They Could Hardly Believe Their Eyes!

Arrogance & Hatred!

As Jasper cautiously entered the room he could feel the malice and loathing battering him for all sides, which was absurd. He had never had dealings with witches before going to Forks, humans yes and other vampires most definitely. Their fear he would have understood but this blind hatred made no sense. He knew the council of witches had had their headquarters in Maine for years, longer than he'd been a vampire. So it wasn't as if he'd caused them personal harm.

"Gentlemen, Ma'am!" he said nodding, slowly altering the levels of distrust and animosity in the room, to a more manageable setting.

"Romain! You would bring these abominations before us? We are the Witch Council of America!" Gerard spits out loudly,

"You were the Witch Council of America, you mean! I pick the new Council! I choose those fit to lead us and you Gerard are showing yourself up to be a small-minded, petty being not fit to hold office!" Romain stated with equal distaste,

The fool jumped to his feet and before he knew what's happening Charlie had him pinned to the wall. He'd heard the small intake of Bella's breath and the barely spoken word curse, it galvanised him into action.

"You would attempt to curse the Supreme Wicche of America, are you insane?" Charlie spat in the confused man's face,

"He can't understand how you were aware of an unspoken curse?" Jasper said quietly, still drawing all eyes to him

"I didn't, Bella felt it on her shield and I reacted to her shock. Never underestimate the bond between a father and his daughter Gerard!" Charlie said as he bound the fool's power.

"Well Travis, so this is your legacy! The most bigoted, self-gratifying Council since the humans at Salem!" Romain said sadly, knowing to a witch that was the worst insult ever,

"You're being a little harsh don't you think Romain?" the lone female on the council said,

"No Cathleen, I don't! You have not only a zealot among you but a mole. So who is it? I assume Gerard is the one setting witches loose on the vampires now in Seattle. But who, I wonder informed the vampires of our very private meeting?" he asked in a deathly cold tone.

"What?" demanded Travis, his surprise alone showing his innocence, he was a fool, a bad leader. But not a traitor.

"In the next room, we have a witch and a vampire who were about to kill each other last night. They would have succeeded too if the Major hadn't put a stop to it. Seattle is crawling with both sides just waiting to start a war the humans wouldn't be able to miss!" Charlie replied annoyed,

"We spent the whole night warding the city to stop as much trouble as we could. I have their names and the name of their covens. It won't take long to find out unless one of you wants to admit their guilt? The vampires were harder to deal with, but luckily we had three vampires on hand and a witch vampire as well!" Romain said, before shouting for Peter and Charlotte to bring in the prisoners.

"Here we are your supremeness!" Peter said, with his usual lack of respect for the solemnity of the proceedings, and then smirking at Jasper and Bella said,

"Daddy, mommy dearest and mommy's daddy of course!"

"Shut up Captain!" Jasper warned, trying to keep the humour out of his tone,

"Sir, yes Sir! Shuttin' up now" he saluted Jasper and took up his position off his right shoulder.

Romain shook his head and turned to Charlotte,

"You have my deepest sympathy, my dear," he said smiling and Peter huffed but said nothing, wisely enough.

Two or three on the council who had as yet said nothing watched Romain's interaction with the vampire's and the hybrid. Had they been misinformed all these years, were not all bloodthirsty monsters? These two newer ones had red eyes but were not in the least interested in anyone here's blood! They were still feeling the sting of the Salem slur.