Virgin Blood

Chapter 20

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Jasper dashed into her room without a second thought. Alice was in bed, screaming and moaning into the night, obviously having a nightmare.

Jasper rushed to her, shoving his candle on the bedside table. "Shh, Alice," he said shaking her by the shoulders. Alice came awake instantly and stared at him with wide, frightened eyes, thrashing her arms out at him a little, trapped in the last few dredges of her fear.

"It was just a dream," Jasper comforted her.

Alice slowly came back to reality. She was in bed, the man holding her was just Jasper. She relaxed.

"Oh hi," she smiled at him.

Jasper stared at this petite girl, amazed. She was greeting him like she was sitting down to tea with him instead of just having woken up after a thrashing nightmare.

"Are you alright?" he asked just to be sure.

"Yes, yes. It was just a dream. Was I screaming?" Alice asked as though she was worried she might have upset him by being too loud.

"Yes." Jasper realized that he was still holding her tightly by the shoulders and abruptly let her go.

Jasper looked a little closer at her. Despite her words, she was still breathing heavily and she had a haunted look in her eye. Before he could second guess what he was doing, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"It's alright, Alice," he said in a soothing voice.

"I know," she said defiantly, but still melted into his arms, taking comfort from him.

They sat there for a long time, neither of them breaking the spell. Finally Jasper spoke, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Alice sighed and pulled out of his arms, "Not really."

"That is a change."

Alice smiled and hit him playfully on the shoulder, feeling better that he was there.

"Did it have anything to do with how you came to be here?" Jasper asked hesitantly, remembering the rope marks on her wrists and stomachs, how she had passed out, her torn dress.

"Yes," Alice took a deep breath and then confessed quickly, "They said I was a witch, you know. They were going to hang me," she said the last part quietly.

Jasper scowled at her words but didn't speak. Hang her? This innocent little creature?

"Instead they decided to leave me for the vampire. I thought they were crazy, that vampires don't really exist...but then there's Edward of course."

Jasper's eyes snapped up to Alice's in shock.

"What?" he asked, dumbfounded.

Alice looked at him like he was stupid. "Well, it was sort of obvious."

"Did Bella tell you?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "No. I figured it out. Edward only comes out at night, and he just doesn't quite seem human, you know? That voice. . . and his eyes. I might not have figured it out if it wasn't for the fact that I was actually left here for a vampire. It wasn't that far of a conclusion to leap to."

"But you didn't say anything."

Alice shrugged. "Neither did you."

There was a long moment of silence which was unsurprisingly broken by Alice. "Can I ask you a question?" Alice hedged.

Jasper nodded. Normally he would be annoyed with questions, but Alice had surprisingly asked so little in the weeks she had been here that Jasper was actually relieved to hear her say that. It wasn't normal for a person to be so incurious about what was going on in their own lives.

"Why didn't Edward drink mine or Bella's blood? Or yours even?"

"He has drunk Bella's blood. And he's made a snack of me once or twice."

Alice looked surprised by this. "But you seem fine."

Jasper laughed. "Well, he didn't drink all of it."

Alice thought for a moment. "Edward seems like a gentleman. You don't hear many stories about gentleman vampires."

"He certainly the kindest vampire I've ever met."

"Have you met others?" Alice peered at him inquisitively.

"Unfortunately."

And Alice didn't ask anymore about it because the one word made it clear that that was all Jasper was going to say on the matter.

"Why did they think you were a witch?" Jasper asked after a moment.

"They hated me, I think. My mother and father never married. He was the mayor of the town and had a wife and children and she had no money or family to speak of. When she got pregnant, he threatened her not to tell anyone that I was his, but when she did, he denied it. His wife called her a liar and a whore and practically drove her out of town. We lived in seclusion mostly. But then she died earlier this year.

'It wasn't a bad life, but I guess I always resented it a little bit. I didn't have anyone to play with growing up, and when she was gone I was even more lonely. I thought I could win everyone over, make them see that I wasn't so bad. I made a small living catching fish. No one would buy from me directly, so I had to sell them all to Old Sly, who then took them to market. I even made a few friends. There was Old Sly, and Sally-she's this crazy old widow who cooked me dinner sometimes with the fish I brought her."

Alice looked up at Jasper here, as though asking for him for his approval. Jasper nodded at her to continue.

"But then one day I was fishing when I saw three little boys playing by the water. They were about six or seven. It all happened so suddenly. I saw one slip on the rocks and hit his head, fall in the water. The others ran off screaming for help and I jumped in to swim to him. I was too far away, though. He had already drowned by the time I got there. When I pulled him out, I recognized him as one of the Hower boys, the seventh son out of seven. The mother accused me of drowning him."

Alice came to a stop and Jasper didn't know what to say. She had been through a lot in her young life, but you would never guess with the way she was so chipper and trusting. It wasn't fair how those people could be so cruel to her.

"Is that what your dream was about?"

Alice nodded. "I see his face, the little boy's. I keep thinking that if I was only faster I could have saved him. Or I should have stopped them from playing near the water as soon as I saw it."

"Alice, look at me," Jasper said seriously, guessing that no one had told her this: "It wasn't your fault."

He studied her face to see if she believed him, but the look of guilt didn't really leave. He didn't know what else to say to convince her. Jasper wasn't really good in these sorts of situations. He sighed.

"I should let you get some sleep," he said, standing up to leave the room.

He was by the door when she spoke again. "Jasper, what's going to happen?"

Jasper turned around, surprised by the amount of vulnerability in her voice. Usually she spoke with the confidence and force of someone twice her size.

"We're not going to hurt you, Alice," Jasper tried to reassure her.

"I don't have anywhere to go when I leave here."

Jasper stared down at her, and abruptly made a decision. "You are free to go whenever you want to, but your also welcome to stay as long as you like." Perhaps it wasn't a wise thing to promise without Edward's permission, but Jasper knew right then that he would do everything in his power to keep it.

He turned and closed the door, making his way back to his room. It must be around one or two in the morning, but his conversation with Alice did nothing to help calm his nerves. If anything, he was feeling even more restless and wired.

"Jasper," he turned around to see Alice running down the hall in her dressing gown and slippers.

"What is it?" he asked, thinking something was wrong.

She stopped in front of him. "I don't think I could fall asleep tonight again if I tried," she said with a cute little half smile.

Jasper stared at her a moment. "Come with me," he said, before leading her down to the cellar. He was relieved not to run into Edward and Bella, not wanting to interrupt their private time and have to face Edward's anger later.

Edward kept a healthy supply of alcohol, and the good stuff too. Though he couldn't drink the himself, Edward said it made the blood taste different in humans. Jasper thought it must get boring for him, eating the same thing every day.

Jasper grabbed three bottles of wine, the sweetest kinds they had, assuming Alice would like that best. She giggled when she saw that and Jasper led her back up to his suite.

"There are some glasses in that cabinet over there," he nodded to Alice, who went and retrieved the heavy, ornate wine glasses, wiping the dust off them with the sleeve of her gown, while Jasper opened all three bottles of wine.

"We have a vintage rose from the Loire Valley-delicate and subtle; a rich, sweet burgundy considered the height of decadence; and a pomegranate wine imported from Persia. What shall Madame try first?" Jasper asked, gesturing to each bottle.

Alice giggled. "What is pomegranate?"

"Would Madame like to taste for herself?"

Alice held out her glass by way of an answer and Jasper poured a little in.

"Mmm, that's good!" Alice took another sip.

"My lady has a taste for the exotic," Jasper said, pouring some for himself and drinking it back quickly.

By the time Alice had taken healthy samples of the other two wines, she was giggling even more than usual. Alice poured herself a full glass, taking a gulp.

"You might want to slow down there a little," Jasper laughed. Being only half his size, Alice was getting drunk twice as fast as he was. It was funny to watch her, but he didn't want her to black out or anything. He assumed she wasn't used to drinking so much.

"You slow down!" Alice laughed gleefully, making Jasper laugh himself.

Jasper's inhibitions were loosening up and he was feeling a nice buzz by the time the eager Alice was slurring her words heavily. They had made their way onto the floor and were lounging back against upholstered chairs that were arranged there.

Having abandoned her glass, Alice took a swig out of the bottle of rose. "That's enough for now," Jasper took the bottle out her hand, taking a drink out of it himself.

"You silly," Alice slapped his arm before suddenly climbing into his lap.

"You're silly," he laughed back at her, secretly enjoying the feeling of having her warm body close to his.

Alice threw her arms around his neck, squeezing him tight.

"Are you trying to choke me?" Jasper gasped out.

Alice giggle and pulled away, holding her arms loosely around his neck.

"Noo," she said, "Imma trying to kiss you."

"Kiss me?" but Jasper could barely get the words out before Alice smashed her wet little mouth against his.

Jasper pulled back in surprise before he could even allow himself to enjoy the sensation.

Alice jerked herself out of his lap in the next second, landing on her butt in front of him, scrambling to get her legs out of his lap. "Are you okay?" Jasper asked stupidly, not knowing what else to say.

Alice stared at him with wide eyes, before looking down. "I'msorry. I knoo I'm notch predy."

To Jasper Alice wasn't making any sense. She knows she's not pretty? What does that even mean?

"Alice, you're beautiful."

"Yoursh justsayin that."

"You are," Jasper said emphatically, wondering if this was the right approach but too drunk to be anything but honest.

"Thenn why dontch you wann kissame?"

"You're drunk."

"Not thaaat drunk," Alice said, punching him in the shoulder. Drinking made her violent, he realized, but didn't really mind since she didn't hit him hard enough to actually hurt. "Imm notch predy. Im too skinny and my breasts aretoo smaall." Alice said, cupping her chest when she said this. "Yoo cann askanyoon."

"I don't have to ask anyone. I'm a man and I can see for myself and I happen to like your breasts."

"Myhipps are skinny. Menns dontch likethatt and mhair iss tooshort. I'm not predy like Bella."

"I like your hips," Jasper insisted, horrified to realize that just talking about her breasts and hips was getting him turned on.

It was true that when he had first found Alice, he thought she was too skinny like a girl and her figure was nothing special, but now, for some reason that had changed. Why had that changed?

"I like your hair, too," Jasper said, reaching out to stroke it as he spoke.

Alice grabbed his hand and placed it on her breast over her nightgown and dressing gown. Jasper could just feel the slight curve of it. He had seen her naked, even held her naked body pressed against his, but this simple and innocent act by comparison was getting him hard.

"God Alice," he groaned out.

"Willyou kish me?" Alice looked up at him with her sweet, innocent little face, absolutely no artifice behind her words, shy and bold at the same time.

Jasper cupped her face in his palm, and pressed an undemanding and gentle kiss onto her expectant mouth. Alice wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her tongue eagerly to his mouth, deepening the kiss.

Jasper had to pull away before it came too much for him to handle. He ran his hands up and down her sides. Alice snuggled her face into the crook of his neck and stopped moving.

Jasper suddenly felt tired as well, leaning his head back against the chair and closing his eyes. How nice it would be just to roll over and go to sleep. He scooted himself and Alice over so that they were both laying out on the floor. He was on his back and he pulled Alice in so she was snuggled up against his side, closing his eyes.

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Thanks so much for the reviews and I hope you enjoyed this chapter:) Several reviews hoped to see Edward and Bella to get back together soon. I haven't really decided what I want to do with them yet. Edward's been being quite the gentleman, but I think he might slip up and fall into his old overbearing ways.