Chapter Forty Eight

Bella

I was sitting in the barn on the same bale that Jasper had occupied thinking about him and wondering what he was doing in Volterra. My greatest fear was that his darkest side, the side nurtured and encouraged by Samuel would have time to bury Jasper beyond my reach. Esme had gone up to the house to keep Faith occupied but I couldn't. I was interrupted in my reverie by Peter and the stranger who I had been told was Jane and Alec Volturi's brother Christopher.

"We can talk in here without being overheard by Faith."

I got up but Peter shook his head,

"It's OK Bella I don't suppose Chris has anything to say that you can't hear."

The stranger looked at me,

"So you are Faiths secret weapon, The Majors mate and a human. A dangerous combination."

"Secret weapon?"

Peter shook his head warningly and I backed off sitting down once more,

"So?"

"I act for the Romanians because there is no one else, not while my siblings work for the Volturi. Faith wants Stefan to take the throne so she can sit at his right hand as queen. I on the other hand have no wish to see the degenerate Romanians wrest control back. They aren't strong enough and they don't have the manpower. The best of their followers they sent with me as a show of strength. The Volturi are corrupt yes but they hold our world together as no one else could, they must not be defeated. My task is to stop The Major from fulfilling his mission even if that means killing him."

"NO"

I couldn't help my cry and he turned to me with a sad smile,

"If you can't reach him before he decides to act then I will kill him, there is no other way."

"But how? You couldn't hope to beat him in a fight and he doesn't use his gift as a weapon, it isn't potent enough, not for the entire Volturi guard."

"What I'm about to tell you must stay a secret between us three. I need your word on that, Faith especially must never know."

I looked at Peter and he shrugged,

"OK I might tell my mate but I swear I wont tell anyone else."

"And you?"

"I wont tell a soul."

"The Romanians think my gift is simply to make other gifts powerless or very weak when in fact it has another aspect too. I can make a gift far more powerful than it really is."

"So you could make Jane into a killer?"

"Yes, of humans at least. As far as vampires are concerned her power would be sufficient to send one mad with the pain, permanently mad that is."

"But it still doesn't explain how you could take The Major down."

"Yes it does Peter. Christopher is going to use his gift against him, bring down every emotion of the population of the citadel on him. That's right isn't it?"

"It's certainly one possibility but there are others I'm sure you realise. What I am proposing is that we combine our strength to stop The Major, without killing him if possible because that would please far too many people and bring about the death of his innocent mate. I will help you get into Volterra undetected and then its down to you Bella. You will have until the entertainment Aro has organised for two nights time. If you cannot bring The Major back from the brink then I will have no choice but to kill him and please don't think that your shield will protect you and your friends. You forget it is a gift and one I can magnify or weaken at will."

"Why would you work for the Romanians at all if you despise them so much?

"Because dear Bella, they were the only game in town. When the Volturi are safe from your mate I will offer my services in return for the lives of my siblings. I know my sister thinks she can make things right but she is wrong, things can never be right between us after she and Alec abandoned our family to their fate."

"You are going to kill your brother and sister?"

"Aro will never go for it, never."

"Oh I think he will because I can offer him something he has craved for centuries."

"What's that?"

"The ability to read minds without using touch, as Edward Cullen does Peter".

"And you can do that?"

"Yes I can."

It was a flat statement of fact.

When Christopher left us to return to the house and Faith Peter stayed behind,

"Well that was an eye opener."

"Do you believe him?"

"Unfortunately I do. I'm not sure what would be worse, the Romanians or an all seeing Aro Volturi."

"I have to get to Volterra and find a way through to Jasper before the deadline Peter."

"I know Bella, I know. Let me talk to Darius, maybe he can come up with a quicker way to get you there."

I nodded but I felt sick with worry, I couldn't lose Jasper but I had so little time and The Major was going to fight me all the way.

Peter had wandered off mumbling on the phone and Charlotte came to find me,

"You should eat Bella. I know you're worried but you going to need your strength when we get to Italy."

If only she knew how right she was! I followed her back up to the house where Faith and Esme were comparing notes on an interior design for a house Faith wanted to build for her and Stefan but they both looked up and smiled as they saw me

"Bella I thought you'd got lost in that barn, you must be cold and hungry."

I nodded at Esmes concern and went through to the kitchen where Charlotte placed a plate of casserole for me and I tried to force some down but it was difficult with the worry building inside me.

I'd only just finished washing my plate when there was a shout from the front, Emmett and Rose were back and I flew out to greet them relieved we had more on our side. The only person missing now was this friend of Peters Darius who he set such store by. Then Peter called me to one side,

"I spoke to Darius and he's organised a private jet to Italy, we leave in an hour and he'll meet us at the airport, he got in early."

I nodded,

"Thanks Peter"

"Don't thank me, thank him. Now get packed quickly and I'll tell the others. Faith will wet herself at the thought of a private jet."

All I could think of was getting to Italy more quickly, I didn't care how we got there.

We piled into two cars and left the ranch, Faith and Christopher riding with Peter and I while Charlotte rode with Emmett, Rose, and Esme. Our meagre force prepared to take on the might of the Volturi or in my case the mighty Major. As we pulled into the private area at the airport and were ushered through passport control I saw two figures standing talking to a third who looked as if he might be the pilot. As we approached the man turned and I got my first glimpse of Darius. He reminded me slightly of Jasper, he had that quiet assurance and he held himself as if ready for anything. Standing at his side was probably the most beautiful vampire I had ever seen. She was Alice Cullens build but her long glossy hair was black as midnight and shone in the arc lighting around the perimeter of the hangers. Her face was heart-shaped with full red lips and her eyes were a dark red and flashed with seeming joy.

"Darius you old reprobate how the hell are you?"

"Not better for seeing you Whitlock but then you can't be trusted not to get yourself killed so I have no choice but to babysit your sorry ass."

Peter laughed and the two shook hands before he introduced me to his friend Darius and his mate Sara.

"Bella, it's a pleasure, I just hope we can retrieve your mate for you but are you sure you know what you are getting yourself into? Volterra isn't really the place for a human, not one without a death wish."

"I thought about changing her Sara but there just wasn't time and a raging blood crazed newborn didn't stands a hope in hell of pulling The Major back from the edge"

"I guess you're right. In that case stay close to me Bella and I'll protect you."

"Sara Bella has her own shield, she can look after herself"

"Well you may be happy to rely on that but I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Darius whistled loudly and all conversation stopped,

"We're taking off in five so I suggest you get yourselves seated folks."