It had been an entire half a month since the Volturi arriving in Forks, life for our family had resumed to as normal as life for a family of immortals could be.
Alice and I had returned from our self inflicted exile, running blindly into the open arms of our family. They took us back instantly, disregarding our departure as nothing but a dark chapter in our families history. Carlisle was just how I expected him to be; kind and understanding and warm. Bella was of course confused, but overwhelmed with joy when we arrived. Edward was ecstatic, though his demeanor didn't readily show it. Emmett and Rosalie were the same, they welcomed us back with enthusiastic smiles. And then there was Esme. Our mother for so many years. Facing her was one of the most difficult things I had ever attempted in my hundred-plus years of life.
She was so kind. So loving. Too loving. The fact that we crushed her heart when we left was not an easy thing to atone for. I went to her a few days after we got back, finding her in the study leaning over one of her sketch books. She looked up at me immediately jumping from the chair as I entered. She hurried forward, embracing me tightly with a soft whimper. As I stared down into her wide eyes I knew we were already forgiven. There was no need to apologize further, she had forgiven Alice and I long ago. She was just glad that we were home, and I was glad as well. I missed her warm emotions and her tight hugs. She was my mother after all, even if our blood line proved differently.
Our family was becoming just as we were before Reneesme's birth; happy and carefree and whole. It seemed as if our darkest period had finally passed and we could enjoy our endless lives once more.
Emmett, Edward and I still had our sibling battles, this time with a larger audience. Reneesme would sit on Bella's lap, cheering loudly for her father as he wrestled with Emmett. Sweet Alice would sit beside them, staring placidly at me with her warm grin. That was all the motivation I needed to show off just an extra bit. Rosalie and Esme would sometimes watch, muttering softly things like. 'Boys will be boys' and 'Typical.' Our family was so normal compared to what one might expect from a group of vampires. And now even more members were becoming staples in our house.
Our extended family now included Jacob and his pack, as well as Bella's human father Charlie. The wolves were almost too comfortable in our home, it was a very strange sight. With the exception of Leah, the pack acted as if they were one of Carlisle and Esme's children as well. And Charlie.. Well he was Charlie.
He was still uncomfortable with the entire situation, as he should be with his teenage daughter now a mother as well as a vampire. But he had yet to learn of the other new title Bella wore. He would sit in the armchair watching Reneesme play with her parents or Alice or Esme, a polite smile planted on his face. Sometimes his eyes would flicker to me and I'd hear his heart quicken in his chest. A usual reaction. Had he had the eyes of a vampire he would have noticed all the scars littering my chalky skin. Then his aversion to me would become permanent. But that was to be expected. After all I was still a monster in his eyes, despite Alice's kind words about me to him.
It was an unescapable truth. I would always be a monster, my skin would always be scarred with teeth marks of my slain victims. This was to be the rest of my existence, but I could handle that as long as one woman was stil beside me.
My eyes locked on her as we sat in the living room, Jacob and Emmett watching a game on the T.V as Reneesme curled on Charlie's lap on the couch. I watched Alice dance across the floor, her short hair bouncing against her shoulders as she moved between Edward and Bella who watched her silently. She was so beautiful, so graceful. Something I was still shocked by after my decades of life with her. She was too perfect. Too perfect to be with one so damaged as me.
It was truly a miracle that she stayed with me as long as she did. Through good times and bad, floundering will power and success, she was always there. I would always tresure her faith and love in me, it was so pure and unhindered. Her warmth kept this dormant heart fluttering.
As I sat watching her dance around the living room, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. My eyes ticked around the room, carefully examining each face. Emmett and Jacob were too enraptured in the current football game to spare a glance at me. Reneesme was staring wide eyed up at Alice, her small hand brushing the tiny hair's on Charlie's arms. Charlie's eyes were also averted, turned to Edward as he started talking. He and Bella were focused on each other. I glanced over Charlie's head to the kitchen, Carlisle, staring out the window as Esme talked to Seth. Seth was busy stuffing his face with a plate full of eggs and Esme was watching him proudly, asking him if he wanted anything else. My head whirled around, turning up the staircase to Rosalie's door. She was still upstairs, trying a new makeup brand she had bought earlier in the week.
I tensed slightly, my eyes turning out the large glass window. Rising out of the chair, I flashed a comforting smile at Alice as she stared at me questioningly. I brushed past Emmett and Jacob, stepping over their large bodies as they lay sprawled out on the floor. Gliding to Alice's side, I placed a light kiss against her cold cheek. Muttering too quickly for the others to have noticed, I quickly assured her that I was fine and that I was going to go upstairs to our bedroom.
She nodded quickly, her lips grazing across mine as she looked up at me.
My dead heart jumped as the soft lips brushed my scarred ones; this feeling never ceased from the first time we kissed, truthfully I hoped it never would. Racing up the stairs, I disappeared into our bedroom, shutting the door swiftly behind me.
I floated toward the bed, laying backward on the mattress with my hands folded under my head. I stared up at the ceiling, still unable to shake the unnerving feeling of being observed. Reaching across the bed, I pulled Alice's psychology book from the night table and opened it against my chest. As I began reading, the feeling slowly died away. The room was my sanctuary, some place Alice and I could escape to when things got too bothersome in the house.
Several minutes passed and the feeling returned, jarring my thoughts from the chapter on conscious thoughts. How ironic. I turned quickly to the window, leaping off the bed in a fluid motion. I crept carefully to the long window, my hand extended outward from me. Placing my fingers on the lock, I drew it backward, peering out into the thick green forest.
This was too odd. And too familiar. Someone was watching me beyond the reach of my vision. It instantly raised my walls, and my mind blocked everything going on downstairs out and focused on what was out in the forest. The wind swept up from the coast, shaking the leaves and pushing the blades of grass on the lawn. It wafted up the side of the house, creeping in through the open window and hitting my face.
I instantly leaped backward, pressing myself against the closet doors as a soft hiss escaped my lips. The others were sure to have heard, or at least Edward. I wasn't very careful of being quiet. The scent in the air was too frightening to provoke any other reaction.
It was piny, yet still flowery, distinct in every way possible. Too different from a animal, and different from what any nomad would smell like.. No.. This scent belonged to one source and one alone.
I felt a stabbing, ripping pain tear through my chest, burrowing beneath my sternum in the direction of my heart. My worst fears were making themselves known, a thousand images crawling from the back of my mind into my consciousness. I blinked quickly, squeezing my hands over my ears as I groaned. This couldn't be real. Not here. Not my home! Not my place of sanity for so many years! This had to be a nightmare! I wanted to scream, but knew if Charlie heard a ghastly demon like roar he'd probably defecate himself.
I paced the floor, my eyes flickering quickly over the walls. I heard the bottom stair cheek, most likely Edward coming up to check what was wrong with me. Dammit.. I really hated his talent some times! I whipped around toward the door, watching the knob quiver slightly. Crossing the floor easily, I clenched the doorknob tightly, wrenching the door open as Edward stared up at me questioningly.
His eyes showed that he knew something terrible was going on, and though he didn't readily speak he knew I was upset.
"Sorry". I said sheepishly, my head turning toward the closet. "Charlie you know. I just had to come upstairs."
"Are you sure that's it"? He muttered slowly, his brows pulling tightly together. Once again. Damn his gift!
"Yeah. I think I'm just going to go hunt for a little bit". I whispered running my fingers through my hair. It was damp, soaked with sweat, only one thing would make me sweat. I pulled my hand back swiftly shoving it into my pocket.
"Alright. You want me to go with you"? He said softly as I shook my head vigorously.
"No it is fine. I just need a little fresh air. Do tell Alice where I went. She will be concerned as she cannot see right now". I smirked as Edward nodded quickly.
"Course". He muttered glancing at me silently for a moment before he turned away and descended the stairs once more.
Closing the door carefully, I flashed to the window.
No. No one could come with me.. I needed to be sure of this, on my own. I climbed onto the windowsill, balancing on thin strip of metal as I leaned out into the fresh air. Falling toward the ground, I did a tuck and roll through the air, landing effortlessly on my feet. Breaking into a mad dash, I sprinted head long into the trees.
My shoes squished across the muddy, wet underbrush as my eyes searched the trees. I sprinted for many miles, passing well out of the border of Forks toward the mountains. Running along the cliffside, the scent only grew stronger and more potent. I scaled the cliff swiftly, my claws digging into the cracks into rocks and I flew toward the sky. Leaping onto the edge of the cliff, I stared darkly ahead of me at the road.
There beside the curvy road stood a figure, it's back was turned to me at first.
Every nerve in my body screamed at once, every muscle tightening to a painful degree. My eyes darted open and closed, my throat squeezing tightly closed as the wind whistled into my ears.
She turned slowly toward me, the wind blowing her long dark hair over her blood red eyes. Her slender face contorted into a jester like mask of malicious joy as she stared at full lips curled up, revealing her small white teeth. Her long lapped against her teeth as her eyes widened and then narrowed.
My bones turned to lead instantly, holding me to the earth as my heart plummetted to the bottom of my feet. I watched her dark grin grow as her hand fell onto her slim waist.
"Jasper". She sang softly, her voice carrying over the small space between us and piercing my heart. "It has been a long time my love.."
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