Jasper had taken it to sit behind a tree and stare at the void.
He drank venom before coming but that had done nothing for his thirst. As if his slip from last night shouldn't had helped to quell some of it.
If he focused hard enough he could still feel the aftertaste of that man's fear. The panic. The pain.
It made him nauseous and he had to bite back a wince. He tugged at the hood in order to shield his face from the light. The light had become bearable with time but it was still hateful.
He wondered how was Alice doing. He should've sneaked in her clothes as a rat. Or pose as a crow close to her.
But that would have done nothing but put the mind reader on alert. Even if he could shield his mind Edward would have been able to catch on the second presence. Shielded or not.
He sighed and rested his forehead against his knee. He should have hunted more before arriving. That deer got rid of the silver from his gaze but he knew his eyes were still way too red.
What would that give the impression of?
But the sun was high above now and covered or not he didn't do well when the sun was bright.
And even if he was to hunt it didn't matter for drinking the amount of blood needed to at least get them a light shade of orange would either make him sick or wouldn't be possible.
He waited and waited for Alice.
But the more the minutes went on the more anxious he grew.
And right when he was starting to grow impatient he smelt her. Her emotions hitting him like a pleasant wave of warmness. Happiness. Excitement. Relief. Hope.
He was up and meeting her in less than a second.
-I'm fine.- Alice assured as he looked her up and down.- Come on. Carlisle wants to ask a few questions.
-Of course he does.- Jasper grumbled as he let Alice grab his hand and start leading them towards the Cullens.
-He is being careful. That's all.
Jasper said nothing at that. Of course it would make sense for the man to have questions. Being careful was what kept one alive.
That didn't mean he had to like it.
He couldn't help but tense as he caught the five smells. It had been a long time since he had been so close to such amount of vampires.
That amount never meant good news and despite knowing who those were and being aware of their amount before even arriving here he couldn't help but halt when their smells grew too close for comfort. His grip on Alice's hand tightening as his throat closed.
-Hey, it's alright. You are alright.- Alice assured softly as she turned around to face him.
But not even her comfort could crush the rising panic. He had been so sure that he could face this amount of vampires after so long. Even more so if he put names to them and characteristics. Alice had given him details on them. Lots . Of details.
All so he wouldn't find threatening the idea of approaching five unknown vampires.
Turns out his efforts were in vain.
Five vampires meant a group. Coven. Danger . He could feel the adrenaline kicking in.
But then there were arms around his neck. Lips pressing against his neck and a cloak of calm weighting him down. Comfort. Love. Such overwhelming love he felt his shoulders relax and his head drop on a shoulder.
Fingers were at the back of his head threading through his hair.
-It's okay. You're okay. There's no danger.- Alice soothed. She had known this could happen. Peter had warned her about it when she first mentioned the Cullens. He had pulled her aside and had told her that due their... lives, Jasper could react negatively to the presence of too many vampires in one place.
A survival instinct.
Before she had been told that she had thought that his aggressive response towards the few nomads that crossed their path was him being overprotective.
But she had tried to make him learn about the Cullens. That if he knew them he wouldn't be so affected at the idea of having to face them. But maybe it was too soon for him. Maybe she should have given him more time to get accustomed to the idea of the Cullens being five. Maybe-
-I'm fine now.- His voice was absolute as he stepped back from her.- I'm sorry for worryin' you.
-Are you sure? Jazz, if you don't feel ready to face them that's fine. I don't want to force you into anything.
-I said I'm fine.- Jasper assured. The last thing he wanted was to make Alice give these vampires up. She had been craving to meet them for so long the idea of taking that from her made him feel like too much of a dick.
He could do this.
He had to do this.
Alice spent months with Peter and Charlotte at his request. It was his turn to spend time with these... pacifists .
She wanted this and he wouldn't take it from her.
Even if that meant crushing his instincts.
Alice still looked worried and he couldn't help but send a wave of calm towards her.
She gave him a look but at least seemed to believe him. Taking his hand once again.
He tried to focus on her and her alone. On the most idiotic things he had heard from the Cullens.
Things no vampire would ever do.
Like Edward being Mr. Popular among human girls at school. Esme's love for gardening and cooking. Carlisle's job as a doctor. Emmett's last hunting trip where a bear slapped him. Rosalie being the responsible for them having to move last time after getting into cheerleading and being too good at it for it to be normal.
Things too stupid for vampires to ever be caught doing.
He tried to focus on the fact that this lot went to school. School . A hospital.
Were he there he would be in paradise or in Hell.
Could become whichever he wished.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Waiting for Alice to come back was nerve-wrecking. To think someone who looked so harmless and almost like a pixie had for a mate a vampire from the South.
It sounded like either a horrible match or the perfect opposites that attracted each other.
Soon enough the sound of footsteps was heard. One set of footsteps. One scent.
But Edward was able to catch it.
-He's shielding his mind from me.
-He's with her? How is that possible?- Emmett's question made sense.
Because there were no footsteps or scent with Alice.
But soon enough she appeared. Dragging along a rather peculiar sight whose footsteps and scent were non-existent.
He was tall. Probably shorter than Emmett by an inch, but unlike Emmett he was lean and he held himself with the stance of a soldier. He was covered from head to toe, gloves, hood, he even had a scarf to hide half of his face. The only thing visible being his red eyes.
His gaze alone seemed to scream murder with an overwhelming force and Carlisle had to fight back the urge to take a step back.
His gaze was jumping from one to another and it took Carlisle a moment to realize he was studying them. Scrutinizing them.
And at that moment he became awfully aware of how dangerous this vampire was.
God he hoped he wasn't making a mistake he would come to regret.
Alice came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. He stood behind her. And it wasn't their imagination. He really had no scent.
He smelt like Alice. Too much like her even for mated pairs. It was the oddest thing ever.
-This is Jasper.- Alice introduced as she motioned to the silent vampire behind her.
-You said he fed off animals.- Rosalie's tone was nothing if not harsh. Cold. Almost judgemental.
-He does. He's doing his best.
Rosalie scoffed but before she could speak Carlisle intervened.
-Making an effort is all that matters.- Carlisle told meeting the crimson stare. He didn't know for how long had these two been on the vegetarian diet but something told him Alice had been on it longer.
-An effort won't matter at all if he ends up exposing us or killing someone.- Rosalie snapped glaring at the source of her displeasure. Him . She hated him. She hated him and she wanted him gone. The southern vampires were nothing but assassins of the worst kind.
Couldn't Carlisle see how much of a big mistake this was?
He couldn't be here.
He would ruin their lives.
Jasper for his side tried to not let it bother him the amount of hatred he was getting from Rosalie. It was intense and almost as overwhelming as that from the newborns.
It made his shoulders tense even more if that was possible.
He knew there were little to none chances that he would ever be able to fit here. That was too much to ask and part of him didn't care.
He came here for Alice and Alice alone.
Though he wouldn't lie. The other part of him wished he could fit here.
Get the peace he so much desired.
But he knew that wasn't possible. People like him didn't get peace. That's not how things worked.
He could feel their emotions like waves.
Emmett was curious. Rosalie felt hate and disgust towards him. But if he focused there was also fear in her emotions. There was wariness from Edward. Esme was anxious and Carlisle...
He was apprehensive but curious. Calm.
-Moving has never been an issue. I said I would give him the benefit of the doubt and that's how things will go. Jasper, I won't force you to speak of your past but there is a few questions I would like for you to answer.
A short nod was his answer.
-When were you turned?
-1863.
God was he old. The oldest one here right after Carlisle and something about that fact felt rather odd.
-You were alive during the civil war?- Emmett couldn't help but ask.
-Yes.
-Dude that's so cool.
Silence was Emmett's answer.
-When and why did you decide to leave?- That was a bit of a personal question but Carlisle needed to know the most important points.
-1905.- For a moment he seemed like he wouldn't answer more but one look from Alice seemed to push him into answering.- I hadn't planned on leavin' until it happened. Someone I'd helped before came back for me and told me that up north I wouldn't have to fight. So I left.
-You thought fighting over territories was a thing all vampires did?- Carlisle couldn't help but ask. That's what his words implied and Carlisle couldn't see someone having such narrowed view of the world. How could that even be possible?
At the short nod he was given he couldn't help the wave of pity, every vampire knew about the never-ending wars from the South. Fights for territories and food. Fights in general. Violence and so much death. It never ceased and the Volturi had long ago given up on intervening.
He must had fed off human blood for years without restrain.
It wouldn't surprise Carlisle if he was to have poor control around humans. His unrestrained upbringing as a newborn in a violent army environment. He was not taught to control or regulate his bloodlust but rather let it run wild.
-So that's it? You just left? What about your creator? Held no loyalty over them whatsoever?- No one missed how tense he grew at Rosalie's words. A dangerous glimmer taking hold of his gaze.
-She was plottin' my death, I don't see how loyalty would've helped me.- His voice was cold but his chest was tight.
Because the idea of Maria wanting to kill him still stung even if he knew it shouldn't. Even after all the suffering she brought upon him he couldn't feel but be hurt. And he hated it.
He felt the wave of comfort from Alice and felt his shoulders relax at it.
-How well do you cope with humans around?
-Depends on the required amount of time I'm meant to spend around 'em. An hour at most. But if there's blood or contact involved I'm afraid that I won't be able to resist it. My control may not be as good as any of yours but I do want to stop killing humans.
Not only because their emotions overwhelm him but also because he didn't enjoy killing people.
He was so sick of killing. Of feeling miserable.
For the first time in a long time he had the chance to find peace and he would do whatever it took to gain it.
Even if that meant feeding from friggin' squirrels.
He sounded so genuinely honest that all Carlisle needed to do was share a look with Esme to know he wouldn't be able to turn him away. No matter how dangerous he knew he could be and how problematic their lives were about to become he couldn't turn him away.
Not if he knew he could help him.
-I'm fine with him staying.- Emmett voiced out feeling rather excited at the idea of getting a new brother to wrestle with.
One who could fight for a chance.
-Me too.- Edward grumbled hating the sole idea of letting that vampire here but also not wanting Alice to leave. She looked so frail and good natured. She didn't deserve to be turned away because of who her mate was.
Plus getting a sister who wasn't a bitch sounded great.
All the attention fell on Rosalie who couldn't help but glare at Jasper with all the hatred she could muster. He glared back at her with the same intensity.
Emmett had to bit back the urge to growl at him. Alice assured them that Jasper wasn't dangerous and would never do harm.
And he trusted her words.
But Rosalie had a magnificent talent to get under people's skin and the last thing he wanted was his beautiful wife getting into a fight with someone who shouldn't be provoked.
-Well as long as he stays the fuck away from me I don't care what you do with him.- Rosalie snapped.
Alice perked up at that.
-Does that mean we can stay? Both of us?
-Of course.- Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle when his answer got him a shriek of delight from Alice as she tackled him with a hug.
-Thank you, thank you so so much.- She let go of Carlisle only to hug Esme this time who was more than overjoyed with the action.
Jasper for his side felt relief wash over him. It was over. All of it. It was over . Alice's future here was safe. He could stay. He wouldn't have to leave her.
That was better than he had expected. God did he hope he didn't fuck this up. Both for his and Alice's sake.
He was startled out of his thoughts as a hand grabbed his own and pulled him. Alice's excitement and happiness clinging to him like a second skin as she led him upstairs. He tried to focus on her emotions as she brought him closer and closer to the Cullens until he was right among them.
He failed at not flinching and stepping back when Carlisle's hand reached out for him. Alice's grip on his hand tightened, keeping him from attempting to run off. Her comfort and love crushing the flicker of panic before it could take root.
-He doesn't feel comfortable with people touching him.- Alice told giving Carlisle an apologetic look.
-Oh. That's alright.- Carlisle said in understanding. Jasper's stiff stance along with how he kept looking around told him that maybe physical contact wasn't the only thing he didn't felt comfortable with right now.
He watched Alice pull Jasper inside the house. Rosalie and him holding glares as he walked past her. He didn't miss how the latter seemed to hesitate at the doorframe for a moment before giving one last glare to Rosalie and stepping into the house.
What did he got himself into?
He hoped this didn't came to bite him later.