Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for a reason.
Chpt 18 The Sun Breaks Through
BPOV
We wile away the time lost in our own thoughts. At least I know what Pete's thinkin', I don't need Edward or Jasper's gift for that. Guilt, guilt, guilt, shit, shit, shit.
"They're ready for us." Jasper announces, jerking us all back to reality.
Holding hands we head for the main house, slightly bigger than the others an' clearly discerned by Gus an' Harry waiting on the porch.
With nods and awkward greetings we are ushered inside. The living room is large an' light, bordered on one side by an enormous stone fireplace, a giant version of the one in our building.
"Please, sit." Harry urges, gesturing to the couches an' chairs grouped around the hearth.
Smiling politely Pete an' Char sink into a couch while Jasper takes an overstuffed chair an' I perch nervously on the arm, his hand resting on my thigh.
Almost immediately Jonathan, Carla and Matthew appear, the couple taking the remaining couch while Gus an' Harry perch on the built up hearth. Matthew lurks at the back of the room.
"It would please me to share a little more about our histories." Gus begins when everyone is settled.
"Of course." Jasper agrees.
Another round of smiles, don't these people ever stop, I'll have face ache for the rest of my existence.
"My proper name is Harriet. I was born in England and came to America with my family. I met my mate, Gus, in the wilderness after I had wandered away from my settlement and been attacked by trappers from a rival company. He changed me and saved my life."
"I am Matthew. I was changed during the Vietnam war."
"Jasper Whitlock. I was changed durin' the civil war."
"Pete Whitlock. Jasper sired me durin' The Southern Wars."
Holy shit, this is just like a training session at The Academy. I vividly recall the terror and inferiority I felt then too. What am I supposed to say?
"Carla Symonds, I am ten years old, Jonathan changed me after we fell in love." Interesting, the polar opposite of Edward.
"Charlotte Whitlock, Char. Jasper changed me durin' The Southern Wars, Peter is my mate."
"Jonathan Jones. No idea, Gus found me at the side of the road and changed me to save my life. I'm forty years old."
"Bella Whitlock. Jasper's mate. I'm the youngest here an' I used to be a cop."
"I was Gaius, praefectus praetorio, Commander of the Praetorian Guard under Nero."
"The emperor Nero?" I gasp, manners subsumed by curiosity. "As in Caesar? As in an ancient Roman?"
"I certainly was." He chuckles. "Thirty six was an extremely venerable age for a man in those times."
"Wow." I am massively impressed. "Did you wear a toga?"
"Sometimes" he laughs "mostly I wore a uniform."
"Sorry." I mutter at the assembled company, suddenly realising how stupid I must sound. But, wow, living history, with movie star good looks. I wonder if he's still got his helmet an' his little leather skirt. How good would Jasper look in a roman uniform? Jeez, what's wrong with me, I'm a complete pervert but he definitely got the legs for it.
Beside me Jasper laughs quietly an' strokes his fingers lightly across my thigh. Stupid mate, why does he always have to know when I'm thinkin' about sex?
"Perhaps we should discuss what else we might have in common other than Jenks?" Gus suggests.
"Right." Pete nods seriously. "There must be a reason why people have been watchin' our covens."
Gus looks to Harry who nods slightly.
"Jonathan has a gift." Gus offers.
"We have gifts in our coven too." Pete responds in kind.
Gus regards us without speaking. Revealing gifts is obviously a big deal.
"I don't mind demonstrating Gus." Jonathan says quietly. "Harry trusts them."
Grinning like the Cheshire Cat he clicks his fingers. Jasper, Pete an' Char gasp. And? He's still sitting there smiling like an eejit. No sparks, no flying objects, no strange desire to lick the floorboards, what gift? The drawing of involuntary gasps?
He fixes his dark red eyes on me. "You're a mental shield?" He questions.
I nod and he laughs like a lunatic. "Awesome. I've never met one before. I'm invisible."
I snort. "Yeah, right."
"He is Bella." Jasper assures me. "I can still see his clothes but his body has completely disappeared."
"It's a mental ability." Jonathan explains. "I can't do much else but I can alter people's . . . ." He smiles warmly at me. "Well most people's perceptions, of what they see but only where it relates to me. Disappearing is relatively easy, sometimes I can change their perception of how they see me, but that's very hard."
"Wow." I gasp, suitably impressed.
"Of course to disappear completely he has to be naked." Carla snickers.
Jonathan smiles ruefully, patting her hand. "I can make my clothes invisible too but it requires a ridiculous amount of effort."
"So you are a mental shield?" Gus asks me. I nod. "Are there any other talents in your coven?"
"Jasper is empathic." Pete answers. "An' I have a limited capacity to sense situations an' things which need to be done."
"Interesting gifts for soldiers." Gus muses, sliding his glance over Jasper. "Harry is able to tell whether or not someone is trustworthy and honest in their intentions."
"It isn't a gift." Harry murmurs, embarrassed.
"Of course it is my darling." Gus whispers, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it lovingly. "Now we know about the gifts in our covens, what is next?"
"You have not been entirely honest." Matthew snarls suddenly, his sharp eyes fixed on me.
I narrow my eyes at him, I really don't like him.
"You are a physical shield." He spits out, stepping towards me, his body language threatening. "Otherwise how did you mask your scents, here and in Seattle?"
Jasper leans across in front of me, growling ominously.
"Please forgive Matthew." Gus intervenes. "He has had a difficult existence and finds it very hard to trust others."
I peer round Jasper's back to smile at him. "I do have some physical capabilities."
"It is not a problem Bella." Gus says smoothly. "It is against our natures to reveal too much too easily. Matthew, behave yourself, these people mean us no harm."
Jasper relaxes back into his chair still glowerin' at Matthew who clearly isn't the sharpest tool in the box because he's still staring at me an' has failed to notice how pissed Jasper is.
"Matthew." Gus says warningly. He has noticed.
Reluctantly he moves away across the room, out of my line of sight.
"So" Gus begins cheerfully "we are two covens, with experienced military leaders and gifts useful in conflict situations. These would appear to be good reasons for someone to be interested in us, but who and why?"
"If you were plannin' to build an army." Jasper says quietly.
"Yes, I believe you are right." Gus responds.
"When I spoke to the secret service they asked me whose side I was on, America, The Volturi or The Romanians."
"And which side are you on?"
"I'm neutral, like Switzerland."
"That would seem to be the best side for the moment. I think I am there with you."
The rest of us watch the conversational ball bat back an' forth between Jasper and Gus.
"Stefan seems to be a common denominator. He has the most to gain by havin' such knowledge an' his desire for revenge against The Volturi is an open secret."
"Have you been in contact with Stefan?"
"I tried, after I had spoken to the humans but I was unable to reach him via any of the normal methods."
"Is that unusual?"
"I don't know, it is the first time I have tried, usually he contacts me. Although that is very rare."
"Which leaves us with the question of Rutilio, who seems to have links with both sides."
"Yes, he knows Stefan an' was usin' his human lawyer. He also has links with Hargreaves, knows Caius, may or may not have wanted to deliver me to him or have me kill him, an' has had Demetri posin' as a member of his coven."
"A spy for Stefan?"
"A spy for The Volturi?"
"A player in his own right?"
They are quiet for a moment, then Jasper speaks. "Both the humans an' Alice wanted to know whose side we were on. That would seem to suggest that a conflict is comin'. What I don't understand is if Stefan has gone to all this trouble to keep tabs on covens who might assist him in that conflict, where is he? Why have we not heard from him to canvass our support?"
"Quite." Gus nods. "If this scenario is correct, it does seem odd that his pet humans know more about what is going on than his potential allies."
"Why would Stefan consider you an ally?" I ask.
"That is a very good question Bella." Gus answers seriously. "Caius Volturi was my sire. I served him faithfully for many centuries until I became disenchanted with the methods of rule he and his brothers employed. They use coercion and trickery to obtain members of the Guard and bind them falsely by use of another's gift. I believe that loyalty should be freely given.
My falling out with Caius would be well known amongst older vampires. For many centuries I simply went my own way visiting them occasionally but eventually Caius and I became locked in a dispute that could not be resolved. I came to the new world shortly after.
Whilst I am not exactly champing at the bit to take up arms against The Volturi my distaste for them would be enough for someone to consider the possibility that I could be persuaded."
"And Rutilio would have known all this when he introduced you to Jenks senior?" I check.
"Yes. Although that does not prove anything. The Volturi may have wanted to ensure I didn't join Stefan as much as Stefan may have desired me to join him."
"And Rutilio was in a position to do both." I conclude. "Have Jenks watch you for Stefan an' report your movements back to Caius or Hargreaves."
"For someone who does not like mysteries," Gus laughs "you are very adept at solving them."
"Is it solved?" Pete asks doubtfully.
"I'm not sure." Jasper answers. "But I think it is time we grant your wish to have a chat with Rutilio."
"Perhaps we should meet with Carlisle Cullen first, he may be able to shed some light on things." Gus suggests.
"We?" Matthew snarls in disbelief.
"Yes, we." Gus says with complete authority. "Not knowing what is happening is a very bad position to be in, especially as someone clearly wanted us involved. I do not like being a pawn in someone else's game and I require a thorough explanation. We must meet with Jasper's government humans as well, to better understand their part in this situation."
Jasper nods his agreement.
Muttering to himself Matthew slouches back against the wall.
"I'm in." Jonathan says easily.
"I go where you go." Carla adds.
"As do I." Harry agrees, clutching Gus's hand.
Pete, Char an' I nod happily.
"Great." Jonathan says happily. "A trip to New York. I love New York. And where else, where do the Cullens live?"
"New Hampshire." Pete answers.
"Lovely, I have never been there." Jonathan beams around at us.
"It's not exactly a holiday Jonny." Matthew growls.
"I know that grumpy guts." Jonathan laughs. "But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it."
Matthew snorts in disgust an' rolls his eyes.
"Why do we need to visit Carlisle?" I ask, my displeasure at the idea evident in my voice.
"Because his son, Edward, is a member of the Guard of course." Gus says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.