with a quick shake of my head as I logged into the computer. "I want them to bring the cloaks to the morning meeting." I wanted to make it a point, that I was stripping them of what little rank they held, that they were starting completely over. "Just inform the old probationary guard to have every cloak that has been issued them at this morning's meeting. Inforce to them that they are not to wear them, to do so will be punishable."

"Of course, Mistress. I will do it right away," she said quickly.

"Don't panic, Sora," I said with a smile. "I did make your life a little easier already."

"How was that," she asked confusion clear in her voice.

"Besides the fact that there are two less probies thanks to their promotion, I have already dealt with Scott. So that is three you don't need to hunt down."

"Oh yes, that makes my job heaps better," Sora said, I could almost hear the eye roll on the other end of the phone. "Is there anything else?"

"I need you to swing by the Center and get a report from me that was filed sometime last week. Someone saw what they think was a large white wolf in our wood," I said with a sigh as I flipped through my email, my eyes landing on one from Quinn. "I need you to set up a time that he can meet with me, preferably today."

"Want me to get it before or after the cloak thing?"

"After," I replied. "Oh hell," I said thinking about it. "Never mind. I'll just drop it off at the front desk any you can get it there, or have whoever is manning the desk call. It makes no difference to me, as long as I meet with him."

"Whatever works," Sora said. "I'll get working then."

"Thanks," I said before we both hung up. Taking another sip of my coffee I read through Quinn's email. He had nothing big to report, no large movement from Maria's camp; which was a good thing. He did mention, however, that he had overheard a snippet of conversation that had me slightly worried. From what he had heard, she was closing in on something, something she really wanted. My only thought was one thing. "Shit. Jasper," I called through the open door; I could feel him hovering in the livingroom.

"You would think you would be in a better mood this morning," Jasper said as he came to lean on the doorframe.

I snorted as I rolled my eyes at him. "I was a few seconds ago. I need you to call your Captain. I need to know if he has noticed anything out of the ordinary."

"Why," he asked coming to stand in front of my desk.

"Because Quinn overheard something that leads me to believe that she may have picked up his track, and may be closing in on him," I said as I swung the monitor around so he could read the email for himself. "If you don't want me to have him and his mate brought in, then you need to warn him."

"I already told you, he has moved from their earlier location."

"That doesn't mean that she hasn't found them," I said swinging the monitor back around so I could log out. "There are two options on the board, Jasper. Either warn them to move, or let me bring them here. Right now it is your choice. Make it quickly," I said walking past and into the living-room.

"Where are you going," Jasper said as he spun around to follow me.

"I'm going to port down to the front desk and leave this," I waved the report from Suzie's husband at him, "for Sora to pick up. I'll be right back. You can make your phone call while I'm gone, then we can leave for the Center." With that I teleported out of the room.

I didn't spend too much time at the front desk. As much as I enjoyed being caught up in the gossip of the town and workings of the castle, I did not particularly like Jessica, the fill-in girl. She reminded me too much of the Jessica from school. She always had to have her nose in everything, always had to bring the conversation back to her and her life. Honestly, if there was one person that was drained just for the hell of it, I would volunteer her. If she was turned, I may just walk into the fire myself.

When I ported back into my rooms everything was quiet. I could sense Jasper in my office, but I didn't want to bother him just in case he was still on the phone. Instead, I headed to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. I had a feeling that today was just going to be one of those days where I was going to wish I had stayed in bed.

I was slowly drinking my coffee while staring out of my large bank of windows that overlooked one of the gardens when I felt two strong arms wrap around my waist.

"Hey," Jasper breathed across my neck as nuzzled my shoulder as he pulled me into his chest.

"Hey," I said back. "Sorry for snapping earlier."

"Don't," he said kissing my neck. "I know you are worried and are trying to protect him.

"I'm trying to protect you," I said spinning around to face him. "You see that, right? By keeping him safe, I keep you safe. If he is taken, you'll move to save him; I don't fault you for that. If he is killed, you'll avenge him; don't fault you for that either," I said with a shake of my head. "I just can't take the risk of something happening to you. I'll do anything to keep you safe. I'll take any lengths to do that."

I meant what I said. I would do anything to keep Jasper safe. As much as I would like to get along with someone as close to Jasper as Peter was, I was willing to lose that if I had to. Jasper had said that Peter had no love loss for the Volturi, that he understood their role in our society; just he didn't want to deal with them. So I was willing to let Peter be, trusting that he would stay out of Maria's radar; that way we could meet on neutral ground. But, if she got too close, I would bring him here. He would come by invitation, on his own or with an escort; either way worked for me.

I reached up and cupped his cheek, my fingers brushing the blond curls at his ears, "I just got you here, and I will not lose you to her, or anyone, if I can do something about it. If I have to make someone mad to protect you, then so be it."

"You won't lose me," Jasper said pulling me into him, his head coming to rest on the top of mine. "You're right, I would have done everything you just said. I would have gone alone, or called in a few favors from a few 'friends'. But now I have more support to call on. I have the rest of the guard for backup, I also have you."

"Still-"

"Still nothing," Jasper said cutting me off. He lifted his head from mine and caught my eyes with his as he said, "I promise that I won't leave Voltarra without you, or a group of guard that we agree on. I am a man of my word Bella, you know that."

I searched his face, seeing if he was lying to comfort me. Seeing nothing but the truth staring back I nodded, "Alright, I'll hold you to it then." Jasper gave me a small soft smile before kissing my cheek lightly. "Now," I said stepping out of his arms and heading to the kitchen to dump my coffee mug, "I think it is time we head to the Center.


Hope everyone had a safe holiday!

Oh, almost forgot... I did post a new Dem/Bella story titled 'Lost hearts Found' if you want to check it out. No hard feelings if you don't.