Chapter Thirty Two
Peter
Well I'd seen some escapes in my time but this one beat them all and what it stood for. The human vampire changeling had taken on the might of the Volturi and come out alive, not only that she had The Major with her. Looking a little more closely at him I could see evidence of what I had feared. The terrible scarring that was only now fading showed that he had been subjected to the worst our kind could do to each other, living entombment. How he survived without going mad I couldn't begin to imagine but I was really glad he had.
"Fuck me, some blokes will do anything to get a girls attention. You might be more comfortable in a car. We'll stop as soon as were beyond the hunting exclusion zone and you can feed. Come on"
I put out a hand to help him off and narrowly avoided losing it as Bella's teeth snapped together less than an inch from it.
"Whoa girl, I'm on your side. I was just helping."
"Well don't. I'll help Jasper, you get rid of the bike."
"Yes sir, I mean madam. Fuck me another Major with an even worse temperament. I can't wait to get to know you."
She ignored me helping him off the bike and into the rear of the car where he lay with his head on her lap, eyes closed. I had a really bad thought then and popped my head in the window.
"You did get all of him back didn't you? Please tell me Caius didn't destroy any of his body? No crucial bits left behind?"
She smiled and stroked his face,
"He's fine, he just needs to feed."
I nodded and got in front where Garrett was waiting,
"Well come on then, you heard Bella, The Major needs to hunt. Get this heap of shit moving."
Jasper
It was good to hear friendly voices and to relax in the arms of my mate but I still didn't understand why she had given up Carlisle and the Cullens. I expected her to be upset that they left but this vindictive? It was out of character for the Bella Swan I knew.
"What are you doing Bella? Taking on the Volturi, are you crazy?"
She gazed down at me and I saw the warmth in her eyes as she answered.
"No, just in love Jasper and a girl with a hundred questions only you can answer but for now rest. Then we'll find somewhere for you to hunt."
I could hardly believe that Bella had not only come all the way to Volterra to find me but also bargained with the Volturi for my release and won. How she knew that Aro wanted Carlisle and Edward I had no idea but she had handed the two over to the Volturi without hesitation. I wondered if she really understood what she had done. Too many questions of my own were buzzing around in my head so I continued,
"Bella, how did you know what to offer Aro? How did you find me? And why did you risk coming here to Italy?"
She shrugged,
"I finally got round to opening your present and followed the clues to the ranch."
"Gift? Clues? I don't understand. I carved the swan for you that's all. Alice was going to do the rest. She said you'd find me eventually if I just waited but I never realised I would have to wait so long."
"That was my fault. I was so angry and hurt after Carlisle finished that I almost threw it away. It wasn't until my dads wife Sue cleared out my old room and sent me the things she found that I got the bracelet."
"Bracelet?"
It was a puzzle of sorts I'll explain later but it led to the ranch and I discovered it deserted but then your friends started to arrive and they told me what had happened, especially when I found your arm."
"I don't understand why you are so bitter towards Carlisle and Edward. Is it because they left?"
She looked at me stunned,
"Didn't Alice tell you anything?"
"Only to stay hidden on the ranch or risk losing you altogether. She told me that you were changing because of my actions in Phoenix. I'm sorry for what I did there. Not in saving you, just in turning you however slowly and accidentally."
I wanted to continue the conversation but I was too weary, too thirsty, so I closed my eyes and tried to make sense of what I'd learned so far. I was sure there were certain things that had happened I wasn't aware of.
Peter
The Major looked like shit and I knew his thought processes would be pretty erratic for a while so as soon as it was safe to do so I parked the car then opened the back door,
"Come on Major, time for dinner"
He sat up and looked around and I could see the confusion in his eyes. He turned back to Bella.
"Don't go."
She smiled,
"I'll be here waiting but you go hunt. Your friend will stay with you and Garrett can fill me in."
He nodded but looked uneasy as he glanced back before we entered the dark streets of a small town.
"How long have I been in Volturi hands Peter?"
"Not long. In fact not long enough to look as shitty as you do. What the fuck happened to you Major? You just dropped off the radar all together. Was it Alice Cullen? I told you not to trust her."
"Hey, no...at least yes but..."
He stopped trying to pull the threads together,
"She told me to stay low, that my venom was changing Bella but slowly. That we were mates and Bella would find me. I didn't realise how long it would take though. How did you get involved?"
"Same as always, a call to arms. You know it's getting monotonous saving your ragged ass."
He knew I didn't mean it but then his head snapped round and he set off at a run in pursuit of fresh human blood. He'd hate himself in the morning but I wasn't about to point that out to him right now.
Bella
I waited until the other two were out of sight then turned to Garrett,
"I think I need to hunt too, my throat is on fire but I don't know how. Will you show me?"
"OK, Are we talking animals or human?"
I thought about this and remembered how difficult it had been to stick to animals but I wanted to try at least.
"Animal, for now"
He nodded,
"Follow me"
I ran after him in to the forest away from the town and once we were deep within the trees he stopped, putting a hand up to silence me.
"What can you hear Bella?"
I listened,
"Scurrying feet, bird call, water running, splashing, and something drinking at the water, something with a heartbeat."
"Just let your instincts take over, you'll be fine."
I closed my eyes and cleared my mind then suddenly I was on the move again, fast but silent until I could smell the blood and hear the heartbeat loud in my ears. The animal, a wild boar, was drinking at the river bank and I launched myself at him knocking him to the ground then my teeth sank into its warm flesh and as I felt the first spurt of hot salty blood my throat cooled a little until as I drained the beast I felt my thirst quenched.