Chapter Info
Title: Making preparations for war ….
Number: 9/?
Warnings: Language, teenage angst, mentions of violence.
Author's Note: Soo this was a quick update huh. Bella was begging me to write it so here it is.
- ʚɞ -
- Bella -
A growl rips its way out of Bella's throat as once more the rope in her hand is reduced to sawdust. Her agitation grows with each passing second as she glares heavily at the other end of it that was stretched out on the floor before her. As though the innocent object was the source of all of her anger and issues. It wasn't but right now her mind could only blame the rope.
It had been two days since she found out her father had been injured, and during those two days she had gone through the biggest temper tantrum she had ever caused in her life. The forest surrounding the area her and Jasper were residing was missing a good handful of trees. And even the small lodge hadn't escaped her wrath, her room now bare of any items after she had used her strength to reduce it all to useless pieces of waste.
And when that hadn't been enough, she'd gone for Jasper. Needing a physical release for the worry and anxiety that plagued her mind.
But more than that, it was guilt.
She hadn't been the best daughter. That much she knew even now. Ever since she'd moved to Forks and met Edward she'd become someone she couldn't recognise. Gone was the responsible Bella and in it's place as someone who ignored her father, acted recklessly and didn't once think of how things would hurt him. Even when James could potentially get to her father, she'd used the greatest weapon she had against him without thinking.
Because only Edward mattered.
She had allowed herself to become wholly consumed by Edward that nothing else in her life mattered, not her friends and not her mother. And definitely not her father. Who had always been her favourite parent growing up, the one she had often dreamed of living with when Renee had gotten too much. Her childish dreams of a life with her father that included stability and love.
And she'd stood all over that. Idly she couldn't even remember the last time she'd told him she loved him, or if she had in her whole time of living with him. Or were they simply two strangers that had shared a home. And now he was not only mourning her death, but something had happened and she wasn't there to look after him. She had allowed her immaturity to ruin it all.
Feeling nothing but air between her fingers again, Bella looks down to see the rope was once more sawdust.
"For god sake" she growls.
Despite her previous agitation being aimed towards herself, she can once more feel it shit towards the rope. As well as the man who had placed it in her hands. Jasper had decided - about three hours after she attacked him - that instead of her destroying everything she should work on her strength. Thus presenting her with the task of unravelling the rope without destroying it.
Safe to say it wasn't going well. And as she hears steps on the wooden patio, she raises her eyes to glare at the one who had given her it. The male in question simply smirks as he carries wood over his shoulder without a care in the world. As whilst she'd been set the task of unravelling rope, he was fixing the damage she'd done to where they live. As of right now it was a bit too much.
Not that she cared.
"How's it goin', Bells?"
"Fuck you Jasper" she growls.
Despite the laughter that rips its way out of his chest at her words, Bella can easily note the surprise on Jaspers features. The older vampire no doubt was surprised that she even knew how to curse. Because she had of course never done it before. Well in his ear shot anyway. When she'd lived with Renee it had been a regular occurrence but it was again something she'd dropped when living with her father.
And of course dropped around the Cullen's. Not wanting them to see her as anything but perfect and someone who belonged with their family. Another china doll that fits into the perfect circle. Yet right now, she couldn't give two shits about decorum or being lady-like as she lets the words voice her agitation.
"Not every vampire masters their strength straight away Bells"
Mocking him with a shake of her head, she brushes off the new layer of sawdust and pulls the rope closer. Her actions slow as she begins to work her way through it. Letting her mind clear of all previous thoughts and yet there is one thing that plagues it. That stops her from fully devoting herself to the task at hand. Lowering the rope she looks up at Jasper as he measures the wood before him.
The one thing Bella knew was that Jasper would always answer her questions. The vampire believed in the truth and everyone having the answer and details they needed. Yet at the same time she couldn't help but wonder if he'd answer these questions. If he would give her this information. But she decides to just go for it. What was the worst that could happen?
"Jas" she starts softly. Only continuing once his topaz gaze is on her "Tell me more about the volturi"
His back straightens as he looks at her, no doubt waiting for this conversation since he told her there was a prospect she'd be at war with them. Edward had told her some things, but Bella had a feeling he'd glossed over the harsh truth. Told her what he wanted to tell her, details no doubt fantasised and made to be much less than they actually were.
Which really didn't help her situation.
"There are three main rulers and around 700 or more lesser vampires that make up the guard" Jasper sighs softly as he busies himself with the wood in his hands, her own hands repeating the actions with the rope on her lap. "And together they all make our ruling council."
She knows that much already, but doesn't voice her thoughts.
"The Kings are Aro, Marcus and Caius. Aro is gifted with an advanced form of telepathy that means he can touch someone's skin and read not only every thought they'd ever had. But watch their life play out like a movie"
"Like Edward?"
She hadn't wanted to interrupt but the words dripped off her lips before she could stop them.
"Edward can read surface thoughts, tha ones people are thinkin' at tha precise moment. Which is why it is easy ta hide ya though's from him if ya think hard enough. Wit' Aro, it's much harder. As he can read every thought. Thus there ain' any secrets ya can keep from him."
Bella nods softly. "And Marcus can sense mates?"
She remembered that from the conversation in the woods. On how Jasper didn't think Carlisle would have risked that because of Marcus' gift. And how it would reveal that her and Edward weren't mates. Something she knew down into the dead marrow of her bones.
"Marcus can read emotional bonds." Jasper murmurs as he shifts a piece of wood "He can tell you how people are emotionally tied to each other. Mates, siblings, lovers, friends. And how strong that link is. Which is again why Carlisle wouldn't have risked it. As Marcus would have seen it was just a claim but no truth"
She nods as her mind brings that picture from Carlisle's office forward. The dark haired king flashes before her eyes and she once again feels a monumental amount of sympathy as she remembers how much pain he looked to be in. yet to think that someone so hurt knew the ins and outs of everyone's emotional ties. It had to be tiring.
"And Caius. Edward said he was ungifted but was a brute"
A snort rattles through Jasper's frame and makes Bella jump from the intensity of it.
"No Caius isn't gifted. But he's an exceptional warrior. It's believed in his human life he was some kind of war general and thus explains his long standing love of war and strife. It's also why he's the most ruthless of them all as his forgiveness and respect is the hardest to earn"
Bella knew simply from Jasper's words that despite Caius' ruthlessness, the warrior in Jasper respected him. It was shown in how his voice had changed as he alked about the kings. With Aro it had been with a sense of apprehension, no doubt because of Aro's gift. With Marcus, he thought the same as her. Sympathy curled inside Jasper for the king who was shrouded in sadness and carried with the weight of everyone elses bonds.
But as Jasper spoke about Caius, it was done with that almost childlike wonder that one would speak of their heroes. Of someone that they greatly looked up too. It was humbling really, to see that someone she had almost idolised herself, had his own version of a hero. That despite the fact they were not human anymore, they kept hold of such a human trait and applied it into their second life.
Growling as she feels her fingers once more grasping air, she drags forward another amount of rope and sets forth on her task. She was determined to prove to Jasper that she could do it. That she could control her strength and turn it into something other than destruction.
Her sires accompanying laughter told her he had sensed her stubbornness and was amused. Yet wisely keeps his comments to himself as she wasn't entirely sure if she could refrain from throttling him with the damn rope.
"You said there are 700 guards?" she voices. As a way to stop him from laughing at her.
"Yeah but they're all split into different tiers. Basically ranging from how valuable they are, to the most expendable." Jasper shrugs "The ones you need to worry about are the Elite guard"
"Why?" she asks softly as she manages to get at least an inch of the rope untied without destroying it.
"The elite guard are made up of tha four most dangerous vampires in tha Volturi's arsenal." Jasper offers "You've got Felix who never lost his newborn strength, if anythin' it doubled. Meanin' no vampire can out strength him. Even Emmett would come undone against Felix"
That was hard for Bella to imagine. That the vampire who was almost like her older brother could be outmatched in strength. But then again if this Felix belonged to the volturi then surely there wasn't an equal for him in the world. As she got the feeling that the Volturi only had the best vampires working for them, the ones who could truly make sure that the laws of the vampire world were upheld to the strongest level.
"An then ya have tha twins. Alec and Jane. now these two are two ya don' wanna be messin wit. Changed quite young they have gifts that work almost in parallel to each otha. Where Jane can make ya feel tha worst levels of pain. Pain tha' puts the change ta shame. Alec meanwhile can steal ya senses. Numb them and leave ya blind and unable to comprehend where you are, wha' ya smellin'. Hell he can make it feel like ya ain' even touchin' tha ground at times."
To Bella, they sounded like a walking nightmare. Which if she was thinking clearly was probably the reason they were in the elite guard. Two of the most dangerous gifted vamps that could either make ya want to die due to pain or rob you of everything you knew. It was a nightmare and one she never wanted to experience. She'd gone throu the hell of the change once. And never wanted to feel anything close to that again.
"And the fourth" If Jasper had left this one till last. She had a feeling they were the worst one.
"The last is Demetri" Jasper offers as he walks over to the wall he was replacing and takes some measurements. "Turned in Greece over two thousand years ago by Amun, the egyptian coven leader. He came under the employment of the volturi within his first hundred years of life"
It was strange to think that someone was that old. As all Bella could picture as Jasper was explaining things was the time of the greek gods. Of Zeus, Poseidon and Hades ruling over the humans. Of Hercules fighting through his trials. So either she was now distracted as fuck, or it was one hell of an analogy to think of when it came o this male called Demetri.
"Demetri is tha captain of tha guard. Tha one who has trained all tha others" Jasper sighs recapturing her attention. "Apparen'ly no one joins the guard withou' his approval. No matter how much Aro wants them on it. If you don' pass Demetri's trainin' then ya don't join."
"So is he as important as the kings?" her confusion is palpable as she tries to work the hierarchy out.
"I don' know" Jasper sighs "I've spent my life actively avoiding them an thus I don' know all tha details. I only know Demeti trains 'em because of Peter. He found it out on his travels."
She nods, understanding that. If she could she'd probably spend her whole life avoiding the volturi but in this instance it wasn't possible.
"What is his gift?" something in her mind was telling her she knew, but she couldn't put the pieces together.
"He's a tracker" Jasper raises his hand before she can open her mouth "Worse than James. James was by scent which every vampire could do easily wit' enough trainin'. But Demetri, he finds somethin in someone's mind an can find 'em anywhere. An everyone tha' vampire has ever met"
Bella's eyes widened at that knowledge. The fact that one gift could be so powerful and it made sense that he was so high in the Volturi. When you had a guard member who not only trained all the others but could keep a track of your enemies. It would definitely help you remain in power.
Jasper hums softly no doubt guessing where her thoughts were going. "Demetri could be in Italy and know where a vampire is in England without much worry. Tha only one who is immune ta his gift is his mate. A ironic twist if ya ask me"
Bella couldn't help but giggle at that. The fact that Demetri could find anyone anywhere. But not his mate. The one person who could win in a game of hide and seek against him. And she found herself liking Demetri's mate without even knowing her. Simply for that fact.
"What about me?"
Her mind was silent to Edward and Carlisle had theorised that she was a shield to all mental gifts. So would it work on the strongest tracker in the world. Or was it just an Edward thing.
"Without putting ya in Demetri's path, we can' ever know tha answer."
A shiver runs down Bellas spine at the prospect of being in Demetri's path and she can also see that it was something that Jasper didn't want either. His eyes darkened to almost onyx at the imagined threat. So yeah if she could help it, she wasn't going to be testing that theory anytime soon.
Idly messing with the rope in her hands, she works through the information she's been told already. Her new vampiric mind sorting it at a speed she'd never have accomplished before.
"What are some of the other guards and their gifts?"
Fingers idly work on the rope in her hands - and no she wasn't going to admit how many times she shredded it - as Jasper explains of the other gifts he knew. Of Renata and her shield. Chelsea who could manipulate bonds and make you loyal to the volturi in any way.
It was a lot to remember and for once Bella is thankful she's a vampire and her memory seemed to just catalogue it all away. But beyond that she couldn't help but worry. Worry that with all these dangerous vampires potentially on Carlisle's side. How is she and Jasper supposed to survive?. She knew his story, of how he had fought through the souther wars. But from the sounds of it these vampires were even older, and had fought through mch harder wars.
They were made to destroy, to uphold the law. And under the tutelage of Demetri had no doubt become a driving force of misery and pain. And despite Jasper having Peter and Charlotte on his side, there was no way they could win. Not the way she saw it anyway.
Letting silence hang in the air between them, she focused on the rope in her hand. Fighting to get it all undone as Jasper silently works on repairing her damage, the empath not wanting to destroy the calm silence that had settled between them either. That or he was leaving her to her musings, letting her settle with all the information he had divulged.
She regretted asking her questions.
Sighing softly she lets her gaze wander from her lap and out towards the forest, and the more she stared the more she could almost picture the volturi moving towards them. Their steps silent and deadly on the floor. Winter was fast approaching and it almost seemed and ironic twist to think it would be coming along with them.
Or if they didn't get involved, it was all the mysterious vampires Carlisle could call on for favours. So no matter how much she tried to excuse things away. War was coming and Bella was stuck right in the middle of it all. All thanks to vampires walking into her life not even a year ago.
A buzzing sound brings her attention back to Jasper and she watches as he pulls his phone out of his pocket. Reading it though she can see a shadow cross over his face before he turns the device towards her so she could read the latest bit of information.
The storm is heading your way - P
Brows crease in confusion as Bella reads the text, finding it nothing more than a cryptic sentence that caused her to have more questions than answers. Lifting her eyes towards Jasper, she can see his own closed in what she can only guess is resignation.
Gone was the strong warrior he'd been and in his place was someone who was clearly worried about their upcoming visitor and it made a coil of dread build to a crescendo in her stomach. If a simple text could do that to Jasper, then just who was this person truly. And how powerful were they?.
"Jas" she whispers
"It's okay Bells, the one coming is someone who can help. Her name is Karina." Jasper sighs softly "I just happened ta piss her off about 90 years ago an she's wanted ta kick my ass since."
Such a simple explanation and yet it does nothing to ease her worry. But she nods, accepting his words as teeth sink into her bottom lip. Looking back at her lap and the rope currently laid so innocently over it, Bella couldn't help but wonder when her life would become simple again. When would she just be able to enjoy the day, without worrying about war. And strange people who wanted to kick her sires ass.
When could she be normal again?
Dropping the rope in her hands she jumps to her feet and flashes over to Jasper. Her smaller body crashes into his as she wraps her arms around him. Needing an edge of comfort as she hugs him close. For that moment she craved something normal. Something that could ease the tension and worry that plagued her every molecule. And as his strong arms wrap around her in return. She finds it.
There in Jasper's arms she was safe. She was normal.
"We're gonna be okay aren't we?" she asks almost childlike.
"Yea' we are, I'll make sure of it."
Bella wasn't sure if Jasper was just saying the words to ease the worry that was currently cycling through her or not. But one thing she was sure was that it was a promise he would do anything to uphold. His words were a vow and right now she swore in return that she'd make him keep it. She couldn't afford for another vampire to break a promise to her.
And not one that was slowly becoming to mean so much to her.
- ʚɞ -
A / N: Reviews are love and highly appreciated - So yeah this is a bit of a filler, but its now building in momentum. And I am so happy you all enjoyed the reveal about our mystery lady being Demetri's mate. And don't worry their history does get told to Bella so you can learn some more about them. As there is still ONE mystery surrounding our lady Karina, but its Bella that gets told that so don't worry you get to enjoy that ride.
- ʚɞ -
Now if i could get Bella to stop playing with Jasper long enough to go play with Paul … i'd get the other story written enough to post.
