Chapter Forty Two

Felix

Once on the plane Nathan and Maria were left pretty much to their own devices, there was no where for them to go and if they wanted to try anything then let them, Jane would soon show them the error of their ways. I was more interested in The Major, I'd always had a grudging admiration for the guy who pulled himself out of the hell he inhabited and made himself anew. Besides which he was one hell of a fighter and tactician and I admired that in a man. I'd seen him in action once and come away having learned a thing or two. If Aro could persuade him to join the guard then we would be a better group, I might even have to watch myself and my position but I doubted he would. Although something had forced him back to the Mexican bitch and maybe the same thing could be used to persuade him to stay in Volterra. I was looking forward to seeing his meeting with Aro, it should prove extremely interesting. I saw Jane sending him a few strange looks, could it be my little friend had an interest in a certain fighting man? Now that could raise a few eyebrows, Jane Volturi and Major Whitlock? Nah I couldn't see it myself although I'd be the first to admit I was a novice when it came to relationships, mine had all been casual, I'd never met my mate if she existed.

Jasper

I had no idea why the Volturi had wanted me in Italy, they could have easily killed me along with the newborns and no one would ever have known except of course Bella. If I died she would feel the agony and I couldn't do that to her. I had to survive so she could live and hopefully find herself a human to love. I was far too dangerous for such a fragile and beautiful human to love although I would never stop loving her, I couldn't. Nathan kept glaring over but I ignored him although I was curious why he was here too. Surely the Volturi understood that he was an idiot, if they put him in the guard he wouldn't last five minutes or cause such chaos that they'd throw him out. I did not believe Felix would stand for it, he was too good a fighter himself.

"So Major, had enough of the Cullens have you?"

I looked up at Jane who had come to sit opposite me her eyes alight with curiosity while Felix watched from his seat smiling in amusement. Was she truly interested or just baiting me?

"I don't blame you, I always found Carlisle a little too naïve. Why couldn't he just accept his nature?"

"Maybe it is his nature, to help the sick and suffering."

"Vampires don't get sick although granted some do suffer, look at yourself for example. What I don't understand is why you would go back to the Mexican bitch, you must have known what she'd do to you or did you think you could pull her out of the mess she'd gotten herself into relying on that idiot."

She gestured to Nathan who scowled but knew there was nothing he could do about the insults.

"I just decided on a change of scenery."

Maria smiled but I knew she wouldn't admit she'd needed blackmail to get me back, however Nathan was more open,

"He didn't want to come back, he had to, we made him."

Felix looked up more interested now and I tensed, could I reach him before he told them about Bella? Maria hissed at him in Spanish and he subsided, still scared of her even here among the Volturi!

Felix

There was certainly something going on here, I knew The Major wouldn't have returned of his own free will but never the less he was with her even if not a favorite any longer so what did she have on him? It was something he didn't want Nathan telling us about but of course Aro would know in an instant even if The Major wasn't willing to tell him. Jane and I both knew that Maria and Nathan were headed for the firing squad or at least our equivalent of once the show trial was over but not The Major. Aro and Caius both had designs on him and I could serve alongside him, most of the guard felt the same. He'd made quite a name for himself over the years and we all had respect for the man who never lost a fight. Mind, he couldn't win this one, the odds were too heavily stacked against him. I went back to my book as silence descended but a little later Jane nudged me and I looked up,

"What?"

"Look."

I glanced over at The Major who sat hunched up rubbing his chest absently as he gazed out the window,

"Missing someone Major?"

He ignored Jane's taunt but it was true that he appeared to be missing his mate which was interesting as we were not aware he had one. Not a Cullen certainly so who? Aro would be most interested in that nugget of information and perhaps his mate was the lever Maria had used to get him back. If so she knew not only the name of the girl but her whereabouts too. She might even strike a deal and save her life if she played her cards right, then again Aro might touch her and steal all the information he needed.

Jasper

The pressure in my chest grew the further from Bella we flew and I hoped she was not feeling the same pain because I found it hard to think now and I was sure that when Aro found out, and he would, I might be blackmailed into joining the Volturi guard which made me no better off. I would never see Bella again and I wasn't sure I could survive that, this pain threatened to keep increasing until it tore me apart. Needing to release some of my tension I projected it onto Nathan who started to fidget, his fists clenching and unclenching and his feet pressing harder and harder against the seat in front until there was a crack of breaking steel mountings and the seat shot forward with a crash. Maria and Jane both shot up while the guard at Felix command restrained Nathan and moved him to another seat before turning to me.

"We're landing soon Major so no more parlor tricks please or I might need to ask Jane to subdue you."

I shrugged feeling better for the relief and relaxed back into my own seat with a smile. Nathan cursed and Maria looked at me with her dark red eyes as if waiting for me to launch some kind of rescue.

As soon as we landed a car pulled up and Maria and Nathan were driven away with Jane and two of the guards leaving me to travel separately with Afton and Felix.

"They're dead aren't they?"

Felix turned to look at me,

"Why? Don't tell me you feel sorry for her?"

"No, just making conversation. Care to tell me why I'm here? I don't remember breaking any of the Volturi's laws, at least not in a long while."

He smiled and nodded,

"Oh I don't think the brothers want you here to kill you Major. When you catch a thoroughbred you don't send it for dog meat now do you?"

"I won't join the guard, they know that."

"They know what you've said in the past but maybe things have changed, you would be more than welcome you know.".

"Thanks but I like my freedom."

"Personally I find freedom overrated but to each his own."