Chapter Seven
AN: Okay, this is an important AN so read up. With the time travel, you will have to pay close attention to the POVs, time, and time/space continuum prompts listed in bold and italics. This will be the only chapter with a lot of time changes. This chapter was edited on 3/05/2012.
With that being said, on to the read . . .
JPOV - Earlier present day around 8 am:
Bella shifted in my hold, nuzzling into my granite chest. I often wondered how she could get comfortable against my chest, but she seemed to be just fine, so I just wrapped my arms around her, bringing her closer to me.
It has been a week since Bella and I openly admitted that we wanted to be together, and I just couldn't get enough of this woman in my arms.
She was my everything, and Charlotte swore that Bella may actually be my true mate. Alice had alluded to that fact many times. I didn't want to think about that now, we had other things to worry about. Malia. That woman ran through my thoughts all the time. We needed to figure out a way to destroy her.
Alice's visions of Malia were getting stronger with each passing day, meaning the decisions she was making were more concrete.
Peter, Charlotte, and I were going over everything we knew about bokors, trying to find weaknesses so we could incapacitate her. There weren't many.
Through some research in the vaults of Volturi, we were able to find out a couple of things about bokors. Apparently bokors could live forever if they kept taking a special tonic, but essentially they were mortal beings with beating hearts and weaknesses just like humans. They just didn't age.
Malia seemed to be employing this tactic.
Carlisle had a thought of stealing the tonic to make her age and die, and that seemed like a good plan to keep the violence to a minimum, but we couldn't seem to pinpoint her location. Even with what I remembered in the bayou, we still couldn't find where her lair was.
Carmen and Eleazar had made several trips trying to find her, and had even enlisted the help of the Volturi. Now that the Volturi had proof that bokors existed, Aro was interested in helping us all of the sudden, even if it did mean helping me - a once sworn enemy of the Volturi.
Even fucking Demetri couldn't find the bitch.
"Jasper . . ." Her soft voice brought me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the present.
I smiled as she said my name in her sleep.
I never thought I would find happiness, but Bella, she was my happiness. My everything.
I moved a stray hair out of her face, making her neck more accessible to me. I kissed her there softly, and I saw her lips curl up in a smile.
"I know you are awake . . ."
"I know you know, but I wanted a couple more minutes of just being in your arms before I had to disengage for my human needs."
"I would think that you would be tired of being in my arms. We spend every moment we have together, attached at the hip literally." I pointed out to her, clasping our hands together. I pulled her into a seating position.
"Are you sick of the arrangement?" She asked, her voice soft and full of uncertainty.
"No," I reassured her quickly. "I just want you to have all the freedoms that you want . . ."
"And I want nothing more than you."
I smiled at her admission, grabbing her quickly, and pulling her into my lap. I kissed her soundly, moaning into her mouth when she finally submitted to me.
"Jasper, I have morning breath . . ."
"Doesn't matter."
"It does to me," she argued back. "It can't smell pleasant to you. I need to take a shower and get ready for the day and I need to get rid of my dragon breath."
"Alright," I said, sitting up with her. "Dress warmly. I have a surprise for you later on today."
"But we need to stay and help the family figure out what we are going to do about Malia."
"We can take a couple of hours for ourselves," I replied. Alice saw that it would be okay for us to leave for a couple of hours. It had been forever since Bella and I had a couple of hours to ourselves, and we needed this.
Esme had everything in place, I just needed to convince Bella.
She looked over at me and smiled.
"What did Alice see?"
I brushed an errant hair behind her ear. Her hair was so silky and soft.
"It's fine. We can sneak away."
"Perfect. I'll hurry and will be ready in a couple of minutes."
I kissed her chastely on her lips, regardless of her dragon breath and smiled at her as she ran into the bathroom. The water turned on and I could feel the pain creeping in. A pair of strong arms kept me from hitting the ground.
Carlisle.
"I've got you son."
He helped me down the stairs and kept my arms still to keep me from scratching at my skin.
Esme was by my side immediately, trying to calm me to no avail.
Carlisle shot Esme a look as tears formed in her eyes. A silent conversation passed through the two of them, but I couldn't figure it out it was about because of all the misery and agony.
"Don't worry Jasper, we will figure this out," Esme promised softly.
I laid my head on the granite, trying to block the pain. Right then, a pair of small arms wrapped themselves around my waist. Bella placed a small kiss on my temple.
"I think that Esme made me some eggs and maybe she has you some nice bear."
"Actually it's lynx," Esme piped up.
I sat with Bella in my lap, watching her devour those foul smelling eggs as I drank. I nuzzled my face into her neck, inhaling deeply her unique scent. There was no way I was going to let her out of my sight.
Present day 4 p.m. (still JPOV)
She was just a girl sixteen months ago, special to the entire family, and kept from me. And for good reason. On first examination, she was nothing extraordinary, but she quickly made a place for herself in our lives, and our lives became richer.
But I now knew how wrong I was. She was extremely extraordinary, powerful, loving, and beautiful. She laid wrapped up in my arms in a pair of dark pair Seven for All Mankind jeans and a simple white long sleeve wrap sweater. A pair of Uggs donned her feet. Bella looked absolutely angelic against the dark long sleeved black t-shirt I was wearing.
I was married to Alice, don't judge me for knowing designers.
I don't know what I would have done without her.
She had become my entire world, and I would die for her, and would most likely would.
I ran my hands through her hair, noticing how the sun would show the faintest of red among the sea of mahogany. She sighed, nuzzling into my chest.
"It really is beautiful out here Jas," she whispered, staring out over the cliffs and into the waterway.
"Are you cold?" I pulled the blanket around her.
"No, just happy being out here with you. Thank you for getting us away from the family for a little bit. It can be a little overbearing when you are used to be the only child for so long."
I nodded, knowing where she was coming from.
In my life before the Cullens and after Peter and Charlotte, I was a solitary being. I preferred being alone with the elements. It was nothing more than I deserved, it was my self-imposed hell and penance all in one. I would wander around the states, killing mostly those who deserved to die, trying to remember the family that I had lost when I was turned. I could never remember much though.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I was trying to remember my family. It's strange the things that I remember from my life seems to be more military things than familial. When I saw that picture a week ago, I ached to remember something, anything about them at all."
She placed her hand in mine and squeezed.
"You remember your military life because Maria chose you and groomed you for that purpose. You didn't choose this life. You had a life, a girlfriend."
"This is the life that fate chose for me though, and I can't be resentful about that," I told her, and I meant every word of that. "I would go through it all again as long as I could meet the Cullens. They really did save me from myself."
I continued to stare out into the great expanse of the waterway. I pulled a diet Coke out for her, another thought I had when I planned this outing for us. Bella was human, and required human food.
How long would she stay human for?
Now that I had her, I wasn't going to pull an Edward and leave her. There was no way I could do that to her or to me. I was willing to do anything to make sure that she was happy, safe, and with me, for as long as she would let me.
"What time is Esme expecting us back?"
"We need to get going soon. Mom was very clear that I was to have you back before the sun went down. It is getting too cold out here for you to be out and about when the sun goes down. Plus, I didn't bring your jacket."
"You just don't want to face the wrath of your mother." Bella smiled at me.
"Esme can be downright scary when you get down to it. She is really a mama bear."
"Just a few more minutes, just me and you," she said softly.
She brought her hand up and cupped my face, and shifted so that she was straddling me. She leaned in softly and kissed the corner of my mouth, and then crushed her lips into mine. I smiled, and slipped my tongue into her mouth, feeling the contrast in temperature.
How did I go so long without her?
I felt her relax, and in that moment I could feel, really feel her. The lust between us was palpable, and I slipped my hand up her shirt, running my fingers down her spine. I just wanted to feel her.
"Hmm, Jas . . ."
I loved that freakin nickname. Not Jazz or Jazzy, but Jas - clean, simple, me.
"God Bella, this is my version of heaven, considering I'm never going to get there . . ."
She kissed me soundly. "If you aren't going to be there, then I don't want to go either. I believe that God created us all, including vampires. You are his creature too."
"I'm a monster."
"You aren't."
I felt the truth in her statement, and I wished with everything I had that she was right. I did remember going to church when I was human, and believing in the Almighty. I remember holding a rosary before going into battle. But, now, if there was a God, would he see past my transgressions?
"You are beautiful, and did what you had to do to survive. You are strong, brave, extremely caring. You feel everything, and not because of your powers. Do you know that Edward and Emmett smile when you call him brother, and Esme eyes sparkle when you call her mom. Carlisle is so proud to call you son, and Rosalie really sees you as her twin. You are the heart of this family."
"You are my heart . . ."
She crashed her lips into mine at the declaration.
She started to reach under my shirt and I stopped her quickly. I didn't want her to feel my scares, and feel the destruction that I caused. Alice had always cringed at the feel of them.
"Bella, my chest is covered with scars. I don't want you to feel my past."
"It's part of you though."
"I know Baby, just not now."
She nodded, kissing my neck. "Whenever you are ready Jas . . ."
I smiled. "Thank you for understanding."
She hummed as she stood, pulling me up with her - well kinda.
"We should get back to Esme now."
I lifted her into my arms, our preferred methods of traveling. It felt right, we had tried piggybacking, which was comfortable, but it reminded her too much of Edward.
I ran her through the trees, smelling the pine mixed with strawberries and raspberries.
Then, I smelt something that I had smelt before.
Alligator.
Incense.
Musk.
Fucking Malia.
I skidded to a stop, trying to figure out what the next move would be.
"Jasper, what's wrong?"
"Malia is in the area. I can smell her," I told her truthfully. I would never lie to her. She needed to know that danger was lurking around. "Bella, I need you to hide."
"No Jasper, you need me with you. You said that you have better control over your powers when I am with you, it makes more sense for me to be with you."
"I wouldn't be able to concentrate with you around. I have been able to fight through the feelings before, I'm sure I can do it now."
I put her down, bringing her eyes up to meet mine. I was serious. I didn't want my angel anywhere near that demon. If I could save her from Malia, I would.
"Major Whitlock!" Her voice rang out from the direction on the house. I saw smoke rising above the tree line and could feel the heat from a fire.
"Bella, stay in the tree line. Promise me you won't come out . . ."
"Jasper, please be careful."
I nodded, some hair falling into my face.
She reached up with her free hand, brushing the stray curls out of my face.
"You are my heart," she whispered. "Be careful Baby."
"I'll always come back to you." I stripped off my thin jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, trying to give her some warmth. It wasn't safe for her to go near the house, and the temperature was rapidly dropping out here.
I kissed her quickly and let go of her hand, running toward the house to face my fate.
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BPOV - 6 pmPresent day:
Jasper ran off toward the house, leaving me in his wake. I feel to the ground, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.
No, I had to be strong. I had to stick to the plan.
Maybe Jasper would forgive me for all this when it was all over with.
I stood, walking toward the tree line, ignoring Jasper's last command. I hadn't promised him that I wouldn't come out. I had only asked him to be careful.
I snuck behind a tree, peering around it so I could see the Cullen house. A big bonfire was in the back yard and Jasper was staring eerily at it. Peter and Carlisle were shouting, running out of the house followed by the rest of the family.
They had missed Malia's grand entrance.
What the fuck had happened?
In between Alice's future seeing abilities and Edward's mind reading abilities, they should have been able to see Malia coming a mile away. Now all of our plans were completely shot to hell.
I saw Jasper walk slowly but deliberately toward the fire.
A woman, looking no older than forty was standing there coaxing him to come closer. I watched as Jasper fought, keeping down the misery and fear, as he took each step. Each step was taking him closer to the fire, closer to his death. I wasn't going to have that.
"No!"
I broke out of the tree line.
Jasper's head snapped in my direction, looking completely in pain. "Bella, stay back. It's me she wants."
His words fell on deaf ears. If he thought I was going to let him sacrifice himself, he had another thing coming.
"No! Not you anything but you!"
"Bella!" Peter's strangled cry caught my attention.
Malia cocked her head to the side, staring at me. I'm sure I looked a hot mess with leaves in my hair and tear tracks on my cheeks. But I could have cared less. All that mattered was getting to Jasper.
"Take me."
Jasper fell to the ground succumbing to the pain. His hands went to his hair as he started pulling at the roots.
"You aren't who I want." Malia finally spoke to me.
"Not him, not them," I gestured toward the family. I saw Edward and Alice standing off to the side, I could tell by the looks on their faces that Malia was screwing with their powers too.
"They are monsters! They are killers!"
"We are all God's creatures!" I screamed. "We all kill some creatures, as I'm sure you have done too in order to keep alive. Tell me, how many virgins did you kill for your tonic to stay alive for these past several decades?"
"I did what I had to do."
What the hell was that all about? Wasn't this all random? I didn't have to think about that right now. I was going to do what I had to do.
I ran the rest of the way over to Jasper, wrapping my arms around him, helping him stand.
"Interesting, you are a shield against supernatural powers. Such a shame you are a mere human. If you would embrace the dark arts, I could show you how to live forever and how to expand your powers."
"I don't want the dark arts," I answered truthfully. Seriously though, was this Bitch mental?
She turned toward Alice and Edward, causing Alice to go into what looked to be a seizure.
Edward had booth of his hands pressed to his temples, trying to block the world's thoughts.
"Leave my family alone!" Carlisle screamed, lunging at her. Malia raised her hand, bringing what seemed to be a cloud of dust around her. Carlisle bounced off the dust and landed several feet away.
Jasper placed a soft kiss on my lips. "I'm so very sorry Bella." His eyes were trained on the fire. He was going to sacrifice himself for us.
"Jasper, I want you to remember me," I whispered, looking at Peter out of the corner of my eye. The chalice and knife were in hand. We had to do this quickly, otherwise Jasper would try to stop us. We had one shot, and I hoped to God that this Gypsy magic would work.
Peter moved quicker than I thought he would. He grabbed me out of Jasper loose hold and ran to the clearing about a mile away.
"Peter!"
"I know Bells, we have to work quick. I can hear Jasper struggling against Emmett's hold."
Peter quickly drew the salt pentagram on the ground, throwing the canister back into his rucksack. He then took out the crushed herbs and poured them into the chalice, mixing it quickly with water.
"Drink it quickly, Jasper is coming."
I downed the nasty concoction, waiting to see if I felt any different. I felt absolutely nothing other than a nasty after taste in my mouth. This better work after that nasty crap.
All of the sudden, I felt a sharp pain in my hand. Peter sliced it quickly, and I watched in fascination as the blood trickled out, hitting the ground.
"Are you sure?"
"I have to save him Peter."
I could feel Jasper getting closer.
"Do it now Peter!"
He nodded, clasping out hands together, pulling me close to his chest.
"Peter, Bella no!"
I heard Jasper screaming as he approached. Tears trickled from my eyes as I realized that I may never have the chance to be with my cowboy if I changed the past.
But it would be worth it.
I felt a pulling sensation, and I tightened my hold on Peter. There was no way I wanted to be separated from him during this process. The dust picked up around us, and I could still hear Jasper pleading with us to stop.
There was no stopping this now. We had to do this.
He would be safe.
Because in the end, he was worth it.
Midnight-sometime in the past, still BPOV:
The dust settled around me, and I looked around, taking in the surroundings. It was dry, dusty, with a hint of salt in the air. It almost felt like I was back in Arizona, a far cry from the swamplands of the bayou.
What the fuck just happened?
We were supposed to go to Louisiana, this definitely wasn't they bayou. Where in the hell were we? More importantly, when were we? Looking around, I could tell we were somewhere in the south, just from the heat, but that is all I could figure out. Fuck.
Where the hell was Peter when I needed him?
"Peter?" I called out for him, not knowing where he was. I remember him telling me not to let go of him, but it was kind of difficult with the space/time continuum pulling at you. I could tell that he had tried to keep hold of me, but failed. His hand print was prominent on my bicep, which was seen through my torn sweater.
That just happened to be my favorite sweater.
Where the hell was Peter.
I brushed my jeans off and started walking along the shoreline toward the lights of the city ahead. I couldn't just stand around. I had to figure out what happened and how to get back to Jasper.
Jasper, my heart. I reached up and rubbed the pendent around my neck, feeling marginally better about the situation.
I moved slowly, testing out the strain that the time travel put my body under, pleasantly surprised that nothing was strained.
"Peter!" I called out again, hoping that his vampire hearing would catch the sound of my voice.
Still nothing. Oh well, keep walking toward the lights in the town. It wasn't a great plan, but it was better than nothing.
The town was further away then what it looked and when I finally reached town I could tell that something definitely had gone wrong, terribly wrong. The roads were covered in dust, piano music was being played out of one of the bars.
I was getting ready to push through the doors to see what I could figure out about this place when I felt two arms around me.
"Well, well, what do we have here? I thought there was a curfew in place for our little southern bells?"
I heard the hard edge to his voice, and I tried to push against him.
"I was unaware of the curfew, I was passing through town and looking for a place to stay . . ."
"We have a place for you in our Union camp," sneered another person.
"Please, just let me go . . ."
I twisted, trying to get away from him, feeling him bruise my wrist in the process.
"I suggest you unhand the lady . . ." A cold hard steely voice announced.
JPOV -11 p.m. Present day:
"No! No! No!" I sank to the ground, staring at the salt pentagram on the ground. "Bring her back!"
The sounds of my family members were behind me, muttering words of comfort, while Charlotte had Malia shoved up against a tree. She was laughing manically, staring at me with the same dead, cold eyes that caused this curse in the first place. I should have killed her when I had the chance!
I roared, grabbing the closest evergreen and chucking it in the forest. I could hear the crash, but didn't care. All I wanted was Bella back, and in my arms again. I wanted to feel her body molded against mine. I wanted to feel her hot breath against my cheek as she held me.
I had never felt so empty or alone. I had no clue where my girl was, and it scared the shit out of me.
I would take the pain of a thousand deaths if it meant that she was safe. I stared at the bitch in Charlotte's grasp.
Malia.
The bane of my existence for the last 11 months.
Justice would finally be done.
"Why?" I asked, letting the feelings of my family rush through me. I could feel them through the agony. Most were anxious and worried, but at least it wasn't the constant agony and misery I had been feeling.
She just continued laughing.
"Why!" Carlisle demanded. "What my son has done in the past has everything to do with the man he is now! He has worked hard to move past his transgressions, and you cast judgment on someone you knew a hundred years ago, but never bothered to find out who he is now! People have the right to change . . ."
"He is nothing to me, only the murderer of my love, and now his true love is going to see the monster he truly is," Malia cackled at me. "You were a cruel man, not only in this existence, but your last. Isabella will see you for who you are and never what you again."
Is that what this whole thing was about, to bring Bella and me together, only but to rip us apart?
"No, that can't be true. Jasper is a loving, devoted companion!" Alice screamed back, being held back by Edward.
Alice and Edward were safe. Thank God.
The little pixie was still trying to get her hands on her for all the pain and misery she brought down on me.
"You are a cruel bitch," Esme seethed, coming behind me, touching my arm. "I will give you a three second head start before I unleash my family on you for hurting one of our own in such a malicious way."
Mama Bear was out.
I stared at my mother, who, if she could, would have steam coming out of her ears.
"You better pray that my husband catches you first, because he may show you compassion, but rest assured, if you by some chance do get away, I will hunt you down for the pain you caused my son. I have nothing but time. I have a feeling that even with your voodoo, we will still be faster and stronger than you, and we will snap you like a twig."
Remind me to never piss my mother off again.
"If you kill me, you may never get Peter or Isabella back again . . ."
If I could have turned cold, I would have.
What! No!
"What are you talking about witch?" Edward asked. I could tell he was trying to read her thoughts, trying to discern fact from fiction. He nodded, letting us know that she was speaking the truth.
"Time travel is a tricky thing. They went back with gypsy magic, a clever call on your part. However through the curse I placed on Jasper, if I die, then they won't return. Call it protection, if you will. If I die before the curse is fully lifted, then they won't return. You will forever be separated from your loved ones, just like you separated me from mine. Did you really think I was going to make it easy for you, Maligno?"
I growled.
"You want the Maligno, you've got it . . ." I squared my shoulders, bringing out the monster I caged deep inside. I felt the changes immediately as I let the beast take over.
I heard Carlisle and Alice gasp in the background, but they knew better than to interfere right now. I had better control of the beast than Malia thought.
If she wanted to see the Maligno, The Right Hand of the Devil in his full glory, then so be it. Bella was gone, and I had no reason to restrain the monster any longer.
Charlotte growled, pushing Malia into the tree, crushing her windpipe.
"You've done it now Cher," Charlotte whispered menacingly at Malia.
I stalked over to her, pushing through the pain that threatened to bring me to my knees. I caused this pain, but I could also harness it.
"You sew what you reap Malia. I changed for the better, let love in to tame the beast . . ." I paused, my eyes going pitch black as the darkness inside overtook me. The changes were immediate, the gentle Jasper let the relentless Maligno out. "Let the Bitch go Charlotte."
Sensing my move, Charlotte stepped out of the way, letting me hit Malia with the full force of pain and agony.
"You wanted to meet me full force again," I paused, "Here I am Bitch." I hit her with a healthy dose of fear, bringing her to her knees. "I remember when I commanded forces against your village. Maria wanted to expand her hunting ground to the bayou. Your husband fought bravely and with honor, something you don't know of. Now, I am going to send you to meet him."
I brought my hand back, getting ready to strike when I heard Carlisle talking. Carlisle, the voice of reason. I reigned the beast back in, listening to my father calmly telling me that we couldn't kill her until Bella and Peter where back.
Bella, my beautiful girl. She was my sunlight in the dark. I held on to the love that she sent me before she vanished in the salt circle.
"Is that all you have Empath?" She asked, staring at me with her silver eyes. I could tell that she was fazed by it as she struggled back to her feet.
"I've got plenty more, but I don't have time for this today. There is no way I want to unleash the beast around my family. I'm going to figure out a way to bring Bella and Peter back, and then Malia, mark my words, you will meet the Maligno in full force."
I turned, walking away from her, trying to reign back in my fury. Charlotte resumed her position, grabbing Malia by her neck again, anchoring them against a tree.
"Char, stop. Let her go. We can't touch her, not until Peter and Bella come back to us. All we can do now is wait and see."
Bella's return to me in this life depended on the very woman who wanted to cause me misery.
I closed my eyes and prayed that Bella and Peter would someone figure out a way to alter the past and to come back to us soon.
I walked back to the house where Rosalie was putting out the fire in the backyard, luckily no one had burned with Malia's theatrics.
Rosalie looked at me, running over with trepidation in her eyes, and I just couldn't take it anymore.
I feel to the ground, not because of the overwhelming emotions, but because Bella was gone, and there was no way that I could protect her now.
"Bring her back Rosie . . ."
With that, I let the pain of my past overtake me.
AN: This is an important one, so bear with me. Sorry for everyone who thought this was a true update . . . I felt it was important to let you know that I think I wrote myself into a wall and am making the necessary changes to this story. It has not been abandoned. I am currently on maternity leave after giving birth to my beautiful daughter on 2/12, and am going to try to write as much as possible during this time.
I am completely going to scrap chapter 8 all together and restart it. Please bear with me and drop me a line to let me know you guys are still interested.
Reviews always rocks this author's socks.
Sorry for the long delay.
