Chapter 8

Jasper

We'd heard no more from the mystery voice or Sam except to say that he'd been allowed to speak to Emily for a few seconds. Just long enough to ascertain it was indeed her. I could hear regret in his voice when he said goodbye, he and the pack really wanted a shot at whoever was behind this but his hands were tied. Bella was pacing like a caged tiger, she had yet to learn that a warrior needs infinite patience, anything else was a waste of precious energy. Esme phoned almost hourly but there was nothing we could tell her, and unlike Sam she hadn't heard from the voice again. I hated being in the dark but I knew it wouldn't be for much longer, I'd get information one way or another and my money was on Charlotte. Then the phone rang and Bella answered it cautiously,

"Charlotte, are you OK?"

I heard her ask for me and I knew she'd come through,

"Major, what I'm about to tell you came from second-hand sources, but reliable ones. There isn't much out there and this was all I could get."

She explained everything to me and I cursed silently when she finished.

"Are you staying or coming back?"

"I have to stay Major"

I understood what she was saying and wished her luck. She knew Peter wouldn't be coming back but she had to wait and hope never the less.

Bella

Jazz had taken the phone outside to speak to Charlotte and I knew he thought she had genuine news for him. He would decide what and when I needed to know, The Major was taking over once more. When he came back in his jaw was set and his fists clenched, I could see the monster in his eyes and knew there was going to be a fight somewhere down the road.

"Well? What did she say?"

I couldn't wait any longer.

His eyes flickered to me but there was no love in there, just concentrated fury,

"She got four names but they are only rumours, only one has been mentioned by more than one contact."

"Who? Is it the person behind it all?"

"I doubt it but we have to find her and encourage her to tell us who is."

"Jasper, who?"

"Maria. I think she has Peter but I don't think she's the brains behind what's happening. She doesn't have the manpower to arrange something like this, most of her soldiers are newborns. She is however our only lead at the moment so a trip to Mexico seems next."

"What other names did Charlotte give you?"

"Jane, Caius, Aro, Alec, everyone who has the manpower to act."

"And everyone with a motive!"

"Yes that too but it doesn't mean any of them are involved. It could be anyone at the moment. The only thing I think is certain is that its someone who has a connection however tenuous with Maria."

"Do the Volturi?"

"Yes they see her as a peace keeper in the South. The problem with using Maria is that if we find out and destroy her then that peace is over. Would the Volturi be willing to risk that? I'm not sure."

"But we made our peace with Aro and the Volturi."

"Yes, but there were some who weren't happy about it."

"What do you think they want? Whoever it is."

"Well its pretty obvious that its one of us. Whoever it is has their sights set on becoming more powerful. They are trying to acquire the one thing that would ensure victory over the Volturi, someone wants the ultimate power and there's only one thing that could guarantee that"

"What thing?"

He didn't speak but then I didn't need him to, I saw the answer for myself.

"Me. Whoever it is, wants me. That's why they took Charlie and the others, but how? Whoever is behind this must have done the organising under the radar or Aro would have found out about the plan and he would have stopped it. I can't see how a member of the Volturi could get around that after all he has the entire Guard under his watchful gaze.

"They don't need the Guard. They have Ellie instead, she's a remote viewer."

"A what?"

"As long as she has something personal belonging to a target she can watch them, follow their every move. She knew where to find the people they wanted."

"But you'd still need enough people to do the snatching, it all happened very quickly.

"Unfortunately he's got two very good fighters who working together very rarely fail, Dee and Harriet."

"Why rarely fail?"

"Dee can stop you dead, not for long, but then with Harriet's speed it doesn't need to be long. I think they will have been the ones to take Charlie down."

"And the others?"

"Emily would be easy as a human. Her capture would ensure we couldn't call on the wolves for help. Emmett and Rose would be two fighters we wouldn't have. They were probably taken by the same two as Charlie."

"And Peter?"

"Yes Peter...I think that's why Maria was brought in. She'd love to have Peter and myself if possible. She's probable back in Mexico with him. However is behind this thinks I might go to save him possibly leaving you alone or just wanted to make sure we were another good fighter down. I'm sorry Bella but I don't think Peter is still alive if Maria captured him, neither does Charlotte."

I looked at him sharply,

"Peter dead? I don't believe it. Why would she kill him?"

"Very simple, he's far too dangerous to keep alive. He got away once and he might do the same thing again."

"It was a very clever plan, split us up and make sure any allies they can't kidnap they force to inaction. Divide and conquer, very clever and well thought out. Looks like we are on our own darlin'"

I looked back at Bella to see a tiny smile on her face,

"We're down but we're not out yet Jazz. We still have allies, ones they haven't been able to get at"

"Who?"

She touched the Bear paw mark on my wrist,

"Johnny H and the Guardians. With them we still stand a chance, maybe we could even get the others back safely."

I wanted to agree about the last part but I really didn't think so, I didn't think we'd be seeing our missing comrades again."

"OK. You contact him while I let Esme know what we've learned, she deserves to know what's going on"

I had a strange feeling we might see Charlotte again soon, now she knew who had taken Peter. Like me, she knew his fate had been sealed the moment Maria was brought in.

"Jazz what about the strange scents? What does that mean?"

"I think that was our mystery enemy at work. Whoever it is knew we would recognise Maria's scent so they disguised it, just to throw us off as long as possible. The only positive is that they don't know we know who took Peter."

Bella

I rang Annie's nephew and he promised to get word to Johnny H that we needed to speak to him.

"Tell him its urgent please"

"Don't worry Little Bird, has he ever let you down. He'll be in touch."

I felt better after hearing that and when the phone rang again a few minutes later I grabbed it eagerly.

"Well, someone's keen. I take it this is Bella"

"Who is this?"

"A friend. One who would like to help you keep your friends and family alive"

It wasn't a voice I recognised from anywhere,

"What do you want?"

"That's easy Bella. I'd like you to join me for a "meeting", just the two of us. Face to face"

"Why should I trust you?"

"You don't have a lot of choice Bella, if you want to see the others again"

"OK, Where and when?"

"Midnight at the meadow you shared with Edward."

"How do you know about that?"

"I know a lot of things Bella. Just be there and don't bring an army or I'll take it that you want to fight and the first to die will be your father."