Chapter 9: New Beginning
Bella POV
If this is what death felt like, I didn't know what I did to deserve such suffering. It felt as if my limbs were being eaten alive, but I couldn't move a muscle. I could just faintly feel my heart beating. I couldn't find the strength to move, to scream - I hardly had enough energy to draw in breath after labored breath. What happened to me?
I could only form small snippets of memory from my clouded mind, but it was enough. Alice left me for dead and betrayed me. My best friend who was the closest thing I had to a sister. The person who could con my dad into believing anything she spun at him. That sweet, innocent girl hurt me deeper than anyone ever has before. She left me in the streets to die in God knows where.
I'd never be able to get my revenge. I could only hope Jasper would do the job for me. Jasper... My savior. The man I never got to thank, never got to say goodbye to. I'd never get to know the man behind the mask.
"Bella, sweetheart, can you hear me?" I tried to open my eyes, gathering every last bit of willpower I had. Once I saw Jasper's beautiful face I couldn't help but smile and relax.
"Jasper..." I squeaked.
"Angel, you've been poisoned by Alice... it's either I change you or..." he swallowed unnecessarily and closed his eyes.
"Ch...ge...mmm..." that was the last thing I could do before being enveloped in a peaceful darkness.
I had "I love you Isabella Swan, and I'll be waiting for you." bouncing in my head before my neck started burning. I didn't have time to pay attention to it before falling into a deep abyss.
I felt the fire. It burned to my very core. Is this Hell? How did I even end up here? This had to be a joke. I tried to open my mouth to scream for someone to make it stop but I couldn't get my muscles to respond. I couldn't writhe around in agony, I couldn't ignore the intense burning centering in my chest.
I felt my bones being healed through the inferno; I could even hear a voice sometimes. An angel's voice. What was an angel doing in such a dark place? He didn't belong here trying to comfort me. Somehow I felt I deserved what I got. I couldn't think of a reason why before I was pulled through the depths of the flames.
I awoke some time later to a bright world. I looked around this new scene, and everything was beautiful. Heaven? Everything was so crystal clear.
Then I heard soft weeping beside me and turned my head to look. Messy blond hair, muscular forearms, blue plaid shirt with sleeves rolled just over the elbow. I reached out to touch this man's cheek and saw who I thought I'd never see again. My knight in shining armor.
"Jasper?" my voice sounded like wind chimes. He shivered and stared at me in amazement.
"Bella... You look... So beautiful..." he reached up to place his hand over the one on his cheek, and I discovered that he didn't feel ice cold to me anymore. He was almost... warm. I smiled gently.
"I left a vampire speechless? There's definitely is something wrong with me." at the sound of his chuckle my still heart fluttered. I chuckled along with him.
Wait... Same skin temperature. Wind chime voice. Still heart. I looked at my hand wrapped in his, then down at my clothes. I was dressed in something clearly designer. As I was wrapped in my thoughts I noticed the insistent burning in my throat, my free hand curling around it as a soft sound of surprise came through my lips.
"Jasper... Am I a vampire?" I thought the question was the dumbest thing to ask, but he looked at me with understanding in his eyes. I loved this man.
"Yes, sweetheart, you are a newborn vampire. Come here." I let him guide me to a full-length mirror on the opposite side of the room nestled in the corner. What I saw stunned me into silence as my mind raced to analyze all the dramatic changes.
My hair was thicker, longer, a lighter brown than I remembered. My eyes were a startling scarlet red - which will take some getting used to - surrounded by the dark shadows on every vampire. My lips were beautifully plumped into a pout, a lighter shade of pink. My body was toned and athletic looking. My skin was a pretty translucent white.
I looked into the mirror above my left shoulder and caught Jasper's eye. He smiled at me. I turned to face him, grabbing ahold of his hands automatically. I had the sudden urge to be close to him, to feel his touch. He seemed to feel it too as he stepped a little closer to me. I had also grown a little taller, and could almost see eye to eye with him now. I looked up into his sizzling amber eyes and was lost. Then the spell was broken when I heard a booming laugh.
"Well, well, well, looks who's finally awake - and already claiming interest in the Major! Such a brave little girl."
This sudden intrusion startled me, causing my to whirl around and crouch low to the floor, a defensive snarl escaping my parted lips. The vampire in front of me looked hurt. He put his hands up in a sign of surrender and looked behind me at Jasper, causing me to growl louder. I suddenly felt calm as Jasper rested his hand on my shoulder.
"Emmett, you know better than to approach a newborn so harshly. You must remember how easily set-off you were your first year." he warned. "She may not even remember you. She doesn't seem to recall anything of her human life. She didn't even realize she was a vampire."
"Oh..." was Emmett's brilliant response. I couldn't help a quiet giggle.
He then came up to me slowly and reached out a hand while folding the other behind his back, bowing forward like a gentleman. I placed my hand in his before he kissed my knuckles. What a goof. He proceeded to speak in an exaggerated Texan accent, "Howdy ma'am. Welcome to the Cullen family. My name is Emmett McCarty Cullen, and this here is my brother Jasper Whitlock. Pleased to meet you." he straightened back up with the biggest grin on his face. I remembered him now. My big bear of a brother. I threw myself into his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck in a hug. He chuckled. "Welcome back little sis."
"It's good to be back, Emmy-Bear" this made Jasper laugh so hard he doubled over. I closed my eyes to savor the sound.
"Fine then, Bellerina, let's go see the family!" and with that Jasper and I followed Em downstairs into the living room where my new family sat waiting. Somehow I felt there were people missing...
I didn't have much time to ponder this before being enveloped into a hug. I tensed with a soft growl. The woman in front of me stopped with a look of sadness and confusion. I looked behind me at Jasper. He sighed.
"Bella, this is Esme Cullen. The family's mother figure. The blond male over there is Carlisle, her husband and bonded mate, the father figure and leader of this coven. The blond female is Rosalie Hale, Emmett's wife and mate. Do you remember them now?"
I looked around the room at my family as Jasper placed his hands gently on my shoulders, massaging them soothingly. I did remember them, fuzzy memories making their appearance. They were few and far between, but it helped. I went over and hugged them all along with an apology, especially to Esme. She seemed to forgive me.
Jasper softly reminded me that I should hunt, which made me remember the burning thirst. I whimpered and he nodded, leading me out the door with a "We'll be back!"
The running was thrilling! I could see everything in perfect clarity. The moment I caught scent of a deer nearby my instincts took over. I stalked in the general direction of it, mounting a tall rock so I could look upon the animal grazing. With a growl I flung my agile body at it, snapping it's neck before the defenseless creature had a chance to think. I drank eagerly.
After I buried the carcass I made my way back to Jasper. He was just finishing his meal. He threw the limp body of the cougar down, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. When he noticed my presence, he smiled and said "Had enough?"
I nodded. "Yes, I think I'm satisfied for now."
"Well than let's head back. I'm sure you have a lot of questions."
He walked over to me and offered his hand. I took it almost too quickly, but he didn't seem to notice. We ran in silence back to the house. Boy did I have so many questions. One was ringing in my mind louder than the others though.
Was I falling for Jasper?
