DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF

S. MEYER'S CHARACTERS… UNFORTUNATELY.

I JUST PLAY WITH THEM.

Blood In The Snow Chapter 5

Previously:

"You want 'em killed, Boss?"

No. Just hold them until I get there. This one I want to be present for."

"You got it, Boss. I'll get the boys on it right away." The phone goes dead and Demetri knows Aro has hung up. "Felix! We've got a job!"

JPOV

It is so nice to be able to spend time with my parents, without any outside interruptions. No looking over your shoulder for Aro's men… no worrying about hidden microphones. We can simply be a normal, everyday family, something we hadn't been able to be since Aro walked into our lives.

A week went by, in quiet, peaceful happiness. Mom was thrilled to have me back at home with her. Every morning she fixed breakfast for my dad and me. She served it up like we were royalty. It made her happy and dad and I loved every minute of it.

Mom had asked me to go to the grocery store to pick up some nice steaks to grill for dinner tonight. While I perused the steaks laid out behind the glass at the butcher's counter, I decided to stop off in the bakery to get some little trifle for dessert. Mom would be pleased and dad always did have a sweet tooth. The butcher wrapped up three nice steaks for me. I thanked him and wandered over to the bakery section. Maybe I'm too picky, but I want something special for my parents. Hmm…cake, nah, too ordinary. Ah! Here we go… cheesecake. Can't get any better than that.

I made my way to the check out up front to pay for my purchases. The girl running the register looked at me from under her eyelashes, a sly smile curving her lips. So not my type… the lack of a certain appendage puts her right out of the running. I try to be polite and finally get out of there without giving her my number and avoiding getting hers.

Driving back to the house, I enjoy the rare sunny day in Seattle. As I turn down our street, I see fire trucks and cops blocking off the street. Traffic slows to a crawl. As I ease up to the cop directing traffic, I roll the window down to see if I can find out what's going on.

"Can't go down this street. Turn left and go around." The cop was brusque.

"I live down this street." I argued. "What's going on?"

"House fire. Total loss."

I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. "Which house?" I tried to stay calm.

The cop was getting impatient. "Look, buddy, they just told me to re-direct traffic. I don't know which house. You're holding up traffic!"

I nodded at him and pulled around the corner. I figured I could make a block and maybe come in from the other end. As I inched up to the intersection, I could see that they had it blocked off to traffic, too. I managed to get a parking spot and figured I'd just walk to the house. I can get my car later. I grabbed the bags of groceries from the back seat, locked the doors and made my way to the corner. As I rounded the corner I could see the flames from the house fire. Man, I thought, that's awfully close to our house… "Oh my god!" It isour house. I dropped the bags and sprinted across the street. "Mom! Dad!" I screamed, desperately searching the faces in the crowd of onlookers. I don't see them. There's a cop. Frantically grabbing his arm, I turn him to face me. "That's my house!" I screamed, pointing at the flames. "Where are my parents?"

He looked at the house and then at me. "There's someone in there?" He grabbed his radio and notified the firefighters that there were people in the house. "Sit over here", he indicated the curb, "stay put, so we can find you." I nodded, barely able to think. The cop moved away to direct some traffic trying to come down the road. I sat there, stunned. Please God, let them be okay… please… please.

I felt a hand grip my shoulder. "Well… look who we have here." An evil chuckle sounded behind me.

"He's just making this too easy, right Demetri?" Felix laughed.

"Come quietly, Jasper, and maybe we'll let your folks live." Demetri sniggered. "'Course, that's up to Aro."

He snatched a handful of my hair, dragging me upright. He and Felix each grabbed one of my arms and forced me to walk around the corner and down the block to where they had their car parked, out of sight of the crowds and police. Felix popped open the trunk. "Toss him in."

Something hit me in the head and everything went black.

Oh… crap…did I go out last night? Don't remember going out. My head felt like it would explode at the slightest sound. My eyes are all grainy… I go to rub them and discover I can't move my arms. Shit. What happened? Carefully and slowly cracking open my eyelids, I peer around … the room is dim. Where the hell am I? I appear to be tied to a chair in the center of some basement… or warehouse, possibly. Oh crap. I remember. Straining the muscles in my arms, I try to see if I can loosen the ropes around my wrists. Whoever tied these knew what they were doing.

Looking around the room, I realize it is indeed a basement. No real windows to see out, just small ventilation-type slats that also let in a little light. Craning my neck to see more, I spot chains hanging from a beam off to the side of me and across the room is what looks like a hospital gurney, with a rather large toolbox next to it. Aw, man…this is a torture chamber… crap.

Oh. My parents… the house fire… oh god, are they alive? Demetri said if I went without a fight, they'd let them live. Maybe they were alive. I can hear sounds from above… people walking around and murmuring. Can't quite understand what they're saying. Wonder what they are waiting for… Aro, probably. How the hell did they find us?

My head jerked around at the sound of a door opening behind me. I could hear several people coming down some stairs.

"Did he say anything when you picked him up?" Aro's voice echoed through the empty basement.

"No, boss." Demetri answered. "He just wanted to know if his folks were in the house or if they were alive. I told him if he behaved, we'd let them live." He sniggered. "He didn't give us any trouble."

"Well, it appears our guest is awake." Aro stepped around in front of me. " Jasper, Jasper, Jasper… I am so disappointed in you." He shook his head in mock sorrow. " I thought of you as one of the family. And you betray me." Dramatically, he placed his hand over his heart. "I'm wounded."

I just stared at him.

"Nothing to say?" I just stared. "Felix…"

Felix walked over to me. "Aro doesn't tolerate bad manners." With that he backhanded me across the face, knocking both me off the chair, throwing me to the ground. I could feel blood flowing from my nose. Felix grabbed me, dragging me back up and dumping me into the chair once more. "Now, answer the Boss."

I just stared at him. No way I would apologize to them.

Felix glanced over to Aro, who just nodded his head. I heard the blow coming. I found myself on the floor again.

"Come now, Jasper. We can be civil. Simply tell me where my books are and we can put this behind us, once and for all." Aro tried to sound like a concerned father. He motioned for Felix to pick me up. Once I was upright once more, he leaned down to inspect my face. "No permanent damage yet. Come, Jasper, be reasonable. I don't want to harm you."

Did he really think I believed him? I spit out the blood that had collected in my mouth, just missing Aro. Felix and Demetri both growled at me, but Aro waved them off. "I don't have the books."

"I realize you don't have them with you right now, but where are they? Demetri can go and collect them and we can be done with this unpleasantness. Go back to being one happy family."

"I don't know where they are. I don't have them."

Aro sighed. "Perhaps Felix can convince you to remember what you did with them. I am truly sorry, my boy… I always liked you. I could hardly believe it when I was told the books were gone… and that you were also gone. And then… Detective Black strutted into my office and arrested me. Me! Aro Volturi." Aro was nearly shouting. "I was handcuffed and treated like a common criminal." He heaved a huge sigh. "Why Jasper?"

"Where are my parents? Demetri said they are alive."

"Don't concern yourself with them right now. Tell me where my books are."

I simply shook my head and looked down.

"Felix."

Felix came over, grabbed me by the hair, jerking me out of the chair, dragging me to the dangling chains. He flipped open a knife, cutting the ropes that bound my hands. I tried to fight my way free, but was too weak to be effective. He attached the manacles to my wrists and left me hanging from the beam, my toes barely touching the floor. It wouldn't take long before I'd be feeling it in my arms and shoulders. A hand reached out, spinning me around. Aro.

"Ah Jasper. Don't force me to let Felix hurt you. You know how he loves his job." Aro looked at me with sadness as I refused to answer. "You're leaving me no choice, my boy." He turned, nodded to Felix and ascended the stairs, closing the door behind him.

I can feel someone behind me… probably Felix. Hands reach up, take hold of my shirt and rip it from my body. I hear the unmistakable sound of a cigarette lighter strike. He blew smoke across my shoulder towards my face.

"Let's see if we can get Mr. High and Mighty here to talk, shall we Demetri?"

Agonized groans burst from my throat. I tried not to make a sound, but the burning of the cigarette on my back was agonizing. My body shuddered. He didn't stop with just one burn… I feel his cigarette moving across my lower back where the skin is the most tender. My body writhes on its own; I have no control over it. I have no sense of time passing, I think I must have passed out and come to several times. This last time I came around, I was alone, still hanging from the ceiling. My back was on fire. There was no point in fighting the manacles, so I just hung there, head down, eyes closed.

The door at the top of the stairs opened. I didn't move. I could hear someone coming down the stairs. Maybe they would just go ahead and kill me. I don't really care anymore. They came up behind me, never saying a word. I heard a whistling in the air right before my back was laid open. My body arched and a scream ripped from my throat. The whip continued to strike and I continued to scream…

"Felix! Stop." Aro's voice rang out from the top of the stairs. "Perhaps Jasper is ready to talk." His voice grew closer as he came down the stairs. He came around to face me, his fingertips touching my chin as he raised my head up. I looked at him. "Well, Jasper… Has Felix had enough fun? Or shall I let him continue?"

My eyes rolled back in my head and everything went black.

I am vaguely aware of being moved… of hands on my body… I cannot open my eyes. I am lying on a flat surface. I can feel straps across my body, securing me to the surface. I can hear voices… they're muffled, like they're underwater. They get closer…

"Wake him."

Cold water hits me in the face. I fight for air, straining to turn away.

"Jasper? Awake now?"

I inch my eyes open. Aro is standing next to me, with Felix and Demetri behind him.

"Last chance Jasper. Tell me where the books are. Tell me now." Aro is obviously at the end of his patience.

I open my mouth to speak, but only a low croaking sound comes out. I try again. "My parents, Aro… where are they?" I whisper.

"They are in a safe place, Jasper. Now tell me what I need to know."

Something about the expression on Aro's face told me he was not being truthful with me. "I don't know where the books are… I swear I don't." And that was the truth. After I gave the key to the locker to Jacob, I don't know where he took them.

Aro simply stood and stared at me for a few minutes, shaking his head. He turned to the men behind him. "Kill him, get rid of the body."

"You got it, Boss."

Oh crap. Thankfully, after a short time, my vision started blurring around the edges and my screams began to quiet down. I must be dying… I was thankful for that. An end to the pain… I drifted out of consciousness.

I slowly become aware… oh damn, I'm still alive. I can hear someone coming closer…NO! I can't take any more. I roll up, screaming, begging….

A/N: It may be a while before I am able to update again. I am moving to another property… the move and getting used to a new property to run may take a bit. I hope to be updating by mid January, but if not, by the end of January at the latest. Last minute moves are a royal pain in the behind! Thanks so much for your understanding!