Chapter 2: Test

Jasper:

I walked downstairs, cringing slightly as a sharp scent washed up my nostrils. Turning knowingly to the source, I saw Seth and Jacob sitting in the kitchen with Esme.

"Esme"? I whispered from the doorway as she turned to me smoothly. "Where's Carlisle"?

"In the dining room". She said with a smile as she started cooking a new panful of eggs for the two hungry wolf kids.

I turned away with a nod, walking quickly toward the dining room door. I paused as I felt Adura's twittering heart, her pulse quickening to a speed that caused me pain. Something wasn't right. Placing my hand on the door, I drew it open, watching Carlisle look at me briefly. I glanced at Adura as she sat across from him, perfectly still and upright in the chair.

I crept carefully into the room, my eyes flashing down at Carlisle's bag on the table. They were sitting in the very back of the room, a small metal table between the two of them. A lump of pale flesh rested on the smooth surface, a scalpel a few inches away. What could be going on here? What was Carlisle trying to do?

I settled into the chair next to him, Adura barely aware that I entered the room. Glancing weakly at Carlisle I searched his face for answers.

"I am testing her gift". He said simply as his eyes remained in her face.

"You're what"? I muttered looking at Adura as her eyes darkened.

Testing her gift? Was he really intending to use himself as a subject, or at least part of him? That's crazy, what if something went wrong?

"I'm very much aware of what could happen, but I think she has a good amount of control over it". Carlisle said quickly, as if reading my thoughts.

I looked back hesitantly at Adura, my guard instinctively lifting. This was dangerous; Alice had described her gift to us, so why would it be necessary for Carlisle to test it?

It probably wouldn't be for any reason my military mind automatically went to; for purpose of using her as a defensive system against the Volturi or any hostile nomads. It was probably purely for his love of learning. He wanted to know every intricate detail of her gift and what provoked it and such. I watched Adura sternly as the flesh began to smoke.

Steadily from the very bottom layer it began to burn, as if it were dropped into a fire. Even I became entranced, staring at it dumbfounded. The first layer of muscle became incinerated, every vein blackening almost instantly. The process gradually continued until it was nothing more than ash on the table.

Adura's eyes snapped open right after, her mouth hanging open slightly as she breathed.

"Very good child". Carlisle said warmly, brushing his hand lightly across her shoulder.

She stiffened, her eyes turning fearfully down to the table.

"It's alright. You didn't harm either of us". Carlisle said gliding out of the chair as she looked up at him quickly. "Jasper where's Alice"? He said strongly to me.

For a moment the words didn't register, all of my attention focused on the charred lump of flesh in front of me. Shaking my head I looked up at him sharply. "Upstairs with Bella and Reneesme." I said seeing Adura's expression brighten out of the corner of my eye.

"Very good.". He muttered as Adura and I looked at the door. "Alice". He said barely above a whisper.

I heard her light footsteps as she flitted downstairs; she appeared at the door not a moment later. "Yes Carlisle". She said grinning from me to him as she placed her hand on her hip.

"Why don't you take Adura upstairs? I'm sure she has missed you guys a lot". Carlisle said as Alice's eyes ticked to the table for a second before turning back to his face.

"Alright". She said brightly as she extended her hand.

Adura leaped out of the chair, running swiftly to Alice's side and taking her hand tightly in her own. I had never really seen that girl move so quickly than when she was with Alice. I suppose it had to do with that whole 'female bonding' thing and because Alice was who she felt most comfortable with besides Reneesme. I couldn't decide which.

The two glided out of the room quickly as I turned back to Carlisle. His eyes were already on the table, his tongs clenched in his fingers.

"Did you learn anything from this"? I muttered as he turned it over and over.

He examined each inch carefully, his eyes narrowing tightly. "Yes. Yes I did". He whispered as he lifted it to his eyes.

"This is a very strange situation indeed." I said folding my hands together under my chin as Carlisle nodded.

"Yes it is. I suppose we've always attracted strange situations toward us."

"It started with Edward dating Bella". I whispered as he chuckled.

"No I believe it started with me. The first vegetarian vampire." He snickered as we listened to as a pan dropped in the kitchen, Esme muttering a curse before Jacob darted to catch it.

"That is true". I said faintly hearing the conversation going on upstairs between Alice and Rosalie. I could hear Reneesme's laugh but nothing from Adura. She rarely spoke, and only on certain occasions did she speak to any of us besides Alice. I watched Carlsile take out a small vile, dropping the charred flesh into it carefully. "You know what I've been thinking?" I said as he turned to me.

"Yes"?

"I've been wondering about Caius and the pack. If they don't believe that she is really dead as I'm sure Caius won't, they would come looking for her". I said as Carlisle nodded thoughtfully.

"That is true. I suppose worse case scenario we could hide her in La Push. Sam would be all too eager to slay the Volturi if they dare cross the border."

"Yeah". I looked up at the ceiling, my mind moving over a million worse case scenarios as it often did. Finally I settled on a thought I'd been wanting adress for a while"But you know what I would do"?

Carlisle nodded, staring at me silently as I looked back at him.

"Being part wolf or not, if I were Aro I'd take her into the inner circle. She is very powerful and can be useful to those who seek to rule, I suppose if another coven knew of her they'd probably want to fight us as well-"

"The only thing with that theory is she is at this time uncontrollable."Carlisle said softly as he glanced at the door. "I don't think that even Jane or Alec could have any effect on her and I'm sure the girl would not readily agree to being a slave."

"Yes."

Carlise returned his tools to his bag, shaking his head slowly. "It's sad really. There isn't a place for her in the world. If her pack had only harnessed her gift instead of dismissing it, they could reestablish themselves as a species once more. But I guess her vampire blood deemed her as toxic to the pack."

"And we still have yet to know how she killed those other wolves."

"In time we shall learn, I just don't want to make her feel like a guinea pig." Carlisle said as I smiled.

"You have quite a lot of love for halflings don't you"? I muttered as he grinned.

"Considering my grand daughter is one. Yes". He rose to his feet and I did the same.

Together we walked out into the living room, Edward, Emmett and Bella sitting in the chairs talking quietly. I glanced up the stairs, Rosalie floating down them silently with Alice behind and Adura behind Alice.

Alice grinned as she dashed past Rosalie, running into my arms and kissing my neck lightly.

I looked over her head silently as Adura stopped at the bottom of the stairs, staring at everyone fearfully. Reneesme was curled up in her arms, her tiny hand against her cheek as she stared warmly at her parents. I could sense Jacob's anxiety as he poked his head out the door, staring at Adura strongly. I suppose having his soul mate in the arms of a volatile halfling didn't sit well with him.

I shook my thoughts away, looking down at Alice as she leaned against my chest. I could understand his aversion toward Adura- at least when it came to Reneesme- I'd feel the same.

"Jaz". Alice sang bringing my attention back to her. "Remember what you said about my Porche"? She grinned as I smiled down at her.

Alice. "All right". I whispered taking her hand and dashing out the door to the garage. I was always up to some alone time with her, and who was I to deny her?