AN: Please don't hate me too much for this chapter... I write drama for crying out loud! LOL
The plane ride was more uneventful than Jasper had anticipated, and he was calm as they disembarked into a hangar located in somewhere Italy.
Bella slept for part of the flight, Felix remained in the back and quiet and the thoroughly chastised flight attendant made herself scarce only a few times offering refreshments, much to Jasper's surprise, they had blood available too, but he passed. It was human and he wouldn't succumb.
Felix brought up the rear carrying a lot of luggage but there was still more and the pilot and flight attendant also carried bags. It appeared as though they were moving to Volterra instead of visiting but they were planning on being there for a little over a month. Jasper knew Bella packed everything she owned and he was sure Felix did too. Jasper himself traveled with a meager two suitcases that Alice helped him pack. He really tried to maintain some friendship with his former love. He still loves her, just not in love with her anymore.
Jasper let his mind drift to his former partner and couldn't help the small smile thinking about how happy he was to have found her, or as she would put it, he was happy she "waited for him."
"You okay?" Bella asked, looking at the man holding her hand who was obviously lost in his own thoughts with a small smile, and she could only hope that meant he was happy with her and to be in Italy.
Bella doesn't want to rule, especially not with the kings but she must admit she loves the castle and Italy.
"Yes, I'm fine," Jasper answered, the smile falling from his face as he glanced at her, his future.
She wasn't sure what it meant that his smile faded and so decided it was nothing.
They walked hand in hand to the awaiting cars. As they approached a door opened and Caius stepped out. He was tall, not quite as tall as Jasper, blonde almost stark white blonde, and very pale, his skin was almost translucent that allowed for an ethereal glow. He wore a simple black suit and red tie with a large Volturi crest over the top holding his tie down with the weight of its gold. His murky red eyes still seemed to sparkle as they landed on Bella.
"Ma fille!" he said with a smile opening his long arms to Bella.
"Papa!" she exclaimed and ran much too fast for a human into his open arms, leaving Jasper behind watching with awe.
He knew that Caius considered her his daughter, but she hadn't been exactly honest about her feelings for Caius. Bella had led Jasper to believe that she didn't like the Volturi that she simply tolerated them. This was not a show of just tolerating someone, it was a show of affection and they both radiated love.
Jasper was coming to realize things were not as he was led to believe. He kept silent and walked towards them at a slow human pace giving them a chance to finish their greeting.
"Dad, this is Jasper," Bella introduced, as she turned to towards Jasper away from Caius' embrace.
"Jasper, this is Caius, my vampire dad," she announced, looking between the two and taking Jasper's hand as he came to stand in front of them.
"Vampire dad?" Jasper asked, not meaning to be rude, just hadn't heard her refer to him as such.
"Sure, he's my vampire daddy, and then I have a bio dad or sperm donor, that's Charlie, and Mitch who was my foster dad, that I grew up with," she answered shrugging.
Jasper noticed something very critical though, Caius was her vampire daddy, not her dad as the other two were described. She really didn't understand her love of the elder vampire in front of them. Jasper knew his stomach would be in knots if it could be, he could feel the ghost of the sensation… dread.
"Yes, welcome God of War. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Caius extended his hand.
"Jasper, please. I do not care for leftover monikers from a hundred years ago," Jasper corrected as he shook the king's bony but firm grip.
He noticed the king's eyes tighten as he was corrected but said nothing, moving his eyes from Jasper's to Bella's and smiling brightly.
"Well my daughter, let's get you home to your anxious uncles, shall we?" He wrapped an arm around her and she drug Jasper along behind them. Jasper knew he was in enemy territory and he was going to have to be very careful.
As they settled into one of the cars, the other took Felix and the luggage, Bella rustled through a cooler looking through the drinks in it.
"What no orange juice? Who packed this thing? Don't they know I want orange juice when I get off the plane," she huffed and crossed her arms like a spoilt child.
Jasper couldn't help as an eyebrow rose, he'd never seen her act this way.
"Oh piccola, I'm so sorry. I'll have orange juice waiting for you when we get home. Is there anything else you want?" Caius asked, pulling out his cell phone from his breast pocket.
"Yes! I want to know who thinks that I should be forgotten like this and treated this way?!" she nearly yelled into the small vehicle.
Jasper sat quietly but it was an effort to keep his jaw from hitting the floor. He knew she was a brat, he always knew. But to hear and see it, at this level, well this was new. Everything in that cooler was for her, no one else consumed human food.
"Yes, of course, orange juice and an apology." Caius began typing in his phone rather than making a call, he used a stylus that he also produced from his breast pocket since vampire temperature does make it difficult to use a smart phone these days.
The rest of the ride was spent with Jasper focusing on the scenery while Bella and Caius caught up. She told him about school and her grades. He seemed genuinely interested and proud of her accomplishments at getting all A's. Bella told him Jasper did too, but he only found this funny. Jasper would have found the amusement in the statement also if he didn't have this overwhelming sense of foreboding bearing down on him.
Jasper joined in the conversation when directly asked but otherwise stayed silent. The happiness and love in the car, shocking to him. Gone was the girl who was constantly bored. Here she let all her defenses down as soon as she was off the plane. She went from happy to annoyed to snarky and back again in seconds. She was not bored or controlled about her emotions as she had once been. This appeared a safe place for her to open up.
When they pulled up in front of the castle there was a receiving line of people, some wearing normal every day clothes that were human and then vampires of various sizes in black robes with the hoods up. Jasper was waiting for the eerie music to begin as they exited the car, but none came.
"Princess, welcome back," said a human man in a heavy Italian accent, that came to greet her and bowed before her. He stayed bowed and the rest of the crowd then bowed also while the Princess, the newcomer, and their King stood before them.
"Thank you, everyone for coming to welcome the Princess… and J-Jasper," Caius added as an afterthought.
Everyone rose from their bowed positions.
A young woman of no more than 25 approached the front of the line, wringing her apron in her hands and shaking.
"Princess, I am sorry I forgot to pack your orange juice. It will not happen again." The woman continued to shiver violently with fear, while Jasper attempted to subtly calm her.
"You're right it won't!" Bella sneered at the woman. "Felix!" she hollered and began walking to the entrance of the castle.
The whole line froze and fear exploded from the humans. Caius joined Bella without a glance back. Jasper began to follow them until the woman screamed and he turned to see Felix feeding on her in front of everyone, ending her life.
Frozen in his spot he was outraged at the brutality, the woman lost her life over orange juice? He didn't know his mate was that callous and he couldn't bring himself to be okay with the way she has acted in the last couple of hours on the ride to the castle.
"Jasper!" Bella called from inside the large dark wooden doors that were surely too heavy for just a human to maneuver.
Jasper still frozen in place watching as another vampire came forward and took the woman's lifeless body from Felix while he turned to get the luggage from the car, licking his lips in satisfaction.
"This is okay?" Jasper asked softly, not sure a human would have heard his question.
The rest of the vampires regarded Jasper warily, unsure if he was angry, no one dared answer so as not to set him off and get themselves executed.
"Felix?" He finally directed his question to the large vampire, while Bella and Caius were still waiting for him just inside the large double doors.
"Yep, it's a treat for me. And she does it to proclaim her authority. She doesn't care about orange juice. You notice there was no orange juice for her when she arrived just the human." He shrugged like what he said justified everything and made sense.
To Jasper it didn't.
Jasper continued to stand there, the fear and trepidation of the humans still prominent, part of why he always hated feeding on humans. The other vampires weren't afraid but they were wary. Probably more about what he would do to proclaim his authority.
He heard Bella huff and stomp a few steps back into the courtyard. "Are you coming?!" she yelled clearly aggravated.
Was he? He wasn't so sure.
"Come, God of War," a young female vampire of about 13 human years, small and petite, wearing a hooded cloak took his arm and turned him towards the castle.
"Jasper," he muttered, still feeling shocked at what just happened. Finally, being able to put a name to his own feelings, shock and disturbed… so disturbed by the person that is his mate.
He moved along at the urging of the tiny female vampire, his brain feeling almost as though it would explode with disbelief at what he had gotten himself into.
"Thank you, Jane," Caius intoned as Jasper neared him and Bella. He didn't even look at Bella he just continued to walk along when they began walking, not even realizing Jane had released his elbow.
Following silently, he heard Bella grumble, "she shouldn't have forgotten the orange juice." Caius gave a small chuckle as though it was great fun and Jasper continued to walk, just walk.
They weaved their way throughout the castle and stopped in front of a large wooden door, much smaller than the entrance doors but still quite large. It's stain, giving a foreboding look of darkness that could be hidden behind it, the heavy metal lock and knob, added to the mystery it keeps hidden.
Caius opened the door and Bella and Jasper walked through, with Caius following in and closing the door behind him.
The room was a large library and appeared empty until, a slight movement from the darkest corner caught everyone's eyes and Marcus glided forward into the light.
"Ah Bella! And the famed Major." He glided closer and enveloped Bella in a hug sighing as if it completed him to hold her in his arms. Jasper felt a tinge of jealousy spike though him at the sight but remembered she thought of him as an uncle.
Marcus' teachings were firmly in place as he exuded nothing but calm and boredom. He almost seemed as if he didn't even exist, trying to fade into the background while Jasper stood again watching the show of affection and feeling the swirl of emotions from Bella. No underlying hatred that she described appeared. She was happy and filled with love and excitement.
"My Bella, come tell me all about your new school and your father. Major, please excuse us," he waved his hand dismissing Jasper.
Caius chuckled, "Marcus, that is not good manners. You cannot keep Bella to yourself. Besides she has yet to greet Aro."
Bella smiled at Caius and then at Jasper. She melted into Marcus' arms. "I love you uncle Marcus, but you know you have to share. I'm here for a whole month well six weeks, actually. I'll tell you all about school and everything, soon. Where is uncle Aro?" She looked around the room as though he would appear from nowhere.
"Oh, he is finishing business with some vampires that have broken the laws. He'll be along shortly." Marcus responded, turning to Jasper he asked, "And you God of War, the famed Major of the Southern Wars, forgive my eagerness to steal my niece away, what shall I call you?"
Jasper had a mixture between awe and anger warring within. He didn't like how everyone kept referring to him as the God of War. That wasn't him, not anymore. This man though was asking, what he preferred, and his honest answer was he preferred to leave.
With a deep breath, looking at his mate who was vibrating with happiness and anticipation, he extended a hand in greeting. "I'm Jasper, Jasper Whitlock."
"Very well Jasper, I'm Marcus, pleased to meet you, my soon to be nephew." He shook Jasper's hand firmly as Caius had, but he only had eyes for Bella who watched him adoringly.
This certainly was not what Jasper expected. He couldn't wait to meet Aro once again and see how this dynamic played out. Bella was the first to move towards the sitting area in the room and took a sofa seat where Marcus sat down right next to her and Caius laughed at them while taking a chair. Jasper didn't want to crowd Bella and had no need to sit so he stood silently off to the side.
Bella began telling Marcus how boring school was and that she had all As, that she made a couple friends she could talk to during the day. She began telling him about Charlie when Aro walked in.
"Ahh, Cara and young Mr. Whitlock. It's so nice to see you both, and together. This is a momentous day indeed." He clapped his hands together and continued to approach Bella pulling her from her seat and into a firm hug. Standing back from her, he took her face gently in his hands.
"Still silent after all these years. I had hoped meeting your mate would have changed something, alas it was not meant to be. So, it is time for my vacation as well as yours, Cara." He stared lovingly at her before kissing her nose gently and letting her go.
Bella smiled at me with an I told you so look, and Jasper just nodded.
"Forgive me for my rudeness, Mr. Whitlock, it is nice to see you again. I hope you are not angry with us for withholding your mate from you. We thought it better she blossom into a beautiful young woman before you two met." He sat in another arm chair.
"Please come, sit with us and tell us of your new romance," he motioned with his arm towards the other open seats, a large dusky rust arm chair that matched the others or the spot next to Bella on the sofa where she had returned to her seat with Marcus.
Jasper whose back was tight and rigid with the new company moved stiffly to the available armchair and took a seat.
"There now, you must tell us how you two are getting along?" Aro looked between the two with interest sparkling in his eyes.
Marcus realized that Jasper did not prefer to take the seat next to his mate and knitted his eyebrows looking at their bond. It was strong, but it did not glow. They were meant for each other, however they had not fallen in love or connected with each other. He was saddened by this discovery.
Jasper felt the sadness leak from Marcus and inspected him further, wondering what would make him sad.
Bella began talking about school and meeting Charlie. She told them about the truck he bought her and though they listened, it was not with interest. Jasper remained silent, nodding occasionally when Bella began talking about the things they had done together, but he was studying the emotions in the room, Marcus was study the bond between the new lovers and Aro had tuned into the fact that Marcus was upset about something. Caius sat idly by taking everything in, knowing that Jasper was unhappy being here.
Caius knew Bella and he knew that she didn't notice or care what Jasper's feelings were, she wasn't hurt that he didn't sit by her, she was too busy regaling her experiences over the last few months for it to matter. She had always loved the attention from the three kings. Caius was afraid that they may have done a disservice to his daughter by teacher her how to be The God War's mate. He clearly was military, with his broad shoulders and straight posture, he even exuded a command. But he was not happy here.
He had barely spoken at all and Bella's show of power by having the maid killed was too much too soon.
"Piccola?" Caius interrupted.
"Hmm?" She looked at him with big eyes.
He wasn't sure what to do but he knew something needed to be different. Making a snap decision he rose from his chair. "May I take Jasper with me? I think we need to have a talk."
Bella went from smiling and happy to stiff as she looked over at Jasper who was gauging everything very carefully, not letting anyone know what he was thinking. He was still and silent. Just as he had been since they boarded the plane, she noted.
"Oh, ummm?" She stared at him wishing to know what he wanted. But when she got nothing, she decided her dad couldn't be doing something wrong, just guy talk so she nodded, "ya I guess that's fine."
"Jasper?" Caius waved a hand for Jasper to move in front of him.
He didn't see the harm, he wasn't really wanted here by Bella anyway, she wanted to talk about everything she had seen and done and wanted the sole attention of each king.
Jasper stepped up and walked towards the door they came in. Caius opened it and flowed down the hallway. Jasper followed him shutting the door behind him, hearing Bella pick up talking about her dad again.
He caught up quickly and they walked silently until they came to another large 'castle door' that appeared very similar to the one they just left, but this one seemed to be on the other side of the castle.
"Please come in," Caius entered quietly, and Jasper followed, the space looked similar to the one they just left, a study of sorts, with books and maps along the walls, a sitting area in the middle and desk off to one side. Caius shut the door behind them.
"This is my study, we just came from the main library. Which is typically known as Marcus' library. Please have a seat and let's talk."
Caius took a seat in a large black leather chair and Jasper sat across from him on the black leather sofa.
"You do not desire to be here, do you?" Caius inquired, his face was stoic and his emotions were just curious and a little worried.
Jasper regarded Caius for a moment before speaking, never losing his own poker face, he answered, "I am here for Bella, because she asked me to come and meet all of you."
Caius nodded as though he expected this answer. "Yes, she is a wonderful girl, if not a bit overly indulged by the three of us. I'm afraid her show out front has painted us all in a bad light to you."
Jasper's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly as he wondered just how astute this king was, of course, Jasper made it obvious that he was not okay with what happened just an hour or so ago. He chose not to answer the king, not being able to think of anything that wouldn't sound judgmental.
Caius sighed, "Well she is quite the handful at times, some would say. She should not have done what she did, but that is not uncommon when she returns home. I think she wants the others to remember who she is, as if they could forget." His emotions were fond and loving as he spoke about his daughter and Jasper listened.
"Jasper?" Caius looked at him letting the worry show on his face.
"Hmm?" Jasper inquired without moving a muscle. The tension in the air growing thicker by the second.
"Do you love her? Do you want to be her mate?" Caius' voice was strong but his words were hesitant, he was afraid of the answers.
Jasper felt himself deflate a little as he thought about his answer, studying his hand resting clasped in his lap, breaking eye contact with the snow haired king.
Looking back up, his mask had slipped some and his own worry was there. "Things are… different here… than I thought they'd be." He measured and spoke his words carefully to Caius, not wanting to upset him.
"And the show outside, when we arrived, did that change things for you?" Caius asked softly, worried that the answer would be yes, that he wouldn't want Bella as his mate.
Could it be possible to deny your mate? Your fate? Your destiny?
Jasper seemed to be thinking intently, staring at the floor, on how to answer the question, the king left him with his thoughts.
Caius' own thoughts running in circles of 'what ifs'. The prophecy said…they were mates, what if they were wrong, what if he denies her, his mind was a whirl of questions as nervousness and worry leaked from him.
Jasper finally gave up staring at the carpet and looked at the king who focused back on Jasper when he saw him move.
The king's question was did it change things for him, seeing Bella execute an innocent woman as soon as she set foot on Volturi land. Did it? Jasper's mind whirled with all the new information, the bratty teenager in the car, the self-involved teenager in Marcus' library, and the fact that she had basically lied to him about everything Volturi. Did this change things for him?
"Yes," Jasper whispered into the tense air.
AN: So what does this mean? Does he leave Bella? Italy? Will she even care? Did she really lie? She seems to like power, that's for sure. Don't hate me... much.