~Chapter Eleven~
Rain and Thunder
~Jasper~
"Do you think it's true?" Emmett asks me abruptly after having his fill of the grizzly bear he hunted down.
"Do I think what's true?"
"Oh don't play dumb now, empath. You know what I mean."
Sadly I did know what my brother was asking me but for once I had no desire to oblige him with the answer. I start burying the drained deer from our hunt under a thick old oak tree- hoping he'll get the hint that I'm too preoccupied with what I was doing to talk to him.
"I don't know Emmett."
"Well I'll tell you what I think," joy of course he's not planning on letting me avoid him, "I think it's a load of bull."
"Really, well that's great."
"You know what, cut it out Jazz. I know you've been thinking about it since we left the shape shifters."
"Emmett-"
"And I know for a fact that it got to you the way Jacob was pretty much challenging you during his little declaration." Shit, the guy is more intuitive than I thought he was. After effectively covering the deer's body with dirt I look at my brothers' amused face. That smirk on that oversized child was laughable- he really thought he solved some sort of case just now.
"What do you want me to say, Em?"
"I want you to tell me if you really believe that Jacob imprinted on Bella. Because I sure as hell don't believe it."
Did I believe if Bella was Jacob's soulmate? I couldn't know how to answer that. When he confessed about Sam and the events of what happened in Alaska- the kid was being one hundred percent honest, I knew that much. There was never an ounce of what he said that I thought he was doing it to lie or out of malice coming from him as he spoke of Bella either so I believed that he genuinely wanted to protect her from Sam and his pack but when he spoke of the connection he made with Bella on the ice three years ago- I didn't know what to say. He really believed he imprinted on her, so much that he made me believe it for a second there. I even said it for him- 'Jacob imprinted on Bella'. I could sense the shock coming from my family as well, Alice was at a loss for words too, as surprising as that was to believe.
"Truth be told? No I don't think he imprinted on her but maybe it was something else."
"Alice said it's not possible for Jacob to be Bella's soulmate because from what she saw- you are."
"Oh she did, did she? What else have you and my ex wife been talking about?"
"Chill out, bro. You know we talk about you because we care." He says in a mockingly soft voice making me roll my eyes at him.
Sure you do.
"You know Emmett likes to poke fun at anything that breaths- don't take him so seriously Jazz." Edward says as he gets closer to us after his hunt was over with in the mountains. I'll never hear the end of it now that the mind reader is here.
"That's true as well. Emmett is right though, I read his thoughts the whole time he spoke of Sam and Bella. He may be so in love with her that he can't distinguish reality from fantasy. It seems to me that he's set on staying close to Bella."
I didn't know what to say. As much as I hated the idea of Jacob being so close to Bella and even becoming her friend, I knew that she needed to be protected from Sam and his loyal dogs. And if having Jake near Bella could help ensure her safety a little more then I would have no choice but to allow it.
"Jacob and the rest of the pack that abandoned Sam know him better than anyone- I'm sure them being on our side to protect Bella will be a good element of surprise when they decide to show up. I won't stray too far from her until we know exactly where Sam is. They'll be useful to us when we'll need to go hunting too so we won't have to worry about leaving Bella unprotected." As much as I hated it.
I could hear Alice from the other side of the river coming to join us shortly after we all finished powering up before returning home. Something was off however, she seemed worried or anxious the closer she got- what was more alarming was that Rosalie was with her. I ran ahead of the others and met them halfway through the dark forest, "what happened? Why aren't you with Bella?"
"Well hello to you too." Rosalie retorts sarcastically which I quite frankly could care less for right now.
"Bella- she's going to Port Angeles."
"What? Why?"
"Angela Webber and Jessica Stanley invited her to go shopping and you'll never guess how eagerly she accepted."
"She plans on going back to that store you took her to when we went shopping last time- something about a book but she seems nervous when she finds it. Do you have any idea why?" Alice asks me as she tells me of the vision she had.
Book? What book is she talking about? Why is Bella going there now of all times and without any of us there to keep an eye on her. I never should have gone for a hunt after the meeting with the council members if I had known that this was going to happen. I need to get to her as soon as I can- I don't care if Bella's with two humans or a hundred, as long as Sam is out there wanting her dead I wasn't about to leave her side.
"I'll go with Jasper to make sure she's safe." Edward tells everyone after hearing how loud my thoughts must've been. I was about to take off when I remembered one more important thing. I stop to turn around and look at Carlisle, "Can you please keep an eye on Charlie for me? The last thing we need now is for another Swan to be left unprotected."
"We'll make sure he's safe." My father says, sharing his calm with me. I nod in thanks before running off with Edward towards his Volvo and off to Port Angeles- to my Bella. I couldn't explain it but I had a bad feeling the more I thought about Bella being somewhere out of my reach, where i couldn't protect her.
"She'll be okay, Jazz." Edward says as he drove quickly through the narrow roads heading straight for the storm clouds ahead.
~Bella~
I stared at the rain drops that hung on the edge of the awning from the inside of the store window of the dress shop the girls had dragged me in to. They were currently trying on the whole store until they could find the perfect dress. Meanwhile I just sat on the couch and waited for them to come out and ask me for my input, although I'm not so sure why considering my style is strictly plaid t-shirt's and jeans. I was trying to show a little bit of an interest since they invited me along but I couldn't stop thinking about that book store in the shopping mall that Jasper and Alice had taken me to.
"So? What do you think?" I can already see the voluptuous hot pink dress Jessica had on from the reflection on the window. I put on my most encouraging smile when i turned around and tried to be nice about what I was about to say, "It looks..good but maybe something less-"
"Slutty?" She asks me while motioning to her chest.
"I was going to say pink."
"Okay so I'll put this in the maybe pile." Jessica smiles at me before twirling around back into the dressing room allowing Angela to come out in a beautiful lavender dress with small specs of glitter that shined in the light. She looked a little embarrassed as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She looked at me as she waited for what I was going to say. "Angela, you look great! I think this is definitely your dress."
"You really think so too? Oh great I was so worried I would look weird."
"Ooh Ang! I love it!" Jessica pops out her head to look at Angelas dress from her dressing room.
Angela stands there looking at herself in the mirror until she asks me out of curiosity, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the prom with us? I'm sure it'll be tons of fun with you there."
"I'm not really good at the whole dancing, socializing scene. Besides my mom wants me to go visit her that weekend. Who's your date to the prom?"
"Well Eric seemed to want to go but he hasn't asked me yet. I'm kind of hoping he'll get the courage soon."
"You should just ask him yourself."
"Me ask him to prom? I don't know won't that come out as a little bit desperate?"
"It's not desperate at all. He might just be too shy to ask so either way you're both in the same boat right? Take the initiative."
She seemed to process what advice I was able to give her and smiled kindly at me, "you know what? I think I will, thanks Bella."
Jessica stomps out of the dressing room in another showy dress only this time it was a cherry red color. She flips her chestnut brown hair over her shoulder and smiles brightly at herself in the mirror. "Girls..I think this is the one!"
Angela and I look at one another both unsure on what to say now that she seemed so dertermined that this dress was the best one out of all the dresses in the store. I wasn't about to burst her bubble anytime soon, the last thing I needed was to be on Jessica Stanley's bad side after all the rumors I heard about how mean she could be.
"It certainly seems like a dress that's fit for you, Jess." Angela manages to say.
"Ooh! Now we have to look for clutches and heels! Let's go to the other side! They have a ton of things on sale now!" Jessica declares as she starts marching over to the shoes section across the store from us.
"Actually I think I'm going to go ahead and look at a bookstore I've been wanting to go to for a while now."
"Really? I can go with you if you want." Angela offers.
"No that's ok. We can meet up when you're done shopping for what you need."
"We might go get something to eat afterwards so meet up with us at Giuliani's?"
Angela agreed and gave me an apologetic smile before running to catch up with Jessica who was already trying on bright red stilleto heels enthusiastically.
I made my way through the shopping center towards the bookstore. The wet pavement was glistening in the lights the street lamps provided as I walked on the side walk. When I arrived at the bookstore it was like a ghost town compared to the rest of the stores in the plaza, the only person in the store was the young woman with a green hair pixie cut and a lot of makeup at the cash register as she read through a showy fashion magazine. Instead of asking her for the book and possibly having to put up with the attitude she would give me- I went on towards the civil war section where I had last seen it. I looked up and down the shelves in search for it but I had no luck for the first fifteen minutes since I got to the store. I was starting to get mad at the irony of when I'm finally ready to read something related to the wolves from that book- I can't find it. It was only until I triple checked both sides of the section that I gave up. I couldn't even remember the name of the book so even asking for it wouldn't be much help. I scratched my head in frustration before sitting down on the floor in the spot where I had last been with Jasper. I sat there in total silence until I cooled down.
"Damn it." That's right, I hated my luck so much that I would damn it all to hell. If only Jasper had told me the truth earlier today then I wouldn't be driving myself insane because I can't find a stupid book that probably wouldn't even help me out at all. This whole situation is insane. So here I am- at a dead end and at a loss for words. I started to drag myself to a standing position but hit my head on the shelf, surprisingly. Not.
"Ow.." I crouch down and rub my head before something caught my eye on the other side of the bookshelf. I look through a small crack between the books and what do you know? That damn book was on the shelf buried under all the other history books. I stand up, carefully this time, walk to the other side and pick up the daunting book. I found myself becoming nervous all of a sudden, I guess I wasn't completely confident yet about what I would find if I read it.
"Attention all customers..we'll be closing in five minutes so get your books and proceed to the cash register..or leave." The young woman from the cash register announced lazily on the intercom.
I roll my eyes and figured it would be better if I just bought the book instead so that I could really focus on it. I went to the check out and bought the book without exchanging any unnecessary words with the young woman and exit the store into the now pouring rain. I look at my cell phone and call Angela but it went directly to voice mail- her phone must've died. I sped walked through the nearly empty shopping center, heading for Giuliani's like we had originally agreed to meet before. I took extra care of shielding the book from the rain by tucking it inside my jacket. I was around the corner and could see the dimmed lights from the restaurants on the other side of the parking lot so I thought it best if I cut through there to get to Giuliani's faster. I zig zagged in between the cars. I pulled my hood closer around my neck as I get a shiver down my spine. I hated the cold.
I was nearing the steps down an alley way behind the restaurant when I heard a splash behind me. I turn around quickly in the direction of the noise but there was nothing there- only the drops of rain and the ripples in the puddles moved. I got the hint that I should move faster, I walk down the steps quickly ignoring the fact that my hood fell off my head and my hair was starting to get cold from the rain. My heart started beating faster the more the fear and paranoia started setting in the back of my mind. I remember feeling this way before only this time the difference was- I knew I wasn't alone.
I stop in my tracks and stare at the silver furred beast that stood before me in the dim light provided by the full moon in the night sky. Only I knew it wasn't him, this wolf was smaller compared to the other one but still massive, dark, and looked ready to move at any moment. I knew I should probably run, scream for help, or shiver in fear but I couldn't bring myself to move. Breathing became difficult as I felt as if needles were piercing my lungs. The wolfs' docile attitude terrified me more than his mere presence, he was too calm- unmoving just like me. I just stared into his narrow eyes as he watched me- never taking his eyes off me. It was only when the flash of lightning hit and thunder clasped near us that I flinched and closed my eyes tight, when I opened them again the alley was empty. The wolf was gone, snapping me out of my state of shock. I looked in all directions trying to find him through the pouring rain. I was startled by the sudden low growl from behind the steps I had just got down from- I spin around quickly but there was nothing, only the rustling of the bushes and flashes of lightning in the black sky. It was only when the thunder hit again and I heard a loud yelp and an even louder growl that it all became too much for me that I ran further into the dark alley never stopping or looking behind me to see if it was chasing after me or why the wolf cried out. The cold rain that's drenched me completely was nothing compared to the chilling air that entered and left my lungs as I desperately tried to get as far away from there as possible. I moved towards the end of the alley but was jolted back by a hard object, I waited for the pain the impact of the hard pavement would inflict as soon as I started falling backwards, only I didn't. I felt two strong arms holding me tightly around my waist. I panicked when I made out a hooded man was holding me and started protesting loudly to be let go, until I heard a smooth voice call out my name.
"No! Let me go!"
"Bella. Bella! it's me Jasper. Open your eyes, love."
Jasper? What? It can't be, I must be dreaming again.
I open my eyes carefully as I battle with the rain to see the man who held me close in his strong arms. There he was, Jasper really was here, holding me in his arms. I sigh partially in relief and disbelief as his golden eyes were intense with worry as he looked at me intently. His head was covered by the black hood of his jacket but he wasn't nearly as drenched by the rain as I was.
"J-Jasper? What..what are you doing here?" I asked as I finally gained the ability to speak normally again, my teeth chattering all the while.
"Let's get you out of this rain for now ok?" He wasted no time in wrapping one of his arms around me and supported me to help me walk noticing that I could barely stand after being physically drained from the adrenaline that left my body. As he led me out of the alley I kept looking over my shoulder for the wolf.
"You're safe with me, Bella." He says as he continues urging me to keep walking.
We walked around the corner towards the empty lot where he took out the keys to the silver Volvo and opened the passenger side for me, Jasper gently sat me down in the seat before making his way around the car incredibly fast. I thought I was seeing things for a moment. He got in the car and turned it on putting the heater on full blast for me.
"Take off the jacket Bella. I have a dry one in the back that you can use."
"Wh-what are you doing here Jasper?" I questioned as I tried to stop shivering by placing my hands on the heater.
He didn't answer me. The first time I asked him, I figured it was just because he wanted to get me out of the rain but now I felt something different from him. Did I do something wrong?
"Jasper?"
"Are you okay?" He asks me, handing me the thick winter jacket he had in the backseat. I take off my soaked jacket and sweater, leaving on my long sleeve shirt that clung so closely to my skin and gratefully wrap myself in the jacket he gave me. Forgetting that my book had been tucked underneath, it fell to the floor at my feet creating a loud thud. Jasper glances down for a second but focuses back on the dashboard of the Volvo.
"Yes.."
"I'm taking you home."
Just like that, Jasper began driving off the parking lot alarmingly quickly. I would have been scared were it not for adrenaline that drained all my energy completely. When we got to the highway I saw on the dashboard exactly how over the speed limit he was going.
"Wait! I came with Jessica and Angela, they told me to meet that at the restaurant. If I leave now they'll think something happened."
"I'm sure they'll be alright. You can call them when you get home."
"Jasper I think you should slow down a little." He scoffs, I've never seen Jasper angry before but I could tell this is in the early stages of what anger looks like on him. "You should put your seat belt on Bella."
"You should put your seat belt on too."
"You should worry more about your well being from now on."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Do you know what could have happened to you if I hadn't showed up in time? What were you going out this late, alone?" I didn't know what to say to him. If anyone could understand what I went through in the past it was Jasper and he was in every right to talk to me about being safe but the fact that he was taking out his frustration out on me, scared me more than any wolf ever could.
"Why are you so mad?"
"I'm not mad Bella. Do you have any idea how you looked when I found you in that alley? How terrified you looked?"
"What does that even matter? How did you even know where I was anyways?"
"I didn't know where you were that's why it was such a shock to me."
"You're lying Jasper."
"Bella-"
"No. Unless you start telling me at least some of the truth then I don't want to hear your excuses. You think I'm that stupid enough to just believe anything you tell me don't you?"
"I don't want to lie to you Bella and I definitely don't think you're stupid but-"
"But what? I'm not ready to hear the truth yet? Really? Because I know you know more about my whole situation than you let on. Tell me does your family know about what happened to me in Alaska too?" I was so upset with Jasper at this point. I couldn't understand why we were arguing now of all times. I was angry that he didn't trust that I could handle the truth, which ever that may be. I was on the verge of tears caused by my frustration, I felt that if I kept talking he would figure out how I was feeling so I tilted my head to face the window. Jasper sighed but kept quiet for a few minutes. The drive back to Forks was kept in silence, a dry dead silence I never thought I would experience with Jasper. I grabbed my wet jacket and book when we started pulling into the street my house was on but the Volvo stopped ahead, I look over my shoulder slowly to see why he stopped driving.
"Bella..I'm sorry."
"Jasper, please I can't-"
"I'm so sorry for everything that you've been put through- everything I've been putting you through. I want to protect you but I also want to tell you the truth of what I am, what my family and I are. Darlin' I want to tell you so badly everything that I know, you have no idea." Jasper reaches his hand out and caresses my hair, pushing the loose wet strands behind my ear. His cold touch took me by surprise but I didn't mind it at all- not one bit. It felt nice to have him near me, to touch me in such a gentle manner, I wished it could be like this between us always."This is not my secret to tell, I would be putting too many people in jeopardy...Bella I am not what you think I am. I'm dangerous and I'll only be putting you in danger if I'm near you."
"What do you mean? Tell me so I can understand you more." This time I hold his hand and plead with my eyes as I felt the tears welling up again.
Jasper looked like he was about to say something but sighed and looked out the window towards the forest near my house. " I should get you home," he says taking my hand in his, "you're freezing."
"So are you." I say taking notice that his hand hasn't warmed up one bit since he turned on the heater. It concerned me but he gave me that breathtaking smile of his before driving us to the front of my house. I was about to open the door of the car when Jasper stopped me. He got out of the car and walked over to my side, opening the door and taking my hand.
"Bella, promise me one thing if I even have the right to ask. Stay away from the reservation and keep your distance from Jacob Black." I couldn't answer him but simply nodded.
"I guess that's something else you can't tell me." I didn't look back to see his reaction when I said those words. I couldn't face him now.
I made it up the steps to the porch when I heard Jasper pull out and sped off into the darkness. I knew Charlie wasn't home so I wasted no time running up the stairs and took off my cold clothes and threw them in the bathroom. I took a quick shower, put on an oversized sweater, and didn't bother putting anything else on since I was so eager to read the book I found. I was determined and nothing would change my mind now, not after what Jasper said to me. I opened the book that I had left on my desk, the pages were thin from being wet from the rain, I turned the fragile pages as I searched for what I was looking for. Then there it was, 'werewolves and vampires'.
The Native American tribes and their legends were specific but it didn't answer any of my questions- nothing that sparked any real revelation to me. Amongst there tribes were the Quileute tribe and their legends, stories of spirit warriors that had magic in their blood- that many disappeared over time from the reservations. There were other legends that spoke of humans that descended from wolves and worshipped the wolf spirits. I ran my eyes through page by page as I kept reading about the Native American tribes' cultures but nothing helped me answer my questions.
Then I finally made it to the vampire section of the book. I thought it was a waste of time to look into it- this whole book was probably a waste of my time but if I got such a strong feeling from it in the book store it must be because of something, right?
I read at the pages of the undead, vicious creatures I couldn't help but be intruiged by certain things. 'The monsters were known to have unique characteristics of that of an angel. Their skin pale like the moon, smooth as marble although they may appear ordinary at a glance once their bloodlust reveals itself the very same person transforms into a terrifying heartless monster.' I got shivers at the sentences I read about the vampires although they didn't seem nearly as terrifying as the wolves in my mind. Something about them reminded me of- no it's crazy. I'd be crazy to even imagine such a thing..The possibility of Jasper or any of the Cullens being supernatural beings like werewolves or vampires was insane to even consider. I would not let this book or any of the events of tonight affect my mind any longer than they have, I slam the book shut and leave it on my desk as I get up and climb into bed, cover my self head to toe in under the covers and close my eyes. I waited for yet another sleepless, restless night as sleep decided to take over.
I walked through the forest alone. I was searching for something but for what? I forgot.. the was nothing around me that seemed familiar to me. Where was I? The insects made their noises in the darkness as I stepped between two towering trees, still wandering inside the never ending forest. "Stay away.." I stopped. I heard a voice echo from behind me, It wasn't just one voice though, there were several voices whispering, familiar voices, male and female.
"Stay away..."
"Stay away from who?"
"I'm not what you think I am.."
"..not my secret.."
"Secret..?"
"Stay away..Bella stay away.."
"You'll be okay here.."
"What do you mean?"
"Trust me.."
"Bella!"
"Stop it...I'm scared."
"Dangerous..promise me..stay away."
"You belong here.."
"So cold..you are too."
"The Cullens.."
"Who are they?"
"Stange.."
"The Cullens are not normal.."
"Stay away.."
I turned around it wasnt just one voice anymore. The more voices I heard the more my surroundings started to spin in circles. I tried to find the voices desperately, I couldn't focus on just one. The wind started blowing harshly making the leaves rustling around my feet, the trees danced and moved along with the wind towards me. The voices started getting louder and sparradic, I was losing all focus with everything that was going on. I try to ignore them by shutting my eyes and covering my ears. "This isn't real."
"Bella."
I open my eyes now that everything suddenly went silent. I look up and there's nothing, no wind or voices to haunt me. I slowly look up from the ground and see someone standing in front of me, I knew who it was. Jasper?
"Jasper what are you doing here?"
He didn't answer me, just stared at me with those serious piercing golden eyes. He doesn't give me that usual tender smile of his- instead a sadness like the one I had seen in the library appeared on his face. He reached his hand out to me but I didn't walk closer to him, something wasn't right. I looked cautiously at his appearance. Jasper was so pale compared to everything else, he was beautiful, angelic almost and yet he appeared so exhausted- his eyes had dark circles under them.
"Bella, promise me something."
"What is it Jasper? What's wrong?"
In the blink of an eye Jasper was in front of me, his cold strong hands held me on my shoulders suddenly his eyes weren't golden anymore but a blood red shade I've never seen before. The voices all came at once like a thunder storm.
"Stay away from Jacob Black. Promise me!"
"Promise me!"
"Bella!"
I jolted awake from my bed, drenched in my own sweat once again. "It was just a dream." I take deep breaths to calm my beating heart.
That was the first dream I ever had of Jasper Cullen and not some hellish nightmare with those monsters. I knew it was all a dream but some part of me knew that the voices I heard were telling me something. Warning me.
I sat up as I brought my knees to my chest and ran my hands through my messy hair, I sigh sharply and look at my window. There was no doubt about it- I knew now. I knew what Jasper and the rest of his family were- what they really are. What they've been trying to keep a secret from me. There's no doubt anymore. The Cullen's...they're vampires.
Authors note~
Here's chapter eleven!
Bella finally put all the pieces together! How will she confront the Cullens or better yet, Jasper?
As always everyone's enthusiasm and opinions on this story has been awesome! I want to thank everyone for reading and for all the supportive reviews you've been leaving! See you in the next chapter~!
-Rose Marie
