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twispiteficTitle: Transcend
Author: emmram
Fandom(s): Twilight series
Rating: the high end of PG-13
Word Count: ~1,350
Inspiration: Inspired by the discussion in the comments to this post that talked about the Cullens' character profiles - in particular, Rosalie and Esme. I was fascinated and horrified - but mostly fascinated, so! Thus was born my first spitefic!
Warnings: Spoilers for everything, all the way till the end of Breaking Dawn. I have to say here that I was able to read only two-thirds of that book; my knowledge of the last third is sketchy, mostly because I kept falling asleep while trying to read it (waiting for the recaps on that one). My point is, there are/can be canon inconsistencies. I apologise in advance for them.
Also, much creepiness, mild violence, and weird!creepy!Bella (to be honest, trying to write her as she is in the books was annoying, I couldn't get a feel for her voice at all. So I just, um. made this Bella sound as pretentious as possible.) I'm kind of on a horror-jag right now (I blame you,![[info]](https://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif?v=3)
sharp_teeth!) and it's been over three years since I wrote fic for anything other than Supernatural (kind of sad, I know.), so. Please don't hesitate to point out mistakes/signs of rustiness.
Summary: This is Bella's true destiny.
Transcend
Bella watches Edward burn.
---
She thinks Jasper understands. There are times when she catches him looking at her with naked longing in his eyes; times when she thinks that he would say so much more, do so much more, than merely play his role as Alice’s mate.
Jasper gravitates toward power, and he understands.
“I know what you’re doing,” he tells her one day. “I mean, you have those shields of yours up, but I can feel it.”
“Feel what?”
“Your hunger.” He tilts his head. “It’s not bloodlust, not exactly, but – it’s got something of a similar quality.” He waves a hand expansively around him as he speaks, and Bella watches every perfectly-groomed, ungrowing hair on his body rise as though he’s surrounded by static.
(he is oh yes he is because now she can feel it too)
“And what are you going to do about it?”
(every little emotion like the air is charged with it)
Jasper holds out a hand. “I will allow you to take as you please, Bella.”
(and she wants it. she wants it all.)
She nods and takes his hand. She brings down the shields and lets the power flow; it rushes across her skin and coils in her gut and she can feel – Edward in the next room, dark and heavy and cold; Renesmee nearby, a thundercloud of volatile emotion; Jacob CarlisleRosalieAlice—
Bella jerks her hand out of Jasper’s. His hand has taken on a grey hue, and there are cracks across his knuckles. But there is no pain in his eyes; no fear, only admiration. “Can you—the others—?” he asks, and Bella feels his excitement like it’s a physical thing tap-dancing on her skull.
She smiles. “I guess I’ll just have to try,” she says, and Jasper understands.
---
Rosalie spends as much of her time with Renesmee as she can.
Bella doesn’t protest much against this; Renesmee is hers in all the ways that matter – the ways that brought her into this world of exalted senses and beauty – and Rosalie can play needy nurse-maid all she wants. Bella is pretty sure she can give the older vampire that much.
Now, however—
She finds them in the kitchen, building what looks like a huge model of the solar system. Renesmee is only five months old, but already she looks all of six years, small hands deftly moulding the papier-mâché while keeping an eye on the book in front of them, opened to a coloured illustration. Rosalie is sitting across from her on the table, mixing a huge bowl of paste.
Neither of them look up as Bella enters – but she can feel Renesmee’s curiosity, Rosalie’s exasperation.
Bella sits and everything is silent for a while.
“Why are you here?” Rosalie asks, and her voice is low and strained.
“This is as much my house as it is yours,” Bella says. “And she is my daughter. Do I need any other reason?”
“You’ve never needed reason for anything in the past,” Rosalie mutters, before she focusses on Bella again. “Well?”
Bella smiles, resting her chin on her palm. “She’s so beautiful,” she says, “so perfect. There really is nobody else like her in the world.”
Rosalie’s mutinous expression relaxes into a fond smile. “There never will be.”
“A wonder beyond even the reach of vampires,” Bella continues, “beyond even the greatest living creatures on the planet—and she is mine.” She laughs. “And here I was, thinking that vampires are the pinnacle, and that there’s nothing more to aspire to.”
Rosalie narrows her eyes. “You’re the only vampire to have a child of your own,” she says. “You’re the only known newborn who’s been able to exercise such control over bloodlust; and you have not one, but two psychic gifts.” She gives a wry smile. “I have to say, you’ve already reached the pinnacle.”
“No.” Bella brings a hand down on the table; little globs of wet papier-mâché fly and lodge in their hair as Renesmee giggles in delight. “There’s always something higher, something better that I’m destined for. Renesmee is proof of that.”
Rosalie rises, furious; her anger the great red clouds that billow from her face like a strange halo. Bella wonders if she can reach up and savour it – it is so beautiful –
“She isn’t proof of anything!” Rosalie cries. “She is a child, and if you are planning to use her in your delusions of megalomania—”
“Rosalie, shh.” Bella reaches up to touch her face, and the dark red clouds recede. “She is my daughter; you know I would never use her. I was prepared to sacrifice so much to protect her life, and I still am.” Rosalie’s eyes close, and Bella can feel the imprints of Jasper’s previous work like pockmarks on Rosalie’s skin.
“It’s okay, Rose,” Bella says and takes the older vampire’s hands in hers. The smooth marble texture of her skin begins to grey and crack. “It’s all going to be okay.”
Renesmee laughs and claps.
---
Alice does not yield as easily.
For all the Bella puts up her shields, she cannot do anything to hide the complex interplay of decisions and consequences that gives Alice her visions. Alice sees her long before she comes; she sees Bella transcend everything the Cullens are and could ever hope to be; Alice sees Bella wield power over a world that is right, that will become as it should be, with the freedom of vampires from that one last law that forces them to the shadows.
Alice runs.
Bella’s made sure she’s visited Emmett before this – the agility and strength of the youngest Cullen brother makes sure that she easily outstrips Alice, and when Alice turns and tries to escape, Jasper catches hold of her and bites into her neck.
Alice slumps in Jasper’s arms, dark venom dripping down her blouse, anguish in her eyes. “Jasper,” is all she says.
“You didn’t see that coming?” Bella asks, raising an eyebrow. “Or did you just not want to believe it?”
“I saw it!” Alice snaps. “And I know that I am never wrong!”
“Then you must’ve thought it futile to do anything more to resist.” Jasper lowers Alice to the ground, and Bella crouches in front of her sister-in-law. “You know that he could never be yours forever; that he only feeds off those he thinks have the most power.” Alice snarls at her; Bella ignores it and continues, “You were indeed the smartest, the best among us, and—my friend. I regret that I have to do this.”
Bella presses a hand against Alice’s forehead.
(she wants it all. she wants more.)
---
“My children,” Esme cries, her body heaving with dry sobs. She runs a hand through the pile of ashes that used to be Emmett Cullen. “They were my—my children, my only reason—”
Bella puts an arm around Esme’s shoulders and hugs her close. “We are still your children—Edward and I. You have not lost everything.”
“But I have,” Esme whispers. “I have lost everything.” She scrambles for Bella’s hands, ashes raining from her fingers. “Please—you understand. You—”
“I do.” Bella nods and strokes Esme’s hair. “I’ll give you what you want, mother.”
Esme’s eyes close. “Thank you,” she says.
---
Carlisle goes quietly.
“He deserved better than you,” is all he would say before he broke apart.
---
(and she will keep moving higher and higher and higher and never tire of the climb.)
---
Bella watches Edward burn.
Jasper is by her side and Renesmee in her arms. All three of them watch the lavender flames impassively.
She died for this. She gave up her humanity for this. For the pure, sure knowledge that she is—that she is all that anybody need ever strive to be. No,.she will be even better.
Family and love had meant nothing when she’d turned to vampirism; they mean nothing now as she transcends perfection and moves to the next level.
Bella turns away from the pyre. “We’re going to Italy, Jasper.”
(she wants it all.)
Author: emmram
Fandom(s): Twilight series
Rating: the high end of PG-13
Word Count: ~1,350
Inspiration: Inspired by the discussion in the comments to this post that talked about the Cullens' character profiles - in particular, Rosalie and Esme. I was fascinated and horrified - but mostly fascinated, so! Thus was born my first spitefic!
Warnings: Spoilers for everything, all the way till the end of Breaking Dawn. I have to say here that I was able to read only two-thirds of that book; my knowledge of the last third is sketchy, mostly because I kept falling asleep while trying to read it (waiting for the recaps on that one). My point is, there are/can be canon inconsistencies. I apologise in advance for them.
Also, much creepiness, mild violence, and weird!creepy!Bella (to be honest, trying to write her as she is in the books was annoying, I couldn't get a feel for her voice at all. So I just, um. made this Bella sound as pretentious as possible.) I'm kind of on a horror-jag right now (I blame you,
sharp_teeth!) and it's been over three years since I wrote fic for anything other than Supernatural (kind of sad, I know.), so. Please don't hesitate to point out mistakes/signs of rustiness.Summary: This is Bella's true destiny.
Transcend
Bella watches Edward burn.
---
She thinks Jasper understands. There are times when she catches him looking at her with naked longing in his eyes; times when she thinks that he would say so much more, do so much more, than merely play his role as Alice’s mate.
Jasper gravitates toward power, and he understands.
“I know what you’re doing,” he tells her one day. “I mean, you have those shields of yours up, but I can feel it.”
“Feel what?”
“Your hunger.” He tilts his head. “It’s not bloodlust, not exactly, but – it’s got something of a similar quality.” He waves a hand expansively around him as he speaks, and Bella watches every perfectly-groomed, ungrowing hair on his body rise as though he’s surrounded by static.
(he is oh yes he is because now she can feel it too)
“And what are you going to do about it?”
(every little emotion like the air is charged with it)
Jasper holds out a hand. “I will allow you to take as you please, Bella.”
(and she wants it. she wants it all.)
She nods and takes his hand. She brings down the shields and lets the power flow; it rushes across her skin and coils in her gut and she can feel – Edward in the next room, dark and heavy and cold; Renesmee nearby, a thundercloud of volatile emotion; Jacob CarlisleRosalieAlice—
Bella jerks her hand out of Jasper’s. His hand has taken on a grey hue, and there are cracks across his knuckles. But there is no pain in his eyes; no fear, only admiration. “Can you—the others—?” he asks, and Bella feels his excitement like it’s a physical thing tap-dancing on her skull.
She smiles. “I guess I’ll just have to try,” she says, and Jasper understands.
---
Rosalie spends as much of her time with Renesmee as she can.
Bella doesn’t protest much against this; Renesmee is hers in all the ways that matter – the ways that brought her into this world of exalted senses and beauty – and Rosalie can play needy nurse-maid all she wants. Bella is pretty sure she can give the older vampire that much.
Now, however—
She finds them in the kitchen, building what looks like a huge model of the solar system. Renesmee is only five months old, but already she looks all of six years, small hands deftly moulding the papier-mâché while keeping an eye on the book in front of them, opened to a coloured illustration. Rosalie is sitting across from her on the table, mixing a huge bowl of paste.
Neither of them look up as Bella enters – but she can feel Renesmee’s curiosity, Rosalie’s exasperation.
Bella sits and everything is silent for a while.
“Why are you here?” Rosalie asks, and her voice is low and strained.
“This is as much my house as it is yours,” Bella says. “And she is my daughter. Do I need any other reason?”
“You’ve never needed reason for anything in the past,” Rosalie mutters, before she focusses on Bella again. “Well?”
Bella smiles, resting her chin on her palm. “She’s so beautiful,” she says, “so perfect. There really is nobody else like her in the world.”
Rosalie’s mutinous expression relaxes into a fond smile. “There never will be.”
“A wonder beyond even the reach of vampires,” Bella continues, “beyond even the greatest living creatures on the planet—and she is mine.” She laughs. “And here I was, thinking that vampires are the pinnacle, and that there’s nothing more to aspire to.”
Rosalie narrows her eyes. “You’re the only vampire to have a child of your own,” she says. “You’re the only known newborn who’s been able to exercise such control over bloodlust; and you have not one, but two psychic gifts.” She gives a wry smile. “I have to say, you’ve already reached the pinnacle.”
“No.” Bella brings a hand down on the table; little globs of wet papier-mâché fly and lodge in their hair as Renesmee giggles in delight. “There’s always something higher, something better that I’m destined for. Renesmee is proof of that.”
Rosalie rises, furious; her anger the great red clouds that billow from her face like a strange halo. Bella wonders if she can reach up and savour it – it is so beautiful –
“She isn’t proof of anything!” Rosalie cries. “She is a child, and if you are planning to use her in your delusions of megalomania—”
“Rosalie, shh.” Bella reaches up to touch her face, and the dark red clouds recede. “She is my daughter; you know I would never use her. I was prepared to sacrifice so much to protect her life, and I still am.” Rosalie’s eyes close, and Bella can feel the imprints of Jasper’s previous work like pockmarks on Rosalie’s skin.
“It’s okay, Rose,” Bella says and takes the older vampire’s hands in hers. The smooth marble texture of her skin begins to grey and crack. “It’s all going to be okay.”
Renesmee laughs and claps.
---
Alice does not yield as easily.
For all the Bella puts up her shields, she cannot do anything to hide the complex interplay of decisions and consequences that gives Alice her visions. Alice sees her long before she comes; she sees Bella transcend everything the Cullens are and could ever hope to be; Alice sees Bella wield power over a world that is right, that will become as it should be, with the freedom of vampires from that one last law that forces them to the shadows.
Alice runs.
Bella’s made sure she’s visited Emmett before this – the agility and strength of the youngest Cullen brother makes sure that she easily outstrips Alice, and when Alice turns and tries to escape, Jasper catches hold of her and bites into her neck.
Alice slumps in Jasper’s arms, dark venom dripping down her blouse, anguish in her eyes. “Jasper,” is all she says.
“You didn’t see that coming?” Bella asks, raising an eyebrow. “Or did you just not want to believe it?”
“I saw it!” Alice snaps. “And I know that I am never wrong!”
“Then you must’ve thought it futile to do anything more to resist.” Jasper lowers Alice to the ground, and Bella crouches in front of her sister-in-law. “You know that he could never be yours forever; that he only feeds off those he thinks have the most power.” Alice snarls at her; Bella ignores it and continues, “You were indeed the smartest, the best among us, and—my friend. I regret that I have to do this.”
Bella presses a hand against Alice’s forehead.
(she wants it all. she wants more.)
---
“My children,” Esme cries, her body heaving with dry sobs. She runs a hand through the pile of ashes that used to be Emmett Cullen. “They were my—my children, my only reason—”
Bella puts an arm around Esme’s shoulders and hugs her close. “We are still your children—Edward and I. You have not lost everything.”
“But I have,” Esme whispers. “I have lost everything.” She scrambles for Bella’s hands, ashes raining from her fingers. “Please—you understand. You—”
“I do.” Bella nods and strokes Esme’s hair. “I’ll give you what you want, mother.”
Esme’s eyes close. “Thank you,” she says.
---
Carlisle goes quietly.
“He deserved better than you,” is all he would say before he broke apart.
---
(and she will keep moving higher and higher and higher and never tire of the climb.)
---
Bella watches Edward burn.
Jasper is by her side and Renesmee in her arms. All three of them watch the lavender flames impassively.
She died for this. She gave up her humanity for this. For the pure, sure knowledge that she is—that she is all that anybody need ever strive to be. No,.she will be even better.
Family and love had meant nothing when she’d turned to vampirism; they mean nothing now as she transcends perfection and moves to the next level.
Bella turns away from the pyre. “We’re going to Italy, Jasper.”
(she wants it all.)
Finis
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