Beginning Of The End

[Jasper Hale]

Jasper had a lot on his mind. Things had radically changed since he had first joined Maria's army. He was not as content with her lifestyle as he once had been. He was not finding enjoyment or pleasure in the destruction of humans, and newborn vampires -- when they no longer qualified as newborns -- . His need for something more stemmed from two things. The first being the emotions he felt from his victims, every time he killed them, he could feel their agony as if he were the one being tortured to death. The second reason, was the recent event of Peter and Charlotte running away. Peter had been a good friend of Jasper's. Had he not fallen in love with Charlotte, he would have still been here. But no; he had fled, and Maria would not be pleased. Jasper did not tell her, or had not been the one to report it. One of her other minions was bound to tell her as quickly as it had happened, trying to get on her good side and score points with their leader.

Jasper could not care less. Well, he did in a certain way . . . but not as much as he had once. He had no intention of leaving her, mainly because he knew he had no where else to go. There was no alternative lifestyle for him, rather than the one he had lived for the past several years. He would have to continue being her general, for he knew that if he ever said no to her, it would be the last thing he ever said. Not that he underestimated his capability to defend himself; he just did not want to do that. There was no need to unnecessarily tell her he was unwilling to do something. He was just trying to create a bit more of a distance from her, as oppose to before when he hated not spending every second with Maria.

--- Tag Maria ---

[Maria Verdugo]

Maria wasn't sure why Jasper had failed her. He should have seen this coming and now there was a threat to her army somewhere out there! Oh someone reported to her alright, Maria was stupid enough to give Jasper full control of very thing blindly. She used him more then she ever used anyone, but she made sure she knew his almost every action. When her tattle tell came to her with news such as this she nearly killed the messenger. . . . She HAD killed the messenger.

Which meant she had to find another minion to summon Jasper. Which annoyed her. Oh Jasper could read feelings, he would she was displeased, annoyed and slightly. . . . ever so slightly pleased with this. Maria begin to plan. . . .

[Jasper Hale]

Maria wanted to see him. Of course she did. Jasper knew that some minion was going to come seeking him, carrying out Maria's orders. She seldom sought out people . . . she had others to do that sort of work for her. And so, like a mindless drone, Jasper followed her orders. He followed the minion -- though he did not need direction to her chambers -- and slightly knocked before opening the door. "You may leave now," Jasper said to the vampire who had called for him. Jasper was the general of her army, he had enough authority to at least say that much.

Jasper closed the doors behind him, knowing that she was not going to be at all pleased with him. "You wanted to see me," he said in a voice that sounded as if he was fully complying with her orders. He may not be as enthusiastic as he once had been, but he still acknowledged her as their leader . . . who else was there to follow? What else was there to do?