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Chap. Fourteen " Scars."

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Fear was something relatively new in his life, he was always strong, always fighting for the safety of his Texas lands. Later fighting to train the neophytes of Maria, innocent children in a war where they had nothing to do, but forced to participate in a side. Many hated him, others tried to kill him, but they had ended up dead

» - How many tried to kill you? - Alice had asked at some point in her life

He had responded with a lopsided smile - The same number that had died trying. «

He had never been weak, never bowed to an enemy. His heart had simply betrayed him, he had believed that the little attention that Maria gave him was love, believing that making her feel proud of her army would make her happy.

He believed that Maria loved him ...

He was naive, but his colleague Peter had opened his eyes. He escaped one day with Peter and his partner, but seeing them be happy the two of them had aroused his jealousy.

He longed to be happy, it was then that he separated from his friends to go on his way alone. Loneliness a constant punishment for the blood spilled from his hands.

It was then that the Fairy Alice had found him, as happy as she was. It was for Jasper a breath of freshness; she didn't make him feel so miserable.

At some point in her path Jasper believed her to be his mate. But Alice had refused, arguing that in her future she only saw a beautiful friendship. He had accepted, despite himself, never in his mind did he force her to do something.

He would never force a woman to be with him.

Now that he knew Maureen, he was grateful for that principle that had clung to him over the years, sweet Maureen. The young girl with brown hair and sea eyes had him more than captivated.

From the first time their eyes collided, Jasper had been spellbound. Her scent of the sea, her tiny body that seemed to break at the slightest touch. Her eyes were what captivated him the most, he could perfectly lose himself in them forever. His voice, sounded like that of an angel, had decided to whisper to him in hatred, that was what Jasper felt every time Maureen sang for him and only for him.

Jasper didn't consider himself possessive, but he was too suspicious of Maureen.

No one but him would see the light magic that Maureen gave off when she sang. Those moments were always magical, Maureen used to expose every piece of her broken heart when she sang. He wouldn't let anyone see her so vulnerable.

She had to fight Morgan and his constant sarcastic comments, her sweet twin Maureen he was more annoying when it came to protecting her.

But knowing the dark history of the demons that haunted the smallest of Atlantis, Morgan's protective attitude was more than justifiable.

Both Morgan and Jasper knew that they could not lock her in a golden cage, Maureen was like birds, she preferred to die flying in the clouds than to live locked behind golden bars.

Although that didn't stop them from being ferocious beasts when it came to protecting her. Jasper had spilled the blood of two men when he had tried to rape her. He felt no remorse for either of them, he regretted too much how quickly the men died.

They had lied to Maureen that she had only rendered them unconscious, as she herself had told him in the greenhouse. Maureen, she could never bear the weight of guilt for the deaths of those two men.

Morgan had agreed with him ...

Maureen shifted in her bed, she had been discharged when she indicated that she was more than healthy, in some miraculous way her body had become stronger capable of supporting B12 deficiency. Surprised Carlisle had discharged her, although he would have liked her to stay longer. But the storm had left multiple injuries, then the hospital bed Maureen had occupied would be occupied by someone else, even more serious.

But Carlisle had ordered his son to watch out for the young woman, as relapses could be strong.

Ha! Naive, the heart of the sea was strong. And yet his heart used to receive wounds.

Maureen stirred even more violently on her bed, nightmares Jasper thought as he shook her awake, the nightmares were upsetting her.

- No Please! Please! Thomas! - Jasper hugged her when she finally woke up, still wrapped in the shadows of her past Maureen tried to fight against Jasper to get out of his arms.

Jasper didn't let go of her, instead whispering soft words into her ear and stroking her hair to reassure her. Maureen slowly stopped fighting as she hid her face in the crook of Jasper's neck.

Maureen left her neck totally venerable for Jasper, the absolute confidence of that gesture totally disarmed Jasper.

She trusted her life in his hands ...

Maureen sobbed into her neck, silent tears, fear had raised Maureen's skin.

- Sorry ... - Maureen muttered as she looked at Jasper's shirt collar wet with her tears - I'm sorry ... Jazz.

Jasper shook his head as he wrapped Maureen's face in his cold hands. - Are you okay?

Maureen nodded as she hiccupped. - Yeah... just old devils.

Jasper kissed Maureen's forehead; Maureen's nightmares made her hate Thomas more. Already he detested it for the constant messages that the human sent to the old number of the smallest of the Atlantis. Reading the messages made him mad.

- Jasper... - Maureen caressed his face with her soft and quality hands - You're grunting. Have you fed?

Jasper nodded, of course he had. He would never risk losing control with her close, he even over-fed. Hurting him was something he didn't like to think about.

Maureen pulled Jasper down next to her, the soldier smiled. The two, soldier and demigod, huddled together on the younger's warm bed. A gesture devoid of sexual lust, two souls so broken could not think of that act. Rather, that gesture was full of an unusual tenderness, of the truest demonstration of love.

Jasper placed a blanket between his body and Maureen's, the cold of his body might make her sick. For him it was less safe than seeing her pale and sick with the flu.

- Do you think I will ever stop having nightmares? - Maureen raised her face to see Jasper's golden eyes - Do you think I can get over it at some point?

Jasper kissed Maureen's lips tenderly - You are the strongest people I know, Maureen. I have seen good people being consumed by darkness; those people were unable to bear their demons. Instead, you ... you fight them on a daily basis. Your demons haven't changed you.

- I've changed, Jasper. - Maureen whispered on Jasper's lips - I'm not the same person I once was.

- No, you are not - Jasper smiled - I did not know you before Thomas, but I'm sure you were an angel among so many demons. Maureen, you are my angel. In you I only see an innate determination to fight, your demons have not changed you Maureen. Your demons make you strong. As if you turn the darkness into the warmest light.

Maureen smiled - I love you Jazz ...

Jasper smiled - Sleep little angel ... I'll be here when you wake up ...

Maureen snuggled against Jasper and closed her eyes... And as he promised himself, Jasper took care of his dreams for the remainder of the night.

Weekends, quiet days where the twins and their father worked hard to clean their home. Tasks were spread out, Morgan would wash the car, dust and sweep. Maureen, she would make breakfast and lunch, do laundry. Ian would pay for his services, buy what he needed for the week at the grocery store, and finally make dinner. It had to be that way or else her home would always remain messy.

- Devil's helpers! - Maureen smiled, while Morgan snorted - I'm going to do the shopping, when I come back I want to see this brilliant place.

Maureen nodded as she approached her father - If you know that I know that you are going to see the Literature teacher?

Ian opened his mouth in surprise - How...?

- She has not stopped harassing us since apparently my beautiful father has flirted with her - Maureen smoothed an imaginary wrinkle of her father's shirt - Don't worry, only I have noticed. Morgan lives distracted by Alice.

- Don't say anything to your brother. I want to be sure I found the one - Ian smiled at Maureen - I'm leaving ... don't make too much effort, you're still not well.

- Yes Dad! - I kiss her cheek before going to the kitchen, I would make vegan pancakes for breakfast. He hastily opened a cupboard that was too high.

The fucking bowl I needed was too high ...

Damn Morgan and his fucking habit of setting her bowls too high.

She was about to go find a chair when a blizzard passed her, she was startled when she saw Jasper standing in the middle of the kitchen with the bowl and his doll smile.

- I almost had a heart attack! - Maureen snatched the bowl from him and was about to hit the soldier with it - My heart will not bear your inopportune appearances!

Jasper raised his hands in peace sign as he smiled even more, Maureen was flushed with fright. - I'm sorry...

Of course, he wasn't sorry, he loved how adorable she looked upset. Her cheeks and her little nose used to get red, her eyes were even bigger than normal and her face was just adorable.

Maureen looked at him suspiciously. "It's not gentlemanly to scare a lady, Mr. Hale."

Jasper smiled as he bowed. "I sincerely apologize, Miss Atlantis."

Maureen giggled. "You are forgiven, Mr. Hale." Let me ask you what is the reason for your visit?

- I have come to extend to you and your older brother an invitation to eat from the Cullen family. - Jasper's soldier pose was firm ... But his gaze was soft, as if he were in front of the most beautiful of works of art - But personally I come to invite you Miss Atlantis for a walk through the forest after lunch.

- Mr. Hale, my brother and I will be delighted to share a snack with your family

- Agh! You guys really suck - Morgan makes gestures of disgust - I'll have diabetes if you continue like that.

- Morgan! - Maureen reproached - Let me remind you of a phrase you said to Alice in one of her clandestine visits ... Alice, you are ...!

Morgan pointed a finger at his sister, - Okay! You win! - I will not disturb anymore...

Morgan snorted before fixing his gaze on Jasper. - Have you asked my permission to take my sister home?

Jasper was surprised - I...?

- Because Maureen doesn't leave this house until she has my permission and Ian's... - Morgan pointed to Jasper - So sir... Where are you going to take my sister?

- Morgan! Stop it! - The sincerest of anguish on Maureen's face - Stop acting like you don't know Jasper. You overwhelmed me!

Because a bird like Maureen could never be locked up, it would die of sadness in a cage. Morgan carried too much guilt on his shoulders, leaving his sister not where he could see her and take care of him bothered him.

Morgan was so blinded by his guilt that he was forgetting that if he clipped Maureen's already broken wings she would die.

Because what a bird loved most was to fly free through the sky so blue, the freedom of the sky full of fluffy white clouds. Maureen loved being free, walking in the woods, dreaming of fantastic worlds.

And for a while now, Morgan had prevented her from doing those kinds of activities that Maureen found liberating.

Maureen knew it was dangerous, but she couldn't lock herself in a bubble, the world was dark, full of uncertain intentions, riddled with demons dressed as angels.

Falling and scraping were part of life, Morgan couldn't help Maureen's pain.

That Morgan did not accept - Elizabeth! Understands! You can't go out on the street Oh people waiting for a weak prey! You are not strong! You can't beat them!

Jasper tried to influence the situation, it seemed that his gift was failing with the twins - Morgan ...

- Thomas is out there waiting for you to show signs of life to get revenge! Do you want him to find you here?! I know Thomas the ...!

- Morgan!

- What?!

Morgan was so blinded by his anger that he did not notice something vital ...

- Is Thomas free...?

Maureen looked at her brother, by his repentant face she knew it was true ... The smallest of the Atlantis knew then ...

That justice did not exist for the victims, that it did not matter how true the evidence was, that it did not matter how much damage the aggressor had done... Justice did not exist for those that the world had covered with scars.

The video edit of the wonderful Elli149, that it was too beautiful, so I decided to place it in the chapter.