A/N:
Oh! We've entered the 40s now! And remember, Jasper enters that diner in 1948 soooo...
Title: Origins: Living in my Future
Author: MarieCarro
Beta: Alice's White Rabbit
Pre-reader: BitterHarpyand brierlynn03
Genre: Supernatural/Mystery
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Mary Alice Brandon had always been different. She seemed to know things that had yet to happen, and the people in town avoided her at all costs. But the cries of "Witch" or whispers of "Changeling" wasn't her biggest concern. Someone much closer to her than the townsfolk couldn't accept her differences, and it put her in life-threatening danger.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 16
SATURDAY, MAY 13th 1944 – FRIDAY, AUGUST 20th 1948
There was no use in denying I was jealous of the new coven of vampires my family had crossed paths with during their unusually long stay in Alaska. These five strangers who miraculously shared our diet got to do everything I'd been yearning to do for decades.
Tanya became Edward's confidant, and in the very beginning, I thought what I was seeing was their budding love story, but it quickly became clear the infatuation was one-sided. Eleazar taught Emmett how to fight, and for some reason, it annoyed me. It took a moment for me to understand it was because I'd held onto the hope that it would be the perfect bonding experience for Jasper to teach the family the basics, but now I felt robbed of that opportunity, even though it wasn't my opportunity.
Kate and Rosalie became unlikely friends as soon as Rose had thoroughly laid her claim on Emmett and drawn a sharp line, which Kate wasn't, under any circumstances whatsoever, allowed to cross. But they enjoyed each other's company most days.
The more understandable friendships were between Carmen and Esme, both of them being incredibly nurturing by nature, and Tanya and Carlisle in the capacity that both of them were leaders to their respective families, and they shared many experiences from their encounters with the Volturi to how long they'd walked the earth—the knowledge they'd acquired, and the losses they'd suffered along the way.
Irina was the only one who didn't directly bond with anyone in my family. She mostly stayed on the fringes. Always around but never the center of attention for any conversation.
There were no concrete plans for my family to leave Alaska in the near future, especially since they didn't want the risk of being drafted into the war, but I was still convinced they wouldn't settle down for a permanent home there. Not only because Edward was uncomfortable with Tanya's lighthearted pursuit of his affection, but also because Alaska provided very few opportunities and distractions for such a restless coven as my family.
Carlisle had always moved around. Not like a nomadic vampire since he'd always owned homes in every town he'd lived in since he left the Volturi—I'd heard the story with every addition to the family and was quite sure I knew every detail of it by now—but he'd never stayed in one city longer than six or seven years at a time, so the very notion of him staying in one place, giving up his passion for medicine for the sake of never having to move again, was absurd to me.
And the others had inadvertently adopted his way of thinking. Even Rosalie, though she didn't want to admit it. She always became a bit jumpy and restless when they'd stayed in one city for too long. Whether she liked it or not, she'd gotten used to their way of life.
She wasn't the only one being jumpy and restless either.
The past couple of months had put me on edge because Maria was contemplating whether to dispose of Jasper or not, and he knew it. The rift that had always existed between them was larger than ever, and he wasn't handling her betrayal of his trust very well. One day, he'd decide to kill her before she killed him, and the next he would change his mind and figure they'd get past their issues just as they had before.
It was as if Peter leaving with Charlotte had been the catalyst for the decline of Jasper's dependency on Maria, and I could feel it in my bones that our pending meeting wasn't too far in the future now. The vision still wasn't in my favor if I decided to search him out now, but the divide between the two paths wasn't as sharp as it had been in the past. They were more merged, and that was why I was certain I wouldn't have to wait too much longer.
And still, even aware as I was that the time was growing nearer, I didn't expect it to happen right away.
"Jasper."
I was almost knocked to the ground by the sheer force of the vision and its insistence to be seen. And the person who had called his name wasn't someone I thought would ever return, but there he was: Peter.
Jasper appeared equally shocked as I felt at seeing the only vampire he'd truly bonded with in his long life. "Pete?" He took a second to sense if anyone was close by before he cautiously approached his former brother-in-arms.
Peter was smiling, his stance at ease and non-confrontational as Jasper walked closer.
"What are you doing here? Are you alone?"
"I wasn't interested in forcing Lottie back into the lion's den. She's waiting for me to return, so I hope I'm not being stupid when I trust you not to kill me for leaving like I did."
Jasper scoffed. "At this point, I wouldn't kill you even if Maria directly ordered me."
"Is that defiance I'm detecting?" Peter asked with a wide grin. "Why Major Whitlock, you surprise me."
With a roll of his eyes and an amused smile, Jasper relaxed fully. "Why are you here, Pete?"
"I'm here to get you, of course," he said, his grin still in place, but then he quickly became more serious and lowered his voice. "After we left, Charlotte and I went north, and I'm telling you, there's so much more to this life than constantly fighting for territory and blood and all of that other bullshit Maria has shoved down your throat."
"Such as?" Jasper asked, unconvinced. "All I know about the north is that it's in the clutches of the Volturi."
"That's a lie. Vampires are freer in the north. Of course, there are territories, but there's no fighting over controlling them. Most folks up there are nomads, and as long as you're on the move and only kill what you need to, the Volturi don't care." Peter reached out and grabbed Jasper's forearm. "I haven't experienced a single bite in over five years. Feel what I feel, brother. I'm at peace."
The vision faded, and I was left staring into the air, my mouth agape. I couldn't see farther into the future than that because it hadn't happened yet, and Jasper had to make a decision before I could know more, but I could almost feel my silent heart thunder in my chest with anticipation.
It was finally happening. I just knew it.
I hid out in a forest all day as I waited. I didn't have a place I could call my temporary home at the moment, and I wasn't one-hundred percent sure exactly where I was, but that mattered little to me.
My meeting with Jasper was close. Soon. So very soon.
Hours passed between the two visions, and when I finally saw something new, it didn't pick up where the previous one had ended. All it showed was Jasper meeting Peter's eyes before they both ran with Peter leading them.
Jasper didn't even turn to look over his shoulder as he left the only home he'd ever known as a vampire. With each mile he placed between himself and Maria, his shoulders dropped and his spine relaxed.
A prism of hundreds of possibilities and paths opened up for his future, although none of them were particularly substantial. I knew the path leading him to me was in there, and it was the one thought that gave me enough comfort to allow the visions to fade into the background of my mind as I made decisions for my own path ahead.
{=LMF=}
I hadn't followed the war with any sort of interest. Naturally, I'd been aware of it. Noticed the absence of the young, strong, and healthy men who'd been sent to Europe or stationed at specific bases to defend the country. I'd heard the announcements on radios and witnessed women being relied on to perform work they'd previously been shunned from doing.
In some ways, I knew every detail of the war despite my own personal disinterest. I knew the how's and why's and when's. I knew if a strategy would work or not and how it would affect everyone. I knew which people thought they were in power and which people actually were.
Operation Overlord, as they called it, would be a strategic success. Lives would still be lost, and it would take time before it was all over, but the day would mark the beginning of the end of a historic event that would ripple through time and make waves for decades, if not centuries, to come.
And yet, all of that was lost in the shadows for me as I watched Jasper discover the modern world for the first time. Maria had kept him isolated for most of his life, and once they'd settled into the abandoned villa that became their home, he rarely left except for when it was time to feed or accompany Maria when she searched for humans to turn.
He had always known about the discovery and inventions of electricity, indoor plumbing, and running water, but since none of that became commonly used in homes until the early 1900s, it was still very fascinating for him to explore the possibilities in a modern society.
And he sounded like a properly old man when he complained about the loud noise humans constantly made with their motors and machines. In his human life, only trains, factories, and weapons caused such disturbing rackets. Peter and Charlotte, both of whom were born in the current century, got many hearty laughs over his reactions, but he took them all in stride.
His entire personality and demeanor was renewed and invigorated in their company. He'd always had charming manners and a likable attitude, but it had been suppressed by the demands Maria placed on him.
It was quite beautiful to see him open up more in the areas he was comfortable in even though his hunting habits didn't magically become easier because he left the south. He still had to feel what the humans felt in their last moments, and a huge part of me hoped that would be something I could use to argue for my side on the diet debate.
Jasper's powers didn't include animals. Drinking from them instead would allow him to finally have some semblance of peace, even around killing.
I wouldn't have to wait much longer.
When he decided to break away from his companions after a couple of years, I knew the time had come when I had to be more vigilant about his whereabouts. It took me a while to find his exact location because of his innate strategic movements and knowledge of hiding his tracks, but once I was completely positive, I made sure I was at least a few hours behind him so he'd never suspect he was being followed.
Knowing I was that close to him filled me with such energy I was practically buzzing. My patience was about to be rewarded. I'd finally get to see his face with my own eyes because he'd be right there in front of me.
The thought was intoxicating.
{=LMF=}
I'd searched my visions over and over again throughout the night, just to make certain that I wasn't mistaken about the day, and it continued to reassure me that nothing bad would happen. Only very recently had I been able to see the distinct raindrops pelting against the windows of the diner I'd spend my day in, and I'd understood the time was growing nearer.
So I'd started looking into the future while I trailed a day or so behind Jasper to see if the next place he stayed would have any days with considerable rainfall. Still, when he reached Philadelphia—which in itself felt prophetic since I knew my family was currently residing outside the city—and I could see the approaching storm, I was terrified of even sneaking a peak at my original vision and confirm that it was time.
Finally, after twenty-eight years of agonized waiting, I would be face to face with Jasper, and he would finally know I existed. But that long wait had also made me overly cautious, hence my obsessive vision-hopping during the night. The last thing I wanted was to get my hopes up only to have it crushed with the realization that it wasn't "The Day" after all.
With meticulous precision, I got ready for the most fateful meeting of my existence. My hair was much too short for the fashionable hairstyles, but I'd done my best to style it, and I made up for the lack in that department by perfectly applying my makeup. The red lipstick was a stark contrast to my pale skin, and combined with my black hair, I resembled a real-life Snow White.
I turned away from my reflection in the vanity mirror and looked around the hotel suite I'd booked so Jasper and I could have a calm conversation where I explained everything to him. It didn't have any corners you couldn't see, and the massive windows led out to a balcony in case he felt the need to remain outside. Since he was a strategist, I'd attempted to channel him by giving him multiple exit points so he wouldn't feel trapped or that I was a threat of any kind.
In the wardrobe, I'd hung a new set of clothes for him that would help him blend in with the other guests, and the en-suite would provide him with a much-needed opportunity to wash up. In my visions, he'd never looked particularly unclean, but I knew how spending weeks upon weeks outside could make you feel a bit dusty.
The gray clouds outside were growing heavier and darker, and I knew I had to get dressed and find the right diner before the sky opened up. He couldn't be there before me, and the exact time hadn't been revealed to me yet since he hadn't made the decision of entering the diner. He wouldn't make that decision until it started to rain.
I knew it was rather ridiculous of me to dress up in the expensive Dior outfit I'd purchased for the occasion because it wouldn't matter to Jasper if I was wearing the latest or something from before the war. He wouldn't know the difference, and I wasn't even sure if he knew who Christian Dior was. But I wanted to be as beautiful as was earthly possible when we met, so the two-piece set and matching shoes was what I'd decided on.
Before I left the suite, I hooked an umbrella on my arm so it would appear I wasn't sure if it would rain, but at least, I was prepared, and then I ventured out into the city.
Every time I passed a diner, I used an eighth-of-a-second to see if that was the one, but it wasn't until I left the city center that I found the hole in the wall that would become Jasper's refuge once the rain started falling.
It was still early morning, and the diner had just opened when I entered, and there was no one in there sans the waitress and cook.
"Good morning," the waitress said pleasantly with a welcoming smile, and I saw how she took in my clothes, immediately identifying them from their recognizable silhouette. She definitely knew who Christian Dior was.
"Good morning," I replied pleasantly, and her eyes glazed over for a second. It was the same reaction every time a human heard my voice. "I would like a seat at the bar, if possible."
"Of course," she said and let out a soft laugh. "We're not exactly bursting at the seams just yet, so you can sit wherever you want."
"Perfect," I said and situated myself on the exact stool I was supposed to be on when Jasper entered.
"What can I get for you, Miss?"
I pretended to think about it for a moment. "I'll start with just coffee for now, but I'll let you know if there's anything else I need." I placed the decoy book in front of me and bent my head over it. I'd already read it several times over when I turned to the next page, but I had known I would need something that would make me appear busy so no humans would be suspicious of my potentially long stay at the diner.
As if on cue, droplets started pattering against the glass windows when the waitress placed a steaming cup in front of me. In a matter of seconds, the drizzle became a heavy downpour.
"Seems you were lucky when you chose us this morning," she said to politely converse. "Wouldn't want to be surprised by that."
"No, I certainly wouldn't," I said and maintained a friendly smile. "But if it doesn't let up, I came prepared." I indicated toward my umbrella, and a quick fleeting vision told me that the waitress, who's name was Bethany according to her name tag, wished she'd had the same foresight. I made a mental note to leave the umbrella for her.
As seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours, humans started to fill up the place, but Jasper continued to be a no-show. So I ordered some food, which I strategically cut into smaller pieces to make it easier to hide in the napkin in my hand.
The plate emptied, the book was halfway "read", and Bethany started to give me concerned looks when I made no move to leave even after she cleaned the counter before me of dishes.
"Tell me," she said after making another round with the other guests before returning to me. "Why's a lady dressed like you just sitting around in a place like this?"
"I'm meeting someone," I told her honestly. "I was so nervous this morning that I accidentally left too early, hence why I've been waiting for so long."
Bethany smiled. "You have nothing to be nervous about. You're as pretty as the actresses in the pictures. Prettier even, if I say so myself. Whoever you're meeting is the luckiest in the world."
"Thank you," I said appreciatively, and returned to my book.
A/N:
Tomorrow! Tomorrow, he'll show up! :D
I know that's what some of you have been waiting for pretty much ever since this story began posting over 3 ½ years ago. And tomorrow, you'll finally get to read it :)
Stay Awesome until then ;-)
