It has been over a year since I updated this story so I am not even sure if anyone is still here who was reading it. If you are, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update. I think I probably set a record there lol. Real life just got absolutely crazy. I am back now so I hope you enjoy. Will try to have another one up in a day or two. Thank you for the reviews and messages for the last chapter and the story in general.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

'The Maria?' Emmett asked. 'Jasper's Maria?'

'She isn't mine,' Jasper snapped.

'Yu know what I meant,' Emmett said.

'Yes, that Maria,' Edward nodded.

'What does she want with Brandon?' Rosalie said.

'What do you think?' Jasper sighed. 'To hurt me and to hurt Alice.'

'Oh Jazz, do you think she will harm him?' Alice whispered.

'We won't let her,' Jasper promised. 'We will find them before she can do anything to him. Can you see where they are now?'

'No,' Alice said after checking her visions again.

'Oliver?' Jasper asked as he glanced at his step-son.

'No, nothing,' Oliver sighed.

'Sierra,' Jackson said as he stepped forward closer to the group. 'Can you go to Brandon's room and get me something of his. A piece of jewelry if possible. A chain or a watch or something?'

'Of course,' Sierra nodded instantly and turned and raced upstairs.

'Do you think you can find him?' Rosalie asked him.

'I can try,' Jackson nodded. 'The only time I haven't been able to see someone's whereabouts was when Maria had Alice buried. They haven't been gone for long. Hopefully, this time she is still travelling.'

'Maria would go south,' Jasper added. 'She only comes north when she has to. She is more comfortable in the south. She would be taking Brandon down there.'

'Probably,' Alice agreed. Sierra returned to the room with the watch Jasper and Alice had given Brandon for his birthday the year before and she thrust it towards Jackson. He took it and wrapped his hands around t and shut his eyes as he concentrated on the images the watch invoked in his mind.

'Jasper is right, they are headed south,' Jackson nodded. 'Right now they are still travelling through the forest. It seems to be somewhere around Texas.'

'She will be taking him back to Monterrey,' Alice said. 'That's where her home is, where her army is. With her army she can stand against anyone who comes for Brandon.'

'That's how I would do it,' Jasper agreed.

'Then we are going to Monterrey,' Emmett said, more of a statement than a question.

'Some of us should,' Jasper nodded. 'But some of us should stay here with the younger ones.'

'The pack can help protect the ones left behind,' Jacob offered.

'Thank you,' Carlisle said. "Who wants to go with Jasper and who wishes to stay to help protect the children if needed?'

"I'll stay with the children,' Esme said first.

'As will I,' Carlisle nodded.

"I'm going with Jasper,' Emmett said firmly.

'Me too,' Edward nodded.

"I'll stay with Esme,' Bella said.

'I'll go, if someone doesn't mind watching the girls for us?' Rosalie asked.

'I'll stay with Letty and Angel,' Jackson said.

'We might need you to come,' Jasper said. 'If we need to know their exact location we will need you.'

'I can concentrate better on their travels if I am not moving about myself,' Jackson told them. 'I'll keep a constant watch on them and we will call you with updates and changes.'

'That will work,' Jasper nodded. "So what is everyone else doing?'

'I'm coming,' Oliver said firmly.

'Me too,' Stella added.

'And me,' Alice whispered and glanced at Esme. 'That is if someone staying behind doesn't mind looking after Sierra for me?'

'I will Alice,' Jackson promised.

'Then I'm coming,' Alice said firmly.

'Alice, no, you should…' Jasper started but Alice turned and glared at him and cut him off.

'Don't you dare tell me I should stay here when our son is in danger,' Alice snapped.

'Let her come bro,' Emmett added. 'She'll be safe with us.'

'I suppose so,' Jasper admitted reluctantly, knowing from the feelings Alice was projecting he would never get her to agree to stay anyway. 'We will leave in half an hour. Anyone not ready will be left behind.' He turned and hurried upstairs and the others all rushed off to get ready for the trip.

XXX

'Do you wish to stop for a while?' Maria asked as she ran beside Brandon through the trees.

'I should have hunted before we left,' Brandon admitted.

'There is a small stream up ahead,' Maria smiled. 'We can stop there. I'll sit by the stream while you hunt.'

'Sounds good,' Brandon agreed. They travelled a little further until the trees opened up to reveal the stream Maria had been talking about.

'I won't be long,' Brandon said and disappeared back into the forest and Maria walked over and sat by the stream to wait for him.

After Brandon had had his fill of wildlife he walked back to the stream and smiled as he moved to stand beside where Maria was sitting.

'Candice? Do you want to get moving again?' he asked her.

'There is something I want to talk to you about first,' Maria sighed. 'Can we sit here for a moment?'

'Of course,' Brandon nodded and sat down beside her. He felt the nervousness and worry she was purposely projecting at him and his brow furrowed.

'Candice, what is it?' he asked worriedly.

'I haven't been completely honest with you,' Maria said softly.

'Haven't we already had this conversation?' Brandon smiled.

'There is more I didn't tell you,' Maria said. 'And I don't want us to have any secrets between us.'

'Okay,' Brandon nodded. 'So what is this more?'

'When I told you about the people I lived with before I wasn't telling you the whole truth,' Maria said. 'In the south things are different to here in the north.'

'Are you talking about the wars and territory disputes down there?' Brandon asked.

'You know about all that?' Maria asked with genuine surprise.

'A little,' Brandon admitted. 'My parents told me about the Southern Wars and the Volturi and how now certain vampires control certain territories and have newborn armies to maintain their control.'

"That's it in a nutshell,' Maria nodded.

'What does all that have to do with you?' Brandon asked.

'I control the territory of Monterrey,' Maria told him. 'And the people I live with, they aren't family like you have or even friends. They are my newborn army. Every couple of years I have to create a new army and get rid of the old one.'

'You control an entire area?' Brandon said in awe. 'And you have an army?'

'Yes,' Maria laughed.

'That is so cool,' Brandon grinned.

'That isn't the reaction I expected from you,' Maria said.

'I don't care what you do or who you are,' Brandon said. 'I like you.'

'Then I should probably tell you one other thing,' Maria whispered. 'My name isn't Candice, it is Maria.'

'Maria,' Brandon murmured, and for a moment Maria was worried that Jasper and Alice might have told him all about her. 'Maria. You know it suits you better than Candice did.'

'Thank you,' Maria laughed in relief.

'So that's it then Maria,' Brandon asked. 'No more secrets.'

'No more secrets,' Maria smiled. 'Do you still want to come to Monterrey? I could really use the company.'

'Of course I do,' Brandon nodded. 'One thing has me puzzled though. You create all these vampires to build your vampire army, why haven't you ever kept any of them as a companion or taken another vampire as a companion before now?'

'I have tried a few times,' Maria told him. 'I had two female friends years ago but they turned on me and tried to take my territory. Then I had a male friend but he ran off and left me alone. After that I had another female companion for many years but she was killed nearly twenty years ago. Since then I have chosen to be alone. Until I met you.'

'You won't be alone again,' Brandon promised and leaned over and gently pressed his lips to hers.

XXX

Exactly half an hour after Jasper had disappeared upstairs he walked back down the stairs, his face set with grim determination. He was pleased to see that everyone who was accompanying him south was standing by the door waiting for him.

'Have you all said your goodbyes?' he asked.

'Yeah, we are ready to go,' Emmett nodded. Jasper looked around the group and his eyes stopped on Alice for a moment.

'You ready sweetheart?' he asked softly.

'I'm ready,' Alice nodded. Jasper smiled and turned to Sierra and pulled his little girl into his arms.

'Bring him home Daddy,' Sierra whispered.

'I will,' Jasper promised. 'We'll see you soon.' He placed a light kiss on Sierra's head and then gently pushed her towards Esme before he led the group out of the house and into the forest to begin their journey south.