So just a little something for crylaughhope who has been such a loyal reader and reviewing for me to post more. I typed this little piece up. :) It's not much, but it is something. Thanks -Jay

A few days passed since we had the little 'town incident', as Jasper now calls it. The new-newborns -the young adults and teenagers from the town- have been changing, and Jasper put me, Damien, and a couple other vampires in charge of keeping an eye on their transformations.

However, I hate being around them. Their human minds are driving me crazy. The fear and panic is growing with every passing day, and just a few days ago their emotions began leaking into my mind, which was frightening me. I was suddenly terrified and vicious at the same time, and Damien just stood by, his red eyes inspecting my every edgy and convulsive move around them.

The boy Michael bit was the quickest one to change into his new state. I was finally able to persuade him to tell me his name, which turned out to be Andrew, or Drew, as he preferred. His bite mark healed itself, leaving a pale crescent shaped scar on his wrist. His green eyes darkened and where now a deep crimson. The change restored his strength, and he was now acquiring more every day.

Despite Jasper's grouchiness when Michael had first bit Drew, he seemed rather proud now. Then of course, just to get back at Michael, Jasper put Drew under his watch. And with me being the noble, loyal friend that I am, Michael suckered me into helping him.

So that's what most of Michael's and my time went to; Showing Drew the ropes of being a newborn.

He was a nice boy for the most part. He did occasionally go into the blood frenzies that newborns are so accustomed to, but this was expected. Otherwise, he was surprisingly down to earth. On one expedition outside the barn, he drifted off to the pastures, where a couple of horses were grazing. He was petting them, whispering to them, completely ignoring their jittery neighs. They calmed down while he talked to them, and it was that day that Michael and I figured out Drew's gift.

Yeah. He could talk to animals. How cool was that?

So we told Jasper, who made no specific response to the news and instead fell deep into thought. I guess he later told Maria, because I accidentally stumbled across her talking to him in the hay loft. Her voice was soft and inviting, and Drew's guard seemed to be dropping with every passing moment. It didn't take long for him to relax around her, and his questions became more and more common. I was standing on the ladder, the wood straining underneath my hand as I tensely listened to the exchange taking place.

"I want you to open up to others…" Maria whispered. "Talk to them… Influence them." I heard the almost inaudible shuffling of hay and creaking of floorboards. "I want you to learn about your gift.. Control it."

There was a pause, then I heard Drew's low voice. "But how?"

"Start with the ones you know best." Maria replied. "The girl. And her friends."

The girl: Me. Wait what?

Before I could fully register this though, a pressure on my ankle made me look down, and my confused glance was met with a red eyed glowering one. Jasper pulled me off the ladder, and I landed on the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"What are you doing?" He growled, standing over me.

I raised myself to my elbows, then struggled to my feet. "N-nothing." I stuttered, feigning innocence.

Jasper looked me up and down and raised an eyebrow, an expression conveying that he didn't believe me. "You should be out." He said. "Hunting with the others. Why are you here?"

"I'm not thirsty." I replied curtly. So it was a little lie; I was always thirsty. But today was a different. I wasn't as thirsty as I usually was. The itching in the back of my throat was easy to smother, and my thoughts were being drawn elsewhere.

He smirked, amused, and I headed for the double doors to go outside. To my greatest ire, he quickly fell into step beside me. I tried to ignore him as I pushed the one of the doors open, and once we were outside, I stared absently at the stars.

After a while, Jasper broke the silence, tearing me away from my own world where I was separating my thoughts and feelings from the newborns'.

"You're changing, Jackie." He observed quietly, stuffing his hands into his pockets casually.

I looked away from the Big Dipper and glanced cautiously at his face. His red eyes stared back at me, examining my countenance. He watched me with an air of interest as he waited to see what I'd do.

"Oh?"

He nodded, and looked around at the trees we were walking past. He paused, searching for the right words. "You're becoming more… more humane."

I watched him, confused. "Is that a bad thing?" I asked.

A smile passed over his face, a purely entertained smile. "In Maria's view, yes, that is. She wants newborns, Jackie, and you're coming out of that stage."

I fell quiet, thinking again.

"...And you've become close to some of the others."

"So?" I snapped.

"Jacquelyn, do you even know how dangerous that is in your situation?"

"My situation?"

"The army, Jackie, Maria's army."

Of course I knew it was an army. Of course I knew Maria wanted newborns. I wasn't stupid, like Jasper was so kindly imploring. I've seen into his mind. How Maria treated Jasper, how she always asked him to do the dirty work for him. He was the one who was sent out to kill the vampires who were coming out of the newborn stage. He was the one to do everything for her. He was her great, big puppet on strings, and us her smaller, disposable pawns.

I nodded silently, my gaze falling back to the stars. Jasper really didn't need to be telling me all this. I could read his mind. If Maria really wanted me dead…

"Jacquelyn?"

Gosh did he ever just leave me alone?

"Watch yourself."

I looked at him quickly, to see if any hint of significance was written on his face. But Jasper was staring at the ground, his mind completely blank, giving off nothing.

"I will." I murmured.