-"Power Struggle"-

-Inspired By A Medley of Songs That Are Noted In Text-

-Yet Another Sequel/Chapter-

Tsk... 3 reviews. Just tsk tsk... *sighs*

Bella gives a new meaning to the label "Control Freak." Don't you think?

Oooh, slight rhymage. I like that. xD

-Warning: Angst, and not for people who really like Bella. You've been warned. Characters are OOC.-

"I've exposed your lies, baby
The underneath is no big surprise
Now it's time for changing
And cleansing everything
To forget your love"

-"Plug In Baby" by: Muse.

Close observations can tell you a lot about a person, about their true self, and not just the persona they project while socializing. Even better is the observation made in somewhere where the person lets down the guard, however little. They reveal more of themselves in places such as those.

He knew this well, having been an avid people-watcher for so many years. He enjoyed seeing the correlation between physical actions and what the person was feeling. Seeing how one might try to disguise those feelings with the aforementioned actions. In the last half-century or so, he had not been alone in this hobby. Alice had enjoyed it too.

He wondered what she might make of this.

Bella was sitting at the vanity in her bedroom, now dubbed "theirs" by default. She was in the process of putting on some make-up even though honestly, she didn't need it. But from his observations, it wasn't so much the makeup but the ritual of it that she did it for. With each swipe of gloss or mascara, he could feel her growing more into her true persona, that one that wished to dominate all. A volatile cocktail of confidence, glee, and calculation it was, and he almost felt sick to his stomach.

It was only brief moments like this one, when she was preoccupied, that he wasn't under her control. What bittersweet moments they were....

Jasper was lying on his back on the bed, eyes trained on her while inside, he schemed. Whenever he was near her, he rethought his original statement that stooping to her level would be no good. Sure, he didn't want to kill her, that was drastic. But wouldn't a little payback ease his pain a little?

More and more he was coming to that conclusion. He couldn't imagine just making her leave and be done with it, as if it were only some small crime. No. That wouldn't do at all...

Bella had ruined everything. She knew it too, didn't even bat an eyelash when Alice and Edward left. When he'd been trying to apologize, and Alice had vented to him, Bella had been just outside the door, listening. Unconcerned that she'd just torn apart something so special to him, so vital... that it was like she'd torn his heart straight out of his chest, like a vulture might.

But the worst part, and he hadn't even admitted it to Carlisle... was that she liked it. While she'd been standing outside the door, she'd been nothing but euphoric, only just hiding that happiness when Alice asked her to come in instead of eavesdropping.

She liked her handiwork, the sick little tart.

Right now she was strolling off to the closet to pick out something to wear. His eyes followed her, watching carefully. Bella was thumbing through a few things, mostly clothes that she would have never dared wear before. Dresses namely were her clothing of choice, and when she could get away with it, short ones. Provocative. She liked the feel of silk on her skin, it thrilled her, even turned her on a bit. Even now he could feel her arousal from across the room, and he had no doubt that soon, she would decide to use him again.

Because that's all he was, a convenient little toy. Wind him up and watch him go....

"How long can I string you along?
How little of myself can I give
And still make you believe I care?"

-"Fentoozler" by: blink-182

Bella was not having a spectacular day, she really wasn't. She was worried today, and anxiety was not something she particularly relished. Up until now, she had felt secure in her position. Jasper almost never left her side, so there had been nothing to worry about on his end. But today... today he was hanging out with Carlisle a little too often for her approval. They were practically glued to each other's side, and as mundane as their activities seemed to be, she felt suspicious.

It was only natural, right? It had just been a little over a month since she'd organized the departure of Alice and Edward. A month wasn't so long, not nearly lengthy enough for her to feel completely at ease with her hold on her pet. She was starting to wonder if she shouldn't have taken things a bit slower, planned more....

And then it hit her all of a sudden. She hadn't been expecting this onslaught, this sensation. Her pawn had just made a move. No, she hadn't expected that at all....

It was pressing down on her, suffocating her to the point of asphyxiation. Fear coursed through her like she'd never, ever felt before, much more intense than could surely be possible. Death seemed only seconds away, and she forgot that in fact, death was impossible at this point. She felt cold, ice cold. The burn of hate, of fury then scorched her, making her gasp in its wake. Too strong, she thought frantically. Too much... make it stop! Make it all STOP!

She was caged in by these things, and her feet rooted to the floor. She trembled and wanted to wail, but wouldn't give the onlookers any satisfaction. They should be bowing down to her, all of them! She was smarter, they were too weak! Was this not the order of the world, that the strong prevail?

She felt like screaming, tearing all her beautiful hair out.

But she couldn't do that. The authority figure must be a constant example to everyone! She would win in the end. They didn't have winning in them, and Bella was a born winner. She would do whatever she had to. This success of theirs---it was only temporary. Fleeting at best. But she needed to get away, regroup. On that note, she opened her eyes and glared at her once-pet, ready to pay him back some of his retaliation.

"It was so easy. Too easy. I almost shouldn't have bothered."

His eyes, slightly dead-looking as per usual these days, flickered over to meet hers. Bella could feel the various sensations surrounding her falter, and she knew she'd found the weakness to exploit here. It was only too easy to do, she mused. Poor, stupid, lovesick boy... she cooed inwardly. Let's give him something that will really get his mind turning!

"You know, for a while she wanted to believe that it wasn't your fault. I mean, you seemed so in love with her before and then bam, I came along. She thought it quite strange, in fact, and so denial was a very prominent theme. She was different then, I wonder if you even remember? I know being under my control---as it should be, she thought to herself---can make your thoughts a bit hazy, right Pet? Well anyway, she was very sad, not that I care. Sorrow is for those who allow themselves to be cut open by things. It's a trait of people, weak people if we're being precise. Then again, you yourself are weak in that way. What a perfect match you two really were. I'm sorry I ruined that. All right, so maybe I'm not." She shrugged.

"Why did you do it?" his voice was accusing, the tone gritty as if he hadn't had cause to use his voice for days. It gave her a little rush of sastisfaction.

"I was bored," she sighed as if to illustrate the fact, "and the lack of control was rather annoying. Neither of you ever tried to dominate, merely pleasing each other. And that my dear Pet is the ultimate monotony. Someone's got to have control, it's just the way of the world. Plus the love... sickening. A weakness that I just chose to exploit. In fact you're lucky that it was me and not someone who truly wanted to harm you. I am merely righting things. Others might hold this affection over your head, hurt the one you love, hurt yourself... all for nary a reason at all. At least my reasons are logical. Just simple control. It's not too hard to understand, really."

"By your definition, you mean?" Oh, the pet was angry now. Bella loved it when he got riled up. It was so much more fun that way!

"The right definition." She smiled smugly. "But you see, now I'm bored again."

"I don't give a damn. You are an evil person, and I will not stand for that any longer. Leave," he growled, his posture tensing instinctually as he might at the onset of a fight. Her lips quirked up even more, but then receded into a pout, her lower lip jutted out.

"Aww, now that hurts my feelings, Pet. And we had such a good time together. What are you going to do now, kick me out?"

"You are lucky I do not wish to kill you. I am merely righting things." His words bitterly echoed her own, and his expression was one of total run-down. Like an animal backed up into a corner, he would struggle even harder than usual to gain his freedom.

She didn't smile this time. Even she knew better than to mess with someone that far-gone.

Kicked-out. Thrown-out was more like it. Grin or no grin, they had all looked tellingly happy as they watched her speed off from behind the large windowed wall.

She'd been running for a while, but now she had stopped. Why? There was someone else nearby. A him.

Bella eyed the man appraisingly---he seemed worthy enough. Tall, strong, handsome... indeed as worthy as it got. She needn't even use her talent, not with the sinful way in which he was looking back at her. Apparently he had estimated her value just as high. Perhaps this was even meant to be. With that in mind, she walked up to him fast, determined to have his name, and if she was lucky, a bit more than a name....

"And you are?"

"James." Crisp, short, and to the point. Oh yes, he was definitely what Bella needed. She smiled flirtatiously.

"I'm Bella," she purred, batting her lashes at him. He raised an eyebrow but smirked, seemingly amused by her introduction, or perhaps it was his way of telling her that he knew what kind of woman she was, and that it appealed to him. "I was wondering if you might like to travel with me... James. You seem like you'd make an excellent companion, am I right?"

"That depends. Where are you traveling, and if I may be so bold, what's the occasion?" He apparently was just as fond of being well-informed. Another point in his favor, Bella decided. Might as well tell him the short version, we will have plenty more years for the longer story, she added in her mind. That is, if I have anything to say about it, she told herself.

"No idea, and why? Because I just need to get away. Things didn't go my way this time, and I figure it's about time that I took a break." She shrugged casually.

"Ah, a kindred spirit." She looked at him pointedly as if to say, explain.

"I know the feeling," he answered. "You try, but sometimes things don't go to plan, whatever intent you started off with. People undermine you. Others tend not to understand how minds like ours work, Bella. But that's the brilliance of us. They don't know how we work so in the end, we cannot be defeated. Didn't you know that?" He smiled arrogantly once more but continued on, "I do confess I have been around for a while, and I certainly didn't learn that right away. But you'll see in time that I am correct."

"So that's a yes; you'll travel with me?" she urged impatiently.

James chuckled heartily.

"That's a yes."

"Now I'm going to pack my things and go
Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love"
-"Tainted Love" by: Marilyn Manson

Author's Note: Yeah, I felt the song at the end was appropriate, lol. Ooh the end is near... how do you think it will go? I'd like to hear some guesses/theories. Also, how thinks thee of this chapter? Oh, and 2 Chapters To Go by my estimation. Review-eth!

Signing off,

Candy.