I've reposted this chapter because as Natalie Lynn pointed out it was a bit confusing about Sara and Darius sister. Sorry about that and thanks for letting me know. Jules xx

Chapter Twenty

Peter

Something bad was happening but I couldn't get a location and then the Volturi buzzards started to circle, They stayed just out of communication but they studied us, they were looking for someone or something and thought we might be involved. Could it be connected with The Major? We hadn't seen him in years,

"Surely if he had problems he'd contact us or you'd have felt something?"

I thought Charlotte was right but I still felt deeply uneasy, even when the Volturi finally left satisfied we weren't involved in anything. I had cut off from my friend when he got involved with the Vulture and ignored anything I heard about him so maybe there was a problem but I wasn't feeling it or maybe it wasn't connected with him at all and did I really care which it was? I wondered if they were checking out anyone else and soon heard from Garrett that he too had been watched by a group of Volturi.

"Did it feel like they thought you'd been up to something?"

"Yes, you too I take it Peter? Any ideas?"

"Nope. Have you seen The Major lately?"

"No, why? You think its him they are looking for? They know where he is, with the Cullens. He and Alice Cullen are mates aren't they?"

"Fucked if I know, last I heard he was still tied up with the Vulture and I haven't contacted him since. You're more flavour of the month with the Cullens than me, if you're worried try, see if you have more luck."

"Sure. Anyone else being watched?"

"No idea Garrett but I'll put some feelers out to see. If I hear anything I'll get back to you."

It was several weeks before I heard from Garrett again and it was mixed news. The Volturi hadn't been anywhere near Carlisle's family but...they had been involved with a human and he wondered if that could be why the Volturi were sniffing around.

"Do you think that's what the Volturi are looking for? A human in our world?"

"Well if they are, why look at you and me Peter? Lets be fair we're two of the last people likely to take a human pet and I doubt The Major would be either."

"Did the great and wise Carlisle Cullen have any idea where Alice and The Major are?"

"There is no Major and Alice any longer it would appear. She's in Europe but Carlisle had no idea where The Major is nor did he want to. I didn't get the full story but he left me with the impression that he was glad to see the back of him."

"Just fucking great, now I suppose you want to play hunt The Major?"

"You think we need to find him?"

"Lets just say my balls will stop aching when I know he's OK. I'd like to say fuck it I don't care but I'd be lying. I don't like this Garrett, not one bit."

"Then your balls are going to like my next piece of news even less."

"Fuck! What now?"

"Remember Luke?"

"No"

"The ex Union soldier who was turned on the battlefield?"

"Oh yeah, I remember vaguely, tall streak of piss with shit for brains."

"Yeah I think he liked you too. Well he's been watched too"

"The Volturi watched him? Fuck, that must have been thrilling, like watching paint dry."

"Just because he likes a quiet life now doesn't mean he can't raise hell when he wants but that's beside the point. The thing is there's a pattern emerging, you, me, Luke, all renowned fighters in our time."

"You think they are looking for trouble with a fighter?"

"It's as good a guess as any. If 'I'm right though they'll be looking for one other at least."

"You mean Darius? Well good luck with that. He's slippery as an eel and if he doesn't want Aro's cockroaches scurrying all over him they ain't gonna find him."

"True but it would help if we knew whether they'd tried."

"So you contact him if you can, he'd probably tell me to fuck off"

"Another of your many admirers Peter?"

"Can I help it if people don't like hearing the truth?"

"I think its more the way you phrase it."

"Yeah, well you get hold of the miserable fucker and find out if he's heard anything. Tell him from me if he starts with his "I'm not giving information away" shit I'll find him and stuff his computers sideways up his tight ass."

"That's sure to work Peter, leave it with me."

Garrett

There was something going on with the Volturi and it made me very uncomfortable so I'd started contacting other vampires I knew to see if they'd heard or seen anything. Luke told me they'd been sniffing around him too in the past few weeks making me more sure than ever there was trouble brewing and Peter agreed. I waited a while then contacted him again,

"Have you still got the black cloaks sniffing around Luke?"

"Nope, not a hide nor hair of them for two weeks now, whatever they were looking for they didn't find it with me."

"I was speaking to Peter about it and he said they've watched him too, we think its something to do with warriors maybe"

"Peter? Oh he's finally learned to link more than two words together has he?"

"I think he misses you too but I'm going to try reaching Darius, any ideas?"

"Darius? So you're as worried as me then? Let me think. I guess the only way would be to put a message on one of the internet chat boards and wait."

"You think he'd pick it up?"

"Oh I know he'd get it if his name was mentioned but whether he'd get back to you is another matter. You know how paranoid he is. Better still link his name to Sara's, that's sure to bring him out."

"Actually I was hoping to speak to him not invite him to murder me but I guess you're right. If they've been searching for him too then we need to find The Major."

"Not interested, I should have stuck a bayonet in his guts during the war."

"Yeah well its been over a long time so can we please try to put it behind us?"

There was a long silence as he thought about this then,

"Oh crap, I guess so, actually I admire him, all the shit he's been through. Do we know what they're looking for?"

"Not yet but maybe Darius will."

"OK keep in touch. I thought I might visit the south, just to remind myself why I hated it so much. Where's the phantom cusser living now?"

"Peter has a cabin in the woods just outside Denver but please try to avoid killing each other until I get there."

"Oh I think we can probably manage that. I'll wait to here from you."

Garrett

I had no idea how long it would be before Darius decided if he were going to call but it came fast and he wasn't happy,

"If anyone else had mentioned Sara I would have bombed them but you Garrett? I guess you want to talk about the Volturi, someone swirled a stick in their ant hill and they're swarming all over the place."

"I know, they found the rest of us, all the fighters,"

"Fighters Garrett? Yeah I guess you could use the term loosely."

"You know what they're looking for Darius?"

"Rumours only, There's a human in our world and she's connected to a warrior. Elektra told the brothers she was a powerful talent and they're trying to sniff the human out by watching the more belligerent of us."

"Do they know anything more specific?"

"If they did they wouldn't be chasing their tails now would they? What else do you want?"

"Peter and Luke have been trying to contact The Major, he's the only true warrior not to call in and you and I both know if the Volturi are looking for warriors he'd be in the top five."

"Number one you mean. What does Carlisle Cullen say?"

"Only that The Major isn't with them any longer or with Alice."

"Then there's your clue. You work it out."

"Darius, I appreciate your reputation as a real hard ass but we need more than a few cryptic remarks. Come on help me here."

"Why? What's in it for me?"

"The satisfaction of doing something helpful off your own back for once."

"Shit you've been reading those self-improvement books again haven't you? I don't do freebies not even for you Garrett".

"OK, what about for The Major?"

"He's never done anything for me. Can't help you any further Garrett."

"You mean you wont. OK."

I disconnected and waited but Darius didn't ring back so I was left with only his cryptic remark about The Major but what the hell did he mean?"

Darius

I sat back in my chair cursing softly as I put the phone down. I didn't want to help anyone. All I wanted was my mates return but after all this time that hope had faded. I tapped a few commands on my keyboard and a satellite gave me a good view of the ranch where The Major was living now. I liked knowing where the important players were, it gave me a sense of security but as I watched I saw the Volturi leaving the area, not near the ranch but about ten miles north. Had they checked him out? They weren't going to find anything, not yet at least. I zoomed in on the ranch but I couldn't see The Major anywhere. Had the Volturi taken him? I hadn't seen him with them but then I hadn't looked closely. I scanned the area more carefully, the moon was rising but the horses were still in the paddock and he never left them out at night in case of wolves. I watched until it was really dark but there was no movement at the house or the barn. He could have left but he wouldn't leave the horses to fend for themselves.

I sat contemplating my next move, I didn't owe him anything or the others for that matter. Garrett and I had been fighting brothers until I lost my leg and my Sara and hid myself away with my vulnerability. I guess he was the closest thing left I had to family in this life but was he close enough to help, I didn't know anything, only that something was wrong at the ranch. I decided to watch a while longer, after all if he'd gone with the Volturi it was too late to do anything and if not then I had no news for them. I knew only too well that when the Volturi took something you never got it back, there had been Sara and then my sister. I knew Caius was hoping I'd curl up in a ball and die but one day, one day, I would get my revenge. I doubted this would be the time but it never hurt to watch and see.