-Shit.
That's the first word that leaves Jasper as he sits on a log with his hand pressed against his torso. It had been quite a while since the incident with the robbers and the bullet wound still refused to heal.
Hence.
He should have known better than to go hunting on his own. But he had been starving and Alice had gone to the drugstore to get more bandages.
Now the stitches had snapped. And he was bleeding.
That black thing that had taken to act as his damn blood was now pooling out of the wound with no signs of stopping anytime soon. There was even a co-web of black veins spread across his lower back and abdomen.
And to top it all he was still starving despite having killed four deer, a bear, two hare, a mountain lion and five fishers.
-Damn it.- A sound caught his attention and he turned as the rustling increased. Soon a rabbit hopped out from the grass. It sniffed the air before starting to munch on the grass. He stared at it for a full minute before hunger overcame rationality.
He pounced.
He caught it before this one could even attempt to escape. The rabbit didn't scream for long as he snapped its neck before diving down and sinking his teeth into its flesh.
He drank the blood and when it was gone he bit through the fur and ripped the skin open. Tearing flesh and biting into it.
It took him a moment to realize what he was doing. The moment he did the moment he dropped the rabbit and stood up, taking a few steps back and staring at the rabbit.
Rabbit that was now missing more than just its blood but also part of its flesh.
He ate that.
He.
Ate. That.
His legs moved on reflex as he spun around and bolted towards the house. This was it. He didn't care about the aftermath. About what this could bring. He needed answers about what was happening and if there was someone who could know that would be Carlisle. The man was older and he spent time in Volterra. He had more knowledge about vampires than most vampires.
He arrived back at the house quicker than he knew he should have. The pain in his stomach was deafening but he didn't care. Right now all he wanted was to speak with Carlisle. Because he ate a fucking rabbit and he doesn't feel sick.
-Dude are you-
-I'm fine.- He cut off Emmett's incoming question, ignoring those in the living room in order to hunt down the place where he could feel Carlisle's emotional signature at.
He found him at his studio and he didn't bother at all to knock as he opened the door. He knew Carlisle didn't like that but he didn't had time to be polite. He was tired of this whole nonsense and he needed answers. Now.
The disapproval in the man's emotions didn't last long as he lifted his gaze and caught sight of Jasper. Surprise and concern obliterating his emotions. Esme who had been standing behind him left out a little gasp of horror and she was at his side in a blink.
-Are you-
-I'm fine.- He cut off giving her a reassuring look and soothing her worries before glancing back at Carlisle.- We need to talk.
Carlisle frowned in confusion but still nodded, motioning to the chair across from him. Jasper complied and sat down. He felt Esme behind him and soon her arms were wrapping around his shoulders.
-Can I stay or do you want me to leave?- She questioned softly, he looked up at her and rested his still bloodied hand on her arm.
-You can stay if you want.- He told, he didn't mind her here, she was his mother, if she wanted to be present then so be it.
He turned his attention back to Carlisle.
-What is it that you wish to speak to me about?- Carlisle questioned, that same acidic scent was back, stronger than ever and almost a bit too overwhelming, but Carlisle didn't let it bother him.
-I'm... I believe it's time for you to be made aware of a certain issue concernin' me that's been quite recurrent these past months and that's gotten worse this past week. Originally, I didn't thought it was important, Alice wanted me to tell you but I couldn't really find a good reason to.
More like he didn't want them to know.
But the wound wouldn't heal and now he's gone and eaten a friggin' rabbit. He ate a rabbit.
-Issue? What issue?- Carlisle asked alarmed. Was he hurt? Did something happen when Alice and him left?
-It's... Ever since Alice and I came back something's not right. But it's gotten worse and I can't ignore it anymore.
-And what's that?
-I'm... I think I'm sick.- That was the closest thing he could define it as. Carlisle frowned.
-Sick? What do you mean sick?
How was Jasper suppose to tell them things he wasn't even sure about himself?
-I don't know. I get headaches sometimes and a lot of muscle pains in general. Goosebumps. Sometimes it feels like something's burnin' under my skin. The headaches sometimes feel more like splitting migraines and the pain's... last time it felt like I was burnin' from the inside out and there was this horrible pressure. Felt like I was suffocatin' in my own skin. I thought I was gonna explode. I think I passed out and-
How was he suppose to explain how he got shot? But he needed to tell Carlisle. He needed answers.
-Someone shot me and it actually hurt me, it hasn't even healed and... I think I'm bleedin'? But it isn't blood. I don't know what it's but it isn't blood. It feels like blood but it doesn't smell like blood. It isn't blood. Vampires can't bleed for I would certainly know. Right?- He questioned now looking up at Carlisle in uncertainty.
The man was older than he was. Spent time in Volterra. He surely knew if vampires could bleed.
But his hopes became dust when he felt the man's surprise. Confusion. Shock. Curiosity. Concern.
-May I see?- Carlisle asked softly as he got up. What Jasper was saying... as much as he wanted to attribute it to his gift there was so much an empath could go through due their gift but those symptoms weren't certainly it.
All those symptoms he listed... Carlisle had never heard something like it. Much less of a vampire capable of bleeding.
Jasper gave him a short nod before pulling his shirt up. Esme left her spot behind him just enough so she could get a peek. Horror seizing her features the moment she caught sight of his torso. He was bleeding.
Carlisle for his side frowned as he knelt before him. The bleeding was sluggish but it was certainly coming from him, it took him a moment to realize the acidic scent belonged to that black blood-like substance. The wound was healing awfully slow but it was healing.
Still.
Carlisle went for the first aid kit and got to work. Jasper didn't even twitch as Carlisle started stitching him up. He did notice the black co-web spreading across Jasper's stomach in a familiar pattern. Veins.
-You tell me this has been happening since the moment you returned with Alice?- Carlisle asks as he finishes stitching him up. This was... unfamiliar. He had never heard of this. And that co-web were veins. Black. Which meant there was black blood in them. It made no sense.
-Yes, no, I mean, the discomforts have, but I've never bled before, I would definitely remember it, I started bleedin' since the gunshot. But that's not why I decided to tell you, I decided to tell you because...
-Because?- Esme questioned with a raised eyebrow as Carlisle stood back up.
Silence was the answer.
Jasper was no longer sure if telling them was wise. Because he still didn't felt sick.
-Jasper, I would like to know what else you have been experiencing, this isn't- I'm afraid I don't know the cause of this, but I would like to know. Maybe we can figure out what's wrong.
More silence.
-You said it's gotten worse, that means something's changed or something else will change. You came to me because something else happened right?
-... I ate a rabbit and I don't feel sick over it.
That...
Carlisle had no idea what to do with that information.
-When did it start getting worse?- Esme asked while Carlisle had his crisis.
-After I bit Leah.
It began after his return to Forks but it got worse after he bit Leah. What changed during that time? Was it the stress? Was that the trigger? Something wasn't making sense here. None of it was.
Carlisle ran a hand through his hair. He had no idea what to do. What was this or even if it could be fixed. He had been going through it for months. But what was it? Was it his body rejecting the transformation? But he had never heard of such a thing. Even if it was possible, wouldn't he have died already? It made no sense.
-Is there anything else I should know about?
-Alice didn't dye this, it just turned that color out of nowhere.- Jasper conceded turning his head to point at the bright white strand of hair.
Carlisle frowned. That... didn't make sense. None of this did. And he hated not knowing.
-I can sleep too.
That caught Carlisle's attention.
-What?
-I can sleep too. I don't know how but I can.
That's... He was bleeding, he could sleep, the pain, the headaches, burning from the inside out, ate a rabbit...
All of those sounded an awful lot as if his body was starting to revert back to something akind to human but not quite.
But Carlisle knew for a statement of fact that a vampire couldn't be turned back into a human. It just wasn't possible. But then, what did this mean?
-There's something else too.
The fact alone that Jasper didn't meet his gaze at that didn't gave Carlisle a good feeling.
-'m... I cain't turn humans when I bite 'em.- It was a whisper that were Carlisle not a vampire he wouldn't have caught it.
Those words froze him.
-When I bite vampires they start actin' strange for a few hours and then they die, it's more as if my bite were poisonous but in a different sense. Poisonous only for vampires.- He felt the need to elaborate.
Which brought his confusion over how Leah wasn't dead. Though thinking better of it shapeshifters were still, in a twisted and weird sense, humans.
Carlisle was still silent. He seemed to be deep in thought.
Then he got up.
-Come with me.- Jasper did as told. Esme following right behind.
Carlisle brought him to that medical room he had pulled up for Bella when she was pregnant and that now had become his personal mini lab where he sometimes made comparisons of Renesmee's blood and other stuff.
-Sit down.- Jasper did as told. Sitting down on one of the chairs. Esme at his side rested her hand on his shoulder. Concern was seared deep in her emotions. He rested his hand on top of hers and sent calm towards her.
-Do you know what's wrong with him?- Esme asked as she watched her husband rummage around. None of what Jasper had described made sense to her and the fact that he couldn't turn humans was quite alarming. Vampires were poisonous by nature, the venom ran deep through their veins, it constituted every single fluid in their bodies.
It didn't make sense for him to not be able to turn humans with a bite.
-I don't, but at this point I think making a few tests won't hurt.- Carlisle said as he grabbed a few vials and needles.- You alright with that?- He asked glancing at Jasper who could do nothing but shrug.
-If you think that's gonna help with anythin'.
-It may, it may not.- Carlisle stated truthfully, even if it didn't help at least they would get an idea on what was that black blood. Hopefully.
One "blood" and "venom" sample later Jasper was rubbing at his stomach.
-Does it hurt?- Esme asked softly.
-S' fine. It's not like I haven't been shot before. At least it wasn't on the leg. I hate those.- Esme gave him a mortified look and he couldn't help but smirk at her. He had been a soldier. It was no secret that he had gotten shot a few times.
Even got shrapnel on his back once.
-Do you still not feel sick over the rabbit?- Carlisle asked half curious half interested.
-No.
-If you do, do inform me.- Jasper rolled his eyes but still nodded.
-Can I go?- Jasper questioned. He wanted to take a shower and get rid of this acidic scent. Plus. He could feel Alice's emotional signature. Meant she was back.
-Yes, you can leave.- Carlisle conceded. He needed to call Eleazar. Again.
And as he watched Jasper leave he had the sudden feeling that something was coming.
Something that could change their lives forever.