Chapter Eighty Nine

Charlotte

I knew I would have to be careful but I had to get the news to Bella that her father was not only a vampire but out for The Major and I couldn't see that there was a way to stop him which meant eventually Bella and her father were going to come face to face with each other and Bella would be standing between father and mate, not a place any woman should find herself.

I was already missing Peter even though I knew he was as close as safety would permit. I sat quietly as we drove not wanting to start a conversation I might regret while nervous that Darius might spot Peter.

"Charlotte where did they hold you after we left?"

I looked up my reverie broken by Carlisle's question.

"I...I'm not sure exactly, somewhere in the mountains. It was a cave and then they moved off, coming south although they didn't tell me where we were going. I thought I was dead at one point, The Major didn't want me along but the Captain stuck up for me. I think he liked me."

"Liked you? I'd say it was a little more than that, wouldn't you?"

I glared at Darius, he was getting way too close to the truth and I could see my untruths coming back on me when suddenly his cell phone rang and I heaved an inward sigh of relief, disaster was averted, for a time at least.

He listened for a while without speaking then turned to his keyboard and began tapping away the screens going black before coming up on an area I didn't recognize. He turned to Charlie smiling,

"Well well, it seems Edward didn't take your warning to heart. I think he assumed we wouldn't bother him for a while after he left, that we would give him time to stew so he isn't running very far or fast right now."

Charlie uttered an oath before apologizing to me.

"Sorry Charlotte I don't usually cuss in front of women but that boy is just asking to get his butt set alight and I'm the man to do it. Where is he Darius?"

"Fort Worth Texas. So, do we head there?"

"Oh yes, he obviously needs another lesson in fear."

As Carlisle sped off towards Texas my dread increased, would Peter think I had told them about Bella? Would he ring The Major and warn him? I hated that they might think me a traitor to them but there was absolutely nothing I could do at the moment and the way Darius was watching me suspiciously it was going to be almost impossible to warn any of them.

I sat quietly beside Darius watching his screens and praying he wouldn't pick up Peter. I had no idea what the various blobs meant but he obviously did because from time to time he would focus in on one until he was satisfied it wasn't a threat.

"Well I give Edward eight of ten for initiative, he's got himself a room in a busy city center hotel. He obviously thinks we won't make a scene there so he's safe. Now if I can just listen in to his room and see what the little bastard is up to..."

He went quiet tapping more instructions and put a hand to his earpiece listening intently. A smile spread across his face,

"Well he just tried the Volturi again and they washed their hands of him, he even offered his gift and they still turned him down so who will he try next I wonder?"

Carlisle turned slightly in his seat peering through the open window in the panel dividing the cab from the back of the van,

"The only person I can think of is Hector in Paraguay. They were close at one time."

"Hector? I doubt he'll want to get involved, he's got a new born mate with a child and she is just barely legal. He needs to keep off the Volturi radar if he wants to avoid the possibility of punishment for creating an immortal child. She's only sixteen."

"How do you know all this Darius?"

He smiled at Charlie and spread out his hands,

"What do you think all this is for? I keep my finger on the pulse, it pays to know as much as you can about what's going on in our world, especially if you are an enemy of the Volturi."

I listened fascinated as Darius told Charlie his story, although I knew of Darius, Carlisle had talked of him as a friend, I had no idea of his history, or rather tragedy. It turned out that Caius, who was something of a womanizer despite having a wife in Volterra, set his sights on Sara, Darius' mate and forced Chelsea to help him by tying Sara to Caius while she was visiting her friend in the guard, Darius being away on business.

The friend warned him what was happening but by the time he arrived in Volterra it was too late, Sara had broken free of Chelsea somehow, he suspected Chelsea just stopped using her gift in disgust, and killed herself. She had run into the audience chamber, denounced him in front of everyone and set fire to herself saying she couldn't live with the shame.

Aro sent Caius away after his wife Athenadora attacked him so when Darius arrived to get revenge he was gone. The other two brothers explained what had happened and promised they would never allow him to do such a thing again but Caius was not to be touched. He remained away from Volterra a long time with Darius hunting for him tirelessly but eventually he returned and stayed put knowing Darius couldn't touch him there. I got the feeling that Darius was just biding his time and one day he would catch up with a now unsuspecting Caius and teach him the penalty for messing with his mate.

We went quiet when he finished, each lost in our own thoughts until Darius spoke once more,

"So how are we going to play this?"

"Can you cut him off from the rest of the hotel?"

"You mean keep him in his room Charlie? Sure, piece of cake. All the door locks are electronic these days and the phones aren't a problem either. Why?"

"I thought we might evacuate the hotel, start a fire or something, it will give us room to maneuver."

"No need for that, I can set the alarms off, they'll evacuate as a matter of course but it won't give you long. The fire department will be there in minutes."

"I only need a minute Darius, once I get in that is."

"Then we have a plan. How much further Carlisle?"

"About two hours at this speed. Is there any sign that Edward is thinking of moving on?"

"Nope he's waiting to hear back from his friend and that's just not going to happen."

"How do you know that for sure?"

Darius turned to me with a smile,

"Because my dear Charlotte I'm blocking his reception and somehow the phone exchange at the hotel has gone down, strange that."

Perhaps this was my way of getting out, just long enough to get a message to Peter,

"Maybe I should go join Esme and Rose."

"No time Charlotte. We need to sort this out first, you'll see them soon enough. Anyone would think you don't want to be with us."

"No, why shouldn't I? Its just with the three of you why would you need me too?"

"I don't know, maybe you could act as decoy, after all Edward thinks you are dead, just like we did. He's more likely to answer the door to you, save smashing our way in and leaving evidence. What do you think Charlie?"

"If Charlotte is uncomfortable Darius I think we should leave her out of this."

I was grateful for Carlisle's backing but Darius shook his head as Charlie agreed with Darius,

"Sounds like a plan to me."