Title: Take Me To Church
Rating: M
Summary: She never wanted to celebrate her 18th birthday anyway, and she got her wish. Her and Jasper forge a bond through the blood and fire that accompanies her new life. He understands what she's going through, because he has to. And she understands him, because she listens. But nothing comes easy, and Bella has only gotten a taste of the dangers of her new world.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in Stephenie Meyer's universe. I simply play with them.
Warnings: Cursing, sexual scenes/situations, angst, murder.
Spoilers: Spoilers for the Twilight book and parts of New Moon/Eclipse.
Author's Notes: It's been far too long since I last posted a chapter, but here's one for you guys! Please enjoy, and feel free to review!
Sometimes, Jasper appreciated having a psychic for a wife. Others, the invasion of privacy into moments that Jasper was usually very guarded about even having others listen in on… it raised his hackles and set his nerves on edge. He didn't like the spying - he had had over a century of it in Mexico with an evil woman.
But Jasper knew Alice didn't do it on purpose - she couldn't control what she saw.
He supposed that was why he trusted her - her intentions were different than Maria's had ever been - innocent.
Jasper ran his fingers over the keypad of the phone in his hand, his eyes watching Bella, feeling her emotional range locked away. Perhaps that was why he admired her strength. She could do in mere hours what had taken him decades to reign in. The anger, the pain, the fear.
He would guess she was likely terrified, having no control. He, certainly, was terrified by that prospect. He was control. Having no control over anything - it was his worst nightmare. It was why he so readily took charge when there was a crisis - gave his seasoned advice with James, could dig into his mind more than Edward ever could, because James and him had more in common than any of them would ever.
"Hope you don't mind me talking, darlin'," Jasper drawled as he pressed the dial button on his phone. "I've got a phone call I'd like to make, and I don't quite think you want to be left alone."
She didn't answer. She was past answering, which was fine. But Jasper felt a push of emotions his way - like she was shoving them towards Jasper, knowing it was the only way to communicate properly. She was a strange little thing, to know exactly how to communicate when incapacitated. To know how to focus on the emotion she wanted to project…
Approval. Amusement.
As the dial tone made its second ring, Jasper put the phone to his ear, his eyes not leaving Bella. Her muscles had spasmed for hours, her building strength had ripped the sheets and torn into the mattress and the nightstand. All things that were replaceable, of course.
Jasper's gaze flickered down to the sleeve of his shirt, torn at the seam and a travesty Alice would scold him over. He didn't care as much. Clothes were replaceable, as well.
"What did you fuck up now?" Jasper closed his eyes, feeling a brief hint of a smile touch his face. Charlotte. She wasn't as fond of Jasper, as Peter was, but Jasper supposed that was how all sibling relationships varied. There was a level of likeness between a brood. Jasper certainly liked Emmett more than Edward.
"Fortunately, I had nothing to do with the event this time," Jasper spoke slowly. "My eyes are still that strange gold color y'all think's so weird." His eyes darted to the mirror above the dresser, partially blocked by the two lamps, but Jasper could see enough of his eyes. "Well," he amended. "Slightly red around the edges, but gold."
"Another step back to the old ways for you?" Charlotte asked curiously. Jasper hummed, not in agreement, but just to acknowledge he heard her question. He shifted in his seat, in a very human way, and crossed his leg over the other.
"Do you remember that human, that Edward's been dating? Bella? I mentioned her briefly last we talked, but-"
"Ah, yes," Charlotte said carefully. "Though I wouldn't call it talking. A message conversation on these phones about a few changes in finances, if I recall correctly." And she always did. They all always remembered exactly. "And you … killed her?"
"Changed her," Jasper spoke. "Edward got careless, nearly killed her. She would have died if I had not."
There was silence, and Jasper almost wondered if the spotty connection in the Alaskan wilderness had broken. But the phone was passed within a second to another. "Are you tellin' me that you've got a changing vamp on your hands right now? Are you even young enough anymore to do that?"
Jasper rolled his eyes. "She's fine. She's almost changed. I've been handling vampires much more dangerous than her for longer than you've even been alive, Peter. I'm mostly just calling to…" The words were ones that Jasper did not often say, "To make sure you guys are okay."
"Shit, is Carlisle pissed at you?" Peter asked suddenly. "He was always an asshole about the humans-"
"No," Jasper interrupted. "No, I changed her with agreement from him." Jasper felt the pain flood him so sharply that he flinched. "She chose this life."
"Then why are you… calling?" Peter said slowly. "You usually only call to check in on us when Carlisle makes you feel like shit." Perhaps that was true. Perhaps Jasper hadn't even realized it, but now that Peter had made a point to say it, what Bella had said combined with Peter's words… Jasper felt even worse.
"It's been a while," Jasper found himself lamely explaining, his smooth voice only providing a backbone to the phrase that the words themselves lacked. Jasper didn't know much of what to say. Which was ridiculous. This was his family - the only family that Jasper knew would understand and accept every part of him. That wouldn't judge him for a slip up or his decisions. That would follow him to the ends of the earth.
"Yeah, about five years." Jasper knew. He knew to the exact hour. Right after he had… no, he wouldn't think about that now. He wouldn't project his grief onto Bella. He wouldn't risk that. "We're fine. Still at the ranch, laying low. Char just got back from Dallas this morning." Was it morning? Jasper glanced to the window, seeing that there was a faint glow. Dawn, in northern Alaska. "Even she's starting to miss you."
To miss him. Jasper straightened slightly. "I'm thinking of visiting, once Bella's got some control. I'm not quite sure I trust Carlisle's methods of raising newborns… and if she slips at all-"
"You should be there," Peter agreed. "No, I agree. You know you don't need to go out of your way to visit us. We don't change much."
"It's been twenty years. I'd like to be home again, I think. I miss the sun." It was true. Jasper missed Texas desperately. He hadn't been given a chance to get away on an extended trip in… in a long time. He almost couldn't believe how long it was. "But I'll keep in touch more. I've been… lousy at keeping in touch. I'm sorry."
"Are you sure everything's alright?" Peter asked warily, as if unsure how to press. Jasper was sounding strange. Too… warm. Too human. The Cullen's had beat that into him - gently, of course, with encouragement and praise. Bella had been a reason why it mattered so much recently. Alice was Bella's best friend, and Jasper was Alice's … well, Jasper wasn't sure what exactly he was to Alice.
But he was apart of the family, at least, however distantly.
"Everything's fine… considering. I'm in Alaska at the moment. With Carlisle's friends. Another ex-Volturi."
"Oh?" Charlotte asked suddenly. Jasper did not realize he was on speaker.
"He sees gifts," Jasper explained. "One other in the coven can shock with her touch. I've been told it's quite powerful if she wants it to be." But Jasper didn't care much for their gifts. It wouldn't make them any harder to take out if he needed.
He always had that backup plan. Always had that escape, just in case there was ever a moment he needed it - ever a chance he needed to escape. If Edward ever rose, or if Eleazar challenged the Cullens, feeling threatened… if the wolves ever found them and they chose to fight instead of flee - "I want you to know, that when I left all those years ago… I left because… I was at a low. Not because I didn't want to be around you anymore. I didn't intend to abandon you."
More silence, this time lasting longer than the first. "You're not going to do anything stupid, are you? You're not thinking of a funeral pyre or anything, right, Major?"
"Of course not," Jasper said immediately, the shock in his tone enough to tell them that he hadn't even considered it. That was what they thought? Jasper shifted again, watching as Bella's fingers clutched the mattress, tearing into the fabric and digging into the springs with little effort on her part. "I was just reflecting and … did not consider your feelings in the matter. Have not, until now. And for that, I'm sorry."
"You know, Major, for being an empath, you're shit at sounding sincere." Jasper felt sincere. Just… uncomfortable. He did not do this - he did not talk like this. All because of a handful of words from a girl that had only become his responsibility a few days ago.
So you abandoned them.
He knew why it bothered her so much. If he had abandoned his coven - his family - what stopped the Cullens from doing the same to her when things got hard? She always had that insecurity, lingering in the background, hanging around her when she was around Edward. She always felt inadequate. She always felt like one day they'd leave and she would stay behind with no choice of her own. If Jasper could do it - who as far as she knew him to be faithful… what stopped those she thought she knew turning on her?
But it prickled at Jasper's own insecurities, too. He hated disappointing others - and if Peter and Charlotte were the offended party, the disappointment was infinitely worse than that of Carlisle's. "I am sincere," Jasper spoke. "Just not the best at expressing it." He would give the prick that. "I… heard that Mexico's been quiet."
"We're keeping our eyes on things. So far, so good." Good. If Maria started up again… Jasper knew where he would go. He knew who he would leave behind to put an end to Maria, if he could. And he would not welcome the family to join him. It wasn't a place for vampires that wanted to play house - and couldn't even fathom war. "If there's any news, you'll be the first we contact."
Jasper knew. "There are a few contacts I have in Mexico that are watching, too. If I hear anything first, I'll tell you." Jasper flexed his hand on his phone. "Have you traveled recently?"
"Not in a few years. Char and I are thinking about a trip north, Canada, for some fresh meat. I hear they taste like something wonderful up there." Jasper couldn't offer any comparisons. He hadn't fed that far north, in his life. "A nomad stopped by a few months ago, came across us, got curious. No trouble. Revolution era, from what he'd say. Think you'd like him. Goes by Garrett if you ever come across him." Jasper would remember. "Talked all soldier-y too, Major."
"I don't talk all soldier-y."
"Sure, Major. We didn't have a discussion about defenses ten years ago, then." That was different. That was for their safety. Jasper said nothing to refute it, though. Peter always knew how to make a point. "But you are… okay, then?"
"You're too concerned about me."
Jasper's words were pointed, and he could practically feel Peter's grin on the other end. "Someone's got to be." Jasper had Alice for that. "The girl. Bella… is she almost done, then? Or still a few days to go?"
"Tonight," Jasper answered. "Her funeral is Tuesday. Her friends are immortal werewolves that kill our kind to protect their people. You can't imagine the fun I'm having."
The stress and anxiety that tore at Jasper to plan for every contingency. "Jesus. This girl doesn't fuck around, does she?" Charlotte stated. No, Bella did not. And she didn't even know half of the mess she had mixed up in. She wouldn't, until she was controlled enough in emotion not to run to Forks to lament over her best friend being another supernatural being. Jasper couldn't risk the wolves retaliating against the family. He hated the thought of keeping such an important secret from her.
"Anyway," Jasper said, pulling the conversation away from the wolves. She might even be able to hear the conversation with her growing heightened senses. "I also just wanted to say that … my phone's always on. I should make more phone calls."
"Yeah," Charlotte agreed. "But you're also busy sucking on a deer's neck, so don't inconvenience yourself too much." Jasper snorted. "Hang up now, Major, before you get too redundant and we call your leader to make sure he evaluates your mental health."
"Love you too, Char." Jasper waited only a second before the phone went dead. He took a deep breath, isolating Bella's pain as it consumed him once more. And he rose to his feet, setting his phone aside. "Bella? It's only a few more hours. I promise, darlin'."
Relief. He could feel it be pushed towards him. And curiosity. Jasper sat next to her, taking her hand. A death grip greeted him, and it was a welcoming show of discomfort, that leveled off with where she felt. He flexed his fingers slightly, the pain something he hadn't felt for a while. "Think about something, darlin'. It'll help. Think about what the sunset looked like in Phoenix. Or how obnoxious your mama's laugh is. Your papa's favorite fishing spot."
She could only focus on it for a second, before the pain consumed her. But the curiosity was still there. Curiosity for what, Jasper wasn't sure.
His phone beeped. They were four hours away.
"Did you know that Alice and I weren't exactly welcome when we first joined the Cullens?" Jasper suddenly spoke. The curiosity peaked. Ah, she wanted him to talk about himself. More about his story. He'd indulge her, a little bit. "I'm used to being in charge, if you haven't noticed, darlin, so when we show up, Carlisle and I had a bit of a pickle to work through. I had to learn to step down, and he had to learn how to control the coven more tightly."
There was a question. And the curiosity got the best of her when he discussed the leadership challenge. "As leader of my own coven, joining another as a subordinate was difficult. I started off not only worried about keeping Alice safe, but keeping myself safe, and making sure no one could overpower me in a fight. It's instinct, to protect your girlfriend as a vampire. Once I started to trust their intentions in letting us join, and listen to Alice's gift, I stepped back a tad. Sometimes it's nice not to be in charge for a little while. Someone's it's nice to just sit back and observe. And not worry as much. They know in a moment, if I wanted, this coven could be mine and I could be in charge. It would take seconds for me to force my hand for power. But I do enjoy the peace. The averageness - the life they can give me, even if it's boring. Carlisle acts with his best intentions, even if they're not always right." Jasper gave her a wry smile, though she couldn't see. "It's sort of like an alpha wolf and a budding alpha - only the budding alpha's in charge and the seasoned alpha is just waiting for a moment to strike that won't make the entire pack vulnerable. Only, I have no intentions of taking over - there is no benefit to me. What else would you like to know?" He asked it, almost intending her to answer aloud, but quickly continued. "What Peter and Charlotte are like? My human life?"
Peter and Charlotte were more of an interest, which Jasper couldn't help but smirk at. Peter would have been ecstatic at that sentiment from the woman.
"Peter is more trouble than he's worth, but he's alright. He is very loyal, and if he owes you a favor, he'll pay it. And interest, if it's a while before he can." Jasper hummed as he thought. "Charlotte's every bit the troublesome, fiery red-head you need to keep him in line. She enjoys keeping a healthy distance between us. Easier to snap at us with." Jasper felt her amusement. Her gratitude. She winced suddenly, and her pain triumphed it. She choked out a cry. Jasper's hand clutched hers, on instinct. As some offer of comfort. "We have a little farm house in Texas. Well, it used to be mine, back in the day, when I was human. But now it's been forgotten in the woods for the better part of a century." He didn't know what else to say, about Peter and Charlotte. Most of the pair required observation rather than second-hand accounts. "Peter's got a gift. He likes to push his nose into other people's business. He knows things, sometimes. Like gut feelings something or someone will pass through, or happen. Charlotte's gift is her sharp tongue."
But her pain was mounting. Jasper knew she was close. His grip on her hand tightened, to the point of vampire strength, but her grip back was even tighter. It would be a matter of six hours, perhaps a few more. She would wake within the night. "I'm sorry, darlin'. It'll be over soon. I know it. By sunrise."
And so they were silent, him listening to her heart stuttering in her chest, trying and failing with his gift. He didn't know why he was trying so hard - but he had never cared so much about a human that was changing. Bella was a member of his coven - a member of their coven. It was more than the other humans were at the time.
Sometime later, Jasper pressed the heels of one of his palms to his eyes, and attempted to take a deep breath. But his lungs would not work. The pain was so intense, it was like his brain had stopped functioning. He needed to step away for a moment, but not until Carlisle got here.
He checked his phone with a constricted breath. Less than an hour. Not even a few minutes later, he could hear the sound of feet in the forest. They were here.
"Bella, darlin', I'm going to go downstairs for just a few minutes, and I'll be right back. But Carlisle's here, to keep an eye on you. And Alice." She felt apprehension - which took Jasper aback. "Edward's still in Forks with Esme," he felt the need to explain. "There are some things that need tying up." But her apprehension didn't go away. "But I gotta feed for ya, darlin', and soon, to be back in time for when you wake up. I don't wanna miss the newborn's first words."
Her apprehension faded slightly. She squeezed his hand tightly, and then released it, curling onto the bed and burying her face in the pillow. The features from the pillows she had torn at in her pain … they were gone. "But that means that the pain's going to be worse for a couple hours. I'm sorry, but my gift doesn't go that far-" But she seemed to know that. She seemed to be bracing herself for it. "Just do what you need to let it out. Don't worry about breakin' anything. Alright?"
She seemed to be alright. He stepped away from her. The pain mounted and he stumbled slightly. "I'll be back, darlin', don't worry. And Carlisle will be here while I'm gone."
By the time he went downstairs, to greet them, they were just stepping onto the porch. Carmen and Eleazar seemed to have heard their arrival, as well, as Carmen was already opening the door, letting in a gust of fall air. "Carlisle, Alice, Emmett… Oh, Rosalie, there you are." Rosalie stepped from behind Emmett. "Come in. Please, make yourselves at home."
Carlisle's eyes immediately flitted to Jasper, and then to the ceiling as they all heard a cry in pain. Jasper's grip on the bannister tightened. "Using my power for three days has put me in for a hunt," Jasper spoke. "I told her Carlisle would stay with her, but I'm sure she wouldn't even notice at this point."
"I'll go with you," Alice spoke up. "She won't wake up until three minutes after it starts to rain, so we have plenty of time."
Jasper nodded. "Of course," Carlisle spoke up. "I should check on her. Eleazar-"
"The less scents that are in her room when she wakes, the better. Slow introductions," Jasper spoke, putting Carlisle' attempt to talk to Eleazar down. "I won't be long, and then we can discuss what the plan is."
"We'll be forty five minutes," Alice said brightly. "Which gives us about three and a half hours to talk after."
"That sounds fine to me," Eleazar admitted. "We can wait as long as we need. It's best we come up with a solution together on how to get her to be acclimated to such a large group. Not even the Volturi change those with so many nearby." Jasper tensed slightly at mention of the Volturi.
"I'll be back, then." Jasper ducked out the door without another word, Alice behind him.
"We should head east. There is a group of moose heading this way." Something big. It would be enough to fill him up for a little while - to over fill him. The more he drank now, the less out of control during Bella's hunt he'd be. They followed Alice's direction, heading east into the forest and soon into complete silence.
There were no words until after Jasper had drained an entire moose dry, and Alice had settled for a mountain lion nearby. As he rubbed snow on his face, to wash the blood away, she turned to him.
"I wanted to come with you to hunt… because there's something we need to talk about." A vision. Jasper apprehensively stared at her.
"Is this about Bella's change?"
"No," Alice admitted. "Just something that's needed to be said for a while, I think we can both agree. This… was fun while it lasted. But… we both know that there are others out there better suited for us."
And then he felt it. The sadness. The resignation. "What have you seen?"
"You're going to be really happy," Alice said softly. "We both are, but with others. We always knew that." They had. Their companionship had been… nothing more than that. Someone to be with them, after being alone for a while. Someone that could know everything about the other and not be judged for it. Someone to build them up and be strong enough to move on from one another. But Jasper did not know it would be today - did not know it would be so soon.
But she was right. If it was time for her, then it was time for them both. They couldn't wait around forever for some sign that it was the moment to say goodbye. Though, Jasper reasoned, it wasn't goodbye. They were still of the same coven.
"You'll always hold a special place in my heart," Jasper drawled. "You'll be my little meddling angel, always."
Alice wrinkled her nose to hide back her laughter, and to convey how much she hated it when he called her that. "I'll always love you, Jazzy," she finally said. "But this isn't goodbye. This is just… tying up some loose ends that have been dragging in the dirt for years. When Bella wakes up, this family will be starting a new chapter. And the more we can put in the past… the better." Jasper nodded in agreement. "A lot's going to change… And I wish I could tell you, but … I can't." He understood. Alice usually was open to him about what she saw. And when she couldn't, there was always a good reason. "You'll know soon enough. And the moment I can tell you… I will. But I don't want you to run away."
"Run away?" Jasper shifted slightly, surprised. "Why would I run? This is where I live."
"I know," Alice said quietly. "But I saw you running to Texas. Running because… you got scared."
"Is there a threat coming?"
"No," Alice said with a bright smile. "Not at all. In fact, I don't see any threats coming or popping up for a long, long time." He relaxed slightly. And she smiled softly, after a second. "Good. No more running." He rolled his eyes in amusement. "So that means we need to break the bond before we go back."
Now? But Alice knew best. Jasper gave a small nod in agreement. Whatever Alice saw, she reacted accordingly. She stepped closer to him, and before he knew what was happening, she spit into her hands. The saliva pooled there, a murky white of burning venom, and Jasper clenched his teeth onto her neck in an instant. In the precise way that he had done over sixty years ago. The claiming bite. He pulled away and she pressed her saliva filled hand against the open wound on her neck before it could heal.
Roles reversed, they did the same to his own neck, sealing Alice's bite with very little conversation about it with Jasper's own venom pressed against his own neck. And that was that. He reached for snow, and used it to rub the remaining venom from his hands and neck.
"We should head to the house. Bella will be waking up soon." It would rain soon. Jasper could smell it in the air.
Getting closer to the house, Jasper could feel a ring of anxiety around his chest loosen. He had not even realized it was there, but once he did… tried to get rid of it quickly. Within a hundred feet of the property, he nearly fell to his knees with the pain that slammed into him.
"Jasper?" Alice asked worriedly.
"I'm fine," Jasper ground out. His hands clenched against the tree he had stumbled into, his eyes squeezed shut. He focused on numbness, and projected it to the upstairs bedroom of the house. He wasn't very successful, but he could at least get a grip on himself.
"Come on. She'll be waiting for you to come back. I don't think she'll take well to broken promises." But there was a hint of amusement from Alice, a hint of… something. Perhaps just a hint. Jasper didn't feel like figuring it out. He was trying to concentrate too hard.
Walking up the stairs, and opening the front door, the pain mounted to twice what it was at the treeline. His gift also worked just a little better, but not entirely. Carlisle appeared at the top of the steps, and Jasper made eye contact with him.
"Let's talk in the living room," Alice spoke up suddenly. "We need to all be ready when she wakes up." Carlisle was down the stairs in a second.
"What do you see?"
"I see… a lot of things. Which is why this is the best option." If there was one thing that Jasper found he liked about Alice - she didn't give people many options.
"Care to elaborate for the rest of us?" Rosalie asked.
Carlisle sighed, but agreed, taking a seat in the sitting room. Jasper opted to stand. He could focus easier when he stood. He felt more comfortable when he stood.
Alice started. "The best course of action is to introduce her to our scents slowly. She's used to Jasper and Carlisle's scents. But even then it could be disorienting at first. I get mixed visions of her reactions. She might attack at first, but in other instances she just behaves normally."
"So one at a time," Eleazar prompted.
"Yes. Jasper and Carlisle first. Then I see Rosalie is best next. Then Emmett. I'll go next. The Denali coven will be… more difficult. She'll need to be calmed down first. If she's agitated, she won't react well-"
"I can take care of that," Jasper said. "I still have a good grip on her, so I don't think her shield will affect my power when she wakes."
"Good," Alice admitted. "I was worried that… might not be the case. But good. That makes everything easier. Tanya first. Eleazar. Kate. Carmen. Irina. That's the best order I have. If anything changes, I will let you know but… that's what I see right now."
"Will there be any difficulties?"
"She's going to be different. And disoriented. But… she's going to be better than most newborns. Her instincts won't be as much of a problem to control as many of ours were." Carlisle was relieved with that. Jasper wondered why. Could he not contain another one that was slightly wild?
But the sudden bitterness that Jasper felt surprised him. He blamed it on the fact that he had been going through the change with Bella for three days - he was not in the best of moods. And with Alice…. He had not had the best day in the world. Or week.
"She is going to need a little bit of space after introductions. To just readjust, calm down. And then Jasper will take her hunting."
"Shouldn't a few more go, just in case there's a human-" Emmett started.
"She trusts Jasper right now - her instincts recognize him as her maker," Carlisle admitted. "So even though she knows who we are, she will feel more at ease with him than with us."
"Carlisle's right. She'll prefer Jasper's company to ours, until she acclimates. And soon it'll wane."
"I knew what I was getting into when I bit her," Jasper said tensely. "This isn't my first newborn." A few flickers of remembrance went around to the others. Wariness again. He shouldn't have brought up Maria. But it was too late. "I'll take her hunting in the east wood. If there's still moose out there, she will have a good first meal. The more she drinks tonight, the better tomorrow."
Alice hesitated. "That means, though, that when you guys get back tonight, we need to leave to get to the funeral." Damn. He had forgotten. "I see her being comfortable being left mostly alone in her room." Alice directed this towards Carmen and Eleazar, Tanya, Irina, and Kate. "She won't want to explore. She'll want to just get a handle on herself."
"I'll be back Tuesday night," Jasper said, quietly.
"So will we," Emmett spoke up. "Rosie and I don't have ties in Forks to deal with. We'll be here, for back up, if it's needed."
"That would be great," Jasper admitted. "While I think the Denali's can hold their own… the more people she's familiar with restraining her… will probably lead to less limbs lost."
"And heads," Emmett grinned. Jasper shot him a look. "What? Everyone's so tense. No one's dying."
"Emmett," Rosalie huffed. "Bella is dying."
"But not really. She'll be better than ever. I bet she's going to be killer at baseball-"
"To Charlie, Bella's dead. Which means that we have to behave appropriately. For us, she's alive. But if anyone figures it out, if anyone catches wind of what's going on, or suspects… anything, the Volturi will kill all of us." Jasper didn't mean to sound so tense. But the way his words were ground out conveyed how much his so called gift was a curse at that moment. He took a careful breath. "We can't play around with this. Now we have wolves on our case-"
"We'll deal with the wolves," Carlisle said instantly. "It won't be an issue."
"If it is, you know where I stand." Jasper left no room for deals and treaties. Treaties were words that could be broken. That were broken. He fought to ensure lasting victory. Word couldn't be broken when the other party was dead. But threats didn't persist with them eliminated. "We have an entire school year left, with a divide in the coven. We'll need to plan mobility. Frequent hunts will be noticed by the wolves. And if her scent travels with any of you once…"
"Which is why visits will be minimal," Alice said strongly. "Enough to keep in touch, but more than once a month is… it will be dangerous."
"Edward won't like that," Rosalie observed.
"Edward doesn't seem to like this. She won't be Bella for the first few months, at least. So he won't be missing … much of her. He'll have more issue with her scent than anything."
"Is it different?" Rosalie asked.
"It doesn't smell like blood anymore, for one," Jasper agreed. "For him having an issue with it before, he might need a few minutes to … get used to it. She doesn't smell human, that's for sure."
"Good, that means that she's a vampire." Jasper snorted as Emmett's sass. Rosalie still smacked his shoulder.
"If she does attack anyone," Alice said after a minute of silence, "It will be Edward."
"That makes sense," Jasper said before there could be apprehension. "He did attack her." Alice agreed with a nod, and there was a small smile there. Warmth and happiness. Jasper couldn't find why. But the others, there was still a brief spasm of unease. Jasper was fine, with them being wary about him… but for some reason, being wary of Bella, who was more likely to have a murdering shadow than hurt anyone herself… it rubbed him the wrong way.
As many things did.
She would have been changed regardless. This would still have been a possibility, regardless, and the fact that they treated this as if she was a threat to them, more so than a threat to others… Newborns were strong, but instinctual. Any attack would be easy to predict. And deflect. But Jasper trusted that she wouldn't hurt anyone.
If he didn't trust her, no one would. Least of all Edward, who was likely lamenting her soul and blood loss.
Jasper didn't buy a lot of what they claimed. Because he could feel how they truly felt. No one could lie with their emotions. A cry sounded from the ceiling.
"Jasper, you should go back up there. She'll wake up in an hour." Jasper glanced between them all, giving a nod. He would be able to hear the conversation down here, anyway. He was gone a second later, up the stairs. The room smelled of Carlisle, first. But the scent didn't get near Bella, who was in agony on the bed. There were more pillows around the room, torn fabric, than the last he had seen in here. But she choked on her voice mid-cry, and seemed to relax just slightly. Jasper's power was at the strongest he could go - the most he had ever used. It made his entire body hurt.
But he was confused by the scent. Carlisle's stopped at the doorway, hovered near it, and didn't come further into the room. It was as if Carlisle made no attempts to comfort her, which went against everything that Jasper knew of his compassionate persona.
Carlisle had changed four others in his life. Did they all suffer alone without him nearby? Feeling like they were dying with no explanation as to why?
Jasper didn't entertain the thoughts often, about Carlisle's shortcomings. But here, with the rare chance that Edward wasn't nearby to hear… he let them run rampant.
"Jasper?" It was whispered.
He pushed Carlisle from his mind. And approached Bella, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking her hand in his own. Her pain numbed quickly, so that it was not as bad. Still unbearable for anyone, but nothing like it had been. "Hey, darlin'. Told you I'd be back."
"When will… over?" She sounded like she was panting for breath.
"You got one more hour left," Jasper said quietly. "Alice's downstairs. You know she's got the exact second already, but she likes to keep us in suspense." She groaned, her fingers tearing into the springs, bending the metal into the shape of her hand. Jasper let her ride out the wave of pain, until she was comfortable again.
"Your guess?"
"Soon. Next half hour, maybe." She hiccuped in a breath. "It won't be long. And then you won't feel anything like this again."
But she wasn't done. "Will it… hurt?" It seemed like she was desperate for an answer. Like she needed to know to prepare herself.
Jasper couldn't lie. "Yes. A lot worse than anything you've felt these last few days. You'll wish that the change never happened - you'll wish that you were dead. Everyone does. And then you do die. It's the pain of your heart stopping, your organs dying one by one… It will hurt a lot."
There was fear. A heavy dose that made Jasper swallow. And her hand tightened on his own, painfully. She already had her strength. She was nearly ready. She would start to slowly die on the inside within a few minutes. Maybe even less.
"But I'll… be okay?"
"You're going to be brand new." She didn't relax.
"How do you know?"
"I've changed a lot of vampires back in the day. Thousands of vampires. Trained them to be in a vampire army. And not one has been able to do what you are right now. So I think you're going to be just fine." The fear ebbed a little. "I spent a hundred years doing that. You could call me a newborn expert."
"Promise?" It was whispered. Jasper hesitated. He couldn't promise. Because she could very easily die. He knew that it was there, in one of Alice's many visions, as a possible outcome. And it seemed that his hesitation was noticed. But … but she was strong. Stronger. So Jasper did something that he rarely ever did, but had done at least twice in the last three days, that he could recall. He made a promise.
"I promise on my mama's life."
"Your mom's probably dead, isn't she?"
Jasper found himself smirking. "She is. Then I promise on my own life."
But it seemed in that moment, the process was beginning. Her pain steadily climbed, mounting and pulsating into Jasper's own body with no remorse. He could not even breathe, it felt as if there was a crushing weight on his lungs. Her grip on his hand was tight, and painful, and he could hear his own skin cracking with the force. If he had pulled away, he had no doubt his hand would have come off with the motion. So he stayed put, swallowing his own pain, and hers. And listened to her complete the change. He shouldn't have gotten so close, but he was rusty, he reasoned - rusty in that he was forgetting his own instincts to comfort a member of the coven.
She screamed. And screamed. And screamed.
Until Jasper heard it. Her heart was giving slow, uneven beats that were slowing in rhythm. Carlisle made his way up the stairs, at Alice's quiet request.
And then with a final scream, gut wrenching and painful just to listen to, her heart completely ceased beating. Jasper held his breath. Bella was still, her hand slack in his own. He didn't dare pull away, for fear of triggering a response. Her hand felt like flames in his own.
She was listening, assessing her surroundings with her eyes closed, and listening as the world seemed to come alive all at once. Carlisle's steps paused at the doorway, and Jasper watched her carefully as the door opened. He could see the twitch of her eyelid, the way her nostrils flared. It was his only warning.
Suddenly her eyes opened, and Jasper reacted just as she did. She had taken a breath in her defensive instincts, and it seemed she did not like what she smelled. Because she was going straight for Jasper's throat. He managed to deflect, getting to his feet to give himself an advantage and blasted her with calm, but she was too quick, getting her arms around one of his own, and throwing him to the ground. Hard. He was sure the floor broke.
But before he could even plan on his next move, she stopped, and loosened her crushing grip on him. Horror flooded her. And therefore, flooded Jasper.
Crimson eyes met his own gold, and she looked more like a frightened lion than a fearless newborn. But it was done. She had passed the final test - she was a vampire.
