After Alice's announcement it had been decided that Jasper, Alice and Bella would head to Italy to stop Edward. So now Jasper was waiting in the car for the human, wishing she would hurry up.
Bella came rushing out of the house, bag over her arm and Jacob following not far behind. They seemed to be having some kind of argument but Jasper blocked them out, not caring what they had to say.
As Bella got into the car, Alice did make an attempt to talk Bella out of coming, not wanting to endanger the human girl her brother cared for but Bella was stubborn and refused to listen. So being short on time Alice simply gave in.
"Jasper, can you get online and book us three tickets to Italy? One that leaves as soon as possible and will land as close to Volterra as possible." Alice asked. She had noticed how on edge he was about Maya being missing and needed to distract him so he didn't take off on his own. Her visions weren't telling her much but for some reason him being there was important.
Luck was with them as there was apparently one plane that was leaving soon. In the end they barely had to wait for any time at all before they were boarding and taxiing off down the runway. When they were safely in the air Jasper finally turned to face Bella and ask the one thing he had been wanting to ask since she walked through the door.
"Where is your sister?" He asked with more calmness than he actually felt.
"My sister? What does that matter right now? We have to focus on how we are going to save Edward!" Bella was confused as to why he would even bring that stray up at a time like this. Edward was far more important than anything else after all.
"Right now there is nothing to do, unless you can make the plane go faster. So I will ask again, where. Is. My. Mate?" The Major was dangerously close to coming out and snapping her neck at the way she had so simply dismissed Maya. The only reason he was able to hold back was because Bella might know where she was and it would upset Maya if Bella died. Or more accurately it would upset Charlie, which would upset Maya.
"I don't know I haven't really seen her these past few days. But I'm sure she's around somewhere." Bella waved her hand as if brushing the whole thing aside.
Her response and attitude just about sent Jasper and the Major into a rage and he had to clench his jaw shut and grip the arms of the seat to keep himself from killing her.
Seeing this, Alice was quick to jump in. "Bella, she hasn't been home in at least a week and you told us Victoria was hanging around." She hoped if she could get Bella to see the danger Maya was in her reaction might help calm Jasper down.
"So? She fought James. I'm sure she will be fine. We need to focus on helping Edward right now not tracking down that stray" Bella said carelessly.
Alice's hand shot out just in time to grab Jasper and stop him from lunging at the girl. For a second, she wondered if the scene in her head of the plane going down in flames as Jasper tore Bella apart was a vision or her own imagination. She gripped his hand and began muttering to him reassurances and promises in an attempt to calm him down. It worked but only just. He was still tense in his seat and remained silent for the whole flight, shooting glares at Bella anytime she talked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When they landed, Bella and Jasper stood in the shade as they waited by the airport for Alice to come back with a car. Jasper still ignoring her completely as that was the only way he could keep himself from attacking her. When Alice finally arrived it was in a bright yellow Porsche and Jasper had to shake his head at the choice. He climbed into the front seat, leaving Bella the back as they sped off down the road weaving through traffic.
"I figure you didn't rent this car?" Bella asked, holding on tight as Alice sped along the road.
"I figured you wouldn't be opposed to a little grand-theft auto."
"Not today."
As Alice went into another vision, Jasper casually leaned over to grab the wheel, yanking it to the side to keep them from hitting the car in front of them. It was something he had had to do before on the rare occasions where he was not the one driving. It often made him wonder just how Alice had ever been allowed to drive herself anywhere by Carlisle or Esme. Especially when they were in a busy city.
"What? What do you see?" Bella asked totally focused on Edward.
"They refused him. He's gonna make a scene. Show himself to the humans."
Great Jasper thought, my idiot brother really is the biggest drama queen I know and that's compared to Emmet who fake cries in Rose's arms whenever I win.
"No! When?" Bella demanded.
"He's gonna wait until noon, when the sun's at its highest."
And when the most people are out thought Jasper thinking of all the people that would have to die because of his brother. And Edward really thinks he has the right to judge me for my past and the people I have killed when he is planning on dragging possibly dozens down with him?
"Alice you gotta hurry up" Bella stated, as if Alice was not already pushing the car to its limit.
"There's Volterra," Alice pointed out the window to the approaching city.
Alice laid on the horn, but the streets were so packed and crowded there was no where for people to go.
"Why are they all in red?" Bella said, practically tearing her hair out with her stress.
"St. Marcos day festival. Their commemorating the expulsion of Vampires from the city. It's the perfect setting. The Volturi will never let him get far enough to reveal himself."
Jasper let out a breath at this. On the one hand it meant that the innocents would be spared from his idiotic brother's stunt, but on the other it means that their chances of saving Edward had just gotten smaller. He banged his head on the back of his seat in frustration. Why couldn't his brother have chosen a different way to die? Like death by wolf shifter. Why did it have to be the Volturi? Because Jasper knew even if they stopped him in time, they were not getting out of this without having to face consequences. Or more importantly, they would not be getting out of this quickly. Meaning that it would be even longer before he could head out to search for his girl. The Major once again made himself known and as he renewed his fight for control at that reminder. Jasper had been struggling to hold him back the whole trip here but with each minute it was becoming more difficult.
"We have five minutes!" Bella cried, not caring about why the people were out and only wishing they would all get out of her way.
"Breath Bella, just breath, panicking won't help" Alice advised and Bella shot her a glare.
Getting to the edge of the plaza, the police finally stepped in to stop them. Bella got out of the car, getting directions from Alice as to where she should go before taking off. Meanwhile Jasper had gotten out to talk to the policemen while Alice finished covering up, himself having already done that as they drove. By the time they had sorted out the situation with the local authorities the bell had struck noon and Jasper could feel the worry build to the breaking point in his chest on whether they had made it or not.
Both vampires immediately set off towards the clock tower at as quick of a pace as they could manage, keeping to the shadows as they did.
"Stay close to me Alice." Jasper had spotted two vampires following them and moved to take Alice's hand, ready to pull her out of the way of danger if needed.
"I'll try my best" Alice said absently, focused on making it to her other brother.
Arriving at the clock tower, Alice kicked open the doors and marched inside, exclaiming "come on, guys. It's a festival. We wouldn't want to make a scene." She came to a stop beside Edward, Jasper keeping himself between Alice and the guards already there.
"We wouldn't" the big one, Felix said smirking.
"But we would still win" the other, Demetri added.
"Enough" came a voice from behind the guards. Everyone looked up to see a young blond girl coming up behind them.
"Jane" Edward said, causing Jasper to tense up. He knew the stories of her and knew that if she chose she could take him down before he got close to her. If it came down to a one on one fight the chances were small that he would be the one to come out on top.
"Aro sent me to see what was taking so long." She turned around and began walking back the way she had come, obviously just expecting everyone to follow her. Which they did, with Alice muttering to Bella"Just do as she says."