Path Of the Empath
The disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Twilight or to any of its characters.
Thank you for all the feedback! The fire is burning steadily…don't let it go down!
Chapter 29-More Than One Way To Get Excited…
Our run home was exhilarating. We were flying high on the fresh blood that coursed through our bodies as well as with the anticipation of returning home to the women who loved us. My own personal elation was magnified by Carlisle's, Edward's and Emmett's, and it felt amazing. For once I purposely let their emotions leak into me and propel me forward. I could feel the very vibration of each emotion as they settled into the base of my skull and radiated down my body. The power of it had me running almost as fast as Edward. He grinned at me as he heard the errant thought about my speed, and just to be obnoxious he drove himself even faster through the woods. I reached my feelings out to engulf more of the excited momentum in the air-thank God Emmett was in such high spirits because his strong emotions were what really gave me the extra edge. I felt the steam build in my system and unleashed it, keeping a steady pace with Edward. As much as I tried, I couldn't beat him though, and he was aware of it.
"Jasper, stop bleeding Emmett dry of excitement before he loses all desire to run and we have to carry him back to the house." He laughed, as he slowed slightly. I laughed too, as I slowed and released my attachment to the emotional vibrations surrounding me. A minute later Emmett and Carlisle were right behind us again.
"Did you lose again Jasper? Even while you were cheating?" Emmett joked.
"I did not cheat."
"How is using someone else's power to beat Edward, not cheating?" Emmett laughed.
"I didn't use someone else's power. I used mine. It's not my fault that my power let's me feel the extra excitement in the air."
"That is still like cheating."
"No, it isn't because my power doesn't let me win. If I absorb extra emotion and channel it to make me faster, it's still me running." I argued.
"It was cheating when Edward read your poker cards from your mind and took your money last week. He was just using his power…"
"I did not read his cards!" Edward defended. "It is not my fault that Jasper is a bad bluffer."
"You lie! I know for a fact you cheated because I can feel your guilt! And you know that I know because you are in my damn head again aren't you?" I was laughing as I pictured Edward's guilty cheating face for him too see. He laughed too, when he saw what he had looked like.
Carlisle shook his head, "I can't believe you two. Don't you have anything better to do with eternity than cheating at cards? You have immortality, endless funds and unsurpassed strength and intelligence. You are telling me this is how you spend your time?"
We were all laughing as we approached the house. It was late and the house seemed very…still. I looked at Edward to see if he heard anything.
"Esme is in your room reading, Carlisle." He paused listening again. Then he let out a low growl, "Rosalie is on the couch thinking about an extremely interesting conversation she had with Bella."
"What type of conversation?" Emmett asked reluctantly.
"She told Bella her story. The good and the bad. In great detail, it seems."
Emmett groaned, "I can see this night just went downhill. She always gets in the worst mood when she thinks about her past."
I knew what he meant, not only from feeling Rose's emotions, but because sometimes Alice was sad about her past too. Her sadness was more out frustration that she could remember nothing about it. Even after she learned where she came from, no memories had resurfaced and it pained her. I hoped that Alice hadn't been rehashing her past too.
"What about Alice? Can you hear her?" I asked carefully.
"Alice is…" He paused, narrowing his eyes. "Up to something." He finished dryly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well she's in the garage, handcuffed to the Porsche, singing." He said through his teeth. We had slowed to a walk and were only halfway across our front lawn.
"Now Edward, don't jump to conclusions, maybe she isn't trying to block you. Maybe she's just singing because she's in a good mood. What is she singing?" I asked hopefully.
"The Grateful Dead." He snapped. Oh crap.
"Maybe she's trying to block you out because she really missed Jasper and is thinking impure thoughts about him…you know…naked thoughts." Emmett whispered loudly.
"Then why has she handcuffed herself to the Porsche I gave her Emmett?" Edward growled.
Emmett's eyebrows shot up. He grinned wickedly as he slid his arm around Edward's shoulders, "You see, little brother, when two people love each other very much…and they want to express that love, it's sometimes fun to try new things. I realize that you are, ahem, ill informed on this matter perhaps…"
"Emmett," I interrupted. "I think you are mistaken about Alice's intention." I glared.
"Please Jasper, you don't have to be ashamed. If anyone understands, it's me." He said knowingly.
"What? There's nothing to understand!" I said frantically looking at Carlisle who was smirking at me.
"Carlisle, Alice and I are…I mean we don't…"
"I propose that Jasper goes into the garage alone to check out the situation. If it IS what Emmett is implying, we will go inside and pretend we don't have a garage for the next few hours." Carlisle suggested in an offhand manner. He was trying to be supportive of all of us. He was simultaneously assuring Edward we were going to check it out, assuring Emmett that he wasn't a freak and respecting my privacy. How does he do that?
"Jasper? Is that acceptable? We will wait outside, if you and Alice wish to be, er, alone just tell us to leave with your thoughts…" Edward asked grudgingly.
I looked back and forth between Edward and Carlisle. Emmett was in the background nodding excitedly. "Okay, fine." I sighed. I can't believe I'm doing this.
We crept around to the garage door, and I slipped in silently. There she was, as gorgeous as ever-handcuffed to the Porsche.
"Um, Alice?"
"It took you long enough. Most men would come barging through the door if they thought their wives were handcuffed and waiting for them…" She whispered.
My eyes nearly fell out of my head. "Are you serious? You want me to…while you are handcuffed to a sports car?"
"No, of course not!", she bit out angrily. "I know you are all skulking by the door," she called out. "Get in here!"
Edward, Emmett and Carlisle slowly filed in. The only one who didn't look the slightest bit embarrassed was Emmett. I was going to kill him later.
"Just so you idiots know my hearing is just as good as yours. Emmett you pervert! How could you think that?"
"Well, what was I supposed to think?" He said defensively. "Whenever Rose ties herself up somewhere she wants me to hunt her down and then stick my-
"EMMETT!" Rose had just walked in. "What the Hell is going on?"
"Jasper and Alice are all embarrassed because I caught on to their naughty secret."
"What naughty secret?" Esme asked warily as she walked into the garage.
"Nothing, Esme. Just a misunderstanding." I mumbled. She looked around at us. I was staring at my shoes, Rosalie was smacking Emmett repeatedly while he grinned, Alice was handcuffed to her car, Edward was looking increasingly irritated and Carlisle was staring at Esme with the deer in the headlights look. Recognition dawned on her face. She gaped at us in horror.
"What is going on in here Alice?"
"I was trying to keep Edward from taking my Porsche back. Unfortunately my intentions were misunderstood." She jerked her head at Emmett.
"What? What was I supposed to think?" Emmett said defensively as Rose grabbed him by the ear and dragged him in the house.
"Why, pray tell, might I take your car back Alice?" Edward said in a silky, dangerous whisper.
Alice looked away from us, her gaze fixed on something small in the corner of the garage. It was a beat up, muddy motorcycle. I closed my eyes and waited for the insanity.
It didn't come. I opened one eye and looked at Edward. He was listening to Alice's thoughts intently, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Alice must have seen our confusion, because she quickly caught us up to speed.
"Bella went to La Push today. I didn't see it until it was actually happening. Jacob Black picked her up from school and took her back there-but she is totally fine!" Alice said quickly. She looked at each of us, waiting for someone to respond. The silence was long and heavy.
Esme was the one who broke it. "Edward," she said gently. "Perhaps you need to think about Bella's feelings toward the wolves. We know their dangerous, yes, but they have only ever been kind to Bella. It's understandable that has tender feelings toward them."
"I'm terribly sorry that I have a problem with the love of my life having 'tender feelings' toward a pack of vicious, unrefined beasts. They are a danger to her, can no one else see this?" Edward spat out, disgusted.
"Some may call our kind vicious, but that doesn't mean that we, The Cullens, are vicious because we are identified as Vampires. Maybe these friends of Bella's are less dangerous than you believe Edward. If you love Bella, you must accept her and her choices. Just as she must accept yours, if she loves you." Esme said softly.
"Is sneaking off to do exactly what I have begged her not to do your idea of accepting me?"
"You have to give a little bit Edward. Explain your position and offer a compromise you can live with. Perhaps they could meet somewhere neutral, somewhere you could be nearby."
"I am not going to sit around and watch that stinking dog hit on my girlfriend, or worse hide out and spy on them while I listen to his filthy mongrel thoughts."
"Well, then Edward think of your own compromise. Think hard on it though, because every day you let this drag on you drive a wedge farther and farther between you and Bella. Eventually she may hate you for it." Esme said crossly.
Edward's eyes narrowed into slits, but he said nothing. I could tell by his emotions that Esme had hit her mark though. She turned her cross manner to Carlisle, "Speaking of considering people's feelings, do you not think it's time to apologize to Jasper and Alice and come inside while they sort this out?"
Carlisle flashed her a boyish innocent smile before turning to face Alice and I, "I hope you will both forgive the intrusion into your personal life…"
"I forgave you yesterday after I first had the vision of this nonsense." Alice casually replied. Her response struck a strange note in me…
"Alice you knew that this would happen? That we would misunderstand…" I was tripping over my words.
"Of course, silly." She kissed my cheek as she pulled the tiny key out of her pocket and unlocked her wrists.
My eyes were bulging. "Then why did you do it anyway?"
"I figured this was the only scenario that would distract Edward from killing me long enough for him to calm down. Now that Bella's safe and Edward realizes he has been acting like an ass," she shot him a smile and he glared at her. "I know he won't take my car back."
Vicious, evil, conniving pixie… I have married the scariest woman on Earth.
"You can say that again Jasper." Edward said over his shoulder as he walked out of the garage.
"Well, since I'm forgiven…if you will excuse us…" Carlisle laughed under his breath and took Esme's arm as they disappeared into the house as well.
I just stared at Alice. She grinned and batted her eyes.
