A/N: I've developed a newfound love for all things Jasper. All the information in this chapter in regards to the time period I got from Eclipse.

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight Saga, and all characters therein.

P r o l o g u e

Texas, 1866

I watched the newborns critically, occasionally barking out orders. I hated newborns. They were so wild, so volatile. Maria, Nettie, and Lucy found them necessary, however, and it was my duty to obey. I scowled harshly at a particularly annoying one, making him cringe and get back in alignment.

I tensed as I heard footsteps approaching me. Familiar arms wrapped around my chest and I relaxed.

"What an excellent soldier you make," Maria murmured into my ear. I nodded tersely. I was not in the mood for her games tonight. My thirst was scorching; I hadn't fed in weeks. Maria had been too focused on her goals to 'reward' any of us with a proper feeding. I hoped tonight would be different. She was feeling as content and lenient as she was capable of.

She went to stand in front of me and wrapped her slender arms around my neck. She playfully nipped at my ear and pouted when I didn't react to her.

"Are we thirsty tonight? Hmm, I am feeling awfully generous," she said, her Mexican accent as strong as ever. "There is a gypsy camp settled down not too far from her, mi cariño. I will take you there and we will feast together," she purred, stroking my chest. I agreed thankfully by rubbing my hands up and down her hips, igniting a brief flash of desire from her. I chuckled darkly as she took my hand and led me away, into the darkness.

xxx

Gypsy women danced around the crackling fire, skirts and hair twirling and metallic bracelets jingling. Men with guitars and drums provided the music for them. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Normal Texans were refined and urbane, while these people gave themselves over freely to their whims. Maria had already taken a dark-skinned Roma lad into the woods with her, smiling encouragingly at me as she left.

I walked around the perimeter, scoping out my prey. It was night time, and my eyes were dark enough to not arouse suspicion. One girl in particular caught my attention. If it wasn't for the flush in her cheeks and her brown eyes I would've swore she was a vampire. I watched her attentively as she spun and danced more gracefully than the rest, her dark hair loose and curling around her shoulders. Her eyes found mine and she grinned wickedly at me.

She danced over to me and I inhaled her scent. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced. It was the most delicious blood mixed with the most beautiful perfume, completely unique. Her heart was beating unusually fast, but I wrote that off as exertion. She circled me and I stiffened. I sensed nothing predatory or dangerous in her emotions, only curiosity and mischievous amusement. This girl was causing a pool of disquiet to form in me and she hadn't even said anything. Well, that's what your southern charm is for.

"Why hello there, miss. Now what might your name be?" I drawled, smiling in way that didn't show too many teeth. I wouldn't want to frighten her just yet.

She ignored my pleasantries and spun in a light circle around me. My uneasiness was reaching a breaking point. Humans weren't usually this at ease around my kind. Hell, most never voluntarily came this close unless they had been glamoured.

She jingled closer to me, closer than most were comfortable with. She seemed to be examining my scars, which was absurd. Humans have terrible eyesight.

"You have had a hard life, haven't you? You are a warrior," she said, her voice lilting and her accent exotic. "There is so much weariness and distrust in you. Your battle scars have left more than a mere physical mark on you."

I struggled to remain my indifferent composure, and shrugged. Inside, my emotions were in turmoil. How could this simple little female see so much? I looked warily at her and refused to speak. She smiled at me, knowledge and wisdom sparkling in her deep brown eyes. She leaned up on tip toes to whisper in my ear. I flinched at her skin; it was feverishly hot.

"I know what you are, mullo. And I know what you seek by coming here. Your mate may have gotten away with her prize, but I shall make sure you don't," she whispered fiercely in my ear before leaning back and walking away. I was momentarily stunned. There was no way. I was behind her in a flash and I grasped her arm tightly and yanked her around. She looked up at me coolly. She was not scared of me. I would have laughed at her naivety was I not so anxious. The possibility of her knowledge was a risk I could not chance.

"So you think you know something about me, do you? Tell me, what is it you think I am?" I asked, glaring down at her. She merely grinned lazily up at me, wholly unaffected. She yanked her arm out of my grip, startling me. How could she be so strong?

"Oh, there are many names for your kind, and in many different languages," she replied, ticking them off on her fingers as she named them. "There is bruja from Spain, nosophoros from Greece, nachzehrer from Germany, strigoi, bruxa, strix, upir, drakul, dybbuk…," she listed as I stared on in confusion. "All from different countires, but they all mean the same thing, my friend," she continued, smiling impishly.

I shook my head. "I'm but a simple man, ma'am."

She seemed to find that amusing and she burst into laughter. She begun to dance around me again as she giggled.

"Oh, but you are not so simple, little mullo. You are not exactly a man, are you?" she asked, delight colouring her voice and emotions.

"Then what am I?" I demanded again, frustrated at this irritating little girl. She flashed me a brilliant smile, her perfect teeth flashing in the moonlight.

"You are a vampire," she announced before skipping off into the woods with unprecedented speed, leaving me there, shocked beyond words.

So? Comments, ideas, flames... I'd love to know what you think. I have an idea where this story might go, but I'll gladly take any advice ya'll wanna give.

Reviews will be adored and answered :)