I'm so sorry this is so late. Life kinda caught up with me and smashed everything into itty bitty pieces. So as an apology I'm going to upload several chappies today, yay! :)
Two months had passed since Charlie's funeral, and Victoria had yet to make a move for Bella.
In an attempt to protect her, Bella had moved in with the Cullens, and idea supported by Renee who cited Phil's travelling as a reason for being unable to look after Bella.
Bella wasn't paying all that much attention though. She still felt numb from Charlie's loss.
Those first few weeks she was listless, moving only when she had to and speaking to no one. In the end Jasper had taken drastic measures. He took her out into the woods for hours, and when they returned Bella looked drained, but more alive than she had been in weeks.
Neither of them spoke of what happened that day and no one asked. They were simply thankful that Bella was living once more.
Edward was trying to talk to Bella more and more. She allowed it, so long as he didn't dazzle her or start spouting inane rubbish about her being in danger. Usually when this started Emmett dragged him away to save Bella's hand the pain from slapping him.
Adam was now living with Leah in La Push. It turned out that whilst he was working with Paige he was feeling the pull more and more acutely until he had to give in. Leah still had some doubts about whether he truly wanted to be with her, but Adam was patient. He assured her he did, and the two were slowly becoming as close as Sam and Emily. He got phone calls from Paige often, she called it 'checking in' but Adam suspected that she didn't entirely trust the Pack.
Bella found that school was becoming more and more bearable, especially with Alice and Jasper at her side. The looks of pity were slowly lessening and the classes were beginning to make sense again.
It was the day of the History Pop Quiz that Leah burst into the Cullen home begging for help.
Adam had received a phone call from Paige.
Victoria had Savannah.
Through the sobs and hiccups Paige had managed to tell Adam only the bare facts. That Victoria had kidnapped Savannah and was demanding a ransom.
She wanted Bella.
The address for the so-called exchange had been given.
Bella was determined to be there.
To her, Savannah was just a kid, and though undoubtedly she'd been exposed to the cruelness of the world, Bella would be damned before she allowed anymore hurt to come by her.
Jasper did his best to dissuade her, even as his wife told him that her visions showed Bella and Savannah leaving the building together.
That was all Bella needed to convince everyone that she was right to go.
It was decided that Edward would go with her however, as Victoria was convinced that they were mates. Bella knew she was mistaken. She had watched the way Jasper and Alice treated each other, the way Carlisle constantly doted on Esme, and how hungry Emmett was for Rosalie. Bella knew without a shadow of a doubt that Edward had been lying to her about them being mates. She'd known since he left in her heart of hearts, but had only accepted it when she saw him again.
The two approached the ware house carefully, Edward keeping a hold of Bella's hand. For safety, he said.
The building appeared empty when the two entered, an empty space framed by dirty windows.
"Savannah?" Bella called.
There was no answer.
A sharp pain blossomed at the back of her head, and her last memory was of Edward's cold eyes.
She woke to cold bars pressing against her skin. She sat up warily, trying to make out where she was.
The answer was all too clear. She was in a cage.
"Bella? You okay?"
"I'm fine Savannah. You?"
"Yeah, she didn't touch me. And neither did the guy."
"Guy?" Bella asked blearily, before the image of cold eyes came rushing back.
"Edward. It was a trap."
Savannah snorted.
"Duh."
"Are my little birdies all awake?"
Savannah jumped as Victoria suddenly crouched next to the bars.
"Want us to sing a song Vicky?" Bella challenged.
"Only if you scream it." Victoria hissed in reply.
Bella's eyes started to accustom to the gloom, and she could make out Edward's figure behind Victoria, his eyes now a startling red.
He approached the cage slowly, running his hand over Victoria's head.
"Are you not afraid little Bella?"
The girl sat in the cage calmly, her brown eyes showing nothing but his reflection.
"Would it help me?"
"No." he replied. "But most people would be."
"I am not most people."
"Why are we here?" Savannah demanded.
Edward smiled.
"You, little one, are here to ensure Bella cooperates."
"With what?" Bella asked cautiously.
Edward looked at her as though she was a small child who had asked an exceptionally stupid question.
"As my mate of course."
"Right, of course." Bella's eyes focused on the female rubbing against his legs. "Tell me, whilst I'm being paraded round on your arm, will you be keeping the trash on the side?"
Edward smiled unpleasantly.
"Would that make you unhappy my love?"
"What are you doing Bella?" Savannah hissed.
She ignored her, keeping her eyes fixed on the vampire in front of her.
"It might."
"Then it shall not happen."
Quicker than the girls could follow, Edward threw Victoria across the room, the sound of snarling and screeching metal filling the hair.
Bella hastily started to move around the cage, looking for the door. She found it quickly and turned to Savannah.
"You know an unlocking spell?"
Savannah nodded her head slowly.
"But he'll catch us."
Bella shook her head. "He's not interested in you. If you can get out of this cage, do it."
Hesitantly Savannah cast the spell, the lock springing open.
"Quickly, he'll be done soon."
Savannah darted out and ran, turning back at the door to see Bella nod, and then kept running.
"Why did you have to do that?" Edward asked, coming over to the cage. "I was going to make her your first meal." He pouted.
"I don't fancy having to watch other people hurt because of me."
"Well, now that you've gone and proved yourself to be so useless, I'm going to have to punish you."
He grabbed her hair and dragged her from the cage.
"Oh? And what're you going to do? Make me sit on the naughty step?"
"No, but I would like you to meet a friend of mine."
Bella's eyes widened as a huge figure dominated the door frame.
"This is Kirk." Edward told her dispassionately. "I'd hoped you two wouldn't have to meet, but since you insist on being stubborn, Kirk here is going to re-educate you."
"Afraid to get your hands dirty?"
"Oh no, I just want you to beg for him to stop."
"Don't hold your breath."
He threw her at the feet of the giant and stepped away.
"All yours."
The man's face cracked into a gruesome smile and Bella braced herself for the impact.
It never came.
Instead the sound of violence reached her ears, and the sight of a semi-transformed werewolf greeted her eyes.
"That stupid witchling!" Edward hissed.
Bella laughed. "Cavalry's here."
The snarls that echoed through the warehouse told her that Jasper and Emmett had arrived.
Drops of saliva hit her face and Bella looked up cautiously, scrambling back as the now fully transformed wolf stalked towards her. Bella caught a glimpse of huge teeth before the beast lunged towards her and her arms flew in front of her face in a vain attempt to ward off the imminent attack.
A scream of anger reached her ears before hot blades tore at her arms and the wet sound of flesh hitting the floor caused her to pass out.