Author's Note: Hi guys, this is derangedvampiress and I've opened a new account and will be continuing my fic, 'The Devil's Vessel' on this new account. Why? Because I've forgotten my password (why does that make me feel like a big loser? lol). I'm sorry about the long wait, guys, I've been suffering the DREADED WRITER'S BLOCK. I hope you enjoy this, because it is dedicated to you - my faithful readers (love ya).

Chapter 10

Rebekah was bloody and naked, under what remained of the dress she had worn on the night she had been taken, Noah saw for a few fleeting moments in her writhing dance of agony on the front steps, glimpses of her breasts (ravaged with nail marks) and thought in a dull flush - that these were the first pair of breasts he'd ever seen, but now wasn't the time for embarrassment - not when Rebekah was screaming (at him) almost incomprehensibly, not in anger, but in pain, crying for help, sobbing with relief but was still in torment - and she was unaware of this temporary exposure as the tattered cloth she clung to herself moved with her body's convulsions (like some kind of electricity was passing through her), each jolt, each jerk - in pain, in pain.

Betrayal. It sprung to Noah's mind in a quick passing calm and he snatched it, held it as the calm went and anger replaced it. He looked at Rebekah and suddenly hated her more than Isaac, more than Malachi, more than the fake God - and he would of struck out at her in this mighty rage if not for the little voice in his head saying (if you hit her, she won't feel it, not next to the pain she's already feelin'). As Noah considered this, as Rebekah still screamed and rolled about, his anger subsided - a little and his head cleared - his reckless anger was cast aside in favour of serenity and analytic thought. Now he perused the situation.

What has Rebekah done?

She has betrayed us.

How do you know this?

Because I - we, saw her hugging Isaac in the cornfield.

Rebekah is now on the front steps.

She's been beaten up.

None of us did this to her - so it must of been Isaac.

But why would Isaac have her beaten?

He was hugging her the night before - getting real chummy.

So why?

Maybe it's a trick.

Maybe she's a spy...

Isaac sent her to spy on us -

And to make it look real he had her beaten up -

So it looks as though she was tortured -

And she escaped.

Yes, that's it.

But I'm not going to fall for it.

Are you absolutely sure?

Are you sure of what you saw in the cornfield?

Yes! We all saw it - me and Joseph and Esther and David and Benjamin.

WE ALL SAW IT.

What if she was really tortured?

Then why was Isaac hugging her?

That doesn't make sense!

It looks good though, doesn't it? Looks real.

I almost fell for it.

Wait a second...

Look at her stomach!

It's HUGE!

Noah stared wildly at Rebekah's bulging stomach - since her movement had slowed in her gathering exhaustion, it was more noticeable, a rising mound, swollen, pressing up against the fabric of her shredded dress. Rebekah stared back at him silently, confused and frightened and begging. He took an almost cautious step towards her and she gave a little moan but smiled a tight, pained smile. Her eyes were watery, almost glassy.

'Oh God.' Noah breathed and bent down to her. Uncertainty and fear flooding through him.

Rebekah followed his gaze to her pregnant belly and was overwhelmed with revulsion and humiliation, both laced with terror. She looked back up at Noah and uttered one word, very softly, almost mouthing it, 'Please...'