Hey everybody!
So just a few things about this chapter and things in general.
I started reading Twilight guy's reviews on the book. He's basically just a college guy venturing into the world that teenage girls have been crazed over. If you haven't read them, go. Go do it now! (Well, you can read the chapter first. :D ) It's pretty simple, just go to w w w . twilight guy . com (without spaces) then go to "Twilight" and look at his chapter by chapter reviews! He's funny and has some very good observations about the book.
Also, did you hear that they're considering Dakota Fanning for the part of Jane in the New moon movie?? Give me some feedback, I'd like to know your opinion. I didn't picture Jane so young, but if that's supposed to be her age than I can easily imagine Dakota being a magnificent Jane. I can easily see her as an evil sadistic vampire with some seriously torturous jedi mind tricks. Her brother Alec is supposed to look just like her. What actor would you pick for her twin brother, Alec?
You may have also heard: Is it a rumor that Ben Barnes is being considered for the part of Aro? I just can't imagine it... He doesn't seem like a sadistic, power-hungry vampire lord to me. Tell me what you think.
Also! If you haven't looked at my profile before, check it out because I have a picture of Jasper and Alice's meadow there. It's a day-time picture, but it's what I imagined for their special place.
Enjoy the chapter! Tell me what you think about the New Moon cast, I'd love to know. Who do you think should be cast for each New Moon character (other than those already casted in Twilight. They still need to cast the rest of the wolf pack, Emily, and the entire Volturi guard.)
-TG
Alice POV
I began to hear the sounds of fighting coming from the field, which wasn't surprising. All the army did was fight and practice fighting, so these sounds were inevitable. But this sound was different—It wasn't the feral snapping of jaws as the newborns lunged at each other. In fact, there wasn't much sound to be heard. There was an eerie silence settling over the field, like a cloud of tension and anticipation. I halted where I was, not daring to close the small distance between the field and me. I listened carefully, recognizing only one sound at first: a high-pitched snarling growl sounding from what could only be Maria. If the sound had come from anyone else I wouldn't have worried nearly as much, but Maria was almost always sickeningly calm. I'd seen her come close to attacking me, but even then she didn't raise her voice or growl or snarl or do anything that would hint at hostility. So it was understandable that I was nervous.
I listened, straining to hear some other sound that would give me a hint as to who this growl was directed at. I knew deep in my gut who it was, but I yearned for something that would prove me wrong. As I heard the wind change and the growl increase in volume I realize she had attacked someone. And as I heard a different snarl, I realized with dread whom she had attacked. This growl was a deep rumbling that I could feel in my chest. It made me shiver with fear as I heard the sound come from my Jasper.
This time, I didn't hold back as I ran. I circled the perimeter of the field, looking through the gaps in the trees for him. I was running so fast that I was almost hovering above the ground. I used my immaculate strength to launch me in the air every time I took a step. I was still remembering to be quiet, and I doubted that anyone would notice me while that was going on in front of them.
I looked on, watching Maria and Jasper battle in the middle of the field. Neither of them had made contact with the other, but I could see Jasper's lunges came threateningly closer each time. This brought only minimal relief to me as I watched, for the battle could turn unexpectedly at any moment. Now Maria's back was turned to me, and Jasper faced me head on. I slowed considerably, scrutinizing his face for any hint of pain or harm. He was so close to reaching Maria, the suspense was tearing me apart. I wanted Maria gone. How dare she attack my Jasper. I longed to step in, to punish her for even thinking about harming him. I closed the little distance between me and the field slowly, only running at normal speed. The two turned so Jasper was facing me again.
I was dangerously close to the scene; so close, in fact, that for a split second of complete horror Jasper looked up and it seemed like he met my gaze. This was the turn for the worse – the worse that I'd been expecting and dreading. For in that moment where Jasper noticed me, Maria took the advantage and tackled him against the ground. Before I could blink, her teeth were at his neck. I wanted to close my eyes to avoid watching him be torn apart, but I couldn't avert my gaze. My eyes were wide with panic and fear. If she killed him, it would be completely my fault. In less than a half second I imagined my existence without him: Dark guilt would consume me as I lived alone. Everything I'd traded in for this life- my mortality, my humanity, my life, my sister and best friend, my Bella –would be beyond my reach. The one thing that I'd subconsciously walked to my death for would be gone. Everything I existed for, everything I had sacrificed for would be gone. And in that half second of thought, I felt like I would heave if I could.
Without thinking about it for more than one hundredth of a second, I ran towards a tall tree, jumping into it's branches and propelling myself to the top. When I could see the scene better, my emotions changed. I was watching Jasper's face as his eyes strained past Maria's face, and he focused on the area where he had seen me, when I noticed Maria's position. She was straddling my boyfriend, and she had her lips- not her teeth –millimeters from my Jasper's neck. With grudging realization I thought, Oh, no she didn't! I didn't know what kind of sick, dominatrix move she was pulling on my man but it took all my energy not to launch myself at her neck and pull her head off… And all of her other limbs… And burn each individual piece… Slowly.
I kept observing, watching as Jasper's face lit up with something I couldn't exactly place. Finally, Maria lifted her head (but she still didn't get off my man) and spoke, "My, My, Jasper. It seems you have lost your touch..." I gripped the branch below me, and- though it was at least a foot in circumference- it threatened to snap in my hold. It did little to placate the feeling that I needed to go down there and protect him, even if he didn't need protecting.
After a second, he put his face to the side with a defeated look that practically ripped my heart out. Even though I knew Maria's intent wasn't to harm Jasper, but to seduce him in some sick way that I couldn't comprehend; it killed me to see him so defeated. Could he really not see that she was just trying to get to him? Now that I was "gone," she had no competition. She was taking her chance, even though her chance didn't actually exist. I was still here, closer than she knew… close enough to attack her right now. It took a lot of will power to convince myself that I wouldn't risk it, even though I wanted to so badly.
I soon realized that the defeated look was just a ruse. Something in me rejoiced as I saw Jasper throw Maria away from him in disgust. He held her by the neck as he spoke, "I've only lost a few things before; One of them is my humanity, and with it, my mortality and weakness. The other is the girl I love." My heart lurched at his words, for I could feel the genuine sadness there. Did he think he was going to lose me? "Yes, those I have lost, but one thing I have definitely not lost is my touch. You would do well to remember that." To my chagrin, he released her. If I had her in my clutches like that, there would be nothing to stand in my way of ripping her apart.
"The only reason you're here anymore, Jasper, is because you can fight. I am the leader, not you, and if you even think about stepping out of line once more than I will happily 'forget' to hold back next time." Her voice was loud, and her normal level of calm was off.
I didn't pay much attention to Maria, for Jasper was crouched on the ground with a hand against the earth. I didn't quite know what he was doing, but it didn't matter. I heard him mutter, "Who said I'd let you kill me, Maria?" and watched him run into the trees directly below me. He kept running forward, even though he probably knew I was behind him. I began jumping from tree to tree at a pace just as fast as running. Soon enough I was next to him running in some unintelligible direction. Finally, after a long period of running he halted, but I kept jumping through the trees until I was circling around him, looking for the tree directly above him.
" Alice ..." I heard him say. "What are you doing here?" I laughed and climbed high into the tree above him, until I was a good distance away from the ground. He looked up to me and smiled. I couldn't help but feel relieved to see him unscathed. I felt overwhelmed by the fact that he was here in front of me. After seeing so much hostility centered at him, he seemed breakable now. Before it had seemed like he was invincible- my own personal superman.
Though my emotions were far from light, I wanted my words to sound like it. "You know, Jasper, normally I wouldn't condone my boyfriend hitting a girl..." I didn't finish the sentence. Instead, I jumped from the branch; absolutely certain he would catch me. I tumbled through the air, and the diminishing distance between us seemed far too long. Finally I was in his arms again, and something inside me breathed a sigh of relief when I was back where I belonged. Unable to help myself, I giggled and kissed him, smiling the whole time. I continued, "But for her, I think I can make an exception."
He laughed at my joke, but there was a hint of bitterness in it. "I think that's fair. Anyway, I would consider Maria more like 'Spawn of Hell' than 'girl'..." Jasper and I laughed, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, wanting to be as close as physically possible to him. I had my head against his shoulder when he pulled my face up with his hand, looking into my eyes. I would have given anything to have known what he was thinking when he saw my eyes; so subtly different from the bright red that you might think you were hallucinating if that were possible for a vampire. I smiled and waited patiently for him to ask the question.
"How?" Was all he asked. I stepped down from his arms, wanting to stand. He seemed as disappointed as I to be away from each other, but I wanted to appropriately see his reaction to what I was about to tell him.
"I have a confession." I said, with only a hint of regret in my voice. His eyes were pleading, wanting me to continue. I turned around, staring towards the trees as if I couldn't bare to look at his face. "For the past few weeks, I've been in pain. When you've asked me how I've been, I've lied to you. My throat has burned incessantly, my eyes were completely pitch black, I couldn't focus enough to even move, and my power was absolutely useless." I looked to his face to see the pain and hurt etched there. I could practically feel what he was feeling. His forehead was creased with confusion. He looked into my eyes, and I let him really feel my emotions. I dropped the barriers I'd been keeping up that had guarded me from letting my emotions show. There wasn't need for barriers anymore, because I wasn't going to lie to him anymore.
I let the joy from all my revelations radiate from me, and, like metal gravitating to some strange magnet, he was near me again, holding my face between his hands as he kissed the top of my head. "You are so strong, my Alice. I don't know how you've done it. You should have told me sooner, I could have helped you-" I shook my head and silenced him with a kiss.
I looked into his eyes and said with pure honesty, "Jasper, look at me... I'm okay." He searched my eyes for some inclination that there was truth in my words.
When he seemed satisfied with what he saw, he spoke again. "But how are you okay? I mean, did you...eat?" Before I could object, he continued rambling on at a pace that was hard for even me- a vampire- to follow. "Because if you did, I completely understand. You have nothing to be ashamed of and..." He kept speaking in a frantic tone, but I just smiled and shook my head. I touched my finger to his lips and they stopped vibrating automatically.
"Shh." I whispered. "I didn't hurt a human." He almost interrupted me again, but with one look from me, he quieted himself. I pulled back slightly, and he let me out of his arms with a frown. I wanted to be able to show him how okay I really was. I wanted to really explain in detail without him mesmerizing all the fervor out of me.
"I had a vision. It was so strange because I hadn't had an involuntary vision in weeks! Normally, I have visions frequently. And it would seem, since I have this new, amazing sight that my premonitions would only get clearer. Don't get me wrong -they were! My first vision as a vampire was like nothing I could describe to you. It was beyond mere sight; I could practically feel the coming future. It was absolutely incredible! But that all changed.
When all I could think about was the pain of starvation, I couldn't exactly focus enough to look into the future. But this particular vision was unique, because it involved people I'd never even met before. Never before have I had a vision that didn't involve someone I know or love- well, not that I can remember at least. These people were strange, beautiful vampires, unlike the ones I've seen here. They even looked different. They had golden eyes, and get this-" I paused for effect. Jasper furrowed his brow, anxious to solve this mystery. I smiled and spoke slowly, "They drank from animals."
I gave him time to comprehend what I was saying, even though his mind would have- no doubt - computed what this meant a few hundred milliseconds ago. It seemed like the crease on his forehead only deepened, and- on his beautiful, pale skin -it looked like folded marble, if that was possible.
He finally spoke, slow and deliberately, "So you tried it...?" The phrase ended in a question and I nodded with the biggest smile on my face, waiting for the cheering to begin. When the cheering never came, I frowned. Jasper had his face turned to the crowd, the crease still as deep as ever.
"Jazz... aren't you happy? I guess if you don't want to try it, I won't force you to at the moment..."
"No, that's not it. It's just so hard to take in. Over a century of thinking and being told that I'm a monster and nothing is going to change that, so I might as well accept it... It's just hard to comprehend that there's always been a way out, and I haven't even considered the possibility that-"
"Jasper! Stop kicking yourself over this! I had help, and I'm here for you now! That's all that matters now. I'm here for you. We can do this together! I don't have to live in seclusion anymore, and you don't have to endure this any longer! Now that we don't have to hurt anyone in the process of leaving, we can leave in peace!" The smile stretched across my face felt like it would never leave, and I wasn't disheartened that Jasper still looked puzzled.
Finally, his face smoothed, and he sobered from his thought process. "That's just it." The smile faded from my face as I heard the dead tone in his voice. "We'll be hurting people anyway, Alice. I didn't tell you in your...condition. Maria created four more newborns. She's declared war on the other coven. There set for battle in ten days time." This was what I'd been subconsciously waiting for; I had known instinctively that there was going to be a battle, all that I was waiting for was a date. I just hadn't realized it would be so soon. My cheery mood evaporated as I tried to think of something, anything that would fix this.
"We could still leave, right? I mean, we can't stay just stay here, but Maria wouldn't just let you leave, would she?" I sounded pleading, but I knew deep down that there wasn't hope left for us.
"I've seen someone try to leave before. Maria would send reinforcements to track us. We might be able to hold them off if we got a good enough head start, but even then, we'd be running non-stop. The trackers wouldn't cease until we were long gone. Having a newborn army isn't exactly an easy process; if our strategy gets out they could not only get the lower hand in a battle, but- in a battle as big as the imminent one- we could also have an intervention." His mouth was pressed into a hard line.
"An interven-?" I began to ask, but my voice cut off and my eyes widened. I took in the scene around me. Suddenly, there was so much going on around me. Ear-shattering screams pierced the air, and purple plumes of smoke and ash billowed in the air. I didn't know what was happening. There was fighting all around me, and I couldn't find Jasper any where. It had seemed like he was right in front of me just one second ago-
I saw Jasper's retreating and fighting figure. He was being overtaken by a much larger, shadowy vampire with blood-red eyes. As the formidable figure swiped at Jasper and caught his right shoulder with the steely nails of his hands, I wanted to scream in rage, but for some reason I couldn't move or make a sound. I could see other vampires being torn apart limb from limb, and I could hear the gut-wrenching sound of the unnatural flesh being ripped. It all sickened me, but I couldn't physically look away. I thought that this couldn't get worse, when I heard it; the only sound that could reach me through the chaos occurring in front of my eyes. It was a bone-chilling cry that could only have come from the person I loved- Jasper
