Part 8
Jasper stood still for a moment, Jane eyed him but he kept his own eyes shifting between the wolves. The anger coming from them was palpable and he knew his powers would have little effect on resolving the situation without bloodshed.
He sighed and stepped closer to the two Volturi vampires. There would be no talking this over and for that he felt a twinge of regret for having aided Edwards cause. "Get ready." He muttered almost silently to the pair as his fist clenched. The shifters were young and untrained in the ways of fighting vampires, it was far from a fair fight but the Quileute's were too far gone on their own importance to realise that the peaceful Cullen's were far from the norm when it came to vampires.
If this went the way he expected it to, then some of the shifters in front of him would not be returning home this day.
Bella snorted and just watched the approaching mutts with disdain.
Jane narrowed her eyes as the line shifted forward and towards them. She gathered her power and waited for Bella to make her move and then she would bring about a pain worse than death on the first dog to attack.
Still the Quileute's continued across the open grass of the back yard, forming a rough semi-circle around the three vampires, growling lowly in warning.
And then Jasper felt it, the moment the red eyes of Jane and Isabella were spotted and the anger he'd previously experienced was overshadowed by the thunderstorm of venomous emotions that swept from wolf to wolf. Growls became snarls and muscles twitched, eager for action.
Jasper spotted the larger black wolf, Sam Uley, the Alpha of the pack and the one that would be responsible for the start of the fight. He watched him carefully, seeing the snarl form at his lips, and his teeth flashing at Isabella. He was looking for revenge, Jasper understood that now, and it removed the little hope that he had that he could somehow talk them down from this moment.
Sam lowered his head to stare darkly at the red eyed vampires then threw his head back and howled his pack into action.
Bella turned her body side on and watched as the wolves attacked as one, leaping at them from all sides, claws and teeth first.
Jasper almost froze in shock as he heard the laughter coming from Isabella, but before he could check on her he was ducking the sharp claws of one wolf and grabbing at a second to stop from being bitten. He then knocked that wolf into the one sneaking up from behind before crouching and leaping over to the blonde Volturi guard. It would be better that he did what he could to protect Jane and Isabella and perhaps he could even limit the casualties of the fight this way.
Jane grinned as she directed her crippling power from one dog to the next, waiting until they were mid-jump and watching as they crumpled agonisingly to the ground in excruciating pain. It was almost too easy for her to deal with the filthy dogs. Bella and the Cullen could have remained inside and she still would have been able to care of this on her own.
Bella raked her fingers through fur and skin, earning a howl from the wolf jumping over her before she was grabbing another wolf and throwing it from her as her eyes remained on the black wolf in front of her. She felt nothing but contempt for it as she watch him remain on the outskirts of the fight. Clearly it was the leader of this group of puppies but instead of standing proud and stepping foot first into the fray, it dared to stand back and watch those under its protection risk all.
Bella could taste the venom in her mouth rise at the thought of sending Jane into this fight alone. She was affronted by this wolf's inability to accept its rightful place. So be it, if the dog wouldn't come to her, she would take the fight to it.
As another wolf snapped its jaws at her head, Bella grabbed it around the neck, and as her eyes met the black wolf's, she snapped the dog's neck, dropping its limp body to ground at her feet as the growls and barks around her intensified at the death of one of their own.
She however only had eyes for the Alpha, who now started stalking towards her. She advanced a step, ignoring the wolf that fell near her in a fit of pain. She trusted Jane to take care of the rest of the mutts as she dealt with this one. Another step and she and the black wolf paused for a moment before they both raced forward and attacked.
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"Wow." Emmett muttered from his spot by the glass pane as he watched the fight intensify as Isabella killed one of the wolves.
Rosalie snarled and smacked at her husband who flinched back from her. The blonde kept her hand on Alice's shoulder, wishing she could pull her away but knowing the human would resist.
Alice just kept her hand on the glass as her eyes trained on Bella and the black monster wolf that was pawing at her. She couldn't look away in fear of something awful happening. She should known the outcome, she should be able to see it, but her gift had deserted her and she was terrified that Bella was going to be hurt, or worse.
"Alice, maybe it would be best-"
"Save it Carlisle." Alice snapped at the doctor. She wasn't going to be treated like a delicate flower or like a child told to look away when something inappropriate happens in their view.
This was her Bella.
"She's good little Tink, she'll be back up here real soon." Emmett tried to reassure Alice as he could smell the tears gathering at her eyes as she watched the fight continue outside. The other wolves along with Jasper and Jane had reluctantly stopped their fighting to watch Isabella and Sam fight it out.
He had complete confidence in the dark haired vampire.
Off to the side Edward glared out the window. The fight was basically over already, he knew Jane could easily incapacitate Sam as he fought with Isabella, the Volturi guard was merely toying with the wolf, although Sam didn't seem to understand that yet.
He had thought the wolves would have been fiercer than this as they avenged the disappearance of a member of their tribe. But they were clearly outclassed by two female vampires.
He huffed, they would have been outclassed by just one of the guards.
He spun around and headed to his room, the gloating thoughts of Rosalie and Bree, not to mention Carlisle's thoughts on how to prevent the situation with the Volturi's escalating further followed after him as he left.
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Bella laughed as she leaned into the black wolf, holding it in place on its hind legs as it struggled to claw at her so close to its own body. She shook her head then pushed it backwards away from her and watched it slide along the ground before hunching over and snarling at her.
"Oh, please." She muttered wondering if it was about to come at her again. "Just accept defeat already."
She wasn't against killing it if she had to but at this stage it would likely cause Alice more upset than she wanted the human to deal with. And besides, the rest of the dogs had watched her play with their leader. He should hang his head in shame.
"You are no Alpha." She narrowed her eyes and glared him down as he growled at her.
Jane walked to stand beside Bella. "Should I finish him off?" Her voice was loud in the silence as the other pack members struggled with the lack of direction coming from their leader.
The few wolf's that had injuries fell behind the rest, taking refuge in the trees as they waited.
"Well?" Bella snapped at the black wolf as she grew impatient.
Sam blew out a breath, sending dust into the air from the ground. He held his head up defiantly for a long moment, staring into Bella's red eyes with nothing but hate. And then finally he sighed, looked away from her, and then looked at the other wolves before standing there as the rest headed back into the forest the way they had arrived.
Sam waited though, as the body of Nate lay between the vampires.
Jasper looked down at the broken body. His eyes then lifted and met Sam's. "I could carry him to the treaty line for you." He offered.
Sam snarled, not wanting a vampire to touch the body.
Bella narrowed her eyes. "Be grateful the body count wasn't higher."
The wolf's body shook with anger. Sam bared his teeth and inched closer.
Jane crossed her arms and frowned. Her eyes flicked to Bella, silently asking if she should give the dog a lesson but her friend shook her head subtly. She snorted and spun around and left them to it, no longer interested now that the fighting was over.
"Well?" Bella grew impatient to be rid of this shifter from the area. Not only was the Cullen land supposed to be off limits to them, she knew the tribe had a problem with Alice living here.
Sam snarled but moved closer warily as he came to a stop by his friend's dead body. Sixteen years old and an only child, he dreaded having to explain this to the Elders as he had ordered this attack without their approval.
But he would bring Nathaniel home. He lowered his muzzle and shuffled at the body but he couldn't lift it onto his back with using his jaws and he feared leaving his own marks on the body for his parents to see.
"Here, let me."
Carlisle gently lifted the boy onto the back of the wolf. Their eyes met briefly before Sam turned and bounded back into the forest.
Carlisle watched the Alpha disappear with a heavy heart. This could have been avoided. But he had to shoulder some of the blame too, not just Edward.
He turned to return to the house and came face to face with a disgruntled Volturi member.
"If they return, I will not be so lenient. Nor will I spare those involved." Bella thought her warning was crystal clear. The dogs had been sent for, mostly likely by Edward.
Carlisle sighed heavily but didn't counter Isabella. It wasn't an argument he could win.
"There will have to be a meeting with the Quileute's over this. A tribe member has been killed and that is not something that can be dismissed." He walked into the house, needing to think over how it was possible to move forward from this without starting a war with their neighbours.
They had barely been in Forks a week and it may now be best for them to discuss relocating once more.
Bella eyed the forest once more but could hear anything out of place and the scent of the dogs was quickly fading.
"What?" She asked as she felt the blonde vampire's eyes on her.
Jasper tilted his head. "There was less blood spilled than I had been preparing for." He admitted.
Bella closed the distance and stared at the other vampire curiously. This ex-soldier was Alice's family and for that she considered him part of hers.
Jasper waited.
Bella smiled a touch then let her eyes drift to the side of the building where an audience had gathered. She waved back as Alice moved her hand back and forth at her.
Jasper chuckled beside her.
"Killing them remains an option, but not one I was prepared to have my mate bear witness to." She told him. Her answer was honest and frank and if he had asked which she would have rather have done, she would have said that every dog that had set foot towards her in a fight would have forfeited its life.
But that was a scene she didn't think her human was ready for quite yet.
She would have to work up to that.
She eyed Jasper as they both started back to the house. She had to wonder what Alice had seen while travelling with this vampire. Surely she had watched him feed? Or had he hidden that part of himself while around her.
"You can ask." Jasper muttered.
And Bella needed no further invitation. "Has she watched you kill for pleasure?" Hunger was one thing, but had Alice watched a vampire in the midst of battle when all that mattered was ripping a head off or a throat out?
Jasper couldn't help but flinch at the question.
Bella nodded and stepped past the younger vampire and into the house. She had her answer.
It would seem that her little human wasn't as blind to death as the Cullen's would like to believe.
So maybe life in Volterra wouldn't be such an adjustment when the time came.
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The moment Alice saw Bella at the top of the staircase she raced over and wrapped her arms around the vampire.
Bella chuckled and eased her own arms carefully around the small human as Jane snorted in disgust at the display.
"I'm fine." She assured the girl as she felt her body tremble.
"I was so scared." Alice muttered into the taller woman's shoulder.
Bella rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure why the girl was concerned for her when Bella was more than capable of taking on stronger opponents than those mutts had been.
"Those dogs were child's play." She hadn't exerted herself at all. That dog, Paul, had been more of a challenge and the only reason for that had been that he had caught her unawares.
"Those 'dog's' were just children, and you killed one of them." Esme couldn't help but comment. She shook her head to forget the sorrow of losing a child. "There was no need for that, Carlisle could have talk with Sam."
Bella hissed as she glared at Esme as she stood beside her silent husband. "You forget yourself, those dog's live as neighbours to you yet you break the law by not reporting their existence!"
"And why would we do that?" Esme glared back at the red eyed vampire in her home. She was tired of the fearing the outcome of this. "So you and the rest of your Coven can come and slaughter them? They are CHILDREN!"
"You broke the LAW!"
"And I'd do it again!" Esme cried out as Jasper tried his best to calm her emotions. "How dare you stand there judging our family, and speak of the law when you know taking a human as a mate break it as well."
Bella glowered at the woman as Jane moved to her side and the other vampire in the room shifted nervously. The tension in the room rose as they all realised that this could well be the turning point in all of their lives.
"Alice won't always be human." Bella declared as she eased away from her mate and stood in front of the Cullen's. "And you should stop pretending that you still are."
"You are vampires so start acting like it or I'll take you all before Aro myself and let him choose your sentences."
Jane grinned as gasps sounded around her.
This was more like it. This was what she had been looking forward to when she had found out the Cullen's knew of the pack of shifters and did nothing. Instead Carlisle formed a treaty with the dogs and kowtowed to their demands.
As far as she was concerned the Cullen's were a disgrace to all vampires.
But death would be too easy a punishment for them.
No, Aro wouldn't kill any of them, but he would force them to join the Voturi. And maybe to the vegetarian vampires that would be a fate worse than death as they would be surrounded by humans being killed every day while at the castle.
Twice on a Sunday.
They wouldn't have the stomach for it. They were too weak, and humanised to cope with the chaos of a feeding room.
But Jane would love to witness it.
Bella eyed Carlisle, no longer interested in listening to Esme's accusations. "Should I call Aro, or should we discuss why a pack of shifters just came to your home and attacked without warning? Seeing as they're such good friends of yours?"
Carlisle closed his eyes and wondered how he was going to get out of this mess with his family intact.
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AN/
Sorry for the wait ;)
Thanks for reading!