Chapter Ninety Eight

Bella

Jasper joined me a few minutes later with a smile on his face. As I curled myself around his wet and naked body he related the call from Peter. I laughed when he got to Peters wariness at telling Jazz it was me but I promised I'd make it up to him.

"But first I have someone else to make things up to. Come here my little skunk."

I wrestled him to the floor of the shower and we made love again, more tenderly this time, there was no fight for domination any longer, we were equals and we pleasured each other. Laying curled up with the now luke warm water showering down on us he brushed my hair away from my face and kissed my wet lips,

"I love you Bella, no, I more than love you. You are me and I am you now. Two halves of a whole."

Before we could go for round three the phone rang again,

"I'm having all the phones ripped out of our cabin, they keep ringing at the worst possible time.

He laughed,

"We have to get organised, the Volturi are coming in a week to find the Big Bad Wolves remember"

"Don't worry I have it covered."

"That's about all you have covered Bella" he quipped as he left the room

Looking down I had to agree with him.

Jasper

It was my contact in Volterra,

"Major, there's a storm brewing here. Caius is throwing a fit because Aro is refusing to allow Demitri and Alec leave for a time wasting trip to Forks. I think there's a rebellion brewing. Just thought you might like to know. It may come to choosing sides. As for me, I'm digging a deep hole and putting my head in it until the storm blows over but I thought you deserved a heads up."

"Thanks. I owe you two now"

"If I'm still here when the shit stops hitting the fan I'll remember that. Bye for now."

Bella came out naked and I watched as she went over to the closet and started dressing. She smiled at me over her shoulder,

"See anything you like Major?"

"I like everything I see darlin'"

"Who was that on the phone this time? Peter checking I'm still alive?"

"No something more interesting. There's a revolt blowing up in Volterra. Caius against Aro, not sure where Marcus will come down though"

"Aro's side at least for now. I wonder who he'll get from the guard"

"Aro will command loyalty from Jane, Alec, Demitri and a few others. I don't think Caius has many friends in the guard."

"Then why head a rebellion if he knows he can't win? He must have a secret weapon somewhere, but where? We can't let him win Jazz. Caius is much more dangerous to us than Aro. I think I might try to speak to Marcus, he gave us the heads up before."

Bella

While Jasper dressed I put a call through to Marcus, hoping I'd get through to him, I didn't know how it worked over there but in the event I got through,

"Marcus its Bella Whitlock here. I've heard disturbing rumours"

"Yes so have I"

"So who is Caius relying on"

"Relying on?"

"Yes. He won't win with the guard on Aro's side unless perhaps you are joining him?"

"No Bella. I'm too weary to fight. I leave it to those who seem to enjoy it. I shall be with Aro as always. I hear that Caius does have some followers though"

"In the guard?"

"No, not the guard. These are outsiders, various nomads who are dissatisfied with the way Aro runs things"

"Enough to worry Aro?"

"No although Caius thinks otherwise. He may cause some problems though. Why? Are you offering your services to us?"

"Would it help keep the status quo?"

"Inevitably. Who can stand against you and your Major? Who would dare?"

"Then we'll come"

Jasper

I heard Bella's words but I wasn't sure until the end what she meant.

"We're going to stand beside Aro?"

"What else? He keeps the status quo and that's what we want. We know where we stand with him. Caius is a whole other matter."

"True. What about the others?"

"Up to you Major, they're your troops"

"No, our friends darlin', the Major got handed his ass this evening"

"And a very nice one it is too. Want to fool around again?"

"I'd love to but I think we should give the others the heads up"

"OK, skunk, you take the land line I'll use the cell"

"You get Peter I'll take Em."

"Cowardly skunk!"

I kissed her and grabbed the phone as I heard Peter pick up to her.

Bella

This was going to be fun, I could just imagine how he was going to respond to this particular call to arms.

"Peter"

"Bella, so the Major didn't tear you a new one"

"Not the way you're thinking"

"Hey, no sex talk, I'm way too young and innocent for all that shit. What's up anyway?"

"We're going back to Volterra"

"Shit why?"

"Aro needs help fighting off a rebellion"

"Aro? And you're helping him? Did I miss a few chapters of this story? I thought he was the bogey man."

"He was but he's better than the alternative, Caius"

"Oh, so that fucker thought he'd have a go. When do we leave?"

"You don't have to come, its not your fight"

"Fuck that! The Major goes, we go."

"OK, meet you in Pisa, asap."

"Em and Rose coming?"

"Jazz is speaking to them now."

"OK see you."

Jasper

I spoke to Em and as usual he was keen for a fight even against the Volturi. Rose wad a little more conservative and she made a valid point. If she went with us and got killed then all Carlisle's work would have been for nothing. I knew she wasn't trying to get out of a fight but she did want to salvage what she could for Carlisle. It was agreed then for Em and her to go up to Forks and offer Sam their help if the Volturi did turn up. They could let us know too, so it served a dual purpose. Em was grieved, he hated to miss a good fight but as I pointed out, we were hoping by our presence to avoid a fight.

Bella threw our stuff in a case and we rang down for a Cab before vacating our room. As we came down in the elevator I got some strange looks from the operator and as we got out I heard a snigger and something about a skunk.

"Word gets round quickly doesn't it" said Bella with a grin

"You realise I can never come here again"

"Oh yes. I'll bring a big cage for you that's all my little skunk" and she kissed me before hopping into the waiting cab.