Chapter 8

Hey everyone thanks for reading. Non of the characters are mine. Have a good week!

After the semi emotional story time it took a little bit for the Whitlocks to be normal around me again. They weren't scared of me they just kept asking about how the wars had changed and what all I could do. They also wanted to know if the legends of my time in the south were true. Everyday Peter would come up and ask me a different one he had heard and I would have to give him the actual account of the event. Sometimes it was more impressive than the story he had sometimes it was much less impressive.

Jasper still hadn't opened his tin box that I had brought for him. He seemed hesitant to want to look at those pictures. He said he did not even remember having them and that The Major must have hidden the belongings later in his life because he had no memory of it. I found that sad. Jasper must be a truly pure soul for part of his subconscious to come out and take the brunt of his time with Maria.

She is a horrible woman, I am well aware, but Jasper is a strong man and he doesn't let his beast get him down. I hope one day they can become one person again. I will be with him every step of the way to him getting there.

It has been about 3 weeks since I told everyone who I am and we are back to a normal routine by now. Jasper and Peter tend to the horses and keep them happy. I was excited to hear they actually had horses now. I hadn't ridden one in so long that I was eager to jump back on and ride.

Charlotte and I fixed the yard a few days after I told them my story. It was nice to have some tedious work for me to think. Jasper, Peter and Charlotte had gone through their times in Maria's army, each picking up when they came into the story. They did not have to go into a lot of detail though. We all experienced the same warlord and she did not change in the time that I was there. When Peter and Char got to the point in the story where they left I could see Jasper visibly flinch. He remembered the punishment he received from that one. I did too. The same thing happened to me when he left, but he didn't need to know that. While Maria was creative in her punishments she was also consistent and any time someone got away the punishment was the same for the closest person to that one that got away.

I was due to go hunting again as the burn in my throat was getting to be a little much. Don't get me wrong, I would never hurt anyone. In the army you learn control or you die, and I learned control to the point that I could be bathed in blood and have a child in front of me and I would not break. However, this was not the wars and there was a criminal out there who needed to not exist anymore. Jasper approached as Peter, Charlotte and I prepared to leave.

"Isa would you like to learn how to hunt my way, on animals? I know it would be difficult to change methods after so long on human blood, but I would help you the entire time." Jasper seemed desperate for me to try it for him, but I knew the effects of only drinking animal blood.

"How about I go with Peter and Char and maybe we can talk about what you are asking me to do when I get back." I was trying to be a peace keeper, but I would not drink only from animals, and I was determined to get Jasper to change back to humans before the long term effects started to kick in. It took about 400 years for the affects to become permanent and unending, so I figured I had awhile before desperate measures must be taken for him.

""Okay Isa, I will see you later then." Jasper was heartbroken and my duplicate of his gift gave his emotions to me, so I felt the pain as he did. Jasper walked back into the house as I got in the truck with the rest of our family.

'So Isa, how are you going to explain that one to him? You know he is crushed." Peter questioned as we rode out of the ranch gates. They closed behind us and locked. Few could get into the compound without already knowing how and humans definitely could not. It was an advanced security system designed for early warning and we didn't need any surprises.

"I don't know Pete. I have seen the effects of a long term on that diet. Maria was very into experiments after you guys left and I was a common subject for them, but on this one she had already started before I was created. It was horrifying. I don't know how she kept it from Jasper, but she had taken a newborn that he had turned about 80 years before he left and only fed him animal blood. She wanted to study the effects if it would be a good way to enhance newborns abilities. The opposite was true. When I met him he had been drinking animal blood for 200 years and his vampire senses were so depleted. His brain was starting to feed on itself to get the nutrients it needed. I can't let Jasper keep doing that to himself, and now that I can help him I have to convince him to go back to human blood. The only challenge will be in his respect for the Cullen way of life and all it has given him."

We continued the rest of the way in silence. All of us thinking of the consequences that could befall our friend simply for wanting a better life.

We found easy prey in the city of Denver. We were practiced professionals and Charlotte played her part well. We were able to feed and dispose of the bodies in less than an hour and were headed back. We got back to the ranch right around dawn.

We could see Jasper inside pacing back and forth across the living room. His head perked up as he heard us coming. I could feel his emotions and he was emitting some excitement and joy at the prospect of us being back. As soon as we walked into the lodge I knew something else was up.

"Isa, I had a great idea while you were out hunting." Jasper was basically vibrating with excitement at this point.

"Oh, and what was that?" I asked as I went up and embraced him. Happy to be back with my mate.

"I want you to meet my other family. Rose and Emmett would love you. Rose is as much a sister as Charlotte is and I want her to know that I have met my soulmate." There were slight tendrils of deceit coming from him as he explained what he wanted. I couldn't handle that in a relationship that is supposed to last forever though.

"What is the real reason you want me to go. There is something other than you wanting me to meet this Rose." I was skeptical at best.

"Well the Cullens helped me switch to a diet of animal blood and maybe they could help you as well." There is was. He wanted me to switch to animal blood. I guess now is as good a time as any to hint at the effects of animal blood.

"Jasper, do you feel any different while drinking animal blood? Do you feel like you senses are just as sharp or that you are able to do all the things you have always been able to do?" I wanted to ease into this. I know how hard it was for him to stop human blood, but it really is what the vampire body needs.

"No, I cannot do everything I used to. I have slowed down and I am not as volatile as I used to be, but it hasn't been a problem in the past. Plus I have gotten a family out of the exchange." Jasper was getting defensive at this line of questioning. "Also, Carlisle said these effect were a normal part of getting some humanity back after all the destruction I used to cause. It is a worth exchange if you ask me." Okay well I guess I will have to ease even more slowly into this.

"Okay Major, we can go see your family. I would be happy to meet them. Especially if it makes you so happy. I love you and would do anything to make you happy." I was sincere in these words, but I was nervous on how this would affect our relationship.

As I went up the stairs to shower and change and get ready for our adventure to the Cullen home I glanced at Peter. He shrugged his shoulders, apparently his gift was giving no more help than my duplicate of his gift. We would just have to wait and see what the fates had in store for us.

Thanks for reading!