A/N: There is another warning in place for this chapter. No sexual violence, but it might bother some of you!
Chapter 7
When Bella awoke the next morning it was with gritty eyes, sour breath, and a pounding, angry headache. She lay in the bed next to a sleeping Jane, wracking her brain to remember what had happened the night before.
She had made dinner. She had a beer. She had…
What, exactly?
Jane, waking when Bella tried to sit up, rushed to grab the trash can from the corner of the room before Bella could be sick on the floor.
That day, she did not get out of bed.
When she began to feel better, Bella used all the time she could to plot her escape. She spent an uneventful week in the little townhouse, imposing on Laurent's seemingly endless hospitality. Each morning, Bella woke and went downstairs to find some kind of breakfast on the table. Sometimes it was only cereal and milk, but other times it was a veritable feast of pancakes, eggs, waffles, muffins, and the like. Laurent was a constant presence in the little house—he was always puttering around, tending to his kitchen or coddling his little dog. He never asked anything of her—not money, not time, not even a chore here or there, though Bella was sure to help out whenever she could. True to his word, James left her alone. In fact, she had barely seen him since that first day, and when he did pop in, it was only for a brief checkup.
"See if you can't find something to amuse yourself," he would say. "Laurent's got some magazines sitting around here."
Sometimes, if he was feeling particularly generous, James would come home with an old copy of People magazine for Bella to read. Bella had stockpiled them, five in total, in the little bedroom—she was reluctant to call it hers, even if she had taken it over. She read them over when the nights set in and Laurent entertained guests. Bella had learned, through observation, that the only time Laurent left her alone is when he had other people in the house to tend to.
Since that first night, Bella had not gone downstairs when the other men, Felix, Demitri, and Alec, were around. Bella knew that some of them lived in the house as well, but they were so often gone that she barely noticed them. Whenever they came in, reeking of marijuana, Bella locked her door and settled in with a magazine, shifting uncomfortably when James would come up and slide one through the gap under the door.
Trixie, it transpired, did not like Laurent's friends either, and took to quarantining herself with Bella in the quiet little room. Bella enjoyed the company.
This night, exactly one week since the beer incident, Bella was sitting on the floor, curled up under a blanket with a new magazine. A sickening jolt had sent butterflies soaring through her at the sight of the familiar face on the front cover, and she could not help but scowl at the little blonde lady attached to his arm. Bella had quickly flipped the cover open, banishing the sight of him, focusing instead on the table of contents. She refused to turn to page 24, though his name was clearly printed there…
Trying not to let her feelings get the better of her Bella rubbed her eyes, as if the heels of her hands could wipe away the feelings that came every time she saw his picture. Bella knew, deep down, that there was no way Emmett could know what was going on. She saw him there, smiling and laughing, flashing a toothy grin for the cameras. She read the bold headlines, announcing his newest movie or the highly-anticipated sequel he was about to start on. A few days ago, Bella had flipped open a copy from last October and had seen the date splashed across a joyous beach photo.
Emmett Swan Filming in Spain! The caption had made her sick to her stomach and she had burned with anger and betrayal as she stared down at it. Her common sense told her that he did not know, that he could not know, but to see him there, smiling up at her from his fancy beach vacation while she had sat, horror-struck, as her father had seized in his hospital bed…
She had been unable to read after that, laying in her hard little bed with Trixie's pink tongue darting out to lick her cheeks. She could not help herself that night, though she felt embarrassed afterwards—she had cried herself to sleep and had torn that particular magazine in half the following morning.
Bella shook her head, dispelling those memories, and turned again to her current reading. Just as she had decided on a Fab or Drab segment covering all the dresses worn to the latest awards show, Bella was jolted by a knock at her door.
"Yes?" she asked, refusing to move until she was certain who was behind it.
"It's me," said James, his voice muffled. "Open up, Kitten."
Bella had still not told him her name.
"Come here," he said eagerly, his face alight as she unlocked the door, peeking out. "Come down for just a minute."
"James…" she said, her voice trembling as she heard the noise and fuss from the lower level. She knew he had visitors, and she did not want to get caught in another situation like she had last week. She was almost positive he had slipped something into her drink. She could only count her blessings that she'd had enough wherewithal to try and run, and that Jane had so kindly stayed upstairs with her to stop anyone taking advantage.
"Oh, come on," he said, taking her by the hand. He intertwined his fingers with hers. "There's someone you need to meet."
"Oh?"
"Yes," said James, looking gleeful. "Let me know what you think of him."
"James, I really don't want to…" Her protests fell on deaf ears.
"Come on," he said again, pulling her along.
"Who is he?" asked Bella, glancing longingly at the bedroom. Trixie was on the bed, ears raised and head cocked to the side, but she did not follow. Bella didn't blame her.
"A very important man," said James pompously. "He's come a long way to meet you."
"Me?" asked Bella, startled. "How…?"
"Never mind that just now," he said, ushering her into the kitchen. Bella was surprised when he began rearranging her hair, making sure it was all tucked in. He ran a careful hand over her head, almost as if he was grooming her, and Bella grew annoyed.
"What are you doing?" she hissed, stepping away as he tried to rub at a spot on her cheek as if she was an errant child. "For god's sake James…"
"You need to look presentable," he said, ignoring her irritation. He licked his thumb and rubbed at her cheek, making her squirm.
"Why?" she demanded. "Who is this person? Let me go back upstairs."
"I will," said James, smiling tersely, "as soon as you say hello. Don't you dare be rude."
"Why would I…" her voice died away as James, shooting her a pointed look, took her hand and began leading her towards the living room.
Bella entered, glancing carefully around at the men. She noticed that there was no marijuana tonight—a first by her reckoning—and that each man sat prim and proper in his seat. Jane was absent, as she had been for a few days now.
"Kitten," began James, gesturing to the one strange man sitting in an armchair. Bella started at the sight of him, as he looked entirely out of place. The other men were relatively young, rather unkempt, and terribly crass, but this man looked like had stepped straight off the pages of a classic novel. True, he was older than most romantic heroes, but his dark hair was brushed back in a slick, gelled style, his suit was impeccable, and Bella saw no trace of youthful innocence on the lines of his face. He seemed to be made of nothing but angles—not even his bowtie was crooked, and from her experience with her father's dress clothes, she knew this was a feat. As she studied his face, she came to the conclusion that this man was old enough to be her father- old enough, maybe, to be Emmett's…
"Hello," he said, his voice a deep baritone. "It is so lovely to meet you. James here has told me all about you."
"Hi," said Bella, embarrassed by the squeak in her voice.
"She is lovely," said the man, turning away from her to speak to James instead. Bella caught Laurent's eye from across the living room and he shook his head ominously. Bella stared intently at him but he would not meet her gaze again. For all the good it did her she might as well be staring at a brick wall.
This man commanded the room, and Bella was a little humbled to see even James' sugary respect.
"Yes sir," said James, nodding as he tugged Bella closer. She stood off to the side, eyes glued to the floor as she tried to sort out just what was going on. She hadn't seen James in nearly a week, and now, who was this striking stranger?
"Has she been tested?" asked the man, his eyes lingering on Bella. She felt her face growing hot as she glanced up, catching his eye. He simply cocked an eyebrow at her, as if in challenge, and she couldn't help but look away.
This man is dangerous, trilled the anxious voice in her head. Danger, danger, danger…
"Not yet," said James, "but I'm on it."
"Is she pure?" Bella's head snapped up again at this word, her face white, though no one paid her any attention.
"I think so," said James. "I'll have the doctor check."
"The doctor?" Bella blurted out, and she heard Laurent's groan. "What are you talking about?"
"Be quiet," snapped James, glaring at her with squinted eyes. "Shut your mouth."
"Now, now, James," said the stranger, leaning back to assess Bella from his place. "Let her speak. What do you want to know, child?"
Bella stared at the strange man, knees weak and heart pounding.
"I…"
"Yes?" he prompted. His voice was not raised nor was his face marred by a frown, but something in that lone word made Bella fall silent. The man laughed bitterly.
"As usual. Nothing worthwhile to say," he sniffed, looking scornfully back to James. Bella's face was flaming. "I'll give you ten. Fifteen if you can get me papers."
"Yes sir," said James, sounding excited once more. "Absolutely. Tomorrow, for sure…"
"James…" Bella could not help but interrupt.
"Shut up," he ground out, squeezing her arm in a tight warning grip. Bella felt her eyes spark with tears. Would he strike her now, as he had struck Jane last week?
"I will expect," said the man, raising his voice and James dropped her arm like a hot coal, "that she will not be marked."
"No sir," said James, running a reluctant hand over Bella's smarting arm. "Not one blemish."
"Excellent," he said. "Five now, then?"
James looked gleeful.
"Go back upstairs, Kitten," he said dismissively, pushing her towards the staircase. "I'll see you in the morning."
"What…?"
"Now," hissed James angrily. "Go, Kitten."
"No," she said, crossing her arms. The strange, commanding man raised an eyebrow, looking disapprovingly down on her.
"I will not tolerate cheek, girl," he said, and Bella looked up with fearful confidence.
"You don't own me." Bella heard Laurent gasp, though she did not look at him, and James glared down at her with a face as white as milk. He grabbed her arm again.
"Shut your mouth!" He looked anxiously at the stranger who chuckled, shaking his head.
"Such insolence will not be tolerated," he warned. "You didn't mention she was mouthy."
"Get upstairs now," snarled James, his voice low and menacing. He shoved her roughly away from him, making her stumble. Taking her cue, Bella scampered into the kitchen and up the stairs, tripping half way up. She heard James call out to her, his voice dark and menacing, but she did not stop to listen.
Trixie was still waiting on the bed for her, and she wiggled her tail happily when Bella fell into it, shaking.
Bella was not familiar with the ins and outs of crime, but she was fairly certain what had just transpired downstairs. She knew she had been stupid to follow James home—she had known that the minute she had stepped inside—but she could not think of what to do now. Bella was naïve, but she was not stupid—James has just sold her to that stranger downstairs, and Bella had a fairly good idea what she was wanted for. The very thought made her sick.
Trixie licked her face.
"What do I do?" she asked anxiously, glancing down at the little dog. "I don't know what to do."
Trixie yipped.
"You can't come, baby," she said, snuggling her face in the soft fur. "I have nowhere to go, and I can't take you away…" Bella felt an absurd rush of sadness at the idea of leaving the dog, and she let her tears fall. Trixie, ever the saviour, rushed forth to shower her with wet kisses; she always disliked it when Bella was sad. Bella took the little dog in her arms, squeezing her tight, as she knew she would not have much more time to spend with her.
"I've gotta go, baby," she said again, her voice shaking. "I can't stay here." Bella had never spoken a truer phrase in her life, and although she had no idea how she would manage it without being seen, she was absolutely positive that she would find some way to make it happen. She had already lingered here too long… she should never have come.
Trixie snuffled and licked her face, as she always liked to do, both girl and dog listening carefully to the sounds of soft voices from the lower level. Bella could hear the stranger talking, and James' loud, excited voice saying "Yes sir!" after each rumbling sentence. Bella bit hard on the inside of her cheek, trying not to lose control, but she could barely keep her fear in check when the door downstairs slammed shut, and she heard booming footsteps running up the stairs. She held her breath, cringing when the loud knocks rattled the door in its frame.
"Open this door!" shouted James, his voice irate. "I swear to god, open it!"
Bella sat quietly on the bed, trying to staunch her tears. What would he do to her now? Oh, how stupid she was to have ever come here…
"Open the door!" His voice was growing more unsteady, and Bella heard Laurent in the background.
"Take it easy, James. You heard Aro. He doesn't want her marked…" James responded by kicking the door so hard that his boot flew through it and Trixie yelped, scrabbling out of Bella's arms to escape to her sanctuary under the bed.
"James!" Bella shouted, her fear overtaking her. James responded with another violent kick and the door flew open, broken.
"If you ever," snarled James, advancing on her, "embarrass me like that again, you won't know what hit you!" He clamped both of his hands around her arms, hauling her up, and shook her hard. Her teeth rattled.
She could only cry.
"How dare you!?" he roared, throwing her back. Bella caught sight of Laurent on the other side of the door, shaking his head in a sad, knowing way.
"James, please…"
"Shut up!" he roared, and with a force that she had never felt before, his hand flew out and struck her, hard, across the face. She fell to the side, her ears ringing. Bella was lucky the bed was soft or she would have hit her head against the hardwood floor. As it was, she lay stunned on the mattress, unable to sit herself back up.
"Shit," said James, pulling her up to face him. "Goddamn it. Laurent! Ice!" he barked. Bella's hearing cleared and her fear morphed into terrified anger. His angry face swam before her as she blinked, trying to clear her tears, and when his icy gaze met hers, she began to scream.
"Get off of me!" Her voice was shrill and loud. "Get away!"
James released her, breathing hard, and Bella fell back on the bed, shock and pain coursing through her. He had hit her. He had actually hit her…
She had to get out of here.
"Relax," said James, trying to sit on the bed next to her. Bella, in a fit of fright and rage, struck out at him with her feet, catching him in the groin. He growled and leapt away, balling his hand into a fist.
"Let me tell you, little girl," he growled, "that if you hit Aro like that, he'll knock every one of your teeth out." James reached out once more and Bella felt the sting of his hand again... she could see his snarling face, advancing closer and closer…
"Get out!" Bella shrieked, beyond reason. When he reached out to grab her, she began to flail every bit of herself she could move. James shouted expletives at her, and she could hear little Trixie whining under the bed as she railed against him with pounding fists and scrabbling feet.
"You will obey," said James angrily, reaching down to haul her up again. Bella struggled against him—kicking, biting, scratching and screaming—but he would not put her down. Grabbing a fist full of hair, he dragged her face up to his.
"You will obey," he said again, and Bella felt a sharp pain at her side.
"James!" barked Laurent, and Bella felt his hands release her. She clamped her own hand to her smarting side as she slid to the floor, and when she pulled it away she could see a smear of blood. Laurent's rough grip on his arm forced James to release the knife he had been holding to her and Bella scampered back. James looked livid—he was glaring down at her with an almost inhuman anger, teeth bared and nostrils flared.
"You kill her and Aro will demand double what he just gave you," growled Laurent, pushing James against the wall. He tossed an ice pack on the bed, but would not look at her. "You'd better hope that doesn't scar."
James said nothing, breathing heavily as Bella, sprawled haphazardly on the bedroom floor, could only cry, holding her hand to the shallow cut.
She had to get out of here.
"Here," said Laurent, pushing past James to take up the ice pack he'd tossed. When he brought it to her face Bella lashed out again, slapping it out of his hands. Her face stung and her side ached as she moved, but she would not let these people anywhere near her.
"Damn it, girl…" said Laurent, sounding for once as if he was going to lose his patience.
"Get out!" cried Bella, though this time her voice was weaker. "Go away…"
"Suit yourself," he said, and although he left the ice with her, he reached under the bed to scoop up a trembling Trixie. Bella, resisting the urge to protest, glanced over as James took another step inside the room, reaching down as if to help her up. Bella's mind went into overdrive.
"Don't touch me!" Her voice quavered but her hand was steady as she screamed, clawing his arm with her fingernails hard enough to draw blood. James snarled at her, jumping back, but Laurent's restraining hand prevented him from retaliating. The two men retreated, Laurent looking resigned and James still fuming. As they left, Bella slammed what was left of the bedroom behind them, knowing very well that the door wouldn't keep anyone out now.
There was the sound of footsteps descending the stairs before a brief moment of quiet, then the voices crested again, laughing and joking as if nothing had happened.
Though the night grew later, the noise from downstairs did not die down. Bella could hear the murmured conversation, the dull, empty laughter, and the sounds of a television tuned in to a sports game. Curled up on the floor—she refused to go near the bed—Bella listened hard, half terrified that James would return to assault her again.
"I have to go," she said, her voice breaking though no one could hear her. "Please, let me go…" She could barely breathe for crying. The back of her head, resting on the wall, throbbed with each beat of her heart, the memory of James' angry grip lingering long after he had released her. Her cheek stung and she could feel it growing hot—she knew her eye was swollen and puffy. Her side had finally stopped bleeding, but not before leaving a rather large stain on the white tank top…
Some time later—she was never sure exactly how long she had sat on the floor—Bella heard footsteps coming back up the stairs. Unable to contain it, she let out a pitiful cry of fear, curling herself up as small as she could get. If James would hit her again, he would not get her face…
"Girl? Kitten?" It was Laurent. "I'm coming in."
Bella could not move as the door was opened.
"Oh Jesus," he said, sighing as he knelt down before her. "Let me see."
Bella let him pry her hands off of her face but would not let him touch it.
"Get off," she snapped as he reached his hand to touch the swelling. "Get away from me."
"I'm sorry he hit you," said Laurent gently. "Truly, I am…"
"Get out," whimpered Bella sadly, and Laurent drew himself up.
"You'll feel better in the morning," he said, sounding sure. "Why don't you take my bedroom for the night? It's got a full door and a lock, so no one will bother you…"
Bella stared up, disbelieving.
"Go ahead. Trixie's in there."
Bella, drawing herself painfully to her full height, walked desolately towards the other end of the hallway, rushing past Laurent as quickly as she could. Laurent's bedroom looked out on the front of the house, and Bella took careful stock of it before she slipped inside. Trixie greeted her enthusiastically, licking her feet.
"Have a good sleep, kid," said Laurent softly, lingering in the doorway. He did not step in after her, respecting her space.
"Please go," said Bella, tears welling up again. "Please…"
"Alright, alright," he said, lifting his hands in surrender. "Chill out. I'm gone, okay? Here's your ice pack, in case you want it…"
He left the ice on the dresser.
"Have a good sleep. I won't bother you in the morning, and James is going to come by around 2 for your appointment. He's gone out to Chinatown to find Jane…"
Bella cried again.
"Sleep well."
"Get out."
Laurent shut the door behind him.
Bella stood in the silence of the bedroom until she heard the telltale sounds of cars departing. She watched through the gauzy curtains as first Alec, then Felix, then Demitri took their leave, each driving off in a different direction.
Before long, Bella heard Laurent retreating to the other end of the hallway, taking up residence in the bedroom she had left.
When she heard him begin to snore, Bella quickly unlocked the door and crept, as carefully as she could, down the stairs. She took care not to step on the squeakiest parts of the steps, which she had learned over the course of her stay here, and made it carefully to the end of the staircase. She listened hard for the sound of Laurent's continuing snores, thanking whatever God could hear her when the rumbling filtered down.
Bella was not expecting, however, to hear the jingle of Trixie's collar as she bounded down the stairs as well. She looked at Bella, excited and pleased as Bella rummaged inside her boxes, pulling out one of Charlie's old shirts.
"No, baby," she said, her eyes welling up. She tried to keep quiet. "Sit."
The dog obeyed.
"Stay," said Bella, reaching into the box once more and procuring the little black book. The dog sat, tail wagging, as Bella snatched a backpack from the hook by the door, stuffing it with supplies. The book, the shirt, some underwear from the dryer…
The little dog never moved and Bella, feeling her heart breaking at the sad little whimper Trixie let out, opened the front door.
Laurent's snores echoed down, undisturbed. Trixie stared avidly at her, her big eyes looking up intently. Bella knew it was irrational, she knew she was being silly, but that dog had claimed a big part of her heart during her stay here, and it hurt to leave her behind. Maybe, if Bella had a home to go to, someplace reliable and steady, she might be able to take Trixie with her, but she did not. The dog had a decent home here—Laurent was very fond of her—and Bella, no matter how much she loved the animal, would not bring her out onto the streets.
"Stay," she said again, ignoring the little whine as she opened the front door. The night air was crisp, as she suspected it would be, but she slipped her father's old flannel over top of the bloodstained shirt she had on. Trixie rushed forward, prepared to follow, but Bella rebuked her sharply and the dog sat again.
"Stay," she said, her voice breaking. "Good girl. Stay."
Trixie's tail wagged furiously as Bella reached over, but she could not bring herself to pet the dog. Instead, she stepped through the doorway and pulled it closed behind her, shutting Trixie inside.
She could not stop her tears as she set off at a quick pace, walking away from the townhouse. She didn't care where she ended up, so long as it wasn't here.
For the first mile, Bella was hampered by her stream of tears—she could not help thinking about Trixie, about the boxes she had been forced to leave behind, and about the pain in her face and side. Bella did not know in which direction she walked—she tried to turn as little as she could, wanting to put as much distance between her and the house as possible. The first mile did not take her long at all, and once she found herself passing places she recognized from her stay in her truck, she began to speed up. How long would it take for someone at the house to realize she was gone? How long did she have before Laurent woke for his morning coffee and checked on her, as he always did when James was out of the house, or until James himself returned from his visit to Chinatown? She knew James had been given money from the stranger, Aro, and she knew that if she was not procured by tomorrow, as promised, James would lose out…
Bella began to run.
She ran long and hard—as long and hard as her body would permit—until she found herself in the familiar apartment block she had fled the week before. Panting and heaving, she stopped under a light, taking stock of the abandoned streets and tall, looming buildings.
Bella saw the parking space where her truck had been, dismay coursing through her at the sight of the unoccupied space.
A small part of Bella, hopeful to the very end, had been in denial, believing that her beloved truck full of boxes would still be waiting for her. Bella knew, in her rational mind, that it had spent too much time unoccupied, that the old fire escape lady who had phoned the police would have had it removed, but that did not stop her disappointment.
As the first weak rays of sunlight began to crest over the distant horizon, catching on plumes of foggy morning mist in the grey concrete jungle, Bella knew that she could not linger. If James was looking for her, this would be the first place he'd check.
Running as fast as she could, Bella tore off through the parking lot and down a new street, determined to put as much distance between herself and the little townhouse as possible.
A/N: You have spoken. I only received a few messages asking for me to discontinue this and work on other projects, so Invictus wins out!
I have also been asked quite a few times whether or not this story will include Edward. Without giving away too much, I can assure everyone that there will be no other pairing (Bella will not be with anyone else), but there is not a huge focus on romance in this story. Edward will show up eventually but this story is not going to focus on their relationship. This is primarily a family story.
I love hearing what you all think! Let me know with a review! Are you excited to hear from Emmett next chapter?
