Cauldrons, Ice and Old Lace

Chapter 2

Jasper’s POV

Driving through Forks, I can feel the vibration of the music pulsating through me as the song The Never Ending Why by Placebo resonates throughout my pickup truck.  I have  always found it interesting how my taste in music can change throughout time, but my physical being is frozen like ice and never changing. I was born and raised a country boy; my memories are few and seem like echos in my own mind. I do recall some found moments of what I believe to be my family, sitting on a back porch playing fiddles, banjos, harmonicas, singing and dancing our hearts out underneath a starlit sky. Over the years I have really grown to love and appreciate all kinds of music. I raise the volume of the music and sing along as loud as I can, trying to tune out the outside voices and excessive energies I would rather avoid.

When I come to a four way stop, I make a left turn on Rosewood Street. Instantly I feel my cold dead heart clinch in pain. It has been so many years since I have had the courage to come back here. I have not stepped foot into Forks since my sweet beautiful Annabel was taken from me  unexpectedly so many years ago.  The further I drive down the road the more difficult it is to control my own emotions. I want to turn around and never look back. I know Annabel’s home is just a few houses away. The knowledge of knowing she is no longer here does not stop me from feeling that pull I have always had when it comes to her. Slowly I pull to a stop close to what used to be the Swan home.

I can see the herb garden is flourishing and I smile to myself wondering if Ruby has come back here. I know Edward misses her dearly; she was the other part of his soul as Annabel was mine. After my sweet beloved passed away, the magic that once circled around all of us died. In many ways Ruby died right alongside her twin sister. Edward reached out to her with no luck. In time she finally pushed him away, claiming that she was a danger to him, to all of the Cullen’s because of what she knows and the evil that is always trying to attack her and her family. I never fully understood or comprehended which was worse - having my beloved die in my arms or Edward having to lose his love slowly, watching her disconnect from him and everything around her until she was only a shell of herself. He never fully let her go. He lurked in the shadows for many years watching and waiting until she needed him again. That never happened.

I wanted to be there for him like he was there for me when we first met so many years ago. In many ways it just felt so hollow. I will never forget the bond we had shared. I had finally been freed of my many years of torment underneath Maria. I had spent some time with my brother and sister in arms, Peter and Charlotte, until it got too much for me to bear their burdens of the past along with my own. I had lived in the shadows trying to feed upon humans that I felt pure evil from. The only downfall was when I fed from them I could feel their foul energy seeping into my own cold soul.

I had literally run into to Edward during his rebellious years, as he liked to call it. At the time I only saw it as living true to his inner beast, which happened to be sexier than hell. Edward quickly became my best friend, lover and companion for many years. He understood what it was like to have a gift that overpowered you. We both seemed to depend so much on our gifts, as much as we despise them. In time he taught me a new way of life, feeding from animals instead of humans. Our relationship was raw, pure and animalistic. We both knew we were not mates but we helped each other fill that void. We loved each other dearly, but it was not all consuming, not like it is when you're mated.

The first time Edward brought me to the family I knew right away I was Home. Edward had feared rejection due to our unsavory ways. But we were greeted with open arms and understanding. One family member stood out the most to me. The little tiny pixie-like vampire with spiky black hair. Her smile was wide and contagious, she squealed and clapped her hands before she jumped directly into Edward's and my arms.

“I knew you would come back, I knew it would be today!”  She pulled back and looked into our amber eyes. “And I see you're back on the correct diet too. Yay!” she cheered enthusiastically.

Edward laughed and then asked. “And who are you?”

She grinned sheepishly, and I knew if blood still flowed through her body she would be blushing. “I’m Alice, your new sister.”

We quickly learned that Alice had a true heart of gold. She could see into our future and guide the family in the best direction that would fit our family's needs the best at that moment in time. I will always be grateful she saw something special in Forks. No matter the outcome I will never regret my time with my beloved.

~~~~~

My thoughts drift to the past, remembering the night I first met Annabel. It was about 80 years ago. Our family had been living  deep in the forest trying to stay inconspicuous. Late one night Edward and I went out to hunt, as always after our thirst for blood had been quenched it was our hunger for lust that remained. There was something different about tonight when our bodies connected. I had this strange awareness that things between Edward and I were coming to an end.  I could not explain it, it was just on overwhelming sensation  that rushed through my whole body, and I felt I was being pulled to a new destiny that I did not even know existed until this moment and I needed to go find it. After Edward and I both found our release I leaned my forehead against his then I looked deep into his eyes. I instantly saw what I was looking for. I knew he had read my thoughts and I could feel the fear and devastation sweeping through his being. Edward gasped as I slowly pulled out of him. He whimpered, “Jasper, no, I can’t loose you, please don’t go.” Our heavy breathing mingled together. I closed my eyes trying to push away the pain I felt radiating off of him.

If we could shed tears I knew we both would. Gently I cupped his beautiful face in my hands. “ Edward, listen to me. You will never lose me; I will always be here for you. We both knew we would not be together forever. I don’t know what’s out there calling me, but I feel it and I need to go now. If I don’t…”

Edward tenderly placed  his hands over mine and removed them from his face. He held my hands affectionately in his as he let out a long strangled sigh. “I know and you're right, you must go, but know I will always love you and be here for you.”

For the first time I felt hope from him. “Me too, you’re my best friend.” He smiled and nodded his head. He cupped my face in his hands  desperately kissing me with all the passion he had.

I turned around and started running without looking back. Even when I heard Edward fall and the ground beneath me vibrated I continued to rush in the direction I felt I was being pulled.  The faster I ran the lighter I felt. All of those years of misery began to fade away with every unneeded breath. The breeze against my face was exhilarating. I felt so alive so hopeful as I sprinted deeper and deeper into the forest, guided only by pure instinct.

I stopped suddenly when I heard the sweetest singing' the voice sounded like an angel. Slowly I crept closer  peaking through the trees and bushes.  Standing about 20 feet away from me was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.  I knew she was a supernatural being of some sort just by her singing alone. I had no idea what she was but I knew she was not a vampire. Her heart beat and I could hear the sound of her blood rushing through her veins. Her blood did not call to me in a primal way. It seemed to soothe me.

I looked closer at the beauty in front of me. She was completely naked; her body was perfect in every way. Her long brown hair flowed over her shoulders, she had wild flowers garnishing around her head. When she smiled I could see a sparkle of light gleam in her eyes. My own eyes coasted over her whole body and I felt my unneeded breath hitch as I took in her pert breasts. I was taken off guard when I saw a third nipple resting slightly to the side about her nipple on the left side. I new instantly she was a witch. I watched in amazement as she danced and swayed to the music, singing to the animals nearby. When she turned in mid swirl she looked directly into my eyes and she gasped in fear. It pained me to feel the fear that rolled from her being towards me. I would never want to scare this stunning creature. She started to run. Impulsively I followed after her, not wanting to lose her after I had just found her. I stopped abruptly realizing she was gone; she vanished into thin air.

Realization dawned on me when I looked down at myself. I must look like a horrifying mess. My shirt was torn and practically falling off me; blood stains covered my bare skin and torn clothing. My dead heart broke when I remembered the crescent scars that covered my body from the vampire wars. The fact that I was standing there with those scars, alone proved who won those wars. I laughed sardonically to myself. That alone was enough to frighten any supernatural creature. In most situations I found it my own form of self preservation. It showed others I was not someone to fuck with, but now… I wished she could see the man I am now and not the past that haunts my marbled skin. I sigh heavily.

I knew she had to be close, I could feel her. Maybe she was able to make herself invisible so I decided to just talk. “Ma’am, I’m terribly sorry if I startled you. That was never my intent. I have just never seen anyone as lovely as yourself. You sing like an angel.” I could sense her watching me. She seemed so confused by me. There was a battle of emotions building inside her. I knew she felt the same draw to be together that I did.

I decided to continue to talk to her while  projecting everything I was feeling towards her - love, sincerity, passion, honesty, even a little lust but most importantly that I was speaking the truth. Instantly I felt her relax, just a little. I smiled slightly as I brushed my fingers through my hair, and I could feel splatters of blood in it. “I know I must look a fright to you. I have just gone hunting and was on my way home when I felt your spirit calling to me. I ran to you without caring what I looked like, not realizing I would scare you. All you need to do is look into my eyes and you will know I mean you no harm. If I did, my eyes would be red. I know you know what I am and why you fear me and my kind.” I sensed her eyes watching me very intently and like a rush of air she relaxed even more. I could feel her smile even though I could not see her.

I continued to walk just a little further and I saw her wreath of flowers, that once rested upon her head, laying on the ground before me. Carefully I picked up the delicate flowers and smelled the beautiful aroma that drifted from them. Gently I laid the wreath back on the ground. “I’ll leave these here so you can get them again; they look so beautiful on you.”

I was startled when I felt an overwhelming amount of love radiating from her. I whispered to her. “You feel it too, don’t you?” I could still feel her energy and sense her essence in front of me. Suddenly I became aware we were no longer completely alone. From behind me I felt, before I even heard the footsteps coming closer through the trees. I was not sure if there was any danger. All I knew was I needed to protect her and keep her safe. The demon that lurked deep within my being began to rise. I could feel my anger and maliciousness making my own venom boil up as a growl escaped me. My unneeded breath became erratic with fury. Turning around I awaited the intruder.

A young woman walked through the clearing of trees.  She looked so similar to the woman I had been so infatuated with. The young woman wore  a very flowing ankle length dress that was green with little brown flowers. The dress appeared to be something from the renaissance era. I felt no fear coming from her; she radiated pure amusement. I knew instantly her spirit was different. My anger raised even more. The growls rumbled through my chest. “Who are you?”

She cocked her head at me. “My name is Ruby, and you are?” She took a step closer. Instinctively I crouched in front of the one I am protecting. Even though I cannot see her I know she is behind me. Ruby laughs joyously and claps her hands together, which was not the reaction I was going for. “Oh I like you, I like you a lot! You're going to be good to my sister. I already see that.”

Her giddy tone infuriated the fuck out of me. I knew I was not thinking rationally as another growl escaped me. I was completely seething. How dare she patronize me? “You need to back up. You have no idea who you're dealing with.”

She nodded her head in understanding and took a step back. “I’m not going to harm my own twin sister, and yes, I know exactly who you are. We have been waiting for you for some time.”

All of a sudden I felt a warm hand rest on my shoulder, and instantly the beast inside me calmed  I looked up to the beautiful vision of my infatuation looking down at me.  She walked in front of me and reached her hand out. “Come here,” she whispered softly. I was amazed by the love that was glowing from her brown eyes. Standing up, I gazed down into her eyes. She smiled at me, then walked closer to me closing the gap between us. “Thank you for wanting to protect me.”

Tenderly I caressed my fingertips against her cheek. She trembled under my touch. “I don’t even know your name, but I do know I want to protect you until the end of time.” Tenderly I wrapped my arm around her naked warm body and rested the palm of my hand against her lower back. She sighed in contentment. “I’m Annabel Swan.”

I close my eyes in satisfaction for just a moment before looking back into her eyes that I could easily lose myself in. “I’m Jasper Whitlock, but for appearances sake I’m Jasper Cullen.”

A gasp parted from her lips as shock and realization consumed her. She smiled at me and cupped both of her hands against my face. “It’s you, it’s really you, my handsome soldier.” A tear  escaped her eyes, clinging to her lashes.  Lightly she caressed her lips again mine. Her warmth  heated my cold lips. She tenderly wrapped her hand around the back of my neck, deepening the kiss, our lips dancing together mystically. “Her body trembled against me as she drew back. She whispered so softly that I was not even sure if I heard  correctly. “I never thought I would see you again.” Which confused me, because I would have remembered meeting her before. I did not know what to think so I just held onto her, never wanting to let her go.

~~~~~

I am pulled out of my thoughts of the past and of my beautiful Annabel when the music stops and I hear the sound of a truck pull up in front of me. I look up to see an old rusty red pickup truck.  A young woman gets out of the truck, and my chest wells with emotion. She’s the spitting image of my beloved Annabel, but it can’t be, she was killed so many years ago. The energy that radiates from her feels so much like my Annabel, and that pull I had with Annabel is there now. I just want to go up to her but I can’t. I am taken back when I really sense her emotions. The beauty in front of me is completely distraught, and I look closer to see she has been crying. It takes everything inside me not to reach out to her, and I wonder who she is. I feel so confused. I know what her spirit is telling me but I also know what  my mind is telling me, Annabel is gone.

She  enters the small Swan home and I can clearly see her through the old lace curtains that drape loosely over the window. I watch as she sits down on the sofa lost in her own thoughts. The pain and grief that is lurking deep within her soul is overwhelming. I feel my own dead heart  clinching in agony. I become instantly aware of another presence in the home and instinctively I become protective. I laugh quietly to myself when I recognize Ruby’s spirit. She always had a way of sneaking up on me. She is a very strong and powerful witch. The Swan sisters were definitely something to fear in the supernatural world, I had no doubt about that even on the first day I met them. I search for Ruby. When I am unable to find her, I become perplexed because I sense her essence in the living room.

There is no doubt in my mind now that this young woman is a Swan and I will do anything I can to keep her safe. I know I should drive on to the Cullen home and not just sit here staring into the Swan home like a stalker, but I feel so pulled and I physically can’t leave her. I become concerned when I really take in her appearance. She looks and feels like her whole world has been taken away from her. She reminds me so much of how Ruby looked when my sweet Annabel left this world. I sigh to myself, resting my head on the steering wheel for just a moment. I smell a  light scent of cannabis drifting through the air. The scent is so slight that a mere mortal could not smell it.

In the home a song by Mazy Star begins to play softly. I look back up and watch as the young woman picks up a joint and begins to smoke it. She leans back on the sofa as the smoke drifts from her lips. She chuckles softly even though the pain is still there. I hear her speak softly, “Grams, only you would come back from the other side to smoke a joint with me.”

The heaviness on my dead heart thickens at the realization as to why I can feel Ruby and not see her. My heart broke for Edward. We all knew Ruby had moved on, had a son and stopped using her gifts, and continued to age. The last time Edward peaked in on her she was raising her granddaughter. The Swan sisters always talked candidly about reincarnation and now as I look at the young woman I wonder if it is possible?  Did my Annabel came back to me?

I am pulled out of my own thoughts when I suddenly feel we are no longer alone. A deep chill runs through my whole body. It is not a cold chill but more of an awareness  that  pure evil lurks nearby. I look up and see a tall being standing just to the side of the backyard near the walking path to the forest. He glares at me trying to send me messages through emotions to leave. He begins to walk closer trying to intimidate me. His red eyes pierce mine with hatred. His red eyes are not like those of a vampire who fed from humans. They glow like the pit of hell raging in fire and maliciousness.

Opening my truck door hastily, I step out of the vehicle. Instantly I take off my shirt and throw it on the driver's seat. Closing the door, I stalk forward. His eyes widen  in fear. He takes off into the forest. I run at a human pace until I reach the forest. There is no way in hell I will let this motherfucker see another light of day, if I have anything to do with it. Anger fuels me.

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