Hope - Jasper Hale

Hope - Chapter 15

-15-

When we get to the house, I sit on the couch and notice Jasper has new fresh scars. “What happened?” 

He hisses when I touch them and I immediately apologize, “It’s fine - our venom is the only thing that can really hurt us.” 

“You have so many scars - I’ve noticed them before, but I never knew that they hurt when they were new.”

“I joined the Cullens about a half century ago with Alice, I was brought up differently in this new life than all of them.”

“Can you tell me about you past?” I ask intrigued. 

“Can’t you use your power?” 

“That is no fun,” I pout. “I want to hear your version of your past.” 

He looks at me for a moment as if to check to see if I am being serious or not. He sighs, “I lived in Houston, Texas in 1860. That year, I lied about my age to get into the Confederate army. I quickly was able to climb the ranks and the last night of my life we were evacuating women and children from a city. 

“I met these three women - Maria, Nettie and Lucy. I never believed in ghosts and I was taught to never fear women. In that moment, I did. These woman were almost like angels, but the hair on the back of my neck was standing at attention and I had the urge to run. Maria asked me for my name and she bit me. 

“Of course you saw the vision of me when I first found out. After I stayed with Maria and her army which is similar to Victoria’s (I was Riley - I was Maria’s second in command) I soon I discovered that I could feel emotions and for the first half of my existence I only knew hate. I was a creature of the night. I made friends with two newborns Peter and Charlotte. I was friends with Peter and he fancied Charlotte so the night she was going to be disposed of he ran off with her. 

“After they left, I began to sense some unfriendly feelings from Nettie and Lucy so Maria and I attacked before they could. Later on - when I felt those some feelings from Maria - Peter and Charlotte arrived just in time to tell me about life in the north and to take me with them. They explained vampires weren’t fighting all the time up there so I joined them. 

“I still felt terrible every time I killed a human. I could feel their fear and pain. That was around the time I found Alice. She was waiting for me, I didn’t know I had kept her waiting for me. With her, for the first time in a century I had felt hope.”

I repressed any feelings I had for him and nodded, “And she helped you with the new diet and brought you to the Cullens?” 

“Yes,” He smiles. “I would go anywhere for her.” 

“I worry about her and Edward and even Bella.” 

“Why?” 

“The Volturi,” I whisper. 

“They won’t come for you-”

“They can kill me if they want! I’m worried about the others. They all have somebody. I mean, I could fade away with no problem. That was the plan before any of this even happened-”

“Violet, you can’t mean that!” 

I sigh, “I do.” 

“None of us will let them harm you any further,” Jasper promises. 

I shake my head, “They work in crafty ways. If they want something done it will happen.” 

“Violet, I am trying not to manipulate your emotions, but-” 

“Fine, I’ll go and let them-”

“Stay here,” He grabs my wrist and I hiss in pain the venom still stinging from the tug on my recently attached limb. “Sorry.” 

I plop back down on the couch and sigh, “I really hate this.” 

“Violet...” He sounds so helpless, but I can’t do anything. I don’t want to lie to him. 

“I’m sorry,” I am angry that I can’t cry. “I have to be truthful. I really hate this. I know it was inevitable, but I really just want to die.” 

I feel his hand on my back, instead of using his power, he just soothingly traces a circular pattern on my back trying to calm me down. I try to clear my head, but I was ready to die only two days ago. Now I am a new vampire who can’t control herself. 

“Your emotions are heightened, you will adjust-”

“I just want to adjust already, I hate this, I feel so terrible,” I can’t manage to calm myself yet. 

“Violet...” 

“Really, I’m just being troublesome. I killed some innocent humans. Put Bella in danger. Have the Volturi after you guys more than they normally would be. Upset Charlie by convincing him I died. Even Renee and Phil think I am dead, but obviously don’t care too much. I am a terrible person!” 

“Violet, you mean a lot-” 

I huff, “To the family?! I’ve only caused you guys trouble.” 

“No, to me and Alice.” 

“Alice needs a friend... well once she can’t break. And I like that you are different. You aren’t like Alice who is hyper all the time. I mean, I love Alice, but keeping up with her or trying to rein her in is impossible.” He smiles. “I’m pretty sure without you, Alice would crumble. I know I would miss you.” 

If I had a heart it would skip a beat or maybe stop all together. I sit up and take a deep breath, “I just feel like something bad is going to happen...”

“Relax,” He says, deciding to use his power to calm me down completely. “Everything is fine right now. They others are on their way back, but the one newborn had to face Jane’s wrath.”