Virgin Blood

Chapter 14

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The night was late, and Jasper knew the sun would rise in an hour or so. He didn't seek out Edward, he didn't really want to see him after putting Bella to bed. He did want to know what Edward had found out about the other girl in the village, but it could wait.

"Where did you put her?" He heard Edward's angry voice behind him, as the other man prowled around like a large, predatory cat, as though unable to stand still.

Jasper didn't even try to hid his contempt for the other man. "In her room upstairs, in the West wing."

Edward growled. "I want her downstairs," he said darkly as he started to walk after toward the West wing of his castle.

"Leave her alone, Edward," Jasper's voice was hard, so unlike him, "She's suffered enough tonight."

"Don't tell me what to do," Edward turned and glared at him. "What do you care for her or something? Did you let her escape? Did you help her?" Edward asked the questions darkly, wildly.

"Don't be ridiculous," Jasper spat back at him.

"Ridiculous am I?" he asked, "How did she know that I would have a hard time tracking her in the rain? Why did she wait for that exact day to run?"

"She didn't know!" Jasper shouted, "How could she?"

"I hope for your sake that you didn't help her," Edward said darkly as he turned and continued his path toward her room.

"Just let her rest," Jasper once again tried to stop him.

Edward turned, his voice menacingly low, "I'll do what I please, when I please. Don't forget your place, boy." The threat in Edward's voice was unmistakable, and Jasper let him go.

Edward, for the second time that night, entered Bella's room unexpectedly to abduct her against her will. She was already in a fitful sleep, and didn't wake when he walked in. She was sleeping on her stomach and Edward could see the angry red marks on her butt and thighs. Instead of feeling the satisfaction that Edward desired to feel, he instead simply felt sick at the sight.

Edward didn't let guilt get to him, though. She deserved what she got, he reasoned. She was his to do with what he wanted, and if he wanted to punish her, he would. If he wanted to take her downstairs, then he would.

Edward picked up her light body, careful to avoid her wounded backside, but Bella still gasped in pain when he moved her, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Please," her voice was hoarse, "Please, no more."

Edward didn't answer, but simply carried her downstairs. An image of her the first night she arrived at the castle flashed in his mind. She had angrily calling him a monster, with tears streaming down her face, after he had bitten and licked her hardened nipples. She had presented such an alluring mixture of fear and bravery.

Edward wished she would call him a monster now, but she didn't. She didn't say anything.

He placed her delicate and bruised body down on the bed where she had lain in his arms. She curled up into herself and turned away from him. Edward fought to hold onto his anger, but the sight of her laying there like that was getting to be too much. Edward quietly left her and went to rest in his secret den.

...

Bella woke up the next morning, and Jasper had been right, sleep did help. The pain had subsided significantly into only a dull ache, and Bella reached down to rub her bum.

Really, though, the physical pain was nothing compared to the pain to her spirit. Even thinking about it now made Bella want to cry, and so she let the tears fall unheeded down her cheeks.

She had come to think of Jasper as a friend, and the fact that he was there to witness her abject humiliation, to take part in it, she didn't think she could ever face him again. And Edward. . . it was hard to think about Edward.

How could she have been so stupid? Bella berated herself. She had actually let herself believe for even a second that she could be happy. She was a fool. She just wasn't meant for happiness, and by letting herself hope, she was only bringing herself a greater pain.

What would Edward do with her now? He made it perfectly obvious that he wasn't going to let her go last night. Bella, alone in bed, had no choice but to think about the events over the last few days that had led her to this moment.

What if she hadn't run? Would Edward have killed her? Or would he have really let her go? In that case, why was he so angry? She shouldn't have taken the watch. But what if he was going to kill her? There was no reason for him to not do it now, unless he wanted to punish her first.

"Bella," she heard Jasper's voice as he entered the room. Bella refused to turn around and look at him, only pulled the blanket over her shoulders and faced the wall.

"I hope your feeling better. I brought you some food."

Bella felt bad. She knew Jasper hadn't wanted to be a part of her abuse last night, and that he was trying to be nice now. But still, Bella didn't want to turn around and see the pity in his eyes. She heard him set the tray down. Please just go, Bella said silently in her head, and as though he had heard her, he turned and left the room.

...

It took Jasper almost an hour to ride down to Grosbridge on old Winslow's back. The old guy was finicky, and would barely go above a slow gallop, at his best. Normally, Jasper didn't really mind, but today he wanted to get there and get back before Edward woke up, wanting to avoid seeing also didn't really feel right leaving Edward alone in the house with Bella and the other girl.

Jasper turned left before entering the town, riding away along a semi-hidden path before doubling back and entering the town from the East. He didn't want anyone to know where he had come from.

He headed straight toward the apothecary, tying his horse up outside. There was no one there when he entered the little shop that had every inch of wall lined with jars and bottles, but then he heard voices coming from the back. He was just about to call out, impatient to be on his way, when a single word caught his ear: "vampire."

Jasper stopped the words in his throat. Normally, it was Edward who did all the spying, and he was sure Edward had figured out what was going on in the village the night before Bella ran away, but if Jasper could get an idea for himself, well then, he wouldn't have to speak to Edward.

"Well, I'm just glad to be rid of that horrid witch," the woman spoke in a loud cackle. Jasper could hear murmuring, but couldn't make out the words of her companion's reply. It wasn't that the other woman was speaking softly, he quickly surmised, it was more like the first woman was exorbitantly loud.

"Oh really, Melissa, and what do you know of such things?"

A muttered response.

"Well, I'm glad the vampire ate her. Don't look at me like that. It's like killing two birds with one stone. We get rid of a witch, and perhaps the vampire won't come back so quickly and ask for anther girl. What? Oh really, it's not like anyone is around to hear me anyway."

Jasper backed up toward the door silently, having heard what he needed to and not really wanting to listen to the screeching woman any longer. So it wasn't that there was another vampire in town and the people were afraid, they had just wanted to get rid of the girl.

Jasper thought back to the tiny, biting girl in the upstairs bedroom, and wondered what she had done to make them hate her so much? A witch. Jasper rolled his eyes at the idea, but then again, he was living with a vampire.

Once he was at the door, he opened it and let it close loudly, stomping up toward the desk and acting like he had just entered. He saw two woman emerge from behind a curtain at the back. "Hello, what can I do for you?" asked the smaller and older of the two.

"Thank you for the cream, Melissa. I'll see you on Sunday," the cackling woman, who Jasper could now see was quite robust, exited the shop.

Jasper hesitated before speaking. How should he explain what he wanted? "I have some...ah...bruises that are kind of painful when I...ah...sit down."

The woman showed only the tiniest hint of a smirk, before becoming completely professional and walking over to he wall and handing him a soothing cream.

...

It was Edward's restlessness that woke him up an hour before the sun would set, for it certainly wasn't due to lack of fatigue. Edward continued to lay in his dark hole for a few moments more, but realizing that he wouldn't be going back to sleep, left his den.

Edward had no fear of the sun penetrating his basement rooms, so he entered his sitting room without caution, only to interrupt Jasper as he was coming down the stairs. Jasper seemed surprised to see him, and he hesitated for a second as though he was going to turn around and go back the way he came, but with a resigned sigh, he continued down into the sitting room.

Both men silently regarded each other, neither knowing what to say. Jasper would have turned and wordlessly walked into the bedroom, but Edward's voice stopped him.

"What are you doing?"

Jasper held up a small package that Edward hadn't noticed in his hand. "I went into the town and got this for Bella, for her bruises."

"Give it to me," Edward said, holding out his hand.

Jasper looked at him suspiciously. "It is will help her heal faster," Jasper said, reluctant to hand over the cream, "Provide a little relief. Surely you can't deny her that much?"

"I'm not going to withhold it from her, damn it, I'll give it to her myself."

Jasper handed Edward the package, wondering if Edward could be feeling guilty for his actions, and wondering if it was now too late.

Edward walked over to Bella's room, but paused outside the door. Without turning around, Edward addressed Jasper. "You are not to touch her again," he said simply and disappeared into the room, shutting the door behind him.

Edward approached Bella on the bed. He could tell she was sleeping by her steady breathing, and Edward, not wanting to wake her, sat down on the edge, watching her silently. He wanted to be angry, he really did, but the feeling of tenderness and guilt toward this little human just kept nagging at the back of his mind.

She had the blanket pulled up to her chin and was laying on her side. He could see the tear stains on her cheeks.

Edward sat silently and watched her until she eventually awoke. Her whole body seemed to freeze when she turned her head and saw him sitting there. She wordlessly turned away and refused to move.

"I've got some cream for your injuries," Edward said, his voice flat an emotionless.

Bella didn't say anything, and she felt Edward pull back the blanket that was covering her and pushing her body onto her stomach gently. She let him. Bella didn't like the way he was doing whatever he wanted to her, like he owned her. She didn't want him touching her, or looking at her, but there was nothing she could do about it. For all intents and purposes, Edward did own her. He could do whatever he wanted to her, and she couldn't do anything to stop him.

Fine then, Bella thought, he could do what he wanted to her body, but that was all. She wouldn't be foolish enough to give him her trust again, or her heart. He owned her body, but he didn't own her heart and soul. That was hers to keep or give, and he couldn't take it.

Bella felt Edward's cool hands as they started to rub the cream gently onto her butt and thighs. She had to admit, it did help with the pain. The coolness felt good on her heated flesh, and the gentle rubbing helped soothe the ache.

"It won't scar," Edward's voice was once again flat, not revealing his inner turmoil one bit.

The room was quiet as Edward sat, gently rubbing Bella's backside for perhaps half and hour. The calmness of the room belied the pain and anxiety both were feeling.

"Why did you run away, Bella?" Edward's voice betrayed only the slightest hint of emotion, so slight Bella didn't even notice it.

She didn't answer, only breathed heavily and continued to look away from him. Edward rubbed her soft back gently, massaging her tense muscles. The then gently ran his hands down her calfs, and in turn, massaged each sore foot.

Though Bella would never admit, she liked the feeling his hands were giving her body, distracting her from the ache in her bum. They were gentle as they worked her sore muscles. Even then, though, Bella refused to let herself be drawn into his spell. Yes, he was being gentle now, but there was no guarantee he wouldn't turn on her in the next second. She was sill angry at him, she still feared him.

Edward rubbed her body like it was his for the taking. Bella couldn't stop the wetness that flooded her cunt as his hands ran so possessively over her. She hated the fact that her body betrayed her in this way, hated that she knew Edward could tell how he was affecting her.

Edward didn't say anything about it, though, nor did he touch her in her most private areas, for which Bella was grateful. After he had rubbed her back and feet thoroughly, relaxing some of the tension that was there, he covered her up once again with a blanket.

When he stood up from the bed, Bella thought that he would leave the room, for which she was grateful, but he simply sat in his chair and watched her. Bella refused to look at him, but she could feel his eyes on her. Neither of them spoke.