"No Bella." He turned to face me, holding my gaze as he continued. "Because a vampire is strongest in their first year – as a newborn. If one didn't prove themselves worthy with extra abilities before the end of their first year, they were eliminated. Permanently."

My hand flew to my mouth. Shocked that those who had not only their human life taken from them to become vampires were only given one year before their life was snuffed out.

"I managed to prove myself worthy to her. And Maria, she liked keeping me as an extra bedroom partner. My ability to control emotions of those around me provided extra advantages on the battlefield and my training as a major in the war granted me great tactical advantages. I was her right-hand man. After I took that position, our vampire newborns were better trained – better controlled. We took area and grew in prominence. We were feared." His eyes darkened to black as he continued, "but it was my job to execute those who no longer pleased Maria. Those that hit their one year."

I sat still. Processing what he just said before I reached forward and placed my hand on his arm. It was cold and hard under my touch, yet wasn't smooth like Edward's or Alice's were. I ignored that fact for the moment while focusing on what I wanted – no needed – to say. "I am so sorry you had to go through all of that. That you had to kill so many vampires. No one should have had to deal with that. You are stronger than I ever knew."

He focused on me, furrowing his eyebrows. "I just tell you that I was a trained murderer, and you tell me you are sorry? I don't understand you. Don't get me wrong, I feel your sincerity and I believe you mean it. It just doesn't make any sense to me."

I kept my hand on his arm while I tried to explain my thoughts. "I know we haven't spent large amounts of time together before. In fact, this is the longest we have ever talked. Ever. But I see you, watch you. I see how you care for your family. How you fight to keep from eating people at school. I see how much pain it puts you in. You are kind and honourable. You would have had to kill thousands of newborns as your position with Maria. It just seems so wrong for a man who obviously feels deeply, even without being an empath. I am sorry."

A soft smile etched across his face and he swallowed before answering, his voice deeper than normal. "Thank you, that means more than you could imagine."

Abruptly he stood to his feet and was at the window in a split second due to his vampire speed. Again, he was allowing me to be at his back. I wondered if he realized he was doing it again when I had never seen him do it with his family. Granted, as a human, I wasn't much of a threat. He could kill me, drain me, and bury me in less than ten minutes with minimal traces. So perhaps, I was being compared to an ant subconsciously by him.

After a few moments, I finally asked another question. "So, if you started in wars in the south . . . how did you end up with the Cullen's and Alice?"

He let out one small chuckle, "Well, I had one true friend in the south. Well – more of a brother, really. Peter. I had helped him and his mate escape from Maria. I took quite a punishment for it as well. Maria did not like my insubordination. And that was the start of the downfall. Her trust in me had broke and was not repairing. A few years later, Peter returned and convinced me to go with him. Knowing I was on a countdown with Maria, I left with him and travelled around. Trying to find peace. I entered a diner one day just to get out of the rain, and Alice was sitting there, saying something about how I kept her waiting long enough. Well, she told me that she had seen a vision about vampires who had found another way and she led us both to the Cullen's. I have been with them ever since. Though, I am not really with Alice now. We sometimes keep up the act at school to keep the teen vultures at bay. But she had a vision about ten years ago about her true mate. She hasn't found them yet, but I knew at that point she wasn't really mine."

I stood to my feet and walked up behind him. I placed my right hand on his back, rubbing in small circles. "I am glad that you had a friend. I would like to meet Peter some day and thank him for rescuing you from Maria."

He laughed, his shoulders rising and falling under my hand. "That would be the first time I have ever heard anyone say they wanted to meet Peter. He is . . . unique. But, he is also a true vampire. He drinks from humans, not animals."

Removing my hand and placing it back at my side I shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I would still like to thank him. You deserved more than the Southern Wars." The look he gave me told me that he did not believe that but was willing to placate the human. So, I changed the subject. "So, why does Edward feel I need protection all the time?"

He straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. "So, he hasn't told you. I assumed as much, you were too calm to have truly known."

"Pardon? Known what?"

He sighed. "Victoria has been spotted lately in the area. We believe she is still after you. In vengeance of her mate we killed. In addition, there has been several disappearances and murders and chaos noted in Seattle. Indicative of a large number of untrained – or uncaring – vampires. They are too conspicuous. I am surprised it hasn't already drawn the attention of the Volturi to this area."

"Victoria is here? The Volturi are coming here?" The room started to spin and grow hazy at the edges of my vision. I struggled for air and it just didn't seem to come into my lungs fast enough. I felt cold arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling me against a strong, hard, cold body.

"Easy now. Allow me to help. Please."

I couldn't respond. I couldn't breathe. The air just wouldn't stay in my lungs. The room was spinning. I felt a thick sense of lethargy surrounding my brain. I started to fight it, like I had for Jasper's previous attempts at calming me earlier.

"Bella, please. Let me do this for you. You are hyperventilating. Please, let me calm you."

I barely registered his words but did stop fighting back. He was right, I couldn't breathe. I needed air and I obviously needed his help to get that. A second after I stopped mentally fighting back against Jasper, I felt the artificial lethargy envelope me and I collapsed into his arms, the world going black.