Chapter Sixty Seven

Jasper

Bella lay spent above me, her arms around me and her face buried in my neck. The smell of her hair against my face was wonderful and I breathed deeply of it. My hands slid up and down her bare back, relishing the feel of her soft skin against my palms. I felt her satisfaction and love as she drifted to sleep and contented myself with listening to her regular breathing. At one point she started to dream murmuring odd words but nothing that made any sense, then she settled once more and the sun was coming up as she awoke, lifting her head to look into my eyes.

"You are so beautiful"

She stole my lines!

Then reluctantly she pushed herself free of my body and went to shower but I could see she had something on her mind and worried myself thinking of what it could be, if it were something I had or hadn't done that upset her. I should have known better because when she came out of the bathroom still naked to rummage in Charlotte's closet for something to wear she looked over at me,

"No. It's not you. Stop worrying. I love you."

"Are you sure you can't read my mind?"

"No, just your emotions and your face."

"OK" I smiled.

"Would you stop doing that, you're distracting me."

"Doing what?"

"Smiling that devastating smile. It always leaves me unable to think."

She dressed in Char's jeans which were a little tight and a denim blouse which she left open a few buttons more than she would normally."

"Right Cowboy. How are you're legs?"

I flexed them, the pain was bearable,

"Not too bad."

"Do you think you can manage to walk to the shower if I help you?"

I nodded and together we made it, then I had the luxury of a hot shower watched by Bella, who was concerned I might fall.

Once cleaned to her satisfaction I made my way with her help back to the bedroom and pointed to my drawers where she found clean clothes for me and helped me dress. Feeling much better I sat on the bed while she paced the room,

"Bella are you going to tell me what's on your mind before I go crazy trying to guess."

Bella

I'd had a strange dream and although I knew I could be wrong I'd come up with something that disturbed me. I wanted to talk to Jasper about it but I wasn't sure he wouldn't laugh outright.

"Jazz, I want to run a theory by you, but you'll have to be patient with me, I need to know some things first."

"OK, Ask away."

"The Volturi, well Aro, he sired me and the others we know that. And we know Alice was Aro's sleeper, waiting for me to appear."

"Yes."

"You came to look after Alice and she'd already been changed."

"Yes."

"Do you know who by?"

"No. I never asked, I assumed she didn't know."

"Was she in Forks when you found her?"

"No, but then neither were the Cullens"

"Oh No, of course they wouldn't be would they. I'd forgotten about that. Was she with the Cullens though?"

"Yes. So was Esme, Edward and Rose, Emmett came along a little later."

"OK. So far so good. Why was Alice with the Cullens?"

"She was looking for an alternative way to live, she told us"

"Yes I know what she told us but why?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Why did she need an alternative way to live? She was already Volturi."

"It was a cover. She knew you would be coming to Forks, she must have seen that beforehand."

"Yes but why stay with the Cullens? She could have been in Volterra until I arrived and then turned up at the Cullens"

"We would have been suspicious of her then."

"How did you find out about Alice?"

"Carlisle contacted us, he'd been watching out"

"So how did he know about you and your mission?"

"One of the earlier children had information left by their human mother which pointed to a couple of the other children and it snowballed from there. One of the mother's mentioned the Cullens, a sanctuary I think."

"My Mother had the Cullen house marked on her map along with the Res and The Lumber Mill. I assumed that the first two were places of refuge too but I'm not so sure now. Why did Alice join the Cullens? That's what I keep asking myself."

"And what is your theory?"

"I don't think Alice ever wanted an alternative lifestyle. I don't think Alice ever left the Volturi."

"But she was in Forks Bella, with me when you arrived."

"Yes, but she was still in the Cullen house. Char told you that Carlisle was in contact with the Volturi when she was involved with him."

"Yes but I still don't get what you are trying to say."

"OK, Bear with me, Renee and at least one other woman pinpointed the Cullens or Cullen House in connection with Aro. I thought as did the other woman that the Cullens were a refuge, like the reservation but I don't think they were. I think it was a warning. I think Alice never left the Volturi, I think she stayed with them. I think Carlisle Cullen is a member of the Volturi, in fact I think he might be a fourth brother."

"That's a bit of a leap Bella."

"Yes, but if I'm right it explains Alice being there and the Cullen house being singled out by Renee."

"They didn't live there then"

"No I know, but she knew a few things she shouldn't have, like the wolves, and Char found out Carlisle was in contact with the Volturi and when Peter asked him for help he sent word to the Volturi."

"If you are right then what do you think Carlisle will do once you, as the last child, is back in Volterra? Do you think he'll continue to live in Forks?"

"No. I think he will return to his brothers"

"Actually he lived there for years at one time, there's a picture hanging in the house of the three Volturi brother and Carlisle on the balcony in the Volturi stronghold."

"Were there any other vampires in the picture?"

"No just the four"

"See...the four Volturi brothers. Aro, Caius, Marcus and Carlisle. Is there anyone who might know about this? Anyone at all we can talk to?"

Jasper shook his head,

"No one I know of...except perhaps Milo"

"Who's Milo?"

"He visited Carlisle a long while ago and there was some kind of disagreement."

"Do you know how to contact him?"

"No but I know someone who might, get me the phone will you"

I got the phone and left Jasper making some calls while I hunted around for something to eat or drink. In a vampire house that was a forlorn hope but suddenly I smelled coffee and turned to see Peter standing in the doorway holding a large Starbucks coffee.

"See anything you like?" he said with a smile as I took the coffee from him,

"I love you Peter Whitlock"

"Then you're going to love my wife even more because she's got the cream cheese bagels that go with the coffee."