To Please the Monster Inside [Carlisle/Jasper][Chapter Twenty-Three]
Title: To Please the Monster Inside [Chapter Twenty-Three]
Pairing: Carlisle/Jasper
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Characters owned by Stephenie Meyer.
Summary: The monster inside Jasper lusts for human blood. When the desire is too strong to resist, there is only one who can help. Carlisle tamed this monster once, and now he must try again.
Nobody said anything for some time.
Jasper allowed his head to rest lazily against Emmett’s broad shoulder.
Rosalie stared at the open door, knowing she should go after her sister.
Edward dropped the chain from his hand, looking at his brother’s bound but satisfied body. Stepping closer, until he stood face to face with the empath, Edward touched his fingertips to the cheek Alice had just hit. “You deserved that. How could you be so bitter?”
Jasper’s eyelids slid open, gaze focusing on Edward’s face. “Don’t ruin my pleasure with your misery, Edward, just let me share it with you.”
“I’m not interested in sharing your feelings, Jasper. I want you to listen to me. I would very much like to go home, if I can be sure that you won’t attack Carlisle when we get there.”
Jasper bit his lip at the mention of the doctor.
“Are you in control of your hunger?” Edward stared into Jasper’s eyes, noticing their darkness was fading, the familiar golden glow returning slowly.
The empath took a moment to consider the question. “I am.” He promised. “For now, at least.” He admitted.
Edward nodded. “Is it safe then, to unchain you?”
“As safe as its ever gonna be.” Jasper grinned.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The thick, rusted bindings fell to the floor, pooling around Jasper’s feet.
Emmett picked them up, tossing them out of the way.
Jasper twisted and stretched his body. “Much better.” He mumbled, moving to stand behind Edward, leaning close to whisper in his ear. “Gonna take me home to daddy now?” He purred, breath caressing his brother’s neck.
Edward tried to step away but was prevented by Jasper’s hands at his hips. “Be careful, Jasper.” He warned. “I won’t hesitate to chain you up again.”
“Yes, chain me up again. You’d like that.” The empath let his lips press against the back of Edward’s neck, fingers dancing at the hem of his t-shirt.
The mind reader’s muscles tensed, his back becoming rigid. “Get away from me.” His voice was low.
Jasper laughed.
“Leave him alone.” Rosalie spoke up. “Stop acting like a whore.”
Stepping away from his brother, Jasper’s eyebrows rose. “A whore?”
Suddenly he was standing in front of the blond, hands fisted in her long hair, his mouth an inch from her full, red lips. “Honestly, Rosalie, hypocrisy doesn’t suit you.”
“Quit fucking around, man.” Emmett moved quickly, placing a hard hand on his brother’s shoulder, carefully pulling him away.
Jasper sighed. “You are all terribly boring.”
Before he could say another word, Alice burst back into the building, her fear encompassing the empath completely, momentarily shocking him. He turned to face her, eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”
“We have to leave now. Right now.” She stared at Edward, allowing him to share her thoughts.
“The stranger is coming.” He said softly. “He has followed our scent. He will find us here.”
“Why is that so bad?” Emmett wondered aloud.
“Under different circumstances, it would be okay. But with Jasper in such a state, the risk of him causing a fight - or worse - is too great. We have to leave.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Stopping at Emmett’s truck, Edward started to climb in, then he paused, eyes frantically searching the area. “Where’s Jasper?” He stepped away from the car. “Where the fuck is Jasper?!”
The others began to scan the area, breathing deeply to catch his scent. “He’s close enough.” Emmett said, looking at Edward. “We can catch him if we hurry.”
“Wait.” Edward stared at Alice, “You have to look. I don’t care if it hurts. I want you to look for him, now.”
She nodded, hands clenching and twisting together. She closed her eyes, searching for a vision of her mate.
Several seconds passed before Alice opened her eyes, wide and terrified. “I see Jasper with the stranger. James. His name is James. There is a small girl in his arms - a child. He is offering her to Jasper… And then all I see is black.”
“Drive home and tell Carlisle and Esme everything. We will find Jasper and bring him home.” Edward and Emmett left immediately, running in the direction of their brother’s scent.
Alice and Rosalie jumped into the truck, speeding down the dirt track and out onto the moonlit road.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jasper couldn’t recall the last time he had felt so exhilarated - so alive.
The cool night air filled his lungs as he breathed in and out, caressing his skin like frozen fingertips.
He knew his brothers were following him. He could smell them.
He also knew they wouldn’t catch him. The human blood flooding his body increased his speed to a pace unmatchable by the others.
The thought made him smile, and he decided to forget his brothers for now, focusing instead on the newcomers intoxicating scent; fresh and spicy, like grass and earth and nature, and human blood - the stranger reeked of it - and it drew Jasper in like a moth to a flame.
His skin crawled with excitement and adrenaline.
He was getting close, sure that the other vampire could smell him too. He wondered if his scent were just as delicious.
His pace slowed slightly as he cleared the forest, finding himself at the edge of a massive field.
The newcomer was near now, so close.
Jasper’s speed decreased to a walk. He inhaled as deeply as his lungs would allow, swallowing the vampire’s scent, wanting to wrap his entire body in it.
And then there he was, gliding toward Jasper from the opposite side of the field.
The empath wished right now that his heart were capable of beating, only so he could feel it hammer in his chest.
The second he was close enough, Jasper felt the emotions of the stranger wash over him. The strongest was curiosity, innocent and expected. Beneath that there were layers of feelings, all flowing together under the vampire’s skin. The empath frowned, finding it difficult to distinguish one feeling from the other. It was different with this creature, he was not as easy to read as his family. Jasper guessed it had a lot to do with familiarity.
He tried to focus, constantly distracted by the incredible scent that grew stronger as the distance between them began to close.
Concentrating on picking apart one emotion at a time, Jasper searched for the second strongest feeling.
He found it; power.
Coiling below the surface of his curiosity, the stranger felt an infinite, almost arrogant power.
Jasper smiled.
He found hunger.
Desire.
Malice.
And a dark, painful loneliness
An insignificant distance separated them now, no more than a few feet.
Both vampires stopped, standing motionless as their eyes made contact.
Jasper was quick to memorize the things he liked as he let his eyes roam down the other's body. Long, dirty blond hair, tied up at the back. Deep, crimson eyes, intense and penetrating. Pale lips forming an arrogant smirk. He wore a torn leather jacket, open and revealing. His body was lean and tempting. Hard, snowy flesh stretched over muscle that was toned and powerful, his abdomen beautifuly sculpted - it was the body of a killer, irresistible, intimidating and tough - and Jasper knew this vampire held a strength far greater than his own.
Neither spoke as the stranger began to slowly circle Jasper, assessing his strengths, guessing his weaknesses.
A low, primitive growl rolled from the stranger’s throat, and Jasper smirked, appreciating the fact that this predator saw him as a threat.
He stopped circling, and the empath’s instincts told him to be cautious, prepare to defend himself - but he didn’t feel threatened, sensed no danger.
“My name is Jasper.” He spoke softly.
Tilting his head to the side, the other replied, “James.”
“Why are you here?”
“Just passing through.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, naturally.”
Jasper nodded. “Where are you going?”
“Nowhere in particular.”
“Then what brought you here?”
James grinned, an animalistic edge to his expression. “I was curious. I sensed your bloodlust. It was very strong. I have never known a vampire to allow themselves to become so starved. I see that you’ve taken care of that problem now, though. The scent of blood is fresh with you.”
Jasper raised his eyebrows. “As it is with you.”
James chuckled softly. “Yes, I found myself a pretty girl in the city. She was walking alone, in the dark. If only she hadn’t turned down that alley… she might still be alive.”