Chapter Nine

Carlisle

There was a long silence then Esme turned to me,

"What was all that about Carlisle?

I shrugged,

"Just Aro letting us know he is aware of what is happening in our family and reminding us where our allegiances lie."

"Do you really think there is a war brewing with the guardians?"

"Who knows Rose. If they have been the target of attacks like the one that killed the hikers in Forks then possibly."

"If they were Carlisle"

I looked at Jasper,

"You have another idea?"

"I doubt the vampires who carried out the attack on the hikers were just that, random nomads. The carnage they caused was like that of newborns."

"You mean someone has loosened newborns to create havoc? Surely no one would be so irresponsible."

"Newborns wouldn't have hidden their tracks the way the nomads did, they don't think that clearly or logically, its why a vampire who creates a newborn is responsible for them until they gain control."

"So it wasn't newborns? I'm sorry Jasper you have me totally confused. Are you saying it was newborns or not?"

"No, they just wanted to leave a trail like newborns."

"But why? What would anyone achieve except to get the Volturi on their trail?"

"Maybe they want the Volturi here in numbers."

"But why? There's nothing here for the Volturi."

"Wrong Carlisle, you are here. The largest coven not under the direct control of the Volturi. Have you ever thought they might see you as a threat? You live in harmony with the humans, you live on animal blood, and you stay in one area. All things that are contrary to the creed of the vampire...also, with the exception of the Denali coven which is connected to you, the only possible rallying point for disaffected members of our race."

"A rallying point? You mean an alternative to the Volturi? No, I have never wanted or actively encouraged such thoughts."

"Just because you don't doesn't mean others won't see you that way. You need to be careful Carlisle. For all you know Aro might be responsible for the attack on the hikers."

"But to what end?"

"He just told you himself, to stir up the guardians to attack. To end your coven."

The family meeting broke up after this with Rose and Emmett going to hunt with Esme which left just Jasper and myself.

"Do you really believe what you said or was it just an intellectual exercise?"

"You heard Aro's words as well as me Carlisle."

"I'm not sure I came to the same conclusions though, perhaps you need a military mind to see it. By the way where is Alice? What appointment did she have that was so important? Aro wont forget her absence."

"Better he remember that than touch her and read her thoughts Carlisle."

"Why? What does Alice know that she wants to keep from the Volturi?"

"You'd better ask her that question Carlisle."

Jasper turned away and sauntered out of the room leaving me to think about the things he'd said. What worried me most was his take on what we had all heard. I had never thought to be a threat to the Volturi, I just wanted to live in peace but perhaps that wasn't going to be so easy any longer. I would have to be very careful, we would all have to watch our step, just in case.

Jasper

I knew Carlisle didn't see things the way I did but I had put across my feelings on the subject, what he chose to do about it was down to him. I knew Alice had stayed away fearing Aro might see my mate coming and she knew something about this girl that might pout her in danger from the Volturi although she wasn't willing to tell me yet. I was prepared to wait mainly because school was a real novelty for me, I'd never had much of an education as a child, and then came the war. I could read and write but my strength was in tactics, something useful as a human and as a vampire. I read a few books when I had some down time but that wasn't often and Maria was always making fun of my thirst for knowledge. I hadn't been controlled enough to attend school with the other Cullens at first but both Carlisle and Esme had done their best and Emmett was always bringing me books home. I didn't care what the subject was, any knowledge was precious to me and now at last I was ready to attend a real school. I was so nervous the first day, especially as Alice was in the year below me but Rose and Emmett took me under their wing and within weeks I was confident I was going to be fine.

As a family we were the hot topic in Forks and I saw a few of the girls eye me up but I ignored them. Romance was beyond me, I'd been put off that by Maria, I didn't trust women in general, or girls in this case, besides which I didn't think I could have a sexual relationship with a human. I'd spoken of it with Emmett and we both agreed it would be far too dangerous. I hadn't seen anyone that interested me in that way anyhow and I did wonder if my experiences with Maria had put me off women altogether. But it was something I wasn't going to worry too much about for the present and Alice had told me that there was someone for me if I was patient. I trusted her words although sometimes I thought she said such things just to make me feel better about myself. She was a really kind person, the first to show me any real tenderness and I really hoped I would find a woman one day who was half as sweet as her.

Alice

I was slightly confused because something had changed, there was something I hadn't taken into consideration because I wasn't aware of it at the time. This problem with the nomads and the Volturi might well make things dangerous in the future but until I could see the girl again I couldn't say more. I knew jazz was nervous at the thought of his mate coming to Forks and any delay might, on second thoughts, be a good thing, he was still very cautious and unsure of his own strengths and this would give him more time to settle in. I hadn't broken the news to him yet that his mate was still human and I thought I'd keep that to myself for a bit longer. We still went hunting together when he wasn't out with Emmett or Rose and he'd started learning the piano from Rose who I thought played as well as Edward. Speaking of which our "brother" was coming for a visit with Tanya during the recess. Tanya was a man eater on two legs which was something she couldn't help, like my gift it was purely instinctual but it did make for some difficult situations because she made both Emmett and Jazz uncomfortable. Emmett had Rose to run interference for him while everyone knew that Jazz and I were just friends now. That would make him an easy target for Tanya and Edward would hit the roof if he found her with Jazz even though he knew it would be her fault not his. With a little luck I could distract Tanya, she loved shopping so a few trips to Seattle and Portland would keep her out of trouble at least part of the time.