Chapter Thirty Six

Garrett

I watched from cover knowing Caius was too interested in Darius to notice me and that's how it would stay if Caius didn't try anything underhand, besides I was still on alert for Alec although there was no sign of him near the beach. I glanced at Sulpicia who was making her way slowly and painfully towards the dinghy, well it would keep her occupied for a while although there was no way I would allow her to escape, a woman looking for revenge was more dangerous than a man. As the two men clashed I turned my attention to the fight and smiled to see Darius had the upper hand at least at first. He sank his teeth into Caius throat and tore a chunk of flesh out spitting it onto the sand before snapping his teeth once more close to Caius face but the Volturi had turned and got his hands on Darius arms pushing him away with all his strength. Darius teeth snapped and Caius cursed as he lost two fingers. Fury leant him added strength and he rolled over until he was looking down on Darius. What he failed to realise was that as long as both were on their backs he had no advantage. Once on his feet he would have Darius at a serious disadvantage and I hoped Darius got in several more disabling or slowing injuries before Caius finally understood. The two men were well matched strength wise and the struggle went on for some time before Caius managed to stagger to his feet. His face was a mess where Darius teeth had ripped flesh away and one hand was badly mangled but my friend wasn't unscathed. One arm dangled uselessly from a thin strip of flesh and as he got up I could see his bad leg was badly weakened by blows from Caius fists and kicks.

"Well Darius, happy to surrender now or do you want me to rip the other leg off too? You are a pathetic wreck of a man. I can see why Sara would rather kill herself than go back to you."

I tensed thinking Darius would lash out at these words but he just stood looking at Caius with a grin on his face.

"Oh Caius, the difference between us is that I won my woman fair and square, I didn't have to use Chelsea to get myself one."

Caius hissed in anger and his fist whipped out to punch Darius in the face but he weaved away falling to one knee as his bad leg gave way and I stepped into view but stopped as my friend held up a hand,

"Thanks Garrett but I've got this under control."

Caius burst out laughing but I had seen what Darius saw behind the Volturi. Sulpicia had made it to her feet and rummaging in her pocket she pulled out a lighter. She hesitated and I wondered if she was going to spare her husbands friend but instead her smashed face broke into a cruel smile and she threw it over his back to Darius who caught it one handed while with the other he pulled Caius close until he could put his arms around the other man, clamping them together. I understood what he was about to do and shouted for him to stop but I was too late. I heard his last words before the flames licked around the two of them,

"Lets see who Sara's really waiting for shall we?"

I waited until the pyre died and then turned to Sulpicia who stood swaying by the dinghy,

"I think we both know the answer to Darius question don't we Garrett? Darius finally has peace with his mate and the other bastard can roast in hell"

"You know I'm not going to let you take that boat don't you?"

She nodded with a sigh,

"Yes but you understand I had to try don't you? Just make sure my husband knows I was responsible for his "brothers" death wont you"

She moved surprisingly fast, the gas tank cap was off the outboard and she dropped another lighter in the opening. I threw myself to the ground as the gas exploded sending tongues of flame shooting out in all directions as well as pieces of metal like missiles. I felt a sharp pain at my temple and putting my hand up I felt a long gash which was bleeding venom down the side of my face but it seemed that was all the damage I sustained. I waited until the black smoke started to clear before getting up.

Charlotte

I found a deer and took it down easily swinging it over my shoulders and making my way back to the villa. Anastasia was sitting with The Majors arm around her and she fell on the deer draining it in seconds but when she glanced up again she looked somewhat better. I told them we'd split up and offered to sit with her while The Major checked on Darius and Garrett but as he called for Peter to join him I saw something on the breeze from lower down the cliff, from the beach and running over I saw a pall of purple smoke drifting upwards. Someone was dead but was it Caius or was it Darius? All I could do was to keep my fingers crossed until the guys returned but seconds later there was an explosion and thick black smoke coiled into the air smelling of burning gasoline and hot metal. Something had exploded but what? The Major and Peter ran out of the villa gates towards the source of the smoke while Bella and I joined Luke who sat on a low wall watching Aro and Renata both of who were looking around uneasily and I knew Luke was using his gift to keep his prisoners unsettled.

When The Major and Peter got back they were accompanied by Garrett but there was no sign of Darius, Alec, or Caius, and I feared the worst. Anastasia looked at The Majors face and walked slowly over to the small party,

"What happened?"

He beckoned her away from the prisoners and I joined them while Peter shaking his head went back to join Luke. We looked at The Major but it was Garrett who spoke very low and as we heard his words we understood why. I didn't quite understand Sulpicia's words though.

"I can see why she might help Darius. I doubt she agreed to Caius actions where women like Sara were concerned but why would she want her husband to know she'd helped his enemy kill his "brother?"

"I suspect Sulpicia has been chafing at being a virtual prisoner in Volterra for so long, the wives spent all their time in that tower with Chelsea or Corin being kept happy and contented artificially. I would think when they escaped Sulpicia began to understand she was as much a prisoner of her husband as Sara had been of Caius and she must have known that if Aro ever got back in power she would become such again"

"But if he lost as seems likely?"

"Then she would become a prisoner of a different kind if not executed as Aro's wife. She must know that Marcus would kill Aro for his murder of his mate."

"I guess she decided to go out with a bang instead"

The Major nodded his agreement and I suddenly felt sorry for the Volturi wives held in a gilded cage for centuries.

"So what now?"

"If Anastasia is strong enough we'll head back to Volterra. Contact Marcus or Felix Charlotte and tell them what's happened, that we lost Alec but he can wait for now, its even more important we get Aro back with his pet pit bull still on the loose. I'll find us some transport."

I nodded and walked back to the villa as Aro glanced around looking presumably for his mate or word of her but I knew no one would tell him anything until we were back in Volterra and he was put on trial. Renata, his shield, sat quietly a few yards away seemingly content with her lot and it struck me that she too had been a kind of prisoner kept close to her master to protect him from his many enemies.