Chapter 7

JPoV

I lay with Opal wrapped in my arms. I never knew making love would feel this way. Probably because I never had done it before; I only thought I had. Maria acted like she loved me, even fooled me with her emotions, which is not easy to do, but it was never love. This is. Opal was put on this earth to be mine. She was made for me. I can't but agree with her reasoning that fate is what made me a vampire. She likely would have been immortal anyway, being a Silverblood. Note to self: research mythology on Silverbloods.

Why did she want me to bite her? Doesn't she have enough scars? My bite isn't all that distinct, there'd be no way to tell one from another. I guess she and I would both know, which is kinda hot. And the animalistic part of me is deadly curious to know what she actually tastes like, and wants to mark her as mine. If she tastes half as good as she smells, well there would be no contest. Not even Bella or Beck could compete.

She sleeps soundly, which is becoming more and more common with her. At first she would toss and turn a lot, and it would take large waves of calm and lethargy from me to get her to settle down. Now she can sleep through the night with little interruption, and little assistance from me. As she slumbers, I think about all she told me last night. She can re-grow limbs! Carlisle will be interested to find that out. I wonder what would happen if she were decapitated.

"You put me back together, I reanimate," she mumbles. I hadn't realized I'd said that last thought out loud. I pull her tighter to me.

"Has that happened to you, Darlin'?" I ask. She nods sleepily. Stretching and yawning, she turns to me and looks deeply into my eyes before beginning her story. I kiss her lightly on the lips to reassure her that nothing she tells me could ever scare or drive me away.

"It was another form of punishment. I was apparently making someone's mate jealous because she cut off my head in an attempt to rid her mate of me. He wouldn't want me any more if I was dead, she said just before doing it. I was in a weird limbo state for who knows how long. It could have been minutes, hours, weeks, years, I had no idea. Complete and total nothingness. I couldn't think, feel, hear, see, smell, or anything. I imagine that's what it would be like to die. I guess she had kept my head and body separate, and when her mate returned, he put me back together, as he would a vampire. It worked. After that, anytime I misbehaved or failed in an attempt to run away, they would decapitate me and keep me that way for a week or longer sometimes. The length of time mattered little, since I couldn't tell how long had passed when I was in that nothing state. That was worse than any bite, any violation, any beating or forced starvation that I ever endured. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." She starts tearing up, but turns away from me as if to hide herself from me. I quickly turn her head back to me, staring into her deep sapphire eyes.

Once again, I am completely flabbergasted by this woman. The horrid things she's endured. "Oh Opal, I love you so much." I whisper, pulling her tightly to me, her face buried in my neck. "For as long as I exist, you shall never endure such cruelty again. I would walk through fire to keep you from that."

"Shall we get up?" she asks after her tears have stopped.

"If you wish," I reply. "Though I have no objection to staying in this bed all day."

"While that sounds like a lovely idea, I'd like to go help clean up from the party." She starts to get up and find her dress. I point at the dresser where an outfit has been laid out. One that doesn't include corsets and more laces than are truly necessary.

"I imagine that's already been taken care of, Darlin'." She shrugs into a pair of black panties and a matching bra. It takes every ounce of will power to not rip those garments right off of her and take her roughly. She probably wouldn't like it that way.

"Wouldn't like what, what way?" she asks. Gah, I have got to stop thinking out loud. "Jasper, if we're going to be together, we have to communicate with each other. No secrets, no worries. Okay?" I nod in response.

"I was thinking about what you look like with those sexy panties on and I imagined ripping them off of you and taking you roughly. But given your history, you probably would prefer gentle love making."

"Jasper, honey. I love making love with you. Regardless of the way in which we go about it. Sometimes we'll want it slow and gentle, and sometimes we'll want to tear at each other like wild animals. I know you'll never hurt me, and I don't mean because I can't feel pain. I mean emotionally. I know there will never be a time that I feel as though you're taking advantage of me, or objectifying me, or using me. You love me; I can feel that. And I love you; you know I do. And here, I thought I'd be the insecure one," she jokes.

"How is it that you know exactly what to say to quell all my worries?" I ask, cradling her precious face in my hands. She leans into one hand moves her hands up to caress the back of my fingers.

"Because I know you, Jasper. And when I say that, I mean I know your soul." She places her hand against my chest where my dead heart lies. Do I have a soul? "We've been connected since we were kids. Even though we were separated for a century and a half, no one knows you better than me, and don't let anyone tell you any different, eh?" My mind flashes to Maria. When she dropped in on us to visit a couple decades ago, she tried to lure me away saying no one knew me like she did. Feeling rather left out in this coven of vegetarians, I very nearly went with her. Alice was able to convince me to stay, sharing a vision she had of me reverting to my old ways. That was a life I knew I never wanted again.

"I only wish I could have found you sooner," I whisper as I pull her close to me.

"That makes two of us," she replies. "Let's go see what Esme's cooking for breakfast."

"A month in this house and you already know her so well."

"I can tell that she's a care giver, a true mother at heart. Regardless of her inability to bear children, she truly loves all of you as if she did carry you for nine months."

"She loves you too," I clarify. "You've certainly got all of us wrapped around your little finger, missy." I grab her hand and wrap my finger around her pinky, pulling it to my mouth to kiss the tip, gently.

Opal winks at me. "Don't worry, I won't let it go to my head."

"You go to my head," I reply. Then she starts singing as she continues dressing.

You go to my head

You linger like a haunting refrain

And I find you spinning round in my brain

Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne…

She trails off as she heads out the door and across the meadow like lawn in front of the cottage. "It's so beautiful here," she whispers. "This place is really ours?" her deep sapphire eyes look up into mine, full of love, wonder, and happiness.

"Yes, Darlin', it's ours," I reply, threading my finger through her auburn locks. "We can live out here all the time, if you like, or just use it for a weekend get away whenever we like."

"I like the idea of a weekend getaway," she replies. "I like the big house, and everyone in it, too." I smile at her response, I would have been happy with either decision. Though I can't say the same for everyone else in the family. They would likely feel that I was hogging her or something. Especially Alice.

When we get to the house, Esme is whirling around the kitchen, making pancakes, bacon and eggs, Carlisle leaning against the counter, watching her with wonder in his eyes. Bella is sitting at the counter watching Edward attempt to make fresh squeezed orange juice. He's getting more juice on the counter, on the floor, and all over him than in the carafe. Beck is standing clear of the line of fire with a very amused Alice standing in front of her. Beck's arms are wrapped affectionately around Alice's shoulders, and she presses a kiss to her hair, which makes Alice's eyes light up. Rosalie and Emmett are lost in each other in the adjoining sitting room.

Six weeks ago I would have hated this picture; I would have felt so left out. but now I'm a part of it. Opal and I will fit right into this scene, as if we were always meant to be in it.

"Edward, what on earth are you doing?" Opal asks as she sees the scene of a now drenched Bella trying to wipe sticky orange pulp off of her face. "Give me that carafe," she demands. Edward relinquishes the carafe and the bowl of halved oranges gladly, saying he has no business trying to make fresh squeezed juice.

"First, you need a cheesecloth, lest your juice be all pulp, which I'm not a huge fan of," Opal explains. She roots around in a cupboard until she finds what apparently is a cheesecloth. I thought those were only for cheese. Emmett echoes my thought out loud, to which Opal giggles and rolls her eyes at him. "Vampires," she admonishes under her breath, shaking her head.

She drapes the cheesecloth over the carafe and holds an orange half over it, squeezing it gently. "If you squeeze too hard too fast, it'll just spray everywhere, case in point," she continues gesturing to the sticky orange mess around the kitchen. While she continues to squeeze the juice, I retrieve a rag and begin cleaning up the mess Edward left in his wake.

A few minutes later, the carafe is full of fresh squeezed orange juice. Perfect timing for Beck and Bella to set the rarely used dining room table and for Esme to place her piping hot dishes in the center. Bella sits on one side, Edward taking the seat next to hers, Beck sits on another side, Alice mirroring Edward. I find a 3rd side to sit at and pull out a chair for Opal to sit. She gazes up at me completely confused. "Why are you sitting at the table? Planning on eating?" she asks.

"Just because we don't eat doesn't mean we can't join you, right?" I answer. "Unless of course, you'd rather I didn't," I add, not bothering to hide my pout. She reaches up and pecks my lips lightly and gestures for me to site beside her. I grab the serving platter piled high with pancakes and hand Opal the tongs, gesturing for her to help herself. She takes a large stack of pancakes and plops them onto her plate.

"Esme, would you happen to have any applesauce?" she asks. Bella and Beck look at her as if she's grown a third eye. Esme nods affectionately and scurries back into the kitchen to search the fridge. She returns with a jar of applesauce that boasts being super chunky and flavored with cinnamon. "Perfect, this is exactly the right kind. Thank you, Esme."

"You're very welcome, dear," Esme beams, so happy to be of help in anyway.

"What?" Opal asks when she sees Bella and Beck gaping at her as she spoons the apple sauce over the top of her pancakes. "I prefer this to syrup, so sue me." She shrugs. I rub soothing circles into her shoulder as she eats her breakfast.

"So now that the party is over and the house is back to the way it was before, whatever are we going to do to pass the time?" Opal asks. Edward glances at Bella who glances at Alice who glances at me. "Okay, I'll take that as there's something that you all know that I'm not yet aware of."

"Well you mentioned a while back that Bella and Beck could be made immortal by becoming like you rather than vampires," Edward states. Opal nods in reply. "We thought maybe we'd start the experimentation for that?" he asks. Opal nods and smiles as she finishes her glass of juice.

"Absolutely. Carlisle, I suggest you get blood and tissue samples from both Bella and Beck as well as from me, and I take it you either have one or can get a centrifuge and any other equipment we may need?" she asks. Carlisle nods and strides off to gather the necessary materials.

After helping Esme clean up the breakfast dishes, I follow Opal upstairs where she decides to shower and get ready to be poked and prodded by Carlisle. Her words, not mine. "You don't have to do this, you know."

"It's no problem, Jasper," she replies. "I want to help in any way I can, with anything I can help with. If Bella and Beck are dead set on becoming immortal, maybe being Silverbloods is preferable to being vampires. I can tell that Alice and Edward are rather partial to their scents." She winks at me as she disappears into the en suite bathroom in her bedroom. I retire to my room to give her some privacy. "Aren't you going to join me?" she calls out. I dash back into her room, stopping at the open bathroom door.

"What?" I ask.

"I thought we'd shower together," she suggests, peeking around the glass tile wall to gaze at me seductively. I discard my clothes at record speed and am soon encased in steam with her in the shower. Her hands roam over my torso, her lips kissing as many of my scars as she is able to. I wrap my arms around her pulling her close. My hand trails up her back, around her neck and grasps her chin to tilt her head up, giving me easier access to her lips.

All too soon, she pulls away from my greedy lips. "I want to taste you," she whispers. And before I process her words, she's on her knees in front of me, gripping my manhood tightly in her hand, causing me to groan deep in my chest. She licks her lips as she looks up at me from under her lashes and leans forward. I inhale sharply as her tongue makes contact with the sensitive tip. I grip the wall in an attempt to find purchase against anything as her mouth assaults me in the most glorious way.

Not even Maria ever did this. My goodness. Her mouth is so warm, so wet. She drags her teeth along me, eliciting a long hiss from me. She swirls her tongue around the tip before taking me all the way into her mouth. I feel the back of her throat before she pulls away. Did I feel her tonsils? Does she have tonsils? She begins to pump me in and out of her mouth, her hands on my hips to steady herself. One of my hands touches the top of her head gently, stroking her hair as she pleasures me with her mouth.

"Opal," I hiss through my teeth, "I'm about to…" I trail off as she starts sucking me tightly, milking my climax from me. I gaze down in wonder as she swallows every drop and licks up each side of the shaft, cleaning me off. She stands up and gazes at me shyly. "Wow, that was incredible, Darlin'," I breathe.

"Really?" she asks, looking all innocent and shy. "I've never done that before."

"I've never had it done before," I reply. Her eyes widen. "But I imagine that it doesn't get any better than that. Her cheeks redden and she smiles widely. "Allow me to return the favor?" I request.

"Um, okay," she replies, a tiny bit of fear in her tone. "No one's ever done that to me before."

"Well it's a day of firsts then, my love. You'll tell me if you don't like it or want me to stop, right?" she nods once. Rather than kneeling in front of her, I pick her up, and press her back against the shower wall. "Wrap your legs around my shoulders." She complies immediately, her fingers threading through my hair as I kiss up her inner thighs on each side. I can smell her arousal, and it smells like heaven. Tentatively, I kiss the top of her folds, noting how soft and sensitive the skin is there.

My tongue darts out to taste her, she inhales sharply and tightens her grip on my hair. "Oh yes," she breathes. I find the sensitive nub and concentrate my attention there, adding pressure and flicking my tongue quickly against it. She tastes divine. This must be as close as a vampire can get to heaven. It may even be better. I could do this all day every day and never tire of it. Holding up her body with one hand I take my other hand slowly push a finger inside her, curling it upwards to put pressure against the g-spot. She moans loudly and begins writhing against my face. I press my mouth tighter against her, kissing, licking and nipping, being sure to lap up all of her honey-like arousal.

I slide a second finger inside her, and almost immediately feel her walls tightening around my fingers, her orgasm pulsating through her. She collapses against my head, unable to hold her back straight against the shower wall. I gently slide her down and hold her tightly to me. Her arms wrap lazily around my waist, her head against my chest. "holy cow," she says after she's caught her breath. "Incredible." I smile against her hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Mr. Whitlock, are you ready for round two?" she asks, giggling as she wiggles her body against mine, my new erection pressing against her stomach.

"How could I not be after being turned on by your response to my… ministrations?" I ask. She smiles sweetly at me before turning around to turn off the water.

"No use in wasting water," she explains as she steps out of the shower, grabs two towels, handing me one and then gesturing for me to follow her out into the bedroom. I dash across the room and shut the door, not that it'd make much difference. Everyone in the house will have heard us, knowing exactly what we're up to. She climbs onto the bed and beckons me to her. I comply immediately and lay along side her, my hand tracing the line of her hip to her shoulder blade.

She pushes against my shoulder, silently asking me to lay on my back. As soon as I do, she straddles me and is hovering above me, putting herself into position. "Is this okay?" she asks. I nod enthusiastically, my hands holding her hips tightly. Ever so slowly she sinks herself down on me until I am fully sheathed inside her. She is so tight, I very nearly climax just from entering her. Her hands press into my chest as she moves atop me, setting her own rhythm. I lose myself in her eyes, watching her intently as she takes her pleasure from my body, giving me pleasure in return.

"God, Jasper," she moans. "Hold me tighter," she requests. I lean up and wrap my arms around her waist, pressing her body to mine as we move into a sitting position. She adjusts her legs to wrap around me and lets me do the work in moving our bodies to the rhythm she created. Her lips are all over me, on my lips, my cheeks, my neck, and my collar bone. I can feel her muscles contracting around me, signaling her impending release. Her fingers find their way into my hair as her climax nears and she pulls hard as her orgasm claims her, milking my own release from me in the process. I pull her tight against me as we ride out our pleasure together, slowing as the waves die down.

"Back to the shower," she mutters as she climbs off of me, making me instantly miss the warmth of her body wrapped around mine. "I'm going to actually get clean this time," she jokes. I giggle and follow her in, promising to wash her back for her.

Once we're clean and dressed for the day, we head down to Carlisle's study where Bella and Beck are having their blood samples taken. Bella's hand is over her nose, and she's deliberately breathing only through her mouth. Opal takes a look at the scene in front of us and turns to me in confusion.

"Bella is the definition of irony. She's a human who can smell blood, and it makes her ill," I explain. Everyone in the room snickers while Bella rolls her eyes.

"I've heard of that before," Opal replies. All eyes are on her. "Yeah, there was a human who hated the smell of blood this was probably sixty or so years ago, her name was Cara, I remember she had a twin named Marie," she continues. "Anyway, Cara was turned, and immediately they threw me into the room with her, all she did was dry heave the entire time. They then tried a normal human, and she had the same results. She said that she remembered being human and getting ill at the smell of blood. I never knew what happened to her after that. I just know that I never saw her again."

"Great aunt Cara?!" Beck exclaims.

"It can't be, that's way too much of a coincidence, Beck," Bella chastises, sounding all nasally with her nose plugged.

"What are you talking about?" Edward asks.

"Our grandmother's name was Marie. She had a twin sister named Cara, who disappeared many years ago. We never knew her, as she disappeared long before we were born. Evidently we look a lot like they did. I've seen a photo or two, and the resemblance is pretty uncanny. Plus, Bella gets sick at the smell of blood. I'm not overly fond of the sight of it. It's possible that we're related to the Cara that was turned."

"I wonder if she survived," I muse. "Opal, who was it that turned her?" I ask.

"Sir Raymond," she replies, malice in her tone. "Bastard that she is, probably just wanted Cara as another newborn for his army against Maria. Which means the likelihood of Cara having survived is slim. Especially if she felt no bloodlust for human blood. That was how Raymond kept his newborns happy. The promise of as much blood as they could ever want. Usually from me. A vampire that doesn't want it must have been something of a conundrum for him. He likely would have seen her as weak, and not worthy of his army."

Bella and Beck both flinch. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be so blunt." Opal looks down, feeling ashamed. I pull her to my side, wrap my arm tightly around her waist and kiss her hair. She quickly melts into me, all negative emotions gone.

Carlisle is placing the tubes of blood he drew from Bella into a centrifuge. He then moves on to Beck. Opal extracts herself from my iron grasp and takes a seat next to Bella, rolling up her sleeve so Carlisle can draw her blood as well. Bella tentatively reaches out, as if to touch Opal's arm. "Curious about my scars?" Opal asks.

"Er, yeah. I have one," Bella replies, turning up her right arm to show Opal the scar that James left on her that fateful day in Phoenix. "I was just wondering if yours are cool to the touch, too." Opal touches Bella's scar, confusion emanating off of her.

"She was attacked," Edward begins. "I sucked the venom back out of her wound," Edward explains, reading Opal's emotion through my thoughts.

"Imagine that," Opal marvels. She then places her arm in Bella's hand to allow her to touch Opal's scars. Bella marvels at the texture and that they are indeed a few degrees cooler than the un-scarred skin, of which there is little. Carlisle finishes with Beck, and moves on to Opal, who informs him to take as much as he needs. He proceeds to draw two pints worth, which he notes that should make a human pass out, but Opal reassures him that her blood replenishes itself as soon as it's lost; she has no time to feel the effects of any blood loss.

I'll admit, I half expected her blood to be a different color, but it is red, just like any other human. Which makes me wonder where the Silverblood title comes from. "That's the next thing we should research," Edward states, having listened to my thoughts.

"Opal, how much do you know about the Silverblood stories?" he asks her.

"Not a whole lot, just that it is the term given to immortal humans. It is said that my existence is to feed vampires, that I was created for that reason, and that reason alone. I think it's a bunch of hogwash, but that's all I've ever heard. Much of which I'm sure was told to me to ensure that I believe that being an oversized bag of blood was my life's purpose.

"Also, my blood type is O negative, so if anyone needs a transfusion or an organ donation, I'm your girl." The mood is immediately lightened by her statement.

"I appreciate that Opal, though I'm sure the hospital would wonder where I got a bunch of extra hearts, lungs and livers from. Besides, wouldn't they become immortal if they got a transplant or transfusion from you?"

"I don't think so," Opal replies. "I think it has to be a LOT of blood for it to alter their DNA to Silverblood status. I briefly lived in peace with a vampire named Veronica, and she never killed humans, though she didn't hunt animals either. She lived off of blood bags, never even drinking from me. Her human mate was a black market surgeon." Carlisle stares at her impassively. "Don't look at me like that, you know full well that many 'black market' doctors are perfectly legitimate and only want to help those that can't afford medical care, or are too far down the donation waiting list." Carlisle resumes his attentive expression, accepting her explanation. "Anyway, he had several patients that were on the organ donation waiting lists, but much too close to death to actually receive one in time, and I offered my services. He took a total of six lungs, two livers, some bone marrow, and four kidneys. Everything grew back within minutes of being harvested.

"Veronica was a master with computers and was able to make it seem like all of my organs came from different donors. She even fabricated death certificates and obituaries for the fake donors. None of the people that received my organs are immortal. Though I imagine if one person received many of my organs, that might affect them differently. The most any one of them got was both lungs."

"Simply fascinating," Carlisle marvels. "Tell me, what became of this Veronica?"

"Tony and his coven found out about me, having heard rumors of the Silverblood. They came for me while Veronica was out with her mate, and took me away. I have no idea what became of her. Tony kept telling me that he killed her just after draining her mate, but I don't know if I believe that or not. Part of me thinks he told me that so that I would lose any hope of her rescuing me. Not that it mattered anyway. I had stopped caring what happened to me when I learned that Jasper was dead."

I consider her words, not knowing when she learned I was dead. Did she assume that I came back from war and moved on with my life? She must have learned that I never came back, as she was able to procure items from my family's house. Who told her I had died? Edward hears my thoughts and tells Opal that I should probably hear the story.

Once Carlisle is finished with extracting Opal's blood, she leads me out of the room and back up to her bedroom. I join her on the bed and she regales me with the tale of how Maria got "ownership" of her and threatened to kill me if she ever disobeyed. And once Maria told her that I'd died of exhaustion at the ripe old age of seventy, she lost any will to go on. She stopped caring about anything or anyone.

"Then when I was with Veronica, she was able to help me get to my family's home, and subsequently, your family's. I learned through looking through the family records then that you never came back from the war and were presumed dead many years before Maria told me you were dead. It seems as though you and I were both under her thumb, and never even knew about it." I pull her into my arms, soothing her sadness away, showing her my love for her. Though, something is nagging at the back of my mind. Something tells me that now that she and I are together, Maria might rear her ugly head.