AN: I own nothing that is recognizable within books.
Warning this is a boy/boy story, don't like don't read. Rated M for future chapters and just to be safe.
This chapter has been beta'd by RockinThatAfroPic!
Just a note:
I've updated my Seth/Edward story Bleed Red :)
All I have Learned is now finished, with an epi on its way soon.
I have a new story getting ready to start in about a month called It must be the vampires… Who Else? It's now posted along will a poll to vote on the pairings.
Chapter 7
Jasper POV-
After passing up dinner by claiming that I didn't have an appetite, I stayed in my room to privately reflect on how messed up my life has become. It's not until my clock reads 11:20 that I finally remove myself from my bed and quietly open my door.
When I step through the doorway the hardwood floor creaks under my body weight. Immediately, as if by instinct, I freeze to make sure I haven't drawn any attention to myself.
Why does every little noise sound so loud at night?
The house is dark with the natural light of the moon giving me some sort of visibility as I sneak my way downstairs to the kitchen. The only sounds I hear are my quick breathes and soft footsteps; Sam and Emily are probably in bed, and Edward is God knows where.
When I reach my destination without getting caught, I turn on the kitchen light. The brightness assaults my eyes causing me to rapidly blink until my sight gets use to the change in lighting. When I can finally see again, I start looking through the fridge for something to eat. I only have a little less than an hour before midnight, which has me more worried than usual. I'm not sure if my father said anything to Edward about my condition, for all I know it could be the reason why Edward wants me to be here in the first place.
Maybe he's starting his own freak show and is trying to collect people with weird oddities and mutations to display.
Perhaps he has so freaky wing fetish, yuck. I shake my head to dispel those negative thoughts from my mind. There's no use for me to get myself worked up, it's not like I have anywhere else to go. This house is out in the middle of nowhere so even if I did escape I'd probably get lost in the forest.
Fumbling around in the fridge, I smile to myself when I find what looks to be leftover from the dinner I had skipped. As I dish out some chicken and rice to warm up I pray that a full stomach will help calm my nerves.
As the food heats up I grab a soda and a fork. Two minutes later the microwave dings and I hungrily shove the piping hot food down my throat, ignoring the pain the scorching meal leaves on my taste buds. Once I finish eating I rinse the dishes off in the sink and place them in the dish washer. Before heading back upstairs I chug the remainder of the soda which numbs my mouth as the cold liquid clashes with the hot meal I just ate. Glancing at the time it reads 11:35, with nothing else left to do I head back up towards my room.
"Hello Jasper" A velvety voice echoes from the dark living room.
"OH CRAP!" I shout startled by this stranger's sudden presence.
"Please don't be frightened" He whispers.
Shivers run up my body and I'm on the brink of hyperventilation as I desperately try to make out the man's form as I walk closer towards his voice.
"My name is Edward." My heartbeat speeds up as he talks. "You're safe here Jasper I promise you."
"Why am I here?" I ask, my voice cracking in fear. Although I'm curious, part of me is terrified of what his answer will be.
"I will not harm you Jasper, I swear to you… But I guess you do deserve to know what truly happened" the man responds sounding defeated. "Why don't you take a seat and I'll explain."
I still can't see him, but I sit down regardless.
"As you can probably tell by the broken window someone broke in last night. The man had attempted to take every valuable item he could reach; it wasn't until I caught him that he stopped. When asked what of value he had to offer he mentioned you. Your father is wrong about you, you do know that don't you? He had gone on and on about his 19 year-old son being a burden to him. He then offered for you to come here, even after he saw my face, he would bring you here. Jasper, I am human, but I am um, horribly deformed. I agreed to the man's bargain because I grow lonely most days. Sam and Emily are the only ones I have any contact with, and for a 21 year-old I can tell you, that's not too fun." He sounds truthful as he talks, and I can't help that my curiosity spikes.
He's only 21, he's human, and just wants a friend? That doesn't sound so bad. But what is this horrible deformity he's talking about?
"Jasper, are you ok?" I hear him ask, making me realize I haven't said anything.
"What do you mean by, horribly deformed?" Only after asking the question did I realize how rude it was.
"Are you sure you want to know Jasper?" His voice cracks in a way that makes me think he would rather I didn't see him. "There is a lamp besides you, if you turn it on you'll be able to see me. Please keep in mind my face cannot be unseen; I would not wish my image to haunt the dreams of my worst enemy. Regardless of your choice, please remember I will not harm you" he whispers sounding defeated.
His words make me pause for a moment before I move to turn on the light, to finally reveal this mysterious Edward.
As light illuminates the room I get my first look at Edward. Sitting only a few feet away from me is a beast whose eyes are downcast waiting, no, more like expecting rejection. Reddish brown fur covered his entire face; this man did not look at all like a human. His hands, if they can be called that, were folded in his lap. Fur covers his hand, with long nails; they looked like claws that could harm.
What am I going to do? Running away screaming for help probably wouldn't get me anywhere, especially if he decides to chase me.
Now that I know his secret, surely he will not allow me to leave.
My eyes fill up with tears as I remember Edward telling me how my father had seen him; my father knew what he was bringing me to. And yet he abandoned me here.
"Jasper?" He asks, sounding so human, so familiar. His voice seems out of place in this beastly figure.
"I don't understand." I say staring at him confusion clear in my eyes. He said he was deformed, this is not a deformity. He is a real life monster, yet he speaks and dresses like a man. I don't get it.
"I will not force you to stay, but please have Sam drive you somewhere. I would hate for you to get lost in these woods." I see a single tear roll down his face before he turns away from me.
"Edward I…" I am unable to finish as the clock strikes twelve.
"I um… I have to go." I hear myself saying as I stand and practically run from the room. How could I have been so stupid as to not notice what time it was? This man knew nothing of my wings, or at least he hasn't admitted to knowing anything about them. I'm not ready for him to see them.
He makes no move to follow me, and I'm half way up the stairs when in my hurry I trip and stumble down them, landing at the bottom, on my back.
"Ouch!" I shout out in pain. Just as I go to sit up, my shirt rips open from the pressure of my wings bursting through it.
Edward POV-
How could I have been so stupid? I wonder as Jasper runs from the room. I don't dare move, not trusting myself control. I know as soon as I see him I will be begging him to stay.
Only moments after he leaves the room, I hear the sounds of something large tumbling down the stairs ending with a loud thump once it reaches the bottom. After the final thud Jasper's voice briefly cries out in pain.
"Jasper?" I call as I quickly walk towards the stairs.
What I see takes my breath away. Sitting there at the bottom of the staircase is Jasper. Beautiful ivory colored wings adorned his back with the ripped remains of his shirt hanging off of his lightly muscled torso. He looks like a fallen angel, and I can't help but stare.
I'm broken from my trance when he turns to face me with tears rolling down his face.
"He really didn't tell you?" He questions sounding surprised.
"N…No" Is all I am able to say as I'm captivated at the magnificence before me.
AN: Well they have met… :) What do you think?