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plotting their next move； or anticipating their enemy’s。 Because it has been war in the South； constant war for
centuries； with never one moment of truce。 The covens there barely note the existence of humans； except as
soldiers notice a herd of cows by the wayside — food for the taking。 They only hide from the notice of the
herd because of the Volturi。”
“But what are they fighting for？” I asked。
Jasper smiled。 “Remember the map with the red dots？”
He waited； so I nodded。
“They fight for control of the thickest red。
“You see； it occurred to someone once that； if he were the only vampire in； let’s say Mexico City； well
then； he could feed every night； twice； three times； and no one would ever notice。 He plotted ways to get rid
of the competition。
“Others had the same idea。 Some came up with more effective tactics than others。
“But the most effective tactic was invented by a fairly young vampire named Benito。 The first anyone ever
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