Chapter Seventy
Peter
Something was very fucked up. As soon as the plane landed in Finland I could feel it although I still couldn't connect the fucking dots. Yet when I turned my phone back on and saw the number of messages I had missed I knew this was all part of the same cluster fuck.
Renting a car I headed for the border although something told me I was too late to be of any help, whatever the problem was.
As soon as I was out of the city I pulled over and began catching up with those same messages and each one hit a little harder. Megan was a mess. She had attacked Charlotte and was now in the clutches of the Volturi. What I still didn't see was how all this connected with the trouble I had sensed in Russia but it had to. My gift was screaming at me to get my fucking act together.
I called Charlotte, relieved to hear her voice, especially once she explained that she was fine. Before we had time to get into what exactly had happened she told me that the Major wanted to talk and that it was urgent.
"Where are you, Captain?"
"You're not going to believe this but I'm about 80 miles from the Russian border and closing fast. I don't know why, but I get the feeling my alarm bells and what happened to Megan are connected."
"That makes sense I guess. Before she left Megan slipped a note into my hand. It seems Alec is behind everything. He's been watching her and saw what happened at the country club. It gave the little bastard an idea. He started putting pressure on Megan to leave. To go to Volterra, back to him.
He was telling her how dangerous she was, how she'd never survive out in the world and she was vulnerable enough to start believing his bull shit. Then when she lost it and attacked Charlotte he hit her with it. Apparently he blamed Darius for losing Megan and decided to do a little sleuthing of his own. He discovered Darius's whereabouts and now Alec has him a prisoner somewhere.
He warned Megan that if she told anyone he would kill Darius. Told her that he was sending the Volturi after her and she'd better do exactly what he said or… Well, you get the drift."
I cursed, the little fucker! Now that was one little weasel who deserved to die a slow agonizing death.
"So, I felt the danger to Darius because he's important to Megan. He must have been in Russia at some point. That's if you can believe a word that little fucker utters."
"I believe him. It's the only thing that makes sense. He knew he'd lost Megan and he's even more desperate not to be alone again. He knew the only way to get her back was to threaten someone she loves and it would be far too dangerous to take a stand against me or Bella for that matter, so he chose to attack her at her weakest point."
'Do you think Darius is still alive? If I were Alec I'd kill him right off. Keeping him alive would be too fucking dangerous."
"Alec has to keep him alive for a while at least. Megan isn't stupid, she's going to want proof of life."
"So my little trip was wasted? Fuck it"
"Maybe not. Alec couldn't risk bringing Darius to Volterra and if he was captured in Russia then maybe that's where he's being held or it might give us a trail to follow. Megan won't do anything to put Darius at risk. So long as Alec has him he holds the upper hand. We have to get Darius free and quickly. I don't trust Alec."
"OK. So I keep looking. What if I find him? Do you think he'll be well guarded?"
"No, I doubt it. Alec can't trust many people and once he uses his gift on Darius he'd be easy enough for one person to handle. Alec just needed somewhere safe to stash his body."
"Just how long and how far does Alec's gift stretch?"
'I have no idea, but Carlisle might. I can't go to the council without proof and all I have is Megan's note. If she has any proof it must be with her but she won't hand it over in case it endangers Darius."
I groaned, why was nothing ever fucking simple?
"Right. Then I'll keep searching. Keep in touch and Major"
"Yes?"
"Look after Charlotte for me."
"I will. You have my word."
Bella
Jasper had stood watching the open door until Megan and her Volturi captors had disappeared from sight, a strange look in his eyes.
Only once he was sure that they were gone did he close the door and walk over to the window opening his fist to reveal a folded note.
"What's that?"
"I don't know. Megan slipped it to me before she left."
I stood at his side as he unfolded the note to reveal a scrawl of words hurriedly written in Megan's hand.
"Dad, I need your help more than ever right now. I am so sorry for everything. I was stupid and acted like a brat but I couldn't do anything to put it right after I heard from Alec. When I shut myself in my room I began getting mail from him. He knew what had happened and persuaded me that the only safe thing to do would be to go to Italy where he could protect me.
Then when I told him I was going to trust in you and mom to sort things out and accept my punishment whatever it might be he bragged that he had Darius a prisoner somewhere safe and if I didn't do exactly what he said then he, Alec, would kill him.
I have to go to Volterra and do whatever Alec wants until I know that Darius is free. Please find him for me and save him. I love you both so much and want to make things right but please understand that I can't risk Darius' life. I won't do that. Love Meg xx
Jasper
I was almost blind with rage. I wanted to chase after the Volturi and snatch my daughter from them, but I heard her tiny voice once more. So low that I was forced to strain to hear the words. "Dad, I love you. Don't try to stop them, please. This will explain everything."
Charlotte was comforting Bella when her phone rang and we finally heard from Peter and I was relieved to find we had a head start on the problem at hand. If anyone could track down where Darius was or at least where he had been and maybe where Alec had taken him, even if only to give us a ballpark area to search it was Peter.
When I told Bella I was going to join Peter she wanted to accompany me but I shook my head.
"Alec might be suspicious and I'm sure Sulpicia or Marcus will be in touch soon, not to mention Carlisle and Esme. I doubt they can keep Megan's arrival a secret for long. I need you here as my eyes and ears. Peter and I will find Darius and free him. Then we'll have something to take to the Volturi. Enough to free Megan and have Alec arrested."
"Poor Megan. She must have been so depressed to even think about believing Alec but thank God she resisted his lies. If only she'd explained what was happening instead of cutting herself off from us we could have helped."
I put a hand on her cheek, "My love, she acted the way any woman would when her mate is threatened. And it explains why Darius never came back. That little shit got to him before he could. I just hope and pray he hasn't disposed of Darius as a threat. After all, he saw what Darius did to Caius."
Bella swallowed hard, "You don't think Darius is dead, do you? That would destroy Megan."
"Put it this way. I wouldn't kill my prisoner if there was the slightest chance I might need to give proof of life and Alec is dead set on getting his hands on Megan, so no. I don't think Alec is that stupid. I certainly hope not."
Bella agreed to contact Carlisle and Esme and ask them to keep an eye on Megan without telling them anything about Darius. I didn't trust them to remain silent and we couldn't afford to tip our hand to Alec. Not until we had located Darius and made him safe.
Peter
What a fucking mess but just the sort of thing you could expect of the fucking Voturi. Well, if Alec had gotten Megan to Volterra he must be pretty certain he had total control over her. So, what was his next move? Had he thought it through? Had she?
Alec might promise to keep Darius alive so long as she did whatever he wanted which was pretty obvious, he was already hearing the sound of wedding bells. However, once he had Megan as his legal wife he would no longer need Darius. After all, Megan would be trapped in his web and I'll bet he could persuade Chelsea or Corin to make Megan happy to stay in Volterra.
He couldn't risk Darius remaining alive, getting free and coming to claim his mate and it was obvious to anyone with a single fucking brain cell that only a mate would give up her freedom for the life of another.
No, the minute Alec had Megan trapped Darius was as good as dead which meant our window of opportunity was closing too fucking fast.
The Major was going to join me but I couldn't afford to wait for him, time wasted could mean Darius' death and Megan's eternal misery in the citadel.
I swallowed my pride and made a call I had hoped never to make, to a certain Jacqueline. A nomad I had a short fling with when Charlotte and I went through a rough patch after escaping from Maria. She said we should hang around and try to persuade the Major to join us but I wanted to get as far from Mexico as possible so we'd argued and I had stormed off expecting her to join me.
She hadn't and I had run into Jacqueline while still pissed. It hadn't lasted but from time to time I still heard from her. She had a gift that could prove invaluable if I could persuade her to help and if I was lucky she would be home in Estonia, her place of birth. Not too far from here.
As always she was pleased to hear from me and that turned to delight when I told her I wanted to meet as soon as possible, even when I told her why and especially when I told her where I was.
"You're in luck, Petie, I'm in Tallinn so I can hop on the ferry and be with you in a couple of hours. We can find somewhere cosy and discuss old times."
"Look, I'll be honest with you. I don't have a lot of time. This is urgent."
"Now Petie, if I scratch your back, you have to scratch mine. That's how it works, remember?"
I groaned, this was the last thing I wanted, but I needed her help if we were to reach Darius in time.
"OK. I'll meet you at the ferry terminal, but I don't have much time."
"Never mind. I guess you could always owe me."
I did not want this hanging over me so I grudgingly agreed I would make time and she agreed to come. I just hoped if it ever came out that Charlotte would understand unless of course, I could persuade Jacqueline to take another form of payment.
She hadn't changed a bit, she still wore her hair tied back to show off her long slender neck and sculpted shoulders. When she saw me she broke into a warm smile and ran over to greet me as if we were long parted lovers, much to my discomfort.
"Peter, just as I remember you. Now, where are you going to take me? I thought we might try the new hotel in town. It's very expensive but the honeymoon suite is to die for."
"Look, I'll be honest with you Jacquie, I really don't have time to play around and I'm still with Charlotte."
She pouted theatrically then to my amazement stood back and laughed.
"Poor little Petie, you should have seen your expression when I ran up and kissed you. It was just like a deer startled by headlights and its approaching doom. I was only teasing you. I wouldn't come between you and your mate. What we had was a spontaneous burst of madness. It was pretty damn amazing though. Even you have to admit that."
I nodded smiling at the memory, it had been fucking amazing but then brushed all thoughts of that aside.
"Great. I don't have much money with me either. This was kind of spur of the moment."
She shook her head and threaded her arm in mine.
"Come on. Let's take a walk and you can tell me what you need. This is a freebie for old times sake and because it was nice to hear your voice again. I understand the Major joined you eventually. Is it true that he married Edward Cullens ex? I've heard lots of rumors."
I told her just enough to satisfy her curiosity but she hadn't changed. Jacquie was more interested in talking than listening and soon changed the subject.
"Come on then. What or whom do you need to trace? Oh, tell me it's another woman. No, wait, perhaps not. Go on."
She listened quietly as I explained that a friend of ours was in trouble and needed our help.
"You mean you and the Major I take it? This friend of yours is he in trouble with the.." She hesitated, Jacquie was not a fan of the Volturi and hated even speaking their name.
"Yes and no. Not officially. This is a private matter. One the council doesn't know about and we can't turn to them for help. I just need to know where he is, as close as you can get."
"Did you bring me anything?"
I nodded, pulling a photo from my jacket pocket and handing it to her.
She glanced at it sighing deeply.
'You know I do better with something personal."
"Well, I 'm sorry I couldn't supply a pair of his boxers."
She grinned and reminded me just why I had been unable to resist her in the past.
"I'd rather have them with him inside. Who is he by the way? He's very sexy."
I rolled my eyes, she hadn't changed a bit.
"Never mind. He's spoken for. Now can you tell me where he is, or not?"
"Down boy. Give me a minute."
She held the photograph between her hands and closed her eyes concentrating on her gift. It didn't always work and even if it did it wasn't always precise. I just hoped this wasn't one of those days.
After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and frowned looking at me hard.
"What aren't you telling me?"
"I'm not telling you anything, Jacquie. Why?"
"He's being shielded by someone very powerful."
"Shielded?"
"Yes. As in someone doesn't want him to be found shielded. It's strong but there is something else going on. If I didn't know better I would think Alec Volturi was involved, but you wouldn't bring me trouble, now would you, Petie?"
I stared at her as things began to fall into place.
"You didn't know, did you? Well, that makes me feel better. I'd say your friend here is in serious trouble. Alec Volturi is trying to keep him within his gift. I hate that, it's such a creepy thing to lose all your senses. Like being dead."
Impatiently I broke into her wanderings.
"Jacquie, you said trying. What did you mean?"
"I'm not sure. Something is interfering with Alec's gift. Not much, but just enough to allow me to give you an idea of where to look."
I was so relieved that I pulled her close and kissed her before I could stop myself and she pushed herself into my body.
"Well, if I'd have known you'd be this grateful I would have stuck out for my original price. Still, never mind."
"Thank you. You have no idea how much help you've been."
She pulled a face.
"I wouldn't get too excited. By my reckoning, he's in or very close to Volterra."
I groaned, of course he was. Alec would want him close by to keep him under control and accessible. Maybe he was close enough to Megan for her gifts to be providing interference. If so I was grateful to the little prick.
I took Jacquie into town and bought her a pair of earrings. She collected them and was delighted when I told her to choose whichever ones she liked.
I was hoping she wouldn't choose an expensive jeweller because funds were getting pretty fucking low but she found a pair of unicorns in crystal that didn't break the Whitlock bank and we parted back at the ferry.
"Good luck Petie. I have a feeling you're going to need it. See you again I hope."
I watched as the ferry left the quayside and then went to call the Major with an update.
