Chapter Twenty
Aro
It seemed I had a lot to thank The Major and his friends for but then that was what they did best, arrange things so they won the war. There would be a lot of tidying up when this was all over and I just hoped we could get back to our invisible status among the humans. That depended to a large degree on how much damage Stefan and Vladimir did in the meantime.
Killing humans and leaving their drained bodies to be found by the authorities was going to make things a lot more difficult but I was sure we could manage the P.R mess once we took control again and we would, of that I was convinced.
There were no separate quarters for us so while Sulpicia became reacquainted with Esme and Felix and Marcus were still busy with their own investigations I asked Carlisle to introduce me to Isabella's father.
We found him with Emmett and The Major's friend and I could tell the latter was not pleased to see me although that was not a reaction that bothered me in the slightest, leaders were rarely popular, not good ones anyway.
My first impression of the girl's father was favorable. He seemed cool and calm despite his place here among vampires and as a police officer I expected him to have a certain amount of combat skills.
Carlisle introduced me and we shook hands, his was warm and soft but the grip was firm and I was fascinated to read his thoughts, a whole lifetime of them. I had been right, he was apprehensive but not afraid.
I sensed an iron will beneath that pleasant exterior, he could lead men and that was what we wanted right now. He had also decided that his only real option was to become a vampire although I thought his reason, to protect his daughter, was superfluous she had plenty of champions as it was in the Cullen camp.
"So, you've read my life history, what next? I assume you know my decision and with Jasper's help, we are sure I can control myself enough to be of use in battle."
"Yes, I think you could and I have to say I am pleased with your decision, it would have been such a waste if we had been forced to kill you, Chief Swan."
He smiled,
"Oh, you might find I'm not quite that easy to kill but it would be a shame to kill one of our own now wouldn't it?"
Captain Whitlock was beaming as the Chief took a lighter from his pocket and flicked the wheel before handing it back to him,
"Now you see, you just never know from the look of someone whether they are soft or hard. That can be a real bastard sometimes. By the way, just so you know, I'm not here for the Volturi. I don't personally give a fuck who wears the crown."
"Then why are you here Captain? Loyalty to your friends? How admirable."
He shook his head looking at me scornfully,
"Loyalty? Nah, I just couldn't miss the opportunity to kick some vampire ass."
With that, he patted the chief on the back,
"Come on Charlie it's getting a bit stuffy here and we have work to do."
As they turned and walked away I could see Carlisle tense, would I feel anger at being treated so rudely? I smiled and put a hand on his shoulders,
"You should know me better than that Carlisle, we need them and there's nothing wrong with a little bravado, so long as he can back it up when the time comes."
"Oh, he can. I'd put money on him any day Aro and like you said, you're short of good fighters and without them, you don't stand a chance. The Romanians are going to come down on you like a swarm of ravenous locusts."
I nodded, The Major might be arrogant but he was right, I did need him, and his friends.
"So Major, you have this all planned out, thank you. It's a pity you didn't think to warn the Volturi a little earlier."
"Why? You wouldn't have believed me, you were too busy sitting on your golden throne acting superior and looking down on the likes of me and my friends. Sometimes the world turns turtle and life's a real bitch if it does. You have what you want in respect of Charlie, and Bella has already made up her mind, in fact, I started the transformation before you got here."
Carlisle and I stared at each other in amazement,
"You did? And what pray did Edward have to say about that?"
"Nothing Aro, why should he? He left her."
"Where is she Jasper? Surely you haven't left her undefended somewhere? I haven't heard anything."
"No Carlisle, it seems our Bella is rather special. That shield Aro here was so keen to get his hands on when they met last is stronger than he thought."
My eyes opened wide in shock as I understood the importance of his words,
"It's protecting her from the pain of the transformation? Surely that's impossible?"
"It would seem not Aro, but don't worry Carlisle, she isn't alone, Charlotte is with her. There didn't seem any point in delay and she didn't want Charlie worried about her. Now if you'll excuse me I have work to do. Oh, by the way, Darius sent a message, there are a dozen of your guard on their way in along with several others. We have a few hours at most and then we need to move out, anyone who hasn't arrived by then will be too late."
"Is that time critical?"
"If you want to live, then yes."
Jasper
Leaving Aro and Carlisle, pleased with the way I had shocked the former, I went back to check everything was still the same with Bella before sending Peter, Charlie, and a couple of the experienced Volturi guards with her to our new campsite. Charlie had wanted to be transformed straight away but as I pointed out that would be far too dangerous, hampering us if we needed to fight suddenly. Instead, he and Bella would be transported on and Peter would begin Charlie's transformation as soon as they arrived. It meant he might still be undergoing the transformation when we were forced to engage the enemy but better that than putting us all in danger now.
I had to admit to being shocked when Bella begged me to change her immediately, she was desperate to help in the war that was fast approaching and knew as a human she was likely to die or at best be a hindrance to us. She knew I had changed many humans but that wasn't what made her want me to be her sire. She said again that I was the only person here she trusted with the exception of her father and he couldn't help even had he wanted to. When I asked if she was sure she smiled and touched my face gently with a warm soft palm.
"There is so much I want to say to you, so much we need to talk about but the one thing we don't have is time, Jasper. So, everything must wait until we stand victorious or perhaps we will burn together on the same pyre."
I mirrored her action, feeling the warm softness of her cheek beneath my stone cold palm,
"Very well, you are right of course but there is one thing I have to tell you, Bella."
She shook her head,
"Not now or I couldn't bear to go through with all this please, besides there just isn't time now or the privacy I want. Tell me later when we can discuss what lies ahead for us but promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"Do all you can to save our world, Stefan and Vladimir don't deserve it."
We had found a quiet place for Bella to begin her journey into my world. She didn't want to hear any more words and bowing to her wishes I kissed her briefly holding her as if terrified I might never see or speak to her again then injected my venom into her neck only speaking when I knew she could no longer hear my words,
"I love you Bella Swan and we will have that conversation if I have to kill every one of the Romanian supporters with my own hands."
It wasn't long until I realized my own gift wouldn't be necessary. At first, I worried that something had gone very wrong but then it dawned on me that Bella's shield was far more powerful than I could have imagined, she laid cocooned inside its protection while her human cells burned to ash to be replaced by vampire cells. Bella would be the only vampire in history not to feel the agony of her transformation and I was relieved to know it. Calling on Charlotte to watch over Bella until they were ready to leave I was free to go and do what I did best, continue preparations for the fast approaching war.