In chapter 6, Jasper tells Leo his story, but we all know what happens after that (hint hint, Alice walking in…?) Rated T to be safe, but there really is nothing to worry about. This chapter is shorter, but the others make up for it.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or Eclipse, where almost this entire chapter comes from. Thanks, Stephenie. ;)
Chapter 6: Jasper's Story
Jasper POV
Forty minutes earlier.
I heard the curious growling and ripping noises only a few seconds before they stopped. As the fresh smell of animal blood from far away wafted into the air, I understood a hunt just took place. I wished I could have joined whoever it was, but I could tell my thirst wasn't too bad, so I stayed where I was. I heard Alice's beautiful soprano voice, but I couldn't understand her words. Suddenly, there was a ripping of leaves, branches and the shuffle of underbrush.
I tensed myself, prepared for an attack. There was a menacing growl in the bushes, and they rattled, sending their leaves everywhere. Just like in the movies, the bush shook with another growl, but out popped a mountain lion's furry face. There was no hunger or anger in eyes, only a friendly smile-like curve of her lips.
I smiled back at her.
"Leo?" She nodded, gave a huff, and then disappeared back into the thick bush. I saw flashes of skin, hair, color and fur before Leo emerged in her "human" form, looking slightly windblown.
"That was the quickest phase yet," she said excitedly, sitting down next to me. "Alice told me where you were. She went back to the cottage."
"Ah," I muttered. I was still in awe of her shocking beauty. How could one so young already look so ageless? "You're curious," I noted. "About what?"
"Well, I guess I've been meaning to ask a few questions."
"Ask away."
"Who turned you?"
I sighed. I knew this question would come eventually.
"Renesmee showed me a summary of events, but I could tell there were a few missing details. Will you tell me?"
"You have a right to know, but it's not a pleasant story—"
"Hold on," she said suddenly, and ran into the woods. I heard a high squeal, and then the screech broke off unnaturally. Leo came out with a limp fox in her marble white hand. She held it out to me.
"For me?"
"I can tell you're a little thirsty from the black in her eyes."
"Thanks," I muttered, taking the fox. I was surprised that the fuzzy body was still warm.
After my snack, I rolled up my sleeves and rubbed my arms, noticing the sharp change in Leo's emotions from curiosity and excitement to horror and fear.
"Jasper!" she shrieked, "who bit you so many times?!"
In a quiet voice, I said "I'm surprised you recognized the scars."
"I've seen drawings and heard stories, but I never imagined them quite like this…" She traced her hand gingerly over my arms, barely making contact, but when she did, her touch was slightly warmer than mine was, but not as warm as a human's touch. It was strange, there was a slight tingle seeming to emanate from her fingertips.
"Yes, vampire venom is the only thing that leaves a scar."
She still let out curiosity, horror and…wonder.
"I wasn't…raised the same way my brothers and sisters were. My life began in a completely different way. I looked at where Leo's lukewarm hands still lingered on my arms. "Before I begin, I need you to comprehend that there are situations in out world where the life of a vampire is weeks and months, not decades and centuries."
I could feel her total emersion in my story, and concern. Was it possible she cared for me as I cared for her?
"You must realize how the world looks to the gluttonous, the influential…the infinitely hungry.
"Realize there are regions in this world that are more appetizing to us than others. Places where we don't have to be as careful and still not be discovered.
"Imagine a map of the western region. Imagine every human as a small red speck. The deeper and wider the red, the more easily human-feeding vampires can hunt without attracting attention.
"That doesn't apply, however, to the covens in the south, who don't care whether or not human are suspicious. The Volturi are the only ones that keep them in line; they are the only ones able to scare them into 'behaving'. If the Volturi did not exist, our species would be well known by now.
'The north, compared to the south, is very learned. In general, we are nomads, trying to enjoy the day along with the night. We allow ourselves to interact with humans with no suspicion—keeping our cover is essential to everyone.
"There is a different culture in the south. The never aging only leave their dwelling places at night. During the day, they plot their future, or try to predict their enemies'. With the constant centuries of war and no moment of peace, covens in that area do not recognize humans as people, merely as food lingering in their 'garden' around their homes. These covens only conceal themselves from that food because of the Volturi."
Leo was questioning. I predicted her question, assuming it was similar to Bella's
"They are all fighting for the biggest, deepest red.
"Someone realized that, if only one vampire lived in, say Mexico City, he could feed multiple times a day, and no one would notice. The man planned maneuvers to destroy his competition.
"Another young vampire, named Benito, came up with the most effective plot. His beginning was said to be that he left from somewhere north of Dallas, where he finished off a pair of smaller covens that resided in the same area close to Houston. In the next nights, he challenged the more powerful clan of allies who held Monterrey in northern Mexico. Once again, he won."
"How?" Leo asked, dumbfounded.
"By creating an army of lethal newborn vampires. Overwhelming numbers of vampires
"In southern Mexico, the vampires residing there created an army of their own to counteract Benito.
"Total chaos erupted. Safety was an anomaly for vampires and humans alike. When the bodies began piling up, the humans thought it was an epidemic. At that point, the Volturi came."
"The summary of it is that Mexico City was soon emptied of vampires. The Volturi were the cleaners and the survivors were spots that were few and far between."
"With news spreading across the country, the fever for control remained where it originated, the rest of the country keeping their heads. The Volturi are the reason for how we live today.
"When the Volturi returned to Volterra, the south quickly began to dispute, covens against covens. They were more careful, selecting newborns with a cause and training them well. They gave no action to cause the Volturi to return.
"Although smaller, the wars commenced. When the humans grew suspicious, the Volturi paid the city a visit. The careful ones were left to fight.
"I was Changed by one of these careful ones while I was a Major in the Confederate Army, even though I was very young, applying while I was underage and quickly working my way up. My responsibility was to evacuate women and children when Union mortar boats reached the harbor, planning to take them to Houston.
"That night, I was Changed by a Mexican woman with the name of Maria, a survivor of recently lost battles. She and two other women were creating a superior army of well-trained newborns. I was placed in charge of others, and the army increased dramatically, receiving fondness of Maria over the years. I did not believe there was another way of life.
"Success went to Maria's head, and she eventually controlled most of Texas and northern Mexico before others came to take away her land. Oozing and winning, the battles were mainly about vengeance. When our newborns lost their usefulness, we disposed of them, collecting new ones as fast as we needed to destroy them.
"Decades of unhappy life passed before I met a skilled newborn named Peter, who took care of the newborns once he was older. When we had to dispose of the recent wave of newborns, it became too much for Peter to handle. When one newborn named Charlotte came for her turn of disposal, they ran off together.
"Five years later, I left with Peter when he returned, after he explained that this was not the only way of life. Staying with them did not fade my depression. I eventually discovered that I longed for the humanity I had lost over the years. I was affected by the change in the emotions in my prey, for my first century was filled with blood, vengeance, war and hate.
"Soon after that, I left the duo that only wished not to fight, who didn't feel any aversion of killing even humans. Self-discipline was difficult for me, something that I am still perfecting to this day.
"In Philadelphia, there was a storm, and I entered a diner to escape notice. Alice approached me, and I felt her emotion, but they were like nothing I've felt before, but I had to ask myself 'Would she attack?'"
Leo stood suddenly, her hand violently clawing the right side of her pant rim, and a tear slipping down her cheek. I grabbed her hand, standing, desperate for her not to hurt herself accidentally, and wiped the tear away, holding her face. What did I say that had upset her? I continued my story, hoping to cheer her up.
"Alice held out her hand and said 'You've kept me waiting'."
The tears fell with increasing speed, and I leaned in to kiss her forehead, glad that this—no, my—girl would not have to go through the wars I did. Little did I know, the universe had more in store for me.
I snapped my head to the right, where I saw my darling Alice holding her hands over her mouth in horror and took off back in the direction she came from.
I bounded after her, determined to figure out the source of her despairing, anguished, and terrified emotions.
It would be an hour later that I would realize I left Leo alone, confused, and vulnerable once more.