Chapter 13: Dawn and Dusk

Jasper POV

I could sense Bella's edginess through our instinctive bond. Another plus of being mates - we could feel the others' emotions almost as if we were one person. It was like an open book.

I watched her from the doorway of our bedroom, her back to me. She didn't even hear me approach so when I slid onto the bed to place my hands gently on her shoulders she snarled and spun to turn on me - silent angel turned defensive lioness in a millisecond. I sat still, staring into her eyes and watching as she visibly relaxed. She quietly made her way over to me to brush against me like a kitten as she purred as her apology. I smiled. It was cute to watch her act like a cat now that she knows she can purr. It was actually highly amusing. Vampire Kitty to the rescue.

"Hey, Angel. You seemed pretty deep in thought a few seconds ago. What's on your mind?" I pulled her into my lap and she automatically rested her head in the crook of my neck.

"Jasper... Why is Alice doing this? I mean she had to have known that you two weren't mates." I could sense the tense note in her voice, could imagine the tell-tale crinkle in between her brows. I rubbed her arm reassuringly.

"She could've wanted to overlook it. Maybe she thought she could fake it - lie to herself that we were meant to be. I can't be sure since she never told me." I sighed. I hated being so stressed like this. It was moments like these that I wished I wasn't an empath.

As if in answer to my thoughts I felt all the emotions of the other people in the house cut off and was engulfed in the love and protectiveness projecting from the girl in my arms. I smiled a small gentle smile down at her and kissed her as my thanks, which made her relax and purr happily. I chuckled.

She suddenly sprung up out of my arms and flung herself at the window, her physical shield dropping unknowingly to curl back around her own body like a second skin just like we had worked on. She collided with something hard - another body. I looked up in time to see Alice snap at Bella's neck, to which Bella reacted by twisting in an unnatural-looking way and had Alice landing on her side. A growl of surprise erupted out of her lips before my Angel grabbed her by the throat and hauled her up so she dangled. Alice tried to struggle, but with Bella's height and strength advantage Alice gave up quickly and hung limp in the air like a doll. I appeared at Bella's side, glaring daggers at the pixie.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, runt?" Bella hissed in a low voice. I almost laughed at the nickname - almost.

"I should've caught you by surprise! I had it all planned out! When we were fighting I couldn't see you..." she looked down on us with wide eyes. She looked truly terrified.

"Yeah, well, the joke's on you." Bella smiled a little and threw Alice back out the window, following close behind and catching her again so she couldn't escape. "Now, what are you planning?"

"I'm not planning anything. I don't know what-" her voice was cut off as Bella punched Alice hard enough to plow her a few feet into the ground. Alice looked dazed for a moment before shaking her head unnecessarily and looking up at her former sister with shock.

Bella was looking back down on her with a warning in her eyes. "Now is not a good day to lie to me. I suggest you tell me the truth now, or you'll be losing a limb. For good."

"Isabella, what makes you think I'll talk so easy." with those few words, all hell broke loose.

I was so caught up in Alice that I was attacked from behind by a pair of muscular arms dragging me to the ground, and when Alice noticed Bella watching me fall in surprise she took her chance and launched herself at her target. Both girls tumbled to the ground in snarls and hisses. With a quick glance around me, I noticed my family standing on the outskirts of the yard, just beyond the river. They looked on with masks ranging from fury to concern, torn between helping and staying out of it.

I flipped the attacker easily off my back and took on a crouch. The unnamed vampire mirrored me. We circled each other, until Esme bounded over to join him. I looked at her in hurt and surprise, and she sent me feelings that said 'Trust me.' Why in the world she thinks I would trust her at this point were beyond me. I growled low in my throat.

Bella seemed to be evenly matched with Rose. I hoped in the midst of a fight Bella would remember her physical shield. We had practiced it, and she did exceptionally well then. However, this was real. I noticed Emmett had come out and was now being pursued by Carlisle and Alice. I guess Alice decided she could never win up against my Bella. Good choice - for her at least.

I focused back on my now two targets, sizing up my options. I wouldn't attack Esme unless she showed signs of attacking me. My main focus was Mr. Unknown. I didn't know a thing about his battle experience, but from the look in his eyes he looks like he knows what he's doing.

My male opponent lunged at me, faking right and quickly changing to left. I could predict his moves well, and dodged him easily. He backed off, once again crouching back in front of me. Esme crouched behind me but didn't move. Her emotions were going haywire.

I took a peek over at my Angel and Emmett and saw that they were in much the same positions. Bella was being circled by Rose, Emmett by a smirking Alice and a blank-faced Carlisle.

"Jasper?" came Bella's telepathic voice.

"What is it sweetheart? Are you alright?" I couldn't look at her long enough to see if she was alright without risking my wellbeing.

"I'm fine. Are you?"

"Of course. What are you thinking?"

"I think our family is in on this scheme, but are trying to help us now. Rose doesn't seem to want to actually hurt me."

"Esme tried to tell me through her emotions that we should trust them. I don't know Bella, I-" I was cut off when Mr. Unknown charged me again. I crouched at the last moment to fling him over my shoulder and into a nearby tree, which teetered dramatically as he changed his position midair and pushed off of it to fly back towards me. This was a clever move, and caused us both to tumble down to the ground, forming a deep hole.

After a few close calls on both parts I managed to get my feet under him and shove him back up to the surface, following close behind. I pounded down on him enough to daze him, sending him enormous waves of fear and lethargy. He gave up rather quick and surrendered himself to me. I looked over to see Emmett had his brawny frame crouched over a tiny Alice, a look of defeat on her face as she looked at her friend.

"This was supposed to work... Maria had given me an order, and I promised I'd fulfill it." was all that came out of her mouth.

"Why were you working for Maria?" my voice was low and dangerous, causing everyone but Bella to shiver slightly. They all knew they were walking on paper-thin ice now.

"While you were gone, I went down South in search for you. I happened to stray into Houston, where I then came upon Maria who looked devastated and lost. I came up to her and introduced myself to her as Jasper's mate-" she stressed the word 'mate' at me as if it would cause me to feel any guilt or sadness. It didn't. "and that caught her interest.

I told her everything she needed to know. She told me she's missed you all these years. She didn't care if you and I were mates or not - she wanted her second-in-command back. So we made a deal. Maria was to standby and wait until I told her where you'd return. Once she confirmed she got you back for good, I was to work on bringing the human back to her for her army and killing all the Cullen clan off so no one would come to rescue you and the girl. She took too long to respond, so I figured I'd still carry out my side of the bargain. You see Jazz, she was even more power-hungry after you left her." she chuckled at the memory.

"Alice. Alice, Alice, Alice. Let me tell you the story now. I killed off Maria. I am Bella's mate, and Bella is mine. The remaining Cullen family will all survive and live happily for the rest of eternity. You and your 'friend' will either scurry off and never bother us again or we will all help each other kill you off slowly. Which would you prefer?". She didn't answer right away.

I laid it out plain and simple for her as I made my way towards her friend who was now so immersed in lethargy he could hardly move. I bent down as if to pick him up but instead gave a quick flick and twist of my wrist and off came his arm. He barely had the energy to cry out as I burnt it right in front of everyone.

"Time is ticking Alice, and pretty soon your friend will me begging me for death." I smirked.

Suddenly she blurted "Did you know Carlisle and Esme aren't mates? Neither are Rose and Emmett."

We all stood shocked and a big silent "How?" permeated the air. She smiled triumphantly.

"They do none of the things you and Bella do. They don't purr, they don't follow each other's every foot step, they don't hang on each other's every word." she spoke so matter-of-factly.

Esme and Rose looked at each other for a moment before moving over to their mates' side. As if on cue both woman began to purr to their husbands - causing the men to smile widely and visibly relax.

"We just don't show it, dear Alice." Esme spoke softly. "Being a mate to someone is an indescribable feeling. I've never felt a feeling this strong before. I feel the best moments between us are even better private."

Then Rose perked up and added, "You'd think I'd be scared out of my mind to have someone touch me again after how I ended my human life, but I have this immense trust in Emmett. Besides, we love each other too much to hurt one another." she turned to smile back at him, to which he answered with a light kiss to her nose.

Everyone was so caught up in the love of their mate that no one noticed when Alice made her escape with her friend. Just for good measure, Jasper yelled "If we ever see you again it'll be the last thing you'll ever see. You and your friend."

Quiet filled the area. Everyone looked at each other before sighing in relief that this seemed to be over. I knew this fight wouldn't have lasted long. Alice wasn't fully focused on the strategies and fighting aspect of it - she just wanted to cause enough damage for her liking. She thought she'd get out of this unharmed and victorious - but our family had been against her all along.

"This just proves - always expect the unexpected." Emmett said, trying to lift the mood higher. Everyone gave soft chuckles.

"Indeed, my brother. Now let's say we all go inside and spend some quality time with our lovers." I said as I nuzzled Bella's nose with my own. She had yet to speak, and I was curious as to what was going through her mind. She smiled gently and nodded, grabbing my hand as we gracefully leapt back in through the broken window.

Instantly our lips connected with heated passion, her shields enclosing around us to give us complete privacy. We fell in a tangled mess on our bed, then gradually our kisses slowed to become soft and gentle. Eventually we sat there just cuddling close to one another; we basked in the relative silence and mutual love.

"I love you, my Angel of Light." I whispered against her mahogany hair.

"And I you, my Soldier of Darkness." the name seemed... fitting. Like a yin yang - two opposites attracted together by the need for peace. I loved it.

This was the perfect picture, framed by the blissful days our eternity will be sure to hold.

I hoped this story lived up to it's name. I wanted it to be longer, but with school arriving next month, and between preparing for it and trying to work on other things, I lost the feel for this. I tried, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you for braving through this with me - I know my writing isn't the best yet.

There is still an open poll on my bio to vote for the next story. If anyone has any other ideas, feel free to PM me. Thank you! You guys were amazing.