Chapter 6: Taken

Jasper POV:

Finally! After 3 years of wandering about this small town, I caught a familiar scent. I couldn't exactly pinpoint who the scent belonged to because of my limited time spent with the Cullens but I knew it was one of them. Once night dawned I decided to follow the trail into the forest and hoped it brought me to where I needed to be – in Alice's embrace. I needed to see her again and apologize for such rude actions. I had a feeling I was too late, but one could always have hope.

I casually followed the sweet smelling fragrance for quite a few miles, only breaking away to hunt. At last I came upon a very expensive looking house that had no lights on currently... except... I could hear a heartbeat and what seemed to be ragged breathing? This confused me greatly. Why would a human be in my former family's house? I approached the side of the extravagant building where I homed in on the breathing. I quietly scaled up the nearest tree and used my enhanced vision to peek in the open window. Yes, eavesdropping is wrong especially for a Southern gentleman. However, what's that saying? Curiosity killed the cat? I can't be perfect all the time!

What I saw confused me to extreme lengths. Edward – judging by the messy hair – was on top of a human girl and what seemed to be kissing her neck. Who in their right minds would leave any vampire, even one as senior as Edward, alone with a breathing and live human? Then I felt his emotions; avaricious, obstinate, ravenous. These put me on alert, and I knew I had to stop whatever it was that was going on. I ran back into the forest to grab a colossal boulder and hoisted towards the house. With it landing just to the right of the tree I had previously been occupying, I clambered up the closest object I could find and hid until I heard Edward land on the grass and bolt into the forest well away from my scent trail.

I bounded through the window, making sure to land quietly so I didn't scare this girl unnecessarily. I set her waves of calm when I felt her fear spike. I walked a few human paces towards her, my hands up in a sign of surrender to let her know I wouldn't hurt her.

"What's your name?" I used the gentlest voice I could, and her breathing caught when she heard my voice.

"B-B-Bella... Bella S-Swan..." she stopped to take a deep calming breath. "Who are you?"

"I'm Jasper Whitlock. I used to be apart of this family, for a short time." I held out my hand to her in offering of a shake. She took it gingerly and shook it slowly before releasing my hand again.

"Why are you here?" I could feel the confusion rolling off her in giant waves.

"I was searching for Alice Cullen, and I happened upon someone's scent so I traced it back here. When I heard your heartbeat and breathing..." I trailed off for a moment to admire her scarlet blush. "I thought I'd peek in to see what was wrong. After all, it is abnormal for a vampire to be with a live human for long. Anyhow, I noticed Edward kissing your neck and I could feel his emotions-"

"Wait... You said you could feel his emotions?" the look on her face was adorable. The soft crease in between her perfectly-sculpted eyebrows showing her confusion and concentration, the gentle pout of her full lower lip showing that she didn't understand. I couldn't help a chuckle.

"Yes, I have the ability to feel and manipulate the emotions of others within a certain radii" I smiled at her gasp of awe and surprise.

"How do you-"

We were interrupted by Edward jumping through the window with snarls circling the room. I instinctively took Bella behind me, being mindful of her fragile human body. I snarled a warning at Edward and slouched down into a crouch, backing Bella and I up into the nearby corner of the room all while keeping a hand on her wrist. I was confused to feel she didn't need my influencing to become calm and then follow me so willingly. I would mull over that later since right now I had a vicious vampire in front of me.

"Edward how nice to see you."

"Let my Bella go." I didn't like the way he made 'my Bella' sound. Like he was talking about a thing and not a person.

"You were going to hurt her Edward. I saw you - you were going to bite her. Drain her." I smirked at the wave of nervousness that swept over me.

"No I wasn't. I was going to change her. I was-"

"Oh don't lie to me. I'm the empath here I could feel every emotion you had and they were anything but those of someone who is about to change a human."

"What kind of power can you possibly have over me Jasper? You left the family. You mean nothing to us. Alice was left heartbroken and ran off, saying she couldn't be around everyone with all the memories of you." He looked at me with triumphant eyes, knowing he's hit just where he needed to. Unfortunately for him, I picked up a trick while I was in the armies of the South for all that time. I let the demon make it's first true appearance since I left Maria so many years ago. I let myself become numb and surrendered, my eyes turning pitch black.

All was lost to me until I came out of it. Now let's just hope I don't hurt anyone - Bella especially.

Edward POV:

I watched as Jasper's eyes turned from bright topaz to deep dull black and quickly became scared and cautious. This wasn't Jasper anymore, and I knew he wouldn't hesitate to rip me to pieces even with Bella right behind him. I decided to take a submissive posture; there was a chair in the corner. I backed to it with raised hands to show I was no immediate threat. I would have to choose my words carefully.

"Jasper?" I took a deep breath "I mean no harm. I only want Bella back. I will take her back to her house and put her to bed, then I'll come back here and we can talk." I watched his face for any changes... There was none.

"You won't get her back as long as I'm here. I won't let you hurt her." his voice was dull but authoritative.

"But Jasper. You could hurt her while you're like this. You could-"

"I will NEVER hurt her! Do you understand me? NEVER IN MY EXISTENCE WILL I HURT THIS WOMAN!" with these words a loud growl of rage escaped through his exposed teeth and he sank deeper in his crouch before starting to advance on me. I noticed Bella jump at the harshness of his voice and tried to back up to get away from Jasper, knowing he was dangerous. However there was a wall behind her so she didn't get far. She took a risk and started to walk sideways towards the door; she climbed over the bed slowly as she kept a weary eye on Jasper. She didn't notice the edge of the bed and tumbled down to the floor, slicing her head on the side table edge as she went.

Oh no.

Bella POV:

I knew the situation was going to get worse, so I opted to try and get out of the way. I couldn't go forward, couldn't go backwards, so I made the move to go to the door on my left. I snuck around the side table and onto the silky sheets of the bed, keeping my eyes on Jasper all the while. I knew he could hear my progress but I also noticed his intent gaze set on Edward. I didn't realize the bed had come to an end until my hand slipped and I fell sideways, clipping my head on the solid edge of the other side table. The last thing I saw, or rather heard, was a metallic screeching sound and a gargled voice calling my name. I tried to look up to answer the sweet call but was pulled into the darkness before I could.