Chapter Forty Six
Jasper
I opened my eyes to find myself in a small windowless stone-walled building, the only illumination coming from a tiny chink in the roof. The room was empty except for a thick layer of dust on the concrete slab floor scuffed by the feet of whoever had brought me here.
Getting to my feet I examined the room for weak points but the stones were laid tightly with no gaps between them. The floor was solid and the roof consisted of stone tiles bolted down to the walls and a thick metal girder that held it up.
Shaking my head to clear the heavy feeling in my brain I closed my eyes and thought back. What was going on? How the hell had I ended up here? Wherever here was!
The last thing I could remember clearly was sitting on the hill waiting for dawn and congratulating myself on evading my pursuers. Peter would be seething that he hadn't caught me and I knew that I would have to watch my back. This was my last day alone. By this time tomorrow, I would be waiting with bated breath to see my beautiful bride.
I missed Bella, but I didn't begrudge her the time with our friends. I just hoped that Esme had managed the two-day break so she enjoyed herself.
Our cabin was almost finished. There was still a little painting to be done and then the furniture Peter and I had built could go in. I just hoped Bella would be pleased with her new home.
So, how had I gotten from there to this place? I knew I wasn't on the ranch any longer. The air felt different, warmer and dustier. It reminded me of my years in Mexico.
Maybe I had underestimated Peter. Was he responsible for my present captivity? If so, how had he incapacitated me? It was one thing to overcome someone physically but a whole different thing to completely overwhelm a vampire's senses. I felt like a human who had been unconscious for some time.
How long had I been here? Had I been missed? If this wasn't Peter's handiwork then whose? I had to get out of here. I needed to get back to the ranch before the wedding. No way in hell was I going to let Bella down.
Putting my hands against the door I pushed against it but there was something wrong. It was as if I was trying to push through a layer of thick treacle. What was wrong with me? The door flexed slightly but I didn't have the strength to break it open. I studied my hands, they looked almost translucent. Blinking fast I looked again. Everything seemed slightly out of focus. What the hell was going on here?
I leaned against the wall and slid down until I was sitting on my haunches opposite the door. Whatever was going on I had no intention of being surprised by anyone foolish enough to enter.
All I could do was wait and hope whatever was influencing me now would fade. As soon as I felt more like myself I would find a way out of this box. It was pointless and futile to expend more energy until I was more in control of my body.
A voice spoke out from a speaker placed high on one wall, tinny but clear enough.
"Ah, Major. I understand you're back with us. I wondered how long it would be. That's the trouble with new gifts. You never know how they'll work. Still, it did what was needed. What a shame you'll miss your big day. I wonder if your bride will wait, hoping you'll return to her? What do you think?"
I thought I knew the voice but I couldn't put a name to it, my brain was still fogged.
"You think you can keep me here?"
The laughter was genuine, "Oh, Major. I think I can keep you here long enough and that's all that matters."
"Long enough for what? Who are you?"
"I'm surprised that you don't recognize me, Major. Still, that's all to the good."
"Why don't you come in and let me see you?"
"You must think I'm stupid, Major. I think I'm safer with you not knowing. Just shout if you want anything. Not that it will make any difference, I just don't want you thinking that we're being inhospitable."
The speaker cut off and racked my brain to put a name to the voice. It was someone I hadn't heard from in a long time. Was this something to do with Maria? Or was I just linking the thought of Mexico and the heat with her? I didn't trust my thought processes, not yet.
It was quiet again now. I couldn't hear anyone moving around. The only sounds were the wind and an occasional bird flying by. So, I was away from civilization, in the middle of nowhere, when I should be at the ranch getting ready for my wedding.
To hell with this! What I needed was to get out of here, kill whoever was gloating out there and get back to Bella. I didn't have time to wait until whatever was influencing me wore off.
I sat for a while longer and felt my head begin to clear. I had no idea how long I had to get back to Boulder but my captor had told me that there was still time, theoretically at least.
Clenching my fists I felt my strength returning. Was it enough to get me out of here? Well, I guess there was only one way to find out.
I walked over to the door but decided that would probably have been reinforced or was being watched. It was the first place a prisoner tried as an escape route. Instead, I stared at the roof. It was probably my best bet and with a slight bend of my knees, I propelled myself upwards and grabbed the thick metal girder.
I probably couldn't bend that for now but I could use it as a perch and began to put pressure on the bolts pushing them upwards through the holes drilled for them as I unscrewed the washers from the bolts. It didn't take long and I felt my strength returning. The trouble was that it wouldn't last. Firstly, I had no idea of the gift used on me but it had certainly drained me of strength and living on animal blood meant I needed to hunt more often. I hadn't hunted since our guests arrived. I had planned on doing so on the eve of our wedding just to be on the safe side and as a result, I was thirsty.
The last bolt removed, I tried the roof beam and saw the roof slates move. So, I now had my exit sorted. Waiting would serve no purpose so I listened carefully but couldn't hear anyone close by unless they were standing absolutely still. It was possible but I still fancied my chances against anyone out there, apart from the gift that had been used to get me here.
Now, should I burst out or try to be stealthy? To hell with it! I put all my weight against the roof bracing myself against the beam and used it to push the slates off the roof with a loud crash and a cloud of stone dust.
Jumping down to the ground I looked around. There was no one close by but I could see several figures in the distance who had been alerted by the noise and would be here in seconds.
It then hit me where I had heard the voice before. It was Carlos, Maria's greatest rival for superiority over the Southern covens. Why the hell would he want me? He must know that I would never fight for him, not even for revenge over Maria. Besides, I hadn't been a fighter for years.
Instead of running in the opposite direction, I headed straight for the figures coming at me. They hesitated then stopped taking fighting stances. Did they think they could take me? I checked their faces warily, pleased to see that they looked uneasy which meant they did not have the gift with them.
I was a little rusty. I hadn't fought in earnest for a very long time, but I soon overpowered the guards. They were reasonable fighters but no match for me. As a result, my thirst was becoming worse, I needed to hunt, I needed to find out what the time was and I really needed to get to the ranch for my wedding.
I could ignore Carlos for now, but would he try again? I needed to know why he had tried to kidnap me and who his gift was. So, I picked up the cell phone one of the vampires had been carrying when I attacked and scrolled through the contacts. There it was, Carlos and a phone number.
I hit dial and waited glancing around to get my bearings. This wasn't Mexico, I knew the sounds and smells of that place only too well.
In the distance, I could hear traffic and made for it. There was sure to be a sign along the highway telling me where I was.
"Jose? What's wrong? I told you not to call me. Has he turned up to collect his package? Don't forget to check the money first."
"Hello, Carlos. I'm afraid your boys are lighting up a patch of scrub right now. Care to tell me who you're working for?"
There was a short silence then Carlos replied.
"Major? So, the gift wasn't as powerful as it was supposed to be. Where are you?"
"Never mind that. Taking on jobs like a mercenary these days? How low can you fall?"
"Work isn't easy to come by since that bitch Maria took over the whole of the south. She only hands out scraps to the rest of us."
"My heart bleeds for you. Who are you working for? You can tell me and avoid a visit or I can come find you and I know you know what that will mean. I want the name of the gift too. And your inside man."
"Are you going to pay me for those answers, Major?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna let you live. You have two minutes then I'm going to cut this connection and hunt you down."
I knew he wasn't a coward but neither was he a fool. He believed my threat.
"Nathan. He's still jealous of you. He got his hands on a gift. The trouble is it's a very unstable gift. He should have given her straight to Maria but instead, he heard about your wedding and decided it might allow him to take you out."
Nathan! I wouldn't have thought he would have had it in him but for now, I needed more answers.
"Where's the gift?"
"I don't know. She was whisked away as soon as you were under. Too valuable to leave on the loose. It's a good job her gift works at a distance. No one was keen to get too close to you. Your name is still enough to terrify most men. I would imagine she was taken straight back to Mexico. If he has any sense he'll hand her over to Maria pronto."
"And Nathan?"
"He should be on his way. I think he was hoping to gloat before killing you."
"Nathan couldn't kill me on his best day and my worst. What about your inside man?"
I prayed it wasn't Sasha. That would make things difficult for everyone. Especially as she had formed a bond of sorts with Bella.
"That would be Gabriel. He made the big mistake of running away taking with him my money and his gift which I helped him to expand. Not a good move, especially as I eventually caught up with him. Luckily by that time he was tight with Alice Cullen. He agreed to help in exchange for his life."
"So he didn't engineer a meeting with Alice?"
"Nah. The fact he was with her put him on our radar. Nathan has been keeping an eye on you for years. He knew about Gabriel's gift and heard about your wedding. I was paid to facilitate the kidnapping as Gabriel was one of mine. It was too good an opportunity for him to miss."
I had turned around and could see the building I had been held in up ahead.
"If I ever see you again, Carlos you're a dead man. I suggest you get back over the border and stay there. And don't try to warn Nathan or I will hunt you down."
The phone went dead and I guessed Carlos was already headed south.
I didn't know how much time I had before Nathan appeared so I hurriedly cleared up making it seem I was still a prisoner then found a good place to conceal myself.
I needed to hunt but there was no time. I wanted Nathan out of the way permanently.
When the phone rang again I frowned, stared at the screen and then answered it.
"Major?"
The sound of that voice made me tense.
"I understand there has been a little trouble. I want you to know that I was not involved even though Nathan is."
"What makes you think I believe you, Maria?"
"Oh, Major. When have I ever lied to you? I'm wounded you would think that of me. I don't want trouble with you or the Volturi. I like my life as it is. I've worked hard to reach the top and I won't let a fool ruin it for me."
"So, what are you saying?"
"Nathan won't be joining you. He thought I didn't know what he was up to. A bad mistake and one he shouldn't have made after all these years with me. I also tipped off the Volturi about the gift although Mary's isn't as powerful as it's made out to be. As for Carlos? Well, I'll leave him to you. It breaks my heart to hear that you are getting married. We had such chemistry. I still miss you, Major."
"You were going to kill me."
"I'd still like to but I know my limitations and that doesn't mean that I don't still miss you. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that none of this was my doing. Consider my help in tidying up the mess as your wedding gift. Adios, Major."
Did I believe Maria? Actually, I did. She was many things but as she had said herself, she was not a liar.
All that was left for me now was to get back to the ranch as fast as possible. As for Gabriel, well, I would cross that bridge when I got to it.
Realizing that I would be a danger to every human I encountered until I had hunted I made for the highway to check out where I was and then I would find a meal.
On my way, I sent a text to Peter telling him that I was fine and I would explain everything when I got back. I just hoped he had managed to keep my disappearance a secret from Bella or she would be worried sick. The date and time on the phone told me I had slightly less than eight hours to get back to Boulder and I moved more quickly.
