Chapter Twenty Five
Bella
When I woke up I couldn't hear anything, no voices, no movement and I wondered if they had just left me and gone it was so quiet, but then I felt a hand on my cheek.
"Bella? Are you awake?"
I opened my eyes in relief at the sound of a voice and the comfort of a touch from a friend. Jasper sat in the edge of the bed and looked concerned,
"Do you feel any better?"
I nodded although I really didn't. My headache was pounding over my eyes and making me feel sick but I guess I did feel a little less terrified now. I sat up as the door opened and a woman walked in, one I'd never seen before but who was obviously known to Jasper. He smiled sensing my fear and introduced his friend Charlotte explaining about her husband's gift. It seemed I had acquired two more body guards.
"Jasper, why did you come and not Edward? Is he looking for me?"
There was an awkward silence then he shook his head,
"He accepts that you are dead Bella. Its been a long time."
"But you didn't accept it?"
"No, but then I'm a suspicious son of a gun."
I smiled and took his hand in mine,
"Thank you. I don't know why you bothered but thank you anyway. Darius told me there was a mole in the Cullen family, do you know who it is?"
I could tell that he had his suspicions but didn't want to tell me which just made me think then I got it,
"It was Edward wasn't it? But why? I thought he loved me so why would he hand me to the Volturi?"
"I'm not sure it was Edward although Alice pointed the finger at him. If it was then I can only think he thought if the Volturi took you to Italy he would go with you and then you could be together."
"But they would have changed me and kept me there forever as a new member of the guard wouldn't they? Yet he refused to change me when I begged him too, he even sucked James venom out to stop me becoming a vampire."
"Edward has never been one to think things through properly. I guess you could say he loved you so much he decided that being with you forever in Italy was better than losing you if, and it is only an if, Alice was right.
"Losing me?"
"Tell me the truth Bella, were you feeling choked by his attitude?"
I nodded a little shamefaced,
"Was it that noticeable?"
"No, but remember I feel emotions Bella and I felt your frustration. You know his first thought was that I had kidnapped you."
"You? Why you?"
"Edward doesn't trust me."
"True but it was stupid to think you would snatch me. What did he think you'd do with me?"
"Kill you, drain your blood and dispose of the body probably."
"That's crazy especially after you looked after me in Phoenix."
"He doesn't think I did a very good job of that either."
"You know I'm glad in some ways that Darius kidnapped me. If nothing else I met a wonderful man and I could see just how infantile and annoying Edward Cullen really is. It's about time he learned to grow up."
"I'll second that little lady"
A stranger had just come in but this one didn't frighten me. His eyes gleamed with humour and he came to the side of the bed and took my hand from Jasper.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Peter Whitlock at your service. It's good to hear someone else who realises what a prick Edward Cullen is. I've been telling The Major that for years but he never listens. Now Miss Bella, I see my lovely wife has provided you with sustenance so if you could get your butt off the mattress and eat we can get going."
I smiled and struggled to get up, my headache worse the minute I lifted my head and I know I went white because both Peter and Jasper grabbed my arms and led me to a chair.
"Now you see I have that effect on women all the time. Its a cross I've learned to bear but if you prefer I could just kiss you and be done with it. You're sure to feel better for that."
I heard a strange sound over my shoulder and Peter stiffened slightly but he had a huge grin on his face as he backed up.
"Come on Garrett let's get the engine warmed up"
"Peter Charlotte just drove it here the engine's already... ouch.."
The door slammed on them as Charlotte sighed heavily,
"Bella I apologise in advance for whatever Peter says and does that will offend or annoy you. He's a force of nature and its best to just let him get it out of his system."
"I guess I'm just a bit shaky with what happened in the swamp. I don't suppose you knew Darius?"
"No honey not many people did. He was changed centuries before us and lost his Sara before any of us were turned into vampires but I heard he was a very clever man who became a bitter recluse. I guess that sounds crazy to you. What did you think of him?"
"I thought he was a tragic figure who only lived to destroy the Volturi for what they did to Sara. He was good to me, very good."
Jasper
I had been watching Charlotte as she spoke to Bella and again I saw the strange look she gave Bella when she spoke about Darius. Did she think Bella had become close to Darius? Had they been lovers perhaps? I knew Edward refused to become physical with Bella but perhaps alone on that island with Darius had been different. Why did it matter to me? Why was I so interested in the answer to those questions? I pushed the strange feelings deep inside and concentrated on the matter at hand, moving Bella to a safer place, well away from Aro's grasping hands. I explained to her what we had planned and saw a look of mixed confusion and relief cross her face.
"Is that going to be a problem Bella? If you have a better idea I'm willing to listen."
"No...its just that I don't understand why you are doing all this for me. Well you maybe as you know me but the others, Garrett, Peter, and Charlotte, why are they here?"
"Garrett's here because Darius told you that you could trust him and he feels responsible for you, as for Peter and Charlotte, they are my friends and they know there's trouble in the air."
"Best not to ask Peter for a reason Bella because whatever he tells you will be a complete fabrication, He hates admitting he's close to The Major."
She smiled, nodded, and started on the food Charlotte had brought in while Charlotte put a bag on the bed,
"I picked up a change of clothes for you Bella. You'd probably like to have a quick shower before we leave."
Bella looked at her thankfully,
"I would but I promise to be quick."
She put the last mouthful of sandwich in her mouth and grabbed the bag disappearing in the bathroom.
Charlotte
Once I heard the shower run I grabbed The Majors arm and pulled him to the door,
"Are you sure about this? You're tying yourself to this girl who you already told us is your "brothers" girlfriend and making yourself a target of the Volturi too if they find out she is alive What about Alice?"
He smiled a little sadly,
"Alice made it quite clear that I am no longer important in her life Charlotte and I'm not sure I trust her any longer. As for Edward, he was cruising towards a breakup too and again, I'm not sure I trust him. He disappeared about the time Bella was snatched. If he wasn't there to stop Darius then where was he? It all stinks as far as I'm concerned but I will get to the bottom of the mystery eventually, when I have more time."
"OK, but how do you feel about her?"
"I'm not sure I understand that question Char."
"Oh I think you do, whether you're willing to answer it or not is another matter.".
He gazed out the window taking his time to answer me which was funny really because he knew I was already aware of the situation probably better than he was himself.
"Charlotte, I failed to keep her safe once, I wont make the same mistake a second time. We owe the Volturi for Darius too. I didn't know him but I admire what he did and I think we should try to follow his lead."
"Are you talking about taking on the Volturi because if you are think long and hard first. Drawing them on to you isn't a good way to keep Bella safe Major and I think that should be your first concern. She's going to need all the support she can get if she's to survive this."
"Yes, I thought you were looking at her strangely, she was in love with Darius wasn't she? Its going to be hard for her to get over his death."
"Yes I think she was very fond of him but I don't think she ever gave everything to him, she knew there was a large part of Darius that would always belong to Sara."