Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight series © Stephenie Meyer.
To Taste the Apple
Chapter One
'But God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'Genesis 3:3
Thick dark clouds gathered on the horizon, moving at a slow deliberate pace toward the tiny town nestled in the heart of the forest. Lightning lanced across the night sky, the crackle-hiss a startling contrast to the eerie calm of the approaching storm.
"One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi…" The girl trailed off her whispered count as an ear-splitting peal of thunder rattled the windows. She closed her eyes, breath caught in her chest, muscles tensed in silent expectation as the sound washed across and through the large house.
She nestled into the pitch colored bedding, squeezing her eyes tight to further block out the staggered lightning flashes. Her breath came in shuddering gasps, just as loud to her ears as the crash of thunder just beyond the glass.
She could see them, though her eyes were closed as tight as she could manage. The dark-haired Laurent,"You brought a snack?", the silent Victoria with her flame colored hair and matching eyes…and finally James. Her leg throbbed dully in time with her heartbeat, her ribs aching slightly at the change in the weather.
She hadn't realized she was thrashing until she hit her hand on the headboard with a resounding thud. She sat bolt upright, her breath hissing in and out between her clenched teeth, her chest heaving.
"Bella?"
Her muscles tensed further, and before she could stop her natural reaction she scrambled off the edge of the bed and into the floor, pressing her face into the contour of the mattress.
"Bella…are you…feeling well?"
"Jasper…" Her voice was the barest whisper, nearly drown out by a crash of thunder, but she knew he had heard her. There was no sound, at least none that she could detect, but suddenly he was beside her, lifting her from the floor and placing her gently back on the bed. He had the blanket drawn over her and was sitting on the end of the bed in the span of ten seconds. His butterscotch eyes glowed in the dark, she noticed with a hint of curiosity, almost like a cat's.
"What is it, Bella? What has you on edge?"
She shook her head, chewing on her lower lip a moment while mulling over her answer. He waited patiently, radiating a sense of calm and security. "I was…am…afraid." She shrugged, a miniscule movement hidden completely by the blanket. "Never when Edward is here." She muttered, her mouth and face twisted into a mutinous expression so violent it was funny.
Jasper felt the laughter bubble up from his chest and out his throat. He shook his head slightly, chuckling.
"Is it really that funny I'm afraid?" She glared at him, narrowing her chocolate eyes.
"No…your…well, just forget it." He ducked his head to hide his smile. "Now, back to the matter at hand. What is it you're afraid of?"
"Victoria." The answer was so blunt it took Jasper off guard for a moment. Nonplussed, he nodded for her to continue. "It's not so much that, really…though it terrifies me to think she's lurking in the dark somewhere…but right now, it's the storm." The point was emphasized by a crash of thunder and her following cringe.
He radiated another wave of calm, and she sat up, leaning back against the headboard. "I used to love thunderstorms. Renee, my mother, and I would go and dance in the rain while lightning and thunder crashed all around." Her lips curved upward in a small smile, softening the stark features of her face. Then they dropped, and her large eyes grew haunted. "But that day…in the clearing…when James..." She trailed off, reliving the horror.
On a whim, he reached out and grabbed one of her exposed hands, cradling it in his own. "It's past…it's gone." His voice shimmered, hovered between them. She could feel her breathing starting to slow, her body relaxing just slightly. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he smiled almost mischievously at her. She closed her eyes, sinking into that calm, feeling a near physical release as she let him ease her anxiety.
She yawned, jaw cracking.
"You're tired." His tone was mildly accusing.
"Obviously." She replied dryly, gesturing to her current whereabouts. "If I wasn't, then I certainly wouldn't have sought refuge in this…monstrosity that passes for a bed."
"Edward should be back in the morning." Jasper replied, rolling his eyes.
"And so should Alice…and the rest of the Cullen family. Only you stayed behind…to watch over me." The disgust in her voice was evident, as was the relief.
Another flash of lightning, then a louder crash of thunder jarred her. She had been chewing on her bottom lip…she jumped, biting her lip harder to stifle her scream. The iron tang of blood filled her mouth. She cursed softly, lifting her head, readying herself to apologize and ask for a tissue. Once she settled her eyes on her current bedmate, she stopped.
Jasper was unnaturally still. A flash of lightning illuminated him, his blonde hair curling about his face, gold eyes glinting. His brow was furrowed and his face was shocked. He took in a stuttering breath…inhaled. His perfect lips slid back over his teeth, and Bella felt the first true stirrings of fear.
"Bel-la…" His voice was soft, low, a kind of sing-song, and nearly seductive. She was still bleeding, she could feel it sliding warmly down her chin. A part of her mind wondered idly at the fact that she must've bit quite a chunk out of the soft flesh.
His mild shielding fell then. She knew he could calm a room with a soft mental touch, but she had never felt anything like this in her whole life. She whimpered softly, and the sound seemed only to encourage him. An emotional maelstrom whorled about her, one after another trotted out and then discarded, anger, defiance, sadness, curiosity, lust, depression, self-disgust…finally settling on desire. Her fear was gathered, and reflected back at her, shocking her and pinning her in place. She couldn't move, not even if she tried. She knew she had no hope of outrunning the vampire.
"Jasper." She breathed his name, her voice barely working. She couldn't find anymore words after that, just sent her silent plea to him, her fear rising exponentially. And yet, even as she felt the tension between them, she also felt a mild admiration. He was stunning. It had to be the desire she felt welling from his direction. It wasn't just desire for her blood, an aching thirst. The desire spilled over into lust. He wanted her body as much as her blood. She didn't understand that. It confused her, startled her further.
He lurched forward, fingers fisting in the blanket, shredding the fragile fabric. "Run." His voice was low, the command harsh.
She stayed still, her breath coming in pants.
"I said run!"
It got to her that time. Through the fog that surrounded her, through the fear, the uncertainty. He was giving her a chance. A minute chance, considering her penchant for disaster. But it was a chance.
She stumbled from the bed, running blind across the room. One, two, three heartbeats. She was so close to the door. She reached her fingertips out for the knob…and screamed as a cold, hard arm wrapped around her waist.
She was spun around, flung against the wall with enough force to make her vision dim. His firm hands held her in place. Her toes barely touched the floor, and he pressed himself close. "I told you…" He ground out, his voice so low it was barely a growl. "You should've been faster." He groaned, his head falling forward to rest against the curve of her throat. He inhaled sharply…and her heart raced on…faster. Dimly, she was aware of something mingling with her fear…something that was neither fear or acceptance. Something thatliked the feel of Jasper's body against her, holding her to the wall. Something akin to lust.
He lifted his head, and kissed her. His lips pressed solidly against her mouth, his tongue sweeping along her bottom lip. He teased the tip of his tongue against the slash, and then sucked her lower lip into his mouth.
He fed from her, sucking the little bit of moisture from the cut. So hard it brought tears to her eyes.
She gasped…not from terror, but from the wave of sensation that made her toes curl.
Just as suddenly as he was there…he spun away from her, out of the room, and by the slamming of the door, out of the house.
She collapsed in a heap, the brimming tears spilling over.