Chapter Thirteen
"We finally caught you." A voice spoke from far away.
Bella started to drift off again as she was suddenly drenched in cold water.
"Come on sleeping beauty. You have rested long enough." This time the voice was much closer.
Bella tried to bring her hand to her head, which was pounding and aching. She quickly realized that her hands were tied in place. She opened her eyes in alarm and fought to get her eyes to see straight. Everything around her was bright and spinning.
"Where am I?" She demanded. Forcing herself to stay strong.
"That is not important." The voice answered again. Bella could vaguely see the outline of the person speaking. A male figure.
"Who the hell are you?" She yelled at him in anger.
"Feisty are we." He taunted while slowly approaching.
Bella was about to speak when she was slapped across the face.
"I will ask the questions now." He spoke coldly.
When Bella stayed quiet he asked, "Why are you with the Cullens?"
Bella tried to remember what had happened, but her mind was completely jumbled. "I- uh." She hesitated, if he was a human she should lie and if he was a vampire she would be in trouble if she did. She tried the safest course she could think of, "I was visiting them. I go to school with Alice…" she paused 'please come get me' she thought.
"You think I would be able to take you from them without being a vampire myself?" without waiting for an answer he repeated, "Why are you with the Cullens?"
Bella tried to get a better look at her assailant, but the lights around her made it impossible.
"My brother is a vampire of their coven." She admitted.
The shadow stopped moving, "The newborn?" He started to laugh. "Who turned him? Wait don't tell me. I think I can guess – Rosalie."
Bella just shrugged.
Another laugh, "Well isn't that precious."
"Why does it matter anyway?" She asked. Her curiosity got the better of her. She braced for another slap.
The shadow came closer, but stayed out of reach "I suppose there is no harm in telling you that."
Harm? She thought to herself. How would the other questions cause any harm? Alice! She realized. If she could figure out where she was or who he was she might be able to find the hideout.
He walked back to the far wall and started to pace, "We transfer part of us to those we bite. The stronger the vampire the quicker the transformation and the more powerful the newborn is." He laughed again, "While Rosalie is incredibly strong she inherited most of her strength from her creator. Only natural strength is transferred." He laughed again, "and since she has only been a vampire for eighty years he will not be a concern any time soon."
Bella was shocked by this revelation. Why had the Cullens not told her of this? She would definitely need to keep the truth hidden then. John had been bitten by Eris. How old was she? She was with Amaunet in those ancient memories.
"What did you just think of?" The man yelled in apprehension. He stormed up to her and lifted his hand threatening. His face clearly visible now.
Bella could not recognize the face, but she hoped that Alice would. Now she just hoped they would know where he would keep her. A slap sent her crashing to the ground, ears ringing, face burning, and her shoulder had angry new scrapes from brushing against the concrete floor.
"Tell me!" The man yelled.
Bella was trying to collect her thoughts. Not coming up with a good half-truth she offered, "You are hiding from me."
This made him move far back against the wall again. "I can kill you whenever I want."
"But information is much more important to you." She realized and added, "That is why I am here. You want to find Cullen's weaknesses."
"Remember that. You are only alive as long as you are useful to me." He paused.
Bella just looked at him and shrugged.
"You should fear me!" He yelled as he made an effort to slowly walk towards her with his fist raised.
Bella could sense a blanket surrounding her. It felt reassuring and she embraced it and tugged it around herself. It filled her with warmth.
The man's fist came rushing straight at her, and she braced for impact, closing her eyes. An earsplitting crack was heard as his fist hit her. This time she didn't even feel the impact though, had she gone numb already?
To her surprise and immediate satisfaction the man was screaming out in anger and pain as his hand and forearm seemed to crumbling to dust. "What the hell did you do to me?"
Bella tried to turn to see who he was looking at. Did someone come to rescue her?
No one was there.
She turned back to the vampire, "Me?"
"Don't play coy with me you little bitch!" He spat as he cradled the remains of his arm. "You will regret what you have done."
At that instant the door sprang open. Bella's surroundings became one big blur of motion as three whirling shadows started a high speed chase.
A distinct perfume filled her nostrils and she instantly knew, "Alice." She managed to whisper.
The next thing she knew Alice was right in front of her, "Oh Bella. We found you!" She exclaimed as the little vampire walked towards Bella.
"No wai…" She did not manage to finish the sentence before Alice held her in a tight embrace.
"I was so worried." She whispered in Bella's ear.
Bella closed her eyes and relaxed. As the adrenaline left her body she started to dose off.
Alice and John came crashing through the door. The pale-haired, red-eyed vampire looked at them in surprise. "How did you find me?" He demanded as he briefly glanced back at Bella.
Not wasting a second to answer John went against the older vampire, while Alice rushed to Bella and looked her over. She quickly turned to the vampire, "You have gone too far. You will die for what you have done James."
James sidestepped John's punches as he coldly spat back "Why don't I take your little toy with me in the grave then." With that he punched John square in the chest. The force sent John sailing across the room and right into the concrete wall.
James used the opportunity to rush towards Bella. He swung his one good arm in an attack that would easily rip through Bella's neck.
Just in the nick of time Alice cut in front of him and shielded Bella. The smaller vampire whimpered as the hand forcibly cut deep gashes in her back.
James eyes darkened as he licked his nails with an evil grin, "She will be the downfall of the both of you." He raised his hand again and again as he rained blows down Alice's frail back. He relished the fact that he was about to end the existence of one of these good for nothing Cullens. He could not help it but to taunt John and Alice at their inevitable defeat, "I will kill Alice and Bella. And then I will come for you." He laughed as he raised his hand for one final blow at Alice's neck "You are no match for me." He laughed as he brought down his hand.
To his surprise his hand was caught and arrested mid-swing. James glared at the offending hand. He yanked his hand away, but John kept his hand locked in a tight grip.
John swung his free hand full force into the elder vampire's midsection. The impact of the blow surprised both vampires as James was sent tumbling through the room and right through the reinforced concrete wall.
John hurried to Alice and Bella. Both of them were in a very bad state, but he was happy to see the Bella was still breathing. Alice had managed to shield the blows from James, but she had paid a high price. Her entire back had deep lacerations and from her pained expression it was clear that she would be unable to fight. "What have you done?!" John yelled at James with a deep hatred.
The response was another evil laughter as James came flying through the air, "Now it is your turn." He exclaimed as he sent his fist flying forward with all his might.
James was again caught by surprise when his opponent caught the fist midair and sent him tumbling through another wall. He was desperately trying to figure out how such an inexperienced vampire could get the upper hand. He did not have time to think though as the young vampire came flying at him. For the first time in a decade he was on the defensive. He needed to get back into the head of his opponent or there would be a real risk of losing this fight. "When I am done with you I am going to take my sweet time with your sister."
He had barely managed to say it when a fist connected with his jaw. He groaned in pain as he managed to dodge another strike aimed at his head. He tried to speak, but his jaw had dislocated.
"We're done talking." John stated with an eerie calmness.
A foreign feeling welled up in James, fear. He moved slowly away from John as he considered his options. He ran as fast as he could towards the door while holding his jaw in place. He made it through the door when two strong arms stopped him. 'How is this possible?' James thought as he begrudgingly realized the peril he was in. John was much stronger than he had expected. He desperately struggled against John when he felt John shift and tighten a hand around his throat. Then everything turn to darkness.