Chapter Thirteen

Charlotte

"Charlotte"

Jasper's tone was cold but he'd rung and that was all that mattered.
"Major thank you for getting back to me. Do you know Bella?"
"I knew A Bella, why?"
"You need to speak to Carlisle. Just a minute I'll put him on speaker and you can listen."

I flicked the switch and listened to Carlisle's explanation which Eleazor backed up as Peter walked back in. I held up a finger in warning pointing to the cell phone in my hand.

"Alice said that? And did you believe her Carlisle? Or is it that I'm just fool enough to go anyway?"

"I believed her Jasper but its up to you, could you live with the guilt if shes right and you ignore Alice's words?"

We waited to see if Jasper would say anything but there was a prolonged silence and I thought he'd rung off but then Peter broke in,
"Oh fuck! Pick me up in a couple of hours Major. Sounds like we have a damsel in distress."
There was no reply but my cell phone went dead as I looked at Peter,
"How did you know he could be here in a couple of hours?"
"I didn't but I had the feeling he wasn't far away and obviously I was right."

He turned the phone off speaker,

"OK Carlisle, you got your way we're going , all I need is the address of this old vineyard she's in. Oh and just a friendly warning, if this is some kind of fucking mind game you and Alice are playing on The Major I'm coming to visit, and it won't be for pleasure"

"It's not a game Peter, I promise you."

Eleazor gave him the address and he handed the phone back to me,

"You say Goodbye for me, I'm busy."

We were waiting outside when a battered old army Jeep pulled up, The Major driving. Nothing was said as we threw our bags in the back and piled in, the Jeep leaping forward as he hit the gas. I saw Peter watching him from the corner of his eye impatiently but The Major ignored him,
"Well go on, get it over with, the wait is fucking killing me."
Jasper's head snapped towards him,
"Peter you are an ass hole but for now an ass hole whose skills I need."
"Oh that's OK then. Great, I know where I stand. A talented ass hole, I'll settle for that Major."

Peter sat back with a smile and I knew we'd been forgiven, if only out of necessity. I reached across and touched his hand that grasped the wheel.
"I'm sorry Jasper. It's good to see you"
He turned again and there was a shadow of a smile on his face,
"Missed you too Char, if not the ass hole you're married to"
"Oh he grows on you."
"Yeah, like fungus."
Peter cracked up at that and the ensuing silence was at least more comfortable.

Once on the plane the Major closed his eyes and sat silent as usual, he very rarely spoke unless it was necessary especially when he was getting ready for action.
"So you believe the Cullens? Peter asked unable to keep quiet.
The Major opened his eyes and sighed,
"I'd forgotten just how annoying you could be Captain"
"Hey this is me being good. If I want to annoy you, you'll know. So?"
"I can't afford to presume he's lying and I liked Bella, she's got guts. I don't like the idea of her becoming one of Aro's pets."
"OK but what about the other bit, you know, you and her?"
"I don't really care Peter. That's a bit far fetched even for Alice's active imagination and why she'd look at me like that I've no idea. Hell I tried to kill her once all ready."
"Yeah but some girls dig the dangerous boys"
"Shut up Peter, before I forget we're friends again."
He closed his eyes once more and stayed that way through the remainder of the flight.

Peter

Charlotte smiled at him a few times, really pissing me off in the process,
"What's with the laughing hyena impression" I hissed.
"I just think maybe our Major has met his girl at last"
"Don't you start Charlotte, Peter's annoying enough for both of you"
I didn't say anything but I did wonder what this Bella Swan was like. As far apart from Alice Cullen as possible I fervently hoped. Once in Italy we got a message from Carlisle, bad news, Eleazor had been called back by an impatient Aro so we were rapidly running out of time. We hired a car and sped off towards the address we'd been given for the old vineyard and the engine got a real work out on the long drive. It was a good job The Majors reflexes were as good as they were or we'd have been over the side of a mountain a few times.

Eleazor

I couldn't delay Aro without suspicion so I was forced to fly back at his request. Bella was at the old vineyard which was actually a very pretty place and she was more relaxed than last time we met, in Volterra, not that it mattered to me, I already knew about her gift. I sat in the sunny garden with her and we were left alone so I chanced a quick personal conversation.
"Bella I'm a friend of the Cullens"
She stiffened,
"Oh. Do they know I'm here?"
"They didn't, but they do now Listen to me very carefully Bella. I'm going to tell you two things I want you to remember if you can"
"OK"
"Someone is coming to help you although I think they might be too late, and you have a powerful gift. You are a shield which means you can protect yourself. Not yet, but as a vampire."
"So Aro's going to change me because he knows about my gift? How did he know? Edward, of course! He wants me to join the Volturi?"
"Yes but it will be his biggest mistake if he does because once changed he will not be able to control you. No one can, your gift will see to that. You will have great power so be careful who you ally yourself with. Remember old friends who come to help are more reliable than any new ones"
"I don't understand"
"I know but I can't say any more, Aro is here. I'm very sorry Bella for what I am about to say but I must protect my own mate."

Bella

He stood up and the questions I still had died on my lips as I saw Aro appear with Caius and a beautiful young man who was introduced as Alec. When Eleazor explained my gift to Aro, not quite in the same glowing terms he'd used to me, his eyes shone avariciously and he smiled,
"Excellent. Bella you will make a wonderful addition to my Guard"
"Our Guard" Caius interrupted.
"Yes of course Brother, our Guard. Look Bella, I have brought you a friend, perhaps even a mate, to help you after you wake. From over his shoulder Eleazor mouthed 'Remember what I said'. I looked at the young man and heard the words "perhaps even a mate" over and over, thinking I would rather die than spend eternity with him.