Chapter 9 - His

Carlisle's POV:
Things were relatively normal here in Alaska, considering that Esme and I were extremely worried about Isabella and Jasper. I told myself I wasn't going to panic until a month passed. Seeing as it had only been a few days, I was decently calm. Alice was taking it the hardest, which was understandable. It was her mate, after all, that was in the most danger. He had many, many enemies.

"Carlisle..." Alice whispered my name in a trembling voice. Automatically, I stood stalk still and listened carefully. There were quick, vampire footsteps headed across the lawn. On edge, I went to welcome the visitor, praying that if a conflict were to arise, that I could keep my coven safe. Opening the door, my heart nearly started again at who I saw standing on my porch.

"Mi parientes obedece a la ley. Indique su negocio here, Señora de la Guerra." I declared, lifting my chin and looking her in the eyes. I felt, more than heard, my family gather behind me in defense.

"Peace, Dr. Cullen." Maria sighed, glancing around, looking bored. "I was sent here to stay with you while the Major destroys what's left of my world." Edward suddenly burst into laughter. I couldn't help but inquire with my thoughts as to what he found so hilarious.

"She is trying to hide the fact that Jasper desires her to follow the diet."

"Mind reading bastard." Maria muttered, causing Edward to smirk a bit.

"Come on, garrapata." Edward invited, beckoning her into the house. I stepped aside, letting her pass.

"Tick? Is that the best you've got?" Maria replied with snark as she entered through the door frame.

"Oh, you wait. He's got nothing on me, puta." Alice swore, causing Maria to raise her eyebrows at her before a slow smile spread on her face.

"NOW I understand why he would send me here. You're his new plaything." Maria purred, puckering her lips slightly before looking Alice up and down. "The longest he ever kept one was eighty years. Of course, he had many mistresses on the side while he toyed with my heart as well. He never was one to stay faithful. He is too powerful, chicka. Don't make the same mistake I did. He cannot be controlled like you think he can be. It's all part of his game. He doesn't actually love you."

"You don't know him." Alice hissed, her eyes blackening. I was growing worried. I couldn't imagine what was going on in Alice's head right now. This was the woman that had tormented her mate for nearly a century, trying to taunt her.

"I know him better than you do." Maria replied, her voice suddenly serious. Her eyes got a glazed far-away look. "The only person he ever loved was Peter, and then Peter got a mate. He was so angry. Still, he couldn't bring himself to kill Peter, or Peter's new source of happiness. He did, however, send them away. He told me he wouldn't have been able to keep himself from killing the woman unless she was gone."

"You liar!" Alice cried out, venom tears welling in her eyes. At first, I was about to intervene, but Edward's facial expression stopped me. He was looking at Maria in horror. It almost looked as if he was beginning to believe her. That in itself shocked me enough to keep me from saying anything. It couldn't be true. Sure, Jasper had been brutal and lost, but he couldn't have been lost enough to so cruelly prey on women in such a way.

"When Peter came back for him five years later, he thought that Peter loved him in the same way. I had believed so too. That is, until Jasper showed up with the Volturi, Swan girl. He marked her as a mate too, you know. I saw the bite on her collarbone clear as day. He doesn't need a real bond. He simply manipulates the emotions of woman to make their instincts kick in. It means nothing. It isn't real, even if it FEELS real." Venom gathered in Maria's eyes, and she pulled the collar of her shirt down to reveal a mating mark that was very obviously in the shape of Jasper's mouth. Ironically, that was what made me sure she was lying. Jasper had told me about the time in the beginning of his second life when she had forced him to bite her there, using the confusion of his new life against him. He had dry sobbed for a long time, feeling guilty that he didn't even have that to give to Alice. It had taken me nearly twenty-four hours to convince him that all she would ever need was his love and devotion. "He was so tender with me. He had just finished annihilating a whole army on his own, yet he was gentle. I had thought…"

"No!" Alice screamed, leaping forward, only to be restrained by Edward. Edward's face was still twisted in horror at whatever must have been in her thoughts.

"She is lying, Alice." Edward whispered in her ear, dragging her away. He looked at me just as he went into the hallway. "She's the one playing games, Carlisle."

"Oh! It was the kind Dr. Cullen that had started to believe the lies! He spoke so highly of you. He looks up to you! Imagine how heartbroken Jasper will be when he finds out that you had almost believed my word over his." She murmured, clicking her tongue before taking a seat on the couch. She waited until all the others left to hunt and Esme went to check on Alice before she turned and mouthed the words to me. "I wonder what it would take to break your beautiful mate. I do hate mates, and women have always been the most fun to torment into submission. I bet she'd be begging real quickly. Actually, I can see it in her eyes. She's used to taking beatings, isn't she, Doctor?"

I hadn't even thought about moving before I had her by the throat and pressed against the wall. Those that were still in the house rushed in at the noise, but upon seeing me, they stilled. I hardly noticed their presence, as my whole attention was focused on the woman that had dared to threaten Esme and imply that I would treat my mate the way that her first husband had.

"You think that because of my diet and way of life that you can assume my weakness." I hissed into her ear as I twisted her head so that I could press her face against the wall without loosening my hold on her. She struggled very little, realizing quickly that it was useless. "I may play the part of a suburban father well, but let me assure you that I am a vampire first and foremost. One of our kind does not live as long as I have without having walked in darkness. Do not threaten those I care about again if you value your continued health. I already think Jasper granted you more leniency than the situation called for."

"She would serve your needs so much better if you just let me have a whack at h-"

I had her head off before she finished the sentence. Afraid of Esme's reaction to my aggression, I spoke to Edward with my thoughts while heading to my study.

"Take her to the basement. Finish dismembering her. Make sure she can't put herself back together. Jasper can deal with her when he returns." I was already in my study when I finished the thoughts. I heard the trap door to the basement open, along with two sets of feet, and knew it was Edward doing as I had asked with the help of Alice.

With disgust and revulsion, I put my head on my arms on top of my desk. I hated the sick feeling that violence left with me even when I felt that it was necessary. I truly detested the harming of others, especially by my own hand.

When Esme entered the room, knelt beside me, and embraced me, I finally let myself break down. Esme was still accepting of me. I could overcome all else, as long as she loved me in spite of everything.

.:!*!:.

Bella's POV:
"Isabella! Now!" Jasper shouted, accidentally pushing out his own desperation with his gift, pulling a newborn off of Peter just on time. I jumped in front of Jasper and Peter, reaching forward to pull Charlotte behind me. Closing my eyes and throwing my hands up with a desperate cry, I let my shield loose, spraying forth the whole of the gifts I had stored up. Once they had fallen unconscious due to the mental overload, the four of us ran forward and finished them off quickly. Jasper pulled out a Zippo lighter, sparked a flame, and threw it onto the pile. We ran off quickly, straight to the next camp.

We'd been pushing our way further South, nonstop, for eight days now. It was taking far longer than Jasper had first thought. Apparently, the Warlords had built up armies far larger than had been seen for hundreds of years. Jasper had never fought armies of such proportions before. The average was around 45, almost three times that which Jasper had dealt with at his prime. It was taking all his experience and know-how to win each battle.

I had run out of the gifts from my 'inventory overload' after the fifth day, and I had been getting creative recently. When a newborn used his gift on me, I had found a way to reach within it, taking a ridiculous amount. It also caused them to literally begin to shrivel before my eyes. The first time I'd done it, I'd freaked out a bit, but I was in the middle of a battle, so I'd been forced to move on quickly. It was now an occurrence that happened often, seeing that Jasper needed my gift more than he would ever admit.

Speaking of the Major, I was growing worried. Peter actually warned me to use caution around him. He told me that he hadn't seen the Major this tense and riled up since the battle where Jasper had earned his title as the God of War.

Beyond that, I was becoming worried for myself. I was falling into the lifestyle down here a little too easily for comfort. I took orders, killed, burned, fed, and then it started all over again. I was speaking in cold tones now as well. I couldn't help but remember Alice's words as she came out of her vision.

"I can see how this will end. You do not know what you are taking him back to. The South will be a black hole. It will suck all in and leave none alive. You have convinced him to walk willingly toward death, or you will watch him become the very vampire he swore to never become again."

Was this the beginnings of the black hole? Could we all die here? Was I to be sucked into this lifestyle, never to recover or be free?

It was our tenth day down South when we finally reached Paco and Manny's camp. After scouting the area, Jasper come back to inform us that the Romanians had indeed been there and were heavily involved, but that they had fled the moment that word had reached them that we were coming. Determined to wipe out the South regardless, we entered and slaughtered Paco, Manny, and their army.

After eleven days, it was time to head home.

.:!*!:.

We were almost back to the Alaskan home when Jasper stopped me.

"Do not let your instincts control you when we return. For a little while, you will be extremely jumpy. If I were you, I would call Aro at first chance. It will probably help center you a bit." Jasper whispered, his accent softened to how it had been before we had left.

"Alice had a vision before we left." I spit out as a last minute decision, and he raised his eyebrows in my direction. After I had quoted her exact words to him, his eyes darkened a bit. I felt my own eyebrows rise. "What is it?"

"Do you not feel it, Isabella?" He questioned, sounding truly surprised at my possible ignorance. When he saw my clueless expression, he hit me with a wave of emotions that I had felt any times this last week and a half. I could not name them, but I knew them. "That is the black hole. It has already sucked you in like it did the rest of us. Soon, you will understand what Alice saw. She thought it was the monster I told myself I would never be again, but she will never know the monster. Tell me, when Aro reads your thoughts, will he really know the monster you felt creeping up inside you after that first week? Will he understand why you were using the cold tones? Will he get the reasons for your ease of adaption into such a heartless, uncaring environment?"

"I don't even understand it, how could he?" I answered, confused by his questioning.

"Exactly. He will never get it. He will never know the monster, but you know it exists. You felt it." Jasper said, turning and continuing to walk. "It will make more sense as you conquer it. Just do not let it control you. Carlisle and I can assist you if you need it."

I sent a sideways glace to Peter, and he nodded once very seriously before following. Charlotte come up beside me as we followed a bit behind.

"What Jasper is trying to say, is that this experience will haunt you forever. You might be alright now, but when you are away from the coven, around others, you will become ruthless and cold if rubbed the wrong way or startled. It is inside you, just like it is inside of us. You are scarred on the inside as well as the outside. You really are a Whitlock in every way. You realize that, right?"

Finally, we approached the Cullen house. Carlisle came out first, followed by the others, and for the first moment in my time on this earth, he freaked me out the most of any of the Cullens. My shield pulsed, and I had to grit my teeth in order to keep myself from doing anything stupid. It was something in the way he held himself, his posture and walk. Most of all, it was a shadow in his eyes, a nearly undetectable film in the background. My instincts told me that he was aged. He was experienced, dangerous. This reaction took me so much by surprise, that it nearly washed away all my caution and fear of him.

The two covens stopped and stood facing each other. Carlisle, as coven leader, spoke first.

"Welcome back, Jasper. I am glad to see all of you back and intact."

"It is good to be back, Carlisle." Jasper said with a smile, and turned to look at me. He nodded in a way meant to get me to come to his side. I did so. "Go on, greet Carlisle."

The part of me telling me he was super dangerous was pretty easily ignored, all things considered. I had enough memories of Carlisle's peaceful disposition to walk right up to him with a smile and give him a hug. I couldn't help but tease him in a whisper.

"What is it, Carlisle? Are you afraid of how the newly returned Southern fighter will react to you?"

"It's good to see you didn't lose your sense of humor." Carlisle remarked dryly, chuckling and letting me go. "You seem to be doing exceptionally well. Will you talk to me if you start having trouble?"

"Yes. I promise." I replied, turning to the others, who were so obviously not even aware of how much more brutal I had become. They all came rushing up and laughing. Luckily, they didn't seem very threatening.

Then a breeze rolled through the Cullen house out to where we were standing out front. I got the scent of Maria and venom. I began to automatically absorb Edward's gift to use it to defend myself. It took Jasper's hand gripping my shoulder painfully to stop me before I seriously damaged Edward.

"Calm." He muttered, flooding me with said emotion. I took in a shaking breath to get hold of myself.

"Got it." I replied in the cold tone I had adapted. Jasper waited a second before letting go and moving his attention to Carlisle.

"Who dismembered her?" He asked the coven leader.

"Edward, with the help of Alice."

"What are you hiding?"

"I removed her head." Carlisle answered, getting the same cold tone. His eyes darkened a bit, and he pursed his lips.

"Good." I put in, causing everyone turn to look at me. "I felt bad for you guys when Jasper sent her here, but at least you got to take out some aggression. You are way too pent up, Carlisle."

"Interesting observation." Carlisle commented, looking uncomfortable with this kind of attention. I smirked a bit, letting my gaze soften and my voice warm up a bit.

"What do you want done with her, Major?" I questioned, automatically differing to him. He shrugged.

"I will go… check up on her with Peter and Charlotte. You call Aro." Jasper said, walking into the house and toward the basement without another word.

"You can use the phone in my office. It's a secure line." Carlisle said, and I nodded before heading up there.

I dialed the Volturi's number, and the phone was answered by Gianna.

"This is Leading General Isabella Volturi. I would like to speak to Aro." I answered, tapping my foot impatiently for the short time I was on hold.

"Isabella…" Aro breathed in relief. I felt my instincts quiet at the sound of his voice. I hadn't even realized that I was that tense. "Are you back in Washington?"

"I am." I replied in what I thought was a warm voice.

"You are struggling." He whispered, and then I heard shuffling and quick footsteps. His next words were cold, tense, and sure. "I will be there soon."
He hung up without another word. I put the phone back onto the dock and walked back out into the hallway. I walked downstairs and leaded against the railing. I stood, quietly observing the normal activities being performed by the Cullens. I could hear the three Whitlocks down in the basement, questioning Maria. It seemed she was giving the Major a hard time. I nearly flinched when I suddenly smelled Carlisle standing next to me.

"You reacted to me much better than Jasper did when he first showed up. I had to fight him a bit to calm him down." Carlisle recalled with a fond smile. I didn't say anything in reply. I had a feeling I didn't need to act around Carlisle. "The milky film has only gotten more noticeable since then, and you were right. I have been tense recently. I should have known your newly sharpened instincts would have picked up on that."

"It is understandable… your tenseness, I mean." I said, still not looking at him. I was watching him out of the corner of my eyes though.

"Jasper told me about the evolution of your gift. I don't think I have ever been more grateful that I do not have an extra ability. If I did, you might honestly scare me."

I couldn't help it. I chuckled slightly. "I should scare you anyway."

"No. I pose no threat to you, and you know it. I would have been attacked when you first saw me again if it was any different." Carlisle said, his smile widening as Rosalie hit Emmett upside the head and kissed him in the span of three seconds.

"You really made yourself a nice life." I whispered, appreciating the Cullen Coven fully for the first time. "I don't know how you did it, but I am proud of you."

"There were many times that people tried to convince me that living this way as a vampire was impossible, but I showed them. I showed them." Carlisle trailed off, his gaze looking distant. He returned to the present quickly, giving me a small smile and walking over to Esme.

This other side of Carlisle was both confusing and comforting. I was beginning to understand how the Major could respect the passive doctor so much. There was more to this man than it seemed.

Jasper emerged from the basement shortly, and before I had even thought about it, I was standing in front of him, concentrating on my curiosity. He sighed and nodded to me before speaking.

"She's dead. It's over." The Major reported, and I felt my shoulders relax. "Aro?"

"On his way." I answered shortly. Jasper nodded absentmindedly, patting my shoulder before heading over to Alice.

I watched as they stared at each other without expression before Alice burst into tears and leaned against Jasper for support. He brought his arms around her tightly whispering his apologies over and over again. I looked away quickly, giving him some bit of privacy.

I walked out to the backyard, and felt Peter and Char follow me. We all stood quietly out on the deck for two days without moving. No words were needed. It was over. It was over, and even now, we were keeping our eyes peeled for whatever was coming next. Day, night, sunset, sunrise… we stood vigil.

It wasn't until a car came speeding up the Cullen driveway that I moved from my position. I turned on my heel and headed back into the house to wait for my mate. Peter and Charlotte did not follow. Everyone else was upstairs, I assumed to give me some privacy. I appreciated it. I had no idea how this was going to go. It had been just hours short of two weeks since I had last seen Aro, and I could not help but feel nervous. I just prayed that he still considered himself mine. I knew that I still was, and always would be, his.

A.N.: Finally! Ugh... I am so sorry. Really, I am. I haven't updated in months! Yikes! Well, I am back. I hope that this chapter was not a let down. So, the South is destroyed, and the Whitlocks all return just as undead as they were when they'd left. I am sure you noticed how Carlisle was a bit OOC. It was done on purpose, and we have not seen the last of him. We haven't seen the last od the WHitlocks either, but all that will come later.
Next chapter: Aro and Isabella's reunion.