Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, or anything to do with it, however the OC's are all my own. The concept of Jasper being the 'God of War' is something that I've read in a few fics, but I don't know where it originates, so I'm sorry for not giving credit where credit's due! Plus, I have no idea what Louisiana, or Wisconsin are like - I'm from England, so please, forgive any mistakes. Have a great day, and I love you guys!
Camilla POV
September 2020
Madison, Wisconsin
It's only half an hour. Its only half an hour. Its okay. Just breathe through it, you'll be fine, was literally the only through being dragged through my mind at breakneck speed. My chest was tightening, and idly, I wondered if I was having a panic attack or something. I noted that my brother was watching me out of the corner of his eye, even though he was enjoying his time with his new 'friends' I suppose.
It was strange because Alice and him were so comfortable around one another - they had to have met before this, hadn't they? I mean, he had French before this, so maybe they were in that class together. I don't know why but that thought didn't bug me as much as I was sure it was supposed to.
Awkwardly, I shuffled behind Alice, the ever-fuckin'-glowin' starlight of content emotion, was like listening to a cracked-out toddler; she just didn't stop speaking. I had long gone past the point where I was paying actual attention to what she was saying, and simply smiled along with her one-sided conversation.
Frankly, I was too busy trying to slow my pounding heart rate, and hopefully stop my stomach from collapsing in on itself.
Fun times.
"Here," she tugged me along, "sit next to me," and I felt piercing gazes fixate on my face. The one who I guessed was Peter asked, bemused, "Alice.. What's goin' on, sugar?"
My eyes widened at his distinctly Texan accent, and felt my mouth twitch into a grin. She shrugged, minutely, and I felt my stomach flutter lightly, at the gesture. The entire family paused for a moment, before apparently accepting my presence, and their conversations flowed as usual.
Truthfully, I felt as though I was being held at arms length, if their behaviour said anything. I was purposefully not looking in Jasper's direction, I felt a little uncomfortable with being so close to him - it was strange to say the least. His entire aura was practically exuding power and dominance, I didn't like how intrusive it felt to have him so close. It was a fuckin' weird feeling to experience to say the least, and I didn't really like it.
Silently, I slid into the chair, the furthest away from the rest of the other Cullens, and promptly glared at the table, trailing the small details in the sheen, metallic surface of the table, trying to be as small in size and take up the least amount of space as possible.
-0-
Alice POV
They say the first time you look into the eyes of your destined mate, the world around you stops moving, just for a moment, as you take in their entire aura. Those blessed few seconds of peace, of calm before the storm, or the onslaught of possessive, aggressive emotions that swarm your system, were the relief. The pressure that had built in your chest, the tightness over not quite being whole is paved over, and you feel perfect.
Physically, we vampires are literal perfection.
We embody the very essence of power, speed and flawlessness. We are Gods in our own rights, but in that moment, when I looked into his hazel green eyes on that dreary Monday afternoon, I knew what perfection truly was. He was everything I wasn't.
He was tall, strong, physically and mentally, he smelt divine, his blood and his skin tantalising and addicting in their own special way. He radiated authority and reliability, and all I wanted to do was climb him like a fucking tree, but I couldn't. I had to use every molecule, every fibre of control that I had accumulated over the last 100 years of my vampiric life to stay perched in my seat. I needed to stay still; I couldn't breathe, I couldn't shift, I couldn't even blink otherwise I would lose it, and I would make him mine. That entire class might have been the hardest hour and a half of my entire life, and I felt like I would explode with unresolved tension that had settled in my very bones.
It didn't make it any better that he was an absolute panty-dropper either. He smiled, his dimples deep and perched perfectly in his cheeks, and I could see the lust explode on the faces of the girls around us. Even the teacher was affected by it, and I had to question whether or not he was a supernatural creature, however that thought was put to bed quickly after I could hear his heart pumping in his chest.
For once, I was glad for my vampiric appeal, otherwise I would have been frightened that he wouldn't have looked twice at me, because he just didn't seen interested in anyone of us. The girls, I mean. It was like we weren't even there. Usually guys are tripping over themselves to talk to us, but not him, He just sat there, like I wasn't good enough, and that thought hurt.
Oh God, it stung.
It was like someone had punched a gaping hole in my chest, and I fought against the urge to clench my hands over my still heart.
By the end of the class, I had given up any semblance of hope that he would be interested in me, and, without my usual vigour, I trudged out of the class, with a deep set frown engraved on my marble features. I was so enthralled with my thoughts that I didn't pay much attention to where I was going, and I bumped into someone.
The person in question yelped, quietly, and reached out to grab me, and steady my petite form, one hand on my waist and the other on my shoulder, and their touch burning through the thick sweater that was on my shoulders, and asked, worried, "Oh, sweet Jesus, are you okay, little lady?," his voice deep and innately sensual caused me to shiver, minutely, and I glanced upwards, and into those Goddamn hazel eyes, and I was done for.
Breathing out a smile, I squared my shoulders, and replied, "No, it's my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going," although he was already shaking his head.
"Don't be silly, I could'a knocked you to the floor, I should'a been payin' more attention," and he stiffened, realising that he was still holding my body, he released me immediately, and I found that I missed the affectionate sensation.
"I guess so.. But still, I was a little out of it. Hey.. You're the new kid, right? Clyde?," and even though the human eye wouldn't have been able to tell, I could smell the telltale scent of blood rushing to his cheeks, which told me he would have been blushing, had he not been grinning so widely.
He nodded, "Yep, that's me.. You're Alice, right? Yeah.. Pretty name for a pretty girl," and I knew that if I had been human, I would have been as red as a tomato.
I mumbled a small thanks, and he simply shrugged his shoulders, innocently. "Can I walk you to lunch? I mean I do owe you.. For almost knockin' you out an' all," and I had to physically stop myself from shouting out an eager 'FUCKING YES, TAKE ME ANYWHERE', and settled for a simple, "Sure, that'd be nice," and joined him on his little stroll to his sisters class.
On our way there, we were talking about a load of menial shit. About his old hometown, and I had to swallow the bile that welled in my throat when I had to lie to his face about my 'home life'.
"So you like drawin' then?," he asked, his eyes bright and interested, and I smiled, briefly, before admitting, "It's something that I do to.. I don't know, I guess, get away from everything," and he nodded, understandingly.
"Yeah.. My sister draws all the damn time, somethin' that I know nothin' about, honestly, but they're pretty, and she likes it, so I let her do her thang, while I do mine."
"So what's your sister like then?," I asked, wonderingly. His eyes flooded with affection before he answered, "She's.. she's the light of my life, if Imma be honest. She's the reason why I get up sometimes," and I felt a small niggling of jealousy tug at my heartstrings, just because he was taking about someone else in that way.
It was bullshit, but I couldn't help it. Before I could even reply, I felt my psyche give that familiar tug and I was thrown headfirst into a vision.
Really? Right now? Of all times?
Vision:
It was set somewhere cold, the snow falling precariously in the wind, brushing against my metaphorical face and catching in my short, spiky locks. 'I' turned my head to the left, slightly, to look over the scenic skyline of a mountain range; a beautiful location, for a beautiful setting. 'I' turned to the right, and there was the perfect man of my dreams - donning a plain black, obsidian tux, with a simple white tie with silver, almost invisible details along the border, and a pair of smart, Italian shoes. He looked beautiful. 'I' glanced down, and 'I' was in a wedding dress, completely with a long, charming-looking train, and a pair of comfortable nude court shoes.
A bouquet of twelve blood red roses were in my hands, wrapped in lace, and a little chiffon bow facing the group of the most important people in my life. Each rose represented one of them, and 'I' sniffed it, even though the scent permeated the air.
'I' heard someone begin playing the violin, a melodic rendition of the Wedding March, and 'I' smiled, to myself at Rosalie, who was playing the instrument, with a small smile on her face as she took in the scenery. It took me a moment to realise that both of the new addition to my family ,both of us having matching molten gold eyes, and the thought that the love of my life was a part of my world was enough to make my undead heart swell with pride.
-0-
Quickly, I was drawn back into the real world, and Clyde was standing in front of me, his hands clasped on my shoulders, and a worried gleam in his reddish-green eyes, and I blinked, vacantly, at him. He asked, "Hey, are you feelin' okay, 'cause you jus' blacked out there for a second," and his forehead crinkled, concern written all over his features.
I assured him, my emotions still thoroughly shaken, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine, just a little dizzy that's all. Come on, it's lunch," and I grasped his hand, without even thinking about it, and pulled him along to his sisters class.
After my vision, I had decided that if Clyde was going to join our family, in the hopefully near future, I would have to introduce him to the rest of us - not on a formal level, but just so they know who he is.
I knew that if I presented him, I would have to familiarize Camilla with the rest of the family. Although I'm pretty fucking sure Jazz knows about Camilla; if the way he was eye-fucking her said anything. I didn't know whether it was actually a 'mating' thing, but he's most definitely interested in her - I just didn't know whether this was a good thing, because of how.. Intense it can get with him.
When he feels strongly about something, there is no changing his mind.
He's obsessive, jealous, aggressive, protective and easily annoyed. I just hope that she could handle that kind of drama, because beneath all of that heartache, he was a truly wonderful person inside.
-0-
Okay, so I knew it was going to be awkward, but Jesus, they weren't even looking at her, let alone actually speaking to her. I could tell Bella wanted to, there were a few times where she opened her mouth to talk, but thought better of it, and went back to doing her own thing. I tried to quell her rising distress by starting up menial, random conversation. I began, with a sense of privacy, even though I knew the rest of my family would her us perfectly, "So what is it you do here, then? I mean, Clyde said you liked to draw, but.. Is there anything else you like doing?"
She inhaled, as if she didn't expect to hear me say anything to her, and bit her lip, drawing out a sharp low hiss from Jazz, and Peter reached over, inconspicuously, and grasped his forearm in his hand, and squeezed, minutely, Char doing the same on the other side of him, placating his mounting torment.
Answering me, in a quiet voice, she replied, "I-I guess. Well, I'm kind of boring, you know," her eyes flittering around, nervously, "I draw, I play some instruments when I get bored," she finished, derisorily, "I-I don't do much of anything," then added, "What about you?"
I had to physically bite down on my tongue to stop myself from torpedoing through my every pastime, and chose to be simple, calm and responded, openly, "I'm into fashion - I take it as a course here, it's more of a hobby than an actual career, but I guess I'm good at it. I like cars, but they're really Rose's kind of thing, I suppose," and she bristled at the mention of her name out of the corner of my eye - she really didn't like being around humans, let alone actually let them be within her peripherals.
It's an obtuse, haughty complex, but c'est la vie, its her way of living, it always had been, and I've gotten used to it.
"That's nice.. Fashion isn't my.. Strongest suit, as you can tell. I'm more of a t-shirt and jeans kinda girl, you see," and she shrugged, with an endearing smile on her face, showing that she was growing more and more comfortable with being around me, and by default, the rest of my frosty family.
Edward grinned at my fleeting thought, and I rolled my eyes, with mirth in my expression. This continued on for about 15 minutes, the odd question here, a comfortable blasé statement there and by the time the bell rang, telling us lunch was over, she was secretively grinning to herself, an air of serenity about her as she, her brother, and three of the 'senior' members of my family walked over towards their AP History class.
Before I could even blink, I was thrust into another vision, this one leaving me far more uncomfortable and cold inside that quashed the warm, fuzzy feeling that the last had left me with. It was dark - so dark that even I couldn't see, what with my advanced sight. I couldn't quite 'see' anything, nor could I really 'hear' anything, which was making me more uneasy, without the acidic thing crawling through my body, setting my veins alight as they trudged through.
I felt my stomach heave, and my throat was scratchy, the familiar sandpaper-esque feeling overwhelmed me, and I could tell that I was hungry. The door, I guess, was opened, a voice wafted through, condescendingly, "My my.. Here you are, my sweet, enjoy," and the worst thing I could ever imagine was hefted into the room.
A human child.
No older than 6, the little boy, with damp curly brown hair, and bright, frightened, wet eyes, tear-stricken, flushed cheeks, was thrown onto his front, skidding closer towards me and my throat constricted painfully. He coughed, and I held my breath immediately, praying that whomsoever had captured me would let me go soon, before I did something that I would regret.
"Hab' you seen my mommy," he asked, his lower lip shaking with fear and anguish, and I couldn't even find it in me to answer him. His heartbroken gaze was too much for me to bear, and I glanced away, only for the voice to filter in through speakers, once more. "Feed.. You're only making it worse for yourself," the voice itself wasn't familiar, but I could tell that whoever it was had done this before. They were too clean-cut at this - they were professionals, maybe the Volturi, maybe someone else. I don't know. Before I could even think about it anymore, the little boy hissed, and glanced at his hands, which were, if only a little, bleeding, the liquid congealing at the top of his wound, and I couldn't stop myself.
It was over within seconds, he didn't feel a thing, at least I hoped he hadn't, however I could remember it all. I remembered every moment of my onslaught - the taste of his blood on my lips, the gargled cry on his own, and those eyes.
Fearful, frightened, betrayed eyes that shone, glassily, in front of my shaking, quaking form. The tears that would never escape my eyes blurred my vision, and before I knew it, I was being sucked back into the real world. I was back home, in my own body, and not there - wherever there was, and I knew I needed to feed, my thirst nearly tripling in the time it had taken for my vision to end.
I chose against attending my final class, hoping against hope that I wouldn't meet any unsuspecting humans on my way through the valley. If I did, I wouldn't know what I would do, but I knew it wouldn't be pretty.
Hell, I might be small, but still, that didn't make me any less dangerous that anyone else in my family.