I decided to give this story a shot, thanks to reviewers and those who added it to alerts or favourites.
I don't own Twilight.
Chapter 1
I was shitting myself, but I knew that coming here was the right thing.
I needed to end this stupid game that James was playing. I had to save my Mum. Save the people I loved from this mess and try my damned hardest to prevent anything else like this happening. So if it took me sacrificing myself to protect everyone else, I'd do it.
Maybe my death would be quick and painless.
Unlikely perhaps, but no reason not to hold out hope.
I stood pacing outside the ballet studio I had come to so many times as a child. I had never had any reason to fear this place before. It used to be a place where children would go to dance, have fun, learn. Not anymore. Not to me at least. This was now the place I would most likely die. Not particularly comforting.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with oxygen - almost savouring it - and opened the door to the entrance before finally exhaling. So few breaths left. I didn't realise I'd be so afraid of death, so worried about the number of breaths I had left to take. Maybe it was because I knew for sure they were numbered.
I looked towards the double doors that must have hidden the room Alice had described from her vision.
I walked hesitantly towards the doors and closed my eyes.
Inhale. Exhale.
I pushed the doors open; there was no way of stalling the inevitable any longer.
No one was here. Not that vampire, James, not my Mum, not anyone who could help me.
I shut the doors and closed my eyes. I didn't want to see when it happened. I wanted to be a surprise of sorts - as long as I was able to get his assurance that my Mum was safe, I didn't care anymore.
"You were wise enough to come alone. I'm glad." I jumped at the voice behind me, though still kept my eyes closed. It was velvety, like every other vampire I had met, yet there was a menacing edge that scared the shit out of me.
"Where's my Mum?" I managed to whisper. My voice was hoarse, I hardly recognised it. I had to ask though, this was the most important thing right now, to make sure this wasn't for nothing.
"Oh she's safe in Florida where she's always been." he said with a dark laugh.
This was a trick then. My breathing was becoming faster, heavier. I was hyperventilating. I'd been tricked. I fell for it and now I was going to die and I hadn't even fought back - not that it would do any good.
I didn't say anything, I didn't dare. I would let James get on with it.
"Open your eyes, Isabella." He whispered suddenly.
He was close. A lot closer than he had been before. I took another deep breath and opened my eyes.
I couldn't hold back my scream. His face was mere inches away from mine, his threatening, horrifying blood red eyes were peering into mine. There was a hint of humour hidden within their fiery depths.
He laughed that horrid laugh once again that made me shiver, definitely not in a good way, "I think you need to relax."
I licked my lips and whispered, not having found my voice, "Please… just let me go, kill me, just hurry up." I knew I was begging, but it was a last resort
A small smile crept to his thin lips and he stood to his full height. Holy shit, he was terrifying. He wasn't particularly big built but he was tall, maybe around the same height as Emmett. Put that together with those eyes alone and even the toughest human would have shit a brick on the spot.
"Why would I do that?" He looked at me expectantly, almost as if he was daring me to answer. I stayed silent, not wanting to make him mad.
He furrowed his eyebrows at me and began circling me, inspecting me as though I was some piece of artwork. After making his way round me several times he came to stand in front of me again, still smiling. It wasn't comforting in the least.
"Very nice, Isabella," he paused briefly, "Oh wait, you prefer Bella don't you. Bella," he said slowly testing the sound, "it suits you. I think I'll be sticking to that then." he paused again and bought his face close to mine once more. His cool breath was on my face, it was sweet smelling like Edward's - must be a vampire thing - and his eyes were boring into mine again, "You know, you're a pretty little thing, no wonder Cullen was so protective of you."
My breathing picked up again. Though in some sick, twisted way that could be seen as a compliment, coming from him it was disturbing. He looked at me as though I was something to eat and to be honest he sounded a bit more like a pervert than someone giving a random friendly comment.
He moved his nose to skim my neck. I was frozen in place, scared that even the slightest move would mean the end of my life.
His face moved closer and I figured maybe that didn't matter anymore; he was obviously going to kill me now. His teeth were so close to my neck. I don't know how much longer he was going to wait, but I don't know how much more of this I could take.
He opened his mouth and his cool breath hit the side of my neck in waves and something wet touched me there. It took every ounce of determination I had not to do something stupid right then.
"Hmmm… smells delicious. Your skin too, it tastes just as good as you smell, maybe even better." Oh God, the wet thing was his tongue, "I have to wonder how the Cullen's have resisted temptation for as long as they have." I let out a whimper, because he obviously wasn't interested in resisting anything like them.
"Aw poor baby," he cooed in a creepily condescending tone, "don't worry, I don't want to taste your blood just yet. There's so much I don't know about you. I want to learn." he kissed my neck.
I shivered. What was he doing? It felt unbelievably wrong, whatever it was. If he was human, I would have slapped him round the face. That would do me no good here though.
I licked my lips. As inevitable as death was now, I wasn't ready to die.
Perhaps, if I could prolong the outcome, I could learn to accept my fate in time.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
In a shaky, quiet voice I pleaded, "Please don't do that. Stop. I'll do whatever you want, just don't do that." I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his reaction.
"Open your eyes. I don't want to keep telling you." He ordered in a calm voice.
I couldn't do it; my body wasn't reacting. I desperately wanted to just open my eyes and get whatever this thing was over with. But I was too scared to look at him and maybe my subconscious was preventing myself from facing my fear.
The worst time this could happen, typically. I was uneasy now that I couldn't see him. What was I thinking when I closed my fucking eyes?
He growled threateningly and snapped, "Open your eyes bitch!"
My eyes finally flashed open and he smiled at me. "Good girl," he started stroking my hair as though I was a dog, "you have soft hair, pet, I'm pleased. It's gorgeous."
I grimaced at his choice of words. Right then, I really did feel like his 'pet'.
His hand continued to stroke my hair for several minutes more before he pulled his hand round to my chin and lifted my face up slightly and looked deep into my eyes. I hope he wouldn't do this too often. I hated his eyes.
He leaned in slowly and kissed me chastely on the lips, they didn't respond, but my eyes went wide. I wasn't expecting that at all. He narrowed his eyes at my reaction - or lack thereof - and pursed his lips.
"We're going to have to work on that my pet. No matter." He stated simply.
His words had me even more nervous than I already was. 'we'll have to work on that'? Did that mean he was planning to keep me around? If so, what for? How the hell could I be of use to a vampire who had made it pretty clear before he wanted me dead?
It wasn't looking too good for me at all.
First, he was calling me his pet.
Second, he was yelling and telling me what to do.
Third, he was smelling and kissing me and I had no idea what it meant. Though, I was pretty sure this was going to become a more common occurrence. I should probably work on my reactions; keep him happy.
He leaned in again and I prepared my lips for any contact that he may give, but instead he lifted me up and cradled me in his arms. I couldn't stop myself as a frightened squeak passed my lips and he laughed quietly, I could feel his chest vibrating against my side. He stroked my arm with his thumb and commented, "Don't worry my beautiful pet, I won't cause you any harm."
His words did not bring reassurance, there was no way I believed him, though maybe I had a few more breaths than I originally imagined. I sighed.
Breathe in. Breathe out. I would be taking more notice of my breathing from now on. If I was breathing, it meant I was alive. I had never felt more grateful for my lungs in my entire life.
James leaned down and kissed my forehead and whispered forebodingly, "We're leaving. Don't move, don't make a sound and we'll get to where we're going faster. Do as I say, or you'll regret it."
I nodded, not wanting him to get mad while he was holding me - there was no telling what he could do - and we took off running at vampire speed to somewhere I would probably spend the rest of my life.
However long that will be.
