Chapter 113

Bella

It seemed strange to be around so many people all of a sudden, people I had looked on as family and friends but now watched carefully for their attitudes towards Jasper. I had to accept that as far as everyone else was concerned he was still the Volturi's hit man but it was sad to see the way he was watched nervously.

They could surely see by the color of his eyes that he had stuck to a diet of animal blood, even when Sadie was in the cabin and bleeding profusely. Nor had he fed on the two men who were sent to kill me although he had every opportunity to do so. Darius' apartment although large was actually becoming a little crowded and when Charlotte announced that Esme and the others were on their way with Alice Jasper took me to one side.

"I think I should leave, I don't like crowds and there are too many people around. Besides everyone else would be relieved if I left. I understand their concerns, if I were Carlisle or Charlie I would be worried about having a killer around."

"You aren't a killer, not any more and they'll get used to you in time but if you insist on leaving I'm going with you."

Before we had time to discuss it further Carlisle came back with the news that Sadie was going to make it. He had contacted her family and her mother and father were driving to the hospital to be with her. All they were told was that Sadie had been mugged, she and Carlisle discussed what happened and she didn't want her family to know she had been hitch-hiking which worked out fine for us.

While Jasper went to get the details Charlie took me to one side and I became suddenly nervous, if he thought he was going to start setting down rules for Jasper and I he had another thing coming. As far as I was concerned Jasper had already passed any tests my dad could think of when he saved Sadie.

"I'm real glad you're safe Bella."

"All down to Jasper dad. He saved my life."

Charlie smiled at my stubborn tone,

"OK Bella, no need to stick up for him, I know he did. He impressed me. Actually I wanted to ask him a favour."

"Oh, what? Darius said you'd let Edward go, why would you do that after all he did?"

"Edward already has a life sentence. A life without family and friends, that's far worse than anything I could do to him, Bella. I hope you understand although I think Esme's initial reaction was much like yours."

I shrugged although truth be told I didn't really care what happened to Edward any longer.

"What did you want to ask Jasper?"

An arm looped around my shoulders as I said that and I knew he was back,

"Yes Chief Swan what was it you wanted to ask me?"

"It's about Volterra, I've got a bone to pick with Aro Volturi and I need a way in, a quiet way in that is."

I was horrified,

"You intend fighting Aro on his own turf? Are you crazy dad? Leave it alone like you decided to leave Edward alone."

"I suppose I could get you in. He'd be more likely to allow me in than you. He'll be hoping I've come back to Volterra for good. Maybe the shock of almost losing Bella had me changing my mind about making An enemy of the Volturi."

I was shaking my head decisively even before Jasper stopped speaking,

"No, no way Jasper. You left that behind you on the mountain, you promised me."

"I promised you that I wouldn't do anything unless it was necessary. Aro made this necessary in order to keep you safe Bella."

Charlie

I had expected this reaction from Bella and I hated asking The Major, but he was my best bet, him and Peter. This might be over for the Cullens, but it was far from over for me. No one threatened my daughter's life twice and lived to enjoy it. I'd spoken to Darius and I knew Aro wouldn't give up until he had The Major and Captain back, plus Alice and her friend Graeson too. Darius had pointed out the biggest problem of all,

"Nature abhors a vacuum Charlie, you get rid of Aro you'd better have someone ready to take his place."

Of course I had no idea who could take his place, Marcus was no better although his reason for starting this was a hatred of Aro, not Carlisle or any of us, still...

"Have you spoken to Peter about this?"

"I mentioned it and he told me if I had you on my side I had him, until then it was no dice."

The Major grinned making him look younger and more vulnerable, but it didn't last, soon the old mask slipped back into place.

"Have you thought about who you will replace him with?"

I sighed heavily, the same problem as Darius pointed out to me,

"Well you know this world better than me, who would you suggest?"

"Oh no, no good asking me, I just take orders I don't formulate policy. Why don't you ask Carlisle Cullen, he's respected by most people in the vampire world? You could think about yourself too, after all you were a law man, who better?"

I took his advice and cornered Carlisle as he waited for Esme to ring and say they had landed. He wasn't too keen on the idea of me taking the fight to Aro, but he was prepared to talk about my alternatives to the brothers after I told him what both Darius and The Major had said.

"They're right of course, if you take out Marcus and Aro and leave their spaces empty you'll find plenty who would like to fill them, the Romanians for one and although their rule wasn't that much different from the Volturi until the end when they stopped caring anymore I don't think it would be wise to allow them to take up the reins of power again. You need someone who is respected and trusted to sit on the throne of Volterra, more than one actually. Remember power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, it's not wise to give one man too much power."

"So who can you think of who fits the bill?"

"Well there's Eleazar, he is trusted by most, especially when he gave up the opportunity of power when he disagreed with the Volturi. Then there is yourself, fresh from the human world with no preconceptions and no alliances, no partisanship. Darius is respected too, but I doubt he would agree to take up such a challenge."

"What about yourself Carlisle?"

"Me? I don't see myself as ruler Charlie, I'm merely a poor doctor."

"But you are respected and trusted. Maybe your fresh way of looking at your world would be a good thing and you aren't a man of violence, our world has seen altogether too much of that from what I gather."

Carlisle agreed to think about it and approach Eleazar to see if he was interested in helping us start over. Then he got the call and rushed out to pick Esme and the others up. Charlotte watched him go then came over to speak to me,

"If you really want a new start for the Volturi then as you say you need strong dynamic men with no affiliations that could lead to accusations of favor but you are overlooking some important people."

"Really? Well, admittedly I don't know many in this world which was why I asked so many different people."

"Yes and you fell into the same trap as the Volturi and the Romanians before them. You never gave a thought to the women in our world."

She was right of course, it hadn't occurred to me to look at the women I had met. There was Charlotte herself, Esme Cullen, Rosalie, even Alice, all strong minded and fearless women, but I wasn't the only one to see them as human women, weaker and more frail. After all Carlisle had left Esme and Rose in Italy to save them from harm although it seemed they had decided not to sit around waiting for a call to return but had got involved and saved Alice from continuing imprisonment.