It is madness for a sheep to talk peace with a wolf.

Thomas Fuller

As soon as Bella's mind processed Jacob's words she moved to slap his outstretched hand away.

"What do you mean you can't help?!" She exclaimed. Jacob kept his face stern and unyielding in the wake of her anger.

"That's good," The room turned, everyone but Edward gave Jasper a confused expression, "You wont be helping, but you will take Bella with you until this is all sorted out." He commanded.

Jacob stared for a moment, clearly he was trying to discern just how serious Jasper was.

"You want to leave Bells in my care for an indefinite amount of time?" His voice sounded incredulous and Bella couldn't help but share his disbelief. She knew that the Cullens would have to leave her out of the fighting, but this…

"Jasper you can't be serious? I'll be all the way on the reservation. I know I can't help, but not knowing if you all are okay is going to drive me insane." Edward rose from the couch and made his way over to where she stood.

"Bella. Love," He said softly trying to calm her by placing a hand on her shoulder, "It's a good plan, and the best one we've got so far."

Bella couldn't believe him. She moved back, retreating next to Seth, her head down and trying not to let everyone see the tears that she was barely able to hold back. She felt so useless! Was she ever going to be anything more than a hindrance to her new family?

"I understand…" She did, but she didn't agree. She spoke in no higher than a whisper, scared to raise her voice, knowing that any louder and it would quiver. She felt Jasper trying to alter her emotions-trying to make her calmer. Her eyes snapped in his direction and she willed her anger and desperation to flare in defiance. "Stop it." She hissed. Instantly the push was gone and she tried to ignore the guilty look that had appeared on Jasper's face quelling her own guilt that was starting to bloom in her chest as well.

She turned and grabbed Seth's hand. Pulling him towards the door she called over her shoulder. "We'll be outside." Seth hardly made a sound as she angrily stomped from the room and through the large glass doors to meet the surrounding forest. She didn't stop until they were a good five minutes away from the Cullen mansion.

She had been trying to make it all the way to the lake, but the combined effort of pulling Seth's large mass and her angry stride had tired her out too fast and she finally had to slow down, before stopping altogether.

Seth had remained quiet throughout her whole tantrum and didn't speak until she released his arm. When she turned to face him was when he finally spoke in an even tone.

"Jasper didn't mean to make you sound like a hindrance." Bella plopped down on a mossy log, angrily rubbing at her burning eyes which had only gotten worse as they had walked. She felt ridiculous for having thrown such a fit in front of her vampire family, but she had suddenly felt like a child again, switching weekends with her parents.

"I can take care of myself." She hissed stubbornly. Seth moved to sit next to her, but instead settled on the ground when the log strained with his added weight.

"Bella, this world of ours…these situations…they're dangerous for us. I know how much you hate it, but you are human, and if you want to remain with Edward and get to that eternity with him, you need to let us protect you." Bella glared at her wolf friend, but he didn't seem to notice.

"I'm not saying you're some damsel in distress…but let those who want to keep you safe, keep you safe." He gave her a big smile and she felt herself unable to do anything but return it. "Besides you'll have so much fun hanging with us again! We all miss you." Bella laughed.

"Thanks." She sighed. She felt a little better, but no less guilty. Still…Seth had helped her feel not so angry with Jasper for suggesting she leave. He only wanted her safe, like they all did.

Having cooled off enough Bella lifted herself from the ground and helped Seth up. "Why don't we head back?" She asked him. What she didn't expect was for Seth to growl at her in response.

"Jacob I know that keeping Bella safe is important, and not just to us but to you as well. We need the pack's help with this." Carlisle tried to reason.

"Sam wont allow it. Since Leah got hurt…He wants to stay out of it. He said that Seth and I were all he would send…"

Edward had long since allowed the conversation to fade in the back of his mind. Alice's thoughts were running wild and the unusual panic in her was beginning to unsettle him. She may ramble out loud, but her thoughts were always clear and organized. Now there was no order. Her thoughts speeding so fast from one to the next that words blurred together. He glanced over to where Jasper stood and noticed that he also seemed to be sensing something off about her.

Without saying anything, Jasper closed the few inches that had been between them and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. He didn't say anything, but leaned his head so that their temples touched. Edward immediately heard her thoughts begin to calm, but he could still hear her repeating that one word.

Run. Run. Run.

Would running away be best? Take Jasper and run off? If Maria tracked them down, just the two of them wouldn't stand a chance by themselves.

"Italy!" The idea suddenly dawned on him. His family and Jacob turned to him, and he rose from the couch. "Alice and Carlisle can take Jasper and go to Italy. Then, Carlisle, you can talk to the Volturri, they might help if you ask personally." It would be a longer shot than anything, but it was better than fighting when they would clearly be outnumbered. His family looked at him as if he'd suddenly grown something unpleasant from his body.

"Edward the Volturri don't meddle with newborn fighting-"

"Plus they're nuts." Emmet interrupted.

"But they like Carlisle." Edward pushed on, "I'm sure if he asked them for help they would do something about Maria."

"But what about Bella?" Emmett replied. "I'm sure they wont like the fact that we haven't turned her yet." Edward didn't skip a beat.

"Then. We turn her."

"Seth are you alright?" Seth snarled at her again and pushed her away. Bella watched, frightened as his clenched teeth grew longer and the vein in his eyes turned black. She stood from where she'd fallen and called his name again.

"Bella…get away…something's not right…" But Bella only edged closer trying to banish the image of Emily Young's scarred face from creeping into her mind.

"Seth what's wrong?" She moved closer but she dared not touch him.

"He's trying to fight the urge to rip off your head. I'm surprised really. None of the wolves I've ever met were able to control themselves like he is. Most are just wild animals when you dig deep enough, but then again, so are most of us." Bella spun around, but as she scanned the thick forest line all she could see were tress.

"H-hello…?" A tree shattered right behind them and she cried out as the splintered bits showered over them. Arms wrapped around her and Seth rushed them both across the path away from the shards of bark, he then pulled away so fast that she had to catch herself or else tumble back to the ground.

"This is really amazing." Bella turned sharply when the laughter moved to right behind her. The young boy she saw there grabbed her throat with inhuman strength, not seeming to care that she couldn't breathe in his iron grip.

"I mean you're still going to die, but his resistance really is amazing." And the little boy with red eyes leaned in towards her.

The Cullens and he had been arguing so loudly that it wasn't for a few minutes until he noticed something was off.

"I can't hear Seth anymore." He announced suddenly. The arguing faded. Everyone watched as he listened again, but there was nothing where Seth's thoughts normally were. He tried hearing the other pack members and with a growing feeling of unease he found their thoughts were still connected to him. He picked up Leah cursing as she burned her dinner, Embry talking to his mother- could hear Sam, and everyone else, but when he tried again, Seth's thoughts were just…gone.

"I can't hear him either." Edward had apparently tried as well. Carlisle was the first out the door shouting for, Edward, and Jacob to follow, and for everyone else to stay put. Together they followed Seth and Bella's scents to a small clear path, but they didn't see either of the two when they finally slowed to a stop.

"Their scent is here, but it disappears just past the trees! Where are they?!" Jacob prowled the area, smelling around, his eyes darting somewhere new every second. Edward inspected the broken pieces of bark taking a guess as to who had smashed the tree to pieces.

"Seth's scent is off," Jacob realized. "It smells like an animal."

"Well you are animals," Edward growled as if that shouldn't have even been stated, "What's odd about him smelling like one?!" Carlisle sent Edward a warning glance, but he knew his oldest son didn't pay it much attention in such an irrational, worried state.

"Were are they?" Edward slammed his fist against the ground aggressively. They hadn't thought that Bella would be in any danger-that Maria only wanted Jasper, and so their focus had been on him. He shouldn't have made such a stupid assumption. "Can't you track them?!" He growled at Jacob. He couldn't pick up anything beyond the little clear path, no Bella, and no Seth or anyone else that could have confronted them.

"One of the newborns seems to be very good at dulling our senses." Carlisle explained.

"Even I can't smell them?! What the hell is this?!" Jacob growled. A wolf was made with the specific purpose to hunt vampires. If his nose couldn't pick up a trail then there was no trail. Edward thought this was all starting to become very ridiculous. They had to be watching them. The remaining roots of the tree Edward had just been examining were violently uprooted with a snarl before he flung it away like a twig, and sped back to the house, leaving Carlisle and Jacob to do nothing more but follow.

Maria of the South, as she had sometimes been called, was extremely pleased. Not everything had gone as planned, but she had decided to remain optimistic. Instead of just bringing her a simple human girl she had also been handed a wolf as well, for which she was almost giddy.

Wolves could be even more bloodthirsty and resilient than newborns at times- the vampire was their natural enemy, and by joining her they could kill as many as they liked. Every now and then they would take out a few of her own in a rage, but that was war-her newborns showed no more camaraderie amongst each other just the same.

And with her powerful newborns, controlling this little dog would be no problem. Julian had done good work so far.

The one year mark for him and his sister was drawing closer and he was doing everything he could to remain at her side. It was annoying, but she would keep them-they were easily her best soldiers after all. That is, until Jasper returned to her.

She wouldn't kill such gifted fighters when they blessed her ranks-the most powerful often stayed with her past the one year mark, for they loved the thrill of kill, but with Julian and Elian's strength waning she had to find someone stronger to fight at the front lines. A more experianced figher who could still lead, and she had yet to find one that had commanded her troops like her Jasper.

"So your name is Bella?" The girl didn't look all that frightened, more angry if Maria had to take a guess, "Do you know who I am?"

Maria continued when Bella remained silent, "My name is Maria-I'm a friend of Jasper's." Maria saw a spark of recognition in her brown human eyes.

"Do you talk?" She was beginning to become irritated with her one-sided conversation, but she kept up a kind face and retained a sweat tone, she found a gentle tone accomplished more when she dealt with humans.

"I talk." Maria hummed. No it really wasn't fear she smelled.

"Not all that much though." She crouched down on her heels so she could speak to the girl on her level.

"Where's my friend?"

"He's in worse shape than you I'm afraid," Maria said sighing sadly, easily feigning a look of guilt, and Bella's glare grew darker seeing no sincerity in the expression, "He put up more of a fight than you did, and my children grew skittish around him."

In a rush of anger Bella bravely- or foolishly-tugged at her restraints, her heart constricting at the implication that Seth was anything less than safe. Maria laughed at her bravado and a moment later it was gone.

"If you hurt him…" All Bella could do was make empty threats, which the vampire apparently found highly amusing.

Maria rose and unhooked the chains from the wall. Giving Bella no time to stand, Maria started for the door, dragging the shackled girl along with her.

Even without vampire hearing she could make out the growls and hissing coming from the small opening under the cell door.

Once Maria had it open the sight of Seth surrounded by at least ten vampires assaulted Bella's vision. His snarling faded to soft whimpers as soon as their eyes met. His eyes begging her for forgiveness, obviously blaming himself for their current predicament. The newborns saw his guard down and finally managed to bring him under control, clamping a heavy collar around his neck to keep him still. They then attached the chain connected to it to the stone wall behind him, leaving his exhausted body on the floor.

"You should forget about any heroics," Maria shouted loud enough so he could hear. She was unable to contain the grin from spreading across her face as she imagined her plan coming together, "You two are merely bait for what I want."

"Jasper, please sit down." Alice tried again stressing the words, and at the same time attempting to speak calmly, knowing that someone needed to. Esme had left the two of them alone to talk, but Jasper was too wound up for them to have anything resembling a conversation. Jasper ran his hands through his blond hair again, unable to keep his thoughts of guilt under control.

"We should have gone. If Bella or Seth are hurt-." Finally having enough of his pacing Alice grabbed his arm and roughly yanked him down to the couch with her.

"Jasper please, you're making me nauseous with all your pacing." Jasper finally calmed a bit and eventually stretched his arms over his head and back, circling them around her waist and settling comfortably against her.

"I'm sorry." He spoke softly. Alice was sure that if they were human, he would have dropped from exhaustion a good while ago. Just because they didn't have to sleep, didn't mean that their minds could take so much stress as he had dealt with in the last two days. Even vampires had to slow down and rest.

Alice ran her fingers down his jaw, along the scars grooved into his skin. His throat rumbled with a sigh and Alice leaned over him to rest her forehead against his. He pulled her to meet his lips, giving Alice a soft kiss before she leaned back again.

Neither said anything, they were comfortable with the silence, as they always were. Jasper could hear Emmett and Rosalie talking in the other room, but he easily tuned them out.

After awhile of quiet when Jasper began to wonder what was taking so long he couldn't help but break the peace that had finally settled.

"Do you think they found them yet?" It was silent, and Jasper huffed when she didn't answer. "Don't zone out on me. Alice?" Movement to his left over the couch caught his attention and he let go of Alice and sat up, but he didn't see anything.

"I hear you almost killed that human, what was it…less than a year ago?" Jasper spun his head around, immediately he spotted the intruders over by the double doors leading to the kitchen.

Two small girls stood before him, one laced up tightly, in a dark velvet Victorian frock, with brown hair styled in pretty, perfect ringlets, but she looked too old for the short dress. She had probably been well on to growing out of it before she was turned for the lacy hem brushed her thighs instead of her knees where it should have.

The other girl, a blond, held a much calmer look in her eye than her friend. She wore yellow shorts and a tattered tank top. The spots of blood that had dripped onto the fabric had dried brown again the purple dye.

Her clothes were definitely more modern. She was a newborn, yet a stark opposite of her wilder, better groomed looking friend-in the sense that she looked much more in control of her thirst, while the other girl pulsed waves of wild hunger in a continuous current.

Jasper didn't like the manic look in the brunette's eyes as she tilted her head to the side and studied Alice's still form, as if admiring a piece of art. He was up in the same amount of time it took them to move around the couch and in front of him.

"Do you feel guilty about almost killing her?" The blond asked bluntly. "Disgusted with yourself?"

"Yes." Jasper replied honestly. He humored them with an answer, and carefully tensed his muscles, waiting until just the right time to run.

"Little rabbit's trying to get away, and hopes we'll follow." The brunette sang in a breathy tone, finally almost painstakingly taking her gaze away from Alice to stare at him. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused but they caught his own, and he couldn't seem to break away from them. "Poor little rabbit, trying to play house with such abusive parents. Mummy and Daddy don't love you. Don't feed you right. No sweet candies."

"No sneaking fingers in the cookie jar." The blond cackled.

The brunette moved to the couch and touched Alice's short black hair lovingly, but never did she look away from him. He growled softly when the roaming fingers moved down to feather over Alice's frozen open eyes.

"She'd be like me if she had been touched, breathed in the smoke and felt the fire kiss her eyes. They melted and burst so quickly, and I hardly had time to scream," She sighed breathlessly and covered her own pair or red orbs. A hum bubbled up from her parted lips, "Here they come. Oooh, angry rabbit can leap in such bounds." Those next words were directed at her partner.

"Then we do this now," The blond turned and spoke to him again this time her tone was all buisness, "We have something you want. At this moment your brother and father are on their way back. Come with us and your little human girl will be returned to them, no harm done to her."

"Why should I believe you? I can handle two newborns myself. Tell me where Bella and Seth are and I'll let you go without ripping your bodies apart." His conditions were merely laughed at and the blond moved to drape her arms around her friend's shoulders.

"You shouldn't be threatening us, Jazz. In fact you should be really nice to us. We're your tickets to making this easier or harder for you." Together they swayed the brunette humming some soft melody.

"So you do that to my family, and expect me to go with you?" He waved in the direction of his frozen Alice, not knowing which one was responsible for her statue like appearance and not caring. "Get the hell out our house." The older girl's eyes snapped open wide and she stopped humming.

It hit him as soon as he had moved to attack, and he couldn't even catch himself in time to break his fall. Not that he really felt himself hitting the floor or anything else besides the fetid emotions that were crawling all along under his skin, clogging his veins.

Anger, sadness, guilt, worry, pain, hopelessness, betrayal, and rage. The frenzy of negative emotions were unmerciful as the waves slammed into his mind, and he curled in on himself. So sick-he was sure he would vomit something up from the way his insides twisted. He wished he could. What he was feeling wasn't anything like his normal empathic power. This wasn't even his normal ability amplified to its fullest. What he was experiencing was something physical, and it was clawing around inside him taking away layers from were it slashed wildly.

He scratched his nails at the floor, trying to fight the vertigo-breathing and heaving stale air from his dead lungs even though there was no need. His mind couldn't focus. He couldn't feel anything but the awful twisting and ripping. His eyes, he knew-his eyes were opened, but all he saw was white.

After what seemed like all the seconds in the world had finally run their course, sounds began returning to the space around him, as well as the sound of his raw vocal cords screaming and sobbing. He hacked pathetically into the cold stone floor where his face was pressed.

The sounds around him rose and the unfamiliar voices surrounded him, but one clear voice cut through them all. One voice that was like tattered velvet spoke to him-out to him- calling to him so sweetly.

"My Jasper. My Childe."

This chapter was SO hard to write, and I'm sorry it took so long! Hopefully now that Jasper is in Maria's evil clutches the angst will flow easier. I probably didn't check this as well as I could have. I just wanted to get it out, so sorry about any mistakes you might see.

Happy Easter to ya

and thnx for reading!