Chapter Twenty One
Bella
Driving steadily eastwards I felt better with every mile and I wondered if it had anything to do with heading towards Jasper. I was only about five hours away from Houston when I suddenly pulled off the road, my breathing became laboured and a sense of dread came over me, my skin went clammy and beads of sweat broke out on my forehead. I turned the engine off and waited, hoping this dreadful sense of foreboding would ease but it didn't, not for a long time.
I grabbed the steering wheel tightly to stop my hands shaking and tried to breathe normally but it was a real effort. Was this another symptom of my sickness or was something happening close by? Were the Volturi close by? I grabbed a diet soda and fumbled trying to pull the tab then took a long draught which helped to steady my nerves and very slowly the feeling of dread eased to a manageable level then my cell phone rang. I picked it up apprehensively then sighed with relief when I recognised the number,
"Dad? Is everything OK?"
"Yeah, I just got a feeling you were in trouble."
"I'm fine but thanks for ringing"
"OK then but you would tell me if anything was wrong wouldn't you?"
"Of course, bye dad."
I think he knew I was lying. After what happened when the Cullens left I didn't trust my dad to take my part. I was about to slip the phone back in my bag when I saw a message pop up,
"Hurry Bella."
There was no return number and no name but I knew it referred to my journey and pulled back onto the highway more tense than ever.
Darius
As the sun started to rise my computer chimed with incoming mail. I hit the mail key and read the message then with a sigh rang Garrett's cell number,
"Darius, do you have something for me or are we continuing the game of twenty questions?"
"Don't try sarcasm Garrett, leave it to the master, Peter Whitlock. I have something for you but it's just another puzzle."
"I'll take anything I can get right now."
"There's trouble at The Majors ranch, the Volturi were there yesterday and Caius is going around as if he just took the throne from Aro so you put two and two together."
"Have they taken him to Volterra?"
"No information on that."
"But he's not on his ranch, which is where by the way?"
"Houston. I'll give you the co-ordinates later. The ranch looks deserted and the horses are still out in the paddock, been there all night and its wolf territory."
"Shit"
"Precisely. Usually he stables them at night."
"Did the Volturi take him?"
"No idea, all I can tell you is things at the ranch aren't right."
"Thank you Darius, I appreciate the intel"
"Yeah well its a one-off"
"I understand."
Once the call was over I went back to watching the ranch, a feeling of foreboding coming over me. Had they killed him and burned the body? He wasn't up to strength so it was possible especially with Felix and Jane to hand, I was about to switch the monitor away from the ranch when I saw a car approaching the drive. Now who was visiting The Major? He hadn't had any visitors except the farrier and a lone delivery guy since he moved in. The car approached the turn to the drive slowly, hesitantly, then turned in and drove very slowly to the house. I checked the area but there was no sign of anyone around. No black cloaks or other humans.
When the car door opened I smiled,
"Bingo."
I was right, it was him they were looking for and if they'd waited just a little longer they could have picked up the human too. It was a girl and she didn't look in great shape herself. I watched as she went to the door of the house and knocked waiting a while before descending the steps and walking around the back but as I already knew she had no more joy there. She tried the barn and the stables then came out but looked back at the stable block uncertainly. After a few minutes standing looking back at it she climbed into her car once more but didn't start the engine. She had decided to wait a while in case he was out.
Should I tell Garrett about this new development or leave well alone? Cursing at my own weakness I dialled his number once more,
"Darius?"
"You want to know what's going on get to the ranch fast, the human is a girl and she's there now."
"She is? Can I contact her?"
"How the fuck should I know?"
"Please Darius. You've come this far."
"Yeah too far for comfort. Shit, try the ranch number, she might answer."
I watched and saw her head snap up as she heard the phone ringing inside the house.
"Come on girlie get out and try the door."
She got out of the car and stood looking around although she knew he wasn't there then ascended the porch steps slowly and pushed the door which swung open, he never had put the lock on the inside. Now would she enter and answer the phone? I watched as she hesitated again then stepped inside and I smiled, humans were so curious, it was one of their weaknesses.
Bella
I heard the phone ringing and got out of the car hoping he might come round the side of a building to answer it but nothing happened except the phone kept on ringing. I went to the door and pushed it gently, surprised when it opened at my touch. The interior was dark, the storm shutters still up, but there was a vague scent in the air, Jasper had been here recently. I looked round the dim interior and saw an old-fashioned phone on a dusty table. Unsure I went over and touched the receiver which still rang then hesitantly picked it up,
"Hello?"
"Girl you are in a whole heap of trouble. Do you know where The Major is?"
"Who? Who is this?"
"My name is Garrett, I'm a friend of The Major, Jasper."
"Oh, no I've no idea where he is, I'm looking for him"
"Yeah I know, you only missed the Volturi by a few hours. They're looking for you or at least a human who knows about our world because of a fighter."
"I don't understand. Why would the Volturi associate me with a fighter? Edward Cullen introduced me to your world. Look I really need to find Jasper"
"Join the queue, what's your name by the way?"
"Bella"
"Right Bella, stay where you are, I'm on my way and Darius will watch over you till I get there. If the phone rings you answer it but don't speak unless you hear my name or my voice. Do you get that?"
"Yes but who is Darius?"
"A very objectionable vampire who is watching you through a satellite link, if he sees any danger he'll ring you. You do exactly what he says."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't, but your choices are pretty limited at the moment and if I were Volturi I wouldn't be chatting, believe me."
"OK I'll wait but hurry please."
"I'm on my way."
Garrett
I started my car and drove the back roads in the direction of the ranch, ringing Darius at the same time.
"Darius I need you to be my eyes until I hit the ranch."
"I'm not interested, I've done way too much already."
"Yes you are or you'd not be answering your phone. You're intrigued, just watch out for Volturi. If you see them ring the house. Bella will answer but don't forget to mention my name."
"Oh that's supposed to make her feel better is it?".
"Just do it Darius."
I rang off and threw my phone in the back, if it rang I was too far away to help anyway. I estimated it would be four hours before I could reach the ranch at best speed, so more like six hours probably. As I put my foot down I wondered what the hell had happened.
Peter
My phone rang and I snatched it up,
"Garrett?"
"Sorry unfortunately not, its your favourite person Peter."
"Darius? What the fuck do you want? Someone rattled your cage?"
"There is nothing you have that I could possibly want Peter, except your life that is. I wouldn't rely on you for anything Whitlock but Garrett's on his way to The Majors ranch and I guess he's gonna want your paltry help."
"Fuck you Darius."
"No thanks you're not my type. Just get your ass into gear and get moving, the human the Volturi are looking for is already there".
Shouting to Charlotte we soon had our bags in the truck and took off for Houston,
"I hate Texas."
"Peter you hate everywhere."
How did she manage to sound so long-suffering?
"No, not everywhere"
"OK then give me a place you like"
"I don't know, anywhere there aren't any humans to annoy me."
"You'd starve"
"OK then, anywhere without humans who want to talk or ask stupid fucking questions."
Driving was OK, it kept my mind occupied with all the human idiots who couldn't decide what lane they needed or failed to indicate as if there was a fucking winker tax or something.
"Do we know anything about this human?"
I shook my head swearing as a car full of grey haired old fuckers cut in front of me.
"Think they're trying to get an early exit from this world?"
She ignored me but then she always did when I was driving, apparently I was too impatient with the humans slower reflexes. If they were any slower they'd have to walk or risk not getting to their destination at all!
"Peter, do we know anything about this human?"
"No, Darius wasn't very forthcoming with information but then that isn't exactly a shock."
"When will Garrett get there?"
"Charlotte you know everything I know all right? There's a human at The Majors place which is a ranch close to Houston. He isn't there and before you ask, no I don't know where he is, happy now?"
She went quiet but I knew the questions would start again, they always did, equally she knew the answers wouldn't be forthcoming but it never stopped her.
"I hope nothings happened to The Major. Why did he split with Alice Cullen?"
"I don't know Charlotte."
I was trying hard to keep my temper but it wasn't easy.
"Do you think this human is a girl? Maybe that's why they split up, what do you think?"
"Charlotte, I don't know, no fucking idea, no answers only questions, now is that clear enough for you?"
She smiled cheerfully,
"Yes, for now."
I groaned and went back to avoiding the humans on the road. Much as I'd like to force a few off we didn't have time for fun!