Chapter Twenty Two

Aro

"So Brothers, what do we do?"

"I don't trust her Aro. I say we send Bella home with her mate."

"And if Alice Cullen is right Caius?"

"We can always take action later on, if we feel it is necessary."

"Marcus?"

He rarely bothered to contribute to our decisions so I was rather surprised when he sat up and started to speak.

"I feel the same way Caius does about Alice Cullen, her gift isn't foolproof, she herself admits that, people change their minds, do things differently. I think she is using us to further her own ends. She hates The Major, she's very jealous of Bella...in short Aro, I think she's deceived us. For this reason I think we should let The Major take his mate back. As Caius so rightly said, we can always act later if we feel so inclined. I'm not sure we need any more weapons, we have plenty in our arsenal as it is. If you would like, I'll speak to Bella or The Major, explain and casually drop Alice's name. Or are you still hoping she'll stay here?"

I shook my head,

"No, Alice has her own agenda, that I admit. We were just a stop on her route. I'd hate to think she turned against us so perhaps a word in the right ear...very well, I'll deal with The Major, you speak to Bella and be sure to let her know who she has to thank for her stay here. Happy now Caius?"

"No, we should never have become entangled in this in the first place, it was a bad decision. In the future Aro I suggest we make such decisions collectively."

Jasper

I felt Bella was close but she didn't seem to be afraid, in fact she was angry...No ..more than that, she was livid and I was sure someone was on the receiving end of that. I felt relief, if she could be that angry then she hadn't been harmed. I glanced at Peter who was watching Felix who stood at the door.

"I didn't know they stacked shit that high."

Felix ignored him, he was far too old and experienced to be baited in that way.

"Peter stop playing around. Bella's here and I'd say someone is on the end of a tongue lashing about now."

"Good girl. Make things as difficult as possible for the fuckers. You think they'll be finished in there soon only I'm getting fed up standing round here like a fucking obelisk!"

Like Felix I ignored his comments, trying to pinpoint Bella's position but without much success, her emotions were swinging too much, then I heard the door behind me open,

"About fucking time"

Felix came to stand behind us,

"If he thinks breathing down my neck like a girl is intimidating, he's a bigger ass hole than I thought."

Aro

I heard the Captains comments, he really wasn't intimidated by Felix, most unusual. I wasn't sure if he were confident or extremely stupid but to have stood at The Majors side for so long I was going with the former.

"Major, sorry to have kept you waiting so long but I had to speak to several of the Guard to find out exactly what had happened."

"Bullshit!"

I ignored the Captains remark but The Major's eyes met mine in a challenge, he knew I was lying but for now would continue to listen. A tactician indeed, picking his battles carefully.

"Your mate is here and was brought against her will I'm sorry to say, but I will be taking action against those involved. However it seems she became very distressed"

He stiffened and I heard a growl building in his chest.

"Please Major, allow me to finish. She was very distressed but has received the best care. Under the circumstances I couldn't possibly allow her to leave until she has fully recovered. Then I will put our Private Jet at her disposal, surely you wouldn't expect her to travel distressed."

"I want to see her"

"Of course I'll have someone come and escort you. If you'd excuse me a moment."

Peter

That little weasel was lying through his fucking teeth and we both knew it.

"Major what's going on?"

"No idea but I intend finding out and I will personally speak to the "someone" who upset her."

"I'm with you. I hope it's that huge ugly fucker Felix. I'd like the opportunity to take him on."

"If it was him she'd be dead, think before you open your mouth Peter."

He was right, I just wanted to see Bella too. She'd gotten under my skin like an itch you couldn't scratch.

"What do we do about the others?"

"Once I've seen Bella I'll decide. I don't trust Aro, we still don't know the whole picture yet."

This was getting more like one of those Chinese puzzle boxes, a puzzle within a puzzle.

Aro

Despite what I'd said to the others, Caius especially, I couldn't just let her go. I needed to be sure, if Alice was right or wrong. It would only delay their departure a short time and while having The Major and his annoying Captain guests wasn't an ideal situation, needs must. As I went back to my chamber to instruct Demetri I was confronted by a seriously annoyed Caius.

"Aro, what are you doing? We agreed Bella should be released"

"I changed my mind. It's only for a few days Caius, don't be so disturbed. If Alice is proved wrong then she goes home, taking The Major with her"

"And if Alice is proved right? Do you really think the Major is going to take that without protest? And by protest I'm not talking about a nicely worded letter of complaint. You're playing with fire Aro and I for one have no intention of getting burned."

"Caius control yourself. They are here, in the centre of our power base, who holds the upper hand? Or are you so intimidated by The Major?"

"Have you seen him in action Aro? Because I have and I'd bet in his favour any time."

"Caius we have Jane and Alec so there's nothing to concern yourself about."

"You are very confident Aro, arrogant even, be careful it doesn't cone back to bite you. Remember Marcus has already gone to talk to Bella"

"No Caius, he's gone to make sure Bella understands her position. Did you really think I was going to relinquish the possible gain to us so easily? You are getting slow Brother. What we want, we get, no matter how strong the opposition. Now calm yourself before we go back to The Major."

Caius

So Aro and Marcus were working together, leaving me out of the equation. I never expected better of Aro but Marcus! It was unlike him to drum up the energy for any kind of action. Were they gambling that Alice was right, that we would, they would, get their secret weapon after all? They knew I disapproved of their actions, knew I would have vetoed the action if I'd known before they acted. Very few of our laws meant anything to me but there were two that I held to be sacrosanct, one was the law with regard to humans and our secret, the other concerning mates. The Major had theoretically broken the first although we knew it was Edward Cullen who had introduced her to our world. But to part a mated pair, to come between them was wrong. We all knew the pain and distress it would cause and above all else it was our responsibility to keep our race healthy and safe. The Major and Bella were no threat to our world, he would change her or be left alone in years to come when she grew old and died. This theoretical weapon wasn't worth the loss of face we would sustain if it all went wrong. Aro was acting too hastily, he should have waited and watched, only acting if Alice Cullen proved right. It was time for me to act, I wasn't without my own influence here in Volterra, Aro wasn't the only one who wielded power and I had my own reasons for wanting Bella safe.