Chapter 9: A Gathering Storm
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Carlisle and his little patrol scoured the forest, gathering all the information they could. Collecting the intel was sooo easy. These vamps were anxiously ramping up for an attack on the Volterra royalty. They didn't hide the fact that Aro and his gang of cut-throats were a thorn in their collective side. They were actually bragging about bringing them down.
It seemed that the Volturi had gotten a little uncomfortable with the number of nomads that had joined together. There were too many blood drained victims left in glaring evidence. The governing body swept through and did a little house-cleaning, not knowing that a group had escaped prior to their arrival. It was this group that had splintered off a few at a time traveling south and wandering into La Push. The organizer of the group was determined to get back at the Volturi by inviting a coven from the southern states to fight with them for their feeding rights.
Jasper recognized the leader out of the corner of his eye. His already cold blood turned to ice. He quickly hid from view and sought out Carlisle.
"It's her, Carlisle. I reckon I'd know her anywhere—It's Maria. Do not let that lil' gal fool you. She is a force to be reckoned with. We best get back to Forks and let the others know."
Carlisle was on the phone immediately as soon as they were far enough away so that the ears of the undead weren't listening. "Sam, there's a large coven of our kind here in Seattle. They're preparing to take down the Volturi, a revolution so to speak. We will contact Aro. I think he should meet this head on. After all it is his responsibility to keep the peace. We should be safe enough for the next few weeks. Alice will be on the lookout for any new developments. In the meantime, let us know if you need our help with the increase in nomads."
Sam nodded his head in agreement. "Thank you Carlisle. We are indebted to you. I believe we have enough manpower to hold the line at present. We'll keep in touch as the need arises."
With school out, the move to Olympia went smoothly. Pack muscles really came in handy. I couldn't believe how fast we got set up.
We were now miles away from La Push, and the threat of vampires. I'm sure it was a relief to Embry, not to worry about a red eyed bogeyman getting me. It was a relief to me to know that Embry would come home after school every day, and not have to fight with the bogeyman in the evenings. I wanted him in one piece, thank you very much.
Our life was pretty blissful, except for the mornings, when true to Paul's prophetic words, I turned a little green, and not with envy either. A bun was most definitely in the oven.
Embry—bless his heart, would get up a little earlier than me and make his own breakfast, knowing that just the smell of cooking would send me retching all the way to the bathroom. We'd come home after our first class and I would eat then. Usually by that time, the nausea would be gone.
The days and weeks flew by. Winter break was coming up and I was looking forward to spending a few days at home, but a phone call from Alice put a halt to that plan.
"Bella, you can't come to Forks. I just had a vision that the Volturi will be arriving about then, along with all of their guard. I also saw part of the rebels scatter and regroup outside of Forks. There's going to be a confrontation. It looks like we'll be the victors, with the help of those wolfboys, so I don't want you to worry. But don't come here, understand?"
For once, this war wasn't because of me, and I had the baby to think about, so I agreed to stay away. "Thanks for warning me. I'm the luckiest girl alive to have you as a friend. I really mean that, Alice. I owe you."
"Yes you do, girlfriend. And there's something I want in return."
I had to laugh. "Don't tell me you want my firstborn."
"Silly, Bella. I just want you to promise me that I get to see him."
Getting all excited, I said, "Then you really saw that it's going to a boy?"
Sensing the frustration in her voice, I heard her admit, "You know I can't see anything past these mutts of yours. So—oh, just call it woman's intuition."
Rubbing my swollen belly, I replied. "Okay, it's a date. This little boy should make his appearance around the middle of February. I'll bring him around to see you—and Rosalie, too—the first week in March, so have some food ready."
I could imagine her jumping up and down at the prospect.
Embry came out of the bedroom and coming up behind me, leaned his head next to mine. He snaked his arms around what was left of my waistline. "Tell Alice hello for me, sweetheart."
"Embry says hello."
"Do I need to repeat my story," she asked.
My eyes rolled in my head. "No, Alice, He heard every word—it's a wolf thing."
"Damn right," Embry whispered.
"I'll let you go, girl, or should I say woman?"
"Bye, Alice."
"Bye, Alice," Embry repeated, smiling.
That Wednesday, the pack along with the Cullens, were waiting and ready at the clearing—the same clearing where the newborn battle occurred less than two years ago. The saying was true; history repeats itself.
At first the invading rebels were stunned by the element of surprise. That was short-lived, however as the wolves pounced on them, tearing limbs off, and scattering vampire parts over the frozen ground. They circled around the invaders corralling them toward the Cullens so that they were surrounded on either side.
The tide of the battle was turning in the favor of the Seattle vampires, when suddenly a rather large russet wolf stood on the rise overlooking the bloody conflict. All the wolves heard his voice in their heads.
Hey guys, need a little help?
He leapt down, into the fray, and none of the vamps could seem to bring him down. The battle was tipping the other way once again.
The conflict was nearly at an end when Jasper was met head on by a familiar brunette—Maria.
She stopped in her attack, leading him away from the others. He was on her heels instantly. He could not afford to let her escape.
Her ruby eyes gazed at Jasper's face. "So, it has come to this, mi cara," she hissed. "I knew I'd catch up with you one fine day."
Putting out her hands, beckoning to him, she said, "We don't have to do this, you and I. You can join me. We can create another army.
"You loved me once, did you not? You can always love me again. I know you still have feelings for me."
As the fighting continued around them, Jasper replied, "I am not Major Whitlock, any longer, ma'am. I left that life a long time ago. I have found another way of livin'. I love another now."
Maria began to back away, but with each step back, Jasper pushed forward.
"You could let me go, mi dulce. No one here needs to know it."
"I am sorry, Maria."
With that said, he lunged toward her as she tried to escape. The russet wolf appeared out of nowhere, blocking the way, as Jasper caught hold of her. He closed his eyes as he felt her terror encompassing him, and those old emotions raged inside of his unbeating heart. He cringed in remorse, aware of his duty. Yes, he loved her once, but he had to protect his new family now.
As he got ready to wring her slender neck, she looked at him one last time, killing him inside. He shrugged off his pain and with a quick twist of his wrists, her head snapped off from her shoulders. His long ago love was no more. Maria would join with the other fallen insurgents in the funeral pyre.
The fire was already burning brightly, the sweet purple smoke rising into the air. The enemy was vanquished. The victors were now busy, gathering up the pieces and adding them to the fire. Jasper carried Maria's broken body and laid her on the pile. The flames licked around her, consuming her remains. The great russet wolf dragged the head by it's long dark hair, tossing it in among the rest.
Alice ran to Jasper's side. They held onto each other in relief. Jasper mouthed, "I love you, darlin'," and kissed her temple.
The russet wolf ran to the rise overlooking the clearing. His work here was done. His head turned as he nodded at the pack. Sam nodded back and the great wolf disappeared before their eyes.
The next day, Embry got the call from Sam telling him that the danger was over.
He trotted up to me, and lifted me in the air, kissing my neck. "Yo, Adrian, we did it! The war's over. The fortune teller was right. We won. We got a little supernatural help again though. Can't keep a good wolf down—even when he's no longer around, huh . . .
"Now, if that little one would just hurry up and get here, his daddy can quit worrying altogether."
Embry put me down and crouching in front of me, rubbed big circles on my tummy. I threaded my fingers through the hair atop his head, as he chanted, "Come out, come out wherever you are." He rose slightly, gave me one more pat and planted a kiss right on my belly button.
He stood up and asked, "Did I tell you how much I love you today?"
I smiled at him, bumping my nose against his, and answered. "I think you did, Romeo."
"Oh, well in that case, I'll just tell you again. I love you Isabella Call."
And he sealed it with a kiss. I guess he really, really meant it.
