Chapter 1
Tales of the bogeyman were told at bedtime to keep the children in their beds. Stories were told of the dark, bloodthirsty creatures in the night to ensure the children would be home before dark. Jaspers personal favorite was the one about the bloodsuckers: the vampires. The children were goaded into thinking that if they didn't eat their garlic, the vampires would come to suck their blood in the form of a bat. Needless to say bats were rather intimidating creatures from then on.
Jasper thought it ridiculous. Not the drinking of blood of course because, after all, he was a vampire himself, but the garlic part. And the bats. Oh, and not to mention the part of using children as a source of properly living as a vampire. They were too innocent. Too young. No, Jasper only went for the ones that weren't prospering. The ones that wouldn't be missed. After all, he did know his family's history quite well.
Back in France, a member of the human council had discovered what his grandparents truly were, resulting in them fleeing from the country. Jasper didn't wish to cause another accident, none of his family did, so their ways of hunting had taken a bit of a drastic turn. Though it was for the better. Jaspers uncle had uncovered the special uses of pixie dust and fairy's blood through many trials and errors.
To eliminate any suspicions towards the family, fairy blood was useful for freely walking about in the sunlight. And for any other creatures that could easily detect a vampire's essence, or lack of one, pixie dust was essential for consuming. When jasper had questioned how his uncle had even gotten ahold of pixies and fairies, he felt a bit stupid. It was as simple as offering the beings protection from other's that hunted them down. Protection for the pixies wasn't a necessity, seeing as they could hide themselves in plain sight with their dust. The fairies were a bit of problem. They needed it from the gremlins that loved to tear the wings off the miniature beings. And a storm could easily kill them.
Although a rain storm could be of good use as of right now. It was as dry as bones in the sun and it wasn't much better in the shade. Also, jasper liked the way he felt so immovable amidst the raging winds and rain while the thunder crashed and lightning flashed. He liked the way the woods smelt after the storm passed. It smelled fresh and the remaining humidity was left caused his hair to further curl against scalp. Jasper was very vain about his silken bronze hair. Even more so if his rock solid abs that were greatly appreciated among the river nymphs.
Speaking of river nymphs... Jasper realized he hadn't seen them around lately, which usually meant one thing: people. Jasper was never one to run away from a good opportunity, and now that he was seeing one... well, he couldn't resist such a good offer, now could he? He only had to find out just how many people. Before he could further investigate and suck the literal life out of someone, a tall figure approached him in simple yet elegant clothes: his father.
He'd be the only one to trek through the woods in a nicely tailored suit after all.
Jasper's father, Henry, never directly talked to his son, only sent written words as a means of contact, unless it was absolutely important, and Jasper had grown to accept it. And either he came by Jasper on accident, which wasn't a plausible occurrence, Jasper knew that something big came up. He had a few thoughts of what it could be, but he was never sure when it came to his father.
"Jasper."
"Father."
"Your mother and I request your presence immediately. Also, change into attire suitable for company."
"Of course, Father. I'll be there presently." And with that, Henry was gone, leaving his son feeling a little heavier than normal. Henry and Jasper didn't have a model relationship with one another, but they got along well enough to appease his mother. His mother...
Awhile ago, she had told Jasper that she felt no love towards her father, and he felt the same. She had told him it was their responsibility to carry on the covens bloodline. Jasper had always hoped his intended could be someone he fell in love with. He wanted to be able to tell her anything, no matter what and he hoped she'd do the same. He wanted an open relationship with her, and with any of their children. Or child. Jasper would ask how many she wanted.
The vampire shook his head, a human gesture he continued to partake in even after so many years, a sign he didn't know what to think, and lowered it for a brief second to imagine how it'd feel to live forever with a woman by his side. Then, he took off for his family's manor.
When he arrived, everything was still and quiet, a sure sign that the company his father mentioned had not arrived yet. He had time to tidy his disheveled appearance after being out and about in the woods all day. After his uncle had left the country in search of a wife and new elementals, he'd taken up the occupation of studying the wildlife and different species that resided in the same general area as he. Jasper couldn't commit to it every day like his uncle had, but he found it good to know, hence, worth the observation and experiments.
Jasper set off in the direction of his room, aware of quietness that seemed to loom out of nowhere. He preferred the outdoors to the insides due to the fact that there was always noise. Always something worth listening to. In the manor, it was dull as tombs. A joke his friend Bach loved to repeat whenever he stopped by the manor. Which was pretty much every day. That small fact seemed irrelevant to him, however.
The door to his room was already ajar and when he entered, Bach was sprawled on his bed, book in hand. Though he knew Jasper had arrived, he didn't make a move to acknowledge him. Jasper quietly waited for the joke, wondering when his friend was going to get to it. While he waited, he removed his dirty clothes and traded them for the ones his mother had obviously laid out for him before he got back to the manor.
"It's funny." Bach begins, and Jasper winced at the soon to come punch line. "How your mother still sets your clothes out after you're a century and something odd years. And how you still change like a five year old."
"It's a habit. Besides, she only had one child. Who am I to deny her the right to set out my clothes?"
"Jasper. Jasper. Jasper. I bet you don't even know what a dinner suit is."
"Of course I do. Don't be ridiculous." Jasper knew what it was, what it looked like. And it wasn't that he didn't know how to get his own clothes, and he certainly wasn't lazy. It was just that he didn't have the knack for it. His mother knew exactly what went with what and he trusted her judgment about these kinds of things.
"You know. I've been sitting in here for awhile and-"
"It's dull as tombs."
"It's dull as tombs." Jasper said the moment Bach said it.
"I was wondering when you'd get around to it, you know. You're always here to liven things up, you backslider."
"I've told you a million times to stop calling me that you smug bastard." Bach rolled his eyes. Jasper laughed at his friend, who in fact, was still laying on his bed like he owned it. Awhile ago, one of the girls Bach had lured had called him a backslider when he had tried persuading her to leave the grip of abstinence she had taken an oath upon. Needless to say, she had become Bach's prey, and there was nothing more that he loved than to chase girls. He loved the hunt.
Jasper, however, did not. But he did enjoy drinking a victim dry of blood. Which reminded him of the river nymphs and their lack of appearance at the river. He should probably mention it to Bach so they could hunt later on, when the whole ordeal with company was over.
"Are you sticking around for formalities?"
"No. I don't know. Should I? You know how much your father detests me." Bach smirked, knowing that somewhere in the manor, his father could hear him. Jasper scowled at the older vampire.
"Might be the German coven." Jasper suggested, knowing things between the two clans were a little tense due to other occurrences in Germany.
"Coven." Bach giggled. Jasper normally wouldn't use such a word to describe Bach and his laughter, but he could easily say that Bach was a giggler. "Why not galère? Sounds much more... refined." Jasper didn't get to reply as his mother had entered the room, a gracious smile on her ageless features.
"Boys." She greeted, then turned to Bach who was still on Jasper's bed. "Are you staying for a bit?"
"Not today, Marianne. I've got some business to take care of." Which was code for: I've got unsuspecting girls to lure into pleasuring me with their bodies of blood. Marianne was never the wiser.
"Of course. Jasper, our guests will be here shortly." And with that bit of knowledge, his mother swept graciously out of the room. It seemed to Jasper that his mother did everything with grace.
"Why don't you wait to hunt later with me?" Jasper suggested, watching as Bach flexed his muscles and tousled his hair in his vanity. He even winked at himself. Centuries old and he was still vain about himself. Jasper sighed.
"Of course I'll hunt with you later. But I'm not going to wait around. I've been watching this she wolf for awhile and just hmm. I'm surprised you haven't gotten to her first. Oh wait, you're waiting until marriage and yada yada. You know, you wouldn't be so stiff." Bach paused to snicker at his own joke. "If you'd just loosen yourself up a bit." Jasper rolled his eyes.
"Remind me why I let you ever step foot in my room again?"
"Because... you know, I really don't have a reasonable explanation for that. But, a certain beautiful body of blood is just calling to me."
"You know you're not supposed to mess with the unmated werewolves." Jasper warned, eyes narrowing as he wondered what his friend could be planning.
"Please. No one could resist this. Especially an unmated she-wolf desperate for some sort of attention. And besides, I don't have coven rules I need to abide by." Before Jasper could say anything else, or even remind the vampire he had chastised Jasper for using the same word not minutes before, Bach was gone.
'Idiot!' Jasper thought to himself as he hurried to the front door where he could hear people chattering. He paused a moment to see if he was familiar and silently groaned as he recognized the voice of Rosetta, his mother's hag of a best friend. Jasper used to think highly of her... until she drained his favorite horse. Rosetta never had much restraint when it came to blood. She was the messiest vampire he knew. Also-
Whoa.
Human in the house. Jasper could practically feel her blood rushing. Must be Rosetta and Oswald's newest offspring. Taking his time to reach the newly arrived guests, he paused by a large mirror in the hall. He wasn't sure why it was there, but he grateful for it as he put on a slight smile. His mother had once told him he looked human. His father said he looked ridiculous. But then again, Henry never did smile.
"-should be here any moment now." Marianne was saying. "Ah, son. There you are." She was by his side in an instant, fussing over his collar. When all was good, she turned back to her guests. Jasper then noticed that his father wasn't there. Typical.
"I apologise for my husbands absence. You know he's not one for formalities."
"Of course. Oswald is the same way." Rosetta giggled, linking her arm through her husbands. She then turned to Jasper, an excited gleam in her earthly brown eyes. "I believe you haven't met my youngest." Rosetta purred, pulling her daughter from out behind her.
Jasper wasn't expecting love at first. He had a fair guess of what was going on after all, yet he couldn't help but feel a disappointment when all he could think that this would be his obligation. His responsibility.
"This is Eden. Your bride to be." Jasper didn't like the look in Rosetta's eyes. But he didn't say anything. He merely looked at Eden.
"Oh, I wanted to tell him." Marianne pouted. Rosetta just shrugged apologetically.
"My fiancé." Jasper concluded, feeling odd saying the word. She wasn't bad looking, in fact, Eden was completely the opposite. Her chocolate hair was pinned back in the latest fashion, and her eyes were the same shade as her hair. She was willowy and slim, but curvy enough not to be considered skinny. Jasper realized he was staring and quickly looked away. He felt a little flustered.
"Honestly Jasper, it's like you've never seen a woman before." Rosetta laughed as the vampires were led to the sitting room by Marianne. Jasper held his arm out to Eden who respectfully took it. She gave him a small, shy smile. Her tanned skin hid the blush that formed on her cheeks, but Jasper could hear her heart thumping like a rabbits. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her passive face.
Eden had rather high cheekbones, smooth pouty lips and a narrow nose. Her brows were thick and arched, something that did not escape Jaspers scrutinizing look. And she was nearly as tall as him. Something he found a bit unnerving. He remembered Bach talking about the long legged women he lured, and how the arch in their backs mesmerized him. Jasper mentally shook the thoughts away. Bach could be an arrogant arse. Especially when it came to the opposite sex.
Up ahead, Marianne chatted sociably with Oswald and Rosetta about the latest events. Jasper wasn't sure how his mother could do it. She knew just what to say and how to say it. Henry was as silent as stone. Which made Jasper wonder where he could possibly be. Probably in his study being an arse just because he could and just because his mother would never say anything to him.
It was nearing dusk, the time where he and Bach usually got together to hunt. He wondered what his friend could be doing at this very moment, then decided he probably wouldn't want to know.
They had been in the study for nearly an hour, talking over past weddings and if they wanted to do traditional or not. Eden remained quiet, only speaking when necessary. Jasper was casting small glances her way. Rosetta was busily chatting with Marianne about her wedding and Oswald was, with permission of course, looking at Jasper's newest findings. Jasper could tolerate Oswald. He was his uncles best friend, and he knew he could be trusted. He wasn't so sure about Rosetta.
No one noticed when Bach slipped inside the study, dressed impeccably in one of Jasper's suits. Eden was the first to acknowledge him, eyes scanning for a possible threat. All vampires were threats to her, she was human after all. But her father had given her a pouch of herbs that deterred a vampires attention away from her blood. It seemed to be working so far. Bach eyed her, noting her tallness and the longness of her slim legs. He immediately knew that this was Jaspers fiancé.
Jasper then realized his friend was here. "Ah! Bach."
Bach instantly regretted his choice to come. Rosetta was here and she practically drooled over him even though her husband was a mere few feet away. Oswald was a bit oblivious to these things.
"Hello everyone." Rosetta swooned, Marianne gave him a small smile usually reserved for Jasper (she thought of him as a second son though he was ventured older than her, it was rather endearing) and Oswald remained glued to the books.
"This is Eden. My betrothed." Jasper introduced, a little hesitantly, Bach noticed. His smile broadened. This would be absolutely perfect to tease Jasper over while they hunted. He couldn't wait. Which reminded him...
"It's lovely to meet you, Miss Eden. I am sorry for intruding, but Jasper and I got some business to discuss." Marianne raised a brow, wondering what they could possibly have to discuss, then concluded that she'd rather not know.
"Of course, dearie. It's getting late anyway and I'm sure Edens had enough excitement for today." Marianne said, casting a kind smile to her future daughter in law. Eden felt more motherly love from her than from her own mother. In a way, the thought eased her a little. And Jasper wasn't a complete twit like she thought he'd be. He was approachable and managed to include her in his conversation with his father. Something that not many people did. Though she didn't immediately love him, she felt he would be a good friend. At least she wouldn't be married to someone like his father.
She watched as the two males exited the room, then let herself be fussed over by Marianne.
"She'll be out soon enough, we've got to hurry." Bach hurriedly whispered once they were outside, making some sort of sign with his two hands. When he noticed Jasper giving him an odd look, he explained. "I learned it from a witch decades ago. If you make this sign, anyone for miles won't be able to hear us."
"Does that include Rosetta?" Jasper whispered, though it wasn't necessary. Bach gave him a long look.
"Don't be a twit."
"It's an honest question. I don't know how she could be so indiscreet about making her intentions known. Especially with her husband right there." Jasper realized what Bach got him to do and gave him a small push.
"No need to gossip, Jasper. It's very unbecoming of you." Bach giggled. Jasper still couldn't grasp how Bach was capable of such a noise.
"Alright you bugger. Tell me what we're hunting tonight."
"The she wolf. Obviously."
"You still haven't caught her?"
"Don't patronize me, Jasper. You know I like the chase. It makes it more-"
"Worthwhile. Yes, I know." Jasper rolled his eyes. Bach could be rather callous when it came to women. Jasper should've known that it'd be different with this one.
