Chapter Seven
Peter
I got the feeling that something was going down and it involved The Major so we followed my gut and didn't cross the border instead turning North.
"Look if he isn't with Maria any longer we should go back and wait for him to turn up Peter"
"It doesn't work like that Garrett. You can bet the she wolf wont let him go without a fight and if the Volturi find out he ran they'll take it as a confession of guilt. It's all they need to wipe him out and after all he's been through the poor fucker deserves a chance so shut up and let me think."
I drove slowly letting my gut reaction take me where it would. We hadn't got above about thirty miles north of the border when I saw something in the distance.
"There Garrett, see it?"
He peered in the direction I pointed and nodded,
"Yeah four figures chasing another and I'd put my money on the front runner being The Major."
"Then stop talking and get after him. I'll try to cut the others off with the truck you try to catch him up."
Garrett jumped from the moving truck and I put my foot down thanking my lucky stars I'd taken the truck rather than the car because it was going to get a good work out over this terrain.
Jasper
I knew Maria would send her best after me but I still had to stop and hunt, she'd kept me thirsty ever since I let Peter and Char escape, giving me begrudging permission only when I became weak enough to be in danger of losing my strength altogether. I couldn't find a human out here and I dare not detour into a town, she wouldn't care if a couple of her newborns caused havoc in front of people, the Volturi were coming already and she could soon blame it all on me. It meant my only option were animals and although their blood wasn't as satisfying to my thirst it did make it manageable and without the complications of emotions I had to try to ignore.
I put on an extra burst of speed hoping to lose them when I saw a truck bouncing across the open ground putting itself between me and my pursuers while a runner headed in my direction and I tensed ready to fight. Then I recognised both driver and runner, Peter and Garrett and slowed somewhat so Garrett could catch up with me. His grin was short-lived as two of the four cut between the truck and us ready to fight.
"One thing I like about you Major, you always throw a good party, glad I got an invite."
I remembered the first time I met him, when he happened upon a small group I was training outside the compound. I was suspicious at first that he might be Volturi but after talking for an hour or so I found myself liking him and we had a mutual acquaintance in Peter. Since then he'd appeared a few times when I was outside the compound, usually on reconnaissance patrols and I found his company a refreshing change. He also came into camp a couple of times on business as the only one crazy enough to deal with Maria. I understood he was a warrior himself but knew he was no threat to me.
I acknowledged him and we turned to face my attackers. Garrett threw himself on the one while I took the other and it wasn't long before both were merely puffs of dense purple smoke. Turning I saw Peter ripping the last of my pursuers to pieces and throwing them on the pile he'd made of the other. When he finished he threw a match on the pyre and watched for a few seconds as they burned. Then wiping his hands on his pants he strolled over smiling broadly.
"So you finally grew a pair and left the bitch. Welcome to freedom Major."
I nodded and held out my hand to shake his,
"Thanks Peter, you too Garrett, its good to see some friendly faces."
"Yeah well, when the Italian ass holes come looking for you I'm denying all knowledge. You do realise you are so deep in the shit that only your nose is above it? Maria's going to load all the blame on you, and your best friend Caius Volturi will be wetting himself in anticipation of getting his hands on you."
I nodded,
"Yeah I get that. You can always walk away Peter."
"Walk away? Yeah like that's gonna happen. I just want you to understand how great a pal I am, standing beside you as they rip us both to pieces."
"Better make that three of us."
Garrett patted my shoulder,
"I was beginning to think we might never see you again Major. I guess its time to hit the road."
"Where are we headed?"
Peter looked from me to Garrett,
"Now I already had to tell him earlier I don't do the planning shit, I just follow orders. So you point and I'll drive but not home. I don't want to lead the Volturi or Maria to Charlotte. She's got a couple of friends staying and I'd rather not get in the shit with her for leading trouble to our door. On the other hand, I'm not that keen on them anyway so what the hell! You coming to Villa Whitlock Garrett?"
We all got in the truck and Peter turned it headed homeward.
"You sure about these friends Peter?"
"Yeah, they're harmless enough. She met them when she went to some home exhibition or some such craziness. You might have heard of them Garrett, Rosalie and Emmett Cullen."
"Cullen? You mean Carlisle Cullens family?"
"Yeah, I thought you knew the screw ball Garrett."
"He's OK he just sees things a little differently that's all."
"Will somebody fill me in?"
I'd never heard the name before but it sounded like Garrett knew him well.
Garrett
I explained to The Major about Carlisle's lifestyle,
"He's been around a long time and he's never lived off humans. He and his coven, family they call themselves, live on animal blood."
"Fucking unnatural if you ask me."
"Well no one did Peter so shut it".
I continued,
"He changed his wife Esme, son Edward, daughter Rosalie, and other son Emmett. They were all dying at the time he changed them so he considers what he did to be a good thing."
"So he can control his thirst enough to change humans, that's some feat."
"Well we've done it too Major but I'll concede its not easy or worthwhile most of the time."
"And they all live on animal blood?"
"Yes. Not to my taste but it enables them to live among the humans without too much trouble. Carlisle is a doctor, he works in human hospitals."
"A doctor? That takes some self-control, doesn't he ever slip with all that blood around?"
"No, he spent years acclimatizing himself to it and now he doesn't even notice the scent or so he says."
Jasper
This Carlisle Cullen sounded like just the person I needed to speak to, if he could do it and train his coven to then maybe he could help me too. There was just too much baggage for me in killing humans, but animals? Well that was something different entirely and although I hadn't found the animal blood I'd sampled very good at quenching my thirst it was obviously possible to teach yourself to live on it.
Garrett was watching me and he nodded,
"Yeah it might be a good idea for you to meet Carlisle, especially with your gift. I know it was hard for you. The time I spent in Maria's company was enough to make me feel nauseous and I still like my human blood. She was one crazy bitch, I'm amazed you survived as long as you did."
"It was hard, especially towards the end."
"Yeah and I wonder how long Nathan will last without you to cover his back. That guy has the brain of an ant and that's insulting the animal."
"Insect Peter"
"What?"
"An ant is an insect not an animal."
"Oh great! That's all I need, a two-legged fucking encyclopaedia. Garrett shut the fuck up before I decide I don't like you much after all."
I closed my eyes allowing their voices to recede into the distance. I was finally free of Maria, now all I had to do was retain that freedom and I knew too well that the fight was only just beginning.
