Chapter Thirty Six

Peter

I had been an idiot and deserved exactly what I was getting. I made my way back to the house, or what remained of it which wasn't much, only to find myself springing a well laid trap. I expected to find myself bundled across the border into Mexico and Maria's clutches but I was wrong all round. Black cloaks and two smiling angelic faces gave the game away, somehow the Volturi had become mixed up in this. Maria I could understand, bait to get The Major back, but what the fuck did the Volturi want with me? I hadn't broken any of their laws, well not recently at least, and I had no special gift they could want so I had no idea why I was wherever the hell I was. I remembered seeing Jane and Alec but then nothing more until I came to in some concrete room with no windows and only one door. There was no sign of Alec either but Jane's demonic smile was enough for me.

"I was hoping for visions of angels, just my luck to get a fucking gargoyle instead."

I paid for that but it was worth it, besides The Major had often warned me that my worst enemy was my own tongue! I knew Jane was a vindictive bitch but I could tell she was bored and frustrated at being locked in here alone with me.

"You know I'd screw you if it wasn't for the fact my dick would probably shrivel up at the sight of your scrawny body."

Hey, it was my body, my pain, but it passed a few hours until Alec got back.

Alec

I could tell Jane was seething when I got back from hunting. Luckily I hadn't needed to go far, Boulder had plenty of available prey, too much choice in fact. I looked at Peter sprawled on the floor and knew he'd been baiting my sister from the condition he was in.

"Jane, why don't you go hunt, get away from here for a while. I'm sure I can keep Captain Whitlock in order."

"Now I have to tell you Alec that despite the rumours I am not AC/DC and Battery but if you're really desperate we can give it a go."

I looked at our captive bewildered, what was he talking about?

"Ignore him Alec, he's just being coarse and obnoxious."

"What about objectionable? I was trying for the hat trick!"

I turned my gift on him which if nothing else shut him up.

"Why do we have to stay here? We could take him to Volterra or deliver him to Maria. If we have to stay here much longer I'm going to kill him myself just to shut him up."

"Jane dearest, go hunt. I'll stay here with our statue. Perhaps we'll hear from Caius soon."

I watched as my sister left the room through the huge iron door then sat back against the wall and took the book I was currently reading out of my pocket. Jane was right, this was tedious and I did wonder if Aro really knew what we were doing, why he should when even we didn't know? Our orders had come through Caius, go to the location of the Whitlock house and wait. Whoever turns up first, capture and bring to the storage facility then wait for further orders. Well we'd done as ordered but hadn't heard anything since leaving Italy.

Caius

I heard a rumour from my spies in the United States that The Major and Charlotte had headed for the Mexican border before stopping short to pick up another unknown male. There was nothing for a while and I was sure they must have crossed by now when I heard more disturbing news. Charlotte Whitlock had headed off alone while the two men were turning away from Mexico. I cursed, what had happened now? Surely they couldn't have been warned, after all there was no one who knew my plans not even Aro, not as far as I knew and certainly no one outside Volterra, even Alec and Jane were given no more information than to hold the Captain in the storage facility until given further instructions. I hesitated wondering exactly what The Major knew, if he knew where Peter Whitlock was being held things might work out even better. The fly would walk straight into my web, along with his unknown friend. I rang Alec's cell phone and explained to him what I suspected might be happening.

"Be alert and take The Major and his companion under your gift. I want them brought to Volterra as soon as possible. Take no chances and make sure you capture both of them."

"What about the Captain here?"

"Once you have The Major and his companion you can dispose of the Captain. I want him to disappear completely, nothing is to remain. Ring me when you have news."

I knew it would be better to tell Aro what was happening, keeping him on side was a good idea especially now he knew I wasn't about to be bullied or manoeuvred. I thought our working relationship had changed, the scales a little better balanced between the two of us. Besides when The Major arrived in Volterra Aro would know as quickly as I would and he hated to look a fool especially before the guard. I found him sitting by the fountain with Sulpicia who had come from the tower to join him in the sunshine,

"Could I speak to you for a moment brother. My apologies for interrupting you Sulpicia."

She nodded gracefully and stood up,

"I'll be over at the olive trees when you finish darling"

She glided off and we both watched her back, she was almost as beautiful as my own mate.

"So Caius, what was so important it was necessary to interrupt my wife's conversation?"

"I thought you should know that I have The Major in our power, well almost. It will happen very soon."

"Is this why the twins are missing? So you can finally get your hands on The Major Caius? You disappoint me, such grudges weaken us brother. How did you manage this feat?"

"That is something I thought I should explain now."

"Oh really? I take it your methods will be disapproved of?"

"I...borrowed Peter Whitlock to use as bait."

"Borrowed? I see, and what about his mate Charlotte? Did you borrow her too?"

"No, but they fought, she left him so the law on mates technically does not apply."

He sighed and rubbed his chin before speaking again,

"Caius, mates are not separated, its one of our most fundamental laws, you know that. If you were going to kidnap Peter why not bring his mate along too? I assume you aren't planning on releasing him, after this little escapade?"

"No, he's too dangerous. They have orders to dispose of him."

"Just one moment"

Aro's voice had gone hard and dangerously quiet,

"You are asking Jane and Alec to kill one of a mated pair and don't give me any rubbish about a quarrel. We all quarrel sometimes, it doesn't break the bond. That's why we have Chelsea, to do that which nothing else will. Where is Charlotte?"

"I don't know, she was with the Major but not any longer".

"So she was concerned enough about her mate to try to find him?"

"Not so much find him as make sure The Major crossed into Maria's waiting arms. Besides don't act so holier than thou Aro. You remember Didyme or shall I refresh your memory?"

"Don't Caius. This is something very different. My sister died for the good of the Volturi not to satisfy some selfish whim and Marcus was spared any hurt by Chelsea so it is not the same thing at all. If there is any problem with this little plan of yours I want you to call the twins off."

"There wont be."

"I hope you are right because if not Peter and Charlotte have a very good case against you for breaking the law and as its so blatent it could get very messy which does not reflect well on us."