Jasper's POV
"Charlotte, North Carolina, 1937," I barked my order at Peter over the phone and I heard him react at the mention of Charlotte, the vampire, not the place.
Charlotte was a vampire we both knew once. She was turned for the war and she was killed in battle. I killed her in battle. It may have been a mistake, but I didn't care. She wasn't Peter's mate and ultimately I was looking out for him. I could see that he cared for her and I knew that the longer they spent together the harder it would be when her time was up, so I made a choice. We were fighting side by side, I saw my opportunity and I killed her. All Peter knew was that she was lost in battle, thankfully he never asked for the details, but I doubt I would have told him the truth even if he had. Some things were just better left unsaid. This secret would die with me.
"Is there a problem?" I asked next.
"I don't want to do that," Peter said softly. "You said after last time that I would never have to do that again."
I growled lowly. I hated when Peter questioned my orders. It was a simple order, it included no bloodshed. Sure what I made him do in Charlotte in 1937 wasn't the best morally, but I saw no problem with it. I would do it myself if I wasn't so afraid to be around the Cullens. They were sucking me back in, it's what they do, they're a family, but I didn't want to be a Cullen, I didn't want to live the mundane life, I didn't want to snack on animals. I liked my life. I liked the excitement and the danger. It was what I was made for, utter destruction and chaos.
"But, Jasper, you promised."
"I did not promise you anything, Peter. This is not up for discussion, this is a direct order and the only words I expect to come out of your mouth are, yes, Major."
I waited, and waited.
My patience was wearing thin, but I wouldn't give in to him. Peter was acting like this was the end of the world, but it was far from it. If he choose to go against me, or if he failed, then it would be the end of the world and I knew he understood that.
"Fine," Peter said, sounding resigned.
"Is that what I wanted to hear from you?" I asked.
"No," he mumbled.
"Will you do what I am ordering you to and will you do it without complaining?" I asked him and I hated that he was making me.
"Yes, Major."
Finally.
"See that you do. I don't want to hear from you until I contact you, do you understand?"
It was my way of telling him that I wouldn't stand for any of his bitchy whining.
"You wanted to stick with Bella so you may as well be useful," I told him, "but don't forget that your loyalty lies with me."
"Yes, Major."
I hung up the phone and shoved it in my pocket. I hated how this whole situation was making me act. Bella was my weakness, I knew this, I always had. I was foolish to head back to where I met her. I had been silent for a century, even to myself. I didn't like to admit how she affected me. I let out a growl and grabbed the nearest tree, uprooting it and throwing it through the forest. I was slipping, I knew it. My mind was bombarded with the first time I saw her. I didn't like to remember this, remember how she made me feel, what she made me feel. She had my cold dead heart beating before I even heard her speak, before she had even met Edward. I had seen her first. I let out another loud growl and it echoed around the forest. Going back was a mistake. I wasn't strong enough to face her. I didn't want to become anyone's bitch. I don't care what I've heard. I don't care how badass Bella now is because she'll always be the weak, little human I once knew her as. She would be my downfall and I wouldn't allow her to break me.
"What the fuck are you doing?" someone mocked me and I looked around. They laughed, but I couldn't see them. "So much inner turmoil, it almost makes it too easy."
"Garret, fuck off," I told him, still searching for him, but I couldn't see him. The fucker was probably covered in mud hiding in plain sight. I wouldn't put it past him, he had done it before.
I turned away from him. I couldn't deal with his shit right now. I was not happy with him at all. He had fucked me over. Sesco was mine and he knew it. He only killed everyone because he was trying to get to me. I let my anger for him overtake me. He wouldn't get the best of me this time no matter how much Bella had fucked me up. I focused on my gift, creating an emotional cocktail that Garrett wouldn't be able to handle before pushing it out like a bomb blast. It hit Garrett and he fell out of whatever tree he was hiding in with a thump.
"That's not fair," Garrett said and I could feel his pain. "Using your gift is not a part of our game."
"Garrett, I swear to fucking god if you don't leave me alone right now I will find you and I will kill you."
I pushed out my seriousness and he seemed to get the message.
"Fine," Garrett said, "but this is not over. I don't care what's fucking you up right now because I will never back down. Remember the score, you may be up by three, but not for long, Major Whitlock."
Did he have to call me that? I used to be his superior, but that was long ago. Too long.
I kept a lock on his emotions and made sure he left. Once he was gone I worked on my next plan of attack. Garrett was right, I was only three points ahead and that was not enough. Besting him again may just be the distraction I needed. I hoped.
