Chapter 21 – Deceit

Edward was gone for three days. This room seemed much smaller since the last time I was here. Maybe it was because my attention wasn't as occupied as it was back then. What kept me occupied was texting Elizabeth. I knew I couldn't risk calling her, but Edward said it was perfectly safe to speak to her this way. My mind was safe from Aro, so he wouldn't see. She always asked when we were coming home.

I didn't want to say anything to her about that. I didn't even know. He was gone longer than I thought, but I also wanted to keep it a surprise. Knock, knock, knock. "Come in." The one named Chelsea came in, "Bella, Heidi is coming back." I smiled at her, "Ok?" She sighed, "Sorry, I mean she'll be back with some humans." "Ohh," I've never tasted human blood in this life and I wasn't going to tarnish my record, "Thanks, but no thanks, I don't drink human blood. I never did." She closed the door behind herself, "Really? Never?"

Well, I did before I was a vampire, but she can't know that. "It's a personal choice. When Edward changed me, I told him I refused to hurt people. That's when Carlisle told me about his family's choices." She sat on the couch, "I don't think I could ever do that." This was better than nothing. At least I had someone to talk to, "Have you ever tried?" She scoffed and brushed her hand dismissively, "No way." I smiled at her, "Well, if you ever do, I recommend lions. I understand they're the closest to human blood, being a carnivore."

She laughed out loud, "Well, I guess you can call me that, since you're a "vegetarian." I laughed with her. I guess I was wrong. Not all of the guard members were as cold and hard, emotionally, as they seemed. "You know, I want to apologize to you." I looked at her, "For what?" Her smile faded, "I was the one who got you dressed when you were brought here."

The memory was murky, like looking through a curtain. There, in a dark room, being ordered by a menacing voice. "Don't be difficult, girl. You'll enjoy yourself." The sounds of heels tapping on the floor echoed around me. She pushed the sheer robe into my hand, "Now hurry up," she snarled at me. I cringed away from her, rushing to put on the robe. I was desperate to stay alive. Her hand pulled at my arm, "Let's go. You are the fortunate one tonight." She pulled me through an opulent hallway to the chamber that I would be locked in for a month.

She towed me into the bedroom, towards the window. She stood behind me, not letting me see her face. She bent down and cold metal locked around my ankles. "Wha…?" She turned my shoulders around, not letting me see her, "Now, Bella, be good and relax. You're going to become a woman tonight." A quick wind blew and the bedroom door closed, leaving me in the dark. I stood there, locked in, waiting for my fate.

I nodded, "Ohh, it was you." She bowed her head. It was Chelsea who brought me to Edward. So, like Felix, I had to thank her too. She felt guilty for her actions, but there was no need for her guilt. My life turned out to be wonderful. "You know what, don't worry about it. I'm happier now. I just wish I could see my mother." That was a regret I couldn't forget. Renee, Phil and Charlie. They thought I was dead, if I was lucky. Chelsea looked at me, "What does she think happen to you?"

"Probably the same thing that happens to thousands of young girls who travel through Europe, trafficking." She sighed, "In a way, that did happen to you." I nodded, "I know that. But I'm one of the lucky ones. To be honest, when I started to care about Edward, I thought I was experiencing Stockholm Syndrome." Chelsea tilted her head, "Bonding with your captor." I smiled, "When we were together for the first time, he asked me if I really it. And when we went to Rome and Paris, I got even closer to him. Actually, at the airport to Rome, I told him that I loved him. And the following week, in Paris, we were married."

Chelsea smiled, "Aww, you had your honeymoon, before you were married." I ran my fingers through my hair, "I guess you can say that." Chelsea and I talked for a long time. She told me about Edward's years before he met me. "Now, I'm curious, how did you end up with the Cullens?" I had to watch myself while telling this story. "Well, Edward wanted me to meet his family. Actually, when we travelled to America, I was still human. I still didn't know what he was. Esme, Rosalie and Alice met us at the airport. I thought they all suffered from the same ailment as Edward."

Chelsea made a face, "What ailment?" "He told me that he had a sickness which caused him to have pale skin and why his eye color changed." Chelsea laughed, covering her mouth, "And you believed that? I'll have to use that one."

Chelsea listened eagerly to my story, almost forgetting that she was going to go feed, "Anyway, going to meet Carlisle and his family, I was so nervous. I mean, they were my in-laws after all. After a few more weeks, Edward couldn't delay it anymore. He had to tell me the truth. I was living in a house full of vampires." This story progressed perfectly, thanks to all the new space in my head, "I noticed that no one ate or seemed to get tired and all their eyes were changing from gold to black. When he told me, I didn't believe him." Chelsea nodded, "It would have been strange if you did."

"First, he showed me what the sunlight did to his skin. He pulled the curtain back, letting the light shine on his skin. I was so terrified that I locked myself in the bedroom for hours and was literally sick." My mind remembered that day perfectly, despite the film that distorted it. "I remember falling asleep on the floor, then waking up in bed. I jumped to the mirror to see if I was bitten." Chelsea turned her head, trying to hide her smile, "That's cute."

"Leave me alone. I didn't know," I nudged her. Our conversation progressed until the sounds of a visitor were going to interrupt us. "What is it now?" The door opened to Felix and Alec on the other side, "Heidi is back." Chelsea looked at them, then me, "I'll hunt on my own later. Thanks."

Felix's eyes were on me and I knew it. My frustration was building, but I had to be good. I promised Edward, "She said she'll go on her own later. Is this anything else?" Alec looked up at Felix, "Nothing. Felix, let's go." Alec turned to leave, but Felix stood his ground. My impulses to anger him were growing, but I couldn't let them control me.

Chelsea looked back, "Felix, what is wrong?" He was silent as he stared. I rolled my eyes, "I think he needs to go feed. Please, get him out of here." He finally blinked, "You don't have the authority to make me to leave." I scoffed and folded my arms, "This is my husband's room and I have every right. Get out!" Felix was beginning to snarl at me as I laughed, "That doesn't work on me."

"It did when you were human." That was over the line, "Well, excuse me if I was afraid of a rapist." Chelsea held my wrist, stopping me from getting closer to him, "Felix, just go." His eyes widened, seeing Chelsea holding my wrist, "You're taking up for her?" "Felix, you're only mad because Edward chose to stay with her, instead of killing her. Get your mind around it. They're married and they want to be together. Leave her alone."

Felix left the room, snarling. Alec left and Chelsea closed the door. "Is that it?" Chelsea turned to face me. "Felix isn't really a people person, but he and Edward were close. They didn't always see eye to eye, but they were friends nonetheless. That's why Felix handpicked you for Edward from the others. He wanted his friend to have someone untouched. Truth be told, he wanted you for himself, but he wanted to give something to Edward. He never expected Edward would keep you and marry you."

She exhaled deeply, "Personally, I'm very happy for Edward, but it's hard for Felix when he loses someone." That was it? He thought he was losing a friend? "He's the one pushing Edward away. He must have had some thoughts about me that Edward didn't like, but that's none of my business. I never liked Felix myself." Chelsea arched an eyebrow for a moment, "I wouldn't expect you to."

Felix was angry, it was obvious, but he should respect his friend's choices. "I don't even think Edward wants him near me." Chelsea nodded, "I wouldn't think so either." She and I went to sit on the couch again, "Felix does have an insatiable appetite and a bad side. If I were you, I would just keep my distance from him." I nodded, "Gladly. As soon as Edward is back, that is what I intend to do."

Chelsea and I spoke for hours. She was a nice person, having a dark past. She told me that she could feel the emotional bonds of others. "Yours and Edward's bond is very strong. Even if Aro wanted me to, I don't think I could break it. That's when I know when two truly love each other. Be happy in that, Bella. Nothing can break your bond."

When she went to hunt, she left me thinking. My bond to Edward was almost as indestructible as we were. That was reassuring, he would always be there for me and I would be for him. I left a message for Elizabeth, telling her that things were fine. I truly believe it was because of our daughter that made our bond so strong.

Now, it was the fourth day since Edward left and I was getting really worried. He never mentioned any of the Guard being lost on an assignment, but that didn't stop it from crossing my mind. What if he was hurt by this traitor? What if she prevented him from returning to me and his daughter? She was going to pay.

There was another knock on the door. I opened it to an unknown member of the Guard, "Edward has returned." Relief ran through me from this news. "Please, come with me." I closed the door and followed after him. He was leading me through the main lobby and down several flights of stairs. Soon, we passed through the receptionist's area, into a stone-walled corridor.

There were thick barred gates over the windows. Through the windows, I could tell we were underground, rendering my cell phone useless. Were there entrances so far underground? What was the structure of this tower? The unknown Guard member opened a steel door, "Through here." Every instinct in me told me to run. The member grabbed my arm and pushed me inside. The steel door was very thick. My fists pounded on it, straining the steel.

A light came on, to reveal that I wasn't alone. In the room, Felix was there, staring menacingly. My eyes narrowed, "What is going on here? Where is Edward?" He smiled at me, "Don't worry about it. You'll never see him again." My fingers dug into the steel door, hoping to pull it off its hinges. Felix walked towards me and I saw behind him, there was a trapdoor in the floor opened. I could smell the smoke coming from the creases.

"This is where all the humans end up when we are done with them. Along with the vampires that had to die." I looked up at him, "And that's where you think I'll end up." He chuckled darkly, "Well, at least you're smart. Nothing personal." I scoffed, knowing the lie, "It's nothing but personal." Felix flashed in front of me again, with his hands on my throat.

I kept my mind clear as I kicked him in his chest. The two of us tumult in the small room for, what it seemed like, hours. I wasn't giving up without a fight. I had several reasons to keep fighting. In my mind, I saw Edward, Elizabeth, Carlisle, Esme and Alice. They encouraged me to keep going. Elizabeth's wide eyes pleaded, "Momma, come home. I miss you."

The room put limits on our struggle, but it was enough for us to knock each other around. Felix threw me into the steel door, leaving an imprint in the door. Seeing this as an advance, Felix charged me, but I threw him across the room. It was surprising to me as to how fast I was moving.

Felix's hand clutched at my throat again as he slammed me into the ground. My body laid flat, looking up at the ceiling. His teeth were near my face and I half-blinked. My inspirational faces were fading. Elizabeth's face was leaving me, going with Edward's. I was alone and I was going to die. So much for our unbreakable bond. Felix got me to my knees, claiming his victory. His hand began twisting my neck in an uncomfortable direction. He was going to kill me.