A/N Here's another chapter for you guys! Finally got a day off from work, and some new inspiration. Enjoy!
''But you and I, we've been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour is getting late''
-Bob Dylan, ''All Along the Watchtower''
''She's an empath, Carlisle, but it's more than that. Her empathy borders on clairvoyance, and occasional post-cognition. She can absorb the energies of a memory, and then push them outside of herself, almost making them tangible and able to be controlled''
Jasper was talking. As my consciousness swam back up out of the deep slumber that had overtaken me, I could hear him, and though I was not awake enough to really process what he was saying, the soft Southern drawl of his voice warmed me.
''…No, it's not the same thing. I can feel and influence emotion, but only while the emotion is occurring…Yes, she can too but she seems to draw more from strong past emotion, especially when triggered by something…usually music…alright, yes…Carlisle, I have to go. She's waking up.''
He walked into the room just as I was opening my eyes. ''Carlisle says hello,''
I stretched, blinked, and looked around the room. The sun was setting. It was one of those rare moments in Forks where the sun would break brilliantly through the clouds, at last revealing itself with a warm burst of light before it died and sank beneath the horizon. Jasper sat down on the best just as the sun briefly seemed to fill the sky with golden color. The sunlight struck across the planes of his face, sending a brief, beautiful shimmer washing over him before disappearing.
''It's almost time to go, Bella.''
I nodded, pushing back the blankets and yawning. Alice popped her little pixie head into the room. ''Well, hey now, Rip Van Bella is finally awake. Better hurry up and get changed; your ride will be here soon.''
''Our ride?'' I echoed, pushing back my sleep-tangled mess of hair, ''I thought that you were driving us to the airport, Alice.''
She shook her head. ''No, it's better if I don't actually see you leave. Jacob is going to take you. Don't worry—'' Alice put up her hands, ''I had a talk with him. He is not going to pull the brooding werewolf act. I think he genuinely wants to help. Bella, there's some coffee in the kitchen; I thought you might need it. Jasper, a Ms. Cooper called for you. She said that she got those photographs in.'' Alice's eyes glazed over for a moment, and she stared straight ahead. The vision was quick, because half a second later, she blinked and asked, ''Jas, what's in that book? The book in her desk?''
Jasper sighed grimly and stood up. ''Bella, go grab some coffee, I need to talk to Alice for a minute.''
''Got it,'' I said, stretching, forcing myself to climb out of bed. I still felt a little foggy, as if I were waking up from anesthesia. Rummaging through my suitcase, I managed to find an outfit that even Alice wouldn't mind too much. I ran a brush through my hair and pulled it back into a ponytail, then wandered into the kitchen where, sure enough, there was a small pot of hot coffee sitting on the marble counter top. I sniffed the air. The aroma was wonderfully strong. I'd never been too much of a coffee drinker, but I really could use it tonight. As I pulled a mug down from the cabinet, I could hear Alice and Jasper's conversation as they approached.
''I know, Jasper, but I don't want to steal from a library. That's terrible!'' Alice exclaimed.
''Alice,'' Jasper sounded exasperated, ''You shouldn't have a problem with this. You stole half of Audrey Hepburn's wardrobe from the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's. ''
Alice muttered something unintelligible, but I think there was definitely some swearing. ''Alright fine,'' she relented, as they both entered the kitchen, ''I'll do it, but only because I know that it's the right thing. It's going to make me feel icky, though.'' Alice put her nose in the air and folded her arms, deliberately turning away from Jasper.
I couldn't help but smile. There were small pangs in my chest, though, as I watched their interaction, so sweet and natural. Again, I didn't want to feel like I was breaking something apart. But I was. We were. And whatever the reason hiding behind it all, one thing was certain: nothing was ever going to be the same.
I poured coffee into the mug, watching the beautiful, dark liquid washing against the sides, sliding down. It almost seemed to move in slow motion.
The rest of the night moved the same way; fluidly, slowly. Maybe time really had begun hesitating, or perhaps my mind just wanted to see it that way, to savor our last moments in Forks before I was forced to say goodbye, and confront the future. When it came time for Jasper and I to leave, Alice wrapped me in a warm hug. ''Don't be worried, Bella. It will all work out. I'm going to make certain that nothing happens to either of you.''
She gave me one last squeeze and then turned to Jasper. She didn't say anything, just rested her hand gently against his face. Jasper nodded at her, an unreadable look in his eyes. They stayed like that for a minute, and then Alice pulled her hand away, saying, ''Don't worry about the book, Jasper. Nobody is going to see it.'' I knew that she was talking about the Civil War diary, the one that had described attacks by newborn vampires. Did Jasper want Alice to take it, just in case? Was that what she meant, about not wanting to steal from a library? I made a mental note to ask Jasper about this, later, among other things. But we didn't have time then, because I could hear the rumblings of a car pulling into the drive. Jacob had arrived.
My werewolf friend said very little while driving us to the airport, as Alice had promised. She must have given him a very stern lecture, because there was no brooding or grumbling, only a kind of reserved quietness. The drive seemed surprisingly short. Jacob briskly hugged me goodbye, like he didn't want to hold on, didn't want to let the embrace linger too long. Then he nodded stiffly at Jasper before meeting my eyes again with a choked expression on his face. We turned away.
Jasper slid his hand through mine and I felt instantly calmer, as though I were being gently warmed from the inside out. Still, though I was more relaxed now, I was always prone to fidgeting while waiting for something, and today was no exception. As we waited in the terminal for our flight, I chewed my nails, swung my feet, then got up and wandered around to look at different things, buying bottles of water from vending machines and magazines with pictures of celebrities that I barely knew. I called Charlie and amplified my voice with false excitement about my supposed Montreal trip with Alice, promising that I would be safe and call him again soon. I hoped, at least, that the last part was true.
Finally, I wandered back and plunked down beside Jasper again. He was reading an exhausting-looking book about Tibetan myth and magic, but seemed to be enjoying it, or at least intrigued by the information it contained.
''Good book?" I asked him. Jasper looked up. ''It's pretty fascinating,'' he admitted, then added, ''There's one very, very interesting belief that I'd like to research more.''
I raised an eyebrow at him. ''What kind of belief?''
He closed the book for a moment, then said ''Well, there is the idea that if a person could be dedicated enough to focus their energies, they could actually will a thought into physical form, human or otherwise. Literally bring it to life.''
I nodded slowly, contemplating this. ''Well, what happens then? Like, theoretically, what would happen after they created the thing?''
''It's called a Tulpa, and I guess it depends. On the purpose behind creating it, and the creator. See, the being is created out of the person's thought, or will. They give the Tulpa life, thereby giving it the strength to actually exist outside of the creator's mind. There seems to be trouble, though, usually.''
''What kind of trouble?'' I asked, actually shivering a little, though I wasn't entirely sure why.
''Well,'' explained Jasper, looking a little hesitant, ''because it's easy enough to control an idea, or a feeling or a thought, I suppose, when it's safely contained within the boundaries of the mind. But it's entirely another thing to actually create a separate physical entity out of those thoughts. The Tulpa can develop a will of its own once it's created, and sometimes, not even the person who created it is able to control it. And…occasionally, the Tulpa could become…well, slightly sinister. Or even evil at times.''
I shivered again, weird cold pangs of inexplicable fear raising goosebumps all over my skin. ''But, I mean, it's just a legend, right?'' I asked, pulling my hoodie more tightly around myself.
Jasper stared at me, a kind of sardonic, troubled smile playing around his face. He shook his head. ''I'm just a legend too, remember?''
To be continued...
