~Chapter One. Isabella~

Her fingers lightly touched the swollen, bruised skin of her cheek. Wincing at the contact, she sighed and sat down at the base of a tree deep in the forest. Distance, it's what she needed. Away from him for a while.

"I don't know how much longer I can handle this. Live like this."

Sighing heavily she stared at the ground. How had she gotten herself into this? Forced with a man who cared nothing for her and constantly abused her? If only she had the courage to tell someone, to tell her parents.

'He couldn't harm you anymore. You'd be safe, free..'

It was wishful thinking. That she would ever be free from his grasp. This was the life she had to live, until she died.

"ISABELLA!"

Her head jerked up at the angry shout and her blood went cold as he walked into her line of view. She'd only been gone for a little bit, why was he so angry? Quickly gathering her feet, she watched as he stalked towards her.

"You have been gone for too long. What have you been up to?"

"Just sitting out here, you didn't tell me when to come back.."

She took a step back as he narrowed his gaze on her. When he reached for her, she flinched as he grasped her wrist roughly in his hand.

"It's time to come back. Now."

So, he pulled her out of the safety of the trees and back to the hell, she called home. Neither knew a pair of golden eyes watched the entire scene.

Sadness, fear, hopelessness. That's what surrounded the woman. He could smell the sadness on her as she first walked into the area he was in. The hopelessness that colored her voice as she had spoken. Then, as the male appeared, fear. He had saw the dark discolored skin of her cheek, that had to be a bruise. His anger spiked at the meaning of it all. The man was abusing the woman. That was something he couldn't stand, for someone to prey on a woman.

"It's none of my business.."

Leaning back against the tree, from his perch on the branch, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He wouldn't interfere with human affairs. Even though a part of him wanted to.

"What is with your hair?"

Isabella turned just slightly to glance at Kai from the corner of her eye at his question.

"What do you mean?"

"It's YELLOW."

Turning her gaze back to the dishes she was drying and putting away, she shrugged her shoulders. Personally, she didn't see her hair as yellow, but a golden color. Much prettier than plain out yellow.

"I don't know, probably a trait from somewhere in my family."

Though she'd never seen anyone in her family with hair like hers. Suddenly a shadow fell over her and before she could react, Kai's arms went around her and pulled her back against his chest. She could smell the sake on his breath. Closing her eye's in fear, she braced herself for what was going to happen. He always came up with reason's to hit her, especially when he was drunk, half the time, he wouldn't even have a reason.

"You always smell so nice and delectable"

Following his words, he leaned his head down to kiss her bare shoulder and up her neck. It sent chills through her, but not the good type of chills. She wanted to move away from him, but was afraid to least she anger him. That was, until his hands moved up her stomach and grasped her breasts in a painful, drunken hold. Gasping in pain, she jerked away from him, her arms moving to cover her breasts.

"..Kai...please...I'm not ready...for that.."

The angry growl that came from him was her only warning, before he spun her around and slammed her into the wall, gripping her upper arms in a bruising hold.

"Just why not Isabella? You are my fiancée, it is your duty!"

"I'm just not ready Kai.."

She didn't see his fist coming until it had already connected to the side of her head. The blow knocked her off her feet and she landed on the floor. Her hand was shaking as she lifted it to touch the throbbing area, and came away with blood.

"You're unfaithful. Sleeping with another. Who is it?"

Gasping, she looked up at him with wide eyes. He was being absurd.

"I'm not sleeping with anyone. I swear, there isn't anyone else. Why would you even suggest that?"

Reaching down, he wrapped his hand around her neck in a choking hold as he held her down on her back, slamming her head down on the hard wood floor. Pain exploded through her head and her vision dimmed.

"You wont sleep with me. You wont do anything with me. Your hair is yellow. The signs are there, always been there. You whore."

He pressed his knee into her stomach and she was having trouble breathing from the pressure on her throat and stomach. It was unbelievable how he used the color of her hair for an excuse.

"Tell me who it is!"

Shaking her head she closed her eyes tightly as he stood up and slammed his foot into her side. The blow sent her rolling over the floor. She lay on her stomach, tears slipping past her lids and down her cheeks. How had she come to live this kind of life? Why was she forced to be with a man who beat her daily? Her eyes closed when she saw him coming towards her. Was this her fate?

Just as everything around her began to fade into blackness, she saw a blur of red and silver dart into her home.