Jasper stood at the porch watching as Emmett and Edward wrestled on the ground.
It was a strange thing truth be told.
Since he arrived all he had felt in this place was nothing but an unsettling environment of kindness and love. The more he spent here the more Alice's words threatened to become real and it terrified him.
A coven leader who didn't instigate fear for respect but one who took his time to listen and gave punishments that made him want to break something. Because Carlisle should be rougher . It was his job as a coven leader to make sure the rest learned their lesson the first time. No need for a second punishment.
But Emmett kept wrestling Edward in the house. And Carlisle was yet to break them both apart and make them reattach each other.
Make them scream and beg until their obedience was absolute. Until there was nothing left for him to break.
But Carlisle wasn't reliable. He was too kind. Too flexible. Soft. Stupid. A joke.
And it was because of that that part of Jasper refused with all its strength to ever bow down to his weak leadership. To his unreliable character. He had no concept whatsoever on how to keep others in line.
So how did he kept them in line in the first place?
How did he held such control over Emmett and Edward?
It wasn't possible for him to be so soft and still wield their respect and obedience.
Even then, their obedience wasn't absolute.
Maria would had made sure Emmett didn't even think about wrestling for the rest of his life without her permission. Would have broken Edward's mind to the point where her and her alone would be able to get him to talk.
All so he wouldn't leak information.
The perfect dog.
But not here.
Carlisle gave them free reign with such simple rules it was almost infuriating. It made him want to scream and kill someone.
It was the reason for him to still keep a huge hold of his gift.
He didn't want to be used with the same intent Maria had done. For his gift to be used against him.
Telling Alice he didn't want them to know about his gift so as to have an ace under his sleeve was nothing but part of the truth.
The other part was that deep down he feared what would happen if he told them.
Reading emotions wasn't bad.
Being able to manipulate them on the other hand...
It was unheard of.
Dangerous.
Reason Maria had made so sure to have him under her fist. So he would never be able to rebel against her or manipulate her.
Maria...
He wondered what became of her. What did she think when she came back and realized he was gone?
Sometimes it terrified him the idea of her finding him and sometimes part of him couldn't help but wish to go back and beg for forgiveness if that meant she would be less harsh on him when the inevitable happened.
Which was Maria finding him.
He wasn't stupid. He knew she would find him sooner or later for she would never allow a weapon of his level to slip out of her hands.
She had done great at shaping him to her liking.
It didn't matter what he did or where he went she would find him.
She almost intercepted him once.
Almost .
She was the reason he decided to go into town in the first place. Hide in a diner.
He hated the idea that he met Alice because of her.
But to be fair he also met Peter and Charlotte because of her.
He hated her and he hated even more the fact that he didn't got the chance to kill her. Hated that he ever tried to even help her in the first place. Cursed the moment he decided to approach her.
She was the one at fault. She had ruined his life and damned him to nothing but eternal paranoia.
He should have killed her when he had the chance. Tore her limbs apart and make her reattach herself. Bite her and rip her skin to shreds. Skin her alive so she could get a closer feeling of what it meant to be burnt. Break her ribcage and neck over and over and over again . Starve her until it feels like she is melting from the inside out. Lock her underground until her stomach is full of dirt and the worms are threatening to eat her.
He wanted her to suffer as much as she made him suffer.
But he couldn't for he was too much of a coward to even react in her presence.
And he hated it. Hated her for having such control over him. Hated her more than he had ever hated someone. Was this how the newborns had felt towards him? Was this how it felt to hate someone so much it felt like one's chest would explode from it?
-Jasper!
The sudden rage and hatred in the air blinded him and for a moment all he saw was red as he snarled and took hold of her arms. But as soon as he grabbed her as soon as he felt the tsunami of calm slam into him with unforgiving force. He stumbled at the abrupt change and felt fingers curl around his wrists.
It took him a moment to realize what he had done.
He had almost hurt Alice.
His beautiful Alice.
He was quick to release her but she didn't let him go.
-What the hell was that?
Edward's voice caught his attention and as he looked at him he was met with both Edward and Emmett looking disheveled. The latter's shirt was ripped and one of Edward's arms had an odd twist to it.
Looking around he also noticed the coffee table broken and the scribble game Esme and Rosalie had been playing scattered all over the floor.
He felt his dead heart drop as realization hit.
He did this.
He had been so focused on his own thoughts he had lost absolute control of his own gift.
And as he caught sight of the scratch of Esme's arm he felt himself freeze.
He hurt her.
He.
Hurt.
The coven leader's mate.
Forced them to hurt each other.
'You did what?'
Maria's voice hit him like a train and he could have sworn she was standing right at his side as her fingers curled around his throat.
Carlisle took a step forward and he flinched.
He had crossed the line. Nice or not he had crossed the line.
He was so gonna die.
His instincts were blaring at him to escape. Run. Kneel. Hide. Submit. Anything to stop the incoming pain.
But he couldn't move.
Fear had seized his chest and glued his feets to the ground. He couldn't move. Couldn't run. He was gonna die.
Alice's grip tightened as her calm washed over him.
It didn't help.
And he dropped his gaze in submission.
-'M sorry.- His voice came out weaker than he would have liked.
-You did this?- There was no accusation in Carlisle's voice. His emotions wielding wariness and confusion with no lingering anger or hatred from Jasper's previous unexpected influence.
He gave him a short nod.
There was no use on hiding it. What was there to hide anyways? He had broadcasted his gift in the worst way possible.
Alice's grip on his wrists disappeared as her arms came to wrap around him. Her comfort and calm flowing like a never-ending river with glimmering streaks of love and encouragement.
-He didn't mean to.- Alice's voice was soft but absolute.
-Jasper?- Carlisle called carefully, he didn't miss how the boy's shoulders tensed. He didn't want to force him into talking but this...
This wasn't something he could ignore. The anger and hatred that had filled the room had been unexpected and suffocating. It had blinded him as he saw nothing but red.
Such bitter and overwhelming emotions. Foreign . Skin crawling.
It had drove Emmett and Edward into an actual fight. Rosalie smashing the board onto the table and scratching Esme. It was too much to ignore .
-Jasper I asked you a question and I expect an answer.- Carlisle demanded, he regretted his tone the second that got him the most terrified look he had ever been given.
But he fought the urge to apologize. He needed to be harsh with him if he wanted an answer. Jasper had left very clear that he would rather let Alice do the talking than face others.
Carlisle wasn't going to stand for that both because he wanted Jasper to learn to speak up for himself and because he needed him to cling less to Alice.
Mates or not his dependence on her wasn't healthy.
-... I've a gift, much like Edward an' Alice. I swear it was never my intention ta use it against ya nor git anyone hurt, I got distracted, I promise it won't happen again. 'M sorry.
He sounded and looked genuinely sorry, and while Carlisle was no stranger to gifted vampires losing control of their abilities as an extreme emotional response this was different.
Both because it brought such violence out and because as far as he was aware nothing had happened to Jasper. All he had been doing was standing there with not even Alice anywhere near him.
It didn't make sense.
-Do please tell me what's that gift.
Silence was his answer.
-Jasper? I need an answer.
-... I can sense and manipulate emotions. Change the aura 'round people so that the moods/emotions they are in changes accordin' to my will. I can influence 'em with my own too.
Jasper's words hung in the air with a new and heavier sense of danger.
He was an empath.
Empaths were one of the rarest things among vampires as it was for most of them never made it past their newborn stage. The weight of the emotions around them drove them insane.
And even then those who did survive didn't even had that kind of range.
Sensing emotions was a thing but manipulating them? Carlisle had never heard of such a thing being possible.
Still.
God he couldn't imagine how horrible that must have been like in the South for him. Death and violence all around him. For him to feel the terror and pain of his victims... He couldn't begin to imagine how that must have scarred him both emotionally and psychologically.
How did he manage to keep himself sane for so long was an absolute wonder.
-I didn't mean to use it against you, it was an accident, 'm sorry.
-An accident?- Jasper didn't gave Carlisle the air of someone who would have such poor control over his gift.
-... I got distracted.
-You got distracted? That's your fucking excuse?- Rosalie snapped with newfound rage as she stalked forward, Alice intercepted her halfway.
-He can't turn it off. He got distracted and he apologized. Shouting at him won't fix what happened and neither will hitting him. In fact. Do please keep your hands to yourself, I may be resilient but I won't stand by and watch you attack my mate.
For someone her size and her persistent charisma Alice could pull quite the intimidating look. Her tone hiding a dangerous warning in it.
-You keep him controlled then. You are the one who brought that thing here and now you expect us to just sit back and let him wreck havoc around us?
-That thing has a name, Jasper Whitlock, use it.
-That's enough.- Carlisle snapped before this argument could escalate.- Rosalie. Leave Jasper alone, do I need to remind you that violence is not the answer to our problems? I understand your anger but answering with more anger will fix nothing at all. It was an accident-
-I hurt Esme because of that bastard!- Rosalie explode feeling infuriated at that sole fact. Because how could Carlisle be so damn resilient with that beast?
How could he ignore what the beast's "distraction" had caused?
-Look at Emmett and Edward! They could have tore each other to pieces because of him! Why are you risking our lives over his stay here? It's been a month already, it's obvious he doesn't want to be here, he doesn't belong here and he will never do!
Jasper's chest stung at those words and he saw him staring back at him from the glass door. He hadn't heard from him since he arrived.
The Major.
-Rosalie that's enough!
-But he-
-Shut up. - The order was out before Jasper could stop it. Still . That got Rosalie to shut up as expected but it also made shock flare in the air. Surprise. Wariness. Confusion.
And so as to not rise suspicions he let his tongue run loose. Mostly because she reminded him of Maria.
But unlike Maria Rosalie held no power over him. None.
-If I actually wanted to hurt you, trust me when I tell you that we wouldn't be arguing right now. Also, stop talking about me as if you have any right to judge my efforts, you don't get to decide if what I'm doing is enough or not. Stop acting like an entitled brat.
-You-
She took a step forward and he let out a low growl that came from the depths of his throat. The kind of growl he reserved for entitled newborns who thought themselves smarter than him. His gift rippling the air around her with fear and doubt. He pulled her anger and hatred and crushed it down. He held her gaze and kept his stance aggressive.
She had no right to look him down. He was older and stronger and he refused to bend down to some bratty bitch who thought herself with the right to push him around. He was sick of her attitude.
And as expected she ended up looking down as her shoulders sagged. Good .
-That's enough.- Carlisle's voice was dangerously calm, his emotions warning and alarmed. Jasper glared at him but did as told.
Of course he would choose her side. What had he been expecting?
-Rosalie, I must say your behavior has truly disappointed me today, I expected better of you. I understand you are angry, I understand you feel awful for having hurt Esme, I truly do. But that doesn't give you the right to speak like that to him. He deserves the same respect you aim to get in return.
Rosalie bit back her protests. She was seething in newfound rage and hatred. Because how dare he? How did that bastard dare to use his gift against her? Manipulate her like that? She wanted nothing more but to break his arms.
-Don't think you are extent from it young man.- Carlisle said turning to look at Jasper who was now glaring at the wall.- You are to never use your gift like that ever again, you hear me? Let this be the last time I see you doing something like that. You belong in this family now and I expect you to show more self control, I won't tolerate that kind of misbehavior.
Not a single reaction was he given from Jasper. His jaw was tense and he was still glaring at the wall.
-Jasper, did you hear me?
-Yes sir, I won't do it again, 'm sorry, may I retire now?- The monotonous overly polite voice didn't settle well with Carlisle but one look at Alice let him know that this was the best he would get from him right now and that he should let him leave.
-You can go now.
And with that single word Jasper turned around and disappeared into the forest. Alice trailing right behind him.
Carlisle watched them leave with a sigh.
Empath .
God give him strength to be able to deal with him.
He had never met an empath before but if there was one thing he did knew was that those could be quite temperamental.
And while so far Jasper had been quite docile his attitude against Rosalie had left one thing clear.
Never provoke the empath.
Because as docile as he was just as dangerous he could be.
And what had that distraction been to begin with? A distraction to elicit such bloodcurling emotions... It made Carlisle wonder if he hadn't committed a mistake here.