Prologue
I sat huddled into a corner trying to calm my quaking body in the hopes of staying undetected by him, but I knew it was useless. No matter what I did he would still find me simply from the sound of my pounding heart beat. "Bella, I know your in here so come here now before I lose my patients." he growled from his new place on his bed.
I immediately moved from my hiding place inside his closet and cautiously made my way towards him before he ruffly grabbed me by my arm and dragged me to him.
"How many times must I tell you not to go anywhere near those mangy dogs?! YOU... ARE... MINE! My mate, so you will learn your place and do as you're told!" he growled before tightening his grip on me, enough to where I knew there will be a bruise left, and tossing me onto the bed.
My body automatically stiffened upon landing, bracing myself for the known pain I was to receive for being disobedient.
I stared with terror filled eyes back into soulless abysses as he crawled towards me and sank his razor sharp teeth into the exact same place as James did. I watched helplessly as eyes that use to make me feel warm and cared for grew harder and colder as he continued to drink my blood; making me feel as if I were watching my own death.
Feeling as some of his venom was injected into my system I tried my best to withhold my screams of agony as it burned in my veins. Allowing only quiet whimpers and groans to pass my lips for I new they would only lead him to induce more physical pain by "accidentally" braking bones.
Growling a final time he retracted his teeth from my wrist and licked the wound close leaving the small amount of his venom to course through my veins a little longer. "This is exactly what you deserve Bella." he snarled at me while looking at me with disappointment and pity.
"If only you would stop trying to defy me and listen to what I tell you. Now look at what you made me do. You've forced me to have to punish you again. But you know that I'm only doing this because I know what's best for you and because I love you right?" he whispers while gently stroking my head.
I nod my head and watch as his eyes lighten to an amber color and his lips curve into that crooked smile that use to make my knees weak but now only caused paralyzing fear.
"Good, now what do you say?" he asked while continuing to pet me.
I reply immediately,"Thank you...Edward...for...looking out...for me. I...love...you." I ground out through the unfathomable pain. He then leans down and sucks the venom out and reseals the wound before kissing my head.
"Get cleaned up and rest Bella, the others should be back from the meeting with the dogs soon and I need to hunt. I should be back in a few hours." was the last he said before blurring out the room.
I continued to lay where I was, trying to get my body to calm down from the pain of the venom. After a few more minutes I stumble my way into the bathroom and turn the water to near scolding before getting in and just let the water pore over me while I inspected the freshly closed bite mark on my wrist.
It was no bigger than when it was firstly given to me by James, do to Edward being careful to bite in the exact some place each time, but I could see the area around the bite was even paler than before and upon touching it could feel that it was nearly as cold as a vampire's skin. I was broken from my inner thoughts by the sound of Alice calling for me outside the bathroom.
"Bella! When your done meet us downstairs, the family has a few things we need to discuss with you and Edward."
"Will do, Alice. Thanks!" I yelled over the spray of the water even though I knew she would hear even if I whispered it.
It was nearly an hour later when I finally decided to evacuate the shower.
Deciding to wear a long sleeved purple shirt, to cover up the marks left by Edward, and some dark washed jeans, I got dressed then made my way downstairs to meet with the rest of the family.
Upon arriving I notice Edward sitting in a love-seat, having just returned from his hunt, his eyes were now back to their normal molten honey gold color. I immediately make my way to sit next to him; being sure to hide my emotion do to fear of Jasper sensing them and Edward then reading his mind.
I had just sat down when Carlisle's calming voice was heard. "Edward it seems the wolves have detected the sent of vampire around their land and ours and have a feeling that it may be Victoria. They have agreed to keep a watch out for her and will report to us if they find anything."
"WHAT!" Edward snarled and shot off the couch.
"Calm down son. You are upsetting Bella." Carlisle calmly sounds as he tries to sooth his son's rage.
"Calm down! CALM DOWN! Carlisle this is fucking ridiculous! Not only is there a vengeful vampire after us but now we have to work along side those disgusting, mangy FUCKING DOGS?!" he fumed while shaking from pent up anger.
I watched in fear as his eyes changed from honey gold to pitch black.
"Edward! Language!" Esme chided him before turning her attention towards me.
She must have seen some of the fear in my eyes because she immediately got up and sat next to me in Edward's now vacant seat and gave me a hug.
"No, Esme! Those dogs are always breaking the treaty and causing us hell. Thinking that they are somehow better than us. And what's worse is that one of those mutts keeps trying to take Bella from me! SHE BELONGS TO ME!" he finished with a roar that nearly shock the windows.
I held my breath as I watched as Edward's eyes become even darker and his pupils become slits. My body then froze becoming as still as a statue when his head slowly turned for his eyes to pierce into mine allowing me to see how thin his grip on sanity truly was.
He began to walk towards me causing me to unconsciously move more into Esme's body. His advance was then halted, causing him to growl in warning. When the offender still refused to relinquish their grip on him his head whipped around causing him to come face to face with Carlisle.
"Son you need to get control of yourself and calm down. You are scaring Bella. Go out and hunt to blow some steam and come back when you feel calm, alright?"
Edward continued to growl but nodded in acceptance. He then glance back at me one final time, silently saying that this wasn't over before blurring out the door. There was a moment of silence before it was broken by Alice.
"Well, that could have gone better. That Edward always acting like a drama-queen, getting angry and possessive over anything not going his way." She lets out a sigh of frustration before giving Jasper a kiss and turning to me.
"Come on Bella, I'll take you home. I'm sure you don't want to be here anymore after Eddie-boy's temper tantrum."
"Thanks Alice, I really appreciate it." I said while fallowing her out to her car to go home.
(Time Skip)
It's been two weeks since I've last seen Edward and with today being my birthday I'm hopping nothing goes wrong because I'm already under a lot of stress.
Alice had texted me last night, saying how she would be here at 8 PM to pick me up for the party she and the others had planed for me at their house. I have already told her months ago that I didn't want any party but as always she didn't listen. So with this, the knowledge of how Edward and I's last encounter had ended and the fact I haven't seen him in two weeks has me ready to pull my hair out from all the stress and fear of what's to come.
Alice arrived at 8 on the dot and instantly came in, got me dressed, and dragged me off to be driven to her house.
Upon arrival I was immediately greeted by everyone from Esme and Emmett being the most excited to Rosalie and Jasper who were always reluctant to be too close to me. I was just finishing with giving Carlisle a hug of thanks when I heard the sound of hid velvet voice call me.
"Bella"
I turned to find him coming down the stairs with a foreboding look on his face.
"Edward" I said before walking up to him and giving him a brief hug.
Well, it would have been brief if he hadn't tightened his grip on me and lean down to smell my neck.
"Ahh...my sweet Bella. Still so tempting and naive. The lamb who refuses to stay out of the lions' den." he cryptly whispered before giving me a final squeeze and pulling back to look at me. He kissed my head before going to sit down.
I watched him go with a puzzled look but decided to let it be for now.
It was time to open the gifts and Edward had decided to stand by me at the gift table while I opened them.
I was opening a gift card when I felt a slight sting on my finger and look down to see that I had gotten a paper cut. I watched as a small drop of blood pooled out of the cut and at the same time I heard someone let out a vicious growl.
I look up to find Jasper being held back by Emmett. He had some how got free of Emmett's grip and was charging towards me when I felt myself being shoved back and crashing through a glass table causing me to gain more cuts.
I slowly eased myself up from the damaged table to see Jasper now being held by Carlisle and Emmett while Alice tried to calm him down.
Esme and Edward were having what looked to be an argument, speaking to low and fast for my human ears to hear. The argument was soon over and Edward was stalking towards me where he grabbed my hand and pulled me after him out to his car.
''Where are we going, Edward?"
"I'm taking you home." he replied without taking his eyes off the road.
We arrive at my house where he walked me to the door and waited for Charlie to answer before going back to his car and driving away.
It was almost midnight when I woke up to the feel of my bedroom window being open. I sit up to find him sitting in my rocking chair looking out the window.
"Edward what are you doing here?" I asked and when I didn't get a response I decided to ask again but was cautious.
"...Edward?..." he still didn't respond so I walk up to him and froze when he turned to face me with eyes blacker than coal.
He then slowly rose to his feet and walked toward me like a predator stalking its prey.
"Edward,...wh...what?" I was cut off by him grabbing my bitten wrist.
"Bella,...you have upset me once again and now must be punished. You have let your precious blood to be spilt resulting in you burdening my family. This I just can allow."he said while slowly tightening his grip on my wrist.
"I...it was an accident Edward. I didn't mean to get cut, I'm sorry."I whimpered, starting to shake in fear of what he has in plan for me.
"I'm sure you are." was the last thing he said before the pain started. It lasted for hours with him finally stopping just before dawn broke and then he left.
(Time Skip)
It was three days later when Edward showed up again.
I had walked into my room from getting out the shower when I found him standing by my open window. I watched as he turned to face me with a somber expression on his face. He walked towards me and grabbed me by the shoulders before saying, "Bella come with me, I need to talk to you." he then carried me out my window and ran with me to a clearing in the middle of the woods.
Looking around I began to feel a sense of panic rise up at how far we have went from civilization and that it was only the two of us here.
"What are we doing out here, Edward?" I nervously ask while taking a step back from his in the weak attempt to distance myself from him.
"My dear sweet Bella, I wanted privacy so I brought you here. I'm here to tell you that we are leaving." he said while stroking the side of my face.
"Leaving? But charlie and school, Edward we can't leave. not yet, it would break Charlie's heart." I countered and stared in horror as his eyes became cold and cruel.
"Well I guess it's a good thing that "we" aren't leaving." he said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?" I nervously questioned.
He let out a small chuckle before replying, "Oh my naive Bella, I mean that me and my family are leaving. You are going to stay here and live out the rest of your pathetic human life."
I can feel the sense of panic strengthen and the beginnings of desperation starting to sink in. "Edward,...you,..you can't be serious. You said you loved me. That I'm your mate. You can't leave me, Edward!" I was becoming hysterical.
I felt tears pore down my face as I tried to stop my heart from braking. He just continued to look at me with those cruel eyes as he said, "Now Bella, don't cry. You must have known that you were little more than a pet to me. A human toy that is no longer needed or wanted. The only reason that I even noticed you at all was because of your ability to block my gift and the sent of your blood. You were nothing to me but a puzzle that I wished to solve and a way to test myself in my resolve to not be a monster. But that's all over now, I have grown tired of trying to pretend to be something I'm not and so have the others."
As I continued to to listen to what he said I could feel my heart begin to crack and with each a stab of pain far worse than any before was shot into the very core of my being. "But, Alice,... Emmett,...Esme...? They..." I weakly crocked out as I was trying to stop my tears from falling. Determined not to allow him to see how much he was breaking me.
"They too have all grown tied of you and have already left. They had only put up with you because of me; and even though I wish I could just drink you dry before I leave and be do with you, I don't think you are worth it enough to risk Carlisle's disappointment. Besides, I was the one to bring you into our world so I felt it only fair to tell you goodbye before we leave you for good." was the last thing he said before turning around to leave.
"Oh and another thing. Try not to do anything to become a burden to Charlie, he's a good man and deserves better than you." was all he said before disappearing into the forest.
I stood there for a moment, in shock, before taking off in the direction Edward left; gaining cuts and scratches on my face, arms and feet from running bear footed through bushes thorns and branches.
Even knowing that he was most likely long gone from the area I continued running until I collapsed from exhaustion. Finally allowing myself to feel the full brunt of my emotions I curled up into a tight ball and released a shattering howl of complete agony.
Feeling as my heart was completely shattered and its fragments merged into my bloodstream causing my veins to freeze. I could feel I my sanity slowly slipped away as I recalled what had been said. 'I was nothing more than a pet to them, a human toy. Alice, Emmett, Esme... everything... was a lie.' I felt as I slowly began to lose consciousness and was soon surrounded by total darkness.