Chapter Sixty Two

Jasper

By the time I got back the chamber was silent, Darius still outside waiting.

"Have you heard anything?"

"Not since the noise stopped and I have to tell you I'm not sure I want to know what happened, it sounded like souls trapped in hell."

We turned swiftly, ready to defend ourselves, when we heard footsteps approaching and Marcus Volturi appeared round the corner. He stopped when he saw us and held out his hands to show he wasn't ready for a fight.

"I heard Bella's father had arrived but it seems I am too late. Care to tell me what happened?"

Darius shrugged,

"Your guess is as good as mine but I think its safe to say whatever it was, its over now."

I wasn't so sure, Charlie had lost control and it wasn't easy for a newborn to regain it. My concern was for Tanya in there with him.

"Well there's only one way to find out I guess."

Before I could stop him Darius started to open the door before being blown off his feet to crash against the far wall leaving an impression where he struck. The door slammed shut again and there was silence once more.

"Maybe he's not quite ready for visitors yet."

"Well one way or another we have to find out what happened and see if Tanya is OK."

"If you would allow me Major, there is a way to see what is happening inside the great chamber. Follow me."

Darius looked at me questioningly but I didn't think Marcus was out to trick us, he wanted to know if Aro was still alive and he had a way to find out.

We followed him along another corridor and up a flight of stairs before stopping in front of a smaller door. There he put a finger to his lips in warning before opening it and slipping inside. I followed along with Darius to find we were on a small balcony overlooking the great chamber which looked as if it had been bombed. The furniture lay in splinters along with what appeared to be several body parts while Tanya cowered behind Charlie who stood surveying his handiwork with a smile. As we watched he lifted a hand and the debris in the room whirled around so fast it became almost invisible before crashing to the ground once more as he laughed dropping his hand.

"I think only one person can calm him and she's already in there. It will take time but Tanya will be able to talk him down eventually. However I think its fair to say that he belongs here while he is so volatile, don't you agree?"

We couldn't argue and he was more than capable of looking after himself if this display were anything to go by.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he's OK, after all it seems I am the only Volturi brother left which makes me ruler for now."

Bella

I was shattered but I couldn't sleep, not even with Emmett's assurances that everyone would be OK. I wanted something to eat and drink, I needed to know my dad was safe, and most of all I wanted to be with Jasper. Emmett wouldn't leave me to fetch anything so I went with him into the town stopping at the first shop and buying two bottles of water and a couple of rolls filled with cheese and salad. I crammed the first one in my mouth almost whole I was so hungry and then washed it down with the first bottle. The water eased my parched throat and I began to feel a little more human.

"Right, back to the car Bella. If Jazz finds out I brought you back into the town he's gonna kill me."

I went with him reluctantly stumbling along until once out of sight of anyone he picked me up and ran. Even the sensation of his running couldn't keep me awake any longer and I fell asleep in his arms wishing they were Jasper's, I hated the thought of him back in the Volturi stronghold but I hoped he would be able to keep my dad safe.

Jasper

I knew Marcus was correct, Charlie was far too dangerous in his present condition to be allowed to leave Volterra but I also knew Bella wasn't going anywhere without knowing her dad was safe. For now I needed to be with her and that meant staying in Volterra so I arranged with Marcus for the use of a suite of rooms then went to find Emmett and Bella. They were at the car and I explained the situation to Emmett while watching Bella sleep in the back. She looked pale, with dark bruises under both her eyes like a thirsty vampire.

"I got her some water and food but really she needs sleep and peace. She's been so scared for so long and yet all she kept asking is where you were. How do you think Charlie will get on?"

"I think he's gonna be here for some time Em, but he's tough and resilient and he's got his mate at his side so I think he'll get through it. You go back, tell the others what's happened and that I'll contact them as soon as I can but for now I'm taking Bella somewhere she can relax and get her strength back."

The suite was sunny and comfortable and I lay Bella on the bed pulling the drapes and covering her with a blanket then sat down on the bed beside her careful not to disturb her rest. She seemed somehow aware of my presence as her hand came up to grasp mine and she turned to lay her head on my lap. I sent her lethargy to make sure she wouldn't wake but I sensed it hadn't been necessary, my very presence was relaxing her, she knew her mate was with her once more. I leaned down to kiss her forehead and stroked her hair happy to stay like this as long as she needed but as I sat I thought about Charlie and his rather sudden leap into our world. He was powerful as Eleazer had predicted but would he be controlled enough to handle the power? If not then he was in real danger although I thought Marcus would give him the benefit of the doubt for now. With Aro and Caius both gone he was now the head of the Volturi, would it change the way the Volturi worked? Would Marcus rule more with persuasion than threat? It would be interesting to see but first of all he had to ensure he had the loyalty of the guard.

Bella slept deeply for twenty hours before she began to stir and only then because Darius came to check on us and give me the latest news so I kept her under until I knew what was happening with her father.

"Marcus has the backing of the guard so I think he'll continue to rule. He's talking about asking a couple of the old guard to join him on a ruling council, Felix and Chelsea for a start."

"Not the twins? Now I find that interesting."

"He's told them he wants to see them prove their loyalty, especially as both were protégées of Aro."

"But Chelsea kept him in bondage to Aro so why would he trust her?"

"I think Marcus and Chelsea came to an understanding many years ago. Aro thought he had Marcus under control but it was more Marcus had nowhere else to go. I think he was just biding his time and now that time has come."

"What about Charlie?"

"Tanya is talking him down, no one else can get in there but he's stopped trying to demolish the place. I think Marcus is eyeing him as a potential ally and a very powerful one."

"Have you heard from the others? Did Emmett get out OK?"

"Sure, he flew back to the States with the rest of the family. They moved out of Forks to avoid questions about Bella's father but they are waiting for you in Boston when Bella is ready to go home."

"She has no home now, her father is a vampire and I think he may well choose to stay here if Tanya's agreeable."

"And you?"

"I go where Bella goes, its down to her really. She might want to stay with her dad."

"The Volturi do have a problem however and it relates to Charlie's transformation. The Quileutes say Tanya broke the treaty biting him and as a result the area is no longer safe for vampires, any vampires that is. The Quileutes have declared war on us all."

"What does their leader say about that?"

"He says we made the treaty and we broke it, now we must live with the consequences but he will not call for an all out war. This is strictly between the Quileutes and our kind. Still if Charlie isn't going back and the Cullens steer clear it shouldn't make much of a difference."

"True. Well we'll see what happens when Bella wakes and her dad calms down."