AN: I couldn't any longer! I had to post this! I hate being left on a cliff :)

Chapter 23

The scent was faint but he recognized it. The scent belonged to Felix, a member of the Volturi guard. What was he doing here, now?

As he followed the trail the scent became stronger, it was fresh, maybe a few hours old. Jasper didn't like where the trail was leading him. It was leading him to the area where he did his carvings. Why were the Volturi checking up on him now? Was he in trouble?

He reached the clearing where his sculptures were all located, and stopped dead in his tracks. Bella. She was in danger, and Felix wasn't here anymore, but he had been. His scent was all over the sculpture of Bella. He knew what she looked like, and how she smelled. Jasper tore off running as fast as he could go towards Bella's apartment.

By the time he reached the apartment he was shaking with fear and rage. Now he smelled a second vampire. The Volturi had been here. Maybe they had killed Bella. Jasper fell to his knees crying. He couldn't hear her heartbeat. His world started spinning out of control. He had to know. He stood up and opened the door. Just as soon as he entered the apartment he fell to the ground again, writhing in pain, burning.

The small child like vampire, Jane, glided over to Jasper's side and knelt down beside him studying him while he suffered. She looked quite pleased with herself. "Well if it isn't the cup drinker." Jane smirked.

"Bella!" Jasper managed to scream out.

"Maybe if you were a real vampire you would have drained her, fool." Jane kicked Jasper in anger. "We had to come all the way out here, and retrieve you two; as if I don't have better things to do."

Jasper still was in pain and burning, but he was so happy to know Bella was still alive.

Jane eventually became bored with torturing Jasper and removed the influence of her power from him; leaving him shuddering in a fetal position on the floor.

"You took long enough getting here. The plane is waiting. You will come with me and don't get any ideas. I will have you torn to bits and in boxes if you step out of line." Jane kicked Jasper again, hard. "Hurry up!"

Jane led Jasper to a car that was waiting close by. The driver was a vampire that Jasper wasn't familiar with, and the ride to the airport seemed to take forever. Jane and Jasper both sat in the backseat of the car, as far apart from each other as possible. Jasper had never liked Jane, and Jane had never liked Jasper, but Jasper could feel that something had angered Jane, strongly. She was seething. Under the seething was a feeling of disbelief and jealousy.

Jasper tried to not focus on all of Jane's very negative emotions. He was so worried for Bella. He was sure Felix had her. Jasper started growling lowly, if Felix had touched Bella he was going to rip him apart.

"Shut up and get out of the car. We have to get back as soon as possible." Jane shot a look at Jasper and Jasper felt a jolt of pain shoot through him. He knew better than to say anything to further anger Jane. His thoughts were only on Bella now. He needed to see her; to see if she was unharmed. He had to protect her some how.

When Jasper entered the small airplane he saw her alive. He stumbled over to her and fell placing his head in her lap. Bella could feel Jasper shaking and sobbing. She leaned down and whispered, "Just keep your eyes closed, focus on my emotions." She was worried for Jasper; the plane was definitely a small enclosed space. How would Jasper stand the flight? He wasn't ready for this.

"I was so afraid they had hurt you, Darlin'. So afraid I'd never see you again." Jasper was holding on to Bella as if for dear life.

Jane shut the door to the plane and focused all of her rage on Jasper. He fell to the floor burning in pain. Jane was really enjoying herself as she stared Bella down. "Prepare for take off."

Bella was horrified at whatever the small blonde vampire was doing to Jasper. She jumped out of her seat to go to him, but thick strong hands grabbed her from behind, restraining her.

Felix understood why Jane was in such a foul mood. He had watched, in shock, as Jane had attempted to assault Bella with her power, and had failed. That was the main reason they had come in the first place.

Aro and Alice had been watching Jasper through Alice's power of visions. The Volturi had a responsibility to make sure Jasper was stable after releasing him into society. They don't allow vampires to expose themselves to humans, and that's what Alice had seen. They saw Jasper and Bella together. What really interested them though was when they had made the decision to arrest them and bring them to Volterra for a trial; Alice had seen that Aro wouldn't be able to read the human. Aro could hardly believe the vision; he had to see her for himself, to live the experience. No one had ever been blank to him, and the thought of changing Bella into a vampire intrigued him. What sort of powers might she possess? Alice had not been able to see what would become of the human after her transformation. So they sent Jane and Felix to retrieve Jasper and Bella. It was the path of least resistance to keep them together.

"Cut it out Jane." Felix yelled over Jasper's screams. "I don't want to hear him screaming all the way back to the castle. If he gives us any problems we can always down grade his ticket from first class to cargo." Felix turned and glanced to some crates that were stored near the back of the plane.

"Very well." Jane said as she sat down and put on some head phones. You may take it from here.

Felix told Bella she was to stay seated beside him, and to remain quiet the rest of the flight. Jasper was still on the floor recuperating from Jane's vicious attack.

"Did they hurt you?" Jasper asked his voice was strained, and his heart was aching.

Bella shook her head no.

Jasper decided to stay seated on the floor for the remainder of the flight. His fear of enclosed spaces was eclipsed by his fear for Bella's safety. He could feel the want that was rolling off Felix, and it sickened him. He tried to calm himself by feeling Bella's emotions. She was trying so hard to be brave for him; thinking of him, trying to help him, when he was the one who had gotten her into this mess.

Felix laughed as he put his large arm over Bella's, "What do you see in him anyway? He's a loser, a baby, we had to feed him from a bottle. I can tell from his eyes that he hasn't tasted you. What a waste. If I didn't have strict orders not to harm you I'd have taken you hours ago.

Bella shuddered at the thought. She knew that Jasper couldn't save her. These vampires that had kidnapped them were very powerful, and they had told her that they were going to Volterra, and that she would not be coming back. When Bella had begged for her parents they had laughed at her and said that she would be dead to everyone. They had made it clear that their leader Aro would be deciding if she lived as an immortal, or died.

Bella looked to her love, Jasper, sitting on the floor. Shaking and in pain. She would be brave for him.