would begin in the human newspapers； and the Volturi would return and clean out the city。 But they let the
others； the careful ones； continue。 。 。 。”
Jasper was staring off into space。
“That’s how you were changed。” My realization was a whisper。
“Yes；” he agreed。 “When I was human； I lived in Houston； Texas。 I was almost seventeen years old when
I joined the Confederate Army in 1861。 I lied to the recruiters and told them I was twenty。 I was tall enough
to get away with it。
“My military career was shortlived； but very promising。 People always 。 。 。 liked me； listened to what I
had to say。 My father said it was charisma。 Of course； now I know it was probably something more。 But；
whatever the reason； I was promoted quickly through the ranks； over older； more experienced men。 The
Confederate Army was new and scrambling to organize itself； so that provided opportunities； as well。 By the
first battle of Galveston — well； it was more of a skirmish； really — I was the youngest major in Texas； not
even acknowledging my real age。
“I was placed in charge of evacuating the women and children from the city when the Union’s mortar
boats reached the harbor。 It took a day to prepare them； and then I left with the first column of civilians to
convey them to Houston。
“I remember that one night very clearly。
“We reached the city after dark。 I stayed only long enough to make sure the entire party was safely
situated。 As soon as that was done； I got myself a fresh horse； and I headed back to Galveston。 There wasn’t
time to rest。
“Just a mile outside the city； I found three women on foot。 I assumed they were stragglers and dismounted
at once to offer them my aid。 But； when I could see their faces in the dim light of the moon； I was stunned into
silence。 They were； without question； the three most beautiful women I had ever seen。
“They had such pale skin； I remember marveling at it。 Even the little blackhaired girl； whose features were
clearly Mexican； was porcelain in the moonlight。 They seemed young； all of them； still young enough to be
called girls。 I knew they were not lost members of our party。 I would have remembered seeing these three。
“‘He’s speechless；’ the tallest girl said in a lovely； delicate voice — it was like wind chimes。 She had fair
hair； and her skin was snow white。
“The other was blonder still； her skin just as chalky。 Her face was like an angel’s。 She leaned toward me
with halfclosed eyes and inhaled deeply。
“‘Mmm；’ she sighed。 ‘Lovely。’
“The small one； the tiny brute； put her hand on the girl’s arm and spoke quickly。 Her voice was too soft
and musical to be sharp； but that seemed to be the way she intended it。
“‘Concentrate； tie；’ she said。
“I’d always had a good sense of how people related to each other； and it was immediately clear that the
brute was somehow in charge of the others。 If they’d been military； I would have said that she outranked
them。
“‘He looks right — young； strong； an officer。 。 。 。 ’ The brute paused； and I tried unsuccessfully to
speak。 ‘And there’s something more 。 。 。 do you sense it？’ she asked the other two。 ‘He’s 。 。 。 pelling。’
“‘Oh； yes；’ tie quickly agreed； leaning toward me again。
“‘Patience；’ the brute cautioned her。 ‘I want to keep this one。’
“tie frowned； she seemed annoyed。
“‘You’d better do it； Maria；’ the taller blonde spoke again。 ‘If he’s important to you。 I kill them twice as
often as I keep them。’
“‘Yes； I’ll do it；’ Maria agreed。 ‘I really do like this one。 Take tie away； will you？ I don’t want to have
to protect my back while I’m trying to focus。’
“My hair was standing up on the back of my neck； though I didn’t understand the meaning of anything the
beautiful creatures were saying。 My instincts told me that there was danger； that the angel had meant it when
she spoke of killing； but my judgment overruled my instincts。 I had not been taught to fear women； but to
protect them。
“‘Let’s hunt；’ tie agreed enthusiastically； reaching for the tall girl’s hand。 They wheeled — they were
so graceful！ — and sprinted toward the city。 They seemed to almost take flight； they were so fast — their
white dresses blew out behind them like wings。 I blinked in amazement； and they were gone。
“I turned to stare at Maria； who was watching me curiously。
“I’d never been superstitious in my life。 Until that second； I’d never believed in ghosts or any other such
nonsense。 Suddenly； I was unsure。
“‘What is your name； soldier？’ Maria asked me。
“‘Major Jasper Whitlock； ma’am；’ I stammered； unable to be impolite to a female； even if she was a
ghost。
“‘I truly hope you survive； Jasper；’ she said in her gentle voice。 ‘I have a good feeling about you。’
“She took a step closer； and inclined her head as if she were going to kiss me。 I stood frozen in place；
though my instincts were screaming at me to run。”
Jasper paused； his face thoughtful。 “A few days later；” he finally said； and I wasn’t sure if he had edited his
story for my sake or because he was responding to the tension that even I could feel exuding from Edward； “I
was introduced to my new life。
“Their names were Maria； tie； and Lucy。 They hadn’t been together long — Maria had rounded up the
other two — all three were survivors of recently lost battles。 Theirs was a partnership of convenience。 Maria
wanted revenge； and she wanted her territories back。 The others were eager to increase their 。 。 。 herd lands； I
suppose you could say。 They were putting together an army； and going about it more carefully than was usual。
It was Maria’s idea。 She wanted a superior army； so she sought out specific humans who had potential。 Then
she gave us much more attention； more training than anyone else had bothered with。 She taught us to fight； and
she taught us to be invisible to the humans。 When we did well； we were rewarded。 。 。 。”
He paused； editing again。
“She was in a hurry； though。 Maria knew that the massive strength of the newborn began to wane around
the year mark； and she wanted to act while we were strong。
“There were six of us when I joined Maria’s band。 She added four more within a fortnight。 We were all
male — Maria wanted soldiers — and that made it slightly more difficult to keep from fighting amongst
ourselves。 I fought my first battles against my new rades in arms。 I was quicker than the others； better at
bat。 Maria was pleased with me； though put out that she had to keep replacing the ones I destroyed。 I
was rewarded often； and that made me stronger。
“Maria was a good judge of character。 She decided to put me in charge of the others — as if I were being
promoted。 It suited my nature exactly。 The casualties went down dramatically； and our numbers swelled to
hover around twenty。
“This was considerable for the cautious times we lived in。 My ability； as yet undefined； to control the
emotional atmosphere around me was vitally effective。 We soon began to work together in a way that
newborn vampires had never cooperated before。 Even Maria； tie； and Lucy were able to work together
more easily。
“Maria grew quite fond of me — she began to depend upon me。 And； in some ways； I worshipped the
ground she walked on。 I had no idea that any other life was possible。 Maria told us this was the way things
were； and we believed。
“She asked me to tell her when my brothers and I were ready to fight； and I was eager to prove myself。 I
pulled together an army of twentythree in the end — twentythree unbelievably strong new vampires；
organized and skilled as no others before。 Maria was ecstatic。
“We crept down toward Monterrey； her former home； and she unleashed us on her enemies。 They had
only nine newborns at the time； and a pair of older vampires controlling them。 We took them down more
easily than Maria could believe； losing only four in the process。 It was an unheardof margin of victory。
“And we were well trained。 We did it without attracting notice。 The city changed hands without any human
being aware。
“Success made Maria greedy。 It wasn’t long before she began to eye other cities。 That first year； she
extended her control to cover most of Texas and northern Mexico。 Then the others came from the South to
dislodge her。”
He brushed two fingers along the faint pattern of scars on his arm。
“The fighting was intense。 Many began to worry that the Volturi would return。 Of the original twentythree；
I was the only one to survive the first eighteen months。 We both won and lost。 tie and Lucy turned on
Maria eventually — but that one we won。
“Maria and I were able to hold on to Monterrey。 It quieted a little； though the wars continued。 The idea of
conquest was dying out； it was mostly vengeance and feuding now。 So many had lost their partners； and that is
something our kind does not forgive。 。 。 。
“Maria and I always kept a dozen or so newborns ready。 They meant little to us — they were pawns； they
were disposable。 When they outgrew their usefulness； we did dispose of them。 My life continued in the same
violent pattern and the years passed。 I was sick of it all for a very long time before anything changed 。 。 。
“Decades later； I developed a friendship with a newborn who’d remained useful and survived his first
three years； against the odds。 His name was Peter。 I liked Peter； he was 。 。 。 civilized — I suppose that’s the
right word。 He didn’t enjoy the fight； though he was good at it。
“He was assigned to deal with the newborns — babysit them； you could say。 It was a fulltime job。
“And then it was time to purge again。 The newborns were outgrowing their strength； they were due to be
replaced。 Peter was supposed to help me dispose of them。 We took them aside individually； you see； one by
one 。 。 。 It was always a very long night。 This time； he tried to convince me that a few had potential； but Maria
had instructed that we get rid of them all。 I told him no。
“We were about halfway through； and I could feel that it was taking a great toll on Peter。 I was trying to
decide whether or not I should send him away and finish up myself as I c