Consider this my standard 'I don't owe Stephenie money and please don't steal my shit' disclaimer. ;)
A/N: Just to reiterate, this is not going to be a love triangle. They are, however, becoming more comfortable and relaxed about their unique situation and will continue to become more so as the story progresses.
Jasper's POV
I was already in Italy visiting Felix and Kelly when I got the call from Alice. It was always nice seeing my niece and her doting, dirty-old-man of a husband. If I couldn't sense their emotions, I swear it would be impossible to tell whether they loved each other or were secretly investing in blow torches to off the other one. Their banter was truly a sight to behold.
It was good to see Heidi again, too. She and I have been lovers on and off throughout the past two decades. I care for her deeply, and I know she feels the same, but she is unable or unwilling to commit to me. As much as it saddens me, because I truly feel we make each other happier, I can't fault her for it. She knows that no matter how much I love her, I will always love Bella just as much, if not more. So we find ourselves drifting together for short, wonderful periods of time, then drifting apart again.
Kelly has had to come to terms with Felix's affections for Bella as well, although on a much smaller scale than mine. With his wandering eye, there really isn't much difference between Bella and any other beautiful woman that crosses Felix's path, with the exception that Bella's influence on him has placed her on a short list of people Felix would lay his life down for, and truth be told she probably would have been on that list regardless. Outside of that, his life has continued on as it should. Lucky bastard.
Bella. Just her name still makes my heart ache. We've seen each other a few times over the years, for special occasions and family events, mostly. We still keep in touch almost daily though. Usually by email or text message. She worries about me if she hasn't at least gotten a quick note to say I'm okay, and I feel the irresistible need to at least let her know that I'm thinking about her. I can't say it doesn't bother Edward, but he has learned to adjust to the situation. I was happy to hear that Bella had agreed to his vacation idea. She had suffered through self-imposed isolation long enough and she sounded like she was falling in love with Spain.
Unfortunately, Alice's phone call put an abrupt end to that. She wouldn't tell me anything other than she was gathering the family, and everyone was to meet in Volterra as soon as possible. She volunteered me to pick Edward and Bella up at the airport, for what purpose only she knows. They were more than capable of renting a car. Still, my guilty heart rejoiced at the possibility of seeing Bella again before all hell inevitably broke loose. Both of them, really. But especially Bella.
I smiled widely when I saw them disembark. Edward had his hand on the small of her back, and was leaning in to whisper in her ear to try and calm down and not worry so much. I could feel Bella's nervousness rolling off of her in waves and could see her consciously avoiding eye contact with everyone, choosing instead to stare at her feet as they walked. I sent her a little calm and she visibly relaxed, looking up and seeking me out. When she saw me, she smiled, glanced at Edward, who nodded at her before she took off running into my open arms. As soon as she slammed into me, I wrapped my arms around her and breathed her in. She still smelled like home. I smiled into her hair and hummed contentedly.
"I missed you, too, darlin'." Bella released me, but not before giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. Edward joined us then, hugging me as well.
"How are you, Jazz?" he asked amiably.
"Doin' alright. Can't complain. Anxious to find out what this is all about." Edward and Bella nodded in agreement. "Do you guys have any luggage to claim?"
"No," Bella laughed. "We figured Alice would just throw it out and buy us new stuff, anyway, so why bother?"
"Good point. Let's get going, then. The skies are supposed to clear up later this afternoon," I said with false casualness. The three of us headed for the exit. I could still feel Bella's nervousness. I whispered, "Don't worry, Bella. I'll let you know if any poor unsuspecting guy is falling under your spell, okay?" Bella bit her lip and nodded gratefully. I decided to tease her a bit, try and get her to relax that way. "It is only guys you have this effect on, right? Because if it's girls, too, that could be hot."
Bella rolled her eyes and pushed me a step or two away from her. "Okay, Emmett. That's enough of that," she laughed. Mission accomplished.
When we got to Volterra, we were immediately brought to the Throne Room. Aro and Marcus were already there, as were their guards. Kelly, Heidi, Felix and Demetri were off to one side, chatting amongst themselves about nothing of great importance. I felt a shot of guilt from Bella as she looked from me, to Heidi, and back again. I just shook my head at her. It wasn't her fault. At all.
"Bella!" Marcus called, waving her over as soon as he saw her. She walked up and greeted him with a warm hug, then turned to do the same with Aro. It still struck me as odd. I had spent my entire vampire life, not quite in fear of the Volturi, but certainly regarded them with respect. The majority of the vampire world did their best to avoid having to be in this room for any reason, and yet because of Bella, they now regarded us as family, as we did them. With the elimination of Caius, an era of a kinder, gentler Volturi had begun. They were still the unquestionable enforcers of our world, but they did so in a more fair and compassionate manner. Caius's throne still stood empty, but on the rare occasion that a tie-breaking voice was needed, Carlisle was usually the one called upon, and he was more than happy to help resolve any conflict. Truth be told, he was thrilled with the alliance. He had always been considered a member of the Volturi family, but it was a family where he was unfortunately the black sheep. He loved them, but could not agree with their choices all of the time. Now, the two halves of his life have been joined and he couldn't be more pleased.
As if on cue, the door opened and in walked Carlisle, along with the rest of the Cullen clan. Warm hugs and greetings were to be had all around. It was such a nice reunion, I almost forgot we were here under a matter of some urgency.
"Come, my friends, now that we are all here, let us adjourn to the main hall where we can sit and discuss matters comfortably," Aro announced. He took Bella's hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow, patting it in a grandfatherly way as he led us to an adjoining room with a long antique table made to seat twenty or more.
Aro sat at one head of the table, with Bella on his right. Edward sat next to her, followed by Alice and Adrian, then Emmett and Rosalie. I sat across from Bella, with Heidi next to me, who kissed me on the cheek in greeting, then Felix and Kelly, and Carlisle and Esme. Demetri and the rest of the guard sat at the other end of the table, with Marcus at the end.
Marcus was the one who began. "Let me give you the gist of what is happening, then Alice will fill us in on any visions she has had that may be of use. My hope is that we can, together, form a solution to bring this situation to a peaceful end.
As some of you may know, the Romanians have never been happy with us in power. They believe we mutinied against them, which was not the case. They ruled over a small corner of the globe, and they ruled in tyranny. The Volturi monarchy, for lack of a better word, was created to provide worldwide protection for our kind. We do not do what we do for personal gain or power.
It has come to our attention that they have been assembling an army and are planning a full out war with us and anyone who stands with us. They are gathering malcontents and power-mongers from all over the globe, promising anything from lordships to money, anything to get the underbelly of the vampire world on their side. Their belief is that recent changes, not so much in policy, but in the execution of our policies since the death of Caius, is a sign of weakness. They believe they have found the kink in our armor and are prepared to use it to their full advantage.
If they were to come into power and destroy the Volturi, all would be lost. Not only for our kind, but for the humans as well. It is their wish to bring us out of the shadows and into the headlines. They want to farm the humans, much the same way humans farm livestock, for labor and food. And, in the same manner that humans have been researching ways to use genetic engineering to produce the most tender cut of pork or the most milk from a cow, the Romanians have been researching how to breed and alter humans to produce what they consider to be a higher quantity as well as quality of blood. It is quite barbaric. They must be stopped at any cost."
Everyone sat around, stunned at the shocking revelations. Alice spoke next. "I have been searching for a way for us to put an end to this without exposing us to the humans." Edward immediately started growling, fury building inside him. Alice swallowed thickly, but continued, turning to Bella. "Bella, they don't know anything about you, or your ability. Yet. It's the only advantage we have. We need you to go to the lion's den, so to speak. Infiltrate their organization, get to the Romanians and their supporters, then...then use your powers to make them love you. If they fall in love with you and you ask them to back down, they may listen to you."
"Absolutely not!" Edward, Adrian and I shouted in unison. Edward pounded his fist on the edge of the table. If it were of modern construction, it would have crumbled.
Carlisle was looking and feeling very contemplative. Emmett, not surprisingly, seemed to be itching for a fight, but was very torn about the idea of sending Bella into the thick of it. The rest of the emotions were swirling too fast and furious for me to assign a name or face to.
"Everyone, please... Bella, my dearest, you must know that we would never ask this of you if there were any other way. You are our only hope. It is time for you to take your rightful place, fill the empty throne that has been awaiting you for twenty years. Save our race, Isabella. You're the only one who can."
I felt Bella's determination rising and it scared me. Edward looked at me, reading my thoughts, and panicked, turning back to Bella. "Surely you're not considering this?"
"How could I not?" Bella looked around the room before focusing in on Aro. "You seem to be failing to consider a key point. I do not know the source of my ability. I have no idea how it works or how to control it."
"Bella, as with all abilities both human and vampire, practice makes perfect. You haven't learned how to control your power, quite simply because you haven't tried."
"The only possible way to test that theory was to use the ones you feed on as guinea pigs, which was simply immoral and abhorrent," Bella replied.
"Would it be less immoral to allow the Romanians to dominate the human race? I believe you would have to agree that they would suffer far less at our hands then at theirs," Marcus countered gently. "You need to learn to harness your power if it is to be a reliable weapon to you on the inside."
"He's right," Carlisle said, and Alice nodded her head fervently. I could feel a shot of terror, and had little doubt she had seen a vision that didn't end well for Bella, or for us. "The only other way would be to test it on the guards here, but I'm not entirely certain that having hundreds of vampires enamored with you is in your best interests, or the interests of our kind. Jealousy has often been more than enough reason to start a war. Besides, we suspect from our interactions with James that not everyone you influence will have a, shall we say, healthy reaction to his affection for you."
"That brings up a very good question, Dad," Adrian interjected. Carlisle always felt pride in the fact that Adrian has always called him 'Dad.' It's understandable; Carlisle has always been a much better father to him than his real father ever was. "How do we know that these guys won't go off the deep end in the wrong direction once Bells works her magic on them?" Adrian turned to Alice. "Ally, can you see how they're going to react?"
Alice shook her head woefully. "No. I won't know their reaction until they make a decision."
"Then she can't go in there alone," I said.
"I quite agree," Aro replied. "As queen of our people, Bella is entitled to a personal guard. I would like to appoint both Edward and you to that post. You would be charged with protecting Isabella at all costs. You would accompany her on her mission. Edward's mind reading and your ability to sense and manipulate emotions will be infinitely valuable accompaniments to her power. A suitable cover story will need to be created, of course..."
"It'll work! It's clearer now. I can see her in front of them, see her power starting to work on them. She will be safe up until that point, at least." Alice was filled with hope.
"I'll do it." Bella's tone suggested that it was not up for negotiation. "Just promise me that the...subjects...we test my power on will die a painless death."
"Of course, my dear. We are not barbarians. I think you will see that your influence over the royal court has made it a much more civilized arena, even in your absence. Edward, Jasper, I assume you have no objections to joining our Bella on her quest?"
"You couldn't keep me away from joining her if you tried," Edward replied flatly, wrapping his arm around her protectively.
"Ditto," I replied, and Edward and Bella both smiled at me gratefully.
It was time to strategize. If Bella could harness her power, she would truly become a force to be reckoned with. Aro and Marcus were quite correct in that mine and Edward's abilities both complemented hers well. The three of us would make a very powerful team. I only hope it's enough to save the world.
A/N: Let's see...in honor of the holiday season, I thought we'd bring back the Naked Cullen Boy Buffet... How about Jasper, wearing nothing but an apron, covered in powdered sugar and holding a spoonful of cookie dough just waiting to be licked. That ought to be worth a review, right?