Chapter Fifty
Jasper
There was silence in the room, we all knew he was right and were trying desperately to work out exactly what it meant for us, for Gabes.
"So what do we do about this invitation?"
"I think you should go, Gabriel is in no danger and neither are you two, you're royalty. The Volturi stepped up to save Gabriel, they wont do anything to harm him. I think they want to see the hybrid that carries their genes. If you refuse they will see it as an affront and then who knows? Besides Bella wants to go to Volterra and face Carlisle and this is a golden opportunity. I think right now you could ask Aro for the moon and he'd gift wrap it for you."
"But Gabes isn't Aro's bloodline."
"No, but his sister was married to Marcus so its all in the family and that's what's important. If the vampire world, our world, knows that there is a child, a descendant of the Volturi brothers then no one will ever attempt an uprising again, they will be secure without having to work for it."
"But aren't they already all powerful and untouchable?"
"Not exactly Bella although they work extremely hard to give that impression. There have been rebellions over the centuries and there are those who think they have a better right to rule but with a direct descendant sitting on the right hand of the Volturi brothers...well I don't see anyone getting much support for a coup, certainly not with his father being the famous Major Whitlock. The Fraternidad only want to seize power because they feel with a descendant of Aro's, a distant one I add, in their group they have as much right as he does to rule,. They think they should be ruling along side the brothers. The Romanians aren't powerful enough to cause any trouble but they are watched and their attitude will mean something. A very long time ago, Stefan told Caius Volturi that he would never stop fighting for the throne unless the Volturi could put a child of theirs on the throne."
"And Gabes would be that child?"
"Yes, he could stop any rebellions from formulating and bring peace between the warring factions just by his presence in Volterra. I think they want your permission to make him one of the ruling council."
"But he's just a baby."
"No, he's a boy, of Volturi bloodline and no one expects him to rule Bella, at least not until he is much older. His position would be filled by a proxy until then."
"A proxy? Someone who would make decisions in his name? Who?"
"You or The Major probably. That would ruffle a few feathers in Mexico eh Major?"
Bella stood up,
"I need to think about all this, I'm going to see if Gabes is awake yet."
She pulled me up beside her and we left, the others watching as I closed the door. I could feel Bella's emotions were in turmoil and I knew she had no idea what to do, what to think of what we had heard, but Darius was right. In order to see Carlisle we would have to visit Volterra and I knew Bella wouldn't rest until he had paid for Charlie's brutal murder. But for now we needed to be with our boy, we needed a little time together to work things out so while she went back to our room I rang the number Felix had given us.
"Major, how is young Gabriel?"
"He's sleeping Felix but he told us what you did and I want to thank you."
"I may be Volturi but I'm not a monster Major, I don't make war on children."
"About the invitation"
"Yes?"
"Bella and I would like time to settle a few things before we visit."
"That's fine Major. Just contact me on this number when you are ready and I'll arrange the transport. I take it you are thinking of more than a few days?"
"Yes, you can appreciate what Gabes has been through recently, Bella too."
"I understand and I'm sure the brothers will too. I look forward to seeing Gabriel again at some time. For now I hope he gets over his ordeal."
I put my phone away relieved there was no pressure from Italy and joined Bella who sat on Gabes bed watching as he started to stir, stroking his head and smiling. She looked so beautiful in that instant that I could have kissed her but I waited as she lifted our son up and smiled at him.
"Mummy"
He sounded so pleased to see her I couldn't help smiling myself and then he turned round looking for someone and I wondered if he was scared he might have been dreaming and see Edward but when his eyes met mine his smile became broader,
"Daddy"
I went over and hugged them both drinking in the scent of his young body, a scent that was a little like mine and a lot like his mothers and I wondered if there was maybe a hint of Marcus or Caius in there too. It seemed amazing that we could be their descendants but I didn't doubt Marcus research, not if Darius didn't, he was the most cautious man I knew.
Bella showered Gabes and helped him dress and we took him to the café for breakfast watching as he devoured a meal fit for a grown man, still he was growing very fast. The change from the boy we had seen walk into the bedroom with Edward was astounding and his intellectual side was growing equally as fast.
"I think we should perhaps find somewhere to rent for a while Bella, until we get the business of the Volturi out of the way. Give Gabes a couple of weeks to settle in and find his feet, he's been pulled from pillar to post recently and it hasn't been the best of things for him."
"OK, where? We can't go back to Forks. I don't even have a grave to visit for my dad, he's just gone"
"We'll sort something out for you I promise but the best memorial is in your heart, you loved Charlie and he will always be there inside you. All the memories you have will never fade or die."
She nodded and I could see she was upset which made me want to kill Carlisle even more.
"Before we go anywhere there's the question of..."
She mouthed the name Edward as Gabes leaned over his plate.
"Of course. What do you intend doing?"
"I don't want to hurt Esme, she's been with me all the way but I really don't think I could stand the thought of him roaming this earth. WE would never be safe"
She looked pointedly at Gabes as she said this.
"I understand. Would you like me to go with you?"
She shook her head,
"I think one of us should stay with Gabes. I'll have Peter and Emmett to watch over me."
"Are you going to feed Edward to the alligators?"
We both looked at Gabes startled and then Bella smiled,
"No, I don't think the alligators deserve that do you? He probably tastes yucky anyway."
"He's not nice Mummy, Felix said he'd feed Edward to the alligators if he didn't sit quiet in the boat."
"Well I'll think of some punishment for him. Don't you worry about it though. You and daddy can spend the afternoon together while I speak to Edward. Would you like that?"
He nodded then turned to me eyes sparkling,
"Can we go out in the truck daddy? I want to see some real alligators close up. Can we?"
Darius and Sara who had come in behind us started laughing,
"Actually there's an alligator farm a few miles away, shall we all go there while mummy does what she has to do?"
Of course Gabes was excited and ready to leap up and go right then so he was very interested in the idea of seeing alligators while I would be seeing a monster far more deadly than them this afternoon.
