Thanks for the rush of reviews guys! It does fuel the writing banks!
I'm doing this earlier than promised because I have our party soon, so I will have hangover central. :D
:::::::: BPOV
The night was hard. I heard few sounds from Edward, just the occasional crack of his stone hands against a defenceless wall. I lay sobbing most of the night; my strange realisation had sparked some sadness within me. Edward was perfect, beautiful, and intelligent. When he let go he appeared kind and caring; he saved me from crashing to my death only yesterday. But he had this craving to hurt me, to want to make me scream. Maybe he could find a way to make me scream without hurting me? Maybe I could…
No, this wasn't pertinent. I simply couldn't be with him. He wouldn't let me leave though. This weekend was my last chance. I would run. I would have to. And this time, he wasn't going to catch me. I smiled as a plan began to form in my head. When were the Cullen's going to be here? I dearly hoped Alice would be with them.
I heard a door open downstairs and I quickly scrambled up to the shower. I stopped and looked in the mirror to see my reflection. I realised I mustn't have seen it in a while. My forehead was recovering with only a mild sprinkling of yellowish bruises. My cheekbones were cut and bruised, right along the bone. But my lips and eyes were the worst. My lips were puffy and swollen; my eyes were black around the hollows. I grimaced painfully and headed into the shower, not wanting to face what my body looked like.
I quickly pulled on some jeans and a blue t-shirt and hurried downstairs as fast as I could. The Cullen Family were standing in the doorway, looking perfect; as Edward always did. Alice and Jasper were holding hands, sweetly, in the hall, flanked by a beautiful blonde girl and Emmett, the muscular guy who had taken me.
Edward was muttering quietly to a handsome blonde moan and an equally gorgeous brunette woman. I walked down the stairs quietly and stopped at the bottom, waiting patiently by the banister. To be honest, I was pleased to see Alice again, I longed for a friend here.
Just as I was thinking about her, the small pixie turned around and saw me. She smiled at first, but then her face turned horrified and she rushed towards me.
"Bella, Bella…what's happened to your face?" she asked, worriedly. I looked down at the ground, shuffling my feet.
"I….I…tripped," I stammered. Alice peered down at me and her eyes flared up viciously. Her lips curled and a fierce growl ripped from her perfect lips as she whirled around to face the rest of her family. She ran forwards in a split second and pounced upon Edward, who's mouth opened for a moment before he was tackled into the ground.
The two vampires fought, wrestling, biting and scratching on the floor violently. The sounds were awful, roars and cries as they tore at each other. Jasper eventually intervened and pulled Alice backwards, as Emmett caught hold of Edward.
"You stupid little bitch!" Edward hissed, pulling against Emmett's unbreakable grip.
"You arrogant fucking bastard!" Alice spat, tugging against Jasper. "You think you have the right to hurt Bella like that? What the hell have you done to her?"
Edward stopped writhing in Emmett's grip and the muscular brother must have loosened his hold because soon enough he was flying through the air again, dragging Alice from Jaspers arms. They pounded into the walls and I could hear violent hisses and yells from both of them.
"WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO TELL ME-?"
"SHE IS MINE AL-"
"YOU DON'T OWN HER EDW-"
"SILENCE!" came another voice. I tore my eyes from the fight to see the handsome blonde man walking into the centre of the room. Alice and Edward immediately stopped fighting and drew back from one another, hissing through their bared teeth. The man stepped between them. Something about this guy had power, authority. He was the father figure, I could tell.
"Alice, what is this about?" he asked, quietly.
"Carlisle, just look at Bella and tell me that doesn't require major medical attention?!"
Carlisle looked at me for the first time and made his way over to me briskly. He held my wrists gently and twisted my bruised arms around, listening to the clicks and my whimpers of pain. His eyes gave the quick methodical strike of a doctor, examining my many wounds. "I won't intrude your body Bella, but may I ask if these wounds continue elsewhere?"
"Um. Yes, my stomach and back are just bruised, but my legs are….um. I mean, no, I'm…my legs are worse. A bit, healing," I finished. I could feel Edwards glare on me and I didn't want to make him angrier. "And he…"
"Yes, Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"Nothing. He….nothing," I said, looking down.
Carlisle raised an eyebrow and turned to Edward, whose face was glaring in anger, but still there was a tiny ounce of fear towards his father. "Edward, why is this girl like this?"
"She is my slave Car-" he began.
"Slaves are used for doing chores Edward. Not for….person use," Carlisle interrupted, angrily. Edward flinched at Carlisle's raised voice. I felt a presence at my side and found Alice looking at me, smiling. I smiled back and she took my hand gently in hers. I squeezed her palm and she squeezed it back gently.
"Edward she is not a toy. And if you are going to act like a spoilt brat and break your toys, then I shall punish you like one," he said, sternly. Edwards's eyes lit up in fear, his muscles tensing.
"You can't seriously exp-"
"Yes Edward I can. Everyone, find a room and put away your things. My son and I have things to take care of."
The other Cullen's moved around me and Alice and the blonde girl gave me a sympathetic smile. Alice moved away from me too, and followed Jasper upstairs. I went to follow but Carlisle held my arm for a second.
"Bella, tonight I will expect you to be in the living room at 7, when darkness hits. Edward will receive what he deserves for inflicting this on you. Poor girl, I'm sorry that this has happened to you," Carlisle said, letting go of my arm and smiling at me. I smiled back before turning to go back upstairs. I shared a brief moment with Edward as I turned away, his eyes furious at me, my eyes fearful of him.
::::::
The Cullen's kept themselves to themselves that day. The blonde girl, Rosalie, and her husband Emmett went out for a walk with Esme, whilst Carlisle and Edward stayed upstairs locked away in the study. They talked for hours; one of them occasionally came down for a flask from the fridge. The others were still out when the two men reappeared at seven. I was in my pyjamas now, covered with a huge jumper.
I spent my day with Alice and Jasper in the living room. I enjoyed my time with them, watching their little couple quirks and even though Alice had started as a slave, Jasper was absolutely taken by her, doting on her even whim.
"Bella, has Edward ever…um," Jasper hesitated, looking at Alice.
"Ever taken you in there," she finished off for him, pointing towards the playroom.
I froze slightly. I blinked rapidly to sort my thoughts out before nodding at Jasper. Alice's tiny fists clenched and Jasper had a disgusted look on his face. "Well, don't worry darlin', we won't let Edward hurt you anymore," he said, smiling at me.
I smiled back but something was wrong. They wouldn't just set me free anyway but I didn't want to stay with Edward. I thought I was getting through to him. My earlier plan to run away was obviously futile, and I secretly knew that. I think it was just another plan to get Edward to be with me. To make him happy.
I rustled myself some food from the kitchen and ate it quickly as the clock began to toll seven thirty.
"Alice, what will Carlisle do to Edward?" I asked. "He's a vampire, nothing can hurt him?"
"No Bella, nothing can kill us. We still feel all the pain though, exactly the same as human pain. Like when you stabbed him. He was in quite a lot of pain, really. But Carlisle is a master of the old-fashioned ways. I imagine he's going to cane him," the pixie answered, leading me to sit next to her. Jasper went upstairs. I gathered he didn't want to be here to watch Edward suffer, or it was out of respect.
Carlisle appeared, as if on cue, from the hallway upstairs followed by Edward, who looked angry and sullen, as usual. I tensed up when I saw him; he was already glaring straight at me. Jasper touched his shoulder comfortingly at the top of the stairs, and Edward smiled weakly at him. The two men arrived at the bottom of stairs, in the hall. I had to look away as he entered the living room. I noticed Edward was wearing a pair of his pinstriped work trousers, made of thin linen, and a white shirt.
"Edward, over the sofa if you please," Carlisle said patiently. Edward hesitated, but eventually he moved slowly to the sofa on the other side of the room. He took up a well-learnt position and placed his hands on the seats over the other side. His front was facing Alice and me. He looked up at me, his expression sent waves of fear through me and I held Alice's hand tighter. "Edward, you will receive 16 strokes, for your serious abuse of this girl. Then another 'special 10'."
26 strokes?! Crikey, I could barely take three from Edward before, the maximum he would give me was 6, and by then I was bleeding. Edward's eyes closed slowly, and his head bent down. Carlisle removed his blazer and slung it over a chair, before rolling up his shirt sleeve. He picked up the black cane and swished it through the air a couple of times before placing it directly behind Edwards's backside.
The first stroke landed and Edward flinched slightly, but did not move. Two. Three. A small cry escaped Edward's mouth and he gripped the cushions tighter. Four. Five. He was yelping with each hit now. Carlisle had immense strength in his arm and he was accurate in his swings, landing them directly on top of one another.
Six, Seven, Eight. Edward screamed loudly on the eighth hit, his head coming up, so I could see it. His eyes were wide open, in agony and his mouth was twisted up. He looked like a vulnerable child in this position. He was finally getting what he deserved, but it didn't make me happy. In fact, I was wincing with each hit. I didn't like seeing him in pain.
Nine, Ten, Eleven. He was letting out guttural cries now, it was heartbreaking. Carlisle paused for a second and stepped backwards. "Last six of the first set Edward. You know what to do."
I felt Alice flinch at this. She must have experience this before. Edward moved suddenly, drawing back my attention. He stood up, placing his hands behind his head. He looked straight at me, glaring into my eyes and I couldn't tear myself away from his stare. Carlisle's arm swung and lashed his back and he yelled out straight away. Two, Three, Four. Edward screamed, at last, loudly and his body heaved slightly as the cane landed on his back. He looked back up at me, his eyes wide as the last two lashes landed. He shook as they hit him, but he didn't look way from me.
Carlisle bent him back over the sofa again and I saw his white shirt was riddled with blood. I stood up, shaking off Alice's hand and moved to Carlisle.
"Stop it please!" I pleaded. "You're really hurting him!"
"That's the point Bella. What he did was not acceptable."
"Just STOP!" I yelled.
"Someone has to be punished Bella and he did wrong!"
"Then give me the remaining ten!" I shouted. "I enjoyed his treatment! There! That's not good is it, now, just stop!" I pulled the cane away from Edward and glared at Carlisle.
"Very well. Edward, get upstairs and clean off. Bella will take the remaining ten," Carlisle ordered, glaring back at me.
"Carlisle you ca-," Edward began, getting up slowly.
"UPSTAIRS," Carlisle yelled. Edward was gone in a flash, not wanting to disobey his father further. Carlisle turned to me and dragged me forwards towards the sofa. "I don't like doing this to you Bella. But, you did request it. And I'm never one to refuse a lady."
I bent over the sofa willingly. From the corner of my eye I saw Edward, still standing at the top of the stairs, his hands running through his hair stressfully. I smiled to myself, but then the first hit landed and I cried out loud. Edward's eyes shut above me. It felt like someone was pressing a red-hot iron against my backside, even through my shorts. It was so much worse than the belt.
Two, Three Four. I wept silently, crying out when the wood hit my clothed backside. Five, Six, Seven.
I could feel the wood biting into my skin, scarring already.
Eight, Nine, TEN.
Carlisle landed the last three strokes harder than the others, and below my pyjama shorts, on my thighs and I screamed in agony. Alice ran to my side and pulled me up onto her shoulder, supporting me. Carlisle laid a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry Bella. We got off to a bit of a bad start. I'm sure we'll be friends," he said, smiling genuinely.
"Of course. Thank you Carlisle," I replied, tearfully. He wiped the tears from my face and Alice led me upstairs. I realised that Edward was no longer on the stairs. I stopped outside my room and smiled at Alice.
"Thanks Al. You go back to Jasper now, I can handle this. I just need a cool shower," I said, smiling.
She nodded and squeezed my hand once more before turning and dancing away down the hall. I sighed and opened the door to my room. I shut the door before realising I was not alone. I turned and saw Edward sat on my bed, his hand on his back. He rose from his seat painfully, wincing and I walked towards him, limping.
"Bella," he began.
"Edward." I cut him off. He paused for a second and took a step towards me. He took one of my hands in his and looked up at me.
"I'm sorry Bella-" he began again.
"It's fine, you looked hurt."
"No, I mean. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I….raped you," he said, his eyes downcast.
"If it's any consolation, it can't really be classed as rape if I enjoyed it," I said, smiling wickedly. He looked shocked, but smiled at me. He flicked a piece of my hair behind my ear and touched my cheek tenderly.
"You had no need to take that caning Bella. I could have taken it," He said, turning my around, to look at my welts. He pressed the largest one on my thigh lightly and I flinched.
"Well, I have a higher tolerance than you," I said sarcastically.
I turned his around and gently pulled his shirt out of his trousers, wincing at the sight. There was six large cuts on his back, spanning from side to side that were freshly bleeding, each set of two were lapped over in a large cross. "How is it you bleed Edward?"
"We drink so much blood, where do you think it goes?" he said, through gritted teeth. I could tell this was painful for him. I laid my hand flat over the criss crosses. He flinched and whimpered loudly. I walked to the bathroom and got a pitcher from the side, and filled it with water. I took a sponge from the side and walked back in, to a confused Edward.
"Let me bathe your wounds, get rid of the blood and everything," I said, holding up the water. He smiled at me and started unbuttoning his shirt.