Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Blood And Steel

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 17:

New York

“This is bad.” Father Francis said, walking into the room Chris had been staying in at his church in New York City.

“You are going to have to be more specific. A lot of bad things could be happening now.” Chris pointed out.

“I believe I know where the Vatican archives are. The secret ones. The reason so few in the Vatican know about their location is because they aren’t under Vatican control and haven’t been for some time.”

“Okay.”

“I was able to find an old Priest who was willing to talk. He explained what we already suspected. After the Library of Alexandria burned, the knowledge was saved. All the knowledge of the ancients. It was placed in the Vatican in secret after being passed down from Christians who saved the scrolls prior to the invasion of Caliph Omar around 600 AD. He is one of the possible men who had the Library burned although the date of the burning is in doubt and who actually caused the fire. This priest swears it is true that the Library was still standing in 600 AD or thereabout.”

“Okay. So if the library was burned and the scrolls were eventually passed to the Vatican why doesn’t the Vatican have them?”

“King Phillip of France and Pope Clement.”

“Ahh shit.” Chris said, knowing where this was going.

“Ah shit indeed. Once the orders went out that the Knights Templar were all to be arrested, a few of them took matters in their own hands and stole the scrolls from the Vatican before escaping by ship. They made quite the journey. A few knights testified under duress that the archives were taken by sea to be hid. The Vatican searched for hundreds of years but only recently has discovered the place they think the scrolls are at. By recently I mean 200 years ago.”

“If they have suspected where the scrolls are at for two hundred years why in the hell haven’t they gotten them?” Chris asked.

“That is the problem. No one has figured out how.”

“You’re kidding me. The Knights buried the scrolls at Oak Island?!” Chris shouted, feeling dread in his heart.

“It would appear so. There are many Freemason markings on the island. The so called money pit showed evidence of being a man-made trap that flooded after 102 feet. For two hundred years people have tried and failed to find the treasure at the bottom of the pit. There could be no treasure at all. That pit that men have died to get to the bottom of could simply be a red herring. The scrolls could be anywhere on that island. The swamp is most likely man made as are the ducts that lead from the sea under the island.”

“The flood tunnels have nothing to do with the flooding of the pit.” Chris pointed out. “They aren’t even sure that damn thing isn’t a natural sinkhole.”

“There were wooden platforms all the way down as well as coconut fibers which you know are not native to Canada. It would be nothing for a great sailing vessel to pick up coconuts on the way to finding a perfect spot. Instead of stopping in the Caribbean or the Florida Coast where the humidity and warmth could destroy the scrolls they continued to sail north. The scrolls are somewhere on that island in an underground chamber, sealed off from the world.” Francis argued.

“Damn it.” Chris muttered. Having a team of Special Forces soldiers who could sneak in and out of any building in the world without a shot being fired would do him no good there. The Templars hid their treasure well.

“Wait a damn minute. Why put the scrolls where no one could reach them?”

“I’m sorry? To keep them safe of course.”

“Why? If they wanted them gone they could have burned them. They should have burned them. Instead they undertook a marvelous feat of engineering to hide them. They booby trapped pits and made a swamp. If they never planned to go back to get the archives why bother? The knowledge must have been kept so it could be shared. They would want it back eventually.”

“Your point… oh I see.” Francis admitted.

“Yep. They wouldn’t want to go through their own booby traps to get the scrolls. There must be a back door somewhere on that island.”

“If this is so, it is well hidden. People have been searching that island for two centuries and found nothing but a few coins and some bones.”

“That’s because we haven’t looked. Can you fly out to Oak Island?”

“Yes… where are you going?”

“I have to check on my kids, check on these damn gates and figure out a connection to missing bodies and then get to La Push before Aro does. Things are happening fast and if we don’t find some answers, we will be powerless to stop them. Get out there and have a look around. Take the tour and research the island. I will be there in a week.”

“Consider it done.” Francis told him.

Oak Island, Chris thought. It couldn’t be easy could it?

Forks Washington

“Damn that was some good fried chicken darlin. Best I ever had.” Connolly told Bella after finishing his plate. The two had dinner with Charlie tonight. Charlie nodded his head in agreement, food threatening to fall out. Bella had a suspicion that Charlie did not get many meals cooked at home since she left.

“Thanks guys. It felt good to cook in the old kitchen again.” Bella admitted.

“I didn’t know you could cook like this.” Jason complimented her.

“How did you not know? Don’t you two live together?” Charlie asked, finally swallowing his food.

“Yeah but…” Jason started.

“We have meals served at the base. Not the best but for the military it’s not bad. We eat in the field, usually whatever one of the guys kills, or if there is no wildlife around we eat MREs.” Bella explained.

“You eat that crap Bella? You let her eat that crap Jason?”

“Uh…”

“It’s fine Dad. We aren’t in the field often.” Bella told him calmly.

“So you two live in an underwater base huh?”

“Yep.” Jason said proudly.

“What is that like Bella? It’s got to be dull. I can’t imagine there are many windows if any and the Gulf of Mexico has to be muddy.”

“Yeah there are no windows Dad.” Bella said a bit nervously.

“So what do you do to pass the time?”

“We aren’t allowed to talk about that sir.” Jason quickly responded. Bella put her head in her hands and groaned.

“What? You said we couldn’t talk to him about how we pass our time. You said that!” Jason stressed.

“I read a lot Dad. Go over intelligence reports on vampires, trying to learn things I didn’t already know. We also have a training area where we work out. It’s not bad.” Bella explained hoping Charlie would drop the subject.

“But you two aren’t staying there for the long term right? I mean the base is less than five miles from the coast. Couldn’t you get a house on the island and boat in?”

Neither said a word until Connolly broke the silence.

“I got her an underwater base. How many boyfriends can say that Charlie? Hell she travels around in the most expensive and most advanced aircraft ever built. We drive Hummers. You know how much the civilians’ version cost and those are weak. I’m talking about the real deal here for free.”

“I see. Son you got a lot to figure out about women.” Charlie wisely noted. “Bella wouldn’t you like a house? A home? I mean I know you guys move around a lot but wouldn’t it be nice to have a place you can kick your feet up?”

“I don’t know… I guess it wouldn’t be bad.” Bella admitted.

“It wouldn’t?” Jason asked.

“No, I mean for me. I know how you feel… I think.”

“Uh we actually haven’t been going out that long. Don’t you have to be dating for a specified period of time like a year?” Connolly asked, beginning to panic.

“You telling me you two aren’t sharing a bunk now?”

Bella’s blush gave Charlie all the answer he needed.

“Yep. So if you have basically been living together in small quarters wouldn’t it be nice to have a bigger place?”

“It wouldn’t be bad.” Bella said quietly, looking at her plate.

“It wouldn’t? I mean it wouldn’t.” Jason agreed.

“Besides you two may want to have kids one day and will need the bedrooms.” Charlie pointed out, enjoying how uncomfortable Connolly was. Payback was a bitch.

“Kids? Small people? You mean living with us? In the same area?” Jason asked, just to be clear.

“Yeah. That’s the general idea. You should probably think about getting your own cars too. Can’t drive Hummers forever.”

“Yes we can. The President said so.” Jason told Charlie quickly.

“I wouldn’t mind it. Something that gets more than ten miles to the gallon.” Bella agreed.

“We don’t have to pay for gas.” Connolly stressed.

“Then you could have your own kitchen Bella. Not have to eat in a mess hall. Jason is a helluva cook too judging by the breakfast he made the other day at Emily and Sam’s. The two of you could go shopping at some of those home décor megastores and pick out comforters and drapes. Jason you could hang your medals over the fireplace. Get you a bannister for the fireplace so one day you can put the kids and grandkids pictures up. Of course you still have marriage to think about first.”

“Marriage? Bella isn’t a big fan of marriage, on account of you and Renee’s divorce and all and I’m not a huge fan of it either. I figure if two people love each other that ought to be… what? I can’t talk about their divorce either?!” Connolly asked Bella who was staring at him with wide eyes that begged him to shut the hell up.

“It’s fine son. I realize Bella isn’t a fan of marriage. Right Bella?”

“No, I guess not. I mean one day, with the right person maybe I could see it.”

“Right person? I’m the right person!”

“I didn’t say you weren’t. But you know, you could get killed or something. I mean let’s face it, with our lives it’s possible.”

“So you would marry a guy after I died? That’s fucked up Bella. You hate the idea of marriage with me but you would do it after I die. Nice.”

“You hate the idea of marriage too! That’s all I’m saying.”

“True, but I wouldn’t marry some woman if you died. That’s all I’m saying.”

“But you wouldn’t marry me?” Bella asked.

“You said you hated marriage! Do I need Vivian to play back the conversation? You know that bitch records everything!”

Charlie could barely hold the grin off his face due to how uncomfortable the two were. Not worried about how often you get intimate with my daughter now, are you Connolly?

“No. I did say that, but I can change my mind. If I wanted to get married one day would you?”

“I would do anything for you.” Jason told her.

“For me. But would you want it?”

“Yes. I guess. I mean I don’t want to go to a drapes store and the idea of having kids freaks me the hell out but yeah, I would want to marry you one day.”

“Bullshit. You don’t have the guts. Charging a machine gun nest or a coven of vampires? No problem for you. The mention of kids and marriage and you are retreating.” Bella pointed out.

“Don’t call bullshit on me. I didn’t know we were playing that game. I would damn well marry you and have as many kids as you want.”

“Liar.”

“We get through the possessed zombie demons and evil souls and stop those gates from getting tore down and I will marry you. Watch me!”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Bella challenged him.

“Watch me.” Connolly told her, eyes never wavering.

“Who the hell said I would marry you?” Bella asked.

“What the fuck have we just been talking about!?”

“I guess you guys need a little more time to think about it.” Charlie said with a straight face. Then it hit him.

“Did you say possessed zombie demons?”

“Can’t talk about it Charlie.” Jason said quickly.

“I thought I could hear all about this stuff since my daughter is involved.”

“Yeah well since I can’t talk about our sex life except in certain situations that need to be approved beforehand then I guess I better start keeping shit to myself.”

“Jason has a theory that Aro has been keeping the bodies of his victims on ice so they can be possessed by the spirits Chris is worried about.” Bella explained.

“We get intimate every chance we get Charlie.” Jason told Charlie and glared at Bella.

“I doubt that will be the case tonight son. You may know fifty ways to klill a man with a spoon but you got a lot to learn about women. I did too. That’s why I’m divorced and still single at my age. So start learning. First thing you need to do is think about moving my daughter somewhere other than a submarine.”

Neither said anything. Bella finally reached over and gently kissed Jason.

“You’re an idiot you know that?”

“Yeah but I’m your idiot.” Jason told her with a smile.

Charlie cleared his throat.

“So you two gonna stay here tonight or you going back to the camp site?”

“I would like to stay here if it’s alright with you Dad.”

“Always your home Bella. I won’t bother to ask you to sleep in a different bed Jason. I don’t imagine I would hear you anyway would I?”

“I am good at operating silent in the dark.” Jason admitted.

“Okay. That’s settled. So how badly is my house going to be torn up after this little Volturi business?”

“No worries Charlie. We plan to greet them at the Cullen mansion. Now who is up for a little after dinner SportsCenter?”

Charlie agreed that it sounded like a hell of a plan while Bella groaned. Jason picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. They both dropped to the couch and she broke out in laughter as Connolly began to tickle her ribs.

Charlie pretended not to watch but couldn’t help the smile on his face. Yeah the boy had a lot to learn about women but he had an idea Connolly was a quick study.

La Push Washington

“Are you sure about this?”

“You said you wanted to help us train, right Quil? So help us out brotha. Takin out guys holding hostages is an important skill. You just stand in front of this card board guy and stand very still.” Ty told him, in his calmest voice.

“Okay. How far away are you going to be?”

“Only about 600 yards. Easy shot. Webb is gonna be about 750 yards away. His shot is gonna be a bit trickier with the wind. King is behind you. He has a 400 yard shot. Piece of cake. I think. I honestly don’t know how good a shot he is but I guess we will find out.”

“You guys are going to take turns?” Quil practically whimpered.

“Nah man. We are shooting at the same time. Relax. We are professionals. You are in good hands. Worst that could happen is we don’t get a clean shot and shoot through your shoulder to hit the guy in the heart. You guys are fast healers right?”

“Hold on a damn minute!”

“I’m just fuckin with you Quil. Now for God’s sake man, don’t move.”

Ty walked off to his perch and climbed the nearest tree, propping his rifle on a branch and curling his large frame into as small an area as possible.

“Webb do you have lock?”

“Affirmative. You sure this guy isn’t gonna move?”

“Nah. He might piss his little denim shorts but that’s all. King you got lock from the back?”

“Yes. I’m locked on the back of the head, right side.”

“Alright. This tall motherfucker is only givin us an inch on either side for a head shot. I got right, Webb you got left and King match my shot on the right bout a half second behind. Somebody put the ketchup packet on the back?”

“Yeah I got it.” Webb said smiling. “King you hit the target he is gonna get red.”

“I can’t miss it.”

“Wind is kicking up from the South, Webb. On my count gentleman. 3… 2… 1…”

Three shots fired at the human sized target behind Quil.

Quil pissed his pants when the bullets whizzed past his ears.

He opened his eyes and screamed, seeing the blood on his shoulder.

Quil dropped to the ground, afraid he had been shot. Paul walked up and wiped the ‘blood’ off Quil’s shoulder and licked it.

“Hunts Ketchup. My favorite.”

Quil sniffed and realized it was ketchup on his shoulder. He turned and saw the target had two holes. He heard the laughter in the woods.

“Which one of you fuckers missed?!” Quil asked, not happy.

“None of them. King shot through the hole Gavin made about a half second later. If he didn’t the bullets would have met each other and shattered near your ear. That would have hurt a bit.” Connolly explained. “Thanks for your help Quil. We usually can’t get live hostages. Nobody is stupid enough to let us practice. You showed a lot of guts. Now go change your shorts before you start to smell worse.”

Quil walked off silently. He decided it would be best to change his pants.

“That was mean.” Bella said, patting Connolly on his ass as she walked up.

“He volunteered.” Jason pointed out.

“It was pretty funny though. Whose idea was the Ketchup packet?”

“Ty.”

“Figures.”

“Hey Bella can I practice on you?” Clive asked.

“Fuck you Clive.”

“I take that as a no or an offer. You Yanks vernacular confuses me at times.”

“I’ll fuck you up Clive.” Jason said without turning.

“That I understood. So what is the plan for our visitors Lt.?”

“Yes. I am kinda curious where you have me, Garrett, Peter and Char set up.” Jasper mentioned appearing out of nowhere.

“You guys are going to be with the wolves, circling the area. Anybody gets past us he or she is yours.” Jason told him.

“Why? Why are you keeping us back? I’ve been killing vampires a lot longer than you Jason. Why risk your team?”

“I’m not risking my team. We can do this on our own. I want you guys kept secret until it is time to let the secret be known. I have no idea if anyone else would be watching. If I were Aro I would hold someone back to watch what happens and report back. If that is the case it will be bad if the guy gets away. It will be worse if he gets away and tells Aro about you guys and the wolves. Our advantage would be completely gone. Not something I want to happen. You stay hidden and do not attack unless you are sure you have a clean kill.”

Jasper nodded, not happy but seeing the wisdom in his plan.

“Besides those fuckers are never making it out of their car.” Connolly told him.

“How do you plan to accomplish that?”

“I’m going to have six or so machine guns dropping a thousand rounds into it and then Hawk is going to hit it with an RPG.”

“That would definitely do it.” Jasper admitted.

The next night. Cullen Mansion.

The Volturi guard pulled up to the Cullen Mansion very alert. Aro only sent these four and they were not happy about it. Jane or Alec or both usually came on missions like this.

“What is that?” Diego asked.

“What… oh shit. What the hell do they think they are doing?” Felix asked, seeing the black clad humans who seemed to materialize out of the dark.

“No idea. Shall we say hello?” Diego asked, grinning.

The grin left his face when the sound of gunfire erupted. Bullets tore through the car and through the vampires. Automatic weapons that had rounds that were shredding the Volturi.

The screams could be heard over the gunfire.

“Hawk you’re up.” Connolly shouted. Hawk walked out from the side of the large house with a sadistic smile on his face. The vampires, tore to pieces inside and leaking blood and venom saw the man and knew the end was here.

Hawk fired the RPG into the car and the Volturi burned.

Connolly, Ty and Webb pulled their masks off, Bella and Winter did the same, the automatic weapons in their hands smoking.

“That was easy.” Webb mused.

“Too easy. It shouldn’t have been that easy.” Connolly said uneasily.

“It was your plan. You said it would be a piece of cake.” Ty pointed out.

“Yeah but I didn’t think it would actually work. Bella did you feel any gifts from these guys?”

“None that they tried to use. I had you guys covered.” Bella said confidently.

“That makes no sense. I figured he wouldn’t send any of his valuable weapons but these guys were sent in with no help to find out about a coven that supposedly drove back Jasper. What did Aro hope to accomplish?”

“You sure you just ain’t disappointed that you didn’t get to fight more Jay?” Ty asked.

“No. Maybe. Something isn’t right.”

“No shit.” Vivian’s voice broke in. “I got a heat signature running at 90 degrees and going about twenty miles an hour in the forest to the North heading towards Forks.”

“Fuck. Dante can you track from the sky?”

“We’re on it.” Winter told him and she and Bella took off in a run towards the woods.

“Wait!”

It was too late. The girls were gone.

“Sir I am right over his location but I can’t see shit.”

“Tree cover? Go to thermal and bomb the fucker.”

“He is weaving through the wolves and Jasper’s crew. I hit him I hit them.”

“Can he see them?”

“He can probably smell them. He is moving.”

“Vivian block cell towers for a hundred miles.”

“I did that thirty seconds ago.”

“Dante as soon as he is away from our guys blow him to hell. I don’t give a damn how many trees you kill. Bella, Winter, back off. He has too much of a head start!”

“They are actually right behind him Connolly.” Vivian informed the group. “He is out of range of our team but the girls are right behind him.”

Bell and Winter ran but could not see anything. They heard Vivian say the vampire was just in front of them. The two weaved in and out of trees hoping to catch him on both sides.

“He stopped, forty feet away Bella.” Vivian informed her.

Bella and Winter skidded to a stop.

Peering through the dark neither could see anything.

“Winter you see him?”

“Nope.”

“Summer?”

“Nope. If she does she isn’t telling me.”

Bella and Winter quieted.

“He’s invisible.” Bella whispered.

“Yep. Aro sent him to watch the guard and see what happened.” Winter whispered back.

Both went quiet.

“He is walking towards the two of you.” Vivian said more calmly than she felt.

Bella and Winter listened and both drew their swords.

There. A footstep on the leaves on the ground. Bella closed her eyes and listened.

She heard the footsteps running towards her. He was attacking.

Bella threw her sword at the sound, eyes still closed.

She was rewarded with a scream. Opening her eyes she saw the vampire with her sword stuck through his chest. Pulling the sword out he dropped it and ran. Winter tossed her sword at his feet and it stuck in the vampires thigh. He pulled it out, but it was too late. The girls tackled him. Trying to toss them off he rolled. Bella’s sword shot to her hand and she wrapped the blade under his neck and pulled from behind, beheading him while Winter struck her blade in his face.

Both girls fell off of him onto their back on the ground and caught their breath.

“That was close.” Bella whispered.

“Bella are you okay?!” Connolly practically screamed over the radio.

“Yep. Great.”

“I’m good too Lt. Commander asshole.” Winter said in her com.

“You got a lighter?” Bella asked.

“You are the one who smoked. You didn’t bring one?”

“I quit remember? Thank God I did. I would hate to try to run like that if I was still smoking. I would have stopped about a hundred yards away from the mansion in pain.”

“I have a lighter.” Garrett’s voice said quietly from behind a tree.

“What the hell are you doing here? Didn’t Connolly say to hold back?” Winter asked, turning on the ground to look at the vampire.

“He told you two to stop chasing the vampire. Looks like we all have problems with orders. I thought the two of you may need help. I see I wasn’t needed. Very impressive.”

“Thanks.”

“Bella perhaps when you realize Connolly isn’t good for you the two of us could…”

“Go fuck yourself Garrett.” Bella told him flipping off the ground and landing on her feet.

“What the hell Garrett? Am I not attractive enough for you to come onto?” Winter asked.

“I was under the impression you were anti penis dear.”

“Good impression.” Winter agreed.

After Garrett lit up the vampire, the three walked back to the mansion. Connolly met them halfway and his team followed. He grabbed Bella in his arms and pulled her closely.

“Damn it girl! Why couldn’t you have waited?”

“No time and you guys were too slow. Besides I didn’t want to see these beautiful trees get killed for nothing. You couldn’t have gotten a clear shot. Face it, we were your only option.”

“Did I hear you say he was invisible?”

“Yep.”

“How did you two kill him?” Ty asked.

“We closed our eyes and listened. You could learn a thing or two from us grasshopper.” Winter said with a straight face.

The team walked back to the mansion flanked by the wolf pack who had stayed nearby. After phasing and dressing at the mansion Leah ran to Winter and wrapped her in her arms.

“God I was worried about you.” She whispered in her ear, not letting her go.

“Hey this is what we do. No worries.” Winter assured her.

“Stay with me tonight? Please?”

“Okay.” Winter told her, the pleading in Leah’s voice causing her to go against her better judgement.

The two looked up and saw everyone was watching them.

“Damn that’s hot. Can I stay too?” Hawk asked.

A few laughs filled the clearing.

“Okay. What do you say we head back to our camp? I’m in the mood for grilling. I’m thinking burgers. Vampires go find you some animals to drink or something. Jasper can show you how I’m assuming.”

All nodded at Connolly’s suggestion and the group made their way towards the Hummers parked in the back yard.

Unfortunately not even Vivian’s thermal imaging could pick up the slight heat signature masked by the water of the river. The vampire’s head barely peaked over the waterline and he did not see what happened to his comrade in the forest but he did see two girls take off at vampire speed to catch him. Judging by the laughter he heard not he had to assume the girls caught him. He was also fairly certain one of the girls was Bella Swan. He had seen enough. He would wait until they were gone and use the river to mask his escape to the ocean. Once he reached Seattle he would contact Aro with the bad news.

Humans had discovered how to kill vampires.

This changed everything.