Marcus was irritated as Caius explained the finer points of Paul's letter to the Philippians to Carlisle, who was nodding emphatically, and Aro, who looked thoughtful. Edward and Alice were chatting, and Jasper was standing back, looking over the room full of vampires, who listened uninterestedly. The dark-haired vampire, who, besides Aro, was the oldest in the room finally growled.

"Something wrong, Marcus?" Aro asked casually.

"Why do you bother to speak of such things to them, Aro? You once told me your precise thoughts on Christianity. I can repeat them if you like."

Aro frowned. "I find this religion fascinating. Nothing permanent has come of it."

"Yet," Alice said happily. "But your future, what I can see of it at least, looks positive."

"How did you get into this trash?" Marcus asked her.

"Jasper."

"And how did he get into it?"

"Mah mother's Bible. Fa…Jedidiah neva burned it lahke he said he would." Jasper looked to Carlisle, who purred his approval of the disuse of the title, nodding fondly. Jasper purred himself, pleased his father was happy.

Aro stared at him then ever so slowly turned to Caius. "Snow leopard?"

"Yes?" Caius was busy flipping through the Bible Aro had brought in, his eyes dashing over the pages with supernatural speed.

"How did you become a Christian?"

The Bible snapped shut, a smile gleaming in the albino's eyes. "Oh, that's such a boring story…"

"When you say things like that, snow leopard, you do not think it is boring at all," Aro teased. "Come here and tell me about it." The couch was patted, and Caius casually walked over, plopping down. Aro and Marcus curled their arms around him, the former nibbling at his neck.

"Oh, you know how Maria was a huge pain in the ass in the 1890s?"

"Yes," Marcus growled.

"What did we eventually do about it?"

"We sent you and Felix and some of the others to deal with it," Aro replied, biting enough to pierce skin and make his white-haired companion shudder. He smirked, pleased. "You handled it beautifully."

"That's where I met Jasper."

A long pause. "How did you meet him?"

"Naked, bleeding, in agony, yet standing taller, prouder, and more fiercely than you."

Another pause. "Do tell."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Caius stared analytically at the young halfling. Yes, he was clearly a halfling, if that blood was anything to go off of. He was nearly going to die of excitement. Another halfling! And this one Aro couldn't kill him because he didn't know about him! The others were hanging back, growling in anticipation.

"Hold your peace," Caius warned, slipping closer.

There was Maria, in front of the young man, who had not one scrap of clothing on him. His body was trembling in pain as blood pumped from his bites. But there was a sense about him. It reminded the albino of Aro and Marcus, but it was deeper. Different. He had to know more.

"Prepare to take her guards out."

They scattered, and Caius reached out with his mind.

'Do not jump.'

'Y'all betta get outta mah mind, Volturi brat.'

'You intrigue me. I wish to have a conversation with you.'

'Mah terms or no terms at all.'

Caius frowned. 'Very well. What are your terms?'

'Just us Halflin's. Nobody else. Ah get clothes, and Ah make the food.'

'Seems reasonable. Done. Now, I will free you from her. Where do we meet?'

'Free me first.'

Caius didn't like it, but he could see the sense in that. He strolled out and they scared Maria back down into Mexico. Seeing the burn liquid on the cuffs, Caius had Alec free him. When he was pronounced free from her coven, he bolted. The albino was upset, but kept up his façade. They had just cleared up when there was a niggling feeling in the halfling's mind. It was like an itch he couldn't scratch. Rain started, and Caius finally figured out when he headed in a certain direction, the sensation disappeared. He grinned to himself, before turning with a blank face to his covenmates.

"Go back to Volterra, all of you. I have some things to do here first. My orders. I will be along when I wish it."

Felix was the most reluctant to go, but Caius convinced him. He stood in the rain for a moment then shot off. He was there in ten minutes. There was a smell of food, and Caius moaned, approaching the stranger.

"Howdy. Y'all have mah thanks fer that."

"Hmph, stupid accent. I want food."

"Only if'n y'all asks nicely."

"Please."

"Please what?"

Caius snarled, crossing his arms. "I am Volturi! You will give me what I demand!"

"Then Ah could just tell them vampires y'all were with that you ain't one of 'em."

Caius froze then looked down, hugging himself. "Could I please have some of that…whatever it is? It smells good and, as you can imagine, I do not indulge myself in human foods too often."

"It's fried chicken, mashed taters 'n' gravy, and corn."

They sat on the ground beneath the tarp that the other halfling had clearly set up. Caius ate every bite then got even more. When he went for a third, the country halfling snorted.

"Yous gonna make yerself sick. Ah don't think that's worth it."

Caius realized how un-Volturi-like he was acting and quickly set his plate aside, feeling incredibly embarrassed.

"Who are you?" he asked, unsure.

"Name's Jasper. Jasper Lee Whitlock. Yer Caius."

"I am."

"What do ya want?"

"You are a halfling."

"Ah am."

"I have never known one before…for too long. Aro always kills them. I wish to speak with you. Preferably repeatedly. Over the years."

"Ya want a solid contact."

"I do."

"Fahne with meh. Whatchoo want to talk 'bout?"

"Why was Maria beating you?"

"Ah ain't talkin' 'bout that rahght now."

"What will you talk about?"

"Did you lahke mah chicken?"