„Esme, why did you do it?", Alice sighed.
"You know why I did it!", Esme looked at Alice, not bothering to hide her pain, "They might know something..they could help him!"
"They will only use this as an excuse to come here and destroy what is left of us from within", Alice said, defeated.
"This family still is holding up, even without Jasper!", Edward almost shouted, irritated. Everyone flinched at the mention of Jasper's name. Edward didn't fail to notice that and it enraged him further, "Yes, I said it! I said his name! Jasper! So, what of it? Alice, our father is dying! We have not even the faintest clue how to help him! We need all the help we can get! The Volturi are our only hope. Esme did the right thing. And if she wouldn't have already done it, I would have called them myself!"
"Even after they wanted to kill your daughter?", Alice snapped back.
"Stop it, Alice", Edward growled.
"Everybody, calm down", Bella joined in, "Alice, Edward is right."
"..even you, Bella?", Alice would have cried if that was possible for vampires, "Don't you know what that means? As of this moment, h-h-he is deciding on coming here…a-and if he comes, she will too…I will not survive that, Bella, seeing them together…is it not enough that I see them all the time in my visions…"
"We talked about this. You need to stop monitoring him. You're torturing yourself.", Bella gently hugged Alice.
"I can't help it…it is as if all my focus has shifted to Volterra…I am bound to look towards Volterra.", with a pained look on her face, Alice closed her eyes tightly, as if trying to make herself not see.
Bella sighed and felt terribly sorry for her best friend. More than once, Alice has confessed that she keeps on seeing Jasper and Thalia together. She saw their shaky beginnings, that were filling her with incredible hope that things may not work out between the mates. When Jasper decided to leave Volterra at one point, she was already packing her things to meet him half-way. Her joy lasted very shortly, and the hurt that followed was unbearable. She saw their first kiss, she saw their first night of love. How gentle and loving and in the same time possessive Jasper was as he claimed his mate in the most intimate way. She saw the adoring and trusting looks his mate gave him. She saw how happy they were. They have a house. Jasper is included in a new family. Then she sees Jasper's eyes turning red. Jasper is not on edge anymore. No one needs to control him or fear that he'll lose it. Jasper is happy.
In the meantime, Alice's eyes are distant again for a second, and then she nods her head sadly, "Yes, they're coming."
….
"He can't be dying. It's impossible.", Jasper said to my father.
"I don't understand myself, my dear son", Father said, "Esme called and said that Carlisle's suddenly weak and.."
"What, Father?", I urged Marcus. I was astonished to see Father at loss of words.
"Well, he was hunting and somehow tripped.", Marcus looked at us, and I saw he was just as baffled as we were. Vampires don't trip. It is simply not possible! "Yes, I know. I do not understand myself…but that's not all. As he tripped, he was trying to steady himself by grabbing a tree and one of his fingers fell off."
"What?!", Jasper almost laughed in shock.
"And it can't be put back on. It simply won't hold.", Marcus sighed.
We all stood in stunned silence for a few seconds.
"We have to go there, and we have to take Gottfried.", I said. My mate looked at me questioningly, "You haven't met him yet, because he lives a very secluded life in the castle. He's one of the oldest of us and is very interested in vampire biology. He's also very…old school. You know, people are food and so on. He won't be happy about helping the Cullens."
"I agree, but Gottfried's knowledge is the best help we can offer.", Marcus said.
"I have to go, too", Jasper said, "It is high time anyway. I left them without as much as goodbye, and I owe them more than that. And if I'm going, you're going too, darlin."
"I'm not letting you without protection", Marcus said, "I am not sure how welcome my daughter will be there, given the circumstances. I hope you take no offence."
"I understand. While I am sure no harm could befall her from the Cullen's side, one can never be too sure.", Jasper nodded.
"Felix?", Marcus proposed.
"Very well. I'd also like to take Marek with me", Jasper suggested.
"Marek? He's awfully young, isn't he? Why would you need him?", I asked surprised. Marek was our newest addition to the guard. He was in his thirties when he was changed, but my remark about his age had nothing to do with his human years. What I meant was that he was turned just a year ago.
"He can make one forget", Jasper simply answered and then looked at me sadly. It took me a moment to understand.
"Oh, I see.", I nodded. He was aware of how deeply he wounded his former wife and Marek could be a solution to her suffering. Marcus realized Jasper's intentions, too, and agreed silently.
….
Within a few hours, a very unlikely company of Volturi representatives landed on US soil. Jasper and I, hand in hand, both tense and worried; my Father as one of the Three Kings, which was a grand gesture of showing friendship to a common family; Gottfried (who was not happy at all about leaving Volterra and kept on making snide remarks about visiting 'heretics', Felix (who was getting bored in Volterra and therefore very happy about any kind of action), Stefano and Verena (Jasper and I decided to take them with us since we wanted to respect the Cullens policy about not killing humans and also we didn't know if we would have our usual source of criminals as food on such a short notice, and we still had to feed), and Marek. During the flight I had opportunity to talk to Marek and came instantly to like him. He was Polish, and a very easy-going and happy guy. Although he didn't even know who his creator was, he quickly adapted to his new life and actually loved it. I really liked his enthusiasm about being a vampire and share it, too.
"Is there anything that you want me to do, or not to do?", I asked Jasper as we approached the Cullens residence.
"Darling, I just want you to be you.", Jasper smiled tightly at me, "Thank you for asking. I don't know what awaits us, but I hope for the best. The Cullens are reasonable. However, Carlisle is their leader and the source of common sense. His illness surely affects them gravely."
Then he halted for a second, letting the rest of our group ahead. He took my hand and turned to face me.
"I love you, don't question that even for a second. But Alice was my wife and I did hurt her. I loved her for a long time, and there is a connection. I will have to make things right with her. But please understand, none of this has an impact on my feelings towards you. I am yours, through and through."
"I know and I understand, Jasper", I smiled warmly, "You do what you need to do, and I will do my best to support you in any way I can. And I don't know if I'm too greedy, but I would love to get to know your other family a bit better and make them see that a friendship is not impossible for all that I'm concerned."
He smiled, but there was no more time for talking. The rest of group already gathered in front of the house. Jasper took my hand and lead us to the front. He opened the door. I saw the significance of this immediately – he was stating that he still feels at home in that house and therefore knocking is not needed.
We were met by a number of more or less unfriendly looks.
Jasper held his head up high and did the right thing. I admired his strength and stiff upper lip.
"Marcus, Thalia, Gottfried", he named us in order of significance, "Please meet my siblings, Edward, his wife Bella, their daughter Renesmee, Rosalie and her husband Emmettt."
"Jasper!", a soft cry was heard from the top of the stairs, and a beautiful woman rushed down the stairs, almost sobbing, "Thank you so much for coming! Oh Jasper, you have to help us, this is beyond awful!"
"Esme", he held his mother gently and I knew he was sending her calming waves, "It will be all right, dear Esme. We brought Gottfried, he is our best scientist, he knows all there is about our biology. We are all here to help."
"Please go see him, immediately", she pleaded to both Jasper and Gottfried.
Jasper looked at me and I quickly nodded. He was asking me to take over the introductions part while he takes Gottfried to see Carlisle.
"I am Thalia, Jasper's mate", I said as Esme, Jasper and Gottfried disappeared upstairs, "You surely know my father and king, Marcus. This is Felix, and Marek, from the royal Volturi guard. Stefano and Verena, our helpers. I would like to inquire if you have any kind of human food for them?"
"We do, Renesmee is partly on a human diet.", Edward answered shortly.
"Why do you have humans with you?", the big guy, Emmett, asked.
"Snack bar", Stefano fired before I had the chance to answer.
"What?!", Bella snapped, but Edward quickly tugged her arm.
"We drink from them. Small amounts", I explained. I was met with horrified looks, "Maybe I should add this is voluntary."
"It really is", Verena laughed and rolled her eyes as she noticed all the faces filled with disbelief. Our eyes met and we both smiled at each other and shrugged with our shoulders at the same time, which made us laugh.
"This is not why we are here", Marcus finally said.
"Who knows why you are here.", Rosalie said filled with venom. I raised my eyebrows.
"Babe", Emmett said.
"No, let's be honest. Are you here to spy on us, or to ruin us, or to make sure Carlisle really dies, or maybe to hurt Alice even more? Or to make us more like you?"
"Stop it, Rose", Edward said, "Carlisle needs help. We tried everything, and he keeps getting weaker and weaker by the day."
"Why do you insist on being blind? Alice saw it all! We're all going to have red eyes!"
"Alice's visions are subjective", Edward said angrily, "And ever since Jasper's left her, she's become unstable, and her visions make less and less sense! She keeps on seeing the guard, and part of a guard is in a form of a question mark, for God's sake! She saw you with a child! Tell me, how is that doing to happen?"
"Screw you!", Rosalie turned on her expensive heel and walked out.
"We're not here to make you do anything.", I said, "We came to see if we can help Carlisle. And yes, while you mention it, we are here so Jasper can apologize to Alice."
An uncomfortable silence took place.
"Ok, sorry guys, but do you have a toilet? I need a human minute", Verena said.
"Me too", Stefano said.
"Sorry, guys, I forgot", I said and looked at our hosts.
"Come with me, I will show you the bathrooms", Bella said, "And then we'll see about some food."
The atmosphere relaxed a bit after that.
"Please come in, let's sit in the living room. I apologize for letting you stand around for so long here", Edward said.
"Thank you", I said and Marcus and I followed Edward and Emmett. Felix and Marek were close behind us.
"May I ask, where is Alice?", I said as soon I said down on the modern couch.
"She saw you coming, and she didn't want to face you.", Emmett said.
"I understand. Does she hate me a lot?", I asked calmly.
"Not at all. She feels so much sadness and defeat that she has no capacity of feeling hate, too", Edward explained.
"I see. I hope that she will show up, though. She doesn't need to see me if she doesn't want to, but I would really like if she talked with Jasper.", I said, "Marek, please find Verena and tell her to come to me when she's done with her meal."
"I'm here!", Verena heard me, "Are you feeling peckish?"
"You know me", I smiled.
"That's true. Knock yourself out", Verena laughed as she offered me her wrist. I bit her gently, carefully that I don't let out any venom, and licked the warm liquid. After a minute, I sealed the small wound.
"You ok?", I asked her.
"Sure", she smiled, "Do you mind if Stefano and I took a walk outside, the nature here is really breath-taking! Jasper should be fine for the rest of the day, Stefano said he took his part before the flight."
"Have fun, take care, see you guys later!", I laughed.
They both left the house hand in hand.
"So, that works out fine?", Emmett looked at me with curiosity, and then summed up some courage and looked at Marcus, "So, where's yours?"
"At home", Marcus laughed his lovely quiet laugh, "He didn't feel that well so I didn't want to bother him with the travel. And since I'm older, I need really little. I should be fine for the next few days, and if I need anything more, I have my resources elsewhere."
"And the old dude, and your guards?", Emmett continued. Rosalie came back and sat next to him.
"We're old school.", Felix smiled.
"We would appreciate if you were old-school as far away from here as possible.", Bella entered the room.
"Oh, that's fair. Doesn't matter if we kill someone far away, as long as it isn't your favourite cashier from Target, right?", Felix laughed.
"What would be fair is if you all stopped being monsters and killing people. It's not even that hard, you know?", Bella snarled.
"Bella!", Edward said in horror. At least he understood he was in presence of royalty and that such liberties could not be taken.
"We're vampires and our natural diet is human blood.", I said coldly, "The most we can do regarding humans is sipping like some of my family does. Or we can feed of the rotten ones. But I will not judge any vampire who hunts and kills people, not really. It's our right and our choice."
Rosalie looked at me with open disgust.
"Do you not feel any shame about what we are?"
"Excuse me?", I asked, as I honestly did not understand what she was asking me.
"We were supposed to be humans, we were supposed to live a life, have children, and then die! And what we got instead is an endless existence without any real purpose!", she said passionately. I could appreciate her honesty.
"Oh, you young ones!", Marcus laughed quietly, and I joined his laughter, knowing exactly what he meant, "It's only the young ones who come up with such ideas!"
"What my beloved father meant was that you had it too good", I explained, "See, back when I was turned, life was miserable. My human life was spent in filth, ignorance, pain, illness and abuse. My father saved me by turning me. Becoming a vampire was the only good thing that ever happened to me as a human! I love this life!"
"I was sold off as a slave to perverted men", Felix added his story, "Until my maker found me and released me. I found family, love and strength in this life."
"A hundred thousand years of life with this family wouldn't be enough", Marcus confirmed, "And as for purpose, you are very young and have yet to find yours. You all have infinitive time before you, and therefore boundless potential to make things right for not only vampires, but also humans. Study. Explore. Innovate. Help others. Be useful."
I saw that we put Rosalie to shame a bit, but I also saw that we planted something positive into her heart. I recognized her as a smart and decisive woman, and it was be a waste if she lost valuable time hating herself, especially if being a vampire gives her so much options.
"That's an interesting way of looking at it", she confessed.
At that moment Jasper and Gottfried joined us. The atmosphere tensed immediately as we were all tensed to hear what they have to say.
"Esme stayed with him", Jasper sat next to me. I took his hand gently, sensing his worry and sadness, "He really looks bad."
"Gottfried?", Marcus asked.
"I don't know what to tell you, my king", Gottfried said, "Such a young man, in excellent shape otherwise. But it seems as if he's..turning to dust."
We all took a horrified breath. This was unheard of.
"How much time does he have?", Marcus inquired.
"It is hard to tell, but I wouldn't give him more than a week", Gottfried said. Edward abruptly stood up, and Emmett hit the wall. Rosalie covered her beautiful face with her hands, and Bella looked as if she's about to burst into tears.
"What could be the cause?", Marcus asked.
"I find no visible cause on him. His wife says he wasn't bitten, attacked or under any strange outer influence. He seems as he is drying up somehow."
Edward suddenly looked up at me, "Repeat that!", he shouted at me. Jasper immediately growled and protectively stood in front of me, and Marek and Felix also appeared between Edward and me. I rolled my eyes and climbed over Jaspers tall shoulders to look at Edward.
"Calm down, Tex-Mex", I kissed Jasper's neck quickly, and then asked Edward, "Repeat what?"
"What you were thinking! It was too quick, but I think it something that could make sense."
"Oh, I forgot you read minds. I don't even know what I thought, it was subconscious.", I said.
"Please! Try!", Edward pleaded.
"Ok, the last thing that was said..", I tried to remember. Although vampires have excellent memory, my little gift of being a muse made my head filled with too many thoughts and ideas.
"Gottfried said that Carlisle seem as if he was..", Emmett started.
"..drying up.", I finished, and now my mind filled with clearer thoughts.
Dry, drain, blood, no blood, dry desert, dust.
Animal blood, too thin, too poor, hungry, anaemic, seeping through.
Growth, strength. Thick, healthy, rich substance. Something that will stick.
"You think he needs blood.", Edward said.
"It makes sense.", Gottfried and Marcus both said.
"He has blood..?", Rosalie said, unsure.
"Babe, human blood.", Emmett immediately understood.
"At least try.", I urged.
"We have some blood packs from Bella's pregnancy left", Edward suggested.
"No, real, warm, rich blood", I said.
"That can't be it", Bella said, "He can't turn into a monster now."
"I will ask Stefano if he is willing", I offered.
"Carlisle won't do that", Rosalie said.
"Let us at least try.", I pleaded as I took my cell phone and called Stefano.
"Oh darling, don't bother", Jasper smiled at me and was out of the house in a second.
"Oh, he's going to get him, yes, I guess that's faster", I commented, and just at that moment Jaspers was already back, carrying a very surprised Stefano.
"Marek, go fetch Verena, I don't want her to be alone in the woods", I told Marek, and he was gone in the next second.
"Ok..?", Stefano looked around, not sure why he was back in the house.
"Stefano, we need your help. We think that fresh human blood…", Jasper started explaining, but Stefano cut him off.
"Yeah, yeah, I see where this is going. Let's do it, just please, I want Marcus near me with an heavy object ready", he said.
Jasper, Marcus and I laughed because we knew that he was playing at Jaspers first try-outs at sipping, which left us with Marcus standing over Jasper and hitting him over the head with Encyclopaedia Britannica when Jasper would not stop in time.
"Ok, let's do this", I said, and I felt a wave of enthusiasm hit us all. Jasper was doing his magic, and sure as hell, we would need some magic.