Chapter Seventy Two
Jasper
When I answered the phone to Carlisle I could tell there was something terribly wrong by the sound of his voice.
"Jasper things just became more complicated. Edward and Stuart went to get revenge on the Quileutes. They took out the entire tribe, everyone."
"Edward killed all the Quileutes?"
"With Stuarts help yes. There was only one survivor, Emily Uley and she's been bitten. He brought her back with him."
"What was Edwards excuse for wholesale carnage Carlisle?"
The others heard my question and crowded round,
"He didn't give one before killing himself, just said he was sorry."
"Do the guardians know this?"
"I don't think so but they will very soon. Bad news travels very fast. Alice said they will know within twenty-four hours."
"You know this means we stand no chance of coming to an agreement with the guardians now and if they find out about Emily that will be an end to everything. Ring Aro and tell him if Stuart hasn't already done so and make sure he stays out of my way because if I see him I'll kill him myself."
"I'm going to ring Aro now then Eleazer and I will fly up to meet you."
"If you aren't here by the time we meet the guardians we'll leave without you."
I put the phone down and shook my head, this was a disaster! Now we had a war on our hands and a war we had to win to survive.
"Well that's put the lion among the kitties hasn't it? Edward Cullen commits wholesale murder then bows out leaving us to dig our way out of the shit pile with a fucking teaspoon! We're gonna need more bodies Major."
I agreed with Peter and turned to Darius,
"Can you get us more bodies quickly?
"Not this quickly, I might find an odd person who's close by but I think we have to work with our present company."
He was right of course and we needed to work out how to approach the guardians and Johnny H in particular.
Carlisle
I had charted a private plane for the flight back to Denali, the same flight that brought Emmett and Rose home, and met the others at the airport having left Emily in the family's capable hands. I would be home before she woke to her new existence or I wouldn't be coming home at all. When I saw Bella it was apparent she had heard what happened but she looked pale and determined. She glanced around,
"I take it Stuart didn't come with you?"
"No, I think he realized what would happen if he ran into Jasper and his friends, especially since he's more or less guaranteed a war now."
"Do you really think it's that bad Carlisle?"
I looked over to Jasper who stood watching everyone around him and I knew he expected a war too.
"Yes Bella I do."
Jasper took out his phone and spoke briefly then came over,
"I've just been given our meeting place by the guardians. We need to leave now to get there in time. Charlotte, Eleazer look after Bella for me please."
Bella
I knew Jasper couldn't give me the attention I wanted and I was happy when Eleazer took my arm and smiled,
"Don't worry Bella I'm sure if there's a way out of this Jasper will find it but I'm also more sure than ever that you have a powerful gift and it's getting stronger since you lost your father. It might even aid us in our endeavour if it manifests itself. If anything feels right you go ahead and do it OK?"
I nodded although I had no idea what he was referring to, I hadn't felt anything yet.
"I'm so sorry about your father, I liked Charlie very much and I appreciate that he was avenging Tanya's death but I wish he hadn't, then he'd still be here with you."
"If he hadn't Eleazer he wouldn't have been Charlie. I'm going to miss him but I'm so proud of the way he handled things. How are the girls and Carmen?"
"Terribly upset but they will get over it eventually, if we survive that is. They wanted to come but I thought we were putting enough at risk as it was. Are Rose and Emmett joining us?"
"I have no idea but I think perhaps Carlisle feels the same way you do and has sent them back to protect Esme and Alice."
We followed Carlisle to the plane that was waiting for the destination and once in the air I found time to speak to Carlisle,
"I have to apologise for not getting there in time to save Charlie Bella."
"I don't blame you Carlisle, you couldn't know, none of us could, but thank you for all you did. Are the others OK?"
"Yes, Emmett wanted to come but I vetoed the idea, I wanted him home along with Rose to look after Alice and Esme. Did they tell you about Emily?"
"Emily? I heard Stuart and Edward wiped out the Quileute village and I have to tell you Carlisle that I feel little regret for that, the wolves killed my father remember."
"I understand Bella, it's very difficult, but Emily survived."
"She did? I guess I'm not sorry about that although without Sam I doubt she'll feel the same way."
"Stuart bit her. She's at the house and the others are watching over her. I hope I can help her when she wakes up."
"Emily is a vampire? Why? Why would he do that? Leave her as one of those she hates, the enemy?"
"I think he thought it fitting, or he just has a warped sense of humour, who knows but I have taken responsibility for her. I thought that might make you feel a little better about it."
"Well if anyone can help her its you Carlisle but I hope Jasper gets Stuart, he doesn't deserve to live."
"I would agree with you but he's still Alice's mate and if he were to die it would break her heart Bella. Besides he's the Volturi's creature so I will do all I can to save him, I have no choice."
Jasper
Carlisle and Bella stopped talking for a while and I concentrated on Darius who was trying to get us as much information as he could about the meeting place and the guardians who were attending but it was difficult. Then I heard Carlisle again,
"Entering our world hasn't been good for you Bella, I'm sorry to say."
"You're wrong Carlisle, entering your world is the best thing that ever happened to me, I met Jasper and I made some very good friends. I learned the true worth of friendship and courage in your world, what love and loyalty really mean and I want this over so I can join you."
"You still want to become one of us?"
"I want to stand beside Jasper for eternity."
He smiled and hugged her,
"He couldn't have chosen better Bella, I'm proud of you."
I too felt proud of my mate, she was scared but determined to stand beside me and I was stronger for that. I'd already told Peter and Garrett to look after her during the meeting and Darius had all the arrangements in place to take her to safety and supply all she needed to have a good life if things went wrong and I was killed. If I lost my life at least I had found true love first and that was all a man could ask for.