Angels and Monsters

Chapter Fifteen

I'm back...well, Vampward and Vampbella are. Sorry about the delay in updating. Real life is kicking my hiney! I'm busier than I've ever been...gah! As a result, my updates are not as frequent as I would like. I have an explanation on my blog (link in my profile) and on my Facebook page: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation.

Up next will be some fallout of the recon mission and some fighting in Wisconsin. Possibly an introduction of a new character (and not a good guy); a blast from Edward's past, as it were. Who do you think it's gonna be?

Chapter Fifteen

It had been a few days since our reconnaissance mission to Chicago. Edward had withdrawn from all of us. I was worried about him. He wouldn't talk. He wouldn't interact. He just sat on the roof of the house, staring out over the lake. He hadn't moved since he scaled the walls and taking his perch on the roof.

I missed him.

Jasper sauntered up to me and sat down next to my spot in a neighboring tree. I wanted to watch Edward surreptitiously. I blocked my mind and watched him. Hey, Bells, Jasper said to me mentally. No change?

I shook my head, giving my friend and brother a frown. "What do you sense from him?"

Anger. Despair. Guilt. Fear, Jasper explained. Anger is the most predominant emotion. He's pissed off over what happened in Chicago. Jasper stared at me and his eyes were questioning.

"He killed a vampire, popping off his head like a zit," I said, chuckling darkly. It was funny to see. Disturbing, though. "Plus, he dealt with the bloodlust of the freshly spilled blood of the vampire's victim. We dumped them both into a dumpster near Wrigleyville, torching it."

"Do you remember what the victim looked like?" Jasper asked.

"A little taller than Esme, blonde hair, hazel eyes, I think," I replied.

Did she look like this? Jasper questioned, showing me a picture from a newspaper in his mind. The girl was beautiful, young, happy and the daughter of one of the local politicians. My eyes widened as I nodded. "Crap," Jasper hissed. The politician is out for revenge for his daughter, Emma. She had recently graduated from Harvard Law School and was going to work in a local, prestigious law firm. Jasper swallowed thickly, clamping his eyes shut.

"What, Jas?" I asked, putting my hand on his bicep.

Edward's going to flip his shit. Are we shielded?

"Yes, I can only hear you," I replied. "What is it?"

She was pregnant...about three months along, Jasper said, giving me an anguished look. She had just told her boyfriend the night she went missing. He had proposed to her, obviously without a ring but he had done so because he was happy about the baby.

I growled, leaping out of the tree and onto the ground. My temper flared. The vampire, Ronnie...UGH! He had not only stolen one life, but two! TWO!

Bella, keep it together, Jasper chided, taking me into his arms. Edward's starting to suspect something.

"I have to tell him," I whispered brokenly.

Get him away from the house, Alice said to me, her mental voice sounding somber.He's going to react. Badly.

Edward must have heard part of Alice's conversation to me. He jumped down from his perch on the house, glaring at Jasper. "I'm going to react badly to what?" he snarled.

"Edward, come with me," I said in a soothing voice. I put my hand on his arm. Angrily, he ripped it away. His eyes were black and he was in full bloodlust, despite the lack of blood. He needed to feed. Jasper bathed him in a wave of calm. His black eyes cleared slightly but he was still agitated. "Please, Edward?"