Chapter Forty Two
Jasper
Bella told me she was worried because Megan was begging to be allowed to talk to Darius.
"I don't know what's going on, Jasper, but I suspect she's up to something."
"I know, I feel the same way. Let me talk to her, see what I can find out."
I found Megan in her room studying her reflection admiringly in the mirror.
"Why don't people wear things like this now? It's so pretty."
I grinned at her, she sounded so grown up.
"Not very practical if you want to climb a tree or ride a horse, though."
She thought about this and then nodded.
"I guess so. Will you take a photograph for me, daddy? I'd like to have it made big so I can hang it on my bedroom wall when we move into our new house. Will that be soon?"
"Hopefully very soon. But first, come and sit beside me. I need to talk to you."
She frowned, "Can I call Darius first?"
"Maybe later. Come on."
She walked slowly over and sat down beside me on the window seat arranging her dress and staring at the floor.
"Mummy said you asked her if you could call Darius. Why is it so important darlin'?"
She swung her feet staring at them intently and answered me in a whisper.
"I didn't do anything daddy, really I didn't."
"No one said you did, but you didn't ask to speak to him before. So, what did you say to Sulpicia?"
She looked up surprised that I knew she had spoken to Aro's wife about something secret.
"Only what you told me, daddy."
I was taken aback by her reply, "What I told you? And what was that?"
"That sometimes you do bad things that you know are bad and if you can you should try to put them right."
I stared at her, was that it? Had she primed Sulpicia to tell Aro the very thing that would make him think of the wrong he had done Sara and Darius and think about putting it right?
"Did you mention Darius by name?"
"No, daddy, I never mentioned any names, but Suplicia knew who I meant and she knows what to do. I could feel it."
"You could? Tell me, could you read Aro's thoughts, Megan?"
She hesitated obviously afraid to speak.
"I know you can read minds as your father could. That's how you knew that he was at the house, and at the zoo, isn't it? It doesn't matter, it's not a crime Megan. I just think we should keep it to ourselves. That's why you said you only picked up the gifts of people you were close to, isn't it? You knew to keep the extent of your gift to yourself until after we met Aro.
She nodded looking close to tears.
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone daddy. I was scared everyone would think I was crazy or Aro might want to take me away. I just wanted to help Darius because he's hurting so much daddy. He's so sad."
I lifted her onto my lap and cuddled her as she cried, soothing her and reassuring her that she had done nothing wrong. That I was proud of her and of course, if she felt it was the right thing to do to help Darius then I stood by her.
"One thing, Megan. Did Sulpicia say anything about how Aro might help Darius."
She bit her lip and I knew she was trying to work out how to explain to me things she had probably partly only heard in Sulpicia's head.
"I heard her think about Darius and Sara. That was the thing Aro regretted most of all. I heard that in his thoughts too. Sulpicia was thinking of them so I only had to remind her that mommy can hide thoughts and might be able to hide other things which might help Aro. I don't think Sulpicia likes Caius either, daddy. She wants him out of Volterra and she thinks that her friend Athenadora would be happier without him. That's Caius' wife, isn't it?
I don't understand how someone can hate their husband or wife. Don't you get married because you love each other? Or is it because he's a bad man? Because of the things he did to Darius? He did something horrible just like my father. I'm never going to get married unless I'm sure he loves me."
I smiled, kissing the top of her head and taking in the childlike smell of her. So familiar and so reassuring.
"Don't worry, your mom and I will be keeping a good eye on anyone you start dating. Besides, you'll know in your heart."
She hung onto my neck for a long time, just needing the support and comfort our physical contact gave her. It reminded me how lucky I was that I hadn't lost her as I feared I might when I decided to tell Bella the truth.
"Can I call Darius now, please daddy?"
"Let's go find mommy and I'll explain then you can call Darius but please Megan, do not tell anyone about this. No one at all. OK?"
She nodded, "I won't daddy. I promise. Can I keep my dress on though?"
"Sure you can, until bedtime."
I found Bella talking to Carlisle who was about to go and fetch Esme. It seemed her car had broken down on the way home.
Relieved that Bella hadn't offered to go with him, I waited until Carlisle had left before explaining things to Bella who listened carefully.
She held out her arms and Megan ran into them, relieved that we finally knew everything.
"I wish you'd told us first, sweetheart. It could have gotten you into trouble with the Volturi."
She shook her head, "No, mommy. Sulpicia doesn't want me in Volterra. She liked you and daddy and she wants us to be a family. Aro would never do anything to upset Sulpicia, he loves her. Just like you love daddy."
Bella glanced at me and smiled, her eyes full of love and relief. Then she hugged Megan.
"OK. I give up. Yes, you can call Darius but we're listening in, OK? I don't want any more surprises."
She was happy enough for that, I didn't think Megan ever meant to deceive us, she didn't think or didn't understand that it could have caused terrible problems.
To his credit, the first thing Darius asked was how we all were and how things had gone with our visitors. I gave him the edited version knowing he wasn't really interested in hearing about Aro and Sulpicia although he was intrigued by the fact that Aro's wife had travelled beyond Italy. Like me, I think he suspected the Volturi had eased up on its security over the past century as any threat to them had finally disappeared.
Darius
I was shocked when I heard what Megan had done because it carried with it such danger to herself and my only real friends.
The Major explained exactly what she had done as far as she had been able to explain it to him. Then he told me that he thought from the feelings that he had experienced while the Volturi couple were at the house and as they left that Megan was probably right, that Aro would listen to his wife.
However, whether he would then do anything about it was a different matter. Aro had always gone his own way. I had tried to hate him over the centuries, tried to hate them all for denying Sara and me justice, but when it came down to it I always returned to the fact that the guilty party was Caius and Caius alone.
I could still taste that thirst for revenge even now, and feel the terrible sorrow and rage that had first overtaken me when I discovered what had happened to my darling Sara. I could have let her loss and the terrible grief destroy me. It's what usually happens to a vampire who lost his or her mate, but revenge can be stronger than anything else. It can be all-consuming and I allowed it to overtake me. It's what kept me alive if that's what you want to call my present existence.
I had spent a century eaten up by hatred and blind hunger for revenge before realizing that I would have to calm down and play the long game if I was going to achieve my goal. Caius was clever and cunning, he had powerful friends and an impregnable fortress to protect him. He was a warrior, brave even when he had an army at his back but Aro refused him any help in hunting me and Caius knew that to go it alone was an almost certain death sentence. I began my life as a warrior and had become a commander of men, a good commander and a better fighter than him.
So, he was forced to hide within the citadel, trapped within a luxurious prison. A fortress from which he dare never leave. I made sure that he understood the moment that he set foot out of those high stone walls I would be there waiting for him. I even sent him reminders from time to time so he could never forget or shake off his fear. Reminders of the crime he was guilty of and that he would never be free of the violent retribution that hovered over him like an avenging angel.
Sara would probably have hated all this, the fact that I had wasted my life looking to revenge her murder but I couldn't help that. Maybe one day I would be able to hold her in my arms once more and kiss her sweet lips, then beg her forgiveness. But for now...
They say that time heals, that you slowly forget those that you once loved, that it's our way of protecting our sanity. Maybe it's true of humans, after all they lose partners, loved ones, and find someone else in time but not vampires, or not me in any case. Maybe it was the curse of my stubborn nature and wounded pride at not being there to save my wife from abuse and death.
"So you think Aro will go for it? And even if he does, will Caius be fooled?"
"Megan seems to think so and she's been right so far."
"Caius has friends. He'll send them to look for any sign I'm still alive."
The Major hesitated and I waited patiently for a reply.
"This is between us, Darius. No one else must know."
"You have my word, Major."
"Bella has a gift. She can hide her thoughts from anyone, Aro included."
"And you assume Megan thinks Bella can hide me? That she can do more than just hide thoughts?"
"I don't think Bella will need to."
I frowned, what was he telling me? Then it clicked.
"You mean Megan? I guessed she wasn't being entirely honest about her gift. She got Bella's gift too. I mean, why would she feel particularly close to me?"
"Oh, I think Megan is close to you. I think her empathy means that she feels what you feel and she wants to help you. She wants to make it right. I suspect that she thinks more deeply than we give her credit for. She knows how much Edward hurt Bella and she knows what Caius did was wrong, even though she doesn't understand everything, and how much it hurt you. Megan couldn't put right what happened between her own parents but maybe she feels doing this might cancel that out. Does that make sense to you?"
"Yeah, It's kind of humbling. I guess I never expected to get help from a child but I guess if this plan of hers works then I should get ready to act."
"You have to keep a low profile, for now, Darius. Help Megan out and keep her safe. Caius needs to become confident that the rumors are true. Let us keep a watch for you."
While I was grateful to my friends for all they were doing I wanted to make one thing very clear.
"Just so as there's no misunderstanding, Major. Caius is mine. I will deal with him alone, in my own way."
"Understood, we just want to help you watch for your opportunity."
Jasper
I let Megan speak to Darius then. Sure that whatever they spoke about I would hear, especially if something new came up and I went to fill Bella in.
"You never told me about Megan being able to hide Darius. It's too dangerous, that should be my job."
"Do you know how? You always told me that you could only hide your thoughts. It was Megan who worked out the full scope of your gift and she's actually used it successfully."
"But she's so little, Jasper. I'm worried about her. Maybe I should try. We could experiment. She could even help me."
"Where darlin'? We don't want to tell Carlisle and Esme anymore than we already have so you can't try here and trying it out once we get back to Peter's isn't the best idea either. He would never give her or you away, but he's sure to want to help with this and Peter can be very insistent. There just isn't time, Bella."
"We don't know how long we have, Jasper. I doubt Aro will decide right away. He strikes me as the kind of man who takes his time making important decisions. Anyhow, if Peter wants to help, why not let him? He can play track the fox, Megan and I being the foxes. She'll love it and it'll give us something in common other than Edward. I'd like to try."
I understood. Since Bella had been reunited with her daughter so much had happened in such a short amount of time that they hadn't had much quality time alone.
"OK, but be warned, Peter is insistent and he hates to lose."
She grinned and kissed me, "Then it's about time he learned how isn't it?"
I shrugged, imagining Peter's hissy fits if he failed to find his quarry.
"Maybe we shouldn't tell him too much. Get him playing hide and go seek for starters. Ease him in gradually, but it means we should leave in the next couple of days just in case Aro surprises us all and moves swiftly."
"Do you think he'll give us any warning, Jasper?|
"I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sulpicia found a way to give Megan a heads up. She was very fond of our little girl."
We rejoined Megan who was chattering away to Darius, explaining all about her gifts and was delighted when Darius told her that the costume sounded just like the one Sara used to wear. We had to promise to send a photo to his phone and Megan insisted she would give him a fashion show when we got back to Peter's.
I spoke again briefly to Darius before he hung up, just to reassure myself that she had told him the same that I had and check that he would be flying back with us.
"No. I don't think that's wise. Caius knows we're friends and may track you to see if the rumors are true. I'll fly back tonight and lay low close to the ranch. I can't afford to be seen there either while you're visiting. Tell Megan not to worry though, I'll be in touch and I'll find a way to see her."
Carlisle and Esme were sad that we had to cut our visit short but we promised once we were settled into our new house we would invite them to stay. Or if that was taking too long we would visit again, for longer next time. I daren't make any firm plans because we had no idea how long it would take for Aro to act if indeed he did. Only time would tell.