Chapter Forty

Edward

A reprieve at the very last minute! The thought of driving around Mexico with Jane was more than flesh and blood could stand. She didn't leave me alone for a minute, constantly hounding me to dig out this and find that as if I was her personal servant. That she was loving every minute of lording it over me would have been apparent even if I couldn't hear her bitchy thoughts.

Jane hated me. I think she was just jealous that my gift was more useful than hers and I would soon be stepping over her to better things. Aro would forget my little faux pas and I would be sitting around that table with the great and powerful. Let her have her petty fun, it would be over soon enough.

I expected to find Aro in his study but instead, Carlisle was seated behind the highly polished oak table.

"Carlisle! I didn't think I'd see you so soon. It's been pretty awful here, such mundane tasks. Anyone could dig up information off the computer and set up an itinerary. I take it Aro has something better for me to be doing. My talents are wasted at the moment. I knew he'd see sense but I expected it to take a little…

I stopped, aware of his awkward demeanour and sad eyes.

"What's the matter? Is Esme OK?"

I couldn't think of anything else that would touch him so deeply knowing I was safe and out of harm's way.

Before he could speak I found myself able to hear some of his thoughts. Usually, he managed to hide them from me but today he was upset.

"Aro is sending me to Denali? Why?"

"Sit down, Edward."

I shook my head as more came through clearly, "You chose Esme over me? Why? We're family. Why would you choose to put me in danger?"

"Esme is my wife, I love her and she stood by me when she had every reason to walk away Edward. That's why. Aro asked me to choose between you. Who I would put in possible danger."

"Oh, right. I see. I know where I stand now. Thank God you aren't my real father or maybe you're more like him than I realized. He was a bastard too. Well, go on. Tell me what you and Aro have planned for me in Denali. Are you throwing me to the wolves quite literally?"

"Stop acting like a spoiled child, Edward. I've shielded you and turned a blind eye for far too long. I can't do it any longer. You saw to that when you left Bella alive and lied to me about it. This is your fault, your mess and you can clear it up. Do you really think I would put Esme in danger to protect you? You don't have the faintest idea what life or love is all about? Do you?"

"Spare me the sermon, you aren't your father either. Just tell me what you want me to do, or rather what Aro wants. It seems I'm not the only lackey he has."

Carlisle dropped a huge crested ring on the table and pushed it towards me.

"No thanks. I doubt it comes without strings."

"Take it to Eleazar and bring him back with you, Carmen and the girls too if they'll come."

I frowned, "Why?"

I was so angry I could no longer read his thoughts.

"Jasper has discovered that Eleazar led Maria to him. Aro thinks he may try to kill Eleazar and he's too valuable to lose."

I snatched up the ring, almost crushing it in my fist, "And I'm not, quite obviously. Why do I need this?"

"It's a sign of good faith from Aro."

"How quaint, a spy decoder ring maybe. You know what will happen if Jasper finds me there, don't you? Especially since he's been with Bella. She'll blame me for Charlie's death even though there was nothing I could have done. How was I to know Victoria would go looking for her?"

"Then I suggest you get there first. The Volturi jet is waiting."

I sneered, "Well at least I get to travel to my funeral in style. Am I going alone?"

"No. Jane will be accompanying you."

"Oh great. Hours shut up in a tin tube with the blonde harpy. The day just keeps getting better."

Carlisle got up shaking his head, "Childish petulance doesn't suit you, Edward. I'd try for a little adult humility for a change."

He swept past me and disappeared, the door shutting slowly behind him and I knew I'd lost the man I had regarded as my father since the day he changed me. The worst thing was that it was my own behaviour that had caused the breach and for pointing that out to me I hated him even more.

Jane was waiting for me outside with a grin on her face which made her look even more malevolent than usual.

"So, a nice trip overseas. What fun."

I could have answered her but that's exactly what she wanted and there was no way I was going to give her any ammo to use against me.

Instead, I ignored her barb pushing past her and headed for my room to grab a bag.

"No need to pack anything Edward, we won't be gone long enough and it's not a sightseeing tour. Come on, Demetri is waiting with the car."

I ground my teeth but followed her to the underground garage to find one of the sedans with tinted windows waiting, engine idling.

She was thinking about our work in Mexico and the fact this side trip would make us late for our meeting with the Southern Covens.

Then she turned to me, "It's a shame Maria is dead, I think she would have liked meeting you."

"Me? Why?"

She sneered, "Don't you know your friend The Major was her lover for years? She'd love to hear about him. Catch up if you get my meaning. Who knows, she might have taken a fancy to you. Do you think you would measure up as a lover? After all, your experience was with that human and she was only a child. Do you think you'd be able to handle a real woman?"

"Shut up. You know nothing."

She threw her head back and laughed, "Ouch! Hit a sore spot did I? Poor Edward. Carlisle turns his back on you and now the Volturi are sending you into the mouth of the dragon. Do you get the impression that people don't much like you?"

I tried to ignore her and stared out the window at the Italian countryside but her words kept echoing in my head. Yes, right now I did feel like I'd been thrown to the lions.

Taking a seat in the jet as far from her as possible I opened one of the magazines that were scattered around and pretended to read hoping she would get the message.

She didn't say anything but then she didn't have to and I realized that for the next few hours I was a prisoner in the jet with her and she was going to make me suffer. I heard her thoughts. She was thinking about Carlisle and Esme and how happy they were in Volterra. Esme was slowly coming around and forgiving him and Jane thought his spurning of our friendship had a lot to do with that. She even had the audacity to wonder if there was something sexual about my feelings for Carlisle!

I wanted to grab her by the throat and rip her head off then throw both out of the plane but I knew she was ready for me to react. It was just what she wanted and she was ready with her gift to stop me if I tried. The little bitch!

The flight was sheer purgatory and I couldn't wait to disembark as soon as we touched down. Jane followed sedately with a smile playing on her lips and I put my hands into my pockets in an effort to restrain myself.

Luckily she chose to let me drive, did she even have a licence? She looked far too young and maybe that was why. Whatever the reason I was relieved to have something else to think about which quietened her thoughts slightly.

"Do you think we'll beat The Major and your little girl?"

"She is not mine and I hope so. It will be far easier to get Eleazer to go with us without their interference."

"Do you think she'll try to kill you? I mean you don't need to worry, I'll protect you but it would be interesting to see what she can do."

I didn't answer her, just turned the radio on to drown out her laughter which was like fingernails on a chalkboard in my present state of mind.

I slowed down as we approached the familiar house that Eleazar and his family called home. It was surrounded by trees and looked deserted.

"Doesn't look like anyone is home."

Jane smiled, "Can't you hear the warm words of recognition and welcome from your friends?"

"No. I can't hear anything but we're too far away. You know that."

"Touchy, Edward. Play nicely. Come on, let's find out who is home."

She climbed out and waited for me to join her and as we did so the front door opened to reveal Eleazar waiting for us.

I put up my hand to prevent Jane from moving any closer.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't hear anyone else in the house and he's never usually alone."

"Stop jumping at shadows Edward, we have a job to do. Come on."

She grabbed my sleeve and almost jerked me off my feet as she propelled me towards the door.

As we got closer I tried to read Eleazar's thoughts but he too was able to shield his thoughts to a degree and all I could pick up was his apprehension. Now that was understandable, the Volturi didn't usually send Jane on friendly house calls.

He nodded in acknowledgement of us but didn't move to let us pass.

"I take it this is business?"

Jane poked me between the shoulder blades and I wondered if she was thinking it would have been nice if she could have stabbed me instead.

"Yes, Aro sent us. Go on Edward."

I was getting heartily sick of her prods and stepped away from her, taking the ring from my jacket pocket and holding it out to him.

His eyes widened as he recognized it and I noticed his hand was shaking slightly as he took it from me.

"I guess you'd better come in. Carmen and the girls are on a shopping trip so we won't be disturbed."

He led the way into his study and motioned for us to sit down as he continued to gaze at the ring in the palm of his hand.

"What's this all about?"

I waited for Jane to speak but she just gazed at me.

"Your safety, Eleazer. Jasper has discovered that you led Maria to him and Aro thinks he will be looking for revenge."

Eleazar frowned, "How? I mean no one knows except the Volturi and Carlisle. Where is Carlisle? I've been trying to reach him."

Jane beat me to it, "He's in Volterra. He and Esme are living there now. I take it the grapevine hasn't reached you yet?"

Eleazar's head jerked up and he looked at me in concern, "Volterra? Why? You too, Edward?"

Jane snorted as I hesitated and answered a now deeply worried Eleazar.

"For the same reason he's inviting you. To clear up a rather large problem that's been created. Now, we don't have much time so you should probably call your 'family' and let them know you are leaving. The jet is waiting and we don't know how close The Major is. He could be driving up at any second."

Eleazar shook his head, "No. It's a mistake. He wouldn't. Jasper is a friend, besides it all happened a very long time ago. We are both different people now."

"Really? You think so? Then you must know a very different man. I would be running as fast as I could if I heard The Major was looking for me. Still, it's your choice…"

Jane was much blunter than I would have been but she was getting the message through and I wondered if I had just been sent along so she could torment me for hours. It was the kind of thing Aro would enjoy doing.

"I can't just get up and leave. What about my things? And the girls?"

Jane shrugged, "If I were you I'd get my priorities straight. You can always get new things but you only have one life. Which would you rather lose? As for the others, I doubt they are in any immediate danger. They can pack your precious things and make their own way to Italy."

Eleazar stood, his fist tight around the ring and seemed deep in thought. Then he shook his head, "No. I won't run and hide. Caius did that and look where it got him. If Jasper is coming for me then I'd rather face him man to man."

"He'll kill you. You know his reputation."

"Nevertheless I'm staying."

"Aro will be disappointed. He was looking forward to having the gang back together. Just like old times."

I just wanted us to get as far away from this place as possible before Jasper turned up. He and I had not parted on the best of terms and I had no idea if Bella was still with him. Aro had said they were together and Esme seemed to think there was something between them which was just disgusting but it might make them less than happy to see me. Besides, I had a feeling that Jane wouldn't be too eager to come to my aid if things went badly. Aro might value me but she didn't care and I knew she could come up with some story that he would believe. Jane was one of his precious gifts after all.

"Perhaps you should speak to Aro before making such a decision, Eleazar."

He studied me as if I were something strange and annoying.

"You think I need to speak to him after he sent you with this ring? I know what it means. Aro always wanted me back in Volterra and he thinks this is his opportunity to get me there. I'm not Carlisle, Edward. I won't be dragged back there, I hated it and when I finally got my freedom I vowed nothing would induce me to return. I'd rather die here than spend the rest of eternity a prisoner in the citadel. I value my freedom and I thought Carlisle did too. It seems I was wrong. Here…"

He handed back the ring and rubbed his palms together as if it had somehow contaminated his skin.

"Tell Aro thank you, but I'll take my chances here."

As far as I was concerned that was it and I dropped the ring in my pocket and turned to Jane. "Let's go. You heard Eleazar, he's not coming."

She smiled contemptuously at me, "Ready to run Edward? Like a frightened little rabbit. I'm amazed you survived this long."

Ignoring her I made for the door, "You stay if you like, I'm leaving now."

I had been so wrapped up in Eleazar's thoughts and fearing to linger here that I'd missed it.

As I opened the door I gasped and stepped back in horror. I had found myself staring into Jasper's face and at his shoulder stood Bella.