Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer. If I were, the series would have had sex, Rosalie wouldn't be a frigid bitch, Emmett would get more air time and THEN there would have been a hell of a lot more blood and gore!
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Talia POV
Hmmmmm
I'm goin down down baby, yo' street in a Range Rover (c'mon)
Street sweeper baby, cocked ready to let it go (HOT SHIT!)
Shimmy shimmy cocoa what? Listen to it pound
Light it up and take a puff, pass it to me now
I growled as I heard the singing. I didn't mind it, heck, I loved me some Nelly. The singers, however…
I'm goin down down baby, yo' street in a Range Rover
Street sweeper baby, cocked ready to let it go
Shimmy shimmy cocoa what? Listen to it pound
Light it up and take a puff, pass it to me nowI walked through the cabin to the sound of the music and the three male voices getting entirely too into the song.
Mmmmm, you can find me, in St. Louis rollin on dubs
Smokin on dubs in clubs, blowin up like cocoa puffs
Sippin Bud, gettin perved and getting dubbed
Daps and hugs, mean mugs and shoulder shrugs
And it's all because, 'ccumulated enough stretch
just to navigate it, wood decorated on chrome
and it's candy painted, fans fainted - while I'm entertainin
Wild ain't it? How me and money end up hangin
I hang with Hannibal Lector (HOT SHIT!) so feel me when I bring it
Sing it loud (what?) I'm from the Lou and I'm proud
Run a mile - for the cause, I'm righteous above the law
Playa my style's raw, I'm "Born to Mack" like Todd Shaw
Forget the fame, and the glamour
Give me D's wit a rubber hammer
My grammar be's ebonics, gin tonic and chronic
Fuck bionic it's ironic, slammin niggaz like Onyx
Lunatics til the day I die
I run more game than the Bulls and Sonics
"Emmett! Alexander! Dominic! Enough!" I said as I walked into the front room and cut the music off. "Emmett, do you really feel this is appropriate music for our children to listen to?"
"Do you really think it's appropriate for Dominic to see what Bella, Alice and Edward are doing right this very minute? While Jasper was doing what he was doing?"
I blushed. Jasper and I had…run into each other while we were hunting. Alice, evil little she-devil that she is, must have seen, then Edward saw it in her vision, and well, it just snowballs from there.
"Ah, caught."
I rolled my eyes. "You know…if you had gone hunting with me, good times could have been had by all…" I pointed out.
He smiled. "Yeah, but I enjoy hanging out with the little dudes."
The "little dudes" were growing like weeds still. Carlisle didn't know what to think. They were growing at double the rate of Nessie, who was still waiting for Lina to catch up. "It was strange to say the least. "Yes, well, the little dudes have to have their wolfy lessons now and you and I need to have a talk…"
"Uh-oh, Dad. That ain't cool, yo." Xander said.
I rolled my eyes. "Are we seriously going to talk in Ebonics? Because, that would just…" I grinned. "That would just piss Edward the hell off."
The boys looked at me and grinned. What can I say? Blessed be the peacemaker and all that jazz. "Come on, let's go. We have things to do, places to go, people to see…that kinda junk."
"More like people to fu…"
"Dominic!" I growled. "Language!"
"Right, like I can't say the truth now?" He stated with a little growl of his own.
I dropped down to my knee in front of him. "Dom, look, I realize that you've have a heavy burden placed upon you, but you can't just…" I sighed. "You're right, okay? That's how this goes. But for now, you're still a child. My child. And you will respect those that are older than you in actual human, er, well, semi-human years, capiche?" I won't hesitate to grab your Daddy's belt young man, I thought to him.
His eyes widened and he nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I understand."
I kissed his forehead. "You know, you will be grown up all too soon, Dominic. I'm glad to see you and Xander enjoying childhood a bit. All too soon things will be changing once more and you won't be able to enjoy much of anything."
"But an adult life, children, sex, fighting…"
"Is within your grasp, Dominic." I said as I brushed my hand across his face lovingly. "Just enjoy the time you have now. Things will all work themselves out as they should be."
He huffed out a breath. "I know, Mom, but I want to be grown now."
I smiled. "It's hard when you see the future, and yes, even before you brought me the visions of the future, when I was a teen, I could still see my future, could see your dad…" I looked at Emmett, who was smiling down at me as he hugged Xander tightly. "But…I still attempted to enjoy my childhood. You should too."
He nodded. "Yes, Mamma."
I smiled and kissed his forehead. "Okay, now, Grandpa and Jake are waiting for you."
He grinned and Xander jumped down from Emmett's arms. Xan gave me a kiss and Dom gave Emmett a high-five and they ran outside. I blew out a breath. "Wow. The term 'they grow up so fast' isn't really appropriate until you have part wolf Halflings."
Emmett pulled me to him for a hug. "I know, sugar, I know."
We walked through the woods hand-in-hand, meandering our way back to the 'big house'.
"I'll miss you while I'm gone." Emmett said softly.
I let out the tiniest of growls. I thought the guys had talked to him about this. It had been two weeks since our wedding and he and Jasper were planning on traveling down to Maria's to get Teresa and Eli from Maria's compound. "Well, you won't have to miss me. I'm coming with you."
"What? Of course you're not."
My eyes narrowed as I stopped to face him. "Yes, I am."
"Uh, no, you're not."
I sighed. "Damn it, Emmett. Teresa will need to know why you've come. She needs me to be there." I said with a slight snarl.
"Not just no, Talia, but hell no. I'm not risking your life."
"And you're willing to risk yours?" I asked.
"That's not the…" He started, but I was already prepared for this fight.
"You know what I am, Emmett. Damn it, I'm not indestructible, I know that, but I have to be there. Teresa has to know why you're there for her. She won't understand if I'm not there."
"We are going into the camp of a killer. A monster. I'm not about to just let you…"
"It isn't your choice."
"Damn it all, Talia!" He growled and stomped away.
I turned to look at Jasper, who was watching the argument unfold. I hadn't even realized we'd made it back to the Cullen house. "Am I wrong?" I asked him.
He shrugged and pushed off from the wall he was currently propped up on. "Darlin, I know what you mean, I really do, but Emmett just found you, just got you for himself. I wouldn't ask Alice…"
"But Alice would go anyway." I stated. "If she knew she would be beneficial. Teresa has to talk to me…she won't be able to understand if anyone else tries to tell her anything. She has to see what I mean…"
"Maria's dangerous." He told me, grasping my hands with his. "Look, I don't want you to go either…"
"Is this because we've fucked, Jazzy?" I asked him.
He chuckled. "Well, to quote my dear brother, Edward, 'I feel very protective of you,' Talia. I want to look after you."
I sighed. "Between the strongest vampire I know and the smartest strategist, I don't see how anyone could get a chance to hurt me."
"Not to mention the best mind reader on the planet." Edward put in as he stepped out into the grey light of the back yard. "I'm going as well."
I smiled. "And you don't think that Bella would be beneficial to have as well?"
He scowled. "Of course not. Maria doesn't have anyone that could harm us like Jane could."
My eyebrow rose. "Are you sure about that? It's been over fifty years since Jasper's seen Maria. For all you know, she could have."
Edward's mouth fell open at the thought and I grinned. "What's wrong, Eddie-poo? Didn't think of that?"
He shot me a look. "Alice would have seen…"
I sighed. "So, what? You three are going to go down on a field trip whilst the women stay home and mind the young'uns? I don't fucking think so, Eddie."
"She's right, Edward." Alice said as she too stepped out onto the porch. "I've seen what can happen if you leave in the middle of the night while she sleeps. It isn't pretty…"
My eyes widened and my heart clenched at the thoughts of what could happen. "Do you mean…?"
She nodded. "It's a possibility. If they go and don't take you with them…"
I swallowed. "Then it's settled." I stated defiantly.
Edward sighed. "Jasper? Rock, paper, scissors to see who's going to tell Emmett?"
Jasper groaned but held out his hand. "No cheating." He stated.
Edward rolled his eyes. "Fine. Talia? Keep me busy so my mind isn't on his."
I rolled my eyes but walked over to him. "Why don't we make this easier for you both? Bella!"
She appeared in the doorway. "Shield Edward for a minute so he and Jasper can play fair."
She grinned and nodded. "Okay."
We watched as the two men both threw out scissors, then rock, then Jasper put out a paper while Edward balled his fist for a "rock".
"HA!" Jasper said triumphantly. "I'll be in the house if you need me, enjoying the spoils of war." He walked up the steps and took Bella and Alice both by the hand.
I giggled and turned to him. We'd all turned into sex machines, fucking any time we could get a chance. But even knowing war was a long way off made us want to be together more, and not just with our mates. "Come on, Edward. I'll go with you."
He blew out a breath. "You know, your husband will kill me one day."
I shook my head. "You're faster, Edward."
"But not stronger." He reminded me.
"Strong enough to make him your bitch."
He laughed and threw his arm around my waist. "Well, as a matter of fact…"
We were still laughing and joking with each other when we found Emmett. He'd grabbed a snack of a doe and was sitting, and by the looks of it, deep in thought. He turned to us and sighed. "I'm not happy with you going."
I smiled at him. "You knew I'd get my way." I told him.
He nodded. "Yeah. Looks like you're off the hook, Edward."
Edward smiled. "Well, seeing as Alice and Bella are probably busy with Jasper…care to have a little fun?"
I chuckled. "Is sex the only thing on your mind, now, Edward?"
"When I'm not listening to everyone else whining in their own heads? Yes."
I just shook my head as he pulled me closer. "So…what do you say?" He whispered against my lips.
I turned my head and looked over at Emmett, who was all smiles. I turned back to Edward and cupped his straining erection. "I say we have some fun of our own, then."
PAGE BREAK
"So, how we gonna do this?" Emmett asked Jasper, three days later. We were on the flight to San Antonio, where Maria had a supposed legitimate "import/export" business.
"I called her yesterday, made an appointment. She was all the more eager to see one of her oldest friends." Jasper was wincing as he said it.
I grasped his hand in mine and sent out some love toward him. "It'll be okay, Jazzy," I whispered.
He moved our hands to his mouth, kissing the back of mine. "Thanks, sugar. I'm just worried. Alice wasn't really thrilled I was going back to an ex lover, even for a short amount of time, and…" He shook his head.
I knew of Alice's fears, she'd shared them with me before we left, and I knew what I needed to do. I whispered my intentions in Emmett's ear, low enough that Edward and Jasper couldn't hear me. He just nodded. "Do what you need to."
I stood and pulled Jasper up. "Come with me, Jazz, let's help ya out here."
He looked at me uncertainly but followed me to the bedroom suite of the private jet. We didn't know how brutal Eli might be, even though Teresa was a seeker, it was easy to be swayed by your mate into a certain way of thinking. I knew that was bothering Emmett, just as I knew it was bothering Edward what this was doing to Jasper. In a way, Jasper was going back to face his demons, and that alone frightened him. He was keeping it in, but occasionally it would ooze out of him and affect those around him.
I shut the curtain behind us and pushed him to the bed. "Jasper, calm down."
He blew out a breath. "Am I that obvious?"
"That you're afraid of her? No, it's not that it's obvious…but there are things that have happened in my past that I can certainly see where you're coming from…"
His brow furrowed. "What do you mean, 'in your past,' Talia?"
I sighed and sat down next to him. "I remember all my past lives. The good…and the bad. So I can see how you might have…issues with seeing a woman that has brought you such horrors in your life." I grasped his hands as I moved to kneel in front of him between his legs. I looked up at him and captured his eyes in mine. "Jasper, she's a demented person, yes, and one day I promise you, we'll get revenge against her for all the things she's done to you."
His face was haunted as he said, "How do you know so much?"
I felt tears welling in my eyes. "I see things from your past. I can sometimes feel your feelings late at night when you're taking time to be alone. It's feelings I've felt before as well. But she can never take you away from us, Jasper. We'll never let you go."
"I'm not worth it," He whispered.
My hand traveled to cup his face. "You are worth it. We'd fight for you, Jasper. All of us. You are our brother, our lover, our friend, all of the above, and that, Jasper, is what we are doing by bonding to each other. We're becoming a unit, and if any part of that should come up missing, we'd do whatever it took to find it again."
His hand moved up to mine to cup it on his face. "You're so warm."
I smiled as I sat up a bit to reach his lips. "Let me help you, Jasper." I whispered into his lips.
He moaned a bit and his mouth opened for me, his tongue sweeping out to swipe at my lips. I pulled away and trailed a kiss down his neck. He shivered as my lips kissed over one of his scars. Alice had told me how self-conscious he was about them. Even though I'd seen him naked, more than once, I was normally never in any mindset to comment on them. Now, I pushed his shirt apart, laving each one I could reach with attention.
"Tally…ungh…God…you don't have to…"
"Shhh," I said as I made my way down to his belt. "This isn't about me, it's about you. Besides, Maria will be all the better off if you smell like another woman. She'll get the message."
"Is that what Alice and you talked about before we left?"
I smiled. "Indeed. She realized she couldn't handle being around Maria, she knew it would only lead to a fight right then and there, so she sent me partially in her stead."
He grinned. "She's a damned evil little thing, isn't she?"
I nodded as I tugged his pants apart, freeing his erection. "Just enjoy riding the friendly skies." I said just before I took him in my mouth.
His hands gripped my hair roughly as he began thrusting, fucking my mouth. "Fuck, Talia," He whimpered.
I sucked, tempted and teased him until I felt him twitch in my mouth and knew his release was imminent. I rolled his balls in my hand and he whimpered as he came.
His body fell back onto the bed and he said, "Damn, girl, you're good with that tongue."
I licked him clean before tucking him back into his pants. "Yeah, that's what they tell me. I am, after all, part dog."
He just looked at me, shocked for a moment before he started laughing.
We returned back to the other cabin to a glorious sight; Emmett and Edward jacking each other off. My eyebrow rose and Jasper grinned. I felt the lust swirl in the room as he projected it and I felt my panties dampen. "Shall I return the favor, darlin, while you watch the show?"
I think I may have whimpered. I'm not sure.
PAGE BREAK
When the plane finally touched down we were all sated and eager to get this show on the road.
Jasper had us a Hummer limo waiting on the tarmac when we arrived. I let out a low whistle. "Damn, Jasper. Are we making a point here, or what?"
He just grinned and ushered me into the car. I glanced around as I sat down on the long couch-like seat. I'd never been in a limo before. "Wow. This is so cool! It's just like in the movies!"
Edward chuckled as he slid in also. "You've never ridden in a limousine before, Talia?"
I shook my head. "Nope." I eyed the large bar that housed at least five bottles of alcohol. I grinned. "Hey, wanna get this wrapped up and you three get me plastered? Cuz…you've never seen fun until you've seen me drunk."
Edward grinned. "I've seen Jake's memory of that day. It's quite amusing."
I blushed and Emmett growled as he situated himself next to me. "I don't like to talk about that, Edward, you know that."
"I do, Emmett," Edward said. "But I was merely reminding Talia that I have, in fact, seen her in a drunken state."
I cleared my throat. "So…um…Jasper, care to fill us in on Maria?"
He winced but nodded. "Maria…where to start? She's cunning, as cunning as they come. She's evil to the core, but hides it well." He paused. "She's a sexual sadist also, which makes things…interesting. She rules it all, her workers, her sisters, well, when they were alive, all of it. She's…she's like the queen bee. She doesn't like to get her hands dirty."
"Talia, are you certain that helping her find her mate will be the best course of action?" Edward asked me. "What if she and this mate attempt to rule the vampire world?"
I had told them if all else failed, I could show her where her mate is, if Teresa hadn't already shared that with her. I thought a moment and said softly, "Edward, what did you want to do the first time you smelled Bella?"
He grimaced. I nodded. "Exactly. She's your singer, so as such, you wished to drink of her, didn't you?" He nodded minutely. "So…do you really think that Maria will be able to control herself around this human? If she's as bloodthirsty as Jasper has said she is…the poor human wouldn't stand a chance."
"That's…Talia…that's barbaric." Edward said.
I shrugged. "Edward, in war there is collateral damage. We need Eli and Teresa. We will have to take down Maria, and when we do, we'll need Eli and Jasper's knowledge of her. Eli will have the most up-to-date information and Jasper has the strategy of knowing her for over a hundred years beforehand. Do I need to get Alice on the phone?"
Edward shook his head. "Carlisle will not be pleased to find out we are getting a human killed."
I sighed. "Edward…all of you…you fail to realize how deeply a soulmate is connected. If one is evil, then, surely, the other's soul would be just as evil. We are doing the world a favor."
"Are you sure?" Emmett asked.
I thought a moment. "Remember Victoria and James? They were both evil, yes?" They all three nodded. "There you go. That just proves my point."
"But they weren't soulmates. They weren't singers to each other." Edward said.
"How do you know? Just because he wanted Bella? Wanted Alice? How do you know that the reason Victoria felt the way she did, why she wanted to kill you for destroying him wasn't because he was her true mate."
"But Carlisle said…even James alluded to the fact that Alice was his singer."
I sighed. "A true singer is your soulmate. You can want the blood of someone that they are closely linked to. Like…Emmett and my mother."
Emmett looked up and I could tell he would blush if he could. I winked at him. "I know Emmett desires her and her blood. She and I are linked, soul-to-soul in a familial sort of way. We were always meant to be family. Brother, sister, mother, father, daughter, son, in some capacity we've always been linked. She is my mother now, and will remain so as long as I am in this body and she in hers. Just like Edward and Renesmee. They are linked by familial ties."
"But you said Bella and I…" Emmett said, stopping himself.
I nodded. "You and Bella have never been tied with familial strings, Emmett."
"But Edward was my brother, once upon a time."
I nodded. "Yes, he was. But…ever think that maybe he was your adoptive brother, even then?"
Their mouths fell open. "See? The weave of destiny, the weave of fate and family is a hard thing to decipher."
"And you can see it?" Jasper asked me.
I nodded. "Much easier in this body, actually."
"How about Irina and Laurent?" Emmett asked softly. "They were mates and Irina wasn't evil. Sure, she led us to the slaughter with Aro, but she wasn't evil."
"Laurent wasn't her soulmate, either." I told him.
"How do you know?" Jasper asked.
I thought a moment. "Since my…transformation, I can see souls more clearly. I can see every soul that has ever touched yours if I focus hard enough. I see the past, remember?"
"So they weren't mates?" Emmett asked.
I took his hand. "They were mates much like you and Rosalie were. Mated, yes, but not true soulmates. But Laurent wasn't evil."
"He tried to eat Bella!" Edward said with a growl.
"So did you." I reminded him. "You can't just say 'well, I don't like them, don't like their ways, they must be evil' it doesn't work like that. True evil does exist and it doesn't have to be in vampire form to be evil. Some souls are black as pitch and those have to be watched."
"Do you think we are going to be able to leave amicably?" Jasper asked softly.
I smiled and reached over to take his hand as well. "Trust me, Jasper. Things will be fine." I shot Edward a look and he clasped Jasper on the back, talking to him. To face your demons…well, I knew I'd have my own turn with that. I blew out a breath and watched as the city of San Antonio passed by.
We were taken to a large warehouse. We knew for a fact it housed Maria's business, but it was what was under it, the catacombs where her army was trained, that we would find Eli and Teresa.
Jasper blew out a breath and he looked like if he had a heartbeat, it would have thundered out of his chest. "Relax," I whispered, squeezing his hand once more.
We'd decided to play this one close to our chest. Maria wouldn't know about Alice that was one thing Jasper had been adamant about. We would, for the sake of argument, pretend that I was his mate. It would make things easier. Emmett wasn't what one would call thrilled, but I'd just kissed him and explained this was the easiest path to get what we wanted. Edward and Emmett were to be our "bodyguards".
We were ushered inside and immediately heard, "Jasper! SO lovely to see you!"
Jasper's fist clenched around my hand and I squeezed it back. "It's okay."
He nodded minutely and smiled. It looked vampiric, not at all like the genial Jasper I knew. "Maria, it's been too long."
"Yes," She said, coming closer. She was a petite thing, beautiful, as all vampires are, and I could easily sense the wickedness coming from her. She was a killer, but not like Jasper, he was lethal in his own right, but Maria? She killed for the pleasure of it. "And who is this?" She said, motioning to me.
I smiled and held out a hand. "Talia. I am Jasper's mate."
She smiled. "Ahhh...so, you can't stay away from us Latin girls, can you, my Jasper."
I growled low in my throat. Jasper may not me mine exclusively, but he was partially mine. For myself, for Bella, for Alice, I would not let her talk like that. "Last time I checked, he is no longer under your employ. That means that he is free to be mine."
She looked at me in alarm for only a moment before she chuckled. "My dear, it is my venom that runs through his veins. Trust me, he is mine."
My eyes narrowed. "But last time I checked, it wasn't you who was fucking him."
I heard Emmett try to hold in a laugh and Edward let out a tiny groan. Jasper smiled, clearly amused. "Darlin'. Just calm down. Maria's just being her usual self. If she's not tryin' to get your goat, she isn't undead, isn't that right, Maria?"
I felt the air in the room shift as he controlled the emotions, relaxing the atmosphere. "Now, I believe we had business to discuss?" He said.
Maria nodded, though her eyes were burning holes in me. She was still pissed he left her. Hmm. One would think almost a hundred years would be enough time for a person to get over something…I guess vampires can really hold a grudge. "Come." She said, leading us into an office.
"Can I offer you any refreshment? I have a sweet, virginal college student just waiting. I remember how you liked the young ones, Jasper, dear."
I watched him, but to my surprise he just smiled. "Thanks, but I kicked the habit."
Her lip went up into a sneer. "That's right, I remember, you turned your back on the old ways. You've gone soft, feasting on the blood of animals. It's a crying shame. Do you not remember the taste of thick, rich, lovely human blood?"
He nodded. "I do. And on occasion I have a snack, but as a whole, I stick to my animal diet. I find I'm just as strong."
She smirked appreciatively. "Mmm, yes, you do look just as lovely as the day you left here." She turned to me. "And what of you? Do you see his scars? Do they disgust you? He was the best fighter, the best at everything. He was my crowned jewel. His scars proved that no one could best him."
Jasper had winced at the mention of his scars, but I just smiled. "Scars are sexy." I replied.
She growled. This conversation clearly wasn't going where she wanted it to. "So, Jasper, who are your friends?"
"Emmett and Edward," He said, gesturing his head at them by turn. "They are part of my coven."
She snorted. "Your coven? I was told you were in someone else's, that you are less than you were with me. At least with me you were close to the top of the chain of command. But your coven is like a…family." She sneered with the last word.
His back went a little straighter. "We are a family."
She laughed, a high-pitched, girlish sounding laugh. "Is that a fact? Well, then, tell me, why are you here?"
The next part we had practiced meticulously. "Talia's cousin is here amongst your group. We would like to bring them home with us."
"They are not vegetarians as you are. None of my soldiers are."
Jasper nodded. "I realize that. But we wish to bring them to live closer to us so Talia and she may spend some more time together."
"And why should I?" Maria asked.
"We would be willing to pay…" Jasper said, holding out the duffle bag full of money he'd brought. "They are, after all, not much use to you now that they are mated and in love, are they?"
Maria growled. "Go, give me time to think this over. I will have your answer tomorrow."
Jasper stood and I did as well. "Very well. We will be here tomorrow evening."
We made our way out to the limo and all blew out a breath. "Well, it went better than I anticipated." Jasper said.
I rubbed his arm. "You did great."
He grasped my hand and kissed it. "As did you."
We were taken to our hotel and walked into our suite. "Are you hungry?" Edward asked me.
I nodded. "Somewhat, but I'll live without human food if you don't want to smell it…"
"Nonsense." He said, picking up a menu. "Order room service, if you wish."
I smiled and took the menu from him, easily picking out something good to eat.
"So, what do you think Bella and Alice are doing?" Emmett asked.
I snorted. "Probably getting it on with Carlisle." I said as I picked up the phone.
All three men's mouths fell open and I laughed. "You didn't think the two of them would be chaste in your absence, did you?"
Jasper recovered first. "Well, no, but…"
"We just didn't expect them to move on to Carlisle so quickly…"
I shrugged. "Well, you do know how much they love Carlisle and Esme…"
"The lines are really starting to blur, aren't they?" Edward asked.
"Not nearly as much as they will." I told him.
The next night we were driven to Maria's warehouse once more. We were shown in by another woman this time, who Jasper said was one of Maria's 'assistants'.
"Assistants?" I asked.
His face was grim. "I suppose the more appropriate term would be 'slave' as Maria has quite a few women and men as her sexual slaves."
"Are they all human?" I asked as I sniffed the blood under the girl's skin and heard the beat of her heart.
Jasper nodded. "Some are, until Maria either breaks them like a child does a toy, or turns them so she can have them for other pleasures." I shivered, wondering what other things this sadistic bitch could have up her sleeve.
"Welcome again," Maria said as we were led into her office. She was dressed in some rather interesting clothing all made of leather. It left nothing to the imagination. I was to assume that she was going to attempt to woo Jasper back over to her.
The thought made me snort and Jasper just looked at me from the corner of his eye. "Do I want to know what you found so amusing, sugar?"
I grinned. "Remind me to tell ya later."
He nodded and turned to Maria. "Have you given our deal any thought?"
She nodded grimly. "Indeed, Jasper, however, I'm just not sure how money can help me as I lose two employees."
"Can I sweeten the pot for you?" I asked.
She looked down her damned nose at me. "I don't see how you can."
Jasper smiled. "Talia has a very unique gift. She can find your soulmate."
Maria shot him a look that clearly said, "Yeah, right," and it made me wonder why Teresa was hiding her gift from Maria in the first place…
"It's true." Jasper went on. "She came to me, said she saw me in her visions, she'd been looking for me."
Well, it was sort of the truth, a combination of what Alice had done and what I had done as well.
Maria's eyes went round. "I can't believe it. Do it. Do it now."
I blinked. "And how do you propose I do that?"
She called the young human girl forth. "Do her first."
The girl looked terrified. "Jazz," I whispered and I felt him relaxing her. I smiled at her. "What's your name?"
"Lynette." She said quietly.
"I'm just going to take your hands, okay?" She nodded and I grasped both her hands with mine. My eyes fluttered closed as I reached out to touch her soul. I could easily see a boy in a beat up pickup truck. He was waiting outside a restaurant and I saw her walk out, flinging herself into his arms. "Cody," She whispered.
I opened my eyes. "Cody, his name is Cody, isn't it? Red hair? Freckles?"
The girl's mouth fell open. "Yes, it is. How did you…?"
"Magic," I replied, earning a chuckle from Emmett.
"But that was someone she knew." Maria stated.
I nodded. "Okay. Bring me another one and I will show you."
And so she did. I found the mate to a rather large vampire woman. Her mate worked training the newborns down below. When I told Maria this, she sent for him. When the two saw one another, for it was the first time they had, they fell into each other's arms. "Amazing." Maria breathed as she watched them.
"So, do we have a deal, Maria?" Jasper asked.
She paused. "I must think on it. Now, while I'm thinking, shall I let you see your family?"
I could have done a happy dance at that point. Everything was falling into place. Maria sent for Teresa and Eli and they both returned only moments later. "Teresa!" I cried, running to her.
"Talia!" She said. "We are reunited."
We both started talking then, amusing the men. Maria said, "I can not let you take them, Jasper. Eli is not the fighter you once were, but he is gifted at training the newborns. If you ever wish to join me again…"
Jasper looked dumbfounded. Did Alice not explain to them that Teresa and Eli were going to be spies for us? That they wouldn't be coming back with us?
He recovered quickly, kissing her cheek. "I will keep the option open, dear Maria."
She nodded, hissing at me and I smiled as I clasped Jasper's hand. "Jazzy…won't we get a few minutes alone with my cousin?"
"Maria…surely you would understand giving them a few moments to themselves."
"Oh, alright. But only because it's you, dearest Jasper."
He bowed to her slightly, something that had the wolf hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "Thank you, Maria. You are truly an angel."
She stepped outside. Teresa eyed me curiously before looking over at Emmett and I just shook my head. Her eyes widened and she nodded. We waited until the footfalls moved beyond the boy's hearing and Teresa asked me, "Do I want to know why you pretended you were with the blond one when the big guy over there is your mate?"
I grinned. "Oh, Teresa…just you wait. You have no idea what you are in for…"
Emmett tugged me to him for a kiss. He pulled away and said, "Does anyone else get the feeling that this went a little bit too easily?"
Edward shrugged. "We'll just have to be very careful. I saw her mind. It's a rather nasty place to be."
I nodded. "Teresa, what I have to say will not be easy for you. I know you want out, and I…I can't give it to you. Not yet."
She sighed. "What do you need?"
"Can you open your mind?" I asked softly.
"To whom?" She said.
"Me," Edward said as he came forward. Eli growled but Teresa silenced him with a look.
"I can read minds." Edward told her. "If you can attempt to open your mind to me as Talia can, maybe…"
"How?" Teresa asked softly.
"Just concentrate on what you're thinking."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because, I'm going to try to transplant a thought into your head." Edward said.
Since Nessie had learned to do it, we had wondered if Edward could do it as well. Most vampires were like old dogs…you couldn't actually teach them new tricks. But the thought was more than a little intriguing. He'd managed to do it with Bella and Lina, but no such luck with me.
I held his hand and he grasped Teresa's with his other. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift to him. Edward, you must tell her that she has to spy for us now. That she needs to keep up with everything that goes on here. She and Eli are our only links to Maria. We'll need reports in code sent to us in the form of letters. We need to be prepared. We only have a few years before Maria will start a war.
His eyes opened to look at me in shock but I shook my head. Later. Now, you have to try to implant that into her head. Can you do it?
He nodded and I saw him grasp her hand tighter. "Concentrate," He whispered.
She closed her eyes too and nodded. I could tell it worked when she let out a little 'oh!' of surprise. Her eyes opened and widened. "I see…"
"I'm so sorry, Teresa." I told her.
She hugged me tightly. "It will be okay. I know we'll be together, eventually." She smiled at Edward and he returned it warmly. I smiled, thinking of Alice's vision she shared with me. Guess Jasper and Emmett weren't the only ones that had a slight 'thang' for Latin princesses, were they?
I stepped out of her embrace and said, "Come, Jasper, boys, let us go home." We said a goodbye to Maria and made it out the door and into the car.
"We did it!" Emmett said, kissing my hand.
I sighed, remembering what Dominic had told me before we left. Our hand was dealt; we'd just have to handle it when it came. "The war with her will be first, just a teaser. We'll have to toe the line with Aro, let him not be suspicious."
"When?" Jasper asked.
"Seven years." I said softly.
AN2: Yup…things were left kinda vague for a reason. I'm getting this one sewn up so I can get started working on the sequel. Lotsa blood and guts and fighting! YEAH! Plus, lots of sexin' too!
