Brothers feud

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"I can hear her."

Jasper froze. Edward could hear Jenna's thoughts? How was that possible? He'd thought Edward couldn't hear her thoughts. So what had changed?

His instincts urged him to press Edward for answers, but there was no time. Jenna stirred on the sofa, her breathing uneven as her eyes fluttered open. Jasper tensed, immediately averting his gaze. He couldn't let her see the blood-red hue still clinging to his irises, a stark reminder of what he'd done.

"W-What?" Jenna stammered, her voice groggy as her eyes darted around the room, confusion etched on her face. "What happened?"

The siblings exchanged a silent glance, their expressions a mixture of tension and concern.

Alice moved first, her light steps carrying her to the sofa where she sat beside Jenna. Her face softened into a reassuring smile, a deliberate effort to ease the confusion swirling in Jenna's mind. "Hey, Jenna," Alice said gently, her tone soothing. "How are you feeling?"

Jenna blinked, her hand instinctively brushing against the blanket covering her. "Like I slept for days," she croaked, her voice raw with sleep. Her brows knit as she took in her surroundings—the elegant living room, the quiet yet watchful stares of the Cullens. "Why am I here?"

The faint ripple of fear emanating from her was subtle, but Jasper felt it as clearly as if it were his own. The calm energy he'd surrounded her with wavered under the weight of her unease, and he had to focus to strengthen it again.

Edward's glare cut across the room, sharp and accusatory. Jasper didn't need to look to know it was directed at him. The tension between them simmered, unspoken but palpable.

Alice let out a quiet sigh, the sound almost lost in the charged silence. She glanced pointedly between her brothers, her expression firm. "Why don't you two step outside for some fresh air?" Her tone left no room for argument. "I'll help Jenna clean up."

It wasn't a suggestion, and they both knew it.

Jasper hesitated, his body rigid. The thought of leaving Jenna—even for a moment—set his nerves on edge. But as he looked at her, the faint crease in her brow and the lingering fear in her eyes, he knew Alice was right. She needed space, and maybe he did too.

Reluctantly, he pushed himself to his feet. Edward followed, his glare unwavering. Jasper turned back to Jenna, his voice softer than usual. "I'll be back," he said, the promise laced with an almost imperceptible ache.

Jenna met his words with a small, uncertain nod. Jasper didn't linger. He stepped out of the room without a backward glance, the burn of his brother's unspoken accusations trailing behind him. He couldn't risk it—not now. She couldn't see the monster he was.

As Jasper descended the wooden steps of the terrace, the soft creak of the boards beneath his boots cut through the stillness like a whisper of guilt. His gaze lifted instinctively to the sky. The faint smudges of gray overhead deepened, spreading like ink through the retreating darkness. Dawn was coming. He could hear Edward's quiet steps behind him, the weight of his brother's anger palpable. Jasper didn't need to turn around to feel it—it radiated off Edward like a storm about to break.

A wry puff of laughter escaped Jasper's lips, sharp and bitter. He'd have done the same thing if it were Bella.

"No," Edward replied, his voice cold and measured, breaking through the quiet. "Perhaps I'd consider it, but killing six men in a small town like Port Angeles? That kind of bloodbath is bound to attract attention—from everyone."

Jasper stopped and turned to face him, his expression hardening. "I covered my tracks," he said evenly, his tone clipped. "You don't have to remind me, Edward. I know it was wrong, but—"

Bloody Mary // J. HaleWhere stories live. Discover now