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.

"I wonder how good of a fight the newborns put up against the Volturi," Emmett muttered.

"They were no match for the Volturi, seeing as they had an army too - only theirs was made up of mature vampires," Jasper said.

"I know, but don't you think that if you knew the Volturi were coming, you would just make a huge army..." Emmett said.

"They tried... it didn't work," Jasper said.

"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.

"Yeah, well that was rather unsettling," Edward said, knowing exactly what Jasper had heard and how he viewed the information.

"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. . . ."

"I wish they wouldn't have," Esme muttered. "It might have settled that matter there and then there wouldn't be a war anymore..."

"I don't think it would be that simple," Jasper said.

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.

"Up until that time at least," Jasper said, smiling at Alice. "I have found much more beautiful women since then."

"Hmph," was all Alice said to that. She really didn't like the next part, especially how close he was with Maria, though she knew there was nothing really there.

"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.'

"Hm..." Edward said.

"What are you thinking about?" Jasper asked, confused. Everyone had heard this story too many times to be thoughtful about much of anything.

"I was just wondering if you smelled better to her than most humans," Edward explained.

"I don't know," Jasper said. "It almost seemed that way, but of course, I was the only human there...why?"

"Well, we knew that Alice smelled good too," Edward said, his voice sharp and his eyes hard as he thought of James.

"Yes," Jasper said, his eyes narrowed, looking rather angry about the reminder.

"And maybe you smelled better too," Edward went on, looking like he didn't want to dwell on the bitter memory. "Carlisle, do know if I smelled any better?"

"Sorry, Edward, but I don't really notice the differences in human's scents," Carlisle said. "I mean, I can obviously pick up the different scent they give off, however I don't associate it with food anymore, so I doubt my sense of smell is as good as yours...or anyone else."

"So, you don't know if any of us smelled different than most humans?" Edward frowned.

"No," Carlisle said. "Why Edward?"

"Well, I was just thinking that we know of at least two people that smelled better than the average person, Bella and Alice, and Jasper may have too," Edward said, "and they both, or perhaps all three, have extra abilities..."

"You think that Bella will have a gift?" Carlisle gaped.

"She already does, doesn't she?" Edward said. "No one can get into her head. I don't really understand that, but I'm sure that it will make her different."

"True, I'm interested to see what that will evolve into once..." Carlisle started, but Edward's hiss made him stop. "Sorry...but at least I can find out in these books and that will quench my thirst for knowledge..."

"True," Edward frowned at that thought, but went on. "I was wondering if perhaps their abilities made them smell sweeter..."

"Interesting theory," Carlisle nodded his head, "very interesting."

"Doesn't that make it sound like she's meant to be a vampire...?" Alice smirked at her brother.

"No," Edward hissed.

"But come on, Edward, your theory makes it clear that she should..." Alice continued.

"No," Edward growled this time.

"Maybe that's why she smelled so good to you in particular," Carlisle said, ignoring the little squabble between siblings. "Because your powers are almost complete opposites...what with you being able to read everyone's mind and she being able to stop everyone from getting into hers."

"Interesting," Edward said.

"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.

"There's another similarity you have with Bella...her instinct is always being overruled," Edward smiled.

"But she has more of a reason to feel that way," Jasper smiled too, "with us being vegetarians and all."