DC: I don't own it

Thank you to my reviewers!

Graphic content in the beginning of the chapter.

Chapter 8,

Edward had forgotten that most old mansions had dungeons. That was kind of creepy. He had never given it much thought before. Tanya took his hand and they walked downstairs. In the dungeon Tanya brought him into the largest room. There was a table with various instruments and chains from the ceiling.

"It's like role playing. Remember how much fun we had when we did that?"

"Yeah," he said. They had played detention and they also played lonely housewife. Those had been pretty fun. Edward enjoyed faking an accent though the tight shorts were weird. "What are you going to be?"

"Well," Tanya said wrapping her arms around his neck. Her mouth began to trace along his jaw and throat. "I can be the spy and you caught me and your trying to get me to talk. Oh or I can be the little slave. Oh master I disobeyed you and you have to punish me."

"You want to be a disobedient slave?"

"Ooh yes, how erotic."

Erotic? Edward wondered why that would be erotic. It certainly didn't look erotic when his father was whipping the skin off of Bella, or even when he was giving her a less severe one. Actually it looked like it hurt quite a bit. But Tanya did have harder skin.

"So what exactly do I have to do?" Edward asked.

"I'll change into something more the part and you will treat me like I am a disobedient slave," Tanya said, briefly wondering why he didn't seem to understand. She left to change her clothes and Edward wondered if he had to get into a costume. Tanya had one for him. Tight pants again. She really must have had a thing for them. He looked at the black pants and sighed. They were quite uncomfortable when he got an erection. But he wore them and noticed that his shirt was gauzy and much too loose for him. Girls were a strange species.

When he came back Tanya was ready. She wore a simple garment that was similar to what Bella or Esme would wear.

"Master," she said bowing her head.

Following her mental image he fastened her arms above her head. She seemed to enjoy that. She dropped her head back. He enjoyed the way her hair tumbled down her shoulders and back. It wasn't rumpled like Bella's was. Too much product. There were too many smells.

Following what she seemed to like he roughly undressed her and tried to slip into the part of the dominating master. He spoke to her harshly and kissed her roughly. He tried to slap her but that didn't work.

Whip me Edward!

Edward saw a whip on the table along with a paddle and iron rod and other things. He whipped her once and she cried out but it was a pleasured sound.

Harder!

Edward whipped her again. His memory flashed Bella's face. The look of pain in her eyes as the leather sliced through her skin as if it was butter. He put the whip down. Maybe paddling wouldn't be so bad. Tanya didn't seem to mind that. He spanked her hard with the wooden paddle and she screamed in delight. The whole thing was weird to him. How was this pleasurable? Bella looked to be in so much pain and distress when she was beaten. He saw her bloody back and tear stained cheeks in his mind.

He shook his head and put the whip down. He would just get off by oral sex or something. He pulled the tight pants off and took a moment to rub himself a bit to get into the mood. Once he was stiff he went back to her.

"Oh Master...please...don't..."

"But you said you wanted me to!" Edward cried.

"Oh for the love of all that's holy Edward it's called acting!"

"Oh right...sorry..."

He grabbed her hips and thrust upwards into her. She cried out in pleasure.

"Oh...Master...sir..."

"You like this?"

It was an honest question but Tanya dismissed it as sex talk.

"Oh no Master! Please no!"

I'm acting again Edward

Edward scowled at her mental tone. She didn't happen to see it.

They made us watch while they raped my mother...it's the scariest thing in the world to me

Edward shook Bella's voice from his head. He saw the pain in her eyes again and her soft voice kept telling him how horrible it was and how afraid she was of him being the violent vampire that she had seen before.

"I can't do this," Edward declared pulling out and pushing away. "Tanya this is just weird and messed up."

"Oh come on Edward what is so bad about it?" she asked pulling her hands from the ropes.

"It's just weird okay! I don't know why you seem to get off on me hitting you but it's weird! I mean I can't imagine one human that enjoys being whipped!"

"Why would they?"

"Why do you?!"

"Geez Edward you sure know how to blow a mood."

"What?! I don't want to beat my girlfriend so sue me!"

"It isn't beating your girlfriend," Tanya sighed, pulling her shirt on, "it's just bondage. It's a playful thing."

"Playful?!"

"What is up with you anyway Edward? I thought you'd be into that dominating stuff."

Edward pulled his shirt over his head and gave her a look. "Do I really seem like that kind of person?"

"No. But it's sexy!"

"My father just whipped the shit out of one of our humans and I can tell you she did not find it erotic or sexy!"

Tanya folded her arms. "So you were thinking about another woman?"

"I was thinking about how when I heard the whip crack the look of pain in her eyes. Look it was an involuntary thing and it freaked the crap out of me! I'm not going to abuse you Tanya!"

"First off it isn't abuse if I like it and second grow a pair Edward!"

Tanya angrily stormed off and Edward rolled his eyes. Girls were so strange.

---

Bella was making his bed and gathering his laundry when he came back. She looked up at they shared a strange silence. After getting so personal lately they both felt a bit awkward.

"Did you have a good night?" Bella asked making small talk as she tucked in his sheets.

"A weird one," Edward sighed, Bella bent to pick up some of the jeans he had tossed on the floor and winced. "Are you okay?"

"Back hurts," she mumbled.

"Did Carlisle take a look at it?" Edward asked.

"No, I didn't ask. He's busy with his daughter after all and I'm fine. It'll be better in a few days anyway."

"Are you sure? Can I take a look at it at least?"

"Do you feel you have to?" Bella asked. She felt weak again. He looked at her with intense eyes under waves of bronze. He held out his hand and she came to him. He sat her on his bed and pulled her dress up carefully. The lashes on her back were deep. Much deeper than the ones he had given him which had faded. These ones looked painful. They were scabbed over in some places but they still looked painful.

"Did you put anything on them."

"Esme gave me some ointment," Bella lied. "I should probably go. If your girlfriend walked in I'm sure she'd think something else."

"She won't," Edward said. "We had a big fight."

Bella hissed softly as he touched her back. Her skin was very warm. Warmer than a humans normally was.

"Make sure you put more ointment on before you go to sleep," Edward said. Bella nodded.

"Do you need anything?"

"I'm going to go get a bottle of blood," Edward said, "I'll walk you down."

"You're being a little too nice for comfort," Bella said with a little half smile as she fixed her dress. Edward laughed.

"Don't worry kitten, I'll tease you're skinny butt tomorrow."

"I don't have a skinny butt."

"Yeah sure, and I've never been laid."

"Well clearly you have as I have to clean up the evidence every day!"

Edward threw his head back and laughed. They reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to go down the servants quarters when they stopped suddenly.

"Goodnight, Carlisle," Esme said softly.

"Sweet dreams my love," Carlisle whispered, kissing her tenderly on the lips. He froze and whirled around. "Edward."

Edward winced and walked into the hall. Esme flushed and went into the room and Carlisle walked up to Edward and Bella. His attention was specifically on Edward.

"Tell anyone and I will kick your butt from here to hell."

"Who am I going to tell?!" Edward cried. "And it's not like you were going to keep it from me for long."

"Go to bed," Carlisle sighed. Edward nodded. He left with his brother and Bella went into the servants quarters. She looked at Esme and they both shared a giggle before getting ready for bed.

---

Edward tapped his pen on his book and sighed. He hated winter homework. He especially hated winter calculus homework. He was getting irritated and thirsty. He had asked Bella to bring him a bottle of blood and she was sure taking her sweet time about it. He was sure it was just to annoy him.

The door opened and he turned around fully irritated.

"It's about time you...kitten?"

"Here," Bella mumbled pushing the bottle into his hands. He put it on his desk and took her hand.

"You're pale."

"I have a lot to get done and not a lot of time to get it done now please let me go!" Bella jerked her arm, turned and took two steps before collapsing.

"Holy! Hey! Come on now!" Edward knelt beside her and lifted her into his lap. "Kitten wake up."

"I fell..."

"Yeah you did. You're burning up. Are you sick?"

"I feel so weak."

"I have that effect on people."

Bella weakly rolled her eyes. Edward gave one dry laugh. He made to pick her up and she whimpered. He carried her to his bed and put her on her stomach. He pulled her dress up (ignoring her weak complaint). He groaned when he saw her back. The cuts from the lashing she received just a week ago were for the most part completely infected. Her back was a swollen mess of three long cuts with yellowed scabs. He put his hand against her back and felt like he was touching a flame.

"I told you to treat these!"

"I forgot," she mumbled, "I'm sorry...I'll just..."

"You aren't doing anything but laying here and getting better. I don't care what you say otherwise. All three of your wounds are infected. Carlisle is at work right now but when he gets home I want him to take a look at this. I don't know anything about human infections. You're shivering?"

"You pulled my dress up."

"You have the chills. Your skin feels like fire. Wait here." Edward stood up and went to his dresser.

"I have so much I need to do."

"Let the others handle it," Edward said, "for at least a couple days you'll be back on your feet and back to normal. Until then wear these."

Edward peeled Bella's clothes off despite her objections and forced her into the sweatpants and sweater. He pulled back his blankets and tucked her in them.

"Why are you taking care of me?"

"Probably for the same reason I'm nice to you," he said with a shrug, "or for the same reason I kissed you. But until I find out what that reason is who knows. I figured I should at least be nice if we're going to try to be friends. I like how Carlisle and Esme are. Well without the you know..."

"I haven't been sick in a while," Bella sighed as Edward pulled a spare quilt from the closet. "Alice and I would get colds in the winter when we were weaker. Mom would take care of us. She knew how to make these herbal medicines from things she gathered in the summer," she sighed heavily, "I miss her."

"Hey, at least you knew your mom," he said trying to be friendly.

"Sometimes I think that makes it harder. It hurts so much sometimes. Just remembering her face...both of them...god I can't believe I'm always getting so worked up anymore about it. It's been months...I never let it all sink in."

"You've been having nightmares," Edward said, "I can hear you at night."

"I see them. Vincent and the others. He's always on top of me with blood dripping from his teeth and mouth. He hurts me. Alice is dead beside me and my parents are dead too. He tells me that he'll kill me."

"Nobody is going to kill you as long as you are mine," Edward said, "I'm very protective of my property."

"I'm not property," Bella said weakly.

"We seem to have differing opinions in the definition of the word."

"I'm too tired to fight you today," she sighed.

"So I win, yay for me!"

Bella closed her eyes and sighed.

"Warmer?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll probably do the blanket dance soon."

"Sounds sexy."

"Something Alice and I do when we're sick. We go from chills to sweats and back again. Freezing cold to boiling hot."

"Humans are weird," Edward sighed. "You don't sound good. Your voice is almost gone. Would you like to read something?"

"No, I can't read."

"Really?!" Edward sounded genuinely amazed. Bella nodded. "Wow."

"I grew up in a hole in the ground," she reminded him, "I was raised by two humans who grew up in slavery. All of our bedtime stories were spoken."

"Sorry, it just seems so obvious to me that you'd know. Well get some sleep."

Bella nodded and soon she was fast asleep. Edward stroked her hair softly and watched her. She slept a lot. He sometimes seemed to forget just how fragile humans were. She was so sick, he could feel it. Whether she was going to vomit and then need to be taken to a hospital he didn't know but he certainly hoped not. Carlisle would know what to do. He would be able to help.

"Edward..." Bella murmured.

Edward looked down at her and saw that she was still asleep. He smiled bright when he heard his own name on her lips.

"Nobody can help you now," Vincent purred in her ear. Bella struggled against his grip. He tore her clothes and clawed her skin in the process. "Mmm your blood is delicious."

"STOP! NO PLEASE DON'T!"

"I killed your family and everyone you have cared about."

"NO!"

Bella thrashed but it was no use, he was too strong. Vincent grabbed her knees and wrenched her legs apart. "Now pet you'll feel the full extent of a man's touch."

"EDWARD! PLEASE HELP ME!"

Vincent continued to violently thrust into her. Bella cried out as she felt her pelvis break. Edward was in the distance running to her.

"Bella wake up!"

"Please...please no..."

"She's having hallucinations it seems," Carlisle said, "but she does have a high fever."

"Bella wake up!"

Bella jerked awake and looked at the two vampires. "Please! No!"

"It's alright nobody is going to hurt you."

"He doesn't stop."

"He will," Edward promised. He pulled the blankets up and tucked them around her shoulders. "Get some sleep kitten."

"Bella, do you know who I am?" Carlisle asked gently.

"Carlisle," Bella whispered. He nodded. "Esme?"

"Bella you should have told me that you were hurt I could have helped you."

"I'm sorry," Bella mumbled.

"Bella I need to take a look at your back now," Carlisle said. He carefully turned her around and slowly raised her dress to avoid hurting her. "My bag please Esme."

Bella felt his icy fingertips on her back. They felt good on her hot skin. Carlisle opened his bag and took out a small jar.

"How far has the infection spread?" Esme asked gently.

"Not too far," Carlisle answered in his professional tone, "I can only guess where it came from but I'm willing to put my money on the whip he used. I can't imagine father has them cleaned."

"How deep were they? Oh Bella I'm sorry I didn't notice."

"An inch if she's lucky. I don't feel any muscle damage but I wouldn't put it past him. Father prides himself in being able to whip down to the bone. Imagine what he would have done if he was truly furious."

"It gets worse?" Bella moaned.

"Father is sensitive about the subject of our mother," Carlisle said, "but there are things that could make him far angrier. He has killed in his rage before."

"What happened?" Bella asked.

"Well," Carlisle said, "it was years ago, do you remember Esme?"

"Unfortunately. The only time Lady Cullen was enraged with him."

"Now where was I? Oh yes, it was a human boy, about your age, by the name of Ryan," Carlisle said thinking back to his childhood while he began working on Bella's back. "You see Rosalie was a baby at the time. He was carrying her down the stairs and something happened, I don't know if he tripped or she was just squirming and he lost his grip, but either way she fell down the stairs."

"How did she survive?!" Bella asked in the most worried tone she could master.

"Vampires aren't as fragile as humans. But father was angry, he took the boy down into a cell and gave him three lashes. They were so deep they went down to his bones."

"He died?"

"Yes, father left him down there and he died from blood loss and from the cold."

"Lady Cullen was furious when she found out, not only because her daughter was involved, but because the boy was killed."

Bella thought about that. Killed for dropping the master's baby. She thought it seemed extreme, it wasn't like the child was hurt at all. Actually she was pretty sure Rosalie got up and walked off. But Lord Cullen was that way it seemed.

"So you must be the ones encouraging her curiosity."

Everyone in the room looked over to see Lord Cullen standing in the doorway looking as surly as ever.

"Father," Edward said standing.

"Edward you are in the way," Lord Cullen said, "Carlisle step away from her."

"She has a terrible infection from the lashes you gave her and I am not finished treating her," Carlisle said calmly, not looking at his father. He put a bandage over Bella's injuries. "She's grown a horrible fever."

"I don't care," Lord Cullen said with a dismissive wave of his hand, "she will return to work this moment."

"What she needs is rest," Carlisle said, pulling off the gloves. "We're going to take her downstairs now and put her to bed."

"See that you do and she will be up and moving tomorrow morning."

Lord Cullen left, slamming the door behind him. Carlisle looked sadly at Bella.

"I'm sorry he's chosen you to torment."

"Like father like son I guess," Bella sighed. Edward stuck his tongue out at her. Carlisle chuckled and helped her stand.

"I'll take her," Edward said.

"In the mood he's in he'll probably push you both down the stairs," Carlisle sighed. "No, it's best I do."

Edward nodded and Carlisle pulled Bella onto his back. He carried her out and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry to be so much trouble," Bella sighed.

"No you're no trouble at all," Carlisle said, "father gets moody during the holidays. He misses mom. We all do."

"I wish I knew how to avoid making him so angry."

"He doesn't like Edward so I suppose it has to do with that. That's just bad luck on your part. But Edward likes you. I hope you two can become friends."

"It would make things a little easier," Bella agreed weakly. "Thank you for helping me get better."

"My pleasure Bella. I became a doctor because I love helping people."

"But you know human medicine too."

"A hobby," Carlisle said. He carried her down the hall into the servants quarters and laid Bella down carefully. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I think so," Bella said, "Alice will be in soon anyway."

Carlisle nodded and ruffled her hair. "Now, you'll feel some pain. The stuff I put on your cuts will kill off the infection no problem but it burns. A nasty side effect. I'll be keeping an eye on you. If your fever doesn't go down in a couple days then I'll have to take you into the clinic."

"I'm sure it will," Bella sighed. She yawned and Carlisle smiled. "Thank you."

"No problem. Sleep well."

Bella nodded and Carlisle left. She pulled the blankets over her shoulders and went to sleep.

---

"How is she?" Alice asked when she passed Carlisle in the hall.

"She got sick from an infection in her cuts but she'll get better. I'm afraid she'll be in a little pain tonight but a good night's rest will do her well."

"I'm worried about her," Alice admitted. "We haven't been able to speak much lately."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Carlisle said, sincerity ringing in every word. "I'm sorry to run off but I have to, Anna will want her story read."

"I'm sorry to keep you," Alice said, "thank you for taking care of her."

Carlisle nodded and patted her head before leaving. Alice continued down the hall and into Jasper's room where she was to deliver his laundry.

"Are you needing anything?"

"No, thank you Alice," Jasper said, "some company would be nice though."

"I suppose I can spare a minute or two," Alice said with a smile. "I want to check on Bella in a bit."

"Carlisle says she's sleeping."

"She's really sick right now," Alice sighed, "I wish I could remember mom's herbal medicines."

Alice's face darkened at the mention of her mother. Jasper held his arms out and she came to him. He pulled her into his lap and held her loosely. Alice smiled and held out her arm. "Not right now," Jasper said, "something else."

"What?" Alice asked. She looked out of his window and smiled. Jasper let her out of his lap and she went to the window. He smiled at her and held back a chuckle.

"I heard that," Alice said. Jasper walked up to her.

"What is so interesting?"

"The colors of the sun on the snow. Such a beautiful sunset."

"Tis the season," he whispered. "Walk with me."

"Where?"

Jasper gathered her up and zipped out of the room. He handed her a coat and she put it on. He fastened gloves on her hands and they were out the door.

"I love being outside," Alice sighed taking a deep breath.

"I know," Jasper replied softly. They walked into the woods near the mansion, following a brick path. "Mom loved walking, or so I was told. She and father would take nightly strolls."

"I think my parents did too," Alice sighed, "it wasn't ever safe for them to go out. But sometimes, during the night, we would go outside. Sometimes mom and dad would go out by themselves, usually to hunt, but on very rare occasions to get precious privacy."

"So they would go off to have sex?"

"Hm? Oh, no. They would go out because it was an indulgence. A chance to be truly alone. I asked mom once what happened and she said they would reflect. I saw them once, they thought I was asleep, but I crept out to see them, anyway they were..."

"That sounds like a sex trail off."

"They would have sex in their bed," Alice said, "Bella and I would be playing. It was how they expressed their love. They did it so rarely, to avoid getting pregnant. Once they went outside to...get rid of something."

"They got pregnant?" Jasper guessed. Alice nodded.

"They both knew that they couldn't take care of another child," she said sadly, "they had Bella. They took me in out of the kindness in their hearts. They didn't have to. After all I was another mouth to feed and another body to warm."

"That is horrible though."

"What would be more horrible?" Alice asked, "killing the baby before birth or letting it live only to possibly die of starvation or cold later?"

"The first year or so your mother would have been able to breast feed."

"Food was scarce as it was," Alice reminded him, "most nights mom and dad didn't eat because they took care of us. They would refuse to let us share with them. I can't really explain what it was like."

"I honestly can't understand," Jasper said, "I can understand what you're telling me, but not how it felt. How did you survive?"

"You just do," Alice said with a shrug. "The humans that are free know just how lucky they are. You'd think that we'd be the lucky ones. Well, by comparison Bella and I are, but enslaved humans. I can't tell you how much you miss your freedom until it's gone."

Jasper was silent. He heard the crunch of snow beneath their feet and the sound of her heart. He could feel the heat radiating from her body. He could also smell the tears that were going to fall.

"I don't understand how I feel," Alice said, "I love it here. But I don't know if it's because I know that as far as vampires go, Bella and I were sold to good ones, or if it's the attachments I've made since being here. Knowing Esme...she's like a mother to us. She takes care of us. Master Carlisle is so sweet and he helped my sister without having to. Even Master Edward has his good points, like how he stood up to his father for Bella. Then there's you."

"There's me," Jasper whispered. "What about me?"

Alice stopped and turned. There were tears now on her rosy red cheeks. She looked up at him. It was starting to snow. White flakes were falling and resting on the tips of her hair. Her eyes were locked on his, keeping his gaze, or maybe it was him that was keeping hers. He knew what he wanted her to say.

Tell me that you love me

He couldn't tell her. He had so much trouble expressing how he felt. Years of his father's teachings kept him ice cold. Then she came. Alice came into his life and warmed him up. It was the little things, the way she smiled or the way she offered her blood to him. He didn't know why he appreciated the later. Her voice was soothing and calm and he found that on the nights he slept he didn't have the usual restless dreams thanks to her voice.

"What about me, Alice?" He asked in the same whisper.

Bella was going to hate her. Alice looked up at Jasper. His burgundy eyes were so deep and filled with a million different emotions. She knew he had a heart of ice, opened only for his family. The military life was his dream and he would take over his father's place when the time came, the unofficial heir to the Cullen family. He was so handsome and so out of her league. How could she even hope that he would even want to have anything to do with her?

How could she love a vampire? How could she love something that destroyed her family?

"You're...great."

She turned to keep walking but he held her arm. She looked back at him, still silently crying. In that moment there were a million sparks and a million unspoken feelings. Confusion, longing, pain and a need to belong to someone. Jasper saw his life in his head, the loneliness when he was a child, the pain when his parents died and the joy when he was adopted and finally had brothers and a sister to play with but with a sense of being distant, cut off from the others. The same kind of loneliness that Alice felt. Knowing that he only had a secure life because of the kindness of someone else, that the people who loved him first were gone forever. But she lost the people who cared enough to take her in. He couldn't imagine what it was like for them. How did Charlie and Renee come to find the little girl and how could two humans, creatures that Jasper had believed to be wild and uncivilized when free, take in another child when they knew that it was hard enough.

He pulled her arm and she came to him.

"Alice," he whispered, "what about me?"

"I'm in over my head," she whispered, "Jasper...I think I have feelings for you that I shouldn't."

"Kiss me," he ordered in a gentle murmur. Alice reached up on her toes and brushed her lips against his and then pulled away quickly.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I...I'm scared."

"Don't be," Jasper murmured, "I have loved nobody before you. You are the part of me that I have missed. I was supposed to find you. Don't you see? You survived sixteen years undetected and then you are found and brought in days before Edward was to go get Bella. You just had to be the sister of the only mental mute. From the moment I saw you there was something about you. I know you felt it too. It was more than fear that kept you so calm. I calmed you and not by using my abilities. You know I'm right."

Jasper moved closer to her. He cupped her face gently with his hands. "Say it, out loud."

"I love you," Alice whispered, "I don't know why...but I love you."

Jasper smiled and folded his arms around her. "Because this is the first time we have ever believed in fate."

TBC

Wow everybody is hooking up! Only a week left of vacation and lots of driving tomorrow...oi.