Disclaimer: Not Mine

A/N: We have a transitional chapter here. Not too much going on, but it is very important for what is coming up next. Check out my profile, I started a new story called 'Bidding on Destiny' which will have select chapters of Silent Auction from Edward's POV. For those of you who have reviewed each chapter, you have already received them, but they really give some insight into Edward. I will also be posting some outtakes as we keep moving along.

Thank you to Dalloway5906, who will be posting a story of her own soon. And I will not stop bugging her until she does!

Chapter 19

EPOV

Bella's screams were all I could hear. I had been sneaking around the building, trying to find Bella's scent. I was very close, almost under her window when the screaming started. Thankfully there was a tree growing tall outside of the window, and I vaulted up into the branch adjacent to the glass. I could see Bella writhing in pain on the floor, her mouth open, her hands clawing at her chest. There was a tall woman standing in the doorway, looking with disgust at Bella's prone form. I could also see Victoria standing near the bed, the look of victory on her face made my stomach turn. It was killing me, listening to Bella's obvious pain, but I knew if I went in there alone, we would never get out. I would be destroyed and Aro would continue with whatever he had planned for Bella.

Bella finally stopped screaming, dropping her hands limply to her chest. Her heart rate was sky high, and she was barely breathing.

"Well, it looks like she can't block you Corin. Let's play!" Victoria sneered.

Bella had started to crawl backwards, towards the window.

"No, please. You can't do that again. It will kill me to feel that again." Bella begged, her voice scratchy and hoarse from screaming.

The woman in the doorway was silent, but her thoughts were anything but.

Kill you? Yes indeed, I think it might. I always like it when their greatest fear is heartbreak. The spiders and snakes are so boring. But when I get someone like you, when I get to make you feel the physical pain of your own heart breaking… that makes it all worth it. Feel my pain. Feel how I felt when he was taken from me.

She approached Bella, her eyes narrowed in concentration. Bella's spine arched off the floor, her face contorting in pain. Her mouth was open in a silent scream, and my entire body shook from the effort of staying where I was in the tree. I could hear the uneven beating of her heart, and knew that if she were to be forced to endure much more of this torture it would indeed kill her.

Thankfully, Bella's earlier scream had attracted attention, and I could hear Aro's thoughts as he approached the room.

Apparently Corin is able to penetrate her shield. Perhaps it is because Corin's gift is more emotional than physical. I'll have to see if Heidi's empath abilities will work on our dear Isabella.

Aro glared at Victoria as he pushed past the woman torturing Bella.

"What did I say? I told you she could not be killed. Do you not hear her heart? It is ready to collapse. Then what will we do? You act like a child sometimes." He said, pointing an angry finger in Victoria's face.

"Corin, if you would please release her." He said, gesturing to Bella's pain wracked body.

"Of course Aro, my apologies to you. Victoria never said anything about not killing the human." Corin said, her voice soft and raspy.

"No worries darling, Victoria was just trying to see how far she could push me. You may go now." He said as he escorted her out and closed the door.

Bella was curled in a ball on the floor, silent sobs shaking her body as tears trailed down her cheeks. Aro approached her like you would a wounded animal.

"Isabella, it seems I have to apologize again. I never thought Corin's gift would work so well on you. She does get a bit excited when she finds a kindred spirit. I hope she did not cause you too much pain." He whispered, as he stroked a hand down her hair.

I could almost hear my teeth crushing under the force as I clenched my jaw in disgust. I should rip his hand off for touching my Bella. She barely acknowledged his presence, and only moaned slightly as he lifted her off the floor and deposited her gently on the bed. Victoria was still leaning on the wall, her face expressionless towards the pain Bella was feeling. I was still clueless as to how Corin's gift worked. I could assume from her thoughts that she was able to harness a person's deepest fear and project it onto them.

"If you think I am going to apologize, you must be out of your mind. She needs to be punished for what her mate did to me. I just wish she could feel that pain all the time, like I do." Victoria cried.

"Do you truly think that the pitiful feelings you are having concerning your loss of James are anything like the pain she was experiencing? Her greatest fear is losing her mate. Your greatest fear is not being able to find the perfect shoes to match an outfit. Your connection to James was superficial. Isabella's connection to that Cullen is exponentially more intense. I have never seen someone affected by Corin like that. The only thing I can compare it to would be the last time I read Marcus' thoughts. To lose your one true mate is like experiencing your own death over and over." He said, vehemently.

My dead heart broke for the pain Bella had been put through. I wished there was a way I could let her know I was here. Tell her that our family was doing everything they could to try and find a way to help her. If only Jasper could have been here to send her the love I knew she needed to feel. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I swiftly jumped to the ground so I could answer it without alerting anyone to my presence.

"You should have waited." Alice said quickly, without even a 'hello.'

"You should have known I would not. There are no words for the kinds of torture they are inflicting on her. Have you been able to see anything?" I whispered.

"There are bits and pieces coming through. I think that since they have her within their walls they are getting sloppy trying to keep me out. Have you been able to hear anything?" She asked.

"Yes actually. I have been able to hear most everything. I don't think they thought anyone would be stupid enough to get so close. Have you come up with a plan yet?" I questioned.

"Jasper and Emmett returned just a little while ago. They were able to track Bella through Port Townsend, but lost them as they went over the water. Jasper thinks that they will try and change her sooner rather than later. Have you heard any plans?"

"Not really. I am hoping they will let Bella rest so I can try and get close to her. She might know something." I said. I knew it would be a big risk, but I had to touch her. Reassure her that I would find some way to get her to safety.

"I can't see anything drastic changing in the near future. You should be able to get in quickly, but you can't risk taking her with you. Felix is an unparalleled tracker, and he would be able to find her anywhere on the earth. I do see that ending very badly, for both of you." She said quietly.

"I'll call you after I speak to her. Let me know if you see anything changing. Tell everyone thank you for everything they are doing to help." I whispered.

"Oh Edward, you know we all love Bella. We would do anything to try and keep her safe. You should know that I am not able to find a future without her being one of us. Just try and accept that she will be changed. I can't tell you who will change her."

I said a quick 'thank you' and put my phone back in my pocket. I could hear Aro's thoughts concerning Victoria's vindictive attitude towards Bella. He was concerned for Bella's safety, as was I. Victoria's thoughts were vicious, wanting to show Bella just what kind of pain losing a mate really felt like. Aro was going to have to put a guard at Bella's door in order to keep her safe.

Aro grabbed Victoria by the arm and escorted her out of the room, closing and locking the door behind him. Bella was still nearly unconscious laying on the bed. I vaulted to the window ledge, balancing on my tip toes as I tried to slide open the window. Thankfully it eased up noiselessly and I was able to enter the room without making a sound. She looked so tired, her skin abnormally pale with deep bruises under her eyes. The delicate skin of her lower lip was chapped from her constant habit of chewing it. I could see the perfect imprints of her upper teeth in her flesh, knowing it would only take a few more bites to break the skin.

I glided over to the bed, kneeling next to her and cradling her head in my palms. Her breathing stilled as I lowered my face to hers, inhaling her scent. I wanted to bury my face in her neck and never leave. These past few hours of not knowing if she were alive had been the worst in my existence. I had no idea how I would be able to pull myself away from her. She started to tremble, her heart rate increasing.

"Please no, don't hurt him. I'll do anything you want." She moaned quietly in her sleep.

"Bella, precious girl. Wake up, you are fine." I whispered quietly in her ear. I did not want her to make any more noise and arouse suspicion.

Her eyelids gently fluttered and she nuzzled her cheek against my palm like a kitten would.

"Hmmm, Edward. I had the worst dream." She breathed, bending her knees and curling her body around mine. I hated that I would have to tell her that the past few hours had not been a dream. It was our new reality.

"Bella, you need to stay quiet. I don't have long before someone will be back to check on you. Can you tell me anything that could help us get you out of here?" I whispered quickly.

Her eyes flew open and she started to shake as she remembered everything that had happened since she was taken from our room.

"Please precious girl, you need to stay quiet." I pleaded as I laid my finger over her lips.

She launched herself at me, wrapping her trembling arms around my neck and burying her fingers in my hair. I gently held her against my chest, trying to reassure her that I was here, and she was safe, for now.