Hi

Thanks so much for the reviews, they make me smile!

I've split this chapter, it works better as 2 but they are both short.

I love IdreamofEddy's idea that Jasper is known as the God of War, I hope she doesn't mind me putting my own spin on her idea!

Chapter 26: The past haunts you

Carlisle walked up to me and embraced me as soon as the door to the room had been shut. "They are not the only futures you have looked at are they," he asked as he released me stepping back.

"No, I have followed thousands of paths. The first one is a long way from the darkest I have seen but it was enough for tonight. I hope the others never come to light. But the second future is not the brightest possible, I wanted to save some good surprises," I finished with a smug grin.

"Alice is rubbing off on you," Carlisle joked before becoming serious again, "Do you live the futures as we did tonight, the emotions, the senses, it all felt real."

"Yes, but I feel emotions of others too so the visions are even deeper for me," I couldn't keep the hurt and horror out of my voice, "This is why I am willing to fight so hard and appear so ruthless in my actions in the last few days, each and every death sentence weighs so heavy, I feel so much guilt over them but the alternative..., well, the visions when I didn't have the strength to carry through and kill them made the first vision I showed everyone look bright in comparison. Marcus's gifts are a double edge sword, so many powers but the responsibility..." I trailed off.

Edward sat down and pulled me into his lap, hugging me tightly.

Carlisle knelt before us, his hand reaching for mine, "We are here for you. We will help in any way we can. Will you let us?"

"I have walked on a knife edge to get here, so many people could have made a decision that sent the future in a dark direction. Letting you all walk in there with no more knowledge than anyone else gave this plan the highest number of bright paths to the future. We have a few more pinch points in the coming days but I can let you all in more now," I took a breath, "I fully trust each of you in this room, I can't promise full disclosure but I will promise to tell you as much as I can while it keeps us heading to the future we all hope for. My intent is to point us all in the right direction then let others take the helm, I'll help navigate but I don't want to be in the drivers seat for a minute longer than I need to be."

"I hope no-one minds but we are going to turn in," I stood pulling Edward up with me and headed to our room before the inevitable question time started. As a vampire I may not get tired any more but some days weigh heavy and I need a time out. As they say a change is as good as a rest!

The next couple of days went well. We kept it informal and fun. Quite a few had never learnt to read but with vampire memory it was quick and easy for them to pick up. It was so much more than formal learning, we had a chance to get to know each other better.

So many have lived to fight or had solitary lives this was a big change for most. Clean clothes and showers are things that many took as a great luxury. Large groups of vampires are normally competing for food but we have full bellies all round. The new food supply, I think, is helping calm tempers, helping us work together and forge closer bonds.

I set up TV rooms playing the latest films and sitcoms. If we want to blend in the we all need to understand and speak using the modern language. Just ask Charlie and he will quite happily rant how 'young 'uns speak their own language'. Compared to many here Charlie is hardly even an infant!

It was the second day of the new way when Jasper had memories bought back from his past.

Jasper and I were stood together trying to help Peter come to terms with computers. Jasper may know all things regarding this technology but he was having way too much fun winding Peter up which is why I ended up trying to moderate.

A throat cleared behind us, "Ummm, they told me you are Mictlantecuhtli, err."

Before anything else could be said Peter burst out laughing, slapping Jasper's arm, "Yes, This is the legendary Mictlantecuhtli. Who wants to know?"

Jasper scowled and his eyes shooting daggers at Peter, but Peter was still too busy laughing.

I looked at the person that asked, Maya, she was short and looked to be of Mexican descent. I remembered she came in with one of the newborn armies from that area. She looked so nervous.

"Maya, Jasper is just busy at the moment teaching Peter how to use the computers. I'm sure he would love to come and talk to you when he has finished," poor girl just nodded and dashed off.

I raised an eyebrow to Jasper in question.

He scowled at me then threw another dirty glare at Peter. He sighed, "You know my past?"

I nodded so he continued, "We were less worried about exposure of our true nature. Our territories went all the way down into Mexico. I was good at what I did so I had my pick to feed from, young blood is more vital, so some older ones were allowed to escape if we were all full. Some thought I was an angry Aztec god come back to claim retribution for them taking land from the Aztecs. I'm sure you have heard of the human sacrifices the Aztec's did in the name of their gods, well the worship of Mictlantecuhtli sometimes involved ritual cannibalism, with human flesh being consumed. Mictlantecuhtli was a God of Death and the underworld. A certain someone," he glared at Peter again, "Took great pleasure in spreading the idea that I was a reincarnation of the god."

Peter smirked, "What he fails to mention is what an advantage it gave us in battle when the newborns thought they were facing a wrathful God of Death. You got called Santa Muerte too, but you're no saint, plus Mictlantecuhtli wound you up more! "

Jasper growled at him, "I thought I left those names behind me. It seems I have more straightening out to do."

"I've had enough of teaching this bonehead for one day," Jasper ground out.

In typical Peter fashion, Peter turn his attention back to the computer and at vampire speed completed the rest of the work without a problem. Grinning up, he winked at Jasper. I fought hard to hold in the chuckles that wanted to escape. Jasper felt the humour rolling off me, he glared at us both and stalked over towards Maya.

As he went I sent him a silent message, "Please be gentle, she is scared enough. You can prove to her, more than anyone, that it is possible to escape the past. The past doesn't define you, it just makes you stronger. Tell your story, all of it; it will help them."

He turned briefly and nodded as the tension left his body, at last realising his struggle to get where he is today could help others achieve the same.

His aura brightened as he told his story, at last he was letting go the darkness he thought he deserved due to his past. He started telling his story to Maya and her little group but I don't think a single vampire didn't stop to listen. Jasper, more than anyone, wiped away the notion vampires can't change. He walked away from a powerful position to make himself a totally different life, he made a choice and fought to get where he is today. The obstacles he has overcome gives all hope that we can achieve anything we set our minds too. Change is possible for anyone, if you want it bad enough.

The long road to healing has begun. The emotional climate can be best summed up with 'I want to pinch myself, its too good to be true, I must be dreaming'.