Chapter Forty Nine

Caius

I had been trying to persuade Aro to send the guard to execute The Major for so long even I was getting bored with the conversation but he still wouldn't budge without some kind of proof and of course I had none. I had to destroy him in order for my reluctant partners to join me in my coup attempt. They had contacted me covertly asking if I had The Major on side and each time I told them that negotiations were ongoing but time was ticking away and they thought I had no chance of getting his support.

Meanwhile both Maria and my spy in her camp were keeping me up to date with his double's progress. At first he had appeared a bad gamble but both agreed that recently he was becoming more proficient and gave me a glimmer of hope. The trouble was that with the real Major still alive any attempt to pass the double off as the original was doomed to failure. I needed something, anything I could use against him to force Aro to act, but what?

I had however managed to arrange for Demetri and Santiago to travel to the United States, in an attempt to find Sergio, a nomad who had caused us a lot of trouble in Europe with his wholesale slaughter of several small mountain villages in Hungary and Bulgaria. Aro could hardly refuse when I told him I had a lead, this particular nomad had eluded us for far too long using his gift of befuddlement to prevent us from tracking him down.

Marcus seemed suspicious of my motives for wanting The Major dead, not because he suspected I had something underhand in mind just that he considered I was acting out of spite having been bested by said Major once before. Everyone knew of my antipathy towards him and that is why my "partners" had insisted on my having his help. If I were to find a way to persuade him to join us then I was in earnest and my cause stood a chance, if not then it was doomed to failure and they were terrified of another failure.

I contacted Maria through our normal secure channels and found she was almost ready to hand over her charge but he was useless to me while the real Major still existed, it was galling to be so close to my dearest goal without being able to take that final step and then came the news I had longed for, a gift from the Gods via Demetri.

"Say that again Demetri?"

"I could have reported to Aro but I thought you might be more interested in my latest report. I have traced the girl Bella Swan and found her in company with The Major. What should I do?"

"Do nothing, just observe and do not get caught."

"Say that again?"

"I said do nothing. I need to speak to Aro first."

"But I thought this was a private matter."

"It was but there's been a change of plan, now just watch. Are they alone?"

"No, The Major has friends with him."

"Oh, who?"

I crossed my fingers as I waited to hear.

"The Whitlocks, Darius, and a guy I don't know plus there are two of the Cullens at a nearby hotel."

My prayers had been answered at last, The Major had played right into my hands at long last,

"Wait, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. In the meantime do not lose them."

Aro

When Caius came bursting into my study, his eyes shining with excitement I knew there was something very important going on but I acted cool.

"Caius dear brother what brings you here to me in such a rush that common decency is forgotten?"

He waved his hands as if knocking were not important right now.

"I told you The Major was planning something didn't I? Well he's collecting his friends and not for a friendly party either. Not only that he has also brought a human girl into our world and she remains human. What more do you need Aro?"

"Do you have proof?"

"Would you take Demetri's word? He ran across The Major's trail while looking for Sergio."

I knew he trusted Demetri, unwisely as it turned out, but still he hesitated,

"Shall I ask Marcus to join us? We can get a majority verdict then? Or are you afraid of him?"

"Afraid of The Major? No Caius I do not fear him, I am dismayed. I never expected such a move from him. But allow me to speak to Demetri and then we shall decide."

Caius

I didn't have long to wait, I had already warned Demetri and he was waiting primed when Aro rang. He called Marcus and I to join him in his study and laid out what I had told him and Demetri's findings then asked Marcus' opinion.

"I find it very hard to believe The Major would act so but if Demetri says it is so then we have no choice but to act and I am sure Caius will be only too happy with the outcome."

"Then we are agreed? The Major and his human must be executed?"

"And his friends if they are with him."

Marcus scowled at my words but Aro nodded his agreement,

"Only if they are with him when we move in. I will send Jane and Alec to join them, I want no mistakes."

This got better and better, Aro was sending his two best gifts so there would be no danger of The Major or Bella Swan escaping to cause me problems and once they were dead I could order Maria to deliver the double and with him at my side my friends would be only too happy to join me in my quest for ultimate power. Of course if he was as good as I'd been led to believe he might well destroy them too once their usefulness was at an end, I intended to share power with no one if I could avoid it.

Aro

I called Demetri with our decision and bade him wait until the twins arrived and then act swiftly and decisively.

"I want no mistakes and no untidy ends left. The Major and the girl are to be eliminated along with anyone who witnesses your actions. However you do not go looking for his friends do you understand?"

"Of course. How long until they arrive?"

"In three days they should be with you, until then just shadow your quarry."

I put the phone down and saw satisfaction on Caius' face, he would finally be rid of the only man who ever bested him, I knew The Major had been a thorn in his side for far too long as it was.

Caius

I left the others and contacted Demetri again,

"Do not lose him and make sure you kill anyone who is there at the time. Did you tell Aro that two of Carlisle's coven were with them?"

"No, just as you instructed Caius."

I was satisfied, if Aro had known of Emmett and Rosalie Cullen's presence there it would have complicated matters. He would have hesitated to kill members of his old friend's coven without at least speaking to Carlisle first and that risked warning The Major, something I could not allow.

"I want proof."

"Proof? I can hardly take photographs Caius, he's too dangerous to take risks with. Even with Alec and Jane there I'm not messing around, be reasonable. I'll make sure he is burned and you can ask the others for their eye witness account."

I understood his concerns, The Major did have a dangerous reputation and with so many of the guard present I could be sure my orders would be carried out to the letter. The Majors days were numbered as were those of the human girl, the only person who could tie the double to the vampire world and possibly me.