Chapter Thirty Seven

Jasper

I was relieved when Bella and Renee returned but neither I nor Peter asked any questions, we'd heard the screams and understood that they were in payment for Charlie, Phil, and Bella's friends. We had other things to discuss, what we were going to do about the Romanians for one.

"Do the Volturi really expect us to do their dirty work for them? They've got an army of fucking mercenaries armed with God knows what ready to blow Volterra to kingdom come not to mention a few vampires waiting at the exits of the citadel ready with matches to take out any Volturi who try to sneak out."

"You're forgetting the most important question of all Peter."

"So what's new? I'm just a foot soldier remember, you're the one with the stripes or pips or whatever the fuck they wear nowadays."

Bella and Renee looked at me and I knew they understood,

"What about Alec and Jane? Not to mention Chelsea, Corin, and all the other gifted vampires the Volturi have. Are they just going to stand around while the humans and Romanians blow their citadel up?"

"OK You got me there. What the fuck have they got up their sleeve?"

"Well whoever or whatever it is its already proved its worth by allowing the Romanians to capture Alice."

"Oh yeah Mystic Meg, how come she didn't see that coming?"

"The Romanians have a gift of their own and that could prove a problem not only for the Volturi but for us too, for Bella."

Bella

I understood what Jasper was saying but it depended on what the gift was.

"If it only turns the gift back on the person then its not a problem for me because if you turn a shield back it presumably just intensifies, giving me double the protection and if its a shield itself then it can't harm me, the two would negate each other surely."

"If its a shield then why would the Romanians want you Bella? Its just a redundancy surely. I'm inclined to think it might turn the gift back on the person so Alice wouldn't see the future just a rerun of what's just happened giving the Romanians time to sneak up on her."

"Possibly Peter, If so then the Volturi have a real problem because turning Alec or Jane's gift back might cause them to feel the effect, maybe it turns it back generally rather than specifically to the person with the gift."

"Hey, the thought of Aro Volturi squirming around on the floor in pain sounds interesting, or standing blankly while I stick a pole up his ass, even better."

"It means the Volturi are powerless to attack their attackers, that's why Aro is leaving it to us to save the day."

"But you can't use your gift either Jasper."

"Actually I don't use my gift as a weapon usually Bella, I don't need to and Peter will be fine too."

I saw my mother squeeze Peters hand and he returned it still looking at Jasper,

"Tell me you have a plan Major."

"I think I might be able to help out here"

We all looked at Renee who was looking slightly abashed,

"You? How Renee?"

"Well I'm not sure because I only tried it once and no one noticed because we were busy at the time and alone but when Peter was using the rocket launcher I got a weird tingling sensation in my hands and when I lifted them up I think the rocket bent for want of a better term. I deflected it. If I could do that with the Romanians gift then it could be deflected back to them couldn't it? I mean they would be bending say Jane's gift back at the Volturi but I could then deflect it back so it hits its intended target."

Peter whooped and swung Renee around before kissing her loudly on the lips,

"I love a sneaky move Renee"

Jasper laughed too but I could see he wasn't totally convinced and wouldn't be until he'd seen it in action for himself so we arranged a demonstration which meant Peter got to play with the rocket launcher again.

We took it down to the beach and Peter aimed it at the trees lining the edge of the sand while Renee stood close to the trees but at angle,

"If you think I'm aiming the fucking thing straight at you then you're crazier than me Renee. You do your Hocus Pocus from the sidelines"

Jasper and I watched from the "safety" of the opposite side of the beach and Peter put the launcher to his shoulder beaming like a child with a new and exciting toy.

"Ready?"

Renee nodded holding her hands up and Peter launched. We watched as the rocket flew from the launcher then wobbled slightly and its flight path curved gently leading it over the trees above our heads. Jasper and I dived into the water as the rocket exploded, Peter whooping again at the successful demonstration although I thought maybe Renee could do with a few lessons in leading the missile, or gift or whatever, where it was most needed.

She came running over to us apologising while Peter roared with laughter, his hands on his knees. Deciding he was having way too much fun I sent my shield out to wrap him, drop him to the ground and roll him to join us in the water before letting him go.

"Hey, I hate a sore loser Bella, that was out of order, you ruined my best shorts."

"Peter they're your only pair and its about time they were washed."

He looked at me indignantly before taking Renee's offered hand and pulling her in to join us,

"I like my women clean occasionally"

She pushed him over backwards in the water and it degenerated into a free for all so by the time we got out we were soaked through but delighted that Renee would be our secret weapon.

Renee and Peter got showered then went off to hunt leaving Jasper and I alone,

"Shall we see if your mother left us any hot water?"

I smiled seductively, I hoped, and stripped off leaving my wet things in a heap before running through to the bathroom, Jasper in hot pursuit. We had a shower eventually but what was the point if you didn't get hot and sweaty first? Well that's the way I excused our long passionate bout of sex. One good thing about being a vampire was you never got tired, just content and satisfied.

"Are we going to do this alone or will the others help out?"

Of course I'd forgotten we were laying on the bed naked,

"Well if you want me to ask a few friends to join us I will but I thought I was doing pretty well by myself."

I giggled,

"Sorry I was thinking about the attack on Volterra."

"Oh right, well with my pride now back intact I can answer. I think we'll get a few friends to help out. Garrett would be most upset if he didn't get an invitation and Darius will be with us for sure. Emmett and Rose? That's up to them but if they come then Esme will too I guess."

"And Carlisle?"

"He's gone to join Edward in Rio or so Garrett informs me."

"He left Esme behind?"

"I think Esme told him to shove it, again if Garrett is to be believed."

"Will that be enough?"

"Probably, I did ask Darius to send out a couple more invitations, one to Amun and another to Zafrina but I doubt either will come, they've no reason to like the Volturi any more than the Romanians."

"Do you think they'll bring Alice with them?"

"Maybe. If not then I guess we'll have to go look for her once it's all over."

I felt a spike of jealousy and Jasper grinned,

"I'm happy with what I have Bella, Alice is just a girl I used to know"

"She'd better be or she might meet the same fate as Victoria"

"Ouch"

"Just remember that Major"

"I'll consider myself warned Miss Bella."