Chapter Twenty Six

Jasper

I was still thinking about the prophecy when we pulled up outside a house on the outskirts of a small town in South Dakota. Peter's battered truck was parked outside and Charlotte came down the steps to greet me as I carried the still sleeping Bella inside and put her down gently on the couch. I would let her wake naturally now and then we needed to have a long conversation. Peter stared at her unhappily from the door to the kitchen.

"That's what all the trouble is about? She doesn't look like she could take the Volturi down. You sure she's the one Major?"

"Darius told you everything?"

"Of course, we played I'll show you mine if you show me yours, it was fun. So what now?"

I looked down at Bella who was stirring restlessly.

"We get Bella something to eat and then tell her what's going on and lay out her options."

"What fucking options would that be Major? Run and hide or kick the collective Volturi butt? That will take a lot of thinking about. What's she gonna do? Pop her head into the Volturi citadel and say BOO!? She's a kid and a skinny one at that. She got some serious voodoo Major? Cause if not then we are all royally fucked."

Bella

I heard the conversation between Jasper and a strange voice I had never heard before but it sounded as if they expected I could topple their governing body, me? I struggled to sit up feeling stiff and hungry and looked at the two men as a woman and the one called Darius came in. The smell of hot coffee and a burger had my mouth watering and I took them eagerly with thanks from the woman who smiled at me,

"Hi Bella, I'm Charlotte and the grumpy looking one is my mate Peter."

I nodded recognition at her mate and started to eat only now realising how hungry I really was. As I ate I watched Darius tapping away on his computer then he looked up,

"Tall, dark-haired, scar down his left cheek, looks like a sword wound and bingo he's wearing the ring. Twisted gold strands with a pink stone."

I looked down at my hand to see the ring he was describing safely there, so who had the matching ring and what did it mean?

Jasper sat down beside me and took my hand,

"This must be very confusing and frightening for you Bella so I'll try to explain as best I can."

"I know about Zeus, the bear with the message and ring hidden inside him. I found it when his seam split."

"Bear? Split seam? Someone explain in English. I just know its got to be some kind of fucking code. Your surname wouldn't be Bond would it?"

I looked at Peter and tried to explain about the teddy bear that had been passed down the female line until one of the daughters of Athena died too young then Zeus the bear would give up his secrets.

"So you found the ring and a message inside the bear after your mother died in an accident?"

"Yes."

"What did the message say?"

I rummaged in my pocket and took out the creased envelope handing it to Jasper,

"That's what the ring was inside."

He read the words on the envelope and passed it to Peter who read it to the others.

"When Athena's daughter dies before her time his world will have the chance of a new beginning. The ring will lead the way, it is a lucky talisman and will call protection to you."

I remembered back to the first time I saw Jasper after finding the ring, he had taken more interest in my hand than my face.

"The ring, you recognised it. You were sent to protect me?"

He nodded,

"The Volturi have prisoner the man who wears the matching ring, I think probably the real Zeus. He knew what you were before you were born and he contacted Alice and myself to find and look after you. He knew the Volturi would find him eventually, that he wouldn't be the one to help you. He knew some of the future but not all of it, just enough to send you help."

"But why? What does he think I can do? Does he think I know something that will help to destroy the Volturi?"

"At a guess I'd say its you who are important not any information you have or he could just have told Alice or The Major. No, you are the weapon that can destroy the Volturi."

"Me a weapon? I can hardly throw a javelin without impaling someone behind me. I'd be more of a danger to my own side in a fight trust me Peter."

"Well you have something Bella."

"Maybe the ring wasn't meant for me, perhaps Renee's death wasn't the one this prophecy spoke about."

They didn't look convinced but I knew better, somehow I'd become involved in this craziness. Then I remembered the way we'd left,

"What about my dad? Is he safe? Maybe the Volturi snatched him."

"Jasmine took him to the Quileute reservation, he'll be safe enough there."

I looked questioningly at Darius who smiled,

"You know her better as Mrs Smith, Jasmine is the name she goes by. She's a mercenary and a very good one."

"But Charlie fell out with Billy and Harry."

"They wont leave him to the Volturi, that would be against everything they believe in."

My head was spinning and I excused myself to use the bathroom but I left the door ajar so I could hear the conversation which carried on as I left.

Jasper

Well now we knew what our job was and why the Volturi were so hot to get their hands on Bella but keeping her safe while allowing her to meet her mate wasn't going to be easy.

"Where the hell do we take her and let her meet other vampires without giving away her location?"

Peter looked at Darius and rolled his eyes while Charlotte just smiled,

"Major I'm not sure if you are really dumb or just playing at it. She doesn't need to meet anyone else."

Charlotte nodded her agreement of Darius words.

" Her mate is here in this room, right now."

I looked at Charlotte who smiled soothingly at me, if she'd seen the connection then they were right, was it Darius? Is that why Zeus chose me? Because he knew I would bring him in to help me? I found the thought very unpleasant. I liked Darius but he wasn't right for Bella, neither was Peter, besides he had Charlotte. I would watch her around my friend, looking for any sign that she favoured him.

"So we can go into hiding without worrying then. You have any ideas Darius?"

He shook his head,

"Nowhere she would survive as a human."

Was he thinking of changing her? It would be safer all round but the thought of his lips on her throat unsettled me and I wasn't very good at hiding it because Darius grinned.

Bella

I couldn't see myself with Darius but they all seemed to think he was the one, as I thought about this I remembered the address in Colorado, the one my aunt had sent me when she died so I ran out, forgetting I was dressed only in my underwear to tell them. Both Darius and Peter grinned as they looked in appreciation while Charlotte just looked up the address but Jasper pulled the throw off the couch and wrapped it around me.

"It might be better if you got dressed first Bella"

I went scarlet and pulling the throw around me tighter I ran even more quickly back to the bathroom and shut the door sinking to the floor in embarrassment, what on earth had possessed me? I could never look any of then in the face again! I just wished the floor would open up and swallow me but instead of course it stayed nice and firm and I sat there wondering how long I could stay hidden before one of them came looking for me.