ILLUSIONS OF THE BIG TOP

AN: Well here is the new story. After watching Water For Elephants I was inspired by a whole new tale. I just switched it and made it a Bella story but all the characters you love and hate are still there. I hope you enjoy and support me. If you loved Need then you'll love the drama that will unfold in this one.

"For me a circus is a magic show that appears and disappears like a world. A circus is disturbing. It is profound"

Marc Chagall

Chapter 1

BPOV

I rubbed my foot and rotated it once I slipped off my ballet shoe. There was nothing like a good dance class to take your mind off things. One thing I noticed this week more than anything else was how my parents were acting funny. Charlie barely said a word to me on the ride home. I was excited for my recital since Mrs Minjonet my instructor was wanting to feature me more. She was even thinking of giving me a solo. I couldn't imagine the possibilities it could bring for my career. As I tried to tell Charlie about it he would just nod and kept driving. When we got home I knew I had to confront him.

I took off my other ballet shoe and placed it in my bag while I repeated the stretch with my other leg. The car ride fell silent as we approached our house. It was a small house, nothing fancy but Charlie had insisted that he get a house with a solid bit of land. It was a good twenty minute drive to get anywhere from the house but I think they always loved the seclusion.

Once Charlie pulled over at the house he slammed the door shut and walked inside without even a glance back to me. I watched him worriedly for a moment before I grabbed my bag and got out of the car.

I jogged up to the house barefoot to meet him just in front of the door

"Dad! What is it? Why are you acting like this?" Charlie stopped and took a deep breath. When he turned to me I saw his eyes were red and watery

"No matter what Bella, always know that your Mum and I love you so very much." I was scared now

"Dad, I know you do. What is going on?" He reached for me and hugged me close. I wrapped my arms around him and he held me tightly. He stroked my hair in a fatherly way and kissed the top of my head.

"Go upstairs and change." I nodded and looked at him again as he wiped a stray tear from his cheek

"Then we are having a serious talk Dad!" I stated, trying to convince myself as well as him that it was time to come out with it. I walked up the stairs and into my room. It wasn't like your normal girly room. The only girly touch was my ballerina music box. Everything else was in the room was filled with paintings and sketches. A secret passion of mine. I took off my ballet outfit and slipped into a more comfortable dress as I heard a car door slam shut outside. I looked out and saw two men walking into the house. Huh. Was Mum having guests over for dinner? She never told me.

I decided to make myself at least a little more presentable so I did my hair up in a loose bun and powdered my nose and cheeks before I looked myself up and down. I was happy with it. I smiled at the beauty in the mirror before heading down the stairs.

As I climbed down I heard the faint voice of my mother

"Just make sure she gets taken care of please" Then an unfamiliar voice replied calmly

"Ma'am I assure you she will get nothing but the best treatment there." I walked into the room and saw Renee and Charlie holding each other in a chair on end of the room while two men, a little older than myself sat on the couch and looked up at me. I looked between them confused. Renee wiped her tears and smiled at me

"Isabella. This is Alec and Riley." They nodded to me and I reciprocated

"Gentlemen." Charlie sighed and turned to me as well.

"Bella these men are from the Circus." I gave a small smile

"The circus is in town? Well that's great. We should go and see it as a family. What brings them here to see us?" The one named Alec cleared his throat and pointed to his watch

"We have to get going Mr and Mrs Swan. Can we speed this up?" Renee stood up and came over to me trying to smile

"Honey, you're Father and I owe some money. Unfortunately with the Depression we haven't been able to pay these men back so until we can pay off the debt they insist that you go and work for them at the Circus. Mr Alec and Mr Riley are here to collect you and bring you to them." I swore my heart stopped for a moment

"I'm sorry, what? You're giving me away?" Charlie gave a small, weak smile

"It's the Circus Bella. Think about all the fun and wonders you will see. Your Mother and I will collect you when we can." Renee gave me a hug and I froze immediately.

"No!" I felt myself snap. Renee pulled back and cupped my face

"Honey this is hard for all of us but we have no choice. If there was another way we could solve it then we would have but that is their demand. I'm sorry. We love you dearly." I pushed her hands away

"I am not going anywhere with them! I am staying right here. I have a life, I have plans! You cannot make me!" I saw Alec and Riley approach me as Riley said with an equally calm voice

"I think you'll find Miss Swan that you don't have a say in this. A deal is a deal." I shook my head and saw tears blurry my vision. I wiped them away and stepped back while the men stepped forward. I was not staying here. I did what I could only do by instinct. I took off and ran out of the house. I ran as fast as my legs could take me.
"BELLA!" I heard Charlie call out to me but I didn't care. I knew I just had to run and get out of here.

I only got as far as the end of our road before I was grabbed from behind. I cried out and struggled.

"NO! LET ME GO!" I tried kicking him, biting him, scratching him and screaming. Anything to get someone to help me or at least escape.

"Damn it! Tie her up!" I heard Riley growl as he retrained me. He pulled me to the ground and pressed me down. I sobbed and looked out at the horizon. I felt Alec bind my hands behind my back as I thought of the life that I could have had. I saw my dreams of dancing Swan Lake on the grand stage disappear. Having a family and settling down with a nice house and lots of animals was gone too. My hopes were gone in less than ten minutes.

"Oh shut her up already" Then I felt a cloth wrap around my mouth and I cried. Kidnapped was a good word to describe this and the worst part was that my parents were witnessing the whole thing and did nothing about it. Riley grabbed my upper body and Alec my legs as the men took me to their car and dumped me in the back seat. They got into the front of the car and started the engine. I used my elbows to lift myself up and looked out the back window at my parents on the porch holding each other as they cried with me and for me. The car took off and the distance between my parents and house grew bigger and bigger. I watched the house I loved and grew up in and the family who were by my side from day one disappear. I was slowly beginning to realize that would be the last the time I would ever see them.

~ TC~

I guess the whole event left me exhausted because I woke up and I was surrounded by darkness. Yet we were still moving. What was going on? It took me a moment to discover the horror that I was transferred from the back seats to the trunk. It wouldn't have been that difficult. I was petite. Just over five foot so to these men it was breeze no doubt. I cried again for my life. I had honestly hoped it was all just a bad dream but the fact that I had woken up just moments ago suggested that this was far from one. I felt my heart ache but my tears subsided. I wandered what was in store for me. The Circus. Would I be made to perform or clean up throughout the show? I knew I would find out soon enough.

I just lay there and thought of my previous life and how happy I was. The solo I could have had at the recital and what piece I could have been performing. In all my thoughts and recollections I noticed that the car had stopped. I heard crowds of people around me so it was a public place. The car doors slammed shut and footsteps approached me. The trunk was open and I saw the faces of Alec and Riley grin down at me

"Nawww poor little Bella. She's been crying." Alec cooed.

"Don't worry love. After we meet with the bosses I'll take good care of you" Riley winked. Alec laughed and helped him pull me out of the car. I saw that it was twilight and people were packing up and putting things on a train. Many of them turned to see me and whispered amongst themselves. Some looked worried and some just shook their heads in amusement. As I was pulled towards the train I saw in great big letters:

THE VOLTURI BROS. CIRCUS

I mean it was a long train. It stretched out as far as I could I see. It took us about a minute to reach the carriages and Alec and Riley pulled me up onto them. We began walking through the carriages and saw all sorts of people sitting around, drinking, playing cards, kissing. This was not the lifestyle I was accustomed to but many of them looked at me with a hint of sadness in their eyes. At least that's what I thought it was.

Carriage after carriage we walked through. There must have been a good ten of them we walked through. Each holding different groups of people. I noticed in one of them that a group of people around my age stood and gasped.

"What the hell is this?" One of the guys cried.

"Get your ass back on that seat Black!" Alec snapped. The guy referred to as Black looked at me with worry before he sat down with the others. Another carriage we past and I saw an older couple look at me in horror. The man had blond hair and brown eyes and the woman had glowing caramel hair and green eyes. They stepped forward with the man opening his mouth to protest no doubt

"Say one word, Cullen and I'll have Aro demote your family to collect manure for the rest of your lives." Riley threatened cooly before the pair stepped to one side and I looked back at them. They looked at me and then each other before they disappeared from my sight. Soon enough we arrived at our destination and Alec knocked on the door. Suddenly another blond haired guy opened the door and looked me up and down appraisingly.

"Well, well, well what is this then gentlemen?" I wasn't sure if at that moment I was more frightened of him than I was of the boys holding me but this man had a pretty good chance.

"Just another collector's item, James. We need to see Aro." This man I now knew as James stepped to the side and I heard Riley hiss

"Back off. I saw her first." Then they roughly pulled me through the most elegant carriage of them all. It was huge and draped with rich burgundy drapes and mellow music. We passed the corner so there was a bed there I guessed and saw three men sitting at a table playing cards. They must be the Volturi brothers. A record player was on a table on the far right playing cheery jazz music and a man stood on the far left holding a tray and a cloth over his arm. These bastards must have been rich to afford a private waiter.

"Aro we have collected the Swan debt." Alec announced as he and Riley brought me forward. The two men on either side looked up at me for a second before sniggering in amusement. One had long dark hair and was much older than the man across from him. He had white blond hair and looked to be younger. Maybe even the youngest. The dark haired man with his back to me must have been Aro because he chuckled and spoke first

"Oh yes. The Swans. That Charles fellow was a righteous old fool." I felt my blood boil at those words.

"Pity really. What did he gain from our loan? Nothing. Now I have his daughter and am fifteen hundred dollars richer. Naïve fools like him will starve to death during this time." I called him a coward and a bastard through my cloth as I struggled against Riley who tightened his grip around me. To the men they probably only heard loud mumbling from me but it was enough to send the two men on either end of Aro into deep laughter. My little moment made Aro turn and look at me in amusement.

"She's a sensitive one it seems." Aro turned and put down his cards to his brothers who looked at his cards and shook their heads. They slapped their cards down in defeat. Aro stood up and turned to me again

"Well I may as well take a look at you." He came over to me and as he got closer I was more and more tempted to attack him. If only Riley wasn't holding me back. I glared at the man who took my life away from me and he just gave me an easy smile as he looked at me. He reached out and stroked my cheek for a second before he pulled the cloth off my mouth.

"What is your name sweetheart?" I now had all the anger and power to tell him exactly what I felt like saying

"Fuck you!" I saw the older man on the left side of the table choke on his champagne as Aro shook his head. Riley used one arm to grab my hair and pull it back. I gasped in pain but never took my eyes off the monster in front of me.

"Such foul language does not become you my dear" I spat in his face and hissed

"And your foul deeds will land you in jail!" Aro closed his eyes and reached for a cloth in his pocket. He sighed and wiped my spit off his cheek.

"My dear I know this is all a frightening experience and being a gentleman that I am, I am willing to overlook your actions tonight just this one time. You are a fine lady and will make a great attribute to our lovely circus family. However I am also a man with rules. You threaten my way of existence, my Circus, my brothers and myself or even so much as to spit on me then I will be forced to take drastic measures. For you my lady I could come up with several punishments and I'm sure none of them will make you want to sleep in the dark again. Now I will ask again politely, what is your name?" I looked away and muttered

"Isabella" Aro hummed in approval

"Si Bella indeed. An appropriate name. Now my dearest Isabella, as this is a Circus, do you possess any performance skills at all?" I closed my eyes and felt a tear fall down my face. Riley was breathing down my neck and this man, Aro, was standing so close to me. I was trapped.

"I have been doing ballet since I was little." Aro sighed

"Well we do not need a dancer Miss Isabella though I assume with ballet you are very flexible and graceful. The best I can suggest is an acrobat." The younger brother groaned

"Aro, The Cullens have plenty. They don't need another one." Cullens? I remembered the couple I saw on the train earlier. Yes! Please put me with them!

Aro thought for a moment before turning to his brothers

"Yes but they are a short one female Caius. We can now have even numbers. It'll make it that much grander." The brothers grumbled in agreement. Aro clapped his hands and smiled

"Tis settled. Gentlemen please escort Miss Swan to the Cullens." Riley cleared his throat

"Aro, I was going to suggest Miss Swan stay with me. I can take her to the Cullens in the morning." Aro grinned at him

"Miss Swan takes your fancy does she, Mr Biers?" Riley nodded and appeared to sniff me. I struggled against him but he just held me closer. I then felt something hard press into my lower back and I panicked.

"Well you have been loyal to this Circus for some good years Mr Biers. I don't see why you shouldn't treat yourself." I looked up at Aro and pleaded him with my eyes. Aro seemed to notice my distress and just as Riley began to take me away he held up his hand

"However that may be something you look into in your own time Mr Biers. For now I want Miss Swan on my side and in order to do that I want to give her the choice. She can choose her resting quarters and get settled where she wishes. Maybe she'll see that it isn't so bad here with us." Aro suggested merely with his eyes that this life was would be okay if I just obey the rules.

"Well Miss Swan? What will it be?" Aro pressed.

"I want to stay with the Cullens." I whimpered. I felt Riley tense

"Oh please Aro. She disobeyed you. Let me get her on your side and understand her place." Aro shook his head

"That won't be necessary. I think Miss Swan understands now."

"But Aro-"

"Mr. Biers! You will not question me again. In your moment of lust you forget your place instead of her. Now do as I say. Take her to the Cullens." I heard Riley gulp and mutter

"As you wish." With that I was taken away as Aro called out

"We'll speak some more soon Miss Isabella." As we came to the carriage door I saw James chuckle

"Looks like she is still open for takers Riley." Riley ignored him and took me through the next carriage. I saw Alec wasn't following us but I didn't have much time to process that more before Riley hissed in my ear as we entered the next carriage

"This ain't over Bella. I will have you one way or another. Aro doesn't need to know. It'll be our little secret." In an instant he had the cloth over my mouth again and pressed me against the carriage door. We were inside this new carriage and I remember that there was another door leading to the rooms and tables. So we were alone. I was suddenly very scared. I heard and felt Riley undo his pants as he breathed harshly in ear

"I knew I would have you when I saw you come down the stairs in this small dress. God you're so soft." He nipped at my neck as pulled up my dress. I couldn't do anything. My hands were tied and pulled away from him and My front was pressed to the door with his weight. I couldn't move. The nightmare was continuing. His hands felt up my thighs as he reached the front and rubbed my stomach. He bit the side of my neck and groaned as he started grinding into me and reaching into my panties. It was hopeless and my tears began again.

"So quiet? Don't worry. You'll be screaming for me in a moment." He was beginning to pull down my panties when out of nowhere he was pulled off me.

"Stay the fuck away from her!" I heard someone say and I turned and fell to the floor. My legs gave out on me. There stood the couple I saw earlier and another much bigger guy who kicked Riley on the floor.

"You pig!" The woman snapped at him before coming over to me. She took off my cloth and smiled tenderly

"Hello dear. I'm Esme Cullen. This is my husband, Carlisle and our son, Emmett." I smiled gently through my tears

"Aro sent me to join you. I am the new acrobat." Esme beamed and looked at Carlisle who came over and touched my forehead

"It's okay now. You're okay." The other guy, Emmett, was huge. He was a bulky man but he had a goofy grin on his face. He came over and lifted me into his arms

"Well in that case, welcome to the family little mouse" The three of them walked off carrying me to their carriage. I felt secure and safe in their company. I was grateful to have met them. Little did I know then how the family would change my life forever.

AN: There you go. Chapter 1. So begins a new adventure for our Bella. Help review and keep this story alive.