Warning: Rape and Violence for a Major Character(s)

A/N: Hello and welcome back y'all. As the warning states above this chapter gets HEAVY. This is the darkest chapter in the story so far and the darkest chapter (possibly) in the entire story. BUT it does end on a positive note, there will be a happy ending…. Eventually. I don't believe in lose–lose situations and non-happy endings. It just takes time.

Enjoy!

When You Love Someone

Chapter 29: I Won't Back Down

The grim reality of my prison had finally weighed on me and it wasn't long after did I realize what they had entailed for me. I found myself face to face with a masked guard who did what they would with me. I was dragged over painful spikes. Fire lit onto my skin and only doused with water once my skin had charred away. I was chained up as numerous vampires tried their best to get the recipe from me and if I didn't comply I was met with cruel venom-coated weapons.

Each time I was asked how I was able to make the fireproofing potion and each day I refused.

The punishments were getting worse by the day, but the thought of blood kept me going. I wasn't going to back down; I wasn't going to lose hope. No matter what they did to me, no matter what Stefan did to me, I had hope.

Until I didn't.

I was brought up and gaged with blood-soaked cloth from a child of the moon. It seemed whatever poison that was deadly to vampires they had all over their bodies, but none was most potent than their blood.

I choked and spluttered as I gasped when one of the guards forcefully took it out of my mouth and I felt a bottle break on my skin as my vision slowly came back. Everything was so blurry, and I was only able to make out blobs of color, but I knew Stefan's voice clear as day.

"Tell me, Miss Bella, you've been so quiet these past many moons. So secretive. Could this recipe be so valuable that you risk your very safety?" Stefan asked quietly as he circled me, and his hands drifted towards my hair and combed his fingers through as I yanked my head away.

"Yes," I answered clipped as Stefan sighed and he snapped his fingers. On his order, all the guards that lined the wall quickly left and the only guard remaining was Maria who was standing as stiff as a board near the entrance.

"Miss Bella, surely this recipe isn't so valuable as your own claiming is it?" Stefan asked quietly as I stiffened. "Claiming…as you must know, is such an important step in the mating ritual. It is the physical act of acceptance and the bond itself. Without the claim of a mate, the ritual goes on without end. The red string of fate will forever be knotted, never reaching its destined lover. Paraphs the reason our dear Alec didn't proceed with the mating ritual is he didn't want you as his mate?" Stefan led on as I hissed.

"That's not true!" I seethed as I heard Stefan chuckle

"Isn't it though? Once the mating bond is accepted it becomes a type of frenzy. I remember my own mate. My lovely Rowena." Stefan murmured as I glared as he kept circling me. Each time he came closer and his hand twisted its way into my hair. I tried to activate my shield but without any blood for months, I was too weak.

I was defenseless.

"My Rowena, she was a gem. A Queen…my Queen. She ruled by my side as the crown jewel of our court. She was more than words could say." Stefan continued until he stopped in front of me and I kept my stare on him as I saw his eyes blacken deeper. "Until Alec killed her." He whispered as I blinked in shock.

"Your love…killed mine. My Rowena murdered!" he hollered as he gripped my hair and I yelped in pain. "So imagine my absolute glee when I discovered that our most honored guest not only deciphered the elusive recipe coveted by the most powerful beings in the world and the only hope I have to bring her back…. but it was accomplished by Alec's mate. His unclaimed, vulnerable, weakened mate." He snarled before he pushed me down and I was pinned to the floor by a crazed-looking Stefan. I squirmed and moved but he was too strong. My body was too weak from lack of blood and I couldn't move.

"And in the oh so twist of irony you would look so much like her!" Stefan agonized as he caressed my cheek and tried to wiggle myself away but stopped abruptly when Stefan suddenly shed his pants and was bare from the waist down.

Skip Here I lied there, frozen as my shallow breaths made my chest rise and fall, and Stefan's eyes were glued there before I felt his fingers enter me and I gasped in pain. He proceeded to bite and tear at my breast as I screamed, and he placed his hand over my mouth.

"You may not scream Miss Bella. If you would not give me what I seek then I will have comfort in the woman that looks like my mate." He snarled before the grotesque act occurred and I couldn't make sense of what was happening. It was my body but at the same time, it wasn't. He was there, above me as I stayed silent. I couldn't scream, I couldn't think – all I could do was close my eyes and wait the cruelest minutes until it was finished. End Here

When I next opened my eyes, Stefan was fixing his clothes and I still felt my body as numb. I couldn't feel anything, but I saw the victory in Stefan's eyes as he waved his hand and Maria walked over before splashing me with the potion.

I don't remember much after that time except I was in that room and the next I was falling below, and Diana was there to catch me. I remember her quiet weeping and her brushing my hair. She was saying a mantra and I was clinging to her arm. Now that I think about it perhaps, I was the one that was weeping.

The punishments intensified after that. I was so weak that I could no longer walk on my own and the guards left me lying on needles coated in venom and blood that left their marks far after it was over. Diana mentioned it was a way for me to talk. I would make sure I wouldn't give them satisfaction.

"Tell me what you know!" He growled as my body was roughly thrown to the side and the venom stung my back as I cried out in pain.

"I don't know anything," I said softly as my hair was pulled and I stared at Stefan's face as his lips curled back.

"That's a lie Miss Bella and you know by now what we do with liars." He snarled as I felt my weakened body be thrown into the wall and a heavy door closed. Just as always right behind venomed bars was a bowl of blood and my throat burned and ached. On instinct, I felt my body move and I struggled to move the bars…just an inch and I could have some of the sweet relief that was there. I didn't care if it was a human. I was long past that point, I just needed blood.

"Not so fast princess." I heard his growl as the bars tighten and I yelped in agony.

"Please!" I begged as I whipped my head around and Stefan stood motionless as he grinned. "Just a drop, a sip?! Anything please!" I screamed as the bowl was just out of reach of my fingertips and I felt a hard smack against my butt as I fell to the ground.

Skip Here At once he was on top of me and my legs were spread, I did what I always did when this act occurred. I closed my eyes and ignored the pain. I escaped into the one place they couldn't touch me and saw Alec smiling at me. I was in our sanctuary and he was sketching. I don't know what he said but I was laughing as he hugged me. His arms around me protecting me from anything and everybody.

Here it was safe, here it was warm. No longer was I in the prison and being raped by Stefan. No more was I tempted by a human's blood. Here I was loved, here I was cared for, and here was the only safe place I had left. Even if it was inside my head. End Here

"Princess why squirm? If you would have just said the truth, I wouldn't have to take you like a dog takes his bitch. You could be in my bed surrounded by comfort being loved like a Queen. So, let me ask again" Stefan whispered deadly as he leaned in close and I was harshly brought back to reality. "How did you create it?"

"I…don't…. remember!" I gasped out as he slapped me hard and I felt my cheek crack. He was off of me and adjusting his robes as I lied there and savored the moments of him away from me.

"You insufferable girl! How long must you resist me? I can see your body wants me by your slickness, yet you scrunch your eyes unable to bear the sight of me. You will want me Bella and you will tell me what I want to know!" he growled out before the door slammed once more and just as before Maria stepped out from her place against the wall and doused me in the same mysterious potion as the floor dropped from below me and I landed in a heap on the ground.

"Bella!" Diana cried as I felt her hands on my face, my body too numb to notice anything else. "Oh, Bella c'mon get up. Don't let him win, don't let his words keep you down!" Diana gritted out as her hands reached for mine and I let her pull me up as tears entered my eyes that I would never shed.

"Bella just like before, okay? Repeat after me" I heard Diana whisper "I am loved."

"I am loved," I said hollowly, my voice dead even to my own ears.

"I am cherished."

"I am cherished" I whispered as more tears entered my eyes.

"I did not want that." I heard her voice go hard as I blinked and lowered my head. "Bella!" She said sharply as I bit my lip. "Bella you know you didn't!"

"But he was right…I was getting wet…" I choked as thoughts of wanting it and not wanting it entered my head. It's been done so many times now, did I finally want it? Was Stefan right?

"No Bella!" I heard Diana's voice interrupt my thoughts as her hands squeezed mine tighter. "You didn't want that. You're an alchemist Bella! More than that you are smart which means you know about chemistry and biology and even the anatomy of our enhanced bodies. You know that women naturally become lubricated when there is a foreign object involved. You know that our bodies are magnificent and are capable of withstanding even the harshest of pain! That's why our bodies are adapted to survive. That's why you are adapted to survive and what happened is that you adapted to survive. Now…repeat after me! I did not want that!" Diana gritted out as I raised my head and nodded.

"I did not want that," I whispered and sobbed on the last word as I felt Diana nod.

"I am a survivor."

"I am a survivor" I whispered through sobs as I felt Diana's smooth hands push hair behind my ears and her other hand gripped my shoulder.

"I am not broken." She whispered as I sucked in a deep breath. This one I always broke on despite its uplifting message.

"I am not broken." I sobbed as I lowered my head, the weight of what's happened heavy on my heart and mind.

"I am the mate of Alec," Diana whispered and I lifted my head at Alec's name and bit my lip.

"I am…the…mate…of Alec!" I gritted out and cried as Diana slowly shushed me and rubbed my back.

"I am Isabella Swan; I am powerful, loved and strong," Diana affirmed as I struggled to raise my head and felt Diana's hand help lift my chin as kept my head high.

"I am Isabella Swan" I gasped out and wept "I am powerful…loved…and strong" I huffed out as the sobs kept me from holding a steady sentence.

"And nothing and no one will change that" Diana whispered as I nodded my head as more tears came to my eyes.

"And nothing…and no one…will change that." I ended as I collapsed into Diana's waiting arms and I let loose all my sobs as she slowly rubbed my back. This has become an almost daily occurrence. Whenever it was a guard I knew a beating wasn't far behind and that the temptation of a human's blood would surround the room. It was tangy and sweet in the air yet no matter how long I searched I was always met with a fist or a whip coated in venom. Whenever I was brought to the locked room, my vision would appear once more but I knew that meant that Stefan was coming and that I wished that they had kept me blinded.

After the first time, I was dumped back into the cell and I broke. I collapsed and cried and sobbed and begged for mercy. Mercy would only come if I gave them the recipe and I refused. In doing so I was whipped and dragged on spikes as my limbs were slowly torn off. Diana had to make more emergency balm and thus the reaffirmations started. I suppose it was the best thing for us to at the time.

I knew just as Diana did, that Stefan was maneuvering a brainwashing technique. By doing enormous physical harm to my body followed by intense emotional and phycological pain and ending with lies about me and where I've come from – it would serve them that I would give in.

Diana was there to make sure I didn't forget who I was.

Every time the horrible act was done, and my body was thrown down she was there, waiting for me and every time we would do what we must to survive. I knew it wasn't easy for her though, the locked room was right above our prison and I knew she could hear my screams.

I heard hers after all.

My tormentor was Stefan…. but Vladimir was her demon. On the days I would be met with a tormentor of the guard I could hear her words and whimpers. Then like clockwork, her body would come tumbling down and I would hear a sickening crunch. I crawled and touched her hands even if she backed away. She screamed at me not to touch her and I didn't. I just made her repeat the same mantras that she did for me.

Once we were done, she would be a weeping mess just as I was, and she would seek to hug me, and I would provide comfort and healing words just as she would for me.

Just as she was doing now.

"Shhh, it's okay Bella. You will be okay. We will escape, just as you said all that time ago hmm? We will escape and we will have justice." She murmured as I nodded my head. What more could I do? I had to nod and believe her words, the same words I said when I first arrived. I had no choice but to believe them. I had to believe them because if I didn't then I don't think I would have survived.

"I can barely move; I'm getting weaker by the day. I don't know how much more I can stand it." I admitted as Diana hugged me tighter, her breasts pushing into mine as a reminder that we were both the same. Both just as exposed, both just as vulnerable, and both just as hungry for justice.

"You can't give up. Remember why we fight." Diana's gentle voice echoed off the walls as I nodded my head.

"Survive one more day to live a hundred more," I whispered as I felt Diana nod.

"I've never questioned your resolve Bella, you are strong, stronger than most…yet I don't think you ever told me why. You told me you are mated to a man named Alec but is he your sole reason?" Diana asked curiously as I smiled. I knew what she was doing but I shook my head because it helped.

"Partly, he is the majority of the reason but it's not what you think," I whispered as I remembered Alec's expression; the desperate searching atop the cliff face before I left him.

"You're unclaimed…. aren't you?" Diana guessed as I turned and slowly nodded my head.

"I would recognize that look anywhere. What is your story? The life you mentioned before here, what was it like?" Diana whispered as I thought back to the life I had before…. really all of this.

"It's kind of a long story." I chuckled as I felt Diana scoot closer.

"We have all kinds of time." She muttered as I chuckled more and became comfortable.

"Well…if you insist…. I might as well start at the beginning, right? I know your story but you don't know mine. We can fix that today." I gasped as my throat burned. "It started…when the lion fell in love with a lamb," I whispered as breathed out and remembered those fateful words. "But… like all tales, this one had a twist." I smiled as I thought back to the first time I met the Cullen's. I was so young… in a way we all were. So young, and full of hope with no idea what the future held for us. "The lion was actually a weasel" I laughed as I thought that yes, Edward was a very charming weasel. "And the lamb was…. something else." I murmured "Maybe a caterpillar or an ugly duckling" I smiled and grasped Diana's hand.

"The duckling and the weasel made an interesting pair but despite their love…it wasn't the love they were looking for." I continued as I thought back to the first time he left. "We were the same in some ways; we were both out of place, longing for something we didn't know we needed yet until we did. The weasel found its mate." I laughed sadly "but the duckling didn't know. You see this is why they are weasel, they were misguided and tried to have the best outcome…for him anyways." I bit my lip as those days seemed to have all blurred together.

"So, what could the ugly duckling do? She was hurt, afraid, and alone. The weasel had a family you see, and his family became hers but in some ways, their betrayal was worse." I mused quietly thinking of each of their horrified expressions when they left.

"They allowed the weasel's actions and as a result… papa Swan was killed." I stuttered as I tried to recap those horrible days. "So, she left. She left and ran away from those who caused her pain and in a strange way, she found she was looking for." I breathed out and smiled.

"The Ugly duckling found its own mate. A tiger." I chuckled as that seemed to fit Alec pretty well. "And when she let herself love the tiger, she found that with love can have forgiveness. She forgave her weasel and his family. They were so much like her own family, she didn't want to lose them as she once did and the duckling fell in love with the tiger but….she was too late. She was afraid and when she could have transformed into a swan…she stayed a duck and left the tiger and hid behind the mystery of her teacher, Didyme, and because she found the truth or at least part of it, she was stalked by hunters and was taken before she could say anything to her tiger." I said softly as I felt Diana squeeze my hand "and she's been trying to get back to him ever since." I said softly as I smiled half-heartedly and felt Diana breathe out.

"Some story." She muttered

"Yeah…. I just hope it continues." I joked as I felt Diana hug me.

"I know it will. You may call yourself an ugly duckling, but you've transformed into a Swan…Bella." She chuckled as I rested my head against her shoulder and felt her softly brush away my hair. Funny, I haven't let anyone do this since my mother passed away. "Love is…complicated." She mused as she continued to brush my hair. "That's what makes it so powerful. It's the one thing in the world that can make people fight until their last breath, that can make the weak grow strong. It's the thing that keeps us fighting. Keeps me fighting." She mused as I felt her turn to me. "So what are you fighting for?" She asked as I thought to my family.

"My mate, my family, my friends." I supplied as I felt her smile.

"And they are?" She asked as I grew comfortable and thought about their faces.

"My tiger…my Alec. Felix, Jane, Demetri. My, despite everything, friend the weasel: Edward. Jacob and my pack brothers and sisters. Alice, Jasper, Carlisle…all the Cullen's. The ones who helped me fight to begin with. My other teacher, Jasper, taught me more about my gift. I'm fighting for the future that we could have together. The future that was stolen from us…and the one I'm fighting to get back." I said fiercely as I ignored the burn and horse dryness of my throat.

"Pardon?" Diana gasped and felt her jostle me as she sat up quickly.

"What? Are the animal allegories too much? It seemed to be easier to explain it that way than what really happened." I muttered as I felt her hands squeeze my shoulders tightly.

"No, not about that. It was actually very lively but no what I'm talking about is your gift. Your gifted!?" Diana whispered shocked as I slowly nodded my head.

"Why didn't you say anything before? What is your gift?" Diana asked excitedly as I tried to think of the best course of action. My head was so foggy though I could barely think so instead, I didn't think, and I just did.

I took a deep breath and cast my mental shield around us both. I felt the shield stench and burn and knew that once it came down, it wasn't coming back up. This was the last of my strength. I was done for after this…so I better make it count.

"I'm a shield." I gritted out "I can block mental and physical attacks as well as make walls and bubbles so no sound can come through. I can shield almost anything but only when I'm strong enough too." I gasped out as I breathed hard trying to make it last as I heard Diana chuckle wildly.

"Bella we can escape!" Diana gushed out and before I could say a word, she started talking so quickly I could barely keep up. "Bella I'm gifted too! I'm able to make people happy, I can influence their moods. I know how to make vampires better, or better their gifts. It was a skill Didyme taught me! If I can get you blood, I can help you become stronger!" Diana whispered urgently as I barely kept up.

"How?" I whispered as I struggled to maintain it.

"They changed the guardsman that gives me blood," Diana whispered as I blinked. "He is younger, not more than a decade old in this life and I think I can influence him. My gift isn't meant as an offensive or defensive weapon. That's why the Romanians placed me here. The ones who guard us are capable fighters but their usefulness comes from their mental gifts. Mele, the one above, can cause intense pain. That's how they are able to give me blood to survive. It's not enough for me to do anything with but with you." She breathed out "With you, you can escape. You can guard yourself against Mele. They bind my hands and feet while she inflicts pain and they serve me blood but Mele is never in the room when they do. With this new guard maybe I can influence him to give me more blood. If I am able to, I can hold some in my mouth and dribble more onto my body. When I come down you can feed off of me." She whispered excitedly as I fully grasped what she was telling me.

"What, like, lick you?" I asked confused

"It may be gross and unorthodox, but it can work. You just need blood and I know where to get it." Diana said excitedly as I felt my shield tremble and it would collapse any moment. I had to decide fast but really what choice did I have?

"Okay…let's try it."

As always, I was brought up to the locked room with a waiting guard. I was so weak that I had to be carried and the guardsman that held me dropped me on the floor as I stared at the ceiling. I saw the guardswoman walk forward and saw her smirk. "Well, aren't you a tired little thing? You've been without blood for three months you know that? Amazing what blood can do to the body…and what it can without it." She smirked as she kicked me in the stomach, and I coughed as my body lurched forward.

I took a deep breath the sweet smell of lilac hit my nose and my mouth watered and my throat burned. Blood. I needed blood.

"Please!" I begged as my eyes landed on the goblet the guardswoman was carrying as she took one long, glorious sip.

"Please what? Please this?" She asked as she held it in front of me and I couldn't bring my arms up fast enough to retrieve it. They were so heavy; I could barely control my own limbs.

"I would…but this would have to be a deal. In exchange for this blood, how about I know what you did all those months ago?" She smirked as she held the glass in front of me and my eyes blurred.

"What I did?" I asked dumbly as my memory was foggy. What did I do? What had I done?

"You survived something that you weren't meant to. You made something impossible, you have to remember what it was. You have to remember what you did or else…no blood for you." She whispered as I whimpered pitifully and shook my head. I couldn't do it.

"Pity." She frowned before dumping the entire goblet on the floor as the delicious red liquid spilled on the hardwood floors and the droplets bounced and I scrambled to even have a taste. Hard arms surrounded me as I kicked and screamed to be released.

"Let me go! Let me go, please I need it!" I screamed as the guardswoman rolled her eyes and took out the familiar blue bottle.

"Yeah, I'm sure you do. Just like I need that recipe." She smiled before tossing the bottle at me and my world went black once more.

"No please I need it!" I screamed as I felt myself be carried down a long hall before the guard stopped and whispered in that unfamiliar language before he tossed me down. I landed with a hard thump and I screamed when I landed on my damaged side.

"Bella!" I heard Diana cry as she helped me lift up and I howled at the pain at my side. "Try not to worry, take deep breaths as I taught you." I heard her whisper as I took in a deep breath was when I smelled the thick and heavy sweet scent of blood.

"Blood!" I yelped as I knocked over Diana and I dug my face into her body as I lapped up all the delicious, sweet-smelling blood I could get. I felt like I had been walking through a desert and I had just found water. Although it was very little, just the sheer taste of it made the burning less intense and my foggy mind became clearer. I drank everything I could as I minded Diana's breathing and once all the blood was spoken for on her body she handed me a cup that was filled with the red liquid. I slurped it down, careful not to waste any on myself and by the time it was done I could feel my body again. I could think clearly again.

"Diana…how…?" I breathed as I felt her grasp my hand and heard the smile in her voice.

"Young Diego is very impressionable. He became very eager to allow me to spill more on me and even offered to fill a cup for me as I wasted so much on me." She explained as I sighed contently and hugged her fiercely.

"This will work Diana." I smiled as I began to think of ways to escape. It would be difficult but not impossible. Not anymore.

"Yes, it could but Bella I was thinking, how are we able to even climb up? How are we able to even leave once we do get out? Even if I get more blood for you Bella, you still won't be completely healed. We can't fight all the guards. I admit I lost myself when I came up with the foolish escape plan." She whispered as the fear in her voice made itself known and I shook my head.

"I'm serious Bella, do you think that I would be here if there wasn't? The walls are coated with a mixture of venom and moon blood. It's a dangerous combination to make. The venom itself may cause intense pain but mixed with their blood could actually kill us. Plus, even if you could withstand the mixture long enough to climb up, there are two guards above us. Maria and Mele – both just as fierce and both just as deadly. It doesn't matter how valuable you are to them, Bella. The orders are very clear – you try to escape, and you die." Diana said fearfully as I sighed and grasped her shoulders.

"That may be true, escape may look impossible, but I had a friend once I say I don't do good with lose–lose situations. I've had so many people tell me things are impossible and despite all of it I've made it possible. No matter what it takes Diana, we're getting out of here. I will survive one more day to live a hundred more. We will be free."

Jane

"One year. One horrible, terrible year since you were taken from us." I whispered to the remains of what was Bella's cell. I placed my flowers next to the candles and portrait of Bella as I kneeled.

"Even after all the time has passed it's hard to believe you're really gone," I whispered to Bella's portrait; her face so detailed I felt I was actually speaking with her. She smiled so easily; her eyes bright. I was impressed that Alec was able to achieve such fine detail…this portrait had to have been his greatest work. I chuckled as I felt tears brim and rolled my eyes. "You would be most impressed with your portrait." I smiled sadly as I adjusted the flowers. "Alec did such an amazing job at your likeness. He finally got your nose right." I chuckled remembering her smile and fake ire as she teased my brother for never getting it right.

"He misses you…we all do. I'm sorry for not coming sooner, when your memorial was put up by that Alice girl, I admit it was a good idea. It was a human custom that you practiced when you've lost someone. It helps with the ones that were left behind…I just couldn't stand the thought that I was left behind." I admitted softly. "You helped all you could, I remember when you came back to us. You were so different, changed from all that you've seen and done. I was intrigued by the woman you have become an even more curious when you wanted to be my friend. I didn't think you would want to be my friend honestly, not after what I said and did to you when you first came. I wasn't very kind to you then…. I'm sorry about that." I whispered.

"I always meant to apologize to you, I always wanted to – I felt that I owed it to you, especially after hearing what led to you coming in the first place. I'm sorry I never did." I said softly as I felt the tears come once more. "But now your gone and I guess I never will. I didn't want you to be gone. You had more to see and more to do. You had more to experience…. life and love. I wanted you to be my sister." I admitted as I checked to see I had no prying eyes or ears. I never wanted to admit this to anyone…especially my brother. It would only make him feel worse.

"When I overheard Marcus discussing possible bonds, you have no idea how surprised I was when I heard my name and even my brothers. At first, I was scared, even angry but then I met you." I smiled as I touched the parchment.

"I met you and I never wanted Marcus to be more right," I admitted quietly.

"You were different…you weren't afraid. You were a fighter and someone who looked past appearances and judgments. I asked you once about how you could befriend us based on our reputations and you said you didn't care. You had no reason to fear us. You loved us with your whole heart and even if Alec didn't get the chance to see, even if he didn't allow himself to see…. I knew that you loved him. I knew that you loved me. I was selfish I admit, in wanting you to be my sister. More than my best friend but my actual living sister. Alice mentioned to me once, that weddings were a human custom meant to bring people together. Not just the ones who marry each other but their loved ones as well. She told me that when humans marry for love, their families become theirs. I admit once I learned this knowledge, I had a secret hope in my heart that one day…maybe…. maybe you would be my family." I cried as I shook my head.

"You would be more than my brothers' mate but his wife. He would be happy, and I would have a sister that loved me for me. Alec would have a mate that loved every part of him. I wanted and wished for that future so badly that I dared not intervene. I wish I had." I admitted as I slowly stood and took one more look at her smiling face. "I'm sorry for waiting so long to visit you but I promise I'll come by more often. You have my word." I smiled as I quietly left the prisons and closed the door. As much as I loved my friends here, my feelings were my own and I wanted it to be kept that way.

I sighed as I started to return to my room but a chime from my phone reminded me of my new duties. As much as the council was trying if I had received one more text about a meeting I was going to lose it. "This better be important," I muttered as I opened it and my eyes went wide. Code red from Demetri – this really was important. I grasped my phone and made my way quickly to the council room and met up with Jasper and Alice.

"Code red?" I asked skeptically as he shrugged his shoulders but Alice kept her head bowed and I saw the tiniest of smiles play on her lips. "You've seen something seer?" I asked as she met my eyes and kept quiet. "If you've seen something important you need to tell us," I said as I felt Alec grip my shoulder and pulled me towards the wall.

"Janie if Alice has seen something if it was worth any importance, she would have told us. Leave them be." Alec said, his voice hollow as I stepped back and sighed. I was never as good at handling my frustrations as Alec and with the first code red pulled, I was getting antsy.

"Is everyone here?" Marcus asked as Carlisle and Caius made their way to the head of the table where the other leaders stood. Carlisle scanned the room until he had a bemused expression.

"Where is Demetri? He pulled it didn't he?" Siobhan, the Irish coven's leader murmured as I bristled.

"Yes, he did and that begs the question of where he is and why he pulled it. You would think he would be the first one here." I mumbled as I broke away from the wall and looked at the doors. I heard footsteps falling as well as quiet whispering and I was growing even more impatient with our resident tracker. A few minutes more and Demetri finally entered looking anxious but strangely…. ecstatic? Why would he have any reason to be happy if he pulled a code red?

"Demetri why the hell did you pull a code red? What happened?" I demanded as I felt Alec pull me once again towards the wall as his brightened eyes met mine.

"I can explain" He started before Edward gasped and I sharply turned to him before Alice made a motion of zipping her lips. What the hell was going on?

"Well, you have the room Demetri" Marcus sighed as I kept my glare on him. He swallowed visibly before his anxious eyes looked directly at us…or more accurately at my brother. His eyes flickered once to everyone in the room as he looked to be deep in thought before he raised his head and looked once again towards Alec.

"I didn't pull it for me…. but I pulled it for Felix and Bella. They aren't dead." He announced as the room suddenly became frozen. I felt my eyes go wide as the pain ripped through my chest and I clenched my teeth together. Did he have a death wish? Saying such lies to us…. to Alec?! Was he insane?

"You better have a good reason for having her name in your lying mouth," Alec growled out as he stepped forward and I subtly grabbed his jacket, a silent plea to keep his cool before Demetri slowly made his way over, his eyes locked on my brothers before he placed a grip on his shoulder. I looked between them, half ready to jump in case a fight broke out but never was I ready for what he said next. I paid rapt attention to his pleas before I heard light footsteps out in the hall. I glanced towards the doors as I breathed in and gasped. It couldn't be….it was impossible…. It was "Felix" I whispered as the doors opened and Felix came walking through.

There he stood…. Felix.

Just as strong and proud and most importantly alive. He walked in slowly eyeing the entire room until his eyes landed on Alec. I turned quickly as Alec stared slack-jawed and never had I seen Alec so, dare I say….unprepared. He was shocked. Then again I must not have looked any better. I felt my jaw open, but I couldn't close it. All I could do was stare as Felix made his way over and hugged Alec fiercely as he stayed frozen.

Felix then backed away but not without a message that made the entire future change before our eyes. "I have a message from Bella" Felix whispered, "She says she's coming home to you Alec," Felix whispered as he stepped back, and I stared in amazement.

"She's what?" Alec whispered brokenly as I looked back and forth between my brother and Felix. I still couldn't believe it yet here he was. Felix was alive and not just alive but here to give us hope that Bella…my best friend, my brother's other half…was alive.

"Bella is alive." He announced as the room was filled with varied expressions of shock and awe. "Bella is alive and was kidnapped by the Romanians. It was her sacrifice that allowed me to come back. She's alive." Felix repeated desperately as he walked and shook Marcus. "We have to do something! Before they kill her for good!" Felix yelled as his warning shocked me out of my stupor.

"Kill her?" Alec whispered as I looked back and saw a very different man. No longer was this the hallow, desolate brother that had been wandering the halls but instead…this was the Alec I remembered from a year ago. The Alec that was with Bella. "Where is she?! How is she alive?" Alec yelled as he grasped Felix's shoulders desperately as Felix looked around wildly.

"I don't know the location, but I can lead you all back there. It's secluded, hidden but she told me she created something…made something for her to come back. A potion of sorts." He whispered as Alec nodded and out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle gasp.

"She actually made it, she completed it?" Carlisle whispered as the leaders turned to him and Caius interrupted "What are you talking about?"

"La flamma! Didyme's creation! It was a potion that could bring a vampire back from the dead. Bella mentioned she was working on it but…I never thought it could be created." Carlisle whispered as he looked towards Jasper and the seer before he questioned "That trip you took. The one where you left…. you were helping her!" Carlisle accused as Jasper held his head high.

"I was helping my friend." He said stoically before he turned to Felix and looked him up and down. "You said she made it yet she came back to Romania? How could that be?" Jasper questioned as he moved forward, and Felix kept his eyes on him. "How do we know this isn't some trap led by the Romanians? How do we know you aren't working for them?" Jasper accused and Felix snarled.

"I would never! My loyalties lie to those I call family, my loyalties lie with Bella! On the night we were burned they took me for information, and I saw one of their guards take Bella's ashes. Tell me, Major…. when you discovered the scene of the crime were there ashes there or just imprints of what was?" Felix asked harshly as he faced Jasper and he quirked his eyebrow.

"Fair point but how can we believe you? How do we know that she really is alive? A gamble to go to enemy territory with nothing…. We need to be sure." Jasper said as he faced the leaders and I felt Alec tremble next to me.

"All that matters is there is a chance she is alive! I believe Felix, I smell her scent on him…I would know it anywhere. We have to take the gamble!" Alec yelled as Jasper turned sharply to him and shook his head.

"Alec, I understand that you may be restless to go but we don't know anything! I know she is your mate but you're letting your feelings cloud your judgment! We need to know more before we come to a decision about anything!" Jasper pleaded as Alec glared.

"We don't need to decide anything…. I will go. I will go alone if I must!" Alec declared as I gasped and grabbed his arm.

"Don't be foolish Alec, please see reason. We will go but this is so new! Felix is alive Alec! We can't go rushing off without any type of plan!" I pleaded as Alec looked wildly at me.

"There is a plan…we follow Felix to where Bella is and kill whoever we have to to get her out," Alec said quickly as I squeaked.

"Alec that is not a plan that is a suicide mission!" I yelled as he scoffed and tore his arm away as he marched towards Carlisle.

"You told me once that you would try. You told me you wouldn't underestimate her!" he yelled as Carlisle looked to the floors as Marcus pulled him back, but he shook him off. "That night she left. You told me on that cliffside that all you wanted was to protect her… well here's your chance. Protect her! We have to go!" Alec yelled as Felix nodded fervently behind him as Demetri gripped his hand.

"Alec…. I will protect her but gallivanting towards our enemy isn't smart. We have no idea what we're up against! We don't even know what we will even uncover if we go or worse… how do we know she will even still be there?" Carlisle ushered as Alec clenched his fists.

"We have to try," Alec whispered dangerously as Carlisle shook his head.

"I agree… but not now," Carlisle whispered as Alec growled.

"Carlisle this is a mistake, Bella's location could change any moment, and this is the best lead we've had since Aro disappeared!" Edward cried out and Carlisle still shook his head and Alec turned to the rest of them as they looked squarely on.

"What do you all say on this? You know the Romanians, we fought them, won against them! You know their cruelty! We have to try!" Alec yelled as Caius sighed and stood straight.

"Carlisle is right Alec; we don't have any relevant information on them. Since Aro's betrayal, we haven't been able to get a read on any of them, you know this! Your sister is right, your emotions are too unstable right now. I vote no." Caius said as Alec desperately turned to Marcus.

"Marcus…please. You of all people know of my desperation. You lost your mate to them… please help me prevent that from happening to mine!" Alec pleaded as Siobhan and Tanya looked towards Marcus as he closed his eyes and sighed.

"Alec, I loved my Didyme. I loved her just as you love Bella but… Alec this is too risky. You are a leader; you lead with your people in mind. Going towards Bella right now is too risky for our people or us. I have to vote no." Marcus sighed as Alec shook his head in disbelief as Tanya, Siobhan and Eleazar all voted no.

"This is a mistake…. You're letting your fear override everything else." Edward snarled as I turned to him.

"And you're letting your emotions override your judgment! We don't have anything to use if we go against them except for the gifted vampires here! They are obviously knowledgeable in potions which is something we're at a disadvantage of! Didyme's book and journal were lost when we lost Bella. Without that we have to come up with another plan so unless you know of something we can use; we have to vote no." Carlisle said harshly as Edward glared.

"She said it was in Forks" Edward retaliated

"And we looked there, Edward. As we came from our home, we looked in the entire town and upturned the meadow that matched the coordinates given to us. Nothing was there." Eleazar explained as Edward glared and Alec pounded his hand on the table which developed a deep crack.

"And you suppose I'll go along with this madness? If it was any of your mates out there you would not be voting this way!" Alec snarled out "She is mine! If you all disagree so wholeheartedly that you would endanger her further then I will search myself!" Alec growled out before he stormed out of the council room.

"Alec wait!" Felix shouted as he went to go after him but Caius stopped him.

"Felix please, as much as you want to follow him into his death wish we need to learn what you know." Caius sniffed as I glared.

"Don't glare, Jane, it's unbecoming of you," Caius said as I scoffed.

"It's unbecoming when you scorn a man to go after his mate." I hissed as Caius raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak before Marcus placed his hand on his shoulder to move him back.

"Jane, we understand your anger, you were close to Bella as well and I more than anyone understand Alec's pain but steps must be taken. Precaution must be taken." Marcus muttered as I shook my head.

"Well, you can take precaution, but I choose to be risky. You all may not be convinced to take the risk but not me, I'm following my brother and all of you" I glared at the others as they shifted their eyes "Can either come or you can stay." I hissed as I turned on my heel and walked out the door ignoring the calls of my name as I followed Alec's scent out to the east entrance.

Alec may be a fool, but he wasn't stupid. Grief makes us blind, but hope can make us do the impossible. If Alec goes off on his own, I had no doubt he would accomplish his goals but without me to temper his will, he might end up dead and I refuse to lose any more of my family.

"Alec!" I called out as his scent ended here and I looked around until I saw him running more towards the underbrush. "Alec, damn it, stop!" I screamed but he didn't slow. Pursing my lips, I stood my ground and summed up my gift as I saw the tiny orange whisps and cast them towards Alec's direction before I heard his scream of agony.

I walked towards his withering form and gripped his arms tightly before I rescinded the flames from his body, and he growled. "Don't you growl at me, Alec!" I hissed as I wrestled with him to stay on the ground. "Fuck Alec stop! I'm on your side!" I yelled as he stopped for a moment and stared at me.

"Then why speak against me in the council room? You know I have to go Janie; she needs me!" He hollered brokenly as I closed my eyes and hugged him tightly as he eventually stopped moving and I felt his arms around my back.

"Alec, I know, but you were not speaking sense. Alec, going in as you want too will be disastrous; we can go but let's develop a plan first okay? A solid plan, something we can stick to because I know how it pains you to admit this but they're right Alec." I breathed out as he glared.

"Alec, please, for once listen to me." I asked as he turned his passioned eyes on me "Alec we can get her but first do you even know where she is? You can follow Felix's scent sure, but you must have smelled the salt on his skin, right?" I asked as he looked to the grass and begrudgery nodded his head.

"Soap and freshwater aren't capable of hiding the sea from us, which means that he was in the ocean. Alec, you are a good tracker but when it comes to our kind – Alec we would need Demetri's skills in that area." I said as he clenched his jaw. "I know you that too so unless we can find the evidence to convince them, we would only take longer to find her, and we would not only be endangering Bella more but for us as well," I said cautiously as he slumped his shoulders and he breathed out.

"Then what do you supposed we do then? Sitting and waiting are not options I will take." He asked as I sat back on my heels and bit my lip. "What?" He asked grumpily as I looked back and sniffed the air to make sure he followed. Good. "What aren't you telling me, Janie?" Alec asked again except this time he smelled what I did, and he growled instantly going on the defensive.

"I know your there Cullen!" Alec yelled as Edward ran from behind the trees and gave us a sheepish smile. "What do you want?" He asked angrily as I sighed and stood from the ground as I took my place next to Edward and Alec's eyes shifted from me to him. "What," Alec said in a clipped tone "Is going on?"

"Alec there's something you should know" I started as he narrowed his eyes at me and then to Edward.

"Know what?" He asked as I shifted my eyes to Edward, and he raised his eyebrows, and I shook my head.

"Alec, I haven't exactly been honest with you," I admitted as I shifted from foot to foot, a very human gesture I picked up from Bella. Alec just stared at me wordlessly as I sighed and squared my shoulders as I stared at my brother. "I know where the books are," I admitted as he quirked his eyebrow and he stared at both me and Edward. "And before you go running off, I know what to get to convince the council to spearhead the rescue mission." I breathed out as Alec stepped forward slowly as he never took his eyes off me as he whispered, "What do we need to do?"

"We need to go to Jacob" Edward stated as he raised his eyebrows and he looked between me and Edward.

"And why exactly do we need to do that and why –" He growled out "are you here at all?" He pointed this question at Edward who leveled a stare of his own before he let out a breath.

"Because I'm the only one Jacob will talk to." He said quietly as he glared. "and as much as you may think, I want to do what I can to help my friend. We all have parts to play in this war… I'm just making sure I'm doing mine." Edward said as Alec sized him up.

"And what part is that?" Alec asked as I stepped forward and pushed Alec back.

"The part where he helps us convince the council that it's time to fight back," I whispered as Alec looked to me and his expression softened before he took a deep breath and nodded.

"Okay, so we fight," Alec said and I smiled, and Edward smirked as I whispered:

"We fight."

No, I won't back down

You can stand me up at the gates of hell

But I won't back down

Well I know what's right

I just got one life

In a world that keeps pushing me around

But I'll stand my ground

I Won't Back Down – Tom Petty

A/N: Rought chapter for everyone but like I said it ended on a high note! They are, officially, going to his girl! See you all Monday!