A/N; Hi, sorry its been a while. I've been rammed with a levels and stuff at home. Hope you like this new chapter. I'll try and get another one up asap but, don't hold me to it. -Percypen xx
"You don't think you could have mentioned you were a vampire before I embarrassed myself? She demanded.
Jasper blinked slow, deliberate, before carefully placing the mug on the floor with a barely audible click.
"You have my sincerest apologies ma'am. I wasn't informed you were aware of us." Jasper voiced in a dull monotone, eyes flickering away. A small yet, profound sigh escaped her lips as she sat down next to him. Her blind eyes gazing searchingly, at his face. Again, a small soft hand came to rest upon his arm. Concern flared.
"Are you all right?" She asked sincerity evident in her tone. Jasper shrugged.
"Well, would you explain why you were alone in the woods, please?" She continued when it was clear she would get no verbal response. Again, he shrugged.
"Well, Jasper. As I've said I'm Rudi and welcome to my humble abode. I'm eighteen and my guardian is a three hundred year old vampire by the name of Elizahbeth. Who is a very old friend of Carlisle's and who has decided to stay in forks for a few years. Now that you know some things about me, won't you tell me about yourself?" She asked in an even tone, hope and determination filtering through the air. Resolving himself to reply, Jasper sighed.
"My real name is Jasper Whitlock, I'm roughly 140 years old give or take. I currently stay with Carlisle acting as his son and as Rosalie's twin." He went to stop but, she sent him a look and so he continued. "I originally come from the south-". He was cut off by a sharp intake of breath.
"The Southern Vampire Wars?" She asked softly but, with an edge to her voice. Jasper tensed. A strange emotion filtered thickly in the air. Admiration. Then, slowly she moved to clasp his hand with both of hers. Running her fingers over his skin. Picking out every crescent shaped ridge. Barely visible to the human eye. She moved up past his wrist and forearm, the elbow, the bicep and then just as cautiously she moved past the fabric of his t-shirt and the collar to his pale skin. Jasper sat awestruck that she could feel the scars at all and from the turbulent emotions swirling around him. Admiration. Worry. Wonder. Sadness. Respect. Changing from one to the other. Her fingers trailed the edge of his collar bone.
"Would you let me see what you look like?" She voiced quieter than before. At his nod, her fingers trailed up his neck to his chin before mapping out his face. She contoured each feature before she twirled a lock of his hair and sat back.
"I won't forget you now. Not ever. So, seeing as your stuck with me Jasper, what colour are your eyes?" She said with a lighter voice. It seemed that that special moment had passed and morphed into something else. Jasper didn't mind. His thoughts were now swept up in carefully analysing all of her words and actions.
"Whiskey. At least the las' time I saw them." He replied easily. It seemed this new, enigma had distracted his distraught mind and coupled with his desire to bury all negative emotions- an instinct from another life- left him more like his normal self.
"You have a very beautiful voice. I'm not the best person to judge looks but, your voice is lovely. It's different from other vampires. They all speak perfectly as if they ate a dictionary." She told him, smiling brightly. Her eyes though clouded could still shine. The lightness of happiness seeped into the room. Jasper was just about to reply before he heard a car door slam. She noticed too. Footsteps followed. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven sets of footsteps. All with a graceful gait. Then –
Knock. Knock.
"Come in Elizahbeth!" Rudi called knowing that the vampires could clearly discern her voice from behind the door. As such, it opened and in stepped the owners of said footsteps. A short but, slim vampire with a darker pallor indicated her ethnic origin. Her eyes were of a bright amber and she like all vampires was transfixed in perfection regardless of her age. Following her came Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmet, Edward and Alice. The latter two more reserved than the rest.
Jasper who had tensed up at the entrance of his family soon felt, a gentle grip on his arm before Rudi rose to greet her guests.
"Welcome back Elizah. Carlisle it's lovely to see you again." Rudi remarked. "You must introduce me to your coven. Oh, wait let me guess!" She said excitedly, before racing in front of Esme, Rosalie and Emmet. "You must be Esme, Carlisle's mate. It's lovely to meet you!" She exclaimed shaking an amused Esme's petite hand. " And you, must be Rosalie" She shook her hand. " And Emmett. Congratulations on your seventeenth marriage." She said, shaking Emmett huge paw.
"How on earth did you know that?" Esme enquired curiously. Rudi smiled and turned to face her. "Well, when I heard your footsteps I noticed that yours were softer and came just after Carlisle's who told me all about you. Emmett is the tallest so, his footsteps are the heaviest and Rosalies were very purposeful and stayed next to his. Then, the last male and female who I can assume are Edward and Alice entered together." She explained politely, though as she spoke the last two name she glanced quickly towards Jasper still sat on the sofa before adopting a harsh expression.
"Before I welcome you two into my home. Please tell me what it is you've done to upset Jasper." She demanded in a harsh tone, booking no room for argument. Even though her voice was hard and her expression fierce her words remained even. Jasper wondered if anyone else noticed her clenched fists.
"Why should we explain ourselves to a pathetic blind human?" Edward sneered stepping forward to loom intimidatingly over Rudi. She shook. And quick as a flash (at least by human standards) her clenched right fist was thrown back before it flew towards Edwards shocked face.
Nothing happened. Mid-air Elizahbeth had restrained Rudi's punch mere inches away from it's target.
"Do that again Edward and I might let her go through with it." She warned. Rudi remained on edge a slight tremor running through her form. She unclenched her hands and turned to walk into the kitchen.
"Jasper? Throw me your cup." She said facing away from them as turned the tap, a plume of water filling the sink. Steam swirling in complex and ephemeral shapes. Without thinking Jasper reached down, picked up the forgotten cup and threw it towards her at a human speed. Rudi just turned around and caught the flying projectile neatly before placing it into the sink and beginning the washing up.
"Thanks." She called over her shoulder. The tell-tale sound of clinking china, the swish and swirl of water lapping at the sink and the familiar scrubbing of a coarse cloth came as a welcome distraction to the presence of the two vampires he had no wish to face.
"Please, sit down. I have much to discuss with you Carlisle. Rudi." Elizahbeth said, beckoning the latter towards the dining table, where all the vampires bar Jasper were seated. Rudi turned and simply raised one eyebrow.
"I expect you to be on your best behaviour." She stated. Rudi's face hardened, jaw clenched. She nodded before turning back to the sink. The sound of clinking china became sharper and the scrubbing more ferocious. Elizahbeth sighed.
"She's so easily angered. I hope this won't be a problem Carlisle. If I could I would stay but, I have been called away to deal with some more pressing matters." Elizahbeth remarked. Carlisle simply smiled genially.
"She won't be a problem at all. Though I am curious to why you haven't turned her yet. Surely, the volturi wouldn't allow her to know if you didn't-
Smash!
The cup Rudi had been washing crumpled beneath her grip, rivulets of crimson ran down her hand mixing with the soapy water. She slammed her hand on the table. A wet smack.
"The volturi would do well to leave her alone Carlisle." Elizahbeth commented. All the vampires were tensed. Jasper especially. At least until Rudi turned and walked purposefully over towards him. Hand still bleeding, no doubt littered with shards. She sat next to him, unfazed.
"Get away you stupid girl! He's dangerous!" The words slammed into Jasper, visibly shaking him. Rudi glared menacingly before turning back towards Jasper. She raised her bleeding hand towards Jasper.
"I trust you." Her words though simple, when coupled with her sincerity were nonetheless effective. Slowly, yet determined Jasper began to remove the small shards from her wound, passing them to Carlisle who at the sight of blood had retrieved his first aid kit and gently bandaged her hand after dabbing at it with some spirit.
"Ah, she's always had a knack for stray's. Must explain why she puts up with vampires." Came Elizahbeth's warm voice. Strangely, Edward the owner of the voice was silent. And even for vampires it took moments to understand that Edward was frozen, transfixed within a sneer making him seem the monster he made himself out to be. He couldn't move and seemed to be attempting to break free from this unknown malady.
When all of the vampires had noticed his plight. Rudi rose and walked over to his seated form. She smiled but, this time it was cold almost malicious. She pulled her arm back.
"I Fuckin' told you. You absolute bastard." She snarled at him before her bandaged fist collided with his face.