Chapter Forty One

Jasper

We weren't sure how many the brothers would bring with them but it was a great sight to see our friends arrive first and with others too. Adam and Rex were first with their mates Josie and Amy and Jonah arrived a few hours later bringing two friends, Philip and Gemma.

"It's good to see you but do you know what this is all about?"

"Major, if its your fight that's good enough for me but we do as a matter of fact. Its past time someone took on the Volturi brothers, especially Aro and Caius. We're here to fight for a better leadership, a more balanced and less corrupt one."

I nodded at Jonah's words and noticed him looking round,

"It's very quiet, where's Peter?"

I explained what had happened,

"So we might be fighting the guardians too?"

"No I don't think so, Pete was snatched because he made an easy target but a long as we get them what they want I think they'll produce him."

"You know something Major? It's so quiet it would almost be worth it if they kept him!"

We all knew Adam didn't mean it, he and Peter were good friends but it helped to ease the tension a little. When Charlotte came down to greet the newcomers they were very gentle with her. We could only imagine what it must be like to be separated from our mates, not knowing if we would ever see them again. I'd left Garrett and Emmett on watch but Felix sounded their imminent arrival with a warning call to Bella.

Bella

As we waited on the porch for our visitors I looked around at the tense faces, some I knew but some were strangers who had come to stand beside Jazz. The mist started to form in the distance but our attention was taken by a deep rumble from the back of the cabin which was followed by the sound of footsteps running. We tensed, unsure if this was the start of an ambush by the brothers, but as the first two figures turned the corner Jazz relaxed smiling. Six vampires nodded their greeting to him and to Garrett as they joined our ranks. I nudged him for clarification,

"These are the Fraternidad which translates as brotherhood. They usually keep themselves to themselves but they are a warrior band who refuse to acknowledge the Volturi as their rulers. They have a stronghold in the Spanish mountains but somehow they heard about our fight and decided to join us. It will be interesting to see how they heard.

The leader of the group looked at me and smiled before turning his attention back to Jazz,

"Hola Major, Darius nos dijo lo que pueda necesitar unos amigos y ya sabes lo mucho que nos gusta la idea de los Volturi siendo aplastado."

Jazz nodded to him,

"Darius sent them, I owe him again it would seem."

"Are they good?"

"No Bella, we aren't just good but the best, present company excepted."

The spokesman was grinning but it cut off suddenly as the Volturi approached and I saw that all of them were tense, ready to fight at the first sign of provocation.

Marcus

I knew getting mixed up with Bella had been a bad move, I told Aro it was dangerous but as always he thought he knew best and now we were confronted with the cream of the warriors standing with her. It wouldn't end well whoever was still standing at the end and I had no illusions, we were at a distinct disadvantage. Caius threw me a look of concern but he wasn't adverse to a fight he just didn't like the odds very much. I was surprised to see that Captain Whitlock was missing from those opposing us and wondered if he were leading a group to attack our flanks. I gestured Afton over,

"Watch the flanks."

He nodded and moved to cover the left of our band motioning one of the other guard to do the same on the right. We came to a halt a few yards from our adversaries and Aro spoke,

"Bella, Major. We're here at your request so perhaps you would like to explain why."

"We were given the distinct impression that you were unhappy with us Aro."

"Indeed? Well the slaughter of a whole tribe of guardians will do that, it makes me very nervous. You understand it could lead to a war? If there is a war that would mean the humans finding out about us and then, how safe do you think we would be as a race once they found out we lived and fed among them? It's a law for a reason and you broke it."

Bella

Jazz was happy for me to do the talking for now but from the corner of my eye I saw his fingers move and turning my head slightly I saw Alec's gift drifting towards us again.

"Aro. If you want a fight we're happy to oblige but please don't insult my intelligence by sending a boy to attack without warning. Charlie"

Dad turned, looking at the young man approaching and closed his eyes. Before Aro had a chance to speak or warn him Alec was consumed by flames and went down screaming.

"Is that enough or would you like another demonstration of our power?"

Aro glared at me but the Fraternidad showed their approval by clapping loudly. Caius grimaced and tugged on the sleeve of Aros cloak,

"Brother this was a mistake. I told you we couldn't fight them. Now all you've done is to make them more suspicious."

"Eso sería un buen truco, nadie confía en ti como es."

I looked at Jazz for a translation,

"He just said they aren't trusted anyway."

I nodded to the leader who smiled again then looked back at the brothers.

"I see, it is unfortunate but the laws must be upheld or the undesirables will cause mayhem."

"Undesirables? That's not very friendly Aro. So you aren't prepared to make a treaty with the guardians to prevent a war?"

"A treaty?"

Caius was almost breathing fire from his nostrils at this thought.

"We should do what we failed to do in the first place and wipe them out. We have the ability but instead we're squabbling among ourselves like children in a playground"

Aro put a hand up to silence Caius but he pushed it back down,

"Enough Aro. This is a golden opportunity to finish the job The Major started. We should be working as a team."

Jasper

There would never be peace while Aro and Caius lived but killing them was more difficult than it appeared. Being outnumbered by the guard didn't bother me, we had the better fighters and the better gifts but Aro was protected by Renata, getting close enough to kill him was going to be a challenge and while he lived the guard would follow his command. It would be the vampire equivalent of a bloodbath. Bella looked at Aro and shook her head,

"Would you really risk everything rather than make peace?"

"Peace? You have no idea what you are talking about Bella. There will never be peace between the guardians and the vampires. Even now in other countries the guardians kill our kind with impunity, forcing us to send valuable members of our race to crush them."

"Like Maria?"

"Yes, she was one of many. We have faced many dangers and threats from our own kind arrogant enough to believe they could run things better but they have no idea."

I heard a sound behind me and turned fast to see Adam, Rex, and their mates held fast by more guard who had appeared silently behind us. It was too late for Bella's shield to help so I called to the others to attack and the battle for leadership started.