Chapter Thirty Four

Maria

As I watched The Major go I had the strangest feeling that the balance of power had shifted. I thought about his words and decided that while he hated the thought of Nathan in my bed there was more to it. He had never turned me down before the girls arrived with Nathan and Peter but since their arrival his attitude had changed. My threat against him was a hollow one we both knew that much as I hated to admit it. I needed his skill to train and command my soldiers if I were to stand any chance of achieving my ultimate goal. I needed Alice Cullen too. However, her little human friend, I did not need.

She was causing unwanted tensions in the camp, but I couldn't just murder her, Alice was cooperating well enough for now, but she might be less willing if I ordered the death of the human. No, it would have to look like an accident and in a compound full of newborns, accidents happened all the time. I just needed to find the right way that was all and who better to help me than Nathan. I had a slightly higher opinion of him than The Major and he would be only too delighted to take on such a task. He couldn't have the girl for his bed, that would only get him killed, but he could find a way for her to lose her life accidentally.

The Major

I could feel Maria's antipathy towards Bella and knew that she would only need the smallest excuse to kill her. Alice was the only thing standing between Bella and certain death. This bothered me much as Alice being held prisoner by Maria bothered Peter although neither of us could actually verbalize the reasons why. We both felt drawn to the cabin, to the girls. And the next opportunity we got, when Maria was busy fucking Nathan, punishing me or so she thought, we found ourselves seated in the cabin doorway talking to the girls.

Peter was leaning against the doorpost deep in conversation with Alice while Bella and I spent much of the time simply looking at each other. We didn't need words, I could feel her confused emotions and knew she was scared but also happy about something and I liked to think it might be my presence that pleased her, hers certainly pleased me.

After that, I would find myself outside the cabin with no idea how or why, just that the pull was greater than anything else. When I was close I felt calmer and I found to my surprise that Peter felt much the same.

"Fucking spooky if you ask me, it's like they have a kind of magnetism that pulls us even though we aren't aware of it until we find ourselves standing here. I gotta tell you, Major, it's freaking me out."

"I know what you mean Peter, it's so strong I can't fight it and I don't even think I want to."

"It's beginning to freak me out, what if Maria sees us standing here mouths open and tongues hanging out."

"She can't if she does we could lose them."

"The tongues?"

I rolled my eyes at Peter's question and he grinned,

"Sorry Major, just trying to lighten the mood a little. I'm not sure how much more of this tension I can deal with."

That was only the first of several meetings, whenever opportunity smiled on us, which wasn't that often. It had to be a time when Maria was busy because if she found us showing the girls any interest she would go crazy and we would find ourselves on the receiving end of her temper, a very unpleasant place to be. Peter usually got away with extra duties, usually in company with Nathan whom he hated almost as much as I did, and certainly treated with as much disdain.

For myself it usually meant a more physical punishment, if I didn't show her that she still had the ability to arouse me the girls would die, of that I had no illusion, so I forced myself to bed Maria although, all I could see when I closed my eyes was Bella's face and once it was over I made excuses to get out of bed and leave. I wanted to cleanse myself of the feelings of disgust I was left with but unable to do that. Those feelings lasted for hours, days even until finally I found an opportunity to see Bella and her calm presence soothed them all away.

The Major

Peter and I decided the only way to keep the girls safe was to keep a watch over them which wasn't difficult while they were in the prison cabin.

"You know we can't keep this up indefinitely. Maria only has to send us on a patrol and leave the girls sitting ducks for Nathan."

"I know, we need Alice to ensure we stay around. Do you think she would lie to Maria for us?"

Peter shrugged,

"Why not if it's going to save their lives?"

"Speak to her, explain the situation I'll keep Maria and Nathan busy, after all it's me they are suspicious of."

Peter

I wandered over to the cabin as soon as The Major disappeared into Maria's cabin hoping she was in a better mood than she had been for his sake. Maria could be both vicious and cruel when the mood took her. The two guards that were stationed outside the girls cabin were an inconvenience,

"The Major wants you to check out the perimeter fence, there were places that looked like they need some work and he wants something for those who are out of favor to do."

The two men grinned at each other, standing here playing sentries with the aroma of Bella's blood in the air was more a punishment as far as they were concerned, and they were happy to go. Waiting until they were out of earshot, helped by the sounds of men training in the background, I opened the door a little, just enough to let some fresh air in and allow me to speak to them quietly.

"You two OK?"

"Bella's thirsty and we could really do with emptying the latrine bucket."

"I'll see what I can do about that, but I need you to listen carefully Alice. Maria won't keep Bella alive much longer, she's too disruptive. She's got Nathan panting like a dog who's just smelled a bitch in heat, and others are complaining about the smell of her blood."

"What do you suggest? It may have escaped your notice, but we are locked in here."

I smiled, did they really think The Major and I were that stupid?

"Oh, I think you could get out if you thought you had a chance of escape which is what I want to talk to you about. The only way to keep Bella safe is if The Major and I are in the compound so you need to have a vision that ensures we stay here, it will give us a chance to think of some way to keep you two safe permanently. Can you do that?

Alice

I didn't know what to think, there was certainly something special about Peter, I felt so calm and warm when he was close and it made me wonder if this feeling were gratitude for the times he had stepped in to save Bella from Nathan's advances or for some other reason. A reason I didn't even want to admit to myself. I knew there was a connection between Bella and The Major too however crazy that might sound.

"Let me talk to Bella first, I might be able to help out with that."

"OK, but don't take too long. Time is something we are fast running out of."

"I'll be as quick as I can and I'll find a way of keeping you here."

I saw the door close and heard Bella groan, it was so hot and stuffy and the cabin smelled, she was thirsty and hungry too and I hoped Peter wouldn't forget what he had said about getting her something to drink either.

"Bella, do you trust him?"

"Peter? Well, he kept me safe him, and The Major, so I guess so, yes. Why? Do you think they can get us out of here?"

"Well, maybe if I can keep them here for a while. I can make up a vision. Say I see an attack if The Major and Peter leave the compound. I can be a little vague, that way she might not want them to leave. Let's hope she sends that animal Nathan out on patrol instead."

Bella

Alice's voice tailed off and peering at her through the gloom I could see her eyes were staring vacantly into space, she was seeing something and I prayed it would be something good. Time always seemed to pass so slowly when Alice was like this, I felt so alone, so scared, and I prayed yet again that Charlie knew nothing about where I was, Renee, too. I waited hoping Alice would come back soon, I missed her and when she did I noticed a smile on her face,

"We can trust them, Bella, they would give their lives to keep us safe."

"Why? What did you see Alice? Please, I'm going crazy here."

"Have you ever heard anything about mates Bella?"

I looked at her as if she were talking in a strange language, mates? What the heck was she talking about?

"Mates? Alice, I'm too tired to play word games. Can't you just tell me what you saw in plain English?"

She sighed, about to answer, when the door was thrown open and I shrank back expecting it to be Nathan again but instead it was two of the soldiers who unlocked the door and gestured for us to step out. I followed Alice, looking around hoping to see The Major or Peter, but they were nowhere in sight, instead Maria stood there, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"Follow me."