Chapter Sixty Eight
Jasper
So Stuart did love Alice, well that was something I guess, but if he tried anything that put Bella at risk I would take him out without a second thought. I was under no illusion that Aro would call his attack dog back if he thought for one minute there was a chance he might be successful but at least Carlisle would try. In the meantime we had to work out our own strategy because I was well aware that the guardians would here soon and they were much more battle ready than us. I needed Peter here before they turned up if possible, and Bella composed enough to leave here in safety. I needed her to survive and I was sure once she knew the truth she'd want a chance to get even, she was certainly that much a vampire even before her transformation and I intended to get revenge for her.
Darius motioned me to pay attention and we listened in as Carlisle dialled Italy and got transferred through to Aro.
"Carlisle? What a surprise."
Darius looked at me and I nodded, by his tone he already knew some, if not all, of the events that had transpired.
"Aro, we had a Changeling in our house, one of yours I believe."
"A Changeling? I thought they were all dead, after all we made a treaty with the guardian tribes to destroy them. Who was it?"
He tried to sound interested in the answer,
"Her name was Josie and she was Edwards mate. The Quileutes found out about her so it wont be long before the other guardian tribes find out."
"I notice you use the past tense Carlisle. I take it this Josie is dead?"
"Yes Aro she is along with the Quileute elders and some of the pack plus one of the Denali coven."
"I see."
Now he didn't sound quite so happy,
"So you see Aro I thought you might like to know that Caius is responsible for possibly starting a war with the guardian tribes, especially the Quileutes."
"Oh, I don't think we need worry too much about them, the only ones who could cause us a trouble are the ones in Alaska and we are watching them."
"You knew about her didn't you?"
"I have never met Josie nor have I ever spoken to her Carlisle."
"But you knew she existed and what she intended doing?"
"That would be most unwise, allowing a Changeling so close to the few guardian tribes that still exist."
"Yes it would, and I don't think feigning innocence will work with their leaders do you?"
Aro
It was unfortunate that she was discovered so soon but not a great shock, I wasn't surprised when I found out she had died fulfilling her mission in life. Finding a mate in Edward Cullen had been an added bonus because if things did go wrong it would be his coven that bore the brunt of the guardians anger at being lied to. When Carlisle rang I thought it was one of their leaders making contact to complain about his coven or Carlisle complaining about being put in the centre of a war. The Major and his friends becoming involved was unfortunate to say the least because he could cause us all big problems. My brothers and I had considered sending Jane and Alec to destroy him and his human mate for breaking our laws but he was an excellent fighter and he had refused to stand against us. There was also a slight chance she might be gifted like her father who I was about to send the guard to collect for us when he was killed. Any kind of shield was a gift not to be thrown away unnecessarily but it would be very difficult to reach any of them now, now Darius and the others were involved. No one in their right mind went against Darius unless they had a serious and immediate death wish. He wasn't gifted but he was extremely intelligent and knew how to not only protect himself but call down on his enemies some serious weaponry.
"Leave it with me for now Carlisle and ask Eleazer to refrain from stirring things up or we might have to take measures to protect ourselves, measures that would be unfortunate for others in our world."
I knew Carlisle would read the threat in my words, if they stirred up any trouble with the guardian leaders I would sacrifice them to ensure the survival of the rest of our kind. I was expecting to hear from Stuart soon with better news. We could be looking at the destruction of our greatest enemies at long last.
Jasper
As Carlisle put the phone down I looked at Darius,
"It sounds like Carlisle and Eleazer might be sacrificial lambs,"
"Not if I can help it Major. It's about time someone stuck it to Aro and his brothers. We need to talk to the leaders of the guardian tribes ourselves."
"Can you get me a direct line to them?"
"I can but it's not going to be easy, we have to go through their elders first, if they'll talk to you that is."
"Try"
I went to look at Bella stroking her sleeping tear-stained face and kissing her cheek,
"Sleep on my love, I hope to have this sorted out by the time you wake"
I filled her mind with lethargy knowing I could keep her sleeping for some hours yet then went back to Darius who nodded and threw me a phone,
"They are willing to speak to you, reluctantly."
I caught it,
"This is Major Jasper Whitlock speaking."
"We know who you are Major and we know what has happened. Your kind have broken the treaty, are you trying to make excuses for that?"
"No. Merely to tell you exactly what happened in order to prevent a war that would result in the death of many on both sides."
"So in your arrogance you think that you can lie your way out if this war."
"No, if there is a war I will stand with my kind and there will be many deaths, your young men as well as vampires and for what? Hasn't there been enough death already? The Quileutes have lost their elders and the Denalis one of their own, how many lives will it take for you to be satisfied? Our leaders? You'll never touch them because they will sit in their fortress and wait with their gifted guard until the outcome is known and if you win they will send those out to kill the guardians who remain. The Cullens and Denali's? Families you have existed beside in peace for so long? They aren't the ones who created the Changeling."
"So what do you suggest Major Whitlock? That we just ignore the deaths, allow no retribution? It seems to me your leaders have lost control of their world, Changelings still walk the earth, spies for the Volturi, humans become involved with vampires and this is allowed, what else must we expect? Mass slaughter of the humans? The destruction of the rest of us? Will you be satisfied then?"
"The two humans involved in our world were brought into it by me not Aro. One is my mate the other was her father, but he is dead. Killed by the guardians because he tried to protect and then avenge his own mate, one of us. What should he have done after being betrayed by his friends who killed the wrong one in any case? An innocent Denali who has never killed a human. So you see there are faults on both sides."
"I will speak to you face to face before making my decision Major Whitlock if you are willing to bring your mate with you. If not then we have nothing further to say to each other."
I didn't want Bella anywhere near the Guardians but if I refused then our kind would find ourselves in a war that could kill humans, guardians, and vampires, by the score, a bloodbath that none of us would ever recover from.
"Do I have your word that she will be safe?"
"I am an honourable man Major, I don't bring war to the innocent, she will be safe while we talk. I would like to hear her story, after all it has a bearing on the case."
"Tell me where and when."