Cauldrons, Ice and Old Lace

Chapter 4

Author's Notes: Thank you to my amazing Beta, Thyme! Another thank you to my husband and Immortal beloved for helping me figure out what the red eyes creature was. All credit of the idea goes to him; he’s a fucking genius!

~~~~~

Jasper's POV

When I run past the tree line the scent of battery acid and old blood assaults my nostrils. My cold dead heart clenches in pain when I instantly recognize the scent of the creature before me, being the one that took the life of my sweet Annabel. Dragoons are very rare but one of the most dangerous beings in our existence. They are part dragon and part man. Dragoons are the only beings that could kill a witch or warlock while he or she still chooses to use their gift of transformation. Even my own venom could not harm a witch. Just one swipe of a dragoon's tail took my beloved away from me. Their tails are sharp and have a poison that is extremely lethal to only witches and warlocks. Just the thought of this vile creature makes my venom boil. Picking up momentum, I run as fast as I can. I am a man with pure vengeance in my heart and a vendetta to

score.  The tree’s fly past me as the creature picks up speed, pure darkness and maliciousness radiating from him. I see his reptilian tail curve out from underneath his black cloak. Swiftly he takes his cloak off and tosses it on the ground.

Just as I am getting closer to him I see a mass of rustic fur barreling towards the creature from the other side. The fucker has nowhere to go. I am proven wrong when he extends his black and tattered wings. He looks at me and smirks while he starts to rise up into the air rapidly. I  growl in frustration. Leaping in mid run, I'm able to grasp onto the dragoon's tail and claw my way up. The creature cries out in pain as my sharp nails rip off the dark green scales that are on his reptilian tail. He tries to claw at me with his clawlike hands, with no luck.  His back leg bucks at me and I firmly bite his ankle. The creature cries out in pain once again as he keeps lifting up in the air, his wings moving rapidly.

I look down at the ground before me for just a moment and I see the rustic wolf pacing back and forth. I can feel his urgency, concern and fear as the dragoon flies straight up. I clutch onto him even tighter; there is no way I'm letting this bastard go. I know not to try and move either, just to ride it out and attack when he becomes more vulnerable. Suddenly the creature takes a nose dive and iss aiming right into a mass of trees.  Swiftly he lets up and turns, ramming me and his tail  up again a large tree. He laughs mercilessly when I yell out “Mother Fucker.” I embed my nails deeper into him, ending his laughter. He cries out in agony. I feel his pain penetrate through my body as though the pain is my own. I close my eyes tight and block it out projecting his pain directly at him, amplifying the effect and hoping to knock him off balance. He growls out in fury as he rams me and his tail against another tree knocking it down.

Ahead of us I can see a small rock mountain and an incline with a bridge. He flies right under the stone bridge trying to knock me off. Quickly I stabilize my feet on his tail and do a back flip when we go under the bridge. I hold onto his tail tight as I feel my body spin. The dragoon huffs out in pain as his body is spun around the bridge, and that is when I hear the most amazing sound, a snap, and I see his body and tail pulling apart from each other. The screams of anguish make my very being cringe. I have to try and block out the energy and anger he is aiming at me. I fall backwards onto the ground with his tail in my hand, as dark green blood pours from the beast's tail, splattering all over me.  I roar in triumph knowing he can no longer harm a witch or warlock with his tail. Looking up I see the beast flying upward then suddenly with a loud hiss he vanishes from in front of my eyes with a gigantic puff of red smoke.

I lay on the ground laughing triumphantly. I wish I had killed the fucker but this is reward enough, considering the situation. Instantly I think that I wish I had a lighter on me. Now I need to take this disgusting thing with me until I can get rid of it. Very much like myself, the only way dragoons can be completely destroyed is by fire.

I am drawn out of my thoughts when I hear the crackling of a fire, and I can sense the wolf close by. I turn around to see an old ally I have not seen since 1967, the night Annabel was killed. Ephraim Black stands well over 7 feet, his features chiseled, very pronounced and strong.  I watch him intently as he lets his emotions of pain, anguish, triumph and sorrow flow freely. I feel a tug at my cold dead heart when he gasps and then shakes in grief. More than anything I want to reach out to him, but I know he needs this moment to reflect as much as I need my own moment to mourn my losses.

I walk closer to the fire and say a prayer to a God and Goddess I am not even sure exists anymore. Without Annabel everything seems void.  Taking a deep breath of unneeded  air I toss the bloodied tail into the fire. The flame engulfs it in a matter of seconds. The green smoke residue from the fire pit carries the repulsive stench to my nose. I stand watching the flames with great satisfaction as I wipe the beast's blood off my hands onto my jeans.

Ephraim Black suddenly looks up at me, the fire reflected in his brown haunted eyes. When he looks at me I see the moisture glistening and the emotion pouring from him.

He gasps and I hear him sob as he speaks softly. “Was that him?”

“Yes, Brother, that was the one who killed Annabel,” I say, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice, without much success

I watch as my old friend and ally crumples to the ground in agonizing emotional pain. 

~~~~~

When we met all those years ago we only saw each other as enemies. He hated my kind and I despised his. His tribe and the Cullen’s had made a treaty. We promised not to cross into the Quileute tribe's land, nor would we feed from humans, and in return they would not tell anyone our secrets. He instantly saw we were different than most cold ones. He was a fair man in that respect even though he can be very egotistical at times.

Ephraim and I clashed at first. Even though he had never imprinted on Annabel he had loved her dearly, as she did him. I was never jealous of  the relationship they once shared. It reminded me so much of Edward and myself. I only became a bit territorial when he tried to break us apart.  Ephraim Black held a grudge against me. He felt Annabel had betrayed him by falling in love with a blood sucker. I remember the day that changed everything. Ephraim had pushed me too far. I had only known Annabel a short time but I knew she was my forever. We had bonded in every way possible; our souls were entwined and it was all consuming. I tried to calm him down with my gift but it was no use. Ephraim got right in my face letting out a loud  human growl. He was going to protect what he thought was his with no fear for his own life. His body shook in fury and his growls became more animalistic. He leaned his head back as he out stretched his arms. and I knew he was going to shift and I was ready for it.

I took several large steps backwards giving him space to shift then I crouched down ready to attack. Just as he shifted into a wolf we lunged  at each other with only war and death in our souls. We both  were stopped abruptly. Annabelle stood between us. Her hand was on my forehead and her other hand was on the wolf's forehead. She had broken our collision with her bare hands.

We both stood there stunned by the power this petite woman held over us. She looked from me then to Ephraim. Her eyes glowed and seemed so ethereal. Her voice was that of a siren; her inner witch had completely taken over. “I have lived too long to let you two fight like imbeciles just to prove something to each other. I refuse to let each of you die again just so I can wait for you both to re-enter my world. I have waited patiently for several centuries for this moment, and I will be damned if either of you will take this away from me. Do you understand?!” The force in her voice gave us no choice but to nod our heads.

We both stood there numb, completely frozen in that moment. The force of her hand pressed against our foreheads was so powerful I felt  paralyzed. The love she was projecting to us was like nothing I had ever felt before; it went beyond the sands of time. Suddenly there was a loud crackling of electrical current all around us. A powerful current electrified through the palms of her hands and her fingertips. I heard Ephraim and I both gasp at the same time when visions of our past lives entered our minds.

The visions moved so rapidly, but the thing that always remained true in each vision was that Annabel and I were always meant to be. We were true soul mates. One could not be whole without the other. I have always been a warrior, and more often than not, I fought side by side with Ephraim; we were best friends sometimes even brothers. But always kindred spirits. Edward had also always been in my life in one form or another - lover, best friend and fellow warrior.  When neither of us had our soul mates by our side we had each other to get through the dark times.  Ephraim and Annabel had also been each other's stronghold, until their true mates came around. In most of my lives I died young, and Annabel would continue to use her gifts of transformation and wait for me to come back to her. In a few lives I did grow old, and in those very few lives she would grow old next to me.

After Annabel lifted her spell from us Ephraim and I looked at each other in full amazement. We then truly understood our friendship from the past and even the tension of it as well. Instead of lunging into a fight like we had previously wanted to do, we walked towards each other and embraced each other in a brotherly hug. After that  encounter everything changed. We were no longer enemies, we were friends, allies and brothers. The treaty no longer existed but the Cullen’s still abided by it. If we crossed over the land for any reason we would let the wolves know. This was more for safety and caution in case an intruder came our way.

~~~~~

I am brought out of my thoughts from the past when I hear the fire starting to die out.  I look across the smoldering embers to see Ephraim wipe the tears from his face, and as he stands, he clears his throat and walks over to me. “Thank you, Brother, for letting me have a moment.” I nod my head in understanding as he holds his hand out to me. I shake it. His laugh is full of emotion as he brings me into a hug. “It’s good to see you again, Jasper Cullen, it's been way too long.”

I pull back and chuckle. “It’s good to see you again, Ephraim Black.”

He laughs full-heartedly and nods his head. “Jacob Black is the name I go by these days, you know, to keep up appearances.” He shrugs his shoulders and I cannot help but chuckle.

“I know that feeling well. For creatures who do not change, we are forever changing our names. I go by my birth name these days, Jasper Whitlock. I could not imagine staying in the same place and only changing my name.” I raise my eyebrow at him. “And how does that work exactly, Jacob?” I emphasize his new name so he knows I understand and will address him as such.

He chuckles softly. “It’s not an easy thing let me tell you, but it works and that is definitely a story for another time. But now we need to get down to business.” I nod my head in understanding. “I am sure you're aware that Ruby has passed on?” His tone is so cold and almost callous. It is his emotion that gives him away. He is hurting inside and completely broken. There is also some bitterness and resentment that radiates from him as he says her name. So I understand that wall of indifference he is putting up.

Over by a patch of trees I notice two large rocks. I motion my head towards the rocks. “Why don’t we sit down and talk.” We walke over in silence. I close my eyes then look him directly in the eyes. “About a week ago Alice had a vision that I needed to be here, that our whole family needed to come back. She never told me why, nor did I question her. She just said I needed to come first and set everything up. Honestly I did not know until  I drove through Rosewood Street and I saw her granddaughter in her home grieving. I felt Ruby's spirit. It was something the young woman said that led me to believe she had passed on.”

He nods his head. “The young woman’s name is Isabella, but she goes by the name Bella.  I have always strongly believed she is Annabel reincarnated, their spirits  are so much alike.” I then feel his resentment and bitterness boiling even more inside him. He looks at me pointedly. “Ruby has never let the tribe be close to Bella. The information I speak to you now is second hand, from Ruby’s son Charlie. He has always been good friends with my son Billy over the years.”

He takes a deep breath and I can feel his hesitancy. “I have been watching and secretly protecting Ruby and Bella for a long time. Bella is a strong Witch, very powerful and able to care for herself. Sadly Ruby has kept her sheltered. I don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.” He closes his eyes taking another deep breath and then continues on. “She’s being watched. I know she feels it because there is always a gleam of protection around the small home.” He clears his throat and the emotions are so strong in his voice when he speaks. “Jasper, I don’t know what’s coming but I feel it deep in my bones. My brother and sister wolves feel it too. We have been tracking down that dragoon for some time, but he’s not the only one. There are many, not just Dragoons. but beings I have never heard of or seen before. I loved those Twins dearly, you know that. And when Ruby pulled away from all of us after Annabelle passed on it tore all of us apart. I think she was hiding something. Something so big that she thought by keeping it to herself and suffering in her own pain she could protect us. I know she loved all of us as much as we loved her.”

I nod my head. “I had suspected Bella might be Annabel’s spirit. I feel very protective of her and drawn to her in the same manner. But brother to brother, I can’t get my hopes up.” He nods his head in understanding then I continue talking. “I never really thought that Ruby was hiding anything but now that I think about it, I know you're right. You're also right about the Dragoon. When I harmed him I knew there would be hell to pay, and there will be a war, but I have no idea what we are up against. I feel the same as you do. It’s big. I feel it will be something we have never witnessed before.” Taking  a deep breath I try to inhale as much of the scents of the forest as I can. I learned this from Annabel and how soothing it can be. Looking back at my old friend, I can see the worry in his eyes. “The fact that Bella is being watched by so many different beings concerns me.”

He huffs out a breath of air. “I don’t like that she is being watched either, and these beings are pure evil. If this comes to a war, will you and your family be willing to fight side by side with us?”

I nod my  head. “Yes, I am assuming that is why Alice sent me here, and the family will be here within a week or two.”

“Good,” he proclaims firmly as he stands up and begins to walk away. He then turns around and I see concern with a hint of amusement glistening in his eyes. “Just so you know Isabella turns 21 in a few months. So hopefully she will be at her full strength and be prepared to fight alongside us.”

I just shake my head, as I feel my own panic setting in. I know what that meant. In the Swan family on her twenty-first birthday, she will receive the rest of her spiritual gifts, and it will change her world forever. Annabel expressed to me in the past how frightening it was to go through it, and she was glad she had her sister by her side. They endured it together. I can’t possibly think of Bella going through this by herself. I don’t know how I can interweave my life with hers but I know I need to be there for her. Part of me wants to grab her and run far away. If she is my Annabel and I finally found her, I can’t possibly think of her life being in danger and losing her again. But I know if I take this away from her, she will resent me forever. 

Jacob seems to understand my thoughts. And lack of response. “No worries, man, we won't let anything happen to her. If you remember I loved her once too and it killed me when she died. I can’t imagine enduring that pain again. I know you felt my emotions towards Ruby earlier, and I think it would be fair of me to tell you that I do hold a lot of resentment towards Ruby because she kept Bella so hidden, and if she is who I think she is. I am just sad I was not able to love her again before you came back into her life.”

I laugh full-heartedly and look directly at him with amusement in my tone. “You’re a fucking prick, you know that, right?!”

He chuckles mischievously and shrugs his shoulder. “What can I say? I take my opportunities when I can. All's fair in love and war.”

I nod my head. “That war has already been won.”

He sighs heavily. “Damn, why did you have to rain on my parade?”

“Because we live in Washington, dumb ass, and all it does here is rain.” He laughs, and I realize how nice it is to banter like this with someone. It has been way too long.

We can hear a wolf howling in the distance. “I take it that’s your cue to go.”

He nods his head. “Yeah, they are kind of worried, so I need to report in. Are you going to be alright?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’m just going to go to the house and clean up a bit.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, you stink, but I guess that blood sucker scent will never truly get off you.”

“Fuck you, brother! At least I don’t smell like a wet dog when it rains.” He takes off running into the forest laughing. I can feel his amusement as he vanishes within the trees. I hear him call out just before he shifts. “It’s good to have you back, Whitlock!”

I shake my head and it’s nice to have a smile on my face.

~~~~~

It’s been a long time since I have walked up the driveway of our home. So many good memories are there, and unfortunately sad ones as well. I  look at the old home that obviously is in need of a few repairs. Luckily I can easily do the repairs before the family gets here. As I get closer to the home I hear childlike voices singing and cheering. I know my ears must be deceiving me. I have not heard those voices in many years. When I got closer I notice movement on the banister and I know my ears have not deceived me.

I shake my head and start to laugh when I see the silly little flower faeries dancing. I remember the first time I ever met the faeries. I thought I had lost my ever loving mind. Annabel was amazed as well. When I saw them she told me they don't let just anyone see them. But since I was her mate they trusted me. This particular memory from the past warms my dead heart and reminds me of simpler times.

The flower faeries continue to dance around the banister singing joyously. “Ding dong, the dragoon's dead, dragoon's dead. the dragoon's dead.”

I walk up to the banister and crouch down so that I am at eye level with the little flowers that are dancing around unaware that I am watching them. I speak in a normal tone. “The dragoon's not dead!”

All the little faeries jump in fright and hold onto each other, shaking dramatically. They bend their little petal heads to look up at me then start laughing when they see it is me. Daffy jumps on my hand and runs up my arm. Her stemlike arms and leaf hands are waving all over the place as  she laughs. When she gets to my shoulder she looks at me sternly and points her leaflike finger in my face. “You scared me, Mister!”

I laugh boastfully. “That was not my intent. I was just correcting your words.”

She huffs. “Well if he’s not dead then what is he?!”

“He’s wounded. He has no tail.”

She runs down my arm and jumps back on the banister joining her sister flowers. She starts to sing cheerfully. “Ding dong, the dragoon's tail is gone, tail is gone!” Then all the flowers sing along with her. “Ding dong, the wicked tail is gone!”

I smile at my funny, silly little friends, as I tickle their sides playfully. They giggle enthusiastically. “As much fun as you little flowers are, I need to go take a shower.”

The little sunflower playfully pinches her nose. “That’s a good idea. because you stink!”

I rest my hands on my hips as I look down at her. “You do realize it is mighty rude to tell someone they smell?” She pouts her little petal lips at me.

As I'm about to walk away, the little tiger lily flies up to me with a big envelope in her hands. “This is for you!”

I raise my eyebrow at her. “And what is this?”

“A letter for you to read, silly.”

As I open the letter I see all the faeries jump into a small basket and make themselves look like a flower arrangement. I can't help but laugh. When I open the letter I am surprised to see it is from Ruby.

Jasper,

Please deliver our silly  little Friends to my granddaughter Bella. She needs to remember to smile and live life to its fullest, and not to dwell on sad times. As you may have already figured out she is the spirit of your sweet Annabel, and my twin sister. Bella is unaware of who you are or that I was her twin. Her physical mind may not know who you are, but her heart and soul will recognize your spirit in a heartbeat. Please do not be mad at me for keeping her from you. It was not the right time, until now. Everything is changing in the spirit world and the physical world.  Please let my darling mate know I will find my way back to him and that it is okay for him to tell you all my secrets, and why I chose the path I did. I hope you and the family will not hold anything against him. He only did what I asked him to in order to protect everyone. I am terribly sorry if I hurt anyone. This was just how it needed to be, so in the end all of our futures could be secure.

Lots of Love,

Ruby

A gasp parts from my lips and I am left feeling confused, betrayed by Ruby and Edward, but most of all I am happy to know my love found her way back to me. Quickly I make my way into the house so I can get cleaned up. I am thankful the plumbing was good and I had already hooked up all the utilities. Suddenly I realize I have no clean clothes or soap. “Fuck!” I step out of the house to make my way to the pickup truck, hopefully unnoticed.

When I open the door of the house, I notice a large parcel sitting on the porch. I open it up and to my delight it is from Alice.

Hello Brother!

I thought you might like clean clothes and something to wash with so you can look all handsome when you see your beloved for the first time.

Lots of Love,

Your amazing and awesome sister Alice

I walk into the house with my gifts from Alice to get ready, and I meet Bella for the first time. I’m excited and also a bit unnerved. I suspected it was her, but actually knowing that Bella is my beloved Annabel, I’m not sure how to feel. I’m excited but there is a slight part of me that’s scared because of the fact alone that she does not know who I am.  In a way it will be fun winning her heart all over again.  I try not to think about Ruby’s letter because I know whatever she and Edward have been hiding from our family will anger me beyond belief. Now the distance Edward showed me makes more sense.

 ~~~~~

Chapter End Notes

A huge thank you  to my amazing readers and reviewers. Your thoughts and reviews keep me going. (((HUGS)))

When I read the Twilight series I always thought it would be interesting if Jacob Black was his grandfather Ephraim reincarnated.  Even though he is not reincarnated in this story, they are one and the same.

This story was inspired  by the songs Wish I had an Angel and Sleeping Sun, by Nightwish.

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