Chapter Sixty Nine

Caius

I could see the Romanians were not only impressed but convinced and I rejoiced inwardly, with their army of newborns led by The Major and my plan we couldn't lose. Aro would soon be a pile of ashes and I would take his place as leader of the Volturi. As for Marcus? Well I doubted he would want to stay on and once Aro was dead then Marcus would no longer be tied to him by Chelsea. He would probably take the opportunity to join his beloved Didyme which suited me fine, I had no intention of sharing power whatever my "allies" might think. Once they had outlived their usefulness they too would be disposed of and I would reign alone as it had always meant to be.

"Well? Are we ready to deal?"

"You did what you promised so yes I think so but we would like to speak to The Major first, just to put our own minds at rest that he isn't under any…... compulsion."

I smiled unconcerned,

"Of course, follow me gentlemen."

We walked down to the compound and I called The Major out of his cabin to meet his guests. He took his time just as the real Major would and then appeared at the door.

"Stefan, Vladimir I should have known."

They returned the false smile,

"Major, it's quite a shock to find you here. What would Carlisle say if he knew?"

"I have no idea, nor do I particularly care, the Cullens are nothing to me."

"Oh? What about Alice Cullen, we understood she was something to you."

"WAS exactly. I found my tastes differed from theirs in many ways. I am not a wild animal to be kept safely behind bars even if those bars are invisible. Human blood has always been my preferred option but the Cullens couldn't understand that."

"So you left? What have you done since?"

"This may be some kind of bizarre job interview but I tire of the questions. I want my freedom and Caius offers me a chance to fight again, that's all you need to know."

I thought he might insult my companions but Vladimir merely nodded,

"You are willing to stand beside Caius and fight for his and our cause?"

"I'm here aren't I? By the way if you do decide to stay I want full control of your "army", it's far from suitable for battle yet."

"Yes you demonstrated that most admirably. Very well, they are yours, just ensure victory for our side that's all we ask of you."

"I always win if I join the fight Vladimir you should know that."

His arrogance hit them and they both smiled, he had won them over and fooled them completely.

I turned to them,

"I think we should talk about my plan gentlemen."

"Yes I'm intrigued to hear what it is Caius. You must have great faith in it to break away so completely from the Volturi."

"Oh my brothers think I am hunting rebels but soon they will find out just what I really desire. Shall we retire to your quarters and leave The Major to start his job. You have two weeks Major so don't waste any time."

Jasper

I knew now I had been correct, it was the Romanians who were throwing in their lot with Caius but I had no idea of his plan yet. That meant I was trapped here for a little longer although I had to try getting the deadline to the others. I desperately wanted to know what had happened to Bella although she seemed to be closer to me suddenly. Surely they wouldn't risk her life by bringing her anywhere near Caius? I had the men practicing their fighting skills by matching the closest skilled to each other making victory more difficult. Once they had worked out new strategies they could be paired weak to strong, but that was for the final week when we would train out in the desert, group against group, for real.

I went back inside my cabin to clear my head and that's when it came to me. Bella seemed too close, the mating pull was getting much stronger which could only mean one thing, she was becoming a vampire. That thought thrilled but troubled me too. She was in the care of my friends so had one of them attacked her? Had Jay been overcome by his blood lust? If so I would tear him limb from limb but if not then what had happened?

Was she still safe in the hands of friends or had she been found by Caius and kidnapped? I doubted that very much, I would know by his emotions but the very fact I had no way of finding out frustrated me and I found myself ready to demolish the very cabin I stood in. Instead of doing that I decided to go out and train, work off my aggression and then I would be able to think more clearly.

I was far too savage with the group I joined, one of the best yet they found themselves unable to beat me even in numbers. I exhilarated throwing them aside and ripping limbs from bodies until the heat of rage in my body finally cooled and I stopped the session.

"Heal, then sit together and work out where you went wrong. As a group you should have been able to take me so why couldn't you?"

They looked at me apprehensively and I realized I had lost my shirt in the melee. My torso covered in scars of a thousand fights was intimidating enough and I could see the same thoughts run through their heads that had run through all my victims and soldiers. How can one man suffer so much and still be standing?

It was a question I had once asked myself but no more. I had survived and grown stronger and at the time that was all that mattered. My scars were like a tattoo, something I never thought about except to cover them up so as not to scare others of my kind.

Now I could think more clearly, I would take two groups out into the desert tomorrow and every day to the same area and hope Peter and the others, or at least some of them would have traced me and be close enough that I could get them a message and hopefully find out what was happening to my mate. I hated the thought she was becoming a vampire with all the agony that entailed.

I had planned to do it myself and take away all the fear and pain from her. Now I could only wait and worry and still remember I was in the enemy camp, an imposter although not the one Caius thought he had in his grasp.

Caius came back later upset I had hurt so many of the Romanians army.

"They'll heal and they learned something as a result. They are slow and far too timid but they won't be when I'm finished with them. I learned from Maria remember."

His eyes narrowed a little then he nodded,

"She is an excellent teacher it would appear to conjure The Major from his double."

"She taught me all about him, his moves, his way of command. She said I had to be able to fool his friends and that's what we worked on."

"I take it you no longer consider him a coward?"

"No, but I think I can be better. I am a trained fighter not a soldier, there's a difference.

"Indeed, well I should congratulate Maria on her masterpiece. I wonder how you would have fared against the real thing?"

"Well since you killed him I guess we'll never know will we?"

"No indeed but it would have been something to behold."