OK. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE HAVING A BAD DAY. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD DAY. Just, probably don't read this.
Deep breath, folks. Gear up for a long chapter. I fought with this one. I should probably be taken out back and shot.
TRIGGERS: UH, YALL. OMG. I don't even... not-nice smut. VERY VERY not-nice smut, RAPE scenarios implied. I'm tryin to be delicate and sensible here, but I want you to get the horror of it. We will NOT go above PG-13. HOLY SHIT. SKIP THIS WHOLE CHAPTER YALL, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
Oh Jesus, save my soul.
Edward, honey: You need a vacation. Jesus, you and Bella are so going to Isle Esme after this ends.
For, like, a decade.
Okay, so I struggled planning this chapter a little bit. I just, I want to get there but I'm not sure how. There were a lot of ideas in this chapter that got cut. Snip-Snip.
As we approach the finale, this is getting really complicated. So, yeah. God, I hope it doesn't belly-flop. I would hate for all this buildup to peter out. NEED GUNPOWDER BANG!
Guys, three to four more chapters (Depending on cliffies, and smut—These characters keep adapting in ways I don't expect). The Master is coming: I'm so excited. Here we go.
Hope it makes a lick of sense.
REVIEW
Um, TRIGGERS for brainwashing and implied bestiality (gross)-among other horrors. Kasdeya is not nice. Poor girl. Her backstory is SUPER sad and like, sickening.
Things get better, next chapter is like, basically fluff. I don't know about you, but I need it.
Links:
DeviantArt:
faeshadows/gallery/73448490/breakdown-22-devastation
Youtube:
playlist?list=PL6e4Mph9w4WADtquJsiP_MAQNd5KElCTN
Spotify:
playlist/7f2unCLV3HBlcGukIFBPa5?si=BBuyLXHjTEq-b5X9dsB0tg
Delicate
When Muse trotted over to their side of the lake, the mare tossed her head and horn wildly before she nickered at Bella and tugged at her hair, lipping the end of her braided locks with affection.
Then the previously-mythical creature turned to Edward and blew air through her nose in a snort, raising her head and planting her feet, meeting his eyes challengingly as he looked up at her.
"None of that, Muse. Edward won't eat you; he's not even hungry. Try not to be offended, Edward. Muse doesn't like strangers. Hell, it was months before she let me hear her thought-speak, and we met in fairly intense circumstances. Unicorns are immortal and ancient: powerful purveyors of Destiny; they can smell it. She'll warm up to you."
Bella mounted the animal's back in a smooth swing before she pushed herself back to make room for him in front of her. "Come on—you're too far away. Do not throw him, Muse, or so help me its Timothy Hay when we get back to HQ. For like, a week. I could be making love right now."
Edward eyed the massive black horse for just a moment, not glancing for too long at the spike of metallic bone that extended from her forehead. "Sure, Edward." he muttered to himself sarcastically, "Just hop on the unicorn's back, Edward. It's not like this is completely surreal or anything. Just a powerful purveyor of Destiny. No problems here."
Still, he took Bella's offered hand and settled in front of Bella on the creature's back, feeling the shudder of hard muscle and sinew beneath him.
"Okay, so what happens now? How do you drive a-" Edward yelped as Muse shot forward, gripping on to her silver mane with Bella's arms wrapping his waist. His love's laughter was carried away by a fierce wind and echoing song. Muse was faster than Edward could ever hope to be. Edward felt slightly nauseous, and then it got worse.
Flashes of gold and silver impeded his vision, echoes of scenes never fully in focus. Here was a battlefield, the inside of a Castle, a ballroom filled with people in fine dress, a mortal coffee shop. Bella's voice rose in his mind, the wind snatching her words away.
"Unicorns travel by shifting the planes of reality around them. Like teleportation, but more powerful, shifting between multiple timelines: Never-weres and Could-bes get mixed up with what is. It's disorienting at first, but you get used to it. Muse will take us to where she needs us to go. Trust me, I trust her. Muse would never allow harm to come to me."
Riding Muse to wherever she was taking them was surreal in the extreme, like stepping inside a Van Gogh painting. But Edward couldn't help the crooked smirk that rose on his face as Bella clutched close to him and rested her head against his shoulder blade. He felt her lips quirk behind him as he relished the feel of the horse's gait, Bella's body shifting to brace and bounce against his thighs and back as they rode with that incredible speed through a thousand half-formed scenes.
Green eyes and unicorns and Bella pressed against him intimately. What a world Edward found himself in.
As the scene solidified and held, Edward could smell damp earth, the moisture of fog in the air. Massive oaks formed a dense forest around them, and the place would have reminded Edward of Forks, had it not been for the foggy clearing ahead of them: a cemetery filled with worn headstones and a single mausoleum between this stretch of trees and the next.
"Whoa, Whoa. Oh hell no. You stop right here, horsey. That's Kasdeya's territory. I am NOT going in there." Bella released him suddenly, vaulting herself from the creature's back and racing to take Muses' face in her hands. "The Anubi are in there. Nobody goes in there: hell, The Master won't go in there. If you think for one second I'm going back into that forest, you've got another thing coming. And you're taking Edward in there over my dead body. What the hell are you thinking, Muse?"
No Church in the Wild
Muse snorted, her horn glowed blue at the tip. Bella paused in her half-begun pacing, and her face was startled and considering as she glanced at the creature. "Really? I mean...no. No, no, no. I'm not interested in even more power, Muse. No one should hold all of the blessings at once. I don't care. Not even to mention that we would need every soldier in Camp to get to her Castle. And every Fae in Havana wouldn't be enough to get us out again. Some things cannot be borne even once, Muse. And certainly not twice."
Edward felt his concern grow, dismounted from Muse to take Bella in his arms. "Bella, love. What's going on, where are we?"
Muse shoved him out of the way with her nose while imperiously stomping her front foot. She nickered softly and met Bella's suddenly tragic face with her nose pushed against Bella's forehead. When she breathed, golden glitter floated around her and Bella, shining like dust-motes in the air.
Bella groaned in surrender and clutched at the horse's mane. "It's always something. Destiny: God what I wouldn't give for an hour alone in the dojo with that bitch. Please don't ask me for this, Muse. I can't-I won't survive it. Not to even mention how thrilled I would be to drop dead right now, if it would guarantee Edward never had to meet her."
"Who?" Edward felt fear and anguish rise in his head, though he couldn't identify why he was suddenly feeling like Bella was on her deathbed. He had to be missing something, something big.
Bella met his eyes softly: surrender, love, and fear and nervousness in her own gaze. "Kasdeya. She holds the Anubi's leash. If Tomas is the Master's right hand, Kasdeya is undoubtedly his left. I met her, once. Demetri's idea. It was-" Bella's face grew sickened, horrified. "It was bad. Really bad. The Master kept a firm hold on her, but it was still pretty awful."
Human beings in a mob
What's a mob to a king?
What's a king to a God?
What's a God to a non-believer
Who don't believe in anything?
Will he make it out alive?
Alright, alright
No church in the wild
"The Anubi are this pack of dogs. Well, I say dogs. More like—hellhounds, maybe?" She squinted, as though that wasn't quite the right word. "They used to be men: a long, long time ago. So the story goes. Kasdeya rules them, restrains them from running free through Havana. Let's just say there's a reason Jacob turning into a giant dog freaked me out. I am not: never, nope. Seriously, Muse. Take us back across the line right now. There's no way Tomas can't sense us this deep in enemy territory."
Muse snorted, planting her feet and looking challengingly at Bella now, before she lowered her head and planted her horn in Edward's back, shoving him towards the cemetery and the tree line.
A smack echoed as Bella popped the horse on the rear. "I said no, Muse. You can take us back, or we can start walking, but I think you know the chances of the two of us making it back to Camp alive without your help."
Muse whinnied loudly, and sat. "Muse. Muse. God, you're so stubborn." Frustrated tears pooled in Bella's eyes as she tugged on the unicorn's mane. "I swear to God, Muse. No. I'm not leaving you here alone either, horsey. You're insane."
"We don't have to do anything you don't want to, Bella, but what was that about the blessings?"
Bella turned to him, her shoulders slumped and her tears escaping to stream down her face. Edward gathered her in his arms, kissed her forehead softly. His head was spinning.
"The earth's blessing is in there. Muse wants us to go get it. Oh. Oh. This is unbearable, love. I can't. Please. Don't make me."
"Well, the Master having the power to transform into anything can't be a good thing. Bella, love, what if we didn't get caught? I wouldn't let anything hurt you, you know that."
"If we got caught, there would be nothing you could do, Edward. You'd have your own trials to face. Kasdeya is a powerful telepath. She would tear you up, love: from the inside out."
"Then I guess we better not get caught." Edward felt determination rise in him. The blessings were dangerous, an advantage he could not allow his enemy.
Bella pulled back from him, took in his face with a flare of gold in his thoughts. Then, Bella's mental presence seemed to dry up, becoming a soft and faraway glow in his head. He could hear nothing from her.
"We better not." She turned to the unicorn. "So much timothy hay in your future, Muse. Lead on, gallant steed: If we die, I am haunting your ass on the other-side."
Tears on the mausoleum floor
Blood stains the Coliseum doors
Lies on the lips of a priest
Thanksgiving disguised as a feast
Rollin' in the Rolls-Royce Corniche
Only the doctors got this, I'm hidin' from police
Cocaine seats
All white like I got the whole thing bleached
Drug dealer chic
Watching Bella creep through the cemetery like she was afraid something would rise from the graves and bite her made Edward tense and short-tempered. It took all he had to send her an encouraging glance when she paused in the shadow of the mausoleum. Bella couldn't hear the faraway sound of shattered screams that echoed from far below the entrance of the small building, but Edward could; and so could Muse. When he met the unicorn's eyes, she knickered softly at him and lipped the hair that curled against the back of his neck.
As they paused in the shadows before the forest, Edward scanned the tree line for threats before something caught his eye: Around one of the wide oaks was a thick metal wire, wrapped once around the tree before the wire stuck out at odd angles at about hip height. The wire had been sheared off before it could wrap the tree twice and left to rust. Edward saw Bella shudder, her flashing eyes on the wire, and from where he stood, he could see the lash marks that rose above the neck of her shirt. A memory: a split-second echo from the throne room. The crack of a whip and a view of rough bark, the feel of something burning around his wrists and the sound of Adeline's screams. Oh, dear god, what had he unknowingly asked of his lover? The out-out-out feeling was back, but Edward tempered it by taking Bella's hand and tugging her to follow him, choosing to enter the woods far from the tree that had held Bella immobile as she was lashed.
I'm wonderin' if a thug's prayers reach
Is Pious pious 'cause God loves pious?
Socrates asks, "Whose bias do y'all seek?"
All for Plato, screech
I'm out chere' ballin', I know y'all hear my sneaks
Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy, laid beats
Hova flow the Holy Ghost, get the hell up out your seats, preach
Muse brought up the rear of their group, the horse's head stretched low to the ground and her gait light and cautious. The leaves didn't even crunch beneath her hooves.
They walked silently for a few moments before a howl rang through the air, and a quiet high-pitched whine left Bella's throat as she called for the group to pause, holding up her fist to signal them to stop. Her knuckles were white. She spoke at a whisper only vampires could possibly hear. "They're hunting. We are so screwed. Don't freak out Bella, Muse can get you out of here in a heartbeat. Okay? Okay."
She crept forward around another massive oak that bordered a small dry creek bed. "Edward. I'm gonna need your speed here a moment. Think you can carry me across the creek bed without making any noise? Muse can shift to join us on the other side."
Human beings in a mob
What's a mob to a king?
What's a king to a God?
What's a God to a non-believer
Who don't believe in anything?
Will he make it out alive?
Alright, alright
No church in the wild
Edward nodded, and swung Bella to his back. He grabbed her hand as it twined around his neck and kissed the inside of her palm, twice; just above his bite mark. She traced her fingertips along his jaw as she settled her weight on him. Edward felt Bella tense at the crunch of leaves as he took a step back, prepping to leap the creek bed. They were in midair, halfway across it, when something hit Edward hard from the side and ripped a chunk out of his ribs. He twisted to take the impact before he could land on Bella, felt his arm crack at the shoulder as he braced his fall.
I live by you, desire
I stand by you, walk through the fire
Bella lost her grip as they hit the ground, rolling away from him and into the creek bed, too far. The massive dog-thing that had hit him was beyond grotesque, with hollow lengths of bare rib bone that were laced with bleeding tendons. Around its head was dark fur matted with blood, and wicked fangs that stretched as the dog perked its ears at him. The creature's eyes were a glowing consumed red. It wagged a skeletal tail as it threw its head back to howl. Edward rushed it, but the damn thing was fast.
"Edward! Careful, don't look in its eyes!" A set of menacing growls rang from the trees behind Edward, just as he heard Bella screech. "Anubi hunt in PACKS."
Another of the fierce animals had leapt at her; it tried to snap its teeth around Bella's shoulder, but faltered when Muse neighed and clambered down the bank towards it as Bella dodged and circled.
Your love, is my scripture
Let me into your encryption, yeah yeah
Edward threw the massive Anubi that threatened him so that it's back hit the large redwood and turned to track Bella again: but Bella was looking behind him as Muse struck out at the dog attacking her with a powerful kick from her rear legs, another already leaping for the unicorn's throat as Bella stood, frozen. Her eyes were consumed with black. Edward heard a short and chipper whistle behind him, and as at least eight Anubi circled their prey, he turned to face a woman who was undoubtedly Kasdeya. Caught.
Coke on her black skin made a stripe like a zebra
I call that jungle fever
You will not control the threesome
Just roll the weed up until I get me some
Kasdeya was a light mulatto woman with jet black hair in controlled waves to below her shoulders. She wore a lace up, blue-jean corset dress that hugged her curves down to mid-thigh, with a high slit up each leg to allow for freedom of movement. Fierce black leather high heels with armor over the knees extended almost to the hem of her dress. She was Nubian beautiful, with high cheekbones and a deep curve before the tip of her nose. Wide set brown eyes were emphasized by long lashes and high brows. Generous curves filled out the corset.
He heard Bella swallow behind him as he took in the woman, avoiding holding her brown-eyed gaze for more than a half-second. The Anubi circled. Trapped.
We formed a new religion
No sins as long as there's permission
And deception is the only felony
So never fuck nobody without tellin' me
Bella's voice behind him was chipper, her words rushed and eager. "Hi Kassie! Do you remember me? The Master sent us to check on you, he wanted to be sure you were ha-happy." One of the Anubi nipped at Bella's heels, forcing her to stumble into where Muse stood at full attention between Bella and Kasdeya: her hooves planted, and every muscle tensed. The unicorn's nostrils flared as Bella spoke.
Sunglasses and Advil
Last night was mad real
Sun comin' up five a.m.
I wonder if they got cabs still
"Master sent you? How wonderful! I remember you; you were the toy he didn't want to share. Did he send you to share with me?" Kasdeya's voice was child-like, and she clapped her hands twice as she spoke, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Yup! He said I was supposed to give you what you wanted and sent the vampire and the unicorn to protect me on my way here. Your sweet puppies almost got us before we could see you." Bella laughed, but the sound was terrible, frightened and tense. "Anyway, since you're here now, they can probably go. Off you go, guys. Send Master my love."
Muse snorted, and Edward almost did too. He was leaving Bella here- with the honeypot of crazy that was Kasdeya and her creepy dogs- under no circumstances. He would battle death itself to be by her side. What had he gotten her into? He should've abandoned this mission the moment he processed the purpose for that wire. Stupid Unicorn.
Thinkin' 'bout the girl in all-leopard
Who was rubbin' the wood like Kiki Shepard
Two tattoos, one read "no apologies"
The other said "love is cursed by monogamy"
"Now wait a minute, toy. The cold man hurt my Miko. He threw him into the tree, there." She scratched under the chin of the Anubi that had attacked Edward. Edward was sorry to see that the skeletal dog looked no worse for wear. Not that he could imagine it looking any more horrific. The creature wagged its tail as Kasdeya cooed at it. "I think I should kill him. Master won't mind." Edward became aware of a heavy pressure at the back of his mind, building steadily.
Bella was suddenly between him and the woman. "No, Kassie. The Master would be very angry if you killed my guard. You should let them go. I'll make it up to Miko."
That's somethin' that the pastor don't preach
That's somethin' that a teacher can't teach
When we die, the money we can't keep
But we prolly spend it all 'cause the pain ain't cheap, preach
Bella eyed the Anubi with fear, disgust, hatred; it was enough to clue Kasdeya in to the ruse. "Master would let me kill him. He wouldn't mind. He likes me, I'm his favorite. Not you." She stomped one foot on the ground, crossing her arms in front of her ample chest like a child. The pain in Edward's head spiked sharply, and he felt his knees give out in response.
Human beings in a mob
What's a mob to a king?
What's a king to a God?
What's a God to a non-believer
Who don't believe in anything?
Will he make it out alive?
Alright, alright
No church in the wild
"Kassie, stop! You're hurting him." Bella's eyes were doe-brown, frightened beyond reason. She was panicking. Edward's vision blurred as he forced himself to his feet: the pain in his head was strobing now. Kasdeya looked angry. "So?"
"I don't think Master sent you. I think you're tricking me. I think I'm going to kill him no matter what you say. You're just a toy: you don't matter. Master said you were supposed to make me happy."
"No, Kassie. The Master sent us. I'm here to share with you: I'm a gift. Let him go Kasdeya. I'll make it up to Miko as soon as he leaves." Bella's voice was stiff and dead now, despair rising in her face and twisting her mouth. Miko wagged his tail.
"Hmm. Prove it. I'll trap him with the Anubi. The horse can leave. You can play with Miko and me, and the vampire can watch. If he doesn't interfere, I'll let him go."
A shudder racked through Bella, and her face grew desperate for a half-second before she smoothed it into a dead faced mask. "No peeking, Kasdeya. Stay out of his head, okay? I'll do it-" Bella swallowed, hard. "I'll do it, just don't hurt him."
No church in the wild
Kasdeya clapped her hands once more, and the pressure in Edward's head lifted. The child-like insane woman was bouncing again, a happy smile on her face. Bella began to tremble softly, her eyes locked on Miko. He felt the gold in his mind flare in fear, a split-second echo of Bella's thoughts, unintentional. "He's gonna leave. No one can bear this, but he'll be safe. He'll be safe, he'll live. I knew I wouldn't escape from this particular torture, goddammit this is gonna be really, really bad."
No church in the wild
Bella sank to her knees in the bottom of the creek bed in the dirt, bowing her head and eyes flaring golden . The Anubi tightened their circle around him, cutting him off from her: a few feet away and below him. And Kasdeya giggled and began to sing. "Play-time, Play-time, play-time. This is gonna be so much fun!"
No church in the wild
S&M (MATURE AND VERY NOT NICE)
Before Edward could process the change fully, Kasdeya was bending Bella back to lay on the ground, her small hands tangled painfully in Bella's hair to hold her still as she ran the tip of her nose over Bella's neck.
"I can smell him on you: you had sex with the vampire. He bit you. This will have to be reported. Master is going to be so angry with you. He'll be pleased I took your punishment into my own hands, even if he didn't want to share you, before."
Bella trembled as she tilted her neck to give Kasdeya better access. Her hand was a white-knuckled fist at her side, every muscle in her body locked. She turned her head to take in Edward's form, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. Kasdeya sniffed Bella's hair for a moment, running her hands down Bella's torso.
"I don't like the way men taste, but girl-toys taste amazing. I want to, so badly. Master wouldn't let me before; you wouldn't let me. I only got to bite you. But if Master sent you to make me happy, you won't stop me this time. Will you?"
Bella's voice was gasping, terrified and whisper-soft. Edward was suddenly glad he didn't dream: the sound would haunt him forever as it was. Black was beginning to bleed into her golden eyes. "No. No, I won't stop you, Kassie. Master wants you to be happy. Edward is still down there, though. Maybe..."
Kasdeya straightened, tossing her hair back and bracing her hips against Bella's, rolling them obscenely. She waved her hand like Bella's small objection didn't matter. "Miko will clean you up. Master says patience is important. Open up, I want to see. You still have marks, do you still have my mark?"
Bella trembled, shuddering in horror. A realization hit Edward. Oh. Oh, god, please no. The bite mark high on Bella's thigh. She wouldn't let them, her lovers used to. No. NO. Edward couldn't bear it, he wouldn't. He took a step towards his lover unthinkingly in his panic, and an Anubi almost ripped off his head.
When he turned back to the scene, Bella finally met his eyes, the gold in them fading away to leave them doe-brown once more. No. Bella's eyes were guarded, blank, already drifting away from reality. He had to do something. Where was Muse? If the steed could hold off the Anubi, maybe Edward could kill Kasdeya. It would only take a second. Not this. Edward almost laughed hysterically at the memory of Bella's snark at the lake, just that morning. "I could be making love right now."
Oh god, please. He would do anything, anything at all.
"Miko." The horrific dog-creature latched it's teeth into the shorts that wrapped Bella's crossed legs, forcing her to spread them with a vicious tug. Thorny vines rose from the creek bed and wrapped Bella's already scarred ankles and wrists. No. No. No.
Bella relaxed every muscle in her body with another shudder, her legs falling lax, and Kasdeya snapped her teeth together inches from Bella's face, an anticipatory grin on her face. She rucked up Bella's dress, shifted her body down and sniffed at Bella's white panties.
There had to be something, anything.
Bella had already closed her eyes, so Edward desperately reached for the gold in his mind. But the glow of Bella's thoughts remained distant, her normally warm presence cold like ice. No.
Edward felt a whine escape his gritted teeth as Kasdeya laved at her mark, the one on Bella's inner thigh. She pulled away, shifting so she wasn't touching Bella anymore, stood to her feet. "His come is still down there. Yuck."
Edward felt the relief coming, anticipation for the end of this torture, the exception to the rule. But before it could arrive, Kasdeya turned to Miko, sitting at Bella's feet. "Miko, honey, would you like to help mommy? Her toy is all messy down there, mommy needs you to clean her up."
The dog tilted its head. Its teeth flashed in a long stretch of sharp smile and its eyes glowed a menacing red. Its tongue lolled out of its bloody mouth. Edward's mind screeched and stopped at the horrific thought that had just generated in his brain. Sick. It was insanity, beyond depraved. Oh god, no. Please god, if you're up there, not this. Edward was going to retch.
Bella's unintentional thought echoed in his mind as he bent, dry heaving on to the forest floor. "He's going to leave. No one can bear this."
Fury rose in Edward like he had never known: at Bella, at Kasdeya, at the Master and Muse and every moment that had led to this. It was beyond bloodlust, beyond anger. Rage, incomprehensible and animal, smothered everything that made him, him. He didn't even process the growls of the Anubi that circled him as he stumbled, falling to his knees.
This was going to happen to his lover over his burning corpse. Fuck, no. Edward would waste no more time praying. He was going to kill this crazy bitch if it was the last thing he did.
At the very edge of his vampiric hearing, he heard Muse's soft huff as she took in a breath to his left. Bella's eyes remained closed, and Miko stood, approaching where Kasdeya sat between Bella's legs.
NO. Edward snarled, rose to his feet and spun: grabbing two of the Anubi who circled him by the scruff of their neck, throwing them in a quick motion so that they bowled Miko to the ground. As he did, he reached out with his mind: not to Bella, but to the bitch who held her captive. "Muse, now!"
As Edward took hold of Kasdeya's mind in a strangling choke hold, He heard Muse whinny a battle cry, saw the intense glow of her eyes and heard the pound of her hooves as she kicked and bit at the Anubi around him.
The strength of the mind in his mental hold was intense, pressure pushing outward and making him fall to his knees as it cut through him. He crawled to where Kasdeya's black eyes gleamed, pushed his rage against the heaviness of her mental form, ignored the damage. Damn her to hell: Edward was going to help get her there.
His muscles strained and his head pounded and strobed as Kasdeya struggled, her physical form falling limp as her mental one snarled and struck at him. He finally reached where Kasdeya lay immobilized on the ground at Bella's feet, and then he ripped her head from her shoulders. It rolled a few feet away from her corpse. The smell of blood filled the air, but Edward wouldn't have drunk it if it was the last blood on earth. He would have gladly danced around the woman's pyre.
He ripped the vines from Bella's ankles, forgetting to be gentle as he scooped her into a bridal hold. He probably dislocated her shoulder when he lifted her up, ripping the binds from her wrists. He tried to make himself care but couldn't, as the glow at the edge of his vision got closer and he swung himself onto Muse's approaching back, the Anubi hot on their heels. Fuck the blessing, he was getting the hell out of this place, right now.
All of Me
Edward didn't notice the flashes of magick around him as Muse shifted them back to Camp. He didn't notice the feel of the horse's gait, the bleeding sensation of telepathic damage in his head, or the sudden weight of metal around his neck. He didn't notice anything because his eyes were locked on Bella's limp form in his arms. He was too busy willing her to open her eyes, to come back from wherever she had gone.
He heard his voice, plaintive and rough, begging: "Bella. Open your eyes. Bella, please open your eyes. It didn't happen, I wouldn't let it happen. I'm not leaving, you idiot, I'm not going anywhere. Please Bella, you have to come back. You have to come back now. It's okay, it's safe."
He lifted her lax and limp form, twisted her so she was draped against him. "Bella. Bella, please." He was trembling, squeezing her too tightly just to feel her breathe. Edward had been pretty sure there was no one to listen to his prayers before his animal rage smothered him in Kasdeya's forest, but he couldn't help it: He prayed anyway.
Then, he went quiet and still, nestled his head into the curve of Bella's neck, clung to her limp form. No. No. No. He wouldn't move until she opened her eyes or stopped breathing, maybe not even after that. They could be buried together, and Edward would hold to her form for eternity.
"Bella. Bella, I love you. Come back."
Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
Carlisle was just starting to grow truly concerned at the length of Bella and Edward's absence. It was almost sunset now; Bella had said they would be home soon. Where could they be? He stood at the banister of the Attic's balcony, looking towards the entrance to the cavern. What if something had happened? Carlisle needed to apologize to his daughter and son. He had been way out of line, and just plain wrong. He could admit it, wanted to. He needed to repair the damage.
They entered his vision suddenly, as though called by his thoughts. A black horse, no—wait, was that a horn gleaming? Mother of God. Carlisle couldn't take the time to process the wonder that encompassed him as he rushed from the attic, his family close behind him. There had been something terribly off about his first son's posture on the steed.
Carlisle pushed through the crowd of gathered Fae, taking in horror and heartbreak on each face. He heard the whispers around him: "Is she dead?" "Someone find a healer." "What's he doing?" "A freaking unicorn." "Is he okay?" "Oh no, it's finally happened, she's gone."
Carlisle felt panic rise. Dead, healer, gone? He couldn't smell blood. Was Bella hurt? "Rosalie, find-"
"On it." His daughter broke from their group, racing back to the castle to find Josephat.
Horror and fear strangled Carlisle as he reached the front of the crowd a few yards from where Edward was kneeling, clutching Bella's lax form to him and whimpering softly, mumbling. The unicorn they had ridden into the cavern was nosing at the back of his head, blue pulsing at the tip of her horn.
"Edward?"
His son's face was unfocused, devastated, horrified. His eyes were closed, his head half-buried in Bella's neck. He didn't respond, didn't even seem to notice Carlisle's approach. Carlisle raised a hand to stop his family behind him, heard Esme and Alice's horrified gasps. Jasper looked green, his face utterly panicked at the emotions rolling off his brother. Emmett just looked blank, uncomprehending.
"Edward, son. Is she hurt? You need to let go of her now. It's okay."
Carlisle reached for his son's shoulder cautiously, but at the sound of his voice Edward only tightened his grip on his lover, still mumbling. Carlisle could see Bella struggle to take in air around his son's wrapped embrace.
"Come back, come back, you have to come back, Bella. Don't leave me here. Bella, love, I'm not leaving, I wouldn't. How could you even...Please god. Bella, come back...it didn't happen. Come back, Bella, NOW. Please come back..."
Carlisle's hand met Edward's shoulder and his son's eyes snapped open, his teeth closing with force instantly around Carlisle's hand. Edward let go quickly as Carlisle jerked back.
Edward began to rock on his knees, his head once more in Bella's neck, trembling and shaking her slightly. "Bella, come back. We're back in Camp. Carlisle's here: he'll know what to do. Bella. Bella, open your eyes love. Please, I need you to look at me."
Carlisle gripped at his cracked and stinging hand as he stared at his son clutching desperately to his daughter's unconscious form, pleading loudly now. What the hell had happened to them? Carlisle couldn't smell blood, could see no visible injury on his daughter, though Edward had a chunk of his torso missing, some kind of animal bite that oozed with venom.
He had no idea what to do.
Clarity
Edward couldn't pull himself out of the grave he had dug for himself when he asked Bella to enter that forest. Anything, she had said. He had pushed too far. She was going to fall, and Edward couldn't bring himself to care one bit as long as she opened her eyes and looked at him. He could learn to love black eyes too. He would do anything, everything. It didn't matter. If she came back.
Damn Camp, his family, everything - as long as he didn't ever have to face a world without her. Not her. He'd thought it as that stupid van slid across the ice. He almost laughed again, felt his mouth twist as insanity bled in his mind, the wounds from Kasdeya's struggle. No, no, not her. She would come back. She wouldn't make him bear this. She wouldn't leave him alone. She loved him; she always felt her love for him. He just had to find a way to reach her.
Carlisle was speaking calmly to him, trying to soothe his manic begging, which was getting louder by the second. Edward couldn't make it stop, he had no control over his vocal cords. He hadn't meant to bite his father, but he couldn't let her go. Someone would hurt her. It didn't happen. He played the comforting thought over and over in his head.
"It didn't happen. It's okay, Bella. You can go, I'll follow. I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm not mad. Open your eyes. Open your eyes, please. Black, Gold, Brown—any of them, just look at me. How could you think I would go? I'm here. Bella. Bella. Bella."
Rosalie rushed to his father's side, calling Carlisle's attention away from Edward and Bella. That's okay. He could focus more on Bella without the rage that coursed through him, every time Carlisle had told him to release her.
His sister's voice echoed around him, meaningless garbage until she uttered her final word. "Josephat can't come. There's something wrong with Rockabye, she's having a seizure or something. She keeps screeching about Chaos broke it, it's ruined. Something about Anubis?"
Edward couldn't stop the flinch or his vicious snarl. Where were they? He'd kill them, if they could even die. They couldn't be here. Not her.
He looked around wildly for the creatures, clutched Bella so hard he cut off her breathing for a moment. "Anubi- Don't let them in! They'll...it didn't happen. I won't let it happen. Bella, Bella open your eyes." The words were an angry command, and he shook her violently.
He heard Muse whuff, lipping at his hair again. He leapt up and backed away from the magnificent creature: purveyor of Destiny. Bella had been wrong; it would take a lot longer than an hour for Edward to settle his differences with Destiny. She could rot in hell with Kasdeya for all Edward cared.
"You did this, you stupid animal. She trusted you. Muse would never let any harm come to me. That's what she said. You'll leave right now, or I swear to god I'll rip out your throat. Fucking unicorns. I hope you rot in hell with that crazy bitch. I'll help. "
"Edward, are you talking to the horse?" Alice's voice was worried, trembling. None of them had ever seen Edward so furious, so out of it.
Muse responded with the tip of her horn glowing blue. She went to touch its tip to Edward's forehead, but Edward shied away. "I'm not interested. I don't ever want to hear you talk, hear your excuses. Get out. I swear to god."
"Edward. She's just an animal. Son, calm down."
Edward felt a laugh bubble up in his throat, swallowed it down. Calm down, there was no calm, no peace. Just instinct, animal rage. He couldn't stop. Bella had to come back, right now, or he was going to lose his mind: insanity was welcome here. Bella had hallucinations of him, when he was gone. Maybe he could hallucinate her. That would be nice.
He turned his attention back to Bella, God how could he have let it slip? She was still so beautiful, even lax and unmoving. She would open her eyes soon. It was going to be okay. It didn't happen. He just had to reach her.
Muse whuffed again, shoving Emmett out of the way when he tried to stop her approach. She lowered her head to meet his eyes, touched her horn to his neck, his wrist. What? She was trying to tell him something, but Edward didn't have the patience for charades. He growled at her, tightened his grip on Bella again and backed away.
The sun was setting, casting light through the stained-glass ceiling of the cavern. Edward caught a flash in his peripheral vision. Something metallic and heavy was around his neck, a new pendant next to the crystal Bella had bid him wear as long as he loved her. Sweet Lord, the earth's blessing. Edward spared a hateful second of reduced contact with Bella to rip the damned thing from his neck and throw it at the unicorn's hooves. "Get it off, get it away from me. Fucking Blessings, may they all be destroyed and Havana fall into the void: I don't give a shit. Bella, I'm losing it love. You have to wake up."
He could feel the bleeding in his mind now, unable to ignore the pain in his head anymore. He fell to his knees and cried out. Fae were crowded around him, whispering in a low hum. His family's thoughts were painful, tore the wounds in his head further. He was on the edge now, walking the line between reality and not. If Bella could will herself away from an unbearable reality, he could too. He closed his eyes, curled around her form. He could just give up, fade away.
Suddenly, Muse neighed loudly, her battle-cry. She snorted and lunged, slamming both front hooves on the ground in front of him with a flash of magick. Bella flashed out of his grasp, supine on the floor with Muse in between them. Edward moved before he even thought to, grabbing the massive unicorn by the throat and gripping her horn. He didn't recognize his own voice. "Move. Now, Muse. I will not ask twice."
Muse stamped her foot, her horn glowed blue in his grasp. She snorted and touched her horn to where his neck met his shoulder, tilted her head in his grasp to draw his eyes to his own wrist: his left wrist: Bella had that scar on her wrist, the sword scar. Edward had bitten her there, tasted her sweet blood only this morning. Wait- Bitten. He bit her.
Green eyes and unicorns and Bella pressed against him.
It would work. Kasdeya had been angry at his mark on Bella. Bella had shown it off. She liked it when he bit her, it made her feel loved. There was magick in Bella's blood, it turned his eyes green. Oh. Oh. He could reach her. It would work. It was insane, unhinged, unreasonable. But it would work.
"Muse. Muse, will it work? Don't lie to me. Will it?"
The mare rolled her eyes as he released her, whuffed and lipped at his hair before she planted her nose in his back and pushed him to Bella.
He stared at his love, limp on the floor with his father pulling up her eyelids. "I don't think I can- what if it doesn't work? I won't stop. She's not conscious, she won't be able to stop me. I don't have her permission."
Muse nickered, put the point of her horn in his back and pushed, forcing him to take a step. "Okay. Okay. Oh god, please come back, Bella." He knelt on the other side of Bella's form from his father, stroked her hair back from her face and tucked it gently behind her ear.
Carlisle was looking at him, trying to piece together what was going on. "Edward, what? Can the unicorn communicate?" Edward couldn't stop the hysterical laughter that rose in him, this time. "Can we do it again? Do we have time?" - "I could be making love right now."
His father eyed him warily at the insane sound as Edward pulled Bella's hair away from her neck. Oh god, he could smell the dog-scent on her, Kasdeya's perfume. He muttered manically, quoting Bella: "So much timothy hay in your future, horsey."
This wasn't the end. It couldn't be. Edward wouldn't let it. His voice cracked. "Say your spell, little witch."
He took a deep breath in, watched panic and understanding flare in Carlisle's eyes as his father reached to stop him. And then, Edward bit Bella hard, directly over the scar he had left before, while straining every bleeding molecule of his telepathic senses towards the cold gold in his mind.
High dive into frozen waves
Where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain
And it's worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash
'Cause we both know how this ends
Our clock ticks till it breaks your glass
And I drown in you again
'Cause you are the piece of me
I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly
Still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
The very moment his teeth broke skin, Bella arched and opened eyes of golden fire. She was already screaming his name, the warm gold river in his mind flooding through him. "Edward!"
He didn't even lave the wound closed before his mouth was on hers as she clutched at him, his own green eyes still open and being consumed with her golden magick. Not her.
Victory
Edward's relief was violent as it cut through Bella's head. Oh god, what had Kasdeya done to him? The beautiful mind of her vampire lover was in shreds, bleeding with rage and insanity. She tried to repair the damage she could before it could spread, but she wasn't a healer, she didn't have the training. She ripped her mouth from his.
"Edward. Edward. What did she do to you? Edward, love, your mind, it's-"
Edward gripped her shoulders hard, kissed her violently, biting down on her bottom lip before he shoved her from him. "You were gone, you left, you went where I couldn't follow. You thought I would leave. Jesus Christ, what the fuck? I love you, you fucking imbecile. I would never. That bitch. Those—those dogs. Unbearable. Bella, god. It was horrifying, even the thought was..."
No, no, no, no. She hadn't meant to leave; she couldn't watch him watch that. He was disgusted with her, had to be. She swallowed hard, tried to blank her face. Maybe she could convince him to see a healer before he went: his sanity was fraying.
He grabbed her roughly when he saw her expression, shoved her against the wall that formed the entrance to the cavern so that her feet dangled off the floor. "Don't you do that; don't you go anywhere. Never again. I swear to god. You are my prisoner. As of right now. You will never leave Camp again. Hell, you will never leave my side again. You can rule the world from my lap."
"Wait, wait, what? You're not going, you want me to stay? Okay. I can stay. Prisoner, done. Don't go, I'm sorry. I let her take it, I couldn't watch her kill you. You don't have to touch me ever again; I won't ask you to. Just stay." Her words were as rushed as his were, they were speaking over each other.
There was a beat where they just stared at each other. Her blood was on his mouth, his eyes were green. Wait. He had drunk from her? That didn't jive. She didn't even know how he could stand to look at her. His expression was wrathful: "Bella, unless you want me to prove right here and right now how not-at-all that bitch, or any of them changes things between us, I would suggest you shut up."
He released her, and she felt a brief twinge in her right shoulder as her feet hit the floor. He was backing away from her, hands raised. "I can't. I am so angry. You thought I would leave you there. You told me to leave. You thought I would leave you because of. Because of her. How could you even think that? You, you were going to let her, to save me. You didn't even fight. Jesus Christ, what is wrong with me? I want to hurt you, to carve the words in your skin so you never forget. How could your amazing mind even think that?"
"It's damage to your mind. Telepathy. You must see a healer. Edward, Edward. Look at me. It's okay. It's okay, it's over. Don't go. I don't want you to go. Please, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to. I had to."
Edward's rage faded in the space of Bella's heartbeat. "Bella. Bella, love. It didn't happen. I couldn't let it. I killed her. Muse got us back. They never touched you."
Bella blinked, long and slow. "It- It didn't happen? How? Edward, love, what did you do?- Your mind. You went after her. Telepathically. You overcame her. Wait. Wait. Did you just say she's dead?"
"Well, her head was about six feet from her body when I dragged you the hell out of there. God, I never should have asked you to go in there. We got the fucking blessing, may it rot forever somewhere cold. How's your shoulder?"
Bella's shoulder was definitely dislocated, maybe worse. Her wrists stung; her legs were heavy. But she couldn't feel anything, there. There was no physical reminder of unwanted contact. She stumbled backwards, braced her back against the wall. "It didn't happen. It really didn't happen. You stopped her before Miko could-"
Edward's growl reverberated across the cavern. He was suddenly bracing himself over her, digging long fingers into the stone wall next to her head. "Goddammit, that mangy mutt is still breathing, unfortunately. I won't; I wouldn't let them. Never again, Bella. I told you, I promised. Even if it had, I wouldn't go anywhere. I love you, you idiot. Nothing could change that."
"I- I, Edward. Ohmygod Edward. I love you. Jesus, I didn't think I could love you anymore than I already did, but damn I was so wrong. I'm sorry. I'll never think it again. You could carve it into my skin, if you like. I won't forget. I don't want to."
"Oh. Oh, holy shit. Let's never do that again. Fuck the blessings, absolutely. You need to see a healer. I need to see a healer. I need to talk to Kay and Marcos. What happened to my arm? No, you know what I don't care. It can wait. Kiss me. Kiss me right now."
A soft breeze blew into the cavern, she caught her smell. "Ugh. Okay, hold that thought. I need a shower. A long, really hot, like scalding shower. With bleach. Edward. Oh. Oh. I'm gonna throw up. Edward, love, let me up, I'm gonna be sick."
Edward held her hair back as she emptied the blissfully sparing contents of her stomach onto the floor. She dry-heaved for just a moment, leaning on Edward's strength. The room wouldn't stop spinning. "Oh. Oh. It didn't happen. Can relief be this devastating? Shower. I need a shower. Think Carlisle will let us in the attic? Ohmygod, your father. I didn't, he must've been so worried. My brain won't shut up. I can still smell them. Was that just this morning?"
Her speech was distorted, stuttering and too fast. Apparently, relief could cut like a knife. Black spots danced in her vision, before suddenly—she was calm. Jasper.
She finally looked around the cavern she called home. Her people were in shock, almost weeping they were so happy, embracing each other and shouting bits of song that rang through the cavern. Her family: her brothers, her sisters, her mom and her dad were looking at the two of them like they were insane but seemed relieved under the confusion. Muse nickered softly at her; tail lowered. She took a gasping inhale, let it out slowly, centering herself. Then, she turned to her sighted sister. "Alice. See? Unicorns."
Edward laughed weakly and with shock in his voice from behind her, his hands clutching her to him tightly as he repeated her words from this morning. "So much timothy hay, Muse. For like, a week."
Edward, and safety, and a place to call home. What a world Bella found herself in.