9. Journey to Jasper


During the few months of my new existence I had learned many things about myself.

One, I never slept. After several days of trying to fall into the bliss that is sleep, I realized it was never going to happen. It was very odd to have a bed, yet never sleep in it. But, just like it was an old habit I didn't remember, I would cuddle up on the bed from time to time to try and relax myself in some sort of suspended animation.

Two, I was pretty sure I was psychic. This was one of the weirdest sensations I felt these days. As alone as I was, and as quiet as things seemed to be around me and the cabin I still stayed in, I was constantly bombarded with images from several creatures like me. My favorite to watch was Jasper.

Jasper had golden blonde hair and a sturdy figure. Usually his eyes were deep pools of thirst and frustration. This I could understand because I too had issues with, well, to put it bluntly, eating humans. Most of the time I just imagined myself in his embrace. Sometimes I thought about it so much that something inside me ached with the prospect.

After my most recent vision, I decided I was going to find Jasper. I was considerably worried about leaving the comfort of my acquired cabin, but it was time for me to help this young man. Because, on top of everything else I had learned about myself, I could and do hunt animals – not people. He seemed too lost, and all I wanted to do was show him a life with me and the opportunity to hunt with me.

Hunting. It was another one of those things I learned about myself. Every time I was about to explode with thirst suddenly there was a vision showing me how I could quench it. After giving my head a few shakes and some slaps across the face, I finally decided my mind was telling me there was another way.

Actually, the first time trying to catch an animal would have been comical to any witnesses. I guess it was because I decided to skip the less tempting deer and go for the big prey. I first happened upon a bear. Okay, it wasn't just a bear, it was bears. As in three. They were three times my height and had brown fur that moved fluidly with each step they took. It was not as easy to see where to bite on one of these creatures. In fact, I was more worried about swallowing their fur, which absolutely disgusted me. To top it off, my visions continued to bombard me with different scenarios. And during my 'vision time' one had come up to me to find out if I was a tasty treat. I must not have been agreeable to him because he was about to turn away when my vision finally came back to me. One moment there wasn't a bear in front of me, and the next thing I see is the large furry creature only inches from my face. At that moment, I still didn't know what my strength was, or that I could bring down full sized bears so my first reaction was to scream.

The bear screamed back, his growl was much more menacing than my soprano chime. I clamped my hand over my mouth to stop the sound and then there were two more bears surrounding me. All I remember thinking was, this isn't good. Next thing I knew something was tickling me from behind and then the hot air of the summer was more pronounced on my back. When I whirled around to see what had caused the strange sensation it was the bears claw which was coming at me again. I ducked and realized that my skin was practically impenetrable against these large beasts.

I punched one of the bears and he fell down onto the rocks with a large crash while I actually tripped – literally tripped – the other bear. It was hard not to laugh at the sight of this large beast being taken down by someone barely over five feet tall. My giggle seemed to only enrage the last one standing and my thirst finally took over and the creature's warm blood was rushing down my throat in an intoxicating way because it had been several weeks since I had fed upon that fisherman.

Coming back to the present, I was rummaging through the cabin. During my many months stay here I had tried to make myself a home. Daily I would find wild flowers to put in the vases and cleaning became another daily regiment. The only thing disagreeable to me was the lack of style and flare, not including my own ragged clothes. They were so torn and dirty from my many hunting trips and my nightly strolls through the woods that I wasn't certain how I was going to convince Jasper that my life style was better.

There was one thing that my vision did show me that I could use to my advantage. The thing was, I didn't know if I wanted to wait that long. After several trips to the city during the evenings when humans were asleep in their beds, I had come to acquire several news papers and a calendar. It was May 1921. The thing I learned through my trips was that people made money in something called the stock market. It seemed promising, besides the crash of it that will happen in 1929. After reading about trading, selling and buying of these stocks, I decided this was my opportunity to gain money for my journey to find Jasper.

Today would be the first day I interact with humans. During the evening I had hunted several deer and even a fox. My eyes were golden and my thirst abated for now. I knew that my clothes and the fact I'm a girl wasn't going to get me very far in this business, so today I was going to find my 'go to' guy. From my most recent vision this was going to be a lot more fun than anything I have done to date.

Excitement rolled off of me in huge waves as I flitted around the cabin. Flowers were in the vases, the place was sparkly and clean, my hair was impossible, and my clothes…well, they covered me up. Let's just not think about the clothes for now. Now all that was left was locking the place up before I left.

It took me almost a whole day, but I ran as fast as I could towards the north. Mississippi just didn't have the access to the stock market like New York City did. And this worried me even more. It wasn't like a small town of people; this was going to be a huge city with millions of people.

The city was bustling when I finally emerged on the edge of town. I could hear some carts moving with horses padding their way through the streets along with horns blaring and engines roaring to life as people drove their new fancy cars through the streets of New York City. Deciding I didn't want to venture out towards town yet, the out skirts seemed to be the place for me.

First, I needed money. The quickest way to acquire it was to steal. Though I felt bad about it, I knew that I would pay them back with interest once I earned enough money. Breaking into house after house and finding their money was easy once you added my psychic ability. I found that if I looked to the future I could see where I found the money and make my search only last seconds, instead of hours.

Second, it was time to find my 'go to' guy. This was easier than I realized. Only a few blocks away from where I was, was a man who was weeping at losing his job. Perfect, I thought as I ran towards his house. He was alone, and where his wife and children where, I had no idea.

I knocked with two successive rapts on the door. The door slowly opened to show a tall man, roughly thirty with long brown hair and a need to shave. As if my breath was knocked out of me his scent hit my nose and about toppled me backwards. It was…delicious. Mouthwatering. The most delectable thing I had ever had the pleasure of breathing in. The man could see the hunger in my eyes and backed away.

I grabbed the door frame to balance myself, to try and swallow any thirst that wanted me to just suck his blood, literally. It cracked under my pressure and the man stumbled backwards and began to fall. It was almost as if sense was knocked into me. I flung the door open and caught him with ease before his head hit the small table beside the door.

"How…how…how did you – how did you do that?" the man stuttered.

His warmth was flooding into me and I knew I had to let go before my thirst came back to me. I let go and backed away quickly. Deciding to be polite now, instead of breaking the man's house further I reached out my hand.

"Hi. I'm Alice – " I paused trying to grapple for a last name. " – Cullen." I finished, deciding that the two men I constantly saw in my visions wouldn't mind me using their last name.

"Oh, hi. I'm Jebadiah Olsen," he stammered. "What can I do for you?" He gulped as he took in my appearance. "Now, I don't have any money. So if you're here to beg I can't help you. I have no job and a family to feed."

I just smiled at him. "Oh no, Mister Olsen. I'm here to help you."

His mouth slightly opened. "Uh," he shut his mouth with a snap.

It was hard not to giggle at his lack of words. Instead, I handed him a large wad of cash.

"What's this for?" he stammered.

"You now have a job. I will pay you far more than your other job and all you have to do is what I ask of you," I explained vaguely.

He didn't seem to mind the lack of information after counting up the bills I had shoved in his palm.

"Okay?" he asked curiously.

"First, I need clothes for obvious reasons. Please go out and find me the most fashionable thing out there," emphases on the word fashionable. "I am not comfortable in crowds, especially humans." His face made several different expressions as he grasped the concept of me being some sort of supernatural being. He was only lucky it wasn't sunny today. I could only imagine the rainbows dancing off my body. Surely, that would frighten him.

"Oh course, my lady. I'm sorry. I mean Misses Cullen," he stammered. Did all humans have a hard time talking, or was it just this man?

"And I'm going to need a house," I continued as if there was no pause.

He gaped at me.

"Now, don't worry," I said soothingly. "I will find myself a house. All I need you to do is buy it for me with my money. Remember, if you help me – and don't tell anyone about our arrangement – you will be wealthy and be able to support your family." I explained happily.

An extremely cheesy grinned appear across his face. "Yes'um." He nodded.

"Okay, please hurry back while I acquire more money for my house. Then, we need to talk stocks," I waved him away.

He didn't move for several minutes as he tried to understand how he got so lucky…or maybe he was just worried I was a curse that fell upon his doorstep. Perhaps I was the devil in disguise. Regardless of what he was thinking, he ran off towards the bustling city. Humans seemed to be incredibly…interesting, I decided.

And off I went to find me a house to settle into for eight years. Of course, I'd sell my house before the stock market crashes. Looks like the future for the humans isn't so bright after all…


Author's Note: If you are wondering what I am up to, please check out my profile. There I will tell what my current project is for fan fiction. Thank you to all of my loyal followers. I have been out of town for more than a week so that is why there was a delay. Now things seem to be back on track.


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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. Lolafalana is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.