Chapter Ten

Bella

When I got the news from Sam I was ecstatic, Yes, I could do it! I could protect our family and friends or at least I was celebrating until Jasper asked the million dollar question.

"Bella, how many can you protect at once if they are in different places?"

I hadn't thought about that so it was back to Sam and more rough housing for the boys, in two different groups in different locations. Concentrating on more than one person at a time to keep their protective bubble in place was much more difficult and after three hours I'd only managed to protect three at a time and that erratically.

"What an I going to do Jazz? I can't protect them all."

He took me in his arms and held me tight,

"Darlin' you don't need to protect them all. Who will they threaten if you don't turn up? Charlie most probably, but they wont kill him this early in the game. The next most probable would be Rose or Emmett, do you think you can protect them?"

I thought about this, it sounded as if he'd really considered the question, and nodded,

"Yes I think I can."

"Then when we don't turn up at midnight you try to protect those two."

Jasper

I watched Bella become more and more stressed as the clock's hands moved ever closer to the midnight deadline. I wondered how long it would be before we got the next call, how long they would wait before deciding she wasn't going to turn up, and whether they would send word to be prepared for a lesson. I tried to calm her and we sat together while she practised visualising Rose and Emmett, get their images fixed in her head. Stress was rolling off her so I pulled her close and rubbed her shoulders knowing that my touch calmed her and she turned her head to kiss me in thanks. When the phone rang shortly after midnight we knew it would be our enemy with threats, so I answered, with Bella at my side holding my hand nervously,
"Yes?"
"Where was Bella? She really should have been in the meadow, I had something to give her. Pity she never appeared, still I've had a present delivered there for her. I'll be ringing again soon and this time perhaps she'll take more notice, understand that I mean what I say."
Before I could answer the phone went dead.
"A present?" she looked apprehensive.
I knew it was going to be unpleasant but I couldn't shield her from life's dark side so we waited until dawn then went to the meadow together. In the centre, on a boulder, was a box tied with a red ribbon. There was a card sitting on top of it and she picked it up turning it over to read the message,

"Bella, just a little reminder that I mean what I say. Be here tonight at midnight unless you want more."

She reached a shaking hand out to take the top off the box then peered in and stepped back in horror with a gasp. Looking in after her I saw a hand nestled in tissue paper.
"Charlie" she breathed.

I'd misjudged the situation totally and it had cost Charlie his hand, while this wasn't a problem if we got them back to him so he could fuse them back, it distressed Bella so much I had a problem calming her down.

"Bella we'll find him and help him reattach them I promise you"

"How can you Jazz? We have no idea where he is, or who has him, what if they burn the next part they cut off?"

"Bella, I doubt they will but if it makes you feel better remember Johnny H will be here soon and it was at our insistence that you didn't go to the meeting. If he and I both thought it was too dangerous you can blame us, and even knowing the outcome I would say the same again. We can't afford for you to fall into the wrong hands."

I realized what I'd said as the words came out and looked at Bella. She leaned her head on my shoulder,

"I'm glad I'm not the one having to make the difficult decisions and live with the consequences. How do you do it Jazz?"

I sighed,

"Years of painful experience darlin'"

Bella

The wait for The Guardians seemed a lifetime and I was relieved to hear a car come down the road to the house. I ran outside to greet them and Johnny H smiled as he saw me,

"So Little Bird, in trouble again?"

I nodded then turned to greet his companions, he had with him four of the largest men I had ever seen, larger even than the wolves. I didn't recognise them and I wondered how they were going to get around the usual rules for the Guardians to change. Johnny seemed to understand my thoughts and put an arm around my shoulder leading me back in the house behind Jazz, followed up by the others.

"We have special powers in case of threats to the Tribe. These are four of Annie's oldest sons and they are able to transform at will. I saw Jazz nod at one of them

"We've met" he said holding a hand out to the largest of them.

For the first time he didn't look the most dangerous being in the room.

Jasper

Once we'd been introduced Johnny started to talk,

"I've been doing some digging since I spoke to you and I think I know who might be behind this but they wont be easy to take down. The Volturi are always dangerous but at present with such turmoil in their ranks they are even more so."

"So it is the Volturi?"

He looked at me with a slight smile,

"Yes and No. The Volturi is fracturing into smaller groups each vying for power and they are much more dangerous as a result."

"So who is trying to capture Bella? For her gift I assume"

"Unfortunately I'm not sure, but I would be willing to bet on all of them. Our friend in the centre of things is putting himself in considerable danger to pass information to us."

"Felix" Bella whispered.

He smiled at her,

"I think he has a soft spot in his granite heart for you Little Bird or he would have departed Volterra before now. He tells me that there are three factions, two strong, and one weaker but still a threat to our world."

"Aro and Alec, Caius and Jane and..."

I'd run out of candidates.

"Aro is obviously one of the main dangers, he doesn't have Alec standing with him but he does have Chelsea and a lot of the Guard.

"So Alec has allied himself with Caius?"

"Yes Major and they are quite formidable because of that"

"So which party is Jane standing with? I can't see her backing Caius if he has Alec. I think losing a position of power to her brother soured that relationship."

"True Major but she isn't siding with Aro either"

"She's standing alone? And she thinks she could gain victory?"

"Oh yes. She has her own allies, powerful ones I'm afraid.