Chapter Eighty Four

Jasper

We moved out a few hours later making sure we got to the meeting place first and made our stand in the middle of the same clearing we had confronted the guardians before. Peter looked around checking out the best routes for an attack then half dragged Emily to a place where she would be safe in our midst.

"Do you think the Volturi will be here before the meeting?"

"No Garrett they'll make the guardians wait, check out who is with them and how we are situated. Aro wont put his precious guard in place until he thinks he's worked out all the angles but its Caius we need to watch out for."

"No Jazz, you concentrate on the guardians and Aro, let Bella watch Caius, she's the only one who can stop him from making a threatening move and he will, I guarantee that. Bella is the only one who can stop him dead. If he moves there will be war."

We all looked at Alice who shrugged sticking close to Darius,

"I'm watching out for any danger."

Bella smiled at her, she was happy that Alice had found her true mate after the pain of Stuarts death. If only she'd looked she would have seen he was the wrong one but I knew how wearing it was for her to know what was going to happen all the while so I guess I understood why she hadn't. Peter didn't say anything but took up station a little closer to Bella.

"If Mystic Meg's right then we need to watch out for Bella. Once she starts shielding Caius she's likely to be in danger from the others, Jane and Alec especially."

As we spoke I saw movement in the tree line and the guardians appeared but this time they had already phased and came to stand in the same formation as before. The only differences were the tribal elder was missing and Johnny H stood in her place the only human among the huge bears.

"So Major Whitlock, Bella, we meet again. I understood that Aro Volturi would be here or did you fail in that part of my demands?"

He looked to the centre of our small group and saw Emily held tightly by Peter.

"Emily, you will soon be among friends. For now calm yourself."

She stopped struggling and looked at him with longing.

"Now I guess you wont be handing our sister over just yet?"

"No, not until the treaty is signed."

"So where is Aro Volturi?"

"He'll be here soon. In the meantime have you compiled a new treaty?"

Johnny H nodded and walked forward to hand me a roll of parchment,

"Read it by all means but I need the Volturi signatures as well as yours Major in order to ratify it."

I nodded and unrolled the parchment to read the treaty hoping that Aro would show himself soon.

Bella

I was watching the bears closely, this time I had powers of my own and I was one of their arch enemies and I saw a difference in their attitude to me. The young men had looked at me with curiosity but the bears were showing their fangs to everyone, me included. Jasper finished reading and handed the scroll back to Johnny H.

"I don't see a problem with that but then I'm not Volturi."

"No you aren't Major but I trust you more than your esteemed leaders. Bella, I see you have joined your mate. Such a pity but only to be expected, just don't expect any help from the guardians now."

"I wont but I'm sad you see it that way."

We all turned as Johnny H stiffened to see the Volturi emerge from a mist, Aro, Caius, Marcus, and six of the guard including one who kept very close to Aro, that must be the Renata I'd heard about. The guard stopped just to the rear of our party but the three brothers and Aro's shadow moved forward to stand beside us.

"Aro, Caius, Marcus,"

Johnny H acknowledged them and they nodded their response. Then Aro glanced at Emily before holding out his hand for the parchment scroll which Johnny H handed him. He read it quickly then handed it to Caius who didn't really bother to even pretend interest and handed it to Marcus.

"So they are your terms? We guarantee your lands, ensure there are no more Changelings left alive and undertake not to hunt within one hundred miles of the Guardians Reservations?"

"Yes although it seems at least one of you broke a similar treaty only recently leaving us with a tribe wiped out. Can you ensure he will not act in a similar way again?"

Caius stepped forward obviously angered by Johnny H's words,

"My brother may be scared by the idea of your spirit warriors but I believe them to be an old wives tale. You don't frighten me."

"No more do you frighten me but I think we possibly have a higher regard for life than you and are you willing to put your disbelief to the rest Caius Volturi?"

Aro put a hand out to stop Caius who shrugged him off,

"I'm not scared of your spirits. Show me what they can do."

"Caius no!"

Marcus looked genuinely concerned but Caius just sneered at him,

"You may be scared of such legends but I'm not."

Johnny H looked at Aro,

"It is your decision Aro."

Aro

I knew Caius had played right into the guardians hands and there was nothing I could do to save him, he wouldn't back down and Johnny H wouldn't let it go so I nodded my agreement and Caius threw his cloak to Felix who had moved closer but I shook my head and he moved back unwillingly. Johnny H looked at Major Whitlock,

"Do you agree that Caius Volturi brought this on himself?"

The Major nodded looking serious and I knew he too had seen the spirit warriors handiwork.

"Te animo magno militum auxilia."

So they communicated in Latin, an old language indeed!

Bella

I turned to Jasper for a translation,

"He is asking the spirit warriors for their aid."

Caius braced himself as a dark cloud formed in the air above him, not looking quite so confident now and I thought I saw a flicker of fear as the clouds descended obliterating him from our sight. It whirled around silently and we heard several ear-splitting screams of pain and terror before it lifted once more to reveal Caius, or what was left of him. On the ground was a patch of melted snow and several chunks of vampire flesh that looked almost melted. The Volturi guard stepped forward to see the carnage as Johnny H addressed Aro once more,

"Do we have a treaty Aro Volturi or are you ready to take on the spirit warriors too?"

Aro held out his hand for the parchment once more and Johnny H handed it and a pen over. The silence of the clearing was only broken by the scratching of pen on parchment and Emily's struggles to free herself of Peter and Garrett. When he had signed his name Aro handed the parchment and pen to Marcus who did the same before handing it back to Johnny H who checked their signatures and affixed his own then the ritual was repeated with a second copy which Aro rolled up and gave to Jane who moved forward at his command.

Jasper

We waited for Aro to send Emily to the guardians but he hesitated,

"I see the treaty makes mention of the spirit warriors, you can keep them to your own lands?"

"Of course, unless you break this new treaty, but this time I would unleash them on every vampire. They will scour the earth until every one of your kind is dead, even if it means the death of humans, this is the only chance Aro to avoid that."

"I understand. Let the girl go."

Emily ran towards the guardians but they stepped back instinctively from their enemy and with a cry she fell to the snow. Johnny H picked her up and held her close,

"Don't worry Emily. You are among friends now, you'll be cared for whatever you decide."

He looked at me, Emily in his arms

"This is the last time such an atrocity will be allowed against our kind. I suggest you watch your leaders and their minions."

I nodded my agreement and the guardians formed a protective circle around Johnny H as he strode away from us.