Sacrificial Lamb Chapter 40
BPOV
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Edward’s words echoed in my mind. Aro knows. The room exploded with activity around me as Jasper and Emmett demanded a word for word account of what Alice and Edward had seen while Rosalie uttered a few curses and Esme grasped my hand. Carlisle pleaded for calm and Edward was off the floor in a flash with his arms wrapped tightly around me as if he would never let go.
A part of my brain processed Alice’s explanation of what she’d seen while another part of me seemed to float in some darker place. I saw Charlie’s devastated face on the boat, I saw Jacob’s eyes snapping with anger as he yelled at me for the choice I’d made, I saw an old image of Renee in tears over yet another failed relationship and lastly I saw Edward’s face as he prepared to step into the sun in Italy, prepared to end his life because he thought mine was over. It could not all be for naught. My life, his life, our life was not going to end because some power hungry vampire in Italy wanted me to be his ultimate weapon. I would not allow it. I would do anything to protect this family. I’d destroyed my other family and I was not going to allow my new one to be taken away as well.
Jasper’s eyes snapped to mine as he felt my resolve. He cocked his head and I just stared at him and let him feel my determination not to lose the one thing I valued more than anything else on this earth. I let go of Esme and joined my hands with Edward’s around my waist.
“Love, I won’t let him touch you.” I raised our joined hands to my lips and kissed his knuckles.
“No, Edward, I won’t let him touch you. Any of you.”
A warrior’s smile flashed across Jasper’s face as the rest of the family gaped at me. “What do you mean, Bella?” Esme’s tone was full of fear. “You aren’t going to Italy to work with Aro. I won’t allow one of my children…”
I let go of Edward and took her hand again. “No, Esme, I’m not going to give him what he wants. I’m going to make sure he doesn’t get a chance to make me into his next Jane.”
“And how are you planning on doing that?” Emmett demanded.
“By getting stronger. By learning everything that I can with my power.”
Jasper nodded in approval. “Yes, and it’s time we expanded on your lessons.”
“Now wait a minute,” Carlisle held up a hand. “Nothing has happened yet, right Alice? Can you pinpoint when Tanya will run into Demetri?”
She scrunched up her face and shook her head. “I can tell that it’s fairly soon, there are still Christmas decorations hung in the square. It can’t be too far off.”
“And you see nothing else from Aro?”
“No, he hasn’t formulated a plan yet. He’s all excited about that Haides guy. Do you know anybody by that name?”
Carlisle shook his head, his blond hair glinting in the lamplight. “No, it’s not a name I’ve heard before. Clearly he’s someone with a talent Aro wants.”
“But what could be more important than Bella’s power?” Emmett wondered aloud.
“I don’t know,” Carlisle answered.
“Someone that could help him get Bella’s power,” Jasper answered.
“What?”
“Think about it. He knows Bella won’t just come to Italy because he asks. He knows that we won’t just stand by and let him take her, so obviously he needs to find another way to get to her. It’s what I would do.” I didn’t doubt Jasper’s words, he understood Aro in a way that I never would.
Edward’s grip on my waist tightened again. I turned and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “So what do we do?” I asked.
“I’m going to try calling Tanya. If we can stop her, buy a little time, we’ll figure something out.” Carlisle took out is phone and dialed her number. He grimaced as the call went to voicemail. “I’ll try Eleazar again then, she’d answer his call.” He dialed another number and frowned as he got voicemail again. “Alice?”
She shook her head sadly. “You won’t get to him in time. That much I can tell. I think it’s already too late.”
“Maybe I can appeal to Aro,” Carlisle mused. “If I could make him see that we’re not any kind of threat…”
“It’s not about us being a threat anymore, don’t you see?” Jasper interrupted. “Yes, there is a part of him that fears our gifts but he knows you, Carlisle. He knows that you just want to live your life and be left alone. He isn’t worried that we’re suddenly going to rise up and take over Volterra. He’s beyond that now. All he’ll want is Bella’s power. Nobody would pose a threat to him if he had her in his corner. Does he still want Alice, Edward and me? Yes, but we’re pretty much just the icing on the cake that is Bella. With her he needs nothing else.”
“Alright, but how? How does he get her there?” Edward snarled the words, his frustration mounting.
“Easy,” Jasper answered nonchalantly. “Threaten someone she loves.” I was grateful he was on our side but I was pretty terrified by the way his mind worked.
“My parents!” He would do it too; he’d go after Charlie and Renee to lure me to Italy. “Edward, we have to help them,” I gripped his forearms too tightly and he winced.
“We will, love,” he assured me, stroking my cheek softly. I leaned into his touch and prayed that he was right.
“Calm down, Bella,” Jasper ordered. “Everyone needs to calm down. You’re all putting me on edge and I need to think. I’m going to run, clear my head. Alice, do you want to come with me?”
“Sure,” she murmured quietly, her usual exuberance gone.
Jasper turned to Carlisle. “We’ll be back shortly. I think you need to call Billy. Don’t let them know why. Just tell them we have reason to believe that there might be a threat to Charlie. If he’s surrounded by wolves, I doubt Aro will go after him. I’ll call Jenks and hire some security for Renee and Phil. It’s all we can do for now.”
Carlisle blew out a breath. “You’re right, that’s our best course of action right now.” He picked up his cell again and dialed.
Jasper turned to me and Edward. “Just relax. We have time and we’ll be ready and waiting for them when they come after us. You can handle this.” I met his eyes and saw that he meant exactly what he said. I actually wasn’t worried about Aro coming after me. I could handle that. But the thought of him going after my very breakable parents scared me to the bone.
“They’ll be protected, Bella,” Edward reassured me. I nodded and listened as Carlisle told Billy that they were worried about a potential threat to Charlie. Billy asked some questions and Carlisle told him that the Volturi might look for leverage against us and Charlie would be an easy target.
“He’s staying on the rez these days. I doubt they’d come after him here.” Charlie was staying in La Push? Why? “Embry’s been talking about becoming a cop, I can send him to work with Charlie during the day, to observe. Do you think that would suffice?”
“Yes, I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”
“Just tell me that Bella’s alright,” Billy said and I felt a lump form in my throat at the concern I heard in his voice.
Carlisle glanced at me. “She’s fine. Would you like to talk to her?”
There was a pause and I waited nervously for Billy’s response. “Sure, if that’s alright with her.”
I had the phone in my hand the second he completed the sentence. “Billy.”
I closed my eyes as I heard his breath catch. “Hi, Bells, it’s good to hear your voice.”
I let out some strange combination of a sob and a laugh. “I could say the exact same thing to you. Thank you for talking to me.”
“Er, anytime. So Carlisle tells me there may be some trouble. I don’t want you to worry about your father. We’re taking good care of him. He seems more like himself every day.” His words, though they were meant to reassure me, cut me like a knife. I’d broken my father and he would probably never be the same.
“Thanks, Billy,” I whispered. Edward’s hand intertwined with mine again and I gave it a squeeze, thankful as always that I had his silent support. He knew what I was feeling even though I hadn’t let him back into my mind since Alice’s vision.
“It’ll be easy to keep an eye on him, he’s down here every night anyway,” Billy murmured gruffly. There was something in his tone…
“Is he staying with you?” I couldn’t imagine Charlie sharing that tiny house with Jacob and Billy for very long.
“Uh, no, not exactly.” What did that mean?
“What does that mean?”
Billy muttered something about telling kids things they didn’t need to know. “What?” I asked, getting frustrated now.
“Fine! He’s staying with Sue Clearwater!” Leah’s mom? That Sue Clearwater? She and my father? I didn’t know what to do with that information. I didn’t particularly like to think about Charlie and women. He’d never dated when I lived in Forks and I hadn’t had the impression that he dated at all before I got there. It was weird to think about my father having a personal life.
Edward chuckled and I shot him a glare. “Oh.” What else could I say? Alice giggled and Emmett grinned at me. What were they all so amused about?
“I mean, they’re not….at least I don’t think they are…” Oh my God, entirely enough of that. “She’s just taking care of him.” Billy sounded like he was reassuring himself more than me. I didn’t want to think about that either.
“That’s very nice of her. And of you. And everyone. I’m glad you’re all looking out for him.”
“Of course, Bella. Always will,” he assured me.
“I’m glad. How is…” I broke off, not sure if I wanted to ask.
“He’s good.” Of course Billy knew I was asking about Jake. “Putting in a lot of time down at the garage. I think they’ll hire him on full time once he’s done with school.”
“Great, he’d like that.”
“Yes. I, uh, heard some of the things he said to you. You know he didn’t mean most of it, right? He’s just very angry right now.”
Oh, he meant it alright but I didn’t want to think about that. I was just glad to hear he was doing alright. We weren’t friends anymore, or more accurately, I wasn’t his friend, but I still cared about him and missed him more than I liked to admit.
Edward nudged me and I realized that I hadn’t responded. “That’s okay, Billy. If the situation were reversed I probably would have done the same thing.” Edward shook his head and I bit back a smile. Okay, so that wasn’t true but Billy didn’t need to apologize for his son’s words.
“Right,” he breathed a sigh. “Well I better get going. I need to round up the boys and let them know there might be trouble.”
My hand tightened on the phone. “I’m sorry that we’re putting you in danger.” Again. Even in death I was still causing trouble for the wolves. “Please, be careful. If anything happened to you…”
“Don’t you worry about us, Bella. We take care of our own. You just take care and if you need anything, you call and let me know.” Yeah, like the wolves would come running to our side if the Volturi came calling. Somehow I didn’t see that happening. Still, it was a kind gesture.
“Thanks, Billy. Take care, okay?”
“You too, Bella. It was good to talk to you.” I handed the phone back to Carlisle and let him thank Billy as well and turned to my husband.
“What were you laughing about?”
He grinned. “Your reaction the idea that your father just might have a sex life.” I shuddered at the use of the words sex life and father in the same sentence. Some things I did not need to know.
“Not funny.”
“I beg to differ!” Emmett laughed boisterously. “It’s good to know the chief has a way with the ladies.” Gross. I smacked him on the arm at the same time as Rose smacked him upside the head. I grinned at her and she smiled back.
“Bella, there’s something I need to tell you,” Alice said with a hesitant smile.
“What?”
“When we were at your funeral, I saw Charlie with Sue and…” she eyed me nervously.
“What?” I demanded, getting irritated at her lollygagging.
“Can’t you figure it out?” Emmett threw up his arms. “They’re totally doing it!”
“Ew! Alice, you saw that?” Thank God I did not have her power.
“Ew! No!” Alice echoed with a look of disgust on her face. “I didn’t see that, Emmett. You know, you were there!”
“What, exactly, did you see?” I asked through clenched teeth. I would make her tell me if she didn’t just spit it out in two seconds.
“Charlie and Sue are going to be married one day. The reason I had a hard time seeing his future was because Seth and Leah are constantly going to be around him, with him married to their mother and all. Are you mad?” I didn’t know what I was to be honest. A part of me was happy that Charlie would have someone to take care of him. Another part of me was upset at the thought of his replacing me with Leah of all people. Seth, he was great, but Leah?
“Why didn’t you tell me when you all got back?”
Alice sighed. “You were sad and I thought you were dealing with enough. I hope you’re not upset with me, I wanted to wait until you were in a better place to tell you.” I wasn’t mad at her, I just felt strange about the situation. There was too much to process right now.
“I’m not mad at you.” A look of relief flitted across her pretty face. I felt a wave of calm coming from Jasper.
“Sorry, we’re keeping you, aren’t we?” I asked.
“You needed us and we have plenty of time,” he spoke confidently. I wished I could feel that sure.
“Go, come up with a plan.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He stared at me like he was looking into my brain. I met his eyes and he apparently saw what he needed to see.
“Let’s go Alice.” He held out a hand to her and she danced over to take it. “We’ll be back shortly.” I watched as they moved fluidly out the front door and leaned back into Edward’s arms. My mind was whirling with all I’d learned in the last hour. My power was about to be known, a threat hung over all our heads and possibly my parents, I’d talked to Billy, my father was going to marry Sue Clearwater…it was a lot to absorb.
“Talk to me, love.” I didn’t have the energy to talk so I just let Edward into my mind instead. I gave him all of my fear, all of my confusion. His eyes held mine as he took in my thoughts and emotions. “Thank you,” he whispered as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“For what?”
“For letting me in. You internalize far too much.” I knew I did and I knew he hated it when I shut him out. Usually I did it to protect him, though. He took my guilt and made it his own which was just ridiculous. He chuckled. “You know I’m still hearing you, right?” Oops, I had forgotten.
“Well, it’s true,” I pointed out.
“I know. I just hate it when you’re unhappy. If I could take it away…”
“You can’t, just as I can’t make you stop feeling guilty. Well, maybe I could!”
He chuckled and kissed me softly. “How about we both agree to keep working on our issues and leave it at that?”
“That works for me.” I settled back into his arms to think about all that had happened and wait for Alice and Jasper to return, hopefully with some answers.
APOV
Why couldn’t I see anything? I ran alongside my Jasper and tried to will a vision to appear before my eyes but it wasn’t happening. I hated when I couldn’t see.
“Alice, stop pushing yourself. You’ll see when there’s something to see.”
“What if I don’t though? Aro knows how my power works, he could hold off on making a decision until…”
“Until what? It’s not like he lives next door. You’ll see when he decides to leave, or to send someone after us or Charlie or Renee. Have a little faith in yourself.” He shot me a grin and came to an abrupt stop. Sure, he had absolute faith in me, which was wonderful except that since Bella had come into our lives there was so much I couldn’t see. The wolves, her non-death, her power…it was completely frustrating that one of my favorite people had rendered me nearly useless.
I grabbed his hand in my right hand and used my left to brush the blond locks out of his face. I had to stand on tiptoe to do it but I loved the feel of Jasper’s hair in my hands. “Why are we out here?” I knew, of course, but I wanted him to talk about it.
He plopped down on a rock and pulled me next to him. “I had to get away from all the emotion in the room. Edward’s freaking out, though he’s trying to keep that from Bella, Carlisle and Esme are worried, Rose is angry, Emmett’s ready to tear someone apart and Bella…” he broke off and shook his head. “Bella’s determined, focused…I wasn’t expecting that but it’s a pleasant surprise.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. These men just didn’t get Bella sometimes. “Why are you surprised? She’s always been brave, always put everyone else before herself and she’s faced her own death more times than I can count. Her fear will always be for her family, Edward and all of us, never for herself.”
He chuckled. “I guess I knew that but it still surprises me to feel it in action. In another time she would have made an excellent warrior. Though I guess she’ll probably have to be one now.”
He got that look again, that far off look that took him back to a time that he didn’t like to talk about, even to me. I stroked his hand and waited for him to come back to me. He always did, he always would. He turned and focused back in on me. “There’s a lot I still have to teach her and I just don’t know what kind of time I have. She’s learning so fast now, it probably won’t be a problem but the added pressure won’t be good for any of us. I have theories about what she can do, what she’s capable of. Some of it is downright frightening.” Surely Jasper couldn’t be worried about Bella abusing her power. Before I could ask the question, he said, “Not in Bella’s hands, per se, but in Aro’s. He’d understand what she can do and he’d see the potential of what she could do better than even I could. I have to anticipate all of that and make sure she’s ready for it.” He took so much on his capable shoulders.
“We have to make sure she’s ready for it,” I corrected. He smiled and nodded. “What is it that you think she’ll ultimately learn to do?” I was curious and again, I didn’t see anything. I guess until Bella knew she was capable of something I wouldn’t know. I hated that.
“I think she could get into the mind and plant false memories. I think she could unlock hidden memories. I think she could remove everything a person knows. Could you imagine that? What if she could go into your subconscious and remove me from your head?”
I shook my head in automatic denial at his question, though another part of his statement was echoing in my mind. Unlock hidden memories? What if she could make me remember my past? Would I want that? Did I want to know anymore about my existence prior to awakening a vampire? The pieces we’d gathered from James made me lean away from ever knowing. Still, it was something to ponder.
I felt a soft touch on my cheek and turned to look at Jasper who was watching me patiently. “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere, really. I just got to thinking, if she could get at hidden memories, she could uncover my past. Then I started wondering if I really wanted that.”
“Do you?”
“No, although I know I would be the best for her to test the idea on. The rest of you all have your memories intact. I guess maybe she could see if she uncover some of Edward or Carlisle’s human times but I’m really the best guinea pig for that.” I’d do it for Bella but I didn’t really want to.
“Hey,” he lifted me and pulled me onto his lap. “You don’t have to and right now it’s not the most important thing anyway. That’s something we’ll get to over time. Right now her mind needs to be a weapon.”
“Isn’t it already? She can get people to do whatever she wants.” I was confused.
“Yes, but what if we can turn that into an offensive power?”
I cocked my head at him. “How so?”
“What if she could use other people’s powers, or more accurately, get them to use their powers on others?”
Oh wow, that was an amazing thought. “So if she could get into Jane’s head and…”
“Fry Aro? Yes, exactly. That’s slightly different from just bending people to her will. She has to be able to tap into their head, turn on their power and direct it. It’s far more difficult. Still, if the Volturi ever do get their hands on her, she could use Alec or Jane to get away.”
Fascinating. His ability to see the possibilities in a situation always astounded me. He would have made an excellent general and I have no doubt he would have become one had he lived. Maria…I couldn’t be sorry that she came into his life, because that brought him to me, but I could hate her for every second of the pain she’d caused him before and since. He lived with so much guilt and for him to feel it the way he did…I wanted to kill her sometimes. Hey maybe I could have Bella mess with her mind if she ever showed up again. That thought cheered me immensely. Jasper shot me a curious look and I just smiled and shook my head. I’d save that one for another day.
“Well, I don’t think she could use my power to cause me to see anything or Edward’s power but yours would be perfect.”
He smiled at me. “Yes, are you willing to be a guinea pig?”
“For you? Anytime.” I stood and held my hands out to him, pulling him off the rock. “Are you ready to go get started?”
“Yes.” He bent down and kissed me. “Thank you for getting away with me. You calm me like no one else ever could.”
I smiled, warmed by his words and the love shining in his eyes. “Jasper?”
“What?”
“No power could ever make me forget you. Even if someone could remove you from my mind, they could never take you from my heart.” His eyes got darker then and he picked me up and put me back on the rock. I felt his passion and desire sweep over me as his lips met mine.
“We don’t have to get back right away…” he trailed off as his lips moved down my throat. I giggled and pulled him down with me. We had time. We’d make time.
EPOV
Waiting was not one of my better virtues, particularly when it came to my wife’s welfare. I gripped her tightly in my arms and counted down the minutes until Jasper and Alice returned.
Edward, it will be alright. We can handle this. As long as my parents are safe, we’ll be fine. I know we will. Her confidence was astounding. My Bella had truly started to believe in herself. If only she would look in the mirror and see her beauty as well. In time, she would. She’d come so far already. She blew me away.
“I believe in you, love.”
She turned in my arms then, her golden eyes regarding me with warmth. “I believe in us.” I kissed her then, not caring that Carlisle was still trying to reach Eleazar and Emmett was peering out the windows as if we were going to be under attack while Rose steamed over in the corner and Esme kept repeating to herself that everything would be okay. She believed it, why couldn’t I?
We’re back. I breathed a sigh of relief at Jasper’s greeting and broke my kiss with Bella, gently brushing her cheek. “They’re home.”
“Good, I prefer us all to be together.” She sat up and Emmett left his post at the window to sit down when Jasper and Alice entered.
“Well?” Emmett demanded, looking at Jasper like he held all the answers. Jas rolled his eyes but smiled.
“So, I have an idea of what we need to do next.” Alice danced over and sat next to Bella, her eyes shining with excitement.
“This is going to be fun!” she exclaimed. I glanced at Jasper and raised a questioning eyebrow. Bella needs to learn how to tap into someone else’s power. She could turn the Volturi’s strengths into their own weaknesses; turn Jane and Alec on them. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I thanked God Jasper was on our side. It never occurred to me that Bella could do something like that.
“What is going to be fun?” Rose demanded.
Jasper turned to her. “You may want to leave again. I’m going to have Bella try to make me use my gift against the rest of you.”
“What do you mean?” Carlisle asked with a look of interest on his face.
“Look, we know that one day Aro is going to come after Bella. It may not be tomorrow but I am sure it’s going to be soon.” I felt my body tense at his words, even though I know they were true. “Calm, brother,” Jasper said, cutting a glance my way. “So, what if Bella not only has the option to control their minds, but to use their own weapons against them? She could make Jane use her pain on Aro, she could make Alec freeze everyone so she could get away.” He looked around the room. “I told her that she was the most powerful vampire I’ve ever seen and that was not an exaggeration. The scope of her power is potentially limitless.”
“Jasper thinks that she may be able to go into people’s minds and unlock their lost memories.” She turned to Bella. “Like you could make me remember my past before I was changed, if I wanted you to that is.” A look of fear flashed in her eyes but she quickly masked it. “It’s something we could maybe try, one day.”
My eyes met Alice’s. Well, I don’t want to try it now. I’m not ready. Maybe someday though, if it will help Bella. I shook my head at her. Don’t you argue with me, big brother. I will decide when and if I want to let her bring back my past. Sometimes I do wonder, sometimes I’m glad I don’t know. Now, at least, I have an option. She was right, of course. There were times when I wondered about my human life as well. My mother and father were very faint memories in my mind at this point; would it hurt if I had Bella give them back to me or would it be good for me? It was something to think about at any rate.
Her power…if she could do things like that it would be amazing. Imagine what she might be able to do for patients? Could she wake up someone in a coma? She could surely clear up amnesia. Could she find hematomas that we couldn’t locate with cat scans? The possibilities for good are endless. Of course, so are the possibilities for evil. Aro won’t rest until she’s by his side. I know him better than anyone. I’ve been fooling myself to think that he would leave us alone. Carlisle’s thoughts, as always, were filled with caring for his patience and love for his family.
Rose eyed Bella warily but whatever she was thinking wasn’t very clear to me, I seemed to be getting images of her past. I knew she didn’t want those back. Emmett’s thoughts were the same as his words when he said, “Epic,” yet again. Like me, he was in awe of Bella.
For her part, Bella didn’t seem to be overwhelmed by the information. She had a look of interest on her face but her mind was closed to me right now and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “Love? Are you okay?”
She smiled at me and just like it did the first time she looked at me like that, I felt my heart soar. “I’m fine. A little surprised that I could possibly do that, but at the same time, it would be really great if I could. I help sick people, right? Like people with Alzheimer’s and memory loss?”
Carlisle positively beamed with pride. Of course her mind went right to helping people. Bella’s such a wonderful girl. Charlie would be so proud of her. “I think maybe you could, Bella. We could really do some miraculous things with your gift.” Esme’s thoughts echoed Carlisle’s, she was proud that Bella wanted to use her gift for good.
“Are you ready to get started?” Jasper asked her.
“Sure.” Bella looked at Rose. “I promise I won’t get into your head but I know you don’t like when I do this so I understand if you want to leave.”
Rosalie crossed her arms and glanced around the room. “I’ll stay. You’re all my family and if this is an important part of keeping us together then I’ll do whatever it takes.” Loyalty had always been Rose’s greatest trait. Bella smiled at her and Rose gave her a tentative smile back, smoothing back her blond hair nervously.
“So what do I do?” Bella asked Jasper, looking much like she used to in class when she was presented with new information. I kissed her cheek impulsively and she arched a brow at me. I just shook my head and kept the memory to myself for now.
“Get into my head. Make me do something, just something normal first.” She scrunched up her face and then smiled. Jasper went over and scooped Emmett into his arms and carried him toward the stairway.
“Hey! Not without dinner first!” Emmett scolded with a grin. Everyone burst out laughing at the hilarious picture the two of them made.
Jasper put Emmett down and turned to Bella, laughing. “Cute, very cute.”
“It was a very Gone With The Wind moment I thought,” Bella said with a giggle. “Plus Esme liked it when I had Carlisle do that for her. And Emmett never did get to get Yellow Jacket’s number.”
“Who is Yellow Jacket?” Rose asked with a frown.
“Nobody,” Emmett answered hastily at the same time that Jasper blurted, “This guy in the Psych class we went to that had a crush on Em.”
Rose’s frown melted into a fit of laughter. “Oh Bella, you absolutely should have had him give Emmett his number. I would have paid good money to see that.”
“Next time,” Bella promised her with a big smile. The fact that Rose was actually encouraging Bella to use her power was not lost on any of us.
“Well, now that you’ve had your fun,” Jasper said with a little grin. “Can we get back to the lesson?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” she snapped a little salute at him which sent the room into laughter again. Jasper gave her a mock glare and Bella looked like a little kid with her hand in the cookie jar. She was too cute.
“Anyway,” he said with a withering glance around the room, “you remember when I showed you the portion of my brain where I push out the emotions?” She nodded. “I want you to concentrate on that location. Notice any difference you feel there versus anywhere else within my brain. You need to be able to locate that change in a brain like Jane’s as well. Can you feel anything?”
Bella’s face was one of fierce concentration. “Yes, there’s something more there. More nerves possibly? I can almost feel power emanating from that spot.”
Jasper grinned. “Good. Now try with Edward. Where in his brain is his gift located?” Bella’s gaze landed on me and I smiled at her determination. I loved watching her learn new things. “Lower right, just above his ear,” she announced decisively.
“Sound about right, Edward?” I honestly had no clue, I’d never explored my gift the way Bella and Jasper had. It had just always been there. I shrugged. Jasper laughed. Okay, Edward, concentrate, what part of your head are you hearing me in right now?
Bella was right. “Just where she said it was.”
“Makes sense really, that it would be near the ear. Hearing thoughts, hearing, get it?” Emmett chuckled. Rose smacked him. “Ouch!”
“Do me!” Alice begged, not remotely concerned with Bella looking into her mind to locate her visions.
“Right on the top, in the center, it comes from both the right and left side equally,” Bella announced. Alice bounced in excitement and patted the top of her head.
“Someone probably dropped you on it when you were a baby,” Rose pointed out dryly. The room dissolved in a fit of giggles again.
“Rose, we can’t all be gifted, no need for jealousy,” Alice sang with delight. Rose tossed a pillow at her which Alice caught and placed in Bella’s lap as she lay her head down. Bella put her arm over Alice’s shoulder and looked at Jasper expectantly.
“Well, now that you know how to locate the power center, you need to figure out how to use it. I’ve told you how I push my power at people, the same as you do really, so you need to get into my brain and make me do the same thing. Whatever you do, you need to make the whole room feel it, except for you, got it?”
Bella nodded and got that look of concentration on her face again. All of a sudden I felt completely giddy and laughter burst out of me and everyone else in the room except for Bella and Jasper. Emmett was on the floor kicking his feet, Alice howled into the pillow, Esme and Carlisle clutched one another and Rose chortled. As abruptly as it hit us it ended just as quickly and we were left gasping for air.
“One try,” Jasper murmured in awe. “It took you all of one try to get at my power. You are truly a wonder.” Bella bit her lip and glanced around the room but all she saw was the same pride Jasper spoke with reflected back at her.
“It was easy once I knew where the power came from,” Bella told him.
“That’s good. The first thing you do, whenever Aro or one of his minions comes around us next, is locate that spot. Be ready to tap into it at a moment’s notice. Will you do that?”
“Of course,” Bella said confidently, leaning back into my shoulder as she played with Alice’s hair.
“Good. We’ll keep practicing. You need to be ready. We all do.”
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