Six Years Later...

I woke slowly, my eyes quickly getting used to the dark. Master had been particularly...frisky earlier, and I had passed out in the middle of it.

I couldn't remember what my life had been like before he took me in. I couldn't remember who I had been, or if I had always been Belle, Master's favorite pet.

But what made everything worse was that Master...he wasn't like me at all. He...he didn't eat like I did. He didn't sleep like I did. He did nothing like me. Nor did his friends, the two black-haired men with brown eyes and very pale skin. One of them seemed more powerful than Master and the other, and he was the only one that spoke with Master. On occasion Master would let that one use me as his reward, so I had grown to know him as Sir.

However the other black-haired man would be priveledged to spend time with me, and he would treat me nice. I grew to know him as Marcus, and he was the only person I could trust. He didn't hurt me or treat me as a pet or a reward. He often left the room when Master set me in the puppeteer machine when I was younger. He did, however, stay when Master had me dance for them. Afterward he would linger in the room and compliment my dancing, saying that one day he would help me get out and maybe I could become a professional dancer. I liked that thought.

The only thing I could remember was my birthday, and that was in September. As a matter of fact, tomorrow was my birthday. Marcus promised me that on my eighteenth birthday something that would change my life forever would happen. I always believed he meant he'd set me free.

As I woke, I noticed Master was still laying next to me, on my left, fondling my now well-developed breast. To my right stood Sir, half naked.

"Alright, she's awake, now it's my turn!" Sir exclaimed.

"Patience, Aro, patience. She has only just awoken, and she is still my pet," Master said, then looked at me and smiled. "Good morning, Belle," he said to me, gently kissing my lips. He had long since stopped using a gag or duct tape, knowing very well I would remain silent. Master stroked my cheek then rolled over on top of me to get off the bed.

"Aro, she's all yours now." With that, Master took his robe off the desk chair and, putting it on, left the room, closing the door behind him.

Sir rubbed his hands together and removed the rest of his clothes. "You always make a lovely little reward, bella. Let's hope you make an even better one this time."

Hours after Sir had finished, Marcus came into the room, closing the door behind him. He looked as if he feared being caught. With lightning speed he was at my side and untying my wrists.

"Belle, listen to me, it's time. The bells of midnight will strike in an hour, making it your birthday. As soon as that bell strikes twelve, however, my brothers will come here to share the truth and will kill you. I do not wish for that to happen, and therefore I am helping you escape."

Marcus dashed over to the closet and returned with an outfit I had never seen before. "Put these on. You'll blend in better."

I quickly obeyed, putting on the thong, bra, dark jeans, white tank top, and grey cashmere boatneck sweater. Marcus was dashing all over the room, packing a few bags for me, which he left on the bed. In five minutes, he was finished packing and I was finished dressing.

Marcus picked up a small quilted backpack and handed it to me. "Take this and put it on."

I obeyed.

"Now, I'm going to put you on my back, and whatever you do, I need you to remain quiet so we aren't caught."

I nodded, and Marcus put me on his back, taking the bags in his hands. He dashed to the curtained window, and, opening the curtains and the window itself, stood on the ledge and jumped.

I tried my hardest not to scream, and soon we were dashing through the streets, sticking to the shadows. Marcus ran for thirty minutes before he approached a few outbuildings miles away from where we had started. The place looked like a farm.

Setting me down, Marcus said, "Now, Belle, I need you to stay here while I go get my friend. He can help you get out of the country and back to where you belong."

I nodded, and Marcus dashed away, leaving me near the doorway of a barn.

I must have been waiting for a half hour, because the bells of midnight started to toll. I counted them on my fingers. One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten... eleven... twelve. Twelve bells? Midnight... Oh no, then that means...

I soon realized the cold truth. If Marcus was right, then Master and Sir were going to be heading to the room now. As soon as they saw me missing as well as the open window, they'd know I'd escaped. They'd probably be fast to search for me.

I started to panic. Today I was supposed to turn eighteen. Today I was supposed to learn the truth, whatever that was. Today my owner and his friend were going to kill me. But today I was escaping. Today Marcus was keeping his promise and changing my life, setting me free.

As soon as these thoughts registered in my mind, Marcus and another man dashed over in blinding speed. I jumped when they arrived, nervous that they would hurt me. Mentally, I slapped myself. Marcus would never hurt me. He never had and never would.

The man accompanying Marcus had brown hair and golden eyes, his skin pale like Marcus, Master, and Sir's. His smile was gentle and kind, but his golden eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

Marcus came to my side. "Belle, this is Eleazar. He and his coven will be accompanying us on your escape. We plan to bring you to safety."

The other man, Eleazar, shook his head. "There is no safety from the Volturi. We will forever be on the run."

Marcus sighed. "We can discuss this with Carlisle when we arrive in Alaska. He can help us better if we are in your homeland."

Eleazar nodded, and turned to me. "It is time to leave. Hand me your bags, and we'll be off."

I looked at Marcus before obeying, gingerly handing him the suitcases. Marcus picked me up, placing me on his back. Then, the two men ran off.

After another half hour of running, we arrived at a small villa. The lights were still on, despite the late hour, and as soon as we arrived three drop-dead gorgeous blondes with golden eyes like Eleazar's and pale skin, too.

One took me off of Marcus' back. "Belle, I'm Tanya. These are my sisters Kate and Irina."

Eleazar turned to me. "They are part of my coven. My mate Carmen is as well."

I looked to Marcus for answers, my brown eyes wide with fear. What did they mean by covens and mates, and what was happening exactly?

Marcus smiled and rested his hand on my shoulder. "Belle, listen to me. No one is going to hurt you here. I promise you that. You lived in a castle full of us, and not once did any of us hurt you. Eleazar, Carmen, Tanya, Irina, and Kate will never hurt you, and neither will I. However, Caius, your Master, and Aro, Sir, will hurt you again if we do not get out of Italy."

Eyes watering and bottom lip quivering, I stepped closer and whispered in his ear, "What do you mean by 'a castle full of us'?"

Marcus sighed. "If I tell you, I either have to kill you or change you to become one of us."

Eleazar nodded and suddenly said, "She seems to be perfect for it, possibly having a talent like most of us."

I looked at Eleazar with eyes wide in horror.

Marcus sighed again. "Belle, we are vampires."

I jumped away from them all and pressed myself against a rock. Vampires?! I thought in panic.

Marcus approached, hands raised in a surrender. "We aren't going to kill you! Eleazar and his coven only drinks the blood of animals, and I am in the process of making the switch. It's been going along better than expected, but I still have a ways to go. But I promise you, Belle, none of us will hurt you."

I looked at Marcus and whispered, "Promise?"

Marcus nodded. "Promise."

As soon as he said that, I ran into his waiting arms, and he held me as everyone else dashed about to get ready to leave.