Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight

This story is rated M for a reason. And there won't be lemon-y reasons for a while. Violence, swearing, religion being made fun of and criticized. No Rape or human brutality.


…:::Chapter 7:::…

"Professional Runner"

If I could faint, I would have. But I couldn't.

That punch, it overwhelmed me…and, I for some reason find it exhilarating that I punched Masen.

I didn't regret it. I felt invincible and powerful.

"In fact" I announced to everyone. "I'm not staying here another minute. I'm out of here"- I glared at Masen- "and you can't stop me" I whirled and went to the door.

A guard immediately shot out of his shocked and frozen state, and tried to block my way, but I pushed passed him, cringing at how disgusting he was.

I pushed the door that we came from open and started running away.

"Let her go" I heard Masen say lazily to the guard "She won't get far"

I saw no one as I sped along the corridor towards the end, hopefully one that would lead me out of this madhouse. The door opened into what appeared to be a tall, spiraling staircase. Statues of men, women, and…well, creatures stood dimly lit alcoves. In fact, the whole staircase was dark. My foot hesitated on the first step, but I couldn't retreat now. Masen's words rang in my head, she won't go far.

Oh, yea? Watch this. I stared down at the stairs, back-pack in hand. My footsteps echoed as I pounded my way into the semi darkness. The bag got heavier with every step, but my resolve remained strong.

It was an educated guess that I would find a way out of the black tower when I reached the bottom, since I have seen the four corner towers when I came. Indeed, judging by the view from the small window, I'd guessed right. An exit, thank god.

I was going to make Masen eat his words.

Take that jerk!

Pausing with my fingers around the cold metal, I peered up the metal spiral stairs. It seemed really long and high.

Won't they come after me? After all, I was an important plan!

Yet here I was, walking away.

With a shrug, I opened the door.

"Oh, good, a dark alley" I muttered. It was the afternoon in here; I peered up at the sky and groaned. One thing in common in here and where I lived is that they both have a rainy season at the moment.

"And rain, fabulous."

I looked ahead of myself and found myself looking at an empty street, only the street lights shining down, making a circle of light, brightening the darkness.

Something made a low scratching sound and I froze.

A thin cry went up from somewhere close and I whirled around, hands finding and yanking on the door handle behind me, to go back into the tower.

Locked.

I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath in. "I'm fine" I whispered. "Just fine, nothing to be afraid of." Then I headed down the alley, fast.

Rain started. At first just a light pitter-pat, gradually, getting harder. I quickened the pace.

Bright light glimmered from what had to be the mouth of the alley and I doubled-timed it there, practically running. Another light emerged from the open door ahead of my left. A dark shape blocked it.

My steps flattered as I approached. An old, gnarled women stood on the crumbling stoop. I shivered as I hurried past her, glancing over, I could have sworn that the old crone changed into a beautiful young women. Slightly pregnant lady, then back to the elder, cackling all while.

God this place is creepy.

But the scary old lady wasn't half as bad as what I found when I hit the mouth of the alley.

Tall, spindly grey beings regarded me with large alien eyes form their late afternoon bustle down the sidewalks of what had to be a goblin tower or something. I was in the middle, of flesh eating monster; smack-dab in the centre of a waking nightmare.

It rained harder; my hair and clothes were fast growing soaked. I looked through my now split eyes at my surrounding looking for something that would get be out of there.

And there it was, in yellow. A cab.

The cab was driven by a goblin.

"The front gates please" My voice shook, as I opened the yellow rusty door and hopped in. Brilliant. He looked back for a moment at me, his alien eyelids blinking slowly.

Did he not speak English, perhaps? I didn't know any of their languages. What was he thinking? Whatever it was, I hopped that my liver and a nice Chianti were not included.

He looked at me for a longer moment and then faced the front, placing his skeleton bony green hands on the steering wheel and began to drive. I sank down against the seat with a slow breath of relief, closing my eyes for a moment. If I could just get to the gates, I would be okay.

"Turn around"

My whole body stiffened.

"You get the hell away from my head!" I yelled out loud in the backseat.

The goblin that knew nothing of who was in my head, ordering me, regarded me silently in the rear-view mirror, its eyes blinking fast.

"Sorry I wasn't talking to you"

"Turn around Isabella, or it's going to get ugly"

Like hell I am! My mental reply sounded furious in my own didn't reply.

I didn't know where it came from, but the courage took me high and the adrenaline rushed fast, pumping through my blood at a speed I couldn't control.

"Make me"

"With pleasure, I am not done ordering you around".

"Oh god!" I held my head and gasped as I felt the pull. All I needed was more control over myself. I could do this.

I glanced at the window, trees whipping past us, we left the city. It stopped raining, miracles do happen!

I tried shifting my mind somewhere else.

I looked at the driver. He could take me anywhere, and I could get lost, killed or even worse, raped.

Looks like I can resist you Masen, I finally replied, my voice a bit playful.

I'm still heading towards the gates.

"You won't make it"

"Ma'am" said the driver. "We're being followed by another cab and they appear to want to want us to pull over"

Wow, who knew goblins could be polite, yet answer you like an educated person!

"Don't pull over, if you do then I will shove you out of the car and drive it myself" I pulled myself in front and accidently kicked his shoulder. "Sorry!" I sat down in the passenger's seat. For a goblin he was pretty decent.

I should have known that I would never be left alone.

"Pull!" The sudden burst of compulsion made me cry out. My head felt like it was being pounded against over and over again.

"Pull over!" I yelled helplessly at him, I would do anything to stop this pain.

His goblin's grey wrinkled face looked confused, "Which is it ma'am?"

"Pull over" I wheezed, as he stopped the car at the side of the road and got out and spoke with the other driver in their language, which as full of cluttered words.

I looked at Masen sitting in the other cab, who met my gaze. This man terrified me, more than the goblins, more than anything. I didn't want to be tied to him in anyway.

I quickly opened the door while the driver distracted him and ran towards the forest. My feet squishing in the mud, as I slipped down and got mud all over me. Oh great.

"See what running gets you?" Masen Followed me in.

"Are you stupid? Do I look-"

"Hi, I am Alice. I was sent by the queen to make you feel comfortable. I understand that you must hate fae by now, but we really aren't that bad" A short pixie like girl stood behind me wearing a tutu skirt "Well, except Masen" She winked at him.

"Don't care" I spat in.

"What?" She asked, not hearing me the first time.

"I don't care. Don't give a shit. What do you think?" I stood in her face and spat it out.

"Isabella" Masen's voice came out low and dangerous. A warning.

"Shut it Masen" I nearly punched him again, I gritted his name out. "I am out of here" I walked away and shrieked as I saw that a creature jumped on the rocks and bared razor sharp blood-red teeth.

"You'll not be getting any of my treasure missy!"

I took a step back and stumbled into the mud. "What the hell was that?"

"Spriggan" Alice held her hand out and smiled sympathetically. "These woods won't do you good, Bella. Maybe you should come with us."

I wiped my hand over my face and gazed up at Masen, who stood looking down at me like some dark god who controlled my fate.

Because, apparently…he did.

I was standing next to Alice, who was practically humming from excitement. On our way here she told me multiple of humorous stories about creatures in Staria and assured me that I am in good hands as long as I don't piss Masen off, something I found very un-assuring. Pleasing Masen is not something I want to do. He was a stuck up arrogant man that kept to himself the entire ride.

Another reason on why Alice is humming from excitement is because she just couldn't wait to show me around. She turned out to be psychic, I mean like one of those cool psychic witches that do all those cool and voodoo shit.

Oh and one of the reasons for my liking to Alice is because she flew us there. We were both giggling the entire way, while Masen had his head between his hands the entire time, muttering about how witches should be burnt and how if we didn't stop flying he was going to throttle us then burn us alive while he ate babies.

Okay, so maybe he didn't say the last part, but in my mind he might as well have. Who wants to burn two young and charming women?

Anyhoodle, in the middle of the ride he started snapping at Alice to put us down because his head was hurting him.

And so, after we saw him throw up against few rocks into a damn stream of water that flowed down towards a beautiful lake, we continued moving.

Alice and I were flying and Masen was on his motorcycle.

Alice zapped it in and purposely left the engine running and a spriggan driving it towards Masen.

That last part didn't happen. But you could just tell how much I hated Masen.

While we were flying I subconsciously leaned and watched Masen. From where I was, he looked like he was grabbing the steering wheel really hard, I bet his arm was rippled with muscles because of the tight grip that he had. He completely blows me off, and a small part of me was attracted to him... just a small part. He might be arrogant, and forgive me for saying asshole, but he was still insanely out of my league hot. True I hated him, but they say makeup sex is the best, rough and easy.

I sighed; I am a hopeless romantic idiot. I turned to Alice and found her wiggling her eyebrows at me, grinning at me.

"You never told me that you read minds!" I flushed red. I was mortified! She can't know that I was lusting after Masen!

"No, but I saw you on all fours and you were-"

"Alice!" I gasped, eyes wide horrified that someone might hear this. "Don't say things like that! How did you see it?" I gaped at her, oh god. Now she thinks I am a horny teenager lusting after a completely arrogant asshole.

"You were planning it silly. Bella, Bella, Bella…you like Masen? Oh you are in for so much trouble. Innocent, innocent Bella…you have very naughty thoughts for the future" She giggled and made fun of me.

"Alice please don't. I know that you barely know me, but don't tell Masen. I don't like him, I uh just find it interesting to make him scream" I winked and tried to sound kinky for once in my life.

The present…

"You live here?" I asked, lacking anything else to say.

"No, this is just a random house that I just happen to have a key to," he replied dryly as he kicked his door open. Not even bothering with using his keys.

"So you do live alone?" I asked and he glanced at me.

"No, I live with my family. This is my little brother," he said, holding out his arm beside him as if he was putting his arm around the shoulder of someone invisible. I rolled my eyes.

"Who knew Mr. Cryptic Dude had a sense of humor?" I replied, and grinned at Alice.

"See, I told you that you will love us! Now, let's move forward people" Alice tried pushing me from behind. She walked in and dragged me behind.

"Yeah, can't wait to meet the rest of you people." I replied sarcastically as I dropped my bag on the floor.

"By the way, is my room next to you Alice?" I announced as I sat down on one of the black leather couches. I never had a girlfriend so it would be perfect to have Alice with me!

"No… I am not staying" She shot me a confused look. "You're staying with Masen. Wasn't that the plan?"

I don't know if it was the look on my face or that he just simply hated my guts, because the next made it even worse. "That means that I am stuck with you too" He growled low.

I shot him a dirty look. "Listen here buddy. You chose this, not me. So I get to play in the wounded party not you"

"Look princess, you have no idea how much it wasn't my choice-"

"Masen" Alice snapped. "Shut up"

"Yea, Masen. Shut up" I smirked at him. Looks like big tough guy just got picked on.

"Screamer" Alice mouthed to me and I blushed.

I looked at Masen quickly to see if he caught that but he ran a hand through his hair and grunted he didn't comment to Alice.

"Well…I am going to go now. Try not to eat each other, so, bye" Alice tried reading us, wondering if she should leave us.

"Yeah, okay Alice" Masen pushed tiredly up to his feet and walked her to the door.

Once the door was closed, he leaned against it and spoke without looking at me. "We're on the top floor of the black tower. All windows lead to bloody tragedy on the cobblestone of Staria's square."

"And this is the only door" He shot the dead bolt, turned, and dropped the key down his pants. "Come and get the key if you want it bad enough" He dared me playfully and winked. "Maybe you do"

"You're a bastard" I tried desperately not to blush.

"So they tell me" He waved me off, as if too tired to argue with me.

"If you're hungry, there's the kitchen" he jerked his thumb to the left. "Don't expect me to cook tonight. Oh, and I don't think you're the type, but don't get any bright ideas about slitting my throat while I'm sleeping. The bond will kill you if you do"

"What?" I bolted upright. "What are you talking about?"

"The bond?" He raised one eyebrow at me. "? What did you think we were talking about all this time?"

"Hey! Just because I am human doesn't give you the right to insult me" I snapped at him and stood up. "Now tell me, isn't the bond like a love spell or something?" I asked.

"I see that my charms are working on you. Have you fallen in love with me already? That was quick-" He smirked at me.

"Hardly, in fact, my emotions for you are decidedly on the opposite and of the spectrum" I walked towards him and snapped.

"Yeah,same here princess. Don't sweat it, okay?" He rolled his eyes back at me, then took a step back and walk towards his bedroom." Guest bedroom's over there. Sleep well"

"Hey!"

He stopped.

"You still haven't explained the bond thing to me yet!"

"I will tell you more in the morning. Like I said, to kill me is to kill yourself" He turned around and flashed me a big fake smile "Night!"

"Night" I muttered back.

I woke up and felt like something was missing. I looked around and sighed, then realized that I wasn't in my room.

Then remembered last night.

Yeah, big shocker.

I wonder how Renee feels now, does she miss me?

Is she turning the whole world upside down, just to find me?

I stretched my legs, then arms and a purr sound erupted from me. It felt good.

The dreams! I didn't get one of those weird dreams! Guess he finally gave up on me.

I looked around me once more and realized another thing, I am alone with him. Like alone, where, if anything happens, no one will know.

I stood up and walked towards the black marble counter and sat down on the violet chairs. Gazing around, I assumed Masen was definitely a bachelor. The place was clean and comfortable, but it looked somehow Spartan and missed a female's touch.

Where was he anyways?

I hoped off the stool and headed towards his bedroom, making as much noises as I could. If I couldn't sleep well, then so shouldn't he. It was his fault.

I spotted him, lying down. I smiled to myself he was vulnerable at the moment, he pouts when he sleeps. He looked somehow…childish.

I picked an empty vase and dropped it deliberately one the soft carpet and it made a thud.

He didn't stir.

Interesting…a deep sleeper. Guess it was because he was too busy invading people's dreams.

I leaned in and saw that he wore dark blue boxers. I could see them under the sheet, twisted around his waist. His upper torso was bare, revealing a lean six pack.

Yep, he was definitely a hottie.

I grimaced as I thought of how creepy I looked right now, ogling at his body.

I slowly leaned backward but my luck was gone.

He opened his eyes, and he was staring right back at me.

In a flash, I landed flat on my back, he pinned me down with his body and he was raging with anger.

After a heartbeat of complete and utter shock, I screamed and thrashed against him.

He gripped my wrists and held them over my head and straddled my waist to keep me from kicking him. I flushed and realized that the sheets were completely off him, and I could feel his warm skin on me. "Stad sé!" He commanded. "Be quit, I am not going to hurt you"

Flashback from the last time he said that… came back.

"Then get off me, you villain" I glowered at him angrily, my hormones waking up.

He rolled off me and swung his lean smooth body around to the other side of his bed. "Maybe you shouldn't have leaned over me while I was sleeping."

I sat up and pushed the hair out of my face "Are you saying that I surprised you?"

He turned around and smiled, rolling his eyes. "Of course, you mad women"

I tried not to smile; his behavior changed a lot since yesterday. He seemed more…approachable.

I made a scoffing sound. "You have got to be kidding me. I made so much sound around you, you can't tell me, that by leaning over you. You would wake you up"

"Why were you hovering over me, anyways?" He frowned. "Couldn't get enough of me?" he wiggled his eyebrows.

I laughed without realizing it. "You wish"

"Maybe I do" He grinned wickedly and I just stared at him, jaw opened.

"Trust me you don't" I stood up, but my legs got caught up with the white sheets, I tripped down and stared at the floor for a second.

I pushed myself up and found him staring at me in amusement. "Take a picture it will last longer" I snapped at him.

I walked towards the kitchen, and he trailed behind me.

"Already did" He grinned and pushed me out of the way and grabbed the milk cartoon from the refrigerator.

He opened it and started drinking from it messily. Milk dripped down his chin.

"I suggest you use a cup" I eyed him in disgust.

"Thanks for the suggestion" He lifted it up and made it look like he was drinking from a fountain, his Adam's apple moving with every gulp sound.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty two years of harsh life in the underworld ma'am" He stopped drinking and wiped his face with the back of his hand.

"Take a two away, and you will get how old you are mentally" I grabbed the milk from his hand and pushed past him.

"You flatter me" He watched me pour the milk, like a civilian, into a mug.

"And you don't." I said then continued. "What happened to the arrogant asshole from yesterday? One minute you're all big bad I wanna kill you with my deathly glare, die,die. The next, you're trying to have a normal conversation, trying to humor me!"" I drank from my mug and leaned against the counter, looking at him. I almost regretted asking, what if he goes back to being a sore loner again? I can't be around him, he is just so damn…frustrating.

"Masen?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck. Either his male brain wasn't working or he was completely freaking insane. He watched me for a second before resting against the cabinet behind him.

"That's. Who. You. Are" I said slowly, trying to handle the situation like a smart adult.

"Yes and no" He flipped over the counter and grabbed a cookie jar. "Want some? They were made with delicate care" He held it up.

I pushed myself off the counter and stood a foot away from him. He looked the same to me, messed up bronze hair, straight nose, and same pink lips that now had crumbs of cookies, and same striking green eyes.

He looked back at me, wide eyes, mocking me. "Alright, let me explain to the human." He held the cookie like a British old lady, pinky out.

"Now for me, you have Masen and Edward. If I like you or if my guard is down,its Edward. If not; you get the pleasure of meeting Masen. You however have a special effect on Masen." Again with that damned smirk. I wasn't sure if I wanted to kiss it or smack it off his face. One thing that I have noticed is that when Masen smirks its to intimidate you, but when Edward does it, it almost looks like he is grinning.

"Right…" I nodded my head slowly.

"Bella, right?" He grinned at me.

"Yeah, and Edward. Right?" I grinned back.

"Not sure yet, as I said you have this special effect on Masen.." He chucked another chocolate chip cookie.

"Go on, you were explaining about your personalities…" I trailed off, deciding not to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was annoying me.

"Males, however, it's a little bit different. They have to be…uh…." He scratched his neck, not knowing how describe his gender without dissing himself.

"Rough, assholes? Either of those help?" he rolled his eyes. Get used to it Edward.

"Yeah, sure. I was going to say dominant. Look at the idea of an artist. On the one hand he's gotta suck up to those pretentious asses who buy his work; that he's better than most. Yet he still needs that second personality to defend himself and survive." He said as he walked to the other counter and grabbed a jar of M&M's.

"What's the word that I am looking for…Oh, yeah, adrenaline rush. I was a fucking pushover, because I had a bad day and you piss me off in a legendry way, and the adrenalin rush sent me into overdrive and the dominant part of me just went nuts " He smiled pleased with himself, cocky bastard. I tried looking around the room, anywhere away from him.

"Yeah, well can you warn me next time?" I took a step back.

"From? I wouldn't necessary hurt you. I would just fight verbally with you, if you weren't harmful" He shrugged his shoulders as if yesterday never happened, and posed himself up the counter that's he was leaning on.

"I punched you, I think we discovered that I am very harmful" I frowned at him, looking up, because of where he was sitting.

"Good punch. But don't punch people if you don't know them. A young happy lady could turn into a thousand year old witch." He looked down at me, and put his balled his fist on top of mine.

"Are you giving me permission to punch you?" I grinned and batted my eyelashes at him.

"I would like to see you try a second time sweetheart" He murmured as he pulled me closer between his legs; effectively trapping me and pressing me tightly against his very well formed chest. I looked down at my waist then back at him, blushing slightly. He could easily be the most gorgeous person ever, when he was smiling.

"So…right now, you guard is down, so you, uh change back to the Edward state?" I frowned.

"Yes, I, this body plays an important role in Staria. To keep Masen sane from all the killing, Princess Danu granted Masen with a totally opposite personality of him. He hunts to release the violence that gets pumped into his veins every time the Queen requests some killing to be done, while the other personality is an immature impressive baker." He smiled, then grinned smoothly

"So…I am sorry, this is very new to me. So are you one person or two, like do you two fight over who uh, gains conscious?" I bit my lip, way to sound like an idiot Bella!

He stopped and noticed that I probably looked lost. "We both have the same brain, same thoughts, same strategies, same techniques, we just choose them differently."

I was completely lost. Nothing made sense.

"The bond?" I reminded him as I unwrapped his legs from me and took a step back, just to keep myself form doing the dumbest mistake ever. I drank from my cup silently.

"Ah, good question. One cookie for Bella" He tossed me a cookie.

"I will answer that question on our way to Alice" He went to the closet and grabbed his shoes. He headed towards the door, wearing only his navy boxers.

"Aren't you going to put clothes on?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh" He looked down at himself checking his nearly naked form out, impressed with himself.I palmed my face when I saw a cookie in his right arm, "I could start a new fashion statement like this!"


Clarification of the chapter:

Any Tips are welcome.

One new characters:

Alice- Pixie- (Psychic)

Masen IS one of the main characters, and so is Edward.

If any of the personality part is confusing you just PM me.

Thank you for reading, and I would really like your opinions so leave a review.