With One Look

Chapter 17

Isabella's P.O.V.

I had found the general area that I saw in Jasper's mind where Peter and Char lived. I sniffed around while running in a wide circle, decreasing its circumference until I finally smelled his scent. It was old, but at least it was something. I followed it until I came to a small cabin that sat almost completely hidden in the woods and approach cautiously. I knew how volatile the two of them could be when startled.

Once I was at their door I sensed that they weren't there. I could tell that Pete and Char's most recent scent was days old. But I did pick up another vampire's scent that was close by and fresh, and that had me a little worried. I put up my shield and called out.

"Hello. Is there anyone here?"

"Hey, sweetcakes. What can I do for ya?" The voice said as he came around the side from the back of the house. He was a tall vampire with long brown hair that was tied in the back. He wasn't muscled bound like Peter but he was built rather nicely and he wore a friendly smile. He too had a lot of bite marks on his body and I wondered if he too fought in the southern wars, as the Whitlocks had. I backed away from the house and him as I watched this vampire come closer.

"Who are you, and where are Peter and Char?" I asked, afraid one of the other war lords had captured my friends. If they had I needed to know who so I could go free them once again.

"My name is Garrett Williams, I'm here watching over the Captain and his mate's house while they're gone, but they are due back at any time now if you wish to wait," he said.

"Isabella Swan, I'm a friend of theirs and needed some help with a problem I'm having," I told him, and why I would share that with this total stranger I had no idea. He walked onto the porch and sat in one of the chairs kicking his booted feet up on the railing, and patted the seat next to him with a smile.

"Come sit and tell me what you need, maybe I can help you with your little problem," he said.

I cautiously made my way to the porch once again and sat next to this vampire I had just met. I watched him while trying to figure out just who this vampire was.

"No need to fret none, little darling, I won't hurt you. I may bite a little but only in a good way if you get my drift," he said wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I rolled my eyes while shaking my head. Well, for starters he's a flirt, I thought to myself, but he seems harmless enough, and I sensed no lie coming from him. I decided if Pete and Char could trust him to watch over their home, then I guess I can trust him enough to at least speak with him, but I needed to know his story first so I let down my shield and faced him.

"So what's your story cowboy, were you also in the southern wars as the Whitlocks were?" I asked.

He smiled and shook his head at first before he spoke. "Well yeah, for a while I was, and yes, that's where I got these scars, but I'm more of a patriot. I fought in the revolutionary war back in the seventeen hundreds. I was injured and the next thing I knew I was becoming dinner to a vampire that was feeding off the wounded soldiers. He must have heard someone approaching so he took off and I was left to burn, and that's how I became a vampire. So tell me, what's your story darlin'?" he asked.

I looked down at the floor and sighed. I hated telling people that I was once with the Volturi because it usually made them feel uncomfortable, but I swallowed hard and began. I told him how I was turned and about my life with the Volturi and what happened between Caius and me, how I traveled after leaving the Volturi and what happened when I met with Carlisle once again and the consequences that happened following our meeting. After I explained all this, he hummed like he was trying to think of something.

"First of all, I have to tell you that I know Carlisle. He found me shortly after I was turned and helped me with my bloodlust and we became friends, even after he tried forcing me into giving his diet a try. It was the most disgusting thing that had ever touched my tongue," he said with a curled up nose, and caused me to laugh knowing what he meant, but I had gotten used to the taste.

"I visit him from time to time, but I've not seen him for awhile now. Maybe it's time for me to pay him another visit. If what you say is true, that doesn't sound like Carlisle at all. I think I should go see him and find out what's going on with his coven. As far as Carlisle and you being true mates...congratulations. I know how rare that is and I only know of two, well, three now, four if you count Carlisle and yourself, that have found their true mates. I'm happy that Carlisle has finally found you. I just hope he hasn't done something to cause him or you more pain than is needed.

"Well, that's not really why I came here to begin with. I'm more concerned about a friend of mine. I think his wife has somehow made him believe that they are mates, and I know for a fact that they are not. I'm more worried with what his so-called-mate is doing to him. I also know that if they met right after he left the southern wars, he wouldn't know anything about the ways of our world other than that of the wars he served in. I think she's lying to him, Garrett, and he believed her since he wanted to learn Carlisle's way of feeding, because he's an empath and was feeling the human's emotions when he fed.

"Wait, wait, wait...this vampire, it wouldn't be the Major, would it?" he asked.

"Yeah, Jasper Whitlock, or Hale is what he goes by now. Why do you know him?" I asked. I wasn't surprised to learn that Garrett had known him; I think every vampire in our world had either met him or heard of him. I knew Garrett wasn't there when I ended Maria, but maybe he was there earlier or with another overseer.

He smirked and nodded his head with a chuckle. "Oh yeah. Me and the Major go way back. We fought together in the southern wars, until Maria got a hair up her patootie and decide to end me, so I cut out of there as fast as my big feet could carry me. The Major didn't stop me and I heard him tell Maria as I left, to let me go that they didn't need me anyway. That little pixie's got the Major wrapped tightly around her little finger, and you may be right with your assumptions. I never trusted that evil little pixie, but Carlisle insisted that they were mates when I visited last. I wasn't welcome any more than Peter and Char were when it came to the seer and the mind reader anyway. I saw how she ordered him around and I about fell over when he jumped without asking how high. I've never met a mated couple where the female vampire was in control of her mate. It's usually the other way around, and I'm sure Peter and Char will agree with us. They hate her with a passion. She is the reason they and the Major had their falling out. Alice hates Pete and Char and won't let the Major anywhere near them," he told me.

"Huh," I said as I thought about what Garrett had said. "Do you know if Alice has ever come in contact with Chelsea? You do know who she is, right?" I asked thinking that most vampires had heard of Chelsea and tried to stay away from her. Garrett's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. I tried to remember if I saw Chelsea in Jasper's memories, but couldn't find anything about Chelsea that stuck out in his mind. I would have to touch him again to see. I was sure now that If I was looking for a specific thing I would find out if Chelsea had dealt with Alice at some point concerning Jasper.

"Oh yeah, I know the bitch, I don't have any bonds to break, but I still stay away from her because I don't relish the idea of being bound to the Volturi. I do know plenty of mated couples that would break their necks to stay away from her, though. I don't know if she was ever around Jasper or Alice, but I'm sure Pete and Char would know, and like I said they're due home any time now. I'm sure they will be happy to see you," Garrett said. Just as he said that we sensed two vampires heading our way. We both stood up to welcome who we thought was Peter and Char and knew we were right when they came into view.

Peter and Char smiled when they saw me and when they came to a complete stop they each pulled me into a tight hug. "Bella, it's nice to see you again. What brings you to our neck of the woods?" Pete asked.

"What, can't I visit a friend?" I asked.

"Of course you can, it's been awhile, what been happening with you these past few years?" Char asked.

"She needs our help," Garrett said pointedly. I turned to look at Garrett in surprise that he said anything. I was going to ease into it, but I guess Garrett had a different idea.

"Do ya now?" Peter said with a smile. "I figured someone with that many magnificent gift's wouldn't need anyone's help, especially someone like us," he continued.

"Wait...You're her, aren't you? The one with the gift of absorption?" He asked. I looked at him, confused.

"I thought we had that talk, Garrett?" I asked.

"Yeah, but I just now put two and two together. I didn't realize that you were the one everyone has been talking about."

"I'm being talked about?" I asked, a little shocked.

"Well, yeah. It's not every day you talk to a vampire with your type of gift. That kind of power is unheard of in our world," he said with a smile. I gave him a half nod and a half head jerk, not caring at the moment what other vampires were saying about me. My main concern was how to help Jasper and get him away from that evil little pixie. She'd caused enough trouble, and don't think I didn't know she had a hand in that little fiasco back at Carlisle's which I will deal with as well.

"So, little darlin,' what do you need our help with?" Peter asked, but before I could tell him, Char spoke up.

"Why don't we take this into the house and get comfortable instead of standing out here in the sun glittering like a bunch of disco balls," she said, causing us all to laugh.

We all went into the house and sat around the living room. The house was a true log cabin. The walls housed the same logs that made up the house on the outside. The steps leading up were on the other side of the wall where a television hung. The furniture included a sofa, love seat and a chair that looked well worn, but comfortable, with a coffee table front and center. There were pictures scattered around the room which I noticed had Jasper in a few of them. An arch in the wall across the room divided the living room from the kitchen. It was a comfortable looking house.

Once settled, Peter spoke. "You'll have to forgive us, darlin,' for not being here when you arrived. Char and I like to travel a bit, see what we missed out on while with Maria. We do this every now and again and Garrett is usually kind enough to watch over things while we're gone. Now would you mind telling us what's going on?" he asked.

"It's fine, Peter. I got to know a little about Garrett here while waiting on you," I told him as I explained about my meeting with Jasper again at Carlisle's and what had happened. I explained that I could feel something was wrong and what I thought Alice was doing to him. He growled when I mention Alice's name and stood up and began to pace.

"You'll have to forgive him, sugar. He hates that little pixie as I do, but Peter has a short fuse when dealing with that evil vampire," Char replied. I nodded my head in understanding. I didn't like her either; she was manipulative and dangerous to be around. Not to me of course, but to any other vampire she came in contact with. She used her gift to get what she wanted in any way she could and my only thought was to end her miserable existence, but without hurting Jasper in the process. Peter stopped his pacing and turned to me with a scowl on his face, starting to explain certain things to me.

"It had been a couple of years since we'd seen the Major. We were still in Maria's compound when we decided to split up. The Major wanted to find Carlisle and talk to him about his diet. Char and I didn't want to change our diet so we found this here property, and built this place, while Jasper took off in search of the animal feeder," he said as he began to tell me what happened after I left them.

"As I said, it had been a few years since we saw the Major and began to worry, wondering if he was okay, so when we found out where he was with a little help from a friend of ours, Char and I went up to where we were told the Cullens were living at the time. The moment we stepped into their territory the mind reader met us and told us that they didn't need our kind around. Of course I ignored the mind-raper and continued up to the house where we were met by the pixie. She told me we weren't welcome there and that Jasper didn't want anything to do with us any longer. When I told her I wasn't leaving until he told me this himself she scowled and called for the Major. When he walked out of the house he smiled and nodded his head towards us in greeting.

"Pete, Charlotte," he said with a smile. "What brings you all the way out here?" he asked. I told him that we hadn't heard from him in awhile and wanted to check up on him to find out how he was doing. He stood there like some kind of Stepford husband or something without saying a word. He just held that smile as if it was engineered just for him. It was then that Alice placed her hand on each side of his face and made him look her in the eyes. "Tell them they are not welcome here, make them leave Jasper, for me sweetheart," she said in a sickly voice. Jasper just smiled and kissed the end of her nose and said. "For you darlin' anything," and then turned to us telling us we weren't welcome there and to leave and never come back. Of course I saw what that evil little...vampire did. She used her allure on him and made him do her bidding. When I went to attack her for hurting my brother, Jasper attacked me and tore one of my arms off. Char got us out of there and helped me replace my arm. I wanted to go back and drag Jasper's sorry arse out of there, but Char said that we couldn't go up against all seven of their coven members, including Jasper, so we came home. Believe me if I can help you get Jasper away from that little bitch I'm more than happy to oblige," Pete said.

"Pete, do you know if Alice had any contact with Chelsea?" I asked. I knew he knew about Chelsea because Maria kept an eye on all of the Volturi's movements.

Peter looked at me in fear. "I don't know. I can't sense anything as if that had ever happened, but it doesn't mean it hasn't. If she has then she's bound Jasper to Alice," he said and looked at me. "Do you have the power to break that kind of forced mating mojo?" He asked. I just smiled and nodded my head.

"Good, then I guess we should pay the Cullens another little visit, don't you think?" he asked. I nodded again and I turned to Garrett.

"Want to join us, Garrett?" I asked. He gave me a smirk like smile.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, little darlin'," he said.

"Are we all agreement then?" I asked as each of them smiled and nodded their heads.

After going over the plan Peter and Char locked up, seeing Garrett was joining us, and we took off for Cullen territory. We went in Peter's truck so it took a few hours to get there, but we were all steaming with anger and wanted Alice to pay for all she had done. On the way Garrett told the Whitlocks what had happened to me while visiting the Cullens not long ago, and they were shocked at hearing this. They thought as I did that Edward and Alice had used the allure on Carlisle to drive me away from him, which pissed Peter and Char off further. They said they sound like masters of old when the south kept slaves and all of the Cullens were only there to serve Alice and Edward. We decided that was about to end as well, even if we had to rip them apart and burn them to ash to do it. Surely Carlisle would understand with the way he was treated. I hoped so anyway.

Peter and Char weren't worried about the Major and assured a nervous Garrett that I could control the Major with no problems at all. He sighed and I felt him ease into a calm state after I threw an emotion at him as we traveled.

A/N: Time for all good things that Edward and Alice thought was good at least to come to an end...Bella and her friends will be facing off with Edward and Alice with a few surprises thrown in...thanks for reading, huggs.