Chapter Twenty Three

Jasper

Felix approached and spoke very softly,

"Caius would be grateful for a private word Major"

I looked at Peter who shook his head very slightly, Felix caught it and smiled,

"The Captain is welcome to join you, if you wish."

We followed him down the corridor leading from the Great Audience Chamber to a small door inset near the end. Felix knocked and opened it, ushering us in before stepping out and shutting it.

"You train your attack dogs well" Peter quipped.

Caius smiled and beckoned us to seats in front of his desk. I noticed he looked less than satisfied with what was happening and he leaned back in his seat studying us for a moment as if choosing his words,

"Major I have to tell you that this whole business sits uneasy with me. My Brothers have been influenced by someone I don't wholly trust. Someone whose predictions they have decided to act on. Your mate will not be allowed to leave Volterra despite what you were told a short while ago. If I may make a suggestion, I would insist on being with her, otherwise I fear you may never see what all this about. You too would be staying here but I assure you, if our source is correct you would want to be here."

"Can't any of you bastards just come out and say what you mean? All this secrecy is getting on my fucking wick."

Caius looked at Peter with a good-natured smile and I had a sneaky suspicion he was on our side. The question was why? Could it be that the Volturi were fighting among themselves?

"As The Captain so beautifully put it, we do like our secrets and duelling with words. I can't tell you everything but Bella wasn't harmed bringing her here, neither has she since she arrived. I'm sure there are various members of the Guard who wish it were otherwise, your mate has a, shall we say, certain flair for getting her message across. I would think Aro will have made sure she is aware that deviating from her story of her distress would be harmful to either you or the gallant Captain. Its my belief that she is gifted but not yet aware of it. Do you intend to change her soon Major? I'd like to see the new improved Bella sometime.

"Was Alice Cullen responsible for Bella's kidnap?"

"Indirectly yes. She came to us with an interesting proposition and Aro as usual snatched the chance to build his power base."

"Is she here in Volterra?"

"She is. Would you like the chance to confront her Major?"

I nodded while Peter just laughed.

"Very well, but remember she is under Aro's protection while in Volterra so killing her is out of the question"

"Why does Aro want Bella and why all the deception, the fire, the bodies?"

"I'm sure Alice will explain. Her plan was a good one and would probably have worked perfectly if not for Jane's slip up. Such a pity that."

So Jane's slip up hadn't been one at all. I suspected Caius was behind it. He was so strongly against Aro's plan he had tried to foil it.

"I'd like to see Alice now"

"Very well Major I'll have her called"

Caius

I was going to enjoy this, Alice Cullen grated on me, how a woman could be so vindictive to someone she called friend was beyond me. How she could torture her so called mate another, she needed watching carefully, like wounded tiger she would turn on anyone, even the hand that fed her. Alice skipped into the room all smiles until she saw my other guests then she turned but Felix guarding the door smiled at her and shook his head. She glanced quickly at The Major then approached me,

"You promised" she hissed.

"No Alice, Aro promised, I made no such undertaking and I think it only fair that The Major be able to put some questions to you. Whether you choose to answer them is up to you but I would strongly suggest you consider doing so. I will give you my personal assurance that no one will touch you, that should be of some comfort. Major, she's all yours."

Alice

Well I wasn't going to die here but I would have to explain my actions. What would happen when I left Volterra was a different proposition. I knew Jazz would be looking for me and Peter too, so I would need more assurances from Aro, which I would get when I was proved right, which I would be.

"Jazz, its been a long time."

"Not nearly long enough Alice. I want to know what's going on here"

"I thought you might. Unfortunately things didn't go quite as planned or you wouldn't be standing here now. I'm not normally a vindictive person as you know"

"Yeah and I own a squadron of flying pigs."

I hated Peter and glared as he interrupted me.

"You and Bella, it just wasn't right. She belonged to Edward and that accident was supposed to push them closer, make her hate and fear you. But he had to go all noble and you cracked altogether. Still you were back with Maria and that was a good compromise. Edward would have come looking for her eventually. Then Peter decides to butt in. You really are a pain in the ass."

He grinned and bowed.

"Any time bitch"

"I'll ignore you"

"You can try, many others have but no one has succeeded yet"

I looked back at Jasper.

"Can't you muzzle him?"

He just looked at me coldly,

"Well anyway, despite my best efforts, Maria failed to destroy you and Bella stumbles blindly into Peter. Jazz and Bella meet again and fall in love, all very Rom-Com if you ask me. Then I saw a way of splitting the two of you permanently, it was perfect, and you handed me the means yourself"

"Why Alice?"

"Because you didn't make me love you, because you needed me, because I could. Any of those would do Jazz. As for Bella, how could anyone want her? Love her more than me? You left me and found her. True happiness? I don't think so. The fact I didn't want you didn't mean I was happy for you to find your hearts desire"

"So what did you tell Aro that had his grasping hands twitching? Something to do with her gift?"

"Well that might have been good enough to entice him but no, I just mentioned it in passing. No, you gave me just what I needed, made it so easy, I saw what would happen in bright Technicolor. You lose, I win"

"Let me kill the bitch now"

Jasper shook his head, I knew he was waiting for the blow he knew was coming and I looked forward to seeing his expression.

"Aro was very interested in my vision, I saw his eyes light up the minute I told him what was within his grasp with just a little effort on his part."

Jasper

She was playing with me, hoping to goad me into action, she should have known better, I never acted until I had the facts. I looked over to Caius who was showing a keen interest in the proceedings.

"Just so you know, if she doesn't tell me what I want to know I'm going to start removing limbs"

He turned to her,

"Alice I suggest you tell him before he makes good on his threat. I'm not sure Felix would be inclined to step in quickly."

Caius was warning her and telling me I could hurt her if necessary. She pouted before sighing,

"OK I saw you and Bella, all the passionate moments, so sweet"

I tensed at this, so she'd been spying on us.