Forks. -
-You made this for me?- Alice asked as she stared at the flower crown Jasper was holding, showing it to her with the excitement of a child at Christmas on his face, he had been hiding something when she came to greet him.
She hadn't expected it to be this.
A flower crown made with yellow, red and orange roses.
With no thorns.
And she knew he must have taken the time to look for these himself considering these weren't wildflowers from here.
-Yes.- Jasper conceded, he had spent hours talking with a florist in France, about flowers and what it meant to give certain flowers to people.
The old man had given him more knowledge about flowers than Jasper ever thought possible.
Yellow roses were associated with spreading happiness and joy.
The vibrant orange ones represented fascination, excitement, admiration, enthusiasm, desire, and energy. Symbolize warmth, joy, and vitality.
And the red roses… those symbolized passion and strong emotions, making them a powerful symbol of love and affection.
All of which made him think of Alice, he could have given her a bouquet, but he had never been one to give flowers in the general fashion, flowers would eventually wilt and die, so why don't give them a beautiful use?
Thus.
He made use of the one skill Alice had given to him.
Making flower crowns.
He placed it on top of her head, grinning at the sight, just as expected, these colors suited her rather beautifully, with her dark hair and her golden eyes… He touched her face, caressing her cheek, this before pressing a kiss on her forehead, letting it linger for a moment before pulling back.
Her happiness tickling his skin.
-You're so cute, you know that?- Her sudden words made Jasper duck his head, before remembering he couldn't blush as a human would. Cute was definitely not a word he could ever find himself getting used to.
Alice used it a lot, and she would call him by it too at times, he was still not sure if he liked it or not.
Still.
Of one thing he was sure.
He leaned close to her, enough for their noses to bump, he bit back a smirk when he felt that like spark of nerves in her emotions, same spark that never failed to come to life whenever he got this close to her.
It had taken him a while to decipher the reason behind, he had deciphered it after catching her staring at his lips, it had been quite the thrilling discovery.
Still, back to matter at hand.
He touched her cheek, holding her gaze.
And then.
-You're cute.
The words came out before he could chicken out, and the flare in her emotions felt like a warm tsunami that almost swept him off his feet, he grinned, throwing his arms around her and pulling her into a hug, he loved holding her, it made the world feel right.
And it gave him a reason to be closer to her.
~
-Dance with me.- Alice's request caught Jasper off guard, she's been all over the place since earlier, and she's still wearing the flower crown he made for her.
-With no music?- He questions, frowning in confusion, she smiles at him as she comes to stand before him, her emotions tickling his skin.
-We don't need music, now, would the handsome gentleman like to dance with me?- She requests, offering her hand for him to take, he stares at it for a moment, he can feel her giddiness brushing against his skin, her excitement, hope.
Thus.
He takes her hand, letting her pull him up, he brings her hand up, kissing the back of it before meeting her gaze, if there is one thing he does remember crystal clear about his human life, that was dancing, and he remembers quite well how to do it.
-It would be my honor, to dance with such lovely lady.- He said, his accent weighing thick in the air as he gave her his most charming smile, he added a playful edge on it, with each passing day, he dared to let his guard down more and more.
Because he desired to be more than just quiet and awkward around her, for her to see more than just his broken side. He couldn't understand much of the reason considering he didn't even saw himself worthy enough of being in her presence.
But part of him craved for her to see that he could be more than just a broken demon with suicidal tendencies and a fractured mind.
He wanted her to see he could be better, to feel somewhat worthy of her time and affection.
He grinned when a smile broke across her face, oh to see that mesmerizing smile everyday, he pulls her close to him, his other hand coming to rest on the small of her back, they gaze into each other's eyes for a moment.
And then they begin a slow waltz, a slow waltz that turns into more senseless dancing, quicker, switching leads, their melody becoming the crashing of waves and the cawing seagulls, flapping wings and leaves rustling, foam sizzling.
Alice's laughter fills the air, like chiming bells that make Jasper's chest feel full and warm, he twirls her around, rejoicing in her bubbling happiness, joy, playfulness, she's not shy with her silly moves, her eyes twinkling with carefree amusement as she twirls him around, which is quite the amusing thing when he's much more taller and has to bend down for it.
But that doesn't stop her, the sun is bright above them, kissing her skin with diamonds and making her look all the more alluring, and with that flower crown on her head… she looks like a goddess, stealing his breath away.
She dances with such smoothness and elegance… all about her is mesmerizing, wonderful, and as he twirls her around one more time he finds himself bringing her back and dipping her, she stares at him, their faces just centimeters away.
He can feel that intense pull again, same pull he's been feeling for quite a while now, of wanting to end the distance between them, of giving in to his desires.
And giving in he does.
-May I kiss you?- He requests, his voice barely above a whisper, his father always said he should ask a lady if he could kiss her, no matter what she might make him think with her actions, always ask.
"Women don't like men who don't respect their boundaries Jasper."
He would say.
The jolt in Alice's emotions at the request is deafening, thrilling, it fills him with all kind of feelings.
And then she ends the distance between them, pressing their lips together in a soft kiss, and as he feels her soft lips pressing against his he feels as if nothing about the world could ever matter as much as this moment.
It sends pleasant shivers down his spine, making his hairs stand on end and giving him a fluttering feeling in the stomach, his chest, and he never knew kissing could feel so overwhelming.
Because this is the most wonderful feeling he's ever felt, it fills him with all kinds of unfamiliar yet exhilarating feelings.
Meanwhile, Alice feels like her chest is gonna burst, like her heart is about to start beating again and explode, because if hearing the request wasn't thrilling enough feeling Jasper's lips against hers as she ends the distance between them is certainly the most overwhelming thing she's ever felt.
She feels weightless, warm, like she was floating in the middle of all that was warm and wonderful about the world, his scent, his grip on her, the sand between her toes, the seagulls cawing, the waves crashing ashore, all of it feels heightened, like a picture plastering itself with each single detail into her brain.
It feels like an eternal bliss that lasts nothing but a fleeting moment before he's pulling back, their gazes meet for a moment, there's such an intense spark in his eyes it makes something swirl in her chest. He helps her back up, he seems a bit hesitant when she keeps quiet.
He looks like he wants to apologize despite the fact that Alice was the one who kissed him despite him having done the request.
And when he opens his mouth, definitely with an apology in mind.
Alice's method to shut him up is pulling him down for another kiss, this time deeper, and she thinks she might never get tired of this feeling, much less when Jasper kisses her back with the same intensity.
Jasper who feels a jolt in his chest due the unexpected kiss, and he pulls her closer to him, relinquishing this moment.
He wants this moment to last forever, to feel her soft lips against his, her obliterating love drapping over him like the coziest and warmest hug on Earth, her fingers gripping his shoulders.
And when the kiss broke he didn't bother to pull back, their foreheads resting against each other's, lips brushing for a fleeting moment, he cupped her cheeks, giving her an Eskimo kiss for good measure.
Her eyes were sparkling in a way he's never seen before, a smile on her face, and he can't blame her, for he's also got a smile on his face, refusing to leave, because God, he felt so happy right now, more happy than he's felt in a long, long time.
He didn't even knew anyone could feel this kind of happiness. The idea that this beautiful golden angel so full of kindness and gentleness loved him.
Him.
It was as surreal as it was exhilarating.
He gave her a peck, and another, peppering her face in kisses, neck, getting Alice's twinkling laughter to fill the air as he did, he felt like his chest would explode with happiness. Such thrilling and unfamiliar feeling he wanted to feel it for the rest of his life.
He wanted to stay with her forever.
~
Jasper's head is resting on Alice's lap, he looks rather drowsy, they stopped dancing a while ago, she can't stop thinking about the kiss, she hadn't expected him to ask her if he could kiss her, she had thought it would take longer.
Not that she was complaining, still, even if she was thrilled about the kiss she was also worried, because kissing him had allowed her to notice one thing.
He was too warm.
And she could tell dancing had worsened whatever injuries he might have, she had made him feed more this past week, even when he didn't want to, be it on humans or animals.
But none of that seemed to be making a single difference.
In fact.
He was sleeping more and he got tired too fast, he did great at hiding it from her but she also knew he couldn't keep much blood down. And the tremors… Something told her something else was going on here.
She pressed the back of her hand against his cheek, he didn't feel warm, but when she touched his neck…
-Jazz?- A hum was her answer, she wanted to ask about the injuries, how bad was it, how many, who made them, with what, because this was certainly not normal.
But before she can do so a vision strikes.
"The Volturi run through the forest, dark cloaks weaving in the air.
They emerge from the forest, standing before the Cullen's house."
Jasper snaps to attention at the change in the air, sitting up and watching Alice's glazed eyes as her emotions grow blurred.
A vision.
Panic hits first.
Fear.
Alarm.
He feels frustration curl in his stomach for he knows he can't do a thing to comfort her aside from keeping watch no harm might come for her while she's left so vulnerable.
And then her gaze focuses again, and he doesn't have time to ask a thing before she's snatching his wrist.
-You have to hide, the Volturi are coming, Demitri's with them.- Her words still him.
-When?
-1 hour from now.- Alice informs. He's quick to nod, standing up, Alice stands in sync with him, worry is blazing in her emotions, he caressed her with calm, comfort, this before wrapping his arms around her, nuzzling her hair.
-It's alright, whatever happens… I won't go back with 'em, I'm…
He isn't sure how to comfort her, he never expected to care for someone as much as he cares for her. She changed everything.
He couldn't imagine this world without her.
He didn't want to run, he wouldn't run, he wouldn't leave, he wanted to stay with her, because she changed everything, she made him feel again, she made him want things, and he would rather die than give any of it up.
She feels like home, and he refused to lose that, he was tired of losing things, of not being allowed things.
So he was gonna be selfish and keep this. He was gonna be selfish and choose her.
And so that's what he tells her.
-'m gonna stay with you, I wanna stay with you, I will stay with you.- He sentences, The Major crawls underneath, voice slipping out, his arms tightening around Alice for a fraction of a second.
She was his. His. And he would kill whoever dared to attempt to separate him from her. No one but her had that right. If she wanted him with her that's what he was gonna make sure stuck.
-I know.- Alice said, her hands resting on his waist, she knows it, she can feel it.
This is no longer Jasper.
The Major is.
She knows this for the single fact that his muscles are lax and she can feel the needles from his gift, the blistering heat; wrath, resentment, bloodlust, desire, and there's something else she can't quite figure.
But it's intense and odd enough it makes her shoulders relax, she had been worried, a bit, over how he might react to her, she knew that he was still Jasper, sort of, they were two sides of the same coin.
So she had made up her mind long ago, she wouldn't fear him, regardless of what he did, he was still part of Jasper, it was him who had protected him for so long, he was the reason Jasper was still sane.
She had worried he would see her as a threat, she knew Jasper worried over her meeting The Major, but she had a feeling there had been nothing to be worried about to begin with.
-You should hide. Don't make it easy for them.
-I should kill 'em.
-You're in no state to be fighting.- She reminds, he growls at that before he's pulling back from her, their gazes meeting, she doesn't so much as flinch when she's met with the same darkness she's seen in her visions before.
His eyes are so dark, she can still make out the red, but it's more like staring into the void, and the void is staring back at her intensely, a pool of blood deep within the darkness.
It's as breathtaking as it's imposing.
And she can somewhat see what might cause so much terror on people.
But to her, he was nothing to fear, fearing him would be nothing but unfair and cruel.
He was part of Jasper, his protector, he might have twisted morals and be downright violent, but he wasn't a rabid monster.
-Curious.- Is all The Major whispers as he holds Alice's stare, he tilts his head to the side for a moment before smirking.
And then he's gone.
Alice is quick to go back home. She needs two showers and a whole lot of perfume, Jasper for the most part smells like the ocean, the forest or whoever's clothes she's given him, but with a tracker one could never be too cautious.
~
The Cullens knew the Volturi were coming, Alice had warned them, she had assured them it was nothing to do with Renesmee.
But still, the sight of them all emerging from among the trees was still as imposing, unnerving.
-Aro, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?- Carlisle gives as a greeting, he knows what might have brought them here, Eleazar's call was still fresh in his mind, Indra 2.0, as Emmett was calling the rogue vampire.
-I would very much like if you were to cooperate and allow me to see your memories.
-Hell no.- Rosalie snaps without missing a beat, like hell she was letting that asshole into her mind, as if having Edward snooping around wasn't bad enough.
And this one was worse.
So much worse.
Because what Aro saw were memories.
Memories.
She would rather die than let Aro see the tiniest of glimpses of her memories.
-Rosalie.- Carlisle warns, giving his daughter a warning look, she knew the situation, this wasn't something they could just avoid.
-No, why do we have to let him snoop into our minds because of someone else's mistakes? What the hell would we even want with one of those psychos?- Rosalie refutes, stubborn, refusing to yield just like that, Carlisle couldn't seriously be fine by just letting Aro into their minds, right?
That was stupid!
-Insolent!- Caius snaps, glaring murder at her and prompting Emmett to shield Rosalie with a dangerous look, ready to protect her from the volatile Volturi.
-Forgive her, she's just… a very private one, she doesn't like people knowing her business.- Carlisle tried to appease, he knew why would Rosalie refuse to let Aro anywhere near her, and he didn't want him anywhere near her either, not when he knew how much Aro divulging into her mind might affect her.
But how did he prevent that without making it suspicious?
He didn't want this to end up in a fight.
-Aro, we have nothing to hide, you can see mine, just mine to see that I speak the truth, you don't need to get into everyone's heads, some of them have memories that they would like to keep to themselves.- Carlisle tried, hoping to persuade Aro into taking his offer.
Because he would rather spare his family from Aro's invasive gift, he didn't felt comfortable with the man suddenly gaining way too much information about them, sensitive information from some.
-If you have nothing to hide-
-Alright.- Aro cut Caius off, stretching his hand out and requesting for Carlisle to come closer.
-You can't possibly be serious.- Caius said, disbelief deafening in his voice as he threw Aro a surprised look, as if he couldn't believe he was seriously considering such madness.
-We need to be prudent about this, if our friend was here, I'm sure Carlisle would be the last person to hide him, and all things considered…- Aro didn't finish that sentence, but something about how he said it made Alice's stomach tie into even more knots.
She was anxious as it was, Felix and Demetri were missing, and she didn't need to look for them with her gift to know where those two might be.
In the forest, looking for Jasper.
Something about this whole ordeal didn't felt right, like she wasn't seeing something.
And she wondered if she should have told the Cullens the truth about Jasper, but she hadn't wanted them to know, had feared their reaction, but something about this whole situation…
If things went well she would tell them, the Volturi wouldn't see need to check a second time. She needed them to know the truth in case things took a turn for the worse.
If their reactions were bad… she knew the reputation southern vampires had, the vampire wars had made sure to paint them as volatile and extremely violent vampires, those who knew to do nothing but fight and kill.
But Jasper wasn't like that.
And that was nothing but the tip of the iceberg for reasons the Cullens might not react well.
Still.
She could always take Jasper and leave, it would pain her greatly to leave the Cullens, but Jasper's suffered for way too long, he was her top priority right now.
She watched Aro take Carlisle's hand, kept herself neutral.
Still.
It felt like an eternal moment as the man held Carlisle's hand between his, reading.
Alice felt a shiver run down her spine when Aro's gaze settled upon her, eyes narrowing as he released Carlisle's hand.
-Dear Alice… would you mind telling me the reason of your interest for what effects vervain has on a vampire?- Aro's question made Alice bite her tongue, shit, she had forgotten about that.
But at least she had a wonderful excuse for that, she was never not prepared for the possibilities of all situations.
Didn't mean she wasn't willing to put on a dumb act.
-I don't see how is that relevant, I was just curious about it, a friend of mine was asking.
-A friend? When did this… friend ask about it?- Aro asked, and Alice knew what he hid behind that question. He thought he had found a lead for finding Jasper.
Well, he was about to be massively disappointed.
-A month ago.- Alice had learnt long ago to master her acting skills when it came to spilling lies, it came as second nature, if she believed them to be real it came out even more natural.
She had learnt that from watching Jasper, and why deny it? María herself.
And when Aro raised his hand, requesting for hers, she had no trouble doing as requested, he was giving her a smile, but wariness and suspicion were written all over his face.
She didn't mind.
He wouldn't find a thing regarding Jasper.
She had paid someone a while ago to make the odd call asking for the effects of vervain on vampires as if he knew her, she had given him a script and had let him know she was aiming to get into acting (a lie of course), and would like some outside help to help her act better.
Those memories she had twisted them to her heart's content, like humans said, lie until it becomes truth.
If Aro knew the extent of her skills when it came to dodging mind readers and gifts like his the man would certainly not dare to go into her mind, trusting nothing she might show him.
Alice had adapted, she needed to protect someone, Jasper was her most treasured reason to never reveal her mind to a soul.
Still.
While Aro might not catch the lie the Cullens would certainly do.
She had asked Carlisle about the vervain not even a week ago, but she needed to change the dates, to make it less suspicious for the Volturi. She needed Aro to believe this to be a coincidence.
And as he read her memories she made a point to focus extra hard on the ones she wanted him to see, hiding the truth behind meaningless visions and distorted lies.
She held her breath, but kept herself calm, she held no fear, she needed to be confident.
And as he releases her hand she steps back, he's giving her a narrowed look.
-Who's this friend? If I might know.- Aro questions, he trusts his gift, and still, something about Alice's memories didn't felt quite right, her mind…
Aro doesn't know what it is but he feels like he's not seeing something.
He had seen The Major's betrayal in her vision, and then he began disappearing at random intervals, developing a bond that threatened his loyalty to the Volturi, a bond not even Chelsea could break.
A threat without a doubt.
And then he disappeared without trace?
Alice's questions on the effects of liquid vervain mixed with blood…
Could it be a mere coincidence? He couldn't perceive lies nor deception in her, he had seen her memories, it wasn't a lie, but something wasn't right here, but what?
-His name is Mi Liu, lives in China.- Alice told, she had made a profile for the non-existent friend, choosing the biggest and most populated place she could think of to help conceal the fact that he didn't exist.
Aro stared at her, she kept herself neutral, calm, confusion, like she was telling the whole truth and couldn't understand a single thing about where this conversation was suppose to go.
Again.
The Cullens would know the lie, she knew no one from China nor even a "Mi Liu".
But no one called her out on her lie.
The sudden sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to see Felix and Demetri emerging from the forest.
-It's clear.- Demetri informed, Alice tried to not let relief seize her, she couldn't break character now.
Aro gave them a long look, the man still didn't seem quite sure, but he still nodded.
-Alright then, do forgive our intromission, but you must understand that a rogue vampire is no small matter.- Aro told as a statement of fact.
-We understand.- Carlisle assures, wishing for the Volturi to leave once and for all, he's got a lot of questions right now regarding the fact that Alice definitely knew something about this rogue vampire.
But of course he kept himself unreactive to the lies, his priorities were protecting his daughter above all, the questions could wait for when the Volturi were gone. He had no idea how she deceived Aro, but he wasn't about to question that when it had kept her safe.
He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if Aro were to know she was lying to his face, deceiving his gift.
The Cullens watched the Volturi leave.
And once they were gone…
-Alice?- Carlisle's voice caught Alice's attention and she turned to the house where the rest stood at the porch, she was met with several indecipherable looks.
-You know the rogue vampire.- Edward said, it wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact.
-Yeah, I do.- Alice didn't even bother to attempt to hide it as she answered, there was a long overdue truth she needed to disclose.
Now that the Volturi have made their apparition, she needed to put awareness on the Cullens regarding the vampire currently residing at the beach of their territory.
Edward narrowed his eyes at her.
-Who is he?
-He's a Volturi.
That was not what she had intended to say first.
~
He's a Volturi.
Alice's words froze the air itself.
-Come again?- Edward said, not sure he had heard right, because he surely didn't just hear what he thought he did, he had to be wrong.
Yet.
Silence was his answer.
And more silence.
And then.
-He's, was a Volturi.
-Are you mad?!- Rosalie explode in absolute scandal over what she just heard, she surely heard wrong, Alice didn't just say she was fraternizing with some psychotic bastard!
-You do realize Aro wants your gift, right? You do remember that, right?- Edward reminded, struggling to keep calm over the idea of his sister going off to see a friggin' Volturi on her own, no doubt the bastard must have lured her with lies and deception, the Volturi wouldn't stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
Even if it meant using cruel methods to brainwash her into wanting to be with them. For all they knew all of this was a lie and they weren't looking for any rogue vampire but were pulling up an extremely thought out plan to get to Alice.
Aro was smart, and old, it wouldn't surprise Edward if he could come up with such dangerous plan.
-I do remember that, and I'm not mad. He isn't dangerous nor is he acting like some sort of bait to get me to go to Volterra.- Alice told as a statement of fact, knowing full well what they were all thinking.
There was nothing for them to be worried about, Jasper wasn't dangerous.
-He said that? You can't trust a Volturi!- Emmett said, mortified over what he was hearing, a freaking Volturi was preying on his little sister! Lying and deceiving her so she would let her guard down!
-He didn't say it, I know it, he's different.- Alice snapped, crossing her arms over her chest, she had expected them to overreact, but this was getting ridiculous, didn't they hear the "was a Volturi" part? You know, was, as in past tense?
She hadn't even meant to tell them that tidbit, it just slipped.
-Alice, dear, I know you believe that, but don't you think it's rather convenient for him to be around you? A Volturi, conveniently around you who's gift Aro wants desperately?- Carlisle tried to reason with his daughter, the idea of her having been around a Volturi for God knows how long was enough to make his skin crawl.
God, she had been in danger and none of them had been the wiser.
-He's not doing this as an order nor as a trick.- Alice refuted sharply.
-How can you be so sure?
Silence.
-Alice? How can you be so sure?- Esme asked again, her voice soft, unlike the rest, she wasn't mad nor was she worried.
Because if there was one thing Esme knew it was that Alice was a smart girl and she trusted the choices she made, she just wanted to understand, because she didn't knew why, but she had the feeling they weren't seeing something here.
Why was her daughter going at such lengths as that of lying to the Volturi straight in their faces for someone she definitely barely knew? A Volturi on top of it? How did she even dare to start interacting with him in the first place?
But then she noticed it.
That spark in her gaze.
She wasn't protecting some rogue vampire, not even a friend.
Ah.
Esme knew exactly who that Volturi was.
And as if to confirm her thoughts Alice spoke.
-I'm sure because he's my mate.
