Chapter Seventy Six

Aro

I went to find Marcus, suspicious he might already know something about this? I doubted it but I needed to be sure before I could talk to him about it. As usual he was in the Archives, his head bent over a parchment and he looked surprised to see me.

"Brother, what an honor, I can't remember the last time you visited me down here. I take it there is something important you need to discuss?"

I walked round the table and grasped his hand reading all his thoughts, many of which were decidedly anti me, but was relieved to find nothing that would lead me to suspect that he was involved with Caius. I had thought Chelsea's hold over him would prevent that but it paid to be careful, especially when there was treachery in the air.

Sitting down opposite him I explained Carlisle's call and waited for his reaction. I wasn't sure what I expected but laughter was certainly a surprise.

"You mean to tell me Caius thinks he's got a college professor playing The Major when he's got the real thing? I'd like to see his face when he finds out the truth."

"I'm glad you find it amusing Marcus, but who said anything about a college professor? What do you know brother?"

My tone was accusatory but he continued to smile.

"I think I might have been the one to hand Caius what he needed Aro."

"Oh really and where did you find this double exactly?"

Marcus explained about the paper he had discovered which led back to one of The Major's descendants and I couldn't help a smile myself.

"How interesting, especially as the two of them have turned the tables on Caius. But did you understand the part about losing Jane, Demetri and Felix among others? That's nothing to be amused by."

"No it isn't and yes I did but at least one and probably more were traitors anyway and not to be trusted. What I want to know is what you are going to do about it?"

"You mean what are WE going to do about it, or are you going to side with him too?"

Marcus smiled a little ironically,

"How could I Aro, even if I wanted to? To be honest about it I think Caius would be a disaster as leader. I'd rather back the devil I know."

"Thank you for your support. I think there is only one way we can act, play along with his little game…... for a while anyway."

"Do you think there are any here that would stand alongside him if it came to a fight?"

"Well there's only one way to find out. I think I might call a meeting of the guard, do a little moving among them. This is one occasion when even you will not complain about my gift surely."

I decided to hold a meeting with all the Volturi guards using the pretext that we were looking to promote some to leadership. I wasn't ready to inform them that were in truth now vacancies with both Demetri and Felix dead, let them think I was considering breaking the guard up into smaller units each with its own commander. Once all were assembled I gave my talk with Marcus at my side and I could feel the excitement in the air. Afterwards, while they were talking about the interviews to come I moved among them, touching a shoulder here, an arm there, until I had covered any I thought might be one of Caius supporters. There were a few and I made a mental note to leave those behind when I finally confronted my dear brother.

When I told Marcus of my decision he seemed surprised,

"Why would you leave potential enemies here in Volterra?"

"My dear Marcus that's the whole point, they are only potential traitors. When we get back in triumph they will soon see where their best interests lay and will continue as if nothing had happened. That's when I shall strike, all traitors will be put to death as a lesson to the rest of the guard. One I think they will remember for a very long time, don't you agree?"

We had also discussed telling Alec about his sister's death and decided to break it to him together stressing it was Caius who had been responsible. He was beside himself with grief and rage at losing Jane and wanted permission to go looking for Caius straight away but we persuaded him to do it our way promising him time for revenge later but privately doubting that The Major would allow him to live. We now had one extremely valuable gift on our side plus of course The Major and his fighting friends.

I decided to contact my dear brother, just to see how much longer he was going to be away on his little jaunt. He was guarded when he realised who it was but gave nothing away, not that I really expected him to I was just interested to hear what he had to say.

"Aro."

"How goes the hunt dear brother? We haven't heard from you since Jane informed me that they had killed The Major."

"Very well, I think we are closing in now."

"Oh good, we miss you in Volterra and have to arrange a meeting, several items of business have been sent in, other rebels and one or two rumors that The Major may have been eliminated. As I'm sure you understand we need to quash those, it wouldn't do for his friends to decide to take the law into their own hands as you so stridently argued."

"I'll be back soon Aro, a week, two at the most."

"So you are very confident your quarry is close?"

"Oh yes, very. But I have heard some disturbing rumors of my own that I am trying to track down."

"Really?

"Yes, have you not heard anything about the Romanians massing their forces?"

I laughed at the very thought,

"Stefan and Vladimir have forces to muster? I find that hard to believe Caius."

"Never the less I am trying to find the origin of the rumors, the Romanians have been quiet for far too long."

"Well if you find any evidence they have a force to mass be sure to let us know but I think you will find it mere stories."

So that was going to be Caius' lure, a fight with the Romanians, well it was true in a way I suppose and Marcus and I would be ready to move on his word.

Would they come here for battle? Or would he choose his own field of combat? I didn't think we would have to wait long to find out. Deciding that Darius had been correct and now I had some intelligence for him I rang him back.

"I believe you, and I think you'll find out that Caius intends to lure us from Volterra with the lie that the Romanians are going to attack. I doubt he'll lead them to the gates of Volterra itself but the battle ground is still a mystery unless you have anything new to tell me that is?"

"Not as yet but we are in contact with The Major and as soon as we learn anything I'll ring."

"Good, in the meantime I have weeded out Caius' supporters in the guard and they will not be joining us for the confrontation."

"Well with your guard, our fighters, The Major, and those of his troops who he will carry with him I don't think much of Caius chances do you?"

"No, especially now Alec is aware that Caius was responsible for his sister's death. There was just one thing I needed to clarify."

"Oh?"

"The Major's mate. Was it a lie on Caius' part to persuade me to move on him?"

"Not exactly but she is now a vampire so the problem no longer exists."

"Good, I would hate for something to come between us now we are working together. It pays to clarify everything I find. Well I'll leave it to you to inform The Major that we stand together on this occasion. I will be speaking to my old friend Carlisle, I'm sure he and his family will be joining us when battle commences."

"They aren't warriors Aro, do you think its wise?"

"It's about time they learned what it means to be a vampire Darius and I wouldn't discount Carlisle if I were you, he may not have taken any human lives but he has fought his corner in the past, quite literally."

I phoned Carlisle and explained that The Major and I were working together and all "friends" would be expected to stand with us when the time came to confront Caius. But he had interesting news for me too.

"Aro we have Jasper's mate with us, a newborn with what may be an interesting gift but she needs time to learn to control it. Time we do not have and remember

my family are not fighters Aro, they would be more of an encumbrance than a help."

"The Major's mate? This gift sounds intriguing would you care to elaborate?"

"I'm not sure quite what it is at the moment but she isn't ready to fight, none of us are."

"Carlisle please don't insult my intelligence. You have the Major's double there with you and I assume he is more than able to teach them to fight, maybe not quite as well as The Major and his friends or the Volturi guard but numbers are important, a show of force, you do understand don't you? And of course who better to teach the girl control than the great Carlisle Cullen, master of control?"

Of course he did, I had permitted him freedom since he left Volterra, to build his life and family the way he chose but there came a time when it was necessary to choose sides and this was just such an eventuality.