Chapter 3

Somewhere to Belong

"Hello there, the angel from my nightmare
the shadow in the background of the morgue
" –Blink 182 I Miss You

Jasper's Point of View

"Edward."

The statement came from behind the front door. I was sure it was Alice. A low, deep, irritated growl came next. Thinking there was danger, I stood from my seat on the white couch, white like the rest of the light colored scheme of the house, and appeared near the door in a fraction of a second. The noise got louder, and then the door swung open. Bella, Edward, and Alice trailed in. Edward was in a huff and the girls were a bit irritated. I used my ability to calm them all down.

With the tension gone, Edward stared blankly at me. Alice and Bella piled onto the couch and gave Edward the very same stare. Edward sighed heavily, and then whispered lowly in a volume only my kind could hear, "Carlisle." Immediately, Carlisle flew down the winding staircase and appeared instantly beside him. "What seems to be the problem, Edward?" Carlisle, an idol in all of our eyes, asked concerned. Edward glanced at the girls, then to the said Doctor. "There's a new girl in Forks."

Loosing interest, I crossed the room and sat on the couch perpendicular to the one Bella and Alice sat at. I picked up the remote and began flipping mindlessly through the channels. I didn't bother watching. My mind was stuck on something, someone, else.

"Alright," Carlisle nodded. He crossed his arms and waited patiently for Edward to address the problem. "Bella befriended her." Again, Carlisle nodded. "And she invited us all to visit her family's restaurant for its grand opening." Carlisle nodded, still awaiting Edwards point. Edward half glared at Alice, then turned to Carlisle in all seriousness, "But she isn't human."

Okay, I thought, that was mildly interesting. Another mythical creature in Forks? I wasn't entirely sure before, but it was official now. Forks must be the largest monster magnet on this side of the planet. Or maybe it was just Bella.

"Not human?" Carlisle raised an eyebrow. "Yes," Edward nodded, "I don't know what she is. She is neither a vampire nor is she a werewolf, yet she possesses characteristics of both. She's like some weird hybrid. She could even be the one killing all of those people in Seattle!" Carlisle looked deep in thought, as if he were searching old thoughts for something.

Alice chimed in, "But she isn't a threat! I'm sure of it." Edward stared irritably and answered in a flat tone, "She also knows of our abilities. Well, mine at least. She was able to kick me out of her mind, and she was only smoke in Alice's vision. Therefore, we know nothing of her and it would be unwise to go blindly into her home. For all we know, it could be a trap." A flash of recognition crossed Carlisle's face. Oddly enough, the older vampire hid a soft smile and asked, "Can you describe her to me?"

Edward seemed thrown off, but Alice was a beat ahead. She leapt up from the couch and twirled her way beside Carlisle, "She has a very unique style! I like her clothing choices. She has taste." Bella, much slower, joined Alice and adds, "She told me she was from Salem, Massachusetts, and that she has two brothers. She's also a senior like us." "She has dark auburn brown hair past her shoulder blades," Alice remarks, "And she's fairly short- like me, but a little taller. She looks like she would be 5'4" or so."

I froze. I glanced at the group in disbelief. If they said her eyes were differ-

"Her eyes are odd," Edward reluctantly pipes in, "One is blue and the other is green."

Oh, no. I turned away to stare at the television, my eyes widening. It wasn't a dream. She's not just a memory anymore. I really did see her. She's real. I barely heard Carlisle chuckle, and then ask, "What is her name?"

All three manage to answer, "Schuyler!"

The next few words out of Carlisle's mouth surprised us all. "Edward's right." Bella and Alice stared at him oddly, and then sadly. Edward relaxed in relief. Carlisle then added, "We should be the ones welcoming her. Therefore, we should invite her over. Next week is a good time." There was a pause before, "What?" The stunned remark came from Edward.

I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, though. My mind was still stuck at "invite her over." Not wanting to hear more, and clearly out of my mind, I rushed from my spot and disappeared out the door before anyone could say another word.

________________________________________________________________________

Several hours had passed by the time I was able to control my hysteria. The night had fallen and I was roaming the paved streets of Forks. I was in a state of shock and terror. My nightmares were coming true. The ghosts of my past were coming back to haunt me. This girl, I theorized after many hours, she must be a look alike. It was just a coincidence. I ignored the truth my vampire mind screeched out at me- there were no coincidences.

I sighed and looked up. I was surprised to see an unfamiliar business- a restaurant. Odd, I thought, I could have sworn that used to be vacant. I shrugged it off, but decided to check it out anyway. I don't know why I would go in, seeing as human food tasted like cardboard to me, but I walked up to the glass door and walked in anyway.

The interior was much like the exterior. The building itself was made from glass and several shades a gray brick. The walls were mainly glass. Gray bricks bordered the massive glass wall at the top and corners. But the glass barriers were only for three walls. The last main wall was purely brick; there was a room cut off from the open inside. The walls were harboring the kitchen and the bathrooms, I discovered.

At first, I thought the color scheme to be a limited decoration, but once I'd stepped inside, I found that the design and scheme served a greater purpose. Several black metal and glass tables and decorative metal chairs were splayed across the large room and complemented the wooden paneling of the floor and the contrasting hues of the building. The main source of light for the room, other then a few lamps, were chains of dangling lights. Although the ideas were capturing, it was not that set of detail that stole my attention.

Past the glass walls to the outside was a garden. Ivy crawled up over the bricks and even attached itself to the glass. A metal framed glass door in the wall was meant to open up to a patio where customers could sit outside in the garden to enjoy their meals. A little ways from that was a white rose covered arch that led to a miniature multilevel waterfall adorned in tulips and several other colorful flowers. Surrounding that were many different sections of color filled with dozens of various types of flowers all messing together to create an aurora of shades, tints, and hues. And outlining the entire backyard was a white picket fence covered with pink roses. The scene reminded me of something, but the recognition was from a human memory- a memory I had yet to recover.

But, again, that was not what captured my attention. For, you see, adorning the outside tables and chairs, in the garden and wrapping all over a short wall marking the edge of the patio were vines and patches of moonflowers. And just like that night, they were glowing and creating their own light. The orbs set the entire backyard alight.

Then a noise pulled me away from the sight. It was a bell followed by the soft sound of the door closing. I glanced over my shoulder to see that the door had finally shut and had rung the bell attached to the top when it did. It must have gotten stuck. But before I could turn back to the garden, I noticed something odd about the room.

There were no people.

"Is someone there? Sorry, but the restaurant won't open until next week." The slight European accented, angel-like voice called out from another room. It sounded like it came from the kitchen.

I froze, recognizing the voice instantly. After all, how could I so easily forget a voice that had been chiming unceasingly in my mind for the past century or so? I tried to move, to run away, but my feet stayed planted and my body did not so much as twitch. Again, the woman called out, but this time she was a little worried, "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We are not open until next week."

And then the ghostly maiden of my nightmares appeared in both flesh and blood before me. Still I did not move, not even when she dropped the plate she was holding. Not even when her differently colored eyes widened in disbelief. Not even when I knew that she recognized me for what I was- a vampire, and her killer.

Schuyler's Point of View

Okay. When I got up this morning I'd expected the normal whispers and even a little drama. I was surprised to find a few vampires here, but I handled it. This, however, I did not know how to handle. It's not everyday that the vampire that killed you a century or so ago walks into your restaurant. That was a little past the normal expectations of your first day in town. So… how am I going to deal with this one?

What happened next was not what I'd planned, well technically I didn't actually have a plan, but if I did, this wouldn't have been it. I heard the plate I had in my hands shatter before I realized that I had dropped it. And, well, judging by the man's reaction, I'd assume that I looked pretty freaked out, which was sort of true, but you get the point. Before I knew it, the blonde had turned on his heels and bolted for the door.

But, quite frankly, I wasn't about to let that happen.

So, of all the things in the world that I could do, I shouted, "WAIT!" Yeah, that's definitely going to get him to stop. Good one, Schuyler. And when that little action failed quite sadly (as he didn't even so much as twitch), I improvised. And what did I mean by that, you ask? Well, dear, in Schuyler language that means jump like a frog, soar like an eagle, and tackle him like a linebacker. What? It's called improvising for a reason.

And he went down like sack of potatoes.

Jasper's Point of View

I can't believe she just tackled me!

I was stunned. How could a ghost catch up with me and even more so knock something as hard and heavy as a human-size statue down?! I struggled against her, but she straddled either side of my waist and pinned me down to the floor. How can she keep me down and fight my resistance?! It shouldn't be possible! It isn't possible for a ghost or human… but not for someone who isn't. I looked at the girl, not with terror of hurting her, but with curiosity. What is she?

The beautiful girl closed her heterochromic eyes and began to speak, but as to whom I was not sure. "Wait. NOT Run. W-A-I-T," she sighed, then looked down at me and tilted her head a tad to the side and scowled. "Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you? Jenson kept insisting that you'd died in the Civil War, but I knew you were too smart for that," she paused to look directly into my eyes. I didn't bother hiding the sadness and remorse in my eyes. I waited, knowing that she, the angel, the ghost, the demon would take my life. If she could hold me down like this, then the obliteration of my existence wouldn't be too much of a stretch. I didn't try to fight back or even resist.

The feelings swirled and burst inside my irises, and she reacted with complete surprise. But it wore off into a thoughtful expression. She must be hesitant to take out her revenge, I figured. I then went as far as to reach out with my gift and push the inevitable along with a strong rage. It worked, but not in the way that I had expected it.

The maiden's face turned angry, then she flinched and her features scrunched in frustration. She frowned at me and snapped, "Hey! Don't do that! I'm not going to kill you, so stop it!" I ceased immediately and stared at her bewilderingly, my mouth slightly agape. But she wasn't done yet. Not even close. "And now that we're on the topic, I'd just like to inform you that attacking a defenseless young girl in the dead of night was completely rude! And biting me- oh! Don't even get me started!"

I have to say, I don't think I've ever been scolded for biting someone because it was rude. I highly doubt that even Carlisle would say something like that. What a strange girl. "But that's not really the point," she tilted her head again to catch my diverted eyes. When she did, she smiled, "I've been wanting to thank-you!"

… … …

What?

I didn't expect that- at all. I looked at her like she was crazy, which she must have been in order to actually thank the vampire that killed her. Which asylum did this girl escape from? The girl must have caught my drift and she quickly explained, "Oh, um, that probably sounds a little crazy. How can I put this?" She shifted her weight, which wasn't much, from her seat on top of me to become more comfortable. I didn't mind.

She frowned in frustration and tried, "Well, I'm thanking you for the vampiric power and the whole ability thing, but I guess I'm not thanking you for nearly killing me." She nodded to herself, then smiled at me, "So, again, thanks for the power, but not the whole near death experience." She then gasped as if noticing our position for the first time. "I am SO sorry!" She leaped off of me with a speed equal to that of my own. I don't know why, but as soon as she got off, the loss of the extreme heat of her body (heat beyond a human) made me feel colder. Some part of me wanted her back so I could harness the heat and keep it close.

"Sorry for knocking you down," She sheepishly smiled as she leaned down (I was still flat on my back) with a hand held out towards me. The smart, civil vampire in me wanted to reject her and run away for her own safety. The other half, the southern gentleman, couldn't reject a lady. I sighed as I grabbed her hand. The girl pulled me up effortlessly, but the pull brought me a little too close to her. She, too, seemed a little surprised by the closeness, but she politely stepped back in response. She smiled embarrassed and sheepishly replied, "Sorry, I'll try not to get too close. I can tell you're uncomfortable." I nodded absent mindedly.

She straightened her black knee length skirt and dusted off her crisp white button up shirt. She then said, "How rude of me. I never properly introduced myself. My name is Schuyler- Schuyler Anderson."

The words flowed out naturally, "Jasper Hale."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Jasper Hale."

"Likewise."

What a weird way to meet a girl, I thought. We spent the rest of the night sitting across from each other on either sides of the room. Schuyler did most of the talking, but I can not deny that I listened to every word and enjoyed every second that she was there with me. For the first time in a century, I felt at ease. I felt like I belonged.