»—— act three. eclipse
☽⋅── FOURTEEN ──jasper's past ─⋅☾

As Carlisle prepared to leave for work, Eve bid him a farewell. It was one of the occasional instances when they were not working together, and she felt a pang of loneliness knowing that they wouldn't be spending the day working side by side as they usually did.

She watched as he walked away, his figure disappearing into the distance. Despite the many times they had parted ways like this, she couldn't help feeling a bit blue knowing that she wouldn't see him for hours until his shift was over.

Lately, every time they parted ways, Eve felt a deep sense of longing. It was a feeling that refused to fade, even as she tried to brush it off as just missing his company. But deep down, she couldn't ignore the persistent thought that the impending battle was the true reason behind this growing unease.

Eve was uncertain if the battle was the sole cause of her unease. However, it was the only reason she could find within herself that made any sense.

As the hours passed, Eve found herself struggling to keep her mind occupied, even while engrossed in a book. Feeling restless and the need to do something more productive, she decided to head outside and find a spot to train.

Jasper soon joined her, and Eve eagerly welcomed the opportunity to train with him since his extensive experience made him an ideal sparring partner.

...

After an intense training session, Jasper and Eve found themselves settled on the outside staircase, with Eve taking a moment to catch her breath. The air around them was thick with the scent of grim and the exertion that came after a good workout.

Jasper knew that Eve noticed the markings on his arm and was probably curious but would never voice her curiosity openly. Thus, he took it upon himself to share his story.

Jasper's expression was enigmatic as he pushed the sleeve of his jacket higher up his arm, revealing the numerous scars that littered his skin. He looked at them pensively as he spoke to Eve, his voice low and tinged with a hint of sadness.

"I'm not sure if Carlisle ever told you," he began, "but our venom is the only thing that leaves scars."

Jasper fell silent for a moment and then looked away, his gaze fixed off in the distance.

"My story is different than that of my adopted siblings here," His voice grew firm as he continued. "My beginnings were completely different."

He paused for a moment, his expression hardening. Then, he added, "I want to share my story with you, but before I do, I know you, more than anyone, understand that there are places in our world where the life span of the immortal is measured in weeks, not centuries."

Jasper continued, his voice carrying a tone of understanding, "You probably understand why we have to see the world differently. We have to imagine the viewpoint of the powerful, the greedy. But also, for my family and I, the perpetually thirsty."

Eve listened intently, her focus on his every word.

He began to paint a vivid picture in Eve's mind, "Imagine a map of the western hemisphere, with every human life represented as a small red dot. The more densely concentrated the dots, the easier it is for us—for the perpetually thirsty—to feed without drawing attention."

His voice turned sombre as he continued, "The coven clans in the south have little care for what the humans notice or do not. The only thing they fear is the Volturi. Without them, the rest of us would be exposed in no time."

"The north, on the other hand, is quite different," Jasper explained. "The clans here are mostly nomads who embrace both the day and the night. Who let humans interact with us without suspicion. Anonymity holds immense value to all of us."

"The world in the south is drastically different," Jasper elaborated. "The immortals there only emerge at night, spending the day strategizing their next move or anticipating their adversaries' actions. The clans in the south have been battling constantly for centuries, with no respite in sight. They barely acknowledge humankind's existence, seeing them as mere food, easily expendable like a herd of cows. They only bother to conceal themselves from humans due to the Volturi."

"So, what are they fighting for?" Eve inquired.

Jasper replied, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "Think about that map with the red dots." He paused for a moment, awaiting Eve's confirmation. She nodded, signalling that she understood the concept.

"They fight for control of the densest red areas," he explained. "Imagine, if you will, being the only vampire in Mexico City. You could feed every night, multiple times a night, and no one would even notice."

Jasper's voice took on a more serious tone as he continued describing the young vampire's tactics, "So, the most effective strategy was devised by a young vampire named Benito. The first anyone had heard of him, he descended from somewhere north of Dallas and annihilated the two small covens that shared the region around Houston. Two days later, he conquered the much stronger clan of allies that claimed Monterrey in northern Mexico. Again, he emerged victorious."

Eve listened intently, her curiosity tinged with a hint of wariness as she asked, "Did he emerge victorious by creating an army of newborns?"

"Yes," Jasper confirmed. "Benito was the first to think of it, and in the beginning, he was unstoppable." He paused, reflecting on the volatile nature of newborn vampires.

"Very young vampires are volatile, wild, and almost impossible to control," he explained. "One newborn can be reasoned with, taught to restrain themselves. However, ten to fifteen of them together become a nightmare. They're just as likely to turn on each other as they are on the enemy you point them at."

"Benito had to keep making more of them as they fought amongst themselves," he continued, "and as the covens he annihilated took more than half of his force down before they lost."

Jasper's tone remained serious as he described the strengths and weaknesses of newborn vampires. "They're incredibly powerful physically, particularly in their first year," he explained. "And if they're able to use all that strength, they can quite easily crush an older vampire with ease."

He paused before continuing, "However, they are slaves to their instincts and thus predictable. Typically, they have no skill in fighting, only raw strength and ferocity. And in this case, overwhelming numbers became a significant advantage."

"As the body count reached epidemic proportions human history attributes the population slump to a disease—the Volturi finally intervened," Jasper continued. "The entire guard assembled and scoured the entire underside of North America for every newborn."

He paused briefly before adding, "They started with Benito, and then systematically proceeded to eliminate the rest."

"Anyone associated with the newborns was executed immediately," Jasper explained. "Given the threat posed by Benito, all the vampires in Mexico had fled or been eliminated. The Volturi had been busy cleaning house for almost a year."

He paused before adding, "It was a period in our history that will always be remembered, despite the few witnesses left to speak of what it was really like. I once spoke to someone who, from a distance, had witnessed the Volturi's visit to Culiacán."

Jasper shuddered slightly, and Eve gently placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"It was enough that the thirst for conquest was contained to the south," he continued. "The rest of the world stayed calm. We owe a debt to the Volturi for our current way of life. However, after the Volturi retreated to Italy, the survivors quickly claimed their territories in the south."

"The disagreements between the covens flared up once again soon after," Jasper continued. "There was plenty of lingering anger, and grudges were held. The idea of newborns was still considered viable, and some couldn't resist its appeal. However, the Volturi had not been forgotten, so the southern covens were more cautious this time around. The newborns were carefully selected from the human pool and given more intensive training. They were used strategically, and the presence of vampires remained mostly unnoticed by humans."

He paused before adding, "The wars resumed, but on a much smaller scale. Occasionally, someone would step out of bounds and the Volturi would return to purge the city," he continued. "However, they allowed the others, the careful ones, to continue."

"In 1861, when I was a human living in Houston, Texas, I was almost seventeen years old when I joined the Confederate Army, having lied to the recruiters and claimed I was twenty," Jasper explained.

"My military career was brief, yet held immense promise," he continued. "People often noticed me and listened to what I had to say. My father believed it was charisma, but now I knew it was something more. Regardless, I was quickly elevated through the ranks, surpassing older, more seasoned men."

"The Confederate Army was new and hastily organized, creating opportunities for advancement," Jasper went on. "During the first battle of Galveston, a mere skirmish, I was named the youngest major in Texas, all while concealing my true age."

"I was tasked with overseeing the evacuation of the women and children from the city when the Union's mortar boats reached the harbour," he informed her. "It took a day to prepare, and then I led the first column of civilians to Houston."

Jasper's voice grew quieter as he continued his story, the memory still vivid in his mind.

"That one night was etched clearly in my memory," he recalled. "We arrived at Houston after dark. I stayed just long enough to ensure the entire party was settled. As soon as this was done, I procured a fresh horse and rode back to Galveston."

He paused briefly before adding, "Just a mile outside the city, I stumbled upon three young women on foot. Assuming they were stragglers, I dismounted to offer my assistance."

"However, the moment I saw their faces in the dim light of the moon, I was stunned into silence," Jasper said.

"Without a doubt, they were the most beautiful women I had ever laid eyes on. Their skin was so pale, it was almost radiant under the moonlight. Even the youngest one, a small girl with raven-black hair, possessed porcelain-like features, making her appear just as young and delicate as the other two."

"Instinctively, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end," Jasper recounted, struggling to understand the mysterious woman's words.

"Yet, my innate nature as a protector overrode my gut feeling of danger. I wasn't raised to fear women but to safeguard them," he clarified.

Jasper fell silent for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful, "Several days later, I was presented with my new existence," he revealed, a tinge of melancholy colouring his words."

"Their names were Maria, Nettie, and Lucy," Jasper revealed. "They hadn't known each other long – Maria had gathered the other two, both survivors of recent battles. They sought revenge and desired to reclaim their territories."

He paused momentarily before continuing, "Maria had a vision for their army. She sought out specific humans with potential and provided them with more guidance and training than others. Under her tutelage, they learned to fight and conceal themselves effectively. And when they excelled, they received rewards..."

"Maria was eager to act on her plans, aware that a newborn's strength wanes around the one-year mark," Jasper explained. "There were already six of us when I joined her band, and within a week, she recruited four more. We were all men, as Maria wanted a formidable soldier force. This prompted frequent skirmishes amongst us. I outperformed the others in combat and caught Maria's attention, albeit she was frustrated with the frequent replacements required."

"My capabilities earned me frequent rewards, making me stronger," he admitted

"Her insight was commendable," Jasper acknowledged. "She recognized my ability and placed me in a leadership position, an elevation that suited my nature perfectly. The fatalities decreased significantly, and our numbers grew to approximately twenty. This was a noteworthy feat considering the careful times we lived in."

"My unique ability, which allowed me to regulate the emotional ambience around me, proved to be highly effective," he revealed. "We began working together more harmoniously than any newborn vampires had ever done before. Even Maria, Nettie, and Lucy found it easier to collaborate."

Eve was engrossed in Jasper's story, listening intently as he recounted how Maria's greed escalated the situation, eventually reaching a point where even he couldn't withstand her demands.

He then shifted the conversation to Peter and Charlotte, a pair of vampires whose presence in his life brought an unexpected change.

"Peter shared with me the details of his life with Charlotte, describing possibilities that I had never considered," Jasper recounted. "In their five years together, they had never engaged in a single argument. Throughout their travels in the north, they encountered other vampires who could live without constant chaos."

"Just one conversation was enough to convince me," he continued. "I was prepared to depart, somewhat relieved that I wouldn't have to take action against Maria. Despite our lengthy companionship, the bond between us was nowhere near as strong as that of Carlisle and Edward."

"I left without looking back," he stated. "I travelled with Peter and Charlotte for several years, familiarizing myself with this new, more peaceful world," Jasper continued. "Still, the sense of melancholy persisted. I couldn't understand why I felt this way until Peter noticed a pattern—my mood would invariably decline after hunting expeditions."

"I wondered about this phenomenon," Jasper continued. "Over the years, I had lost nearly all of my humanity, having indulged in a life of slaughter and carnage. I was undeniably a nightmare, a monster of the grislier kind. Yet, every time I encountered a new human victim, I would experience a faint echo of that distant humanity."

"As I observed their eyes widen in awe at my beauty, memories of my past life with Maria and the others would flash through my mind. This recollection was particularly vivid for me, as I could feel every emotion of my victims as I killed them."

"The burden grew too great," Jasper confessed. "My depression worsened, and I opted to distance myself from Peter and Charlotte, despite their civility. They sought only peace from conflict, whereas I found myself growing increasingly averse to taking lives. Yet, the need for sustenance compelled me to continue killing."

"I struggled to suppress my thirst, attempting to feed less frequently," he admitted. "But the craving became too overwhelming, forcing me to give in. After a century of yielding to my impulses, I found self-discipline to be a challenging endeavour. Even till now, I haven't truly mastered it."

"I found myself in Philadelphia during a storm," Jasper recounted. "I had ventured out during the day, a situation I was not yet completely accustomed to. Conscious that standing in the rain would draw unwanted attention, I sought refuge in a half-empty diner."

"My eyes were dark enough to avoid scrutiny, though being thirsty added to my unease. Then, a woman appeared, as if anticipating my arrival. She hopped down from her stool at the counter and approached me directly."

"Her behaviour was unexpected, and I was momentarily taken aback. Was she going to attack? Given my past experiences, that was the only explanation my instincts could provide. Yet, her smile contradicted this impression. The emotions exuding from her were unlike anything I had ever encountered before."

The corners of Eve's lips curled into a knowing smile as she spoke, "Alice. I assume that was when you first met her, wasn't it?"

Jasper nodded in agreement, his expression warm with reminiscence, "Yes, that was the day I met Alice. She was unlike anyone I had ever encountered before"

"Alice had shared glimpses of Carlisle and his family," Jasper explained. "It sounded too surreal to believe that such a life was even possible. But Alice's optimism influenced me, making me hopeful."

"When we arrived, Emmett and Edward were away hunting. My battered appearance, coupled with Alice's introduction, left them utterly baffled. She effortlessly greeted them all by name, knew every detail about them, and casually inquired about which room she could move into."

Eve nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "And Carlisle must have immediately extended a warm welcome to you both, yes?"

Jasper chuckled once more, his smile growing wider. "Yes, he was elated to have more family. He welcomed us readily."

"I was quite nervous," Jasper admitted, his gaze drifting off into the distance before he continued. "When Carlisle mentioned that he was introducing someone to the rest of us, I was consumed by fear, worrying that I might be the one to make a mistake, given my comparatively weaker control."

"Fortunately, everything turned out well. Both you and Eleanor joined the family without significant difficulties."

Jasper paused for a moment, his expression darkening as he recalled a specific event. "Except for the incident with Eleanor's birthday," he mumbled.

Eve gently placed her hand on his, providing comfort and assurance. "It's alright if you can't talk about it," she said softly. "I understand the difficulty."

Jasper smiled at her gratefully, expressing his gratitude. "Have you ever figured out the reason for your intense reaction?" he asked curiously.

Eve shrugged nonchalantly, "I've concluded that it might have been some form of punishment," she explained nonchalantly. "You know my story about how I was punished by some mysterious forces for changing someone's fate—perhaps that's the reason behind my intense reaction."

Jasper observed her intently, sensing the unease behind her explanation. "I can tell you're harbouring doubts about your explanation," he observed quietly.

Eve returned his gaze, nodding in acknowledgement. "You're right. I feel that the real reason is just within my reach, but I haven't quite figured it out yet."

Time had flown by unnoticed as Jasper and Eve immersed themselves in their conversation. He felt a sense of comfort and relief after sharing his tale with her.

They had spent hours engrossed in conversation, neither realizing how much time had passed. For Jasper, it was a novel experience—to open up and share the complexities of his past. The weight he'd been carrying seemed to lighten with every shared memory.