Twilight. Jasper Hale. 077. What?
Title: Thinking
Fandom: Twilight
Characters: Jasper Hale, Bella Swan, mentions of others.
Prompt: 077. What?
Word Count: 827
Rating: PG
Summary: It was a question that I was wary of.
Author's Notes: I really need to pick up the pace, huh? No spoilers in this one!
“What else would you like to know?” I was slightly hesitant to keep answering her questions but I wasn’t going to back down now.
“So what did you do after you left them?” Bella inquired. She smiled warmly at me, and I wondered if she could sense my unease.
While I was telling my story emotion after emotion passed through me like a ghostly presence passing through a person in a haunted house. She had been anxious at first; then slowly she grew frightened and nervous. I had wanted so badly to calm her, but I had thought about it and decided against it. She wanted to hear my story. I could tell by the look on her face that she wanted every grim detail. And, if she wanted it to be an experience she never forgets, then I should let those raw emotions consumer her. I wanted her to feel what I felt while I was experiencing these things. She wanted a story but I’m giving her a God damn graphic novel.
“Nothing,” I said simply. She gave me a quizzical and slightly disappointed look.
“Nothing?” She asked incredulously. The look of pure disbelief on her face made me chuckle. Now I know why Edward finds her facial expressions amusing.
“Well of course I did something; but nothing that was highly important. I know that I did fight in both World Wars and the Vietnam War. I got three purple hearts for saving my fellow soldiers,” I said then shuddered involuntarily.
“You… Drank from the enemy?” Bella asked me, her voice shaky. I didn’t want to have to tell her what I did to survive while in the wars I fought for our country.
“I did,” I replied, “It all tastes so different. Sometimes it’s sweet and sometimes it’s bitter. I guess it depends on the country the person comes from or what they eat and drink. I remember one time I drank from a Vietnamese soldier, and their blood was the sweetest I’ve ever tasted to this day.”
“Oh,” Bella said lightly though I could tell she was disturbed by this detail. I smiled contentedly at her to ease her mind. “Did you do any other significant things?” She asked me.
I nodded, “Oh yes. I remember just after I had been turned I followed settlers west. It was a strange experience, to say the least. That travel westward was probably my best decision. Out west there were hardly any people other than the settlers moving west to mine for gold. That was when I first discovered this helpful power of mine.” I grinned jovially at the thought.
“Going to California was tough for people. I knew that. Their families all died along the way. I drank the blood of those dying or already dead. Yes, it was disgusting,” I added when she wrinkled up her nose and mouthing ‘ew’, “But I didn’t want to drink from the people leaving the East. They were so passionate about going to California to find gold or start farming. I didn’t want to end their lives so that I, a bloodsucker, would survive. They had too much to live for and look forward to.”
“That was very noble of you,” Bella said admiringly. I smiled genuinely at her and she smiled back.
“Thank you,” I replied, “So… While I was walking with nothing to do but think one day I discovered something. A family had just buried a young daughter in a grave and they stood around the small hole. No one was crying and no one said a word and yet, I felt all of their anguish and despair and pain. I was shaken by these feelings. And yet, every time I walked passed a person on the road I felt their emotions.
“Most were lonely. I could relate to them. I wanted a companion of my own but I knew that I would never be able to have one. Vampires and humans do not mix,” Bella was about to interrupt me when I laughed, “Well… Except for you and Edward, that is. Anyway, I would get all of these emotions that were not mine running through my body. It was unnerving. But over the two years it took me to go our West I realized what I could do.”
“So you helped people?” She asked me.
“In a way, yes. I wanted them to experience grief. Don’t get me wrong, I love to make people feel better but sometimes you have to live through those emotions to make you mentally stronger,” I explained. Bella nodded in agreement.
“Kinda like what Edward did?” She asked me. I couldn’t help but laugh at this.
“No. He did that because he thought you’d be happier and safer without him around. Obviously he was wrong,” I pointed out good naturedly. Bella laughed quietly.
“Yeah, you’re right,” She admitted after a few moments of sitting in silence, “So… Tell me more.”