Chapter Sixty Five

Jasper

I hadn't seen it coming although I suppose I should have, suddenly I was knocked to my knees by unbearable agony, he'd set Jane on me and there was nothing I could do about it. If Aro wanted me dead then he only had to give the word. I wouldn't fall to the floor but equally I couldn't get back to my feet either. As waves of agony ran through my body I thought I heard Bella's voice then as suddenly as it had started the pain ceased. As I pulled myself together I felt warm arms around me and knew she was here with me. Why Jane had stopped I didn't know but I was still alive and Bella was at my side. She helped me too my feet dropping her hands to my waist and leaning into me. I heard her words but they seemed to be coming from a long way off

"You leave him alone. If you want to kill him at least have the decency to let him die fighting not using sneaky little tricks like that"

Aro

It had been my intention to let Bella see her precious Major writhing on the floor in agony just to prove he wasn't the super hero she and everyone else thought but things had gone wrong. He refused to fall to the floor despite Jane's best efforts and then Bella had run to protect him, and protect him she had. He was recovering under her hands. As she helped him back to his feet I gestured to Alec. He took a step forward watched uneasily by Marcus and interestedly by Caius. Alec raised his hands and we saw the almost invisible curse whirl towards Bella and the Major. Just before it reached them it stopped and built up into a column, seemingly looking for a way through an invisible barrier. Caius gestured and Alec looked to me for a sign. I nodded and he put his hands down.

"See brother, they are mated. She protects him as well as herself. Her gift is powerful but limited. Let them go before he decides to take revenge on us all".

I looked as The Major pulled himself up to his full height and looked over his mates head at me.

"Now you know. What you decide is up to you"

Bella was still locked in his embrace, ignoring the rest of us. I looked at Felix who shook his head and moved back. Bella had been claimed by her mate, he wouldn't fight the Major.

Very well Major but I wait eagerly to hear that Bella has joined our ranks."

Bella

I heard Aro's last words, we were free? We could go home? I couldn't believe it. My Jasper had come for me, willing to risk everything to save me. I could hardly walk with relief and terror and he held me up one-armed as he spoke to Aro.

"Bella will join us as soon as she is ready. What you did in kidnapping my mate was wrong, against your own laws. This time I will allow it, but come between us again and there will be a reckoning."

Having said this he half carried me out of the huge room and into one of the cool corridors where I collapsed altogether. He picked me up and carried me through the maze that was the Volturi home and out into the dawn. The fresh air revived me a little but I stayed where I was in his arms with my head on his shoulder and my arms wrapped tightly around his neck, fingers twisted in his hair.

Jasper

I carried Bella as far from the town square as I could before sinking to my haunches and holding her tight trying to calm her before she became hysterical. Her sobs quieted after a while and her grasp became less tight. I stood again and walked with her still in my arms through the town gate and round to the car. Peter sat on the hood watching the sunrise but I knew he'd heard me coming, Bella still wasn't quiet. He jumped off and nodded before opening the rear door for us. I slipped in with Bella and leaned against the door to give her room to lay down. My strong Bella who had stood up to the might of the Volturi had now become terrified again.

"Get us away as quick as you can Peter, We need Bella to see we're free."

He looked in the rear view mirror and nodded with a smile.

"She'll be OK once we get in the air" he said sagely and I knew he was probably right but I just wanted to get her somewhere I could calm her properly and an aeroplane wasn't the right place for that.

Can you drive us across the border to France?"

"Sure if you want. Can I ask why? I thought you'd want to get the hell out of Europe."

I gestured to Bella,

"She needs to calm down first so get us into France and a decent hotel."

Bella

I was exhausted after all the worry of being in Volterra then seeing Jasper in such pain that all I could do was sob and shake. I knew he was trying to calm me but he was having little success. I needed a place to curl up with his arms around me, somewhere quiet and alone where I could cry myself to sleep and wake up rested still in his arms. He seemed to realize because I heard his command to Peter and the car take some sharp turns. Some time later I heard voice speaking fluent French and the car took off again more slowly. When it finally stopped I heard Peter get out and as the door closed again I knew we were in a town or city, somewhere there were lots of people, something I didn't want but I trusted my two saviours so I held on tight.

Peter

Poor Bella was in quite a state and I knew what Jazz meant about taking her on a plane. We got across the border easy enough. All our papers were in order, except Bella's but Char had sent her passport along with ours, quick thinking on her part. When I found a good hotel I left them in the car while I booked a suite. Bella managed to pull herself together long enough for us to walk her through the lobby and into the lift. He picked her up again then and carried her to the suite while I went ahead with the bags to unlock the door. Once inside she started sobbing again and I looked at him helplessly.

"Now what?"

"Go buy her some clothes and painkillers she's going to need both. If we're not in here don't worry I'm going to try and get her to sleep."

"If you aren't in here I'll make myself scarce for a day, I've got friends here I haven't seen in a long while. Look after her"

I leant over and kissed her forehead,

"You're fine now Bells. The Majors got you"

I touched his shoulder and went off, though where the fuck I was supposed to get women's clothes for Bella I wasn't sure. I just knew I was going to get a few knowing looks. Thank god she's much smaller than me!