As I stared at my naked body, the memory that I was not alone hit me. I gasped and leapt into the trees, pulling myself behind the tree trunk and leaves, hiding my vulnerability.
A low growl answered my actions. "Oh, Isabella. Why are you hiding that glorious body from me?"
The memory of a vampire, a bronze-haired vampire, speaking with disdain in the woods.
"My world is not for you. I don't want you to come with me."
"You don't want me?"
"No."
And then my world and heart shattering. Pain and numbness, mingling and burning together in a dance within my head. Leaving me gasping for breath.
He did not want me. I am useless. Unwanted. Edward.
This honey-blonde vampire with me did not really like what he saw, just like Edward. He was only humouring me. Trying to get me to obey and follow his commands.
How dare he think he could control me with lies.
A growl built in my chest and erupted from my throat. A rage overwhelming my thoughts until a memory struck.
Kisses and hands roaming my body, worshiping my curves. The feeling of complete fullness and passion.
Jasper! He – he did not leave me. He made love to me. He is not Edward!
I closed my eyes and took a slow deep breath in. I held it and realized that the longer I held it, there was no desire to gasp for breath or pain or panic from not breathing.
"I don't need to breathe."
The realization had me giggling. A low deep chuckle met my ears from the base of the tree. Using my fingers, I dug into the tree trunk in a circular fashion and marvelled at how it gave way like melted butter. I pulled my hand back and had a baseball-sized piece of wood.
Throwing the newly made ball down towards the vampire on the ground I called out, "And why, dear sir, are you laughing? Am I that funny?"
My words had the desired effect of distracting him and I was able to clock him on the head. An 'oomph' echoed amongst the trees. I dropped down, landing perfectly on my feet and continued laughing. Jasper was rubbing his head and wagging a finger at me.
"So, you thought it was funny to use ammo against me?"
"Well, if you hadn't laughed at me, I wouldn't have needed to."
This seemed to have brought him up short. His hands stilled and his eyebrows raised. "Laughed at you? When did I laugh at you?"
Waving my hands about, I responded. "Just now, when I was up in the tree giggling over not needing air or lungs."
Jasper's hands rested on my hips, pulling me closer as he stepped towards me. "Darlin', never have I laughed at you, nor do I ever plan to. You forget I am an empath. I could feel your humour. You were projecting it quite strongly. There are many things that will surprise and humour you in this life. I hope to help you see all of them. But never will I laugh at you."
"Oh. Sorry. I forgot."
He smiled and leaned forward, resting his forehead on mine. "I know. Newborns tend to get distracted easily. It takes a while to get use to the additional information in your head."
I closed my eyes and sighed. "Sorry. For assuming you were laughing at me."
"Isabella, look at me." My eyes opened and his were only an inch away from mine, our noses and foreheads touching. "You do not need to apologize for your responses. Things will be different now. New. What you thought you knew about the world around you will be proven wrong, time and time again. Being a vampire changes one's perspectives."
"Does it change your perspective of me? Me being a vampire, that is?"
"Darlin', you are still the most beautiful being in this entire planet. I miss those gorgeous brown eyes, but the red ones are sexy. You are sexy. Especially covered in blood."
With that, he leaned in and kissed me, hungrily. I responded, throwing my arms around his neck, and leaning into him. However, I forgot that I was stronger now and we fell backwards, landing through the tree base and landing on the ground, the tree toppling beside us.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't know . . ."
"Isabella, it is fine. You are stronger than me right now and that strength threw us off balance."
I grinned and bit my lip. "I am stronger than you. Sounds like I could have some fun."
In a split second, Jasper had me rolled over and laying on my back on the ground, him on top. I tried to struggle to gain back the upper hand and he grinned as he expertly maneuvered against all of my actions. After a few moments, I lay back with a frustrated growl.
"Oh, darlin'. I said you were stronger. I did not say that I couldn't control you if needed." With that, he let go of his holds on me and leaned down, kissing me.
When our lips met, I lost all thought, and my hormones took over. Our hands were everywhere, exploring the new situation with us both being vampires. Moans were torn from both of us as we savoured the other.
"Okay, you two love birds. Time to get cleaned up and start training."
The strange voice had me reacting faster than I could think. I rolled us over, gaining the top position, crouched ready to attack. My growls echoed around us and shook the ground closest to me.
"Captain, you better have a damn good reason for interrupting a newborn in this way. She may attack and I won't try to stop her. You know better and damn well deserve any damage she does to you."
About one hundred feet away, a vampire, covered in scars, his red eyes a large contrast below the silver blonde hair on his forehead. He leaned against a tree, arms crossed and for all intents and purposes, appearing like he was waiting for a bus. His stature did not fool me. He was dangerous. Instinctively I knew that for each scar he had, a vampire had died.
I growled, wanting him to go away. Leave us be. I wanted to be safe.
The heavy weighted blanket feeling from my change surrounded me and then pushed out. Trees toppled, rocks flew, and the vampire growled back, digging his hands into the ground, trying to keep himself in his spot.
"Glad you have your shield working, but I am not your enemy."
He looked up and his red eyes bore straight into mine. I bared my teeth, but a memory floated through my head. A man having fun trying to figure out how to test my shield, pouting because he was not allowed to throw a second bucket of water towards me, the man that was called 'brother' by Jasper with an honesty deeper than anything I had ever felt.
Peter.
The name was like the snap of fingers. I straightened up, biting my lip. My shield dissipated and Peter dropped to the ground from the effort he had been using to fight against my shield. "Sorry, Peter. I had not recognized you." I lowered my head, frustrated at the things I did not seem to remember immediately.
However, at that moment, I remembered something else that had slipped my memory. Screeching, I jumped behind a tree, trying to use my arms to cover my nakedness. How could I have forgotten I was still naked!?
A scarred hand entered my view, holding Jasper's shirt.
"Here, let me help you. You may not realize how little effort it takes to rip clothing."
My eyes were wide, and I wanted the earth to swallow me up whole. I nodded and Jasper helped put his shirt on. It covered enough, though was still too short for my liking, resting just below my butt. I looked towards Jasper, his eyes now black.
A deep growl had me biting my lip, the sound reverberating through my body like the aftershocks of an orgasm.
"That will have to be later, you two."
Peter's voice was like icy water on the head. I stepped back out from behind the tree, sheepish again from forgetting he was even here.
"Captain, why are you here so soon? It has not even been three days, nor have you given time for the initial emotions to calm before returning. Did our timeline change?"
"Wait? It hasn't been three days?" I looked at Jasper, shocked.
He shook his head. "No, I told you that was the most interesting 31 hours I have ever had. I didn't even know changes could be completed so quickly. But I am glad you did not suffer as much."
"And I am sure you being bashed around by her uncontrolled shield during the change wasn't much fun either." Peter stated as he leaned against a tree again, raising an eyebrow at Jasper.
I dropped to the ground. "I did do that. The house was a mess. You were crumpled up like a pretzel. I am dangerous." Digging my fingers into the ground, I released some frustration at the lack of caution used during my change.
"Yes, you are dangerous, Chickie. You are powerful and strong. You are a vampire. But more importantly, you are family."
I raised my gaze towards Peter, repeating what he had said in my head. With a nod, I stood to my feet. "Still. I am sorry. I hope I didn't damage too much. I will help replace anything I can."
Walking towards him, I could see his body tense, though he held his position. Once I was a few feet away, I held out my hand, waiting for a handshake. His lopsided smile came a split second before his muscles relaxed and he took my hand and pulled me in for a hug.
"You are my sister now. Welcome to the family." His words were whispered directly into my ear, and they were low enough that I am certain Jasper would not have heard them. I hugged back, careful of my strength as best I could.
"So, where are the others?"
Jasper came to stand beside me as we both looked at Peter. He smiled.
"At the homestead – cleaning up quite the mess. Both from the change and what I can only assume was quite the night of passion." He waggled his eyebrows.
"They know . . ." I whispered out. Jasper's arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me into him.
"Oh, Chickie. We know you two had sex. And about time too. Now, let's get back. We have a lot to do to prepare for the Volturi."