Chapter Fifty Four

Jasper

I could see what had happened between Heidi and Charlie although I had heard that she and Demetri were an item. Looking at Bella's expression I guessed she wasn't at all sure she approved of the two of them being as close as they appeared but she'd get used to it, sometimes the strangest couples worked the best. Deciding Bella and Charlie could use some time alone together Heidi offered to show me our suite and then take me to see Aro.

"He assumed you would want to speak to him as soon as possible Major."

I nodded and after kissing Bella I followed her down the corridor we had come by,

"Do you think Bella hates me? She gave me a very strange look back there Major"

"I think she's confused, relieved, worried, and totally out of her depth but I think she's puzzled by you. What happened to Demetri? I thought the two of you were…"

She cut me off not angrily but more resigned,

"Yes, you and the world. Demetri and I were good friends who spent a lot of time together but we both knew there were mates out there for us somewhere. I guess I never expected to find mine so suddenly but Charlie is just so different. He reminds me of the men I knew when I was young. Becoming a vampire seems to blunt something in men, there are very few who are still real if you can understand that, and Charlie is one. He makes me feel like a…...like a lady rather than just a woman. Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I like a guy who holds a door open for me and offers to carry things. It's not politically correct but then neither am I."

"Well, I'm glad for you, Now tell me about Leah."

She told me what had happened in the arena and a little about Leah, how savage and uncontrollable she was most of the time.

"She respects Felix but then so does everyone else, you know what he's like but she even had a go at him when she first arrived, he ripped both her arms off and beat her with them then threw her on the ground and helped her fuse them back on, tough love, I think they call it. None of the other guards will go into her cell, not after she dismembered Anton, she was about to start stripping the skin off his torso when Felix intervened. There's talk that she might never learn control."

"She won't, I'm not giving her the opportunity to."

Heidi nodded,

"I think that's what Aro wants to talk to you about, if I hadn't known Aro as long as I have I might think he was scared of the girl."

I mulled that over, it sounded like she was a violent loose cannon and possibly Aro was beginning to wish he hadn't decided it was a good idea to keep her here in Volterra. If so then maybe he would be happy to let me take her out, one way or another she was going to die before I left Volterra, with or without his blessing.

"Major, can I talk to you candidly and in strictest confidence?"

I frowned,

"I guess so, as long as it doesn't involve Bella, I don't have secrets from her,"

"I understand but you might want to make an exception this time, I'll leave that to you. Come this way."

I followed her out of the building and through several courtyards until we reached a small wooden door that led into an undercroft where the original builders of the citadel would have stored animal feed or maybe weapons.

"No one can hear us in here, the walls are more than thirty feet thick and it's well away from any occupied areas of the citadel."

I looked around then nodded,

"OK, go on."

"I'm worried about Charlie. I spend a lot of time around the brothers when I'm not out hunting and I hear things, sometimes things I'm not supposed to hear. Caius doesn't like Charlie, he feels threatened by him, because Charlie is so confident of himself. He made Caius look stupid one day, not on purpose but Caius doesn't forgive or forget. It wouldn't surprise me if Caius had something to do with Leah's attack on Charlie. He was the one who invited Charlie to the training session and Felix says Caius ordered him to join them leaving two inexperienced guards to look after her. I can't prove anything but I fear Caius might try something else. He also knows that Charlie spent some time with Darius so he hates him for that association too. Charlie won't listen to me, he thinks I"m being paranoid but I know Volterra and I know Caius, people he turns against end up dead and I won't have him kill Charlie."

"So, what do you want me to do?"

She shrugged biting her finger like a child in distress,

"I don't know, I just thought maybe you would help me find a way to keep Charlie safe."

"If Caius wants him dead that's going to be a tall order especially in the citadel, it's his territory, but leave it with me. You stay close to Charlie in the meantime."

"I will but I have a hunting expedition tomorrow evening so could you and Bella stay with Charlie? I'll feel much better knowing he has someone to watch his back."

I agreed and we made our way to Aro's study where Heidi left me and I knocked on the door.

"Please Major, take a seat, how is Isabella? I hope she is more settled now she has seen her father and understands that he is fully recovered."

"Why did you call us here?"

He frowned,

"Why? So Isabella could put her mind at rest regarding her father, and of course to ask her if she wishes to speak to Edward Cullen before his trial, no pressure of course."

I nodded but just sat there and waited. He would speak when he was ready, there was no point in trying to force him.

"The girl is quite something, highly dangerous but spectacular."

"Ungovernable?"

He raised one eyebrow,

"No one is ungovernable, one simply has to find the appropriate pressure and bring it to bear but I do see her being a problem, especially as I have received a communication from Denali regarding her future. It seems you promised Johnny H that you would allow him to recover her."

"No, I promised to reveal her whereabouts in due course, which I did and that's why he's written to you. What does he want?"

"The girl of course. We both know what he will do once he has her and it is for me to decide whether to return her or not."

"You won't keep her here, it's too dangerous. You can't send her anywhere, even Maria wouldn't take on that responsibility, she needs her army intact not ripped to pieces by one of its own and when Leah finally remembers and understands what she was and what we did to her she'll do anything she can to target you, Caius, and Marcus as the Volturi leaders. She'd think it poetic justice if a forcibly changed Quileute brought down the vampires for her guardians. I'll take her out."

"I thought you might say that what I need to know is how she was allowed to break free and attack Charlie."

"I think you already know the answer to that, you do if you're the man I think you are, you just don't know what to do about it. He's another loose cannon that might bring you down."

"He?"

This time I just sat back and stared at him until he finally broke the silence,

"This is a very delicate situation for me Major, it would be better if the blow came from outside the Volturi if you get my meaning."

Oh, I did but I wasn't going to say as much, this was one of those occasions when the less said the better.

"Perhaps we could persuade you to watch a training session or even take part in one? Some of the younger guards are quite excited at the thought of having The God of War in Volterra, it would be a pity to disappoint them."

"Yes, it would. Do you think anyone would take action if Charlie were to leave the citadel? Or would he be safe enough?"

Aro understood what I was asking him as his eyes narrowed,

"I think Charlie would be extremely unwise to leave the citadel unless he went down the mountain, that would be safe enough I would think, it is open to the eyes of the world."

"I'll tell him that, maybe in a couple of days he'll feel like taking a walk, get some fresh air."

Our conversation turned to the upcoming trial after this, a less perilous subject.

"Has Edward worked out your plan yet?"

"Of course, he isn't stupid, Alice too, and I think they intend to push the limit as far as they can. Edward has decided to go to trial hoping I will call it off when in fact I am more than happy for the world to see he deserves to die. He is demanding to see his accuser although I have warned him that is entirely her choice. We have her sworn testimony, given freely to Felix as my representative and that is sufficient for the jury of his peers. Does your mate intend to see him? You should be aware that Alice has the freedom of the citadel as she is not implicated in any way, she might attempt to put pressure on Isabella herself."

"I can handle my ex Aro and it's for Bella to decide whether to see Edward or not, she's still undecided right now. Is Carlisle coming for the trial?"

"No, he understands the outcome and I think he even approves, the two young lovers have upset quite a few people by their actions. I have to say I never expected to see Carlisle stand up to Edward, it's quite refreshing. Could you answer something for me?"

I was cautious again,

"That depends."

He smiled,

"Of course, it's regarding Isabella, after all, you know her as well as anyone now. Do you think she will follow Charlie, I mean in becoming a vampire, soon?"

I relaxed a little,

"I've no idea how soon, I asked her to wait at least six month's to be sure."

"Yes, of course. There is something else about her though, something rather special don't you agree?"

I frowned,

"I don't understand the question."

"Oh, you read and manipulate emotions Major, how does Bella feel about that?"

"She knows about my gift although I've only used it on her when it was necessary."

"And she approved?"

"She didn't slap my face so I guess so."

He laughed,

"You're a very lucky man Major, well I think that's all unless there was anything else you wanted to speak to me about? I'll organize that exhibition for the guards, I'm sure Caius will be interested to hear you are thinking of taking part and I hope you and Isabella will stay for the trial."

I nodded not at all sure Bella would want to but it wasn't the time to say so, the meeting had gone far too well to spoil it now.

Aro smiled and stood up,

"I won't shake hands, Major, it unnerves so many people."

I nodded again and left, relieved but concerned at the same time for Charlie although I thought given a few days I could probably arrange to have that problem dealt with and I knew Charlie would be only too happy to help out.

I was on my way back to our suite hoping to find Bella safely ensconced there when I turned a corner and ran straight into Alice. Her eyes opened wide in mock amazement, she knew damn well that I would be here, this was all a setup.

"Jasper! Aro said you were coming with Bella but I didn't know you'd arrived. I hope Charlie's face has healed. I haven't seen him but I heard it was quite awful."

"He's doing OK."

"Good. So, is Bella going to visit Edward or is she too ashamed of her actions in getting him arrested?"

"I think Edward got himself into trouble and to be honest Alice, I find it hard to conjure up any pity for him, or you."

I tried to pass but she stepped into my path,

"Whatever you think we did to hurt your pride wasn't done on purpose and don't act like it hurt, you couldn't wait to get back to Forks and your precious Bella, we did you a favor."

"You did and I thank you for it, now this conversation is over."

She tried to obstruct me again and this time I grabbed her by the arms and lifted her up slamming her against the wall and speaking very slowly and coldly,

"Stay out of my way Alice, and keep away from Bella. You might have gotten away lightly shacking up with Edward but trust me, the next time you'll see the other side of me and you don't want to see that, trust me."

I dropped her back onto her feet and walked away aware she was a little angry but much, much, more scared of me.