Chapter Text
Four majestic dragons soared gracefully through the night sky, their dragon riders perched expertly on their backs. Patrick, Janine, Cyrus, and Carl were a formidable team as they ventured through the darkness in search of their target. To stay connected and coordinated, one of the groups had the bright idea of playing music through their shared Bluetooth connection. It was easy to guess which two teenage boys were responsible for selecting the playlist.
As the upbeat song blared through their headsets, Jane couldn't help but roll her eyes at their choice. "Boys? You had to play that?"
Calmly, Carl defended himself. "I only played what the mood called for. Come on."
Patrick shook his head in amusement at Carl's response.
The group's conversation took a more serious turn as they discussed their plan and the potential threat of vampire Alice seeing them. The dragons grumbled in agreement, showing their concern.
"Honestly, we're not 100% sure about our theory. But our backup plan is that Bella doesn't know we're coming," Janine explained.
"How is that supposed to help?" Patrick asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Listen, we believe they're monitoring her every move. Any decision she makes, they'll know where she's headed. But they won't see it coming if she makes a split-second decision to leave. And if, by chance, the house goes up in flames, they'll think she's inside."
"They'll assume she perished in the fire. That would explain the Changeling."
All eyes turn towards the wooden dummy sitting beside Carl.
"That's the plan, to buy us enough time for them to believe she's dead. Then her parents will tear each other apart since they both took out half a million dollar life insurance policies on their daughter."
An appalled expression crosses Patrick's face.
"Wait, they took out life insurance on your cousin?"
"Yeah, sad but true. Elsa checked it, and it turns out they both had policies that paid over half a million dollars each. We just added one that looks like it was taken out last year."
"Okay, I understand. I am trying to get back at the parents, but what happens with those policies? Will I never get paid out?"
Carl looks at Patrick before turning his gaze forward again.
"Normally, that would be the case if they were just the next of kin. But as next of kin, Elsa and I will inherit those policies. And Bella will receive any other worldly possessions."
Confusion clouds Jane's face as she turns to Patrick for confirmation.
"What?"
Both of them exclaim in disbelief.
Carl responded to the statement with a cold, detached voice, his eyes scanning the room with calculated indifference. "We're dealing with a breed of cold ones that show no regard for human life. To them, humans are just toys to be played with. If our plan succeeds and their prized possession is removed, they will most likely retaliate violently. It's either a tragic accident or a staged suicide. Either way, Bella's family is in grave danger." As Carl continued, Janine and Cyrus exchanged worried glances, "They don't think she's dead. They believe she can still move on and live happily without them. But we know better."
Janine nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"But it won't be easy," Cyrus interjected. "The plan could go wrong at any moment."
"We know," Carl replied calmly. "But as the saying goes, 'Make the plan, execute the plan, and if it all falls apart, start over.' We only hope this buys us some time."
Cyrus looked around at his comrades, all dressed in Unicorn hides to conceal their scent. They even had extra wine in their bags to further mask their presence. He couldn't help but feel confident in their well-thought-out and meticulously executed plan especially since their enemies were not aware of other supernatural species existing.
"You make it sound like there will be a confrontation," Cyrus said to Carl with a smirk. "But boss Elsa and yourself have thought this through to every detail. What could go wrong?"
Carl's face was serious as he replied, "We didn't leave much room for error. This plan has to work. There is no backup plan. Our only option is to confront them on our turf and take control of the virus before they can use it against us." He took a deep breath before finishing strongly, "Our lives depend on it."
The group drew closer to the small town of Forks, their hearts pounding with anticipation. They held their breath as they circled the outskirts, scanning for any sign of danger. Luckily, a thick fog had rolled in, covering their approach. After confirming that there were no enemies nearby, the Dragons landed, and the riders quickly made their way to the front door of Bella's house. Carl prayed that she had received their message in time.
As they quietly entered the house, Jane and Patrick watched outside while one of the Dragons flew overhead to survey the area. Meanwhile, inside, Carl and Cyrus crept up the stairs, making sure not to make a sound. When they reached Bella's room, they saw the light coming from underneath her door and knew it was her room. They opened the door with great care and found Bella sitting on her bed. Before she could speak, Carl motioned for her to be silent and handed her a thermos. She obediently drank it as Cyrus used his magic to ensure everything went smoothly.
Within minutes, Bella fell into a deep sleep. The plan was working perfectly. The boys wrapped her in a Unicorn hide blanket and gathered her belongings before taking off on their feet.
Outside, the rest of the group was busy drenching the house with flammable liquids. As Carl and Cyrus emerged from the house, they noticed a police car approaching. Fortunately, the thick fog hid them from view as they quickly mounted their Dragons and took off into the night sky.
Hovering above Bella's house, they waited for Charlie to arrive home. As he pulled up in his car and dropped it off at his house, barely glancing towards the door before driving away in his truck, the group activated traffic cameras to capture his every move through town.
Once they were sure he was far enough away from home, Carl signaled for Rethu to set the house ablaze. Within minutes, the entire structure was engulfed in a beautiful white-blue flame. The group watched as they flew away into the night, hoping that phase one of their plan had been successful.
Back in the quiet town of Minnesota, a palpable sense of anxiety spread through the group as they waited for news about their mission. Bob, usually one to remain calm and collected, was nervously selling her blessings and good luck charms to her fellow members. Elsa, utilizing her strongest ability over nature, conjured a dense fog to provide cover. The group huddled together, waiting for their contact to arrive with crucial information.
In the meantime, Jasper was tidying up a room chosen by Bob to be Isabella's temporary residence. She had suggested that he stay with them just in case Alice, their powerful enemy, was still searching for him. Despite Jasper's reassurance that he didn't make decisions based on instinct alone, Bob couldn't shake her worry. She wanted to blindside Alice and her all-seeing abilities.
Nicole was also present, doing whatever she could to help out and ease everyone's nerves. But even she couldn't hide her own nervousness.
Amidst the tension and anticipation, Nicole spoke up with a burning question: how would Elsa prove her theory that Alice could not see other supernatural creatures? Bob interjected with an overlooked detail - their original plan involved using Peter and Charlotte's assistance, but they needed someone who could go in blind without risking having their thoughts or future exposed by Alice's powers. It was a risky move, but necessary to gather crucial information from the other side. As they waited for their contact to arrive before sunrise, they could only hope for success in their dangerous mission.
With a hesitant voice, Elsa gently seeks Nicole's input on the complicated situation at hand.
"Jasper had orchestrated it all. Peter and Charlotte are completely clueless as to his whereabouts. They believe he's still with the Cullen’s up north, but they never directly ask him for fear of being caught. He uses burner phones with different zip codes, making it harder to track him down. We used to communicate through our actual phones, but now I have to use a new burner phone and subtly suggest that Peter checks on Jasper."
In the corner of the living room, Jasper nonchalantly watches the reclining chairs, pretending not to pay attention.
"I just received a message on my burner phone saying that Peter is planning on visiting me. Him and Charlotte are apparently excited to see me. But when Peter realizes I haven't been at my supposed location in a while, he'll start asking questions. It's only a matter of time before they catch on and start digging deeper."
Nicole furrows her brow in confusion, trying to piece everything together.
"How do they not realize something is off? Are they really that naive?"
Jasper sighs and leans forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and rubbing his face in frustration.
"They look down on others, thinking they're always the smartest ones in the room. As a result, no one ever thanks them for their help. They think they can easily manipulate information out of people because they consider themselves masterminds. But really, they're not as clever as they think they are. And within our vampire society, there aren't many rules we have to follow. As long as we don't risk exposing our existence to humans or interfere with other mates, we can pretty much do whatever we want. The other covens may bicker amongst themselves, but as long as we follow those two rules set by the three kings in Italy, they couldn't care less."
Nicole takes a moment to process everything Jasper has revealed before responding.
“What does that mean for JC and myself?” Nicole's voice was tinged with concern as she looked over at Jasper. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Before he could explain, Bob spoke up.
“Nicole, with your witch and fairy heritage, you'll be considered a part of the supernatural world more than anything else.” Her words were straightforward and carried weight. “It could very easily be said that this Bob here was the one who spilled the beans,” she continued, gesturing towards herself. “She's more straightforward and they know Fae cannot lie.” She paused, looking around at their group. “As long as you guys don't go bragging to everyone else – which means you need to tell her not to talk to her bosses – I think we'll be fine. Everyone will be fine. I've seen them wipe out whole towns to keep our secrets safe.”
Nicole couldn't help but feel curious about the situation. Bob excused herself to go get some more tea, leaving Elsa and the others deep in conversation.
“OK, that's interesting,” Elsa remarked, leaning back in her chair. “But why haven't they come out before?”
Jasper glanced over at Nicole before responding, as if seeking her permission to share this information. After a brief pause, he spoke again.
“What do humans tend to do when they encounter something new?” Nicole thought for a moment before responding bluntly.
“Well, it depends on those that are curious. But most likely fear is the usual response from humans.” Her words hung heavy in the air as she continued. “And as a result of that fear, they seek to destroy what they don't understand instead of trying to understand it.”
“That is correct,” Bob chimed in. “We've seen witches try to come out a few times before, resulting in the witch trials across Europe and the Americas. Vampires tried to come out first, just before the Civil War and again in the 1800s. And they were hunted down as well. Even werewolves attempted to reveal themselves around the time of the Wild West, but saw how humans reacted and decided it was best to stay hidden. It's clear that when humans see something they perceive as a threat, they react with violence.” He let out a sigh, looking exhausted by the weight of these truths.
“Yeah, but can't your species just bite and take what you need and move on?” Nicole asked, hoping for a simple solution.
Jasper shook his head ruefully. “If only it were that easy. We have our own rules and ethics to follow. Plus, it's not just about survival – we also need to maintain balance in our ecosystems. Simply taking what we want without regard for consequences would throw everything off balance.”
“Fortunately, we don't function like the other two vampire species. The Large Jenning's species is very similar to ours and can also withstand sunlight, although they are prone to burning easily. However, unlike the traditional vampires depicted in Hollywood, they do not have the ability to transform into bats or control minds. Did you encounter any of those traditional vampires? They have the power to bite and take what they need from their victims, but they do not kill them, much like Janine's species. Then there's my particular species. We cannot survive by simply taking a small amount of blood from our victims. We must drain them completely, or they will suffer a painful death. That's one way. The other is through a single bite, which usually turns the victim into a vampire as well. You see, our bites contain venom - think of it as a snake whose deadly toxin we cannot control, or a spider injecting its poison into its prey.”
As Bob returned with her cup of tea, Nicole couldn't help but notice how Jasper's eyes flickered with amusement at her use of "Tea's". She gladly took her hot chocolate and thanked him.
“So how did you become a vampire? Or were you born one?”
“No, Nicole wasn't born a vampire. I was bitten. Just like JC and yourself, I was once human too. It all happened one night, when I was out on the streets trying to survive. I was attacked by a vampire who was stronger than me...and better at hiding it. I spent three agonizing days praying for death until finally...I woke up as a vampire.”
Nicole took a sip of her hot chocolate and pondered her next question.
“Jasper, can you tell us about your history? If you don't mind sharing.”
Jasper shook his head, indicating that he didn't have any issues discussing his past.
“I was born in a small town outside of Houston, Texas in 1845. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, my father and older brother were forced to join the Confederate army. However, we didn't exactly align with most of the Confederates' beliefs. Can you imagine? We were not wealthy by any means, but we were also not poor farmers. We were simply shunned or outcasted by many in our community. Sadly, my father died during the first battle at James River Crossing, and my brother was killed near Gates burg.”
A Confederate captain and his major came in. And. Was to say that they, my mom and. Sisters that make you out their life. They ended up taking their lives and burning
The weight of grief and loss hung heavy in the air as my brother succumbed to his injuries. The soldiers, who had once fought alongside him, now returned to our farm seeking me out. My mother and I were known for our sympathy towards the Union side, opening our home to those fleeing slavery through the Underground Railroad. Our farm was spared from suspicion due to our employment of many Black individuals, whom we had freed by purchasing their freedom.
We continued this practice even after my father and brother passed away in the war. It became a tradition to educate and empower these newly freed individuals, some of whom stayed on our farm for generations. One of them, Morgan Freeman, went on to become a successful doctor thanks to our support.
As the war raged on and danger loomed closer, my mother and I made plans to sell our cattle and move up North to Minnesota. But before we could do so, the soldiers came knocking at our door again. The first time, they asked me to join their cause, but I refused, declaring my age of sixteen. We waited until winter passed before making any further preparations.
But just when we thought we were safe to leave, the soldiers returned. This time, they were not asking nicely. In a moment of desperation, we sent Morgan and his family ahead of us as a distraction while my family gathered what little we could carry and prepared to flee. As we were about to set off on our journey north, the soldiers arrived in full force, no longer asking but demanding that I join them in battle
The farm was a desolate and barren place, with dried up fields and broken fences. I lay in the dirt, bruised and battered by my attackers. As I struggled to regain consciousness, I wondered why anyone would do this to me. Eventually, some kind natives found me and helped me heal with their traditional remedies. But as soon as I was well enough, I contacted a commanding officer on the Union side, offering my services as a spy. The Confederacy eagerly accepted my offer, and I joined their ranks.
However, my allegiance was not to the South. Instead, I saw this as an opportunity to gather information for the Union. And it proved to be successful when I learned of their plans to attack a small town full of innocent women and children. Using my influence, I convinced the Union officer in charge to evacuate them before any harm could come their way.
But this double agent act took its toll on me. The journey from South Carolina to Galveston, TX felt like an eternity as the weight of my deception weighed heavily on my conscience. When we finally arrived in Galveston, TX, I quickly switched out horses, planning to ride back and help the Confederates against the Union. Little did they know, my true intention was to aid the Union against the Confederates.
As I rode along the outskirts of Galveston, I came across three lady refugees who had been left behind during the evacuation. True to my southern upbringing, I dismounted and offered them my horse. It was then that I met Maria and her sisters, and little did I know that it would be the last night of my human life.
For a century, I fought in the vampire war - a war that I never wanted to be a part of. And when I finally broke free from that world thanks to my abilities as a vampire, feeding off humans was no longer an option for me. It wasn't until the roaring 20s that I discovered a different way to satisfy my thirst - through animal blood. But even then, I couldn't escape the guilt of my past actions.
As I wandered through the streets of Philadelphia, my stomach growled loudly. The rain was coming down in sheets, drenching me to the bone. Seeking shelter, I stumbled upon a small diner and stepped inside. But hunger gnawed at me, and I knew I needed to feed soon. However, I only fed when absolutely necessary, and even then it was only the bare minimum. The thought of taking a life repulsed me. It always had.
But fate had other plans for me that night. As I sat in the diner, contemplating my next move, a woman named Alice approached me. She offered me a way to live without harming others - by feeding on animals instead of humans. It seemed like an uncharted territory, but she showed me the ropes and soon we were traveling together, searching for coven members who shared our beliefs.
Our travels led us through many woodland areas, where creatures such as selkies and shape shifters roamed freely. Despite my best efforts to avoid them, there were instances where I almost harmed one unintentionally. This caused tension between Alice and I as she did not believe in making deals or avoiding certain species.
Desperate to find a solution, I came up with my own way of feeding - by only consuming blood from butcher shops or cows. It seemed to work for a while until an incident in Alaska forced me to leave Alice and the coven behind.
I found myself seeking out the Iron Witch, someone whom I had already known from working part-time at her café as Bob. With her help, I discovered a new method of feeding that didn't put anyone at risk. My thirst was quenched without causing harm or risking exposure.
In fact, changing my feeding habits once again proved to be more beneficial than anything else. My eye color even began shifting back to its original hue from when I was human.
News of this unique feeding method spread and even the powerful Three Kings in Italy expressed interest. I sent them a letter detailing the change and it seems as though they are willing to give it a try. So far, it hasn't diminished our abilities like feeding solely on animals did. It's a win-win for everyone involved.
Bob's interest was immediately piqued after Jasper's revelation.
"So they're going to try your way," Bob said, leaning forward with curiosity.
"That's what Marcus had told me after I messaged him. He's even going to give it a shot. And I believe Aro will too. They all seem very intrigued by the possibility of living without diminishing anything. They never thought it could be done before," Jasper explained.
As the front door opened and closed, signaling someone's arrival, the clock chimed 4:00 in the morning. In walked Cyrus, Carl, Patrick, and Janine, all looking exhausted but determined. Patrick was carrying someone in his arms, a sleeping Isabella.
Bob stood up and gestured for Patrick to follow her. "How did it go?" she asked.
"Smooth. Almost too smooth," Janine replied with a hint of concern in her voice.
Nicole looked confused. "Isn't that a good thing? No hiccups or problems?"
Cyrus shook his head. "Yes, normally we want things to go smoothly. But this time, it felt too easy. We were facing unknowns and just hoping and praying for the best. And everything went perfectly according to plan. It's suspicious."
Jasper pondered for a few moments before asking, "Do you think they saw you?"
Bob returned from the other room with drinks and snacks for the group. Patrick sat next to his girlfriend Janine, holding her hand for support.
"I don't think so," he replied with a hint of resignation in his voice. "From what I could smell, most of them were on the other side of town near the vast expanse of water- about 10 or 15 miles away from here. And the one who was inside the house seemed preoccupied in the garage."
Jasper sat quietly, his brow furrowed as he processed this new information. "So it seems like no one was expecting us to come get Bella. If they did, I would have expected Edward to be in her room or outside watching for us. They will do anything to keep her here, Bob."
She looked towards Jasper, trying to gauge his thoughts. Janine tilted her head slightly, curious about their conversation.
“What do you mean by 'extremes'?” she asked, leaning forward in her seat. “With a mind ray or someone who can see the future? You think they'll have more tact than that?”
Jasper shook his head, his expression serious. “They have no tactical skill or strategic thinking whatsoever,” he explained. “The only warrior among them would technically be in our group - Carlisle. And even then, it's pushing the envelope by my standards. Only because when he was still human, he was a witch and vampire hunter nearly three hundred years ago.”
Cyrus grimaced at this revelation.
“So in other words,” he interjected, “he would literally hunt down anyone who didn't fit into his narrow definition of humanity.”
Jasper nodded in agreement with Cyrus's assessment.
“Carlisle may not admit it or openly disagree with anyone else's sentiments, but he's an extremist,” he continued. “A hardcore Christian book-burning evangelical extremist. And on top of that, he believes strongly in a patriarchal society where women are considered inferior to men and barely even human. I've seen him mistreat pregnant teenagers and mothers, and even blame rape victims for the crimes committed against them. He believes that everything you need to know can be found in the good book.”
A look of disgust crossed the faces of the group as they listened to Jasper and Janine's conversation.
"Huh, sounds like some of my family members will get along with him," Janine replied.
"Oh yeah, his entire coven will. And they're not much better - the only one with any redeeming qualities is Emmett, but he's too much of a fool. I suppose love is blind in his case. Not sure how that'll work out for him. The rest of his coven just goes along with it. If they say something is bad, he believes them because he thinks they're smarter than him. They probably see something he doesn't, but he's been beaten down and treated like a fool for so long that their opinions hold more weight to him," Bob added. She seemed shocked by this statement.
"So they think this Emmett is an unintelligent fool?" Janine asked.
Emmett was often underestimated by others, seen as nothing more than a simple hillbilly from the mountains of Kentucky. They dismissed him as unintelligent and incapable of deeper thinking, believing that only a foolish man would spend his time in the middle of the woods during winter, hunting bears. Once they had labeled him, there was no changing their minds - they would try to "fix" him in their own way, but if they deemed someone as mentally challenged or handicapped, they would simply slap a Band-Aid over the issue and move on.
Jasper chimed in with his own experience, bitterness lacing his tone. During his time with them, he was categorized as the weakest link because he struggled with controlling his thirst. Despite his powerful empathetic abilities, it meant nothing to them compared to his apparent weakness when it came to bloodlust. But what they didn't know was that Jasper not only battled his own thirst, but also the intense bloodlust of those around him - especially Edward's.
Nicole took a moment to process this information while JC snored loudly on the couch beside her. She couldn't help but see Jasper in a different light now - someone who was kind, hardworking and always willing to lend a hand. He even joined in on the boys' pranks with enthusiasm. But what stood out to her the most was his dedication to helping other supernatural creatures. Even when he discovered a way to feed without harming humans, he still made an effort to avoid accidentally hurting any innocent beings.
"Jasper, that doesn't make you weak. It makes you one of the strongest people I've ever met," Nicole said sincerely. "Most people would have given up and thrown in the towel long ago, but not you. You continue to fight and find ways to better yourself. That takes incredible strength and character."
Bob's words hung in the air as she nodded in agreement, her expression solemn. She joined in with her own input, adding her $0.02 to the conversation.
"Strength and moral character," she began, her voice strong and determined. "It's not about never having scars or blood on your hands. It's about how you handle those moments and choices. It speaks to who you are as a person, your values and beliefs. Going against the grain, weathering the storms, finding another way - these are things to be proud of. They show that you uphold the teachings your parents instilled in you from a young age."
She paused for a moment, looking around at the group before continuing. "Even now, as adults, we still hold onto those values that we hold dear. Our circumstances may have changed over the years, but we have always tried to make a difference, to be better. And that's all we can do - hope and worry for the future."
Jasper burst out laughing suddenly, causing everyone else to look at him like he had lost his mind. He composed himself and explained between chuckles, "Sorry guys, it just hit me...that tribe Patria mentioned? The one that believes they're werewolves? They're actually shape shifters."
The group erupted into laughter at this revelation, unable to believe it was true. Jasper continued through his laughter, "They call themselves werewolves but they can shift into any animal, even ones as big as horses!"
Patrick's eyes bugged out in shock and excitement at the thought of having shape shifters in their ranks. "Holy shit," he exclaimed. "We could use them in the Lunar Core! And they don't even know about other supernaturals?"
Carl chimed in with his own thoughts on the matter. "Honestly, I don't think there are many other supernaturals out there. Maybe a few witches here and there, but with the good doctor running around and exposing them, they're probably laying low. And even if they do remember him from his human life, I doubt they'd stick around for long."
The group nodded in agreement with Carl's assessment, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment.
Carl's expression grew more serious as he spoke again. "You know what really sucks? This ancestor of mine, this Doctor Elsa...he shares my name. We have the same name, and it's unsettling to think that I have this older version of myself walking around out there. It's even creepier to think about what else we might have in common." He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought. "But at least I know that I'm different from him. I'm more open-minded and I don't believe in