Chapter Sixty Four

Darius

When Bella came back with Jay and Edward I thought they might finally have got through to her, she looked happier although that wasn't difficult after earlier.

"I need to talk to you all."

I glanced at Jay who nodded not giving anything away and called the others to join us.

"Right, the floor is yours Bella."

"Good, then I'll make this quick. Edward has arranged for me to join his family. They can look after me until Jasper comes back and it leaves you all free to go find him."

There was uproar just as she had anticipated and Peter launched a verbal attack on Edward, accusing him of trying to muscle in on The Major's mate but Bella soon quashed that particular accusation.

"Edward's going with you. Jay's going to take me to the Cullens house. He wants to see Alice and if she has any more visions he'll be right there ready to get them to you."

"Actually, I'm only delivering Bella there then I can catch up with you guys. Its obvious she's not happy here and it frees us to get in position to help The Major if he needs us."

"Why isn't Edward taking her?"

She scowled at Peter again,

"Make up your mind Peter, either he's trying to get his leg over on the sly or he isn't."

Peter returned the look but didn't say anything else, at least not that she could hear.

"When did you plan on going Bella?"

"As soon as possible, it seems its for the best. You don't have to keep anything else from me that way and the Cullens can't because they don't know anything."

"I'm sorry you feel so bitter Bella, it was never our intention to hurt or upset you. I guess we just underestimated you, thinking of you as a human."

"Yes you did Darius and it is a shame but I'll feel happier."

" Very well but I think you should have more than just Jay for an escort."

She shook her head,

"I'll be fine, no one knows where I am or that I'm even alive but thank you for the offer. I'm going to pack now and then Jay and I will leave."

Bella

When I heard Jay's suggestion I hated the idea but as he explained it would free the others and keep me safe surrounded by vampires who would do anything to protect me I warmed to the idea. Besides Carlisle and Esme had given me such a warm welcome when Jazz and I went to tell them the good news and it would be nice to see Rose and Emmett again.

I thought I might feel closer to Jazz with his old family, at least I could talk to them and I felt comfortable despite having been Edward's girlfriend first. The other lure was of course Alice, if anything were going to happen she should be able to see it and I would know before it happened. I wanted to be reassured that Jazz was safe and not found out for who he really was. I just wished I could be near him but I knew that was not going to happen whatever I said and did.

Jay

Once Bella went to her room to pack up her things the argument started and this time it was Edward and I against the rest. I knew what I'd suggested was the only alternative to Bella staying here and being unhappy and it meant The Major would have allies close at hand if he needed our help. Darius was contacting Maria who had lingered our side of the border as if unwilling to let go of The Major altogether, or maybe she was waiting to see which way the wind blew. Caius didn't know she had betrayed him and if anything went wrong and we didn't stop him she could step forward and claim the reward she'd been offered to train me.

I had practiced determinedly since I read The Major's journal and woke a vampire. He was now ironically my hero and I wanted to be as good as I could. I wouldn't be so arrogant to say as good as him. He had gone through too much to shape his character and plenty I hoped never to experience but I wanted him to be proud of me, his descendant and both Peter who found it all amusing and Hunter who was just happy to help had been training me. Vampire speed and strength were all very well but to be a great fighter you had to be able to not only channel your aggression but control the gifts the venom had given you.

Darius gave me my orders, get Bella to the Cullens, check for any updates from Alice then get the hell back here as quickly as possible so they could move out.

"Bella is giving us the opportunity to move closer to The Major and I won't waste it. Edward will wait behind for you, any problems you holler and he'll come running. Emmett and Carlisle are ready to move if there's any trouble too so don't try being a hero. There shouldn't be any problems, no one knows you exist or Bella is alive but don't hang around. There's a storm front moving in but you should be there before it hits."

Bella

When I came back down Jay took my bag and gave it to Edward,

"You hold that until I get Bella safely on my back then she can carry it."

I groaned, I'd forgotten there was only one way down but I just had to grit my teeth and bear it. I did say goodbye to the others and hoped they could help Jazz before he got too deeply into this although I knew he wouldn't back out however tough the going got. I had got over my shock and anger at the lies and secrets but I wasn't sure things would ever be the same between myself and the others again although I hoped so in time perhaps. Charlotte was the last to hug me and her words stuck in my mind,

"Bella don't leave like this. We were wrong but we did what we did to save you from pain. Find it in your heart to forgive us for The Major's sake if not ours. We all love you."

Walking outside all the others were standing there and I suddenly realized they had acted to stop me from worrying and my reaction had been far too extreme.

"Look I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said the things I did, I guess I was just feeling hurt and worried sick. That's my only excuse."

That's the plan I promise you Bella."

I gave them all another hug and then reluctantly climbed onto Jay's back and he started downhill as I closed my eyes praying it would be over soon.

As we reached the bottom I saw the clouds building up,

"Are you sure we can beat the storms?"

"Hey, trust me I'm a professor remember and I never lost a student yet."

"You were a professor of history not meteorology."

"Its all the same. I'll drive with vampire speed and reflexes, you'll think you are flying."

"Great, let's just get there in one piece. Do you think I did enough to make amends for the things I said?"

"Sure you did. no one wanted it to end the way it seemed to be headed. I'm just glad you were able to see it. Now lets get going so I can get back to the others."