A/N: Wow, I was completely floored and humbled by the number of reviews for the last chapter! You guys are amazing. It really helps motivate me to write when I know people are actually reading. Thanks so much for the feedback. Happy reading
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own nothing.
"No." Jasper growled adamantly. "Absolutely not." He raked a hand through his blonde hair, pacing across the living room floor.
Bella glanced at him before returning her attention to the two vampires gathered around the dining room table with her. They were staying at Peter and Charlotte's place, a modest two story house with plenty of space for four vampires. The outside was brick, with vines growing up the front, giving it a rustic look. The house sat on eighty acres of land, with the nearest neighbor miles away; this gave a sense of privacy, and allowed room for the horses to roam.
It had become somewhat of a habit for the four of them to convene around the oak dining table after someone returned from scouting out Maria's location. They spent hours gathered there, planning, sharing, and even arguing.
Peter and Jasper had finally discovered Maria's whereabouts, and where she was training the newborns she had created. While they were eager to defeat her, they knew that everything had to be planned out. There could be no room for error.
"I'm the only face that Maria doesn't know. If any one of you showed up, she would recognize you right away. This is the best plan we have." Bella replied, sighing at her mate's predictably furious reaction to the idea. Despite his justified anger, she knew that this was the only way to stop Maria. Hell, it was the only plan that had a fraction of a chance at being successful.
"She has a point." Peter inserted helpfully, ignoring the heated glare his friend shot at him.
Practically vibrating with fury, Jasper turned to face the window, his back rigid. "Fuck." he cursed under his breath, eyes alight with intensity.
The brunette approached him slowly, coming to a stop at his back and resting her cheek against the rough material of his shirt. Feeling the tense-ness leave his form, she slid her hands under his arms so they came to rest against his chest in a backwards embrace. Finally, his hand rested over where hers were clasped together against his chest. Shaking his head, Jasper turned her around so that she was tight in his arms. "Why do you always seem so eager to throw yourself into the line of fire?"
Tilting her head at him, Bella considered his words before replying. "Sometimes we have to fight for those we love."
The anger in his eyes melted at her words, and he slid his hands up to her shoulders, holding her in place. "If there was any other way-"
"Hey, don't go into this assuming I'm going to fail." Bella interrupted, frowning at the blonde in front of her. "Have a little faith."
Taking his silence as acquiescence, Bella resumed her previous spot at the table that Peter and Charlotte were still gathered around. Charlotte sent her a small smile, nodding her support. Bella smiled at the other woman, gratitude clear on her face. After Alice's betrayal, she was wary of getting too close to others, but something about Charlotte made Bella want to trust her. The petite brunette had been nothing but kind and welcoming to her and Jasper, and thankfully didn't seem to share Alice's unnatural, and frankly unhealthy, obsession with shopping.
In fact, Charlotte reminded Bella a bit of herself; she was down to earth and seemed more confortable in a t-shirt and jeans than five-inch heels and a mini-skirt. Alice really had been a fucking prima donna bitch.
Peter cleared his throat, interrupting Bella's reminiscing. "Not that I don't support you Swan, but what exactly do you plan to do? If you somehow manage to infiltrate Maria's little vampire recruiting camp, what then?"
"After I sneak in and blend with Maria's newborns, I'll see if I can gather any more information about what she's planning." Bella locked eyes with Peter, her expression solemn. "But if I get the chance, I'm taking her out."
Peter grimaced at the thought of her facing Maria alone, but nodded. "Don't make a move unless you get her alone. The last thing we fuckin' need is that crazy bitch getting her hands on you."
A wry smile lifted Bella's lips, and she tilted her head in wonder. Despite barely knowing her a week, they already cared about her. Well, war did tend to bring people together.
She shot a glance at the stoically silent Jasper.
Or tear them apart.
"She won't touch me. I'll be out of there before you guys even begin to miss me." She joked, earning eye-rolls from both Peter and Charlotte.
"Just be careful dove." Peter reiterated as he shot a pointed glance towards Jasper. A glance that said 'don't get yourself killed so your mate doesn't kill me'. Upon discovering her last name was Swan, he had taken to calling her any name that was remotely related to birds. Jasper really did have strange friends. Ignoring his use of one of the many nicknames he had given her, Bella nodded in understanding.
Bella sat in silence, waiting for Jasper to speak. She understood his opposition to the plan, having gone through the same emotion every time he had gone out to search for Maria. At first she had hissed out her disagreement, too blinded by the fear of losing him to realize that is was the best plan of action. Eventually, she had seen reason, but she had raised hell for a while at first. So, she let him stew in his anger. Bella knew the strategist in Jasper would emerge and he would realize that this was the only way to catch Maria by surprise.
Finally, it seemed that even he couldn't bear the tense silence anymore. Suddenly, he was standing in front of her, his dark golden eyes scorching her with their intensity. "You won't be reckless and risk your life." He barked out, gripping her shoulders tight in his hands. "If you're going in there, we will have everything planned out. I won't send you to meet the devil half-cocked and unprepared."
He paused for a moment, eyes seemingly distant as if immersed in past events. "Don't underestimate her. She's a cunning bitch that isn't afraid to stab others in the back to escape. Defeating Victoria was child's play compared to Maria. Her weakness is her unquenchable lust for power. If you somehow reveal your ability to shield, you'll instantly be a celebrity in her sick little vampire boot camp."
Bella stared at her mate's face as he spoke, innately knowing to listen to Jasper when he was intent like this. Peter and Charlotte had explained that when Jasper was working for Maria, he had almost lost all semblance of his humanity. He had become a killing machine, too lost in Maria's mind control to escape her clutches. She had him caught in her twisted web of lies and deceit. In the past week, Bella had caught glimpses of that Jasper. Just the other day, he had come back from trailing Maria and seemed distant and angry, not at all himself. Bella was terrified that in re-opening the door to Jasper's past, that she would lose him.
That's why she was determined to help rid him of Maria, once and for all.
"Get close to her, and show a desire to please her. She specifically chooses followers. People who won't fight back or cause insurrection." Jasper continued, his eyes sharp with tenacity. "And when you get her alone…don't hesitate. You see a shot, you take it. If you're compromised at any time, get the hell outta there. I can't lose you, especially not to her."
Bella nodded, unable to vocalize the words, and paralyzed by the onslaught of emotion radiating off her mate. Chaos was the only way to describe the ever-changing, over-powering emotions that assaulted her. Her auburn eyes widened at the overwhelming intensity of the raw emotions being thrown at her.
Reflexively, she slammed her ability shield up. Then everything was blank. Bella's head reeled from the sudden absence of Jasper's emotions, leaving her feeling disoriented.
Her eyes met his, and saw the shock clear on his features as he realized that he had been amplifying the emotions of everyone within range. It was in that moment that Bella realized how truly powerful her mate was. Others seriously underestimated his abilities. If he were to inflict that much emotional chaos on a person for an extended period of time…it would drive them mad.
Jasper stumbled back, putting more distance between himself and his mate. "Shit, are you okay angel?"
Bella nodded warily, eyeing him with concern. He pulled her to him, pressing her against his chest. As his right hand tangled in her hair, Bella released a heavy sigh and brought her arms under his, gripping the fabric on the back of his shirt in her fists.
"Jesus, I didn't even realize- I mean…this whole mess just needs to be over." He spat out, contempt clear in his tone.
"It will be." Bella assured him, tightening her grip on him. "Aro will get what he wants, and we'll be out from under his thumb; we'll be free...and so will Edward."
Despite the hell he put her through, Bella didn't want Edward to be made a pawn of the Volturi. No one deserved to be locked away against his or her will. In addition to freeing her ex, stopping Maria would get the Volturi off their backs. Then, she and Jasper could live the life they wanted. She could see the Cullens again. Despite the drama that seemed to plague that family, Bella loved Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie dearly. But, she was ready to start a new life with Jasper.
But first, they had to overcome this final obstacle.
A/N: Thanks for reading! The action will start soon, I promise. See you guys next chapter.