Chapter Twenty Nine

Bella

I'd needed that talk from Peter to get myself straight and although I kept apologising to Jasper and he kept telling me he was fine I still felt so guilty. The man who loved me more than anything in his world, who'd been willing to risk his existence to save me from the Volturi and I'd attacked him. I certainly felt like a monster. He stayed at my side trying to reassure me but he could feel my guilt and I knew Charlotte was unhappy about what had happened, she kept her distance.

"I want Renee out of there. I want Aro's head on a platter and I want any other vampires involved in this to die too"

"Sounds about right Bella. But we do need a plan of action. We have to get in there first and find Renee. You do realize there's a good chance she's either dead or been transformed herself?"

"Yes Peter I do but I have to try and to be honest we are the only ones with the power to take the Volturi on."

"With your shield that's true but remember Bella you need to stay focused. If you get angry, lose control and drop your shield we're all dead."

I knew he was right and I nodded firmly.

"Yes I know, but now I have a focus for my anger, Aro Volturi, and the other Brothers if they were involved."

Jasper interrupted,

"I don't think Marcus would be. He recognised our bond, he would know you'd never join the Volturi because I wouldn't"

"OK but what about Caius?"

Jasper

I thought about this and the way he'd acted when Bella woke up. I doubted he'd want that much trouble, he saw Bella for the threat she posed whereas Aro only saw what he wanted to own. Their best guard couldn't hope to beat Bella or anyone she chose to protect. Alec, Jane, Chelsea, they were all useless to him.

"Aro knows you'll be coming for your mother and I think he's banking on a threat to her to stop you using your gift against him."

"Well he's read me all wrong then hasn't he? Renee will be terrified or dead and either way she wont be able to live with the knowledge that vampires roam the Earth so in effect he's already murdered her. I have nothing to lose except you three and I will protect you all."

"I think in that case a frontal assault is indicated. Walk up to the gates and demand entrance, see how he reacts."

"Reacts? He'll be pissing himself when he realizes how Bella intends to react. We might have to force an entry, God I'm looking forward to this, its been way too long"

"Peter, this isn't a war. Its a rescue mission."

"With Aro involved it amounts to the same thing."

"Maybe you're right but we'll ask nicely first OK?"

Peter groaned and rolled his eyes,

"OK if we have to, but he's not going to invite us in for tea and a chat I can tell you that"

"If I were Aro I'd try an assault first, Alec probably hopes he can get to us before we realize. Bella how long can you provide us with protection?"

"I don't know but I don't feel any strain so I guess as long as I'm not thirsty indefinitely"

"Think doesn't cut it with me. I say we try a little experiment. Id hate to get to Volterra and find my pants round my ankles because your shield only lasts an hour or two."

Bella

I knew I was on probation with Peter and needed to prove myself so I agreed to a test, what I didn't know until after I agreed was that it wasn't me Peter would be attacking but Jasper. He wouldn't' let me back out though so we all hunted and then I rang Charlie before we started.

"Bella?"

"Hi Dad. I don't know if you've spoken to Carlisle or Billy but we know what happened to Mum, she was taken by the Volturi to try to force me to work for them, to join them as one of the Guard"

"Yeah I spoke to Carlisle but I'm not saying anything to Phil, hell he wouldn't believe me if I did. What are we going to do?"

"We? Dad you stay with Phil and leave Renee to us"

"I cant do that Bells,..."

A hand snaked over my shoulder and took the receiver from me and I turned as I heard Peters voice,

"Charlie I know you want to help but what exactly could you do against a guy who can make you deaf, dumb, and blind, or a girl who can torture you just with her mind, or another who can make you feel allegiance to the Volturi?"

"They can do all that?"

"Yes and more, so as Bella says, you stay with Phil and leave the creepy fuckers to us"

He handed back the phone and walked out.

"Dad?"

"It sounds like you've got a fight on your hands Bells. Can you do it?"

"Rescue Renee? I hope so although it may already be too late and if its not how is she going to live with the knowledge she'll have?"

"But you will try?"

"Yes we will. I'll speak to you again as soon as we have some news. Bye Dad, love you."

Peter

This test was as much for Bella's confidence as anything. I had no doubt she could keep her shield up indefinitely but she needed her confidence building after the little outburst so now she was going to protect her mate or see him suffer at the hands of another. Before we started out in the open away from the just repaired house I gave her chapter and verse,

"Bella, this is for real. It has to be or we wont know. The Major is my friend but when it comes down to saving my own skin I'm up there with the cowards so I need to know you can do this. Once we start I'm going to hit him with everything I've got so be ready."

She nodded concentrating hard on him. I started slow with a few feints which he easily deflected but then it got more serious as both of us tried for the killing move. A couple of times I got a hand to him before it was thrown off

"Concentrate Bella. You need to do better than this."

I saw her frown and bite her lip as she watched but I still thought she was treating it too lightly so I stopped and took something from my pocket and held it up.

"This Bella, is a highly flammable liquid that burns in air. I have a dozen of them and its up to you to stop me using them against Jasper because if they land he's toast. And just so you know I'm not joking I'll give you a small demonstration. I pointed to the patch of grass by a boulder.

"The boulder is The Major"

I lobbed it and it landed on the rock smashing as it did so. The clear liquid burst into fire as it came into contact with the air and the flames burned hotly for several minutes. Bella looked at me in horror

"What if I can't do it Peter?"

"You'd better, now get set"

"I can't if I fail..."

"Your mate becomes a crispy critter so concentrate".

I pulled another ball from my pocket and threw it just slightly wide but Bella's shield was up and it smashed on the ground creating another fierce fire. Each time I threw one it hit solid air and bounced away into the grass, not breaking because of the cushioning of the greenery. When the last one was gone I smiled,

"Now we're getting somewhere."

She stormed over to me swearing and snarling but I put a hand up,

"Whoa Hell Cat. Before you do something you might regret watch."

I picked up the closest ball and smashed it against my chest. The oily water dripped off my tee shirt onto the grass.

"Did you really think I'd throw fire at The Major? Only the demonstration balls had the real stuff in them. You see Bella, when you're motivated you can do it."

"I hope those balls were marked"

I looked at The Major and grinned,

"You'll never know will you. Am I a fiend or not? The question remains!"