Chapter Forty Seven
Jasper
I had been here for four days since the trial doing nothing and seeing no one and wondered what Aro was waiting for. If he wanted me to work for him then why hadn't he given me something to do? What was he waiting for? The pain in my chest was such a part of me now that I hardly noticed it which was strange as it had become much worse since I left Mexico. Surely it should continue to become worse the longer Bella and I were parted? I was broken out of my reverie when Felix knocked on my door putting his head round.
"The brothers wish to speak to you."
I got up and followed him out,
"What about?"
"Not my place to say Major, I'm just the errand boy on this occasion but I did hear a rumour that your little Mexican piece is dead."
"Maria dead? Was she executed in the end with Nathan? I thought she'd struck a deal with Aro."
"Oh she did strike a bargain but not with Aro, with Caius, and I hear she failed in her task. If you don't deliver you pay, its the way things are here in Volterra."
"Well since you've been here so long I'd hazard a guess that you always deliver."
He turned and smiled at me,
"You got it in one Major, I always get my man…...or woman as the case may be"
We stopped outside what I soon realised was Aro's private office and Felix knocked and waited to be invited to enter but when the call, cane he merely opened the door and stood back,
"Don't keep Aro waiting Major, he's eager to see you today"
I walked in and he shut the door behind me then walked away, his heavy slow steps heard in the corridor. Aro looked up from his writing and put his pen down smiling at me,
"Major Whitlock please take a seat. I'm awaiting another guest but in the meantime I wanted to talk to you about your new position in the guard."
"I see, I take it I have no choice in the matter?"
"Of course you do Major. I am a reasonable man, you may choose to serve the Volturi or leave but before you decide I think you should meet my other guest and I hear them now."
I heard footsteps along the corridor but more than that I heard a human heartbeat and knew before the door opened who I would see.
As the door opened I stood up and seeing Bella between two of the black cloaked guard I couldn't help moving to her side to comfort her. She looked so frail, so vulnerable, next to the towering guard but the smile she gave me showed she was not cowed by her capture.
"Jasper"
She flew into my arms and as I wrapped them around her I knew whatever Aro asked of me I would do. Anything to keep Bella safe. I couldn't even think about the ramifications of seeing her here in Volterra, the only human besides the receptionists ever to come within the walls.
"Are you OK?"
She nodded and I looked over her head to where Aro stood smiling,
"Why did you bring her here? You knew I would work for you to keep her safe and away."
"Oh I'm sure you would Major but you see the thing is that Bella is as interesting to me as you are."
"Interesting? How? She's just a human girl."
"On no Major, Bella Swan is anything but just a human girl. She is an extremely rare thing. Bella its so nice to meet you in the flesh. I hope you were not distressed in any way on your journey here."
Bella turned to look at Aro but kept her arms around my waist,
"No I wasn't harmed but other people were, one of my fathers deputies and two vampires."
She turned back looking up into my face,
"They killed Maria, I saw it"
I understood then, Caius had made the deal with Maria, her freedom or her life in return for Bella but why? What was so special about her? I knew what she meant to me but why should Aro Volturi be interested in her?"
"I see it has eluded you Major. Did you think I wouldn't discover her secret? No one can hide from me. In fact if I were forced to choose you would be the one laying dead not Bella. No, she will be of great use to me, to the Volturi that is. Her gift is one that may be even stronger as a vampire."
I had no idea what he was talking about, there was nothing special about Bella, at least not in the way Aro was talking of, the only slightly unusual thing about her was that Edward couldn't read her thoughts but that was surely just an aberration, wasn't it? Aro waited for the penny to drop but I just shook my head and he gestured for us to sit down so I offered her my seat and stood behind her, my hands on her shoulders.
"I don't understand what you are talking about, I don't have any gift."
"Oh but you do my dear, a very useful and potentially invaluable one, you stopped Edward Cullen from reading your mind which makes you a shield, a very rare gift indeed"
My stomach lurched understanding that if this were true Bella would be trapped here, a vampire, for eternity.
Aro nodded, he knew I understood the ramifications of this,
"So you see Major I'm afraid while you have a choice Bella does not, if we do not nurture her then I am sure our enemies would be only too willing to do so. For her own, and our, safety the only option is for her to remain in Volterra."
I felt Bella shiver under my hands,
"But I can't stay here, what about my father? He'll be looking for me, I have to return to Forks"
"Unfortunately that is not an option my dear but I'm sure The Major will think of something when he gets home."
"I'm not leaving Bella here alone"
"You have no choice Major, if you do not return to America it will be assumed you had something to do with Bella's disappearance and that will put the Cullens in danger of discovery as your family. Bella will be perfectly safe here and once the furor has died down you can return. In the meantime we can experiment with Bella and see just how powerful a shield she really is. I will however make you one undertaking, we will not force Bella to become of us until your return and she will be perfectly safe in the meantime.
Of course Aro was right, if I disappeared along with Bella then it would be assumed I was responsible and if the police took too keen an interest in the Cullens there was a distinct possibility that their secret might be discovered but how could I leave Bella here? Scared and alone. She turned to look at me as Aro continued,
"Of course if you insist on staying then we shall have to find another way to protect my friend Carlisle."
He paused as if thinking and then smiled,
"Of course we could arrange for Bella's father to be found to be responsible. A father who cannot cope with his daughter returning to his life after so long, such a tragedy. Of course it would mean his imprisonment for the murder but you would be here with the victim to console her. Would you like some time to discuss the options?"
He knew I would never allow Bella's father to be implicated in such a horrific crime and neither would Bella. She took my hand smiling up at me and trying hard to sound brave and confident,
"Please Jasper, you have to go back. I can't let Charlie be dragged into this, I'll be fine really and you'll be back very soon.
I squeezed her hand reassuringly and glanced back to Aro.
"How do you intend to handle the problem if I agree to return to Forks?
"Well, I think we can do some…... what do they call it? "spin". The deputy who took Bella planned it all after becoming obsessed with his Chief's daughter.
I grinned coldly,
"You had it all mapped out didn't you? Knowing Bella wouldn't let her father take the blame for her disappearance?"
"Lets just say I like to cover "all the bases" Major. Now the jet leaves in three hours so I suggest you say your goodbyes for now and leave Bella in our capable hands."