Hello everyone!! I told you this one would come way faster!!! WARNING the chapters contains some scenes of violence and aggression. I hope you enjoy it!!!

With everyone's eyes upon her, Bella suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Wavering a bit, she tried to backtrack. "I, mean, it wasn't despair and unhappiness I felt, but I did feel something. It wasn't particularly pleasant either. I think it was just normal."

"Hah," exclaimed Richard. "My dear, that is not normal at all, but it is very simple. When you have a gift, you have it. Nothing can change that, but we all have weaknesses. I think I'm yours. What a coincidence Aro. I'm Isabella's weakness. What do you think of that?"

Aro's eyes narrowed. "I highly doubt that, Richard," he said, deadly serious.

Bella was a little frightened. She could just feel the coldness emanating from Aro, but Richard seemed to enjoy it.

He's crazy she thought.

A new vampire walked up, interrupting them. "Why Aro, I'm been looking all over for you. Would you please excuse us, gentlemen. I need to speak with Aro about an important development." He looked to be the same age as Aro, yet he wasn't half as commanding. However, he stared at her intensely, his eyes turning dark red. He then smiled. A disturbing smile that made her feel like he wanted to devour her.

Bella took a step back.

Aro seemed to understand what was going on, and he was not pleased. "Gregori," he said smoothly. "What a pleasure it is to see you once again. This is my companion Isabella." He turned to Bella. "In fact, my dear, for your safety, I would like you to stay here for a little while with Richard and Paul? I will not be long."

Bella nodded. "As you wish."

Aro gave her one of his inscrutable smiles and left with Gregori.

Paul took a step forward. "If you would excuse me, there are some men I must speak to. Very nice to meet you, Isabella," he said, giving her a slight bow. He then looked over at Richard. "Father?"

"Yes, you may leave," Richard said, waving him away.

Paul turned and disappeared.

Now Bella was alone with Richard.

"Will you walk with me, Isabella?" Richard said smoothly, offering his arm.

For some reason, she felt safe with Richard. Maybe it was because he didn't look like he wanted to eat her, or maybe it was something else. Bella smiled and replied. "Of course." Graciously, she took his arm and he guided her across the floor into another room with a giant gold pendulum that moved very slowly.

"What's this?"

"It's Foucault's Pendulum," Richard told her. "It was quite a fascinating discovery back in the eighteen-hundreds. It proves without a doubt that the Earth rotates. Of course, people always suspected the Earth was rotating, but we didn't have absolute proof until Foucault came up with this. Of course, we vampires had to build our own just to see, and in typical vampire fashion nobody has bothered to take it down."

"I see." Bella didn't know what to say. He was looking at her kindly which was very strange. "Is there something wrong?" she asked.

He chuckled. "Why no, nothing at all. I'm just impressed by your gift and the effect I have on you."

"Is that so?"

Richard laughed. "Well, among other things."

"Such as?" Bella prodded, giving him a smile. Then it occurred to her. What was she doing? She was flirting with him? What the hell. What gave her the power to do that? How could she flirt with another man with Aro just a few steps away?

"Your beauty for one," Richard said, raising his hand, caressing her cheek. "You have such a sweet face, and you're so slight, like a waif really. How could I keep my eyes away from you?"

Bella blushed. "Thank you." She looked around to make sure Aro didn't see, and as far as she could tell, he didn't, thank God.

"You look a lot like her, you know."

"Like who?

"Althea, of course. Aro used to take her everywhere. He loved her. Indeed, in all these centuries, I have never seen anyone more in love. It was unbelievable and yet so attractive to watch. It made me feel love."

"So you knew her well?"

"Yes, I suppose I did, and it looks like you have something in common with her. You look at Vampires with kindness, which makes them feel human. I believe that you have that effect on Aro as well."

She was scared to ask, but she did it anyway. "Do I have that effect on you?"

"I'm afraid so. After all, since I have an effect on you, it's more than reasonable for you to have an effect on me as well."

"Why afraid?"

"It is a nasty thing to desire something someone else possesses. Or someone."

She knew exactly what he meant.

"And if you have that effect on Aro, he most definitely needs you more than he wants you," Richard said, shaking his head. "Especially with the things he's done."

Bella took a step forward. "You know things about him…the scary things?"

"Aro and I go far back, and I'm one of the very few people who knows everything about him. Even his most well-kept secrets. Of course, he knows mine as well."

"That's why you're good friends."

"That's one reason, yes. In times of need, we turned to each other for help with the knowledge our family wouldn't or couldn't help."

"May I ask you something," Bella said, touching his arm. A motion that made no sense but felt so right. There was a connection between them. She could feel it, and it made her feel comfortable. He looked at her with eyes open waiting to hear what she would say. "I need to know…"

Richard smiled. "Know what?"

"Aro's past. What are the dark things he has done? I'm supposed to stay with him for an eternity. Yet he won't share these things. I beg of you. I need to know."

"I'm sorry to say, Isabella, I cannot do that."

Bella gloomily nodded her head. She had figured he wouldn't tell her, but it disappointed her just the same.

Richard seemed to sense this, taking her hand. "Come now, no need to be sad. Why don't we go for a dance? It will be fun."

Bella really wasn't in a mood for dancing but she smiled and nodded. She thought maybe she could still convince him.

Richard led her out to the dance floor, tossing his cane over to the side, which another coven member caught with one hand. The orchestra started to play a tango called Pasión y Tango.

Bella shook her head. "I don't know how to dance the tango."

"Have no fear, I shall guide you. There are no mistakes in this dance."

Richard took her hand and pulled her tight, placing his hand around her waist. Bella placed her hand on his shoulder. He was so tall, her head went up to just his shoulder, but with his long arms, she fitted perfectly in his embrace. Then with his hand on her spine, he smoothly glided her across the floor, looking into her eyes.

Bella was a little nervous about doing this, but it was more adrenaline than fear. She knew Aro would be angry. Richard had to know it too. Did he have a death wish?

Bella picked up on the dance quite quickly. Of course, Richard was an excellent teacher. Around them everyone danced, oblivious to their situation. All except Aro, who Bella could see out of the corner of her eye. He stood completely still, his eyes focused on her.

As the danced progressed, Bella started to feel more confident and started to guide her teacher, slowly sliding her leg in between his, rubbing it against his left one. Richard then dipped her low to the ground, which took her breath away. Bella couldn't help but laugh. She couldn't believe she was doing this.

Richard seemed to approve though, his smile praising her for her bravery and confidence. After a moment, he lifted her up and turned her around with his strong hands. When the song was about to end, he dipped her low to the ground again, holding her in place. Bella almost thought he would kiss her, but he didn't. He just smoothly placed her back on her feet. That's when she noticed people were watching them. They even applauded.

"Oh my gosh, that was amazing," Bella said, giggling, catching her breath. "It was like I've been dancing for years."

"I told you, there are no mistakes."

"You're a good teacher."

Richard smiled, and Bella couldn't help but smile back.

Aro approached them and slowly started clapping. "How lovely," he said coldly. "You both dance so well, so sensually."

"Well, it was just a dance," Richard said, trying to reassure him. "Nothing more."

Richard's voice was low and dark, but not as low as Gavin's. God, she missed Gavin. She would have loved to dance with him like this. While she seemed to share a bond with Richard it was just that. She didn't want him the way she wanted Gavin. She was also beginning to realize her feelings for Aro were fading away.

"Isabella is my companion," Aro told Richard. "Go dance with your own female companions."

"Of course," Richard said grimly. "Forgive me, Aro." He then turned to Bella. "It's been a pleasure, my dear. If you will excuse me," he gave a slight bow and then left them.

Aro was eerily still as he watched Richard walk away, but when he turned to face Bella, his eyes narrowed. "We're leaving. Get your cloak," he hissed.

"What, so soon?"

"Yes," Aro grumbled.

Grabbing her cloak with trembling hands, Bella followed Aro to the elevator.

When they were back in the car, Aro started in, his fingers clasped around the steering wheel. "What do you think you were doing?"

"Aro, you left me all alone with these human bloodsuckers looking at me like I was a snack."

"And that gave you the impression that you could insult me and shame me in front of everybody?"

"I did no such thing. I just had a dance with your friend."

"A friend that you share a very strong bond with."

Bella shook her head. She knew she would get nothing out of this conversation.

But that angered him even more. "Is that what you're going to do with every new strong and appealing Vampire you meet? You're going to flirt with them and beg them to fuck you like the little pathetic slut you are?"

"What?" Bella was outraged. "You're being ridiculous."

"You want to punish me for not letting you see Gavin, is that it?"

"Aro enough!"

"You little whore. You want to fuck everyone don't you?"

Bella tried to smack him, but he was way quicker and caught her arm, slamming on the breaks. Yanking her hand free, she jumped out of the passenger seat, slamming the door.

Aro was out of the car so fast, she didn't even see him. He grabbed her by the wrist, and then pulled her hand closer to his face and smelled it. The smell of her skin and blood. "I think it's time I taught you some manners."

Picking her up, he threw her in the front seat, locking the door and started driving again. He drove so fast, Bella thought he was going to flip the car. They arrived back at the castle in 5 minutes or so it seemed. Aro took her arm and dragged her ferociously up to her room.

"Aro stop. You're hurting me."

"We haven't even started yet," he said, closing the door, locking it with a key. Turning around, he glared at her. He was so cold.

Bella looked around the room. There was no escape. She was a prisoner. "Aro, stop, you don't need to do this."

"Yes, I think I do." Walking across the room, he grabbed her and brutally ripped the beautiful dress right off her, shredding it, leaving her with only her panties on which he tore those apart as well. Bella begged him to let her go, but he had no intention of letting her go.

Throwing her on the bed, he spread her legs, stretching them so far she could feel her muscles straining, and then mounted her, pushing himself inside.

Bella screamed in pain. She wasn't wet, so his invasion felt like a battering ram. Flailing about, she hit his chest and face, but he was like a rock.

With a low growl, he slapped her, making her ears ring. "You will stop hitting me," he snarled, "and take your punishment."

"Why don't you just kill me?"

"That's not what I have in mind for you."

Pushing inside her with hard slow thrusts, he raised both her legs on his shoulders and kept fucking her hard. Bella felt like a rag doll, her body convulsing in a sea of pain. He then flipped her over and took from behind, which was a new experience in pain altogether. He did all kinds of horrible things to her, degrading things. By the end, she was wet, but it was from blood.

Aro got up from the bed and dressed, smoothing out his tie, fixing his hair. "You like that ah?" he said, staring back at her through the mirror. "To be treated like a slut. You like flirting with other men so you must have enjoyed this."

Bella didn't say a thing. She felt like a dirty washrag that had been crumpled up and thrown away.

Aro turned around. "Scream my name," he commanded.

"Aro," she said weakly.

He took a menacing step forward. "I said scream my name."

"Aro!" she screamed while crying.

"That's right," he replied, taking a few steps forward. "You will scream my name until you understand for good that you are mine and mine alone. I will not have you flirting with other men. I will not allow you to be touched by anyone else. Do you understand?"

Bella didn't reply. She just kept on crying.

"DO YOU?"

"YES!" she cried.

He then walked over to the bed and gently positioned her head on the pillows, wrapping her up in blankets.

Bella couldn't stop crying. Her whole body felt twisted and torn. She felt so disgusting.

Aro softly kissed her forehead and hushed her crying. "That was an important lesson for you, my darling. You had to know. Now you do, don't you?"

"Yes, Aro," she said in a monotone voice.

"Good girl. Now I will leave you rest," Tenderly, he kissed her and walked out of her room, leaving her alone.

There were no more tears in her, her body trembling. She tried to get up and go to the bathroom to wash herself, but she couldn't. The muscles in her legs hurt so bad she collapsed to the floor halfway there.

Now unable to go back to bed nor to the bathroom, she just laid there and closed her eyes hoping that it was a bad dream.

So that was it.. I hope I haven't disturb any of you with what I wrote but it was vital for the way the story will continue!!! Thank you for everything!!!