Chapter Fifty Three

Bella

The apartment, well penthouse really was huge and very luxurious but I was more interested in hearing exactly what the threat to us was. I'd heard his name, or title, The Major, but sensed there was more to him than I had imagined, he wasn't just a member of the guard, he was something else entirely. While Esme, Rose, and Alice went out shopping with Emmett to keep an eye on them I asked Carlisle about our hunter.

"There's very little to tell Bella. The Major suddenly appeared but rumor is that he was a Confederate soldier during the civil war who came home at the end of hostilities to find his family massacred and somehow he discovered our existence and began to hunt our kind down. I'm assuming he was good at it although how I cannot say. Aro or all three brothers decided to turn him and train him to become their very own weapon against the most dangerous rebels in our world."

"How would they do that? If he hated vampires and held them responsible for his family's death."

"The Volturi have their ways, I don't approve but sometimes its necessary to use evil to defeat evil."

I sat thinking about this while Carlisle excused himself to make a phone call although he didn't leave the room to do so and as a result I could hear at least his side of the conversation.

"Darius, thank you for the arrangements. Do you have any more news for us?"

He waited listening intently,

"I'm glad, after all they did nothing wrong, I did point that out to Aro but I wasn't sure he would take it to heart."

Another pause then,

"So he's going to Volterra expecting to find empathy and safety? I think he might find he gets a rude awakening. I know you'll keep us informed of any activity. Any news on Bella?"

Now I strained my ears to hear Darius answer but I only caught odd words,

"Caius...Forks...Major looking...a lever...no one willing to sa...If I hear...you know...Good...Carlisle."

Carlisle pit the phone down and looked at me gravely,

"It seems we didn't leave a moment too soon. Aro has stopped The Major going after Eleazar and his family and they know where we are. If we remain here we are safe but The Major was headed for Forks, they don't know for sure if you are with us which is good. He'll hear the rumors of you leaving and hopefully set off for Phoenix. The longer we can keep him guessing about you the better."

The girls arrived back at this point without Emmett who took the opportunity to go outside the city to hunt.

"He said we're all going to feel the thirst if The Major besieges the city. What will we do Carlisle?"

"Don't worry Esme. If it comes down to it I have contacts in the blood bank."

"But that means human blood doesn't it?"

Rose sounded horrified at the idea,

"Yes it does Rose but if the alternative is allowing The Major to capture you what else can you do? I might be able to source some animal blood too if I can find a way into one of the animal hospital's blood bank but that might be more difficult."

Everyone was tense until Emmett reappeared and I understood just how dangerous the situation really was. Alice and Rose had shopped for clothes and toiletries for all of us and I found six bags full of things for myself. There were jeans, sweaters, tee shirts, underwear, shoes, shampoo, toothbrushes and paste. In fact I couldn't think of anything they had missed as I thanked them and explained I would repay them when this was over, if it ever was! I took the opportunity to grab a shower and by the time I resurfaced there was a hot meal waiting for me,

"I'm sorry its a ready meal Bella but we haven't had much time to do a food shop. I think we'd better get a list together and Emmett and I can go shopping, we want you to stay out of sight, the longer The Major is unsure about your whereabouts the better as Carlisle said earlier."

I ate then sat listening as Carlisle told the others the good news about the Denali's and then rang Eleazar to make sure they were all OK.

"Yes but with you in trouble Carlisle it doesn't seem right to just sit here smugly."

"Eleazar, there's nothing you can do to help us, just keep your own family safe."

"Carmen refuse's to do nothing, we're sending the girls to a friend's place closer to the guardians territory. I don't think The Major will act so close to Johnny H's tribe even if he ignores Aro's new orders. Once they get there safely we'll leave, with luck we should be with you by tomorrow evening, just watch for us at the airport."

I could see Carlisle and Esme weren't happy at this turn of events but the others seemed happy to think we wouldn't be so badly outnumbered if or when he decided to attack us.

I found myself sticking close to Rose and Emmett surprisingly enough. Emmett's huge bulk gave me a sense of security even though I knew size and muscle wasn't everything while Carlisle and Esme tried to persuade Alice and Charlotte to leave. The Major would be looking for the Cullen family not the two newcomers and they would have time to disappear somewhere overseas. Darius had been asked to provide them with new identities and could hide their chosen means of departure but both were unwilling to bail on us.

"You took me in, protected me, and you think I'm just going to turn away and walk now you are in trouble? And all because of me? I don't think so Carlisle."

Charlotte's reply was in a similar vein and eventually Carlisle gave up trying to persuade them.

We couldn't go out into the city, it was deemed far too dangerous and I found myself reading and learning how to play the latest computer games care of Emmett. Everyone bent over backwards to keep me happy and amused but I couldn't stop thinking about Charlie.

Somehow it seemed so unfair that he was being manipulated to keep me safe. I was allowed to ring him a couple of times but all I could tell him was that I was safe and happy enough. That I'd spoken to Renee, the truth, and told her I was fine on my own until she and Phil got back. She tried flying home from Egypt but her cards were not being accepted and her passport had gone missing, I detected the influence of Darius in these actions and had to feel relieved, so long as she stayed away no one need get hurt.

The blow fell a week later when we were all beginning to feel more easy with no news on The Major from Aro or Darius but then two phone calls followed each other within minutes. The first was from Aro and Carlisle took it in private and when he returned he looked grave and came to sit beside me but just then his phone rang again and as he answered it I heard a voice that sent chills running up and down my spine,

"Put her on Cullen."

"Who is this? Put who on?"

"Do I really need to introduce myself to you? Put Bella Swan on the phone now or you'll regret it."

I swallowed hard, I thought I knew who was on the end of the line and he knew I was with the Cullens which was bad. I held out my hand and Carlisle reluctantly handed me the phone.

"Hello?"

There was a rustling then a gasp of pain,

"Bella? Bella is that you? For God's sake don't listen to him, he's crazy, stay hidden, don't listen to the ass hole."

I heard a horrible crunching noise and a high pitched scream which was cut off suddenly.

"You need to come home Bella Swan, before I get bored and start ripping your father's limbs off one at a time. Understand?"

I swallowed hard, tears of fear for my dad trickling down my cheeks,

"Don't hurt him again please."

"Get here quickly enough and he might still be alive when you arrive."

He cut me off leaving a menacing silence on the line.