Chapter Forty Six
Bella
By the time we reached the airport I had a clearer idea of what was happening, this was one of the Volturi, the rulers of our world and the two vampires he'd killed were Maria and one of her men. So Jasper had been taken by the Volturi or escaped and that was why they wanted me, as a lure or to force him to do something but then why not just threaten me? There was no need to snatch me and Jasper would work for them rather than put me in danger. There was more to this than met the eye, the Volturi wanted me in Italy but why? Maybe Jasper was feeling this terrible ache too and wasn't able to function without me in which case I was being taken to join him. Now that I could cope with, the very thought I might be seeing him again soon made me feel better.
The car didn't pull up at the main terminal in Sea Tac instead it drove around the perimeter to what I found out was the terminal for private jets and standing in the runway was a sleek black private plane. My driver turned to me.
"When I stop you'll get out and walk over to the customs officer standing there, he will accept this."
He handed me a thick manila envelope.
"And he'll let you board the plane. Do not try anything because if you do I will kill him and the mechanics standing there. Have you got that?"
I nodded my mouth dry understanding he meant exactly what he said and knowing I couldn't be responsible for the death of innocent people. I took the envelope from him and when he pulled up I got out and walked slowly to the customs man who stood looking terrified. I handed him the envelope and he nodded,
"I dont know who you are but best of luck, these people frighten the wits out of me."
I nodded and tried to smile reassuringly but I don't think it quite came off by his expression then boarded the plane to find two more vampires waiting, a small dark haired girl who didn't look much older than me and a huge guy who was built like Emmett Cullen.
The girl pointed to a seat and I took it buckling my seatbelt and looking out the window, the cruiser had gone and so had the customs man, I just hoped he was OK and not laying dead in the cruisers trunk.
"We'll be taking off in a moment. Once we're in the air you can move around. There's a small galley and a bedroom in the back."
"Thank you"
This was all so surreal, here I was on a luxury private jet with two vampires being kidnapped and taken to Italy and they were concerned for my comfort! True to their word once the plane had reached its cruising altitude and the pilots voice informed me I could unfasten my seat belt the two vampires seemed to relax, the guy turning on a TV to watch a film while the girl took a book from the seat beside her and became engrossed. So I wandered to the back of the plane and sure enough there was a tiny kitchen, the cupboards and mini fridge stocked with all kinds of snacks and drinks so I helped myself them went through curious to see the bedroom. It was just that, a proper bedroom and it looked inviting so I sat on the bed drinking my soda and thinking about my own feelings. I should be scared, terrified at being kidnapped by strange vampires but I wasn't. I felt I was on my way to Jasper and that over rode any fears I might have. My stomach was settling and I felt tired so I lay back and closed my eyes falling asleep almost immediately and dreaming of Jasper.
When I woke I wasn't sure where I was but then reality hit me and I sat up suddenly worried we might have landed somewhere other than Italy while I slept but no we were still in the air, I could hear the hum of the engines and see clouds below us if I peered out the small window. There was a tap on the door and the girl looked in.
"Would you like something hot to eat? The galley has a microwave and Aro wouldn't like to think you'd been neglected."
I nodded and followed her out finding the toilet before going to the galley. She stood watching as I heated one of the prepared meals in the microwave then took it to the small table to eat. Taking out her book she sat a few seats away and I could see the title,
Interview with a Vampire" I smiled and she looked over,
"Yes I guess it does seem funny but I like her writing. Who's your favourite author?"
"I'm not sure I have one, I like particular books rather than authors so I guess my favourite would be Wuthering Heights."
She smiled,
"I find Cathy such a strange character. She and Heathcliff deserve each other. My name is Corin."
"You already know mine but hello Corin."
I glanced over at the behemoth still watching TV.
"Thats Santiago, hes a film buff. I bet he's watching Casablanca, its his favourite"
He turned his head to look our way,
"I like Robocop too, the original though, not the remake. Why do they always mess things up when they remake them?"
With that he turned back, I was beginning to feel like Alice in Wonderland.
"Why are you taking me to Italy?"
"I thought you knew, didn't Amos tell you?"
"Amos? You mean the fake deputy? He didn't say much at all."
"He rarely does, I understand The Major is your mate?"
I nodded blushing furiously to hear myself called that by a stranger but she just laughed,
"I forgot you really are as young as you look. Well The Major is now working for the Volturi and it seems only sensible that you join him so Aro sent you an invitation."
"Invitation? I didn't get it."
"Sure you did, you're on it. Aro doesn't take no for an answer unless its the one he's looking for but don't worry, you're perfectly safe….at least for now."
"People will be looking for me, my dad for one."
"All your father will find is the body of one of his deputies in the trunk of the cruiser minus his uniform. Theres no witness to who killed him so who will they look for? But if you mean the Cullens well they'll guess what's happened I'm sure but please don't hold out any hopes of them storming the citadel to free you because that's not going to happen. I'm sure you'll get used to your new life, I can help if Aro wants."
"Help?
"Yes, I can make you feel content"
"So thats your gift?"
"Yes, contentment in a bottle so to speak."
"What about Santiago?"
His laughter rumbled around the small cabin and he held up his fists,
"These are my gift Bella Swan, you better hope I'm never called on to use mine on you."
"Is Jasper OK? How did he get away from Maria?"
"We liberated him and you saw Maria or so I hear."
I thought about this,
"That was her, the woman Amos killed?"
"Yes, she outlived her usefulness, just be careful, you don't."
With those words of warning Corin went back to her book and I finished my meal and sat back to think of all the things that had happened to me in the past few months and what my dad would do when he knew I was missing.