Chapter Sixty Three

Eleazer

I was surprised to hear from Jasper so soon after they left, the house was very quiet now the others had gone too, Tanya accompanying Charlie and Edward going back to the Cullen house with Josie now Bella was away from Forks.

"Are Edward and Josie still there Eleazer?"

"No why Jasper? You sound worried."

"And there's been no suspicious animal activity?"

"No. Is there something I should be aware of? Some danger?"

"Darius has just told me about Josie. How well do you know her?"

"Not well, she came as Saffron's guest and she seemed a nice enough girl if a little strange. She and Edward hit it off straight away. Why?"

"She's a changeling Eleazer."

I laughed at this,

"Jasper the last of those were killed years ago, we'd have noticed anyway."

"Not necessarily. Not if she were hiding the fact."

"Are you telling me she was a guardian spy?"

"No, a Volturi spy, probably a forgotten one, but one who never forgot her purpose."

"But if that's true then Carlisle and his family are in great danger. They live much closer to a guardian tribe than we do. Have you warned them yet?"

"No I'm just about to but I think you need to be alert too. Her scent may linger and they may have keener noses for it than we did."

"I will and thank you for the warning Jasper. Give Bella our love."

I called the girls together and explained what Jasper had just told me,

"I wondered why she used such a lot of perfume, I guess it was to disguise her strange scent and of course once Bella and her father got here we were a little overwhelmed with delicious scents. Do you think the guardians will find out she was here?"

"I hope not for all our sakes."

"What about the Cullens and Charlie? Oh, what about Tanya? Will she be in danger?"

"Jasper is ringing them now with the same warning Carmen. In the meantime we hunt together and no one goes out alone. Not until this is resolved."

Carlisle

Jaspers call came just as I was about to leave for the clinic and Esme called me back in.

"He's says it's very important Carlisle."

I took the phone from her and could see his tone had scared her

"Jasper is there something wrong?"

"I've just spoken to Eleazer with a warning. Josie is a Changeling."

"A what? I thought they were all dead many years ago. How do you know this?"

"Darius just discovered it. Where is she now?"

"She and Edward took Charlie and Tanya home, they stayed with us last night. Do you think they are in danger?"

"If the Quileutes catch her scent probably and their wolf sense of smell is more acute than ours, I just hope your neighbours didn't get a suspicion."

"I'll ring the house. If they aren't there I'll try Edwards cell phone, get them back here where we can protect Charlie. Just a minute...Edward just pulled up I'll ring Charlie straight away."

Jasper

I just hoped Carlisle would reach Charlie before any of his friends on the Res did, especially Sam, he'd know there was something wrong straight away. Bella snuggled in,

"Its not your fault Jasper you've done all you can. Besides Charlie is hardly likely to get visitors the minute he gets home. Even in Forks it takes a while for the jungle drums to get the message across."

I nodded but I knew she was worried and I did feel responsible, after all if not for me Charlie wouldn't be in Tanya's company now.

When the phone went again it was Esme.

"There was no answer at Charlie's so Edward and Carlisle have driven over there with Stuart. Alice and I have Josie here at the house. What do you want us to do with her?"

"Put her on please Esme. I need to talk to her."

Bella put her ear to the receiver to listen in knowing that Darius could hear anyway although he was busy tapping away at one of the keyboards and watching a screen that appeared to be zooming in on something.

"Jasper?"

"Josie why didn't you tell Edward what you were?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"You're a Changeling, I know. That means you've put Edward and all the Cullens in danger."

"Hardly! The Quileutes wont recognise me, you didn't and I'll soon be finished my task then I can report in to the Volturi and take my place with them where I belong."

"You're wrong. Aro wont take you in, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the guardian tribes. He'll kill you first."

"I don't think so, I've already been in touch with Caius, its his orders I'm following."

"Caius knows of your existence? Have you told him about Bella and Charlie?"

"He already knows about your precious Bella but he's not going to do anything until I'm safely in Volterra. As for Charlie, I have no reason to mention him unless you force the issue. In the meantime I think you've pushed the panic button unnecessarily. Chill out Jasper, enjoy your holiday with your mate and leave me to finish my job. That way we all win."

"And Edward?"

"I'll tell him in my own time and he can come to Volterra with me. He will you know, he loves me. For now I have to go."

I could tell that Jasper wasn't reassured by the conversation, but as he put the phone away we heard Darius curse,

"Too late Major, the shit's already gone down. I nudged a satellite and now I've got real time eyes over Forks. If I'm not mistaken Charlie's place is on fire and Carlisle has just arrived."

We ran over to see the picture on the screen, it was very grainy but obviously vampire eyes could make more sense of it. I looked at Jasper and he nodded,

"Its Charlie's place and there are several wolves in the trees at the back."

"Can you see my dad?"

"No, no bodies anywhere. Here come Carlisle and the others."

Carlisle

I could tell we were too late before we arrived, the smell of burning was strong and I could smell the musky odour of wolves. Edward pulled up outside the house and we split up, Edward going round the back with Stuart while I went in the front aware there might still be wolves inside but they had done what they came to do and left. Charlie knelt on the floor badly mauled andcovered in blood and with Tanya's headless body cradled in his arms. He looked up and I could see the tears in his eyes,

"They crashed in and killed her Carlisle then Sam phased and started screaming about a Changeling. What the hell is one if those? They took her head Carlisle, why would they do that?"

"Come with us Charlie, you need to get away from here. We'll take Tanya with us and I'll explain everything".

He let me take Tanya's body from him but instead of following me he went through the back and a few minutes joined me in the car, a loaded rifle in his hands and murder in his face,

"You go back Carlisle. Take Tanya with you. I have a score to settle."

"Its no good Charlie you'll never get them, they're too fast to hit."

"Oh yeah? You never saw me shoot did you Carlisle? Go."

Stuart and Edward joined us as he got out of the car and Edward looked at his retreating back.

"Where's he going with that rifle?"

"He plans on shooting himself a few wolves."

"He'll never hit them Carlisle you should have stopped him."

"I don't think anything would change his mind Edward and we have to go before the police get here."

Edward shook his head,

"You go, Stuart and I will stay with Charlie. I owe him that much."

I nodded, there was no time to argue but Stuart scrambled in the front seat averting his eyes from Tanya's headless body.

"Not me. This isn't my fight."

Edward and I both looked at him in disgust but I put my foot down, I couldn't be found with a headless body in my car, especially one that quite obviously wasn't human!