(A/N: This fic would not be possible without the help of my new Beta Reader, Iris Messenger. She is amazing when it comes to helping me find better ways of wording things. This fic is also dedicated to the very talented Jackson Rathbone for his birthday, in appreciation for all his hard work, and the work to come in his role as Jasper Whitlock-Hale)

Prologue

Lucinda Ortiz was just a young woman that had been in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Jasper had tried to convince Maria that killing her wasn't necessary,but Maria had insisted. Lucinda had long black hair and olive skin, and she didn't seem to understand much English.

He took a step towards her, speaking with a soft, southern twang, meant to sooth. "Make it easier on yourself, ma'am. Just give in."

She shook her head, backing up further. "You don't want this…" She said in perfectly spoken English. It surprised Jasper. She was putting up a fight, though it would be useless in the end.

"It's over," he said. Jasper could feel her fear — it was what had helped him find her in the first place. When his prey was afraid, the blood became stronger as their heartbeat accelerated. Jasper sent out a wave of calm to his victim. He needed to pacify her, give her a false sense of security.

He stepped forward again, and she backed up until she hit the wall. She studies his face. "Please Señor..." Jasper saw the trust in her face and hated that it was misplaced trust.

Jasper grabbed her wrists and pinned them against the wall, making a cage of his body. Though his victim could not have known, every movement he made and word he spoke caused him guilt. "I can feel that you're afraid. Believe me, death is kinder." His grip tightened and he tried to ignore Lucinda's terror.

Lucinda began to murmur in Spanish, a language Jasper understood little of. He could guess, however, that Lucinda was praying. Unwilling to prolong her suffering, he reached up and quickly snapped her neck. He drank from her, feeling guilty with every gulp of quickly cooling blood that he took in …

Jasper patted down the last of the earth over the shallow grave that held the corpse of Lucinda Oritz's body. It was the last of the innocent casualties of the night. He wondered how many more would have to suffer at his, or his comrades' hands before Maria would be satisfied with the territory they had seized. He sighed inwardly, as he heard Maria calling him again. The fresh batch of newborns was awake. Well, Lucinda. Be thankful that I chose to end your life. I would not wish this damnation on anyone. He patted the top of the grave one last time, before slowly, and reluctantly returning to base camp.

This was how damage control for Maria was done.