Chapter Fifty Three
Jasper
For now my biggest problem was going to be Bella and when we got back the girls wanted to set a date for the wedding which was now going to be impossible.
"I'm really sorry Bella but something has come up and I need to leave you here with Carlisle and Esme for a while."
"What? No, I'm not staying here. What's going on Jazz? Tell me."
She looked angry and hurt and I had no choice but to tell her the truth, I couldn't lie to her, she deserved better.
"You want me to hide out here while you put your life in danger? Are you crazy?"
"I think I should go Major, after all it's me he's expecting."
Bella rounded on Jay,
"Don't be an ass, you can't pass off as The Major even if you look like him. I just refuse to sit here and wait to hear what's going on. I can stay with Hunter and Darius or even Peter but I'm not hiding away here."
"It will be better for me to know you're safe Bella, I'll be able to concentrate on what's going on."
"Oh right, and what about me? Don't you think I'll be worried about you?"
Carlisle cut in, trying to sooth Bella,
"Bella, I really think you should listen to Jasper, we can keep you safe until he gets back."
"With the greatest respect Carlisle this has nothing to do with you so please just butt out."
I could feel her hurt and anger and understood why she felt the way she did so I nodded, surrendering when I knew I couldn't win,
"Very well, you stay with the others but on the understanding you do exactly what they say Bella. Otherwise you stay here."
She glared at me for a moment then her anger died,
"OK but don't ever try something like that on me again. I may be your mate but I refuse to be hidden away like some pathetic little girl."
I pulled her into my arms smiling at my gallant little Amazon,
"I won't I promise Bella. I love you."
Our visit was cut short but Emmett and Rose stayed along with Alice. The fewer people there were to target the better and Hunter, Darius, the Whitlocks, and Jay, were more than capable of protecting Bella although I had a hard time persuading Alice to stay behind as liaison between Darius, myself and Jay.
Emmett too but he accepted he was no use just hanging around waiting until I could find out what was going on. I didn't want either him or Alice there when the fighting started and once the Volturi guard came for Bella and myself there would be some fighting. Alice told me what she'd seen, we could defeat the guard provided we were in position and focused. She suggested using Bella as a lure and much as I hated the idea I had to admit it was our best way to get them where we wanted for a counter strike.
Bella
While I understood Jasper's attempt to keep me safe I was not going to be locked away somewhere worrying myself sick about his welfare and he should have known that. Much as I liked Carlisle and Esme I wasn't prepared to stay with them, especially now Jasper had decided on this suicidal enterprise. I understood why and I knew he needed to find out what Caius was up to but every fiber of my being was screaming for him to send Jay instead.
We left promising to be back as soon as possible and to let them know what was happening when we could. Emmett especially was unhappy at being left behind but Jasper promised him if he could help in any way Darius or Peter would let him know. Personally I thought he was just protecting Rose and Emmett for Esme but I didn't say anything. The person who surprised me most was Edward who offered his help reading minds to find out what was going on and I was even more astonished when Jasper agreed to take him with us. I knew it would cause trouble with Peter but that would be Jasper's problem, I was just grateful for his help if it meant this would be over sooner.
Jay
Leaving Alice was probably the hardest thing I had ever had to do and she clung to me as if afraid she might never see me again. I promised her I would ring her as often as I could but I wouldn't stay behind, after all I was the one who had started all this and I still hoped to persuade The Major to let me go with Maria. Alice had explained that we could fool the Volturi, or Caius anyway, if we were ready for them and it was her visions we were acting on although she had warned me that they weren't infallible. All I wanted to do was get this over with and get back to Alice as fast as possible and with nobody getting killed. I had soon learned that although vampires may seem indestructible to humans they were in fact easy prey for a stronger more determined member of their own race and The Majors journal had only served to underline that. The number of newborns and even skilled fighters he had destroyed were too numerous to count and now he was putting himself in danger of having to do that all over again for my sake. The man I had labeled a coward was in fact the most noble and courageous man I had ever encountered and I was the one grateful for those traits on this occasion.
Bella was very quiet on the return journey, she just held The Major's hand as he drove with the other, her head on his shoulder and seeing them I missed my Alice even more keenly. Edward wasn't much of a talker, maybe he didn't appreciate my thoughts about his brother but I wasn't going to apologize for the truth.
When we got back Peter and Charlotte weren't there which was a relief and both Darius and Hunter were busy on computers but looked round when we boarded the boat.
"Edward."
"Darius."
Hunter looked him over and nodded then went back to his computer screen but spoke to The Major,
"The Volturi land in the morning and Maria has contacted us again. She hands over Jay to Caius as soon as they get word The Major is dead so its going to be pretty tight even if Alice has it pinned down just right."
"As soon as Peter gets back we'll have a council of war. We have to convince Caius that I'm dead and that Jay is ready for whatever it is Caius wants. Where is Maria to do the hand over?"
"That's the other problem, you have to get to Mexico ready for the handover and it's going to be cutting it really fine if you are here for the fight and we can't afford for anyone to escape to warn Caius."
"Then you'd better work some of your magic Darius. Get me to Mexico in time for the handover. Our problem is going to be getting the message that I'm dead to Caius with the guard dead so he'll go ahead with the handover."
"I might be able to help there."
We looked at Edward who hesitated before continuing,
"I can read their thoughts so I'll know what their orders are after murdering you. I'm sure we can work out something."
Having Edward around was going to be a bonus which would make things that little easier but it would still be tight unless…...I didn't like to think about the alternatives but the only sure way to guarantee there were no problems was for me to travel down to Mexico and leave the others to take out the Volturi, a decision I didn't want to make.
