Sorry, I posted a first draft instead of the real chapter 80. Jules xx

Chapter Eighty

Darius

When Peter and Edward got back we could see they had news for us but I was still surprised to find Caius was going to act so quickly. He was obviously eager to get his hands on the reins of power and oust Aro from his throne. Not that it mattered to us, we were in just the right position for the fight but I thought Caius had thought carefully about the best way to draw Aro out and if we hadn't known of his plan it might just have worked. While Edward rang Carlisle to give him a heads up I rang Aro to bring him up to speed.

"So, my dear brother will be calling on me for help? How interesting. He did tell me he'd heard rumors that the Romanians were spoiling for a fight and now he's about to inform me that they were ready to make their move. Well, of course we will be sending all the help we can, including Marcus and myself. If he needs aid we will offer all we can."

"You know which of the guard are in his pocket Aro?"

"Of course Darius, I always know my enemies, it pays to do so."

"So what do you intend doing?"

"Oh I think we should be in position to help our dear brother as soon as he calls for it and to that end we are already en route for the United States but then you already knew that didn't you Darius. I may appear a little relaxed but I am aware you are listening in to everything that goes on in Volterra. I cannot prove it of course but I know it nonetheless."

He was right of course and the fact he knew didn't come as any surprise, after all there was nothing he could do about it so who cared?

Edward

When I rang the house I couldn't get Carlisle who was out with Bella working on this gift of hers. I just hoped it would prove useful if she turned up with the others and that was a certainty with her mate here.

"Edward, it's good to hear from you. I'm afraid there's only me here in the house at the moment, the others are out with Jay training. I'm supposed to join them but I had to wait for a delivery of building materials so we can finish the repairs."

"Did Bella make much of a mess?"

"Think of Emmett's worst and then add some on but it will mend, only wood and plaster. I can take a message for Carlisle"

I told Esme everything and she promised to pass it on as soon as Carlisle got back but that wouldn't be for several hours. He along with Emmett, and Bella, had gone to test out her gift safely away from any more buildings or people.

Once I'd done that there was little I could do to be helpful but I wanted to be ready for the battle when it came so I asked Peter to teach me some more moves. At first he merely laughed and shook his head but once he saw I was serious he agreed and he and Charlotte put me through my paces.

I had thought I was a pretty good fighter but I found myself out of my depth even with my gift. Peter like Jazz had his own way of keeping me out and he had much the same experiences to choose from. I did find myself becoming more agile which along with my speed would be helpful in keeping me alive once we were in the thick of battle.

"Edward we need you to listen for any tactics, any orders about to be given so we can stay one step ahead. You are not to get yourself in the middle of things, your gift is too useful. Hunter will watch over you so you can concentrate on their thoughts."

I hated the idea of having a babysitter but one look at Darius face was enough to tell me I wasn't going to get anywhere with an objection. It was almost as if he could read my thoughts when he smiled and shook his head,

"That's right, you listen to your orders and obey and you'll come out of this alive and intact."

Carlisle

Bella was certainly committed and trying hard but it wasn't easy when we had no idea what she could do and she found her thoughts going to Jasper every few minutes. Emmett and I decided the only thing to do would be to provoke a reaction once more and watch to see what happened, after all no one had actually witnessed the destruction inside the house. He had been flying through the air and Bella didn't seem to remember what she did.

"I don't know what to do Carlisle? How am I going to get control of my gift if I don't know how it works?"

"The first thing you need to do is to relax Bella, everything is much harder if you are tense. Close your eyes and concentrate, see if you can feel anything strange in your body."

She looked at me as if I were mad,

"Everything feels strange Carlisle."

"You'll understand when you feel it, trust me."

Of course this took time and I found Bella wasn't the most patient of students but eventually after I pointed out no control, no traveling she calmed enough that she could close her eyes and concentrate and a couple of hours later Emmett nudged me.

"I think she's got something."

Looking at Bella I could see a smile playing about her lips and then she spoke, still with her eyes closed.

"I feel it Carlisle, like a cloud hovering in my brain waiting for orders."

"Good, now see if you can make it wrap itself around your body."

She opened her eyes at that,

"You won't see it so what good is that?"

"Well if you try and it doesn't work you'll soon find out because I'm going to give you two minutes and then I'm going to attack."

She looked horrified,

"But you saw what I did to Emmett."

"Yes but I want you to try stopping me without moving and without attacking me yourself. Just protect yourself from attack."

She looked uncertain and I felt the same myself but I didn't know any other way of training her in the time we had left to us.

After a couple of hours all we had done was to frustrate Bella and get myself a few bites. She had to overcome her newborn tendency to defend herself physically but I wouldn't let her give up.

"Right its my turn now Carlisle. I want my chance at some payback."

Bella eyed Emmett warily,

"Are you sure about that? Look what happened last time."

Emmett grinned and crooked a finger,

"Come on Bella, give it your best shot, I'm ready for you this time."

Unfortunately this time was no better and poor Emmett ended up sporting another fresh bite.

"It's no good, I can't do it Carlisle."

Thinking about what I'd seen at the house, Bella appearing to be able to use her gift offensively even if it was unconsciously done I thought maybe we should try a different tack. I suggested I try to hurt Emmett and Bella try to protect him, or keep me away but she vetoed that and even when we insisted and tried the experiment it failed dismally. I guess I didn't have my heart in it and she knew that. By this time we were all thirsty and went to hunt in the mountains.

Emmett decided to go off on his own and I knew he was out for mountain lion or bear. Bella and I stuck together and I watched as she took down an elk that was grazing in by a small pool of water. Then something caught her attention suddenly and she turned looking back into the trees.

I heard it too, the sound of a cry of distress and then the scent of human blood. We raced towards the sound and came out in a clearing to find ourselves confronted by a pair of nomads one of whom was already feeding from a human, a hiker by the look of things while the other held a screaming woman by the arm. I threw myself towards the feeding vampire as the most dangerous of the two while Bella launched herself at the other. Whether to save the woman or feed herself I had no idea. The scent of human blood was a powerful draw, especially to a newborn.

I found myself in deep trouble, this nomad was protecting his kill and he was strong and fast, stronger than me because he was a human hunter. He threw the now lifeless body behind him and we met with a clash of bodies, tumbling over onto the kill before I managed to get a grip of his arms but he already had his teeth firmly latched into my shoulder and was steadily biting his way through the flesh to the bone. I couldn't see Bella and could only hope she was having more luck than me.