Chapter Seventy Seven
Jasper
It had been four days since I got the message from Peter and I still didn't know what Caius had planned but every day I took my men out to the same area so I could let Edward know this but that I was still trying and to ask him to tell Bella I loved her and I was thinking about her. The trouble was that thinking about her too much hurt and made me want to be there with her. To explore my world through her newborn eyes but I was stuck here getting more and more frustrated.
My wait finally came to an end at the beginning of the second week. Caius and the two Romanians came to watch their army train and from their emotions I could tell they were impressed. In truth the army had come together pretty well and I knew they could probably have pulled off whatever it was Caius had planned if the enemy had not been forewarned but as it was those that I hadn't tied to me personally would end up on a pyre. I had sounded out those I thought would follow me and was satisfied if it came to a choice Caius was going to lose his best fighters before the battle even begun.
We returned to the compound and Caius invited me to join them in his headquarters as he liked to call the cabin that stood a good three hundred meters from the compound itself. Just far enough that the soldiers would not be able to hear what was discussed. We sat and waited for him to explain how he intended to get Aro into a position where he could be ambushed because a frontal assault on Volterra just wasn't going to work, we all knew that much.
"I take it you are prepared to disclose your plan at last Caius?"
"Yes, I think its time we all knew exactly what is going to happen. Especially you Major, after all your soldiers will be there in the front row ready to kill the Volturi guard."
"Neat trick with the terrible twins there Caius."
He scowled,
"I dont think we need worry about Alec, his gift takes time to build up and we won't be giving him that time. As for Jane, well her gift too has its limitations, she couldn't hit all of you at once so those not affected can target her and her brother first."
"I see, but just how do you intend to get this confrontation to happen without tipping your hand?"
"I intend telling my dear brother that I have uncovered a plot by our friends here to overthrow him and I am under attack. He won't be able to resist coming to my aid sure in the knowledge that he has the power to win any battle."
"Don't you think he'll be at all suspicious?"
"Why should he be? I am with some of the guard looking for rebels."
So Caius had it all worked out and I could see the beauty of it. He would choose the battlefield and he had the advantage of being able to position his forces for maximum effect. I wondered how many of the Volturi guard could be trusted to stand with Aro and how many Caius had already purchased for himself.
As for the twins, well he didn't know we had already killed Jane which would put Alec firmly in Aro's camp. We had also rid him of the danger of two of the best fighters the Volturi had, Felix and Santiago. I was under no illusion that even with his opponent forewarned Caius would prove dangerous but he just didn't have the numbers he would need to overcome his enemy which was far bigger than he suspected.
"So where are we making our stand?"
"Oh I did wonder at first whether to take the fight to Italy but this is just so perfect and aptly named. It will indeed be the valley of death for my dear brother and once he is destroyed we can march in and take over Volterra. There will be work there for your men Major. Any of the guard who oppose us will need to be dealt with as will Sulpicia. I doubt she will take the news of her mates death calmly. Then I, I mean we, will need to repopulate the guard and make sure everyone in our world understands there has been a change of leadership."
He had it all worked out, even to Sulpicia's murder and it did make me wonder what Aro had planned for Athenodora when Caius made his play for power, would he be as decisive and cold hearted? Thinking of the two of them playing God with each others mates had my attention wandering back to Bella and the ache in my chest which sometimes threatened to overpower me.
God I missed her, I wanted to be at her side not fighting all over again. I needed her to help me forget the pain and terror I experienced with every human I was forced to feed on. In company with the rest of the soldiers it had been too overwhelming so now I tried to find reasons to be as far from them as possible when they were feeding.
I ignored my own thirst until it became too much and only then would I allow myself to hunt. I went as far as possible from the compound, running for hours sometimes and having to force myself to stop and turn back before the need to see her overcame my duty.
I was worried what she might think when she saw me again knowing I was once again a human hunter. Not only that but she would be able to see my battered body clearly now, every bite mark, all my battle scars that repelled or terrified other vampires or became a beacon for those wanting to prove how tough they were only to find out the answer, not nearly tough enough. Everything I had run from Maria to escape and here I was back in the middle of it all and suffering just as much.
At least when I took my troops out tomorrow to train I would have fresh information for Edward to pass on. It would soon be over and I would once more be with my beautiful mate….if the truth didn't crush her love for me.
Unfortunately I had been wrong about getting the information to the others the next day. Caius insisted on a mock battle, the men split into two groups and their leadership handed over to himself and Stefan, their moment of glory before them. Stefan's group would be defending the compound, Caius attacking while I sat watching with Vladimir wishing I had an excuse to go to the training ground but knowing I could not.
"You seem nervous Major, afraid you haven't trained your men well enough? Scared that Stefan might show Caius up? He is a good commander, he trained our army when we first took power you know but he became complacent as did I and you know the rest of the sorry story. Once we have control of the Volturi once more we will be sure not to repeat the same mistake."
I looked at him coldly,
"It makes little difference to me. Once this is over I'm going back to my mate."
"Oh? I didn't know the infamous Major had a mate. I thought your wife was Alice Cullen but you divorced. How did you manage to find your mate so quickly?"
I had made a slip and had to cover it quickly,
"I felt her pull, that's why I divorced Alice Cullen. Quite apart from wanting to leave the Cullens in any case. I tired of their way of life, I missed the challenge of the fight. It's in my blood you could say."
He laughed and looked towards Stefan barking orders to his men,
"Yes I understand that feeling only too well Major. I'm glad you chose the right side though, I wouldn't want to face you across a battlefield."
"Don't worry, that's not going to happen Vladimir."
Well it was the truth, if not exactly the way he took it!