Esme knew Jasper to be her quietest son. The gentleman who was an absolute sweetheart despite what his appearance could give the air of.
Ever since she found out he could eat she had taken it to feed him as much as she could, yeah, the only thing he ate was meat but the point still stood, he could eat. In fact. He ate a lot for someone so skinny. She would watch him sometimes and while she knew that wasn't polite part of her couldn't help but feel like there was something she was missing.
His appetite was almost a match to that of Jacob's. She knew that comparing her son to a wolf wasn't a good comparison but she couldn't help it. Also. Whenever he ate too much meat his eyes would glow an unnaturally bright yellow.
Much like with the blood he had the habit to get a bit too frenzied when eating. None of them had ever managed to figure out the reason behind such reaction. It was as if his brain fell too deep into the hunting instincts. No one but Alice could get close to him when he was like that.
Also.
He didn't eat cooked meat but raw. He still reacted much like a vampire if he ate it cooked.
The glow of his eyes was an odd thing though. But this was an unique situation that no one could explain. Carlisle had told her about his findings on Jasper's blood and venom. It was almost as if his body had mutated into something completely different.
And while his life didn't seem to be in danger she couldn't help but fear the future, were the Volturi to find out about this... A vampire's whose bite can't turn humans but that could harm other vampires instead...
She had a feeling that that would be Aro's perfect excuse to attack them and tear her family apart.
That if the wolves didn't find out first. Though with some luck nothing would happen on that side. Leah had imprinted on Jasper after all, and the wolves took very seriously that of not harming imprintee's.
So far Leah hadn't attempted to stalk Jasper again which Esme was grateful for. She knew that Leah meant no harm and that she couldn't help but watch him even if from afar to make sure he was fine. But Jasper wasn't someone who took well on being stalked.
Esme can still remember when Jasper and Alice first arrived. Edward had been so against him that he had taken it to stalk Jasper to make sure he was abiding to their diet. Needles to say that hadn't ended well.
Jasper was a vampire whose instincts had been hooned a certain way, if he felt threatened in the slightest he would attack, there were still habits that couldn't be taken from him. He could be an absolute sweetheart but Esme was no naive woman.
She knew that her son was no tame vampire. In fact. He could become one of the most dangerous of their kind if given the right triggers.
~~~~~~~~~~
Emmett had to admit that Jasper's sudden change had made it... A bit difficult to spend time with him. Carlisle had banned him from wrestling with Jasper until he could figure out what was wrong with Jasper. The fact that a bullet had wounded him with such ease and that he could bleed had made Carlisle a bit paranoid.
But Emmett understood it. Jasper's growing changes were... weird. The blood flowing. The breathing. The pulse. The blinking. Even his heartbeat. No one was sure when did it appear but while almost near non-existent it could be made out. He had a heartbeat.
All about it was strange and wrong to picture on Jasper. And his scent.
Emmett couldn't still for the life of him decide if he hated it or not. It was bitter. Acid. Sour. Sweet. More acid. It was so fricking strange.
Also.
His appetite was disturbing. Jasper had never been one to have a small appetite. In fact. He fed more than all of them put together. But now... God he even ate raw meat. Would also eat the animals he hunted.
Emmett found it both fascinating and a bit bizarre. But for the most part fascinating. There was something about a vampire eating raw meat with glowing eyes that he couldn't help but find cool.
-You suck at this.- Jasper's voice pulled him out of his thoughts and Emmett couldn't help but scoff.
-You are cheating. Don't know how but you are.
-Emmett, have you ever entertained the idea that, I don't know, that maybe you suck at this game?- Jasper's condescending tone got Bella, who was sitting on the couch, to snicker.
-The disrespect!
-And I won.
-Cheater! You were distracting me!- Emmett accused which got him nothing but a smirk in return. He grabbed Jasper and brought him down onto the floor, of course being mindful of his strength. Because while Jasper still had the physiology of a vampire the strong acidic scent was enough to remind him to not overestimate his brother's current state.
That it was better to not risk finding out if he could be harmed easily by actually harming him.
-This is cheatin'!- Jasper protested struggling against Emmett's hold, but of course he didn't budge a single inch, no one could take on Emmett's abnormal strength, not even him.
Much less when he grew so weak at times.
-It's not. We differ in strength. That doesn't make me a cheater.
-Yer an ass.- Jasper told twisting in the hold and fighting to free his arms, but Emmett held them tight against his chest and his huge legs were wrapped around his waist keeping him from fighting him.
This was stupid.
In this house he was the only one who could take Emmett on a fight due his skills and strength. But he couldn't even break free.
-Emmett. He is right. It's not a fair game when he can do nothing to break free.- Bella called feeling like she should call it off before Emmett ended up hurting Jasper. Yeah, Emmett never hurt her as a human but he didn't grab her like that either. But again, Jasper wasn't human.
But again, his current state was still a mystery.
And seeing big Emmett over there squeezing slim Jasper like that made her anxious. She knew how strong vampires could be, especially Emmett, and the idea of Emmett accidentally snapping Jasper's back was a rather disturbing thought.
Emmett huffed but let Jasper go. Jasper stood up with a stumble before wincing as a familiar pain flared in his chest. Still.
He spun around to point at Emmett.
-Don't forget whose got the advantage on knowin' how to take down vampires without effort.- He warned half serious half not. Emmett grinned.
-Bring it on cowboy.
Jasper scoffed before walking off. Biting back another wince as the pain in his chest spread across his ribcage. It was a heat that swirled around with such pressure he found himself biting his bottom lip.
He had to lean against the wall for support. Hand clutching his chest as he bit back the pain. It could be his imagination but he could swear that something moved beneath his hand.
Still.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths. It felt like forever before the heat disappeared and he was left feeling too exhausted for comfort. He dropped his hand and stared at the ceiling for a long while before straightening back up.
He wondered for how long he would have to put up with this.
~~~~~~~~~~~
-Is this even possible?- Jacob had come to visit Nessie when he heard the second heartbeat, it was slow and quiet enough that one wouldn't be able to hear it were it not for the fact that it came from a house full of vampires, he had felt more than curious for the sole fact that Charlie was out fishing with Billy, so it couldn't be him.
He hadn't recognized the scent either. So acid it had made his nose itch and his instincts reel.
What he hadn't been expecting was that the owner of said heartbeat and scent was one of the blood sucker's themselves.
The one who spent half of his life looking like he was in pain and the one Leah had imprinted on.
He looked... strange.
His hair had bright white highlights that looked too uneven and natural for it to be hair dye. In fact. The color alone made him feel uneasy for some reason he couldn't quite explain.
And he was sleeping.
Sleeping.
Since when did vampires sleep?
-No. It's not.- Edward was standing right behind the couch where Jasper had fallen asleep at earlier, because while their relationship with the wolves had improved through the years and he didn't hate Jacob his instincts compelled him to be alert.
Even if he knew that the wolves couldn't touch Jasper.
Regardless of it all wolves and vampires were natural enemies.
And even if his relationship with Jasper wasn't the greatest he was still his brother. And his brother was vulnerable now. Plus Alice had gone hunting and had trusted him to watch over Jasper.
-Then how is he-
Edward's body moved before his mind could process what he was doing as he snatched Jacob's wrist into a powerful grip. Stopping him mid-way reaching towards Jasper.
-No touching.
Jacob tried to not take it personal as he yanked his arm away from the icy grip.
-I'm not going to hurt him you idiot.- He couldn't help but snap. Why would he want to hurt one of the Cullens when their relationship had developed considerably? When hurting one of them would also hurt Nessie? He could never bring harm to her.
Plus.
Leah had imprinted on him. He couldn't harm him even if he wanted to.
-I know.
Edward wasn't about to apologize and Jacob was smart enough to know it. He was doing nothing wrong. He was looking after his brother. End of discussion.
-It began somewhere last night.- Edward chose to concede. Jacob frowned.
-Is that possible?
-We are still trying to figure it out.
Edward glanced at Jasper as he said that. Something about his brother irked at him. Ever since the incident with Leah a lot of things didn't add up. Like the disturbing appetite. No human stomach should be capable of withholding so much food no matter how fast their metabolism was. There were also the hair color change. The glowing eyes. The tests Carlisle had done on him and kept doing.
If this was a mutation there was no way for it to be starting now after so many years since he was transformed.
And there was also his scent.
There was an unnatural edge to it. Bitter. Acid. Like a whisper warning off the predators capable of smelling him.
Also. His heartbeat wasn't similar to a human's. Even now as he slept his heartbeat was a bit out of pace. Wrong.
Edward couldn't help but think that there was more to all this than what Jasper was telling them.
-Don't discuss this with anyone, at least not until we figure out what's happening to him, he's not dangerous.- Edward requested glancing at Jacob. If the wolves caught wind of this... A vampire with blood and a heartbeat. Would that be considered a threat?
Of course it would. Blood and a heartbeat meant he was stronger than average even if that was a lie. Right now Jasper wasn't the strongest in the house.
Jacob for his side glanced at the blond creep. While hiding this could come to bite him in the ass later he guessed he owed the blond creep and the little freak. Without them Renesmee could have lost her life here with the Cullens. The chance to grow with her parents. Hunted for the rest of her life with no chances of ever having a normal life. Bella could have died.
Thus, he sighed.
-Fine.