At the mansion

The phantoms of Harriett and Benjamin stood there, blocking Alice, ready to fix the mistakes made one hundred and fifty years ago. The spawn of the sister who escaped had somehow weaseled her way into the family. Julia walked over in front of Alice like a shield, blocking her from her murderers.

"I didn't let you harm my sister, even when I was dead; you knew I would attack if you laid a hand on her," Julia spoke. "I will damn myself to Hell if you dare lay a single ghostly finger on my granddaughter."

"I was weak when I attacked you," Benjamin growled. "I told Jasper a lie, and he believed me. That was the lie that was recorded in this house; curators for decades tell of how you run off. It is that lie that keeps both of us here. It is that lie that makes me more powerful than you. "Suddenly Benjamin attacked ,putting his large hands around Julia's neck.

"Alice, the music box," Julia uttered, her eyes trained on Alice. The short vampire quickly grabbed the box containing the haunted music box her and Jasper carefully packed away and threw it to the ground.

"Why are you being so mean?!" Penny screamed, appearing from thin air.

"Go get help!" Alice ordered just as Julia pushed Benjamin down and started to fight him back while Penny went through them.

"Get back here, you little brat!" Harriett yelled as the child race through the door, with Harriet chasing after her. The burnt couple followed after her, coming back to stop Harriett from going after Penny.

"Get Jose!" Julia choked. She kicked Benjamin's knees and he responded by grabbing her by the hair almost breaking through to Alice, before Julia grabbed his neck.

Alice never felt so helpless; she felt a great chill and looked to her right to see Harriett now beside her.

"You know I can still harm you," Harriett said. "No one knows the truth. That makes us more powerful then you and your aunt. What are you going to do vampire? Kill me? Ha, I am already dead. As long as our lie is believed, we will live. "

"What about the blood relatives of creators?" Alice asked panicking. "You know, I have killed before, even as a ghost." Harriett smiled. Nothing was protecting Alice. Suddenly the windows burst open with a rush of wind and a figured appeared standing between Alice and Harriett. Then a young girl appeared, Suzan dressed as her teenage old self stood between her and Alice. "Not my granddaughter, you bitch!"

"A lie is stronger than the truth; it feeds the living and can defeat the truth. Nothing is more powerful than a lie.As long as the lie remains alive, I cannot be harmed."

"The bond of love can foreshadow a lie; the blood of immortal creators can't stop you because of your lie. The soul taken for a loved one can stop you," Suzan said.

"Show her, Suzan," Julia yelled. Suzan touched Alice's arm.

1917

Alice found herself in a small room.It was bright out, and she saw the light shine through the red drapes window highlighting a wooden table surrounded by dust and fabric samples on a white lace table. Alice looked around her and saw a black iron stove. In front of it was a round wooden table covered with a lace table cloth, and flowers in the center. She then caught sight of a woman in the room. The withered features no doubt belonged to an elderly version of Susan. She was seated at the table matching fabrics to her drawings. She stood up and went to the stove and a man in a flash came to the table across from her. Alice knew him from somewhere but couldn't place him. He was a tall man, with muscular black skin and amber eyes. Alice could tell he had some African origin. Susan hadn't noticed him until he spoke.

"Susanna Mayhem, from Houston, Texas. " the man reminded as old Mrs. Brandon jumped and turn.

"Daniel? I haven't seen you since New Orleans. You and Nancy went on that ship, and I went on a different one. What are you doing here? You have to be…" Susan trailed off, unsure of what exactly was going on.

"One hundred and three," Daniel answered.

"You...your daughter?"

"She is alive too, and is like me," Daniel explained. "Do you want to know what happened to us? Our ship to Haiti went into a storm. The ship crashed, we went into the water. I couldn't find Nancy, I looked for my daughter everywhere but I couldn't find her."

"My visions of her went blank after that," Susan said.

"You admit it now?" Daniel asked. "The Whitlock Plantation was full of interesting people."

"I try to forget those days." Susan said. "I haven't told anyone but my husband of my origin."

"Since I came back to the States, I can't stop." Daniel admitted. "Remember my daughter Nancy, always good at avoiding trouble. She would create distractions, a power of the mind, its how she was able to keep her reading lessons from being discovered. It was how she was able to help us get to New Orleans. Well, guess what. I came to the shores of Haiti without her. I thought she was dead. I worked as a fishermen, far cry from the trusted butler I was used too. Then, a couple years later I was shaken awake. Nancy was there, her eyes were red, she was amazing with smooth black skin and relaxed hair . She kept her hands too her face. 'This is my Daddy, please, change him. Then a white women that lived in Haiti came and bit me. I woke up on a different island, in a large house surrounded by tropical flowers. Nancy and the woman were their with the sun shining with vivacities on their skin. Nancy explained everything and introduced me to the woman who saved her that night: Charmaine, born in the Caribbean island of Santa Domingu, to French parents. Saved by an old Malliouhana during the Revolution, she was beautiful with light curls and a pure face. She used the entire Caribbean as her hunting ground, and spotted Nancy leaving the harbor seeing her gift. She created Nancy, then came back for me. Together, the four of us made a family. I never loved another like I loved my Ivy. But Charmaine was something beautiful. I never thought I would have the love of a white lady, but we weren't humans no more. So we didn't go by their rules. My sweet, Charmaine, oh how she would walk in beauty like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies and all the aspect that is best of dark and bright met her face and eyes.

"Charmaine, Nancy, and I lived happily until the other day!" He shouted angrily. "These Italian people started to accuse my Charmaine of having an immortal army of escaped slaves. Charmaine denied it, and I stood for her. But Nancy betrayed us. I don't know what came over my daughter, but next thing I know Nancy was taking their side. They killed Charmaine, the love of my life. They killed her and took Nancy. I escaped, but I want them dead. I then remembered you; Charmaine changed Nancy because she had a gift that she saw in my daughter when she was human. That gift helped us escaped; your gift helped us escaped. I am here to make you immortal."

"Your eyes are red." Susan sounded scared. "What do you want from me?"

"I am not here to take from you; I want to give you a gift. How would you like to live forever and be powerful? Leave this human world behind."

"After I lost my husband, Allen, the love of my life, it would be a punishment." Susan answered. "I had a granddaughter that has a gift like mine. My son punished her for it."

"I can really use that gift," Daniel said getting impatient.

"My granddaughter, Mary Alice Brandon. My Alice is locked away in an asylum now, as we speak. I failed to save my sister because I didn't use my gift. It's not too late to save her. Did you come to make me like you?"

"Yes," Daniel answered. "I can make you powerful, immortal. You can save her."

"I can't leave this behind, if you have to make someone immortal, take her."

"Are you sure?" Daniel asked.

"Yes," Susan answered. "Please, take her."

1920

Susan was sitting in her room sewing, looking over some drawings for designs when a loud cry irrupted.

"Help!" A loud scream came through the air. "It burns!"

"Alice," Susan rushed out to find Daniel, the slave once owned by the Whitlock family holding someone in his arms in a long white gown with short hair and cuts on her wrist disappearing before Suzan..

"What did you do to her?" Susan demanded.

"Stay away," Daniel hissed. "She is mine now. I may have lost my human daughter, but no one is going to take my vampire daughter. She is mine now. I am taking her far from here."

"What is going on?" Susan demanded.

"She is dangerous, she will hurt you."

"What?" Susan asked.

"Someone wanted to kill her, drink her blood. That is why I had to change her now. Sometimes, you humans have a very strong smell that is desiring. I need to hide her; I am taking her to an abandon cave used during the Underground Railroad. I just wanted you to see she was alright."

"They want her blood," Susan said. "I have her blood." Alice watched as her grandmother kissed the top of her head one last time. She stroke her head, Alice, still burning calmed at her grandmother's last touch. "She won't even remember me, they shocked her so bad."

"He is coming, I have to go now. I plan to kill this son-of-a-bitch. Right now, I need to make her safe. I can smell his scent. He will pass through here soon." Daniel left; Susan couldn't see him disappear with her old human eyes but knew what he meant. She would do anything to save the life of her granddaughter. This thing wanted Alice's blood, the same blood that ran through her own veins. Susan went back to her store, scanned it one last time. She then went to her room, where she had sown the thousands of dresses that had created her lively hood. She went to the cupboard, pulled out an old needle. Susan closed her eyes, and pinched her fingers with a little drop of blood emerging from her skin. A loud sudden noise radiated from the window. Susan turned around and saw James.

~X~

"You created the distraction so Daniel and I could get away," Alice realized, as Susan nodded. "Daniel came back to tell me you were safe and saw James with my body. I died, so you could live."

Thousands of questions ran through Alice's mind. That love alone was able to protect Alice from Harriett. Then suddenly, Jasper burst through the room. Benjamin and Harriett instantly faded, Julia still solid went straight through Jasper and lashed on, holding Benjamin by the neck.

"You confess now!" She screeched as her body and hair changed to her appearance at death. "Jasper is here, tell him the truth. You are going to tell him what you did to me."

"Julia," Jasper said, stunned to see her. The faced he once looked upon when he first made love desecrated by glass cuts and burns.

"Tell him, Benjamin!" Julia screamed. "I want him to hear it from your mouth. Tell him! You will let him know what happened to me!"

"Brother." Benjamin smiled seeing Jasper. "What a reunion we have here?"

"What is going on?" Jasper asked confused, trying to make sense of all this. "What does she want you to tell me?"

"Jasper, aren't you going to greet me, your only brother?" Benjamin asked pitifully.

"Not until you tell him," Julia said angrily as she slam the bathroom door shut and it became the fireplace. "Jasper, remember this!" She then went and clutched his chest.

1864

"They want me back in Galveston to evacuate," Jasper explained, leaving quickly as his brother stayed in his room. "I am coming to get a fresh horse." He raced up the stairs, wanting to get out of his blood-stain shirt.

"Why don't I have any clean shirts?" Jasper demanded wondering where Nancy had gone in his hour of need.

"Nancy ran off," Latvina said as she came into assist her brother so he could leave quickly, he needed to save the women and children. She already heard what Shermen did to Atlanta, and knew entering Galveston could lead to Union occupation of Texas.

"Benjamin, give Jasper your shirt," Hayden ordered.

"What!"

"Now!" The old cornel commanded as Benjamin began to unbutton slowly. His fingers rounded the small buttons, removing the cloth from his chest. Jasper watched as the scars under his brother's shirt began to be uncovered with each flick of his slender fingers. The scratches and the blood criss-crossed across his bare chest like a horror scene. It seemed someone had punched and scratched him, hard. She was putting up a fight against him. Jasper wanted to question the marks but didn't have time.

"What happened?" Jasper asked.

"Union solders," Latvina said quickly. "Yankees have been through here, on their way back. I spotted some."

"Them bastards." Jasper said angrily. He took his brother's shirt and went on his way. It was then Jasper walked out and cold press against his back

~X~

The memory played back in Jasper's mind over and over again. He remembered the letter informing them of Julia's unfaithfulness and Suzan's death. He watched enough investigation documentaries that he could now see the loop holes and missing information. It should have raised suspicion then. Julia's faithfulness to him, the jade bead, a man no one has ever seen, and her clothes left behind. He saw the holes in Suzan's death, no bones, and a girl in a fire building with several slaves nearby. He then remembered the lust and jealousy his older brother contained. Jasper had covered that in his mind over the years, but now as he remembered the truth was there.

"Your brother forced himself on me!" Julia cried. "That's what happened! He mutilated me, murdered me and ruined my good name. That's what happened! Harriet thought that would get rid of me, but that made me a scar in the Whitlock House. I stayed in the walls of the house, which has changed through time but remains still. I remained with them. I have become part of this house, a house changes but the foundation remains. Stories spread, but the truth has remained. As they died, the secret died and they have become trapped with me. I lingered above where it happened, with the truth. They lingered below, and the story was told, with the lie. Preventing what awaited for them until you knew."

"Jasper," Harriet said nervously. "She is crazy. Who are you going to believe, the granddaughter of some Gypsy or your own grandmother?"

"Remember Jasper!" Jasper glanced over to see sixteen year old Suzan who still stood protectively in front of Alice. "Our family gave you love! They fed you lies!"

"Jasper," Alice called trying to get to him, Suzan blocked her.

"I believe her," Jasper said looking towards Julia. "Tell me what happened to my girlfriend. I want to hear it from your mouth,brother." Jasper finally said.

Julia felt relief, finally the torture is over, what happened is known. What had happened in his room is clear. The living beings known as man crawled on her and forced his lips upon her flesh was known.

"Confess!" Julia ordered.

"To what?" Benjamin asked. He then looked towards Jasper, "See I am walking well brother, better and stronger than you these days. Now that I have the advantage of going through walls.'

"If you harm him, you shall burn." A voice said. Jasper was startled, looking aside and seeing that Jose had appeared.

"Get your lying hands off," He said firmly, pushing Benjamin down. The figured tried to get up and the room transferred as the fire place appeared.

Julia then grabbed Benjamin by the neck. "Say it! Confess!" The woman screeched. "Tell him it's the truth!"

"Don't say a thing," Harriett's ghost panicked. "As long as we don't say the truth, then we are able to remain here. As long as the secret doesn't come from our mouth we are at the advantage."

It was then Julia put her hand on Benjamin's cheek, causing the scars, burns, cuts and all kinds of torture to leave her. She was transferring the pain to Benjamin.

"There they are, there they are!" A voice came through as Penny came through with three figures. Jasper saw the burnt couple quickly emerged, along with the Mexican woman with a rope burn wrapped around her neck. The woman drifted forward. Jasper watched as Penny rushed from Harriett to the burned couple. The woman embraced the little girl, as the man caressed her cheek. The woman in Mexican dress came up and kissed the girl on the cheek. She calmed the family down.

"Why don't we make another confession?" Benjamin said. "If we are speaking of brothers betraying their siblings, Jose."

"Don't bring it up," Thomas warned, coming from nowhere.

"Esta no es, una cuestion de verguenza. No deje que el lo hace." The woman then glanced towards Jasper. "Dira su historia."

"You won't let your daughter take credit for what?" Jasper asked confused.

"Are you going to listen to Mommy?" Benjamin joked.

"If that will make you comfortable," Jose finally said. "Why don't you tell him?"

"He had a sister," Benjamin said slyly. "That he traded like cattle."

"In my life, I was a merchant. And a very successful merchant. I would travel from Monterrey to Texas," Jose explained. "I met an Americo on one of my travels, who was a very good suitor for my sister. He was wealthy, Catholic, and of good gentlemen standards. I thought it would be a good idea to merge our great fortunes and have him marry my sister."

"He came back to get her," Catalina added.

"The wheel broke down on our way there," Jose continued. "And I left her to watch the merchandise. I put my money and goods before her. When I came back she was gone. I spent the rest of my days looking for her, and now I protect those of her venom."

"What was her name?"

"Maria, her name was Maria." Jose looked towards Jasper. "My sister was the vampire that created you."

"Come on lets go," Harriett said.

"You're not leaving until you tell! I want him to hear it coming from your mouth."

"Find!" Benjamin relented, annoyed. "Jasper I killed your girlfriend, I trapped her, took advantage of her, and killed her. Then I let you believe she was a little slut. You know what, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every part of it. Your pain is music to my ears."

"What did you do?" Harriett said.

"Told the truth!" Charlotte's mother said.

"You German bitch, just watch." Harriet went to attack the family as Catalina stepped out in front of them and threw Harriett down being able to use her power to protect the family behind her, she protected Penny in a way a mother wolf protects her pups. Harriett put her ghostly hand to her cheek. She was injured by her. She felt herself become younger, she was weakening. Jasper now knew the secret, their power came from the lie; it was protecting them but now it was gone. She could be harmed; only by those related through the blood of the immortal creators. A scene from her Georgia childhood came to strike Harriett, the night the British invaded her Savannah home as an English man appeared before her eyes. Harriett walked back in fear as Thomas Cullen pushed her to the ground causing Harriett to disappear into the floor.

"No, no, what did you do?" Benjamin cried. He glared in Julia's direction. "You think him knowing is enough? I doubt it, the world still believes my story. The curators of the Whitlock Plantation all know my account. They aren't going to correct them! And even if they did, I had your body, your life and your legacy all in my clutch. Therw it will stay!" It was then, Jose snuck up behind him and pushed him into the floor.

A peaceful look came to Julia's face; the light in the room shined again after one hundred and fifty years of bondage. She was freed. A soft wind breezed, Julia faded into the air. As light re-entered the room, becoming clear once again. For the first time, Jasper and Alice felt the walls of Whitlock were finally at peace.