A/N: I'm now posting once a fortnight, too much happening with the run-up to Christmas xx Several place names in this one for my Facebook group, I'm on a roll lol xx Alexis

Jasper

I'm back on the move, on the road once again; another job finished satisfactorily or should I say to my satisfaction. At least only one life was lost back there in good old Tulsa, Oklahoma. That's a damn good result, not for the pile of ashes I left behind there obviously! But for the coven he belonged to it was, they weren't involved in his sickenin' night-time habits and were as disgusted as my bosses about it. I mostly work alone, but occasionally, just once in a while if it's a big job my brother, Peter helps me out. He's not too keen on my bosses though, but because I'm payin' the Volturi back for not just for my life, but his and Char's too, he helps when I ask and offers information when he gets it. I was the one who let him and his mate escape, so I feel I owe them this.

They didn't know the real rules of our kind and broke a few, not any real major ones, but still, they did! So when the Volturi came for me after my own bid for freedom, I bargained for all three of our lives, not just my own. I don't mind actually, it's a job like all the others I've had. I have in the past killed for my country, willingly. I have killed for my maker, although unwillingly and now I kill for the self-imposed rulers of our world, to save my own neck and those of my coven. I even get the immeasurable pleasure of workin' relatively unsupervised. They know that vampire or not I'm still a fairly honourable man! So far I've now worked off Charlotte's debt and am now workin' on Peter's. My own is a far longer sentence, that's for dang sure. But I'm still here in America and somewhat free to do things my own way.

I nowadays report in once a year, by goin' to Italy, bendin' the knee and lettin' Aro read me, it was twice a year, to begin with. They usually send me lists of names by email to my cell and I determine if they're guilty or not. I've even managed to get my bloodlust under control durin' this time, so I no longer get depressed by the deaths of my meals. How you may ask? Drug addicts, that's how! They are usually that spaced out, I also get the high from their blood, it's quite liberatin' and gives me a calm I never have had before. It's so much better than the fear and dread from previous years. I deal with the dubious job of policin' Mexico, Canada, South America and the USA. It might seem like a lot to a human, but it's not that bad overall for a vampire. Not unless they all flared up at the same time and then I'd need to call in the guard.

My sentence is to be their enforcer over here for four hundred years in total. Fifty-odd down and under three hundred and fifty to go. It's not that much in a vampire's view of time and I've been one since the eighteen-sixties. Compared to the first one hundred years, this shit is a walk in the park for me. Char's sentence was fifty years, so that's done and dusted. Peter's is one hundred and mine two hundred and fifty. The job's not as shitty as it sounds, quite often they are innocent. Some are even set up by other vampires, who then pay the price for lyin' to the brothers Volturi, via me. My gift makes it easy for me to determine who's lyin' or who's really tellin' the truth! Rarely do they lose all their brain functions and attack me, but it has happened a couple of times!

In South America, I'm known as 'El Diablo' (The Devil), in Mexico, ' El Dios de la Guerra' (The God of War) and in the USA and Canada 'The Major', none of which are my real name, which is actually Jasper Whitlock. Hell even Peter and Char call me 'Major'. I can't remember the last time anyone called me Jasper. The Volturi call me Major Whitlock, who I haven't really been since I died durin' the Civil War! So many names for just one man, but I do tend to play into their strengths when it's needed, otherwise, I'm 'the Enforcer'. Aro wanted me to wear one of those black Volturi cloaks, when on official business. I wouldn't be seen alive, far less dead in one of those poncy* getups. I wear all black from head to foot and the Volturi crest is on my belt buckle, what more do they need.

I've now hopped back onto my 2001 Harley Road King and am headin' off to my next location. Minnesota for a turf war between Golden Valley and Mounds View. I like having the bike; it's great to feel the wind whistlin' through my hair as I tear down the interstates. She can carry a change of clothes and a couple of personal items for me too. I can stop anywhere this way, as I ain't no nomad, meanin' runnin' is out. It's hell on the footwear, but cars are too enclosed, too claustrophobic for me, except for convertibles, but they are a little bit flashy. Given the option of a truck or a bike, I picked the bike. This case should be an easy one, just a slap on the wrist for causin' a strain on public services. Also a couple of missin' person files that need disappearin'.

Plus a stern warnin' this is the only chance they'll ever get; next time I have to call on them, it'll be to take off some heads! Now with every mile, I travel and every stop I make I'm hearin' more and more grumblin' noises about one coven in particular. At first, it was only some derogatory remarks about their eatin' habits. Sounds damned awful to me, but it's nobody's business but their own. Then it's about them drawin' too much attention to themselves wherever they live, amongst the humans. What the fuck are they doin' livin' that up close and personal to humans? Somethin' about their flashy top-of-the-line cars and high-end designer clothes, therefore showin' up the locals wherever they stay. Then I heard they attend high school with the aforementioned humans, what the ever-lovin' fuck!

I'm a little surprised that the brothers haven't added their name to the list of vampire coven needin' a visit. That's when someone sneeringly mentioned the coven leader bein' a personal friend of Aro's. Damn that pompous fool, he ain't even hidin' he has favourites amongst our kind. I don't like it; I don't like what I'm hearin' at all! My official records show there are only four of them, two mated couples. But from all the accounts I've heard, they actually have six in the coven and the two who are not listed have gifts. That right there is an infraction, a serious one that should not be bein' swept under the rug! Annoyin' invasive gifts at that, so I'm bein' told. I met up with Garrett on my way to Minnesota and he had plenty to say about this particular coven. He said he used to be on friendly enough terms with the leader, one Carlisle Cullen.

Maybe meetin' up with him every twenty years or so, since they first met durin' the Revolutionary War. But after Carlisle Cullen turned his firstborn in 1918, one of the two unregistered might I add, Garrett avoids them like the plague. Apparently, this boy can read minds, vampire and human so Garrett says. But he also tells everyone what he pilfers from your head, loudly and condescendingly! Fuck, what is he, twelve or less? It seems the boy sees himself as better, above other vampires, gifted or not. I wonder if Caius and Marcus know about this lack of information, obviously, Aro must? Only one way for me to find out, I have Marcus on speed dial. Of the three brothers, I trust him the most to be impartial on all matters. I text him first as I don't need anyone else hearin' this conversation.

WAIYWNTW

*'Privacy

Keep distance around me
Darkness surrounding me
No one could ever know
Only me, nothing to show

by Robin Collie

JW'

Sometimes it pays to be wary and economical with what you know. Happily less than five minutes pass before my cell rings. Our little code of sendin' poems to hide the bigger meanin' has worked for fifty years. They all just assume Marcus is tryin' to educate the barbarian that is me! I was a commander of troops, both human and vampire, do they think I couldn't read? It's less about me bein' ignorant than them bein' plain arrogant! Only Marcus knows I've written books on warfare and become a published author. Not havin' a mate means I have a lot of extra time on my hands, the nights are the worst. So Marcus suggested I found an outlet for boredom before it found its own! So I started to fill journals with what I knew and eventually turnin' them into either war stories or reference books.

It was he who had my first one published on my behalf and gave me an outlet and an income I'd never thought about before.

"Major Whitlock, what can I do for you?" he asks in his usual calm measured voice,

"I've been hearin' some disturbin' things, Master Marcus. A coven of more than the officially listed amount of vampires! Two with minorly superior gifts, that are undisclosed in Italy! Interactions with humans on more than a passin' level and extravagant shows of wealth and position to said, humans!

They are not on my list of covens to visit and never have been, yet all of the American, Alaskan and Canadian vampires are talkin' about them!" I reply and he actually hisses,

"The Cullens I presume!" he growls lowly, "I knew he'd be trouble one day!"

"Yes Sir, the Cullens. Do I have your permission to investigate? Discreetly, of course, unless they are blatantly breakin' the law and then I'll make it official!" I ask respectfully,

I'm doin' it anyway, but official backin' would be nice. It pays to cover your butt in circumstances like this.

"You have it, Major Whitlock. Any measures you deem necessary, are acceptable to me and I will also get Caius' backing too!" He explains and I don't have to feel the animosity from him to know it's there,

"Thank you, I'll go and investigate after I've dealt with the two Canadian problems. I'll keep you informed Sir!" I say before breakin' off the call,

My next stop is Sherwood Park, Alberta in Canada, to deal with a newborn who flat out refuses to toe the line. Well, a little persuasion by dismemberment might work for him and me come to think of it! Wow, the thought of that Cullen coven is gettin' to me a little. Thank god this newborn is not a mate to anyone else in their coven, which can often be troublesome and messy. They always try to interfere in the punishment and end up in bits too. Yes, that's what I thought they were bein' allowed to act out rather than be punished or taught right from wrong. The coven leader also got a slap on the wrist from me and warned that this was not to be repeated or I'd wipe them all out for his stupidity. A healthy dose of fear goes a long way I find! Now for a pleasant bike ride over to Castlegar, British Columbia to solve a riddle.

A coven member who has disappeared without a trace. They all claim to have no idea where she is, but usually, someone is lyin' through their teeth! Half my job is more like bein' a detective, than an enforcer. The difference is the buck stops with me once I've found the answer and my word is the law. As I assumed, it was a case of pure jealousy between two coven-mates and nothin' more. Two females vyin' for one unmated male, the older one dislikin' the newer one gettin' his attention. The result was death for one of them and the male leavin' anyway to find his real mate elsewhere. A pointless waste, but vampires are volatile creatures at best. The end result was the killer bein' thrown out and the coven was now defunct. We as a species don't do well with more than four in a coven.

It brings problems to a head so much quicker and tempers are always much shorter. So this wasn't really of interest to me, she didn't break any laws but the coven's own moral code. Murder for us is nothin' like in the human world. Okay so now that I'm done with Canada, I'll head over to Vancouver to feed and then head on down in to Washington State. That situation in Canada is why even though Peter and Char are part of my coven, we rarely live together. Spendin' time as a group now and then is great, but not all the damn time! It is much easier if everyone is mated, less stress for all, but as I am on my own I try to leave them be as much as I can. It's not all work, work, work. Not by a long shot! I have two homes, one in Texas near Killeen, well mainly because it's my home state.

The other is so far away; it's more of a holiday home because I just love the sun. I know you'd think I wouldn't with the sparklin' and all, but the dry heat is tangible and worth it. It's outside Murray Bridge in South Australia. The nearest big city from it is Adelaide, so no problems with feedin'. Peter and Char have a place in Australia too, near Biloela Queensland. They are not that far from Brisbane on the Gold Coast and both of us can reach Sydney in a few hours by foot or a little longer by road, hell we've even hit Canberra, the Capitol for a change. We try to get out there at least twice a year if possible. It's all based on how bad the vampires over here behave! Would you believe I haggled for these holidays, coven time so to speak and they agreed! Well, you don't get nothin' unless you try, hell, they even pay me to do this supposed punishment.

It's not a lot, but it covers gas and incidentals, like motel rooms and clothes. It beats usin' my own money! Because eternity is a long time and you never know what's goin' to happen. I think in the long run they just don't want to do it themselves and my crimes were their way of gettin' semi-free labour. Plus the fact that I'm a scary mother fucker, with a reputation! So it works out all around, I police this side of the water from Europe and they look like they are in charge! Not that I'd want their job, Jesus no way! Vampires are whiny at best and belligerent at worst! I'm more than happy with my lot in this second life; the only thing missin' is someone to share it with. I'm happy to wait for now, would any female want to live this life with me? Always on the move, sortin' other vampire's troubles for them, who knows!

WAIYWNTW

Forks, Washington is quite a bit out of the way but I'm in no hurry and want to take my time to get the lay of the land, so to speak. I've heard there were shapeshifters there in the past, but have no idea if there are any around today. There's a tribe in Alaska who made a treaty with the Denali coven, sanctioned by the brothers because they have a permanent residence there, unlike the Cullens who move often for some unknown reason. The Alaskan tribe were happy to be able to shift all the time, polar bears I believe. I'll maybe call by and see for myself, the Denali sisters can be very accommodatin' if you get my drift! But it'll have to wait until after my visit to Forks. I don't really know what's pushin' me to investigate them, but the blatant way they break the law and get away with it is playin' a big part.

It just rubs me up the wrong way; some vampires like humans think they are better than everyone else and therefore not subject to our laws! Well, they are wrong, I don't give a flyin' fuck who they think they are. I'm the law here in America and I don't think Aro is stupid enough to interfere with this investigation when he finds out. He would be shown up to be floutin' the law himself by allowin' the Cullens to do as they damn well, please. He's all about bein' seen to be doin' the right thing! On the surface that is, I know he's the worst offender in our world, but he's also in charge! I was on the last stretch of road before Forks when I heard it and damn, smelt it. Somethin' large was angrily blunderin' about in the forest. I hid my bike in some bushes, not wantin' it stolen while I look into the noise.

I take to the trees for safety's sake; even I'm not invincible and after a few moments see a massive black wolf stumblin' about. He was emanatin' abject fear, blind despair and full-blown panic and was unsteady on his paws. I realise with the pitiful whinin' he was new, like absolutely brand new and had no idea what had happened to himself. I position myself on a large branch overhangin' the clearin' he's in and send out some calm slowly, bringin' his heart rate down to a level where he won't pass out from shock. He started to pace slower and less erratically, staying close to the tree I was in. Finally, he flops to the ground with a huge huff and a less desperate whine. I wait for a few minutes, givin' him time to take stock of the situation he finds himself in.

"Seems to me, you're in a bit of a pickle there Lobo! Didn't you get any instructions with that fur coat?" I say calmly and he is startled and growls at me,

"Whoa there buddy, I'm just askin'. So what in hell set you off?" I ask and I feel anger emanatin' off him,

"Right you were pissed off, so try thinking happy thoughts! It might work in reverse, worth a shot I'd venture" I suggest and he again huffs,

I can feel him, he's thinkin' about his girl or guy, with the boatload of lust and satisfaction that he's pumpin' out. In around about ten minutes a very tall, naked Native American is standing in the place where his wolf once was. That had to be one of the strangest things I'd ever seen in my life.

"In case you was wonderin', your wolf is black from tip to tail, but I think you might want to cut your hair. That mane will get caught in everythin' and you stood about the height of a war pony" I offer now and he cocks his head,

"Why are you being so nice to me? Cold Ones are my natural enemy!" he quizzed me with confusion,

"I don't have nothin' against you buddy. I'm passin' through, heard the ruckus and did what I could to help. You're not the first guardian tribe I've heard of, first I've seen though! There are polar bears in Alaska, not sure what tribe they are, sorry!" I tell him and he shakes his head,

"All our legends talk about crazed bloodthirsty Cold Ones, who attack with no reason! You aren't like that and neither are the Cullens!" he said half to himself,

"Very few of us are like that, if we rampage through the countryside our leaders would kill us on sight! In fact, that's my job. I police all the vampires on this continent on behalf of our leaders in Italy. I'm their enforcer" I explain and he seems surprised,

"Vampires have leaders? You have laws?" he blurts out,

"Yup, so do the guardian tribes. I believe there is some council or other; I'm not that 'au fait' with your people's business. Get in touch with the bears at Denali and they'll help you sort it all out, I'm sure. They phase constantly not just every other generation, that much I know" I tell him and he really is surprised I'm helpin' him,

"If you work for your leaders, why are you here on the Olympic Peninsula?" he enquires,

And as I've no secrets, well none he need know about I tell him.

"Just came down from Canada to check out some rumours I've been hearin'!" I reply,

"Well if it's about Cold Ones that means the Cullens. Here to see how they throw money around, dress like they're movie stars and drive top-of-the-line cars? Even before I wolfed out, I hated them. Well, most of them, the Doctor seems okay and I've never seen his wife.

But the ones that go to Forks high jeez! Especially the youngest two, Edward and Alice I believe they're called. They glory in rubbing it in everyone's faces, how much better they think they are. If my memory serves me well, it's said we have a treaty with them.

They don't hunt in Forks, don't bite anybody and don't come on our land! Therefore we don't kill them. I suppose that means I don't kill them this time around! Well, that sucks! Shouldn't they be keeping a low profile?" he asked hitting the nail on the head,

"Yes, they should! I'm sorry they have offended you and your community. As far as I know that treaty was never ratified by my bosses! So as far as I'm concerned it's null and void! Well, it's time I saw this for myself, so it's been a pleasure meetin' you...," I say leavin' my sentence hangin',

"Sam Uley" he replies,

"Jasper Whitlock!" I tell him and I give a small salute before hoppin' back through the trees to my bike,

So they are already pissin' off the locals, are they? Makin' supernatural treaties without Italy's permission! Not good, not good at all! I dig out my helmet which I only wear around humans, don't want to get on the wrong side of the law around these parts. So where to start, as soon as I drive through I'll be clocked as an Out of Towner! The diner means I'd have to at least drink the damned coffee. Oh yeah, just the place, Newton's Outfitters, that'll do nicely. Hopefully, I'll get some gossip and I can pick up a couple of things at the same time. Parkin' at the back corner of the car lot, I slip on my jacket not wantin' to look out of place. But I have to put sunglasses on too, to hide the redness of my eyes. I'm just feet away when I smell a vampire and change my trajectory to downwind of the buildin' and slip in behind it.

*Poncy (British) - pretentious or affected

*Poem by Robin Collie found on internetpoem