How many months has it been? Five? I can't apologize enough. I've been insanely busy with school and family so all my writing has slow down considerably. I'M SORRY!
I wrote half of this chapter a few weeks ago and finally finished it today. That said, I'm sorry if the writing is inconsistent.
Thank you to everyone that has reviewed and faved while I've been gone – I really appreciate the continued interest in this story! It's my personal favorite so I'm glad you like it too.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before – forgive me if I have. I found it rather difficult to force Jasper and Edward's paths to cross… so I bent the timeline a little. Here's my version: Peter helps Jasper escape from Maria in 1928 (rather than 1938), and Alice finds him in 1932 (rather than 1948). So, basically, I had Jasper escape ten years earlier, and Alice found him four years after that, instead of ten. Besides, what the heck did Alice do those 20-some-odd years before she found Jasper? Meh.
Okay, on with the show. I encourage you to read the last chapter again if you've forgotten the line of events. "Part 3" is coming to its conclusion very shortly.
-Scarlet
Chapter 40: Signed Respectfully
October 19th 1932, 11:30pm
Volterra, Italy
Dear Cornelia,
My name is Mary Alice Brandon. You do not know me, but something has happened in my life that has affected you. I am a vampire, and have a pre-cognitive capability.
Years ago, I glimpsed a future in which I was with a man whom you are familiar with: Jasper Whitlock. That future has come true. I have gone against Jasper's wishes in writing you this letter, but I know it is for the best. I am truly sorry, but this future is set in stone.
Please do not be upset with me, as Jasper said you would be. It is simply fate that has made this happen. And who are we to question destiny?
Again, I am very sorry this has happened this way. Perhaps one day we can meet face to face and become friends. Please do not be angry.
Signed respectfully,
Mary Alice Brandon
I stood as still as stone. The words in the letter blurred more and more as my reflex to blink faded, along with the blood from my face. I felt no need to draw breath, or otherwise move, so I simply remained there, letter grasped in numb hands. What... What's the meaning of this? How –?
After several moments, Rosemary cleared her throat purposefully. "Is there a p-problem, ma'am?" she asked cautiously.
I was convinced that Alec had taken my ability to speak, to feel. I could no longer read the indistinct blotches of ink on the thin parchment, but it wasn't of consequence – the words were already carved into my soul. "Rosemary," I whispered, my voice dead and flat. "When did this arrive?"
"Last evening, ma'am. I... I'd forgotten to deliver it until this morning."
When I let the flimsy paper fall onto her desk, she immediately averted her eyes from its context. Smiling grimly at her action, "No need," I insisted pathetically. My fragile emotional state leaked into my voice. "It's no personal matter, I suspect."
Yes, this must be some bizarre joke.
She nodded, but kept her eyes away nonetheless. "If you say so..."
My mind raked over the evidence with what small conception I possessed. Vampire, precognitive ability, Jasper, destiny... "Who are we to question destiny?" The letter, though quite clear, made little sense to my irrational mind. "Rosemary, how long have I been here?" The question, perhaps, sounded a bit more childish spoken aloud than in my thoughts.
Her face was apprehensive, and her voice was quiet. "Nearly nine and a half months, ma'am."
The information surprised me. Time had seemed to take on a whole new meaning during the several months I'd spent with the Volturi. My memories of the place – which were usually so crisp and clear – were hazy and distant. I tried to comprehend the reason why as my thoughts spiraled towards disaster. Is it possible that Jasper forgot his promise...? I turned away from the human woman, overwhelmed by my emotions. I felt without control of the situation, helpless – something which I thoroughly despised.
My head cocked to the side when I heard voices.
"Alec! Aro would never approve of allowing this petty vagrant enter the castle –"
"But he claims to be expected, sister!"
The twin's argument echoed from deep within the castle – the tunnel system – but I heard it plainly. I began running as quick as thought, navigating the corridors with easy familiarity. I scowled at the notion. How has my mind become so polluted in such a short time? I don't belong here, yet...
Jane's quick eyes snapped to me the second I entered their presence. However, the voice that greeted me was not her own. "Cornelia?"
My body reacted quicker than my mind, and my arms were tightly around him before the situation had completely sunk in. "Edward." My voice was small and scared, but his familiar scent comforted me enough to pull away for a short time. Worry clouded his eyes.
"Cornelia." A smile flashed across his face, but his eyes remained unchanged.
"You've come," I stated dryly, stepping away. My foolish feelings were nearly buried under the buzz of my thoughts. There were too many variables to simply surrender to my emotions. "Why?"
He sobered at the question. "Has Jasper arrived?" he asked hurriedly.
I stepped back and blinked. The name surprised me – I hadn't heard it spoken aloud for quite some time. It had been an anchor and a comfort to me for months... now it seemed cold and distant. What had once been beloved was now unknown, unpredictable. What have I been thinking all these months? Did I simply forget –?
"No..." My own voice sucked me back into reality, and I saw Edward's anxious face as my vision focused. "Edward... Edward, what's happened?" I clung to his forearm when I felt gravity pull unusually strong.
He steadied me gently, more concerned than ever. "Are you ill? Cornelia, have they treated you wrongly?"
"No, no, nothing like that..." I put a trembling hand to my forehead, trying to level myself out. Glancing around, I realized we had been plunged into complete darkness – the twins had simply left.
"I'll explain everything once you recover. The situation is... slightly complicated."
Realizing he was nearly carrying my entire frame, I stepped away from him and nodded. My head seemed fine. "I'm anxious to hear it nonetheless, I..." Where did I leave the letter?
"No need," Edward insisted when I turned to retrieve the letter. "I helped author it."
As quick as a thunderbolt, an emotion flashed through me, leaving a searing wound in its trail: betrayal. Edward sensed the flood of thoughts that leaked from that wound like blood. He was horrorstruck, and immediately attempted to explain. I held up a hand to stop him; I didn't want to argue with my only true friend. "I'm not myself at the moment, Edward. Perhaps I need..."
"...Some fresh air," he said, finishing my thought.
I smiled. I've missed that.
The autumn evening was crisp and clear – the stars were plainly visible against the stone faces of Volterrian buildings. The chilly air nipped at the exposed skin of my neck; I drew the red material of my cloak closer. The velvet, ebony gown that Heidi adored so much wasn't practical for cold weather, but it made the stone-like temperatures of the castle bearable. I scolded my thoughts away from the Volturi – more pressing matters demanded my attention.
Edward's presence seemed out-of-place in the ancient city, yet welcome all the same. The suit he wore was grey pinstripe; his necktie must have been lost somewhere along the way. His hair was shorter than last I'd seen him. As we strolled along the cobblestone roads, the silence grew between us. It was pleasant to me... after all that had happened in such a short time. Merely enjoying his company was like relishing a beautiful memory. I suppose that he agreed, for he remained silent for several minutes more.
We had nearly reached the great church, Santa Maria Assunta, by the time I noticed the scents lingering behind us. I immediately halted.
"We're being followed," Edward mumbled, glancing at me for guidance.
"Expected." I sighed. "The walls of Volterra are my prison," I said, realizing and accepting the truth of my statement. Why have I been so blind?
Edward smiled despondently. "I see." His expression changed to something more businesslike, and he checked his wristwatch. "Jasper will be here soon – by morning at the latest." He seemed reluctant to say if he'd be arriving alone. "I'll try to explain the situation as concisely as possible... I can see we don't have time on our side." His eyes darted to the building across the street where three Guard members waited patiently.
"Yes, please do." I motioned for him to begin, then slipped my icy fingers beneath my cloak.
He took a deep, unnecessary breath – a nervous gesture I recognized. "This all began about two months ago. After you left I reconciled with Carlisle, just as you asked. The three of us have been living in Rochester, New York. Jasper had remained in Washington... or so I thought. He turned up in Rochester two months ago... different." He hesitated. "He hadn't been faithful to our lifestyle."
Edward paused to gage my reaction. I attempted to hide my surprise. "Continue, please."
"Carlisle tried to help him. Jasper's mind was a mess – he barely recognized me. I could tell he'd been living as a feral... I don't know how long."
I bit the inside of my lip, realizing that Jasper's letters had stopped more than two months ago.
"We kept him away from humans for a few weeks, helping him become reaccustomed to animals. He responded better to me than Carlisle, so I spent a lot of time one-on-one with him. We practically lived in the forest. But it wasn't enough... he was restless. I tried to remind him of who he was waiting for..." He gestured to me. "He just wouldn't hear it. Cornelia, he was out of his mind."
I nodded bravely, biting my lip a bit harder. "Go on," I said, my voice gruff.
"He didn't want to be there, so I didn't keep him. He ran." Edward shrugged. I could tell he didn't blame himself – it had been Jasper's decision. "He showed up again a full month later. He seemed much more civil this time, controlled. A woman was with him; she introduced herself as –"
I interrupted, "Mary Alice Brandon."
His worried expression returned. "I don't think it had been his decision to seek us out again, but he didn't seem resentful for it. He seemed peaceful. She's a very... interesting individual. I know you'll want to meet her one day, Cornelia..."
I tried to picture her face – a face that would affect Jasper so dramatically. Was she beautiful? Was she sweet and kind? Stern and forceful? Was she young or old? Was she... like me?
"You know the rest. I didn't expect Alice to actually send that letter, you see. I planned to give it to you myself when you returned. I heard about it last week, and came here as soon as I could."
The timeline he presented shook me from my troubled thoughts. "B-But how did you get here so quickly?"
"Airplane."
"Over the ocean...?" My brow furrowed as I gestured with my hand.
He smiled – a genuine smile, the first since I'd seen him – and even chuckled under his breath. "Don't act so surprised, Cornelia. Pan Am has been flying to Canada for years now."
His smile was contagious. "Of course..." A laugh escaped me. "It sounds terrifying!"
He seemed pleased that he could lighten the mood. "It was a new experience, certainly. One that I encourage you to try." He grinned mischievously.
The notion, though thoroughly shaking, wasn't enough to distract me completely. "Why... How is Jasper arriving, then?" I couldn't imagine Jasper's low self-control on a small aircraft filled with humans.
"Boat. We met in Paris, but he chose to travel separately from there."
He's alone, then...
"Yes," he answered.
"I see..." I swallowed awkwardly, suddenly feeling rather vulnerable. I wasn't sure if I could keep my composure when Jasper arrived. I felt strangely responsible for the situation... if time hadn't been so lost to me, I would've returned to America by now. These events could have been avoided. This "Alice" could have been avoided. Of course I wouldn't want to sacrifice Jasper's happiness for my own, but... he had been happy with me.
"Cornelia?"
The whisper had been so distinct in the silent night air that it startled me. When I looked up, I felt a slender finger sweep across my face as soft and fleeting as a feather. Edward's gaze was more worried than ever.
"I'm fine, Edward," I said, seeing his thoughts for a change. "This all has taken me by surprise, I'm afraid." I forced a smile and tried to collect myself.
As expected, he wasn't convinced. "No one is against you, you know. Even Alice feels that you've been wronged."
That is not comforting. "Very well. Will you wait here with me, then?"
He stepped closer and lowered his voice, "Your 'friends' are planning on approaching us soon..."
My eyes shifted for a split second. "No matter. Will you?"
"Of course, Cornelia."
We waited for hours. I was fearful of the sunrise, but Edward assured me that we would retreat indoors when necessary. My nerves got the better of me, though I didn't dare speak it aloud. My hands grew clammy, my mouth dry, and my stomach knotted. Before long, we found a sitting bench below the large fountain in Palazzo dei Priori. I wrung my hands and shuffled my feet as Edward tried to distract me with idle conversation.
The three that had followed us – whom I'd identified as Demetri, Felix, and Chelsea by their unique scents – did not reveal themselves the entire time. I was grateful for this: the less I had to worry about the better.
When the clock tower stuck the third hour of the morning, I sighed. "Tell me about where you live now, Edward," I asked, realizing it had been selfish of me to focus the conversation on myself.
"Oh, it's not as exciting as all this...," he chuckled, gesturing around.
I smiled cheekily. "Indulge me."
He drew another nervous breath; my uneasiness must have been wearing off on him. "New York, the 'Empire State.' We live in Rochester, very near Lake Ontario. The hunting ground is my favorite aspect of the place, but beyond that..." He shrugged. "Carlisle works at a local hospital. We 'pretend' to be a family of three – Esme as my sister."
My hand flew to cover my mouth when a snicker escaped me. "Ap-pologies," I giggled.
He gave me a pointed look. "We look alike."
Containing a large grin was difficult; however, I sobered immediately when Edward stood to his feet. I rose with him. "What is it?"
"Jasper. He's here and searching for us."
All my nervous symptoms returned in a flash. I fought dizziness. "Thank you, Edward." I nodded, and he understood my unspoken request for solitude. As I watched him walk across the courtyard, I wondered when the Volturi would descend upon him. I suddenly realized that he would be quite an asset to the Guard... Aro would treasure him like a son if he chose to join their ranks. No, he would never.
The early morning stars seemed a lot more colder than before. I paced about the cobbled plaza, knowing that Jasper would find me easier in an open area. I fiddled with my hair, pulled at my cloak, and tried to keep my expression neutral. Thoughts buzzed in my head like angry hornets. Will Jasper be the same as I left him? Or has he forgotten about me? About us—?
"Cora..."
The word had come from behind, and sounded more like an identification than a greeting. I turned slowly, remembering the promise I'd made to myself. Jasper stood there, under the flickering light of a streetlamp, wearing a rather blank expression. His eyes made my stomach clench – ruby red and completely empty. I wasn't fearful of the color, being quite used to the Volturi's routine diet. Rather, I was surprised. My mind recalled our first encounter in the forest, the time he'd tried to seduce and kill me.
"Jasper," I breathed, my hands reaching out of their own accord. I embraced him without thinking; promise broken. Nuzzling into his scent, "Jasper, I've missed you."
Two hands grasped my shoulders firmly, and roughly pushed me away. I staggered back, more from shock than anything else. My eyes grew wide as I stared up at his empty ones.
My heart broke.
Jasper spoke abruptly, without emotion. "I'm... not quite... myself." His hands were clenched stiffly at his sides. "Without Alice, I..." He blinked uncharacteristically.
The name hit me like a knife to the chest.
I tried to ignore it. So that's why he didn't want to travel with Edward... he killed a human.
"Without Alice I'm not myself," he repeated.
I nodded rigidly. Alice... Alice, Alice... My carefully collected thoughts scattered.
"Cora, something's happened..." I saw something come into his eyes, but I couldn't identify the expression. "I need... to tell you..."
I shook my head, barely able to form a sentence in my mind. "Edward told me," I squeaked, swallowing thickly. Alice, Alice, Alice...
"Then, the letter..." The look in his eyes intensified, and his words become more urgent. "You read the letter. So you understand."
I wanted to yell at him. "I don't 'understand' why you would abandon me!" I wanted to scream it in his face. I tried to quell my anger to little avail. "Yes, I understand everything." My tone was accusing.
He frowned. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, you know," he retorted. "I tried to stop her from sending that letter."
I nearly laughed at the complete disregard that his statement held. So he would just forget about me without a second thought. "I suppose 'destiny' had something different in mind, hm?" I snapped. I felt betrayal flare up like a stirred cinder; I'd never known Jasper to believe in fate.
"Yes...," he agreed hesitantly. I identified his expression – confusion. Confusion about what?
"Well–!" I flung my hand between us defiantly. How can he be so nonchalant? "There's nothing more to be said, is there?"
He paused for a moment, then held out a hand. "I'm sorry, Cora..." The look on his face was helpless. "I... never wanted it to end like this."
The angle of his fingers was for a handshake. I took it cautiously, realizing in that moment that the connection between us was considerably weaker. Memories of our time in Washington flowed through me, up until our very last night together in Boston. I remembered the passion we shared, the love. "H-How did it come to this?" I hadn't meant to speak the question, yet I had. My eyes watered as I stared at our hands.
Jasper didn't say anything for a while, and our joined hands remained unchanged. When he did, he sounded as frustrated as I had been. "I know you're looking for someone to blame, Cornelia. The truth is... well, there's no one to blame. Alice is right – it was fate that brought us together. I trust her completely."
A tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away with the back of my hand. Alice.
He pulled his hand away, perplexed. "Cornelia?"
He said my full name again. "Very well," I croaked. Just accept and adapt, Cornelia, a voice said.I looked up and inhaled sharply through my nose, consenting to the facts. "I don't blame you, Jasper."
"Good," he said, relieved.
An awkward silence blossomed like an evening primrose. I tried to isolate just one emotion that churned around inside me – anger, despair, loneliness... among others. In the end, a burning self-hatred surfaced. I'm the one to blame... if I'd only returned sooner...
"Cornelia!"
I turned at the sound of my name to see Edward rushing our way. I could see he was restraining his urgent pace. What is it now?
I noticed Chelsea following closely behind. Her expression appeared... guilty?
"Cornelia," Edward sighed when he reached us. His face was grave. "I think I found someone to blame."
Sorry to start off with a cliffhanger; I plan to have the next chapter up soon. ^_^'
Please review so I can see how much of my audience I've lost... *weeps* Even a small review like "Oh, you're back... *glare*" would help me a lot! Thanks for sticking with me!
Next time: "The Blame."
-Scarlet
