Longest chapter yet, and one I'm rather fond of - not entirely sure why. As I write I find I enjoy Bella just a little bit more with every chapter. Next chapter should be up on Friday :)


Chapter 7

Rosalie picks at her vegetable lasagne, while Royce tears at his steak. After five minutes of attempting to spark a conversation with his sister and brother-in-law, Edward had given up, and resigned himself to spending the evening in silence. The whole afternoon had been a study in discomfort, as Bella has given a tour of the hotel and surrounding area. Out of the eleven guests left only four were anywhere near interested, while the rest, Edward included, were silent as they ignored the rest of the people they'd arrived with.

Having finished his steak, Royce stands to leave, nodding a goodbye to Edward, yet ignoring his wife completely. Once he has gone, Edward places down his cutlery and simply stares at Rosalie. She tries to ignore him, but as ever can only stay silent for so long.

"We ran into Emmett on our walk," she sighs, hiding her face in her hands.

"And I take it that didn't go well?" he jokes, only to receive a glare from Rosalie.

"Considering the last time they met, Royce broke Emmett's nose, I'd say no." Pushing away her plate she rests back in her seat, eyes to the ceiling. "This whole thing's a mess, maybe we should just leave."

Before Edward could reply, Bella suddenly appeared by their table, eyes focused on Rosalie. Edward wasn't sure how he would describe the look in the landlady's eyes; though anger would sum it up quite nicely. Her eyes were completely black, her pink lips taught and her hands curling into fists by her side.

"Excuse me, Mrs King, is something the matter?" she asks, such strained politeness in her voice.

"What? Oh, no, I'm just not hungry. In fact," gathering her handbag she sends an apologetic look to Edward, "I'm not feeling too well, I think I'm going to lie down." Then she shuffles past Bella, being careful not to touch her, and leaves her brother alone.

Shaking his head Edward simply continues to eat his steak; he knew he shouldn't have come on this trip with them. It always ended like this. Royce would become angry with Rosalie, she would try to make it up to him, and Edward would be left alone. He wasn't sure why they were even still together, when it was so obvious that Royce had no plans to either forgive or forget about Rosalie's indiscretions. It simply baffled him.

"On your own again," Bella says as she sits opposite him. Edward frowns as he realises he might have spent more time with this stranger than with his own sister in the last two days.

"It would appear so," he replies, smiling before sipping his wine.

"Things seem a little…tense between them. Is everything okay?" Her tone suggests concern, but that shine is back in her eyes, and if anything Edward would swear they grow darker, suggesting she is in fact happy that things aren't quite right between his sister and her husband.

"It'll be fine, eventually." Finally clearing his plate, he wipes his mouth on the napkin and sits back. She still makes him uncomfortable, but he can't deny that she's been good company so far. "It was quite a tour you gave us this afternoon. I imagine everyone will be turning in early after the walk."

Bella smiles obviously flattered, before she casts her eyes around the dining room. "Perhaps."

"I meant to ask, is it only you here? It's just I haven't seen anyone else."

Bella smiles, and for the first time it doesn't send chills through him. She has yet to blink, and she sits oddly still, yet he is not afraid. Perhaps, he muses, I am becoming used to her.

"It's just me."

"And you prepare all the food?" His tone is one of disbelief. True there aren't many guests, but still, he would have imagined her to have at least a chef on hand.

"I do, does that bother you?"

After shaking his head he finishes his wine, and then stands from his chair. His limbs feel heavy, his eyes sore, and he knows that it is time for bed. There isn't a single clock in the whole hotel, and he'd forgotten his watch back home, so he is unaware of exactly how early he is retiring to bed, but he imagines it to be shockingly so.

"Heading off?" Bella questions, to which he nods.

"Thank you for the lovely meal, see you in the morning?"

"Bright and early," she chirps as she watches him leave.

There are still some guests in the dining room, but she doesn't give them a second thought as she leaves. Taking the stairs two at a time, she whisks her way to the fourth floor. Slamming her heavy oak door behind her, she bypasses her boudoir and enters her little steel room. There she watches Edward, as he clumsily slips his key into his lock, kicks off his shoes inside his bedroom. As his hands slip to the buckle on his belt, Bella's tongue peaks out to wet her lips, she imagines that had her heart been capable of beating it would be racing.

Just as his hands reach to pull his shirt off, a voice causes Bella to jump and close her eyes.

"This is disturbingly voyeuristic, even for you," Isabel says, the smile evident in her voice.

"I wasn't…I was just…" Bella stammers.

"Being a pervert." Isabel's eyes focus in on the grainy screen, Edward is now getting into bed, with the view now only of his back and pyjama covered legs. "It's okay; he is rather pleasant to look at."

Bella rolls her eyes and spins away from the desk. Kicking her feet along the ground she spins herself, faster and faster until all is a blur around her. She is incapable of feeling sick anymore, but still she spins herself, just in case the feeling comes back.

"Today went well," Isabel says.

"Better than we'd expected. I'm not sure the four days will be needed this time," Bella replies. She finally stops herself, and frowns as the ceiling is still in perfect focus. "Two shall be dead by morning, and I imagine the other five will follow shortly after."

"Which will leave only four. Then what?"

Bella's eyes slip back to the CRT upon which Edward's sleeping form is emblazoned. She hasn't told Isabel her plan, though she probably already knows, she always does.

"You want to keep him," Isabel says, disgust dripping from her words.

"Yes."

"As what, your human pet?" When Bella doesn't answer, Isabel scoffs her eyes wide in disbelief. "You can't seriously mean to change him? We've never done that! Christ, do you even remember how we were changed? Because I certainly don't."

Standing sharply, Bella begins to pace across the floor, kicking off her shoes and allowing her bare feet to feel the cool concrete beneath her. "I think I know."

"You think you know. And if you're wrong? You'll kill him."

Bella's hands are embedded in her hair, the curls splitting and reforming under her grasp. Why can't Isabel just shut up for once? Why does she have to destroy her plans? Shaking her head, Bella straightens her hunched form and gestures towards the monitors.

"Forget that, look, there they go."

Black eyes focus on the top left monitor, as the blond haired man grasps onto the auburn haired woman's hand and together they sneak quietly down the second floor corridor. They occasionally sneak in kisses, and at one point become consumed with one another on the stairs, but eventually they make it through the hotel and out the front door.

Bella grins and scrambles out of her bedroom window and out onto the roof. Lithely she runs across the old tiles, before dropping down to the ground, barely disrupting the sand beneath her. There she hides in the long grass, watching as the couple run towards the sea.

The woman stops as the man stands before her, brazenly stripping off his clothes. His shirt sends his blond hair into disarray, and for a moment Bella can almost see what the woman sees in him.

"Oh my God, Carl! You weren't serious?"

"As a heart attack," he jokes, undoing his fly and removing his jeans. He is left in nothing but the skin he was born in, and Bella smirks. Must be cold out.

"You coming?" he asks as he jogs towards the water, leaving the woman alone.

For a moment she is indecisive, and she glances back towards the hotel. But just as Bella knew she would, she follows Carl in stripping off her clothes and running into the water. The woman is much too easily swayed for her own good.

They splash around in the water, kissing and caressing as though they are not naked in the North Sea. Bella remembers the cold of that water and frankly cannot understand why anyone would do that.

She rises from her spot in the bushes and stalks towards the couple. It has been so long since she has killed someone herself, the anticipation sends electrifying tingles throughout her body. She is so hungry.

Into the water she descends, unable to feel the cold as it rises to her breasts. Her prey doesn't see her, don't hear her. How could they? So wrapped up in their lives, with their beating hearts and staggered breaths. Yet so easily crushed, how fragile the human condition. She is once more glad that she shook off such delicate bonds.

Before either of the pair realise she is upon them, strong hands on their heads forcing them under the water. Drowning never takes as long in the North Sea, the cold makes it so much easier. But for a time their hands scrape at her skin, nails leaving claw marks, though they heal almost instantly. Legs kick beneath the surface of the water, and bubbles rise as the couple shouts and screams – as though that is going to make her stop. Quicker than she might have liked their bodies stop wriggling and eventually become limp; she holds them under just a little longer – just to be sure.

She knows when they are dead, however, because there is a sudden rush within her. For a brief second her dead heart beats, her skin is flushed and her legs cold. Then their life forces are absorbed and she is once more pale, unable to feel the water around her, and empty. Disgusted she leaves the bodies to float in the water, and stalks back towards the hotel, angry and ready for the new day.


Let me know what you think :)