Jasper was aware he was in trouble. He was aware he should apologize. Should explain what happened.
But the words won't come out . His throat was in such agonizing state the sole idea of speaking did nothing but make him crave to claw at his throat even more.
Carlisle and Esme's emotions were too much right now which did nothing for his pain. Discomfort. It was too much.
And he could do nothing about it because the world was pain and he felt so fucking sluggish. So hot. He was melting alive. And Carlisle won't shut up.
So he signed out.
And The Major was just as pissed if not more.
He growled at the leader. The action itself felt like a lightning rod wrapped in spikes and sulfuric acid had been shoved down his throat. But it shut them up.
For a moment.
Because the leader is talking again.
And his head was gonna blast . Tear him apart. The world was beginning to scream at him with blind blind sweet beautiful pain. Spikes of molten lava were sprouting across his veins. His stomach was twisted in the tightest knot to ever exist with boiling acid inside his entrails. His ears were ringing and the light was starting to burn at his eyes.
He growls again hoping to shut the leader up so he can leave and be miserable in his room. But he doesn't.
And then he hears the leader asking him to go to his room and in his near desperate wish to do so he stands too quick. Too violent. The chair breaks as he brings himself up with too much force. The action brings a horrible wave of negative emotions towards him but he doesn't care as he storms out of the room. He can hear shouting behind him but he doesn't care. Doesn't listen. All he wants is to go to his room.
He slams the door shut behind him. Not enough to break but still... He knows that's gonna bring him troubles but he doesn't care. He doesn't care .
Nothing matters when pain hits him like a whiplash of firecrackers and lightning from his abdomen up to his throat and he ends up running to the bathroom as his stomach decides to give up on him.
He half misses the toilet as he drops infront of it. Lava and acid to disintegrate his throat as it crawls up. His throat is killing him. His stomach. It's too much. There's a hand on his back but he can't register much. Not even the blurred emotions. Nothing works right. Nothing makes sense. What the hell is happening? The pain is feeding his rage and his rage is starting to make him see red. He wants to kill and slaughter to drown in other's pain. Anyone's pain is better than his. The world is screaming at him. Too many emotions. Too many voices. Too many. Too much too much.
But he can't stop it. Can't make it stop. And when a cold hand touches the back of his neck a whimper escapes him. It feels like Hell has opened its gates in his stomach and is using his throat to let the demons out. Corrupting each atom in his being with flames and darkness. It's too much . And here he had thought he could no longer feel pain.
He isn't sure how long he spends there wishing for death to come and take him out before he goes insane but at some point the fire starts losing its heat. Things become more clear. The hand on his back is rubbing soft circles.
When he pulls back from the toilet bowl he has no strength left to even exist as his back hits the bathtub. His breathing erratic and his head pounding with the force of a train going at high speed. He's still burning and he stills feels nauseous. What the hell was this?
Alice for her side flushed the toilet before grabbing a paper towel and opening the faucet. Holding it beneath the water for a second before turning it off again. She then knelt at his side and as gentle as ever used the now damp paper tissue to wipe the blood off his mouth, chin and neck before disposing of it. Her soft touch brushing some strands of hair aside as she came to rest her hand against his cheek.
The Major leaned into the cold touch that felt like a kiss from Heaven for his burning skin.
-Hey, what's wrong? What happened?- Alice asked. She tried and failed to keep her concern to a minimum, knowing that negative feelings never settled good with him when he wasn't feeling well.
But she couldn't help it.
She didn't knew what was happening. This had never happened before. Fighting with those two humans . Not even during his worst days would Jasper let alone The Major deem a human worth fighting with. And now he threw up? Something was wrong. So so wrong.
-Dun't know. But ah dun't feel as horrible as before.- He mumbled rubbing his cheek against Alice's cold hand. He was still so hot God. The fact that he was doing that at all was enough to alarm Alice.
-What did those two did?
-Got the nerve ta attempt an' intimidate 'im. Not sure what happen'. One of 'em wanted him ta eat somethin'. Said somethin' 'bout how y'all never eat an' that he should eat somethin'. It looked lac bread but it smelt weird an' ah think there was mold innit. In it.
-Smelt weird how?
He shrugged. He knew he had smelt it before but he wasn't sure where. What was it suppose to be. He couldn't connect well when Jasper was the one with the reins.
As he felt a shiver run down his spine and the angel's hand caress his neck the answer came to him.
-Garlic.
-Garlic? I thought it was meant to act as poison like vervain.
-It's. But pain an' the knowledge of somethin' bein' wron' an' not knowin' what i's at first s' great motivator for a fight or flight reaction.
-You good now? Do I need to bring you anything?- Alice asked now feeling a bit better that she knew what was wrong and still part of her wanted to hunt those two down and finish them off. Who the hell did they thought they were?
-No. We'll be fine. Probably.
-Probably?
-I've nevah eaten it before.- The Major stated matter of fact giving her a light smirk. Alice scowled at him before frowning and tugging at his shirt.
-We should get rid of this before the smell reaches them.
The Major hummed but made no motion to get up.
Alice sighed before getting up. Plugging the bathtub before opening the faucet. Grabbing a few things to get rid of the smell before it started getting stronger and therefore noticeable to those outside the bedroom. She was glad the rooms at least were soundproof.
And that Carlisle hadn't barged in here.
She knew he was both mad and confused with Jasper's attitude. Shocked.
But it hadn't been his fault. Now that she knew what had provoked such reaction she wondered how would they even explain this.
Still.
That wasn't important now. What was important now was getting rid of his scent and cooling him off.
-Come on.- She grabbed his arm and pulled him up without effort. Helping him out of his clothes and into the bathtub.
She took it to wash his shirt in the sink and recite poems backwards in Hebrew in her mind both to distract herself and to keep her emotions in check. Also to make sure Edward wouldn't overhear her thoughts.
When she was done and was 100% sure the shirt no longer held an ounce of his scent nor the bathroom in general she came to sit at the edge of the bathtub. He had his eyes closed and his head leaning against the wall. To anyone he would appear sleeping.
Alice knew better.
-How are you feeling?- She asked softly, her fingers tracing the thin black veins that spread across his bicep. He hummed but aside from that gave no other sign of having heard her.
Alice sighed before climbing inside the bathtub, ignoring her clothes getting soaked. She grabbed his face as she sat on his lap. Thumbs stroking his cheeks.
-Jazz. How many times are we gonna discuss this?- She questioned as he finally looked at her. Now more than his iris the black had spread to his sclera.
-'M fine.- He mumbled pushing her hands off him. Or at least he tried to because right now his strength was little to non-existent.
Alice leaned forward to press their foreheads together. He held her gaze for a moment before dropping his gaze in defeat.
She pulled back from him and proceeded to take her shirt off before shifting her position so he would be able to reach her ribs.
Jasper for his side bit back the urge to push her off him. He hated doing this to her. Hated with each fiber in his being that scar.
But he also knew that there was nothing he could do about it. Alice wouldn't listen and he was too selfish to leave her.
Long ago had he given up on getting her to stop. On the fact that he needed this.
But that didn't meant he had to like it.
He brought his hands up to rest on her waist. Even that single action felt like too much of a feat. He leaned forward and the second he had her within reach his instincts took over and he bit down. Sinking his fangs into her flesh and pulling her closer. Drinking her venom settles down his stomach and it soothes his blazing throat to an extent. Putting the fire from his veins out. It's cold and so overwhelmingly familiar.
Part of him hates it.
And another part of him deep down wishes to never stop. To get it all and make it his.
But he was stronger and he would never let that little voice win.
So all he took were five small gulps before forcing himself to stop. Licking the bite before pulling back to look up at her.
-I'm fine.- Alice assured before he could even ask. That question never failed to arise whenever he bit her. Yeah. When he first bit her and drank her venom she had felt a bit faint but now it didn't affect her that much. She had grown used to the pressure under her skin and to the mild weakness in the aftermath but it all could be fixed with blood. Once she hunted she would be perfectly fine.
Even so. That was worth it if she got to make him feel better.
His gaze was back to that familiar bright silver and she couldn't help but pull him into a hug.
-It doesn't hurt.- She told him as a statement of fact when she felt his hand touching the spot where he had bitten. His bites never hurt aside from a mild sting.
Still.
That never stopped him from asking her if the bite wasn't bothering her.
She pressed a soft kiss against his jaw before pulling back.
-We should go hunting.- Alice told as she got up. Grabbing his hands and forcing him to get up too. She didn't miss his wince.- Are you alright? Are you still nauseous? Does something hurts?
-My head.
-Is it the light? Do you want me to turn it off?
-I don't know.- Jasper wasn't even sure if the light was to blame for it or if the garlic was still giving him Hell. He didn't felt as horrible as before but he still didn't felt at his 100%.
His head was still pounding and even after drinking venom he still felt too weak for comfort.
He hated the concern in Alice's emotions. Hated having to be the one putting those emotions in her.
Hated even more having her helping him out of the bathtub as if he was some kind of child. Dressing him up. But at least he was grateful when he hit the bed. Curling on his side and burying his face against the pillow even though Alice had turned the lights off. Closing the drapes and drowning their room in near darkness.
But even then that didn't lessen his headache. Familiar fingers carded through his hair and he couldn't help but relax under the touch.
-I will tell Carlisle your gift got overloaded, it's the most credible excuse. Unless you want to tell them the truth?- Alice's question got her the expected reaction. A shake of the head and fear prickling at her skin.- It's alright. I won't tell them.- She assured pressing a soft kiss against his shoulder. Her mouth lingering there.
This close she could take on his scent. That wonderful smell she couldn't quite describe but loved to no end. And the familiar acidic touch that made it even better.
Such a shame he hid it and in order for her to be able to sense it she had to press her nose against him.
Still.
She could live with that if it meant he would be safe.
Even if the Cullens were to accept him that didn't meant he could let his scent unshielded. Who knows what the Volturi would do if it reached them the knowledge that there was still a black blood roaming around. It wouldn't take a genius to connect the dots.
The Major would attract the Volturi's attention even faster. Aro wouldn't be able to ignore the Cullens having a mind reader, a precognitive and much less a black blood. The Major with them .
A fight would be inevitable.
-You should get some sleep.- Alice told him as she started rubbing soft circles around his back. Needing to crush those thoughts that did nothing but put her in a bad mood.
Alice heard him hum at her words and felt his arms wrap around her as he turned around. Pulling her to lay down with him and burying his face against her chest. She hoped he got better with some rest. She hated seeing him like this. It put her on edge and it made her want to hunt down the responsible and tear them to pieces.
No one who put her mate in such distress deserved to be left alive. He had done nothing to them. Nothing at all . She should have seen it. If she had seen it none of this would be happening.
But she hadn't seen it.
And not for the first time she wondered what was the point of being able to see the future if she couldn't help the one person she loved the most?
She spent a while there with him even when she felt his body relax completely. His skin wasn't burning nor even warm anymore and he had stopped shaking so she guessed that was good.
But she couldn't help but worry over him, she didn't want to leave him alone. What if he got sick again? The Major had said they had never eaten garlic before. Neither of them had even known what it was at first nor even recognized the taste. What if they weren't completely rid of the worst yet?
What if she left him and she wasn't here to help him?
But Alice also knew she couldn't stay here with him. She needed to hunt.
And she needed to speak with Carlisle. She hated lying to them but it was for the greater good. Even to this day she couldn't see what kind of reaction they would have if they were to find out about Jasper.
About the lies.
And to be honest? It scared her.
It scared her to not know what could happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ever since the second he arrived Jasper had been known as the quiet one. He who hung in the background and could sometimes be too calm for comfort. Obedient. Composed. He didn't speak much and he had that odd soldier-like air with him that never disappeared.
Even when there were fights or arguments in the house he hung in the background like a silent watcher unless Alice was involved. And even then he was still composed if not a bit more intimidating than usual.
Still.
10 years and not even once had he ever given signs of being nothing but calm and composed.
So having him getting so aggressive out of nowhere had more than one of the Cullens on edge. He sent two humans to the hospital. Growled at Carlisle more than once. Broke a chair. Ignored Carlisle and Esme calling him back. Slammed the door. Not even Rosalie in her worst days had ever dared to slam the door.
Since when did Jasper had that kind of temper? Yeah. It was general knowledge that he was from the South and that his life there hadn't been the greatest.
And while his past was still in the shadows for the most part it didn't took a genius to know that he hadn't survived there by being merciful. The South was famous for its constant wars over territories. The vampires were known for being violent.
But the environment someone was raised in didn't define them. And so far Jasper had proven to be far from violent.
And while it would be logical to think that even their quietest member would have a temper the one he had shown seemed almost too exaggerated and disproportionate for it to be normal.
He had tried to attack Rosalie.
Almost bit someone infront of the entire school.
He even tried to bite Alice.
Used his gift to intimidate one of the same humans he had attacked.
For such explosive near blind rage... It was too off putting. It wasn't normal.
And while Carlisle had been tempted to barge into his room and demand an explanation he hadn't done so. Alice had told him not to. To leave it to her.
He had learnt a long time ago that if there was someone capable of dealing with Jasper no matter the mood he was in that was Alice. She could even talk him out of his dark state.
He could be composed and quiet. Yes. But he still had his moods which most of the time consisted in him sulking or avoiding people in general.
Or him going dark.
Their thoughts came to a halt at the sound of a door opening upstairs. Soon enough Alice was the one who made her apparition.
-How is he?- Esme was the first one to speak. Her voice concerned over the absence of her newest son.
-He's fine. He... It wasn't his fault. He never meant to do what he did or act like he did. He was having troubles with his gift and then those two cornered him in the bathroom and he sort of... It was too much for him to handle.
Alice didn't want to say that he had snapped. She knew how Jasper felt about that word being used to describe his wrathful outbursts.
-His gift?- Carlisle knew that as an empath Jasper was bound to feel the world a bit more louder than the rest. He had always known that sending him to school could be asking too much of him.
But Jasper had always assured him that he could do it. That he would be fine.
But how fine could he be if it had led him to this?
But this had never happened before either.
-Sometimes people's emotions get too much for him to handle at once.
-He had never had that issue before.- Rosalie stated matter of fact.
-Of course he did. Just less volatile since he knows when to step back. This time he couldn't step back because those two idiots cornered and grabbed him. He was overwhelmed and that adding up having to deal with having two humans so close... like I said. It was too much for him. But he is fine now.
-If he's fine where is he?- Emmett asked.
The knowledge that the culprits for putting him in such state of distress were those two guys made him want to hunt them down and punch them in the face.
-Resting. He's still too sensitive and dealing with too much people right now will do nothing but send him back to square one. Now. I will go hunting. You won't approach him. I mean it Rosalie.- Alice added knowing full well that Rosalie would end up barging in their room to see for herself how Jasper was.
Rosalie could mean well and all. Alice knew that she liked him and that their relationship was tighter than it looked but Jasper needed to sleep.
And right now the last thing he needed was to deal with Rosalie's demands and emotions in general.
Plus. If Rosalie saw him she would realize he was sleeping. She would see that his eyes were silver. She would see the truth.
-You said that those two boys cornered him?- Carlisle questioned after a moment.
-Yes. I'm not sure what they were aiming for but considering they grabbed him and tried to tie him I would say that either if Jasper had beat them or not they would have realized something was off about his body... Are we moving?- She couldn't help but ask.
-I'm still not sure. I was informed that the kids will be fine but if the police gets involved...
-They won't. One of the boys will convince his parents to not press charges out of fear and the other one will confess their little stunt, also out of fear. The cops won't get involved.- Alice assured as she ran her mind through the possible outcomes of this situation.
Carlisle seemed to relax at her words and so did the rest. Good.
At least moving was out of the equation now.
And with that she was gone.