Hello All.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I really enjoyed writing it. I am trying to get ahead so you don't have to wait as long for new chapters. The closer it gets to the end of this portion of the story, the more excited I get about writing it. I am already working on the next chapter... look for it soon.

The Normal Stuff: The Twilight series and all its characters belong to Ms. Stephenie Meyer. Check out my friends stories and see my faves for some cool ones.

Review please. I like to know what you think and feel. I love to read them and see alerts in my inbox. Gives me sunshiny feelings on the inside. :)

I dedicate this chapter to CARLISLESDARKETURNALQUEEN, you may not read my chapters as I post them, but your reviews make me laugh like crazy. You are my Sunshine. And... to my Pea, you are so sweet and thank you for all the inspiration.

Now... to the story...

Chapter 36: Mind Games

Bella… you have to wake up. You are in danger. Wake up!

I didn't know what was going on, but I could hear a voice from inside me calling to me. It was begging me to wake up. I was too tired. I didn't care at the moment. I wanted to sleep.

Bella, you have to get up. You can rest later, wake up!

I felt so groggy. I had never felt like this when I was waking up. I was really confused too and at the same time, it felt very familiar. I had to force my eyes open and that was when I saw walls of pealing paint and spray painted graffiti. I wasn't in a place like this. I was at the hotel with Alice and Jasper.

I had to force my mind to concentrate too. I had never felt so disoriented, but now I could have sworn that I had been drugged. I kept looking around me, trying to figure out what was going on, but the more I saw the more puzzled I became. I looked down to see old planks for floors and an assortment of busted furniture around me. I then tried to stand from where I was sitting, and that was when I realized that I was tied to the chair.

I started to panic. I was tied down to a chair and I had no clue where I was. That was when I heard a chuckle from in front of me. I looked up to see blood red eyes staring back at me. I watched as the eyes were walking toward me from the darkness of the other room. That was when I saw the face of the man that was hunting me.

"My, my, I can see why your boyfriend would want to protect you, little one."

I did not speak I only stared back at him as he continued to walk toward me. My eyes never left sight of him and he then began to circle me. I was watching and listening for his movements, not wanting him to get too close and I not know it.

"He agreed you know… to my little game. He must really want you back."

I was too scared to talk or to think, but I knew that he was up to something as well. That was when I noticed the man from the hotel coming into the room. The hunter turned his attention to his accomplice for a moment, leaving me to listen to what was happening.

"What did you see when you checked on him?"

"James, the whole coven is in that hotel, they are going to be looking to take your head, especially the boy."

James' chuckles made my skin crawl. I knew they were talking about Edward and it made me sick to think that they were playing games with him. The thought of my Edward in that much pain over me was eating away at my heart. In that moment, I wished that I had never come to Forks or met Edward Cullen. He would be safe now if he had never met me.

"What are you going to do with the girl?"

My attention snapped back to the present when I heard them mention what they were going to do with me. I was scared, actually scared didn't cover what I was feeling at the moment. Terror was more like it.

"Intend to let him watch me drink her blood and listen to him scream for me to stop. Beg for her life and for him to watch the light and color drain from her body."

"James, that is cruel, even for you."

"Laurent, Laurent, Laurent. The boy shouldn't have challenged me. By him claiming her as his own, I knew I had to have her. He is weak, and I will enjoy destroying him and his family."

I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't stand by and let them do that. I started to struggle in my restraints and that was then that I felt the chair shift and I tumbled to the floor, chair and all. They both turned to see me lying there. I then felt the icy hands of Laurent put me ride side up. He then came down to my eye level with me and spoke.

"This one has fire in her. I will enjoy watching you kill her."

James was silent. He didn't speak and I couldn't see him. He was standing behind me and he didn't move either. I had no idea where he was, but I knew he was there. Laurent then looked back to where James was standing.

"James, what's the matter?"

I then heard him begin to laugh the most malicious and cruel laugh I had ever heard in my life. I wanted to see him, and know how close he was to me.

"I can't believe it. It's her."

Laurent stood from his spot in front of me to look back at his boss. He looked as confused as I felt at those words.

"James?"

"She's the one that the Volturi fears the most."

"No. It can't be. James, are you sure?"

Laurent walked back to where I knew James must have been standing and the room went silent. I listened, straining to hear something. I had to know what was going on. I heard Laurent gasp and James speak.

"She's the Queen. She is the one that the Volturi has been searching for all this time. Isn't it ironic?"

I was confused now. The Queen? What were they talking about? These two had lost their minds and I intended on letting them know that they had.

"What are you talking about? You guys are insane, I'm no queen."

I heard the floor boards creak and then James came into my peripheral vision and finally in front of me. He pulled another chair in front of me and sat down just staring into my eyes.

"You, my dear, are the Queen. The reincarnation of Valkyrie herself. I never would have thought that I would see the day that she would return."

"You're crazy."

"I see your little boyfriend doesn't talk about vampire history does he?"

I stared at him, not stooping low enough to give him a response. I watched his eyes glow a brilliant red and an evil smile curl up upon his lips.

"I never would have thought that Valkyrie would pick a young vampire like your boyfriend to protect her. She must be getting eccentric since she was killed all those years ago. I never thought a mere mortal would be that mad about a vampire killing her."

"You're nuts. You are absolutely crazy."

"Little girl, I know what I see and you are her, maybe not the same in appearance, but you are her."

"Okay, then why do you seem to think I am this 'queen'?"

"You are marked with the symbol of the Queen. The star of Valkyrie."

My mind slipped back to when Edward looked at my back and told me about the star shaped birthmark on my back. I really didn't think too much of it and neither did Edward. If he would have been really concerned I know he would have taken me to see his father to have him look at it.

"I'm so glad that I spent that time in Volterra. Now I will be rewarded for bringing the dead body of the Queen to Aro. Laurent, get some more chloroform and knock her out. I need to prepare for her guardian to come. I wonder if the other creature has been found as well. No matter, we will deal with anything that comes."

"No you can't do this to me. Stop. Please."

Laurent came up from behind me and placed a cloth soaked in chloroform back in front of my face and I felt myself slipping again. I wanted to fight it, I had to stay awake. I wanted to scream out for help, but I felt my body getting weaker and weaker. That was when I began to hear that familiar voice again and this time, see her again.

"Bella?"

"You?"

Standing before me was the woman from one of my dreams. I recognized her immediately when she came into my sight.

"Yes, it's me."

"Who are you? You wouldn't tell me before, tell me now. Who are you?"

"You know who I am Bella. Think."

I looked around to see I was standing by an ancient castle. I looked at her wardrobe and it too appeared to be from a time long ago. It was clear it wasn't present day. The woman stared deeply into my eyes.

"Valkyrie?"

The woman smiled gently to me. Her eyes sparkled and they looked very familiar to me. They were my eyes staring back at me.

"Yes, Bella. I am the one called Valkyrie. I am glad that you know me now."

"Who are you? I mean, I know your name, but why do I know you?"

"I am part of you, Bella. I have always been a part of you."

"I don't understand."

"I know, but I am here to help you now."

"Help me how?"

The woman took my hand and began to lead me along the wall of the castle. As I walked, I felt as if I was walking in a place that I knew long ago.

"Bella, you are in danger. The ones called James and Laurent are going to kill you and you have to get away from them, soon."

"How?"

"Edward."

Hearing his name roll off her tongue was different and very elegant. I wished with all my heart that my voice could sound like that, something similar to what Edward would sound like. She walked with me until we reached a small hut on the edge of the forest that surrounded the castle.

"Where are we?"

"We are where it all started so very long ago. Bella, your destiny and mine are tied together. This is the place that it became a reality."

"Where is this?"

"My memories."

"Your memories?"

"Yes, you see our paths were tied here. By us being tied together, my path and your path are one now. So your safety now in the present, is my concern as well. This specific place in my memories is where my power is the strongest and where I can help you the most"

"How is Edward going to help me? He doesn't know where I am?"

"He does, but doesn't."

Those words were rather confusing to me. How could he know but not know? This woman always spoke in riddles. I then saw her smile at me and chuckle before she spoke again.

"I know my riddles are confusing, but they are needed."

"You can hear my thoughts?"

"Our thoughts are one and to answer your first question, he knows because you told him."

"That doesn't make any sense, Valkyrie."

"Your mind calls out to him. You are bonded together with a love that is unlike anything the world seen yet or will ever see. That kind of love connects people over time and space. You can call out to him and tell him where you are."

"He can't read my mind."

"Your mind is too strong for him to read, but your mind is strong enough to call to him."

"How?"

"Bella, just think about him and the connection is there."

I closed my eyes and thought about the man that held my heart. I could see his face and I could feel his touch against my skin, and that was when I had a rush of anger and frustration. I jerked back to what was happening to see Valkyrie standing before me.

"I felt anger."

"That would be his anger. He is upset that he has lost you."

"Will I be able to actually tell him where I am? I really don't know 100 where I am."

"You will show him what you see. Close your eyes again and let your memories of that room flood his mind."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes and when I started to feel his frustration, I pulled my own memories forward of the room. The pealing paint, the graffiti, and the broken appearance of the room were the things I wanted him to see. I concentrated on them as long as I could until I felt as if I was going to faint and that was when the connection was broken.

I was on my knees on the ground in front of Valkyrie when I realized where I was again. Her hand was extended and pulled me from the ground to my feet.

"You did well, Bella."

"Why do I have this feeling that I won't remember any of this when I wake up?"

"Because, you won't. It is not time for you be able to remember me in your conscious mind. Your subconscious will be able to find me if you need me though."

"Am I what they say I am?"

"Excuse me?"

"James called me the Queen. Am I who he says I am?"

"You will be the Queen one day, but today you are still just Bella. That is why you will not remember this. We are not ready yet, we are not strong enough to be one in the conscious world yet. However, we will be together again soon. Be safe, Bella."

I felt the world start to come back to me. I felt groggy and wanted to open my eyes. I was so tired though. I could have sworn I had been dreaming, but I couldn't recall it. The only thing I could think of was to whisper three words.

"Edward, help me."