Chapter Sixty Six

Jasper

Whoever Caius' partners were he couldn't keep them a secret forever, but I had the feeling they were close by watching, so what exactly were they waiting for? To be positive Caius really did have my support? To see if I was as good as I had been before I left Maria? I sat listening as the soldiers taunted Anamarie and gave her a really hard time before Caius finally snapped and ordered them to help her heal. Unfortunately although I couldn't see what happened next I felt it only too keenly as she fed voraciously on humans brought in by the others. The screams, the pain, and the terrible fear were as real to me as if I were all of them rolled into one.

As I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth to stop myself from groaning I tried to visualize Bella but it seemed evil to bring her sweet innocent face into this place if only in a waking dream and I stopped myself before her face could finish materializing in my head. Whatever happened here, whatever I was forced to endure I would keep hidden from her. Bella would never know what happened here, it was the only way to protect her.

A few hours later I heard footsteps and braced myself but then recognizing Caius I relaxed again waiting for him to enter knowing he wouldn't bother with such niceties as knocking.

"You made an enemy there Major."

"She was already the enemy, you set me up above her, what did you expect?"

"That's not important now, what is important is a little test I have for you."

I'm not a pet dog you get to perform tricks."

"No you aren't, nor are you who everyone else thinks you are so shut up and listen. My partners wish to see a demonstration of your fighting skills."

"Great, bring them in, I'll give them a close up demonstration."

"Fool! You and Anamarie will be given a small group of soldiers and will draw lots. One group will defend the compound against the other."

"We're playing games? And you are still setting us against each other. I have to ask myself why? You don't want their commander involved in whatever it is you have planned do you?"

"That's not important right now. What is important is you winning this "game" and showing my partners exactly what they want to see, The Major in action. Can you handle it?"

I didn't bother to answer him, I just pushed past and approached the soldiers sitting around laughing and joking at Anamarie's expense.

"It seems our masters want us to perform for them. I need some volunteers."

Everyone stood but I picked out the keenest of them and split them into two groups then waited for Anamarie to appear. She looked healed but enraged and snarled when she saw me but before she could say anything Caius spoke, explaining the game. She glanced at the two groups choosing one and pulling a straw angrily from Caius fist. It was the longer and she chose to attack, just as I had known she would.

"Major you have an hour to prepare, Anamarie can attack anytime after that hour, are you clear."

We both nodded and Anamarie led her men out of the compound without looking back while I merely sat with mine by the fire the rest being instructed to leave the compound and watch from a nearby hill, so it was also a training exercise for the rest. Caius waited a few minutes to see what I would do but realizing he wasn't going to see anything yet he left.

My group sat looking at me in anticipation and after a few more minutes I turned to them,

"If you were Anamarie what would you do?"

"Well a surprise attack is out of the question so I guess I'd go for a frontal attack and hope my force was stronger."

I looked at the others only to see most agreeing and only one shaking his head. I addressed him,

"So John, what would you do differently?"

"We might know she's coming with her force but there's nothing to say she can't try to recruit others. They're on that hill and Caius never said she couldn't try. I think I'd leave the compound booby trapped and wait outside. Then attack under the cover of confusion."

I had just found my replacement Peter, with his brain he could go a long way but I doubted he would survive whatever Caius had planned.

Caius

I joined Stefan and Vladimir explaining what task I'd set The Major and Anamarie.

"You should get a good look at The Major fighting his corner and then perhaps you will be willing to commit to my plan."

"Hardly Caius since we have no idea what that plan is."

I smiled at Stefan,

"You pledge your help and I will tell you my plan, I think you'll be happy with it."

"You are very sure of yourself Caius and knowing Aro as we do I find that rather surprising."

"You forget I know Aro far better, I know his strengths but I also know his weaknesses and I know Volterra. It's no fortified castle on top of a mountain in the wilds of Romania."

"True, well let's see. Who's your money on Vladimir?"

"The Major's of course but if he fails I will be most disappointed my friend."

"Oh he won't I assure you."

I had anticipated Anamarie might try to make the odds work in her favor and sure enough she recruited some of the watchers to her side and they slipped away into the darkness but I seriously doubted The Major hadn't also anticipated such an action and as the dawn broke I saw the compound and it appeared to be deserted so where were The Major and his group? Stefan studied the place and pointed to one of the cabins where a window was open just an inch and all the others were closed,

"It would seem The Major has made an error Caius, sloppy of him wouldn't you say?"

I shook my head,

"I very much doubt it Stefan but we'll see, your commander is moving in now."

As we watched half her soldiers appeared over the walls of the compound slipping silently to the ground and moving in on the cabin Stefan had noticed while the rest forced the gates ready for an attack that never came. Instead they heard screams and we all turned to see the first group flailing around flames licking around them. The Major had laid a trap and they walked straight into it. Somehow he had booby trapped the cabin acting as a lure and set fire to her force around it. Then The Major appeared behind Anamarie's men just inside the gate and his group took them down without too much trouble especially as The Major himself was like a scythe cutting down man after man and scattering the pieces for disposal later. His men worked as a team and soon only the two commanders and the majority of The Majors men were left standing.

"I can see why you wanted me to persuade The Major to join our enterprise if Anamarie is the only commander you have to train your newborns."

Both Stefan and Vladimir glared at my words but neither answered, after all what could they say? The truth of my words stood before their eyes.

"Well if Anamarie is of no further use to you perhaps we should dispense with her?"

Stefan opened his mouth to answer but Vladimir held up a hand and for the first time I saw who really wielded the power in their camp.

"Quite right Caius. I think as The Major showed her faults he should be the one to finish the job."

The two commanders stood facing each other, the soldiers still watching silently but ready to act as I approached.

"Well done Major."

He didn't react to my words but Anamarie's eyes flickered to me and I saw she already knew what had been said.

"Finish it Major."

His only response to me was a curt nod then he barked an order,

"Stand down."

The soldiers backed away to join those who had come back to the compound and they waited expectantly.

I had expected The Major to finish her off quickly and be done with it but as they circled I could see he was going to turn this into a lesson on the art of fighting something the real Major would never have bothered doing but the slight discrepancy wouldn't be noticed by anyone here.