After thirty minutes I'd had as much as I could take. The tension was getting to me and I was tired again. I could feel my shield trying to recoil. I knew I couldn't let that happen, it would expose Fred and make the others sick.
"It's no good," I said, exasperated, "I'm going to have to hold on to you, or my shield will weaken. I'm sorry to invade your personal space and all that." I took hold of Fred's shirt and immediately the shield flowed down my arm and over him with much less effort.
Edward stared at me, appalled.
"I have to," I mouthed at him. "I love you."
He didn't look much less appalled even then but there wasn't anything that I could do about that in the short term. I was trying my best and I was new to this. We may need Fred to work with us; what I was trying to do is keep everyone safe.
We sat in silence, Demetri, Edward, Fred and I. Edward would occasionally fill us in on what was happening and as yet it was nothing at all, no sign of Sam or of any other wolves from his pack. Jacob was trying to talk with him through thoughts but not getting any replies.
Apparently Paul had been given charge of the four new wolves a couple of months ago to take them through some training. Since Jacob left, Paul was now the beta is Sam's pack and had to report to Sam, his Alpha.
Jacob's pack had a couple of new recruits too, both of whom were now patrolling with Jacob and the four others. Jacob had not spoken about them before and I guess that I'd never bothered to ask where all those wolves at the stand-off had come from. The most surprising thing that Edward reported was that both of these new recruits were girls, and they both appeared to answer to Leah. Edward found the pack dynamic as interesting as ever, the soap opera having many more characters now. I was sure he edited out at least ninety-five percent of what he heard. Something was amusing him and worrying him but I didn't know what it was.
But what was clear was that Jacob's pack acted with discipline, carrying out Jacob's commands to patrol without complaint.
Jasper and the others patrolled a half circle around the house, turning when they hit Jacob's half circle. They found no trace of incomers.
Demetri was fascinated by the whole situation, and looked at it from a diplomatic and military perspective. He listened with interest to Edward pulling thoughts out of the minds of those on patrol. As I watched him I thought that he looked more interested in Edward's ability to do this than in the things he was saying. I realized that this was the first time that Demetri had seen Edward's gift working fully from the same side of a conflict, and he was clearly impressed at the strength it gave our side. I was just glad that Alice at least was safe from his attention as she couldn't see the wolves, so her talent was not of any help in this situation.
Then it happened.
Edward said simply, "Paul's pack are coming. They are going to attack from the North, five wolves. They are after Fred and anyone who guards him, but not Nessie, of course. Paul hasn't managed to talk with Sam yet for some reason."
He called Jasper and speed talked him through the situation.
Jasper decided on a show of force, running around to Jacob's side of the perimeter, the idea being to use overwhelming numbers to avoid a fight or the need to make them sick.
Edward turned to Fred and I. "Jasper would like you and Fred out there too, he is sending Rose and Alice back here for defense. That will give us four plus Demetri at the house"
Without hesitation I sprang to my feet and pulled Fred up after me. I turned and saw Edward's face, a picture of worry and revulsion. He started towards me but I was already moving. I couldn't comprehend what his problem was and I hadn't got time.
We were out the back door and off to find Jasper in a second. I tried to focus, not to think too much about the expression on Edward's face. I grabbed Fred's hand to run, it was easiest that way to keep him covered with my inverted shield. I couldn't risk him causing any problems yet.
Holding hands with another man felt all wrong. His hand wasn't the same as Edward's, it was bigger and slightly more bulky, and he held my hand tighter than Edward did, not unpleasantly so but still it was noticeable. Maybe Edward retained his habits from my human days when he had to be so careful not injure me just by squeezing me too tight. This hold would have put me in hospital with crushed finger bones for sure, but for now Fred's hold on me was reassuring for both of us.
I heard Rose and Alice enter the house by the front door before we jumped the river.
A great howling rang out and we sprinted in its direction. As we approached we heard Jasper and Emmett running in from the South East. We followed the scent of the wolves around a stand of spruce and there in a small clearing we saw them, the five wolves from Sam's pack lined up in a v-formation with Paul at the head. They were facing all of Jacob's pack, with Jacob at point and Leah to his right, Embry and Quill to his left, and Seth and the two new she-wolves further behind, but just as ready to fight.
Jasper and Emmett ran in behind Jacob's pack and we joined them and spread out into a line, Fred and I still holding hands, something that Emmett noticed immediately and clearly didn't like.
We had the numbers, seven wolves and four vampires. Surely Paul wouldn't try anything, not with just the five of them. I wondered why Jacob didn't just give him an order like he had earlier, or was there more going on than that? Did Sam know what was going on? And why wasn't he here?
Jacob stood his ground and snarled at Paul. The wolves behind Paul seemed less keen to respond with bared teeth than Paul was. Jasper again flooded the situation with calm. Again the growling stopped but the two leaders stood still with their eyes on each other. The seconds ticked by. We all stood motionless.
In the trees above there was movement. Some animal, I assumed, scurrying away from the situation, sensing the danger in that air. A breeze ran round our feet, almost as if it held something and was going somewhere. It seemed familiar, but I couldn't place it. I'd felt a breeze like this before, but when? First this morning, and again now, but also long ago. But when and where? I snapped myself out of my distant thoughts. I had to deal with the here and now, with these hostile wolves, or at least wolf, trying to get himself and the others – what? Killed?
"Think carefully Bella. Think what you want them to do." My voice was back. I didn't want it disturbing my thoughts now, I had enough to think about. I tried hard to ignore it but it persisted.
"Bella, what do you want the wolf to do?"
Before I'd even framed an answer to the question, a distant howl came without warning from the far North, and the five wolves that we faced turned about and ran.
Jasper was on the phone instantly with Edward. But Jacob's pack went back to patrolling the border.
Emmett looked over at Fred and I, looking puzzled and upset. I didn't see that it was any of his business who I held hands with but decided to explain anyway.
"This is the easiest way to hold the shield over him," I explained, raising our linked hands in emphasis.
"Well don't you be getting any ideas about my little sister," Emmett said gruffly, walking over to where we were standing and looking Fred in the eye. They were much the same height but Emmett was far more muscular and looked intimidating to say the least.
"Hey, I'm sorry that I've caused you a problem with the wolves, and this," he nodded to our linked hands, "was her idea not mine."
"Fred, this is Emmett, my other big brother."
"So you're the guy that Bella took down a few weeks ago then? How is that working for you?"
"Emmett! What is your problem? Will you stay focused on the job in hand, you know, the wolves."
"Yeah, right, little sis... We can talk later," and he strolled over to Jasper. His final remark was addressed to Fred in a very threatening tone. Could he really be that upset that I was holding hands with this man, even though he knew I had to? Was he worried for Edward's sake or just plain jealous? Then it hit me, he may very well be jealous. Not this again, another problem! I was going to have to be in close company with Fred all the time he was here. Were Jasper and Emmett going to get awkward with him about that? I'd thought that Edward might find it hard, he was my husband after all, but the others? They knew I wasn't theirs, nor was I ever going to be. Why were they doing this? What did it matter to them that I had to be physically near Fred? There was nothing going on between us. I'd only met him once before and then I'd removed part of his ear.
Jasper came over. "Edward says that Paul got a stand down and return to base command from Sam. Edward can't hear Sam from this distance but the thoughts that he could read from Paul showed that Sam was not pleased with his actions. I think that we need to keep up the patrol for now until Sam talks with Jacob but it looks like we may be OK. If you and Fred go back to the house for now, Emmett and I will take the half circle together and Edward can send you out again if we need you." And with that he was off into the woods with Emmett.
We walked back to the house, still hand-in-hand, but when we got to the door I switched to holding his shirt again. He said nothing but gave a tiny smirk when I did this. I didn't understand this expression – perhaps he just preferred less skin contact.
When we came into the house Nessie ran straight at me, jumping from ten feet away into my arms. It was all I could do to catch her in one arm and keep hold of Fred with the other.
"Mommy, Daddy said you were outside with Jacob."
"Yes I was but I think that most of the wolves will go home soon and then maybe in a while when Jacob's had a chat with Sam, Jacob may come in and see you before he goes home. We'll hope so, shall we?"
"Oh, yes, I haven't seen Jacob for ages."
"Nessie, you saw him yesterday. You can't expect him to spend all of his time with you, he has responsibilities in La Plush."
She made a grumpy face at me. I knew too well that Jacob would spend much more time with Nessie if Demetri wasn't here and if we let him. I thought that they should have some separation (as my Dad use to call it) or else they would get too dependent on each other too soon, and besides which I wanted to have time with my child while she was young. I didn't see why I should give it all up. Jacob would probably have her for the rest of eternity as soon as she was fully adult.
Fred couldn't take his eyes off Nessie.
"This is your daughter?"
"Yes that's right, this is our Nessie."
"But she is so big and you are so young. I still can't get my mind around it. And she has a heartbeat and everything and… and she is so pretty."
"Thank you," Nessie chimed, with an enormous smile on her face.
I really didn't think that all these compliments were doing her any good. They were bound to be having an effect on her personality. Would she end up as an unbelievably attention-seeking adult and make everyone else's life miserable?
"I wanted to be a teacher before I was turned. Not young children, but eleven to fourteen year olds. I was going to teach Science."
"It may still be possible if that is what you want to do now," I suggested.
"I not sure that parents' evening would be too much fun if I'd slaughtered the class, but I guess I could always take the parents out couple-by-couple as the term went on. I haven't even talked to a human in over a year, I just make them sick if I'm close by. When I hunt I tend to go for a pounce and kill method, it is offputting if they puke before you feed. The smell is awful."
"We don't hunt people, it's wrong," Nessie said simply. "Even though they do smell tasty."
Fred looked taken aback at such a dismissal of his lifestyle.
"I used to have donated blood when I was smaller but Mommy says I'm too grown up for that now."
Fred looked taken aback. "You got people to come here and donate blood?"
"No," I smiled at the thought. "Carlisle is a doctor at the local hospital and managed to buy a supply when she needed it. In fact I had to drink it when I was human and pregnant with her – I couldn't keep much else down," I explained.
"Wow," was all Fred could manage.
"I didn't realize that you pregnancy was so traumatic all the way through," Demetri said. "I was under the impression that there was only a difficulty at the end. Aro never said – I'm sure he must have seen it in Edward's memories."
I suddenly felt uncomfortable. We knew the other task that was planned for Demetri when he returned to Volterra and I knew that information about my pregnancy may not be in his best interest to hear.
"Well, it wasn't pleasant, and as you know Edward had to turn me as soon as Nessie was out of me. It was a close thing – if he wasn't so clever I would certainly be dead."
Edward, who was sitting in the chair next to mine, reached across for my hand. "It could so easily have been the worst day in my life but now I think of it as the best. Not only were you safe but we have Nessie. I just don't want another day like that again, ever, in the whole of eternity."
"I should gather all the facts I can about you pregnancy so that I can report it back. It is the sort of thing that the Volturi should know and have a record of for the future."
Now I felt very uncomfortable. Would Aro think that we were somehow trying to tip Demetri off? I noticed Edward's eyebrows slightly pulled in and his shoulders pulled marginally forward and together. He was as worried as I was.
"I'm sure that you'll have enough for this week's report," he laughed to Demetri.
It was Fred who came to the rescue. "So you are from the Volturi. Carlisle explained what they are to me. Where do you fit in? They are kind of vampire police aren't they?"
"Well the function of the Volturi is to ensure that the rules of the vampire world are kept to allow us all to live in peace. As you say we are like police in that we investigate possible breaking of the rules. But we do differ from the human police in that, with no other vampire authorities, we also have to make judgments and carry out punishments.
"I am here with Carlisle's family simply to learn. The lifestyle that they adopt is an interest in itself but the ability it gives them to mix with humans is astounding and the product of that is before us now."
At this point he nodded towards Nessie who was sitting on my knee.
"I have been practicing this style of hunting whilst staying here with the Cullens, and although at first it seemed very unappealing, I have found it adequately nutritious and easier to cope with as time has progressed.
"It was only in January of this year that we learned of the existence of human-vampire hybrids and as far as we know Nessie is the only one who is still in the child state. Hence I am also here to observe her grow which is both an extreme pleasure and a valuable insight into the species.
"I am also tasked with observing the wolves and any problems that they pose to the vampire world.
"My tasks here have been made a delight by the kindness, hospitality and understanding shown to me throughout by the Cullen family."
It was Esme who spoke next. "We are very pleased to have you as our house guest Demetri."
I was thinking in agreement. Yes, Demetri, much better you than Felix or Jane.
"Now Fred," she continued, "we have another guest room at the top of the house, I hope that you will find it to your liking. If you would come this way, I'll show you where it is and let you get settled in. Am I right in thinking that you only need Bella to shield you when we are in the same room?"
Fred looked taken aback. "You would let me stay with you today, after all the trouble?"
"Yes of course, if you would like to. You are perfectly free to leave at anytime but I suggest that you stay with us until the wolves have calmed down a little. You had planned to visit us, hadn't you?"
"Yes, I had planned to visit, but I'm not used to being shown such hospitality, not since I was a human."
"We would ask you not to feed in this peninsular. We can lend you a car to get out of state if you need to hunt – it can cause problems for us and make the local humans more suspicious if there are hunting expeditions in the area. Besides which we live among friends here and should not want them harmed."
"I hunted in Seattle 36 hours ago, I'll be good for a few days yet. I can go longer now between hunts than I used to.
As for my gift, if you can call it that, as long as there is something solid in the way I don't make people sick. I'm trying to learn to control it but I have no means to practice."
"This way then." Esme got up and lead the way upstairs.
I tagged along keeping hold of Fred's shirt as we went. I was so glad that Esme had suggested we show him to another room. The relief was immense. I didn't think that I could take any more stress today. My shield was feeling like an swimmer's drag suit making each stroke a hundred times harder. A prolonged interview with Demetri could wait until after I'd rested.
After installing Fred, I went down to our room to lie down on the bed. Sleep would have been an escape but it didn't come easily. I lay there thinking what could have happened. I didn't worry that Fred might move from his room without me. I was sure he was being monitored. Edward would be reading his thoughts; Alice would be seeing his future; and Demetri knew exactly where he was to the nearest inch. He could just sit and read a book quietly for a bit while I recovered!
What happened today with the wolves had shaken me to the core. I thought the wolves were my friends. I'd spent hours in Paul's company down in La Plush, why did he think for a moment that I had meant them any harm? But he was there, lining up his little sub-pack of cubs (I was sure that was all they were) against us for a fight even when Jacob had joined our side. What on earth made him act in that way? What was he trying to prove? Were they going to fight and die just because we had trespassed with good cause and with prior notice on to their land? It just didn't seem right. Why not just bark lots and chase us back to our side of the border? What was the point in standing there in the way when it was obvious we were going? And what had Sam's orders been, and why? How had Jacob managed to get him to stand down in the woods in the first place and yet not managed the second time? It just didn't add up. I couldn't make out the motivation going through Paul's mind.
Then there were all the issues closer to home that I had to worry about. Shielding Fred was going to be a drag, like babysitting a tiny baby for someone, one that needed constant vigilance and attention. I didn't trust Fred. He'd already disrespected our wishes by trying to come here in the first place, but I had to admit he had acted as well as could have been expected after he joined with us today.
But the attention that I had to give to Fred was going to have consequences. Edward clearly didn't like it, nor did Emmett, and who knows what Jasper was thinking. And Fred seemed to be too friendly already – the embrace he'd given me in the wood was far too familiar. Had I already infected him with my mind poison, or was he was just grateful for someone he could hug?
And what would Demetri put in his next report? What would the Volturi do about the wolves now? Had Paul earned them all a death sentence?
And could we keep up the pretense to Demetri that we didn't know what was waiting for him back in Italy, what he would be expected to do, what he would be ordered to do? I liked Demetri and didn't want to see him being forced into things against his will, or maybe he wouldn't see it that way, maybe he would be happy for the arrangement, maybe it would be an honor to him, as Aro would say.
By now I was dreaming. I saw the scene, Demetri down on one knee in front of Aro, back in his dark gray robes.
"Master, I have returned with the information you sought." He held his hand forward for Aro to take hold of and read his thoughts.
Aro, a mad gleam in his eye, swoops on the raised hand holding it in both of his own. He takes minutes to process all the information.
"Fascinating, fascinating ... You have done very well Demetri as we expected you would. The Cullen coven will give us no problems for a while, they are respectful of our power. And the child... fascinating, fascinating.
"Demetri, I have one more task for you to perform now that you are back here in Volterra. Best to do it before you return to real blood I think, it can't wait too long.
"You are better with humans now, are you not?"
"Yes master, they affect me little now. I couldn't do as Carlisle does and work around blood, but the scent does not cause me as much pain as it used to."
"That is good."
I saw a small smile come onto Aro face.
"This task, I hope that you will see it as more of an honor than a trial. I want you to father a child with a human."
I saw Demetri's face blanch to purest white.
The scene changed and I was the one standing. This time there were people at my feet as Demetri had been at Aro's. I saw Edward, Jasper, Emmett, Fred, Jacob and Nahuel all before me, all ready to do my bidding. Then another joined them, Paul. He knelt before me, rose to his feet, and fell prostrate to the floor.