Chapter Thirty Eight

Carlisle

When I saw Alice's face I knew something was wrong but I was relieved not to hear the terrible noise that Jasper had uttered when he was being attacked.

"Alice? What's wrong?"

"I don't know Carlisle, I guess you should ask my husband as he's not speaking to me."

"Jasper? Have you two argued?"

"No Carlisle, to argue two people have to speak, he's only said about a dozen words since he got back."

"Then what's wrong?"

"She's what's wrong, that little bitch has poisoned him against me. I should have ripped her heart out and thrown it to those wolves who were busy watching us."

"Alice please."

"Dont Alice please me Carlisle. I know you had a soft spot for her, so did Emmett, she turned that little girl charm on all of you. Well I saw through her, she just wanted my husband and I am not letting that scheming little vixen win."

I thought to myself that she was too late, that Bella had already won the battle but I held my peace, Telling Alice the truth wouldn't help matters, not in the mood she was in.

Alice

I went into the lounge and threw myself moodily into one of the chairs grabbing a magazine but not really looking at it. Edward glanced up from the piano,

"Was that really necessary Alice? Bella's gone why don't you just leave her alone, give it a rest."

I threw the magazine at him but of course he caught it and put it down on the top of the piano without missing a note of the piece he was playing.

"Temper temper little sister. Perhaps if you tried a little kindness, a little gentleness you might get further with Jazz, Remember he's been through an ordeal."

"I'm sick of being told about that. He's not the only one, I suffered too you know. You all seem to forget he's my husband and I suffered along with him."

"Really? I don't remember you suffering that much Alice. Didn't you still organize the school dance, attend it, and carry on going to school? You have a strange way of showing your pain and concern."

"Don't you dare preach to me, you of all people, You have no idea what it's like to love someone. You've been alone all your life and I can see why, you have no feeling for anyone else."

"Maybe I caught that from you then."

Carlisle

I could see a war breaking out if I didn't intervene so I put Emmett off for now although he looked concerned and went in to sort out Alice and Edward.

"Our family is strong because it stands together, Fighting among ourselves only weakens us. Alice that's enough. We all understand you've been under a lot of pressure but taking it out on Edward isn't helpful and Edward, perhaps it might be better if you kept your thoughts to yourself."

Edward looked at me, shrugged and went back to his piano but Alice got up and almost stamped her foot in frustration.

"Why does no one care about my feelings? I think you all hate me."

"Please Alice, control yourself and as Edward says perhaps a little kindness and understanding will work better."

I actually doubted it because I thought Jasper was slowly losing himself in his pain at being separated from his mate but for now I needed to find out what was upsetting Emmett so much.

Emmett told me Darius wanted to speak to me and filled me in on some of the things that he knew, I had heard of Silas,who had once been a friend of Aro and his brothers before splitting away disillusioned. He became like the bogeyman that parents frightened their children with, the only possible threat left to the Volturi's power base although nothing had been heard of him for centuries, since the Volturi took power but as Aro said,

"He's out there somewhere Carlisle, waiting his chance. One day he will reappear and when he does all hell will let loose."

"Why don't you get Demetri to hunt him down and kill him or capture him if he's such a threat?"

Aro smiled a little coldly,

"Oh we have Carlisle, many times over the centuries we have sent trackers out looking for him but none has ever returned, not intact at least. Various body parts have been returned so you see we decided eventually that it was better to let sleeping dogs lie, at least this particular dog."

That conversation had stick with me over time, the only time I ever saw Aro concerned about anything and both Marcus and Caius backed him on this so if Silas was actually ready to make his attack he must be confident in his ability to win the war.

I waited and eventually Darius rang as I sat in my study a book on my lap but unopened, so much was happening here. Jasper may have been attacked because he refused to join Silas' army. After all with The Major on his side Silas could draw other fighters, the very best to his side or at least away from the Volturi. I wonderred if Darius had contacted Volterra, he and Aro weren't exactly friends but enmity had to be put aside if we wanted to survive the upcoming battle and I listened nervously as Darius explained what they had discovered.

It was worse than I could have imagined. Not only had he taken out some covens known to be loyal to the Volturi but guardians too. Of course that might be to our advantage if it came to a war as seemed likely, provided we could persuade Aro to agree to work with the guardians and Johnny H to work with the vampires, Not an easy task but one worth pursuing none the less. Then came the reason Darius had wanted to speak to me,

"You want me to tell the Volturi what we think is going on? Are you offering to aid them?

"We have no choice if I'm right Carlisle and I think I am. It will take our combined effort to win this war or everything you hold dear will be tossed aside, Silas sees humans like cattle and he won't stop until every guardian is wiped from the face of the earth along with anyone who stands against him, all of us will die if he wins."

Of course Darius was right, Aro had said much the same when he spoke of Silas.

"Very well I'll speak to Aro, in the meantime I suggest you join us here, at least we have a base for operations. Do you have any you can call on besides Peter and Charlotte?"

"Garrett's coming, along with Jason and that's just a start, if I can tell others that we have the support of the Volturi they will join us."

"Very well, give me a while. I'll ring you back with Aro's reply.".

Of course Aro wasn't entirely surprised withy my news but he was gratified to hear that there were others prepared to fight alongside the guard. I gave him the names of our fighters plus the promise of more if he agreed to fight with us.

"Of course Carlisle, we are all on the same side after all. The Volturi only wants the best for our kind unlike Silas who would give our world over to anarchy."

I couldn't argue with him and when he told me.

"I will[ have the guard ready to move out within hours, until we get to you I'm afraid you will be on your own. Our jet won't carry many so we will need to rent a plane which unfortunately takes time but we will be with you as soon as possible, in the meantime good luck. I think Silas will try to take out The Major as a rallying point as he has already so be careful Carlisle. Perhaps putting all your eggs in one basket isn't such a good idea but you need help so it's rather a dilemma. Keep in touch"

I was left in no doubt that the Volturi needed our help and would be here with all speed.