Another Fate
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 6
Caius paced, his steps manic as he prowled the confines of his office. There wasn’t much left to get in his way as he’d destroyed everything days before in yet another fit of rage.
He growled as he looked around the empty space. Aro must’ve had someone come in to clean and remove the remnants of furniture when he’d been out hunting.
‘Hunting…’ he thought with a scoff. What he’d engaged in hadn’t been a normal hunt by any stretch of the imagination, he could admit. It had been a blood-rage and he’d returned to the castle absolutely drenched in the viscous substance, leaving a string of decimated bodies in his wake.
It had been the stuff of human nightmares—enough to garner attention from the human media, and it would have he was sure—if Aro hadn’t had a slew of guards following him to clean up.
Oh, he was aware of Aro’s efforts to contain him, or at least contain the damage he was wreaking. He was also lucid enough to admit what he was engaging in was gaining absolutely nothing in the way of finding his mate, and that thought only served to stoke his rage—a vicious circle if there ever was one.
Pausing, he loosed a snarl, his fist connecting with the solid stone wall, crumbling a portion into dusty gravel that skittered to the floor as he continued pacing like the caged lion he so resembled.
A solid knock on his door earned the interloper a savage growl as he spun toward the portal. “What?!”
“My Lord? May I speak with you?”
His eyes narrowed as his lip curled, showing a razor sharp fang as he drawled. “If you dare.”
The door opened slowly and Jane stepped in, closing it softly behind her before turning to face the black-eyed King. She bowed. “My Lord.”
The next second, her eyes went wide as her head crashed against the wall, his hand around her neck as he hissed in her face. “You dare to face me after failing to find him? After failing to end his bitch of a Sire? I should remove your head right now for your troubles,” he seethed.
“My Lord,” she choked, “please, I did everything I could, we looked in all the likely places…”
He squeezed, relishing in the terror in her eyes as the skin on her neck slowly fissured under his grip. “Then you don’t come back until you’ve looked in all the unlikely places, is that clear?”
“Yes, my Lord,” she wheezed, unable to even dip her head in acknowledgment. “I so swear.”
With a disgusted scoff, he slammed her head against the wall and dropped her, pacing away as she coughed and rubbed her injured neck.
With a stiff back, he stared out the window. “You are fortunate he cares for you,” he drawled and she closed her eyes in regret while climbing to her feet.
“I know, my Lord. I care for him too.”
“Do you?” he questioned derisively before glancing over his shoulder. “Then tell me, Jane,” he spat, “why you did not bring me his Sire’s head when you had the chance?”
“I…I questioned her—tortured her thoroughly, my Lord. I was convinced she knew nothing…”
He spun and snarled, his gaze glowing with unholy light as he pinned her with it. “She is a being of war!” he roared as she stifled a cringe. “Used to pain and torture!” He stalked toward her, his lip curling in disgust as he loomed over her. “She played you, you witless girl, you realize?”
“I’m sorry, my Lord,” she murmured, her eyes cast into the distance as she stoically faced her King’s derision. “I will depart immediately and do what I should have the first time…”
A fist crashed into the wall by her head and she flinched as he roared into her face, “It’s too late, do you understand?! She is long gone, you pathetic half-wit! Long gone!”
Her gaze darted to his and she inclined her head. “I made a grave error, my Lord, and deserve your disgust and derision, and while nothing I do will atone, I vow I will not rest until our Prince is home and those responsible are rotting in our dungeons.”
He studied her a moment then struck the wall and paced away, leaving her to steady herself after such a close brush with death. And that’s just what that had been, she knew without doubt.
“Ready yourselves,” his voice rang out like a shot in the silence and she flinched at the sound, dismayed she’d been so lost in her thoughts.
He glanced over his shoulder from where he stood at the window. “We will depart in two days time for Romania. If there’s anywhere a person running from us is likely to go, it’s there.”
“You think she’s likely to risk seeking shelter with Stefan and Vladimir?”
“I believe I just said that,” he snarled and her gaze darted away.
“Forgive me, my Lord.”
He turned back to the window, flicking the fingers of one hand in dismissal. “Go now. Prepare for battle. No matter what we find, they will not survive our visit.”
She bowed deeply. “As you order, my Lord,” she said before quietly slipping out the door.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Caius strode down the hall toward Aro’s office with renewed purpose in every step. It seemed Jane’s visit had given him enough of an outlet to allow him to focus past the ever-present rage and pain that gripped him, and now he had business to take care of.
When he arrived, he gave a cursory knock and entered, glancing at his brother before seating himself.
Aro sat back and raised a raven brow. “I’m surprised to see you here. Last I heard, you were out slaughtering hapless humans.”
Caius sneered. “So, what of it?”
Aro’s brows inched up and he raised a hand. “No need to vent your spleen here, brother. Besides, what have your tantrums gained thus far?”
Caius growled and looked away. “Save your lectures Aro. They are neither welcomed, nor needed.”
“Hmm, I believe the former but would argue the latter,” he said before waving a hand, “but no matter. What brings you here, brother?”
A muscle ticked in Caius’s jaw, but he met Aro’s gaze and proceeded. “I wish to send out a missive to all known covens and any nomads we may contact.”
Aro’s brows shot up and he leaned forward, folding his hands atop the desk. “A missive? Concerning…?”
“My mate,” he spat. “What else?”
Aro frowned deeply. “Is that wise? To announce to the entirety of the vampire world that your mate is out there somewhere, without the protection of the Volturi?”
“Of course it isn’t wise,” Caius said with a scowl. He waved a hand. “We would say we’re searching for a guard, nothing more. I would never risk my mate in such a careless way.”
Aro tented his fingers, tapping his chin in thought for a moment before nodding. “As long as we word it properly, the potential gain outweighs the risk.”
“I’m pleased it meets with your approval,” Caius sneered and Aro sighed, sinking back in his seat once again.
“We all want him back, brother. He is dear to us all.”
Caius’s jaw tightened and he looked away with a nod. “Forgive my foul temper, brother,” he murmured. “It is difficult…”
Aro raised a hand. “Say no more. Your apology is unnecessary.” He smirked. “If I am not used to your temper by now…”
Caius snorted.
“Speaking of missives,” Aro interjected while sliding one across the desk, “I have written a summons for our old scout, Eleazar.”
With a raised brow, Caius picked up the parchment and skimmed it before setting it back on the desk. “I assume you require his services to replace Demetri?”
“You assume correctly.”
“What makes you think he’ll be willing? As I recall, he’s been quite reluctant to have anything to do with us in the years since he left our service.”
Aro shrugged. “There are no guarantees, of course, but I remain optimistic. He was loyal when he left, I’ve no reason to believe that has changed.”
Caius responded with a slow nod, his gaze cast out the window as he thought about the tracker’s last moments—moments spent hunting with and fighting beside his mate…
“And what of our young Jasper?” Aro questioned in the stretched silence. “Have you been able to connect with him recently?”
Caius frowned deeply. “Not for days now.” His fists clenched. “I fear something has happened. It’s the only explanation…” He growled and slammed a hand down, splintering the arm of the chair. “I’ve never felt so fucking useless!”
“Peace, brother,” Aro murmured before leaning forward to grasp Caius’s arm. “We will find him and punish those responsible.”
“I long for that day, Aro. Whoever did this will beg for the second death.”
Aro patted his arm and sat back. “Aye, they will. We will see to it. Until then, what are your plans?”
“In two days, I will be leading a group to Romania.”
Aro’s brows shot up. “Ah…you think his Sire may have fled to them for shelter?”
“It’s likely. At any rate, I won’t dismiss the possibility, and taking them out for good is a better prospect than sitting here on my ass, waiting on information that may never come.”
“We know she does not have him. Jane and her entourage searched the property thoroughly…”
“Jane and her entourage,” Caius snarled, “fucked up by leaving her alive! Jasper would fight his way home unless that bitch has ordered otherwise. She is keeping him down, I know it. Once she dies, that cursed bond will be broken and he will be free to return to me.”
“Yes,” Aro sighed, “it was a grave mistake leaving her alive, one Jane regrets deeply…”
Caius scoffed, his eyes glittering with rage. “She is fortunate to still be among us,” he seethed. “If not for Jasper’s care for her, she wouldn’t be, I assure you.”
Aro eyed him shrewdly and nodded. Although he cared deeply for Jane, he understood his brother’s fury at such a crucial mistake, and would not censure him for his treatment of his most favored guard. “Will you inform Marcus before you depart for Romania?”
Caius scoffed. “It’s been how long since they killed Didyme, and all this time he’s done nothing but mourn and moulder away in that throne of his? Frankly, I don’t see the point.”
“We all handle grief in our own way…” Aro murmured.
Caius leaned forward, quietly snarling, “If someone killed my mate, brother, this fucking world would burn at my hand, I promise you.”
Aro studied his platinum brother for a moment before nodding. “I believe you, Caius. Still, wouldn’t it be better to give him the option of joining you? Perhaps if he had some retribution…”
Caius sat back in his seat and waved a hand. “Fine, I will extend the opportunity.”
“That is all I ask,” Aro said before raising an inky brow “Just make sure you come back. Despite popular opinion, I do not wish to rule on my own. It’s already a huge pain in the ass, and that is with your help,” he finished with a smirk.
Caius snorted and arched a brow. “Admit it…you would miss my sunny disposition.”
Aro chuckled wryly while toying with a pen on his desk. “Oh, yes. Without a doubt, brother…without a doubt.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
“Why are you contacting me? And how did you get this number?” the voice hissed, obviously displeased at being contacted.
Alice curled her lip as she sat on her usual boulder in the woods. “I called to warn you, but if you’d rather not hear it…”
“Warn me of what?”
Alice smirked. “So, now you’re interested?”
“Don’t toy with me, Miss Brandon. I’m in no mood.”
“Fine, but if I give you this information—that will save your ass, by the way—you will do one last thing for me.”
A low hiss sounded from the tiny speaker on the phone and Alice smirked. “So, what do you say? I already saw you cutting ties with me, but trust me when I say, you’re going to appreciate this warning.”
“Fine, what is the warning?”
Alice raised a brow. “I think I need an agreement first. Will you do this task in exchange?”
“What is the task?” the voice growled.
“I need a vampire eliminated. One male, but he’s a former Volturi guard, so not untrained.”
“Such will not be a problem for me. Yes, I will do it, but it better be soon, or you can forget it. I need to disappear, as well you know.”
Alice giggled. “Oh, I do know, and yes, it’s soon. I’ll text you the details. Now, for that warning: Get the hell out of Romania…like now. Caius Volturi and a few friends are on the way and no one present will survive.”
“How did he know?!”
Alice shrugged. “Who knows? He’s not stupid, Maria, and after you cut ties, you’d do well to do a better job than running to the Romanians for shelter,” she sneered.
“Fine,” the voice said, “and thank you for the warning, but after this task is complete, don’t try to contact me again.”
Alice canted her head and shrugged. “That’s fine with me. I don’t see me needing you again, anyway.”
“Good, now, I must go. Apparently, I have an escape to make.”
The line went dead and Alice texted the information with a smile curving her lips as she hopped off the boulder and headed back to the house.
When she arrived back, she made sure her expression was appropriately sad, as everyone in the family knew something terrible had happened to Jasper when his Sire had visited just days before.
Most didn’t know details though as Jasper wasn’t talking and neither were Esme and Carlisle.
Alice was sure Carlisle had a pretty good idea, and if he did, then he’d probably shared it with Esme. From that, it was safe to assume Edward knew too, but, like the others, he wasn’t talking, choosing instead to avoid everyone by hunting alone or staying in his room with his precious music.
The only truly clueless ones in the house were Rose and Emmett, but that was nothing new. They were usually out of the loop, unless told something specifically.
Rose was no idiot though and Alice wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking so. No, the blonde was shrewd and, despite her narcissistic ways, very good at gleaning details from body language and bits of conversation. She tended to read between the lines and put things together, so despite the blonde’s lack of gift, Alice would keep a close eye on her too.
Entering the living room, she smiled at the sight of Edward at his piano, scribbling away on some sheet music, obviously composing another song. “Trying to woo Esme back brother dear?” she said with a snicker as he glared.
His lips thinned into a line and he continued writing as she shrugged and flopped onto the couch, grabbing a magazine to flip through to stave off boredom.
She knew she didn’t have long to wait…
Sure enough, thirty minutes later, the sound of Carlisle’s SUV met her hearing and she smiled while scanning pages. The door opened and he hung his coat before heading for the stairs. “Join me Alice,” he said as he began ascending and she hopped up, placing the magazine on the table before quickly following.
Once in his study, she took a seat as he greeted Esme with a kiss before seating himself behind his desk. Once there, he reached into his bag and took out a letter, one she’d been expecting, but he had not. “This is from the Volturi,” he began, his gaze locked on hers.
Esme frowned, but Alice merely smiled and nodded. Carlisle sighed. “You already know what it says,” he stated and again, she nodded.
“I do.”
Esme leaned forward, still looking worried. “What does it say?”
Carlisle smiled softly and handed her the letter which she opened and quickly scanned before looking up at her mate. “So, he is just a guard?”
Carlisle relaxed back in his seat. “It would seem so, love.”
“But, why would they look for him?”
A breath gusted from him. “You must understand, Aro loves to surround himself with gifted vampires, and we know Jasper is a talented empath.”
Alice kept the smirk from her face as she sat back and watched the magic happen. This was almost too easy…this letter from the Volturi… She couldn’t have planned it better herself.
Esme’s face crumpled as she stared at the letter in her hands. “Are we…are we going to send him back to them?”
Carlisle rose from his chair and pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he murmured, “Of course not, love. We’ll keep him here, with us. You don’t have to worry…”
She dropped the letter, her hands clutching his shirt as her head rested on his shoulder. “Thank you, honey. I just…I can’t see him going back to that place…not with everything he’s had to endure already.”
He thought back on the way the young empath had clung to his mate in that musty basement…how they’d connected, and smiled while kissing her temple. “He won’t have to, sweetheart. He’s a part of us now.”
Now ignored by the other two in the room, Alice quietly slipped out the door, a coy smile on her lips, just as a vision of Eleazar Denali’s demise filled her mind. She stifled a gasp at the sudden brutality of it, but shook it off. It needed to be, as he was going to answer the Volturi summons and when Aro touched him, everything would have unraveled.
Now, that was no longer an issue…
With a satisfied sigh, she squared her shoulders and glided down the hall to Jasper’s door. “Jazzy?” she called as she knocked.
“Go away,” he answered, cranking up the volume on the tv a notch for good measure.
Her eyes narrowed. “Look, you’ve been practically living in that room for days now. It’s time to quit pouting, Jazz. I gave you space, but now it’s just getting irritating.”
“Fuck off you psycho little bitch,” he muttered. “I’m not here for your entertainment.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits and she grasped the door handle twisting it, breaking the lock in the process. With a shove, she pushed the door open and stepped in, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m trying to be nice here, Jazz. You’re not making it easy,” she said in a warning tone.
His expression went blank as dread settled in his stomach. He hated that this pathetic excuse of a vampire could cause such a response within him. He knew it was because of her ties to Maria, and the very real threat his Sire was, but it grated on his pride that this little psycho held any sway over him. He longed to kill her—but couldn’t. Not yet, anyway…
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
She smirked. “Because you’re here for me, remember? You’re mine now and that’s something you’d do well to keep in mind.” She sauntered toward the bed he was kicked back on, her fingers tracing over his cheek, the long, manicured nails drawing a shudder from him as they lightly scraped his skin. “I’ve never seen a more handsome male,” she breathed, a manic look in her eyes. “And to think, you’re finally mine…”
He turned his head, leaving her hand suspended in mid-air. “I’ll never be yours.”
“You are!” she snapped, her volume rising with her anger. “Now get up. I want to hunt and you’re going with me.”
“No,” he answered, feeling her anger spike right as she raised a hand to strike him.
“Alice! What are you doing?”
Alice froze and spun toward the door where Esme stood, her eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. “Were you…were you about to slap him?”
“I…no Mom, I just…we were just messing around. We were just about to go out hunting together,” she said with wide eyes. She looked back at Jasper and narrowed her gaze. “Right, Jazzy?”
The threat in that gaze was clear and the dread was back in full force at the thought of Maria and her…
No…
He shut that thought down, slamming it to the back of his mind as a shudder ran through him. “Yeah,” he muttered, “but I told her I didn’t feel like going…not today, anyway.” He met Alice’s gaze, his own flat, empty of all emotion. “I’ll go another day, though, okay?”
Alice flared her nostrils before morphing her face into a bright smile for Esme’s benefit, the latter having approached the bed to run a hand through Jasper’s hair. “Of course, another day then, but I’m holding you to that!” she chirped before mincing her way to the door. “I’ll go see if Edward wants to go.”
“Good idea, sweetheart, I think he’s back in his room now,” Esme commented as she perched on the edge of Jasper’s bed.
“No, I’m right here,” Edward said as he appeared in the open doorway. “Come on Alice, let’s go,” he said with a loaded look at his ‘sister’.
“There, you see, Alice? You don’t have to pester poor Jasper. Edward’s perfectly willing to go with you,” Esme said with a smile.
Alice smiled tightly. “Yay, me!”
“Have fun, you two,” Esme said with a wave as Edward grabbed Alice’s arm, subtly muscling her from the room.
Esme looked back at Jasper, her brow creasing in worry. “How are you, honey?”
He smiled wanly. “Better, thanks,” he said, allowing himself a moment to bask in the purity of her emotions. She radiated love—the unconditional love of a mother—something he couldn’t remember ever feeling directed toward him. It was…warmth, and comfort all wrapped in a fierce sort of protection…
Similar to what he’d always felt from Caius, but different too for obvious reasons. Still, he found he loved it all the same. He couldn’t help himself really. Here, so far from his mate, he was starving for affection, especially since he hadn’t connected with Caius since…
He shut down the thought again, clenching his eyes shut for a moment as he breathed through the emotional storm that threatened to rage through him should he lose control.
A hand caressed his cheek and his eyes snapped open, connecting with a worried, honey-hued gaze “It’s all right, sweetheart. You’re safe now. We won’t let anyone hurt you ever again if we can help it.”
Her heart melted a little as he smiled softly. It was warm but sad all at the same time and she had to hold herself back from gathering him in her arms. “Thank you, Esme. That means a lot.”
She reached out, brushing some curls back from his cheek. “I mean every word, honey. I hope you know that.”
His smile brightened, displaying the shadow of a dimple in his cheek as he arched a brow and pointed at himself. “Empath, remember?”
She laughed lightly. “I forgot, you’re a professional.”
“That’s right,” he quipped, “built-in bullshit detector.”
“Jasper!” she said with a mock glare and a grin. “Language, mister!”
His brows shot up and he chuckled. “You know, I can’t recall the last time someone reprimanded me for cussin’.”
“Well, get used to it,” she said with a pat to his leg as she rose from the bed. “Care to come down and join us for a movie?”
He glanced at the time and shook his head. “No, not now. Maybe later?”
She cupped his cheek and nodded. “All right, honey, whenever you’re ready, we’ll be here.” She turned and left, closing the door softly behind her and Jasper shook his head. She was just such a…mother.
He looked down at his lap, his thoughts of Esme and her mothering ways quickly switching to his mate. He knew, by the time, that Caius would be meditating right now if he’d been keeping to his regular schedule. As he had been the past few days however, he was torn. He wanted more than anything to connect with him—to feel him again, but…
Shame and misplaced guilt flooded him and he was unable to push it all back this time as he agonized on how his mate would feel if he knew…if he knew what Jasper had allowed to happen to him…if he knew he had allowed another male to breach him…violate him…
He reached up, fisting his hair with both hands as a high, keening cry clawed its way from his throat, his emotions breaking free of the iron control he’d placed over them. He felt them flooding the room and probably a good part of the house, if the sudden silence in the other rooms was any indication. “Get a grip, damn it!” he whispered as he rocked. “Get a fuckin’ grip!”
With a deep, shuddering breath in, he released his hair and sat up, using every bit of his power to rein in his emotions. Once he had that under some semblance of control, he arranged himself in his standard, crossed legged position, straightening his back and breathing evenly as he closed his eyes. It was past time to do this. It had been days, and if he knew Caius at all, he knew he was probably frantic by now with the lack of contact. He couldn't put it off any longer, despite how he felt. It was time to face his mate in the only way he could.
It took much longer to clear his mind this time around as every time he tried, he seemed to fill with shame at what had happened and he’d have to recenter himself and start all over again, but he finally managed.
When he did, he felt his mate immediately—overwhelming relief followed by love and then worry. He tried to bury everything but the love he felt, but to his dismay, everything broke free and flooded their misty connection—his shame, guilt and helplessness rolled over everything and he knew Caius knew something had happened by the alarm he was feeding back.
The alarm caused Jasper’s guilt to spike causing his mind to focus on the traumatizing event which spiraled out into feelings of violation and utter worthlessness—his heart and soul fairly throbbing and aching with it all as he struggled under the sheer weight of it.
A whimper escaped his throat as he lost what little control he had left, battering their tentative connection with all he’d bottled up over the past few days. ‘Caius!’ he cried in his mind. ‘I’m sorry! How can I ever face you after… Will you even want me?’ Cloying despair leaked out despite his efforts to block it as his soul cried out to his bonded. He needed him…desperately…but he was so far…so far…
The connection was failing. He could feel it as his focus was destroyed by the turmoil within him, so he gathered all the love he could and sent it across. ‘I love you,’ he thought desperately, ‘and I can only hope, after you know everything, you’ll still love me too…’
Panic was the last thing he felt…and then his eyes snapped open and he was alone once again.
Half a world away, an entire castle full of beings paused at the agonized roar of their platinum King.
Caius paced, his steps manic as he prowled the confines of his office. There wasn’t much left to get in his way as he’d destroyed everything days before in yet another fit of rage.
He growled as he looked around the empty space. Aro must’ve had someone come in to clean and remove the remnants of furniture when he’d been out hunting.
‘Hunting…’ he thought with a scoff. What he’d engaged in hadn’t been a normal hunt by any stretch of the imagination, he could admit. It had been a blood-rage and he’d returned to the castle absolutely drenched in the viscous substance, leaving a string of decimated bodies in his wake.
It had been the stuff of human nightmares—enough to garner attention from the human media, and it would have he was sure—if Aro hadn’t had a slew of guards following him to clean up.
Oh, he was aware of Aro’s efforts to contain him, or at least contain the damage he was wreaking. He was also lucid enough to admit what he was engaging in was gaining absolutely nothing in the way of finding his mate, and that thought only served to stoke his rage—a vicious circle if there ever was one.
Pausing, he loosed a snarl, his fist connecting with the solid stone wall, crumbling a portion into dusty gravel that skittered to the floor as he continued pacing like the caged lion he so resembled.
A solid knock on his door earned the interloper a savage growl as he spun toward the portal. “What?!”
“My Lord? May I speak with you?”
His eyes narrowed as his lip curled, showing a razor sharp fang as he drawled. “If you dare.”
The door opened slowly and Jane stepped in, closing it softly behind her before turning to face the black-eyed King. She bowed. “My Lord.”
The next second, her eyes went wide as her head crashed against the wall, his hand around her neck as he hissed in her face. “You dare to face me after failing to find him? After failing to end his bitch of a Sire? I should remove your head right now for your troubles,” he seethed.
“My Lord,” she choked, “please, I did everything I could, we looked in all the likely places…”
He squeezed, relishing in the terror in her eyes as the skin on her neck slowly fissured under his grip. “Then you don’t come back until you’ve looked in all the unlikely places, is that clear?”
“Yes, my Lord,” she wheezed, unable to even dip her head in acknowledgment. “I so swear.”
With a disgusted scoff, he slammed her head against the wall and dropped her, pacing away as she coughed and rubbed her injured neck.
With a stiff back, he stared out the window. “You are fortunate he cares for you,” he drawled and she closed her eyes in regret while climbing to her feet.
“I know, my Lord. I care for him too.”
“Do you?” he questioned derisively before glancing over his shoulder. “Then tell me, Jane,” he spat, “why you did not bring me his Sire’s head when you had the chance?”
“I…I questioned her—tortured her thoroughly, my Lord. I was convinced she knew nothing…”
He spun and snarled, his gaze glowing with unholy light as he pinned her with it. “She is a being of war!” he roared as she stifled a cringe. “Used to pain and torture!” He stalked toward her, his lip curling in disgust as he loomed over her. “She played you, you witless girl, you realize?”
“I’m sorry, my Lord,” she murmured, her eyes cast into the distance as she stoically faced her King’s derision. “I will depart immediately and do what I should have the first time…”
A fist crashed into the wall by her head and she flinched as he roared into her face, “It’s too late, do you understand?! She is long gone, you pathetic half-wit! Long gone!”
Her gaze darted to his and she inclined her head. “I made a grave error, my Lord, and deserve your disgust and derision, and while nothing I do will atone, I vow I will not rest until our Prince is home and those responsible are rotting in our dungeons.”
He studied her a moment then struck the wall and paced away, leaving her to steady herself after such a close brush with death. And that’s just what that had been, she knew without doubt.
“Ready yourselves,” his voice rang out like a shot in the silence and she flinched at the sound, dismayed she’d been so lost in her thoughts.
He glanced over his shoulder from where he stood at the window. “We will depart in two days time for Romania. If there’s anywhere a person running from us is likely to go, it’s there.”
“You think she’s likely to risk seeking shelter with Stefan and Vladimir?”
“I believe I just said that,” he snarled and her gaze darted away.
“Forgive me, my Lord.”
He turned back to the window, flicking the fingers of one hand in dismissal. “Go now. Prepare for battle. No matter what we find, they will not survive our visit.”
She bowed deeply. “As you order, my Lord,” she said before quietly slipping out the door.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Caius strode down the hall toward Aro’s office with renewed purpose in every step. It seemed Jane’s visit had given him enough of an outlet to allow him to focus past the ever-present rage and pain that gripped him, and now he had business to take care of.
When he arrived, he gave a cursory knock and entered, glancing at his brother before seating himself.
Aro sat back and raised a raven brow. “I’m surprised to see you here. Last I heard, you were out slaughtering hapless humans.”
Caius sneered. “So, what of it?”
Aro’s brows inched up and he raised a hand. “No need to vent your spleen here, brother. Besides, what have your tantrums gained thus far?”
Caius growled and looked away. “Save your lectures Aro. They are neither welcomed, nor needed.”
“Hmm, I believe the former but would argue the latter,” he said before waving a hand, “but no matter. What brings you here, brother?”
A muscle ticked in Caius’s jaw, but he met Aro’s gaze and proceeded. “I wish to send out a missive to all known covens and any nomads we may contact.”
Aro’s brows shot up and he leaned forward, folding his hands atop the desk. “A missive? Concerning…?”
“My mate,” he spat. “What else?”
Aro frowned deeply. “Is that wise? To announce to the entirety of the vampire world that your mate is out there somewhere, without the protection of the Volturi?”
“Of course it isn’t wise,” Caius said with a scowl. He waved a hand. “We would say we’re searching for a guard, nothing more. I would never risk my mate in such a careless way.”
Aro tented his fingers, tapping his chin in thought for a moment before nodding. “As long as we word it properly, the potential gain outweighs the risk.”
“I’m pleased it meets with your approval,” Caius sneered and Aro sighed, sinking back in his seat once again.
“We all want him back, brother. He is dear to us all.”
Caius’s jaw tightened and he looked away with a nod. “Forgive my foul temper, brother,” he murmured. “It is difficult…”
Aro raised a hand. “Say no more. Your apology is unnecessary.” He smirked. “If I am not used to your temper by now…”
Caius snorted.
“Speaking of missives,” Aro interjected while sliding one across the desk, “I have written a summons for our old scout, Eleazar.”
With a raised brow, Caius picked up the parchment and skimmed it before setting it back on the desk. “I assume you require his services to replace Demetri?”
“You assume correctly.”
“What makes you think he’ll be willing? As I recall, he’s been quite reluctant to have anything to do with us in the years since he left our service.”
Aro shrugged. “There are no guarantees, of course, but I remain optimistic. He was loyal when he left, I’ve no reason to believe that has changed.”
Caius responded with a slow nod, his gaze cast out the window as he thought about the tracker’s last moments—moments spent hunting with and fighting beside his mate…
“And what of our young Jasper?” Aro questioned in the stretched silence. “Have you been able to connect with him recently?”
Caius frowned deeply. “Not for days now.” His fists clenched. “I fear something has happened. It’s the only explanation…” He growled and slammed a hand down, splintering the arm of the chair. “I’ve never felt so fucking useless!”
“Peace, brother,” Aro murmured before leaning forward to grasp Caius’s arm. “We will find him and punish those responsible.”
“I long for that day, Aro. Whoever did this will beg for the second death.”
Aro patted his arm and sat back. “Aye, they will. We will see to it. Until then, what are your plans?”
“In two days, I will be leading a group to Romania.”
Aro’s brows shot up. “Ah…you think his Sire may have fled to them for shelter?”
“It’s likely. At any rate, I won’t dismiss the possibility, and taking them out for good is a better prospect than sitting here on my ass, waiting on information that may never come.”
“We know she does not have him. Jane and her entourage searched the property thoroughly…”
“Jane and her entourage,” Caius snarled, “fucked up by leaving her alive! Jasper would fight his way home unless that bitch has ordered otherwise. She is keeping him down, I know it. Once she dies, that cursed bond will be broken and he will be free to return to me.”
“Yes,” Aro sighed, “it was a grave mistake leaving her alive, one Jane regrets deeply…”
Caius scoffed, his eyes glittering with rage. “She is fortunate to still be among us,” he seethed. “If not for Jasper’s care for her, she wouldn’t be, I assure you.”
Aro eyed him shrewdly and nodded. Although he cared deeply for Jane, he understood his brother’s fury at such a crucial mistake, and would not censure him for his treatment of his most favored guard. “Will you inform Marcus before you depart for Romania?”
Caius scoffed. “It’s been how long since they killed Didyme, and all this time he’s done nothing but mourn and moulder away in that throne of his? Frankly, I don’t see the point.”
“We all handle grief in our own way…” Aro murmured.
Caius leaned forward, quietly snarling, “If someone killed my mate, brother, this fucking world would burn at my hand, I promise you.”
Aro studied his platinum brother for a moment before nodding. “I believe you, Caius. Still, wouldn’t it be better to give him the option of joining you? Perhaps if he had some retribution…”
Caius sat back in his seat and waved a hand. “Fine, I will extend the opportunity.”
“That is all I ask,” Aro said before raising an inky brow “Just make sure you come back. Despite popular opinion, I do not wish to rule on my own. It’s already a huge pain in the ass, and that is with your help,” he finished with a smirk.
Caius snorted and arched a brow. “Admit it…you would miss my sunny disposition.”
Aro chuckled wryly while toying with a pen on his desk. “Oh, yes. Without a doubt, brother…without a doubt.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
“Why are you contacting me? And how did you get this number?” the voice hissed, obviously displeased at being contacted.
Alice curled her lip as she sat on her usual boulder in the woods. “I called to warn you, but if you’d rather not hear it…”
“Warn me of what?”
Alice smirked. “So, now you’re interested?”
“Don’t toy with me, Miss Brandon. I’m in no mood.”
“Fine, but if I give you this information—that will save your ass, by the way—you will do one last thing for me.”
A low hiss sounded from the tiny speaker on the phone and Alice smirked. “So, what do you say? I already saw you cutting ties with me, but trust me when I say, you’re going to appreciate this warning.”
“Fine, what is the warning?”
Alice raised a brow. “I think I need an agreement first. Will you do this task in exchange?”
“What is the task?” the voice growled.
“I need a vampire eliminated. One male, but he’s a former Volturi guard, so not untrained.”
“Such will not be a problem for me. Yes, I will do it, but it better be soon, or you can forget it. I need to disappear, as well you know.”
Alice giggled. “Oh, I do know, and yes, it’s soon. I’ll text you the details. Now, for that warning: Get the hell out of Romania…like now. Caius Volturi and a few friends are on the way and no one present will survive.”
“How did he know?!”
Alice shrugged. “Who knows? He’s not stupid, Maria, and after you cut ties, you’d do well to do a better job than running to the Romanians for shelter,” she sneered.
“Fine,” the voice said, “and thank you for the warning, but after this task is complete, don’t try to contact me again.”
Alice canted her head and shrugged. “That’s fine with me. I don’t see me needing you again, anyway.”
“Good, now, I must go. Apparently, I have an escape to make.”
The line went dead and Alice texted the information with a smile curving her lips as she hopped off the boulder and headed back to the house.
When she arrived back, she made sure her expression was appropriately sad, as everyone in the family knew something terrible had happened to Jasper when his Sire had visited just days before.
Most didn’t know details though as Jasper wasn’t talking and neither were Esme and Carlisle.
Alice was sure Carlisle had a pretty good idea, and if he did, then he’d probably shared it with Esme. From that, it was safe to assume Edward knew too, but, like the others, he wasn’t talking, choosing instead to avoid everyone by hunting alone or staying in his room with his precious music.
The only truly clueless ones in the house were Rose and Emmett, but that was nothing new. They were usually out of the loop, unless told something specifically.
Rose was no idiot though and Alice wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking so. No, the blonde was shrewd and, despite her narcissistic ways, very good at gleaning details from body language and bits of conversation. She tended to read between the lines and put things together, so despite the blonde’s lack of gift, Alice would keep a close eye on her too.
Entering the living room, she smiled at the sight of Edward at his piano, scribbling away on some sheet music, obviously composing another song. “Trying to woo Esme back brother dear?” she said with a snicker as he glared.
His lips thinned into a line and he continued writing as she shrugged and flopped onto the couch, grabbing a magazine to flip through to stave off boredom.
She knew she didn’t have long to wait…
Sure enough, thirty minutes later, the sound of Carlisle’s SUV met her hearing and she smiled while scanning pages. The door opened and he hung his coat before heading for the stairs. “Join me Alice,” he said as he began ascending and she hopped up, placing the magazine on the table before quickly following.
Once in his study, she took a seat as he greeted Esme with a kiss before seating himself behind his desk. Once there, he reached into his bag and took out a letter, one she’d been expecting, but he had not. “This is from the Volturi,” he began, his gaze locked on hers.
Esme frowned, but Alice merely smiled and nodded. Carlisle sighed. “You already know what it says,” he stated and again, she nodded.
“I do.”
Esme leaned forward, still looking worried. “What does it say?”
Carlisle smiled softly and handed her the letter which she opened and quickly scanned before looking up at her mate. “So, he is just a guard?”
Carlisle relaxed back in his seat. “It would seem so, love.”
“But, why would they look for him?”
A breath gusted from him. “You must understand, Aro loves to surround himself with gifted vampires, and we know Jasper is a talented empath.”
Alice kept the smirk from her face as she sat back and watched the magic happen. This was almost too easy…this letter from the Volturi… She couldn’t have planned it better herself.
Esme’s face crumpled as she stared at the letter in her hands. “Are we…are we going to send him back to them?”
Carlisle rose from his chair and pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he murmured, “Of course not, love. We’ll keep him here, with us. You don’t have to worry…”
She dropped the letter, her hands clutching his shirt as her head rested on his shoulder. “Thank you, honey. I just…I can’t see him going back to that place…not with everything he’s had to endure already.”
He thought back on the way the young empath had clung to his mate in that musty basement…how they’d connected, and smiled while kissing her temple. “He won’t have to, sweetheart. He’s a part of us now.”
Now ignored by the other two in the room, Alice quietly slipped out the door, a coy smile on her lips, just as a vision of Eleazar Denali’s demise filled her mind. She stifled a gasp at the sudden brutality of it, but shook it off. It needed to be, as he was going to answer the Volturi summons and when Aro touched him, everything would have unraveled.
Now, that was no longer an issue…
With a satisfied sigh, she squared her shoulders and glided down the hall to Jasper’s door. “Jazzy?” she called as she knocked.
“Go away,” he answered, cranking up the volume on the tv a notch for good measure.
Her eyes narrowed. “Look, you’ve been practically living in that room for days now. It’s time to quit pouting, Jazz. I gave you space, but now it’s just getting irritating.”
“Fuck off you psycho little bitch,” he muttered. “I’m not here for your entertainment.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits and she grasped the door handle twisting it, breaking the lock in the process. With a shove, she pushed the door open and stepped in, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m trying to be nice here, Jazz. You’re not making it easy,” she said in a warning tone.
His expression went blank as dread settled in his stomach. He hated that this pathetic excuse of a vampire could cause such a response within him. He knew it was because of her ties to Maria, and the very real threat his Sire was, but it grated on his pride that this little psycho held any sway over him. He longed to kill her—but couldn’t. Not yet, anyway…
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
She smirked. “Because you’re here for me, remember? You’re mine now and that’s something you’d do well to keep in mind.” She sauntered toward the bed he was kicked back on, her fingers tracing over his cheek, the long, manicured nails drawing a shudder from him as they lightly scraped his skin. “I’ve never seen a more handsome male,” she breathed, a manic look in her eyes. “And to think, you’re finally mine…”
He turned his head, leaving her hand suspended in mid-air. “I’ll never be yours.”
“You are!” she snapped, her volume rising with her anger. “Now get up. I want to hunt and you’re going with me.”
“No,” he answered, feeling her anger spike right as she raised a hand to strike him.
“Alice! What are you doing?”
Alice froze and spun toward the door where Esme stood, her eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. “Were you…were you about to slap him?”
“I…no Mom, I just…we were just messing around. We were just about to go out hunting together,” she said with wide eyes. She looked back at Jasper and narrowed her gaze. “Right, Jazzy?”
The threat in that gaze was clear and the dread was back in full force at the thought of Maria and her…
No…
He shut that thought down, slamming it to the back of his mind as a shudder ran through him. “Yeah,” he muttered, “but I told her I didn’t feel like going…not today, anyway.” He met Alice’s gaze, his own flat, empty of all emotion. “I’ll go another day, though, okay?”
Alice flared her nostrils before morphing her face into a bright smile for Esme’s benefit, the latter having approached the bed to run a hand through Jasper’s hair. “Of course, another day then, but I’m holding you to that!” she chirped before mincing her way to the door. “I’ll go see if Edward wants to go.”
“Good idea, sweetheart, I think he’s back in his room now,” Esme commented as she perched on the edge of Jasper’s bed.
“No, I’m right here,” Edward said as he appeared in the open doorway. “Come on Alice, let’s go,” he said with a loaded look at his ‘sister’.
“There, you see, Alice? You don’t have to pester poor Jasper. Edward’s perfectly willing to go with you,” Esme said with a smile.
Alice smiled tightly. “Yay, me!”
“Have fun, you two,” Esme said with a wave as Edward grabbed Alice’s arm, subtly muscling her from the room.
Esme looked back at Jasper, her brow creasing in worry. “How are you, honey?”
He smiled wanly. “Better, thanks,” he said, allowing himself a moment to bask in the purity of her emotions. She radiated love—the unconditional love of a mother—something he couldn’t remember ever feeling directed toward him. It was…warmth, and comfort all wrapped in a fierce sort of protection…
Similar to what he’d always felt from Caius, but different too for obvious reasons. Still, he found he loved it all the same. He couldn’t help himself really. Here, so far from his mate, he was starving for affection, especially since he hadn’t connected with Caius since…
He shut down the thought again, clenching his eyes shut for a moment as he breathed through the emotional storm that threatened to rage through him should he lose control.
A hand caressed his cheek and his eyes snapped open, connecting with a worried, honey-hued gaze “It’s all right, sweetheart. You’re safe now. We won’t let anyone hurt you ever again if we can help it.”
Her heart melted a little as he smiled softly. It was warm but sad all at the same time and she had to hold herself back from gathering him in her arms. “Thank you, Esme. That means a lot.”
She reached out, brushing some curls back from his cheek. “I mean every word, honey. I hope you know that.”
His smile brightened, displaying the shadow of a dimple in his cheek as he arched a brow and pointed at himself. “Empath, remember?”
She laughed lightly. “I forgot, you’re a professional.”
“That’s right,” he quipped, “built-in bullshit detector.”
“Jasper!” she said with a mock glare and a grin. “Language, mister!”
His brows shot up and he chuckled. “You know, I can’t recall the last time someone reprimanded me for cussin’.”
“Well, get used to it,” she said with a pat to his leg as she rose from the bed. “Care to come down and join us for a movie?”
He glanced at the time and shook his head. “No, not now. Maybe later?”
She cupped his cheek and nodded. “All right, honey, whenever you’re ready, we’ll be here.” She turned and left, closing the door softly behind her and Jasper shook his head. She was just such a…mother.
He looked down at his lap, his thoughts of Esme and her mothering ways quickly switching to his mate. He knew, by the time, that Caius would be meditating right now if he’d been keeping to his regular schedule. As he had been the past few days however, he was torn. He wanted more than anything to connect with him—to feel him again, but…
Shame and misplaced guilt flooded him and he was unable to push it all back this time as he agonized on how his mate would feel if he knew…if he knew what Jasper had allowed to happen to him…if he knew he had allowed another male to breach him…violate him…
He reached up, fisting his hair with both hands as a high, keening cry clawed its way from his throat, his emotions breaking free of the iron control he’d placed over them. He felt them flooding the room and probably a good part of the house, if the sudden silence in the other rooms was any indication. “Get a grip, damn it!” he whispered as he rocked. “Get a fuckin’ grip!”
With a deep, shuddering breath in, he released his hair and sat up, using every bit of his power to rein in his emotions. Once he had that under some semblance of control, he arranged himself in his standard, crossed legged position, straightening his back and breathing evenly as he closed his eyes. It was past time to do this. It had been days, and if he knew Caius at all, he knew he was probably frantic by now with the lack of contact. He couldn't put it off any longer, despite how he felt. It was time to face his mate in the only way he could.
It took much longer to clear his mind this time around as every time he tried, he seemed to fill with shame at what had happened and he’d have to recenter himself and start all over again, but he finally managed.
When he did, he felt his mate immediately—overwhelming relief followed by love and then worry. He tried to bury everything but the love he felt, but to his dismay, everything broke free and flooded their misty connection—his shame, guilt and helplessness rolled over everything and he knew Caius knew something had happened by the alarm he was feeding back.
The alarm caused Jasper’s guilt to spike causing his mind to focus on the traumatizing event which spiraled out into feelings of violation and utter worthlessness—his heart and soul fairly throbbing and aching with it all as he struggled under the sheer weight of it.
A whimper escaped his throat as he lost what little control he had left, battering their tentative connection with all he’d bottled up over the past few days. ‘Caius!’ he cried in his mind. ‘I’m sorry! How can I ever face you after… Will you even want me?’ Cloying despair leaked out despite his efforts to block it as his soul cried out to his bonded. He needed him…desperately…but he was so far…so far…
The connection was failing. He could feel it as his focus was destroyed by the turmoil within him, so he gathered all the love he could and sent it across. ‘I love you,’ he thought desperately, ‘and I can only hope, after you know everything, you’ll still love me too…’
Panic was the last thing he felt…and then his eyes snapped open and he was alone once again.
Half a world away, an entire castle full of beings paused at the agonized roar of their platinum King.
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.