Jasper was healed for the most part at this point but he was still sleeping a lot and when he wasn't he was looking like he was a second from falling asleep.
So it wasn't a surprise to find him sleeping at random places all over the house.
Like the trunk of Rosalie's car. She had seen him there earlier when she had come to change one of Emmett's tires. He was half wrapped in an obnoxiously yellow blanket with sunflower patterns and she didn't need to even smell it to know no one but Alice would own something so horrid.
At times Rosalie had troubles believing Alice's favorite color to be yellow. That horrible yellow.
She sighed at the same time Jasper shifted in his sleep. One of his legs hanging out of the trunk. How did he even fit there was a wonder.
In fact. How did he even end up there was another wonder. He had never been a fan of enclosed spaces. Even when Alice dragged him to stores with them he never got into elevators and he refused with tooth and nail to get into the changing rooms at stores.
Claustrophobia Carlisle had said.
Yet here he was.
Sleeping in such small space that could become even smaller if the lid were to close.
Not that that would happen. The only one who would do such a childish thing would be Emmett but even Emmett knew where to draw the line when it came to pranking Jasper.
Her attention was brought back to the present when he jerked awake. The look he put reminded her of when Alice had that vision of the Volturi coming after Renesmee. It didn't settle well with her gut.
Much less when he glanced at her.
-Something's wrong.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Cullens were reunited in the living room. Minus Renesmee who had been staying at Charlie's since the incident so as to keep her from seeing Jasper.
-The Volturi are coming, and they aren't coming alone.
Carlisle grew tense at this statement.
-When?
-They will be here in an hour.- Alice said, looking like she wanted to grab Jasper and run off.
-We can leave before they get here.- Rosalie's words had Alice shaking her head.
-No. That would be too suspicious, and they would find us anyway.
-They are coming for Jasper, aren't they?- Bella asked, if the Volturi had been involved in the attack Jasper suffered, it wouldn't be a surprise that the Volturi themselves would show up eventually.
At Alice's nod Esme felt her dead heart drop. This had to be some kind of nightmare. This wasn't actually happening, she couldn't lose him. She refused to lose her son. She didn't think she would be strong enough to survive the loss of three of her children at the same time.
Because if Jasper died so would Jor.
And then Alice would follow, maybe not physically but she would definitely not be the same, a vampire who's lost their soulmate was nothing but a shell of their former self. Such pain...
It would destroy this family.
Carlisle for his side tensed his jaw. What was he suppose to do in this situation? He had no idea how they would react to Jasper once face to face. Carlisle doubted the Volturi would be able to kill Jasper, as weak as he was he was still a black blood.
Still stronger than the average vampire.
And The Major was with him.
Something told Carlisle it would be the other way around, Jasper would kill the Volturi, but that was something he couldn't allow either.
Because if Jasper killed them, it wouldn't be long before all the vampires from Volterra hunted them down. They would see it as rebellion. An act of war.
And Major or not no one could fight a war against that many vampires and win.
-We will see what they want.
-They wanna use me as an excuse to kill y'all so Aro can have more toys.- Jasper stated as matter of fact. He wasn't stupid. Aro was mad with desire to get his hands on Edward, Bella and Alice. He would use as excuse that of the Cullens harboring The Major in their mist to punish them with death.
"Which we won' allow."
He's been craving a fight against the Volturi for a while now. Nothing would please him more than getting it now.
Even more so if the Volturi were bringing an army with them.
-You aren't fighting anyone.- Carlisle warned as he caught Jasper's look, he knew that look like the palm of his hand.- We will hear them out first and I will see if I can talk him out of it.
-Alright.- Even if Jasper said that the look he was giving Carlisle said the complete opposite.
That until Alice smacked his chest with the back of her hand and gave him a look worth goosebumps.
Jasper scowled and his jaw tightened for a moment before he looked away.
-Fine .
~~~~~~~~~~
When the five figures stepped out of the forest the Cullens were already waiting for them at the porch.
-Aro. To what do I owe your visit?- Carlisle greeted keeping his tone loose and carefree. Shoulders relaxed despite how not relaxed he felt right now. The Volturi were here but he could smell way too many vampires surrounding the house. Out of sight.
-Quit your games, you know perfectly well why we are here.- Caius snapped glaring at Jasper who didn't hesitate to glare back and caress Caius' emotional signature with hesitation and anxiousness.
He would have strenghtened it if Edward hadn't elbowed him which considering his current condition it did hurt. He threw Edward a poisonous look that Edward didn't so much flinch at.
-Taking a black blood in isn't a crime.- Carlisle said easily.- You attacked him when he has done nothing wrong.
-Nothing wrong? The Major has done more wrong than an entire human prison put together.- Caius spat.
-I wasn't aware the Volturi was a coven of saints.- Jasper couldn't help but voice. A surge of heat swirling in his chest. Hate. He wanted to choke Caius with such despair he would be reduced to nothing but pleas and pathetic sobs.
-What we do we do it to remind people to follow the rules.- Aro said as a statement of fact.
-Of course. The fact that those covens have quite the useful gifts is just mere coincidence.
-How dare you-
-That's enough.- Carlisle cut off throwing Jasper a warning glare.- Please forgive him, he's just been under a lot of stress lately.
Jasper glared at Carlisle at that. Was he seriously gonna try and talk to them? No one could talk sense into the Volturi, he was just wasting his time. Carlisle should teach them once and for all to leave his coven alone. The Cullens were probably one of the most harmless covens out there, that didn't meant they should allow the Volturi to decide and/or control their lives.
They weren't their bosses.
They just acted like royal asses and expected people to obey them, based on what? Because they were powerful? Because they were old? The Egyptian coven could perfectly well meet those standards too and they weren't asses about it.
In fact.
Jasper was sure that given the right training Benjamin could become the most dangerous vampire alive with his gift alone. A vampire capable of manipulating fire... It made part of him curious. Giddy. It reminded him of the excitement of getting to train a new batch of newborns.
A little part of him craved to get to meet him.
-I understand that... some things of what The Major has done in the past were problematic. Some did break some laws. But that's in the past and he is no longer that person.- Carlisle didn't feel comfortable with the idea of the Volturi knowing Jasper and The Major weren't the same person, at least not in a sense.
God knows what they would do with that information.
-It's not only about what he's done in the past, it's about what he is. Do you realize the kind of danger he put us in by his mere existence? What could happen if he were to bite someone and let them live?
Jasper scoffed at Aro's words.
-You forget somethin'. Unlike you, I can make a human forget about me just fine. I'm not the one takin' out entire groups of tourists in the middle of the day expectin' for that to not be noticed. If anyone is gonna end up slippin' and puttin' vampires in the human radar that would be you lot. Not me. You're just pissed you can't make somethin' up to fill up your arsenal and the fact that I didn't end up at your door.
He ignored Carlisle's flaring warning but he did feel a bit bad at Esme's flickering anxiety.
Caius' anger flared like a bubbling volcano making eruption.
-How dare you?
Then, out of nowhere, Caius was pouncing.
Jasper met him halfway, taking a swing at him with his claws that the blond almost didn't manage to dodge. Still, Jasper didn't let that stop him; his fist collided without an ounce of mercy on Caius' jaw. The sound of the man's skin cracking that reached his ears was as pleasing as the sight of the fissure that was left behind on the once smooth surface.
Caius snarled at him as he landed close to the Volturi's leader, but Aro didn't let him take a single step forward as he held his hand up. Caius glared at him in disbelief.
Jasper smirked at him at the same time he caressed his family with calm.
-Caius, do please don't be foolish, don't start a fight you won't be able to finish.- Aro berated easily.
Jasper raised an eyebrow at the blond, he knew that starting fights wasn't wise but he had to put the blame on The Major, he had been a bit way too restless since the Volturi's attack.
And he sided with him.
He wanted revenge. Wanted to teach them why they shouldn't touch them. As Maria always said, deal with them before they become a problem.
But he promised Alice to not start fights.
That didn't mean the Volturi couldn't start a fight.
Caius for his side growled but stepped back. And so Jasper stepped back too. Alice came to him and grabbed his hand. Her emotions were calm with streaks of uneasiness and disapproval.
-You may be right on something, it's quite a shame that you ended up here. All that potential going to waste, such a shame really.- Aro said as he began approaching him. Jasper stood his ground, refusing to bend down to Aro of all people.
"Rip his head off." - The Major's voice was nothing but a whisper at the back of his head. Jasper tensed his jaw.
"Quiet."
"Ya know ya wanna rip his head off."
-He has done nothing wrong, nor is it against the law for him to be here.- Carlisle told fighting his growing panic off as Aro approached Jasper. Esme at his side gripping his arm so tight it ached.
-You tried to fool us by hiding him, making him pass as a common vampire, and he attacked me. That should be transgression enough.- Caius said sharply.
-You attacked him first. Technically speaking he did nothing wrong.- Emmett defended with a shit eating grin as he watched Caius rub at his cracked jaw. His words got him a hateful glare in return.
-And they didn't knew I was a black blood 'til recently, found out I was The Major a few days ago, you can't punish 'em, that would be unfair and make you look terribly bad.- Jasper told matter of fact biting back a smirk at Aro's face. The man knew he was right. He couldn't do anything against the Cullens.
Because keeping a black blood wasn't illegal.
And technically neither was keeping The Major.
In a sense the Cullens had done nothing wrong.
No lies. No deceiving.
The Volturi couldn't touch them and he knew Aro had realized this for the man developed an irritated look.
He bit back a growl when Aro had the audacity to grab his face though. He couldn't attack him. He had to keep calm. He had to keep calm.
But that didn't stop him from giving the Volturi leader a warning growl and a glare of death.
The man, of course, ignored him.
-You are one peculiar thing indeed.- Aro grinned, sounding as fascinated as he looked. Alice's hand holding his own was the only thing keeping Jasper from ripping the Volturi leader's head off.
-Aro, leave him be.- Carlisle requested, both because Jasper looked a second away from ripping Aro's head off and because he didn't feel comfortable at all with the Volturi leader's gaze. He was looking at Jasper as if he was some kind of fascinating animal that he wanted to dissect to find out how it worked.
And considering what he had seen of the black bloods in Volterra, that wouldn't be too far from the truth.
-A black blood in a coven of vegetarian vampires doesn't seem like a good fit. I would be more than happy to take him with me. Dear Alice would be more than welcome too of course. What do you think Carlisle?
-No.- Carlise said without missing a beat.
-You think you can tame a black blood? The Major? He's too much for your domestic life. Would you rather risk us having to come back to kill you all because he exposed us? Look at those scars, do you even understand who he is? What he's done? Are you willing to take your chances with a vampire that could very much turn against you at any moment?
-He won't put us at risk, I can promise you that. And so far he's been doing great at following our lifestyle. And yes, I'm willing to take my chances with him, I don't care what anyone says, I have known him long enough to know he would never hurt anyone unprovoked.
Carlisle's words caught Jasper off guard, and he was able to find nothing but burning seriousness and honesty in the man's emotions. His face conveyed the same feelings as his emotions did.
It warmed his chest.
He hadn't even known he needed to hear those words.
-You can't control him Carlisle. Even so, what do you expect to do with him? Play family? Or have you changed your mind and are trying to make your own army? You do realize what I will have to do right?
"Excuses. Excuses. Excuses."
Jasper's blood was boiling. Now Aro was seeking nothing but excuses to get his hands on them.
-I understand but that was never my intention. I had no idea who he was, but that doesn't mean I will give him to you or kick him out because of his past. He's part of this family and he belongs here.- Carlisle declared, making sure to look at Jasper at his last words.
He needed him to know that he wouldn't give him up, no matter what.
And he also needed him to calm down.
His demeanor may be relaxed, but those fists and the iced glare he was giving Aro said the complete opposite.
-You.- Jasper's attention was brought to the rather eerie crimson gaze. The hold on his face was still too firm and demanding and he hated it with each atom in his being . A thumb stroked his scars and he tensed.- Say, wouldn't you like to come with me? Feeding one of your kind wouldn't be an issue at all like I believe it's for the ever humanitarian Cullens. And as I stated before, I wouldn't mind having dear Alice tagging along.
Jasper wasn't quite sure if it was how restless The Major had been. If it had rubbed off on him. Maybe the discomfort he was still in was what was making him so moody.
But hearing Alice's name in Aro's mouth in such hopeful tone. Hearing the insinuation that he was better off in Volterra than with the Cullens. How Aro truly believed he would chose blood over his own family. That he would give him Alice in a golden plate.
His desire reminded him an awful lot of Maria. Greed. Hope. More greed.
It hit a nerve.
He swatted the hand away quite aggressively. The Major was close to the surface. Whispers of death caressing the back of his head. Heat filling his chest. Because how dare he speak like that? He was happier here with the Cullens than he would ever be at Volterra. He would be nothing but a pet there. And so would Alice.
-We are perfectly fine here.- Alice snapped before Jasper could, glaring at Aro with a fierce glimmer in her eyes that could end wars.
Aro gave her a condescending look before smiling and reaching out for her.
The second he reached out for her; Jasper snatched his wrist in a dangerous grip, The Major's own growl merging with his own in a cryptic mix. Their patience was reaching its limit and right now the idea of this man keeping up his attitude towards their Alice wasn't helping at all.
-Harmin' the Cullens wouldn't look good on your so called laws seein' that there's no crime to accuse 'em of. And considerin' I'm no longer into trainin' armies you can't touch me either.- He stated releasing the man's wrist.
-Actually, you did. Didn't you? I find hard to believe that they managed to fight off a newborn army without any casualties on their own.- Jane said. Jasper bit back a scoff.
-Same as I find hard to believe that the Volturi didn't hear about a bunch of newborns causin' havoc all 'round town. Attractin' so much attention from humans. Arrivin' at the end of the fight. Killin' the remainin' witness. I wonder why.
Jasper knew he was playing with fire. Alice was crushing his hand in warning. Carlisle was oozing warning.
But he didn't care. He refused to bend down to these bastards. Refused to keep on letting them do whatever they pleased, he wouldn't let them keep up harassing his family.
-What is that suppose to mean?- Marcus questioned.
-Means. I wonder the kind of trouble that could arise where it to spread around that the Volturi wouldn't care much if humans found out as long as they get what they want.
Alarm seized the air with such force it almost managed to choke Jasper. But he didn't let it bother him. If the Cullens wouldn't do anything he would. It was time for someone to put the Volturi in their place.
-Is that a threat?- Aro asked narrowing his eyes. Jasper held his gaze.
-I don't know. Is it?
He felt Jane's flaring anger. Her face reminded him of Maria when he managed to get under her skin and she felt as if her pride was being stepped on. He smirked as he met her gaze.
Then pain came.