SHOCK HORROR THIS IS ON TIME! I did tell you I was ahead of the game last chapter! I have the entire Jasper arc so meticulously planned that hopefully it'll be much easier to write. This is so on time it feels early!
BTW, I will be subscribing to the IDreamofEddy model of Peter just knowing shit. I've always found it incredible that our community can create things that become so widespread they're practically canon. Even full characters. It's amazing.
Thanks to the bf for literally going through this entire thing with me and adding a whole page's worth of input. He's the best, seriously.

Edited 8/7/23 to better fit with a certain side fic

Bold italics = Jasper's letter

January 1st, 1886.

Maria hadn't yet noticed Jasper running towards the camp, so Bella savoured the second to gather her thoughts.

Jasper was a fighter, a soldier - even in her time. He was the man you went to when you needed something done, when you needed a plan drenched in logic and every possible contingency thought of. He was one of the sweetest, kindest people she knew. He dragged her through her newborn year intact when no one else could, he pulled her out of every funk, he always had time, always cared. He was funny. He was strong. He was her friend.

She missed him already.

She tried to clamp down on the warm feeling she always got in her chest when she thought of him. She could make out the vague shape of his features on the horizon, but this wasn't her Jasper. She needed to remember that. Her Jasper was tortured by the events in this camp, by everything he had done. This Jasper, the one she was about to meet, did not regret his actions. He didn't think twice about killing others. If he were to meet his future counterpart he would think he was weak and pathetic.

She truly didn't know how to feel.

"Major!" Maria called, finally spotting him as he crossed the threshold into the camp. "Come here! I have someone I want you to meet!"

Bella had sparred with Jasper before, she had seen his battle face. She had seen him furious as he defended her. She even had a vague memory of him launching himself at her throat when she was human, she thought she knew his every face and expression. But not this one.

No, she had never seen Jasper so openly murderous.

He didn't stop as he entered the tent, he swept past Maria and grabbed Bella by the throat. He moved so fast the momentum carried them further to the back of the tent, so fast that she didn't even have time to react. He hoisted her into the air and snarled inches away from her face. She forced herself to go limp, not be a threat.

Maria giggled. "My Major, what an angry boy. What are you doing?"

"I caught her scent on the way here," he growled. "She came from Johan's camp. She's a spy."

Bella's instincts screamed at her to struggle, wriggle away, bite his thumb that was just barely close enough if she bent in the right way. He would drop her. She could get free. She clamped down on those feelings, struggling would do nothing.

"Oh she's no spy, my sweet!" Maria came up behind him and started running her fingers through his matted blonde hair, practically coloured brown with dirt. "I interrogated her myself. She is our new friend, and the key to defeating Johan."

He paused and took a breath. The blackness of his eyes retracted slightly to show the red rings of his irises. He looked her up and down as she dangled in his fist, finally settling on her yellow eyes.

"Her eyes," he grunted. "What's wrong with them?"

"She drinks from animals!" Maria lifted herself to her tiptoes and nuzzled the crook of his neck. "Isn't that intriguing? Devious too, she says it makes human blood all the sweeter. But you should talk to her yourself!" She reached around his back and cupped his jaw in her hand, tugged his head around to look at her. "Put her down, my love."

Jasper hesitated, then dropped Bella unceremoniously to the ground. She stayed down and carefully looked up at him, afraid that any sudden move would lead to an attack. He kept his eyes on Maria, but she had no doubt his attention was still on her.

"Who is she?" he asked.

Maria waved him off. "First, tell me what you found on your travels. You returned earlier than expected."

Jasper's eyes snapped from Bella, to Maria, and back again. He finally settled on the warlord, and he suddenly changed completely. It was as if he deflated, his stiff shoulders eased down, face relaxed, fists unfurled.

"I didn't want to leave you too long, considering the circumstances." He sighed. "I am glad you're still unharmed. I found a spot near-"

Bella stared at him in horror, his expression had gone from furious to love struck in seconds. She took the opportunity to scrabble off the ground while he was distracted, taking a good look at him as she went. Just like Carlisle, it was strange to see him in period appropriate dress; or at least what passed for it in this camp. His trousers were ripped at the knees and around the ankles, his shirt - that appeared to have been white once - had full chunks ripped out of it, some more clearly bite marks than others, he wore a brown vest over it that only had one button. She thought again of the Jasper she had left and tried not to imagine him wearing an outfit like this in nicer circumstances.

He stopped mid sentence and snapped around to watch her as she moved. His expression changed again, this time to one she recognised. His eyebrows pulled into the centre of his forehead and his ruby eyes widened, he looked bewildered, concerned. That was a face she knew very well.

Feeling foolishly safe to properly look at him, she allowed herself to stare for a second. She was struck by his hair, what should have been golden curls was matted and limp, dulled with mud and whatever was in the river he last washed it in. His face though, oh his face. When she looked past his burning red eyes she could see everything she had come here to save. He was barely scarred, where bite marks had once climbed up the sides of his neck and jaw were unblemished lines only interrupted by the occasional scar. A spot above his right eyebrow stuck out to her, where there had once been a particularly deep shining scar, one she could even see as a human. It was smooth, untouched.

Maybe if she did her job right, it would stay that way. She could only hope.

Jasper's expression intensified, he took a quick step toward her.

"Major!" Maria interrupted. "You were telling me about the new location?"

He turned back to her, his previous confusion faded back into the adoration he showed before. "Yes, my apologies Ma'am. Since we need to lay low and replenish our numbers, I scouted a place near Austin. It's still within our territory, but Johan would never expect it, not without villages we can destroy. We can pick people off without much suspicion inside the city and on the roads, not as conspicuous."

Maria pouted. "You wish to starve me?"

"No!" Jasper shot forward and took her hands in his. "I just want you to be safe. If we are found, Johan will come back and wipe us out. I can't let that happen."

"But still," Maria's lip wobbled in an excellent show of feigned despair. "No running out the villages? How will I entertain myself?"
Jasper smirked. "I'm sure we can find something to get your urges out."

Bella resisted the urge to retch.

Maria smiled and sagged in his arms. "You are sure this is the only way?"

"I'm thinking in the long term," Jasper brought her knuckle to his lips and kissed it slowly, "imagine the power you'll gain when you take Johan's territory, and the pleasure when you rip his head from his shoulders."

"That does sound delicious," Maria purred. "But I must insist on one last raid. I will miss it so. Besides, the newborns haven't fed in such a long time, we don't want them to go rabid in the big city - do we?"

"No, we don't." Jasper's lips upturned, transfixed on the warlord's words.

"Excellent!" She pulled away from him and turned to Jasper's blonde companion.

Bella had been so distracted by Jasper and his strange relationship with Maria that she hadn't even noticed Peter standing off to the side of the tent. Like Jasper he was absolutely filthy, clothed in rags, and had less scars than she last saw him with. She had only met him twice before in her time, neither time had lasted very long and they hadn't exactly bonded. She had always liked him though, she liked the way he smiled and the way he riled Jasper up.

Maria snapped her fingers in his direction. "Go rally the troops, boy. We leave in a few minutes."

He bowed and left the tent. It was strange to see him so compliant.

Maria gave one last laugh and swept away from Jasper and turned to the entrance of the tent, Anton followed at her heels.

"Wait," Jasper said. "Maria, you said this girl would help us?"

"Oh yes!" Maria ran back to Bella and stroked her tiny fingers over her cheeks. "She's a shield! She can protect others from mental powers, and has offered to help us against Johan's little weapon! Isn't that excellent?"

Jasper frowned. "A shield? You're sure?"

Anton cut in. "I tested her. Are you doubting my abilities?"

"Not currently, but-"

"Now, who will guard the camp while the rest of us are gone?" Maria interrupted.

Jasper's brow furrowed. "Peter and I will," he said. "We fed on the way here."

"Perfect," Maria turned back to Bella. "Will you come with us, Belle?"

"Thank you, but no," she replied, a false smile stretched on her lips. "I fed earlier today."

Bella desperately searched Maria's expression, hoping she wouldn't question it and let her stay away from the reckless murder of an entire village. She wanted to stop it happening more than anything, but what could she do?

"Oh!" Maria patted her cheek. "Denying yourself for your next human meal? How devious. I can't wait to see the look on your face the next time you taste human blood!"

Bella tried not to grimace, it would also be the first time she tasted human blood. She could only hope that she could get her job here done before she was forced to drink from anyone. Just thinking about it was making her throat flare into flames. She held her breath. Jasper raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"How excellent!" Maria swept to the exit once again. "You three can guard the camp and Jasper can get to know you Belle…"

Bella froze, there was something pushing against her shield, trying to get in under it. Whatever it was was heavy, suffocating. She suddenly felt cold.

Maria smiled and put a dirty palm to Bella's cheek. "...I hope you grow to be great friends!"

The Warlord turned away out of the tent and Bella suppressed a sigh. What had been trying to get under her shield? It wasn't Jasper, her shield had never stopped him before. She looked around herself and found Anton staring at her, a hungry look haunting his eyes.

He must have been trying to track her. Bella turned away and left the tent like she hadn't noticed anything, hoping he wasn't more powerful than he appeared.

He walked out behind her and zipped past to catch up with Maria at the end of the camp. A crowd of newborns milled around her. "Come!" Maria called. "I will not tolerate stragglers!"

The army trickled from the camp, leaving Jasper and Bella standing in front of the head tent and Peter near the pit below. Jasper stared at her.

"They say you're a shield?" He demanded. His accent was thicker, she realised, than the one she remembered. It made sense, he hadn't lived in the south for several decades when she knew him.

"Yes," she responded, "against mental gifts."

"Then why," he stepped close, towering over her, "are you not blocking me?"

"No clue," Bella realised nobody had actually told her what Jasper's was. She tried to project confidence, even though she was panicking inside. "What's your gift?"

"I can feel your emotions," he grumbled as she danced back a little and regained some personal space, "and manipulate them."
"Well, are you sure that's mental?" she asked.

"What?" he sneered. "What else could it be?"

"Well your emotions aren't all in your head, are they?" She was improvising, which was dangerous. "You don't just feel them in your mind, you feel them in your body too."

He just stared at her. She rambled. "Like maybe when you make people feel fear, you don't make the brain think it's afraid, you trigger an adrenaline rush that feels like your reaction to fear."

"Adrenaline?" That damn eyebrow crept up. "The hell is that?"

Oops. Bella realised the additional problem with the situation she was in. She was completely out of practice with censoring herself, having lived with people who both knew and enjoyed the fact that she was from over 100 years in the future. This was the first time she would have to make someone actually believe she was from this time.

"Chemical that just got discovered," she bluffed. "It's what your body releases when you're afraid. Don't you get newspapers down here?" She grinned, desperately trying to project that she was teasing and hide her fear.

He didn't appear convinced. "Don't deflect me."

"Well think of it this way." Bella met his eye and tried to appear as genuine as possible. "You don't feel fear in your head. When you're scared you can barely think. It's like a haze, right? You feel a clenching in your stomach, a tingle in your spine. Vision clouds over. That's all physical."

He paused to stare at her and then stepped in to invade her space again. "I see… Just like anger."

"Anger?" Bella tried to ignore the strength of his scent surrounding her; the scent of books, hay and sunshine almost smothered by dirt and blood. His blood red eyes bore into her.

"Mmhm." He nodded. "Your muscles tense, fists clench."

She smothered a gasp as her arms locked up, her nails dug into her palms.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Your chest pushes out, you can't release your breath."

Bella gulped, smothered by his scent. He was so close that she could bite into his neck with minimal movement. His hair touched hers.

"You can't think of anything but what you're focusing on."

She couldn't see anything but him. Her head started to ache, brows furrowed, ears tense; she couldn't blink.

"Your ears ring, your face burns."

Bella could barely think. She couldn't escape this unbearable fury descending on her. She hated him, she needed to sink her teeth into his neck and rip his head from his shoulders-

As quickly as it started, it stopped.

Bella gasped and shook her head to clear it, then realised the position she and Jasper were in. They stood chest to chest, their faces inches apart. His fingers lightly rested on her forearms.

She pulled away and took a few steps back. "Don't... do that."

He stared to the side of her, unfocused, then turned away. "Maybe you're right. It is physical."

Peter finally ambled his way towards them at human pace. "You hazin' the new kid, Major? Didn't think it was your style."

"Funny." He set off down the camp.

Peter offered a smile to Bella. "Name's Peter by the way. I prefer it over 'boy'."

She grinned, "Bella."

"Really?" he asked, "Maria was calling you Belle."

"Yeah… well…" She really wasn't very sure what she was allowed to say about Maria. Jasper seemed so attached to her, almost fanatical.

"She's not easy to correct, eh?" Peter smirked and winked a blood red eye. "I get it. Nice to meet you, Bella."

"Nice to meet you too, Peter."

He gave her a funny look. "Say, what's a well to do Northerner doin' all the way down here?"

She glanced at Jasper, who had turned to look at her some distance away.

Remember, I can sense when you lie. You can twist the truth, it's pretty rare someone doesn't in some way. But if you flat out lie, I will know.

"I'm looking for someone," she carefully replied, "figured the best way to find him was to integrate myself into the local 'culture'."

"Well I guess that's one way to do it," he smirked and gestured to a plume of smoke in the distance. "Looks like they're nearly done. Newborns don't like to take their time."

They really didn't, it had only been a few minutes.

Peter trotted down to another part of the camp, leaving Bella alone to her thoughts. Could she really live like this? She had thought that this time in general was so alien to her, but this was a whole different world. She understood what Jasper had told her, that this wasn't a place she belonged in. But she couldn't find him and know him, then turn her back on him. Not now. If she didn't belong here, she would have to adapt until she did.

Several minutes later the newborns rushed back into the camp and immediately began taking the tents down on Jasper's orders. She stared as the moonlight bounced off him. Where his skin once cast rainbows, he only glimmered from the occasional bite.

Newborns ran behind her and started dismantling the large tent there. She wasn't ashamed of the fact that they scared her. They wore what could only be described as rags, either stolen from their victims or perhaps kept from when they were humans themselves. They had overindulged on human blood so much that their eyes shone red in the darkness. They were rabid and stank of blood, maybe driven insane by their own smell. One snapped a pole by accident, strong, unpredictable.

His mistake did not go unpunished long. Out of nowhere, Jasper appeared and ripped the man's arm clean off his torso. He landed screaming in the mud.

"Sloppy work," Jasper growled. "No care taken."

The man started sobbing. Bella could feel the waves of fear and remorse Jasper was pumping out from where she stood metres away.

"Please!" He cried. "I'm sorry!"

"Are you?" Jasper asked and popped a digit off the man's severed arm. He howled in pain, feeling it like it was still attached to his body.

"Yes! I am! I'll be more careful! Please!" He was so distraught, gasping in air as if he needed it.

"Good." Jasper threw the newborn's arm at him, but held up the finger he took. He stared at it keenly like a new trophy. "I will keep this until you prove that."

The newborn laid still for a moment, snivelling on the ground. Then Jasper shot him a look and he dragged himself up, scrambling after the others. He cradled his disfigured arm against his chest, still not attached to his body.

Bella felt numb, there was nothing else to describe it. What she had just seen was brutal, maybe even evil. She had to remind herself, Jasper came back from this before, he could - no, he would - do it again.

"You coming?" Peter tapped her on the arm. Startled, she turned back to the rest of the camp only to find a muddy field and a large pit. Jasper stood at the head of the gaggle of newborns, they were moving out.

"Yeah," she whispered, and followed him to join the rest of the army.