She called him Justin. The night he awoke in the woods, she called him Justin. "You were asleep three days Justin, the army is waiting for us…its time to return to them and the hunt." She had said, her voice sounded as silky as her long blond hair appeared in the overly bright moonlight. Without any resistance he joined her… and through her he joined Maria's army. Lucy, Maria's sister and his creator, had taken him upon his awakening to be her own personal entertainment. His skills at blending in as a human had become more then just the skillful talent of a soldier; they had blossomed into a full-blown power. All this was much to the use and pleasure of the three sisters.

Few months passed and he learned the ways of the army with quick proficiency, becoming a force amongst the newborns to be recognized. Lucy always kept him close when Maria didn't have him in the field scouting for other vampires or occasionally training the newest newborns. Tonight was no different. Maria and her sisters had left him to keep watch for any rogue vampires that were lurking about the area as the area here was well known as a between ground for the local vampire armies and clashes were frequent. Maria had heard of another young and talented Confederate, already a Major, though she didn't know exactly where he was located. Sadly the humans who mentioned him amongst themselves often died at the teeth of the newborns before more could be found, but this general area was the area where the most mentions were made.

While the three sisters lurked along the highway, searching for more information on the prospective candidate, Justin haunted the nearby tree line. Part of him couldn't shake that this assignment was a setup since his newborn strength was beginning stages of fading. Hiding it was not easy and no vampire ever stayed in Maria's presence without it, being deemed dead weight. Soon his body would be torn limb from limb…perhaps by Maria, or Lucy, or even Nettie. Until then he'd serve them and hope that the service was enough to be kept around as useful.

Sudden laugher broke him of his internal thoughts and both Lucy and Nettie, blond hair of both flying, came over the near hill and sped towards him with high speed. Their good nature, and Maria's absence, meant there was to be another member of the army joining them soon. Bowing his head to them in submission he waited to be addressed as they spoke amongst themselves. Nettie eyed him with a smirk and continued her run towards where the army was stationed, but Lucy stayed behind and eyed him expectantly.

"What is the report?" She inquired keeping her voice even.

"Yes Ma'am," bowing his head further to demonstrate he knew his position beneath her. "The local areas are calm but there are two trails. One is a day old of movement to the south, the scent of one vampire. The other is a three day old movement west and reeks of stale blood, I picked up fourteen individual scents."

"Newborn feeding is messy," she tsked. "None are of danger to us?"

"No Ma'am."

Lucy nodded and cast her eyes out towards where the road lay beyond. Many times she had changed men into soldiers for their army, and assisted in building an army to be reckoned with. Tonight Maria was turning a young man who reminded her very much of the vampire standing not far from her now. Though it very well could be just the physical similarity that pulled at her; they were both of similar build though Justin was slightly younger, perhaps by a year, and they had a similar hair color. Would this young man have powers as her acquisition did? Would be prove as useful? His powers had granted her more strength; would this young man on the road give Maria the same edge that she could then use against her? She would have to keep a close eye on this one, as his acquisition was making Maria much to giddy.

"Justin," she began, looking at him with a stony face. "Maria, Nettie, and I have agreed to give you clemency, assuming that you continue to be of use to us. I know you are waiting for your time."

He stood in silence, never taking his eyes from the earth though he was sure the confusion he was trying to suppress was bubbling through regardless. "Much obliged, Ma'am."

"Make no mistake, if you prove to be replaceable you will be replaced. For the moment you're of more use to us alive." Motioning for him to follow her she turned in the direction Nettie had gone and began to run knowing full well that Justin was following behind her like a shadow as they streaked back to the army camp.



Maria had returned two days later, a slightly shaky newborn along side her. Justin could sympathize with the newcomer; the new speed and strength were an adjustment to be sure. His own change hadn't been that long ago and he was sure that if he could still sleep it would be filled of nightmares of the pain and adjustments that came with that change.

Over the next few weeks he kept his distance from the one Maria called Jasper; anyone that spooked him or provoked him was attacked and ripped to shreds. Sometimes they were attacked without saying a word, a glare or hard look was all that had to pass between them. Something with the new vampire didn't sit right with him, but then there was a time when his presence didn't sit well with the others either. There was something similar between them that he didn't understand, but to start a fight with one that Maria seemed to favor so much was a death warrant in itself.

During that time he had separated himself from the main part of the army until the night Maria sent him on assignment, with Jasper. Lucy had looked on with an unreadable face when they were called together and given the assignment.

"You two are the best in this army," Maria between the two of them, her favor falling obviously with the younger Jasper. "There have been large movements in the east, an army coming to close my borders. I want to know their numbers and your assessment of their strengths. Now go and move swiftly."

A gaze passed between the two vampires as they raised their bowed heads and took off in the direction they had been given.