Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air [[tag: anyone :3]]

[Jasper Hale]

I cursed under my breath. This was exactly what I hadn't wanted to happen. Whta I'd dreaded would happen if I ever told anybody. It didn't help that she'd studied mythology, and apparently, Italy. Great.I knew the very aura that I put off had already had her scared- I could sense it. And now she was terrified. I wanted to scream at all of this.

It was clear that Karen was freaking out. It was obvious for everyone to see. I felt the urge to comfort her even though I knew approaching her wouldn't help. Somehow I had forgotten my abilities. Remembering that they were there, I sent out a wave of peace. And one of calm. And a tinge of trust. It was the best I could do in my stressed state. I was unexperienced with this. Everyone I talked to most of the time knew of the little secret 'club' we had going. The horrors, the atrocities and even the good things. What little there were.

But Karen had only ever heard the scary stories. She didn't know I didn't kill people anymore, she didn't know that was possible. I considered telling her everything, but I reconsidered. In her still-fragile state, it might unbalance her. I had to be very, very careful so as not to send her screaming away from the house. As it was, we might have to move. Things were getting so complicated. I groaned, putting my head in my hands.

[lunarraven]

My back was pushed against the wall of Jasper's house, My eyes lingering on his stressed, and near angry expression. I was scared, and I'll admit that, but then, I got all these other emotions surrounding me. I sighed, letting them take over, looking down at the ground, my thoughts questioning silently. At least he couldn't read thoughts, that would be....amazing.

Jasper put his head in his hand's, another sign of frustration I had thought he was feeling just a minute ago. I must have guessed right, for once. I'm usually always blind-sided, never
look beyond what other's tell me if I truly trust them, but I guess that knock to my head straightened my thoughts out. But how could it be possible, how could it be that he was a....vampire? Vampire's are myth's, they have always been one, yet they are in almost every culture as Dragons. Great are Dragons real too?

I slammed the back of my head on the wall, trying to understand, how could this be? It's so unreal, so mythical....I am just dreaming, I have to be, if I'm not, will Jasper Dispose of me, like he did thousands? I cringed at the thought, he would kill me....no doubt he didn't care anymore. I found out his secret, I found out what he was, he would definitely kill me now.

Thinking this, I slowly moved up the wall, seeing blood drip from where I had banged me head.
"Shit..." I nearly whispered, and ran through the open door, past the probably other vampire, up a flight of steps, where I looked down at a pair of golden eyes, flickering in my direction. I was surprised I could even walk, after the now four head blows, three of them causing blood.
Oh that's right, blood. BLOOD, damnit, he's probably coming for me now, to kill me, he's probably coming to drain me of my blood, and set my body ablaze and ditch it somewhere. Clean the blood from his house, and clothes, get rid of his clothes actually, and move with his family.

Fuck! His family, vampires to, damnit, damnit, damnit. What do I do, run and jump out f a window? I decided that was out of mind, and ran to the last door in the hall i was at. It was filled with Cd's and a couch. It was dark, and seemed actually very welcoming. But, not when your going to get killed by a vampire of course. Wait, what if he's already in here? Vampire abilities, speed, that had to be one of them.

So I decided to pick up a nearby pencil as a weapon and screamed, "Come out, come out, Jasper. I'll kill you first!" I realized how pathetic i sounded, how the for blows to my head, gave me mental issues. Great, now I'm going to be thought as a suicidal case, no murder.

[Jasper Hale]

I glanced up, nostrils flaring. Carnal bloodlust came over me in a milisecond. I snarled, an evil grimace twisting my face. I automatically slid into the hunting crouch, laughing evilly at the the patheticly puny pencil puto uot to fend me off. The thought of a pencil protesting someone from me made me laugh even more. I threw my head back and laughed maniaclly. Every time I was about to stop, I saw the pencil again and started laughing again.

Finally I got a hold of myself. I took a step forward, relishing in her terror. And yet, deep below that, was a voice. A voice that was getting increasingly stronger. It was me. Or rather, the other me. the me that was repulsed by killing humans and got depressed frequently over the murders of the past. I shook my head and snarled again.

I tried to crush the feeling of guilt, dread, and warning. But I couldn't. And it was getting stronger, taking over. I keened, almost begging myself to let me do this. the blood was driving me insane, I had to have it! It was inbearable, not to take her life. How had I survived all these decades without that warmth?

Because there was other warmth, guilt-free warmth, I knew this. But still, it wasn't human blood, it wasn't what I'd hunted for over a century. It wasn't the same. It wasn't... it wasn't... But I could live without- for lack of a better word- this, I could! I had been for years. I dithered. Had she been as... fragrant... as Bella, she'd alreayd be dead. But the scent was like so many others I'd smelled before, on humans I'd killed. It reminded me of my past.

Which started the battle all over again. To kill or not to kill? If only it were that simple. That statement outlined nothing of the life afterwards, the inevitable guilt. The pain. The dissapointment I would be sure to pick up from every family member if I committed this atrocious deed.But the temptation... after a century of just taking the blood I wanted, it was so very tempting to fall back into that.

I knew the wonderful taste and how easy it was to surrender. But now I also knew another life, a peaceful life. A life where guilt and depression were there, yes, but not like it had been in the old days. I couldn't decide. Had I been truly rational, I might've made the desicion immediately, and I knew what it'd be. But in my confused state, there were only the two options. My utter being screamed for me to kill her and drink her blood, but the real me, my esscence, who I was, held me back, urged me to turn away now.

[lunarraven]

I stared at Jasper, actually terrified, and dropped the stupid pathetic pencil. My back touched the now closed door, and I become wide eyed. Jasper had actually snarled like a god damn animal. I couldn't help but scream at this, and he had started laughing. I knew i shouldn't have gone this far with myself.

"Damn.." I muttered, as I felt my shirt soaked with blood. He would kill me, no doubt, this was the way. Great, getting my life sucked out of me by a former student, and someone I cared about! Two in one, what a great special, right?

I let myself slide down the door, looking pitiful, I just wanted it over. I made a fool of myself, and made him want my blood, great. I hated myself now, why not just die? I was just a no one and a pathetic little teacher from Texas.

Staring at Jasper, I put on a smile, he looked terrible. He had a wild look in his eyes, he was ready to kill. His hair was whipped back, in a frenzy as if to say, watch out Karen. And his expression, it seemed his lips were curled up over his glimmering teeth, and he seemed furious, physco even. I smiled wider at this, he at least wanted me. I laughed acidly, wow, yeah right.

"So, this is the end, eh? Couldn't expect more, from well, you. Your so different, maybe this was right, being dead Jasper." Saying his name sent chills down my spine. The atmosphere around me felt dense, composed with the thirst he was suffering. I wanted it to be over soon.

I angeled my neck to where my throat showed, glinting in the dim light in this room. I watched carefully, waiting for him to pounce, I wouldn't plead to him, this stupid boy. I put a finger behind my head a blood gathered on the tip, and i marked that on my throat. I started humming a tune, I believed it was an old song, well at least to me, I hadn't heard it in a long time.
"If there's no one beside you..." I sang quietly, "when your soul embarks," I continued, as he came closer, "then I'll follow you into the dark." I finished, as he was right above me, i closed my eyes, and took one last breathe.

[JasperHale]

I loomed over her, my feet having brought me all the way over here even as I battled with myself. Her singing seemed to help 'good Jasper'. 'Good Jasper' told me to just walk away, have to move, and never ill anybody. Yes, we'd have to move, for Karen knew what we were. But at least she'd be alive. Had I saved her life merely to snatch it away? Had I gone through decades of abstinence for nothing?

As she took what she must've thought would be her last breath, I stopped. Her terror, her fear, and her resignation had finally made it to my brain. For a second, I thought my own long-dead heart raced. For a second, I felt as though I'd broken out in a cold sweat.

I couldn't do it. The monster faded out of me, leaving only rage. My hand flashed out and crushed the trunk of a three-century old cedar tree, my face inches from hers. My eyes were tortured. I turned away, quickly striding the the other end of the glade. My rage was at myself. I called just loud enough for her to hear.

"You life could very easily have been that cedar tree, Karen. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have.." I trailed off, putting more distance between me and my almost-victim.

[lunarraven]

I was disappointed, I had expected to die, maybe Jasper really wasn't the monster I thought him to be now. Maybe he did have some self control, maybe I wouldn't go and kill myself. I couldn't believe it, I have a vampire as a friend? I shuddered, and knew what would happen now, he'd leave me all alone with my uncle, like the usual.

I slowly raised to my feet, and pressed against a tree, looking at Jasper, carefully. He looked stressed, he still wanted to kill me of course, why not? I mean, I am useless, maybe If I really wanted to I could push my luck, and he would.

I smiled at this, and walked to him, the most uncaring way i could, until my foot got caught on a root, and I tripped right in front of Jasper. "Oops?" I mumbled looking up at him, terrified yet again.

Damn myself, I make everything so, complicated, I have to be a klutz don't I? I clenched my jaw tight, and rolled into a ball at his feet, bracing myself.

[Jasper Hale]

As she had approached me, I had been mentally bracing myself and the still-taunting, still-agonizing scent of blood neared me. My hand curled into a fist orund a ceder branch. It was holding, but only just barely. And then she fell right at my feet. Everything about my old life, the horror, the pain, the depression, and yes, the good things like the taste, the freedom, the lack of restrictions...

It was right there, even closer than it had been. But I was stronger then the last time. I was prepared. My better side immediately got to work crushing and weeding out the bad me, like an overgrown garden. The strain was, however, ebough to make me clench my fist even tighter. The already weakened cedar branch shattered, and I mean shattered, sending shards of wood flying just over Karen's head, leaving her unpierced, but coming very close.

I turned away in disgust, not with her but with myself. I hated myself. True, I hadn't killed her. But I was going to, I was very close to doing what I'd punished myself for doing for the past years. I was about to destroy everything I'd worked for. I moaned, distraught. My mental barriers focused on controlling myself, my power flowed unchecked, spreading my multiple emotions across the yard.

[lunarraven]

This time I expected it, the power, the sudden surge of emotions, coming right at me. That's why I had curled up right under him, to hide myself from the attack. When I finally looked up, I saw Jasper, his head turned away, and I felt a sudden urge to just run away. He didn't want anything to do with me, I was causing him pain, I was making him feel, disgusted.

I scooted away from him, slowly, not to tempt him further, until I was at the base of a tree nearly 20 or so feet away from him. I sighed, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I was the most annoying person I knew, and i had pushed my luck. Jasper really was a vampire, and really wanted to kill me right now. Not to mention he not only wanted to kill me, but I had made him want to because I made myself bleed. And then I go and fall in front of him, wow, how much of a idiot can I be in less then a hour?

Jasper seemed to get more and more angry as I thought, and still looked away. I tried to grasp how he actually felt right now, so tempted to kill me, but he refused. But why? why doesn't' he just let himself go? Does he really care about me?

I tried regaining my voice, since I lost it when I nearly screamed when I fell, but it wouldn't come to be. Hell, I couldn't even see clearly enough to notice anything but Jasper. How was I supposed to talk to him, sooth him if i couldn't speak!?
"Jasper...I'm...Sorry..." I mouthed, banging my hand on the tree my body lay pressed against to gain his attention. Oh I surely got his attention, my hand started bleeding as well. I hated being the fragile little women in everything.

I started to cry, not because of emotions again, but because i actually felt the pain now, and damn did it hurt like hell. I tried hiding my hand from my view, and Jasper's, I hated the smell and sight of blood, I would literally faint, and that really wasn't the best thing right now. So i decided to hide it in my jacket pocket, staring at Jasper, my face emotionless, while his face was turned into a frightening grimace, and disgust in his black eyes.

[Jasper Hale]

I glared at her as she started to bleed again. "Oh sure, make it harder for me to restrain myself? Are you suicidal?!?!" I growled, furious that I could still want to kill her. But really, I mean, it was like the woman was forcing me to kill her or something. Really, the sooner I got away from her, the better.

Ideas formed on how I could get away from this nightmare and still not have her hanging aroud when I got back. The best way to take of such a thing would be to find Carlisle, but I had no idea where he was. Stories formed in my head, cover-ups spawned, but they required Karen's cooperation. I looked at her, completely under control. Happiness came through, mixed with pride. I had been with the perfect oppurtunity several times and passed. A small, jubilant smile ghosted across my face.

"Okay," I said quietly. "Can you cooperate with me, or does my family have to move?" Please help me out here, I pleaded to the fates. Desperation leaked through the steady stream of emotions that were escaping unchecked. I ran my fingers through my long hair.

[lunarraven]

I winced at his furious tone, I knew I had made it hard for him, I hated being me. I always made things more complicated, it seemed. He had actually talked to me, I thought he would just run off. I wondered how he could control himself, I mean I was almost every part of my body, that couldn't be so good for him. Even though I was in pain, he must be going through much worst.

Deciding to stand up, I gathered enough strength and rose to my feet, still keeping my distance, not wanting to tempt him even further. I was surprised to see him smile, and a wave of happiness and relief washed over me. Had he decided to actually trust me? Why in the hell was I feeling what he was, that was weird. But I was just joy filled to see him smile, it was breath taking. I nearly was knocked onto my feet, it was so gorgeous.

Realizing I wasn't breathing, I pulled myself together and took a stifled gasp and looked at Jasper, his expression a tad bit smug. He had asked for my assistance? No he had asked for me to cooperate with him, and probably his family. But what if that involved him leaving...or him killing me? The first was most defiantly worse and I frowned at the thought.

"It....I...well it...depends, Jasper." I stuttered, still mesmerised by his look, and how he looked at me, happy for once, not angry with me...findings. I twined my fingers, trying to think what he thought when I said that. "I mean...I'm willing to do anything for you...but if it involves you leaving...." I gulped, and tried to calm myself down, it wasn't working to well.

[Jasper Hale]

I realized what I was doing, allowing my emotions to go unchecked. It was dangerous for me to do that. Now I was under control personally. But I had to keep it that way. The situation we were in must be patched from its currently shambled and delicate state into a more stable environment. Putting up one finger to ask for quiet, I cut off my emotions and dashed into the house, looking for the bandages we kept around in case of Bella-related emergencies. Grabbing that and some antiseptic, and ran back downstairs, back before Karen had really had time to cut her stumbled speech to a halt. Keeping a respective distance away, and dropped the stuff at her feet on the way past. On an afterthought, I went to my room and grabbed a vial of Alice's overwhemingly scented perfumes which blotted out almost everything, even for me.

Gesturing downward to draw her attentin to what I'd given her, I told Karen, "Use them. All of them. Clean the wounds, bandage them, and use a lot of that perfume. Alice will understand." I sighed. Remembering her stuttering, I sent out a wave of serenity before continuing to patch things up.

"As for how I need cooperation, several things. One, I think I should get your car from wherever you left it so you can drive home. My advice would be to go to the hospital and see if they need to do anything for you. Please do not mention me or my family- it's best we don't get dragged into this. Two, I would reccomend that you say nothing to anybody about this. Off the top of my head, only a few select other humans know about us. They say nothing and I hope you will follow their stead. People probably won't believe you anyhow, and you'll more than likely get locked up. If this stays quiet, my family won't have to move. If it spills out, we will. After one of us... dispatches... you to keep it quiet. Your choice."

I looked at her, sending more calm and confidence so she didn't freak out and trip again. I ran back into the house and got some bleach, a few rags, and some of Alice's spray-on perfume. She had several different kinds of perfume that covered up the smell of stuff like blood- we prepared for Bella nowadays- so with luck things would be cleaned up by the time the others got home. I ran back outside and immediately began to spray the infected areas with perfume. That done with the help of vampiric speeds, I began to bleach off some of the worse areas.

[lunarraven]

I hadn't even noticed him disappear, but he had, with a whole bunch of bandages and a bottle of perfume for me to clean up with. It made me realize how easily he could have caught me by behind and just killed me right there, with the speed, he could do just about anything. I looked down at the bundle of it, and picked them up, looking at Jasper cautiously as he began to speak.

I leaned against the tree again, in case I lost balance, and started dabbing at my wounds, located all over my body. And that wasn't to mention the many bruises and now scars all over as well, great, someone will question this. Either my students or Samuel, oi this was bad. Jasper was talking about how to keep it quite, not everyone find out. I wanted to keep it a secret but it would be hard if everyone started questioning what happened, I'm usually very careful.

I noticed when he was done speaking, and was bleaching out where my blood had been. Of course, his family would be tempted as well, that wouldn't be the best, at all. I understood now, Jasper really just wanted to protect me from this understanding, he never wanted me to find out because it would hurt me, someday. And it did today, but it didn't bother me, just as long as he, and his family were okay, I was fine.

I didn't want to cause then more trouble, so I would keep my mouth shut, or they would move away, more importantly, Jasper and Alice would. They understood me more then my own uncle, I couldn't lose them because I found out about a huge secret that would probably kill me.

I looked back up at Jasper from cleaning myself, and answered him slowly, "Well...I'll be quite about it, I won't speak a word. But i guess this means you want me to stay away from you, Alice, and all of your family, don't you?" I questioned hesitantly, looking up at my arm.

[Jasper Hale]

I looked at her. I didn't know how to respond, so I stalled by finishing up the cleaning job and running off again to clean up after myself. I came back and sprayed Alice's perfume again, this time all over the vicinity of the general area. I inhaled deeply, satisfied with my results. The alluring scent of blood was masked, perceptible only if you were looking for it. I relaxed slightly, my job there done. But now I needed a good response. There was no real reason to stay away, but I doubted my ability to cope with the guilt which would overwhelm me if I tried to spend time with her.

"No," I said hesitantly, not sure whether or not to lie about my reasons for hesitance. I decided the truth would be best. "You see, Alice and the rest of my family will have minimal problems as long as you keep quiet. One or two of them may be upset, but Edward, Carlisle, Esme, and Alice will understand. However... I may find it personally necessary to remove myself from further company with you merely out of guilt." I looked at her, begging her to understand. "I could have killed you today, Mrs. Y- Karen. I'm still very surprised that I didn't. And knowing these things, I feel like you should hate me, and if you do, I'll almost be relieved, for it's what I deserve. Then it's a moot point because you won't want to spend time with me anyways. But if you didn't hate me... I would feel ashamed, undeserving of forgiveness, and that would cause me to stay away."

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "So there's the truth of it, plain and simple. Now, if you may give me your car keys, I'll drive it over and you can go to the hospital. For a cover story... you injuries resulted from falling out of the tree, okay? As for the perfume, bandages, and the rest, keep them in you glove compartment. You can say they were always there." Even in this most dire of situations, I was still a Cullen- Hale, same difference- and I knew how to plan, scheme, and cover up.

[lunarraven]

I stared at him, he didn't want to be around me. He felt like this was his fault, he was so wrong. How could Jasper believe that this mess was his problem, his starting. I couldn't believe it, he felt guilty. He felt like he was at charge to get scolded, or for him to get hurt. His own feelings made me shudder in unease at the thought.

If anyone had caused this, I was at fault. I had climbed the blasted tree in the first place, and fell down. He just happened to be out there, and luckily found me, or I probably would have died in mere hours. Jasper had SAVED me, I had been the one to do wrong, I had over reacted, like always.

Staring at him in disbelief I let my jaw drop, and I let my expression turn to one a pure anger. Not at him but at myself, I had MADE him think this to where he didn't even want to be near me at all.
"Jasper, please," I started shaking my head slowly, "you need to realize that this is not your fault. I had been the one to climb the tree, and fall down, when I well knew I was afraid of heights. I had been more observant today, resulting in you confessing to me. Then I had to over react, when I really wanted to take it calmly. I think the fall really did cause some brain damage, or I'm just full of idiocy."

I held my eyes on his, and I knew he felt the anger I was feeling, so I quickly explained. "And no, I'm not angry at you, I'm disgusted and furious with myself."

[Jasper Hale]

"And I was stupid enough not to take you immediately to the hospital while you were still unconcious," I countered swiftly, feeling more pangs of guilt and regret sound off in my stomach. "Had I done the smart thing, your world wouldn't be tainted by the nightmares of mine. You'd never have had to see my evil side, the side that could slaughter this whole town and then some in five seconds flat!" I ran my fingers though my hair angrily, exhaling loudly. I looked at her, my eyes flat and furious. "Don't you see?" I hissed. "You were seconds away from dead! Dead! Not just a coma or serious injury or concussion, dead!" I turned away again,pacing a few more steps before looking at her once more. "That sort of thing is permanent, Karen. You can't reverse death!"

I stalked a few yards away, furious with myself and growing angrier with each word I spoke. I turned and walked close so she could hear my intense whisper. "You have nothing to be disgusted or angry with yourself for. I should be the target of these things, not you. You've done nothing wrong here, I have. I'm the murderer of thousands, and that's a fact." I was normally so laid back, but my feelings were overwhelming. It felt as though my own power was being doubled, magnified, and reflected back at myself. It was probably just her feelings, I knew that, but I barely believed it.

I moved away from her again. "Now please, please, let me go get your car. Let us end this mess. But you must promise not to say a word, not to hint anything about us. No one can know. At the hospital, don't even mention me, okay?"