Chapter Twenty Five

Marcus

I had felt Bella's mate was here and as Sulpicia stood making her usual catty remarks about the other women I caught sight of her dancing with him and as they turned I recognised his profile and couldn't help a smile, so my beautiful girl with Major Jasper Whitlock, they made a perfect couple but this was not the ideal time for this, I needed her focused and could only hope she wouldn't lose sight of our objective in her joy. Sulpicia who had noticed the direction of my glance smiled bitchily,

"It looks like you have a rival Marcus. Who is that dashing young man dancing with Anastasia?"

I shrugged,

"Just a young man captivated by her beauty my dear, as all men are"

She snorted and turned away in disgust and I smiled triumphantly at her anger. Anastasia wore another of Didyme's dresses for this occasion, the one she had worn the last time she and I danced together at just such a gathering and I was sure the irony wasn't lost on my brothers or their wives. Athenadora was glancing over at the couple too but she was frowning then she came over to me,

"Marcus, my husband seems to be neglecting me. Would you dance with me?"

I took her hand and led her onto the floor putting a hand around her waist and whirling her round.

"Now what do you think Anastasia and The Major are so busy talking about?"

So she had recognised him, I did wonder if someone might and I wasn't sure what to say but she saved me from the need to answer her.

"I think tonight could prove most interesting. You have waited a very long time to have your revenge Marcus, I just hope it doesn't lead to whole scale slaughter."

I stiffened slightly at her words but didn't answer her,

"Don't worry my husband and Aro are oblivious so far although I'm not sure how much longer your luck will last. I hope you have a good plan or you could both end up on a pyre. I always said you would find a way one day although both my husband and Aro laughed at me. I think I may have the last laugh though, don't you? Should I leave now? I know Sulpicia is on your hit list but I hope I am not and please, try not to kill Caius. He may be a fool and a killer but he is my mate and he was not responsible for Didymes death. Neither of us knew what Aro planned until it was over although I suppose we should have tried to free you from his clutches before now."

"It would be better if you went back to the tower and stayed there Athena and that you told no one why."

"Oh I don't intend to. Good luck Marcus, you deserve it and you are certainly going to need it."

She whirled away from me and made straight for the door calling Afton to accompany her. Neither Aro nor Caius noticed her leave and Sulpicia was still watching Anastasia with a bitter twist to her lips, she hated the thought of a handsome man choosing anyone but her to dance with so by his actions The Major had made himself yet another enemy.

As the time approached for the official reason for the meeting I found Anastasia standing with The Major and looking concerned. I touched her arm and nodded to him,

"Athena knows something is about to take place and has removed herself from the party but she has said nothing to the others. Its time we took our place, I hope you have managed to tell The Major enough to keep him safe. I know when this is over the two of you will have much to discuss."

I heard a noise behind and turned to see Felix and Jane working their way through the crowd towards us looking anxious. Jane was by our side first and whispered in my ear,

"Aro touched one of the guests who recognised some of our allies and he's looking for you. The guard are closing the area down we need to get out now."

Anastasia shook her head,

"No, I'll protect us as long as is necessary, give the signal, we need to move now."

Jane looked at me as Felix arrived at our side and I nodded, death or glory I suppose, it was time.

Jane and Felix went off in different directions as we heard the uneasy murmur of guests who suddenly found themselves trapped within the chamber and Aro and Caius stood on the dais looking around, probably for us but hampered by the crowd milling around. The guard had created a protective ring around their masters and were waiting for orders while Alec stood motionless slightly in front of Aro and I knew he was building up his gift ready to attack. In creating a barrier between the guests and themselves my brothers had actually done us a favour, it would be far easier for Anastasia to use her shield blanket fashion and our allies were all on the same side of the barrier.

Jane and Felix must have given the signal although we didn't see it because there was a loud rumble of shouts and many of the guests started moving towards the ring of guards menacingly. Aro and Caius held their nerve and I knew they were waiting for Alec to loose his gift which he did at a gesture from Aro but instead of the guests falling silent and still his gift began to build up against the guard and they felt its effects instead rendering them useless for protection and one by one they were pulled free of the line and taken to stand in one corner guarded by several rebels just in case they were freed. Seeing his defences crumble Aro motioned to Caius, Alec, and Sulpicia to follow him and I knew he was going to use the secret escape route in the floor of the chamber just below the dais. We had not been able to secure this but some of our friends were guarding the exits or as many as possible. We could only hope they managed to capture my brothers. I looked over at Anastasia who stood swaying her eyes closed, to cover all of us took a great deal of power and I knew she couldn't keep it up much longer so I left the Fraternidad to follow my brothers and instructed some of the others to secure the guard in the antechamber which had no windows and only the one door. We would deal with them once my brothers had been captured and brought back.

Looking round the room I was pleased to see that there were no dismembered bodies although I knew once the rebels were all back there would be demands for various killings. In the meantime we could only wait for the Fraternidad to reappear and once Chelsea had been locked away Anastasia could relinquish the hold over her shield, we both knew Chelsea couldn't control all of us so quickly, it took time for her to take over a persons mind, to bind them to someone, usually Aro, and this would be over long before she could bind more than one or two to her or to anyone else. Besides which she would wait to see who the victors were before deciding which way to jump, if she had any sense that is. I heard a gasp and then a long sigh and turned to see Anastasia waver and then fall only to be caught by The Major who picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the dais laying her down on the platform and cushioning her head with the wrap that Sulpicia had dropped in her haste to escape.