BELLA POV

"So, this is it? This is our strategy?" Felix inquires, arching a brow.

"For now, yes. Keep the reports comin', though. We oughta know everythin' about what Maria does. Every little detail is fundamental" the Major says.

We have finally managed to get together a decent strategy. Thank God, because it's 10 pm, and I'm tired as fuck. Me and the Major have been wrecking our heads over this since 8 am.

"We'll make sure of that. Thank you, Major, for your help. And Bella, also, was fundamental to the creation of this strategy" Marcus says, bowing gracefully at both of us.

I smile, trying to hold back a yawn. I'm so fucking tired. I swear I can fall asleep this very moment. "Um? Major? I think Bella is about to pass out" I hear Demetri say. I open my eyes—I didn't even realise I had them closed—and look around. Everybody is staring at me.

"What?" I say, "I'm human. I need sleep. I was here all day—and even yesterday!—thinking about a goddamn strategy. I'm fucking tired."

The Major snickers, "I'd reprimand ya fer your words but I don't really give a shit. Ya right, though. Ya did a lot of work. Time ta go ta bed" he says, standing up and coming towards me. when he reaches me he look back at everybody, "Tomorrow I'll start trainin' her. Ya got a trainin' field, right?"

The Kings nod. "We do, indeed. We'll have a guard escort you there tomorrow. When do you wish to start?" Aro asks.

The Major looks at me, "10 am"

I smile at him, I know he usually wakes me up earlier, but he is willing to postpone training so that I can sleep. He's so sweet. Sometimes. Other times he's worse than a drill sergeant. Well, he is, in fact, a Major. I cackle up at my own terrible joke, and everybody looks at me like I'm crazy.

"Bella? Care to share what has you so amused?" Aro asks, smiling faintly himself. I shake my head and wave a hand, "No, no. It's an inside joke. Sorry."

"I think it's time we all depart for the night. Goodnight, Bella, Major" Marcus says, smiling very faintly. The others wish us a goodnight and leave, too.

"Let's go, darlin'" the Major tells me, offering me his arm. I smile at him and lock my arm in his. He might be a fierce warrior, but he's also a Southern gentleman at heart. Beating or not.

We make our way towards our rooms, when we are suddenly blocked by none other than Heidi. I mentally groan. I'm too tired to deal with her bullshit. Her sight hurts my eyes, too. She's wearing a bright red leather mini-dress that barely covers her butt, white sparkling stilettos and a fuck-ton of red lipstick and black eyeliner. Her hair are styled to look similar to Amy Winehouse's beehive. Human or not, Any looks so much better than her.

"Jasper and Bella! What a happy coincidence!" she sighs dreamily, batting her eyelashes. Pathetic.

"Heidi" I greet in return, trying to keep the annoyance from my voice. The Major doesn't care about that, though. "Lady, since you clearly stepped in front of us, this is not a coincidence. And now move outta our way" he growls.

She blinks, then smiles lasciviously, "My, my… Jasper Hale, you have a sexy accent. Where are you originally from? I can't wait to know you more… intimately" she purrs. Puah, disgusting.

I can see that every bit of gentlemanliness the Major had is gone, for he sneers, "First of all, lady, my name is Major Whitlock. I'm the Southern Major of the Vampire Wars, and I'd like if ya moved outta our way. Nobody wants ta know ya more intimately, for fuck's sake."

She looks appalled. She scrambles to find something to say back, but the Major takes advantage of her silence. "Move. Outta. Our. Fuckin'. Way."

She is completely frozen in shock. It isn't just his words that scare her into running away, but the growl laced in them. The quiet danger that exuded from him.

"Let's go, Bella" he says, when she's good and gone.

I follow him, wanting to ask him some things but fearing to do so. The Major has been nothing but kind, if not a bit stern, towards me, but I don't want to push my luck.

As we reach my suite, he enters with me. "Are you hungry? Do ya need anythin'?" he asks, and all my previous fear vanish. The Major won't hurt me. He's part of Jasper, and Jasper is my friend.

"No, I'm quite okay. I just… can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Bella. Ask away" he says, leaning against the fireplace mantle.

I swallow the lump in my throat, sitting on the couch. "Will you be in control from now on? Will Jasper resurface?"

He blinks once, then smiles dangerously. "Why? Are ya scared, sugar plum? Are ya afraid of me, my Bella?"

Oh God. His voice is husky and dangerous, and what was him calling me 'my Bella'? And why am I feeling like this, goddamnit. He's my friend! My ex-boyfriend's brother!

I hurry to deny, "No! It's not that! I swear! I-I was just wondering…" My stammering is interrupted by the Major's laughter. I never heard him laugh, and I can testify that it's a beautiful sound. So deep, and rich, and contagious. After he recomposes himself, he looks at me no hint of the previous danger that I fel from him. "I was kiddin', sug."

I remain tense, not sure if it's just a test or if he's really kidding. He sighs, then comes to sit beside me on the couch. "Ya see, sugar… me and Jasper are mergin', so I don't really know what's gonna happen. This has never happened before, but I'm sure everything will turn out good."

My eyes widen, "What do you mean, merging? Like, you're fusing back together?"

"Well, kinda. It's like our two personalities are fusin' back togetha. I don't know how to explain it better."

"Are you two so different?" I ask, curious. I fight back sleep to listen to him.

He lays back, putting his hands behind his head, flexing his muscles—perfectly visible under his tight white shirt. I fight back my lust.

What the fucking fuck Bella? Get a grip! This is your friend, goddamnit! Control, Swan!

"We are similar, but also very different. Both of us are trained and battle born, but I am much more ruthless than Jasper is. He can adapt more easily to livin' in the middle of humans. I would never willingly put myself through high school for all eternity."

I have to laugh at that.

He continues, "Many think that me and Jasper are two separate entities, like two different fellas forced in one body. In truth, we're only one person. Just two different parts of the same personality. But we couldn't have remained united. We were too dangerous togetha. His strategic mind and talent with my brutality and ability to kill woulda been lethal in the world outside Maria's regime. So we decided to split in two. We talk from time to time. Not often but sometimes. Actually, some vampires call Jasper—me—the God of War… but they have never met him. He is nothin' more than me and Jasper when we're one. Most vampires think that the God of War is the most evil self, with no control and rational thought. They wrong: the God of War is the most dangerous self. There's a big ass difference. Me and Jasper are so powerful, when united, that we cannot live off animal blood anymore."

My mouth hangs open. That's the most I've heard him talk in all my life—apart from when he told me his story. Seriously.

"Ya okay, darlin'?" he asks, seeing my shocked face.

"Yeah, yeah. It's just… I didn't expect such willingness to talk from you" I say, slightly ashamed. I can feel my face burning.

He smirks, "I don't share thins info with anybody, darlin'. Be proud of yerself. Ya gained my friendship, and that's no easy feat."

The burning of my cheeks intensifies, and I can only nod, averting my eyes from his smirk. "Will the God of War—Ares—resurface when you and Jazz are completely merged back together?" I ask.

His smirk fades, and he sighs. "Prolly. I don't know. I ain't gonna tell ya that it's not gonna happen, but I'm not sure if it's going to happen, either. Like I said, it's been a very long time since we were one and the same."

As interesting as this conversation is, I cannot hold back a yawn anymore. The Major chuckles, "Sorry, I kept ya from your sleep. I bitched out on Heidi 'cause of this, and I did the same. Sorry."

It's my turn to smirk—albeit a sleepy smirk, "Oh, don't worry. I don't mind you lashing out at Heidi… truthfully, I kinda don't like her. But, anyway, thank you for sharing this with me." I yawn again. Fuck, I'm so tired!

"Time for the lil' lady to go to sleep. Go change, I'll tuck ya in" he says, smiling again. Tuck me in? My heart flutters.

"What? You don't have to tuck me in. I'm not a 5 years old" I say, trying to hide the blush that arises on my cheeks.

"Well, the first day I didn't see ya complainin', so now change. I'll tuck ya in" he repeats grinning, pushing me toward the wardrobe.

I try to object, but a playful glare stops me. I sigh dramatically, but decide to go along with his request. Truth to be told, I enjoy his care. It warms my heart. Major or not, ruthless or not, he's still a sweetheart to me. Of course, I think, you are his friend.

Besides, I'm fucking tired. All this planning hurts my brain, goddamnit.

I quickly change my clothes and wash my teeth and face. When I walk outside I see the Major—or Jasper, or both, I guess—stretching leisurely on my bed. as he sees me he stands up and walks to me. He links his arm with mine and leads me toward the bed. I mentally giggle at his gentlemanliness. He's too cute.

"What's funny, sug? I can feel your amusement" he says, as he tucks me in, ratting me out. Bastard.

"Just thinking about how cute you are with me" I say, avoiding his gaze.

He stops, raises a brow. "So now the feared Major of the Southern Wars is cute, huh?"

"Well… to me, yeah?" I say, but it comes out more as a question than anything.

"Then… ya gonna get it now!" he declares. Then he starts tickling me like there is no tomorrow. I try to escape his cold hands and evade this torture, but he's too fast! "No, no! Hey, stop!" I scream, laughing madly. I can barely breathe.

Finally, after I nearly pee on myself, he stops. He's smiling so widely! I smile back at him. We stay like that, our gazes locked, for one minute, before his smile softens. He leans in and kisses the crown of my head. "Goodnight darlin'. Sweet dreams" he murmurs, and I can feel a wave of sleepiness wiping away all conscious thought.

JASPER/MAJOR POV

She's precious, indeed, Jasper.

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I told you. And she's so beautiful.

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She just said that we are cute.

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Yeah I noticed. She's the only one that could tell that to someone like us, after hearing what we went through.

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She's our friend for a reason.

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Did you feel that spark of lust when we stretched?

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Yeah. She might be our friend but she not blind, dude.

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I know. I need to fight to keep my cock down sometimes. She might dress casually, but she's still hot as fuck.

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Believe me, Jasper, I know. I always tuck her in because, apart from the fact that I know she enjoys it, I can also see the curve of her tits better.

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You're a pervert.

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Oh, can it. Ya enjoyed it too. We're her friends, too, and not fuckin' blind.

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I didn't say I don't enjoy it.

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Then shut the fuck up and enjoy the sight of her tits. Now, back to business. How do ya think the plan will go?

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Bella had some interesting ideas. She's a smart cookie, as you said. If we teach her well, she'll be just fine. She's stubborn.

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I have no doubt. But we need to keep her away from Maria at all costs.

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Agreed. And we must make sure the God of War doesn't come out in her vicinity, we don't know how she'll react.

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Please, Jasper. Don't be a pussy like those other Cullens. She'll be just fine. She's a strange lil' thing, so she'll probably kiss the God's cheek when she sees him.

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Mhm. You're probably right. Let's hold off the complete merging for as long as we can, though. We cannot merge here. We must wait until we are in the South.

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I agree, now let's go huntin' for some shitty animal. How the fuck can you stand this diet is beyond me.

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Can it. Let's go, fucker.


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