Sorry it took so long to update - Jeez, it's been months, hasn't it! Well, here's the chapter...

Jasper

Lyreco's death seemed so long ago.

But it had happened, and the Hostium was lost for a new leader. No one could agree – and so for a few months the group's only action was to argue.

The night that she killed Lyreco, Francesca escaped easily, taking with her the knowledge of how to create the weapon against vampires. Veronica, Timothy, and Jasper didn't tell the others of the Hostium about these small weapons. Mostly it was fear of spies, but also they were worried that they may be misused.

Just a few months before, Veronica had stepped up to suggest Jasper to be their new leader. After all, he was Lyreco's second in command. A lot of people listened to him, and he could teach a lot of the Hostium's vampires to fight. Others disagreed.

They claimed that he was too young and inexperienced. That brought Jasper to tell them his history – many listened, and were fascinated by the scars all over him.

Those that didn't want him as their leader rethought. Some supported him, and some opposed him.

Finally, after a few lives lost in useless squabbles, Jasper became leader of the Hostium - the Resistance against the Aeternas.

OoOoOoO

Jasper's meetings with the Hostium became more frequent, and he was running out of excuses for his frequent absences.

Alice didn't seem to notice – she was always caught up in something else. But Jasper suspected that it was probably nothing serious. She always seemed anxious around the other Cullens though, he noticed that without his gift. Finally, Jasper caught her on the phone one day. He had silently followed her out into the woods, merely curious as to what she was doing. By the way she ran it was clear that she wasn't hunting.

Jasper kept a good distance, careful not to disturb anything around him. As he listened, he heard the little click of buttons and some leaves rustling ahead.

There was a barely audible ring. Alice was on the phone.

"...Alice, I have something new." A quiet voice spoke on the other line, excitement laced in her words.

"What is it, Arina?" Alice said flatly.

"Lyreco," Arina said. The mere mention of his name sent Jasper's mind reeling. Alice knew of Lyreco?

"He's one of the Aeternas. But he's dead. He was killed a year ago – no one knows how. But his body was found in Seattle. And...that's about it." Arina finished.

"That's it? How is that meant to help me? Whoopee, he's dead," Alice said dryly. "That's not exactly leading us to Lucifer." Jasper couldn't move. How did Alice and her friend 'Arina' know of the Aeternas, Lyreco, and Lucifer? He felt a chill go down his spine. Why was Alice looking for Lucifer?

"Sorry. That's all I found. At least it's something new." Arina replied. Alice sighed.

"Okay. Thanks, Arina." She hung up, and Jasper heard the little click of her phone closing. He walked silently the few steps up to Alice, who was slipping her phone into her pocket.

"Alice?" he whispered. She spun around quickly, eyes wide.

"How do you know about the Aeternas?" Alice's face faltered for a second, and she quickly closed her open mouth.

"I...what? What are you talking about?" Jasper could sense her unease and lie too easily.

"Alice. Please don't lie to me. How do you know about the Aeternas? And...Lyreco?" Jasper pleaded. She bit her lip and looked away.

"Uh..." Alice murmured. Jasper sighed in annoyance.

"Alice -" he began.
"Jasper, how do you know?" she demanded. At that moment, he very nearly blurted everything. He stopped himself just in time and tried to think up an excuse.

"I..." Jasper mumbled. Could he tell her? Jasper trusted Alice absolutely – even with his own life. But if she knew of the Hostium, the Aeterna would classify her as one of them...and that put her in grave danger.

"I can't...tell you." He managed. Alice folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyebrows, looking outraged.

"You can't tell me? Why? When have we ever kept things from each other?" she snapped, taking a step closer to Jasper.

"Now! You should have told someone about this!" he said, volume rising.

"Just like you did?" Alice countered.

"Look, Alice," Jasper leaned closer, nearly whispering. "This knowledge is dangerous. Tell me how you know, and why you're looking for them." He said calmly, sensing her annoyance. Alice lost her scowl and searched Jasper's face for any hint of how he knew. No such luck. Defeat and guilt floated around her, and she spoke smoothly.
"I know...because I had a vision," Alice took a deep breath. "About one of the Aeternas. Lucifer. I'm looking for him...well, because he, um, might be able to -"

"He won't save Emmett." Jasper cut her off in a cold tone. There was no way he'd let her go to Lucifer, or for that matter, any of the Aeternas.

Alice hesitated for a few seconds before again speaking. Her eyes searched his face, but found no doubt in his previous words.

"But...I saw him!" Alice grasped Jasper's wrists desperately. "What if we could bring Emmett back? Don't you want that?" Her large amber eyes seemed to beg him on their own, and Jasper's mind reeled.

Having Emmett back would be wonderful. No one would have to go through the pain of losing him. But, another part of Jasper contradicted, the citizens of Forks think him to be dead. A weak point, but it was still true. What would humans think if they saw Emmett alive again, after it his death had been publicly announced. They thought he had suffered from heart failure. Carlisle had been sure that no one checked thoroughly enough to notice that his heart had beat before his death.

"Alice..." Jasper found his voice again. "Lucifer didn't name himself after the devil for nothing. His prices are too high, and he cannot be trusted." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Alice's eyes widened as if she were remembering something. A sense of dread washed through her, and when her mouth opened to speak, sound didn't come out until her second try. If she were human, it seemed that she'd be crying.

"I know...I saw. I just...didn't want to believe it." She whispered, seeming to give up so easily. "I – The man... in my vision - he died for Lucifer to bring someone back." He eyes met Jasper's.

"Oh, God." Hope seemed to shatter inside of her as vision flicked through her eyes.

"Alice," Jasper whispered, pulling her into a comforting embrace. He felt Alice bury her face in his shoulder. She had known all along, but had ignored that part of her vision in her growing hope to save Emmett. But she couldn't. All that she had held back, all her grief for her lost brother, she finally let out.

He didn't know how long they stood there in silence. They never let go of each other, even after Alice had stopped crying.

Warmth on Jasper's back alerted him to what was around him and he pulled back slightly to glance around. Looking at Alice, a bright light flashed in his eyes, but they adapted instantly to what he saw. It was hard to look away, but he saw that behind her the tiny clearing in the forest was clearly visible in the light of the sun. A light reflected on to the trees like some sort of disco ball, but it was all coming from Jasper and Alice.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" she whispered, making his gaze dart back to her face. "Don't you trust me?" she went on. "I know I didn't tell you that... I knew, but I thought you would try to stop me. But why did you keep this from me?" Pain lingered in her voice and her expression was hurt.

"Of course I trust you. But I have my reasons for not telling you. It's for your safety." Alice didn't seem to believe Jasper, and looked down.

"Please, you have to understand, I can't tell you!" he begged. Alice didn't speak for a few moments, and it seemed that he couldn't sense any emotions radiating from her.

Finally, she stepped back and faced Jasper, glaring.

"If you trust me, if you love me, you'd tell me! You wouldn't be keeping things from me, no matter what. And my safety? Am I supposed to believe that? I don't care. A little explanation won't kill me!" Alice yelled. Jasper closed his eyes and took a shaky breath.

"Alice -" when he opened his eyes, Alice was gone.

Short chapters, slow progress!

Working on it..!

Review! :)

Chapter Two