Jasper ran through the woods heading towards The Cullens' old house, following the scents of Peter, Jacob, and the unknown male vampire. Once upon the house he walked straight into the garage where the cries of the vampire could be heard. "Start a fire." Jasper commanded as he stalked towards the limbless vampire. Jasper heard movement behind him as he stared into the bright red eyes of the man and let calmness flow from him to relax the vampire for the interrogation.
"Who are you?" The vampire asked once the screaming stopped.
"The better question is who the fuck are you?" Jasper asked as he squatted down in front of him. The vampire tracked Jasper's movements as he tried to move away from the searing gaze of the pitch black eyes of Jasper.
"Riley Biers." Riley answered. Jasper tilted his head and looked at the vampire in front of him as that name sounded familiar to him.
"Sounds familiar." Jasper simply stated.
"I used to live around here." Riley answered as Peter and Jacob came back into the garage.
"Hm. Why did ya attack Isabella?" Jasper asked.
"I was sent to retrieve her." Riley replied as he stared at Jacob. "How do you handle being around him? He smells horrible." Riley asked, gagging.
"I could say the same thing about you." Jacob bit back.
"Enough." Jasper ordered. "I'll be askin' the questions. Not you." Jasper said.
"Jasper, is Bella okay?" Jacob asked, taking a step forward and being quickly pulled back by Peter. Jacob looked back at Peter who shook his head. Jasper's eyes snapped over to Jacob, a scowl on his face.
"Sorry Major, he doesn't know. Won't happen again." Peter started and turned to Jacob and whispered. "That isn't the Jasper ya know. That's The Major. Don't interrupt him again or it won't be pretty and I don't wanna explain that to the Little Lady, alright?" Jacob nodded and stood back with Peter. Jasper nodded and turned back to Riley.
"As you heard from my Captain there, I'm The Major. Major Jasper Whitlock. Ya seem new so you may not have heard about me." Jasper said as he stood up to his full height and looked down at Riley.
Riley's face morphed into recognition at the name. "I've heard that title before, but Victoria said they said he was long gone." Riley said.
"So, Victoria sent ya? No wonder. She doesn't care 'bout anyone but Isabella now. She truly sent ya on a suicide mission today." Jasper noted and started pacing in front of Riley, who watched him, his anger overpowering the calm Jasper was continuously pushing towards him.
"Lies! Victoria loves me!" Riley yelled, causing Peter to flinch as Jasper stopped on a dime and glared at him. Moments later Riley let out a blood curdling scream, moving as if he had limbs to thrash about. The screaming lasted for three minutes before they wilted out.
"Do not ever yell at me again." Jasper said as he continued his pacing. "Victoria does not love ya and the Major is far from gone, I was just dormant for a while." Jasper answered.
"Permission to speak Major?" Peter asked, standing at attention. Jasper nodded and Peter walked towards Riley, stopping about five feet from Jasper. "Who was the 'they' ya mentioned? Ya said 'they said the Major was long gone'." Jasper quirked an eyebrow at that and watched Riley for an answer.
"I don't know." Riley answered and looked at Jasper. "I really don't. I never got to meet them. I just know it was a male and female who were adamant about getting Bella with Victoria."
"Do ya think it's who I'm thinkin' it is?" Peter asked, turning to Jasper.
"Maybe." Jasper muttered and turned to Riley. "Who else is workin' with Victoria?" Riley looked away from Jasper and bit into his bottom lip. Jasper raised his eyebrow at the defiant man in front of him and hummed. Another scream pulled from Riley. "We can do this all day and night. Think 'bout it for a while." Jasper said as he turned and walked out of the garage, quickly followed by Jacob and Peter, leaving the screaming behind them. Peter closed the garage door, muffling the screams as the trio made their way into the house.
Jasper walked towards the living room where the furniture still sat in the same place as if the Cullens never left. Jasper sat in the closest chair as Peter and Jacob took the couch across from him. Jasper leaned back, his fingers steepled in front of him. Jacob looked between Peter and Jasper with a questioning look on his face.
"There should still be food and drinks in the fridge if ya need Jacob." Jasper said, glancing at Jacob, who nodded but stayed silent. "Ya might be right, Captain. I would hate to think it, but it's plausible."
"It would make sense." Peter agreed, a grim look on his face.
"What does?" Jacob blurted out. "Who would be working with her to get to Bella?"
"Alice and Edward." Peter answered hard.
"What?" Jacob snarled. Jasper's eyes snapped to him as Peter quickly smacked his knee in warning.
"It is plausible. Think Jacob. Who else would want to get to Isabella besides the one who wants her blood and his mate? With her gone Edward would never have to worry 'bout craving somethin' that is out there callin' to him until the next person comes along and that could be centuries from now." Jasper explained, grinding his teeth at the thought of Edward around Bella again.
"But Alice? Bella always said that was her best friend…" Jacob said, confusion evident.
"They were suppose to be. But remember Alice and Edward both played us all. Alice could've been playin' a role to get close to her in the long haul. Also, she's Edward's mate, she will do anythin' to please him. If that means turnin' on Isabella, their lifestyle, her own morales, I can see her doin' it." Jasper sighed. "So that means we are gonna have to step up our game. With someone who can see the possible futures and someone who can read our minds. This is gonna make things even harder. Jacob, go eat somethin' before we go back in there. It's gonna be a long night." Jasper ordered as he stepped towards the window. "I'm goin' to grab a bite as well. Peter I don't think there are any blood bags around but there may be some in Carlisle's office."
"I'm all good Major. I'll hang out here with the pup and watch the vamp." Peter nodded towards Jacob who made an offended noise at the term pup. Jasper nodded as he jumped from the house and took off into the woods, searching for something to sink his teeth into.
"What do you mean The Major's out to play?" Bella asked as Charlotte dabbed at her hands, a slight sting from the alcohol. Charlotte stayed silent for a moment as she focused on bandaging Bella's hands.
"What else did ya hurt?" Charlotte diverted as she took the rag and dabbed at the trickling blood from Bella's hairline.
"Char." Bella pleaded.
"Tell me first and then I'll explain." Charlotte conceded. Bella nodded and pushed her hair to the side where pain was radiating from.
"I hit my head on the faucet here and I think I sprained my ankle from the jump." Bella explained. Charlotte nodded and wiped at the blood and seen the cut from the car wreck reopened. Charlotte continued to seamlessly work around Bella's fidgeting and quickly worked on Bella's head and started wrapping up her foot when a car quickly pulled into the driveway.
"Bella? Char? Bella!" Charlie frantically called as he stumbled out of the cruiser and into the backyard. "Oh Bells." Charlie rushed to his daughter's side. "What happened?"
"A vampire attacked the house. I'm okay. I promise." Bella tried to soothe Charlie's panic.
"I'm sorry Charlie. It's my fault, I shouldn't have let my guard down. Peter didn't have a bad feelin' or see anythin' happenin' before they went on patrol until it was too late, by then the vamp was already here and got the jump on us." Charlotte explained as she quickly and carefully expertly wrapped Bella's sprained ankle.
"What happened after you figured out what happened? What exactly happened here?" Charlie asked, glancing at the ripped clothing on Charlotte and the complete missing sleeve of the hoodie.
"We ordered pizza and Seth went to get the door, thinkin' it was the pizza guy and when he opened the door and realized it wasn't he was mid shift when the vamp attacked him and I told Bella to run when I went after the vamp who attacked me and there was some fightin'. Bella jumped from her bedroom window and hit her head on the faucet and tried runnin' when the vamp took my arm from me. Seth shifted and helped protect Bella when the vamp broke his arm. I got the jump on the vamp when Jake and Sam got here with Jasper and Peter and we took the vamp down. The Major, Peter, and Jake are at Cullens' old house gettin' some answers from him." Charlotte briefly explained.
"Shit. Are you okay?" Charlie asked, looking Charlotte over. Charlotte's shock was evident as she nodded.
"How did you know to get here Dad?" Bella asked.
"Billy called me. Said the pack took off from the rez and was told something happened here so I came as soon as he called." Charlie explained. "So Jasper, Peter and Jake are at the Cullens' with this random vamp?"
"Yeah." Bella answered, turning back to Charlotte. "Now Char, tell me about what you meant."
"What do you mean? What else happened?" Charlie asked, looking between the girls.
"That wasn't the Jasper you two know. That is the old Jasper, that was The Major. The Major, back in the war days he was someone ya never wanted to cross paths with. One foot out of line ya never did it again, if he let ya live. The Major was who Jasper had to become to be able to survive in Maria's army and lost himself to. That is one of the personas that make up Jasper. His main goal right now is to get answers from that vampire any way possible, even if it means doin' something that he would normally never condone." Charlotte explained, a sad look taking over her features. "The things he had to do back then changed him. The Major came about as a way to protect the good parts of Jasper, is how I explain it. They are basically two sides of the same coin."
"So why did Peter look so scared when he started acting like The Major?" Bella asked, leaning forward.
"'Cause when The Major is out it takes a long time for the old Jasper to come back to us. The Major only comes out at desperate times when Jasper needs to hand over the reins. The last time The Major was out was when we fought against Maria and it took Jasper three months to come back to us." Charlotte explained, venom pooling in her eyes. "That's why we are scared, we don't know how long he will be gone to protect all of us. Plus, The Major is used to havin' danger at every corner and with the war there really were never any allies. Sure the three of us but The Major knows Peter and I and he seems to recognize Bella. But with the wolves' quick tempers. I worry he will react like he did with the newborns that were temperamental."
"What did he use to do to newborns?" Charlie asked.
"If the offense was bad enough or The Major was in a foul mood, they usually didn't live to suffer a punishment. If there was a punishment… Let's just say, with his gift he can get quite creative." Charlotte shuddered as memories of the war rushed through her. Bella reached out and took her hand in hers.
"Take me to him." Bella said, standing up and stumbling with her sprained ankle.
"Did you just hear everything she said? That isn't the caring Jasper you have seen before." Charlie asked, standing and catching his stumbling daughter.
"I don't know why or how, but I know I can reach him. Jasper isn't going to get lost to his Major instincts." Bella answered, moving down the steps. "Now take me to him or I will drive myself." Bella demanded.
"Bella, we don't even know if it's still The Major or if he's the other one now." Charlotte tried to reason. "That won't be safe, even for you. It wasn't for Maria and she made him! Besides, I don't think he will want ya to see him like that. I know Jasper doesn't want to scare ya and this will, it scares me sometimes when he is like this! This also might make ya look at him differently and he will not want that."
"The other one?" Charlie asked, trying to stop Bella from hobbling towards her truck.
"The God of War. Maria took The Major and thought that persona was too soft still for the more powerful enemies and created the God of War Jasper. That persona doesn't recognize anyone as an ally. If her armies were defeated she would pull the God of War out and disappear until he was done and The Major took back over. He destroyed enemies and allies alike." Charlotte explained.
"I don't care. Jasper saved me and protected me and I will do the same for him." Bella insisted and turned to Charlie and Charlotte. "I know it sounds crazy, I know."
"Because it is!" Charlie exclaimed.
Bella took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Listen, I don't know why but I know regardless who is there, Jasper, The Major, God of War. He isn't going to hurt me. I will bring Jasper back." Bella said, determination set in her features. "Now who is taking me."
"There is no changin' ya mind is there?" Charlotte asked. Bella shook her head and Charlotte signed. "Okay. I will."
"Bells." Charlie said, pleading.
"Trust me Dad." Bella answered as Charlotte scooped her up in her arms.
"I do. I trust Jasper too." Charlie relented. Bella smiled and nodded to Charlotte to take off.
"Let's go bring The Major home." Bella declared as Charlotte took off through the woods, careful not to jostle Bella too much.
Charlotte and Bella remained silent as they made their way towards the house, Bella's mind racing at what she would witness. As the girls neared the house, screaming could be heard echoing the abandoned woods. Charlotte looked down at Bella, worried, etched her features.
"Are ya sure Suga'? What is happenin' is probably somethin' ya will never be able to forget or look past." Charlotte warned.
"I'm sure. Something in me is telling me I can and will handle it. I just need to get to Jasper." Bella answered, no uncertainty in her voice at all. Charlotte nodded as she pushed forward towards the screaming that was getting louder the closer they got. Charlotte slowed down as they got to the house and set Bella down on the gravel. The screaming abruptly stopped as the garage door slid up revealing where the screaming was originating from.
Jasper saw Bella standing at the mouth of the garage and take in the sight before her. Her eyes drifted to Jacob, who looked sickly pale. Then to Peter, who looked worriedly between Bella and Jasper. Bella looked towards where the screaming was coming from and saw the head of the vampire that attacked her staring at her with pleading eyes, his body parts scattered around the garage, venom leaking from every bite mark littering the torso. Her eyes moved upwards towards Jasper who stared blankly at her. Jasper dropped the head, it landed hard against the floor, echoing the room. Bella continued to stare at Jasper as he moved towards her, their eyes not leaving each other until the group was outside the garage and the door closed behind them.
Bella studied Jasper in front of her. He stood taller, straighter, if possible. His eyes were an impossible black that seemed to be a bottomless pit. The aura radiating from him was strictly authoritative and commanding submission from all in his presence. This was The Major. This is who he was so scared of her knowing and being subjected to. This is who he had to become when he was created to fight a war that wasn't his and who he is becoming to protect her and her father.
"Take her inside until I'm done." Jasper commanded, his eyes never leaving Bella's.
"No." Bella declared, her stance never wavering as his eyebrow quirked up. "I'm not going anywhere Major."
"Isabella. Charlotte will take ya inside and ya will wait til I am finished with this." Jasper ordered and Bella shook her head no. Peter and Charlotte exchanged worried glances, bodies tensed, ready to leap into action as Jacob stared in horror at Bella's challenge.
"Little Lady… It's best to listen to The Major right now…" Peter tried to ease towards Bella and de-escalate the tension.
"No. I am not leaving The Major's side. I am not scared of him." Bella argued, glancing at Peter then quickly back at a shocked Jasper. "I am not scared of you. I am not scared of Jasper, of The Major, and I will not be scared of The God of War. You are a good man Jasper. You will not hurt me no matter who you are." Bella whispered, stepping closer to Jasper. Her hands slowly reached out to Jasper, his eyes tracking their movements. Jasper let her hands rest on his arms and slowly move up to his face until she is cupping his face between her hands.
"Bella…" Jacob warned, taking a step towards the duo causing Jasper's eyes to leave Bella's and pin Jacob to his spot.
"Stop it. Look at me, Major." Bella called, Jasper's eyes shifting back to hers. "Now listen to me. I am not scared of you before, now, or ever do you hear me. I am safe because of you. I will always be safe because of you." Bella cooed. "Now I need The Major to take a backseat and let Jasper come back to me. Please."
The group held their breath as Jasper continued to stare at Bella, standing as a statue as she continued to cup his face and stare back at him, holding firm. Jasper blinked his eyes as they changed from solid black to a dark burnt gold color. One of Jasper's hands reached up to cover hers and the other rested on her hip. "Isabella." Jasper breathed as he closed his eyes, leaning into their hands.
"Welcome back cowboy." Bella whispered, a small smile on her lips. Charlotte and Peter shared astonished looks on their faces as Jasper continued to lean into Bella's comfort and the aura in the area relaxed significantly.
"Isabella." Jasper whispered again, opening his eyes and looked down at her. "Please let Char take ya inside while I finish this. I have all the answers we need." Jasper explained pulling her hands from his face and holding them to his chest, over his dead heart.
"Hurry and do what you have to do and then I want to go home. Dad is worried about you." Bella nodded as she stepped towards Charlotte, her limp evident. Charlotte quickly moved to her side and wrapped her arm around Bella's waist, slowly leading her towards the steps and into the house. Peter, Jasper, and Jacob watched the two girls make their way into the house, safely out of Bella's hearing range.
"Let's finish this." Jasper's voice turned cold again, yet the light remained in his eyes. The three turned back to the garage and entered again, Riley's eyes watching their movements. Peter and Jacob quickly retrieved all the body parts and left the garage as Jasper stalked towards the head that was still laid on the concrete floor, he squatted down and lifted the head by the hair.
"Please…" Riley begged, venom lining his eyes. "I can help you!"
"Ya lost that chance when ya came after my Isabella." Jasper cooly stated as he stood to full height, tucking Riley's head under his arm as he walked out to where a large fire roared as the sweet scent of burning venom wafered through the air. Once in front of the fire, the last of Riley's body parts already thrown into the fire, Jasper lifted the head as Riley watched his body burn. Jasper leaned forwards, his lips near Riley's ear and whispered,"Don't worry, Victoria and whoever else is workin' with her will be joinin' ya real soon." Jasper threw the head into the fire, the threat gone.
"Let's get the Little Lady and get home, yeah?" Peter asked, clapping his hand over Jasper's shoulder after the body was dust and the fire tampered down to smoldering ash. Jasper nodded and glanced down at his watch, noticing that Bella's been in the house for a couple hours and was probably getting tired and agitated.
"Yeah. Let's go home." Jasper said, nodding towards the house.
"Sam, Emily, Seth, Piper, and Embry are at the house with Dad and Charlie. I'm going to head back first and meet you there." Jacob said, receiving nods from both vampires as he shifted and ran into the woods towards the Swan residence.
Jasper slowly walked up the stairs, worry evident in his posture. Peter stayed quiet, knowing that no reassurance from him would settle his anxiety, only Bella could do that for him. The two walked inside the house and followed the sound of Bella's heartbeat to Jasper's library. Charlotte walked out of the library as the two stepped onto the second floor.
"She's immersed in one of your books. I had to grab her one of your hoodies, she was gettin' a little chilly." Charlotte whispered as the two joined her at the door to see Bella curled up on the couch, drowning in Jasper's hoodie, and her nose in a book; oblivious to the rest of the world. Jasper reached out to her emotions, trying to decipher if she was actually scared of him now at what she saw the results of his other side. The only emotions Jasper could feel were contentment and an underlying worry. Jasper slid into the room and sat next to Bella as he cleared his throat to get Bella's attention. Bella looked up from her book and looked over at Jasper and threw herself at Jasper, the book forgotten on the arm of the chair, and wrapped her arms around Jasper's neck.
"Are you done?" Bella whispered into his shoulder. Jasper wrapped his arms around Bella's waist, readjusting her in his lap so she was comfortable, and nodded against her. "You ready to go home?" Bella asked, leaning back slightly to look up at Jasper, the worry for him was evident in her eyes and if Jasper's heart could beat it would have skipped. Jasper shook his head slightly and buried his face in her neck.
"We will meet ya at the house." Peter said as he took his mate's hand and they disappeared from the doorframe. Bella nodded against Jasper and her hand through Jasper's hair.
"Can we stay here for a few minutes?" Jasper's deep voice flooded the room. Bella nodded and continued to silently soothe Jasper for another five minutes before speaking up.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Bella offered, inhaling the summer scent radiating off of him.
"It just takes a lot outta me…" Jasper mumbled into Bella's shoulder. Bella hummed and continued to run his hands through his hair.
"It's over now though, right?" Bella asked and Jasper shrugged against her.
"For now. But not forever. Not yet." Jasper said, pulling back and resting one hand on Bella's hip while the other pushed her hair out of her face. "Let's go home, there's a lot to discuss." Jasper softly spoke as Bella leaned into his touch.
Bella stood up, untangling her arms from Jasper. Jasper quickly followed after her as they walked out of his library and out of the house. Bella's eyes strayed towards the remnants of the fire that barely was smoke at this point. Jasper grabbed her hand causing her to look up at him with understanding radiating from her. Jasper pulled Bella to his chest and lifted her up as she hooked her arms around his neck again. Once he was sure Bella was secure in his arms, he took off through the woods heading towards Bella's house. The two ran in silence, both their brains working out what was about to be revealed. Once they reached the treeline, Jasper set Bella down on her own feet and wrapped his arm around her waist, letting her use him as a crutch.
Peter and Charlotte sat on the back porch with Charlie and Sam as they spotted Jasper and Bella. Charlotte and Peter raced to meet the two halfway to the house and Charlotte quickly wrapped her arms around Bella. "Jasper, the pack brought ya some dinner. They left it around the will take the Little Lady from ya and just meet us inside once you're done." Peter explained as Bella switched over from Jasper to Charlotte. Jasper nodded and started heading over to the shed and paused as he turned back towards Bella and his coven, feeling eyes on him. Once he turned around his eyes met Bella's and a small, private smile graced her lips that mirrored his own as she made her way inside. Jasper turned back to see a couple of fresh deer laying on the cool ground, the blood still warm as Jasper knelt down and started feeding.
Once Jasper was full he looked down at his clothes, dirty from the runs and interrogation earlier and now his own feeding and shook his head knowing that he couldn't look like this in front of Charlie. Jasper stood up and started heading towards the house, the plan to go through Bella's bedroom window and change before meeting everyone downstairs when Jacob jogged out of the house, a shopping bag in hand, and headed straight for Jasper.
"Here. I figured you would want these before coming inside." Jacob explained as he handed the bag over to Jasper. Jasper took the bag and inspected a pair of dark denim jeans and a white plain t-shirt. Jasper stared at the shirt with a considering look. "Everything okay?" Jacob asked as he took in the look on Jasper's face.
"Yeah, it's just been a minute since I wore a short sleeved shirt…" Jasper explained as he quickly removed his ruined long sleeved shirt and replaced it with the startling clean short sleeve shirt. He glanced down at his arms, taking in the silver marks littering his now exposed arms.
"Ah." Jacob said, watching Jasper intently as he stared at his skin. "None of us are afraid of what those mean. No one." Jacob offered before turning back towards the house. "Hurry and finish getting dressed, Bella is probably getting antsy about you taking so long." With that Jacob disappeared back in the house, closing the door to give Jasper a semblance of privacy.
Jasper quickly finished changing and leaving the clothes next to the deer that he would come back and dispose of. He vamp-speed to the door and slowly took a deep calming breath as he opened the door and entered the kitchen, greeted by Emily and Charlotte. Jasper tilted his head to the females as Charlotte handed a plate of pasta to him and nodded to the living room, signaling towards Bella.
Jasper quickly walked towards the living room as loud, boisterous laughter echoed through the room. Jasper leaned over the back of the couch behind Bella as he set the plate carefully on her lap. Bella smiled up at him with a silent thank you on her lips and gratitude radiating towards him. The room quieted slightly as Seth, Piper, and Embry continued their energetic conversation. Peter quickly stood up and nodded for Jasper to take his seat next to Bella. Jasper slid into the cushion as eyes turned towards him.
"Ya okay son?" Charlie asked, concern lacing his words.
"I am now. Thank ya. I hope I didn't cause too much of an inconvenience." Jasper apologized, earning a glare from Bella.
"None at all. I think I can say for all of us that we all care about you and were just worried about you from what Char explained." Charlie continued as Sam and Billy nodded their agreement. Bella's free hand found his thigh and gave a supportive squeeze to him. Jasper rested his hand on hers and smiled softly at her.
"Jake filled us in partially with what happened after we found the vamp in the house and we got Char and Seth's side of what happened before we got here. Now what did you find out when questioning him?" Sam asked, turning serious.
"The vamp was sent by Victoria and at least two other people. The guy said he grew up around here. Riley Beirs? The name sounds familiar but I wasn't sure from where." Jasper explained. Charlie inhaled sharply and let out a soft curse.
"He's been missing for a few weeks now. His parents live right down the road from here. They've been in my office everyday now for updates on him." Charlie explained, sadness in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Charlie." Jasper apologized, knowing that Charlie will have to figure out how to explain to those parents their kid is never coming home.
"Tell them the rest of it." Peter pushed, his eyes hard, Jasper knew memories of the war were haunting him.
"Victoria isn't alone." Jasper started.
"Yeah, you said there were at least two others involved. Who are they?" Seth asked, pulling Piper closer to him as she fussed over his injuries.
"The theory is Alice and Edward." Jasper answered, glancing down at Bella, who tensed next to him and he felt her start to tremble. Jasper sent calming emotions towards her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as Peter took the near empty plate from her lap and she curled up against Jasper's side. "But that's not all. She is creatin' an army of newborns." Jasper finished and the room erupted in horror.
