Chapter Thirty Five

Jasper

As we ran I kept going back to check on Bella whose body was now racked with violent shudders, her transformation was happening so quickly, perhaps too quickly, had I done something wrong? Was I going to lose her? Peter seeing my concern joined me at her side,

"She'll be OK Major. She knows we need her help and she's pushing through the crap quickly, she's beautiful isn't she?"

I looked at her face, so pale and still, framed by shining brown hair, her eyes closed as if she were merely asleep. It dawned on me then that I couldn't see her chest rise and fall or hear her heart. To all intents and purposes Bella Swan was dead. I touched her face but got no response and I began to panic.

"Peter she's not reacting."

"Calm down Major, she'll open her eyes soon enough. Let's concentrate on getting somewhere we can defend, I don't like being out in the open like this, we're fucking sitting ducks for the Volturi."

"Major"

I heard Garretts call and turned, he was gesturing up ahead where there was an opening in the snow covered trees and beyond a cabin, long since abandoned but ideal for our needs. I nodded,

"Get Bella under cover, Zackery stay with her. Garrett, you and Duncan set up a watch on top of that hill,

Cassian you take Peter and watch our rear. Char come with me."

We ran east as far as the next fall of rocks and checked but the ground fell away hundreds of feet,

"They wont be coming this way Major"

I scanned the surroundings,

"Doesn't look like it but I want you to stay and watch in case. If anything happens I'll call."

She nodded, hating to be away from the centre of the action to come but she understood we left no possible attack route unwatched.

Bella

I heard sounds around me, voices, too many voices, voices I didn't recognise and I stayed perfectly still listening hard. I could sense someone sitting beside me but I didn't recognise the voice as he sang to himself. Who was this? Where was Jasper? Had they been captured or killed? Was this a member of the Volturi? I was scared now, my vampire senses reaching out to find my mate. Then I heard familiar footsteps, he was close by

"Is she OK?"

His voice soothed me but I wasn't sure what was going on so I kept very still.

"Yes, she hasn't moved yet but I feel she is close to the surface, searching for you. Perhaps you should sit with her Major"

His reply was cut short by a cry from another unfamiliar voice,

"We got trouble Major. Ten coming from the south and another six from the west. You better get out here."

They were here! The fight was about to start and I needed to be with my mate, I sat up so quickly it startled me, to see a young man sitting at my side, a smile on his face but his eyes closed, sunken in as if there were no orbs behind the lids.

"So Bella you decided to join us? Good, could you help me? I'm alright once I'm outside but the cabin is unfamiliar and there are many obstacles here"

"You can't see?"

"No, I lost my eyes as a human and there's only so much venom can do, but I manage well enough normally with the help of my friend Cassian who is helping outside. I think our friends the Volturi are approaching and I'm sure the others will be relieved to see you with us again."

"Why? I can't fight, I don't know how"

"True but you can protect your friends, we hear you are a shield, let The Major guide you."

We went outside where Jasper stood with Peter and another vampire I didn't know while two others were jumping down the rocks to join the small party and then I saw Char appear from the trees to stand beside Peter.

Jasper

The Volturi would be here soon and I had no idea how to defeat them with the gifts we had to hand, we needed Bella.

Bella, I felt her presence and turned as she ran into my arms kissing me over and over as if we had been separated for centuries, not hours"

"What can I do Jasper? Zackery told me to be led by you."

"We found out you are a shield Bella. I need you to cover our party, stop anything getting through"

"How? I don't know what to do"

"Close your eyes and visualize a glass wall between us and the Volturi."

"I'll try"

"Bella, we don't have time for trying. Our asses are all going to be burned if you don't do it. So please, just for me, get the fucking shield working girl."

Bella

I turned to Peter and he winked before turning to face the front again. Looking up I saw the figures drifting forward, too many to fight but I wouldn't lose these brave vampires who had joined forces with us to the Volturi. I closed my eyes and their faces swam before me, even the strangers, as if I'd taken a snap shot of them and I decided to wrap each one in a clear bubble harder than steel but allowing weapons to pass out. Feeling a hand on my shoulder I smelled my mate's scent and suddenly I could do anything, he made me feel strong and invincible. I opened my eyes seeing the bubbles still in place, one containing Jasper and I, each of the others having an individual one.

"Are you OK darlin'?"

"Yes, thirsty but it can wait."

"Do you think you can shield us?"

"Already under control"

"Like you. An unusual newborn"

"Fucking good job too, or we're all going to be ex-vampires."

The figures came to a halt a few hundred feet away then four came further and stopped about twenty feet away and Jasper whispered their names to me,

Aro, Marcus, and Caius, the three Volturi brothers, leaders. The woman at Aro's shoulder is Renate his personal shield"

"Really? That's interesting"

I watched as the three brothers looked from one to another of our friends then the one Jasper had pointed out as Aro spoke,

"Major, it seems you are forming a small army. Why is this?"

"Not an army Aro, just friend's meeting."

"Really? And your beautiful companion?"

"This is my mate Bella"

His eyes flashed to his brothers then back, unsettled to hear I was a vampire and awake. He hadn't banked on that, you could tell.

"So Bella, how beautiful. How long has she been awake?"

"Long enough to control herself"

He smiled,

"So I see."

Marcus moved forward restlessly,

"Get on with it brother"

Aro put up a hand and continued, smiling at me,

"Perhaps Bella would introduce herself. We like to know our new members"

He held out his hand and I looked at Jasper,

"Aro can read every thought you've ever had, just by touching you"

"Really? Then this should be interesting"

I moved forward casually until we were close enough to touch and I put my hand in his, the feel of his making me shudder inwardly. He bent over our clasped hands his eyes closed and I waited, if he was disappointed then my shield was working, if not we were all in deep trouble.

When he raised his head again his eyes were open and he looked perturbed,

"So Bella, it seems you are a closed book to me."

"I am a closed book to everyone except my mate Aro. Unless I choose otherwise"

"Is that a challenge Bella?"

"No merely a statement of fact. Why are you here Aro?"

"We have heard disturbing rumours about a band of fighters The Major here has brought together and it would seem the rumours were correct"

"That isn't a band of fighters Aro, who is there to fight? What reason would The Major have to fight anyone, least of all the Volturi?"

Looking over Aro's shoulder I saw Caius and Marcus exchange a glance and Caius gestured bringing the rest of the Guard closer.

"Now if I were a suspicious fucker I'd think they were getting ready for a fight"

Peter's words floated over, breaking the silence and we all looked at our opponents.