Chapter Nineteen
My longest chapter to date. Just a warning: you are going to HATE me by the end of this.
Disclaimer – I don't own Twilight. I do own Alessandria 'Sandy' Mitchell.
Jasper and I made our way back to the Cullen house at a speed somewhere between human and vampire. Our hands were linked and I kept tensing out of nerves. He had to calm me down at least five times before we reached the house and entered. There, an eager Emmett leapt up.
"So, how did it go?" he asked as he bounded over to us. I rolled my scarlet eyes at him but looked to Jasper for help. I noticed Edward (who was now present along with Jake, Nessie and Bella) tense as he read my thoughts.
"First of all, stay out of my head," I snarled warningly at him. Emmett was grinning at my behaviour. I shoved past him to stand by the fireplace as Jasper eyed me worriedly. "I almost attacked some humans," I admitted quietly and, to my utter surprise, no one reacted.
"And? It happens to all of us," Rose stated casually and I gaped at her.
"You're out of your fucking mind! I could have killed them!" I shrieked but Jasper instantly calmed me down and I took an unnecessary breath. "Sorry." Emmett laughed.
"It looks like Sandy doesn't have Bella's control." I hissed at him but didn't comment.
"She does have a level of control though, supporting Carlisle's theory of preparation," Jasper pointed out and Edward tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
"I won't eat Nessie, if that's what you're thinking. Besides, it's not like Jake would let me near her and I'm not stupid enough to take him on. And he smells bad," I argued, causing Edward to relax and Rosalie to go into peals of laughter at Jacob's wounded expression. I looked expectantly at Alice for the answer I craved.
Jasper POV
"The Volturi will be here at midnight," Alice told us and I refused to growl like Sandy did although I very much wanted to.
"It'll be fine, Sandy. They'll show up, check you're a vampire and be gone," Rose assured her happily. Sandy gave her a look of pure exasperation.
"Yes, but they creep me out," she stated honestly. Emmett found this hilariously amusing and I felt Sandy's irritation spike – the first sign that her temper was riled. I glared at Emmett reproachfully and he shrugged.
"They creep everyone out." Sandy calmed down instantly. I felt a strong vibe of curiousity from Edward and glanced at him then back to my mate.
"Demetri has his eye on Sandy," he blurted out. Sandy shot through all of her stages of anger in one second (being a newborn probably didn't help).
"WHAT!?" she shrieked, leaping away from her leaning position against the fireplace. I moved in quickly, ready to restrain her if the need arose but the coffee table burst into flames. Rosalie screamed and shot across the room as she was the closest to the table besides Sandy and me. Edward was staring at Sandy in shock but his curiousity was gone.
"Put it out!" Rose cried and Esme ran in with a fire extinguisher which she quickly put to good use. The flames were put out and everyone stood completely still.
"What the hell was that?" Emmett asked after a long silence. Sandy was still staring wide-eyed at the black and crumbling table.
"Sandy." Edward's simple statement drew all eyes to him.
"I'm sorry, who?" Rose asked although we had all heard.
"It was Sandy. That's her gift." I gaped at Sandy who had calmed down and was now grinning.
"I always did have an explosive temper," she joked and the room relaxed. I approached her slowly and wrapped my arms around her waist from behind. "You're not afraid of me?" she asked and I smiled lightly.
"No, as long as you don't set me on fire. What concerns me is Demetri," I said and she snarled viciously. I used my gift to calm her down before any more furniture suffered and she leaned into my chest.
"He knows he'll never get her. He was simply intrigued by her," Edward answered and everyone glared at him. He backed away from Sandy nervously as she was looking scary again.
"Really, Edward, you couldn't have made that a little clearer before Sandy set the table on fire?" Esme asked irritably. Sandy looked sheepish whilst Edward looked apologetic.
"At least we know Sandy has a gift now," Edward tried to compromise. Sandy huffed in an extremely adorable way then wriggled out of my arms, settling down on the couch to play Mario Kart with (and get sadly beaten by) Emmett. I made myself comfortable next to her, making sure she didn't get too upset about losing. God knew what Emmett would do if Sandy killed the Wii.
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Sandy POV
I was rigidly leaning against the side of the window as we all heard the Volturi approaching. I still marvelled at how I could hear so much and so far away, even after spending two hours just listening to distant sounds. I had made Edward race me to test my speed, Emmett arm wrestle me to test my strength and Alice play with me to test my agility. I had accidently turned another, smaller table and two chairs to ash when Emmett beat me at Mario Kart (despite Jasper calming me down) and when Jasper made a vain attempt to try and hone my gift. Rosalie had pointed out that I was eighteen and my temper still hadn't been calmed. Carlisle argued that I would learn with time and gifts were there to be developed. Esme had forbidden practicing within the house after the second table. Jasper was standing nearby trying not to look like he was skulking but he was. I could understand though. In preparation for the visit, I had went through my entire wardrobe (which Alice had replaced AGAIN when I was changing) and changed outfits thirteen times before settling on dark purple skinny jeans, a black tank top and black sparkly flats – all of which must have cost a fortune. I really hoped to learn where they kept their money one day. A knock on the door made me turn my head and Jasper to dart forward and wrap his arms around me from behind. Carlisle, naturally, answered it with a welcoming smile. I wanted to swallow but it felt strange to do such an unnecessary thing. So I didn't. When Carlisle stepped back and gestured for them to enter, I almost groaned at the sight. According to Jasper, only Aro had visited with multiple guards during the first stages of my transformation. This time, all three elders had shown up with guards and Caius looked like he was enjoying himself greatly. When his eyes fell on me, however, I had the pleasure of seeing the enjoyment fizzle out and disappointment take its place. Aro's eyes were cheerful and Marcus' were dull and lacking emotion.
"Look at you, Alessandria! You look wonderful," Aro complimented and I nodded to acknowledge it, not wanting to risk speaking too much. "How was the transformation?"
"Painful," I answered simply and he nodded slowly.
"Yes, it can be uncomfortable. May I?" he asked and held out his hand. I reached forward as Jasper and Edward tensed and placed my hand in Aro's. It didn't last very long and he looked pleased, excited and plotting as he let me go. I looked at Edward and saw an expression of pure disbelief on his face as he stared at Aro.
"No," Edward breathed very quietly and everyone looked at him, confused. Even the Volturi guard looked bewildered.
"I have a proposition for you, Alessandria," Aro stated, ignoring everyone else. I raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"And that is?" I urged, slightly nervous.
"It seems that, due to your particular gifts, you could use some training," he answered and I felt my eyes widen as Jasper's arms tightened around my waist.
"I have been a vampire less than twenty four hours, Aro. Of course I need training, which my family can help me with," I told him. Jasper squeezed my side in warning and I shut my mouth quickly.
"What I meant was for you to come to Volterra where we have experience in many gifts and can help you with yours." This time, I did swallow. I weighed the pros and cons in my quick vampire mind. I didn't trust the Volturi but they could help me with my gift and I wouldn't feel too guilty if one of them ended up dead because of it. But I would have to leave my family . . . and Jasper.
"How long would I be with you for?" I asked in as calm a voice as possible.
"I would estimate two years." Good God, I had been hoping for no more than three months.
"And if I don't?"
"We would view you as a threat to the vampire world and yourself and we would have to exterminate you." I didn't need Jasper's gift to know that Jazz was seething. Aro was a very crafty being. He had threatened to kill me and my family if they didn't transform me into a vampire and then he threatened to kill me if I didn't leave my family for Volterra for TWO YEARS. He may be old enough to have no care for time but two years was a long period for a new vampire like me. That was two years without Rose for sketching encouragement, Emmett for beating me at video games, Alice for changing my wardrobe every week and Esme for motherly love that I'd missed since I was fourteen. That was two years without Jasper's arms, kisses and soothing vibes. Who would soothe my violent temper when it was out of control? Who would kiss away my worries and make them feel a million miles away? Who would love me like I knew no one else in the world or beyond could? We were soulmates.
"And after two years, you will let me leave," I stated, not asking but telling. Aro beamed.
"Of course you will and completely unharmed. Although, if you wanted a place on our guard at the end of two years, we would welcome you warmly," he replied and I looked at Caius. I highly doubted he would welcome me with open arms but I didn't care.
"I want twenty four hours. After that, I agree to come with you to Volterra for two years if I am allowed to leave at the end completely unharmed in any way and my family remain safe," I told him and I distinctly heard Rose whimper. Jasper's arms were so tight around me that I would have cracked ribs if I had been human. Aro beamed wider.
"We will see you in twenty four hours." And he departed, taking his brothers and guards with him.
"You are in so much trouble," Rose snarled and I turned my head as much as Jasper would allow, seeing her shooting daggers at me with her furious topaz eyes.
"They would have killed her Rose," Alice pointed out.
"But-."
"And then come for us," Sylvester added.
"Still-."
"Sandy did the right thing. And she will learn to use her gift effectively like you were complaining about her not doing earlier," Esme concluded and Rose sighed loudly. I noticed that, even though the entire family had moved in some way, Jasper remained statue still, which worried me.
Jasper POV
My worst fear had been realised. Never had I imagined that Sandy would be taken away from because Aro wanted her gift. The thought hadn't passed through my too-hopeful mind. And now she was being taken from me. Two years without seeing her, hearing her laugh, feeling her in my arms, smelling her beautiful hair and tasting her intoxicating lips was something I couldn't contemplate. I felt her wriggle and, knowing that her temper was very sensitive after that encounter, loosened my hold and let her go. I watched her leave the room and listened as she walked around the house at human speed.
"I don't know whether to be angry or miserable," Rose stated and I could feel her turmoil as the emotions swirled within her.
"Be furious – everyone else is miserable," Emmett suggested as he fidgeted with the Wii controller sadly. Rose nodded once.
"Right, I'll be furious." Then she growled and stomped out of the house. Sandy returned to the room ten minutes later and looked at all of us with a pained expression. She was depressed and I attempted to change it. She glared and I stopped, knowing she wanted the sadness to remain. I couldn't understand why.
"I'll miss you," she said in a voice that indicated her need to cry. Esme sobbed and ran to envelop Sandy in a hug. When she was done, my girlfriend left to look for Rose.
"You ok, Jasper?" Bella asked softly and I shook my head. No, I was not ok. I was far from it. Unable to stand the torrent of emotions from everyone on top of my own, I left out of the back door and sat by Sandy's favourite pond. She had been thrilled earlier when the sun had come out and immediately rushed outside. I found her by the pond she loved so much, giggling as she examined her diamond-like skin. I had just stood and watched her for a while, smiling at her gorgeous, grinning face. And she was leaving. She wouldn't see her pond for two years. Or maybe it would be longer. What if she decided to stay with the Volturi? Would she? How long would she stay? Forever? A century? Two years was bad enough.
"Jasper, you're thinking too hard," Sandy's voice told me two hours later. It was the longest we'd been apart for a long time. Two years was looking to be too painful.
"Well, you're obviously not thinking enough, so I'll do it for you." Hurt washed over her and I winced, turning to see her injured expression. "I'm sorry, love." And I pulled her into a hug. I could feel her shaking slightly as she lifted her lips to mine. It was our first kiss since she'd become a vampire and I put everything I'd been holding back into it. Our tongues collided and our hands fisted in the other's hair and clothes. I was shocked when she broke away and started placing kisses along my jawbone and under my ear. I reciprocated by lowering my mouth to her neck and kissing it teasingly. She moaned, a sound I had never heard her make before and I pulled back to look into her ruby eyes. She smiled softly and tugged on my arm to make me follow her. Curious, I ran right behind her until she reached her room and dragged me inside, slamming the door behind us. When she jumped and latched her legs around my waist, I pulled back again and looked at her in confusion.
"I want to give you a proper goodbye," she whispered and I felt my eyes widen. "Please Jasper," she begged and I couldn't have resisted, even if I'd wanted to. I bent down to kiss her passionately and led her to the bed.
Do you hate me? I wouldn't blame you. See you in two days! Love Bianca :) x