***************************Author Note**********************************************

Hello everyone!

Sorry for taking so long to update! My life has gotten so hectic, between finding a job after I got laid off and family drama. I swear if it's not one thing it's another! Hopefully now that things have somewhat calmed down, I can write some more. Writing is not only my passion, but my escape so if there is ever a time to escape from reality it is now! With that thought in mind expect some updates to my stories now. I cannot promise they will be frequent but there will be updates if I have anything to say…which I do!

Anyway! Enjoy the newest chapter!

Chapter 15: Major Headaches

Jasper stood in shock for a moment, just staring at the ghost from his past. It has been centuries since he had last seen his maker, in all honesty he had thought she was finally dead. Seeing her here, alive and well he didn't know what to think. Jasper knew he was scared because if there was anyone bar the Volturi whom could best him it would be her. Not just that though, but as his maker she had a power over him that not even Alice could counter. If she were to but ask and use the Maker's bond to enforce it, he would do anything for her. If she was here to collect on the bounty, he knew they were all screwed. Jasper could just hand Bella right over and no one could do a damn thing about it.

Finally managing to shake himself out of his stupor, Jasper forced an impassive look to settle over his face. Wishing not for the first time, that his empathy could work on himself as well as on anyone else, he forced himself to hide his fear from her. Though judging from the amused glint in her eyes, he knew he didn't succeed half as well as he thought he had.

"What are you doing here Maria?"

Jasper's voice would have sounded strong were it not for the almost indiscernible waver in his voice. Judging by the eyeroll and the barely hidden disdain on her face, she saw his weakness and just like always found him weak due to it. Rather than giving voice to her disdain like usual though, he surprised her by answering him almost civilly. Her answer though shocked him.

"Not that it's any of your business Major, but I am here for the funeral of one of my descendants."

Not being able to control the surprise from showing on his face or through his gift, he began to relax his battle stance that he had subconsciously shifted into at first sight of her.

"Descendant?" Jasper mused in surprise, looking at his maker as though waiting for her to elaborate. Not to his surprise though, she didn't. Instead giving him a sneer and scoffing at his presumption that she owed him any answers. Maria was only here for the funeral and to make sure her descendant's friend was alright. After that she planned to go back South, her territory was in the hands of her second in command. That alone made her wary, but to add to the fact that he is a more likable leader than her and she didn't need to be a seer to see the outcome of what awaits her return.

Deciding that she has had enough of the niceties, Maria looked over her progeny surreptitiously. The Major looked like complete and utter shit. Those usual butterscotch eyes that drove her to near madness seeing that wretched amber replace those burning crimson orbs of old, looked dulled and lifeless. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought that he had lost his mate. Maria saw those eyes at any reflection of her that passed her by.

The reason she fights in so many wars and is so cruel isn't due to a lust of power contrary to what everyone would believe. It was due to the loss of her mate, her sisters saw to that. First by stealing him from her with the use of their beguiling powers of seduction, then by turning him with their venom. After he was turned, they used the makers bond to have him become their bitch and ordered him to attack her. The last time she saw him, she had torn his left eyeball out of his socked and burned his right arm right off of his steal screaming body. Maria couldn't kill him though, hurting him was bad enough. The only way she could protect herself from her sisters and her mate was to build an empire so powerful and strong that none would dare to attack her.

It had worked, in fact when her Major and his Captain were a part of her army, she had gotten word that a truce was going to be called. Maria had become too powerful and there were to be no more attacks for fear of complete eradication from her armies. When word got around of her army falling in disarray and the Major escaping with two of her best soldiers, she lost the truce and has been fighting since.

Giving the Major a soft shake of her head she decided to keep her observations and the shade of sympathy to herself. Maria knew better than anyone that people like them don't need nor want any sympathy. Instead she gave he a nod and turned to leave him be. Maria didn't care what he was here for, as long as he didn't prevent her from completing her business, then she would leave him be. Apparently he thought differently though.

"I can't let you leave Maria." Jasper regained himself after his brief surprise when he saw her start to leave. Jasper would normally let her be, if she didn't attack him then he wouldn't start something. But then he remembered what he was here for. If he let her leave now and she ran across Bella's scent and found out who she was, then there would be trouble. Maria mustn't know that Bella is here, if she found out there was no doubt in his mind that she would collect on the bounty.

Unfortunately, in his arrogance he forgot just whom he was talking to. Which would prove to be a fatal mistake. Quick as lightning, Maria whipped around and knocked his head clean off of shoulders in one clean right hook. Giving the flying head a disdained sniff, she turned back to his body lying prone on the forest floor and spat on it with her venom leaving a sizzling burn on the bare skin of his chest. Giving the body one final look of disdain, Maria turned around and left the woods to head to the cemetery where her descendent was being laid to rest. One final thought running through her head had her let loose an amused snort.

The Major will have a MAJOR headache when he puts him head back on!

***************************Author Note 2**********************************************

Hello! As you can see by my continuous bashing, I don't like Jasper! He has this awesome and highly manipulative power and he only uses it to calm people down! What a waste! I would abuse the shit out of that power! So that is what Jasper does in this story and is a convenient excuse why Bella was with Dickward! (I don't like him either!)

We also get to see something I wished someone would have done to Edward in the books and movies! Can anyone say off with his head?!

Anyway the next chapter should be longer because like Bella said before we've got funerals, ceremonies and finding out what happened to Renee. That's not even touching how she reacted to the bomb Rosalie dropped earlier. So hold onto yours seats ladies and gentleman this will be a bumpy ride!