Disclaimer: Don't own anything but my interpretation. Characters and story belong to Stephenie Meyer. XD I keep wondering why we have to write disclaimers on fanfiction. Obviously it's fanfiction...people KNOW it doesn't belong to us and that we're not the author...anyway yerr. Sorry...these past few weeks have been hell for me. Fanfiction was definately not one of my top priorities...I'm going to try to keep this up--so thanks for being patient (not that many people read this, but HEY, so what) Voila. Chapter 4. Enjoy.

My heart. I couldn't hear anything but my dry sobs. Tears wouldn't come anymore. My heart had stopped beating. So this is what it is to die. I had just regained consciousness, but my eyes were tight shut. All I could feel was the slowly subsiding flames. All I recognized was the fire. I could feel a huge thirst building up in my throat. My sense of time was warped, but sooner or later the thirst became unbearable. "It would seem I made it to hell after all. Is this to be my punishment for being a player in a game of death? A game reserved for God and God alone? Is this my punishment? Am I to be ever thirsty? Plagued by a thirst that will never be quenched, as I slowly burn and rot in darkness?"

"Can someone please shut him up?" The voice startled me and prompted me to open my eyes. I didn't recognize my surroundings. It was like earth...I supposed it was earth. But everything was so much...more. I noticed every minute detail. My senses were overwhelmed by the unfamiliar spectrum of colors, the new range of sounds and smells. It was night time, but I could see everything so clearly. I sat up with a speed that threw off my balance. I braced myself and tried again. I successfully managed to get myself in an upright position and looked around in wonder. The voice that had spoken before began to laugh, "Look at his mouth! See how it hangs there so stupidly? Oh well...at least he's quiet. I'm trying to think! Since Maria doesn't want him moved I've had to listen ro his moaning and groaning for the past three days!" Three days?! I turned in irritation and confusion to face this utterly rude creature. I was in a clearing. All the way on the other side sat a girl who I vaguely recognized as having accompanied the one who...With a start I realized that this person was an accomplice in my attempted murder. I reached for my gun and when I couldn't find it, I let out a loud snarl in her direction. Wait. Did I just growl?

"Such theatrics." I turned and another of the blonds was sitting behind me, her face in her hand, looking bored. "Nettie, since when did you think?"

"Shut up, Lucy. I was thinking of asking Maria to let us in on some of the details on this whole dirty business," It suddenly donned on me that I shouldn't be able to hear her from this distance but I remained silent to watch their exchange.

"And this requires the utmost concentration, does it?" Lucy began tracing circles on her skin, which was unbelievably pale. These creatures looked even more inhuman than I had originally noted.

"Something you wanted to ask me, Nettie?" The monster who attacked me had just walked out of the trees. I couldn't remember what happened but I knew the last place I wanted to be was with these strange beings.

I was tensed to run when the monster called Nettie stuttered, "Oh n-nothing, Maria." Lucy sniggered and Nettie glared, "But you may want to take care of him." She tilted her head in my direction and I froze.

"Ah!" Maria's features lit up and she appeared right next to me. "Major Whitlock--you're awake!"

"It's questionable, " I said calmly. I was never one to lose my cool during a crisis. I became cold. Resolute.

She chucked, "It's like a dream, isn't it?" She gestured around her. "Your senses have been heightened exponentially. This is very exciting. We will begin training immediately after you hunt. ...Oh well...I'll trust you'll want a chance to explore your new abilities?"

"Frankly, ma'am, I'd rather have an explanation. If you don't mind," my words were biting. I had no patience for this woman. Who did she think she was? She thought she could almost kill me...turn me into some sort of monster...and then turn around and act as though I was supposed to be grateful? That I was just supposed to follow orders?

As if she had read my thoughts, she quickly composed herself. "Forgive me. You being a soldier, I guess I took your ability to follow orders for granted. I thought that maybe you'd be less prone to terror if I exhibited a more friendly countenance." The one called Lucy snorted but the leader ignored her. "I am Maria. These two are Lucy and Nettie, respectively. You have been chosen to join my army."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. But it's not God's will that a Major in the Confederate Army be subjugated to a woman's whims," I bowed my head respectively, restraining myself, even though I was more than a little terrified. I knew this wasn't a traditional woman. Woman...hell, she may not have even been human. I wasn't entirely sure I was human anymore.

Maria blinked a couple of times before throwing back her head in laughter. "You are delightful. I'm truly sorry, but you don't really have a choice. A smart boy like you...I'm sure you realize that I could kill you at any time. On that note, if you don't stop talking about God I may have to kill you anyway...and wouldn't that be a waste?"

I shuddered at her casual tone and swallowed nervously. There was a silence as I pondered my predicament. Finally I looked up at her, this petite dark-haired woman who, believably, could kill me with her bare hands. I sighed, "Army of what, exactly?"

--

Maria proceeded to explain to me what I had become in full-blown righteous nut-job rhetoric. "You see, Major Whitlock, I too, was human. I too, called Texas my home. I was a submissive, smitten, God-fearing woman, always minding my place in society. God didn't mind me, though. He left me to die," her face grew hard and she clenched her fists. "The only thing that got me through those hellish three days was the thought that this was God's final test--my murder would be avenged and I would be saved and accepted into God's Grace." She spit. "I digress. The heart of it is that you were changed into what you are now for a purpose. Aren't you greatful? Now you finally have one." I proceeded to go into a speech about the importance of the Confederate army and the preservation of tradition when the cackling started up again. "My, my, haven't you realized by now? Human quarrels are beneath you. They are no longer of your concern. You are to be a part of a much larger war, and become a player in a game that has longer-standing traditions."

"What am I?" I was getting impatient.

This momentarily gave her pause as she tried to come up with the title that would be most likely to inspire awe. She frowned, unsatisfied, and settled on the most widely-recognized in my part of the world, "You...We...are vampires." She paused for dramatic effect, and I, in my young self-importance, asked the question that was foremost on the tip of my tongue.

"Why me?"

"If you're planning to take back by force land that rightfully belongs to you...who better to help lead your hand-picked army, than a charismatic soldier?" She shrugged. I considered briefly. This was my chance to be a part of something worthy of my strategic skill. A supernatural battle against things larger than myself. Now, I'm sure there are those who would hold my lack of skepticism in contempt--but they aren't vampires, so they hardly matter at this point.

I grinned and held out my hand, "Pleasure to meet you--" I cocked my head inquisitively.

She grasped my hand, "Maria."

"Jasper."

"Welcome to my world, Jasper. Now let's eat."