Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Twilight movies or book series. That pleasure is not mine but S. Myers and Warner Bros. I just write for the fun of it!
A/N: I do apologise I have had a very busy June-July having started another University degree. Add running a business and being a mother. You can imagine I haven't had much time to dedicate to writing other then essays and accounting. Enjoy – Chapter 7 is almost done as well
Chapter Six
Gaius leads them to a concealed opening in the wall. Isabella remained at the back of Jasper. He was under her bubble, protected and doubly so as she kept a firm touch on his back.
She wasn't taking any chances with her brother this time. Her shield surrounded the compound had challenged her in lengths she previously had not stretched the physical aspect before, Isabella can still feel the strain on her body.
They shifted through the outer wall and came out the other side, pausing for a split second before they quickly rushed to the side of the main building directly in front of them.
Isabella looked around as she stopped and could spot a courtyard full of junk that was leftover equipment from the military. A torn American flag lay useless from its poll. The place looked abandoned to any curious humans and it would be a perfect place for a coven to stay, if only for a period.
Gaius gave the signal that none were out in the yard and so Isabella shrunk her physical shield to settle just over the main building, relieving her of her physical strain.
Once down she grabbed both their hands, knowing that this was her only way of maintaining her physical shield on the building whilst she shared her personal shield on her body with touch.
Needless to say, the limitation of her physical grated on her would be nerves 'if she had any left working, that is!' She thought with some amusement.
They slipped through another side entrance silently as they could and come out into a mess hall. Tables and chairs filled the room in uniformity as per regulations of the army that once held the barracks. From one scan you could see there was not a single chair out of position.
Music played in the distance and Gaius lead them towards it.
Isabella willed her shield to their feet to damper any footsteps to the vampires within. It seemed to work, as they left the hall and came through the building. It was not until they passed the dormitories, that they heard the first voice.
"Gaius, we have intruders" the deep accented voice must have been Roman
"I told you I could hear something" came the irritated bell voice of Selene.
"I will go" Jonathan spoke smoothly already making his way to the door.
Gaius the real one, flicked his hand. Releasing his from Isabella's and burst through the doors to the recreation room.
Isabella didn't need to be told twice. She planted her feet outside the room, holding onto Jasper as she locked onto the minds of Selene, Roman and Jonathan using her mental shield she stripped Darius's power away from their minds. The result was automatic and Isabella breathed a sigh. This vampire was no Jeremiah.
"Gaius, what!" Came the confused voice of Jonathan as he looked upon the rough and dishevelled Gaius that bust through the door.
"DARIUS!" screamed Roman.
"What the fuck" cried, Selene.
Isabella chuckled amused now sure of her hold over Gaius's coven members, pulled Jasper into the room with her.
Darius stood at the back of the lounge he must have been sitting on, gripping the leather tightly. Though his eyes pitched black, zeroed onto Isabella the moment she walked into the room.
Gaius was crouched just beyond the entrance, his beautiful face pulled back into a snarl of hatred and yet Darius still looked at Isabella. His face now held such a look of intense adoration.
"LOOK AT ME YOU TREACHEROUS RAT" growled Gaius, even as Roman and Selene removed themselves from the couches and stood with Jonathan who was now reaching out to Gaius with a look of horrific realisation.
Darius only squeezed the leather tighter tearing it in response to his old-time friends betrayed voice.
"Isabella….." his voice was a weak whisper. "My Lady, I have failed you" his face crumbling in sorrow. "Gaius, my old friend! you will bring her nothing but pain, for you have never understood. I had to stop you because she will always belong to her true mate. It is their fate!".
"No, I don't think so! He is nothing but a monster" Isabella replied trying not to sound confused. 'What was with all these people' talking about her as if she was something she was not.
Darius only gave her a look of sympathy. "If only you gave him the chance tonight, you would have completed the bond and none of this confusion would be holding you back".
"What confusion!" Isabella spat out now furious. "He tried to rape me."
She took a step forward only for Jasper to hold her back. He was shocked by her words. He pulled her closer with a protective growl rumbling from his chest.
"No no, not rape! You don't understand My Lady. He would never hurt you".
"HURT ME! – he raped my mind and tried to take my free will! That is not the actions of a would-be mate but a monster".
"You are his Isa! your love and bond are ancient, famous even! The price for such a bond though" he shook his head saddened, looking to Isabella with such beseeching eyes. "Master Jeremiah loves you Isa and he always will. But there is a curse on you both. You have no idea how much it pains him to put you through this every time Isa! To take what you have come to love is the only way to gain your true self back".
Gaius growled with fury "You knew her for centuries, Darius. We were family! How can you stand with that Bastard who he took Theron's life and broke our Bel so much that she killed herself".
Isabella gasped "You…You. Gaius, what are you saying!".
Gaius looked at her with so much suffering, his black eyes both sad and intense. "We haven't got the time, he is stalling. I promise answers but you need to trust me, we can't stay here".
And then he pounced onto Darius, his coven members joining him as they took Darius's head clean off his shoulders.
"Isabella" Jasper whispered urgently in her ear. "This is crazy Sugar! Should we make a run for it?"
Isabella shook her head "No, Observe" she whispered before squeezing his hand before dropping it.
"Gaius" she began walking towards them. "Don't burn him. I will shield you all until we are safe but you are to keep him alive for I need answers!".
Gaius stopped juggling Darius's head and gave her all his attention with a dashing smile. "Whatever you wish Isabella. I too find what this fucker knows interesting enough to let him live for a few more hours" he looked to Roman. "Bag him and carry the body. Selene, you can have this!" And casually threw her the head before giving his attention back to Isabella.
"I know this is very confusing for you Isabella, but I am your friend no matter how crazy I sound right now".
"Right now the only person I trust is Jasper. But, I will let you explain yourself when we are safe"
Gaius smile turned sad. "I understand. I have already promised honesty to you once we are safe".
Isabella nodded feeling rather raw after all of this and returned to Jasper linking their hands together.
Jasper breathed in her hair and whispered: "Honest, so much bewildering honesty".
She tightens her hand around his in response.
Soon they were back running but this time not only were they all shielded from mental powers but Isabella had let under her shield both Jonathan and Roman's power of invisibility and scent.
Her mental shield had come along way in her ten years of vampire life. She was now able to detach bubbles of it and tie itself onto other minds leaving only a tenor in her own mind connected to theirs. She could choose which powers she fazed in and out and was able to open a link for the others to see the effects of her shield whilst also remain under her power.
So that was the reason the group could still see each other but no one else could and were able to follow Gaius's lead.
Gaius who was becoming more of a mystery then either Jasper or Isabella could of imagine.
A/N: Thank you to all who has dropped a review or kudos. It means so much when I have your support. I know this is a frankly devastating fic in the beginning. What happened to the Cullens is horrible and so again thank you to those who have kept on reading past chapter one because good things do await our characters in the future.
Stay safe in our very changed world. I live in Melbourne, Australia and we are once again in full lockdown for the next six weeks. See you next time, hopefully a little sooner then the last.