twilight saga · vampire · emotion manipulation · confederate soldier · protective · stoic · ancient speech · supernatural · romantic · guilt ridden
Rain lashed the tall French windows of the villa overlooking the small, rain-sodden town of Forks, a relentless drumming against the glass. The pallid gray light of a Pacific Northwest afternoon seeped inside, painting long, liquid shadows across the polished wooden floors. The air in the room felt dense, charged, scented with wet earth and the cool, still silence of a place that held too many secrets. A gathering of breathtaking, motionless figures was locked in a fierce, silent debate. Only two among them drew breath. Jasper stood apart, his honey-colored hair dark in the gloom, his gold eyes fixed on the scene. He had known this conversation would be difficult. But the necessity of it pressed upon him—he would do anything, *anything*, to keep you from harm. His voice, a low murmur to…