Chapter Twenty Five

Emmett

I explained to Jazz and the others what Alice had told me,

"You're related to Bella?"

"Yeah, and I have a good reason for wanting to find Felix Volturi."

"Be careful Emmett, remember you need a cool head if you have any chance of beating Felix, he's been doing this a very long time and he's extremely good at what he does."

"Yeah I know, but he should pay for killing my wife. Sorry Rose"

I hugged her to me,

"You're my life now and I adore you, you know that, but it's not right that Felix doesn't pay for what he did."

"I understand Emmett, its OK. So we babysit Bella and hope she wakes up before either Felix and his friends or Demetri gets here?"

"Basically yes Rose. Is this going to be a problem for you? I know you don't like Bella much"

"Wrong brother, I don't hate Bella at all. I just thought she was making a bad mistake giving up her human life for Edward. Now she has no choice and she makes you happy. That's enough for me, I told you that"

"Thank you Rose. Where is Edward by the way?"

"Chasing Tanya and her sisters according to him, licking his wounds at losing Bella to the better man in my humble opinion."

I saw the look that passed between Carlisle and Esme as Rose said this to Jasper. I think she was surprising them. That's my Rose, never predictable!

Rose

Jazz went back up to see Bella and I followed, wanting to see him alone for a few minutes, after all Bella didn't count while she was unconscious. I looked at her laying so still and quiet in the bed, Jazz holding her hand and stroking her face.

"Has she made any noise at all?"

"Not really. I think she must be using the gift that stopped Edward and Aro getting inside her head from allowing the pain to take over totally."

"Well she's unusual I'll grant her that. Are you sure about this Jazz? You aren't just clutching at something because Alice has gone are you?"

"Rose, Bella is my mate, I feel her here in my chest, she makes living worth while"

I smiled at him, it was the way I felt about Em.

"OK then, what's the plan if the bad guys turn up before she wakes?"

"I wanted to speak to you about that. If Felix and his friends arrive just stay with Bella for me, I know that Em, Peter, and myself with the help of the others can defeat them, its pure brawn and cunning and Peter and I have that in spades."

"And if its Demetri?"

"I want you and Emmett to take Bella and run, especially if he has any gifts with him and I don't think Aro would have sent him alone, he wants Bella far too much for that and he knows I'm with her."

"Run where?"

"You choose and don't tell anyone. Just grab her and go, keep her safe for me Rose, I couldn't bear it if anything happened to her."

"We will Jazz, nothing's going to happen to her and she'll soon be awake and with you again."

"I know, just covering all my bases. Have a quiet word with Em and tell him would you?"

I went downstairs but the others were all outside, that's why Jasper had spoken so freely upstairs, he knew none of the others could hear us. Peter and Emmett were arm wrestling while Carlisle and Esme were familiarizing themselves with the surroundings. I wondered how long it would be before we had to fight. I wasn't scared to fight although I'd only ever fought once before in my life as a vampire and had been lucky. Esme like me had only ever been involved in the one fight too but I'd heard rumours that Carlisle had seen action in his time. My main concern was Emmett, although he was tough and strong he wasn't used to fighting and I hated the thought of him being injured, the thought of him being killed was just too awful to contemplate. So this was what Alice had alluded to when I spoke to her what seemed a lifetime ago, before she left us and married Marcus Volturi, that one still made me stop in my tracks, I couldn't imagine the two of them together.

When Carlisle and Esme came back with Charlotte they looked concerned,

"It's not going to be easy to defend the house, too many hiding places, too easy to creep up on us and we don't have the numbers to keep watch all round"

"Yeah well Carlisle I don't think The Major was thinking of building a fortress when he designed this place and it would be nice just for once if he didn't have to end up fighting a war to get some peace"

"Peter please. It wasn't a criticism, merely an observation."

"Oh sorry, my mistake. Well if you have a battle plan I'd love to hear it then we can see if it matches up with the one he and I devised."

"I wasn't attempting to out think you or Jasper, I'm sure you have a very good plan. I was just trying to see the area from the enemy point of view."

I think the row might have escalated if Jasper hadn't come out then.

"Let's not fight among ourselves folks, we have plenty of enemies only too happy to take on that role as it is. Carlisle's right, it won't be easy."

We sat around while Jasper drew the house in the earth and the surrounding countryside.

"If its Demetri and he has any gifts with him he might come straight in, that way all we can do is hope the gifted vampires aren't Jane or Alec"

"If they are we're fucked"

"Concisely put Peter. If its Felix and his guard we will have a fight on our hands and they'll use any cover, any advantage they can, which means we need a couple of spotters, one here"

He pointed to a low ridge to the west "and another here, the hill to the south. Once they spot anything their job is to get back here and raise the alarm. I want you Peter and you Carlisle to be our spotters."

"Why?"

Jasper looked at Peter,

"Because you're the fastest. You'll get back to us quicker. Esme and Charlotte will watch the trees to the north and east."

"And me?"

"You Emmett will stay close to the house, you'll have a better chance of finding Felix here. He'll let the others draw us off while he makes a play for Bella."

"And Rose?"

"Rose has her task already and I'll be ready wherever I'm needed as the fastest. Be careful, be vigilant and don't underestimate the opposition. Any questions?"

"If it's Demetri and pals what are we going to do to keep Bella safe?"

"All we can, divert attention and give Bella a chance to get away. She's much more valuable than we are so they'll be going for the kill, remember that."

We all nodded and broke into couples all except Jazz who was suddenly talking on the phone, whether he'd rung or been rung I hadn't seen. Emmett came over and took me in his arms,

"What's the real job we have?"

"Escaping with Bella if we can."

"You mean run"