Chapter Info

Title: Finding friends and allies ….

Number: 8/?

Warnings: Language, teenage angst, mentions of violence.

Author's Note: The amount of times I've rewritten this chapter to make sure it works. So yeah if it doesn't, I'm sorry.

- ʚɞ -

- Unknown -

The stale smell of cleaning products clung to the air as the raven haired female lounges idly in the hospital chair. Her hands crossed against her stomach as she looked out the window, watching the way the colours bled from night to day, blues and purples giving way to yellows and oranges. The sweet innocence of a new day capturing her attention and leaving her watching it with wonder. Savouring the simple fact that a new day had come and she'd been able to witness it.

Yet despite the almost childlike wonder that overtook her as she watched the day, her attention is also firmly locked on the male in the bed next to him. Her hearing listening to his strong heartbeat, signalling he was alive, and the rattling of his breath as his lungs fought to work in his battered chest. The bruising constructing and painting their way across his skin, causing a battle that right now the Chief was winning.

He had been all but squashed by a wolf and was currently alive enough to tell the tale. His body was placed into light sedation so he could rest. And sure maybe she'd had something to do with that. But she respected the male, and wished to see him make a full recovery. So if that meant he took a long overdue nap. Then she was going to do it.

After all she seemed to be the only one that did care. Well that was supernatural anyway. After throwing the wolf into the chief the Cullen's had soon taken off. Their worried asses disappeared as quickly as possible and when she had gone to their house a few hours later, it was completely empty. Every single one of their belongings now missing as were the audacious cars they all drove.

They'd run off like cowards.

Or they'd finally started the process of gathering the people they needed to go up against Jasper, and simply chose this as the perfect time to start. Either way she was still craving a fight, wishing her blades had been able to sink into the marbled flesh of the Cullen's. And finally rid the world of that blight. Honestly she wished she could find the vampire who had turned Carlisle in the first place and make him regret ever sinking his teeth into the blonde's neck. But if the rumours were true, Carlisle's sire was long dead.

Shame really.

She had been able to dole out justice to the wolf though. His teen sensibilities having taken offence when she called him out for his idiotic move and he had gone for her. Wanting nothing more than to sink his claws and teeth into her skin and she had welcomed it. Welcomed the action as the moment he had struck, she had placed a well aimed punch into the wolfs jaw. Sending him reeling and crashing through the thin wall into the chief's kitchen.

That had been enough to send the other humans scattering and from there a huge fight had occurred, all the other wolves wanting to protect their brother. And she had laid them all out like the children they were. The fight had been short lived but it was enough to warn the wolves away. To let them know that the Chief had a protector and she was far more dangerous than even they could comprehend.

She was a monster.

"Bells. "

Head snaps in the direction of the chief. Still lost in the sedation and yet the words drawl from his lips, lazy and sluggish and addled by the drugs in his system. Sighing softly she reaches over and curls her hand around his jaw. Thumb idly tracing circles on his cheek as a soft smile worms its way onto her lips.

"Sleep chief; you're safe. "

Her voice is soft as it disappears into the air around them, yet the tenor is enough to quell whatever demons were currently plaguing his thoughts as the chief settles once more. Turning in the chair to look at him, her eyes drink in his every feature and she finds herself growing more and more protective as the seconds pass. Something inside of her, wanting to protect him. Protect his humanity, his sense of self with everything she had.

"You're one of a kind chief. " she whispers silently

As there was no doubt inside of her, that soon the Cullen's would come to use the chief as a weapon. She had seen that, inside his own house. He was simply a pawn in their game to get the newborn and that alone pissed her off more and wished she could have killed them. But she made a vow, one as old as her, that from now on. No one would get to him.

She'd kill them first.

Tilting her head, she cant help but wonder what it is about him that caused such protective urges. She had spent her whole life around humans. Dancing in and out of their lives for the last three thousand years. She had seen humans come and go and not once did she truly care about them. It wasn't an evil choice, it was just the default of being immortal. Everyone was going to die, everyone but her.

And yet here she was willing to risk her life, not for Peter, not for Jasper and definitely not for the newborn she'd never met. But definitely for the male before her.

Maybe it was the fact he reminded her of her husband.

The way Charlie Swan would go to any limits for those he cared about. He was loyal and it was an integral part of his whole self but at the same time, he could be a manipulative bastard to get what he wanted. And beneath his soft exterior he was a dangerous man. He knew it and it showed in some of his actions. But he chose to be the man he was. The soft and gentle man who was everyone's best friend. It was honourable and something she respected. And despite her husband having an adversion to humans. She knew he'd respect the chief as well.

Which was good. Given the direction her thoughts were going.

Shifting her eyes to the door as the nurse walks in, she lets them trail out into the waiting area. Where she can see the pps were still gathered, waiting to hear any news regarding the chief's health. The Chief of the tribe was there as well, someone she knew was Charlie's friend and yet it does nothing to quell the glare in her eyes. Or the way her lips curled into a dangerous smirk.

After all it had been his son who had caused the damage, who had shifted in the eyes of the humans and then gone crashing into Charlie. So why should she play nice?

She smirks as Chief Black shifts in his seat before turning to look the other way, not wanting to meet her eyes. It was amusing to say the least and she instead turned to look back at the nurse and double check what the woman was doing. Shifting she reaches for her phone to see a text from Peter but ignores it for now, there was more important things than listening to the vampire version of Yoda.

Plus it'd teach the prick some patience.

- Peter -

There were two things Peter was absolutely sure of; the first was that his sire Jasper was definitely in a world of shit that was going to be hard to climb out of. Carlisle Cullen, had many friends. Despite the fact that the Cullen patriarch was considered something of a joke within the vampire world, not only for his weird ass diet. But also for the way the male seemed to forget that he was no longer human. His heart hadn't beaten in centuries and yet there he was, being human.

It was of course no hidden fact that all vampires interacted with humans in some way. They had too, not only to get their meal for the day but because it was the safest way to move from town to town. But all vampires knew to keep interactions to a minimum, to not leave a mark as they did and thus once that vampire had left town. The humans forgot about the whole thing. Never knowing a predator had moved amongst them. Which in turn kept the secret of vampires well and truly hidden. The main rule the vampire community had.

But of course Carlisle was different.

For years he had moved his little coven from town to town, immersed them in high school and himself in the local hospital. Getting closer to the blood bags than even Peter could understand. But this closeness was a double edged sword as every time the family moved, whispers about them circulated the small town. The humans were getting closer and closer to knowing just what the strange family was. Thus the Cullen Patriarch was toeing the lines of the rules. And flaunting a past relationship with Aro as he did so. As though that relationship would get him out of trouble.

It made Peter both a mix of pissed off and amused as hell.

Yet despite all this, and the way Carlisle seemed to flaunt every single rule that existed to keep vampires safe. He had many friends around the world. Ranging from coven leaders to nomads, from England to the larger cities in Europe. Carlisle knew someone. And those friends in particular would come to his aid over something that was pretty much a sacred law in their society.

The stealing of a claimed mate.

It was an archaic claim in their world, the way a male could say a female was his, even if she wasn't. More so when that female in question was human. For the mate bond was much weaker on 'her' side, hampered by the human sensibilities and their natural defences at something that isn't quite normal. The only way to argue them is when the female is changed, but sometimes by then the male has so much control over said female, it is now null and void. She was his mate. It was rare that the female vampire was able to stand up and say that he wasn't her mate, that she felt nothing for him. But it had happened, and in those times the Volturi had stepped in and dealt out justice to the male for keeping the female from her true mate. But again it was rare.

It was the reason, Peter knew, that Edward wanted to keep Bella human. To keep her from realising the truth and to keep her well and truly under his thumb. His reward for being able to resist his singer, and Carlisle in all his stupid wisdom would have let it. Thanks to that claim. And now with Jasper having 'stolen' Bella and turned her against her mates wishes, well Carlisle could call in every favour he had, and all but guaranteeing a war was on the horizon.

It was also why Peter had the feeling Carlisle would let his ego and his stupidity do the talking and contact the Volturi. Hoping to use that past relationship to get them on his side. Of course it wouldn't work if he had to go to them, but again Carlisle was a smooth talker. A silver tongue almost, and it wouldn't surprise Peter if he could convince them down the phone, without ever having to go in front of them. All but guaranteeing the biggest weapons in war, were on Carlisle's side.

But Peter was built for war. As was his sire.

The second thing Peter was completely sure about; was that the male across from him was one scary bastard. Now Peter had met a lot of vampires in his second life, he had fought against even more. But never had one vampire's simple presence caused Peter to be thankful his bladder no longer worked. Even in the most relaxed stance of them all, the male just radiated power.

Demetri; otherwise known as 'The Tracker'. Was one of the most dangerous males in the Volturi's arsenal. There was not a vampire alive that could hide from him, once he had a hook on someone's mind he could find anyone that vampire had ever come into contact with. No matter the distance, or location that vampire tried to hide. Basically the asshole was the king of hide and seek. Making him the most dangerous, for how do you hide from someone like that.

But he wasn't only dangerous for that reason.

Everyone knew there were four Elite guard members of the Volturi. Demetri, the twins Jane and Alec, and the giant Felix. But what many didn't know was that Demetri was the 'Captain' of the guard. Aka it was him who trained all the little bastards under him and had been doing so for the last two thousand plus years. The reason the guard was so deadly and organised was because of this one male.

Peter had heard the rumours about how some believed he'd never taught the guard everything he knew. And as Peter now sat in front of the male in question, Demetri's red eyes casually scanned the small pub without a care in the world. It was safe to say Peter believed that rumour. He didn't need his gift to know that there were many things this man was keeping to himself. They'd shared four sentences so far and Peter knew that for a fact.

Meaning Peter had to tread very lightly, or he was officially kissing his ass goodbye.

The phone on the table rings before Peter can say another word and as he reaches forward, he can see Jaspers name flashing on the screen. Demetri's gaze now also looking at the piece of technology as long fingers wrap around the stem of his wine glass.

"Hello Jas"

His voice is cheery and it makes Demetri roll his eyes, a small giggle filtering down the speaker lets the two vampires know that that Jasper also has company.

"Captain, you've been neglectin' ta' check in."

Those words are enough to drop ice down Peter's back. The cadence changing and alerting Peter that gone was his fun loving sire, and instead in his place was the male who had all but physically dragged him through war. The male who had kicked his ass all over the south and tuned Peter into the fighter he was today. if the Major was out, then Jasper was no longer messing around.

"Major!" his voice slightly breathless.

"Now, wanna tell me wha's been happening tha ya've been too busy ta, check in?"

The words have Demetri cocking his head as he looks at Peter, who for that moment was trying to digest the fact Jasper was angry. Or was he. When it came to his sire he was never sure. After all the male was an empath meaning he knew emotions better. And thus could turn them into weapons if he so wished.

"Well for one, Sir. i've been tryna find a way tha's stops us going ta war over tha lil lady. An then of course there was an incident in Forks ta deal with"

A swift curse fell off Peter's lips as his mind catches up with the words he had just spoken. He had this realy bad habit of not being able to hide stuff from Jasper, proven by the way he had just spilled those details. A soft snort had his eyes snapping towards Demetri. The male no doubt amused by the whole situation. Yet for a moment Peter is distracted looking at the male, as with his lips slightly crooked in amusement. He truly did look like his Greek human self. His skin showed the slight tan that spoke of his heritage.

It was disconcerting.

"What about Forks?"

The question brings Peter back to reality and he sighs softly.

"There was an' incident' with the lil lady's papa but tha' has been resolved. Safe ta say some of the local dogs got put ta sleep for a lil while, and Charlie's takin' a well rested nap in tha hospital"

"An who's watching Charlie now?"

There is a long pause before Peter speaks again. "Char's watchin' him."

He was lying of course. Char was around the corner in a hotel waiting for him, his mate never being from his side for long. But Jasper didn't need to know that. Yet of course his sire knew him too well and read the pause for wat it was. A lie.

"I don't appreciate being lied to, Peter. So i'll say this once. Get here soon!. "

A swift sigh falls off Peter's lips as he lowers the phone; the conversation with his sire still rumbling around his head like a herd of warhorses. He hated lying, hated that right now Jasper was kept in the dark. But it had to be this way; the steps he was making were the ones that were needed to make sure that they all lived to see the new year.

"Now; shall we continue. "

Blinking back to reality at the words spoken, he levels his crimson eyes on the fellow occupant of his small table. Unlike Peter after that call, Demetri was relaxed, shown in the way he leaned back in his chair, one arm thrown lazily over his stomach, the other resting on the table with long fingers wrapped around the rim of a wine glass. His legs, long - and promising that Peter wouldn't win if he ran - were just as relaxed with one crossed over his knee. But Peter wasn't fooled, he knew that Demetri was ready to run at a moment's notice.

Peter also couldn't help comparing how the two were dressed either. He was wearing his usual jeans and shirt, aged cowboy boots on his feet and his faithful stetson resting on the table at his elbow. He was every inch the cowboy he'd always been - even when human - and he had no shame in that fact. Yet the male before him was a different specimen altogether.

The suit Demetri was wearing was most definitely customised to fit him the way it did. From the way Peter could tell the shirt clung to his muscles, just as the jacket did. To the way the trousers encompassed long legs. It was definitely not a suit you walked into a store and bought off a rack. But what was most definitely custom made was the long robe that hung delicately on the back of the chair. Its fabric so black it was slowly swallowing every inch of light in the room, and its meaning was so sinister that Peter couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine.

And of course there was that blasted crest around his neck.

"We shall, Demetri. "

Leaning back in his seat, Peter brings his beer to his lips and takes a long swig. Letting the alcohol drip down his throat before lowering it. Taking a huge deep breath as he lowers the bottle, he launches into his story. Starting from the beginning with the details he knew regarding Edward and Bella and then taking the story right to this moment, the moment that had him sitting across from one of the most dangerous vampires in the world.

"It's not the first time Edwards played with a human. The Volturi has had to clean up a few of his instances"

Peter knew as much, as it had been their job before it was Peter himself that started. That unwavering loyalty to his sire meaning that if Jasper called, Peter hauled his ass to whatever town they left and cleaned up. To say he was getting tired of it was an understatement and it was something he owed a beating to Jasper over. As quite literally after sixty plus years, there were better things he could be doing with his time.

"What makes this one different?"

The question is rhetorical but enough to piss Peter off. "Well for one he claimed her as his mate. Which is bullshit given she's tha' majors mate. But more than tha, he told her what he was. He didn' do tha wit' tha others."

A brow climbs high on Demetri's face as Peter reveals that certain slice of information. After all it was no mistaking that Demetri was already aware that Bella's knowledge made her different as again Edward had nev shared what he was. He had simply played with the humans and made them toys. Alice too enjoying the task of turning the unsuspecting humans into her play things.

It was the knowledge that Bella was Jasper's mate. Something Peter had been aware of since the newborn started changing, his gift whispering all the juicy details from the newborn started to change. And sure revealing such a weakness for his sire was a bit out there. He knew Demetri wouldn't use it as a weapon. After all the male was mated himself.

Something again that very few knew.

"Jasper didn' know tha' lil darlin' was his mate at first. As he respected Edwards claim, tha' an of course he hadn't spent much time around her. But know his venom runs in her veins, he's about ta start learnin' it."

Demetri hums before taking a sip of his wine. "Not even when these inept vampires came for Bella."

"Nope as Jas basically went inta soldier mode. His instincts screamin ta protect Bella but he didn' realise tha was wha' it was. Our default setting bein tha of doin' whatever we can for our mates. To fight till we're dead, anythin' and everythin' for our mates. You know tha one"

A brow raises on Demetri's face as he processes the words. "And I take it Carlisle was none the wiser?"

Peter snorts, the whole action rattling his body.

"Carlisle wanted his son happy, you know tha'. He'd have fuckin' turned a nun if it meant Edward got out of his depressed mood for once. But he bought Edwards claims and now as Edwards' sire, has ta do what he can ta right Edward's reputation. Meaning he will call in his favours"

"It doesn't surprise me about Carlisle" Demetri hums before closing his eyes briefly, something that told Peter his past sentence had simply confirmed the thoughts already raging in the trackers head. "And given the fact that right now he's in Ireland, your thoughts about him calling in favours is definitely correct."

Peter curses harshly, his fingers tightening on his beer bottle to the point he could hear the glass start to crack slightly. Letting the object go before he gains any attention from the humans he leans further back in his seat.

"Wha' about goin' ta Aro? every fucker knows he has a soft spot for Carlisle."

Peter didn't mean his words as sarcastically as they came off his lips and from the harsh look that Demetri sends his way, he almost wishes he could take them back. But the damage was done and now all Peter could do was ride it out and pray he got to see his mate one more time.

"Aro lets Carlisle get away with shit because of him wanting Edward and Alice. Nothing more." Demetri hums "But if you're correct in saying that Miss Swan is in fact Jasper's mate, then Aro will not back Carlisle in this. After all, Jasper Whitlock is another vampire that Aro has been wanting to 'collect' since he earned his name in the southern wars"

The grin on Demetri's face was again another reason Peter was saying his thanks to the vampire gods that his bladder no longer worked. As the sinister curl to it was enough for him to have quite literally pissed himself. In this moment Peter was convinced that Demetri was indeed forged by Satan. Or at least was Satans' favourite demon. As there was nothing even remotely human or kind about him.

And here he was asking for his help.

"Not exactly comfortin', knowin' tha my sire is also wanted for war crimes" Peter spits petulantly

His words are nothing more than a grasp at regaining some of the control that Demetri had inadvertently stolen with his simple presence. But also because Peter knew his statement to be fact, hell he was wanted for war crimes which is why for a majority of this conversation that small voice in his head had been screaming that he was an idiot. To willingly hand himself to the tracker like a fucking gift wrapped present.

"Who is actually watching the newborns father?" Demetri asks smoothly, waving off Peter's mood with ease. "As I know your lovely mate is around the corner. So who is it?"

Clicking his tongue, Peter takes a large swig of his beer before reaching for his cigarettes. Lighting one he inhales the toxic smoke as he churns through the possibilities of actually telling Demetri who it was that was playing babysitter. The main outcome would be that Peter would indeed be dead, but there was also the possibility that this simple statement would be the one thing that secured the Volturi as their allies. Not Carlisle's.

"Karina Stormborne" he replies coyly

A hiss falls off Demetri's lips, before darkening red eyes level on Peter. The hidden demon inside the tracker was growing closer to the surface with every passing second. And the masochist part of Peter was amused at the fact he was the one who brought it out and was currently breathing still. A feat not many had ever accomplished. As most who brought it out, died quickly. Yet here he sat.

For now.

"And how exactly did you manage to persuade my mate to babysit"

- ʚɞ -

A / N: Reviews are love and highly appreciated - So this got long. But I couldn't keep editing it anymore. As it was just getting out of hand so yeah i hope you enjoy it.

Also we now know Mystery Lady's name and her LOVELY connection to Demetri. So shall we see what the next chapter brings ?

- ʚɞ -

And thank you all for your votes on the other story. It is becoming a Paul/Bella story. And shall be posted soon. I'm just trying to get a few chapters written for it first. As it's a little harder getting into the head of 'Adult' Bella than it should be. Given ya know i've never actually written her as a main chara before. She's always been a 'starring' role more or less.