Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, no money is made from this, & no copyright infringement is intended.
...
9
…
She got jumper cable lips
She got sunset on her breath now
I inhaled just a little bit
Now I got no fear of death now
…
Bella
…
After climbing for hopefully the last time out of those godforsaken tunnels, Peter's comforting hand on my lower back, the open air and bright daylight were a welcome relief. The air above ground felt heavy, dense with a surreal humidity, pressing against my hypersensitive skin. \
I turned to smile at Peter, still giddy at his safe escape, and I was struck by the sight of him in the sunlight, the first time I'd seen him in the sun since I'd been changed.
He was absolutely striking. I felt like I was seeing him for the first time all over again, but now I could actually see him – the soft waves of his hair, the curve of his next to his strong shoulders, and the dark eyelashes framing his eyes. Noticing my stare, he turned to grin at me inquisitively but then a curious look took over his face – just like what I must have looked like ogling him. The realization brought me to a laugh, and his deeper laugh echoed mine. He leaned in for a warm kiss, his touch sending shivers all through me.
As we walked a little ways away from the cave, I spotted Jasper leaning against a boulder near some desert brush and assorted wildlife. Unlike me, Japer looked less than ecstatic and relieved at Peter's safe return.
From his slumped posture to the desolate, shaken look in his golden eyes when he looked up at Peter and I, I knew at once the toll murdering all those vampires had taken on him – from all I'd ever seen of Jasper, he naturally sought calmness and peace. He was forever soothing and comforting those around him, from Alice's frustration and occasional fear at her visions, to Rosalie's temper and Edward's moodiness - his entire family counted on him to keep their peace.
And from the way Alice had been acting back at the house earlier, I had a feeling Jasper was getting more manipulation than love or support from his wife. So I marched right up to his moping form, put my hands on his shoulders, and waited until met my eyes straight on, hoping the sincerity of my words would cut through Jasper's thunderstorm of black emotions.
"Jasper, I know what you just did was rough on you – and I can't imagine what it's like to deal with your gift – but you did well today. You're a good man, remember that." With that, I gave him a hug. I could tell he was surprised, but after a second he hugged me back, leaking weary gratitude. A weak smile had made it onto his face by the time I pulled away.
Jasper turned to Peter, and gave him a manly hug. "I knew you'd be fine, you old bastard." They both laughed, playing the aloof guys act, but by their wide smiles I knew they were both glad to be whole and safe. I was reminded then of just how long the two of them had been friends – somewhere near a hundred years. I was impressed and almost proud of their obvious loyalty to each other.
In contrast, the Cullens looked like the moral degenerates of the vampire world, not Jasper and Peter. The Cullens constantly watched over Jasper, faithlessly expecting him to slip up and kill someone, and they certainly hadn't been loyal to me, abandoning me without a second thought.
Sure, Jasper had left me behind, too – but I couldn't really expect him to stick around to keep me safe after trying to take a bite out of me on my birthday. And I could only imagine how badly he felt about that.
Peter slung an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in close, and his presence both comforted me and set me afire. Then, the three of us turned toward the setting sun and headed toward home.
…
My mind buzzed with wild, rampaging thoughts in the few minutes before our return to the house - I fought to keep myself focused on one thought, one thread. I felt thirsty again, as if my earlier hunt just been a particularly unsatisfying appetizer. Through the pain in my throat, I alternated between reveling in the pleasure of Peter's touch and solid body next to me; worrying whether Edward and Alice were still hanging around for more piteous lecturing; and trying to silence the quiet voice inside prompting me to expand my diet to something more dangerous and satisfying.
Peter tensed slightly as we neared the near and came within range of Alice and Edward's scents. The two of them waited for us on the front porch, both of them looking pretty angry.
Edward stood at the top of the steps with his arms crossed in front of him, ironically looking like he was defending the house against its returning owners.
Peter, apparently, had no strength left for patience. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He demanded of Edward, dropping his arm from around me and stepped slightly in front of me, blocking me from Edward.
Looking slightly uneasy at Peter's ragged appearance, Edward mustered the nerve to only address me and ignored Peter completely. He still, somehow, stood tall with condescending petulance. "Bella, you're coming home, with me. You can't choose a murderer over me, over the family."
All I could think was, really? Again? "Edward, you really don't get it, do you? I'm not yours, and I don't belong to your fake family."
He interrupted my rant. "Of course I understand. You think you're being independent, but you're wrong –"
I growled a warning. "Just stop, Edward! You have no power over me, not anymore. You didn't want me four years ago, and you have no logical reason to think I would ever take you back. You need to leave me the fuck alone."
Edward took my words like a slap to the face – his face twisted in anger, and he tried to protest, "No, Bella, you're coming home with me now."
Edward barely spat out the words before Peter had him pinned against the front door of the house, with a forearm to Edward's neck. Peter threatened with a growl, "Don't you fucking say another word. You're not welcome here. Leave, or I'll kill you." Peter released him.
With a sulky flounce, Edward turned away and left, stomping down the porch steps and striding out into the yard. I hoped he kept right on walking.
Peter turned back to me then, looking completely drained, bruise-like shadows under his eyes. He grabbed my hand, and I let him pull me into the house. The screen door banged shut behind us, cutting us off from Jasper and Alice on the porch. I heard her high pitched voice dig into him almost immediately, and I had to wonder what was up with those two.
The air inside the house was cool, sweetly familiar. I followed Peter up the stairs to his room, where he sat on the bed, rubbing his face tiredly. He pulled me forward, and I stood before him and threaded my fingers into his dark hair. He looked up at me, settling his hands around and I smiled at the almost childlike look of exhaustion on his face. "You've had a rough couple of days, haven't you?"
"No worse than you." He pointed out, raising one eyebrow at me.
I shook my head slightly, smiling. "I'm trying to forget about that part, thank you very much." To be honest, I was planning on never thinking about the three days of torture ever again. I'd basically become one of those girls I'd always seen on TV, missing and presumed to be horribly murdered. Yet here I was, feeling more or less fine but a little crazy, with an astonishingly handsome man in front of me.
"You're sure you're okay?" I asked him, running a thumb over his cheek.
"I'm sure… How are you so calm?" He asked.
"What do you mean? How am I supposed to be?" I didn't know what to think… although I did remember that when I was human, all I'd been told was that newborn vampires were completely crazed, incapable of reason.
He laughed lightly. "No, I mean, you're so controlled. Aren't you thirsty? Newborns are usually out of their minds with bloodlust."
At his words, a flame flickered in my throat. I rubbed at my neck absently, and shrugged. "Yes, I'm thirsty… but it's not too bad."
"I've been around a lot of newborns in my time, but you… you're something else."
I just shrugged and smiled innocently. "Hey, I'm not complaining."
He laughed again, then pressed his face sweetly against my stomach, sighed, then stood. "I need a shower, and then we need to hunt."
That flame pulsed, spread fire through my throat Hmm… I had a decision to make.
Peter smiled ruefully, no doubt noticing my excitement, then kissed me slowly. If his earlier kisses had been filled with relief, this was one was for pure pleasure. It ended much too soon, in my opinion, as he turned for the bathroom.
I wandered over to the chair by the window, the one I'd sat in one afternoon before I'd been changed. This time, I could hear miles farther, and deeper too – birds flying through distant clouds, a deep creaking throughout the old house, and Jasper and Alice still arguing outside on the front porch.
I could hear their voices as clear as day, even though I was looking out a window on the other side of the house.
"Alice, why the hell did you bring Edward here? You must have seen the shit he'd pull." Jasper's indignant voice floated up.
"Edward loves her! And at least he's not a murderer."
"You've always hated Peter, and you have absolutely no reason to! Alice, I don't understand when you stopped caring about anyone but yourself, honestly. You act like Bella's your puppet, and you treat Peter like shit. Not to mention me. You've been trying to control me since the day we met, and you know it. You and the Cullens treat me like a child. With them is not where I'm supposed to be, I know that for sure."
Holy shit. I'd never heard Jasper raise his voice at Alice, and I was strangely proud of him for finally putting her in her place.
Alice lashed out derisively. "Oh, but your place is with Peter and Bella, the man-jumping slut? How dare you. I did everything for you! You know I love you, Jazz…" My mouth dropped open in shock at that one.
"Don't lie to me, Alice." Jasper laughed darkly. "You're filled with vitriol, jealousy, and possessiveness, but not love. Not anymore."
"So what, you're just going to write me off, like nothing? You have no idea what you're doing."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
"Just a vision." Alice sounded deceptively innocent, the little manipulator.
Jasper growled with frustration. "You know what, I don't want to hear it. I want to figure out my future on my own for once. We're done. Go home, Alice."
Alice sputtered, probably attempting to protest, and I heard her foot stomp on the ground. I grinned to myself at her petulance, proud as all hell for Jasper. I couldn't wait until Alice and Edward finally left us all alone… and I was really curious to see what Jasper was really like, away from Alice and the rest of the Cullens' influence.
I moved back to Peter's bed, curling up on my side so I could see out the window to the sky outside. Silently lamenting the growing burn in my throat, I closed my eyes and wished I could still sleep, could still feel that floating, comfy feeling right before falling asleep.
When Peter came out of the bathroom, I turned to see him approaching, deliciously shirtless and wet-haired in worn jeans. "Oh, hello…" I teased, enjoying the view.
He grinned devilishly as he climbed onto the bed next to me, stretching out on his side and throwing one arm around my waist.
"You know, I was startin' to think I'd never get to do this," he said sweetly, leaning in press kisses along my neck.
"You didn't think I'd come for you?" My voice came out all breathy, and my hand crept up to tangle in his hair.
Peter pulled back slightly, looking serious all of the sudden. "I hoped, but I had no idea what happened to you. If you would get to Jasper in time."
"He found me in time."
"And… I wasn't sure if you'd come. I mean, think about it. Since you met me, I've caused you nothin' but grief. Those newborns, Maria, you getting' changed; they were all because of me—"
"Hey." I interrupted, hating the guilt in his eyes. "Forget about that. Don't you remember how many times you've saved me? You even saved my life the first time we met!"
A slow smile spread across his face, warm like honey. "That's not what I count as the first time. You looked sexy as hell that time I saw you on the street, remember that?"
"Oh yeah…" I would've blushed if I were still human. "I figured you were just looking for your next meal."
"I was, but you were too beautiful to kill." A rakish grin spread across his face, and I felt him brush his thumb across my hipbone, where his arm was slung around me. I liked how his skin felt rough against mine.
Peter leaned down to kiss me. He pressed me back against the pillows, and I twined my arms up around his neck. His mouth felt hot on mine, as his hand moved higher up my waist, under my shirt. My skin felt deliciously hot everywhere Peter was touching my – until he abruptly went still. He looked down at my lower stomach, where his thumb rested on my hipbone, and my gaze followed his.
When I realized what was still there, I felt sick. Maria's mark hadn't been erased in my change… Peter's name, carved brutally onto my lower stomach. Forever. Oh God. I'd been so distracted when I'd changed my clothes earlier, I hadn't even noticed.
I watched Peter warily, not knowing how he would react to me walking around, branded with his name for all eternity. But he surprised me. Without a word, he shifted himself downward, and pressed soft kisses to my scars. I was touched.
When he came back up and looked at me with those dark red eyes, I pulled him down for a rough kiss. He reciprocated just as fiercely, one hand tangling in my hair and the other running down my body, over my waist, and pulled my leg up around him. I shifted, and he settled himself in between my legs. He kissed me deeply, pressing his hips against mine. Desire sparked through me, and I couldn't hold back a low moan.
As the heat and passion grew, so did my thirst, until the bloodlust started to overcome the pleasure. I broke off the kiss, and said breathlessly, "I need to hunt. Now."
…
(A/N: Thanks so much to all readers & reviewers most especially! I love you all. The lyrics at the top are from "40 Day Dream" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. I just bought tickets to go see them in May so I couldn't help but put them in here. Also, I will absolutely love you forever if you leave me a review…)