Chapter Sixty One

Jasper

Peter was fast becoming a real problem so I sat down with Bella and Charlotte joined us leaving him to sit in a chair alone. He crossed his legs and smiled, well aware of the effect he was having on us all. Darius didn't say anything but he couldn't fail to feel the tension in the room, vast as it was.

"So what news do you have for us?"

"Well first off Dante hasn't left the country, I think he's been told come back with you or don't bother coming at all so I would watch your back although he's so inept you'll probably trip over him. Meanwhile I have some news on the gifts the Romanians thought they had."

"Thought?"

"It seems Dante has been up to his old tricks, talking up his own talent at sniffing out talents. Once Stefan heard that the gift working on your mate was a weak one it made him suspicious and he tested the others. They didn't live up to their press and it caused a huge argument between Stefan and Vladimir. The gifts stayed because any talent is better than none but then Aro contacted them so it was bye bye gifts. Vladimir never got over Aro snatching Heidi and Demetri from under his nose and this had really put the cat among the pigeons, losing two more because of Stefan's actions."

"So they were looking for a way out of trouble when I spoke to them?"

"Yes Major although they weren't happy at the way you worded it. Still I think they will be dormant for a few years more. As for this Stuart from England, what a puzzle he turned out to be."

"Alice's mate?"

"Yes, or so she thinks but all that glitters ain't necessarily gold. Stuart is actually a vampire called Stephen and the closest he's ever been to England was when his boat sank beneath him, just off the French coast in the late eighteenth century. He was a privateer who preyed on the English and French merchant ships and was unlucky enough to not only have his ship sunk from under him but to be discovered half drowned on the coast of Brittany by a vampire and bitten."

"So why the lies?"

"It sounds better I guess, who knows. He is however talented and its one he users to great effect among the females. Our Stuart is adept at getting money and valuables from other vampires before leaving them high and dry. He has amazing charisma which he can focus in on a single female which it would be my guess is what he's done to Alice Cullen. The Cullens are known to be a well off coven especially with Alice's gift so she'd be an ideal victim. One day she'll open her eyes and find he's gone along with her money and goods and leaving her with a broken heart."

"Poor Alice"

I smiled at Bella's tender heart but Pete just laughed,

"Its no more than she deserves, snooty bitch."

Bella

I was really interested and upset by Darius story but Peters interruption really annoyed me,

"What is your problem with her Peter? You've done nothing but bitch about her and sneer at me since we met. Just spit it out. Lets get it all out into the open and then just maybe you'll shut up long enough for Darius to finish."

Peter looked at me in open-mouthed astonishment while Darius and Charlotte just grinned at each other but Jasper tensed and I guessed he'd felt Peter's anger.

"OK, if you want it laid on the table fine. Allow me to oblige. Alice Cullen is a bitch who thinks she's better than anyone else and did her damnedest to put a wedge between us and The Major. She more or less succeeded for a number of years so that's my story with her. As for you well let me see, having a human among us isn't just dangerous for you but for us too. If I took you for dinner The Major would be really pissed off but you do smell appetizing. Then again if the Volturi find out, well, Caius is just waiting for an excuse to rip The Major and I a new one and I'd rather not die just so The Major can get his leg over with a human. I get that its a novelty but he should have screwed you then killed you. Its the way things are done in our world. The Cullens keeping you and your father as pets is waving a red flag at Aro Volturi and he wont ignore it for long whatever anyone else says to the contrary. Happy now?"

I put a hand on Jaspers arm as I felt him tense to attack,

"Yes thank you. At least I know what you think of me and women in general. I had never met a real live chauvinistic pig but now I find one in the vampire world so congratulations for holding that honour. What Jasper and I do or don't do is none if your damn business and I'll thank you not to make assumptions. If you're scared of the Volturi then why did you come and more importantly why are you still here Peter? Just go, its easy enough. You put one foot in front of the other and move rapidly until you are far enough from the nasty bogey man Aro Volturi to feel safe again although I think that might take you some time as he scares you so much. I don't want you here if all you can do is shake with fear and bitch about me. You could attack but I wouldn't rate your chances but if you really feel that way then give it your best shot. Now I've laid my position on the table too."

Darius

It was all I could do to stop myself laughing when she stopped talking and glared at Peter who couldn't believe what he'd just heard. I thought he'd just met his match and in a fragile human girl who wasn't hiding behind The Major but standing beside him.

"Who needs a friend like you anyway?"

He shot to his feet and I tensed ready for the fight I knew was close as I saw The Majors jaw tighten and his muscles bunch.

"You know something Bella Swan, you're right. Why am I here? If he wants to commit suicide by Volturi then fine but I'm not going down with him. You two can remember my warning as the flames lick round you. I told you so. Come on Charlotte I can think of better ways to die."

Charlotte looked at his outstretched hand and back at The Major before getting to her feet with a sigh,

"I'm sorry Bella, Major. I wish things were different but..."

The Major nodded his head then looked at me,

"So what else have you heard? Oh by the way Captain don't slam the door on your way out."

Peter strode furiously away and I flicked the switch to activate the doors for his exit, waiting till he'd gone to speak again.

"Now that I didn't expect. Bella you have one hell of a mouth on you and guts to go with it. I just hope we can keep things together without him. Much as I hate to admit it Peter was one hell of a good fighter."

"Well Jasper's better"

I could feel the fury in her words and nodded, she was right of course but I hoped this wouldn't come back to bite us on the ass.