Just to let you know I may not be posting as regularly for the rest of the week as I'm off on my travels again. Jules x

Chapter Thirty Eight

Charlotte

Luke and I had returned to the ranch after the Volturi left carrying a number of iron boxes with them.

"What the hell are they?"

Luke looked at me and shook his head,

"Unless I'm very much mistaken that was The Major."

He explained about the nature of the torture and I felt sick to my stomach. Some people coasted through life without any hassle at all, some of us had ups and downs but we got through and there were the unlucky few who suffered endlessly throughout their lives, like The Major. First Maria, then Alice, and now the Volturi had their turn. I just hoped he could rebound from this. He was strong but was he strong enough? We tidied up the mess they had left in the fields around the ranch then settled the horses once more. Luke finished the repairs on the house and I cleaned the inside. Whether he would ever live here again I didn't know but at least it looked as if someone called it home. After that we just had to wait for news from Italy and when it came, just a short text, it was good, The Major was out, Bella had achieved her goals. I wondered how long it would be before Carlisle found himself deep in the mire. I wished I could be a fly on the wall for that little drama.

It was Luke who first caught sight of our impending visitors and came running in to warn me.

"We've got company but I don't recognise them."

I went upstairs to the bedroom window and saw three figures approaching the ranch but still a mile away.

"Cullens. Its Edward, Emmett, and Rosalie Cullen"

"What the hell do they want?"

"The Major would be my guess. I'm going to text Peter, let him know. You join me on the porch when you've checked this isn't a diversion."

"For what?"

"I have no idea but Peter has taught me one thing, trust no one, especially the fucking Cullens and I quote."

I went to sit on the porch watching as they walked closer, had they driven and parked the car up at a distance? I didn't know and for now I didn't really care.

Luke joined me just as they stopped in a row looking at me,

"Charlotte"

"Rose, can I do something for you or is this a social visit?"

"Where's Jasper?"

I turned to Edward,

"I see your manners haven't improved any. He's not here."

"Charlotte, the Volturi came for Carlisle and took Esme and he to Volterra. It might have something to do with Bella Swan, a human who..."

"I know who Bella Swan is Rose."

"See Emmett, I told you the two of them were together. All your crap about Alice planning something..."

I interrupted her tirade,

"She turned up here recently I understand but he wasn't here then."

"Where is he Charlotte? Or Bella? We need to talk to one or both of them"

"To test out your theory about Alice?"

"Yes. I think we might have been played by her"

I looked at Emmett,

"And what led you to that startling theory?"

"We've been talking and I've spoken to Alice, things just don't add up."

"And you needed that to make you suspicious of her? I see. Well you are out of luck because neither of them are here."

"Where are they then?"

Edwards voice and its tone were really beginning to annoy me now,

"You know something Edward. I'm not sure I want to tell, you. Besides which I'm not sure just now."

"But you are in contact with them, individually or together."

"Yes I am".

"Would you ring and ask if they are willing to talk to us please Charlotte?"

I nodded at Emmett's request.

Peter

We were almost at the airport when my phone went again and this time I took the call,

"Peter, I have Rose, Emmett, and Edward here"

"Bad luck for you Char"

"They want to speak to Bella or The Major."

"So tell them to phone him or send a carrier pigeon."

A hand came forward and took my phone and I heard Bella's voice,

"I'll speak to them Charlotte. Emmett anyway."

We heard a short argument and Edward's voice came on,

"Bella? Where are you? I need to speak to you."

"Really Edward? I was under the impression you and I had nothing left to say to each other."

"Bella please, let me explained"

"Explain what? Ruining my life? I don't think so Edward but don't think I've forgotten, your turn is coming. I've got my revenge on your dear father and you are next on my hit list now go to hell and give Emmett the phone."

I smiled at Garrett as we heard the phone change hands,

"Bella, there's something very wrong and we need to find out what's really happened. Will you meet with us?"

"Did you set up the puzzle?"

"The bracelet? Yes, I thought there was something wrong at the time but I couldn't prove anything. I just had a feeling you and Jazz would link up sooner or later."

"Thank you for that. You saved his life in a round about way. I'll speak to you, stay at the ranch, we'll be there tomorrow."

"Ask her where she is now Em"

We heard Edwards whisper,

"Tell him we're at the airport... in Pisa."

Bella

We boarded the plane shortly after and while Peter and Garrett chatted up the pretty cabin crew Jasper and I sat together holding hands.

"How's your thirst now?"

"Its OK Bella, I'm not going to attack the passengers if that's what worries you."

I smiled at him,

"I was thinking more about you healing."

"You are here, that's all I need to heal. I've been waiting for you a long time Bella."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Do you think I was wrong to agree to speak to Emmett? I'm sorry, I kinda took over there at the ranch"

"Its not mine. Alice bought it as a place for me to hide away."

"So how did Emmett know? He set up the puzzle so he knew. You don't think he's in it with Alice do you?"

"No, Emmett's as straight as a die. But he's also a computer whiz so if he suspected something maybe he hacked into Alice's computer."

I could see Jasper was still suffering mentally, he would stop every few words to collect his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, too many questions for you. You just relax Jazz"

He put his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes using his strength to heal his mind as well as his body. While he relaxed I thought about things, if it had been Alice who set this all up, and I wasn't yet totally convinced of that, then the question remained why? What would she have got for all this pain and heartache? If she'd wanted rid of Jasper she could have told him or left. If she wanted to hurt me why hurt others too? Members of her adoptive family? None of this made sense but then thinking about it maybe it did. Alice was in a lunatic asylum when she was bitten and said she had no recollection of her human life. What if she were in there because she was mentally ill, not just because of her visions. I thought the modern word to describe her actions if she were responsible was Psychopath. She had the attributes, high self confidence and self assertiveness, lack of empathy and exploitative tendencies to name but a few. If this was the real reason then she was highly dangerous to everyone around her and would see us all as game pieces to be moved around at her whim. It was a theory I would try on the guys when we landed but for now I would try to relax although the thought of Edward and the others waiting back the ranch didn't exactly help.