Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Fifteen - Newborn Army

An army. The word echoed in my mind, and I instinctively tightened my grip on Jasper's arm. My pulse picked up, though I told myself it wasn't fear—it was just... understanding. I knew enough about the world Jasper had survived to grasp what he was saying, but somehow, facing it here, in this room, made it feel unreal. Like, I didn't have the experience to even speak.

Alice whispered, "An army... Why didn't you tell me?" All eyes snapped to Jasper, and I squeezed his arm a little tighter, needing the grounding of his calm presence.

Jasper's voice was quiet, deliberate, every word weighed. "I thought I must be interpreting the signs incorrectly. Because where is the motive? Why would someone create an army in Seattle? There is no history, no vendetta. It makes no sense from a conquest standpoint, either—no one claims it. Nomads pass through, yes, but there is no one to fight for it. No one to defend it from."

I felt a shiver at the clarity in his reasoning. Part of me wanted to nod, to say, I know, I understand, but I couldn't—at least, not confidently. Not yet. My mind could follow the logic, but experience? I had none. I stayed quiet, letting him lead, letting Bella and the others listen.

"But I've seen this before," he continued, eyes flicking briefly toward Edward, "and there's no other explanation. There is an army of newborn vampires in Seattle. Fewer than twenty, I'd guess. The difficult part is that they are totally untrained. Whoever made them just set them loose. It will only get worse, and it won't be much longer until the Volturi step in. Actually, I'm surprised they have let it go this long."

I bit my lip, heart tightening, imagining the chaos. Even with my limited experience, I could picture the violence, the fear, the senselessness. I wanted to say something reassuring, smart—but I had nothing concrete. I felt small, insignificant in the face of what Jasper was analyzing with such ease.

"What can we do?" Carlisle asked, his voice calm but edged with concern.

Jasper's jaw tightened, his expression hardening as he evaluated the situation. "If we want to avoid the Volturi's involvement, we will have to destroy the newborns—and we will have to do it very soon."

I perched on a stool at the kitchen island, tracing the edge with my fingers, keeping just enough distance to not intrude but close enough to catch every word. Jasper stood near the stove, calm as always, the weight of his presence grounding me. Emmett and Edward leaned against the counters, Alice pacing quietly, Carlisle and Esme standing side by side, and Rosalie hovering near the sink with that familiar, unreadable expression.

"I can teach you how," Jasper said, voice steady. "It won't be easy in the city. The young ones aren't concerned about secrecy, but we have to be. It will limit us in ways they are not. Maybe we can lure them out."

I shifted slightly, keeping my gaze low, trying to take it all in without interrupting. My mind was spinning just keeping track of what he meant—and yet, I could feel the logic behind it, even if I didn't fully have the experience to speak.

"Maybe we won't have to," Edward muttered, leaning back against the counter, arms crossed, voice carrying that sharp edge that made everyone pause.

Then came the words that froze my stomach. "Does it occur to anyone else that the only possible threat in the area that would call for the creation of an army is... us?"

I felt my grip tighten on the edge of the counter, and I instinctively glanced at Jasper. His eyes narrowed, calm but calculating, while Carlisle's widened with quiet shock. I had no words—how could I? I was human in so many ways, even surrounded by immortals and centuries of experience. I could only watch, silently absorbing the weight of it.

"Tanya's family is near," Esme said slowly, her voice tight, careful.

"The newborns aren't ravaging Anchorage, Esme," Edward replied sharply. "I think we have to consider the idea that we are the targets."

I could feel my stomach twist. I wanted to say something—anything—but all I could do was stay quiet and steady, letting Jasper's calm influence keep me anchored.

Alice spoke next, hesitant. "They aren't coming after us... or... they don't know that they are. Not yet."

"What was that?" Edward asked, voice curious. "What are you remembering?"

"Flickers," Alice said, her voice hesitant. "I can't see a clear picture when I try to see what's going on—nothing concrete. But I've been getting these strange flashes. Not enough to make sense of... It's as if someone's changing their mind, moving from one course of action to another so quickly that I can't get a good view..."

"Indecision?" Jasper asked, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

Something clicked in my head, and I felt a little thrill of recognition. My fingers twitched on the counter.

"I don't know..." Alice murmured, trailing off.

"Not indecision," Edward growled. His eyes were hard. "Knowledge. Someone who knows you can't see anything until the decision is made. Someone who is hiding from us. Playing with the holes in your vision."

Alice's voice dropped to a whisper. "Who would know that?"

Edward's jaw tightened. "Aro knows you as well as you know yourself."

"But I would see if they'd decided to come..." Alice said, doubt creeping into her words.

"Unless they didn't want to get their hands dirty," Edward added.

"A favor," Rosalie suggested, voice clipped.

I let my mind churn, trying to piece it together. And then it hit me. I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbow on the counter. "Actually," I said, voice hesitant but eager, "I have another theory... what if it's Victoria, and she's using someone to make the decisions but coaching them?"

The room went quiet for a heartbeat. Even Emmett stopped fidgeting with his hands. Jasper's eyes flicked to me, sharp and calculating, and I felt that familiar little thrill—he was considering me, taking me seriously, even if I didn't have his experience.

Edward's gaze sharpened, and I could see the tension spike. "Go on," he said, voice low.

I swallowed and leaned back a little, hands gripping the edge of the counter. "Think about it—someone inexperienced. Someone who doesn't know what they're doing. That would explain all the mistakes, all the chaos. But someone's still guiding them... teaching them... pulling the strings behind the scenes. It would fit everything Alice can't quite see, too."

Alice froze mid-step, eyes wide, the way she always did when a new piece of a puzzle clicked into place. Jasper's lips twitched, though it was subtle, almost approving. Emmett finally let out a low whistle. "Not bad, Tiff. Not bad at all."

I flushed, ducking my head a little. They were all weighing it now, thinking it through, and for once, I felt like I wasn't just the human sitting there, trying to keep up—I had actually contributed.

Carlisle's voice cut through the tension. "Then we'll need you to teach us, Jasper... how to destroy them." His jaw was tight, but I could see the pain behind his eyes, the weight of saying something so violent even though it had to be done.

"We're going to need help," Jasper says, putting his arm around me, settling the anxiety flowing through me.