Chapter Two: God Among Demons
Title: Burn The City Down: Chapter Two: God Among Demons
Author: Kate (deanscookie)
Rating: PG-13 overall
Word Count: 5,706
Spoilers: None, AU.
Summary: He knew stories of what he had done were still told all across the country. The stories painted him as a legend among his kind-a god-yet these newborns still had the audacity to question him.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns it all... for now.
CHAPTER TWO
"GOD AMONG DEMONS"
I'm drawn to you, something's magnetic here
If I could approach you, or even get close to
The scent that you left behind, I'd be fine
No doubt that, you bring out the animal inside
Although he'd been around for over one hundred and fifty years, Jasper had never possessed much patience. Partly, he assumed, because of his ability to feel the emotions of those around him. Their feelings, coupled with his own, usually led to a violent end for whoever had tried said patience.
At this particular moment, it was a young vampire who was irritating him. The boy, barely two years old, had gotten ridiculously jealous after Jasper had casually flirted with a lovely young creature named Janie. Apparently, the boy was infatuated with her.
"I'm sorry, what was your name?" Jasper's voice was calm and polite, ever the southern gentleman, but he let it be known to the entire room, using his ability to influence emotions, that he wouldn't stand for any sort of disrespect.
"Andrew," was the snarled reply. The boy was still crouched low in a fighting stance, but the deep growls that had been echoing from his chest had stopped.
Jasper stood straight, his stance was casual. "Ah, yes. Andrew," Jasper mused, his voice barely a murmur. "Well, Andrew, I think it would be best-for all of us-if you refrained from speaking to me like that in the future." He sounded, for all the world, as if he was merely inquiring about the weather. But the emotion in the air was thick and tense. The small group in the room slowly gathered around them, anticipation rolling off of them in waves.
Andrew frowned slightly, unsure of himself, but he didn't say anything more. A small smile curled the corners of Jasper's mouth as he turned to leave. Then a sharp hiss made him stop and turn back.
The hiss had not come from Andrew, but from Janie. She was scowling at Andrew with disgust. "Are you going to let him talk to you like that? Like he's so much better than us? He's not."
That pushed Jasper over the edge. He leapt forward, placing himself right in front of Janie, and spoke in a low, hard voice. He didn't need any growls or threats to intimidate her-he had other means of making sure she had a healthy amount of respect and fear for him. He concentrated on the emotions flowing from the small girl in front of him. Irritation, anger, frustration and... Ah, yes. There it was. Fear.
Jasper pulled on that particular feeling, expanding and intensifying it. He twisted it in his mind so that the fear was completely about him and what he could to do to her. Janie began to tremble, her eyes widening as she stared into his carefully composed face.
"Tell me, Janie." Jasper hissed her name like it was something poisonous. She flinched away from him. "What makes you think it's all right for you to speak to me like that?"
And even though her voice was shaking with fear, Janie lifted her chin and replied with as much indignation as she could. "You walk around here, looking down your nose at all the rest of us. Like you're better than we are, just because you're... different." Her voice dropped to a whisper on the last word.
Jasper arched an eyebrow and smiled widely, showing his razor sharp teeth in a threatening manner. "My dear, do you really think I am better than you because of what I can do?" He threw another wave of fear upon her and watched as her whole body flinched away from him. "No," he continued softly, "I am better than you for many different reasons. The foremost of which is because I obviously have a better sense of self-preservation." He leaned in, whispering his next words directly in her ear. Still, everyone in the room heard them. "But I am better than all of you, my dear, because I am better than all of you. I am faster, stronger, smarter and have lived longer than any of you could ever hope to."
He straightened up, his face still the perfect picture of ease. "This is the last warning you'll get, little one," he said, his voice still low. "Next time, I will kill you. I promise it."
Janie simply nodded, both hands pressed tightly over her face. Jasper turned and strode easily from the room. Their small audience drew back as he walked by them. Jasper smirked in satisfaction. It would be a long time before one of the youngbloods bothered him again. They were a constant irritation, and he found himself longing for the days when they were disposed of once they reached their one-year mark. But that had been an unnecessary waste. Vampires who were older and knew how to control themselves were of better use in this age than the newborns who thought only of blood. Still, Jasper didn't know if he could stand one more outburst like Janie's.
It was because of this blasted peace. Jasper and his creator, Maria, had conquered Texas over thirty years ago. The last few decades had passed with no battles, no war tactics of any kind, and it made Jasper edgy and sullen. At first, he had simply picked fights among his men, goading them until they attacked, and then tearing them apart. It was a good release for Jasper, but Maria had soon put a stop to it.
Too many of their older, more experienced warriors had been destroyed. Now their army almost completely consisted of newborns; who had no experience of war and no experience of Jasper during a war. They didn't fear him because they had no idea what he was capable of. Boarding the elevator, Jasper scowled darkly. He knew stories of what he had done were still told all across the country. The stories painted him as a legend among his kind-a god-yet these newborns still had the audacity to question him.
As the elevator reached its stop, Jasper swung a fist into one of the mirrored walls and watched it shatter. He glared at his distorted reflection for a moment, before his shoulders slumped and he trudged wearily into his living quarters. Sulkily, he threw himself into a chair near the floor to ceiling windows that covered the east wall. He gazed out over the brightly lit city-his city.
It wasn't fair, Jasper thought petulantly. He had worked hard to get where he was. He deserved respect from every vampire who lived in this state. Perhaps he would just have to remind everyone how much he deserved their respect. Jasper smiled as he considered going back downstairs and slaughtering the whole lot of them. He could do it, no doubt about that. And why not? Would it really be so horrible to just start over?
"Naughty, naughty," came a lilting voice from behind him.
Jasper didn't turn around. He'd spent over a hundred years with the woman that was standing with him now. He recognized not only her voice, but the feeling that came from her. Maria came up behind his chair, wrapping her arms around him and running her small hands down the front of chest.
"I know what you're thinking, mi pequeño demonio," she whispered in his ear. "And you shouldn't think such naughty things. You might slip," her hand slid down his chest, slipping under his shirt and tracing patterns on his abdomen, "and give in to temptation." Her voice had dropped to a murmur that only he could hear, and Jasper, pushing past the overwhelming feeling of desire that was pulsing through both him and Maria, felt the other presence in the room.
Jealousy. He didn't need any other emotion to identify the person standing in the shadows. Jasper rolled his eyes. That was one youngblood he would have killed a thousand times over by now, if not for Maria's... attachment. "Amie." He kept his voice low. "Don't you have anywhere else to be?" Translation: Get the hell out of here.
Maria chuckled in his ear. "Perhaps she likes to watch, mi amor," she whispered. Her teeth closed lightly on Jasper earlobe. A soft hiss came from across the room, and Jasper caught a flash of dark curls out of the corner of his eye as Amie fled the room. Maria laughed again. "Or perhaps not."
"You need to keep her out of here, Maria," he said scathingly. "Next time, I may just give into the temptation."
"Oh, no you won't," she said with such casual authority that Jasper was suddenly enraged. He growled, leaping from his chair and pinning Maria to the floor. Her beautiful face showed no trace fear, and no trace of chagrin for speaking to him so.
"Maria," his words were strangled in a snarl, "I have no patience left for those who disrespect me. I already have to deal with all the youngbloods around here thinking they can speak to me in any manner they please-"
"Jasper, darling," Maria said, her voice sweet, "the only reason we have so many youngbloods running around here is because you killed all of the more experienced warriors." She smiled at him.
Jasper snarled again and raised a hand, wrapping it around her silky throat. "I mean it, Maria," he warned, "if you don't mind your tongue-"
"You'll what?" she asked, her voice mocking. "Kill me? I don't think so, mi amor. I created you, you are bound to me forever."
"I'd like to test that theory," Jasper grumbled, still furious.
"Would you, Jasper?" Maria rolled her hips up into his and Jasper stiffened on top of her. She was fighting dirty now. "Do it, Jasper," she whispered roughly. "Go ahead. Hurt me. Kill me. I dare you." She bucked up into him again.
Jasper released her throat and grabbed her wrists, pinning her arms above her head as his lips came crashing down on hers. She moaned beneath him and wrapped her slender legs around his waist, pulling him closer.
That would never do.
Jasper rolled away from her and threw her across the room. She crashed into a bookshelf and Jasper was instantly on his feet, crouching into a fighting stance. Maria had risen to her feet and was looking at him with hungry eyes.
"Is that how you want it then, mi amor? You want to fight me for it?" She was playing coy now; she knew what he wanted-what he always wanted. This was his only release these days. The only bit of fighting he could find. And she always made him say it-always made him ask for it. Sometimes, she tried to make him beg. But Jasper would never resort to begging a woman for what he wanted.
"Come on, mujer," he hissed at her. "Give me your best shot."
Maria smiled at him. "Como tú desea." She then flew across the room, colliding into him with a sound like thunder. They struggled with one another, hands twisting in hair and fingernails raking stinging paths across every inch of skin they could reach. And for a little while, Jasper lost himself in the frenzy of emotion.
A few hours later, Maria stretched lazily on the bed. They had carved a path of destruction through every room on the floor, until they ended up in their bedroom. This was just one of their bedrooms, of course-the mutual one. They each had their own separate quarters. Maria sometimes lured Jasper into hers, but she was never allowed in his. That was his place, and while Maria would always be important to him, he did not love her. Of course, Jasper didn't believe in love-at least not where he was concerned. He was too much in love with the thrill of war to ever be permanently dissuaded by a woman.
A small click and the sudden smell of smoke and tobacco alerted Jasper to the fact that Maria had lit a cigarette. An annoying habit they had both picked up in the sixties, although Jasper had become less inclined to smoke as often as she did. Still, he took the cigarette from her when she held it to his lips.
"Jasper." Her voice was quiet, content. Satisfied, Jasper thought smugly. "You really should try to relax a little. Don't get so worked up about the young ones. They'll learn, in time."
Jasper glared out the window, taking another drag of the cigarette. "There shouldn't be a need for time, Maria. They should respect me already! Haven't they heard the stories?"
Maria took the cigarette back and took a long drag before replying. "Of course they have, but hearing stories and seeing the truth of them in the man are two different things, mi amor. Don't you realize how you appear to them? You walk around here, consumed in yourself and your own petulance. While they are constantly thirsting for blood, you seem to not care about anything. Face it, Jasper. You're not the bloodthirsty warrior you once were."
Jasper glared at her. "That's because there's no one to war with! Thirty years, Maria-thirty years of this goddamned peace! I can't take it any longer!" He pounded his fist on the bedside table and wooden splinters flew everywhere. Maria watched him calmly, unperturbed by his outburst.
Nothing surprised her anymore-she'd been around too long. Jasper, himself, wasn't sure of her age. He had asked her once, but she had only smiled secretively. He knew she was a great deal older than himself. He had heard her speak of Benito, the first warrior among their kind who had lived over two hundred years ago, like she had known him personally. Of course, that could just be Maria playing one of her little games.
"Well," she said slowly, her voice indifferent, "we could always try and take New Mexico."
Ah, New Mexico. This wasn't the first time that Maria had tried to persuade him to take over the neighboring state. He knew if he agreed, it would only lead to a larger plan to continue down to Mexico. And he had no interest in that hell-hole. The vampires down there were wild and insatiable. It would take a century-at least-to get things in order down there. And Jasper was very attached to his southern lifestyle.
He frowned and shook his head. "No," he said, keeping his tone neutral. "I don't think so."
Maria huffed loudly and pulled another cigarette from the box on her bedside table. Lighting it up, she voiced another idea that he'd already heard. "Arkansas?"
This time he glared right at her. "Absolutely not. I've told you before, Maria, I promised Peter and Charlotte that I would keep our wars away from them."
Peter and Charlotte were the only two creatures on earth whom Jasper considered friends. They had once been a part of his army. Peter had been his most trusted lieutenant, but they had left for a more simple lifestyle. Maria had been furious, and had demanded that he kill them on the grounds of abandonment and mutiny. He had denied her, and instead had given his friends his blessing and an oath to keep his fighting out of their chosen state. They wrote to him occasionally, and Jasper missed them very much. Maria wasn't much for philosophical conversation.
"Fine," Maria answered icily, rising from the bed. The moonlight coming in through the window made her naked body glow softly; her perfect, pearly skin was luminescent. As she reached the doorway, she turned back to face him, raising the cigarette to her mouth once more. "When you figure what, exactly, it is that you want, you know where to find me." And then she was gone, leaving nothing behind but the smell of smoke and sex.
Jasper ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. Women-human and vampire-were so temperamental. And melodramatic, moody, stubborn, self-centered-completely confusing and frustrating. Which is exactly why he made a point of never getting attached to any of the women he slept with. But Maria...He was attached to her by something else. She was his creator, his second-in-command. He couldn't dispose of her the way he could others. She was always around.
Perhaps that's why Jasper hasn't acquired much patience over last hundred years.
***
Jasper spent the next few weeks in a bad temper, growling dangerously at all who dared to look at him. One youngblood made the mistake of actually trying to speak to Jasper. They were still finding pieces of him lying around.
Jasper was so bored, so frustrated-he wanted action, battle! He considered Maria's plan for New Mexico a few times, but always decided against it. And even he didn't quite understand why. He was aching for battle, but he wouldn't grab the opportunity before him. And that only further fueled his aggravation. He spent most of his time in his personal quarters, staring out over his city, which is where he was the night the new war began.
Jasper was standing at his window, considering going to visit Peter and Charlotte in Arkansas. He was so consumed in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the pandemonium of emotion that was sweeping through his army a few floors below. He did, however, notice when the elevator doors opened at the far end of the room and Amie stepped out.
"You!" he snarled viciously. "How dare you come here?" He was furious. Of all the youngbloods to disturb his sanctuary, this one was the worst. Jasper tensed, preparing to fly at her. He wasn't going stand for this final show of contempt. Amie had to die. Maria would be pissed at him, and probably for a very long time, but he didn't care. His lips curled back over his teeth.
"Wait," she said, and something in her tone made him do just that. She didn't sound scared or nervous at all. She sounded excited. Jasper frowned and looked at her more closely. Her small face was lit up, her eyes shining. He pushed away his own fury for a moment and analyzed the emotions coming from her.
Thirst. Of course, there was always thirst with one as young as her. Excitement. Anticipation. And very faintly, trepidation. She was unsure of the future, a little frightened of what was to come, and it had nothing to do with the fact that he was standing right in front of her, about to deliver a death strike.
"What's going on?" he asked, extending his power to reach the rest of his people. The same cacophony of emotion was coursing through everyone-with two exceptions. Maria, who felt thrilled, ecstatic and hungry, and another youngblood-one whom he didn't know well enough to recognize. He was in agony, consumed by pain, fear and rage.
"Maria said that you should come downstairs and see for yourself." She was breathless, as if she was too excited to remember how to draw in the breath she didn't need.
It was very clear to Jasper that something immensely important was going on. He nodded and stepped into the elevator with Amie without another word. The sixty second ride down felt like years. When they finally stepped off the elevator, the crowd gathered in the room stepped back, clearing a path to the young vampire that was curled on the floor. Maria stood over him, her red eyes blazing and a wide, ruthless smile on her lips. Jasper felt the excitement unfurl within himself. He knew that look.
Maria looked up as he approached. "Jasper! You'll never guess what has happened!" Her cry was jubilant, and the youngblood on the floor whimpered feebly, protesting at her glee. Maria didn't even spare him a glance as she stepped daintily over him, walking forward to take Jasper's hands in her own. She pulled him over to the young vampire, and when Jasper got a good look at him, he suddenly had a much better understanding of what was happening.
Large chunks of his hard, white flesh were gone. Jasper could smell the venom from the vampire that had attacked him. The young vampire trembled before him, his body wracked with pain. Jasper felt a moment's pity for the boy, but it was quickly consumed by disdain. In his day, soldiers had endured much greater wounds without making such a fuss.
"Jasper," Maria said, her voice tight with barely controlled enthusiasm. "This is Brady." She turned to the boy. "Brady, could you please tell Jasper everything that you just told me?" The boy on the floor whimpered again, but he dragged himself to his knees and raised his eyes to Jasper's. When he spoke, his voice was barely more than a rough whisper.
"Colin and I went out hunting a few hours ago. We were down by the docks, looking for a quick meal, when we were jumped by... others." Brady winced at the memory.
"Others?" Jasper demanded impatiently.
"Vampires," Brady continued. "Four of them, at first. They were really fast and strong-too strong. They tore Colin to pieces, and then came after me. They would have killed me, too, but another vampire showed up. He told them to stop. They did, and then he came to stand over me." Jasper felt a wave of pure terror wash over the boy. "He told me to tell you-" Brady swallowed and looked away from Jasper. "He told me to tell you that he was coming for you. That your time of glory had passed and you needed to step down. He said if you go quietly, he'll let you live. He said that Texas is his now." Brady glanced up at Jasper, fearful of his temper.
But Jasper wasn't paying any attention to the youngblood's fears. He was consumed by the thought of a battle-a battle here, on his own turf. He grinned. He wouldn't have to go anywhere "Did he give his name?" he asked Brady.
Brady nodded. "Yes. His name is James."
***
Six weeks passed, and Jasper hadn't felt so alive in three decades. The war with James and his coven, although at moments it felt more like a dance, had consumed him. Jasper was in his element. And best of all, the youngbloods now all watched him with fearful, reverent eyes. Jasper had never felt more powerful.
Jasper was in the library, pouring over maps of the city, when Maria came in. She pressed against him, tangling her fingers in his hair and whispering in his ear. "Come to bed, mi amor," she said, her voice seductive. "It's the middle of the afternoon-there's nothing to be done right now."
He twisted out of her grasp, shooting her a scornful look. "There's always something to be done, Maria. Strategy, for instance." He gestured to the maps before him. "What happened to the little hellion who used to stand beside me, planning with me?"
Maria crossed her arms, her lips forming into a pout. "But it's all you think about, Jasper! Just this damned feud with James." Her mood shifted suddenly, and she leaned into him again. "We used to do other things, too, mi amor. Remember?" One of her hands trailed down his chest towards his waistband.
Jasper shoved her away. "Please, Maria, I'm trying to concentrate."
She scowled, giving up. "Fine. But you have to go hunting tonight, Jasper."
He ignored her. She grabbed his arm, twisting him around so that he was facing her. "I mean it, Jasper. It's been almost two weeks! You need your strength."
She was right. Dammit. Jasper glanced longingly back at the table before sighing. "Fine," he said, resigned. "I'll go."
***
As soon as night fell, Jasper set out for blood. He admitted to himself, grudgingly, that he really did need to feed. It had been foolish to wait this long. He made his way to the Museum District and soon found a young woman waiting for a taxi. He guessed from looking at her that she was a tourist.
Perfect. She wouldn't be missed for a while.
He would have to pull her into the shadows and snap her neck before she had time to scream. Then he would have to feed as quickly as he could, before her blood cooled. He would have preferred to keep her alive, to enjoy himself, but it was too risky in this area. Jasper tensed, preparing to attack, but something else caught his attention.
Someone-no, not one-two. There were two of them. And they were feeling very... menacing. Jasper realized almost too late what was going on, and he darted out of the way at the last possible second. Two vampires now stood where Jasper had been before, and one look at them confirmed Jasper's suspicions.
They weren't men of his.
Jasper's lip curled back, baring his teeth.
"Hey, Skip," one said. "I think this little punk was eyeballing our dinner."
His companion chuckled. "I think you're right, Alex. You think maybe we should teach him a lesson about stealing other people's meals?"
Alex growled softly in the back of his throat. "I think that would be extremely... beneficial." His smile was feral.
Jasper realized suddenly that these two cretins had no idea who they were dealing with. He relaxed his posture, smiling pleasantly at Alex. "Son, you really don't want to do this," he said.
Alex laughed. "Oh, I really think I do."
Skip snarled an agreement.
Jasper shook his head, smirking. "Fool. I'm Jasper Whitlock."
They both froze, eyeing him suspiciously. Then they broke out in simultaneous guffaws.
"You honestly expect us to believe that?" Skip asked, delighted. "You really think that we'd believe that Jasper Whitlock would go hunting by himself in the middle of a war?"
Jasper frowned. The way he said it made Jasper sound like a fool for going out on his own. Preposterous. He could take care of himself, as he was about to prove to these imbeciles. He crouched low, preparing to attack. Alex and Skip mimicked his movements.
Then Jasper caught a whiff of curiosity and nervousness, and he realized that their party had an audience. The young tourist was watching them surreptitiously from where she stood beneath a streetlight. Jasper turned back to his opponents. "Shall we take this somewhere less conspicuous?"
They nodded their agreement, and all three of them walked calmly away from the girl, into the dark. They made it as far as the obelisk in Hermann Park before Alex lost patience. He spun around and flew at Jasper with a snarl. Jasper easily dodged his attack, but then Skip was coming at him from the other direction. Jasper spun away, landing in the shallow water of the reflecting pool. He slunk low to the ground, growling.
Their eyes were cautious as they circled him warily. He could see they were seriously considering his claim now. They were nervous.
Skip rushed forward and Jasper braced himself, letting Skip collide into him with a deafening crash. Skip hadn't been expecting this, and Jasper took advantage of his surprise, twisting him around and throwing him back. This time, a deafening crash came from Skip's body colliding with Alex's. Jasper grinned in satisfaction.
Furious snarls ripped from the tangle of vampires in front of him. They scrambled to their feet, and this time it wasn't nervousness Jasper felt.
It was fear.
They came at him together this time. But they were no match for Jasper. They flew around him, doing their best to get a clean shot at him, but Jasper deftly dodged their attempts, occasionally swinging a fist into one of them, producing a crack like a gunshot. He was toying with them now, having fun. The water splashed around them, soaking their clothes. Jasper was on the verge of laughter when the sound of someone gasping halted their perilous dance.
All three of them froze, turning to stare at the tiny young woman who was watching them with wide eyes from beneath the arch of the Sam Houston statue.
Jasper paused for half a second to appreciate her beauty. She was small, less than five feet tall. Her black hair was cropped short around her ears, and her eyes were an unusual shade of sapphire.
The girl tensed, frightened, and prepared to run. But then she looked right at him and stilled, a surprised expression coming over the petite features of her face. And then the emotion coming from her. It was incredible.
She wasn't afraid anymore. Instead, she was... elated. Awestruck. Eager. Eager for what, death? Jasper couldn't understand it. She stared at him, and he heard her heartbeat increase. He vaguely felt the thirst from the vampires beside him, and knew he would have to dispatch them quickly now, so that he could take his time with this girl.
But then the wind picked up, blowing her scent down to him. It hit him like a speeding train, making him dizzy and mad with bloodlust. He had to have her. Now.
He spun around, kicking his leg out and flinging Alex and Skip away. He concentrated briefly, making sure they were incapacitated for at least a few minutes with panic and terror. Then he spun around and pounced on the girl, forcing her to the ground.
Again, her emotions confused him. There was no trace of fear. She was overwhelmed, instead, with reverence, desire, excitement. She met his gaze steadily, her eyes wide. Her hands ran up his arms to his neck. Her fingers slid slowly over his exposed skin, and he heard her heart beat frantically as she gasped again. Jasper could feel the pulse in her fingertips. He groaned in agony and reached up, pushing her head back so that he had access to the delicious pulse pounding in her neck.
She breathed deeply, as if taking in his scent. Her fingers tangled in his shirt, pulling him closer. Jasper snarled, confusion and thirst driving him mad. He leaned in, pressing his lips to her neck, preparing to bite. But then he paused, taking in the sudden swell of emotion from the girl. She was aware of her imminent death-he could feel her acceptance of it. And yet still, she was not afraid. Instead, she seemed to feel relieved. Content. As if she had finally found what she was searching for.
Slowly, agonizingly, he pulled himself away from her neck to look down at her. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed a mouth-watering shade of pink. Jasper swallowed, getting himself under control, before speaking.
"I'm going to kill you." His voice was harsh, his throat still raw from the burning thirst.
She simply nodded, not looking away. Still no fear, but now there was a small amount of confusion, as well. She didn't know why she was still alive. "I know."
"Well? Doesn't that bother you?" he demanded, glaring at her.
She thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Not really."
Jasper prodded her emotions, and his eyebrows shot up when he found she wasn't lying, or making some last show of bravery.
Not really.
Well, that was just fine by him. If this particularly delectable human wanted to die, then he would happily accommodate her. He leaned forward again.
"Wait," she said suddenly.
Jasper jerked his head back, feeling smug. He knew it. But when he met her eyes again, she was still as peaceful as before. Jasper felt himself getting irritated with this perplexing human. Supper shouldn't be this much trouble! "What?" he growled. He wanted to kill her, to be rid of the vexing way she looked at him.
"What's your name?" she whispered. She seemed genuinely curious, like she didn't even realize a killer was sitting on top of her.
Jasper stiffened in shock. His fury was all but forgotten, and even his thirst was diminished slightly from surprise. Of all the questions he had expected to hear, that was not one of them. Of course, of all the things he'd expected to feel from his victims, joy at being with him was definitely not one of them. He answered her softly. "Jasper."
She smiled then, her whole face lighting up. "Jasper," she repeated, warmly. She said it like it was precious, like it was a secret between the two of them. Like a lovers secret. Her eyes drifted shut, leaning her head back of her own accord, offering herself to him.
Jasper stared at her in amazement. Never, in all his life, had he encountered such a creature. Beautiful, fearless-and the smell. The glorious smell! Sharp, yet unbearably sweet, too. It was impossible to resist, but somehow he did. He realized, suddenly, that if he took her life now, she would be gone forever. He would never smell her again, never look into her bright eyes and feel her reckless lack of fear. He would spend the rest of eternity in agony. The demon in him would forever mourn the loss of her blood, and the intellectual in him would always yearn for the perplexing feel of her.
He considered it. Was a moment's satisfaction worth an eternity of emptiness?
Yes, snarled the predator within him, furiously thirsty. But Jasper calmed it, thinking carefully.
The taste of her blood would be beyond satisfactory, he knew. It would be as close as he would ever come to heaven. It would take years for him to regret his hasty actions, but when one lived forever, it was ridiculous to measure time in years.
But if I don't kill her now, what will I do with her? Jasper mused. It was a dilemma, to be sure. His hand was forced when he felt Alex and Skip stirring behind him. He jumped slightly in surprise; he had forgotten all about them. The girl's eyes flew open at his movement.
"Jasper?" she asked, bewildered.
He felt a little sorry for her. Poor girl. Here she was, waiting patiently to be killed, and he was going to have to ruin her plans.
Jasper leapt lightly to his feet, pulling the girl with him. He cradled her in his arms, and her hands slid around his neck without hesitation. Jasper marveled again at her intrepidity. She looked at him quizzically, but stayed silent.
"What is your name?" Jasper asked her.
She smiled again, answering softly. "Alice."
Jasper nodded. "Hold on to me, Alice."
And then he was running through the city-a small, impossibly important human girl clasped in his arms.
Author's Notes: Wow, this chapter was almost painful to write. Definitely the most difficult thing I've ever written. Firstly, because of Jasper's gift. Just to clarify, in case I wasn't clear, Jasper's gift is exponentially stronger than it appears in the books. My reason for this is because, instead of leaving the war and going with Alice to the Cullens, he stayed with Maria and honed his ability. Which is how he was able to incapacitate the other vampires by just overwhelming them with emotion. And you might have noticed, I kind of use it in a smelling context. Like, "he caught a whiff of curiosity". It's the only way I could really think to express what was happening. It's quite difficult to write from Jasper's POV. You have to consider not only what he says and thinks, but also what he feels himself and what he feels from everyone around him and how they all effect one another. And then, on top of all that, you have to take into account that he's a very old, egoistical, legendary vampire. It's rather terrifying.
In case you're wondering why I skimmed over details of the war with James, don't worry. Everything will be explained eventually. One thing I'm really proud of is the setting of Jasper and Alice's meeting. I've done lots of research on Houston and the places I described (the hospital, the Museum District, Hermann Park). All are real and within walking distance of each other. Just so you know. ;)
Another thing, I realize this chapter is quite a bit longer than the first, and Alice isn't even in most of it. In case you're wondering why Jasper got so much back story and Alice didn't-it was necessary. Alice's past will be revealed, in time. But it was important that Jasper's life, and certain people in it, were introduced before he and Alice crossed paths. It's all for your benefit, I swear, to help you get a better understanding of Jasper in the following chapters. Which I wanted to be mostly in Alice's POV, because writing Jasper's POV is exhausting, but my beta has recommended otherwise. She demands suggests more chapters in Jasper's POV because they are interesting. *facepalm*
Author: Kate (deanscookie)
Rating: PG-13 overall
Word Count: 5,706
Spoilers: None, AU.
Summary: He knew stories of what he had done were still told all across the country. The stories painted him as a legend among his kind-a god-yet these newborns still had the audacity to question him.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns it all... for now.
CHAPTER TWO
"GOD AMONG DEMONS"
I'm drawn to you, something's magnetic here
If I could approach you, or even get close to
The scent that you left behind, I'd be fine
No doubt that, you bring out the animal inside
Although he'd been around for over one hundred and fifty years, Jasper had never possessed much patience. Partly, he assumed, because of his ability to feel the emotions of those around him. Their feelings, coupled with his own, usually led to a violent end for whoever had tried said patience.
At this particular moment, it was a young vampire who was irritating him. The boy, barely two years old, had gotten ridiculously jealous after Jasper had casually flirted with a lovely young creature named Janie. Apparently, the boy was infatuated with her.
"I'm sorry, what was your name?" Jasper's voice was calm and polite, ever the southern gentleman, but he let it be known to the entire room, using his ability to influence emotions, that he wouldn't stand for any sort of disrespect.
"Andrew," was the snarled reply. The boy was still crouched low in a fighting stance, but the deep growls that had been echoing from his chest had stopped.
Jasper stood straight, his stance was casual. "Ah, yes. Andrew," Jasper mused, his voice barely a murmur. "Well, Andrew, I think it would be best-for all of us-if you refrained from speaking to me like that in the future." He sounded, for all the world, as if he was merely inquiring about the weather. But the emotion in the air was thick and tense. The small group in the room slowly gathered around them, anticipation rolling off of them in waves.
Andrew frowned slightly, unsure of himself, but he didn't say anything more. A small smile curled the corners of Jasper's mouth as he turned to leave. Then a sharp hiss made him stop and turn back.
The hiss had not come from Andrew, but from Janie. She was scowling at Andrew with disgust. "Are you going to let him talk to you like that? Like he's so much better than us? He's not."
That pushed Jasper over the edge. He leapt forward, placing himself right in front of Janie, and spoke in a low, hard voice. He didn't need any growls or threats to intimidate her-he had other means of making sure she had a healthy amount of respect and fear for him. He concentrated on the emotions flowing from the small girl in front of him. Irritation, anger, frustration and... Ah, yes. There it was. Fear.
Jasper pulled on that particular feeling, expanding and intensifying it. He twisted it in his mind so that the fear was completely about him and what he could to do to her. Janie began to tremble, her eyes widening as she stared into his carefully composed face.
"Tell me, Janie." Jasper hissed her name like it was something poisonous. She flinched away from him. "What makes you think it's all right for you to speak to me like that?"
And even though her voice was shaking with fear, Janie lifted her chin and replied with as much indignation as she could. "You walk around here, looking down your nose at all the rest of us. Like you're better than we are, just because you're... different." Her voice dropped to a whisper on the last word.
Jasper arched an eyebrow and smiled widely, showing his razor sharp teeth in a threatening manner. "My dear, do you really think I am better than you because of what I can do?" He threw another wave of fear upon her and watched as her whole body flinched away from him. "No," he continued softly, "I am better than you for many different reasons. The foremost of which is because I obviously have a better sense of self-preservation." He leaned in, whispering his next words directly in her ear. Still, everyone in the room heard them. "But I am better than all of you, my dear, because I am better than all of you. I am faster, stronger, smarter and have lived longer than any of you could ever hope to."
He straightened up, his face still the perfect picture of ease. "This is the last warning you'll get, little one," he said, his voice still low. "Next time, I will kill you. I promise it."
Janie simply nodded, both hands pressed tightly over her face. Jasper turned and strode easily from the room. Their small audience drew back as he walked by them. Jasper smirked in satisfaction. It would be a long time before one of the youngbloods bothered him again. They were a constant irritation, and he found himself longing for the days when they were disposed of once they reached their one-year mark. But that had been an unnecessary waste. Vampires who were older and knew how to control themselves were of better use in this age than the newborns who thought only of blood. Still, Jasper didn't know if he could stand one more outburst like Janie's.
It was because of this blasted peace. Jasper and his creator, Maria, had conquered Texas over thirty years ago. The last few decades had passed with no battles, no war tactics of any kind, and it made Jasper edgy and sullen. At first, he had simply picked fights among his men, goading them until they attacked, and then tearing them apart. It was a good release for Jasper, but Maria had soon put a stop to it.
Too many of their older, more experienced warriors had been destroyed. Now their army almost completely consisted of newborns; who had no experience of war and no experience of Jasper during a war. They didn't fear him because they had no idea what he was capable of. Boarding the elevator, Jasper scowled darkly. He knew stories of what he had done were still told all across the country. The stories painted him as a legend among his kind-a god-yet these newborns still had the audacity to question him.
As the elevator reached its stop, Jasper swung a fist into one of the mirrored walls and watched it shatter. He glared at his distorted reflection for a moment, before his shoulders slumped and he trudged wearily into his living quarters. Sulkily, he threw himself into a chair near the floor to ceiling windows that covered the east wall. He gazed out over the brightly lit city-his city.
It wasn't fair, Jasper thought petulantly. He had worked hard to get where he was. He deserved respect from every vampire who lived in this state. Perhaps he would just have to remind everyone how much he deserved their respect. Jasper smiled as he considered going back downstairs and slaughtering the whole lot of them. He could do it, no doubt about that. And why not? Would it really be so horrible to just start over?
"Naughty, naughty," came a lilting voice from behind him.
Jasper didn't turn around. He'd spent over a hundred years with the woman that was standing with him now. He recognized not only her voice, but the feeling that came from her. Maria came up behind his chair, wrapping her arms around him and running her small hands down the front of chest.
"I know what you're thinking, mi pequeño demonio," she whispered in his ear. "And you shouldn't think such naughty things. You might slip," her hand slid down his chest, slipping under his shirt and tracing patterns on his abdomen, "and give in to temptation." Her voice had dropped to a murmur that only he could hear, and Jasper, pushing past the overwhelming feeling of desire that was pulsing through both him and Maria, felt the other presence in the room.
Jealousy. He didn't need any other emotion to identify the person standing in the shadows. Jasper rolled his eyes. That was one youngblood he would have killed a thousand times over by now, if not for Maria's... attachment. "Amie." He kept his voice low. "Don't you have anywhere else to be?" Translation: Get the hell out of here.
Maria chuckled in his ear. "Perhaps she likes to watch, mi amor," she whispered. Her teeth closed lightly on Jasper earlobe. A soft hiss came from across the room, and Jasper caught a flash of dark curls out of the corner of his eye as Amie fled the room. Maria laughed again. "Or perhaps not."
"You need to keep her out of here, Maria," he said scathingly. "Next time, I may just give into the temptation."
"Oh, no you won't," she said with such casual authority that Jasper was suddenly enraged. He growled, leaping from his chair and pinning Maria to the floor. Her beautiful face showed no trace fear, and no trace of chagrin for speaking to him so.
"Maria," his words were strangled in a snarl, "I have no patience left for those who disrespect me. I already have to deal with all the youngbloods around here thinking they can speak to me in any manner they please-"
"Jasper, darling," Maria said, her voice sweet, "the only reason we have so many youngbloods running around here is because you killed all of the more experienced warriors." She smiled at him.
Jasper snarled again and raised a hand, wrapping it around her silky throat. "I mean it, Maria," he warned, "if you don't mind your tongue-"
"You'll what?" she asked, her voice mocking. "Kill me? I don't think so, mi amor. I created you, you are bound to me forever."
"I'd like to test that theory," Jasper grumbled, still furious.
"Would you, Jasper?" Maria rolled her hips up into his and Jasper stiffened on top of her. She was fighting dirty now. "Do it, Jasper," she whispered roughly. "Go ahead. Hurt me. Kill me. I dare you." She bucked up into him again.
Jasper released her throat and grabbed her wrists, pinning her arms above her head as his lips came crashing down on hers. She moaned beneath him and wrapped her slender legs around his waist, pulling him closer.
That would never do.
Jasper rolled away from her and threw her across the room. She crashed into a bookshelf and Jasper was instantly on his feet, crouching into a fighting stance. Maria had risen to her feet and was looking at him with hungry eyes.
"Is that how you want it then, mi amor? You want to fight me for it?" She was playing coy now; she knew what he wanted-what he always wanted. This was his only release these days. The only bit of fighting he could find. And she always made him say it-always made him ask for it. Sometimes, she tried to make him beg. But Jasper would never resort to begging a woman for what he wanted.
"Come on, mujer," he hissed at her. "Give me your best shot."
Maria smiled at him. "Como tú desea." She then flew across the room, colliding into him with a sound like thunder. They struggled with one another, hands twisting in hair and fingernails raking stinging paths across every inch of skin they could reach. And for a little while, Jasper lost himself in the frenzy of emotion.
A few hours later, Maria stretched lazily on the bed. They had carved a path of destruction through every room on the floor, until they ended up in their bedroom. This was just one of their bedrooms, of course-the mutual one. They each had their own separate quarters. Maria sometimes lured Jasper into hers, but she was never allowed in his. That was his place, and while Maria would always be important to him, he did not love her. Of course, Jasper didn't believe in love-at least not where he was concerned. He was too much in love with the thrill of war to ever be permanently dissuaded by a woman.
A small click and the sudden smell of smoke and tobacco alerted Jasper to the fact that Maria had lit a cigarette. An annoying habit they had both picked up in the sixties, although Jasper had become less inclined to smoke as often as she did. Still, he took the cigarette from her when she held it to his lips.
"Jasper." Her voice was quiet, content. Satisfied, Jasper thought smugly. "You really should try to relax a little. Don't get so worked up about the young ones. They'll learn, in time."
Jasper glared out the window, taking another drag of the cigarette. "There shouldn't be a need for time, Maria. They should respect me already! Haven't they heard the stories?"
Maria took the cigarette back and took a long drag before replying. "Of course they have, but hearing stories and seeing the truth of them in the man are two different things, mi amor. Don't you realize how you appear to them? You walk around here, consumed in yourself and your own petulance. While they are constantly thirsting for blood, you seem to not care about anything. Face it, Jasper. You're not the bloodthirsty warrior you once were."
Jasper glared at her. "That's because there's no one to war with! Thirty years, Maria-thirty years of this goddamned peace! I can't take it any longer!" He pounded his fist on the bedside table and wooden splinters flew everywhere. Maria watched him calmly, unperturbed by his outburst.
Nothing surprised her anymore-she'd been around too long. Jasper, himself, wasn't sure of her age. He had asked her once, but she had only smiled secretively. He knew she was a great deal older than himself. He had heard her speak of Benito, the first warrior among their kind who had lived over two hundred years ago, like she had known him personally. Of course, that could just be Maria playing one of her little games.
"Well," she said slowly, her voice indifferent, "we could always try and take New Mexico."
Ah, New Mexico. This wasn't the first time that Maria had tried to persuade him to take over the neighboring state. He knew if he agreed, it would only lead to a larger plan to continue down to Mexico. And he had no interest in that hell-hole. The vampires down there were wild and insatiable. It would take a century-at least-to get things in order down there. And Jasper was very attached to his southern lifestyle.
He frowned and shook his head. "No," he said, keeping his tone neutral. "I don't think so."
Maria huffed loudly and pulled another cigarette from the box on her bedside table. Lighting it up, she voiced another idea that he'd already heard. "Arkansas?"
This time he glared right at her. "Absolutely not. I've told you before, Maria, I promised Peter and Charlotte that I would keep our wars away from them."
Peter and Charlotte were the only two creatures on earth whom Jasper considered friends. They had once been a part of his army. Peter had been his most trusted lieutenant, but they had left for a more simple lifestyle. Maria had been furious, and had demanded that he kill them on the grounds of abandonment and mutiny. He had denied her, and instead had given his friends his blessing and an oath to keep his fighting out of their chosen state. They wrote to him occasionally, and Jasper missed them very much. Maria wasn't much for philosophical conversation.
"Fine," Maria answered icily, rising from the bed. The moonlight coming in through the window made her naked body glow softly; her perfect, pearly skin was luminescent. As she reached the doorway, she turned back to face him, raising the cigarette to her mouth once more. "When you figure what, exactly, it is that you want, you know where to find me." And then she was gone, leaving nothing behind but the smell of smoke and sex.
Jasper ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. Women-human and vampire-were so temperamental. And melodramatic, moody, stubborn, self-centered-completely confusing and frustrating. Which is exactly why he made a point of never getting attached to any of the women he slept with. But Maria...He was attached to her by something else. She was his creator, his second-in-command. He couldn't dispose of her the way he could others. She was always around.
Perhaps that's why Jasper hasn't acquired much patience over last hundred years.
***
Jasper spent the next few weeks in a bad temper, growling dangerously at all who dared to look at him. One youngblood made the mistake of actually trying to speak to Jasper. They were still finding pieces of him lying around.
Jasper was so bored, so frustrated-he wanted action, battle! He considered Maria's plan for New Mexico a few times, but always decided against it. And even he didn't quite understand why. He was aching for battle, but he wouldn't grab the opportunity before him. And that only further fueled his aggravation. He spent most of his time in his personal quarters, staring out over his city, which is where he was the night the new war began.
Jasper was standing at his window, considering going to visit Peter and Charlotte in Arkansas. He was so consumed in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the pandemonium of emotion that was sweeping through his army a few floors below. He did, however, notice when the elevator doors opened at the far end of the room and Amie stepped out.
"You!" he snarled viciously. "How dare you come here?" He was furious. Of all the youngbloods to disturb his sanctuary, this one was the worst. Jasper tensed, preparing to fly at her. He wasn't going stand for this final show of contempt. Amie had to die. Maria would be pissed at him, and probably for a very long time, but he didn't care. His lips curled back over his teeth.
"Wait," she said, and something in her tone made him do just that. She didn't sound scared or nervous at all. She sounded excited. Jasper frowned and looked at her more closely. Her small face was lit up, her eyes shining. He pushed away his own fury for a moment and analyzed the emotions coming from her.
Thirst. Of course, there was always thirst with one as young as her. Excitement. Anticipation. And very faintly, trepidation. She was unsure of the future, a little frightened of what was to come, and it had nothing to do with the fact that he was standing right in front of her, about to deliver a death strike.
"What's going on?" he asked, extending his power to reach the rest of his people. The same cacophony of emotion was coursing through everyone-with two exceptions. Maria, who felt thrilled, ecstatic and hungry, and another youngblood-one whom he didn't know well enough to recognize. He was in agony, consumed by pain, fear and rage.
"Maria said that you should come downstairs and see for yourself." She was breathless, as if she was too excited to remember how to draw in the breath she didn't need.
It was very clear to Jasper that something immensely important was going on. He nodded and stepped into the elevator with Amie without another word. The sixty second ride down felt like years. When they finally stepped off the elevator, the crowd gathered in the room stepped back, clearing a path to the young vampire that was curled on the floor. Maria stood over him, her red eyes blazing and a wide, ruthless smile on her lips. Jasper felt the excitement unfurl within himself. He knew that look.
Maria looked up as he approached. "Jasper! You'll never guess what has happened!" Her cry was jubilant, and the youngblood on the floor whimpered feebly, protesting at her glee. Maria didn't even spare him a glance as she stepped daintily over him, walking forward to take Jasper's hands in her own. She pulled him over to the young vampire, and when Jasper got a good look at him, he suddenly had a much better understanding of what was happening.
Large chunks of his hard, white flesh were gone. Jasper could smell the venom from the vampire that had attacked him. The young vampire trembled before him, his body wracked with pain. Jasper felt a moment's pity for the boy, but it was quickly consumed by disdain. In his day, soldiers had endured much greater wounds without making such a fuss.
"Jasper," Maria said, her voice tight with barely controlled enthusiasm. "This is Brady." She turned to the boy. "Brady, could you please tell Jasper everything that you just told me?" The boy on the floor whimpered again, but he dragged himself to his knees and raised his eyes to Jasper's. When he spoke, his voice was barely more than a rough whisper.
"Colin and I went out hunting a few hours ago. We were down by the docks, looking for a quick meal, when we were jumped by... others." Brady winced at the memory.
"Others?" Jasper demanded impatiently.
"Vampires," Brady continued. "Four of them, at first. They were really fast and strong-too strong. They tore Colin to pieces, and then came after me. They would have killed me, too, but another vampire showed up. He told them to stop. They did, and then he came to stand over me." Jasper felt a wave of pure terror wash over the boy. "He told me to tell you-" Brady swallowed and looked away from Jasper. "He told me to tell you that he was coming for you. That your time of glory had passed and you needed to step down. He said if you go quietly, he'll let you live. He said that Texas is his now." Brady glanced up at Jasper, fearful of his temper.
But Jasper wasn't paying any attention to the youngblood's fears. He was consumed by the thought of a battle-a battle here, on his own turf. He grinned. He wouldn't have to go anywhere "Did he give his name?" he asked Brady.
Brady nodded. "Yes. His name is James."
***
Six weeks passed, and Jasper hadn't felt so alive in three decades. The war with James and his coven, although at moments it felt more like a dance, had consumed him. Jasper was in his element. And best of all, the youngbloods now all watched him with fearful, reverent eyes. Jasper had never felt more powerful.
Jasper was in the library, pouring over maps of the city, when Maria came in. She pressed against him, tangling her fingers in his hair and whispering in his ear. "Come to bed, mi amor," she said, her voice seductive. "It's the middle of the afternoon-there's nothing to be done right now."
He twisted out of her grasp, shooting her a scornful look. "There's always something to be done, Maria. Strategy, for instance." He gestured to the maps before him. "What happened to the little hellion who used to stand beside me, planning with me?"
Maria crossed her arms, her lips forming into a pout. "But it's all you think about, Jasper! Just this damned feud with James." Her mood shifted suddenly, and she leaned into him again. "We used to do other things, too, mi amor. Remember?" One of her hands trailed down his chest towards his waistband.
Jasper shoved her away. "Please, Maria, I'm trying to concentrate."
She scowled, giving up. "Fine. But you have to go hunting tonight, Jasper."
He ignored her. She grabbed his arm, twisting him around so that he was facing her. "I mean it, Jasper. It's been almost two weeks! You need your strength."
She was right. Dammit. Jasper glanced longingly back at the table before sighing. "Fine," he said, resigned. "I'll go."
***
As soon as night fell, Jasper set out for blood. He admitted to himself, grudgingly, that he really did need to feed. It had been foolish to wait this long. He made his way to the Museum District and soon found a young woman waiting for a taxi. He guessed from looking at her that she was a tourist.
Perfect. She wouldn't be missed for a while.
He would have to pull her into the shadows and snap her neck before she had time to scream. Then he would have to feed as quickly as he could, before her blood cooled. He would have preferred to keep her alive, to enjoy himself, but it was too risky in this area. Jasper tensed, preparing to attack, but something else caught his attention.
Someone-no, not one-two. There were two of them. And they were feeling very... menacing. Jasper realized almost too late what was going on, and he darted out of the way at the last possible second. Two vampires now stood where Jasper had been before, and one look at them confirmed Jasper's suspicions.
They weren't men of his.
Jasper's lip curled back, baring his teeth.
"Hey, Skip," one said. "I think this little punk was eyeballing our dinner."
His companion chuckled. "I think you're right, Alex. You think maybe we should teach him a lesson about stealing other people's meals?"
Alex growled softly in the back of his throat. "I think that would be extremely... beneficial." His smile was feral.
Jasper realized suddenly that these two cretins had no idea who they were dealing with. He relaxed his posture, smiling pleasantly at Alex. "Son, you really don't want to do this," he said.
Alex laughed. "Oh, I really think I do."
Skip snarled an agreement.
Jasper shook his head, smirking. "Fool. I'm Jasper Whitlock."
They both froze, eyeing him suspiciously. Then they broke out in simultaneous guffaws.
"You honestly expect us to believe that?" Skip asked, delighted. "You really think that we'd believe that Jasper Whitlock would go hunting by himself in the middle of a war?"
Jasper frowned. The way he said it made Jasper sound like a fool for going out on his own. Preposterous. He could take care of himself, as he was about to prove to these imbeciles. He crouched low, preparing to attack. Alex and Skip mimicked his movements.
Then Jasper caught a whiff of curiosity and nervousness, and he realized that their party had an audience. The young tourist was watching them surreptitiously from where she stood beneath a streetlight. Jasper turned back to his opponents. "Shall we take this somewhere less conspicuous?"
They nodded their agreement, and all three of them walked calmly away from the girl, into the dark. They made it as far as the obelisk in Hermann Park before Alex lost patience. He spun around and flew at Jasper with a snarl. Jasper easily dodged his attack, but then Skip was coming at him from the other direction. Jasper spun away, landing in the shallow water of the reflecting pool. He slunk low to the ground, growling.
Their eyes were cautious as they circled him warily. He could see they were seriously considering his claim now. They were nervous.
Skip rushed forward and Jasper braced himself, letting Skip collide into him with a deafening crash. Skip hadn't been expecting this, and Jasper took advantage of his surprise, twisting him around and throwing him back. This time, a deafening crash came from Skip's body colliding with Alex's. Jasper grinned in satisfaction.
Furious snarls ripped from the tangle of vampires in front of him. They scrambled to their feet, and this time it wasn't nervousness Jasper felt.
It was fear.
They came at him together this time. But they were no match for Jasper. They flew around him, doing their best to get a clean shot at him, but Jasper deftly dodged their attempts, occasionally swinging a fist into one of them, producing a crack like a gunshot. He was toying with them now, having fun. The water splashed around them, soaking their clothes. Jasper was on the verge of laughter when the sound of someone gasping halted their perilous dance.
All three of them froze, turning to stare at the tiny young woman who was watching them with wide eyes from beneath the arch of the Sam Houston statue.
Jasper paused for half a second to appreciate her beauty. She was small, less than five feet tall. Her black hair was cropped short around her ears, and her eyes were an unusual shade of sapphire.
The girl tensed, frightened, and prepared to run. But then she looked right at him and stilled, a surprised expression coming over the petite features of her face. And then the emotion coming from her. It was incredible.
She wasn't afraid anymore. Instead, she was... elated. Awestruck. Eager. Eager for what, death? Jasper couldn't understand it. She stared at him, and he heard her heartbeat increase. He vaguely felt the thirst from the vampires beside him, and knew he would have to dispatch them quickly now, so that he could take his time with this girl.
But then the wind picked up, blowing her scent down to him. It hit him like a speeding train, making him dizzy and mad with bloodlust. He had to have her. Now.
He spun around, kicking his leg out and flinging Alex and Skip away. He concentrated briefly, making sure they were incapacitated for at least a few minutes with panic and terror. Then he spun around and pounced on the girl, forcing her to the ground.
Again, her emotions confused him. There was no trace of fear. She was overwhelmed, instead, with reverence, desire, excitement. She met his gaze steadily, her eyes wide. Her hands ran up his arms to his neck. Her fingers slid slowly over his exposed skin, and he heard her heart beat frantically as she gasped again. Jasper could feel the pulse in her fingertips. He groaned in agony and reached up, pushing her head back so that he had access to the delicious pulse pounding in her neck.
She breathed deeply, as if taking in his scent. Her fingers tangled in his shirt, pulling him closer. Jasper snarled, confusion and thirst driving him mad. He leaned in, pressing his lips to her neck, preparing to bite. But then he paused, taking in the sudden swell of emotion from the girl. She was aware of her imminent death-he could feel her acceptance of it. And yet still, she was not afraid. Instead, she seemed to feel relieved. Content. As if she had finally found what she was searching for.
Slowly, agonizingly, he pulled himself away from her neck to look down at her. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed a mouth-watering shade of pink. Jasper swallowed, getting himself under control, before speaking.
"I'm going to kill you." His voice was harsh, his throat still raw from the burning thirst.
She simply nodded, not looking away. Still no fear, but now there was a small amount of confusion, as well. She didn't know why she was still alive. "I know."
"Well? Doesn't that bother you?" he demanded, glaring at her.
She thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Not really."
Jasper prodded her emotions, and his eyebrows shot up when he found she wasn't lying, or making some last show of bravery.
Not really.
Well, that was just fine by him. If this particularly delectable human wanted to die, then he would happily accommodate her. He leaned forward again.
"Wait," she said suddenly.
Jasper jerked his head back, feeling smug. He knew it. But when he met her eyes again, she was still as peaceful as before. Jasper felt himself getting irritated with this perplexing human. Supper shouldn't be this much trouble! "What?" he growled. He wanted to kill her, to be rid of the vexing way she looked at him.
"What's your name?" she whispered. She seemed genuinely curious, like she didn't even realize a killer was sitting on top of her.
Jasper stiffened in shock. His fury was all but forgotten, and even his thirst was diminished slightly from surprise. Of all the questions he had expected to hear, that was not one of them. Of course, of all the things he'd expected to feel from his victims, joy at being with him was definitely not one of them. He answered her softly. "Jasper."
She smiled then, her whole face lighting up. "Jasper," she repeated, warmly. She said it like it was precious, like it was a secret between the two of them. Like a lovers secret. Her eyes drifted shut, leaning her head back of her own accord, offering herself to him.
Jasper stared at her in amazement. Never, in all his life, had he encountered such a creature. Beautiful, fearless-and the smell. The glorious smell! Sharp, yet unbearably sweet, too. It was impossible to resist, but somehow he did. He realized, suddenly, that if he took her life now, she would be gone forever. He would never smell her again, never look into her bright eyes and feel her reckless lack of fear. He would spend the rest of eternity in agony. The demon in him would forever mourn the loss of her blood, and the intellectual in him would always yearn for the perplexing feel of her.
He considered it. Was a moment's satisfaction worth an eternity of emptiness?
Yes, snarled the predator within him, furiously thirsty. But Jasper calmed it, thinking carefully.
The taste of her blood would be beyond satisfactory, he knew. It would be as close as he would ever come to heaven. It would take years for him to regret his hasty actions, but when one lived forever, it was ridiculous to measure time in years.
But if I don't kill her now, what will I do with her? Jasper mused. It was a dilemma, to be sure. His hand was forced when he felt Alex and Skip stirring behind him. He jumped slightly in surprise; he had forgotten all about them. The girl's eyes flew open at his movement.
"Jasper?" she asked, bewildered.
He felt a little sorry for her. Poor girl. Here she was, waiting patiently to be killed, and he was going to have to ruin her plans.
Jasper leapt lightly to his feet, pulling the girl with him. He cradled her in his arms, and her hands slid around his neck without hesitation. Jasper marveled again at her intrepidity. She looked at him quizzically, but stayed silent.
"What is your name?" Jasper asked her.
She smiled again, answering softly. "Alice."
Jasper nodded. "Hold on to me, Alice."
And then he was running through the city-a small, impossibly important human girl clasped in his arms.
Author's Notes: Wow, this chapter was almost painful to write. Definitely the most difficult thing I've ever written. Firstly, because of Jasper's gift. Just to clarify, in case I wasn't clear, Jasper's gift is exponentially stronger than it appears in the books. My reason for this is because, instead of leaving the war and going with Alice to the Cullens, he stayed with Maria and honed his ability. Which is how he was able to incapacitate the other vampires by just overwhelming them with emotion. And you might have noticed, I kind of use it in a smelling context. Like, "he caught a whiff of curiosity". It's the only way I could really think to express what was happening. It's quite difficult to write from Jasper's POV. You have to consider not only what he says and thinks, but also what he feels himself and what he feels from everyone around him and how they all effect one another. And then, on top of all that, you have to take into account that he's a very old, egoistical, legendary vampire. It's rather terrifying.
In case you're wondering why I skimmed over details of the war with James, don't worry. Everything will be explained eventually. One thing I'm really proud of is the setting of Jasper and Alice's meeting. I've done lots of research on Houston and the places I described (the hospital, the Museum District, Hermann Park). All are real and within walking distance of each other. Just so you know. ;)
Another thing, I realize this chapter is quite a bit longer than the first, and Alice isn't even in most of it. In case you're wondering why Jasper got so much back story and Alice didn't-it was necessary. Alice's past will be revealed, in time. But it was important that Jasper's life, and certain people in it, were introduced before he and Alice crossed paths. It's all for your benefit, I swear, to help you get a better understanding of Jasper in the following chapters. Which I wanted to be mostly in Alice's POV, because writing Jasper's POV is exhausting, but my beta has recommended otherwise. She demands suggests more chapters in Jasper's POV because they are interesting. *facepalm*