Chapter Eighteen
Charlotte
It was good to be seeing The Major again after so long but from Peter's cryptic words I thought there was more going on than a duplicate Major. He seemed to suggest that The Major had changed or was about to.
"You'd better high tail it back up here Charlotte, there's something gonna change our friend big time."
As I took my seat on the plane ready to close my eyes so as not to be forced to talk to my fellow travellers I was relieved to see I had none, or at least none to start with. Often when I flew alone I got hit on by some lonely married guy and I'd learned to brush them off without being too offensive. Thankfully Peter wasn't around because he would be quite happy to start something even at thirty thousand feet if anyone showed any interest in me. Like most vampires he was incredibly jealous and possessive but that worked both ways. I remembered having taken a girl's arm off when she started flirting with Peter, luckily she'd been a vampire and healed, not that it would have bothered me if she'd been human. Peter was mine and no one was getting too close or personal with him.
We'd been in the air half an hour when I heard someone take the seat beside me and smelled a familiar scent.
"Hello beautiful? By yourself? I guess you're on your way to The Major's party like me."
I opened my eyes and smiled at the handsome dark haired vampire sitting there. He hadn't changed since I saw him last some twenty years ago when he visited while The Major was with us on a break from Alice's latest shopping spree.
"Hunter! I didn't know you were involved."
"Yeah I got a call from The Major. He wanted a certain Jasper Whitlock traced. I have to tell you I thought it was a joke at first. After all how many can there be? This world's not big enough for two of them, but I was intrigued."
"Yes, I think there's a lot going on. You still alone?"
He smiled and the cabin crew passing almost swooned,
"Yeah, still looking unless you finally came to your senses and left that idiot you're married to.
We chatted amicably enough about mutual friends and Hunter flirted outrageously with all the female cabin staff getting more attention than any other passenger with a single smile or wink even though he declined any food or drinks. He did however buy me some perfume, very expensive, he'd remembered my favorite and I in turn remembered his photographic memory. We'd played quizzes a few times some years back and he and The Major had ended up going head to head, a close finish but Hunter pipped him at the post with a sports question.
Peter was waiting at the gate and beamed when he saw Hunter,
"I wondered if The Major would call on your expertise. Tell me you have good news, I'd love to see you beat Darius to the punchline."
Hunter shook his head hefting his computer bag onto his broad shoulder ogled by the cabin staff who passed us on their way out of the airport.
"I see you haven't lost your way with women."
"Never, rather lose an arm."
"From my recollection it wasn't an arm you nearly lost when you tried moving in on Celestine."
"You knew she was spoken for as I remember and "forgot" to warn me. Some friend you are Whitlock."
"Well we have a new little beauty with us this time round but if I were you I'd step carefully."
"Why? Is she my type?"
"Two arms, two legs, a pair and she's breathing so yeah I'd say she's your type."
They raced off to the car, or at least Peter was trying to get to the car before Hunter got to him but by the time I joined them moving a little more sedately they were sparring and the car was in danger of being remodeled.
"Time out boys. Let's try being mature for a little while shall we. Peter, tell me about this girl Bella."
"Bella, rolls off the tongue. Where did you find her?"
"Remember I told you about the Cullens and their little encounter?"
Hunters face lit up with a grin,
"Edward Cullen's human? Well now, don't tell me he's involved. I never could stand him, a real prig."
"Nope but we got Alice Cullen. apparently she's connected with Darius for now but I don't think it's serious."
"Alice? Now that is a nice piece of tail."
"Yeah shame it's attached to that mouth."
"Just because she didn't like you Peter. That merely shows the woman has taste."
I tuned them out as Peter drove to the motel, looking forward to meeting this Bella, especially if Peter's suspicions were anywhere near the mark.
Once there Peter got out and went straight to the room while Hunter, ever the gentleman took my bags and escorted me. Sitting in the chair was Alice with Darius at his computer as always and sitting on the bed were The Major and Bella. It took me two seconds to see what Peter had only suspected and I couldn't help a smile. The Major got up to hug me,
"Thanks for coming Charlotte, maybe you can keep your husband under control."
I shook my head ruefully,
"Haven't managed it so far Major."
I turned to Bella as he shook Hunter's hand bringing Darius into the conversation.
"Hello Bella, I'm Charlotte. Its nice to meet you. Peter's told me a little but I'm sure most of it was lies."
She blushed and I saw her eyes flicker to the guys,
"The newcomer is…"
He appeared right on cue and took her hand,
"Hunter, at your service Ma'am. I hope these hicks have been treating you right."
"I've been in worse company."
He grinned as if he weren't sure whether to believe her,
"If you say so but they don't come much worse than Peter here. By the way, this is for you."
He handed Bella a small box and when she opened it she smiled,
"Wow, real perfume. I don't get treated like this often."
"Then you should. I always maintained Edward Cullen was a philistine. It seems I was right."
She blushed again and as I watched The Major looked up from Darius shoulder and he didn't look happy at the mention of Bella's former boyfriend, his own foster brother and I grinned inwardly.
Bella yawned and apologized but he was there at her side and turned to us.
"I think we should keep the noise down,. Bella must be shattered, she's been up for hours."
"I'm OK really."
I put an arm round her shoulders feeling the warmth of her human body through the material.
"Come on Bella, luckily this room has a divider so while the guys play with their computers you can get a little privacy and sleep. Hopefully by the time you wake up they might have some news on your friend."
She looked at me gratefully,
"Thanks, I could do with a shower and a nap."
I glared at the guys while Alice hopped down from the edge of the table and joined us.
"I put some toiletries in the bathroom for you, sorry I don't have anything for you to wear in bed."
"That's OK I packed something."
Bella murmured embarrassed again and went through to the bathroom while Alice used a sheet to give an illusion of privacy for our human sleeper, hanging it over the room divider. I could see The Major was distracted and I wondered how much he actually understood or realized about Bella.
When Bella came out looking sheepish and wearing a pair of old sweats Alice and I joined her on the bed to chat so she could relax. We talked about nothing and everything. Mainly she filled me in about Jay and I could see why she would be worried about him although she didn't understand. Alice glanced at me questioningly but I merely shook my head just a little in warning. Bella's eyes began to shut and we moved so she could get into bed and within minutes she was sleeping peacefully, quite a feat in a room full of vampires. most of whom regarded humans as a food source.