Chapter Twenty Four

Jasper

"I really thought between us Maria and I had killed off Jasper but no, Bella resurrects him curse her. Then I realized that by doing so she handed me the instrument of her own destruction and yours too. You see Bella is pregnant with your child, a child who will have a special gift, a very powerful weapon that I knew Aro would want."

I hadn't heard her last words, Bella was pregnant? Of course the child was mine but was such a thing even possible? Or was Alice just playing mind games with all of us?

"You're a lying bitch"

Peter said it for me and I saw her lip curl in distaste,

"Prove it. Aro believes me and pretty soon it will be self-evident. She's pregnant with a vampire's child so it will grow fast. Your dilemma Jazz will be who you choose to save, Bella or the Brat, you can't have both."

Her smile was too much for me and I lunged but Felix and Caius intervened and I was held back.

"Escort Alice back to her quarters Felix"

She looked back as she walked out, a triumphant smile on her face.

"So you see Major, Aro's interest is in your unborn child. A few weeks, maybe a month, and we will all be able to see the truth."

Caius explained.

"What is it my baby can do?"

"Alice was very vague about that, other than its power as a weapon she couldn't tell Aro much."

"Alice never told the whole truth in her entire life."

"I agree. There's something she is holding back and I have to wonder what and why?"

"If it had been in Aro's interest she would have told him "

"Of course. Which makes me believe it isn't. This baby could be a threat to us if we try to use its gift for our own ends. Who knows? I'm willing to make a bargain with you Major"

The idea of a child, my child, being a reality was more than I could comprehend but I heard Peter's voice as if from a distance

"We're listening."

"I'm willing go help you escape with Bella, for a consideration"

"Yeah I knew there would be a price tag"

"We all have to pay at some point Captain. I don't want Bella or this baby, if it exists, in Aro's grasp. I want all of you to disappear and if there is a baby I want its existence kept as quiet as possible. Its powers, if any, downplayed until such time as it may become of use to me."

"You're planning a take over bid in the future? Goodbye Aro, hello Caius the new Volturi leader."

"Would that bother you?"

"I guess not, you're all as corrupt as hell. It's akin to making a pact with the Devil but I guess its our only alternative. What about Aro and Alice?"

"Alice you can have later. Once Bella is safely away Aro won't need her any longer. Shes a little too conniving even for him, so he'll probably cut her loose. Leave Aro to me."

"And why should we trust you?"

"Your options are limited but..."

His face became softer, almost gentle for a while,

"Lets just say I owe Bella this much, she deserves better than to be Aro's puppet"

"That's it?"

"It's all you are going to get from me so, do we have a deal?"

I touched Peter on the shoulder and nodded

"Looks like it Caius"

"Good. Felix you know what to do"

Jasper

Felix who had just returned nodded and ushered us out along yet another corridor to a room at the end.

"You have ten minutes tops to get her and get out. Any time after that the alarm might be raised"

"Do you know what the fuck is going on?"

He hesitated, eyes darting from the door to Peter before answering,

"Lets just say Caius is interested in Genealogy."

Then he walked rapidly away.

"Ten minutes so use it wisely."

Bella

I had no idea where I was or why. The last thing I remember was waking up to the sounds of flames crackling and the smell of burning wood. I saw a pair of red eyes staring at me, then nothing. I don't think I was unconscious but I could hear and see nothing. I'd read about sensory deprivation experiments and it felt a bit like that, as if the world existed somewhere but I was no longer a part of it. When I was next aware of my surroundings everything had changed. I was in a strange room with stone walks and heavy furniture, there were no windows but it wasn't stuffy so fresh air was getting in somewhere. Food was passed to me by a dumb-waiter, nothing fancy but well prepared, it smelled good and I was so hungry I put suspicion to one side and ate. After no ill effects I decided whoever was holding me, wanted me in good health. There were books in here, a CD player with a selection of artists and a TV with a huge selection of DVDs. It was really weird! One door was locked but another opened into a fully equipped bathroom. The dresser drawers were full of clothes in various sizes which again was spooky but for all the comfort and luxuries I was alone and I missed Jazz terribly, my chest aching with the loss. I knew this pain would only subside when I was with him again and who knew how long that would be? I held on to the knowledge that he would be looking and he would find me wherever I was. When I slept I dreamed of fire and woke screaming and clutching a pillow, it got to the point where I was afraid to sleep, only allowing it when I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open longer. I started scratching lines on the wall to see the passage of time. Every time I got a meal I put one line and worked on about three meals a day. I'd been here a depressingly long time as I looked at the scratches.

Feeling I needed to do something I kept the tin plate and mug from my meals and started banging on the door keeping it up as long as I could and suddenly I heard a voice from the other side.

"All that will do is wear you out Bella so stop."

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"You're safe. That's all you need to know, now rest"

"You rest! I want out. I want Jasper. I'll keep it up until I get what I want. You can't keep me here."

"It may have passed your notice but we can, now stop tiring yourself out and rest."

I continued hammering the door and shouting until both plate and mug were mangled metal and my arms were too tired to continue. It became a ritual I slept only when I couldn't avoid it then I started on the door again. Surely someone must hear. My arms became tired more quickly and I was exhausted more quickly. Were they drugging me? I tried not eating or drinking but it made no difference, except to make me hungry.. I spent hours laying on my bed too tired to move. Then I started feeling nauseous, was I becoming sick? I didn't think I had a fever but it worried me. Looking at the scratches on the wall I realized I was losing track of time, I couldn't remember the last time I scratched a new line. Was I being fattened up for that red-eyed vampire to drain? Was I sick? Was this all a nightmare? I had no way of telling and no one to talk to, I was alone in my tomb like rooms. As the days went into weeks, or did they? I noticed I'd put on some weight, great! With no way to exercise I was becoming a blob. I could imagine Jasper coming to rescue me and taking one look at a huge blob of fat run as fast as he could. I looked down at my hands, my ring...it was gone when I woke up in here and I felt its loss keenly, but Jasper even more.

I know there are some of you who hate the whole pregnancy thing but I don't go down this route often, bear with me. Thank you Jules x