Angels and Monsters

Chapter Eight

New story...I'm just teeming with ideas. LOL. Anyhow, I'm just going with this story off the cuff to see where it goes in the first chapter. If it's good, I'll continue it. If not, we'll have to see. I'm delving back into the realm of vampires. But, Bella's the vamp this time. Without further ado...

Unfortunately, not mine.

Damn. It.

EPOV

"I'm never going back to Chicago, am I?" I asked Jasper as we drove to the closest mall that was about an hour away from Bella's cabin.

"Probably not, Edward," Jasper said with a frown. "Are you sure that you want this?"

"To be with Bella? Yes. I've never been more certain about anything in my life," I said as looked at him.

"Are you ready to give up everything in your life, your family, your future?" Jasper pressed. "If you become like one of us, you will have to 'die' in the eyes of your family. Edward Masen will cease to exist."

"I can't be without her, Jasper," I murmured. "It hurts. Physically hurts. I feel like my heart is back at that cabin. If I give her up..." My heart stammered against my chest and I felt the edges of my vision cloud.

"Okay, relax, Edward," Jasper said. "You're on the verge of a panic attack. I get it."

I felt myself calm down and I slumped against the seat of Bella's Ferrari. "Did you do that?"

"Yep. Cool, huh?" Jasper snickered. "I never realized the full extent of my gift until I met Alice. I could always feel the emotions of others and could project those emotions back out to nearby humans. But, Alice suggested that I try projecting a different emotion. I started simple with happy and when I mastered that, it grew from there. It's easier to manipulate human emotions than vampire ones, though."

"I have a question, Jasper," I said, furrowing my brow. "What does it feel like for you to be around me? Being around a human?"

"Do you want me to sugarcoat?"

"Brutally, honest."

"My throat is on fire, Edward. Plus, being inside this car with you is my own personal hell," Jasper said, his smile fading. "Your scent is mouthwatering and couple that with your strong heartbeat, it's taking all of my strength to not drain you. But, I couldn't do that to Bella. She's your mate and if I killed you, Bella would kill me then herself. However, it's worse for her."

"Because I'm her singer?" I muttered.

"Yes. What I'm feeling is nothing compared to what Bella is experiencing. Breathing in your scent for me is like swallowing gasoline and lighting a match," Jasper said.

"Fuck," I groaned.

"For Bella, it's like breathing in plasma. You know from Star Trek?" Jasper said. "I'm in awe that she was able to restrain herself against you. Especially since she's drunk from humans before. Her entire existence. Something should have snapped and you should be dead. But, you're not. Her arousal and connection to you is stronger than the call of your blood."

"Oh," I said dumbly. I was shocked that Bella's connection and her, um, arousal, prevented her from killing me.

"You're surprised? What are you surprised about?" Jasper asked.

"Have you ever had sex with a human, Jasper?" I asked bluntly.

"Once. It ended. Badly," he choked out. "It was early in my life as a vampire. I was still feeding on humans. But, I was attracted to this girl and I wanted to try. However, the girl was a virgin and when I pushed through her hymen; the blood caused me to lose control. I drained her before I even realized that I had fallen into bloodlust."