heard of him； he came down from somewhere north of Dallas and massacred the two small covens that shared
the area near Houston。 Two nights later； he took on the much stronger clan of allies that claimed Monterrey in
northern Mexico。 Again； he won。”
“How did he win？” I asked with wary curiosity。
“Benito had created an army of newborn vampires。 He was the first one to think of it； and； in the
beginning； he was unstoppable。 Very young vampires are volatile； wild； and almost impossible to control。 One
newborn can be reasoned with； taught to restrain himself； but ten； fifteen together are a nightmare。 They’ll turn
on each other as easily as on the enemy you point them at。 Benito had to keep making more as they fought
amongst themselves； and as the covens he decimated took more than half his force down before they lost。
“You see； though newborns are dangerous； they are still possible to defeat if you know what you’re doing。
They’re incredibly powerful physically； for the first year or so； and if they’re allowed to bring strength to bear
they can crush an older vampire with ease。 But they are slaves to their instincts； and thus predictable。 Usually；
they have no skill in fighting； only muscle and ferocity。 And in this case； overwhelming numbers。”
“The vampires in southern Mexico realized what was coming for them； and they did the only thing they
could think of to counteract Benito。 They made armies of their own。 。 。 。
“All hell broke loose — and I mean that more literally than you can possibly imagine。 We immortals have
our histories； too； and this particular war will never be forgotten。 Of course； it was not a good time to be
human in Mexico； either。”
I shuddered。
“When the body count reached epidemic proportions — in fact； your histories blame a disease for the
population slump — the Volturi finally stepped in。 The entire guard came together and sought out every
newborn in the bottom half of North America。 Benito was entrenched in Puebla； building his army as quickly
as he could in order to take on the prize — Mexico City。 The Volturi started with him； and then moved on to
the rest。
“Anyone who was found with the newborns was executed immediately； and； since everyone was trying to
protect themselves from Benito； Mexico was emptied of vampires for a time。
“The Volturi were cleaning house for almost a year。 This was another chapter of our history that will
always be remembered； though there were very few witnesses left to speak of what it was like。 I spoke to
someone once who had； from a distance； watched what happened when they visited Culiacán。”
Jasper shuddered。 I realized that I had never before seen him either afraid or horrified。 This was a first。
“It was enough that the fever for conquest did not spread from the South。 The rest of the world stayed
sane。 We owe the Volturi for our present way of life。
“But when the Volturi went back to Italy； the survivors were quick to stake their claims in the South。
“It didn’t take long before covens began to dispute again。 There was a lot of bad blood； if you’ll forgive
the expression。 Vendettas abounded。 The idea of newborns was already there； and some were not able to
resist。 However； the Volturi had not been forgotten； and the southern covens were more careful this time。 The
newborns were selected from the human pool with more care； and given more training。 They were used
circumspectly； and the humans remained； for the most part； oblivious。 Their creators gave the Volturi no
reason to return。
“The wars resumed； but on a smaller scale。 Every now and then； someone would go too far； speculation
would begin in the human newspapers； and the Volturi would return and clean out the city。 But they let the
others； the careful ones； continue。 。 。 。”
Jasper was staring off into space。
“That’s how you were changed。” My realization was a whisper。
“Yes；” he agreed。 “When I was human； I lived in Houston； Texas。 I was almost seventeen years old when
I joined the Confederate Army in 1861。 I lied to the recruiters and told them I was twenty。 I was tall enough
to get away with it。
“My military career was short…lived； but very promising。 People always 。 。 。 liked me； listened to what I
had to say。 My father said it was charisma。 Of course； now I know it was probably something more。 But；
whatever the reason； I was promoted quickly through the ranks； over older； more experienced men。 The
Confederate Army was new and scrambling to organize itself； so that provided opportunities； as well。 By the
first battle of Galveston — well； it was more of a skirmish； really — I was the youngest major in Texas； not
even acknowledging my real age。
“I was placed in charge of evacuating the women and children from the city when the Union’s mortar
boats reached the harbor。 It took a day to prepare them； and then I left with the first column of civilians to
convey them to Houston。
“I remember that one night very clearly。
“We reached the city after dark。 I stayed only long enough to make sure the entire party was safely
situated。 As soon as that was done； I got myself a fresh horse； and I headed back to Galveston。 There wasn’t
time to rest。
“Just a mile outside the city； I found three women on foot。 I assumed they were stragglers and dismounted
at once to offer them my aid。 But； when I could see their faces in the dim light of the moon； I was stunned into
silence。 They were； without question； the three most beautiful women I had ever seen。
“They had such pale skin； I remember marveling at it。 Even the little black…haired girl； whose features were
clearly Mexican； was porcelain in the moonlight。 They seemed young； all of them； still young enough to be
called girls。 I knew they were not lost members of our party。 I would have remembered seeing these three。
“‘He’s speechless；’ the tallest girl said in a lovely； delicate voice — it was like wind chimes。 She had fair
hair； and her skin was snow white。
“The other was blonder still； her skin just as chalky。 Her face was like an angel’s。 She leaned toward me
with half…closed eyes and inhaled deeply。
“‘Mmm；’ she sighed。 ‘Lovely。’
“The small one； the tiny brunette； put her hand on the girl’s arm and spoke quickly。 Her voice was too soft
and musical to be sharp； but that seemed to be the way she intended it。
“‘Concentrate； Nettie；’ she said。
“I’d always had a good sense of how people related to each other； and it was immediately clear that the
brunette was somehow in charge of the others。 If they’d been military； I would have said that she outranked
them。
“‘He looks right — young； strong； an officer。 。 。 。 ’ The brunette paused； and I tried unsuccessfully to
speak。 ‘And there’s something more 。 。 。 do you sense it？’ she asked the other two。 ‘He’s 。 。 。 compelling。’
“‘Oh； yes；’ Nettie quickly agreed； leaning toward me again。
“‘Patience；’ the brunette cautioned her。 ‘I want to keep this one。’
“Nettie frowned； she seemed annoyed。
“‘You’d better do it； Maria；’ the taller blonde spoke again。 ‘If he’s important to you。 I kill them twice as
often as I keep them。’
“‘Yes； I’ll do it；’ Maria agreed。 ‘I really do like this one。 Take Nettie away； will you？ I don’t want to have
to protect my back while I’m trying to focus。’
“My hair was standing up on the back of my neck； though I didn’t understand the meaning of anything the
beautiful creatures were saying。 My instincts told me that there was danger； that the angel had meant it when
she spoke of killing； but my judgment overruled my instincts。 I had not been taught to fear women； but to
protect them。
“‘Let’s hunt；’ Nettie agreed enthusiastically； reaching for the tall girl’s hand。 They wheeled — they were
so graceful！ — and sprinted toward the city。 They seemed to almost take flight； they were so fast — their
white dresses blew out behind them like wings。 I blinked in amazement； and they were gone。
“I turned to stare at Maria； who was watching me curiously。
“I’d never been superstitious in my life。 Until that second； I’d never believed in ghosts or any other such
nonsense。 Suddenly； I was unsure。
“‘What is your name； soldier？’ Maria asked me。
“‘Major Jasper Whitlock； ma’am；’ I stammered； unable to be impolite to a female； even if she was a
ghost。
“‘I truly hope you survive； Jasper；’ she said in her gentle voice。 ‘I have a good feeling about you。’
“She took a step closer； and inclined her head as if she were going to kiss me。 I stood frozen in place；
though my instincts were screaming at me to run。”
Jasper paused； his face thoughtful。 “A few days later；” he finally said； and I wasn’t sure if he had edited his
story for my sake or because he was responding to the tension that even I could feel exuding from Edward； “I
was introduced to my new life。
“Their names were Maria； Nettie； and Lucy。 They hadn’t been together long — Maria had rounded up the
other two — all three were survivors of recently lost battles。 Theirs was a partnership of convenience。 Maria
wanted revenge； and she wanted her territories back。 The others were eager to increase their 。 。 。 herd lands； I
suppose you could say。 They were putting together an army； and going about it more carefully than was usual。
It was Maria’s idea。 She wanted a superior army； so she sought out specific humans who had potential。 Then
she gave us much more attention； more training than anyone else had bothered with。 She taught us to fight； and
she taught us to be invisible to the humans。 When we did well； we were rewarded。 。 。 。”
He paused； editing again。
“She was in a hurry； though。 Maria knew that the massive strength of the newborn began to wane around
the year mark； and she wanted to act while we were strong。
“There were six of us when I joined Maria’s band。 She added four more within a fortnight。 We were all
male — Maria wanted soldiers — and that made it slig