Chapter 119

Bella

I knew something was terribly wrong when Peter came back at a run, had he been spotted by the Volturi? Surely he wouldn't have led them straight here? He couldn't have been seen by our party, they were in Pisa or possibly Volterra by now. He grabbed his bag and looked at us,

"Come on, get your asses into gear we have to move now."

"What happened? Who did you see? Did you get a call?"

"Later, follow me."

We ran downstairs and jumped into a car he had waiting at the curb ignoring motorists who were sounding their horns and gesturing angrily at him for blocking their right of way. He pulled out into the flow of traffic earning more gesticulations and shouts of abuse which he ignored.

"Peter what's going on?"

"I don't know, but there's something wrong and I intend to find out what."

"Wait a minute, if you don't know what's wrong how do you know there's anything wrong at all? Is this some kind of trick to get me to agree to go to Volterra Peter?"

He slammed on the brakes and looked around at us both sitting in the back seat,

"If I needed to trick you I would have said fuck it and gone on my own. I promised The Major I would keep Bella safe which means keeping her in sight and that's the only reason you two are here, just remember that. I get an itch between the shoulder blades when The Major is in trouble and that itch came on about half an hour ago and it's not getting any better, Now either shut the fuck up or get out because I am going to Volterra and I won't be stopping until I get there. Once I find out what's going on Bella might come in handy to get him out of trouble. Have I made my position crystal fucking clear now?"

I nodded, my heart beating fast and my mouth dry, Jasper was in danger? If so I wanted to be there to help and I didn't care what Charlotte said to the contrary but she just nodded wide eyed at Peters vehemence.

"Good, then sit back and let me drive."

"Why don't we ring and find out?"

"If you want to ring be my guest but I'd try Rose or maybe Alice, I think the others could be involved, hell they could all be in deep shit I don't know."

Charlotte took out her phone, hesitated then dialed a number and waited. Eventually, it was answered,

"Rosalie do you have any idea what's happening?"

I couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, only Charlotte's,

"I'm not sure how long ago did they leave?"

I could see Peter watching us in the mirror and seeing my pale worried face he winked,

"Don't worry too much Bella, lots of people have tried killing The Major and they are the ones who went up in smoke, I'm sure he's fine."

I would have felt better if I thought he believed his own words but he was worried and so was I.

"But you haven't heard anything? Were they supposed to report in?"

"How long have they been gone? Who is with Jasper?"

Charlotte waved me to silence,

"No I won't worry Bella but maybe you should do something, send Carlisle in maybe."

When she shut her phone again I shook her arm,

"Charlotte, tell me."

"They don't know anything, Charlie and The Major went into Volterra and they haven't heard from them since."

"They went in alone? Why didn't they all go? How long have they been out of contact? Peter, can't you drive any faster?"

I knew I was becoming hysterical, but I couldn't help myself.

"Bella take a deep breath and calm down. You'll be no good to anyone otherwise, in fact, you'll be a danger and I'll make Peter stop and drag you out."

I could see she meant her threat so I did as she told me and after a couple of minutes I was able to stop shaking.

"I'm sorry Charlotte, I guess hearing Jasper might be in trouble sent me over the edge for a minute."

"That's OK as long as you are calm now. Peter, what's the plan?"

"Plan? I have no idea, what's the great Carlisle Cullen going to do now he knows there's trouble?"

"He's going to get Darius to check things out and then go up to Volterra himself, we know Charlie can protect himself so it must mean they got separated."

I have no idea how long it took us to reach Volterra, but Emmett waved us down at the bottom of the hill. Peter pulled up and wound his window down.

"Well?"

"Carlisle and Darius went up to Volterra after Darius heard a call between Aro and Felix. They've got The Major, but it seems Charlie is with Aro and Marcus."

"Do they have any idea where The Major is?"

"No, but Carlisle said it must have been Alec's work overpowering him."

"Right. Bella, Charlotte, bail. Emmett, you come with me. They're gonna need help."

I argued my corner,

"I'm not staying here if Jasper's in trouble. You might need me, I can distract the Volturi."

"Distracting the Volturi is likely to get you killed."

"Better that than wait here and find out they killed him. I'm going with you."

Emmett climbed in beside me making Charlotte shift over and Rose got in beside Peter. She glared at him when he hesitated,

"Either get going or get out and I'll drive."

He put the car in gear and sped up the twisting road to the walled town while I just prayed Jasper would be OK.

"What are you doing here Bella by the way? Weren't you supposed to stay in Portland?"

"Would you stay behind knowing Emmett was walking into danger?"

"No but then I'm a vampire, I can take care of myself, you can't."

"Well I'm still alive so I'm doing something right."

"You certainly are and I'm impressed but please stay close to one of us, not Peter. We need you alive when we get The Major back or we'll all be dead."

I nodded, I had no wish to die, I just wanted to be reunited with my mate.

I didn't get the opportunity to see the town, it was dark and we were traveling way too fast for the tight turns and startled pedestrians but we made it without crashing or killing anyone and the car came to a screeching stop next to another that had been parked at the bottom of the clock tower.

"This is it?"

"Yes now Bella stay close to Emmett and I and please keep quiet."

I nodded,

"I will."

We climbed the steps Emmett to my left and Rose to my right while Peter strode on ahead and Charlotte took the back, I felt like the president with his security detail! Inside the reception desk was unattended and Peter carried on through double swing doors into the interior of the building. It occurred to me then that I was in the midst of a large coven of vampires who all lived on human blood but I wasn't afraid, I was too worried about Jasper to fear anything but his loss.

Peter motioned for us to stop at an intersection,

"I can hear Charlie up ahead, but The Major isn't there."

"Where is he then?"

He glared at me then relented,

"I don't know Bella, he went that way and he wasn't alone. I smell one of the devil twins, Alec I think."

"Charlie will have things under control there, we should find The Major."

"Good choice Blondie, I was going that way in any case."

I followed him holding Emmett's arm in the dim light aware I might just trip over and give our presence away before remembering my heart beat would have alerted every vampire in the building to my presence.