AN: Hi friends. This chapter features Jasper, a little background on new characters, and Alice...from afar :) Thanks so much for reading. Oh, and I don't own Twilight.

Song of the Chapter: Gods and Monsters by Lana Del Rey

In the land of Gods and Monsters...

Chapter 3

"He squeals like a pig," Henry cackles at the armless, legless form of Nathan. The prone Vampire is bound in a Henry made torture contraption. Since Vampires have all of eternity, they need to find things to pass the time. Just hunting and fucking wasn't enough. Some like Carlisle found purpose through work, others like Henry found purpose in experimenting on Vampires. It didn't take long for a Vampire to become an expert at anything, what with the photographic memory and never having to take breaks to sleep, eat, or use the bathroom.

Henry had gotten a degree in Chemistry from MIT, and then had spent about half a century experimenting with Vampire Venom and different chemicals, creating abysmal concoctions to torture Vampires. The Volturi, having their own torture expert in Jane, assigned him to work for Juliette, something he was more than happy to do.

The mad Vampire had found a way to combine liquid nitrogen and Venom, essentially burning a vampire without the use of fire. He was using it on Nathan now, causing the vampire to shriek in pure agony. The soundproof room kept his screams from reaching the upstairs club patrons. Even if it did, the rhythmic pumping of the music would cover it.

Nathan hadn't even lasted ten seconds, yelling out the location of his Newborns as if it would save him. It didn't. Henry hadn't prepared this spread for nothing. Jasper and Peter stand in the corner, the empath visibly wincing at the Nathan's pain. Fuck, he hated his ability sometimes. While he had no sympathy for the Vampire, he didn't exactly enjoy feeling his pain. Peter, knowing what was going on, kept a hand on his brother's shoulder and was glad he had suggested Charlotte follow the Little Miss home. His Mate was strong as all hell, but even the heaviest of stomachs would turn at the Vampire in pain.

Juliette and Geralt had watch nonchalantly, casually sipping on glasses of blood while Henry went to work. She winces as Nathan screamed again, feeling a headache come on and waves to Henry that it was enough. The torturer acquiesces, ripping Nathan's head from his body, he quickly submerged it in the Nitrogen/Venom concoction, ending the Vampires life. Once he had squealed on the location of his Newborns, she sent a team out to collect and destroy them. When Alice had told her, she was enraged that this petulant little Vampire would dare attempt to usurp her. The Vampire Network that just launched would feature Nathan on the front page – well, his frozen head, a warning of 'We Are Watching.'

Thankfully, Alice had seen Nathan's motives and had recommended her ex-Mate the famed Jasper Whitlock for the job. Geralt had met Jasper once before, about five years ago in Volterra, and had come back describing the man to Juliette. "Der Butzemann," Geralt had teased to Juliette in his native tongue as he tickled her sides. Juliette squirmed on his chest, shooting him a quick glare. The couple laid in their grand bed in their private home, basking in the after bliss of his return from Volterra. He had gone away on a favor for the Three Kings and had returned talking about a certain Jasper Whitlock. She laid her head on her elbow, intrigued by this Vampire he described. It was almost fanatical.

Juliette raised a delicate eyebrow as she questioned skeptically, "The 'boogeyman'?" While she had heard whispers about the man's expertise on the battlefield, she had thought it was just fabrications, ghost stories, absurdité.

Geralt grinned at her, "I've been told he was pure death on the battlefield." His hand trailed up and down her bare back. "The last thing many a Vampire saw before being dispatched to Valhalla."

Smirking, Juliette swung a leg up and straddled her Mate, his red eyes going black with hunger. She teasingly scratched her nails down his solid chest, provoking a growl. "And do you think this so called 'butzemann' could defeat you, mon trésor?"

Geralt hissed as she leaned down and flicked her tongue against his lips, "I think it would be a worthy battle."

Juliette stands and heads over to the Whitlock men, both standing at attention for her. This pleases her. "Merci beaucoup, Jasper and Peter," Juliette grins at them, Jasper notes it's more reptilian than friendly though. Her French accent added to the effect, insidious and seductive all in the same. Very conflicting, her emotions gave nothing away besides gratitude. "Payment has been deposited in your accounts. Alice had recommended you two to get the job done, no muss, no fuss. I must say I am impressed."

"You are welcome, Marquise," Jasper and Peter bow formally to the Vampire, as was procedure.

The Three Kings had let each leader of the Regions choose their own titles, some chose standard, some chose ones relating to the countries they were born into or changed into. It did not matter to the Kings, as long as they performed the jobs given to them. Juliette had chosen Marquis as she had been married to a Marquise while human. She was born in France in the eighteenth century and trapped in a marriage to Marquis de Merteuil. The man liked to take his frustrations out on his young wife, beating her body but not mussing her perfect face. He had unknowingly murdered two of his unborn children that way. One day, a liaison from Vicomte de Archambault had arrived at their palace, a man named Geralt with a "strange eye condition".

In reality, Geralt was hired to assassinate the Marquis and his young wife.

Geralt had fallen in love with Juliette on the spot, how could he not – she was chosen for the Marquis because of her beauty - brown hair, fair skin, green eyes, and lovely figure. It only solidified that night when he had gone to take care of the Marquis and found him, again and again, falling down a knife. A knife held by none other than Juliette. She didn't look shocked when Geralt casually walked into their bedroom, Marquis de Merteuil's blood dripping from the man's open belly to the Aubusson. Juliette matched Geralt's gaze and the Vampire felt Venom flood his mouth at the at the sight of the man's blood splattered on her delicate face. He had never seen anything so enthralling in all of his years.

He couldn't help himself and they joined, right there on the bed next to the dead Marquis. He sent all of his thanks to Odin that he did not kill the bloody and beautiful girl.

After, she told him she already guessed what he was here for, and had decided to take her opportunity to kill her pig of a husband. She then told him that he could kill her if he wanted, to complete his mission. Instead, he offered Juliette a new life, where she would be powerful, beautiful, and eternal. He would cherish the very ground she walked on, he would protect her, no one would ever hurt her again. Geralt had returned to the Vicomte with news of a job done, collected payment, and sailed into the sunset with a reborn red eyed Juliette.

Juliette had decided to keep the title of hers when Aro had allowed her to choose her own title, an ode to her human life, only this time, she had the voice, she had the power.

Geralt approaches them then, the Whitlock men bowing once more before Geralt waves them off, "It was good to meet you, Peter, and to see you again, Jasper. Thank you for a job well done."

"Anything else you need-"

Juliette smirks at them, "We will be in touch soon."

Jasper raises an eyebrow at this, and Juliette tilts her head, "Oh, you weren't told? I guess they were leaving me with the pleasure. You will be staying in my Region, per The Kings. We'll need you to scan for any other Armies that might be forming. Alice herself recommended your expertise, so I plan to take advantage of it."

"Of course, Marquise," Peter steps in for his brother, whose mind seems to be going a mile a minute. "We will be more than happy to offer our services."

Jasper finally gets his wits about him, deciding that his questions are for later, not now. "Yes, this was just news to me. I am very pleased at this news. Will you be needing any other assistance with the Newborns tonight?"

"No, I think our team will be able to handle a couple bébés," Juliette smirks at them. "Keep your phones on you, Messieurs."

With that, they are dismissed. Jasper doesn't voice his thoughts until they are out of the Club, taking deep greedy breaths of the fresh air. Charlotte then appears and is kissing Peter as if they had been separated decades not minutes. Jasper rolls his eyes at the sight, their lust hitting him.

"I hate to break this up-"

Charlotte detaches herself from Peter's lips and turns to him, smiling. "She's home, Major, safe and sound. I did pick up Vampire scent in her neighborhood however, not near her building though and it was a couple hours old."

Jasper nods his thanks to Charlotte, though the news of a Vamp scent near her is a bit unsettling. He'll take care of that before he goes to her apartment. Glancing around, seeing many humans stumbling drunk out of the Club, he shares a knowing look with Peter. Jasper leads them down a side alley for some privacy, leaning against the cool brick while Peter and Charlotte settle across from him, still in each other's arms.

"Why were we here?"

Peter raises his eyebrows, "You're complaining about easy money? Not only that, but steady easy money since she apparently has more jobs for us."

"No, it's just-" Jasper runs a hand through his hair. "It's not like this situation called for any experts. Alice could have given the description to any one of her workers, they could have handled that one Vampire, why did she need all of us?"

Peter blinks, "Again, all I'm hearing are complaints about easy money." Peter then frowns, his anxiety spiking a bit, red eyes flicking to Jasper. "You think the Volturi want you in the guard and this was a set up?"

Jasper immediately shakes his head, "No, they would have forced my hand five years ago when I was there. I think this has something to do with Alice."

Charlotte frowns, following Jasper's line of thought. "Juliette's team gathered those Newborns quick and easy. They could have done that in the Club, they would have scoped him out right away, probably before he even set his sights on Bella."

Bella, her name ticks in Jasper's head like a light switch and then, Jasper feels his phone buzz in his pocket. He ignores it, until two more come in quick succession. Urgent. His hackles up, he takes his phone out to see an unsaved number texting him. A chill runs down his spine at the words.

Atonement.

Go to her.

Trust me.

Everything clicks.

Alice wanted him here in Philadelphia, at that exact place, at that exact time, so that he would save Bella. She suggested him to Juliette, knowing the girl would follow orders and call him to Philadelphia, doing this pointless job so that Jasper would save-

"Bella," Jasper voices her name, feeling the Earth settle, everything making sense. Equilibrium.

Peter reads over his shoulder, smirking. "Guess you got your answer, Mystic Meg strikes again. Go to the Little Miss, Major. We're gonna head out for some alone time," Peter reaches down to squeeze Charlotte's ass, earning a smack from his Mate as she flits down the alley. He's right behind her, departing with a, "See ya, Major."

Jasper ignores them, his mind going a mile a minute.

AN: So, I like leaving Easter Eggs around here, let me know if you catch them. Juliette de Merteuil is pulled directly from the French Film 'Les Liaisons dangereuses', more commonly known her in the United States, at least among my generation, as Cruel Intentions. So, picture Kathryn Merteuil as Juliette (I love Sarah Michelle Gellar in that movie). Geralt is of course The Butcher of Blaviken himself from The Witcher. I couldn't resist.

Me writing that stuff for Henry is literally me just yelling out, "Science, bitch!" like Jesse Pinkman. I know nothing about chemistry, just roll with it, cool?