Jasper Whitlock

I pushed myself harder, time was of the essence and if I got there too late then we would all be doomed. I didn't stop to assess the situation, I just did what I needed to do.

I launched myself through one of the cracks in the castle and jumped into the throne room. There was only one small piece of stone flooring that wasn't covered in lava and I landed on it, facing the vampire in front of me.

Marcus was standing there, waiting for the lava to move closer. He was set to kill himself, but we couldn't have that. He was the key here, in order for my coven to live in peace we needed him alive.

I couldn't force him out, there was too much lava surrounding us and I knew he wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't throw him away, he'd just make sure he landed in the lava. I had to make him see reason.

First, I had to get him away from the lava so he couldn't do anything stupid. I bent down, bracing one arm and one leg on the stone as I grabbed Marcus' shirt and placed my foot near his hips and I pushed him up above me, holding him off the floor and away from the lava. I would not let him take his own life.

"What are you doing?" Marcus said. "Just let me go."

"No," I grunted out. He was heavy, but I wouldn't let him slip.

"You're going to burn," Marcus said, his eyes locked on the ever growing closer lava.

"I don't care."

If Marcus died, we would never be free. He was the only one of the Volturi Kings who had any sense about him. I never felt any negativity towards us from him, he didn't try and kill us on Aro's order. Caius had tried. I couldn't let Marcus die.

"Aro's dead," I told him, "you're free now. You don't have to do this."

"I killed Aro," Marcus said. "He didn't admit it, but he killed my mate, I know he did. Now, there's no point in living any longer. Nothing is tying me here, not anymore."

"She wasn't your mate," I growled, the lava was almost at my fingertips.

"I loved her," Marcus said, "she was my mate, I know she was."

"No, she wasn't," I said, "Aro's fake bonds may have tied you here, but if your mate had truly been killed that would have overridden that feeling. I know what it's like, Bella died, I felt it all. Death was the only option. If Didyme was your mate, you would already be dead."

The lava hit my fingertips and I grunted in pain. It was still slow moving, but it was inching up my fingers towards my palm.

"Stop this," Marcus said, "let me go, save yourself. You're not going to get those fingers back."

I didn't care, I didn't need my fingers and it was only on one of my hands, I would survive. We needed this, I needed this. I wanted to live in peace, I didn't want my coven to constantly be worried. Aro had pardoned us, but it wouldn't be enough, only Marcus could ensure that. I tried harder.

"Your mate is still out there," I told him and it had his suicidal feelings faltering, his mate was the key here, "maybe they're still coming, maybe you've already met them but you weren't open to the feelings as you thought Didyme was your mate."

Marcus was listening to me and that was good. The lava had taken all of my fingers on my left hand now, but I didn't care.

"My mate was human," I told him, "then she was taken by vampires. Garrett's mate was human too. Yours might be out there, you might need to save them, maybe they haven't even been born yet. Peter and Charlotte found each other in the wars. Charlie's mate was kept prisoner underground for two-hundred years. Don't you see it? Your mate is out there somewhere. If you die, then so would they."

The lava took my hand, it was forever gone and it knocked me down an inch, but I kept hold of Marcus above me. If I went down we would perish together.

I continued. "Bella and Angela would've been killed without Garrett and me. Benjamin would still be underground. Peter and Charlotte would be dead without one another. You can't abandon your mate, Marcus, they need you and you need them. I don't know when they're coming, but you have to wait. Aro kept you here, but now, there's no reason for you not to seek them out."

The lava continued to burn my forearm, forcing me closer and closer to the ground, but Marcus was close, so close.

"I need you to survive," I told him, "you have a good heart, you're fair. I know you can get Caius on your side, reprogram him from what Aro did, you can rule this world fairly. You won't need manipulation, people will follow you. You'll do good, you'll be a true savior, and your mate will come. Don't let Aro win."

I grunted again as I fell to my elbow. My lower arm was gone.

"Love has changed you," Marcus stated and I was glad to feel that almost all of his suicidal thoughts were now gone.

"No," I said, "it just brought me back to who I once was. Life is full of sucky situations," I told him, "but you've just gotta keep pressing forward because once your mate comes, it changes everything. You know I'm right, Marcus."

"Okay," he accepted.

Finally. I pulled my arm and leg back before forcing him into the air and towards the wall. I hoped he wasn't fooling me. He wasn't. Marcus turned midair and grabbed the wall, holding on for dear life a few feet above the lava.

I stood up quickly. The lava-free patch of stone was now no bigger than one and a half square feet. There had only been enough space for my foot and it was shrinking fast.

"Join me," Marcus said, holding out his hand.

He was too far away, we both knew that. I would never make it that far and it wasn't worth it. I could survive without my arm, but I wouldn't risk my legs. Death was more acceptable to me and Marcus could tell.

"Promise me," I told him, "that you'll let my coven live in peace."

Marcus' eyes were on the lava that was set to kill me.

"Promise me," I roared.

"I promise," Marcus said.

I stood up on my toes, it wouldn't be long now. I didn't want to die, but I had no choice.

"Tell Bella I'm sorry, tell her I was stupid, but tell her why I did it. You have to tell her, Marcus."

I could feel the heat on my toes, I closed my eyes.

"I will," he promised me.

I held myself up, but it was time. My long life was set to end. I thought of Bella one last time, she wouldn't survive my death, I knew that, but I hoped the others would. I stretched up one last time before lowering my feet, accepting my fate. I hoped death by lava would be quick. It wasn't.

Marcus gasped, and in that moment, I hated that I had come back, I hated that I had saved him only to get myself killed. I was a fool. Perhaps love did make you stupid because I fucking loved my coven too much for them to live a life being hunted. I just wanted peace and I was about to get it.

I opened my eyes, wondering why it was taking so long. I looked down and the lava was receding. What was going on? I whipped my head around and saw Benjamin standing in the doorway, manipulating the lava away from me. Would he ever do as he was told? I highly doubted it, though I couldn't be mad at him this time, not when he had saved me.

Benjamin made a lava-free path and Marcus jumped off the wall, joining me.

"You're crazy," Marcus told me, "I guess all the rumors about the Bringer of Darkness are true."

"Yes," I said, "but I'm not that vampire anymore."

Marcus nodded his head and we joined Benjamin.

"Where are the others?" I asked him.

"I don't know," Benjamin's head was dropped, "I broke ranks. I know you wanted to be alone, but I had to come, I had to help you, you're my son and I couldn't let anything happen to you. Bella's death would kill Charles and I don't want to die too."

I shook my head wondering whether his motives had been selfish or not. It didn't matter. I pulled him to me, hugging him with one arm.

"Thank you for saving me," I told him, "dad," I added even though I really didn't want to.

Benjamin's happiness broke through. "Yes," he said, "that was my wish for winning that game with Peter, but I didn't even need to ask, you said it all on your own. I'm your dad and you're my son."

Great.

"Go re-join the others," I told him, "I will be there shortly. You can tell them that I'm alive, but don't tell them about my arm."

Benjamin's happiness disappeared. "I'm sorry, Jasper," he said, "I really thought it was dormant."

I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed, "don't worry about it."

Benjamin nodded his head and left. I looked at my left arm. From my fingers to just above my elbow was forever gone. I sliced the skin around my shoulder and then ripped the rest of my arm out of its socket, throwing it into the lava. Then, I used the skin I had cut as a flap and held it against my open wound until it fused.

"I'm sorry that you lost your arm for me," Marcus said, staring at where it once was.

What was the big deal? It was just an arm, I didn't need it. Freedom was worth the cost. I was just thankful Benjamin had saved me. Although death would bring me the peace I so desperately wanted, I wasn't ready to leave this world just yet.

"Do as I said," I told him as I walked away from the destroyed throne room, "rebuild Volterra. I can get Benjamin to put the volcano back in the earth if you want." We stopped at the edge of the courtyard, looking up at it. It wasn't spurting out lava anymore, Benjamin probably did that, and the lava on the ground was now hard, it was only still molten at the very edges, but even that was sizzling out.

"Leave it," Marcus said, "it will be a reminder of what happened. I wouldn't have had the courage to kill Aro without it, it was too easy to kick him into the lava."

Aro's death was a satisfying image, amusing even, but Marcus was feeling conflicted over what he had done. He had been connected to Aro for over three thousand years, they were brothers, he loved him; just like we all loved those who had wronged us. It would take him some time to come to terms with all of this, but I had faith in him, he was strong.

"Thank you," Marcus said. "I want you to know something, we've known about you for your whole vampire life, we've watched you closely. You killing Maria, you killing Alice, all of the newborn problems you solved with Garrett; Aro of course tried to use this against you, but I want you to know that I saw it and I am incredibly thankful for everything you've done. You are a skilled fighter and I hoped you continue to use your powers for good."

I would.

"Your coven is strongly connected," Marcus continued, "nothing will break you apart. I officially pardon you and all of your coven members from all crimes committed, past, present and future." Future? Why was he giving us a free pass? "All I ask is for your support, if you're willing to give it. I will speak the truth of today. I will tell everyone how you saved me, I will lie and say the volcano came from an outside force, Volturi even. I will do all I can to ensure that your coven gets its peace."

My eyes met Marcus', I wouldn't thank him. This is why I had come back. Marcus had been the key to our freedom, I had felt it in his emotions. If I had let him die Caius would have risen up, he would've hunted us for this. And, two leaders are stronger than one, Caius would've been overthrown by someone less desirable. We never would've been safe. This is what needed to happen.

I was hesitant, I didn't really want to believe Marcus, but he was ensuring our peace and I truly hoped he kept it.

"Go now," Marcus said, "your coven cares deeply about you, you need to show them you're okay before they attack us."

I nodded my head, he wasn't wrong. I was surprised they hadn't come back already.

"Build your new coven with Caius," I told him, "it will take time, but have faith. Start slow, let it happen naturally, and know that your mate is coming."

Marcus nodded his head and I took my leave. When I got far enough away, I turned back and stopped, just staring. Right in the center, by the castle, stood Benjamin's volcano. It was pretty fucking majestic, dangerous too. Marcus would be wise to move his new coven to someplace new, but that wasn't up to me.

I felt them before I heard them. My coven was coming in fast. I bet Benjamin had gone to them and they had hightailed it back here. I stood my ground, just admiring the volcano. It had taken my arm, but I still didn't regret unearthing it. It had been what was needed.

Aro was gone, I couldn't believe that. I was no longer going to be watched and hunted. My whole vampire life I had been looking over my shoulder, but not anymore. I was free for the first time in my life, able to do what I wanted. It was a feeling like nothing else.

I wasn't sure what our future held, but I was content to have my Swan by my side, with my coven close by, and live in the peace I had earned.

"Where the fuck is your arm?" Peter asked, as they all came onto the scene and stopped behind me.

"The lava ate it," I supplied.

Bella stepped up to me, hugging me with one arm and checking my still fusing shoulder over. I was fine, everything was fine. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I pulled Bella around to face me. I was so glad to have her back in my arms and I wanted her to know that I was okay.

Her eyes met mine and she gasped. What was that about? I didn't care. I pulled her to me and kissed her. I was free, we were all free. Bella pulled back, she was so happy right now, amused too, maybe, I don't know, giddy? I relished in her positive feelings, realizing that this was the first time since she had been kidnapped that I could feel zero negativity within her. She wasn't blocking me either.

She must be happy because we had won. Alice, the Cullens, James' coven, all gone, the Volturi had been put in their place, we were free. But, it turns out, that wasn't the main focus of her happiness.

"Garrett," she said, pulling me around to face my coven, "look."

There were a lot of gasps. What was fucking wrong with them? What was wrong with me?

A small smile overtook Garrett's face and he shared a look with Bella.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked her.

"Nothing," she smiled, burying her head against my side. It was the side with no arm, she didn't seem to care that I lost it and neither did I. It was just an arm.

"Garrett?" I asked, wanting answers.

He didn't reply, but Benjamin did. "You have a beautiful smile, son," he said.

Oh, fucking hell.

"Let's go home," I said.

A/N: My new Bella/Jasper story is now being posted, it's called Online Predator

Be sure to check out my other Bella/Jasper full length fics: Light Within the Darkness (2011) - Let's Get Ethical (2014) - Irredeemable Killers (2014) - Bringer of Darkness (2015) - Rising Dawn (2015)

And my Carlisle/Bella/Garrett fic: The Chief's Daughter (2018)