Chapter 1: Escape from Maria
The Mexican desert stretched endlessly before Jasper Whitlock, a tapestry of ochre and burnt sienna beneath the unforgiving sun. He stood at the edge of Maria's compound, his crimson eyes scanning the horizon, searching for a freedom he wasn't sure existed. The emotions of the newborn vampire army behind him crashed against his psyche in relentless waves: hate, anger, lust, fear. It was a cacophony that threatened to drive him mad. Jasper's fingers twitched at his sides, his body still adjusting to the supernatural speed and strength that coursed through his veins. He'd been turned less than a year ago, but it felt like an eternity. The bloodlust that gnawed at him was a constant companion, a ravenous beast that demanded to be fed. He cast a furtive glance over his shoulder at Maria's cabin. The ruthless vampire who had created him, who had thrust him into this world of blood and shadow, was nowhere to be seen. It was now or never. Without a backward glance, Jasper took off, his feet barely touching the ground as he raced away from the compound. The rocky terrain flew past in a blur, sagebrush and cacti nothing more than green smears in his peripheral vision. He ran until the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of purple and orange. As night fell, Jasper slowed his pace. In the distance, he could make out the faint glow of a small town. The sight of it made his throat burn with thirst, but he pushed the feeling aside. He needed to be careful, to blend in. No more slaughtering entire villages to feed an army he never wanted to lead. Jasper approached the town cautiously, his heightened senses alert for any sign of danger. The scent of humans filled the air, a tempting bouquet that made venom pool in his mouth. He swallowed hard and forced himself to focus. The town was little more than a cluster of buildings huddled around a dusty main street. A weather-beaten sign proclaimed it to be "Agua Dulce," though there was nothing sweet about the place. Jasper's keen eyes picked out the saloon easily enough – it was the only building with any signs of life at this hour.
He patted his pockets, relieved to find a couple of crumpled dollar bills. It wasn't much, but it would do for now. Taking a deep breath he didn't need, Jasper pushed through the swinging doors of the saloon. The interior was dim and smoky, the air thick with the scent of cheap whiskey and unwashed bodies. A few patrons looked up as he entered, but quickly returned to their drinks. Jasper made his way to the bar, hyper-aware of every human heartbeat in the room. "Whiskey," he said to the bartender, his voice rougher than he'd intended. The man grunted and poured him a shot, sliding it across the scarred wooden surface. Jasper tossed back the drink, grimacing at the taste. It did nothing to quench his real thirst, but the familiar burn helped ground him. He turned, leaning against the bar, and surveyed the room.
That's when he saw him. Seated at a table with several older men was a kid who couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen. He had a mop of unruly brown hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled with mischief. There was something about him that caught Jasper's attention – a confidence, a spark of life that seemed at odds with this dusty, forgotten town. As if sensing Jasper's gaze, the kid looked up. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Jasper felt a jolt of... something. Not quite fear, not quite excitement. The kid's emotions were a swirling mix of curiosity and bravado. Before Jasper could look away, the kid was on his feet, sauntering over with a cocky grin on his face. "Whatcha lookin at, stranger?" the kid drawled, his tone more curious than confrontational. Jasper couldn't help but chuckle. "Just wondering what a young man like yourself is doing in a place like this." The kid's grin widened. "Could ask you the same thing. You look about as out of place as a cactus in a cornfield." Jasper raised an eyebrow, amused despite himself. "That so? And here I thought I was blending right in." "About as much as a sore thumb," the kid laughed. "Name's William H. Bonney, but most folks just call me Billy. "Jasper Whitlock," Jasper replied, offering his hand. Billy took it, and Jasper had to remind himself to be gentle. "Can I buy you a drink, Billy?" Billy's eyes lit up. "Now you're speakin' my language!"
They turned back to the bar, and Jasper ordered two more whiskeys. As they drank, Billy regaled him with tales of his exploits – most of which Jasper suspected were greatly exaggerated, if not outright fabrications. But the kid's enthusiasm was infectious, and Jasper found himself relaxing for the first time in months. "So, what brings you to this godforsaken stretch of nowhere?" Billy asked after a while. Jasper shrugged, choosing his words carefully. "Just passing through. Thought I might head up to San Antonio, see what opportunities present themselves." Billy's face split into a wide grin. "Well, ain't that a coincidence! I was just fixin' to head that way myself. Could always use some company on the trail, if you're interested."
Jasper hesitated. He'd planned on traveling alone, staying away from humans as much as possible. But there was something about Billy that intrigued him. Maybe it was the kid's unwavering confidence, or the way his emotions seemed to shine brighter than anyone else's in the room. "I appreciate the offer," Jasper said slowly, "but I'm afraid I don't have a horse at the moment." Billy waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details. We can take care of that easy enough. What do you say we get you fixed up with a horse, a bath and some new duds? You look like you could use all three, no offense." Jasper glanced down at his dusty, travel-worn clothes and couldn't help but agree. "That's mighty generous of you, Billy. But I'm not sure I can pay you back right away." Billy clapped him on the shoulder, and Jasper had to stop himself from flinching at the contact. "Don't you worry about that. We'll figure somethin' out. Come on, let's get you sorted."
Before Jasper could protest further, Billy was leading him out of the saloon and into the cool night air. They made their way to the livery stable, where a sleepy-eyed stable hand showed them the available horses. "This one," Billy said, pointing to a chestnut mare. "She's got good lines, and she looks like she could outrun the devil himself if she had to." Jasper had to admit, the horse was a fine specimen. He ran a hand along her flank, marveling at the warmth of her skin and the steady thrum of her heartbeat. It had been so long since he'd touched a living thing without the intent to kill. Billy haggled with the stable hand, eventually settling on a price that made both parties grumble but agree. "Have her saddled and ready to go by morning," Billy instructed. "And make sure you find a nice set of tack to go with her." Their next stop was the general store, where Billy insisted on outfitting Jasper with a new set of clothes. "Can't have you ridin' into San Antonio lookin' like you just crawled out of a coyote den," he said with a grin. Jasper tried to protest, but Billy wouldn't hear of it. They left the store with Jasper carrying a bundle of new clothes – boots, socks, shirt, pants, and a hat that Billy swore would "make the ladies swoon."
"Now for the most important part," Billy declared as they made their way to the hotel. "A bath. No offense, friend, but you smell like you've been wrestlin' with a skunk." Jasper couldn't help but laugh. If only Billy knew the real reason behind his unique scent. "A bath sounds like heaven right about now," he admitted. They entered the hotel, a two-story building that had seen better days. Billy sauntered up to the front desk, leaning on it with an easy familiarity. "Evening, Mabel," he said to the older woman behind the counter. "My friend here is in dire need of a bath. Any chance you could rustle up some hot water for him?" Mabel eyed Jasper critically, her nose wrinkling slightly. "For you, Billy? I suppose we could manage it. But it'll cost extra for first water." "Money's no object when it comes to saving a man's dignity," Billy declared grandly. He turned to Jasper with a wink. "And his nose." Jasper felt a pang of guilt at allowing Billy to spend so much on him. "I'll pay you back," he said quietly as they followed Mabel up the stairs. "Every cent, I promise." Billy waved him off. "Don't you worry about it. Consider it an investment in our future partnership."
Mabel showed them to a small room with a large copper tub in the center. "I'll have the boys bring up the water," she said. "Might take a bit, so make yourselves comfortable." As they waited for the bath to be prepared, Jasper and Billy sat on the edge of the bed, talking. Jasper was careful to keep the conversation focused on Billy, deflecting any questions about his own past with vague answers. Finally, the tub was filled with steaming water, and Mabel left them with a bar of rough soap and a threadbare towel. "Don't use up all the hot water," she warned as she closed the door. "Other folks might want to bathe sometime this month." Billy laughed as the door shut behind her. "Mabel's bark is worse than her bite. Go on, get yourself cleaned up. I'll wait outside." Jasper hesitated for a moment after Billy left, then quickly stripped off his filthy clothes. He eased himself into the tub, marveling at the sensation of the hot water against his cold skin. It had been so long since he'd allowed himself this simple luxury. As he scrubbed away the dirt and grime of his journey, Jasper found his mind wandering. What was he doing? Allowing himself to get close to a human, especially one as young and full of life as Billy, was dangerous. He should leave now, disappear into the night and continue on alone. But there was something about Billy that drew him in. The kid's emotions were so vibrant, so alive. It was like basking in the warmth of the sun after an eternity of darkness.
Jasper finished his bath and dressed in his new clothes, marveling at how good it felt to be clean. When he stepped out of the room, Billy let out a low whistle. "Well, would you look at that! There was a handsome devil hiding under all that dirt after all," Billy said with a grin. "Come on, let's go check on those horses. San Antonio awaits!" They made their way back to the livery stable, where Jasper's new mare was saddled and waiting. As they led the horses out into the pre-dawn light, Jasper couldn't shake the feeling that he was at a crossroads. The smart thing would be to part ways with Billy now, to continue on alone. Instead, he found himself swinging up into the saddle, matching Billy's infectious grin with a small smile of his own.
"Ready to ride?" Billy asked, practically bouncing with excitement. Jasper nodded, pushing aside his doubts. "Lead the way, partner." They set out at an easy pace, the horses' hooves kicking up small clouds of dust as they left Agua Dulce behind. The sun slowly climbed into the sky, painting the desert in shades of gold and rose. Jasper was grateful for the hat Billy had insisted on buying him – it helped shield his sparkling skin from the direct sunlight. As they rode, Billy kept up a steady stream of chatter, regaling Jasper with tales of his adventures (and misadventures) across the territory. Jasper found himself relaxing into the rhythm of the journey, allowing Billy's emotions to wash over him like a soothing balm. "So, Jasper," Billy said after a while, "you never did tell me what you're runnin' from." Jasper tensed slightly. "What makes you think I'm running from anything?" Billy shot him a knowing look. "Come on, now. I may be young, but I ain't stupid. You've got that look about you – like you're always watchin' over your shoulder. Plus, no offense, but most folks don't just wander into Agua Dulce unless they're tryin' to disappear." Jasper was silent for a long moment, considering his words carefully. "Let's just say I left a... difficult situation behind. I thought it was time for a fresh start."
Billy nodded sagely. "I can respect that. We've all got our demons, I suppose. Just so happens, I'm pretty good at outrunning mine." He flashed Jasper a mischievous grin. "And if anyone comes lookin' for you, well, they'll have to go through me first." Jasper couldn't help but chuckle at the image of this scrawny kid trying to fend off Maria and her newborn army. "I appreciate that, Billy. But trust me, you don't want to tangle with the folks I left behind." "Sounds like my kind of challenge," Billy said with a wink. They continued on, the conversation drifting to lighter topics. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they came upon a small stream cutting through the dusty landscape.
"What do you say we take a break?" Billy suggested. "Let the horses rest and cool off a bit." Jasper nodded, grateful for the chance to get out of the direct sunlight. They dismounted and led the horses to the water's edge, allowing them to drink their fill. While Billy splashed around in the shallow water, cooling himself off, Jasper wandered along the bank, enjoying the relative peace. As he made his way through a stand of willows, something caught his eye. Half-buried in the dirt and grass was a small tin box. Curiosity piqued, Jasper glanced over his shoulder to make sure Billy wasn't watching, then quickly unearthed the box. Inside, he found several small bags of gold coins. Jasper's eyes widened at the unexpected treasure. He hesitated for a moment, then quickly pocketed one of the bags, replacing the box and burying it once more. Using his vampiric speed, he carved a small mark into a nearby tree, noting its location for future reference. "Find anything interesting?" Billy called out. Jasper schooled his features into a neutral expression as he made his way back to the horses. "Just enjoying the shade," he replied smoothly. "Shall we continue?"
They mounted up and continued their journey, the hidden treasure a comforting weight in Jasper's saddlebag. As they rode, Jasper found himself growing more comfortable in Billy's presence. The kid's emotions were a constant source of fascination – bright, vibrant, and utterly human. As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, the distant lights of San Antonio came into view. Jasper felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He'd never been to a city this size before, at least not since he'd been turned. "There she is," Billy said with a grin. "San Antonio – where the whiskey flows like water and the ladies are as sweet as peaches." Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you know the place well." Billy's grin widened. "Oh, I've had my share of fun here. Stick with me, Jasper, and I'll show you the time of your life." They rode into the city as night fell, the streets bustling with activity despite the late hour. Jasper had to concentrate to keep his thirst in check – there were so many humans, so many heartbeats, so many delicious scents...
Billy seemed oblivious to Jasper's inner struggle, chattering away about his favorite haunts in the city. They found a modest hotel near the center of town, stabling their horses before heading inside. "What do you say we wash off the trail dust with a drink?" Billy suggested as they dropped their meager belongings in their shared room. Jasper nodded, grateful for the distraction. They made their way down to down to the hotel's saloon, which was already filling up with a colorful assortment of cowboys, gamblers, and working girls. The noise and emotions hit Jasper like a physical force as they entered. Excitement, greed, lust, desperation – it was all there, swirling around him in a dizzying cocktail. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus on Billy's familiar emotional signature. "Now this is more like it!" Billy exclaimed, his eyes darting around the room. "Come on, let's see if we can't find ourselves a friendly poker game." They made their way to a table in the corner where a game was just getting started. The players looked up as they approached, their eyes lingering on Jasper with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "Room for two more?" Billy asked, flashing his most charming smile.
One of the men, a grizzled cowboy with a handlebar mustache, shrugged. "Pull up a chair, boys. Hope you brought plenty of cash – I'm feeling lucky tonight." Jasper hesitated, but Billy was already sliding into a seat. With a mental sigh, Jasper joined him, acutely aware of how little money he had. As the cards were dealt, he found himself wishing he'd brought some of those gold coins from the buried box. To Jasper's surprise, he found that his newfound vampire abilities gave him a distinct advantage in poker. He could hear the slight changes in the players' heartbeats when they were bluffing, smell the sweat of nervousness, and feel the spikes of excitement or disappointment in their emotions. It was almost too easy. Billy, for his part, seemed to have an uncanny knack for reading people as well. Between the two of them, they slowly but steadily began to accumulate a decent pile of winnings.
As the night wore on, the whiskey flowed freely, and the stakes got higher. Jasper found himself actually enjoying the game, the challenge of balancing his newfound abilities with the need to appear human. It was well past midnight when Billy finally pushed back from the table, his pockets considerably heavier than when they'd started. "I think that's enough for one night, gentlemen," he said with a grin. "Wouldn't want to clean you all out completely." There were a few grumbles from the other players, but no one seemed too upset. Jasper followed Billy's lead, gathering his own winnings with a polite nod to the table.
As they made their way back to their room, Billy was practically bouncing with excitement. "Did you see that, Jasper? We make quite a team! With your cool head and my charm, we could really make a killing in this town." Jasper couldn't help but smile at Billy's enthusiasm. "It was certainly an interesting evening," he agreed. "But we should be careful. People tend to get upset when they lose too much money." Billy waved off his concern. "Ah, you worry too much. This is just the beginning, my friend. Just wait until tomorrow – I'll show you all the best spots in San Antonio."
As they settled into their room for the night, Jasper found himself faced with a dilemma. He needed to feed soon, but he was reluctant to leave Billy alone. There was also the matter of the gold coins he'd found. He needed to figure out a way to explain his sudden influx of cash. "Hey, Billy," Jasper said as the kid was getting ready for bed. "I need to take care of some business in the morning. Mind if I meet up with you later?" Billy raised an eyebrow. "Business, huh? Sounds mysterious. Anything I can help with?" Jasper shook his head. "Nothing exciting, I'm afraid. Just need to settle some old debts." "Alright, keep your secrets," Billy said with a grin. "I'll probably sleep in anyway. Meet you for lunch at the cantina down the street?" Jasper nodded, relieved that Billy didn't press for more details. As Billy drifted off to sleep, Jasper sat in the room's single chair, keeping watch through the night and planning his next move.
As soon as the first rays of sunlight began to creep over the horizon, Jasper slipped out of the room. He made his way to the bank, which was just opening its doors for the day. "I'd like to open a safety deposit box," he told the teller, keeping his voice low and his eyes slightly averted to avoid drawing attention to their unusual color. The teller nodded, leading him to a small, private room. Jasper quickly deposited most of the gold coins into the box, keeping only a few for immediate use. His next stop was the assay office. He sold three of the coins, walking out with a considerable sum of cash. The remaining two coins he tucked into his pocket for emergencies. Feeling more secure with his finances sorted, Jasper made his way to the outskirts of town. He needed to hunt, and he was determined to do it as far from Billy and the other townspeople as possible.
It took him longer than he would have liked to find suitable prey – a small herd of deer grazing in a secluded meadow. The animal blood was far from satisfying, but it would keep him going for a while. As he buried the carcasses, Jasper couldn't help but think of Maria and her army, feasting indiscriminately on humans. He shuddered at the memory. By the time Jasper made it back to town and cleaned himself up, it was nearly noon. He found Billy at the cantina, already halfway through a plate of enchiladas. "There you are!" Billy exclaimed as Jasper sat down. "Was starting to think you'd run off on me." Jasper shook his head, forcing a small smile. "Just had to take care of a few things. Here," he said, pulling out some cash. "To pay you back for yesterday. I appreciate your help." Billy's eyes widened at the stack of bills. "Well, well, looks like your 'business' was pretty profitable. You sure you can spare all this?" "I'm sure," Jasper said firmly. "I always pay my debts."
Billy pocketed the money with a shrug. "If you insist. Though I was kinda hoping to hold it over your head for a while, maybe get you to do my laundry or something." Jasper chuckled, relaxing a bit. "Sorry to disappoint you."
As they ate (or in Jasper's case, pushed food around his plate to maintain appearances), Billy regaled him with his plans for the day. "There's this ranch just outside of town," he said, leaning in conspiratorially. "Word is they've got some of the finest horses in the territory. Thought we might ride out and take a look." Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Just look?" Billy's grin turned mischievous. "Well, if one of those fine horses happened to find its way into our possession, who are we to argue with fate?" Jasper frowned. "Billy, that sounds an awful lot like horse theft." "Nah, think of it more as... redistributing wealth," Billy said with a wink. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure?" Jasper sighed, torn between his growing fondness for Billy and his desire to stay out of trouble. "I don't think that's a good idea," he said finally. "We've got enough money from last night's poker game. Why don't we find a less risky way to pass the time?" Billy looked disappointed for a moment, but then shrugged. "Alright, alright. You win. But don't think this means I'm going soft. I've got a reputation to maintain, you know."
They spent the rest of the day exploring San Antonio, with Billy pointing out various landmarks and sharing colorful (and likely exaggerated) stories about his past exploits in the city. Jasper found himself enjoying the tour, despite the constant burn of thirst that came with being surrounded by so many humans. As evening approached, they found themselves back at the hotel's saloon. The poker game from the previous night was in full swing again, but this time, Jasper noticed a new face at the table – a well-dressed man with a diamond stickpin in his cravat and a cold, calculating look in his eyes.
Billy noticed Jasper's gaze and leaned in close. "That there's John Kinney," he whispered. "Meanest son of a gun this side of the Mississippi. They say he's killed more men than smallpox." Jasper frowned, sensing the waves of malice and greed rolling off the man. "Maybe we should find somewhere else to spend the evening," he suggested. But Billy was already making his way to the table, a determined glint in his eye. "Deal us in, gentlemen," he said, pulling up a chair. Kinney looked up, his eyes narrowing as they fell on Billy. "Well, if it ain't the famous Billy the Kid," he drawled. "Heard you've been making quite a name for yourself lately." Billy grinned, seemingly oblivious to the danger. "Just trying to keep things interesting, Mr. Kinney. Hope you don't mind a little friendly competition." Jasper took his seat reluctantly, keeping a wary eye on Kinney. As the cards were dealt, he could feel the tension in the room ratcheting up.
The game started off innocently enough, with small bets and casual conversation. But as the night wore on, the stakes got higher, and Kinney's mood grew darker with each hand he lost. Jasper tried to warn Billy with subtle looks and gentle kicks under the table, but the kid was on a roll, his confidence growing with each winning hand. Jasper found himself torn between admiration for Billy's skill and fear for what Kinney might do if pushed too far. It all came to a head shortly after midnight. Billy had just won another big pot, his stack of chips now dwarfing everyone else's at the table. Kinney threw down his cards in disgust. "You're cheating," he snarled, his hand moving to the gun at his hip. The saloon went deathly quiet. Jasper tensed, ready to move at vampire speed if necessary to protect Billy. But Billy just leaned back in his chair, a cocky grin on his face. "Now, Mr. Kinney, that's a mighty serious accusation. I'm just having a run of good luck, is all. No need to be a sore loser." Kinney's face turned an alarming shade of red. "You little shit," he growled. "I'll teach you some respect."
Everything happened in a blur. Kinney drew his gun, but before he could aim it, Jasper was there, moving faster than any human eye could follow. He knocked the gun from Kinney's hand and had him pinned against the wall in the blink of an eye. The saloon erupted into chaos. People were shouting, chairs scraping against the floor as patrons scrambled to get out of the way. Jasper could hear the rapid-fire beating of dozens of hearts, smell the fear and excitement in the air. "I suggest you calm down, Mr. Kinney," Jasper said quietly, his voice carrying a hint of a growl. "It's just a game, after all."
Kinney struggled against Jasper's grip, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. "What the hell are you?" he gasped. Before Jasper could respond, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Easy there, partner," Billy said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I think Mr. Kinney here has learned his lesson. Why don't we call it a night?" Jasper hesitated for a moment, then slowly released Kinney. The man slumped against the wall, gasping for breath. "This ain't over," Kinney wheezed, glaring at Billy. "You watch your back, kid." Billy just tipped his hat with a grin. "Looking forward to our next game, Mr. Kinney. Come on, Jasper. I think we've worn out our welcome for the night."
As they made their way back to their room, Billy was uncharacteristically quiet. It wasn't until they were safely behind closed doors that he finally spoke. "That was... something else," he said, looking at Jasper with a mix of awe and curiosity. "I've never seen anyone move that fast. How did you do that?" Jasper sighed, running a hand through his hair. He'd let his guard down, revealed too much. "It's complicated, Billy. There are things about me that... well, that you wouldn't understand."
Billy sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving Jasper's face. "Try me. After what I just saw, I'm willing to believe just about anything." For a long moment, Jasper was tempted to tell him everything. About Maria, about the vampire army, about the constant thirst that plagued him. But he knew that would only put Billy in danger. "Let's just say I've had some unique experiences," Jasper said finally. "Ones that have given me certain... abilities. But they come at a great cost, Billy. A cost I wouldn't wish on anyone." Billy nodded slowly, seeming to sense the weight behind Jasper's words. "Well, whatever your secrets are, I'm glad you're on my side. You saved my bacon back there." Jasper managed a small smile. "That's what partners are for, right?" "Damn straight," Billy said with a grin. Then he yawned, the excitement of the evening finally catching up with him. "We should probably get some shut eye. Something tells me we might want to make ourselves scarce come morning."
As Billy drifted off to sleep, Jasper stood by the window, looking out at the dark streets of San Antonio. He knew they should leave town, put as much distance between themselves and Kinney as possible. But a part of him was reluctant to end this adventure just yet. For the first time since he'd been turned, Jasper felt something close to human. Billy's unwavering friendship, his easy acceptance of Jasper despite the obvious oddities, was like a balm to his troubled soul. As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Jasper made a decision. He would stay with Billy, at least for a little while longer. He would protect this brash, cocky kid who had, against all odds, become his friend. And maybe, just maybe, he would find a way to outrun his own demons in the process. The adventure was just beginning.