Chapter Forty

Darius

My companions didn't exactly fill me with confidence, the only one who had the faintest idea about fighting was Emmett and talking to him I discovered he had persuaded The Major to talk to him about his time in Maria's army and teach him some of the arts of fighting. Edward would be useful because he could read our opponents minds, hence he would know what move they were about to make before they made it. Carlisle? Well he and Rose would be handy as look outs but I wouldn't trust either of them to be able to hold their own against newborns or even Nathan if it came down to it. I arranged a private jet, it was quicker than a scheduled flight and I wanted to spend as little time as possible with the Cullens. As it was, as soon as we were airborne Edward came to join me,

"Was there something you wanted to say?"

He looked at me with a bitter smile,

"I know you don't think much of us, any of us, but Jasper is family and we will do all we can to rescue him. We need your help and advice yes but don't look down your nose at us Darius."

I nodded,

"Fair comment. How far is the range of your gift?"

"It depends, some thoughts are louder than others, angry ones are the loudest but a few hundred feet why?"

"Because knowing what Maria is thinking before we attack would be an advantage. Do you have any experience fighting?"

"Not much no but then I've never needed to fight before but that doesn't mean I won't try. Why don't you give us a few pointers, that way we'll be more of a help when we land."

Edward was right, I shouldn't let my prejudices cloud my judgement so we sat together and I gave them some pointers.

"Newborns act on instinct not skill. They are fast and single minded so stay out of their grasp and don't let them get their arms around you or they will crush you. Maria will have been training them but without The Major my sources tell me they are little more than leashed animals. Nathan is a competent fighter but unimaginative, if you act suddenly or unexpectedly you stand a good chance of throwing him off his stride. The other commanders are good enough but with a little imagination they are beatable. Do not target Maria herself, she's utterly ruthless, snake fast, and goes directly for the kill, leave her to me. Rose I want you to concentrate on finding The Major. I doubt he'll be working for her yet."

"But that's what she wanted him for isn't it? To train her newborns and command her army again."

"Yes Carlisle it is but its my guess she'll make him pay first so he might well be injured, weak, and a captive. Your only job is to get him out, away from the compound and keep him safe."

Bella

I was sick with worry for Jasper and the others, I'd forced Esme to tell me everything she knew about Maria, Alice too and what I heard made my blood run cold. They kept assuring me that she wouldn't kill Jasper, that she needed him but it didn't mean she wouldn't hurt him first. The longer we were parted the worse the pain in my chest grew and I was finding it hard to breathe, hard to hide from my dad. Esme came to my rescue after the first night by ringing to ask Charlie if I could go to their house for a sleepover. She explained that the guys were away and she and Alice thought it might be fun to have a makeover evening. She would make sure I got to school the following day. My dad was a little hesitant but then an old friend rang to say he was in the neighbourhood and asked Charlie to meet him for drinks and a chat, problem solved. I was relieved when I reached their place and could stop pretending everything was fine when it most certainly was not. There was no word as yet and I found myself unable to concentrate on my school work, not even taking much notice when Esme insisted on painting my nails.

"Bella, you have to have something to show for a makeover evening now sit still and I'll tell you about my human life if you like. I listened fascinated as she explained that she had married young,

"He was handsome and gallant and swept me off my feet so my parents consented to our marriage and only then did I find out what he really was. Charles was a bully and an abuser. I was beaten for the slightest errors and he would come home drunk most nights and insist on his rights as my husband.

I was relieved when he was called up during the war but I found myself pregnant soon after he went overseas. I had the most beautiful little boy Henry, who looked like an angel. He made my life complete Bella but then Charles was wounded and sent home. I shielded my little boy as best I could as Charles dragged us from one terrible apartment to another never able to hold down a job and then Henry grew sick, the doctors said it was consumption and I watched as he faded away.

The day he died Charles was out drinking and I decided I had nothing left to live for so I caught a bus to the ocean and found the highest cliff. I threw myself over and lay broken and dying on the beach. I was found and taken to the hospital but thought to be dead, Carlisle heard my heart still beating weakly and stole me from the morgue. It was so chaotic those days that a missing body wouldn't have been noticed. He changed me and when I woke up and saw him I knew I'd found my true love and we've been together ever since."

"That's a beautiful ending to such a tragic story. Do you miss Carlisle when he's away?"

"Of course, but I know he's coming back, he always does and I know he loves me. Its harder for you because its all so new."

"Why do the Quileutes hate you so much? Or do they hate all vampires the same?"

"They hate us especially because they are forced to live beside us when we choose to return to Forks"

"Why though?"

"Many years ago their ancestors made a treaty with Carlisle. His coven could live in Forks provided we never bit a human."

"So there's nothing they can do about it?"

"No, the treaty was shaken upon and is in force until one side or the other breaks it."

"But surely if they broke it and killed you all there would be no one to complain, I mean who would know?"

"The Quileutes are honourable people Bella, the treaty was made and stands. If we break it then they would kill us without compunction but if they attacked and broke the treaty their own leader would punish them for dishonouring the guardian tribes."

"You mean Harry or one of the Quileute elders?"

"No, I mean the supreme leader of the guardian tribes, a very wise and powerful man called Johnny H."

I thought about Esme's story as I went to bed, smiling that Esme had given me Jasper's room,

"He won't mind and I know you'll feel close to him in here."

She was right, I did and I dreamed he was here beside me until a huge wolf with a Mexican woman's face dragged him away, further and further and I woke up sweating, the pain in my chest so bad I couldn't take a deep breath and I called for her in panic.