The smell of fresh blood hid Jasper's scent as he crouched in the treetops. James was there, exactly as Alice had seen, tucking into the groundskeeper and making a mess. Thirst flared in Jasper's throat as he watched. The new animal diet was arduous, but it admittedly improved his self-control. A few months ago, Jasper would've gone into a frenzy in such a situation.
His plan was simple. As soon as James lit the body on fire, Jasper would pounce onto him and tear him into pieces. Disposal would be as easy as tossing James into the flames.
James finished his meal with a loud slurp. He clawed a circle in the dirt around the body so that the fire wouldn't spread. As the sparks flickered and grew, he took a step back to watch the carnage. That was Jasper's cue.
In a fraction of a second, Jasper launched himself into the air and slammed James into the ground. There was a loud crack as they hit the dirt.
Jasper raised his hand to rip James' arm off. Before he could grab hold, James headbutted Jasper so hard that he cracked a rib. Jasper growled, massaging his chest as his bones melded back together.
"Now is that any way to greet an old friend?" James crooned. He was grinning ear to ear, his emotions a strange mix of excitement and malice.
"We were never friends." Jasper bared his fangs and wrapped his fingers around James' throat. With one swift movement, he would sever his head. What confused Jasper was that he couldn't sense any fear or surprise in James. Was there something he didn't know? The paranoid side of him made him hesitate.
James used that moment's hesitation to escape. He punched Jasper in the gut and leapt to his feet, crouching into a battle stance.
"Are you going to explain why you're trying to kill me, or are you trying to be mysterious?" He drawled.
Jasper swore. He was a fool to lose his chance. He wouldn't lose the next one.
"Why are you here, James?" he asked, feigning obliviousness.
"Many years ago, my target escaped from me. I've finally found her, but it looks like I have some competition."
"Stay away from her," Jasper snarled.
James shrugged. "Sorry, but I chose her first. You'll have to find another 'sunshine.' Really, though, a candy bar? I know she's young, but she's hardly a child…if you know what I mean."
"You were in her room?!" The edges of Jasper's vision blurred with rage. How had James managed to sneak past him? The only times Jasper ever left Alice's vicinity was when he went hunting. Either James had been spying on him, which was doubtful since Jasper would've noticed his scent, or he had gotten egregiously lucky. Well his luck was about to run out, because Jasper was done talking.
Without a word, he charged straight at James. This time, he didn't pay any attention to the peculiar emotions in the atmosphere.
Their sparring was uneven. Jasper clearly had the upper hand, dodging and attacking with a precision that only decades of battle could produce. James had extra energy from the human blood, but it was useless in the face of overwhelming prowess and experience. Instead of his usual aggression, James fought defensively. He ducked and weaved without landing a hit of his own, as though he were stalling for time.
There was a flash of red followed by a sharp pain. Another vampire had emerged from the shadows, and she sunk her canines deep in Jasper's shoulder. Her curly, fiery hair cascaded down her back. Jasper twisted out of the way, but she hung on tight to him.
Together with James, she tore Jasper's left arm off and hurled it into the fire. Gritting his teeth, Jasper knocked them both to the ground with a roundhouse kick. He rescued his arm before it could turn to ash, but didn't have time to reattach it.
It didn't matter. One less arm meant one less place for them to target. Jasper lowered himself into an attack stance and waited for them to make the first move.
James sent the ginger vampire at him, choosing to watch and wait by the trees. Based on their interactions and emotions, they were a mated pair. Jasper scoffed. What a gentleman.
The female vampire was fierce, clawing and kicking at Jasper with all her might. Her feline eyes were greedy for victory. She was, however, a complete amateur.
Jasper didn't even need to use his remaining arm. Her movements were predictable enough that he dashed out of the way with minimal effort. Putting his body on auto-pilot, Jasper turned his attention to James. Why was he so calm and smug? The female was a surprise, but she didn't pose enough of a threat to warrant this nonchalance.
With a precisely controlled swipe, Jasper seized the female in mid-air and sent her crashing to the ground like a rag doll. James finally stepped in, blocking Jasper from decapitating her. It was about time.
2 versus 1 was annoying. Jasper waited for an opening and ripped the female's leg off, chucking it a quarter mile north. She gave a piercing cry and hobbled away to find it.
Now it was just him and James. They wrestled for a bit, but it was clear that Jasper would be victorious. Then James did something unexpected. Latching onto Jasper with all four limbs, he launched both of them into the roaring fire.
Jasper hissed. The flames scorched his flesh with an excruciating burn. "What are you doing?! You're going to get us both killed."
"Patience, Whitlock," James grunted through the pain, "I just have to hold you here until he gets here."
"Who?"
Right when Jasper thought they would turn to ash, James released his grip. He sprang into the air and furiously rolled against the dirt to put out the flames on his body. Jasper did the same, cursing and wincing as his burns healed.
He caught a whiff of cologne and blood. There was a third vampire skulking through the forest. This one moved with more grace than James and his mate. He had an olive skin tone and glossy black hair that hung in loose curls.
There was a French accent when the vampire spoke. "Apologies, mon ami. Had you not been set on stopping us, I would have welcomed your power."
The Frenchman came closer, fangs and claws out. Jasper was still on the ground. Vampires were nearly indestructible, but they were flammable. He was charred all over and in too much pain to fight at full power.
Curling up into a defensive pose, Jasper waited for the Frenchman's attack.
There was a loud bang and the vampire fell back. He clutched his chest, which now had a small hole in it. An unmistakably human smell filled the air and Jasper turned to the source of the sound. He gasped.
Nurse Isobel stood behind a bush, dressed in a black combat outfit. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail. She held a revolver in her outstretched hand. A jagged dagger was strapped to her thigh.
Isobel fired another bullet. It went straight in between the vampire's eyes. After he collapsed, Isobel strode up to him and staked his heart with her dagger. She twisted the blade as she pulled it out, wiping away excess blood on his shirt.
"You…you're a human," Jasper breathed in awe.
"And you're a vampire," she retorted, "so you have ten seconds to convince me not to kill you too."
"One, you've seen how much I love Alice. Two, you must know Dr. Cullen. He's teaching me to feed on animals. And three…"
Jasper got up and slammed into the Frenchman, who had crept behind her. He dismembered the vampire and threw him into the fire. "Three, I just returned the favor and saved your life. Next time, burn your enemy before turning your back. We heal faster than you think."
Isobel smirked. "That was more than ten seconds. But I'll allow it." She retrieved Jasper's arm for him with a slight look of disgust. She grimaced as he reattached the limb.
"This is just a wild guess, but I don't think you're a nurse," Jasper said.
"Very astute observation." Isobel reloaded her revolver with white, suspiciously shiny bullets. There was something eerily familiar about her dagger as well.
"Humans weapons don't penetrate vampire skin the way yours do."
"Well mine aren't made out of human materials." She cast a sly gaze at the Frenchman's remains. "Anyways," she continued, "wasn't there another vampire here? Where did he go?"
Jasper's eyes widened. "James. He must have gone after Alice." A wave of relief washed over him as he remembered, "But Carlisle is with her. He may not consume human blood, but he's strong. We should still hurry and catch up to them, though."
Isobel's heart-shaped face paled. "No he's not."
"What do you mean?"
"Alice asked Dr. Cullen to stay with Edward instead. He fainted earlier, from Spanish-"
Jasper didn't wait to hear the end of her sentence. He tore off into a sprint, pushing his speed until he was a blur in the air. Once he reached the hospital building, he climbed directly up the wall. Jasper didn't care if anyone saw him.
To his horror, Alice's window was open. A scrap of James' jacket hung on the bent metal bars.
Agony welled up inside Jasper as he stepped into the room. It was empty. He was too late. Renmants of Alice's sweet scent lingered on the furniture. The wrapper of the chocolate bar he'd given her was on the floor, torn and crinkled. Their makeshift picnic blanket was still swirled in the corner.
There was only one thing keeping Jasper from complete despair. He didn't detect any bloodshed in the room. According to Alice's vision, James was supposed to bite and drain her on the floor. The lack of spilled blood meant at least that aspect hadn't come true. Her death was not confirmed, and Jasper clung onto that bit of hope.
Although Jasper wanted to race through the entire hospital, combing the place for her scent, he knew better than to act rashly. There had been three vampires in the forest, and James seemed to have a plan up his sleeve. It pained him to admit it, but Jasper may not be able to handle the situation on his own. For Alice, Jasper would swallow his pride and seek help.
He hurried down the halls at an almost human speed. The infectious disease ward was nearby, luckily, and Jasper was relieved to see Carlisle there.
Isobel was there as well, and the two of them chatted by a patient's bedside. The patient was, of course, Edward Mason. The boy responsible for Alice's disappearance. Anger flared in Jasper, but it quickly died down when he saw how ill the boy looked. Edward was pale and trembling with fever, yet he spoke with clarity.
"We need to find Alice, whatever it takes," Edward asserted. "I can help, just give me one of your vampire hunting weapons."
Carlisle shook his head. "I stabilized your condition with a dangerous amount of medication. You need to remain here."
"I'll find Alice," Jasper announced as he made his entry. "There may be more vampires here than we initially thought. Will you assist me, Carlisle?"
The doctor nodded. "Of course. Bella told me everything, including information we were not aware of. She's incredible." A soft smile came upon his face.
"Bella?" Jasper raised his eyebrows. How had she gotten here so fast? Was she truly just a human?
"I'll explain along the way; we must make haste." Carlisle glanced at Edward. "Will you stay with Edward, Bella? I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone with enemies on the loose."
"Alright. I'll protect him," Isobel replied.
Edward flushed. A bit of amusement rose in Jasper. He could detect embarrassment mixed with admiration in the young man. Perhaps he should give him a confidence boost.
Now, however, was not the time to meddle in human romantic affairs. Jasper was already expanding his senses to uncover Alice's trail.
"Let's go," he urged Carlisle.
They left the huntress with Edward and rushed out the door, with Carlisle in the lead. He already had an idea on where James might've taken Alice, courtesy of the mysterious nurse.
Jasper squeezed his fists. Wait for me, Alice. I'm coming for you.