"That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
Friedrich Nietzsche
IV
Bella and Charlotte waited anxiously for the time of the change, their hearts pounding in their chests. In the training camp, it was a twisted spectacle, a cruel show where humans were forced to run and evade their chasers until they were eventually caught. The outcome? Death or transformation into vampires, all under the watchful, sadistic eyes of Maria.
As the crowd dwindled, only a handful of people remained from the initial group of sixty. Among them, Charlotte stood defiant, refusing to succumb to fear. When her name was called, she didn't run from Peter like the others. Instead, she spat at him, a gesture of defiance that caught him off guard. In a swift and brutal attack, Peter bit her, his venom burning through her veins. Despite the searing pain, Charlotte refused to shed a tear, her determination unyielding.
Peter, his voice tinged with a southern accent, chuckled darkly as he held Charlotte in his grip. "Well, well, ain't you a feisty one? Spit and sass won't save you now, darlin'."
Charlotte gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with defiance. "You think you can break me? I won't bend to your will, Peter. I'll fight you every step of the way."
Peter's lips curled into a wicked grin. "Oh, I reckon you'll try, little lady. But you ain't the first to resist, and you sure won't be the last. I'll enjoy watching that fire of yours flicker and fade."
Charlotte's voice quivered with determination. "You may think you've won, Peter, but I won't let you extinguish my spirit. I'll find a way to rise above this darkness, and when I do, you'll regret ever crossing paths with me."
Peter's grip tightened, his eyes narrowing. "You talk a big game, but words won't save you now. We'll see just how long that spirit of yours lasts."
As the tension hung heavy in the air, Bella watched in a mixture of fear and determination. She couldn't let herself be consumed by despair.
Peter, driven by an inexplicable instinct, took Charlotte to to the remnants of a decaying church, secluded from the prying eyes of the training camp. Nathan and the Major observed the unfolding scene with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Even in her unconscious state, Charlotte refused to give any cries of pain, her resilience shining through despite the burning fire in her veins.
Nathan, his voice filled with anger and envy, attempted to strike Peter. "You think you're so mighty, Peter?"
Peter, with a wicked grin, effortlessly dodged Nathan's attack. "Now, now, boy, don't go gettin' yourself all riled up. You ain't got what it takes to face me."
Frustration etched across Nathan's face as he made another unsuccessful attempt to reach Charlotte. "Damn it! Let me go!"
The Major, his voice dripping with superiority, observed the scene with a cold, calculating gaze. "Nathan, your anger blinds you. You are no match for us. Stay still and learn your place."
The other vampires joined in, their laughter mocking Nathan's futile struggle. "Look at 'im! All bark and no bite. Ain't nothin' but a scared little pup."
Nathan, seething with rage, clenched his fists. "You may think you've won, but mark my words, I won't rest until I've taken you all down."
Seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, the Major swiftly took hold of Bella, her piercing screams carrying into the darkness. She struggled against his grip, but it was futile. Fear coursed through her veins as she realized the overwhelming power he possessed. In her desperation, Bella cried out for help, her voice a blend of terror and unwavering defiance.
"Let me go! Help! Someone, please!" Bella's pleas echoed through the night, but it seemed that no one would come to her aid.
The Major's grip tightened, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of dominance and intrigue. "You can scream all you want, girl. No one will save you now. You're mine."
Bella's heart raced, her mind racing for a way to escape. "You can't do this! I won't let you take me!"
The Major chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with sadistic amusement. "Oh, my dear, you have no choice. There's no use fighting it."
Bella's eyes filled with tears, a blend of fear and anger. "I won't be a pawn in your twisted game! I'll find a way to fight back, to defy you and everything you stand for!"
The Major's grip tightened further, his amusement transformed into a cold, calculated determination. "We shall see, little human. We shall see if your spirit can withstand the darkness that awaits you."
Bella's nerves got the best of her, rendering her unable to fight back against the Major's overpowering presence. His sudden blank eyes, devoid of any emotion, sent a chilling shiver down her spine. She ceased her struggling, her tears flowing silently yet forcefully, as if they held the weight of all the pain she had endured.
In that moment, memories flooded her mind - memories of her friends from Forks, their lives mercilessly taken away. She recalled the beastly transformation of Peter at the sight of Charlotte's blood, the raw ferocity that had consumed him.
"Why?" Bella's voice trembled, her words barely audible amidst the chaos. "Why am I here? What purpose does this serve?"
The Major's gaze softened, a cruel yet oddly comforting smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You, my dear, are but a piece of a grand puzzle," he whispered, his voice a chilling blend of sorrow and unwavering conviction. "Destined to fulfill a role far beyond your feeble comprehension."
Bella's heart ached for her mother's comforting embrace and her father's calming presence. She longed for the simplicity of their lives, now so far removed from her reality. The weight of Peter's long-standing torment in this hellish place made death seem like a tempting escape.
As Bella's despair became palpable, the Major, surprisingly, felt a shift within himself. A profound sense of desolation washed over him, compelling him to care for the fragile human in his arms. With a mixture of concern and determination, he pressed his lips against her trembling neck, his bite both gentle and purposeful. As her pain subsided, he used his unique gift to guide her into a trance-like state, where her consciousness teetered between reality and dreams.
For the next three days, they remained locked in a tight embrace, their bond strengthening with each passing moment. As Bella's thoughts meandered through a patchwork of memories and dreams, the Major, too, found himself traversing the remnants of his own humanity.
The Major's mind swirled with fragments of a forgotten past resurfacing after nearly a century of darkness. A vision, like a hazy dream, materialized before him, the details blurred yet unmistakable. He saw a woman with grey hair, his mother, embracing him tightly, her voice echoing in his ears, urging him to write and keep her informed before he left to join the Confederate army. It was a tender moment, one he had long buried beneath layers of pain.
And then, another recollection surged forth, vivid and haunting. He was transported to a sprawling cotton plantation, where the fields extended towards the distant horizon. A little girl with long braided blonde hair, his sister Amber, chased after him, calling out his name. "Jasper, wait for me!" her voice carried on the wind, a bittersweet reminder of a time long gone.
But the scene shifted abruptly, enveloping the Major in a somber veil. He stood on the outskirts of Galveston, encircled by the motionless forms of his fallen comrades from the Confederate army. In that desolate expanse, fate intertwined his path with Maria, and her two sisters Nettie, and Lucy. Their conversation, laced with mischief and vulgarity, unveiled their intentions to assemble a formidable vampire militia, seeking officers of his caliber.
Maria, her voice dripping with false innocence, enticed him into her web of deceit. "Oh, Jasper, darling," she purred, a wicked glint in her eyes. "We've heard tales of your strength and skill. Won't you join us in our quest for power?"
Nettie, her laughter tinged with a hint of sadism, chimed in. "Yes, brother, imagine the havoc we could wreak together. The world would tremble at our feet!"
Lucy, her voice laced with a twisted charm, added her own sinister touch. "Oh, little soldier, you don't know what pleasures await you. We'll make you our prized weapon, our puppet of destruction."
The Major, ever the proper southern gentleman, tipped his hat and introduced himself with a touch of Southern charm. "Ladies, I am Major Jasper Whitlock, at your service. While I appreciate your flattery, I must decline your tempting offer. My heart belongs to a different cause, one that seeks freedom rather than power."
Maria's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a glimmer of curiosity. "Freedom, you say? How intriguing. But do you truly believe it can be attained?"
The three sisters had endured the horrors of being captured and sold into slavery. They were subjected to grueling labor under the scorching sun, and mercilessly punished. Then, unexpectedly, a vampire named Benito emerged, presenting them with an opportunity for liberation. In exchange for joining his vampire newborn army, he promised them the elusive taste of freedom.
The Major's gaze hardened, determination shining in his eyes. "I do, ma'am. I believe that no matter how dark our past may be, the light of freedom can guide us towards a better future."
Maria's expression turned incredulous, her voice laced with bitterness. "And what kind of freedom do you speak of, Major? The freedom to uphold the very notions of white supremacy that have oppressed people like us for generations?"
The Major's face softened, his voice filled with earnestness. "Ma'am, I understand your anger, and I acknowledge the deep wounds caused by those who have embraced such hateful beliefs. But I cannot be held responsible for the actions and ideologies of others. Not everyone shares those views, and I believe in a freedom that transcends the boundaries of race and prejudice."
Nettie, her resentment palpable, interjected with a cruel remark. "Oh, how noble of you, Major. Spewing empty words while hiding behind your privilege. You speak of freedom, yet fail to see the chains that still bind us."
His eyes widened, hurt and frustration mingling within him. "I assure you, my intentions are sincere. I am committed to fighting for a freedom that encompasses all, regardless of the color of their skin."
Maria, no longer able to contain her rage, launched herself at him. Her fists clenched, she rained blows upon him, her sadistic smile etched into his mind. The pain and betrayal surged through him, intertwining with the newfound clarity that had begun to take hold.
As he held Bella in his arms, her vulnerability a stark contrast to the cruelty he had endured, a flicker of hope ignited within him. Redemption, he realized, could still be within his grasp. And he would strive to make amends for the damage his previous beliefs had caused.
The girl finally awoke on the third night, her consciousness lost in a whirlwind of fragmented memories. Glimpses of her former life flickered in her mind, but the overwhelming emotion that surfaced was hate. It consumed her, fueled by the horrors she had endured and directed towards the Major and Peter for what they had done to her and Charlotte.
Sensing her awakening, Jasper approached Bella cautiously, with a desperate attempt to manipulate her emotions into a calmer state. "Bella, please, try to calm down. I know this is all overwhelming, but I'm here to help you."
With every ounce of her being, she fought against him, a surge of strength rising within her as she blocked his power. He could no longer feel any of her emotions, her hatred shielded from his influence. They were deep in the woods, away from the prying ears of the training camp, allowing their fierce discussions to unfold without interruption.
The Major tried to explain, his voice tinged with urgency. "Bella, you have to understand. Peter had to act that way, it was the only way to protect you and Charlotte, to prevent the others from finding out that he had befriended two humans. It was a matter of survival."
Bella refused to believe his words, her eyes blazing with anger. "Survival? Is that what you call it? Terrifying me, subjecting me to that hell? There had to be another way."
As the Major attempted to approach her, an invisible force threw him away, crashing into a towering pine tree. Dazed and disoriented, he looked up at Bella, his voice filled with a mix of awe and remorse. "Why did you do that?"
Bella stood her ground, her voice filled with defiance. "Why did you have to terrify me? We were alone, away from the others, at the time of my change. There was no need for such cruelty."
The Major struggled to his feet, his eyes locked with Bella's. "Meeting you changed me. It made me question everything. I never meant to hurt you."
Bella's skepticism remained, her gaze unwavering. "Why should I believe you?"
With a surge of determination, Bella turned and ran, her anger propelling her forward. Jasper chased after her, his heart heavy with regret. He knew that earning her trust would not be easy, but he was willing to fight for it, to prove that he had changed.
As Bella sprinted through the dense forest, her feet thudding against the earth, she followed a path that led her to an ancient ruin. The air reverberated with a cacophony of growls and grunts, creating an unsettling symphony that sent shivers down her spine. However, amidst the chaos, a familiar feminine voice cut through the tumult, filled with urgency and desperation, pleading for help.
Bella's curiosity piqued, and against her better judgment, she turned back, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Charlotte and Peter locked in a ferocious battle. Peter, with a wild look in his eyes, tried to explain his erratic behavior to her, his words barely audible over the clamor.
"Listen, darlin'," Peter said, "there's a reason behind all this mess. Just trust me for a minute."
Charlotte, a newborn vampire even more volatile than Bella, momentarily abandoned her fight with Peter upon catching sight of her. But before she could reach the girl, Jasper intervened, desperately attempting to halt the impending clash.
"Charlotte, stop! We can't let this escalate any further," the Major pleaded, his voice filled with urgency.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Peter's instincts kicked in, his keen awareness telling him that if he didn't act swiftly, someone would end up dead.
"Now, Bella, you gotta trust me on this. Go to the Major, tell him everything's gonna be okay," Peter said, his Southern drawl emphasizing his urgency.
Bella nodded, her determination shining through. "Alright, Peter. I'll do it. Just make sure to keep her from hurting anyone else."
Peter flashed her a grateful smile. "Don't you worry, darlin'. I'll handle Charlotte. Just get to the Major."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Bella cautiously approached Jasper, her voice filled with conviction. "Major, we can find a way to resolve this. We have to trust each other."
Jasper's red eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he loosened his grip on Charlotte, allowing Bella to draw closer.
To Peter's surprise, Bella's presence had an unexpected effect on Jasper. The Major, known for his fierce and unpredictable nature, suddenly grew calm, his tense posture relaxing. With an inexplicable purr rumbling through his chest, he took Bella into his arms, though he couldn't quite comprehend why.
"Everything will be fine," Bella whispered soothingly, her voice filled with a strange mix of confidence and tenderness.
Meanwhile, Peter struggled to restrain Charlotte, his movements fluid yet determined. With a mixture of strength and gentleness, he managed to calm her down, whispering words of reassurance into her ear.
"Charlotte, please," Peter pleaded, his voice filled with urgency. "You have to trust me. We can't let this escalate any further."
Charlotte's eyes flickered with a mix of rage and confusion, but Peter's words seemed to penetrate the chaos swirling within her. Slowly, her struggles subsided, and she looked at him, her voice trembling with vulnerability.
"I don't understand, Peter," she admitted, her voice laced with uncertainty. "But I can't lose control. Not here, not now."
Peter nodded, relief washing over him. "That's why I'm here, Charlotte. To help you find your way. We'll figure this out together." Bella watched the exchange between Peter and Charlotte, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes.