Chapter Thirty Three

Bella

When the guys got back they came with three horses which they set loose in the paddock they'd fenced only the day before. Seeing the still figure on the porch Peter swore,

"Garrett, fuck now what? Sometimes I hope I'll never see the ugly bastard again, he always finds trouble."

Garrett sat up and was smiling

"Peter great to see you too."

"Major, good to see you all again. She's why I'm here actually"

"I am?"

He looked over and nodded,

"It seems my dear you have upset a certain person who has subsequently thrown his rattle out of the pram and told tales to the bad guys"

"For fuck sake speak English Garrett, it is your mother tongue after all"

Peter rolled his eyes as he spoke.

I watched as Jasper pulled another chair over and hooked his arm around my waist pulling me onto his lap. He buried his nose in my hair and took a deep breath,

"It's good to be home darlin'"

I kissed him then returned my attention to Garrett.

"I take it you are referring to Edward Cullen"

"The one and only. It seems he threw himself on the floor and stamped his feet because someone dared say no to him. It never ceases to amaze me how someone as clever and worldly as Carlisle puts up with Edwards prima donna ways. Sometimes I wonder if Esme isn't just a smoke screen for a different relationship. Still..."

Pete and Jazz exchanged a look,

"So what has Eddy the Idiot done this time? That boy is a fucking moron, someone should burn him and put us out of our misery."

"Don't you mean his misery?"

"No Bella, he can suffer all he likes, its us I feel sorry for, because if he's been up to no good and Garrett, the prophet of doom, is here then the trouble is going to be fucking humongous. I wondered why my bones were aching suddenly"

"That's just arthritis in them old man"

Peter made a rude gesture while Garrett shrugged his shoulders with a wry grin and continued,

"Can I help it if I hear things more quickly than you country boys? Sweet little Edward has gone crying to the Volturi. Telling them how the nasty Major snatched his toy and wont let him have it back"

Peter frowned,

"What the fuck does he expect them to do? Send the Major to bed without supper?"

"Oh no. Its far more interesting than that. Edward knows that if he tries to get Bella back, even if the nice Aro gives her to him he'll be saying goodbye to his bollocks. Instead he's working on the "If I can't have her then nobody can" notion.

"So what's he told the Volturi?"

"Well we all know how Aro wets himself with excitement when he hears about a new talent. He met Bella already I understand and big mouth Cullen let slip he couldn't read her mind,"

"Nor could Aro himself" I pointed out.

"And that in itself was enough to have his palms itching Bella Well you were given the option to become one of us or die and you didn't do either for a while. Now you are a vampire and The Majors mate Aro would have been satisfied but a little bird told him that your power is much stronger now. That you could be a danger to the Volturi"

"What? How?"

"No idea dear girl. That's as far as I got before deciding I needed to visit my old friends."

"Garrett you never put yourself between anything and the Volturi so why now?"

"Well you see Peter, I have it on good authority that Bella could indeed be a threat to Aro and his brothers."

"Who from?"

"Our very good friend Eleazor"

"What did he say? And more importantly did Aro believe Edward?"

"I'm not sure it was actually Edward that Aro listened to."

"Then who?" I was getting confused here.

"Carlisle fucking Cullen!

"Give the man a prize. Well done Peter. I see the single brain cell still sparks occasionally"

"Fuck you Garrett"

"I'm rather choosy actually, but I'll keep your offer in mind. Now back to serious matters, it did occur to me that perhaps Carlisle himself has put in a bid for Bella, take her into his care and ensure she behaves. Aro might find that an acceptable alternative, Carlisle gets another gifted child and Edward still has access to his hearts desire. I may be wrong but then again...maybe I'm not"

Jasper

This was serious, if Aro decided he wanted Bella it would be almost impossible to stop him, he had the only gifts that we couldn't fight and he might be persuaded to let Carlisle watch over her. Carlisle was as interested in talented vampires as Aro it appeared.

"Major, after I heard about Bella through the grapevine I spoke to Eleazor and although he can't tell precise talents without meeting the vampire in question he can get a good idea and he thinks Edwards inability to read Bella's mind, as Aro also, is a sign of something much more powerful now she is a vampire. He believes she is a shield of great power. If that's right then she may be the only one who could stop Aro from acquiring her."

"We already know Bella is able to block the likes of Jane and Alec and defend herself and Alice told us she could shield me instinctively but she has to think about the others."

"True, she needs to be able to control the shield or things could get rather hot for the likes of Peter or myself. Being a curious sort of a guy I thought I'd hang around for the experiments and if they work I'll stay on for the fun and games."

Bella

So what Garrett was saying was that as long as I could control my shield and use it to protect my friends there was nothing Aro could do to force me to work for him.

"I need to learn this quick. How long do you think we have Garrett?"

He considered for a moment,

"Aro never does anything hastily so I'd say a few weeks maybe. It depends on how he's feeling and what else is going on in Volterra. I'd say learn as quickly as you can"

"OK but how? I know I managed it when we took out the Quileutes but I don't know how I did it, protected Rose I mean."

"I think you need to start trying to visualize it as a cover or something, that way you'll be able to see who you are protecting. That's your homework for today"

"Thanks Garrett and thanks for coming to warn us."

"What are friends for? Anyway if I stay with you there's a good chance I get to fight and I love a good fight, especially if the odds are in our favour, eh Peter?"

"Yeah, sometimes its less painful. I remember last time we fought along side each other, before the Quileute village.

"Oh yes, that was fun."

"Garrett I spent a week convalescing after that little gig."

"Was it my fault you got your arm ripped off?"

"As a matter of fact yes. I was defending your sorry ass at the time."

"So you were, thanks Peter. Maybe I can repay the favour some time"

"Knowing my luck you'll miss and the fucker will get me in any case"