Chapter Seventy Five

Bella

Darius words alerted me that he had seen or felt something and I glanced at him then at the guardian he was watching. The man had his fists curled and he was tensed to spring, his body shuddering as he struggled to remain calm. As his form started to phase to a bear I stepped forward again. Darius made a grab for me and the leader of the guardians snapped a command in a language I didn't recognise. Scared he was ordering an attack something happened inside and there was a strange crackle of static, my hair flying out around my head and Darius went backwards as if shocked. I stepped back to Jasper's side and the crackling increased as I took his hand.

"Tell them to back off."

The man looked at me for a second then at Jasper,

"You have a shield Major. Tell her I didn't order an attack before she makes one of her own."

He nodded and looked at me,

"Its OK Bella. He was telling his men to calm down not attack."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Its OK darlin'"

Jasper

Bella's reaction to the phasing guardian shocked us all, there was a pulse of static around her and she moved to my side. As our hands connected I felt the static wrapping itself around my body and understood this was the gift, the shield Alice and Eleazer had spoken of. It had become active when she thought our group was in danger of attack. Would it protect us all or just her and I? The guardians looked on, eyes wide, as Bella's hair continued to flow around her head like snakes readying for a strike. Realizing once loosed she had no idea how to stop the reaction I sent her calming thoughts and her hair slowly drifted down to her shoulders once more.

"As you can see my mate doesn't react well to threats so I suggest we all calm down."

Stuart had moved closer to us his eyes shining as he saw the opportunity he'd been waiting for and tensed to attack. An attack that would force our hand and start the very war we'd been trying to avoid.

"Bella"

I looked in Stuarts direction and she raised a hand to him.

"One more step Stuart and I'll kill you myself."

I had no idea if it was an empty threat or if she had discovered she could target as well as protect and neither did anyone else so he hesitated.

"There is your antagonist. He is employed by the Volturi but if you kill him while he's with us then they will blame us. I can offer you something though in return for a new understanding, a new treaty."

"What is it you think you have to offer us Bella Swan?"

"Emily Uley."

Stuart growled loudly and Johnny H looked startled.

"I was under the impression that all the Quileutes were dead, or was that a lie?"

"You were wrongly informed as were we. There were three wolves who survived the initial attack because they were watching the Cullen house. Unfortunately they tried to free Emily and were killed in the process. However she is still alive, or at least she was bitten by a vampire, him."

Bella pointed at Stuart,

The snarls from the guardians was deafening and Bella put her hands to her ears until it was cut off abruptly by their leader.

Peter and Darius were both on high alert and a single wrong move from anyone would result in a battle. We all stood very still until the feeling of tension eased back down then I spoke.

"Carlisle has volunteered to look after her until she is able to control herself but if you insist we will hand her over to you."

"A vampire? You turned the Alpha wolf's imprint into a vampire?"

Johnny H's voice held palpable menace as he spoke and Bella stepped forward, seemingly oblivious to the danger.

"No, Jasper didn't, Stuart did it without speaking to anyone."

Johnny H sighed heavily and turned his back on us, aware we didn't want a fight but he underestimated Stuarts single-mindedness. He started to move and before any of us could attempt to stop him Johnny H had phased and was on him, teeth and claws ripping vampire flesh to shreds then the bear was gone and the young man stood in its place not even breathing heavily. I nodded seeing that he hadn't underestimated Stuart at all, he knew exactly what he would do when he saw an opportunity and used this to get revenge.

I saw Bella tense but knew she wouldn't act hastily despite her shock while Darius, Peter, and Garrett also stood ready but controlled. Johnny H's act could be either the beginning of a terrible war or its end. He moved forward again still tense but I didn't think he was ready to start anything just yet.

"Bella, what is it you wear at your neck?"

She put a hand up to her throat and pulled the bear tooth out from her jacket holding it up so he could see.

"As I thought. It seems you survived a bear attack once already."

"Only because Jasper was there to save me."

He looked into my eyes and smiled coldly,

"And here he stands ready to repeat the act if necessary. Do you know why he saved you as a child?"

"No, only that he loves me so perhaps he loved me even then."

"A vampire warrior saves a human child from a bear, unheard of wouldn't you say Major?"

"I did what felt right at the time."

"As we all do, as I just did with your...associate. None of us wants a war Major, not a war with no winners and believe me there would be no winners. We may be wiped out but there are others waiting to take our place and they would have no truck with a treaty as you well know."

I nodded, I'd heard vague rumours of other spirit warriors, ones who couldn't be fought because they truly had no physical bodies but power enough to slaughter our kind. They were under the control of the guardians but once the guardians had been destroyed...surely the Volturi must know this? If they didn't then I'd make sure they found out and fast.

"If you deliver Emily Uley to us, guarantee a new treaty, and bring us Aro Volturi I am willing to be appeased to it but this will be my only deal. I take it you understand that Major. I also want an assurance that your mate is willing to leave it this way, all debts paid. I want an undertaking from her that she will not return to Forks or contact any of her associates or friends from the town. She must disappear from the world of the humans."

"Fuck that, you have no right to dictate to her..."

Bella put a hand out to Peter and smiled reassuringly,

"Its OK Peter, thank you but that's acceptable. I'm joining your world in any case so it doesn't matter. I'd have to leave my old life behind."

He nodded,

"Then we have an understanding Major, for now at least. You have one month, we will meet here in exactly 30 days and I expect you to be here with Aro Volturi and Emily Uley or there will be a war whatever the possible outcome."

Bella spoke up again,

"Could you tell me what you will do with Emily? Carlisle could help her over the newborn phase and then help her to live on animal blood."

Johnny H laughed bitterly,

"Bella Swan, do you really think the wife of a wolf will want to live on animal blood? No, Emily will be given the opportunity to make her own decisions. If she should decide to live as a vampire then we will allow her to leave as long as she promises to stay away from our lands."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then who better to end her suffering than her kin? So Bella Swan, this will be your second escape from the bears, please make sure there is never a third. Use this chance wisely."

With that he turned away and the others followed him back into the trees until only the elderly Annie remained.

"Don't try any tricks Major Whitlock or Johnny H will bring down the wrath of every guardian on you and your kind and none of us want to see that. Bella, it was interesting meeting you, I think you are a match for your Major."

Then she turned and joined the others leaving us alone with a dilemma, how would we get Aro Volturi from Italy?