Author's Note: Ah...I couldn't help it. I wasn't going to start another story until I finished. Illuminati, but I couldn't help myself. This plot just came to me. I still have to work out the drama that would come about later, but as of now, I like the characters I've built in the star-crossed lovers. I don't know if I like it too much, or if I'll continue it. We'll see. I have other stories in mind and another one to finish anyways. I do not own Twilight or the characters therein. Happy reading/writing and much love!

1. JUST BECAUSE

My feet dragged against the wet boards of wood below me. My head limped forward. My chin touching my chest. Praying for a death that would never come. Just existing. Barely there. Well, I suppose those facts would be true wether or not I was in this hell hole. But at least I had some dignity before. My freedom to wonder the world as I pleased. As fearsome as I was, I was something. And now I wasn't. And the venalicius - or slave-dealers as you would call them now- made it a point to remind me. Drilling it into my head constantly.

"Get in there!" Someone with an ugly voice hissed. The two men who did a terrible job of carrying me, threw me. I fell. Down. Down. Landing with a thud on a heap of sacks. My eyes peeled through the dark as I raised my head weakly. I wasn't alone. There was a man with a straggly grey beard, tied up against the wall in chains. He looked malnourished and gaunt. How long had be been down here? There was a woman with a dirty dress on. She didn't look as if she belonged in here. She kept her head bent and her blonde hair covering her eyes. To the left of me there was a man with a shaved head He mumbled nonsense to himself. It made no sense. Even to me. So I pried into his thoughts. His memories. And they made me feel hollow for him. They burned down his village in Athens. Raped his wife and murdered his little boy. So much blood in his past. My stomach churned. My mouth felt dry. I needed something. Anything. There was a shallow bowl sitting beside the shackled man. With stale bread being soaked in some water. It was going bad. And yet, I was so hungry, I knew that if I were human, I would eat it. But I wasn't. That would do me no good. I needed blood. Human. Animal. Warm or cold, I needed it.

"Brother.." The shackled man shuddered out. I licked my chapped lips and looked to him.

"Have you heard any news?" He gestured with his hand, weakly. Pointing up to where the deck of the wooden ship was. "Do you know where they are carrying us to die?"

The woman with the dirty dress sobbed at these words. I looked to her with pity, and then my eyes darted up towards the sealed door that they had threw me down here from. I closed my eyes and listened to a random man's thoughts. The languages they spoke in were familiar to me. I knew the words, but in my hungered illness, I couldn't put two and two together. But yes. I did know the language. I knew exactly where they were taking us.

"To Rome. We go to Rome." I whispered hoarsely. There was silence. Even the man who muttered nonsense ceased to vocalized his messed up thoughts. I closed my eyes and tried to ease myself into a sleepless rest. Trying to push from my mind, the look of a sultry neck, and the crimson that flowed so easily from it when my teeth slid into the skin. Perhaps I deserved to be here. For being the monster I was. Although I never took the life of anyone with a good and pure heart, I had no right to take life. Evil was not for me to judge. I knew that now. I should have never left my companion, Carlisle. I should have followed him and his ways. It was because of my stubbornness and goddamn rebellion why I was caught. I thought I was careful. Ever so careful in the killers, and rapists I hunted. But soon, I suppose the pattern of villains constantly dying in my presence was bound to bring some unwanted attention to me. And that was why I was here. About to starve in the dark of a flea-infested ship. The mad man to my side began to laugh manically. Breaking the silence that had lasted hours since I told them our destination.

"Rome..." He snickered. "Rome..." I ignored him. Rested my head on a sack of salt and wished this hell away. Then I felt a warm breath on my neck. I turned around quickly and saw him again. Shaved head. Brown eyes staring at me wildly.

"You've 'eard the stories of Rome...'aven't you?" He asked. His words might have been too quick for me if I were mortal. I knew the stories. Yes. People far and wide knew these stories. Carlisle told me of them a couple of times. And since I knew the tales all too well, I'd rather not think about them. I kept my mouth shut and tried to ignore him again.

"You and me...we're young. So you know what they'll do? They'll make us Gladiators. You've 'eard of those, 'aven't you? They put slaves and soldiers together in one big arena. Throw in a couple 'a swords and make us fight for our lives." He said. His breath smelled putrid. He hadn't eaten in a long time, and the smell of bile rose from his throat when he talked.

"The girl..." He breathed. Hinting to the woman with the soiled dress. "She's pretty an' young. But girls don't fight. Not unless they're amazons. She ain't no amazon. So they'll make her a fine slave girl. A singer and entertainer by day, and a whore for her master at night. Wait n' see." He giggled.

"The ol' man...he ain't good for nuffin'. He'll go to the arenas with us. Only, they'll feed 'im to the lions." He laughed again.

"Wait n' see..." He said over and over. "Wait n' see.."

The hours boiled down to days. And days. Three days of seeing nothing but darkness. Of smelling nothing but salt and filth. Hearing nothing but sobs of sadness, and agony, mixed with the insane rantings of the man who lost his family. When my fellow prisoners closed their eyes and tried to sleep, I would wander, stealthily around. Praying to find a rat. Some sort of vermin to hold me off. But I was slipping. Slowly. Going crazy. Each moment was more muddled and blurry than the next. I needed cool air. I needed sweet blood. I needed my freedom back.

"Rise and shine, filthy Greeks!" A gruff voice said. A pair of rough arms grabbed my arms and hoisted me from my bed of sand. The dirtied woman tried to fight back as a slave dealer grabbed a hold of her and pull her from her sitting position. A strike to the face made her cooperate and they hauled her off. The crazy man went without complaint.

"Shit. We lost one." The old man. Yes. I heard his last thoughts. Praying to the gods for forgiveness. Trying to remember his late wife's face. Why did life hurt so badly?

"Doesn't matter. He was an old thief anyway. Dump him overboard."

I weakly smelled the air. I smelled warmth. I heard seagulls. The sun. My breathing began to increase with fear and anger. I couldn't be seen in the sunlight. As demeaned as I was now, I would never reveal to anyone what I was.

"No. No! Let me go. Please!" I begged. My thirst making me too weak to fight.

"Quiet, slave!" Someone yelled before striking me against my head. It didn't hurt as much as it felt uncomfortable. Making me more dizzy.

"Please then, hurry. Shelter. I need shelter." I rasped.

"You're asking for a bit more than you deserve, slave."

"I-" I sifted for a lie. "My skin. My skin. I'm allergic to sunlight." I panted. The men looked at me with a strange expression before bursting out into laughter. They let me go and I fell to the deck of the ship. Someone kicked me in my ribs. I rolled over to the side. Coughing. Trying futilely to hide. A man with a long dark beard and shaggy hair approached. He stood over me. Casting a shadow over me. The sun was rising too quickly.

"What's going on, here?" The man demanded. His voice held authority. The awful men who dragged me from below deck stood up straight.

"The slave, here, sir. He demands shelter. Says he's allergic to sunlight." There was silence. The bearded man bent closer to me. My face to the wood. Panting. He pulled my head up by my messy, copper hair and looked into my face.

"This true, boy?" He asked. I stuttered my answer.

"Y-yes sir. I break out in blisters and sores when in direct sunlight. I-I don't know why..." I whispered.

"Mm...that would explain your pallor." He thought. Silence. "Well, get moving then, morons! He's worth less to me, if he's uglied up! You bastards are too cruel for your own good. Don't let authority make you stupid! Everything is about money, never forget it! Get him inside!"

The men obeyed. They grabbed hold of me again, and carried me off the ship and onto the warm sand of a beach. The woman and the other man were being dragged behind me. It felt as if I were being pushed and pulled along for an immeasurable amount of time, before I was pushed into a large house. The room I stood in was lit by candles and light that began to pour in from a high window. The men that captured me let me fall on an expensive looking Persian carpet. Hands from every-which way examined my face, my sharp teeth, my blackened eyes. My marble skin. All of which were unnatural. But all they could see were dollar signs when they looked at me, so they passed me off and said I was fit to fight in an arena. The madman was right. I scuttled off to the corner of the room. Hiding in the dark from tiny rays of light. The smell of incense filled my senses. I soon hated the smell. The girls were separated from the men. They were sponged off with cold water and rubbed with sweet smelling oils and Roman silks before being displayed for the next person to walk in to door, wanting to buy us. I stood with the other men. Ignoring their chatter. Weighing the situation. I could kill all these people in a matter of seconds. All of them would have their throats ripped, quelling my desperate thirst. But where would I go in the daylight? And if I stayed after killing them, what would happen to me when someone wandered in and saw the dark room, wet with blood.? No. I was stuck. And there I stayed. For many more hours. Until I could hear the thoughts of free people outside, going home for the late afternoon. Thinking about what was to be made for dinner. The sun would set soon. Maybe then, I'd make my move.

"Mm..this one doesn't look too manly." A man said, approaching me. He had reddish hair on his head, and his eyes were very blue. He smiled at me. I didn't smile back.

"Look at him. Pretty. Kind of like a girl. Look at his skin. You've never had a hard day's work in your life, have you, pretty boy?" I laughed pettily.

"My friend, you have no idea." I could kill you in an instant. Stay away.

All eyes were on me, as the man moved closer. I could read his mind. And the things he wanted to do to me was not appropriate in the least. Kissing. Touching. More things that I didn't really want to think about. He touched my hair and stroked my face. I didn't know what this man was playing at, but I wasn't about to be his little toy while I was stuck here. I snarled and pushed him away. He fell to the hard floor. At once, a clamor began. Men were about me. Trying to get in a push or a punch. I dodged all their blows. Sending some of my own.

"Break it up! Now!" Someone yelled. A man in armor and a large whip in his hand came over. At once, order was restored.

"You girls aren't here to fight. You aren't here to talk, or make friends. You're here to be bought. To live, to die, or to kill! Shut the hell up! All of you...you're nothing. And you will act as such. Understood?"

I watched the door up ahead that I had been pushed through. It opened, and two people walked in. I slunk back. Avoiding the light that seeped in. A wonderful scent filled my head. Thirst knocked me to my knees. My entire body shook.

"You. Who are you?" The man with the whip asked a slave.

"My name is Claudius Icun-" Then he began to scream. He was on the floor. Gagging. His back, bleeding. Were there hooks on the end of that whip? Then the soldier kept moving down the line.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Noone." The soldier laughed and moved to the next person. The pattern caught on. You admitted you were nothing or noone and you wouldn't be whipped. Then, it was my turn.

"Ooh..hiding are we? Get up!" He yelled. I obeyed. Standing shakily on my legs. If he hit me, the wounds would show. I hadn't had blood in so long, my defenses were down. He looked into my eyes. I could feel him shudder slightly, as he saw the black of my iris.

"Who are you?" He asked. I hesitated. Looked around the room. I wouldn't let these people make me more of nothing than they already had.

"My name is Edward Anthony Masen Culle-" Then it came. I was thrown to the ground, and the multiple pieces of leather from the soldier's whip came down on my back. Tearing at my dirty, ugly tunic. Gripping into my back and ripping my regularly marble hard flesh. I cried out in pain, but it wouldn't stop. I clenched my fists and covered my head as the torture continued relentlessly.

"Stop!" Someone called. The command was ignored.

"I said stop! Get out of my way." The voice yelled.

"Oh. M'lady. I did not hear you."

My body relaxed as much as it could on the floor. I shook all over. I could feel the horrible wetness of blood and venom seep from my back. My eyes shut tight. Had he stopped? I could still feel the whip. Two warm hands took my face. Lifted it gently from the cold floor. I opened my eyes slowly to see my savior. When I saw her, I gasped. A woman? And when I gasped, I had to pull away and sink my face to the ground again. Her scent. It was so floral. Wonderful. I wanted to taste her. I wanted to kill her. Even though she saved me from all that pain.

"Oh...no. Not that one. Look, he's half beaten to death. And much to pale. Come, Isabella."

At once I felt the woman's presence leave me. I lay, shaking on the ground. She was still here. In the room. The woman. Oh, I could still smell her. Who was she? I listened. To her mind. For any word to tell me who she was, and what she was doing in a place like this. Nothing. This shocked me. I wished to sit up and get a good look at her face, but couldn't move.

"How about this girl, Isabella?" The man who she was with asked. He, I could read. He had long dark hair, tied back. Mahogany skin and dark eyes.

"I have enough chamber maids.." The woman said. I could read the mind of the man. He had a thing for chamber maids, it seemed. But why abandon such a beautiful woman, for her maids? She was perfect. I peeked up. She had wavy dark hair. She wore thin, silks of light blue over her. She had gold around her neck and wrists. Her voice was like silver. Like bells in the wind. Bells. Isabella.

"Bella..." I whispered. She turned and looked to me quickly, but looked away just as fast. Had she heard me? I winced as I pulled myself up to stand. Leaning against the concrete wall for support. The pale beauty didn't look as if she were a hard person to please, but she managed to reject everyone her consort pointed out to her.

"Isabella, if you refuse to pick someone, we're leaving." He fumed. There was silence. I saw as the blood rushed to her face in anger. Our eyes met and the concentration didn't break.

"Him. I want that man, there." She demanded. The man looked at her sternly and then eyed me carefully. I just wanted to hide. To escape her perfect stare. She came closer. I sighed deeply and tried to look away.

"You, sir..." She whispered before me. Her hands touched my face again. She felt wonderful.

"Isabella, don't touch him. He isn't sterile." The man said. The woman turned around and gave him an annoyed look before turning back to me.

"What do you do?" She said. She still hadn't stopped touching my face. Was I cold to her? I must have scared her. She was just too timid to say anything.

"I'm an artist..." I said quietly. Immediately, her face lit up. Beautiful. She grinned widely and looked back at the man with the long, dark hair. He didn't seem very impressed.

"I have looked everywhere for a suitable artist." She said. "Well wh-what do you do? Play music, write, paint?" She asked.

"Yes.." I responded. She blinked.

"All of them?" She asked in disbelief. I nodded.

"I attended one of the best schools in Greece until-"

Until Carlisle found me. Dying. Until he made me like him.

"Whatever you need me for, I can do..." I said. The woman immediately looked sad.

Please. Do not pity me. I don't deserve that from you. I've taken life. This is what I deserve.

"Can you hunt?" The man to Isabella's side asked. I looked to him. It took nearly everything I had not to smile.

"One of my other specialties." I said. The man grinned.

"Good. Alright, Isabella. You will have your useless artist, if that is what you choose. But if the wounds on his back get infected, and he dies-" He didn't finish. He went off to pay for me.

"Don't you worry about it Jacob..." She said with a smile. But I saw sadness in her. I couldn't read her mind for some strange reason, but she couldn't hide. I could see.

"My name is Isabella. That is my fiancé, Jacob. Forgive him. He can be quite irritable." She flipped her hair back and I nearly died. I groaned. Oh, if she and I were the only ones in the room, she would be dead before she could even say my name.

"Oh, that looks painful.." She whispered. "Let me see." Then she walked around me. Eyeing her new purchase with a careful eye. She stalked behind me and touched my back. I winced a little. No matter. I would be healed by tomorrow if I could get something to eat.

"Ah. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." I whispered. She paused. "I'm fine..." I said finally.

"Slave." The man Isabella called Jacob came back to her side. "The dealer tells me an interesting fact. You're allergic to sunlight, are you?"

Somehow, I didn't like him. He looked like he belonged there. At her side. And I didn't. Jealousy. I hadn't felt that emotion in years. Bella looked to me.

"Is that true?" She said. Remorse radiated from her. I nodded silently.

"Yes, Mistress..My skin. It's like the sun peels it away..." I lied. I hated doing it to her. But I had to. There was a long pause. She looked deeply at me, then turned to face Jacob.

"I want him, all the same." She said determinedly. Her consort rolled his eyes.

"I figured you would say something so foolish. He's payed for. Your first slave. Just what you've always wanted." He said blandly. Somehow, the beautiful woman didn't look like someone who 'wanted a slave.'

"Every girl's wish..." She said sarcastically. Jacob looked hard at her. Too hard for my liking. "Come..." She said to me. I pushed myself off the wall. I stumbled slightly and she caught onto me.

"Emmet.." She called. I had almost forgotten about the man who had entered with them. He came instantly and put my arm over his shoulder. My new master released me and walked ahead with Jacob while I limped on Emmet. Jacob reached to the side and took hold of her hand, which he then held. What a happy couple. I rode in the back of a cart. Leaning against a bale of straw. Emmet introduced himself more formally to me. I did the same. He seemed nice enough. He had been in the service of Bella's family for nearly two years now. He told me that they were very rich. Isabella was related to the royal family of the Emperor. She, her father, and Jacob shared the large home we were heading to. Though, her father wasn't home often. He was a politician of sorts, and traveled a lot. Her mother had died giving birth to her. She was 17 and betrothed to Jacob who was a year younger. Jacob was also quite noble. The son of a Lord who owned a very large mass of land just outside of Rome. Rich. Powerful. Perfect for one another. I didn't want to let myself believe that. She was obviously not happy. The house we arrived at was enormous. I saw it in Emmet's mind eye, but didn't comprehend the extremity of it. Huge. Lit by torches in the front. Marble stairs and matching pillars. Large doors with two guards standing in the front. The powerful couple left the front of the cart which had been lead by horses, and walked to the front. Emmet helped me up the stairs and into the lavish home. The floors sparkled. I smelled food and spices being cooked. Expensive candle wax. Red wine. This was a palace in itself. A beautiful girl with long blonde hair ran from a room to my right and gracefully stopped near Jacob and Isabella. She bowed gracefully before looking up at me and smiling subtly.

"Emmet, tomorrow, if Edward is well enough, you will take him around the place and let him know where everything is."

You remember my name?

"But for now, you must be very tired. This is Rosalie. She will assure that you're settled in. Oh, Rose. He also has some wounds...on his back."

"Yes, M'lady." She bowed again. Jacob shook his head.

"Must you insist on treating our slaves like guests?" He scoffed.

"Did you not buy him for me?" She asked. At once, her fiancé was silenced. She looked back at me, and I was lead away. A hot bath was made for me. Hot water boiled and then dumped into a very large, wooden tub. Wasn't this a bit lavish for a slave? Emmet said that since they were royalty, things that were lavish for us, weren't for them. They, themselves had a large bath made of marble stone. Sweet smelling soaps were provided by the bath as well. When I was alone, I slipped into the bath. The wounds on my back stung as the hot water touched it. But I was warm. Clean. If I ignored my hunger, I was perfect. I lathered my skin with soap and rinsed it off. I dunked my head back and then lathered with more soap. Rinse again. Clean. I inhaled and continued to soak in the steaming tub.

My god...look at him. Why on earth did Jacob agree to buy him for her? That's an accident waiting to happen. There's no way I could buy someone who looked like that and not wanna rough him up a little. And his skin is so soft looking. And pale. I wonder what he feels like...

I spun around, to see a girl with dark hair. She was short and pretty. She had a nice smile and a singsong voice.

"Oh! I'm sorry to startle you." She said bashfully. "My name is Alice. You're new, huh? Edward?"

I didn't answer. I hid myself beneath the water. Then the girl got the point.

"Oh...sorry. I just brought you some towels. Rosalie will dress your wounds once you get out. Just go downstairs to the slave rooms and she'll be there." She said. I nodded silently and she left. I sighed deeply and waded in the tub until I felt more relaxed. After I got dry and dressed in the clean dark pants and white top, I slicked my wet hair back from my face and left the bathing room. I looked around. No one was to be seen. I ran from the front doors. Using whatever strength I had now, to find the closest bushel of thick trees. A good five minute run. There, peeking out from the branches, waiting for me was a deer. Staring at me with fear. Knowing it was about to die. I charged for it. Pinned it to the ground and sunk my teeth into it's large neck. It flailed and kicked. I didn't let go. I drank and drank until I felt like myself again. While I was killing and drinking from my second deer, a thought struck me. I could leave. Now. I could be free again. If I decided to run now, nothing would stop me. But then I thought of her, and something terrible held me back. Feeling more defeated than I had all day, I made my way back to the home. Carefully. I couldn't be caught. This was my first night at Bella's service. A good impression had to be made. I listened carefully and heard arguing from upstairs.

"Why do you need to go take care of business every night of the week?"

"I'm busy. You foolish women have no job so you don't understand."

"I know exactly where you're going...To that harlot, Laura. don't lie!"

"Do you question my honor?!"

"Do you give me reason not to?!" A loud squeal. A crash to the floor. My feet began to run. I didn't know exactly where I was going, but I leapt up a large staircase, and down a hall of rooms, to turn to the last one. The door was open. Bella lay on the ground. Crying. Immediately, I ran to her side.

"M'lady...are you alright?" I soothed. I lifted her. Gently, and looked to her face. One side was redder than the other and she hiccupped lightly.

"Slave. Get the hell out of here! You have no right!" Jacob came at me now. I got defensive. I stood up. Fighting the growl building in my chest. Clenching my fists. I began to step forward, but Bella took hold of me.

"Jacob, You leave him be!" She screamed at him. He stopped. "He's just doing his job. Protecting his mistress. Some men do a better job than others..." She jested from behind me. Jacob came at her again. I stood between them.

"Just go!" She shouted. "Go to your...meeting.." She sobbed. Jacob stared at her evilly again before turning on tail and walking out the door. At once, Bella broke down in my arms. She sobbed. I sadly wiped her tears away.

I would never do that to you. Never. I'll kill him for you...

"Oh...Edward. Y-you haven't had your back looked after.." She said, wiping the last of her tears away. She was changing the subject. Masking her own pain. She didn't have to.

"I'm okay..." I whispered. I pulled her from the floor to a standing position. She stared up at me with her big brown eyes. Shiny with tears. I shook my head. So beautiful. How was such beauty possible? How could someone ever hurt her? She stared at me. Leaning into me. Watching intently. Could she see the monster inside?

"Your eyes..." She whispered. Oh. The color change must have startled her. I looked away. Pulled myself away from her unwillingly.

"I'll- um...I'll do it." She said. Immediately, she began frantically looking through drawers for linens, and picked up a blue bottle from her table. I watched her carefully. Praising every step she made. She turned and looked at me. I had no shame. I continued to stare at her. She blushed slightly. Her eyes were still puffy from crying. I swallowed hard.

"Take off your shirt.." She ordered. I could do little but stare at her. She said no more. Slowly, I obeyed. I unlaced the front and pulled the peasant top up and over my head. If I ever had a heartbeat, it would pound. I took in and let out a deep breath. Hoping she wouldn't notice how much I quivered in her presence. I quivered? Why was today filled with so much human emotion? She shook her head. Pulling herself from the thoughtful trance that she must have been in.

"Lay down..." She said. She sounded breathless. Was she alright? Being hit by someone so much bigger than you could really do something to a person. I did as I was told. I lay on the lush mattress of my master's bed. It felt so wrong, doing so. Laying on the bed she and her awful fiancé shared. I fixed myself on my stomach and waited for her to approach. She came with bits of ripped material, and the bottle. She uncorked the bottle and daubed a little bit of the contents from it, onto the material. She then began to dab at my wounds. It didn't sting. I closed my eyes and let her work her magic. I loved the way her fingers delicately worked up my back. If I could fall asleep, I would have.

"So, what am I?" I whispered. The woman who sat at the edge of the bed furrowed her brows.

"You know..." I continued. Trying not to breathe in her intoxicating scent. "A birthday present, perhaps? Five month anniversary?" I tried not to sound bitter. But then, the sound of Bella's voice did that for both of us. Bella. Why did I call her that? Why did it come so naturally? She was 'Master' to me. Mistress. Or 'M'lady' as I'd been calling her this whole time. Nicknames were not an option.

"Mmm..you're a 'just because' present. He's constantly giving me gifts..to prove his love. See what a good job he does?" She said. I frowned. "He seemed to think I wanted another chamber maid. Though those girls are purely for his own satisfaction. I think he's a little disappointed that I chose you." She said with a smile. I thought carefully.

"I'm not.." I whispered. She looked at me again. Then there was silence. I could hear her breathe. Hear her heartbeat. I closed my eyes and made a song out of it. I began to hum. I didn't even notice.

"That's beautiful." She whispered. "Did you write it?" She asked.

"Just now..." I said with a tiny laugh. She smiled again. When she finished dressing my wounds, I slowly rose. Trying not to disturb the bandages. I looked at her and grinned in thanks.

"Thank you, M'lady.." I whispered. She nodded and wiped her hands on a spare piece of cloth. I rose from the bed, picked up my shirt and sauntered towards the door."

"Edward." She called. I turned around. "Goodnight.." She said.

"Sweet dreams, Mistress" I said. And then I took my leave. I found my own way to my room in the dark. A large, soft bed. A table. Lamps. There were a couple of books on the table. This was a nicer room than most - if not all- slaves had. Somehow, I got the impression that it was Lady Bella who had made it so homely. I wandered around aimlessly. I lit a lamp and flipped through a few pages of the books. Since when could slaves read? Well, I guess I was an example that not all of us were illiterate. But then, I wasn't always a slave. I was rich in fortune. Talents. What was I doing here? I flipped to the front cover of the volume.

To Edward, From Isabella.

My dead heart warmed. I wished she had left more words for me to read that were written by her hand. I read the words over and over. To Edward. To me. From Isabella. Bella. Master of my being.