Stockholm Syndrome Chapter 7 – Testing the Boundaries

The interview with Chief Swan had gone off even better than I had hoped. I had successfully and effectively led him away from me, oh and my family too. The rest of the school day went by quickly and uneventfully. Well, uneventfully if you call Mike, Eric, Tyler, Jessica, and Lauren being interviewed again.

School finally let out and my siblings and I headed towards my silver Volvo. Emmett and I sat in the front while Rose and Jasper sat in the back with Alice sandwiched between them. I pulled out of my space and headed towards the house and my own personal brand of heroin.

Bella was my drug and I chose to torture myself like someone just entering rehab being forced to watch someone snort a line and shoot up but not being able to do so myself. The pain that I endured was going to be well worth the wait when I finally got her alone with me. She stood no chance against my strength and speed. I just had to be faster than my siblings this time while keeping an ear out for them. I was lost in my thoughts as I drove until Alice's vision shot through them.

Vision:

Bella is sitting in the kitchen at the bar and is laughing while watching me intently. I turn around to hand her a plate of food that I just prepared for her and her hand brushes mine as she takes the food from me. She blushes and drops her head only to look at me through her lashes.

FLASH

Bella curls up on the couch while I take a seat at my piano and start playing an unfamiliar composition. My eyes don't leave her as my fingers whisk across the keys. She smiles at me and I can't place the emotion that graces my features.

End Vision

I shook my head to dispel the images. I saw her looking at me through the rear view mirror and she was wearing a look of shock and horror at having shared those visions with me. I turned my attention back to the road and drove the rest of the way home without meeting her glances.

Once we arrived back home I darted off into the woods in need of a hunt to clear my mind. I was aware of two others following me out and realized that it was Jasper and Emmett. Their thoughts told me that they had noticed the change in me and were worried. I tried to ignore them as I caught scent of a herd of deer. I tracked the smell to a nearby stream where they were drinking and quickly took down the largest buck.

I was aware of Emmett and Jasper feeding nearby as they each took down a deer. I quickly drained the carcass and disposed of the body just as Em and Jazz were finishing theirs. They cleaned up after themselves and looked at me to see if I wanted to talk. I heard it in their thoughts.

"Guys, I'm fine," I said even though I wasn't.

I wasn't the sappy type that tried to make a pathetic human smile. I could fucking care less. The vision I had seen disturbed me. What could have caused that? All I wanted from that child was a meal, not a mealtime companion.

"You sure bro?" Emmett asked.

"Yep! Let's get back," I said and took off in a leisurely sprint home with Jasper and Emmett flanking my sides.

They kept thinking about what was wrong with me but I ignored their thoughts. I just wanted to get home and hide in my dungeon while being assaulted by her scent. It was starting to permeate the house. While it was excruciating, I reveled in it. She was growing riper by the day and her strong perfume was getting more delicious with every limited beat of her heart. I knew it wouldn't pump much longer, not after I had my way with her.

I shook these thoughts from my head as I heard the conversation coming from the house.

"Esme, Carlisle, just trust me. I saw it!" Alice exclaimed in a slightly annoyed voice. She must be talking about the vision.

"But he could try to kill her again. I can't have that," Esme said. "That poor girl has been through enough already."

"But maybe Alice is right," Carlisle said.

I entered the house and everyone turned to look at me. I heard it in all their thoughts…they were worried. Well, all except for Alice. She had this smug look on her face. It was well known that you don't bet against Alice and everyone looked resigned to her plan. Everyone but me. However, it would get me closer to my sweet precious nectar that sat upstairs waiting for me patiently. I did have to thank her for staying around for dinner…however late dinner might come.

"Edward?" Carlisle said. "Alice wanted to try something if you are up to it. It just might help you son."

"What exactly?" I asked.

"She wants to try and acclimate you to Bella's scent little by little so that you won't be tempted to hurt her again."

"Ok…" I trailed off. What could it hurt other than the fiery hot branding irons that her scent shoved down my throat?

"Ready Edward? Em, Jazz, can you be there to hold him back just in case?" Alice asked.

The three of us nodded and I noticed that Rosalie had disappeared. We headed upstairs with Carlisle and Esme staying in the living room. They would be able to hear everything that happened and could be there in a moment's notice if needed. I hoped this went well and I could hide my thirst for her so that my plan could move forward towards Operation Drain Bella.

I found Rosalie standing in front of Bella's room, a low hiss escaping her lips. What was the pathetic human to her? Alice looked at her and she stepped aside. Alice knocked lightly on the door then opened it and slid inside, closing the door behind her.

The door movement stirred the air and I was hit by the overwhelming aroma of my dinner. My mouth salivated with venom and my muscles tensed in anticipation of the attack but a flood of serenity came over me as Jasper worked his magic. I listened to the conversation on the other side of the door.

"Hi Bella, I'm Alice. May I come in?" Alice asked.

"Sure why not?" Bella said dryly.

The room was silent for a moment until Bella spoke again.

"Did you need something?" she asked sourly.

"Well, there is something. I had an idea and I wanted to try it, with your permission of course," Alice said.

"And what would that be?" Bella asked.

"Edward?" Alice called out and I opened the door to reveal myself.

Bella tensed immediately and her perfume intensified with the adrenaline that coursed through her veins. Her muscles tightened under her milky skin and her doe brown eyes were wide with fear and anticipation of what might happen. I wasn't prepared for her next action.

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE YOU PSYCHOTIC DEMON SPAWN!" Bella screamed at me and I was taken aback with the fury of her words. She really thought of me as a demon spawn? I heard Jasper and Emmett sigh but Rosalie snickered and slid into the room.

This is going to be good Eddie. I just have to be here to watch her rip you a new asshole, Rose thought as she moved closer to Bella's bed.

"Bella…" I started to say but she cut me off.

"Stop! Just fucking stop! You don't deserve to speak to me or even be in the same fucking room as me! You fucking ruined my life! Look! Just look at what you did to me!" Bella screamed as she threw back the covers sending another assaulting wave of her unique cologne towards me.

My nostrils flared and my mouth watered. I wanted to take her but I held back. Trying to attack Bella right now would do nothing for Operation Drain Bella. I swallowed back the pool of venom in my mouth and tried to speak again.

"I'm sor…" I started but was cut off by her screaming again.

"Don't you dare say you're sorry! Wait, you are sorry! You are a sorry sack of shit!" Bella screamed and I heard my brothers stifle chuckles. "Just look at me! I can't fucking walk! I can't fucking leave! You ruined my fucking life! Are you happy?"

"No Bella, I'm…" I tried again.

"Shut up! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" she screamed as she attempted to stand from the bed only to falter. Rose was there to catch her before anyone else.

She held Bella up as her screaming continued. I took the chance to actually look at Bella for the first time as I listened to the rants continue to spew from her mouth. She was clad in a scanty camisole and sleep shorts. Her foot was cast where it had been crushed against my legs during her struggle and I saw the faint glistening scar on her neck that my bite had left. The rest of her, though, was, if I was willing to admit it, absolutely tantalizing. Her skin was creamy and smooth with a hint of natural sheen to it. Rosalie's thoughts broke through my assessment of Bella's body.

She sure looks nice doesn't she? The feel of her body in my arms is quite luscious. Maybe Emmett would be up to adding a bit of spice to the bedroom with her as a toy. She does have nice pert breast and her ass. DAMN! It is so succulent." I watched Rosalie's nostrils flare slightly to take in Bella's mouthwatering aroma. "And she does smell pretty damn good. She is making my mouth water just being nearby. I wonder how that delicate flower of hers tastes and smells… Maybe I could talk her into letting me have a lick or two.

My lip curled back at Rose's thoughts of my Bella. She was mine and no one would have her other than me! I felt the snarl building in my chest and Rose smirked at me while Emmett and Jasper reached for me but instead of lunging for Rose I took a step backwards towards the hallway raising my hands to show my innocence. Rose's thoughts cut in again.

Wow Edward…was that lustful look for her blood or her body?

"What Edward? Am I making you thirsty? Do you want a sip? A suck?" Bella asked bringing me out of my anger at Rosalie. I stared at Bella in slight awe at her boldness and then my jaw dropped when she flipped her hair forward to cover her neck. "Well too fucking bad! You want to suck something? Go suck a dick!"

Alice looked between Bella and me in shock with a bit of sadness crossing her pixie face. Rose tried to hide the maniacal smile that threatened to break out. Emmett and Jasper were biting back their laughter and I heard a snicker from downstairs. I did the only thing I could. I retreated with as much manhood as I could muster.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Bella. My apologies. I will leave you alone now." With that I turned and headed out of the room.

Once I hit the stairs I took off in a run and darted past Carlisle and Esme. I heard Carlisle telling Jasper and Emmett to leave me alone and that I needed time. I kept running for almost 2 straight hours and was sure that I was in Canada now.

I came to a stop in a small clearing that was half ringed by a few massive boulders that provided a natural shelter. I couldn't hold back the anger anymore and let the scream lose that had been threatening to escape from the moment Bella had started in on me.

"! Stupid, fucking, pathetic, insolent, little human bitch! Who the fuck do you think you are? You are messing with Edward Fucking Cullen! NO ONE can fuck with me! No one can hurt me! No one can take me down! No one can touch me!" I screamed out loud.

I didn't care that I was screaming to myself. I didn't care if anyone heard me. I was fucking pissed. I felt the urge to hit something or someone and the only thing nearby was a fucking boulder. What the hell? Why not? I pulled my fist back and let loose on the boulder shoving my hand elbow deep within the hard granite. I pulled back my other fist and repeated the motion. Over and over I pummeled my way through the boulder, effectively reducing it to a pile of gravel and dust at my feet.

The impulse had actually calmed me down and I decided to slowly head back towards the house. Alice had some explaining to do. I ran back and arrived about three hours later, stopping to have a fill of a few elk along the way.

When I got home Alice wasn't anywhere to be seen so I headed to my dungeon. I turned up the music and tried to lose myself in it but it wasn't successful. I could hear Bella's heart beating two floors up, calling me, tempting me, begging for me to silence it. I started tapping out the beat with my fingers, keeping count of the last beats her heart would ever take. Soon she would be mine. Soon I would take her. I just had to "win" her over first. There was a soft knock at my door and I heard Alice's thoughts calling out to me.

Edward? Edward? I'm sorry Edward. I really thought it would go better than it did. She will come around, I can still see it. Please forgive me Edward. Forgive Bella too. She has been through so much and deserves time. Please Edward. Please.

I ignored the psychotic pixie and went back to counting my Bella's heart beats. I counted them out to myself, counting away her dwindling life and her ultimate demise to my thirst. I just had to bide my time.