Chapter 15

Hello everyone, thank you for reading. None of the characters are mine. Enjoy!

JPOV

Emmett and Rose were taking the whole, 'animal blood is destroying our bodies' thing well I think they are anyway. There hasn't been any really outrageous anger coming off them, more like disbelief, frustration and desperation. Isa is in her own little world right now, which is probably good because they are giving off some heavy emotions, and I don't want her to try to have to focus on controlling that and herself. She is working too hard recently, and I am glad that Garrett is coming.

I wish that I could help her. I mean she is my mate, but it would do no good for her to have to monitor her strength and everything because I am not at my full potential. She would not get what she needs from the exercise and I would probably get hurt in the process.

I am excited to get back on human blood. In the wars I was deadly, not a force to be reckoned with that is for sure, but now I can see that I am weak. My gift is weaker and my senses are starting to fade. I have not experienced many of the side effects that my family has because I slip up so much.

Now that I think about it, maybe the Major wouldn't let me get to my weakest. I mean he has always protected me from the things that I wouldn't be able to handle, so perhaps every time I was getting too weak from animal blood he would take over and get some human blood in me. I never really remembered choosing to drink from humans, and Alice always said it was a split second decision. That is how the Major thinks. Everything is planned out, but nothing is ever decided until it was too late for the enemy to find out and defend against.

Isa is much the same way. She prepares but does not decide. She really is my perfect match in every way which is why I am so willing to protect her now and let her fight her heart out with Garrett when he gets here. I wonder how much longer that will be.

Emmett and Rose are finally coming out of their impromptu panic session.

"Jas are you sure she is right? I mean, I have never had human blood before, so what if my body is so weak because I haven't gotten the right nutrition. I always wondered why others we met were so pitiful toward us." Rose was coming to all of the conclusions that I had when I first found out about the side effects of the diet.

"Rosie, I can see it in my memories. The changes that have been happening to everyone through the years. Edward isn't as fast, Carlisle is getting more and more paranoid and even I don't have the same strength as Jasper here. Why is that Jas?" Emmett is a really bright guy. He likes to play around and act like an oaf, but he can keep up with the best of them when it comes to intelligence. I hate that the world doesn't get to see that as much.

"Well Em, I think it is because I have slipped more in the past. With animal blood making me weaker, my gift is harder to control and therefore so is my bloodlust. Which explains some of the innocent lives that have been lost. However, I also think that my second personality keeps me from getting too weak as a defense mechanism. The Major has been known to take over my body without warning and sometimes I don't remember what happened in the time that he is in control. I think he prevents me from feeling the full effects of an animal blood diet by making sure I have human blood every few years." It felt nice to have that off my chest.

"Well man that would make sense. I mean he has always protected you." Told you he was a bright one.

"Jasper, I am so sorry for all of the times I was disappointed in you. That is completely unfair to you. I hope you know that I didn't mean any of it." Rosalie was feeling remorseful.

"Oh Rose, don't worry. You were not the worst ones there and it happens. I was pretty hard on myself too."

I am glad that Isa is ignoring this conversation. If she heard that Rose would give me a hard time for being a natural vampire she might flip. She is a tightly coiled spring ready to snap at any moment right now.

"So how are we going to convince everyone else that animal blood isn't good for you?" Emmett came up with the million dollar question.

I have been trying to figure that out for as long as I have known. Carlisle is absolutely going to argue as is Eleazar and Carmen. It is a philosophy they have clung to for centuries now. I think Esme will hear us out, and the other two, well I think it will depend on how the information can be used by them to further their own agendas, honestly.

"I don't know Em, do you have any suggestions?" We lapsed into silence from there. Garrett would be here soon. At least I hope he will be. I want Isa to have a clear head and be back to her normal self.

IPOV

1 more hour.

The others had moved on from talking about the complications of animal blood to the reaction that Alice and Edward and Carlisle and Esme will have when they hear about it. The only one I cared about in that list was Esme. She seemed like a good person who really cared about her family.

The conversations continued to whirl and I focused more and more energy to finding out the problem before it found me first. Jasper kept an eye on my emotions, but it wouldn't give him any warning when our guest arrives. I will know and I will attack.

45 Minutes until Garrett gets here.

Jasper, are we going to tell them about me? And should they know that I have met Garrett before? I communicated in my mind to my mate. He was speaking back to me as well through his thoughts. He has really caught on to this whole 'my mate has hundreds of powers thing' well.

I don't know. You can read minds, do you think they will be able to keep your secret and be a good person to help us?

I think so. You should tell them though. And try to make it seem like I am not crazy. There is something going on here. Jasper will tell them. Alice's power says it will go find. Emmett will be a little scared of me for awhile, but he will get over it. He is in the inner circle now. I will protect him and Rose. No matter what happens.

30 minutes and counting.

Yup they are scared of me. I can feel some of the fear and it is making my beast purr in excitement. Oh how I feed off of that when I get amped up. I am not ashamed of the battles that I fought in in the wars, and I never will be. They formed me into the person that I am now, but I will not deny that those wars have given me a strange sense of enjoyment from the fear of others.

I try not to bathe in the absolute terror often, but at times like this it is a refreshing balm to my sadistic side. I revealed in the emotions until Garrett was 2 minutes out.

He would come from between the trees to the east of me, and I was ready.

As he approached, I stood up and got into fighting clothes. I could hear in his mind that he was ready for a fight and I sent him a few quick words as he entered the clearing I had chosen.

Hi Garrett, ready to dance? He smirked at me as I winked at him. I don't want the Cullen family to know how well we know each other, if that is okay with you. Most of them also do not know that I am a special vampire with a few more than one ability. If you could keep that a secret I would appreciate it. He nodded. He liked Carlisle, but I was his little sister, so I won.

Garrett dropped into a crouch as Jasper went to talk to him. "She is a little keyed up. Thank you for agreeing to help her blow off some extra aggression, but are you sure you can get out of there alive."

"Ah Major, don't you worry, when Peter is tired of getting his ass kicked he calls me in for this meeting. I normally loose, but it is nice to keep my skills as sharp as possible, and there is not a better warrior on the planet then the General. Well right now there is not, but I assume you give her a run for her money when you are at full strength." Garrett has always been a talker, but I was tired of waiting.

I put a shield between us and everyone else. "Are we going to fight today, or sit around like old women in a knitting circle gossiping?"

That got him, he jumped straight for me and I slowly slid to the left. Based on foot positions he was rotating to the right so I was able to get him on the ground on the first try. My opponent tried to free himself from my grip but failed in doing so. "Garrett you know that will not get you to win, right?" I let him up and moved to the other side of the field laughing. "Now let's get started for real." The fire danced brighter in my eyes as I rolled them across the spectators.

Emmett and Rose were taken aback by the flames dancing in my eyes, but I couldn't care less, they were in for a show now.

My muscles can't feel exertion of any kind, but it felt so good to use the warrior side of my brain. The strategy came so easily. I was picking up every flaw and open spot in Garrett's moves while I went through the fights.

Garrett and I quarreled for about an hour before the others started to show up. I would best him at every chance he took. We traded blows and dodges and everything in between. I got to use some of the unique moves that I keep hidden to myself and he got to learn not to pull my hair.

"What is going on here? Isa!" Carlisle arrived first.

I don't feel like stopping, but he can't know that we are friends okay. I will explain it all later, but I think something weird is happening in the Cullen household. I wanted to let Garrett know before he talked to Carlisle. He nodded in understanding.

Well dearie we better make this look good then huh. I can always count on him. Between him and Peter I will always have a good old brother in my corner.

"Isa, that is Garrett, he is a friend. Jasper you have to stop her right now!" Esme joined Carlisle in panic mode. She looked exaperatly at Jasper when he didn't move to stop us. "Are you going to do anything?"

"I can't, her shield is up and she is not letting anyone in." Jasper is nonchalant about the whole thing. Truthfully, he could get in. I wouldn't keep my mate out or away from me, but no one else is coming in, and they couldn't argue the point when they can't get in anyway.

Garrett tried one last time to pin me to the ground, but I got him by the neck and put my teeth right next to his pulse point that is no longer needed. Thank you my friend. I will explain everything later, but for now we are going to let the Cullens talk me out of killing you.

"Isa, Isa, stop that is a friend." Edward and Alice were banging on the physical shield trying to get in now. "You don't want to kill him. He is a friend of Carlisle and Esme's. His name is Garrett, he is from the revolutionary war. You would probably like talking to him." They started out rather calm and understanding.

"Come on Jasper, you savage mate is going to kill one of Carlisle's oldest and best friends." Edward just had to open his mouth to my mate didn't he. Well I guess this is as good of a transition as any.

I pounced across the field so fast Edward did not have a chance to react. I moved at the speed of light, faster than he has ever been and put him against the tree. "Listen Eddy, I am perfectly capable of keeping him there and dismembering you without lifting a finger. Okay. Please try to keep that in mind next time you insult a 'savage'. I have abilities you could only dream about." A stray thought brought me out of my threats to Edward.

Ugh, thank goodness we will be rid of her soon. That Hispanic woman should be here any day now. Alice was not blocking her thoughts from Edward. Crap, I bet she heard that. Now that is even more interesting. Who heard what, I wonder; I hope she did not mean me hearing her. If so that would be really unfortunate if she knew my secret.

Now that I was away from Garrett Alice was trying to help him up with Carlisle. I did quite the number on his clothing. He did as well. I am proud. He has gotten so much better since the first time I met him. "Come on Garrett we will get you back to the house, we will have clothes there." I got a few dirty looks, but they don't bother me any.

"Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, why did none of you intervene to begin with? She could have killed him. What happened?" Esme was in reprimandive mom mode after removing Edward from my grasp. I let her since I figured there would be enough anger as is he got the point I think.

Jasper spoke up first which is good. "Well from what we have gathered, Garrett smelled our scents and came looking for us. We were training in a different place today because Isa wanted Emmett and Rose to get some practice in unfamiliar terrain. Garrett heard the fighting and showed up. Isa didn't know who he was so we introduced them and Garrett asked if he could try his hand at fighting Isa. She said yes and you came not too much later." Jasper had perfected the story while we were fighting it seems. He really is perfect.

"Esme, I never kill anyone without a very good reason. Garrett and I had decided on the rules before hand. He could have stopped at any time." I came in with some explanation of my own, so I did not seem too guilty here. "Garrett is a great warrior and known in the vampire fighting world. I will ll apologize to him, but I am sure he is fine." I smiled sweetly.

"Well why could no one tell us of the deal when we got here?" Good question Esme, I am going to let Jasper handle this one.

"You never asked Esme, you just told me to stop her and I could not do that. It is against the rules." Well he thought of everything didn't he.

"Next time tell us. That is not a way to treat guests and I will not have my children being rude to friends. Now let's get back. Isa, I want you to check on Garrett when Carlisle is not around. He will probably be on edge when we get back. It has been happening a lot lately." Esme shook her head as she turned to walk away.

I thought now would be the perfect time to introduce her to the idea of animal blood being detrimental to vampire bodies. "Yeah it is probably all the years of animal blood. I am going to wash some of the dirt from my body before going into the house. See you guys there." I ran away before she could ask me about it. I saw with Alice's gift that she would mull that information over for a few days before asking about it.

I have done everything I can now. Only a week and a half until Jasper and I leave and I don't have to be around the Cullen family any more. I ran to a stream for a quick clean up before making my way back to the house. My body had calmed down and my mind was working at full capacity again with the training session completed. I should get Garrett a gift for always doing that whole let's fight until we can't go anymore thing. Things to consider.

Thank you for reading. Have a great rest of your weeks and I will update soon!