Set after Breaking Dawn 4 or 5 years… reviews appreciated! I hope you enjoy it!!
Chapter 1
Jasper Hale had been attacked time and time again by newborn vampires. He had lived through war and survived rifle wounds as a human. He has dealt with the burning in his throat for human blood to keep his cover. He had felt pain before – but not like this.
Edward slowly inched towards the corner of Jasper's room, which was pitch black. Rosalie, Emmett, Bella, Carlisle, and Esme all watched warily from the hallway through the cracked door.
"He's gone, Jasper. We tore him apart." There was no response from the figure huddled in the corner of the room, holding his knees to his chest and sitting in complete stillness.
I don't want to speak to anyone, Edward. It's hard enough for me to keep from destroying everything in sight – you should leave the room now.
Edward looked to the floor, and then kneeled down at human speed. "I don't want to leave you this way-" A fierce growl from the corner of the room stifled his comment. Esme couldn't listen any longer. Neither could Rosalie. Emmett couldn't stand to see Jasper so disoriented and fragile. They all turned to leave except Bella and Carlisle. Bella inwardly praised her decision to let Jacob take Renesmee for a few weeks, who was now the equivalent of an eleven year old human girl.
Tell Bella to leave. I don't want her in my sight.
"Jasper-"
She should have stopped him, Edward! She only had one job-
"She can't read minds, Jasper. She had no way of knowing what he would do. None of us did."
Get out.
"Just talk to us, Jasper. Talk to Carlisle at least."
Get out, Edward.
Edward looked to Carlisle through the door, who had dismissed Bella from the hallway. He nodded at his adopted son, and opened the door, meant to be indicative of a need for Edward to leave the room like Jasper wanted. Edward sighed and walked past him, looking gloomily at Carlisle as he passed him.
Jasper began shaking with rage and grief, both of which had seemed to join together as one horrific, relentless wave of emotion. He glared at the door, where Carlisle stood, ready to listen. He shook his head and looked out the window.
"We all love her, Jasper." Jasper laughed, disgusted with the entire situation. "We love you, too, you know." He watched the light of the room be diminished to nothing but starlight as it made its way through the treetops. Carlisle had always respected Jasper's privacy, and tonight was no different.
"Well?" Esme looked hopefully at her love's distraught face.
Edward sighed and shook his head. "He didn't say anything. To either of us."
She turned her head back to Carlisle, who shook his head in agreement. Edward took Bella's hand and held it tight, as if he may lose her immediately following his release of it. Emmett had Rosalie engulfed in his arms, overly protective, with the same fear that she would disappear. Carlisle sat next to Esme and intertwined his fingers with hers and kissed her forehead. None of them quite knew what to do. Jasper was on the verge of spiraling into a destructive path as an outlet for his grief. Eight people had been killed in Forks in the last week by an intrusive vampire with no remorse or respect for the Cullens' cover – though Edward and Emmett had disposed of him after Jasper dismantled the first half of him. Darkness had fallen over their coven – out of spite, the vampire had also taken a ninth victim. Alice Cullen was gone.