storm ◇ jasper hale ◇

chapter thirty-three ; newborns

"You look like horse shit," Peter commented, taking in Madej's state.

There were bags under his eyes, and his skin had lost some colour. It wasn't a good day, but it wasn't a bad one either.

"Oh, why thank you. My psychotic dad left a dead cat in my mailbox, my powers are beyond comprehension and I'm dying from cancer." Madej said bluntly, looking back to Benedict, who looked disgusted at the reminder of the cat.

"That must be it. Not worried about the newborns?"

"Nah, got better things to worry about." He shrugged a shoulder, offering a tired smile to Peter. He grinned at Madej like he was the best thing that he'd ever come across.

It was quiet as they waited for the army to come.

Madej could feel the way the hairs on his arms stood up as the safety perimeter was broken. Benedict looked displeased. "Few minutes out," Benedict said. "Don't die, Mads."

"Bold of you to assume I can die, bitch," he replied, sharing a smile with his brother. Benedict just scoffed and hit him upside the head, swearing under his breath.

Red light burst around his hands, and he could feel the nature around them, feeling where he could use it to his benefit. Thunder boomed overhead, and then the sound of running was picked up on Madej's hearing aids.

The vampires appeared across the field, and then Madej was moving. The Cullens rushed forwards as the ground shook, pushing the army closer in, unable to run and hide to the sides of the field. They were trapped.

The army didn't notice, too distracted by the threat of the witches and the Cullens. A vampire rushed through them, trying to get to Madej, but then he was moving, casting a spell; the ground split open, and the vampire fell in. Madej manipulated the gravity, pushing the vampire down into the magma down below. He didn't hear the screams of the vampire, but he knew he'd killed the poor guy.

Madej knew that Jasper was staying close by him like he was worried that Madej could get hurt, that he couldn't defend himself. But Madej knew his strengths and weaknesses, even if he was steadily dying.

A vampire got close to him, but then it vanished, and Madej looked over at Jasper, who had killed it with ease. He looked away, concentrating his powers towards the other ones. They were too distracted, trying to get to the Cullens, so Madej used that to his advantage.

They didn't even realise what was happening. With Benedict's help, the two forced the vampires closer to the ground Madej had split open. The Cullens realised this and tried to help them, fighting them towards the edges of it.

Madej felt something to his left, and twisted, flames appearing in his hands, pushed outwards towards the vampire. It got close, but once Madej's hand landed on its neck, it turned to ash, collapsing at his feet.

Shit.

"Don't let them get so close to you," Jasper said as he appeared beside him. "Don't let your defences down."

"Right back at you."

Jasper vanished, and Madej took a moment to realise how much pain he was in. He hadn't noticed, too busy using his powers, distracted by the intense need to protect the Cullens, to protect his brother.

Blood was in his throat, and he choked, spitting it out. That was never good.

He paused, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Madej turned around, and the young vampire paused, eyes wide with fear. She looked like she didn't want to fight, she didn't even belong there.

"I surrender!" she yelped, hands up. Venom fell from her eyes, and Madej realised she was crying. He'd never seen a vampire cry before. "They killed Diego. Riley and her. I didn't want this. Please."