Chapter Twenty Four

Bella

I didn't care what Darius said, Jasper was my mate I could feel it deep inside and his venom was changing me, I already found my senses improving. I could hear the conversations going on among the others, they were trying to decide what to do with me now Jasper was gone. They were his friends so how could they just wash their hands of him? The Volturi might be powerful but did that mean they wouldn't even try? I sat on the porch my head in my hands, Jasper's arm in my lap. Garrett had tried to take it away from me but to my horror I had actually snarled at him until he backed off. I was more vampire with each passing day. So, how was I going to persuade the Volturi to give me back my mate?

I had nothing to threaten them with and no gift to bargain with so...just a minute, yes I did! Aro wanted a way of recalling Carlisle Cullen and Edward back to Italy and I had just the thing. If I witnessed that they broke the law then Aro would have what he wanted. But would he bargain with me or just accept my offer and then when he got what he wanted kill me and let Caius have Jasper?

Luke came over and sat beside me as another car drew up.

"Peter's here now so expect the sparks to fly. He wont be happy leaving things where they are. The Major is his closest friend."

That interested me, perhaps I could persuade Peter to help me in Italy.

"What do you think about leaving Jasper in Aro's hands?"

"It's a bad thing all round but we don't have the manpower to go up against the Volturi gifts. I'm sorry Bella but I don't think you'll find anyone willing to take them on, especially on their own ground."

"What about Peter?"

"Peter's a bit of a loose cannon but he's not an idiot and I doubt even he would go without some plan in place. The trouble is that The Major has as many enemies in our world as he does friends so you'd never get a big enough army together to march on Volterra."

Peter

I knew things were bad but not how bad until Garrett filled Charlotte and I in on recent events. I looked over at the girl Bella who sat with Jem cradling The Majors arm in her lap.

"Don't you think we should take it away from her?"

"Be my guest, she nearly took my head off when I tried."

"Garrett she's a human just go up to her and take it for fuck sake or do I need to do everything around here? When I get back I want to know how far the plan has got."

"Plan? For what?"

"Getting The Major back Garrett what else?"

"That's just not going to happen Peter. Even Darius turned us down and you know as well as I do that he doesn't have enough friends to join us and make a viable raiding party let alone an army."

I shook my head and turned my back on Garrett, up to now I'd rubbed along with him reasonably well but if he turned his back on The Major then that would be it between us. For now I had to concentrate on the girl. As I approached she looked up at me warily but I could see intelligence in those eyes and smell The Majors scent on her, yep he'd introduce the venom into her system all right, she was his in every way that mattered. I held out my hand and introduced myself to her watched by a smiling Luke. Now that long streak of horse piss rubbed me up the wrong way just being here! She took my hand easily enough and shook it briefly before her hand dropped back to her lap and The Majors arm.

"You want to hand that over Bella? You can't just wander round with it after all. I'll put it somewhere safe for now."

"And do what?"

"That's something for his friends to discuss not a newborn."

"I'm not a newborn, I'm still part human and you can go to hell Peter Whitlock, there is no way I'm handing this over to you or anyone else."

I reached a hand out to take the arm and she hissed and snarled dangerously, all the time watching my face.

"You really don't want to do that Peter."

I smiled,

"Yeah I do."

My hand flashed out to snatch the limb but she was fast, faster than me and sank her teeth into my arm. I cursed and pulled it free of her looking at the bite mark she'd left behind, she was closer to a vampire than I had realised.

"What the fuck did you do that for girl? What do you want with it? Gonna put it up on a shelf and keep it dusted? He's gone and he wont be coming back. We don't have the power to force his return, I'm sorry but that's the way it goes now just give it to me and no more teeth."

I moved forward again, a little more cautiously this time, and found myself across the yard propped against the corral gate which had splintered under the force of impact.

Bella

I knew what Peter wanted but he'd only take it from my lifeless body. I shocked myself when I bit him the first time he tried to take Jasper away from me but the second time I saw red and threw him away from me, right across the yard and I hadn't even had to touch him. Garrett and Charlotte turned to look at me eyes wide while Luke grinned at Peter as he stood back up and brushed himself down.

"If I were you I'd take that as your only warning. Next time I'm gonna break something."

My words came out harshly and again shocked me. Peter flashed a look at Garrett who shrugged, if he was asking what I'd done then it appeared Garrett didn't know any more than I did. Peter ran straight at me snarling himself although I sensed it was to intimidate me not a sign of his anger. He got within a foot when he came to a crashing halt and I stood up pointing at him,

"I warned you"

I closed my eyes and I felt my hair move as if affected by static then there was a horrible crunching noise and when I opened them again Peter was looking at his left arm which was almost flattened. As he gasped in pain and grabbed it I sat down once more.

"Does anyone else feel like trying their luck?"

It seemed nobody did and I got up carefully wrapping the arm back up in the blanket and walking to my car.

"Just where the fuck do you think you're going?"

I looked back at Peter and I could feel my anger rising once more but I clamped down on it as I spoke,

"Italy."

Then I got in my car and drove away from the ranch leaving the vampires in my dust. As I drove I realised I meant what I'd said. I could bargain with the Volturi for my mates life and I had the perfect offer, all I had to do was get to Volterra.