Chapter Twelve

Bella

As they stood, the small group doomed but not cowed, I felt a pain in my chest and Alice's words made sense at last. I could stand by as these brave warriors were destroyed but I would be watching my future disappear with them. Jasper meant something important to me and as I studied him I saw him look over at me feeling my curiosity and confusion. He didn't know who I was but he knew there was something between us and as I saw Alec's gift creep closer I knew I had only seconds to act or watch as they were destroyed, gone for ever. Without even thinking about it I moved forward to Jane's side and she shot me a glance,

"Wait, let Alec's gift blind them first then you can have your way with them."

I thought she was talking to me but I saw her hand shoot out to halt Edwards progress and I saw contempt in his eyes, yes Edward you couldn't wait to kill Jasper because you'd always been afraid of him but without Alec's gift you would be too scared to approach. Felix threw him a disgusted look, even he knew what Edward was, a coward on his own but a bully when he had others to hide behind.

Jasper

I knew Edward couldn't wait to kill me but he was too scared to approach me while I still had my senses. I didn't turn to the others but bade them all farewell, we couldn't fight the gifts of the Volturi although we would have tried of not for Alec's presence. I guess I'd always known it would come to this, an unknown pyre and the end of The Major but I didn't regret anything I had done except for one thing. Given my time over again I would have returned to Forks and apologised to Bella Swan for breaking her heart but it was too late now so I would carry that one burden to the pyre with me. As Jane turned to her brother the hooded figure moved forward again and I felt the strangest sensation, I was being pulled towards it like a satellite being pulled by the gravity of a planet. Who was the hooded figure? Why did it not show itself? Was this a new weapon Aro had acquired and wanted to keep secret? Why was I so interested in the identity of my unknown killer? Then questions stopped, everything stopped as Alec's gift robbed me of my senses and I wouldn't even know when the moment of my death came, I wouldn't hear it, see it, or even feel the moment I ceased to exist.

Felix

The small party stood unknowing and I waited for Jane's signal to finish our task here and go home, it was a distasteful job, I hated the slaughter for that's what it was, like killing innocent animals who just stood and awaited their fate. Edward was chomping at the bit and I wished I could end his miserable existence rather than The Major's, he had less excuse for life after all. Jane nodded and I moved forward, straight into a cloud that fogged my senses and stopped me dead. I had no idea how long I stayed like this but when I could move and see again the small group of fighters had gone and with them Bella Swan. Left behind were the rest of Aro's party all looking equally confused then Jane looked around and cursed.

"Felix, Edward, find their trail, Aro is going to be furious about this. Alec come here and tell me what happened"

Edward was as much use as a tracker as he was a fighter so I ignored him and started a search of the area, looking for the trail they had taken but I couldn't see anything at first. Then as I scouted further into the trees a figure stepped out in my path, Bella still wearing her cloak and hood.

"Go back Felix. Tell Jane to contact Aro with a message from me. My days with the Volturi are over but as long as he leaves me and the party who stand with The Major alone I will stay quiet and not use my gift against him or the Volturi."

"You think he'll accept that?"

"Does he have a choice Felix? You have no idea what I'm capable of but tell him if he breaks my treaty then I will come and wreak death and destruction on him and the Volturi."

"I'll pass the message on but answer me this, why these people and why now?"

"Sometimes things just happen Felix, why not?"

"Best of luck Bella. You're going to need it if you insist on making an enemy of the Volturi."

"I'm not declaring war. I don't want to fight the Volturi or Aro but if he forces me to then I will."

I nodded, I liked Bella and she must have a good reason for her deeds after all this was to be her last mission for the Volturi so why ruin it all by making a stand here and now? I started back and when I turned my head she was gone like a wraith.

Jane turned to me as I walked out into the clearing and I shrugged,

"I have a message from Bella for Aro"

"What? Is she crazy? What the hell is she doing?"

"No idea but she's made her decision so the rest is up to him."

Jane rang Volterra then passed the phone to me calling to Edward and Alec to come back, not that the Cullen idiot had done anything, if there were no footprints he was worse than useless! I passed Bella's message on word for word and could feel Aro's fury and confusion growing with each one.

"Did she say why she helped them escape?"

"No and I didn't ask her, she just gave me the message for you then disappeared."

"So Bella has set herself up in opposition to me has she?"

"No, she said if you leave The Major and his friends alone she will return the favour."

"Do you think she meant it? Could she destroy us Felix? Was she bluffing?"

"If you're asking for my opinion then no, I don't think she was bluffing although I don't understand exactly what she meant."

"Tell Jane I want you all back immediately. I'll send Demetri upon your return, he can at least find out where she is and her little band of followers."

"I'm not even sure she went with them. There were no signs of a party having preceded her. I think she was alone."

Edward was hovering and I knew he wanted to speak so rolling my eyes I told Aro who instructed me to hand over the phone.

Aro

I had no idea what game she was playing but no one helped my prisoners escape, not even Bella Swan.

"Yes Edward? You have something to say?"

"I think Bella's gone after The Major"

"Amazing! Did you come up with that hypothesis all by yourself?"

He didn't even seem to notice the sarcasm

"I think she wants to get her revenge. She blamed him for my family and I leaving her. Maybe she didn't want to stand by and watch as the Volturi destroyed him for her."

"Then I'm assuming you expect to find a funeral pyre in the woods somewhere nearby?"

"Yes I think so. Bella will have her revenge then come back to Italy satisfied."

"In that case Edward perhaps you'd be so good as to explain to me why she sent a warning to the Volturi with Felix?"

"A warning? I don't think she did. I think that's just Felix covering his back because he couldn't find her or them in the woods."

"Really? Well Edward perhaps I should leave you there to track her down and The Major."

"Alone? I can't beat them on my own"

"So I take it you suggest I leave a search party under your command to find my rebels and Bella?"

He went very quiet and I wondered if it had finally dawned on him that I was being sarcastic but then he spoke,

"Command of the search party? I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet Aro and I can't see Felix taking orders from me"

"You got that right Cullen."

I had to smile at hearing Felix answer in the background.

"I want you all back, except Felix. If anyone can talk to Bella it will be him, after all she chose to speak to hum when she left."

Edward wanted to argue but I cut him off, he really was deluded sometimes and that worried me.