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Special thanks to Gredelina1, Augustmoon and Mary-Alice-Brandon-Cullen for pre-reading this.

This was pre-read by jtmd24 and beta'd by Maxipoo1024 from Sparkly Red Pen. Thank you ladies.

Chapter Fourteen — Volterra

Jasper POV

I arrived in Volterra late evening. I spent at least an hour wandering the streets in search of one of my kind. I wanted someone to escort me to the castle. I didn't know the etiquette for calling on the leaders of our world, but I didn't think it was usual to arrive at the door unannounced. It was Demetri that eventually found me.

"What are you doing here, empath?" he asked by way of a greeting.

"I am here to seek an audience with Aro. I have news of Isabella and a request to make of him."

He gave me a contemplative look and then nodded. "Follow me."

He led me through a maze of streets and to a large drain sunk into the street. Had it not been for the thick scent of vampires in the area, I would have thought it a joke.

He levered open the cover and gestured me ahead of him. Making sure to conceal my surprise, I dropped into the opening, landing on a rough stone floor twenty feet below. He clung to the edge of the opening and slid the cover back in place before dropping down beside me.

"So, you've seen Isabella," he said. "Is she okay?"

I wasn't sure how much to tell him, knowing how she valued her privacy. I decided to keep it vague.

"I saw her just today, and she is well."

He quirked an eyebrow and shook his head. He clearly wanted more information—his impatience bombarded me—but he didn't ask.

We walked in silence through the tunnels until we came to a thick oak door. He slid open the catch and stepped though ahead of me. After walking through a bland reception area and an opulent corridor, we came to an ornately carved door.

"Wait here," he instructed and then passed through the door.

I listened to the hushed voices as he greeted the brothers and announced my presence. I heard Aro's exclamation of pleasure, and after a moment's hushed discussion, he bid me enter.

I marshaled my emotions and expression and then passed through the door.

The room was not at all what I expected. The walls and floor were smooth stone with small windows set high above us. There was no artificial lighting here. Though our eyes did not need it, I was accustomed to the human surroundings. There was nothing human here, other than the thick scent of blood. It set my throat on fire, and I wished I had the foresight to hunt before I got here. No matter. It was too late now.

Spread around the room were a dozen figures. Some I recognized as the hunting party we met in Seattle, others were unfamiliar. They were all robed in cloaks of varying shades of black. The darkest of the shades were worn by the twins, Jane and Alec. Next to them I noticed another female, draped in the same deep, dark garment as the ancients. I surmised the color denoted the rank in the guard and wondered who the female was that earned the black cloak of the leaders.

"Jasper Whitlock," Aro said in a smooth whisper. "I have wanted to meet you for quite some time."

"As have I, you," I said equally as smooth.

He smiled and walked towards me, his hand outstretched. There was nothing in my memories I cared to hide, other than my most recent meeting with Isabella. I didn't think she would want him to know of her injury, but I also knew I could not refuse him. This was not a man accustomed to hearing the word no.

"Aro," a quiet voice said. Though he said no more, his word seemed to resonate with Aro, and he dropped his hand.

"Of course, we must remember our manners. Forgive me, Jasper, but I heard you have seen Isabella recently, and I am eager for news of her."

"You shall have news soon," I offered. "When we parted she said she would return here shortly. She intended to check on the Romanian situation on her way home."

The man I took to be Marcus straightened in his throne and fixed me in his penetrating stare. He did not speak, but his silence spoke volumes. He was even more desperate for news of Isabella than Aro was.

"I come with a request," I said. "And I think it would be better to deal with this before Isabella arrives."

"A request," Aro said thoughtfully. "My interest is piqued; please tell us what we can do for you."

"I wish to join your guard." I stated it baldly. My eagerness to deal with this before Isabella could arrive and force them to refuse me spurred me into action. "I am gifted with the ability to read and influence emotions. I can help you."

Caius scoffed, his amusement evident. Admittedly, my gift was not the most impressive among the guard they now possessed, but it could be useful. They had non-gifted members among them kept for their ability to fight. I spent years in combat with Maria, and my ability would be an asset to them.

I now wished Aro had read my thoughts. It would have made it much easier to state my case if he had direct evidence of my prowess as a fighter.

"You could be an asset," Aro mused, "but I wonder what Isabella would make of this. The fact you have chosen to come alone speaks of subterfuge. Have you discussed this with her?"

"No," I admitted. "She told me I could not join her here, but I do not see any other way for us. As you know we are now mated, therefore we cannot be apart. She would never be happy living among my family, so this is our only option."

"Why do you think she refused you?" Marcus asked.

"I do not know," I said honestly. "Isabella remains an enigma to me."

Aro chortled. "Do not expect that to be rectified soon. I have known Isabella for a millennia, and she remains an enigma to me too."

There was a great deal of muttering from the guard in response to his words. Some of it positive and in agreement with Aro, but others were expressing their displeasure. I imagined her position of preference to the ancients was hard for some of them to accept.

I continued to state my case. "She spoke of living apart and maintaining regular contact through visits, but I do not see that working for us. The three months we spent apart were exceptionally difficult for me, and I suspect for her too. I don't not want her to suffer."

"As is natural," Marcus said and there was something in his tone that I could not identify. "But perhaps she will suffer with your presence."

I did not understand what he was trying to say but did not question him. I suspected he would be less genial than Aro if pushed.

"We shall need to discuss this," Aro said. "Leave us."

I was surprised by the curt dismissal. I realized he was talking to the room as a whole. The guard filtered from the room obediently, and I followed.

I was almost at the door when Aro called to me. "Jasper, please feel free to enjoy the sights of the city while you wait. I shall send Demetri to find you."

I exited the castle and went to the square outside the castle. It was quiet now, only a few humans milling around. I sat at the fountain considering all that happened. I suspected Aro would agree to my joining them, but Caius would not. He did not seem to see the possibilities in my gift. Marcus would be the deciding vote. I knew he would want Isabella to be happy, but for that he had to decide whether my presence as her mate would help her or harm her. She seemed definite in her refusal before.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call. It had been ringing almost constantly since I left Alaska. The only reprieve I had was inside the castle's thick subterranean walls. I diverted it to voicemail without checking the number. It could only be one of the family, and I was not ready to speak to them yet. Alice would have seen my decision to come to Volterra and the request I made of Aro. They would of course be upset, but they would have to understand this was what I needed to do for Isabella.

Isabella…

She would not be happy when she learned of what I had done. It was my choice to make, though. I was doing it for myself as much as I was her; I did not want to spend weeks suffering apart to have only a few days of relief while she was with me.

I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of soft footfalls moving towards me. I raised my head, hoping to see Demetri arriving to summon me back to the brothers, but it wasn't him; it was two very familiar and very displeased looking vampires: Edward and Alice.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my shock at their arrival evident in my tone.

"We are here to save you from your own idiocy," Alice snapped. "What do you think we were going to do when I saw a vision of you red-eyed and in grey robes?"

My immediate pleasure that she saw me in grey robes – meaning Aro would accept me into the guard – faded and horror took its place. Red-eyed! I fought against my thirst for so long that my gold eyes were now a matter of pride. The idea of returning to the crimson eyed man that battled with himself daily was not an appealing prospect.

"Esme is going out of her mind," Alice continued, oblivious to my quandary. "And Carlisle is hurt. Why would you take off like this and not tell anyone?"

"Because it is what I need to do to be with Isabella," I said honestly, immovable in my decision.

"Dammit, Jasper!" Edward finally spoke. "This isn't what it means to be mated. It is about love and companionship, not sacrificing all you have fought for to please the other."

I was about to retort that I was doing it to please myself, when he stiffened. I heard the footsteps approaching and recognized the scent as Demetri's.

"Is there a family reunion I was not informed of?" he asked sardonically as he drew into sight.

None of us answered. I was embarrassed to admit Edward and Alice were here as a rescue party for my own folly. Their actions, while well meaning, were foolish.

Seeing he was not about to get an answer from us he continued. "Aro is ready to see you now. Do bring your friends. He will be most interested to meet them."

Edward's expression became a blank mask, betraying no emotion. I could feel his tension, though. I wondered what he was hearing in Demetri's thoughts that troubled him.

"Thank you for the invitation," Edward said. "But we were just leaving. Weren't we, Jasper?"

He was interfering to the point of aggravation. I had no need of his permission or accompaniment. This was about Isabella and I, no one else.

"I'm afraid I must insist," Demetri said, locking eyes with Edward who nodded resignedly and took Alice's hand.

We were led back through the sewers and into the castle again. Edward kept a firm grip on Alice's hand as we approached the throne room. Just as he had with me, Demetri instructed us to wait outside while he announced our presence to Aro. A moment later the doors swung open and we were bid to enter.

Aro greeted Edward and Alice far more effusively than he had me, and I began to feel the first tingle of unease.

"First things, first," he said, smiling at me widely. "Your request, Jasper, we would be honored to have you among us."

My breath escaped me in a huff of relief. I could be with my Isabella. Relief soon turned to unease again as he turned to Edward with his hand outstretched. He must know by now that Edward and Alice were gifted. Isabella must have told him or showed him. Their abilities would be tremendously useful for him.

Contrary to my unease, Edward and Alice were feeling happiness to the level of bliss as he approached them. They gazed at him with an almost sycophantic look of adoration. For the first time since my arrival, I genuinely felt scared. What was happening here?

I looked deeper at Aro and understood. They were happy because they thought they too would be allowed to join the guard. That they, like me, would be granted that honor. I hoped they would, that we all could. In that moment I wanted nothing more than to please him. I needed an opportunity to show him how much of an asset I could be to him and his brothers.

This was the perfect solution, the whole family could come here to serve and then I could be with Isabella and them too.

Suddenly, the door to the room swung open and crashed against the stone wall. Isabella stood in the doorway her face a mask of fury.

"Again, Aro," she growled ferociously. "You would do this again?"

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Simaril x