Chapter 21

Bella POV

Jasper and I emerged to a grinning Peter. "Hell Major, I can cope with that sort of emotional overflow. Char thanks you but I think Caius is second guessing having you along now."

If I could still blush I would be blushing up a storm. I've been trying to use my shield to contain Jasper's gift for times like this for a reason. I thought I had it locked into my brain to keep it in place, but it looks like Jasper is far too good at… distracting me.

Uh… I'm so disappointed in myself right now.

Caius strode up behind Peter and clipped him in the back of his head. "Peter, if Isabella had let her shield down and let out their "emotional overflow," as you call it, you would still be in your room… going at it hard as you were before." Peter looked mildly embarrassed by Caius's words. I'm sure Jasper could feel his embarrassment coming off in rather large waves. "We had to send them miles out of Volterra so we could get any work done in the early days when they were first together. Trust me; we had more complaints from those that missed their presence than we did from those what wanted them to be moved." Caius sighed even though he didn't have to. "Even if she did let the shield down I would never second guess having these two at my side for a fight in a second. It would however make me regret not having Dora with me. Now if you have finished with your teasing, we have some serious work to do."

"Uh, right…" Peter mumbled as we all followed behind Caius.

We all loaded into the vans. It was a rough ride as the ruts in the dirt tracks bounced us around. We finally pulled over and ran the rest of the way to our newest location.

Keeping downwind of our intended destination we approached stealthily. Any sounds we made should be masked by the obvious sounds of fighting but we took no chances. Keeping low we watched the scuffle. It didn't appear that they knew who was on which side. The numbers of fighters thinned out and as some bodies were torn apart—sometimes right in half—the weaker fighters took up the bodily part as a second weapon and used them like clubs to whack any approaching opponents. It was a rather pathetic sight, to be honest.

I watched with wide eyed shock as two women attacked each other, scratching and pulling each others hair. A male fighter broke away from the middle of the scrum and started rubbing himself as he cheered them on. A limping form screamed and dove straight for him ripping off his head with relative ease. The two women collapsed with venom loss still scratching, screeching and pulling their remaining hair as large chucks littered the ground around them.

I spotted two figures trying to sneak away. They were attacked a few times but unlike the others they worked together to fend off their opponents.

The ring leaders stood upwind of the fighting, screaming instructions. They each had to fend off sloppy attacks; they managed but were badly injured in the process.

Caius ordered us to wait. The last fighter ran at the leader on the right. The other leader took his chance and jumped in with his fighter to take out the other.

When those two beheaded their victim Caius ordered Alec to act and the guards to close in. I watched as the mist of his gift rolled out. The twitching parts stilled as did the pair trying to sneak away. It reached the victors as they too froze, the brief awareness as Alec ability overtook them froze their faces and their expressions in their fear.

I watched as the lower tier guard ran to sweep the surround area for any surprises.

Caius walked into the battlefield, "Here I was training for a real fight and this is what we find, rank amateurs. Alec, release the leader. Everyone be ready to fight."

Caius motioned for Peter, Charlotte, Jasper and I to join him. We made a loose circle around the leader. As Alec's gift fell away and he regained awareness he panicked. He bolted towards Charlotte, the smallest threat in his eye line. Jasper sent out a wave of lethargy. The supposed leader sank to the ground. Peter and Charlotte grabbed an arm each and bent him into a lock. Jasper pulled back his influence.

Caius smiled, "That appears to be a rather practised manoeuvre, Major."

Peter and Charlotte smiled. Peter glanced at me. "It is but it is made much easier when we are protected from the emotional overflow." He nodded to me in thanks.

Caius stepped forward. "Hello... Dave, is it?"

The weedy, drippy looking guy stood on his tiptoes as Peter and Charlotte put pressure on each arm lock. He managed to squeak out, "I am Lord Voldemort. This is my territory."

Jasper and I burst into laughter. I choked out, "Okay, so you prefer Tom then."

The others just looked at us blankly.

Caius looked at us and raised an eyebrow. We stood sniggering as we shook our heads then indicted for him to continue.

This guy must have watched too many action films, the sort where the bad guy stands around telling the good guys all their plans. This guy took it a step further, spouting out in detail every little thing that he remembers. He and the other leader, Richard, and another by the name of Todd were changed by a redhead that shared stories of the past. Dave bragged that she had stopped by to see him a few times and helped him change some of his army and gave him advice on how to control himself to change others. I perked my ears up at that; it couldn't be her, could it? I didn't get to stay and listen. Soon after the leader started to talk, Caius made a few quick motions sending us away in groups.

Felix, Emmett and Alec went to get the two that tried to sneak off. Jane remained by Caius acting as the sniper ready to bring down any runners, if necessary.

Jasper, Demetri and I were to question the fighter with this warlord wannabe. The fighter is the epitome of dumb jock. He knew nothing and he believed everything he had been told. He is nothing more than fodder to be fed to animals at pasture. What a waste of Vampire life. Dem made the decision and beheaded him, adding him to the heap of limbs and bodies that were to be burned.

Caius is still getting talked at. We started making bets on how much longer he would hold out without tearing the idiot's head off.

I became aware of the strange occurrences at the far side of the battlefield. Alec stood wide eyed glancing between Felix and Emmett as they stood gawking at the two runaways.

The three of us went over to find out what was happening.

As I got closer I became aware that the runaways are females in oversized men's clothes. They are dark haired, taller than Alec by nearly a whole head. I did a double take; they were identical twins. They stood gripping each others hands. Their other hands were tentatively reaching forward towards Felix and Emmett.

Felix stood staring moon eyed at the woman on the left; Emmett is in the same state for the woman on the right.

Jasper whispered to me simply, "Mates."

I smiled, they are both good guys. I'm overjoyed they have found their other halves.

Jasper nudged me forward, "I think a woman's touch is needed, they have no idea what is happening."

I walked forward, when I got close I spoke softly, "Hi, I'm Isabella. This lot call me Is." I pointed to each as I introduced them, "This is Felix, Emmett, Demetri, Alec and Jasper," I can't help but let my love for him colour my tone when I say his name. I went on to reassure them, "You are safe. We aren't going to hurt you. Will you tell us about how you ended up in this mess?"

I smirked as they both stepped closed to Felix and Emmett. We learned their names Abigail and Amelia. With reverent whispers Felix murmured, "Abby," and Emmett sighed, "Amy."

They each looked up to the man in question with soft smiles adorning their faces. They then ducked their heads down embarrassment as soft words fell from their lips. They told us all their story in turns in a way only close twins can ever manage. Finishing each others sentences but never talking over the other. They were on a road trip with two girlfriends. Their friends died that night, and they had been stuck in this hell ever since. They became aware that they were the oldest. Any of the older Vampires, apart from the leader, had disappeared with only a sickly sweet smell remaining the following evening. They were told the absent vampires had stupidly gone out in the sun and it had killed them. They didn't believe it was that simple and intended trying to sneak away before they were forced out next.

Jasper spoke up, "I had the same start in this life. It took many years and some good friends to help me escape. You have been told many lies to keep you here. There are other ways to live. The most pertinent information is that Vampires recognise their soul mates when their eyes meet or their skin touches. The two men you feel that draw to are your Mates, the other half to your soul. They won't push you but they will be there for you. Isabella is my Mate. The connection will grow if you choose to accept it.

"We live by simple laws to keep our race safe. Your leader was breaking those laws which bought us here. We will teach you what we know. This can be a good life with the right person at your side," he looked down at me and smiled.

Alec went to join his sister while Dem evaluated the area for clean up. He then asked, "Was there anyone here that you think is worth saving? We will need to hide all evidence of what happened tonight. There is another group out there and they need stopping too. They will all be burned, but we don't have the time to reassemble them and evaluate them all individually."

Abbey and Amy looked at each other and nodded, "A brother and sister, Jack and Gillian. She is very sensitive about being called Jill. They are quite young but good guys. They were untouchable when they were together but vulnerable if separated. Steve, the one you beheaded, hated them and got to them early in the fight."

Dem looked to Felix and Emmett then down at the twins. "Would you mind identifying them for us?"

I saw them squeeze each others hand then glance up at their man. Felix and Emmett blurted out in unison. "I'll come with you."

The rest of us laughed at them.

Caius had lost his patience with the leader. He lasted longer than any of us expected. He claimed the winnings from the bets. You can't get anything passed him!

Caius signalled for the outlying guards to move in. They sweep in to ensure nothing gets missed in the clean up. Alec and Jane stood all sentinel-like off to the side.

Abbey and Amy soon found the body parts of Jack and Gillian. I ran back to the van to get a few bags of blood to speed up their healing process. I took the bags back for the two healing vampires but they shielded away from us. They only trusted Abbey and Amy, so we let those two take over while I provided them with instructions. I explained to them how the recovering vampires were restrained only to prevent any movement dislodging their heads during the critical healing period. I told them blood would help speed up the healing time.

Jasper, Dem and I travelled in the first van with the four newcomers. Emmett and Felix didn't let Amy and Abbey out of their sight.

Dem laughed as we drove back singing 'Another one bites the dust'.

He wasn't laughing when we arrived back when two more bit the dust, in his words.

All it took was their eyes meeting. Alec went first followed by Jane. Jack and Gillian are still wary but the draw of completeness was immediately evident.

Caius mumbled, "Four down in one night, it's a record."

Peter and Charlotte directed them to a central common room. Big enough that they can have a degree of privacy but contained just in case.

Caius turned to Dem, "Ensure the plane is prepared. I want you to send them home. Those four will be of no use to us for the next decade or so."

Felix and Emmett were disappointed but nonetheless agreed for the safety and happiness of their Mates.

The daylight hours followed the same layout as yesterday. First it was the Intel and then training.

Caius debriefed us, meaning he gave us a condensed version of Dave's interrogation. "Isabella's Sire was busy ensuring her revenge would keep giving. Victoria is the one behind this latest batch of warlords… rather unsurprisingly. She changed them before creating the army in Seattle. She checked their progress after she disposed of the group up North. She set three teams against each other. She also told them if they wanted to become even stronger they could travel to a mystical fountain of youth for Vampires. Well, to be precise, a source of increased size, strength and speed… meaning that if they consumed the blood from a small tribe of Native Americans in the Pacific North West: the Quileute Reservation."

He glanced at me, "She didn't use the name La Push but the directions she gave them provide me with little doubt that she was intending to send them elsewhere. She told them the targets can identify them by their "foul stench." Those that could drink their blood would have a power boost by an unprecedented amount. But she also warned them about another species of Vampire that if allowed to live they would exterminate the rest of us. She described them as the same as us apart from their unnatural diet and golden eye colour."

He looked at Jasper, "She intended to set them up to take out the Cullen Coven and any that followed the same animal blooded diet."

He shook his head, "Her eliminating the army in Seattle makes more sense now, knowing she already had a backup plan in place. The rest of Dave's speech will only be of use to help clean up teams, if that. I should have just let one of you win the bet and beheaded him sooner rather than listen to more of his drivel... Our scouts are watching the last group; the leader of that group is Todd. We will move on them tonight."

Caius is a stickler for detail. He hates missing references. He questioned Jasper and I about our reaction to the name Dave initially gave. We had to give him synopsis for the books Harry Potter. Caius summed up the reason for our laughter: "Why would he name himself after a fictional villain that was beaten by mere school children?"

A/N

Thanks to SheikahLover, I really appreciate her taking the time to beta my work.

:)-J