Oh please forgive me! I am so sorry for not keeping my promise! This chapter is all about promises as a matter of fact. I've been very busy graduating high school and trying to get ready for senior week. I hope you like this chapter, it's a Jasper-fans dream. Does anyone watch Angel by the way? I'm now addicted to it, I've even been thinking about an Edward/Angel fic. David Boreanaz is one sexy man, I have to say.

Okay okay A/N over! Love you guys!

Ohhhh BTW ECLIPSE COMMERCIALS! I'm so excited!

Chapter Eighteen: Enjoy the Silence

I was a stupid idiot for leaving but I didn't care. The Cullen's had checked me into some swanky hotel in Ithaca. Great, Seth and Bella were 30 miles in the other direction. Leave it to my vampires to make sure to keep me out of the action. I cursed my luck as hailed a taxi.

"Um…30 miles south of here." I said when the driver asked me where to go.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression, "You know there's nothing but forest there, right kid?"

I tapped my fingers against my knee nervously, "Yeah, yeah I know."

"Whatever." The cabbie said, turning his eyes towards the road.

I watched the scenery as it passed by slowly. It was early spring so the blooms on the flowers were just starting to come out and the colors weren't as dark. New York was different from Forks. I mean I'd never known anything else but I thought New York was nice, for the East Coast.

"So what brings you out here kid?" the cabbie asked reluctantly.

"I'm looking for someone." I replied, tying and untying my wristband out of uneasiness.

The cabbie nodded, "Your parents? An old girlfriend maybe?"

I flinched, "Just two friends."

The unrequited silence that followed gave me time to think of my approach plan. If only it were as simple as get in, slay the monster, rescue my friends and go home.

Sadly it wasn't

There was some crazy bitch waiting for Edward and me to drop dead because I was supposedly the reincarnate of her dead lover. And you think you've got problems?

I sighed exasperatedly and pressed my head against the glass window. Edward and his family would have come back to the hotel by now and realized I was gone. For once I was glad Alice couldn't see my future. The cab ride dragged on for an hour before the cabbie stopped at a gas station. The forest. I got out of the car and walked to the edge of the road. Down the road was the forest from my vision.

"Hey," I said to the cabbie once he was back from the convenience store, "What're those woods called."

"Oh that's Wolf Lake." He said between mouthfuls of Butterfinger.

How cliché. Sia was really unoriginal.

I tossed the cabbie a fifty from my pocket, "Keep the change." I said as I ran down the street.

'Okay Jacob don't freak out. Stay calm. Crazy panicked people always make everything worse.' I thought, trying to shake away my jitters.

Seth's phone was vibrating in my pocket. I took it out and glanced at the number. It was Edward.

'Just ditch him already.' Damon said, 'You're actually doing him a favor.'

"I'm sure he won't see it that way." I said, tossing the phone on the ground and stomping on it.

The little cellular didn't stand a chance against the sole of my boots. It crushed under my weight. I felt guilty as I kicked it to the side of the road into a ditch. It would be getting dark soon and Edward would get even more worried.

I hurried into the woods, not really knowing what to look for. She wasn't going to have a blinking sign that said "Evil Shaman two paces ahead, past the Waffle House". I sniffed and immediately sneezed. There was a strong honeysuckle scent coming from the forest. As I traipsed farther into the woods the smell got stronger. It was so strong my eyes began to water and the back of my throat itched like crazy.

I gulped, "Easy bucko, this is a forest. It's full of flowers."

But there was something about them that wasn't natural. It just didn't feel right.

I stopped, glancing around at the forest. Little strands of sunlight peeked through the trees but it wasn't enough to light a path for me. In fact it felt like it was taunting me for some reason. I felt something crunch underneath my feet. Jumping back I saw it was made of metal. It wasn't shiny but it was silver and almost dull looking. I picked up the oval obstruction and my breath was subsequently taken for what felt like the millionth time since I met Edward. It was the pendant from Seth's wristband. The Cullen Crest.

I turned it over in my palm. There was a blood smear on the front. I prayed it wasn't Seth's but one whiff and I knew it was him. Swearing, I tucked it into the pocket of my jeans.

"You're not gonna die Seth." I said to no one in particular.

'Then you'd better hurry.' Damon said, 'I can feel her, she's very close.'

I was going to live through this and rescue my friends. It seemed like it was my destiny. Your destiny wasn't like a burger that was overcooked and you could send back and yell at the waiter. Destinies were set, pre-determined before we were even a thought in our parent's minds. Normally I didn't believe in the whole Powers that Be mumbo-jumbo, big dudes shuffling people around on a Life board but something about this couldn't be coincidence. I was chosen for this. Me.

And when you're chosen there's no looking back, yknow?

I took a deep breath. No looking back. No refunds. I was willing to go on a little faith.

Damon actually smiled at me, 'You're finally understanding, kid. This is about destiny, and it's your fate to be a champion. You've just gotta do the right thing.'

Easier said than done.

I whirled around when another scent caught my attention.

"Jasper?" I yelled into the trees.

A streak of blonde hair flashed from the trees and Jasper was standing in front of me. His hair was dirty, falling into his hurt eyes. I could tell he'd been tracking since he got out here. Not that I expected anything less. The knees of his jeans were heavy with dirt and the navy-blue shirt he was wearing was tattered.

"You look like hell." I said, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

Jasper narrowed his eyes, "I can't imagine anyone would look too good after running across the country and living in a forest for three days."

Something wasn't right with him. Jasper looked…well feral.

I gulped, "We were really worried. Alice…well you know Alice."

His eyes dropped, "I'm sorry. I really am, but I had to find him. We told him if anything happened we'd come for him. I'm just keeping my promise."

"And there's nothing wrong with that." I said, tucking my hands into my pockets, "It just would've been nice if you told us. Y'know, called or something?"

"Yes, I know. For that I'm sorry."

I bit the inside of my cheek, "Seth called us you know."

Jasper's eyes widened and he crossed the distance between us to we were face to face, "What did he say?"

"He's…relatively okay."

"Relatively?" Jasper growled, "Did he tell you where he was?"

Jasper was starting to give me the creeps. I was beginning to notice just how secluded these woods were. I tried not to let my fear show in my voice, "No, something got him before he could say anything." I held out the pendant, "I found this though…it's Seth's blood."

I jumped back when Jasper let out a scream. It was horrible and painful. His voice sounded like a roar from a beast, not someone as beautiful and soft-spoken as Jasper. It echoed through the forest, stilling the trees and wildlife into an unnatural silence. But as soon as it begun it ended and Jasper was looking at me with his sad, empty eyes.

"I couldn't keep my promise." He said in a small voice.

"That's not true!" I said quickly, "Don't beat yourself up. Seth is still out there, Bella too, and we won't rest until they're found. I truly believe they're alive, Jasper, don't you? Can't you feel that Seth is alive?"

Jasper closed his eyes, "I want to believe…but it's been so long. I feel like I'm being punished for the things I've done. I can't have happiness…it's too good for me. Alice and Seth…they're too good for me."

This was a conversation way overdue. These thoughts must've been weighing Jasper down far before Seth and I came into the Cullen's lives. This was an old pain.

I placed my hand on his shoulder, "You're a good person, Jasper. That's why Seth and Alice love you so much. You're not the person you were back then, man. Everyone changes."

"But all the things-"

"You've turned out enough good karma to counter all the bad shit you did back in the day." I said sternly. Since when did I become a life-coach? "Alice and Seth can see that. So don't give up on them."

Jasper chuckled, "I can see why Edward loves you. You always manage to say the right thing."

I smiled at him, "That's me, Dr. Phil, helping self-torturing vamps with their problems one at a time."

"Where are they?" Jasper asked. We started walking again, my mental compass telling us where to go.

I shrugged, "Dunno. Edward left me in a hotel room so I decided to strike out on my own."

"That's reckless, Jacob." Jasper scolded.

"You did the same."

"I'm different."

I raised my eyebrows, "How?"

"I'm experienced." He said, not elaborating further.

Walking with Jasper was probably the calmest I'd felt in awhile. I didn't know if it was because of his powers or that his personality made me feel relaxed. Either way I was feeling pretty good. Yeah, there was Sia and her diabolical plan to kill me looming in the distance but I'd get to it in time.

"I've never heard of anything like this." Jasper mused, "I'd never even met werewolves until Alice and I joined the coven."

"Ah new experiences." I said wistfully.

Jasper chuckled, "Some new experiences aren't what we want them to be."

"Like with Seth?"

Fuck. Why did I have to drop an A-bomb on him like that? Seth was missing and I was asking him questions like he was on the Newlywed Game.

"Yes…like Seth." Jasper said slowly.

I kicked a tree-root in my path, "You and Alice really love him, huh?"

"With all our beings." He said in a sincere voice, "Alice and I always felt something was missing but we didn't know what. By you imprinting on Edward we got to meet Seth and he changed everything for us. He's our everything."

"I know; that's why we're going to get him back." I said, "You can hold me to that."

That's is for now. Hope everyone's having a good summer so far!

XOXO

Ellie Cullen