The Inauspicious Beginnings Of A Prince
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 30
Caius felt his heart sink with the first three words uttered by his beloved son upon waking. He had been afraid of this outcome, especially so since there had been such complications beforehand.
"I am your father Jasper."
He stayed in his ever cautious crouch.
"Why don't I remember that? I'm sure that I would remember such a thing!"
Caius thought of trying something and hoped it would jog his son's memory.
"Eri molto male mio figlio . Sei morto e il medico ha lavorato per portare indietro . Vi ho morso e hai cambiato per salvarti."
("You were very sick my son. You died and the doctor worked to bring you back. I bit you and changed you to save you.")
Jasper growled and shook his head in frustration, shifting but not rising from his aggressive crouch.
"Tu sei mio padre ? Dov'è mia madre ? Perché non riesco a ricordare uno di voi ?!"
("You're my father? Where is my mother? Why can't I remember either of you?!")
He shook his head again in frustration, a panic setting in as his mind raced through every bit of information that he could recall.
There were the basics. He knew he was Vampire. He knew how to hunt and feed. He knew how to fight, but he couldn't remember learning to. But anytime he tried to recall people or specific names or places, there was nothing there. He knew the language that the vampire who claimed to be his father had spoken, and he even recalled parts of the lessons when he had learned it, but not who had taught him.
He shifted nervously and growled, feeling suddenly trapped. He didn't like it one bit. He needed to get out. There was a faint scent in the room that seemed to be calling him and he made up his mind to go find it.
Caius saw the moment his son had resolved to move, the almost imperceptible shift of his eyes toward the door giving him away. It was a very newborn type of mistake and it made him wonder how much combat training his son had retained.
Resisting the urge to crouch and ready himself, he waited for his son's move. He didn't have long to wait as Jasper sprang, not toward the door as Caius had thought he would, but to the opposite side, straight at him.
Jasper fought hand to hand with the male vampire until he finally got a hold on his arm and threw him across the room and away from the door. The male was fast, as he jumped up immediately, but Jasper was faster and made it through the door before he could be stopped.
He heard the male shout at the guards he had just blown by, but he was now focused on one thing. That scent.
An alluring scent that he had to find or go crazy trying.
He tracked it to a nearby hallway and was getting very close. He could tell, not only from the increasing intensity of the scent, but by the four intimidating looking guards posted at the door. The door he just knew he had to go through to get to the owner of that scent.
He stopped and growled loudly, his eyes ever assessing his opponents for weaknesses. He knew he had to take them out quickly because the other guards and the blond male he'd left behind were closing quickly.
With that thought, and a supremely confident smirk, he made his move.
~o0o~
Dora sighed exchanging looks with Esme, Garrett, Peter and Paula as they all watched Bella pace the room. She hadn't eaten the food that had been ordered for her and she hadn't even sat for a second.
"Bella, you must sit, rest and eat something! This is not good for you or my sweet little grand baby."
She smiled at her and Bella tried to return it, she really did. She just couldn't. She wanted to see Jasper. Talk to him. She wouldn't rest or feel right until she did. So she paced.
The faint sound of fierce growls followed by a crash had her spinning to face the door, her heart picking up speed. She knew who that growl came from. She knew it was Jasper and she knew that he was looking for her.
"Jas", she whispered, just before taking off toward the door. She didn't make it though as Pete caught her, holding her gently as she struggled. "Please! I have to see him! Let me go Pete!"
"No Bella. We don't know what he's like yet. He sounded feral! He could hurt you easily! Just one wrong move and he could kill you, without even meaning to. He wouldn't survive that guilt Bella. He would destroy himself."
Bella sagged in his hold. She knew that she didn't have a shadow of a chance of escaping him if she struggled, so she decided to play opossum. She'd let him think she'd given up and bide her time for the right moment. She was gonna get out that fucking door, one way or another, she vowed.
"Oh god Pete, I didn't even think of that. You're right."
He gave her a sad smile and set her away from him. "Just wait until Caius says that he's safe to be around Bella. I'm sure it won't be too long from now, maybe just a few days. Until then, you have to rest and eat. Take care of yourself and your little one."
She nodded and made her way to the small table that was set with her meal. She might as well get some benefit out of her delayed escape. Lifting the lid carefully, she was grateful that it was a mild sort of chicken and pasta dish. Lately, she hadn't been able to tolerate anything with a strong aroma. This was perfect really and she began eating, only just realizing that she was starving.
She'd almost finished when they heard a huge crash and a roar right outside the door. Seeing her opportunity, Bella covered her mouth as though she was going to be sick and ran toward the bathroom door which was just past the entry door to the suite. As soon as she got to the entry door she grabbed the knob and opened it, ignoring the scream of Dora and Pete's yelling. Just outside the door though, she froze at the sight of no less than six guards holding Jasper back as he growled and struggled.
"Jasper?" She stepped forward a step and was grabbed by Peter.
"No Bella! Damn it! You can't go to him!"
She struggled. "Peter, let me go! I have to go to him! He won't hurt me damn it!"
Jasper locked his black as night gaze on her struggling form and threw off two guards, immediately spinning around in the hold of the others, taking down two more. He was almost free.
Caius saw that Peter was still holding a struggling Bella and knew that his son would be free within seconds.
There was no help for it. He would have to trust in the instincts of his son, that he wouldn't hurt his mate. He knew that Jasper wouldn't hesitate to hurt Peter if he didn't let go of Bella though. "Peter! Let her go and get back in the room!
Another guard crashed against the wall missing both arms. Now there was just Demetri fighting to control his Prince. There was no way he could hurt him even though he knew that he was pretty damn durable now. He just couldn't do it. He'd trained his Prince since he was just a little boy.
He was thrown off just seconds later and Jasper was free.
Bella stood still after Peter let her go. She knew Jasper was fighting to get to her, but everything happened too fast for her to focus, so she waited. She knew Jasper. She knew he'd get to her somehow.
Literally seconds later, she was wrapped in the strong arms she loved so much as he nuzzled her neck, a quiet purr sounding from deep in his chest. She laughed in quiet joy as she wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing her cheek against his and placing light kisses. "Jas…..God, how I love you! Welcome back baby."
He backed away enough to see her face, gazing at her in wonder. "I remember. I remember you."
Bella felt fear grip her as she looked into his red eyes. "What do yo mean Jasper? What's wrong baby? What's going on?"
She looked over at Caius, looking for an answer. He looked grave. "It's seems that he lost many memories during his change Bella. He doesn't seem to remember me or his mother. That's as far as we got into it. He caught your scent at that point and escaped the room to track you."
She looked back at Jasper, taking his face in her hands. "Baby, did you remember my name? Anything about me?"
He shook his head. "No. I know that you're my mate. I feel that. I have a partial memory of making love to you, but I don't remember any details. I don't recall how we met, or how long we've been together…" His jaw clenched and he looked away, anguish clear in his features.
She moved forward, holding him tightly, her head resting on his chest. "It's okay Jas. We'll take this one day at a time. The important thing is you're still with us. The rest we can work on." She looked up into his face, caressing his cheek. "You'll remember with time, I know you will. You're much too stubborn not to." She smiled at him and he nodded slowly, not looking convinced at all.
Caius moved toward them slowly causing Jasper's head to whip toward him while he pulled Bella close. "Son, you should feed now before you do anything else. We'll come right back here when you're through, and perhaps then, you can see everyone else. I know that your mother is anxious to see you again."
Jasper turned back to Bella, taking her lips in a slow, sweet kiss. Breaking the kiss, he looked up quickly and growled lowly at his father who had moved another step closer. Bella held his face again. "Baby, he's your father and I've never seen a son love a father any more than you do. You can trust him."
He nodded, never taking his eyes from Caius. "Yes, but you're my mate and he's coming too close."
Bella furrowed her brow. "Too close? But he's family Jas. He loves you. Can't you feel that with your gift?"
"Yes, but he's a male and he's too close." He growled out, still staring a Caius.
Caius stepped back again. "Jasper, it's time for you to feed. Perhaps your instincts will calm once you've had blood."
Bella made the mistake of backing away, and Jasper panicked and grabbed her, still growling at his father. She gasped at his strength and the speed of his actions. He wasn't hurting her, but he was less than gentle in his panic.
Caius held up a hand. "My son, let Bella go. You could hurt her without meaning to. You're a bit stronger than you were and you must adjust to the change and learn to manage it before handling her."
Jasper's eyes went black again and he growled loudly, placing Bella behind him as he faced his father, his arm still around her waist. "Mine!"
Caius was at a loss as to what to do. He was afraid his son would accidentally hurt Bella. He knew, without a doubt that he would never hurt her purposely, but the situation was becoming critical. His son needed to feed to stabilize his instincts, but he didn't want to leave his mate. He felt a measure of relief fill him when Bella began to speak.
"Jasper!" She rubbed his back and tried to keep her panic at bay. She had to get this situation under control before it escalated. "Jasper, listen to me. I am yours. No one will try to take me. I'm yours, but you need to go feed baby. I'll be waiting here for you to come back to me, all right."
He kept his eyes locked on his father and the guards that were now assembled behind him. They were all feeling anxious and this made him even more wary. They were planning something. Most likely planning how they could get his mate from him.
He knew there was a large window to his left. He knew better than to glance at it. Such a move would give away too much information and so he kept his eyes on his foes as he fell into a semi-crouch, warning them away from him and his mate.
Caius watched as his son crouched and his heart sank. This was bad and just becoming worse. He knew that he had to do something to calm the situation and so he began backing away, his hands held up as he spoke calmly.
"Calm yourself son. I'm backing away. Bella is yours."
Just as he backed away, he was horrified to see a relatively new guard rush forward. He shouted at him, but it was too late. Jasper grabbed Bella, shielded her with his body and crashed through the large window, escaping into the courtyard below.
Rushing to the window, Caius looked down and cursed.
He couldn't see his son anywhere.
His feral son and his son's pregnant mate were gone.
Caius felt his heart sink with the first three words uttered by his beloved son upon waking. He had been afraid of this outcome, especially so since there had been such complications beforehand.
"I am your father Jasper."
He stayed in his ever cautious crouch.
"Why don't I remember that? I'm sure that I would remember such a thing!"
Caius thought of trying something and hoped it would jog his son's memory.
"Eri molto male mio figlio . Sei morto e il medico ha lavorato per portare indietro . Vi ho morso e hai cambiato per salvarti."
("You were very sick my son. You died and the doctor worked to bring you back. I bit you and changed you to save you.")
Jasper growled and shook his head in frustration, shifting but not rising from his aggressive crouch.
"Tu sei mio padre ? Dov'è mia madre ? Perché non riesco a ricordare uno di voi ?!"
("You're my father? Where is my mother? Why can't I remember either of you?!")
He shook his head again in frustration, a panic setting in as his mind raced through every bit of information that he could recall.
There were the basics. He knew he was Vampire. He knew how to hunt and feed. He knew how to fight, but he couldn't remember learning to. But anytime he tried to recall people or specific names or places, there was nothing there. He knew the language that the vampire who claimed to be his father had spoken, and he even recalled parts of the lessons when he had learned it, but not who had taught him.
He shifted nervously and growled, feeling suddenly trapped. He didn't like it one bit. He needed to get out. There was a faint scent in the room that seemed to be calling him and he made up his mind to go find it.
Caius saw the moment his son had resolved to move, the almost imperceptible shift of his eyes toward the door giving him away. It was a very newborn type of mistake and it made him wonder how much combat training his son had retained.
Resisting the urge to crouch and ready himself, he waited for his son's move. He didn't have long to wait as Jasper sprang, not toward the door as Caius had thought he would, but to the opposite side, straight at him.
Jasper fought hand to hand with the male vampire until he finally got a hold on his arm and threw him across the room and away from the door. The male was fast, as he jumped up immediately, but Jasper was faster and made it through the door before he could be stopped.
He heard the male shout at the guards he had just blown by, but he was now focused on one thing. That scent.
An alluring scent that he had to find or go crazy trying.
He tracked it to a nearby hallway and was getting very close. He could tell, not only from the increasing intensity of the scent, but by the four intimidating looking guards posted at the door. The door he just knew he had to go through to get to the owner of that scent.
He stopped and growled loudly, his eyes ever assessing his opponents for weaknesses. He knew he had to take them out quickly because the other guards and the blond male he'd left behind were closing quickly.
With that thought, and a supremely confident smirk, he made his move.
~o0o~
Dora sighed exchanging looks with Esme, Garrett, Peter and Paula as they all watched Bella pace the room. She hadn't eaten the food that had been ordered for her and she hadn't even sat for a second.
"Bella, you must sit, rest and eat something! This is not good for you or my sweet little grand baby."
She smiled at her and Bella tried to return it, she really did. She just couldn't. She wanted to see Jasper. Talk to him. She wouldn't rest or feel right until she did. So she paced.
The faint sound of fierce growls followed by a crash had her spinning to face the door, her heart picking up speed. She knew who that growl came from. She knew it was Jasper and she knew that he was looking for her.
"Jas", she whispered, just before taking off toward the door. She didn't make it though as Pete caught her, holding her gently as she struggled. "Please! I have to see him! Let me go Pete!"
"No Bella. We don't know what he's like yet. He sounded feral! He could hurt you easily! Just one wrong move and he could kill you, without even meaning to. He wouldn't survive that guilt Bella. He would destroy himself."
Bella sagged in his hold. She knew that she didn't have a shadow of a chance of escaping him if she struggled, so she decided to play opossum. She'd let him think she'd given up and bide her time for the right moment. She was gonna get out that fucking door, one way or another, she vowed.
"Oh god Pete, I didn't even think of that. You're right."
He gave her a sad smile and set her away from him. "Just wait until Caius says that he's safe to be around Bella. I'm sure it won't be too long from now, maybe just a few days. Until then, you have to rest and eat. Take care of yourself and your little one."
She nodded and made her way to the small table that was set with her meal. She might as well get some benefit out of her delayed escape. Lifting the lid carefully, she was grateful that it was a mild sort of chicken and pasta dish. Lately, she hadn't been able to tolerate anything with a strong aroma. This was perfect really and she began eating, only just realizing that she was starving.
She'd almost finished when they heard a huge crash and a roar right outside the door. Seeing her opportunity, Bella covered her mouth as though she was going to be sick and ran toward the bathroom door which was just past the entry door to the suite. As soon as she got to the entry door she grabbed the knob and opened it, ignoring the scream of Dora and Pete's yelling. Just outside the door though, she froze at the sight of no less than six guards holding Jasper back as he growled and struggled.
"Jasper?" She stepped forward a step and was grabbed by Peter.
"No Bella! Damn it! You can't go to him!"
She struggled. "Peter, let me go! I have to go to him! He won't hurt me damn it!"
Jasper locked his black as night gaze on her struggling form and threw off two guards, immediately spinning around in the hold of the others, taking down two more. He was almost free.
Caius saw that Peter was still holding a struggling Bella and knew that his son would be free within seconds.
There was no help for it. He would have to trust in the instincts of his son, that he wouldn't hurt his mate. He knew that Jasper wouldn't hesitate to hurt Peter if he didn't let go of Bella though. "Peter! Let her go and get back in the room!
Another guard crashed against the wall missing both arms. Now there was just Demetri fighting to control his Prince. There was no way he could hurt him even though he knew that he was pretty damn durable now. He just couldn't do it. He'd trained his Prince since he was just a little boy.
He was thrown off just seconds later and Jasper was free.
Bella stood still after Peter let her go. She knew Jasper was fighting to get to her, but everything happened too fast for her to focus, so she waited. She knew Jasper. She knew he'd get to her somehow.
Literally seconds later, she was wrapped in the strong arms she loved so much as he nuzzled her neck, a quiet purr sounding from deep in his chest. She laughed in quiet joy as she wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing her cheek against his and placing light kisses. "Jas…..God, how I love you! Welcome back baby."
He backed away enough to see her face, gazing at her in wonder. "I remember. I remember you."
Bella felt fear grip her as she looked into his red eyes. "What do yo mean Jasper? What's wrong baby? What's going on?"
She looked over at Caius, looking for an answer. He looked grave. "It's seems that he lost many memories during his change Bella. He doesn't seem to remember me or his mother. That's as far as we got into it. He caught your scent at that point and escaped the room to track you."
She looked back at Jasper, taking his face in her hands. "Baby, did you remember my name? Anything about me?"
He shook his head. "No. I know that you're my mate. I feel that. I have a partial memory of making love to you, but I don't remember any details. I don't recall how we met, or how long we've been together…" His jaw clenched and he looked away, anguish clear in his features.
She moved forward, holding him tightly, her head resting on his chest. "It's okay Jas. We'll take this one day at a time. The important thing is you're still with us. The rest we can work on." She looked up into his face, caressing his cheek. "You'll remember with time, I know you will. You're much too stubborn not to." She smiled at him and he nodded slowly, not looking convinced at all.
Caius moved toward them slowly causing Jasper's head to whip toward him while he pulled Bella close. "Son, you should feed now before you do anything else. We'll come right back here when you're through, and perhaps then, you can see everyone else. I know that your mother is anxious to see you again."
Jasper turned back to Bella, taking her lips in a slow, sweet kiss. Breaking the kiss, he looked up quickly and growled lowly at his father who had moved another step closer. Bella held his face again. "Baby, he's your father and I've never seen a son love a father any more than you do. You can trust him."
He nodded, never taking his eyes from Caius. "Yes, but you're my mate and he's coming too close."
Bella furrowed her brow. "Too close? But he's family Jas. He loves you. Can't you feel that with your gift?"
"Yes, but he's a male and he's too close." He growled out, still staring a Caius.
Caius stepped back again. "Jasper, it's time for you to feed. Perhaps your instincts will calm once you've had blood."
Bella made the mistake of backing away, and Jasper panicked and grabbed her, still growling at his father. She gasped at his strength and the speed of his actions. He wasn't hurting her, but he was less than gentle in his panic.
Caius held up a hand. "My son, let Bella go. You could hurt her without meaning to. You're a bit stronger than you were and you must adjust to the change and learn to manage it before handling her."
Jasper's eyes went black again and he growled loudly, placing Bella behind him as he faced his father, his arm still around her waist. "Mine!"
Caius was at a loss as to what to do. He was afraid his son would accidentally hurt Bella. He knew, without a doubt that he would never hurt her purposely, but the situation was becoming critical. His son needed to feed to stabilize his instincts, but he didn't want to leave his mate. He felt a measure of relief fill him when Bella began to speak.
"Jasper!" She rubbed his back and tried to keep her panic at bay. She had to get this situation under control before it escalated. "Jasper, listen to me. I am yours. No one will try to take me. I'm yours, but you need to go feed baby. I'll be waiting here for you to come back to me, all right."
He kept his eyes locked on his father and the guards that were now assembled behind him. They were all feeling anxious and this made him even more wary. They were planning something. Most likely planning how they could get his mate from him.
He knew there was a large window to his left. He knew better than to glance at it. Such a move would give away too much information and so he kept his eyes on his foes as he fell into a semi-crouch, warning them away from him and his mate.
Caius watched as his son crouched and his heart sank. This was bad and just becoming worse. He knew that he had to do something to calm the situation and so he began backing away, his hands held up as he spoke calmly.
"Calm yourself son. I'm backing away. Bella is yours."
Just as he backed away, he was horrified to see a relatively new guard rush forward. He shouted at him, but it was too late. Jasper grabbed Bella, shielded her with his body and crashed through the large window, escaping into the courtyard below.
Rushing to the window, Caius looked down and cursed.
He couldn't see his son anywhere.
His feral son and his son's pregnant mate were gone.
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.