Welcome to new readers and welcome back to my old, faithful ones who have kept up with my obscene posting schedule (which is mostly absent).
So sorry it took me so long to update, but RL is crazy right now!
To answer some of the reviews I've been getting, no this story is NOT over! I always say when it is and believe me, some shit it's about to go down! ;)
Anyway, keep reviewing! Your continuos support is the best thing a writer can receive rn! Also, this story passed 77k+ views! O.O I'm *shook*
BELLA POV
"Bells!" my father's voice reaches my ears as soon as I step foot outside the airport, Jasper by my side. I quickly spot his cruise and wave at him, a brilliant smile on my face. I missed him in Volterra, and I'm glad to be home.
"Dad!" I greet him, returning his solid embrace. It seems I was not the only one who missed the other.
"Sir" Jasper says respectfully, shaking my father's hand after he releases me.
"Jasper, I hope the trip went well" Charlie says.
Jasper nods, not exactly a lie since Maria and Kai were slaughtered. But my father doesn't need to know that. "Yes, it was great. We had a lot of fun and discovered many things. It was quite illuminatin' actually."
Dad seems impressed, "I'm glad, kid—" at that I have to hold in a snort, Jasper is most surely not a kid, "—but now I think it would be best to take our leave. I'm sure your parents are waiting for you, and you must be tired from the flight."
"Yeah. Please don't worry about me, I'll wait for my parents here" Jazz says, playing the part of the young man excellently, as if he couldn't reach his house in a matter of minutes just running.
My dad snorts, "As if. I called your parents earlier today and said I'd take you home. C'mon, let's go."
Both me and Jasper look surprised, but nonetheless I am happy I get to spend a few more minutes with him. This past days we became really close. He is like my male best friend, and maybe could be something more—no, bad Bella!
I'm vaguely aware of how Jasper is spinning an absolutely normal story about what we did while we away, but my mind is somewhere else. More precisely, I'm thinking about how I'll have to face Edward sooner rather than later. The last time we called, the fam said he was still in Denali, but I'm sure he must have returned here to greet me. The little bitch.
A hand on my knee gets my attention refocused, and I see Jasper silently holding out his phone to me. I see a message has appeared on the screen. It's from Alice: Show this to Bella. Yes, he did.
Oh, joy.
Jasper stares at me with a puzzled face, and I just shake my head. I feel the car coming to a stop and expect to be in front of our—or the Cullen's—house, instead we are blocked by another cruise and an ambulance. The truck of the forensic scientists is here also. I'm also positive I see Carlisle's blonde head. Fuck, this does not bode well.
"What the hell…" my father's mutter doesn't reassure me.
"Dad, what's going on?" I ask worriedly as he parks his cruise on the other, unoccupied, side of the road, mindful of not blocking car circulation.
"When I left there was nothing wrong so I don't know, but I'm about to find out."
He doesn't tell us anything, so both Jazz and I hop off the cruise and cross the street. We reach the crime scene, and I gasp. Tears quickly fill my eyes and I'm vaguely aware of how Jasper steadies me with his thick arms around me.
Jessica Stanley's mangled body is being put on in a black bag, her blood-matted hair the last thing I see before the zip is closed. A pool of dark blood is colouring the street and the nearby rocks, like a grotesque painting.
I see my father giving me a sorrowful look as he listens to one of his deputies. He knows I am… was, close with Jessica. Not as much as with Angela but she was my friend nonetheless.
I see Carlisle meet Jasper's gaze, by my side, and I barely notice that he nods his head at him.
I know what that means. A vampire did this. And I bet I know who it is.
Victoria.
JASPER POV
The emotional climate here is terrible. Despair, sadness, confusion, helplessness. But a shot of awareness prompts me to lift my eyes and meet Carlisle's.
He nods his head at me, throwin' a quick glance at the body bag containin' Jessica's lifeless body. I understand immediately. This is the work of one of our kind.
Suddenly, an enormous bout of anger from Bella shakes my insides. My mate is lookin' at Carlisle too, but then her eyes turn to the ambulance, now ridin' away with Jessica's body, followed by the forensic truck with all the evidence they could find.
She has figured it out, too. My girl is smart.
"Bella, calm down. There is nothin' that can be done right now. We need to meet with the rest of the family and begin our research for the culprit" I tell her, sendin' a small wave of tranquillity her way. It calms her down, but only marginally.
"I know who did this" she snarls, her voice low but not low enough for Carlisle not to hear. He is speakin' with Chief Swan, but his eyes meet mine for a second, confusion shinin' in them. Confusion, I'm sure, that's mirrored in my own eyes.
"How can ya know darlin'?" I ask her gently, rubbin' her arm, tryin' to soothe her further.
"It was Victoria" she snarls, and it's one of the most erotic sounds I've ever heard. I might have sported a boner if the situation wasn't so serious.
"How?"
"She was here, she kept trying to kill me, trying to go through the pack. Before the stunt Edward pulled in Volterra. I know this is her doing. She must have tired of not being able to catch me and decided to have a go at my friends."
Her growl goes straight to my groin, but I try to control myself as Chief Swan comes back to us with a grim face. He radiates disappointment and sorrow.
"Bella," he starts, and puts an arm around her, "I'm so sorry, baby."
Bella's grief slams me in the gut, and I almost recoil. She breaks down in his arms as he comforts her as only a father can do.
It physically hurts to be away from her as she is sufferin', but there are more pressing matters. Matters that entail ensurin' her safety. That's my priority.
I walk to the edge of the crime scene, and Carlisle, after finishin' to speak with the police and puttin' back all his instruments, meets me. "What d'ya think? Could she be right?" I ask. This is not how I wished to see him again after our departure, but apparently we ain't gonna have any reprieve.
He sighs, "Possibly. I didn't detect her scent, but the body was clean of any animal scent, also. It's certainly the work of a vampire but I can't say for certain if it's Victoria or not. There were the scents of other students—Angela, Mike, Lauren, Edward, Alice…"
"So Edward is back." He nods, and I rub my chin. "Anythin' else amiss?"
"The claw marks match those of a bear, but the thing is… the humans think there are bear out here, but in truth the killings have all been Victoria's fault. Either this is a true animal attack, but I doubt it—the animal would have dragged her back in the forest to feed from her flesh—or Victoria stepped up her game."
"Well, give Bella a good night's sleep and she'll be ready to kick ass." I say, proud of my mate's strength.
He smiles too, and claps me on the back. "I'm happy you're back home, son. This night you'll tell us how it went, I'm sure Esme will be thrilled too."
CARLISLE POV
It was sixteen past 9 pm when I finally managed to get home. My children and Esme were already waiting for me.
As I cross the threshold to the dining room, where we have our family meetings, I see everyone is already seated, waiting for me. everyone is pretty relaxed, but Edward is sulking alone in front of the unlit fireplace. "Sorry, I'm late."
"There is no harm done, dear" my Esme says, smiling at me and kissing my cheek. I nuzzle my face in her hair and breathe in her delicious scent. It immediately calms me, and my muscles relax. This wasn't a physically taxing day—what day is, for I am a vampire—but rather psychologically.
The death of a young person is always tragic, but even more so as it is one of the community, a friend of one of my children. For Bella, though not by blood or venom, is my child.
"So, what do you say, Pops?" Emmett says, his voice as buoyant as always. I smile inwardly: my son cannot be shaken by anything.
"Patience Emmett. First I want to welcome back Jasper and hear what went down while he and Bella were in Italy."
He lights up, "Hell yeah! I wanna know too! Did my Bellsy-boo kick someone's ass?" he asks Jasper.
He starts recounting their tale as I sit, and by the end of it, my jaw is on the floor, Emmett is quite literally rolling on the floor with laughter, Alice is beaming with pride and Edward is vibrating with anger.
"How dare you make Bella go through such an experience!" he hisses. Jasper is not fazed though.
"She chose to do that, and I'm not goin' to force a lady to do anythin' she doesn't want to. She is stronger than ya think, Eddie" he snaps back.
I'm surprised by Jasper's fierce protectiveness towards Bella, and Edward uses my thoughts to strike back.
"And since when do you care about Bella? You wanted to drain her not even a year ago!" he snarls.
Jasper's reaction is completely unexpected. He flashes to Edward's side in less than a second, and faster than anyone can see he has him in a headlock. Everyone rises to their feet, screaming. Rose and Emmett are shouting at Edward to stop fighting Jasper's hold and that he's an idiot (Rose, in truth is using far more colourful words); while Esme, Alice and I are screaming at everyone to stop.
After a few tense seconds when Jasper brings Edward to his knees, a wave of fear stops us in our tracks. Jasper's eyes are black—as they have been since his arrival at the airport, he told us before—but after a few deep breaths they turn back into their original colour.
Their red colour.
Everyone gasps, as does Edward, probably seeing the scene from our minds.
"One tiny thin' I didn't add to the tale, boy" he roars at Edward, "Is that I'm no longer two, but I am back to one. I'm the God of War, and I'm not to be trifled with."
Everyone quakes in fear, and we all avert our eyes in submission when he sweeps his gaze over us. I might be the coven leader, but Jasper has way more power than I do and my submission is but a mere show of respect. Thankfully, Edward wisely stops struggling. I feel like there are still some details that Jasper, or the God, has left out, but right now I don't feel like asking.
"I will not stand for any disrespect towards me or Isabella. Say such things again and I'll personally see to it that you are painfully reminded of who has the upper hand here, of who has true power." He spits this with his face an inch from Edward's. His red eyes are blazing as he releases his hold on him, and Edward scrambles on his feet and rushes out of the room.
After a few tense minutes when there is no sound nor movement, Alice's small voice interrupts the silence.
"Incoming call for you, Carlisle. In three, two, one…"
Right to her word, my cell phone vibrates in my pocket.
I see the Hospital's reception's number. I press the answering button, and bring the small device to my ear.
"Doctor Cullen here" I say.
"Doctor, I'm sorry to disturb you, but another body has been found but the… scene was so gruesome that Doctor Graysen fainted. Chief Swan is already there and has asked for your presence, I heard that his daughter is also there. Apparently it's another one of her classmates."
Oh, dear. When will this end?
Is the culprit Victoria? Is it not? If it's not, who is? Tell me what you think in the reviews, and check out my other stories! Gaia xx
