Day One
Jasper POV
"Jasper! Have you seen this?" Emmett pointed the short email he had up on the screen. "Fancy been a Major to someone again?" I laughed slightly to myself but the burn in my throat soon silenced it. I had gone too long without feeding and now even the slightest of movements would bring the flames crashing down on me.
I smirked at him. "Depends." I hadn't been in the southern wars for over decade now, and I didn't miss any of it. Saying that, it was lie. I missed the free meal tickets that nobody cared about. Now I had to control what I drank, I couldn't just kill five humans in one night like I could then.
"You know those crappy legend things that Maria badgered us about?" Slightly I groaned to myself at the thought of them. Both Emmett and I had been turned in the early 18th century, me in the confederate army, and Emmett after having been mauled by a grizzly. Maria had found us both within the same time and changed us. Even as newborns we protected each other's backs, slowly working up the ranks until we threatened Maria. After all, how did you think we managed to leave? She didn't want anyone taking over her 'precious' little armies.
"The Incubus ones?" He finished slowly, his grin widening. "The vamps you can get pregnant?" Emmett snorted quietly, "Not very manly is it? I mean, imagine going to feed on a human with a stomach like that!"
I knew why he had brought this up. Emmett himself wouldn't want anything to do with them that way, apart from them to just be there at his beck and call. No, Emmett was very much a straight arrow. Me on the other hand, I preferred my arrows bent. "Why would I want one of them?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. You can be rougher on them then what you can human. To carry on the Whitlock legacy maybe?"
Slowly I raised an eyebrow at him, "You only want me to get one so then it can bring you food all the time. Save you the trouble of finding your own."
"Perhaps."
"Anyway, why did you bring it up?" Emmett gestured for me to come over to him with a slight nod of his head.
"The annual Volturi slave auction. Aro sells the ones that are over hundred years old. Saying that they are still able to carry, it's just they risk dying through childbirth. You know the rest, Maria told you it all." As I read over the letter in his hand, I thought over the things Maria had told us about them. To be truthful my knowledge was slim, I never was one to pay attention to things. But I did manage to pick up a few things.
Like the fact one pregnancy can last anything from two years to twenty years depending on how old it is. The older it is, the quicker the fetus develops. You can tell whether or not you got one five years after the change. If they still have their human blood in their body then you got yourself an Incubus. Even though the heart stops beating, it starts to beat again once the vampires is pregnant so then the fetus can get the mothers blood. Well, fathers blood whatever you want to call it.
"It can't hurt to have a look about." I pause for a second, "I might even find that special someone." I joke with him and we both laugh loudly.
"So where is this place?" I mutter to myself more than anything. I hated being in planes, for some reason they just made me feel uneasy.
"Italy, duh." Said Emmett, his voice laced with heavy sarcasm. "Don't worry; we should be there in maybe twenty minutes or so. I even timed it just right so then it'll be dark when we get off."
He sounded pleased with himself and he probably was. This was just about the smartest thing he'd ever done. Saying that he thought he had timed one of our other flights right. We ended up stranded in Spain in the middle of the day. We held the whole place up cause we wouldn't get off the plane.
"Well done, you actually did something good in your life for once." Shutting my eyes, I heard him begin to sing to himself under his breath.
Even though I hadn't fallen asleep, the next thing I was aware of was Emmett pretending to wake me up. "Come on dude, the plane's landing." Faking a yawn and a stretch I couldn't help but roll my eyes at my pathetic attempt to look human.
When the plane eventually landed, we waited until all the humans had slowly walked past our seats. With everyone that walked past me, they set the flames off in my throat again.
For some reason I had refrained from hunting and waited until now, until the flames were excruciating. Why had I waited? I don't know, something just told me that there was something better to drink, something a lot better.
As the last human passenger walked off the plane, I risked a peak under the blind that I had pulled down when the plane set off. Expecting it to be sunny, I shielded my eyes out of pure instinct. Even though we didn't burn in the sun, it still made our eyes ache. Thankfully Emmett had timed it right, it was dark.
Standing up, I pulled my only bag from the overhead storage compartment. We had managed to cram everything in one bag so then we wouldn't have to hang around at the airport waiting for suitcases.
I easily caught up with the last passenger coming off the plane. It was an elderly woman with frizzy grey hair. Throwing the rucksack over my shoulder, my elbow accidently knocked into the old woman's shoulder.
The old woman glanced over her shoulder, locking her eyes instantly on mine. Shock flowered her face and for a moment I wondered whether I had forgotten to put in my contacts. But the hazy film that covered my eyes proved that I hadn't forgotten. If she carries on staring I'll give her something to be shocked about. I thought to myself and chuckled.
The sound seemed to snap her out of whatever spell she had fallen into. "It's you." She breathed, her voice no stronger than the breeze outside. "Rescue him please. Please rescue him."
Behind me Emmett sighed and pushed in front of me. "Look lady, we got some where to be so take your fantasises to someone who cares." With that he pushed past her, though somehow managed not to knock her over. Within seconds the plane was empty of only me and her.
From some where she produced a crumpled piece of paper that had been folded over twice. "Here." As the paper was past into my hand, a small shock wave seemed to emanate from the woman. It pushed me back slightly and into one of the seats behind me.
In front of me the woman smiled, her eyes alight with purpose and hope. Slowly I watched as she disappeared. It started at her feet, and worked its way up her body. Every part of her slowly disintegrated into dust before a small breeze blew through the open door, scattering the dust particles.
Blinking slowly, I looked down to see that the note was still resting in my palm. It had al been real. That woman had just crumbled in front of my eyes. Fingering the note, I walked to the door of the plane just as I heard someone to come check to see if everyone was off the plane.
Joining Emmett outside, we didn't bother to go through the airport, instead we took off into the night.
As I ran, I thought about what had happened. For some reason the woman had stirred something deep inside me, something no human had ever done to me. She made me think about my life, both human and vampire. Why was I still here? It was the reason people like her died, because of vampires like me that had to feed from her. I should have died back in 1823 in the confederate army. But I didn't.
Somewhere in me I had made a vow, a vow that I vowed not to break, that I would find him. Whoever he may be. I owed it to the woman.
Slowly my speed slightly, I let Emmett take lead and fooled him into thinking I didn't know where I was going. Keeping a tight hold on the piece or paper, I unfolded it slowly. All that was written on it was three numbers. 124. Frowning to myself I stared at the note, narrowly missing a tree as I did.
What could it possibly mean? When the note began to grow hotter in the palm of my hand I cautiously looked down at. Sure enough it burst into flames though they didn't burn my skin. They just engulfed the three letters; made them stand out against the white paper. Slowly they diminished and the numbers were now a blood red. Hesitantly I ran my finger over them, smudging them in the process.
Placing my finger on my on my tongue, I gasped at the euphoric taste on my tongue. Everything about it was exquisite and I couldn't find anything to match it to. As soon as the blood touched my tongue the whole note burst into flames and was gone in a matter of seconds.
We arrived at the Volturi castle an hour after leaving the plane. All I could think about on the run here were the numbers 124.
But as we slowed to a walk the numbers went straight out of my head as I saw the two guards that stood at the entrance of the castle. It was Jane and Alec, and they stood proudly in their black cloaks. Emmett shoed them the letter and the nodded and let us pass.
They didn't have to check us for weaponry; they knew that no one would dare to bring anything of the sort here. That was unless they wanted a death wish.
Despite being a vampire, the cold halls made me shiver slightly. The thin shirt I was wearing was no match against the coldness that seemed to hover around the walls. It wasn't just physically feeling cold, it was emotionally cold.
The place even smelt of death and my guess was that the coldness was simply the spirits of all those that had died here. The dark stone hallways were unwelcoming and even made me unnerved. I, Jasper Whitlock, that had made it to be a General of countless armies was unnerved by the coldness of a set of walls.
I blamed it on the meeting with the woman.
Eventually we came to one door, one that smelt of more blood than the others. My throat burst into flames once more, though the drop of blood from the letter seemed to have soothed it some.
Emmett threw open the doors and they clanged loudly when they hit the brick on the other side. Growls erupted from the room as we strode in though they so settled down. Taking a spare seat at the back, I relaxed as the crowd cheered as Aro stepped onto the stage.
"I thank you all for coming! The Volturi all hope that you will find what you are looking for." Aro flitted to the corner of the stage and held a thick, tattered book in his hand. "Are there any numbers that you want to come out first?" He asked and a vampire in front of me shouted out the number 123.
Frowning to myself I made myself promise to shout out the number the woman had given me on the next one. Aro nodded at the vampire and called out to two guards that were standing just off the stage. I remembered them as Demitri and Felix, the two guards that had warned Maria over her army control less than fifty years ago.
They lead on a scrawny male vampire that seemed all legs and no body. Despite this the bidding instantly went up in flames. It was probably over how young he looked. He seemed to older than fifteen. For a few minutes the bidding was fierce though it slowly calmed. The Incubus was sold to the man that had shouted out the number.
Before Aro had a chance to call the next one on, I shouted out my number. "124!" I called out and I didn't miss the shocked expression on Aro's face. He shrugged but didn't call out to Felix.
"I hope you all know, any Incubi that haven't been sold will be killed after the auction." Again the crowd cheered at the thought of seeing a slaughter. Shaking my head, I watched as he called out my number to Felix.
The Incubus they brought on only looked seventeen if that. He was young and his wide black eyes survived the crowd fearfully. When he caught someone's eye he flinched wildly which resulted in a firm tug from Felix who held the chain that was attached to a collar around the Incubi's neck.
Tousled copper hair lay limp over his forehead and looked in a dire need of a wash. His clothes hung in rags and his chest was bear, showing a roadmap of scars that threatened to challenge my own. Silently he trembled on the spot and his breathing came in small, frightened pants. Even from the back of the room I could hear the slight whimpers that toppled from his shaking lips.
"The bidding starts at $10,000." Shouted Aro, making the young male jump back startled.
Emmett nudged me in the ribs, and smirk on his face. "Well I wouldn't pay that for that scrawny thing." Growling lowly at him, I glanced up to watch the crowed.
No one moved.
No one shouted anything out.
No one even added a doller to the price.
He was going to die.
I couldn't let that happen.
"$10,500." I yelled out, making the Incubi to snap his head up to face me. When he saw me I saw his eyes fill with fear, smiling slightly I tried to quell his fears. It did nothing but make his whimpers become louder. Granted it probably just made me look like I wanted to eat him.
When no one bided anything more, Aro nodded his head to me signalling that I had bought my first Incubi.
At least I had managed to keep my promise to the woman.
I could sense Emmett's shock easily though he didn't make any move to acknowledge me.
With a sharp tug Felix dragged the Incubus off the stage. Standing slightly, I surprised myself when I growled lowly at Felix for doing that to him.
Seeing that I had stood, Aro pointed in the direction Felix had taken him. Following his directions, I raced through the cold halls desperate to find what was now mine.
Why did I growl? It shouldn't have mattered to me that Felix had treated him roughly. The feeling of protectiveness that I had for the boy-yes he was nothing but a boy-was shocking. The emotions seemed to seep into me the moment I had stepped into that very room. But what were they?
Slowing to a brisk walk, I pushed open a heavy wooden door that Aro had pointed to. Pushing it open, I was surprised by the sudden welcoming feeling to the place. It was still cold and dark, but it held hope. Everything held hope. Apart from the small figure that was huddled up in the corner.
From the hair I recognised his easily. He was my Incubus. When the door banged he jumped to his feet, his eyes wide with fear and terror. When he saw me he whimpered and growled slightly though it sounded more like he was crying than anything else.
"Shhh." I muttered lightly to him, again shocking myself with my sudden movements. Normally I wouldn't give two shits for the creature in front of me. But there was something about him. Something that told me I had to take my time with him.
As I approached he backed further into the wall, until he froze when his bare back hit the brick. Bending down slowly in front of him, I reached out to touch his hand, only to have him pull it back sharply. "Shhh." I tried again, and his whimpering quietened slightly.
"What's your name?" He just shook his head and turned his fearful gaze over my shoulder. He flinched wildly when someone entered the room.
"You won't get anything from him. I wouldn't even try." Muttered Marcus as he walked over to me. "Your just a slut aren't you? No good for nothing." Frowning to myself I stood and faced Marcus. Despite being a couple of inches shorter than him, I didn't let it put me off.
"Do you mind? He's mine now; you've got no right to call him that." Marcus rolled his eyes.
"Just saying. He can't carry a child to save his life. All been miscarriages or stillborns. Why'd you think he didn't go for much?" Marcus gestured for me to follow him. Taking me over to a desk, he slid a small form in front of me. "Good luck with this one." He said as he handed me a long needle that looked like a pen.
"Can I have some ink?" I asked slightly annoyed at the lack of service.
Marcus laughed dryly, "Help yourself." He pointed over to the boy sat in the corner. "Just prink him and right in his blood. He's a good for nothing shit as it is anyways."
Knowing there was nothing else I could do, I slowly walked over to the boy. Trying to hide the needle, I knew he wasn't fooled. He reacted swiftly and was up on his feet in a matter of minutes. He lunged for me though his steps were sloppy, weak and desperate. Not to mention that fact that the chain around his neck pulled him back.
Deciding to do it quickly, I pushed him up against the wall and dug the needle quickly into his skin. He gasped from shock and struggled violently while all I could do was mutter 'sorry' over and over. Pulling the needle from his skin, I jumped back as to not put him under any more stress.
Once more the fear was back in his eyes only it was triple the amount it was last time. He looked far worse than terrified.
So I wouldn't have to do it again, I quickly went over to the two sheets that were laid on the desk.
Owner of 124-Edward Anthony Mason
Name: Jasper Whitlock
Year of turning: 1823
Amount Paid: $10,500
The Volturi expect to see all sold Incubi every year, will you attend? Yes
The Volturi expect to see the Incubus pregnant on first meeting, will you follow this? Yes
That was all the first form said and the second was merely an information sheet stating how to look after them and 'how to get them pregnant for clueless vampires.' Not to mention the all important meeting date which was only a fortnight away.
A fortnight?
I was supposed to get this boy pregnant within a fortnight?
What would I have to do? The boy wouldn't even let me touch his hand never mind anywhere else. What would I have to do? Pin him down and rape him? I shuddered at the thought, no; I wouldn't do it unless he wanted me to.
Quickly skimming over the information sheet, I slipped it into my back pocket. Sliding the sheet-and money-back to Marcus, I nodded a good bye. Striding over to Edward, I tried to ignore the whimpers that floated from him.
"Come on, let's get Emmett and we can go home."