Hey guys! So here is chapter 4! Sorry for only updating now but college is a bitch
Hope you enjoy it and happy reading!
Ps: Thanks for all the reviews, favourites, follows ect.!
It felt as if my legs and lungs were in competition to see which can burn the most. The fiery pained caused by the Siren's bite was shooting up and down my leg, threatening to spread up to my torso. My lungs felt smaller, constricted. I couldn't seem to get enough oxygen into my lungs that caused them to burn in pain. My heart was beating distressingly fast and drumming in my ears, making it harder to hear Edward's screams.
I pushed my legs as hard as I could, anxious to get to Edward. I stumbled through the maze as I tried to follow the direction of the screams. Right now his screams were the only indicator of direction to find him.
As Edward's screams grew in volume I knew I was getting closer. I pushed my legs harder until I was running. I didn't manage to get very far until I fell the first time. The pain had reached fever pitch and caused my legs to give out under me. My arms shot out to try a break my fall. I ended up falling on my hands and knees. I could feel the material of my yoga pants tear at my knee and a sharp pain shot up my leg.
"Fuck! Fuck!" I chastised myself as I hit the grass with my fist in frustration.
I couldn't focus on the pain, I needed to pull myself together and find Edward. I got up and tried to push myself to run again. However, with a busted up knee I could only manage a stumbling jog. I continued to stumble through the maze and tripping over my own feet, but I didn't let it stop me. With every stumble and fall, I only grew more determined.
After countless of turns and falls the scream started to sound closer to me. I was severely out of breath as I made my way along another long corridor in the maze. This one, however, had a gap in the middle on the left side, and Edward's scream seemed to be emanating from that general direction. On weak legs, I stumbled my way down the corridor, but the closer I got to the gap the more different the tone of the screams became. The tone of the voice was losing the velvety undertone that was uniquely Edward and the depth of masculinity. Instead, the cries grew more high pitch and feminine. It was still familiar but in a way I couldn't put my finger on it.
My steps slowed as confusion wracked my brain. Once I had reached the middle there on the left-hand side was an arch of wild lilies acting as an entrance. They were quite beautiful and smelled divine. If it weren't for my current situation and frightening surroundings, I would have admired their beauty. What was beyond the arch stopped me dead in my tracks and I'm pretty sure my heart skipped a few beats. The hedge enclosed a medium sized garden. It was circular and had three more wild lily arch entry ways. From each arch, there was a narrow stone path that met in the centre of the garden. The garden were adorned with many wildflowers, Greek sculptures and small elaborately constructed fountains.
What was frightening about this secluded garden was the sacrificial altar placed in the centre. The altar consisted of a round, icy white marble platform with four smaller platform place on top of each other. It almost appeared like steps that led up to a marble column. The top of the marble platforms was made of steel grates, to allow the fire to burn freely through. The marble platforms must have been hollow and filled with whatever they used to fuel the fire.
From my conversation earlier with Edward, I knew about the previous existence of the altar, but Cauis had destroyed it. Cauis, Aro's son, had built a tribute to his deceased father. There wasn't supposed to be a sacrificial altar here; it's meant to be a sculpture in memory of Aro.
The sudden reappearance of the altar was not the most confusing part, though. I had listened to Edward cry out in pain, all of his agonised screams had led me here. The problem was, it wasn't Edward tied to the altar, but a familiar looking woman. She was short, slender but with curves and had long wavy mahogany hair. She was wearing black yoga pants and a black thermal jumper. I was staring at myself tied to the sacrificial altar as the flames were licking up the platforms.
"What the fuck?" I whispered to myself.
The Me tied to the column was crying furiously and struggling to break free. She continued to scream as the flames grew closer to her. A few feet from the altar stood another woman. I couldn't see her face or hair as she was wearing a cloak with the hood up. The material of her cloak appeared to be black suede. It was sleeveless and came down to just below her knees. She was wearing intimidating black leather buckled boots that came completed with crazy high heels. Her arms were uncovered and showed off what appeared to be intricate tribal tattoos that spread from her hands up to her elbow.
"Hello Bella," said the woman in the black cloak in a voice that sounded like mine. What the fuck was going on? I forced my wobbly legs to take a few steps along the stone path.
"Who are you?" I choked out. God my throat was so scratchy and sore. The woman slowly turned around, and I held my breath, afraid of what I was about to see. I harshly exhaled as I came face to face with her. She looked like me but different. She had the same face and body. Her big brown eyes were cold and held a darkness that I felt somehow connected too. Her lips thinned and turn up into a sneer as she removed the hood of her cloak. She revealed long wavy mahogany hair that I am so used to struggling to untangle every day. She looked just like me only colder. Other than that the only significant difference was the tattoos that littered her forearms.
It felt as if all the air knocked from my body as I stared at her. My legs felt like jelly, and I was surprised that I was still standing upright.
"What's wrong Bella? Do you not recognise yourself?" she asked mockingly.
What is this? What the fuck is going on?" I asked as I looked back at the altar. The flames were getting awfully close to her legs, and I could feel it. I could feel the heat of the flames bristling around my legs. Her fear was my fear. I shared the immense panic and fear with her, and it was crippling. As much as I felt the fear of the Bella tied to the column, did I feel the sadistic pleasure the dark Bella in front of me was enjoying from watching.
"Why can I feel everything the two of you can feel?" I asked overwhelmed with emotions.
"Silly Bella. Have you not figured it out yet?" mocked the dark Bella. Flames now consumed the altar. My legs felt like they were getting burnt from the inside and the outside. The pain was making me dizzy and weak.
"Wow, the two of you look like shit!" cackled the dark Bella as other Bella screamed out in pain. It was starting to get insanely weird to talk about myself in the third person, and see two more versions of myself. I looked back over to the altar as she was no longer screaming. I realised that the burning would go away if I can get her free from the column and off the altar.
My legs finally gave in, and I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the altar. Dark, cloaked Bella was laughing hysterically, and I could feel her delight at the situation.
"I don't know why you fight me so hard. I will win Bella. It's an inevitable outcome."
"Fuck you! I don't know what you are talking about!"
"Silly Bella. We are part of you. That thing hanging from the column is your moral, pure, innocent side. Always willing to fight and defended those she loves. I, on the other hand, am your dark side. Your evil side. The side you try to suppress so hard. I'm the side of you that craves power and would stop at nothing to get it and takes pride and enjoyment in inflicting pain on others."
"No! No! You're lying! I would never be proud or enjoy hurting other people!" I cried out as I continued to crawl to the altar.
No, this can't be right. What she's saying is nonsense. It's all just a dream. It has to be just a dream. There is so much in this place that doesn't make sense so surely I must be dreaming, right?
"Well, of course, this is a dream, silly Bella. All of this, we, are just the manifestation of your worst fear. You're afraid that your dark side will win out and destroy that goodness your heart holds."
No, this is not real. I'm not scared of my 'dark side' because I don't have one! I would never enjoy hurting someone. I tried to deny this to myself repeatedly, but then I remembered the werewolves. The night of the attack I had killed two werewolves in the corridor and then the one in the foyer that was going to kill Alice. Then I remembered how I felt, especially with the last werewolf. How powerful I felt exercising my control over him and that satisfying dark feeling I got with every bone of his I broke.
"That's it, Bella. Remember how good it feels to torture, how good it feels to kill," encouraged cloaked Bella.
I couldn't stop my mind from thinking back to that night. I could see it so clearly, almost as if I was back there again. He was on the floor howling in pain as I continued to break his bones, one by one. My head rolled back as that delicious darkness washed through my body. The pain in my legs and lungs disappeared, and instead I was filled with adrenaline and power. I felt invincible. It was an addictive feeling, and I craved more.
I got up off the ground with ease and was surprised to see my hands and forearms covered in the same tribal like tattoos as cloaked Bella. Thinking and talking about myself and two other Bella's was starting to get on my nerves. "Perhaps if there were only two me it would be easier," I thought eerily. To my utter surprise and horror, I didn't know which Bella to kill. What the hell! I no longer felt that connection to the decent Bella that was hanging desperately from a column surrounded by flames. I could no longer feel the heat and pain that she must be feeling.
I didn't particularly feel a connection to the Dark Bitch either. I snorted mentally at my new nickname for cloaked Bella.I did feel a connection, actually more like an allure, to the power and feeling of invincibility. Just thinking about it made me feel exhilarated. Perhaps there was still hope for me if there was truth behind all of this. The sinking feeling in my gut told me that it might very well be the truth. But as I felt no connection to the Dark Bitch then maybe I can still fight the allure of her darkness. How hard can that be?
I walked towards the Dark Bitch with determined steps. The closer I got to her the bigger her malicious smirk grew. Her eyes shone brightly with a false sense of victory.
"Come to enjoy the view? I have to say it is more satisfying to watch her burn from this angle" she cackled loudly. I didn't answer her; I just continued to walk until I was not even a foot away from her.
"I have to admit I didn't think you would submit so easily but then again who am I to complain," she said, and her surprise was evident in her voice.
"I will never submit!" I sneered loudly.
I was just about to make my move and attack her when everything went black, and I was being shaken. With a few more shakes, I shot up straight and gasped for air. My heart was pounding like crazy; my palms were sweaty, and the burning in my legs returned.
"Bella! Bella, love look at me," Edward pleaded as he took my face in his hands. His hair was standing up in every direction as if he was pulling at it frantically. His eyes were wild with worry as they looked over my face and body.
"Are you ok love?" he asked as his eyes returned to mine.
"Yeah, but my legs still hurts," I moaned in pain.
"Where are we?" I asked as I took in my surroundings. I was laying on soft silk sheets in a dimly lit room. I was no longer wearing my soaked clothing. Instead, I was comfortable in a big warm t-shirt.
"We are back at the university love. We are in my room." Edward explained.
"How did we get here?" I asked.
"I carried you to an alcove and tried to keep us warm. We got lucky as the guards were doing their nightly route. I was able to catch them before they passed us. They helped me bring you back here. The pain in your legs should start to lessen. Doctor Clearwater injected you with morphine and a solution that will counteract the venom of the siren bite. You were running a very high fever, so I think it burned off the morphine and that's why you are still feeling the pain in your leg." Edward explained as he stroked my hair lovingly.
I slowly tried to sit up, but I was rather dizzy and just fell back down.
"Easy there," Edward said as he gently helped me sit up. Once I settled against the pillows, I started taking deep breaths, willing away the feeling of the room spinning around me. I opened my eyes and tried to find something to focus upon. I looked around the room my eyes settled on Edward's desk. I decided that would be my focus point until I can get the spinning feeling to let up.
Edward's desk had always been messily organised. Heaps of books always seemed to litter his desk. This time, however, it was overflowing with books. They weren't the average textbook or fictional ones. No, these books were mostly thick, old leather bound books. They looked a lot like the book we managed to get out of the restricted section in the library. There were no title or signs of identification on the spines of the books that only, managed to spike my interest. What is he doing with all these books? What was in these books?
The sinking feeling in my stomach warned me that I might not want to know. I had been so absorbed in taking inventory of Edward's new book collection that I no longer felt dizzy.
"What's with all the books?" I asked hoarsely. God my throat felt dry and scratchy.
"Research" answered Edward while looking anywhere but at me. The sinking feeling intensified, and I recalled our argument before we got sucked in by the Siren. What a bitch! I want to grab her by her perfect glossy hair and smash her face into the rock…repeatedly.
Wow, where did that thought come from? I shocked myself a little as the violent images of what I would like to do to the Siren flitted through my mind. I can't be thinking thoughts like this! I need to be good. I can't be bad, I can't take enjoyment from inflicting cruel pain onto other people or creatures. Christ, that dream or whatever it was was screwing with my brain. Surely I was entitled to want to hurt the bitch that bit me and nearly drowned me? Right?
Edward's voice pulled me from my inner musings.
"What?" I asked as I didn't quite hear what he had said.
"Are you ok?" he asked as his eyes expertly scanned over me looking for signs of injury.
"I'm fine, just lost in thought. Actually no, my throat is really dry. Can I have some water, please?" I asked as absently rubbed my sore throat.
"Here you go, love," he murmured as he handed me a bottle of water that was sitting on the bedside table. How had I not noticed that before? I quickly emptied the bottle of water and declined Edward's offer of another bottle.
"I think you should get some more sleep," Edward said as he moved off the bed.
"I'm not that tired and where are you going?" I asked confused as he seemed suddenly desperate to leave.
"I just want to give you some space to recuperate."
I wasn't buying it; he was hiding something. He was hiding something. It all came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. We were fighting when the Siren attacked. He was hiding part of the reason for his previous behaviour towards me.
"You promised that you would tell me," I said with a lot more anger than I intended to.
He walked back to the bed and sat down on the far edge with a defeated sigh.
"Bella, we can talk about this later. You are in no condition to deal with this now. Plus Alice is on her way over. I told her what happened and that you wouldn't be able to make it to your shopping trip."
My mind barely registered his word as I was too focused on his eyes. He couldn't hide the truth from his eyes. They were filled with fear and apprehension. What the hell is he hiding from me that could cause such a strong reaction?
"For fuck's sake Edward, I have told you before that I am not a vulnerable child! You do not get to decide what I can or can't handle." I yelled at him in anger and frustration. I
Jumped out of bed, and slightly stumbled as I tried to find appropriate clothing so I can leave. I felt so incredibly stupid that I thought for one minute that Edward would be different, that he would treat me as an equal and not hide things from me. Christmas break could not come fast enough! I need a break from everything. I never thought I would say this, but right now I needed a break from Edward. It might seem petty or childish to react this way but all my life my parents and grandparents have hidden the truth from me because they thought they were protecting me. That is bullshit; they were protecting their secrets not me. So much pain and death could have been spared if they were just fucking honest with me. I was sick of people thinking I am weak, and they need to protect me cause poor little Bella can't deal with all the stress. What more do I need to do to prove I am not weak?!
"Kill some more…so them no one is stronger than you," whispered that part of myself I so desperately try to ignore.
"Bella, what the hell are you doing?"
"What's it look like boy wonder? I'm leaving!"
"Would you just calm down and get back in bed. We can talk about this in the morning after you've had time to recover properly."
"Do not tell me to calm the fuck down! You do not get to decide what I do or what I can't deal with!" I screamed. My anger and the events of the past few weeks were making me hysterical. I knew I did need to calm down, but that was not going to happen when I'm near Edward. I managed to get a pair of track pants and a big hoodie. I nearly fell over my feet as I put the track pants on while walking to the door. As I pulled open the door I came face to face with an anxious looking Alice.
"Bella! Are you ok? Why are you crying?" she asked worriedly. I hadn't even realised I was crying. Damn traitor tears.
"I just need to be alone," I said through my tears that were streaming down my face now. I didn't wait for her reply or Edward's as I ran down the hallway. I ignored the burning in my legs as I just needed to get to my dorm room as fast as possible.
I continued running through campus even as students stared and whispered around me. Yeah, I know I look like shit, so you can all piss off now. Stupid bloody students. I didn't bother waiting for the elevator when I reach my dorm building. I ran up the stairs which I immediately regretted. Damn no matter how much I exercise those stairs will kill me eventually. When I reached my room, I realised I had no key. Fuck! I hope Victoria id here and not sucking the face of James tonight.
"Victoria, it's Bella. I forgot my key. Open the door!" I said as I knocked insistently. Within seconds, I heard the door unlock and pulled only slightly open. That was odd. Knowing Victoria, she would have had a bitch fit and ripped the door opened. I pushed the door open and closed it a little harder than was necessary. Guess I was still insanely angry. I thought that running across campus like a lunatic would burn off some of that anger.
The room was dark, and the curtain was drawn, so there was no source of light. I flipped the light switch, and the room flooded with artificial light. I had to squint a few times so that my eyes would adjust. Once I got used to the bright light, I looked over to Victoria's bed, which was empty and made.
"Hello Bella," said a familiar voice from the direction of my bed. My head snapped to my bed and lounging like she owned the place was none other than Heidi.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" I bit out. I did not have the energy to deal with her. She gracefully stood up, and that's when I saw it. She was clutching a dangerously sharp dagger in her right hand.
"I think it's time you and I have a little chat," she sneered menacingly. Well, this should be interesting.
