CHAPTER 45
Edward's POV :
I smelled something…the most wonderful smell I'd ever known.
Oh no. No. No. No. Bella get out of here…what the fuck are you doing ?
Jane and Victoria heard it too, of course. I tensed. If Bella really thought she could sneak up on two vampires she was crazy. Besides, she couldn't possibly get in here without being able to climb a couple of crushed walls.
"That's just a dog.", I tried to say with these damn clamps on my tongue, "He's a stray, he's always around."
"Check it out.", Jane said to Victoria. Another order.
I glanced at Victoria, my eyes saying it for me.
She frowned.
"Why don't YOU go check it out ?", she shot back, "Why are you always telling ME what to do ?"
"Oh Jesus.", Jane huffed, "Fine, I'll go."
Fuck. I don't like Jane going after Bella. Maybe with Jane gone, I can try and get loose now. Bella's life depended on it.
"Victoria…", I tried to talk to her quickly.
She said, "Wait. You have something to say, don't you ?"
She removed the clamps from my tongue and that hurt even more.
"Victoria…", I said to her, "Please release me. I can take care of Jane and then we can be together. Not as Master and slave but…equals. Come on, I KNOW you like me."
I can smell the pheromones every time I look at her.
"I'll pay for everything I did to you.", I promised her, "But Jane…she's out of control. Eventually, she will turn on YOU. And if she uses her powers on YOU…you won't have a chance."
She hesitated.
"If you wait until I have no arms or legs…", I told her, "Then we're both fucked. You will be right beside me, your limbs gone…not long after I'm useless. I promise you. Look into your future…you can see it, can't you ?"
Fuck this was working. Victoria was weaker than I thought.
"Shut UP !", she shouted at me, and walked away from the cage. I tried to get one of the clamps off me that I could reach…maybe I could twist part of it and get out of these shackles. I doubted it…but I had to try something.
Seconds later, Jane was coming back, her boots clicking on the concrete floor…and a shuffling…Bella's scent grew stronger…Fuck. She had Bella. I would have to do some real acting here. I hoped Bella could play along. She usually did.
I relaxed myself, putting my face to the cage bars, my mouth closed. I was watching, making my eyes blank and uninterested for when Bella would enter my view. I could do this.
I hated that Bella was going to see me this way…for the last time maybe. My body was scattered with faded dirty words, dashmarks…I was hideous.
"Look what I found.", Jane announced as she dragged Bella behind her, tossing her into the room, on her hands and knees. I almost jumped up that Jane threw her like that but I had a part to play here.
"Who's that ?", I asked, sounding bored.
"That's what SHE'S going to tell us.", Jane grabbed Bella up by her dark hair, bringing her further into the room. I could see her face now…so beautiful and she didn't look afraid at all. If she knew what danger she was in, she'd be freaking out as I was internally.
Victoria glanced at me then to her.
Bella looked and saw me, naked, in the cage, covered with clamps, shackled. I felt ashamed right away as her eyes looked over me with pity…then rage.
She tried to stand up and lunge towards my cage but I made my eyes stern, warning her silently not to do that. I hoped she caught it.
I went back to my expression of not knowing who she was.
"What's your name ?", Jane asked her, not inflicting any pain on her yet. I really hoped she meant it when she said they didn't intend any girl here any harm.
"Hello ?!", Jane repeated as if she were slow, "What's your name ?"
"Alice.", she said timidly, "Alice Hale."
I gave her a very subtle nod.
"What are you doing out here, Alice ?", Victoria asked her, crossing her arms.
"I…", she said, "I was just out here…looking for my dog. He likes it out here, for some reason."
Good.
"Do you know her ?", Jane asked me, raising a brow.
"There are a lot of girls in this school.", I shrugged, "She's not one of mine."
"You know every single girl in this school.", Jane looked at me, not falling for it.
"Yea, I know her.", I frowned at Bella, "She's the worst athlete in the school. A constant migraine for me in class every day. She's nothing. Just compel her and let her go. I'm SURE she won't come back."
I raised my brow slightly at Bella. That was a message to her not to return here.
She pretended to go along.
"Mr. Cullen.", she shrugged, "The worst fucking gym teacher in the world. If you guys are into some weird sex games, that's none of my business. I just want my dog. I won't say anything."
"See ?", I smirked at her as if she was annoying me now, "Just compel her and let her go…hey…my tongue needs more clamps. Victoria took them off me."
Compelling her wouldn't work on Bella. At least not from me.
Victoria was already bored with Bella and came over to me, the clamp open and ready.
"Stick your tongue out, bitch.", she demanded.
I put my tongue out and she clamped the tip. I let out a mildly loud groan of pain. Bella was watching this…her body trembling with anger…uh oh…
"GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF MY MASTER !", she screamed.
My forehead hit the bar with a thud. Fuck.
Bella leapt to her feet and Jane grabbed her without effort. She held Bella, grabbing her arms behind her.
Victoria looked at me, confused. She grabbed the clamp off my tongue.
"Alright, alright !", I shouted, "She's one of mine. But honestly, she's nothing to me. She's just here in some stupid attempt to try and impress me. And once again, she FAILED."
I glared at Bella.
"She's useless in every way.", I said to Jane, looking amused, "Honestly, I don't even know why I took her."
Bella looked angry with herself for spilling the beans. I hoped she would get with the game now.
"Master, please…just give me one more chance…I love you…", she begged pathetically. I nearly laughed.
"I'll do anything you want…just please…", she put her head down, pretending to cry.
She's good.
"Such a loser.", I frowned at her, "Please, get her out of here. I'm embarrassed."
Jane grinned.
"Victoria…", Jane said sweetly, "Bring me that chainsaw on the wall."
There's a chainsaw on the wall ? That's not mine. Maybe that's for me, later, for my arms and legs.
Victoria was confused but she went…and brought it to Jane. I tried to keep my face uninterested.
Bella looked very nervous now. But she kept playing her part.
"Master…please….", she groveled without dignity, still playing her part.
Jane put the chainsaw on Bella's shoulder, letting it sit there. I tried to contain myself. So was she.
"So….", Jane asked, "If I switch this on right now…you won't care, right, pig ?"
I shrugged.
"A waste of good blood…", I said flatly, "But…no I don't care."
Bella closed her eyes, almost resigned to this fate.
"My blood IS good.", Bella said suddenly, "Smell it ? Master says it's the BEST blood he ever tasted. That's why he likes me. That's the only reason, I guess."
Bella…what the fuck are you doing ?
"She DOES smell good.", Jane now noticed the aroma that taunted me every single day.
"We can have a little snack.", Victoria agreed, standing near my cage, "But she's just for us, you don't get any, piggie."
If my heart could beat, it'd be pounding out of my chest right now. I wanted that chainsaw blade OFF her shoulder. NOW.
"Sounds good.", Jane agreed, "But first let's take that arm off."
She was about to switch the fucking thing on !
"WAIT !", I shouted, "Don't ! She's mine. Don't hurt her. You said you wouldn't hurt any of the girls in the school."
Jane looked at me now, strangely. She did not turn the chainsaw on.
"Why, Edward…", she said, surprised, "For the first time I hear FEAR in your voice. Is that FEAR ?"
Shit. How could I down play this now ?
"She's just a toy of mine.", I pressed my head to the bars, looking at Victoria, "She has nothing to do with this. Just compel her and let her go. I won't step a toe out of line ever again, I swear it. Just let her go. She's no threat to you."
I felt as if I were back in the brothel, begging James for the lives of my girls…and Esme. I wanted to vomit right now.
"No threat.", Jane pulled a crossbow and a few arrows off Bella's back. She tossed them aside.
"She can't hit the side of a barn with ANY weapon.", I informed Jane, "What I said about her is true. She's harmless."
"But…you like her.", Jane said. It wasn't a question.
"Not really.", I lied, "But she's fun to…punish."
"Oh.", Jane smiled at Bella, "Just like I was…and Victoria was.."
"Yes.", I exhaled, wanting Bella to be out of here already.
"She's innocent…like you both were…ARE…", I said, "So…there's no reason to hurt her."
"You had plenty of reasons to hurt US.", Victoria chimed in.
"I'm a sick FUCK.", I pointed out, "You two…are not. You don't have to be what I am. You have ME. That's what you wanted. You don't need her."
"He talks a long time for someone he doesn't like.", Jane stroked her hand down Bella's hair. I felt my face instantly frown at her.
"Every day I had to watch you torture Victoria…", Jane said to me, "And I couldn't do anything about it. That hurt worse than anything you did to me. I wonder how great it would be…to watch you suffer the same thing. Now that there's a creature on this earth that YOU could care for…"
"Oooh, interesting.", Victoria's eyes lit up.
Fuck. This went so terribly wrong.
"You would really do that to another innocent girl ?", I tried reasoning with Jane, "After everything you went through ?"
Please, please, please…let there be some humanity left in you.
Jane thought about it. Her face fell a bit. I breathed a huge sigh of relief inside me.
"No.", she decided, "I won't do that. But she makes a nice little insurance policy."
"We will keep her for now.", Jane said, "I'll even be nice enough to put her in another room."
I felt everything inside me exhale and relief filled my body.
"Thank you, Your Majesty.", I felt stupid calling her that in front of Bella.
"But", Jane warned, putting the chainsaw back to Bella's neck, "Piss us off in any way…and she will feel my powers…even if you can't see her, you'll hear her screaming."
"I won't piss you off.", I vowed, "Ever."
Jane tossed Bella to the floor, and she marched up to me, putting the chainsaw into my cage, on my shoulder now as Bella screamed.
"You are such a fucking liar.", she spat at me, "And a TERRIBLE FUCKING liar. Just like I was,
remember ?"
"We're not stupid.", Jane shouted at me, "We've been watching you for months now. We know all about Bella Swan and YOU. We've seen your cute little moments, the Halloween dance…the sexual frolic on the lawn…how do you think we know about THIS place ?! We've seen the things you've done to her. And she's so fucked, she LIKES it ! She's your soulmate, for sure. We know you love her. Victoria has seen it ! That's why we waited. That's why NOW she can cast the spell on you to make you vulnerable. You have to be in love, vulnerable in the heart for it to work on your body. SHE'S the thing that's making you weak right now."
I stared back at Jane.
"She's never made me weak.", I stated with a deadly tone.
"Watch that tone, pig.", she glared back at me, "Because I WILL let that little bitch suffer if it hurts YOU!"
"Let's see if it hurts him.", Jane turned away from me, taking the chainsaw with her. She put it down and glared at Bella.
"NO!", I pleaded, "I'm sorry, just-do it to me !"
But Bella was not crumpled in pain or screaming. She was just looking at Jane, confused.
"Go on, Jane.", Victoria urged her.
"I AM!", Jane turned to her, "It's not working."
What ? Fuck.
I could not read Bella's mind. I'm guessing that something in her brain is keeping Jane out too. Cool !
"She's not all there.", I informed Jane, "I can't read her thoughts either. She's disabled. You can't torture a disabled person, Jane !"
I would say anything now to keep her safe. I had so little left now.
Bella frowned at me.
"I can do whatever I want.", Jane looked at me, "Well…I guess it's the old fashioned way then."
Jane picked up the dagger that cut my clothes earlier and walked over to Bella. She tried to jump up and run but Jane easily caught her. Bella screamed suddenly, then stopped. She was alright, it seemed.
"Jane.", I shouted at her, my face against the bars, "DON'T. If you let her go now, I'm yours. Completely. Without another peep. You can cut my arms off, my legs, my dick, whatever. But if you hurt her now, I'll NEVER obey you. I'll NEVER stop trying to be free. And I'll NEVER…be yours."
She paused, thinking about this.
"Nothing will hurt worse than knowing I can never see her again.", I felt blood tears sting my eyes, "Nothing will cut deeper than losing her forever. That's the truth."
"I can compel her.", Victoria spoke up, "It'll work for me. The question is…Edward…do you love her enough to let me compel her…I can make it so she forgets all about you…I can take every memory away…and she'll be just like she was the day she came here. Before gym class happened. Do you want that ?"
"No.", Bella frowned, angry that option was even being discussed.
"She can go on with her life…and be happy.", Victoria was playing with me, wanting me to be the selfish prick I was and if I said no…Bella would see that I didn't really care about her. If I said yes…then I would lose her but she'd be happy and free. There was nothing else I could say. In a way, it was exactly the miracle I wanted for her but couldn't deliver myself.
My life would be over from this point on. I didn't want Bella going on without me, suffering, wondering what happened to me…or worse how she could rescue me. She'd get killed.
Bella looked at me and shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"Please, don't.", she said to me, trembling.
"Do it.", I said, accepting my prison sentence…trading my life for hers.
"No, Master !", Bella struggled in Jane's grip.
"Bella, be quiet.", I said softly to her, "It'll be alright, I promise. Don't fight them."
She cried and screamed, "I WON'T let them !"
"317!", I shouted at her, and she stilled.
"That's an order.", I stared at her, my eyes livid, "Silence."
Victoria came over to Bella and took her face into her hands, staring into her eyes. Bella did not fight them. She obeyed me and held still, silently.
"Goodbye, Bella.", I breathed, my eyes filling with blood as everything inside me hurt worse than Jane could ever do it.
I heard a small whimper come out of her, as if she were softly crying as they began to steal her memories of us. But then it quieted.
Silently, I thought over every second we spent together…and as she was losing those seconds…they were more vivid to me, brighter, fuller. I would always have them. In these next decades, they would be all I had to cling to, to remember. The one love I got to have in this vampire life before the end. The one miracle I got. I love you, Bella Swan. I will ALWAYS love you. Thank you…for loving me.
In seconds, it was over. Bella looked like an empty shell. Just like she had the first day of school.
"Take her in the other room.", Jane said to Victoria, stroking Bella's hair, "Just for today to make sure everything took. And that this little slut is true to his word."
"Alright.", Victoria took Bella by the arm…she looked like she wasn't aware of anything as she slowly went with Victoria, no struggle. She really did compel her. That's how it always was right after wiping a mind clean. I exhaled and let my head drop against the bars. It worked. Victoria had really been able to do it.
NOW I have nothing.
They had won. I was glad at least Bella would have a shot now at a life. If she got out of this unharmed, I'd be fine with it all.
Jane was smirking at me, loving the pain in my face…she drank it in like it was actual blood of mine. I just ignored her.
I listened and Victoria, did, indeed, put Bella into the other room, a cage was sitting on the floor there. Bella sat inside it, her face blank as she waited to Victoria to close the door and lock it. It wasn't one of my best cages. It was cheap, actually. But it would hold Bella there for a little while until they let her go. She sounded fine as Victoria walked away from her, smirking at her, wondering what it was about Bella that was so damn special.
She was out of harm's way at least. Now I had to be very good to ensure that Bella would be freed later.
I could do that. I guess I would HAVE to from now on, or risk them finding Bella somewhere and bringing her back to further torment me. Only this time she wouldn't know me or love me…and I'd be some deformed, limbless freak with a burned up face she would be repulsed by.
I would be good. Boring. And hopefully soon, they'd get sick of my bland agreeable ass and let me burn.
Like I should've with the other girls and Esme so long ago.
"Are you ready to pay now, bitch ?", Victoria returned, smiling at me as if everything was great now.
"Yes, Goddess.", I blinked my eyes, getting rid of the red tears and taking a breath, sticking my tongue out through the bars now.
"Ohhh, good boy…look at this, Jane.", Victoria waved a hand to me.
"We'll see how he is three hours from now.", she wasn't impressed yet.
"Let's teach you all about how to be obedient.", Victoria said, "You haven't really had any practice with this…you're always on the other end of the cage…but now, you have to learn to be a good boy."
"Yes Goddess.", I said submissively, "Thank you for teaching me."
I put my tongue back out. Jane came over and began putting the clamps back onto my tongue.
UGGGHHH I made a small sound with each one…it still fucking hurt.
"Thank you, Your Majesty.", I made sure to thank her also.
"Shut up bitch.", Jane said, placing another clamp to my tongue, and another and another until it was all the way around my tongue.
"You're going to earn this.", Jane informed me, "Because if we decide to let you keep your cock…you're going to want to jerk off from time to time…yes ?"
I nodded, unsure of where she was going with this.
"Aww he'll think of his little Bella while he jerks off I'll bet…", Victoria toyed with me.
Bitch.
I kept my eyes warm and sweet like a dog's. Even though I wanted to punch Victoria in the face for that comment.
"IF we allow that.", Jane said strictly, "Then you have to earn that. You want to jerk off because that's the only thing your simple, greedy, whore mind of yours really wants…getting hard and coming. Right ?"
I nodded, "Ysss, Yrrr Mjjssttyyy"
"It's sad but true.", Jane agreed, "Lift up your legs."
I raised my legs out straight, the shackles around my ankles, a chain between them.
"Show me those feet.", Jane ordered, "Yes…just like that."
I had my feet out, flat so she could hurt them as she liked.
Jane went to the wall and got a leather riding crop with little studs on it. That was going to hurt.
"You want this, don't you, pig ?", she asked me gleefully.
I nodded, "YSSS, Yrrr Mjjsstttyyy"
"Good."
She began to slap the crop against the inner arch of my right foot and I was still vulnerable…it hurt very much, the studs especially leaving a painful throbbing sensation there.
I growled out as each blow landed. Jane grabbed my little toes at the end so she could hit my feet harder.
"Euu", she looked, "Those feet are a little dirty. How did that happen ?"
She hit the tops of my feet and the bottoms, both of them…as I tried to groan in a non aggressive voice.
I kept my face to the bars as I was told and suffered as she kept hitting my toes…underneath my feet…she even hit the clamp that was between my toes that Victoria had put there…and that was excruciating !
"AAAAAAAA", I tried to put my mind into the form of a submissive girl that I would be punishing. Euu…I hate that.
"Did you come dirty to my dungeon ?", Jane asked me, sounding angry, striking my feet again. Victoria stood by and watched, arms crossed, loving this.
"I dnnttt knnwww YYrrr Mjjsstttyyy", I offered. Fuck I HATED it when a slave said I don't know. A big no no with me.
"You don't know ?!", Jane asked, hitting me again, "You don't remember your shower that Goddess gave you ?"
"I dddooo", I answered.
"So ?", Jane asked, "Did you wash your feet there ?"
"NNN Yrrr Mjjssttyyy", I answered.
"Why not ?", Jane asked me.
"Tthhrrr wsss nnnn spppp", I tried to answer.
"No…soap?", Jane looked at Victoria.
"He didn't want soap!", Victoria said to Jane.
Oooh you lying bitch. So that's how my life is going to be with these two.
"It doesn't matter if he DOESN'T WANT SOAP", Jane raised her voice, "He has no choices anymore. WE decide what he wants or doesn't want."
Truth. I taught Jane well.
"You will get SOAP tonight.", Jane came back to me, "So much soap you won't be able to breathe."
"Thhkk yyyy, Yrrrr Mjjjssttyyy.", I tried to sound sincere.
"Shut your mouth, I said.", Jane slapped my face with the crop.
Then she began to slap under my outstretched legs with the crop. I flinched and groaned with each lash.
She looked under the cage and asked, "Oh what do we have here ? Some balls…some disgusting man balls…"
"Pig balls.", Victoria corrected.
"Yes.", Jane said, striking at them next under the cage as I pressed my forehead to the bars and tried to endure it.
"Don't hide them…", Jane kept striking at them, "Keep them out…and I want to hear you grunt like a little pig every time I hit them."
Humiliation. One of my favorites.
I made myself grunt and snort like a pig as she abused my poor ball sack. Victoria and Jane laughed well at this for a long time.
"I love you Jane.", Victoria said to her.
"It's all limp, though.", Jane peeked under, then looked at my face in the bars, "Are you not enjoying this, piggie ?"
I nodded, my tongue out.
"Then why aren't you hard ?" she wondered.
I exhaled and tried to get hard…if I thought of Bella right now I would break in half…I couldn't think of any other girl who would make me hard, though.
She spun my cage around and she asked, "What's back here for us to play with ?"
"That cute little ass.", Victoria responded.
See, she DOES like me. I knew it.
"Nice little, white, unmarked ass.", Jane kept slapping the crop against my ass now as I grabbed the bars behind me.
"Those sounds don't sound hurt…", Jane kept striking the crop against my back and then down to my ass as I grunted and groaned with each blow, my head against the bars.
"I think he likes it.", Victoria guessed.
"He does, he's a little dog in heat.", Jane agreed, spinning the cage back around.
It was getting harder to not glare at them.
"Let's do something he enjoys a little bit less.", Jane decided.
She came back with one of my canes. Fuck.
"Look at what I found.", Jane showed it to me, "You love your canes, don't you ?"
I nodded.
"Well now they're MY canes.", she announced, "And you're going to feel every single one of them. In painful detail."
"Put those legs and feet back out.", she demanded.
I did as she said and she put a pair of gloves on so she didn't have to touch my dirty feet.
"I don't want slave stench on my hands.", she said to me.
She held me under my ankle and began quickly tapping the cane across the bottom of my left foot.
I arched back and groaned out loud, not hiding it now…this was fucking killing me.
"There he goes…", Victoria watched me with deep satisfaction as I suffered, not quiet at all in my shouts of pain.
She stopped …for a second…then started again. Cruel. Fuck I did that to slaves all the time.
I groaned out louder now, helpless to do much but writhe and yell. But I kept my foot out and straight. If I had to be a slave, I was not going to be a sloppy one like they used to be.
"Stretch out those toes.", she ordered and I lifted them, stretching them out.
"Yea…cute toes…right under there…", she put the cane right under my toes, in that little space.
"That's what I want…", Jane said as she brought the cane down into that space.
I roared and my toes curled up on their own.
"KEEP THEM OPEN", Jane shouted at me, waiting as I uncurled them again.
"Keep them open.", she repeated as she kept striking me in the same spot again and again.
I knew feet were sensitive but SHIT!
"Aww look at the other one… all alone over there.", she went to my other foot now, striking that one on the bottom over and over again…the cane hard and thin…intense. My chains jingled as I tried to keep both feet out and even, enduring Jane's wrath.
"Uhhh.", Jane warned as my toes clenched…"Keep them open…open…."
I uncurled them and she began lashing them under the toes as I hollered, giving them their thrill.
"Are you scared yet ?", Jane asked.
Not really.
"Xxttrrmmmllyyy", I lied, making my voice sound afraid.
Against my will, my arms gave a violent jerk behind me. The demon. No you fucker stay down. Bella ! Don't come out here. You'll get her killed !
"Ohhh, look at that.", Victoria had a cane now too and she poked it into my cage, pushing it into my penis.
I looked and indeed I was hard ! What the fuck ? I just thought of Bella for a second and not even naked !
"He DOES like getting beaten.", Victoria accused, "Don't you, slut ?"
I nodded, saying, "Ysss, Gdddssss"
"What a dirty little pervert you are.", Victoria insulted, smiling at Jane, and taking a few little whacks to my hard cock with her cane as I growled out.
Bella's POV:
For a minute…or maybe for five years I had been staring at this little piece of fluff down near the floor. It was just blowing, hooked on something sharp…it was green and flapping in the breeze…I had no idea who I was…what I was…for…how long now ? What the hell happened to me? Where am I ?
I blinked a few times…and focused on things around me. I was in a cage. Where ? I wasn't sure.
Suddenly, a little bark sounded a few feet away from me. And this tiny little puppy was running over to me. He instantly popped into my mind…and as he did, everything else popped back into it too.
Gym class…Mr. Cullen…Sir…Master…Six…Victoria…Jane…it was all back now…how long was I here for ? Shit !
"Tank.", I whispered, "Shhh…come here baby."
He leapt right into the cage with me, that's how small he was. I kissed him and slipped his collar off. I sat him down next to me and began to take out the little round piece that held the nameplate that read TANK.
It was thin and able to bend easily. I began to straighten it with my thumbs as I heard Master in the next room, screaming. I jumped and was glad to hear that he was still alive. I had to hurry up. They were planning to do evil things to him. I heard Master say cutting his arms and legs off. JESUS !
I got the piece straight and then I curled it a little on the end. Thank God I had some know how in how to pick cheap locks. This one would be too easy. The keyhole was pretty big and I put the little metal thing into it, and curled it around inside the keyhole, to make it the shape of the inside.
For a couple minutes, I reached it around and tried it, turning it…several times it didn't work.
"Come on, God, please…please…", I whispered as Master screamed out again, sounding as if he was in real pain.
Then it popped open ! I almost didn't breathe. I carefully pushed the door open and slowly crawled out, being really cautious not to shuffle or knock anything over. Earlier, I had done that crash on purpose. Xena often got caught on purpose so she'd be taken right into the spot where Gabrielle was captured. I would've never got there on my own. Master had made sure no human could reach his spots unless they were expert climbers or had all kinds of shit to help them get there.
Master had tried to protect me by pretending I was not important to him. I played along…until I saw that bitch hurting him, putting something in his tongue that made him hurt. I lost it in that moment and lost control of the game I was supposed to play. They tried to erase my memories. That red headed bitch. For once, I was glad my brain was wired differently. But it worked for a few minutes, that's a little scary. Thank God for my Tank.
"Stay there, Tank.", I whispered to him, closing the cage a bit, not locking it. I didn't want him getting hurt.
That Jane bitch had accidentally cut my arm a little when she had that knife and grabbed me…it was not a deep wound but it was bleeding pretty good. I smiled, hatching my plan. I would get in there, get my bow and arrows…wipe my blood on the arrow tips…and shoot those bitches. I didn't know if the arrow would kill them but my blood, being poisoned as it is, would weaken them as it had done to Master that day. It would at least hurt them and make them weak…and then Master could take it from there. It had to work. Please God, let it work.
If that didn't work, I formed a plan that I had tried earlier. Get them to drink or taste my blood. It's the one weapon I have against vampires. Some good should come out of it.
My scent would already be in the air, as they think I'm in that cage. And if they're so focused on Master, they can't read my mind…they probably won't notice me crawl in there…it's kind of dark. I could get my bow and arrows…I had to try.
I slowly moved towards the room…I could hear them taunting Master.
"Look at this perky little nipple…all clamped….", one of the women's voices said as Master cried out, growling in pain at something they were doing to him. I looked and they were both over there, standing in front of the cage Master had been in.
"It won't come off…", the blonde, short one said, "Oh yea, that's right…the clamps have teeth in them…oh my…that's going to suck for YOU, piggie."
Master groaned out again, chains clanging. It made me sick knowing they were hurting him. I slowly crawled closer to my bow…
"Aww, don't be shy…", the redhead said to Master as he yelled out, wordlessly, just reacting to whatever nasty shit they were doing.
I'm coming Master. Hold on, baby.
"Lick my fingers…come on pig.", the red head said to Master and I heard him choking and gagging.
These two bitches were toast.
I finally reached my arrows…three of them…the other two were further away. That's okay…two is all I need. Without a sound, I took the three arrow tips and rubbed them into my bloody little gash on my upper arm. Okay. Poison arrows. Check.
Now to aim and hit my mark. Come on archery practice…save us.
I had to make sure Master was not even in the area when I fired. I didn't want to make that fucking mistake.
I would have to do or say something to make them move.
I took a step forward and I felt something strange happen inside of me. Suddenly I was not afraid…or even nervous. I was calm and strong. I had one arrow in the bowstring, ready to go, two more on the floor beside me.
"You two cunts step away from my Master.", I growled every word with the utmost disgust.
They all looked at me, especially Master. He looked confused and scared…for me.
"Oh fuck, it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer again.", Jane huffed, looking at Victoria, mocking her, "Oh, I can compel her…I have the better powers."
Victoria looked pissed off and was about to step towards me. Jane stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"You said you wouldn't hurt her !", Master said to Jane. The little blonde was clearly the one in charge.
"We're not.", Jane glanced at the red head, then she looked at me.
"Bella…", Jane said to me, "We mean you no harm. Put the bow down and you may leave here. It's him we want, not you."
"Well, then we have a problem.", I sneered, not taking my aim off the bitch's head, "Because he's mine."
Master looked at me as if he didn't recognize me.
"I get that you're a little girl..", Jane began, "And you think this is your prince. We both thought the same thing once…and he captured us…he chained us…he raped us. For years, I was his slave, kept in his basement, fed scraps…he hurt me…every single day. In so many sick fucking ways…you have no idea. He did the same to Victoria. We were both slaves in his little cage. We bonded over the months. We fell in love. Then one day the bastard here sells us…to the highest bidder. He didn't care who bought us or what they would do to us. We were taken away in crates, like dogs. And when we got to where we did…there was a vampire there. With red eyes. His name was James."
Master's face came to life now, looking at Jane in astonishment. My own mouth almost fell open too.
"James ?", he sounded afraid to even say the name.
"Yes, you remember James, don't you ?", Jane asked him with a frown, "He killed us…then he bit us…drank our blood….and made us drink his…he turned us into vampires that very night."
"Is he…here ?", Master asked, turning paler than usual.
I wanted to check my back and see if he was coming up behind me but I didn't dare take my eyes off the bitches…this could be a trick.
"No, it's just us…for now.", Jane said, "James doesn't live with us. But he knew who we were…and that we would want revenge on you. He approves of that. He let us decide when and where we would find you. Victoria can see the future. She saw you fall in love with this little girl…and we agreed that was the best time to come…and take it all away from you…like you did to us."
I slowly lowered my bow and arrow…looking shocked.
"You…", I said to Master, my eyes filled with tears, "You really did that…to them ?"
He looked filled with shame.
"Yes.", he admitted, looking down, "I told you I was a sick fuck."
"Yea but…", I put my hand over my mouth, as if I were going to be sick…"Oh my God…"
I sank to my knees and doubled over, crying, rocking…
Jane came over to me, putting her hand on my back, smoothing it.
"It's alright.", Jane assured me, comfortingly, "We're going to make sure he suffers for all he's done."
"I'm sorry, Bella.", Master's voice sounded so devastated, deep and thick.
"Wait.", I suddenly looked up at him, filling my eyes with rage…even HE looked afraid.
"Did you -",I stammered, "Are you the one that raped and killed my sister ?!"
I slowly approached the cage, my eyes hating what I was seeing…not HIM…the abuse they inflicted on him…the faded words slut, pig, and whore on his body.
Play along, Master, play along…
He looked at me then frowned, looking down. Jane and Victoria were watching the show.
"I—", he hesitated.
"You were alone with her that night…", I shouted, tears in my eyes. I got close enough now to the cage to slam my hands against it, making him jump inside it.
"It's—complicated…", he offered, looking very guilty, "She kissed ME first…"
"SHUT UP !", I slammed my fists against the bars again, 'SHUT UP ! Don't say ANYTHING else ! Don't EVER say anything to me AGAIN ! You SON OF A BITCH ! FUCKING MURDERER ! RAPIST !"
Jane smirked and shook her head at Master.
"You haven't changed at all, have you, Edward ?", Jane asked him, confidant she was right now in hurting him.
"We get it.", Victoria put a hand on my arm, sympathizing with me, "Would you like to hurt him ?"
Master looked at me, a little fear in his eyes.
I smiled.
"Yes.", I breathed, "How ?"
"Here.", Jane handed me a long prod looking thing with two horns on the end of it.
"It gives a very nice jolt.", she informed, "And he hates it."
"Cool.", I grinned, looking at him, "Where would you like it ?"
He just stared back at me, his hands trapped behind him.
"Don't ask HIM.", Victoria frowned, "Just get him right on the nipple…he's real sensitive there."
I looked at him and our eyes kind of spoke to each other…
"This is for my sister.", I sneered and made myself put the thing to his nipple. He braced himself and clenched his jaw…and I hit the button.
I'm sorry baby…don't be mad.
He flinched and screamed out…and it was all I could do to stand there and grin at the sight. Inside, I felt sick.
"Alright.", Jane took the thing from my hand, "You did well. You can go now."
Victoria was mocking Master, saying, "Wow, that was more fun than compelling her to forget you. Now she hates you."
"She should.", he said in a very deep voice, looking so broken it hurt me to look at him.
"I DO." I agreed.
He looked truly pained at that.
"Rot in Hell, demon.", I said goodbye to him, turning, about to walk away.
I stopped and turned back to Jane.
"Wait.", I said to her, "Do you really want to get him ?"
"We DO have him.", Victoria stated.
"Well, I know but…", I looked at him and he looked at me, confused, wondering what I was up to.
"No one knows about this…", I said quietly, "But my blood is special. That's why he wanted me."
He sat up now.
"Bella, no.", he said to me. And I think that wasn't him playing along…but I ignored him for now.
"Quiet, pig !", Jane smashed her hand to the bars, making Master fall back a bit.
"What do you mean, special ?", she asked, interested now.
"Well…", I shared, "I didn't know it until Master met me, but the scent of my blood drove him crazy….like…he HAD to have it. He pretended to care about me…even love me…and then he tasted it. He said it was the best blood he'd ever had…and later we discovered that it can do something amazing for a vampire."
"What ?", Victoria asked.
"Well I don't know about you ladies..", I prayed this would work, "But Master told me that it was his only wish in life…to be human again."
"Bella, please…", he tried to lean forward again, to get me to look at him but they zapped him with the stick thing again and he growled out, falling back against the bars.
"See, he wants my blood all for himself.", I waved a hand towards him, "But it works. Just a few mouthfuls turned his vampire friend human. The only reason Master hasn't tried it yet is because he likes being stronger than me. And he said he had some scores to settle first. We had it planned for August 13, this summer. Then he told me we'd be able to have a nice, human life together. But that was before he fucking killed my sister."
"It's a lie, you stupid bitches.", Master sneered from his cage, "She's playing you."
"If you speak one more time…", Jane put the stick to Edward's eye, threateningly.
"You can take your revenge on him…cut him up…", I said, "And after that, you can drink my blood and be human. You get everything you want then."
Master was giving me a very serious stare now.
Jane looked at Victoria. Master had once told me that he wanted to be human again more than anything. I remembered that. I hope other vampires felt the same way.
"It wouldn't hurt us to try it.", Victoria said to Jane, "Even if she's lying, we would still get a very nice drink out of it."
"If you don't believe me, just take a little taste right now.", I offered my wrists, "Master tastes me all the time…even small doses can give you some amazing powers…invisibility…flight…influence over emotions…anything you want. Every time Master drinks from me, he gets something new. I'm guessing that's the whole reason I heard him say the words I love you to me so many times. But now I know that was all bullshit. Because he wants my blood. I don't know why it's so special…it just IS."
They looked at each other.
"Look at his face.", I nodded to him, "That tells you all you need to know."
They looked and Master looked like he wanted to beat me senseless. I didn't blame him. I was putting myself in grave danger. But what else could I do ?
"She's right.", Victoria looked at Master and said, "Look at the eyes on him."
"He's pissed.", Jane knew right away. They had seen that look many times I'm sure.
"Go ahead.", I offered my wrists again, "It will make me happy to know that in the end, I had a bigger part in getting revenge on his ass. Using his secret weapon against him. And after you're human again, you can let go of all that pain he caused you…and be free…finally. We all can."
"Yes.", Victoria took a step towards me.
"NO, Victoria", Master yelled, "You can't possibly be THIS stupid !"
"Hold that, pig.", Jane stuck the stick part of the cattle prod into Master's mouth. He held it in his teeth and turned back to me, giving a slight shake of his head.
They were both moving towards me now, slowly, not wanting to frighten me.
"It's alright.", I said, "Master drinks from me all the time. I'm used to it."
"Where's all the bitemarks then?", Master pointed out, gritting his teeth on the stick.
He was trying to blow my cover.
"He's smart.", I smirked, "The bitemarks always heal right away. That's another thing my blood can do."
"One taste…", Jane said, "Won't turn us human yet ?"
"No.", I assured, "It takes a few mouthfuls for that. Don't worry."
They looked a little wary…Jane said, "Why don't I try it…and if it's alright, then you can have some, too, Vic."
Victoria looked at Jane, not caring for that idea.
"Jane wants it all for herself, Victoria, I told you…", Master said, spitting out the stick in his mouth, "Don't let her fuck you again."
Victoria gave him a look that chilled my blood.
"I trust Jane.", she stated.
Then she looked at Jane.
"Go ahead.", Victoria agreed with her.
"Just to be safe.", Jane assured her.
Uh oh. This might mess things up. But when I glanced at Master, he gave me a very slight blink that told me it would be fine.
Master made a very pained sound as Jane took my right wrist….and placed it up to her lips.
I looked at him and made my eyes as tender as I could…in case I didn't get to see him again. This would work. He would be free…even if I died. For that, I would gladly give my life.
She bit into my skin very delicately, I was surprised. It hardly hurt at all. She took a swallow…then another small one…Master was breathing heavier, afraid for me. Just waiting for his chance to break free and help me.
She let me go and I took a step or two back…looking at my wrist…there was just a little gash there …it was hardly bleeding at all.
Jane looked very high…like she'd just taken a very potent drug…Master had that same look too…for a second…that first taste.
Victoria was watching Jane, smiling…watching her happy reaction.
"Bella…get back…", Master demanded and I did move back further, quicker as the high began to fade from her eyes…and then….
"AAAAAAAAAAA !", Jane started screaming, falling to the floor, holding her head with clawed fingers….at that moment Master broke the chains that held his hands and a millisecond later, he broke through the cage.
Before I could even register the sight, his bare foot smashed down into Jane's head, crushing it like a weak pumpkin. Black goop bubbled from inside it as the eyes burst out, sliding across the floor.
"JANE !", Victoria screamed and Master had his arm around her neck, putting her into a chokehold as she clawed at his arms.
But she broke free somehow and turned to him, trying to claw his eyes out as he gritted his teeth and grabbed her hands off his face, butting her in the head, sending her flying backwards…near me.
She rolled and sneered at me, trying to grab my leg. I screamed and shimmied back on my ass as Master landed with his feet right on both sides of her, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her off her feet.
I took this chance to grab for my bow and arrow, getting them ready, just in case…I put the arrow in and readied it, watching them…waiting…
She choked and kicked, getting him right squarely in the crotch as he shouted and fell back. She jammed her high heeled boot into his cock as he screamed out and kicked with his legs, sending her rolling over onto her head. He flipped backwards like a cat and knelt on her back, grabbing her red curls in his hand.
"NOOOO!", she screeched like this was a memory she would NEVER allow to happen to her again and for a moment I did feel sorry for her. They wanted revenge…and if what they said was true…I didn't blame them…but you know what they say about revenge…dig two graves.
They became two blurs they were moving so fast…and I stayed back, trying to see what was happening.
When they came into focus again, my heart froze. She had him by the chain around his neck. He was wincing, laying on his chest, bent over on this leather block. In her hand was a very long, jagged edged hunting knife and it was right under his throat.
At first I thought, he's a vampire, that won't hurt him…but I was aiming at Victoria anyway…moving a bit to the left to get a better angle on her. She saw me and hid her head behind Master, making him lean upwards to shield her more.
"He's still vulnerable !", she shouted, reminding me, "As long as he loves you, he's still able to be hurt ! GET BACK !"
I didn't move a muscle…I was just waiting for her to move…I didn't want to shoot with Master so close but I didn't let her out of my sights.
"Bella, just GO !", he choked a bit as she pulled the chain tighter around his neck.
No way.
"I'll kill him, I swear to God I will !", she vowed, "You fuckers aren't getting away with it ! Jane and I will have our revenge no matter what you do !"
"Put the knife down, bitch.", my voice was hard and lethal again, "I'm an excellent shot and I'll put this right through your eye."
"HE DESERVES TO SUFFER!", Victoria screeched, her voice echoing, "You're gonna DEFEND HIM ?! HE RAPED US ! HE TORTURED US ! HE EVEN KILLED US !"
"I'm not going to tell you again.", I was not swayed by her words, "Let him go right now."
"I can't.", Victoria's voice sounded lost, "I can't."
Suddenly a little growl came scampering into the room…it was Tank ! He ran over to Victoria and showed his little teeth, barking and growling at her for holding his Daddy.
Oh no!
"Tank…STOP it !", I sneered at him, "TANK!"
Victoria glanced at him and snickered.
"What a beast.", she said snidely, not letting Master go.
"It's alright, Tank.", Master tried to get rid of him, "Go home…"
"Get this RAT outta here !", she pressed the blade to Master's neck.
Tank leapt with all his might onto Victoria's back and started to bite her. It probably didn't hurt her, being a vampire, but it sure annoyed her.
"Get off ME !", she raged, turning back a bit to shove the dog off of her.
That was all the distraction Master needed…and he elbowed her hard in the face.
She fell back a bit but then spun around and punched him in the face…and he was falling…and that gave me the shot that I needed. Even Tank bolted away.
I let go of my string and the arrow flew…I held my breath as it reached her…she swatted it out of her face like it was a mosquito. Then…in the next second, as I grabbed for the second arrow…her hand was up over Master's back…the knife in it…and she was stabbing…stabbing…so fast I couldn't even see it. Master was screaming and without thinking I was loading the arrow…and I shot again…this time hitting her right through the forehead.
All this happened in less than a few seconds.
The second her face went blank…and the light was gone from her eyes…I thought of that girl that I had killed…the girl I never felt any remorse for…and the same feeling was in me for Victoria…none at all. Only…I was glad.
Master was moving…and he brought his foot down over her head…crushing it…just to make sure she was finished.
I came running over to him, terrified at what I would find.
"MASTER !", I screamed, "Master ! Are you alright ?"
"No.", he groaned, crawling a little bit away from the mess that was Victoria.
"Let me see.", I said, looking at his back. There was blackish crimson colored blood everywhere. And stab wounds…so many fucking stab wounds…
"Oh my GOD !", I cried, "What can I do ?"
I rolled him over so I could see his face and he growled out, arching his back.
"Maybe not rolling me onto my wounds would be nice.", he tried to joke.
"I'm sorry!", I shivered, taking off my jacket, turning him to his side to apply it against the holes there…they were gushing. The jacket was already soaked.
"It's alright.", he said, his mouth making a little smirk of a smile, "Come here…"
I was sitting in the blood at his side…he let my jacket be under his back as he laid on it now, looking up at me.
"Shhh.", he smiled at me now, letting me put his head in my lap as he touched my tears that fell down my face, "Don't cry."
"I missed.", I wept, "If that first shot hit her, you'd be alright now."
"Those were two very excellent shots.", he graded me even now, "But she's a vampire. Or…she was."
"I have to get help.", I tried to stand but he pulled me back down.
"No.", he said, his voice a bit weaker, "Stay with me, baby. There's nothing to do, love. She got me."
"No!", I cried, "No! I fucked up ! It's my fault !"
"No, Miss Swan.", he said softly, "You were excellent in every way. Your shooting…your acting…the whole sister thing…damn…you're even better than I thought. You saved me."
He coughed and black liquid came out of his mouth. I sobbed and wiped it off his lips.
"I didn't SAVE you, you're bleeding everywhere !", I shivered.
"I've lived for so long…", he touched my hair with his fingers, "It was never any fun until YOU. You DID save me…you loved me…as fucked as I am, you loved me completely. Crazy little girl."
He smiled a bit lazily and his eyes almost closed.
"Don't close your eyes, Master !", I wept, making them open again.
"Can you call me Edward ?", he asked with a breath of a voice.
I felt my chin quiver as I held in another sob.
"I love you, Edward.", I said loudly and clearly so he could hear that, "I'll always love you…"
"Bella.", his eyes suddenly opened larger now, "I love YOU. Forever. But promise me you won't…don't ALWAYS love me…please…you promise to let me go…when you're ready…and move on…please…please don't kill yourself…don't throw your life away…please…promise…"
"I promise.", I cried, moving my thumb over his perfect bottom lip.
He seemed to relax at that vow.
"Find some real boring guy…", he suggested, "A nice, good…boring guy…someone who's good to you. Someone who never hurts you…those guys are the best ones. "
I cried again, not knowing what to say.
"I'm so sorry, Bella…", he looked up at me again, gripping my hand in his, it was trembling, "So Sorry for all the things I did to you…and I DO trust you, Bella. I've always trusted you…and I always will."
"Don't apologize.", I almost yelled, "I'm not sorry. You are everything I ever wanted. I can't live without you…"
He smirked at me, his eyes looking weaker.
"I thought I told you never to use that word, Miss Swan. Can't. You CAN and you WILL. You can make your life beautiful, Bella. So do that. For me. For both of us. Don't be like me. Don't fuck it up like I did…choose…"
He took a very deep, death like rattle of a breath. I froze again and cried, "NO, EDWARD, NO !"
"Choose…" he tried to keep talking…and he clenched his jaw…looking at me…as if to say he was sorry he couldn't speak anymore…as if he had more to say.
"Don't, Edward…stay with me !", I yelled. And all at once, he stopped moving…stopped talking…stopped breathing. Even his eyes didn't move…blink…or even look at me…they went still…looking up. As if he saw Esme herself up there, and she took his hand.
"NOOOO !", I shook him as hard as I could…"No, PLEASE, EDWARD don't leave me ! I love you ! Don't leave me in this sick fucking world alone !"
I punched at his chest, where the heart was…is it wrong to make him stay with me, when he can go somewhere more wonderful ? But then, what if he's going to Hell ? I'd rather have him here with me.
"Come on !", I roared, so angry…angry that I was being robbed of love again…to have to go through it again…without him…I couldn't see my world after this. I promised him I wouldn't kill myself but honestly, I didn't see my future any other way. The colors he brought into my life…would never come back again…ever…if he was gone. I would live in black and white forever…and I would rather die than do that. And if he was really going to Hell, then I'd go there with him.
"No, COME ON !", I refused to accept this shit, screaming at him, "You're the meanest, toughest bastard I've ever KNOWN ! Come on, FIGHT !"
I lashed out and gave his face a hard slap, making it fall the other way.
"You gonna LAY DOWN, you little BITCH ?!", I was out of my mind now, furious, "Is that all you've GOT ?!"
I was talking to the demon in there…wishing he would rise up and fight back.
I slapped him again and still…nothing.
Just then his black pupils began to pulse with a very weak red flicker. I looked…it was very weak…but it was there….and then in the blackness, little red symbols began to float around in there like I had seen a few times before…I didn't know what they meant…Edward…would never let me draw them or research them…but here they were again. I know it has to mean something.
And, it may sound strange…it does to me…but just as my blood sang to him since we met…now…these symbols seemed to be singing…to me.
Without knowing what they meant, silently, they were speaking to me…and I knew what to do.
My sadness and fear was suddenly gone…like it had been unplugged…and without even thinking about it, I reached for that last arrow…and made a little slice into my wrist where Jane had bitten me…it easily opened a bit more…red blood slowly seeping out of the hole.
I placed my wrist right into his mouth, making his lips open more.
"Come on.", I said to him moving my fingers over his chest…hoping the blood was going in fast enough. I thought maybe I should cut myself deeper but something in me said it was alright.
"Wake up…wake up…", I whispered, praying this would work and that it wouldn't hurt him like before.
"Please…please…please…", I prayed and then I saw Edward's adam's apple move, as if he swallowed.
I let a breath escape my lips as hope rose up inside me. I looked for any signs of life….my hand tapped at his cheek a little.
A moment later, his body moved, almost on its own, and his hands gripped mine with some strength again…I sobbed and let out another gasp of air as his teeth moved now, against my wrist…and I felt a little bite there…and a surge of blood coming from it now into his mouth. His eyes slowly closed, his lovely eyelashes dark and lush as he swallowed, not seeming to register that I was here even. It was almost like he was in a coma but still alive and functioning.
"Yes.", I breathed as he held my hand with both of his…and swallowed again…and again…and he wasn't in any pain…not screaming.
I thought for a second that he might not stop drinking me…if he was out of it like this…I didn't care. I did this to him. I would give myself up to save him if I had to. I didn't want to live without him…but I would die for him no problem.
"Yes…keep going…", I smoothed my hand over his angel face, "Drink it all. It's alright. It's yours."
He swallowed…and swallowed…my eyes began to droop a bit…I was feeling tired with each gulp his throat took. I knew I was losing too much blood.
I could see his scary face the first day we met in the gym, him standing in the locker room doorway as I spun around…I could see him at his piano when I first came to find him in the music school, his eyes so cruel then…then my eyes saw his kinder faces…his crooked smiles…his soft eyes…his gentle kiss.
I felt his lips moving a little against my wrist and his tongue as my eyes closed…just to take a little nap…I laid my face on his chest…loving it here.
Edward's POV:
"Mmmmm", I moaned, licking my tongue…feeling something cool and soft in my mouth…and the blood…FUCK ! Intoxicating, addicting, fresh, sensual…make me crawl on my knees for more…kind of blood….I had tasted it only once before….
My body jerked up and my eyes opened. I saw Bella's black and reddish hair on my chest…and her bloody hand was over my lips, gently…her wrist in my mouth…I let go with my teeth and stared at her for a fraction of a second…stunned.
Would she be that stupid to….
Yes she would !
NO, you stupid, stupid little girl…NO !
I was alright, I hardly noticed as I moved from the puddle of black shit that was pouring out of my back earlier.
I was carrying her to the section of the old hospital where I had medical supplies, a table…things here in case something went wrong during a scene. Humans could always have a problem and I was very prepared for that.
I laid her on the table and went at top speed, getting what I needed to perform a transfusion. In seconds, I had the IV needle in her arm and the bags of blood that matched her A positive blood type set up, on the hook above her. I got that going and checked her vital signs. She was still alive but had lost a lot of blood. Lost. I took it !
"Stupid, stupid, stupid girl…what are you thinking…ever…", I scolded her as I fought to save her life, keeping my calm, being a doctor now.
"It's okay for you to go on without me…", I muttered, "But I'll be DAMNED if I'm going to go on without YOU. Fuck that."
"You are in SOOO much trouble now, Miss Swan.", I began ripping her shirt down the middle, removing it. Then the bra. I wanted nothing to restrict her breathing.
I worked fast, keeping my calm, as any doctor in an emergency room would, this would work. And if all else failed, there was always my teeth.
I would change her if I had no other choice, even though I would hate doing it. I remembered the savage way James turned me and left me. I would never do that to anyone else, ever. But for her, I would forget everything I knew or felt and save her. If that's the only way, so be it.
After getting her jeans off, I reached for a hospital gown in the plastic, ripping it open with my teeth, and I carefully put it on her, the IV working now to deliver her some new blood. As I waited, I took a little sponge and cleaned her up. The blood on her hands was mine…black, thick shit. I tended the wound on her wrist and bandaged that, too. Fucking vampire bite.
"You just never give up, do you ?", I asked, still kind of scolding her as I took care of everything she needed, medically.
It wasn't until I was sitting there, at her side, unable to do anything else, that I just broke down and cried. Yes, I actually cried. I haven't done that since I was human. Red tears came out of my eyes as I thought over everything that happened…everything she risked for me…everything she learned about me from Jane and Victoria…and still she almost died to save me.
My mother was right after all. Love would be the thing that destroys me. And that would've been fine with me. Love was worth dying for. Bella is worth dying for. But in her stubborn, Bella Swan way, she defied me again. She couldn't even let me DIE without arguing.
I always thought I'd be glad to die. But this way, with Bella suffering as she watched me go was unbearable. It felt wrong to go without her, even if it meant I'd be with Esme and the girls again. I didn't find any peace in it like I thought I would.
"God, I love you.", I heard myself weep the words as I looked at her there, sleeping, like Snow White.
It wasn't until now that I registered that I had swallowed almost all of her blood…and I was fine…more than fine…I was completely healed and alive…with more energy and power in my veins than ever. I felt brand new, except for the gaping hole in my heart.
Everything inside me felt different now. Better. And another thing. The demon wasn't there. Anywhere. I mean, sometimes he was locked up…or I silenced him…but he was ALWAYS there, in my every thought, in my every breath…but now…he was gone…GONE. Completely. Part of me felt a little anxious about this. He had been part of me forever…but a bigger part of me was glad. I felt great…I felt FREE.
I had no bitterness in my heart like before. My birth mother…I wasn't thrilled with her but it wasn't eating my guts out like before…I felt forgiveness in me for her…sympathy even. I let it go. I hadn't been able to do that for 265 years ! What the hell happened to me ? I know. Bella Swan happened to me. And it wasn't just her blood that cured me…I really think it was HER…her love…in liquid form as she gave herself to save me…it was like the best medicine I ever had.
Then I tried to figure out exactly what happened with Jane and Victoria. Jane could cause me pain and weakness. When she was hurting from drinking Bella's blood it was like I was released from those things. My vampire strength was back and I didn't feel the pain she was inflicting upon me.
After crushing Jane's head, I was free to go after Victoria. She was a bit harder to kill. Maybe she had put some kind of extra protection spell upon herself. When Victoria began to stab me, I was able to be pierced by the blade, and I DID bleed black blood, ancient vampire blood. I was still VULNERABLE to this kind of attack…so I guess that was some spell Victoria put on me. She'd said that as long as I love Bella, I would be vulnerable. So my skin wasn't marble hard and invincible. Or maybe it was the knife. It had cut Bella before it was used on me. Her blood was on it. I would have to check the knife later.
But in any case, once Victoria was dead, I was still bleeding, still hurt. I did not heal. Not until Bella let me drink her blood. And this time, it did not poison me, did not hurt me. It saved me. Maybe it's smart enough to know when I am in dire need of it, and it heals me. Or if Victoria put some spell on Bella's blood that hurt me, now that she's dead, the spell should be broken. And I can drink the blood.
It was hours before Bella blinked her eyes and began to come to life. I leaned forward so she would see me first and not be afraid.
"Hey, baby girl.", I said softly as she began to look up at me.
She gasped and even smiled up at me.
"You're alright !", she cried with a very little voice, tears coming to her eyes, "Are you alright ?"
I smiled and chuckled.
"Yes, I'm fine.", I assured her, "Thanks to you. I hope you know when you're stronger, I'm going to be very angry with you, Miss Swan."
She closed her eyes and smiled as much as she could.
"I know.", she conceded. But she was still grinning at me, not sorry.
"Mmm hmm", I raised a brow, "That was the dumbest…most irresponsible…most beautiful…and bravest thing you could've done…for me."
"I had to.", she mumbled groggily as I checked her IV, making sure it was alright.
"I love you.", she added, squeezing my hand as she blinked and looked at me again.
"I love YOU, Bella Swan.", I said, leaning down and placing a small kiss on her lips.
"You look so beautiful.", she said, in a daze, "More than before even. And your eyes…"
"I know, you love my eyes.", I smirked.
"Not just that…" she cleared her throat, "They're so gold…like an angel…"
Gold ?
I didn't see that. I turned and looked in the mirror and indeed there were two very deep golden brown colored eyes staring back at me. I tried to make them go to black, like usual…they didn't.
What the fuck….
I went back to Bella, forgetting my own personal stuff for a minute.
"I'm giving you a transfusion.", I said quietly to her, "You're going to smell all wrong for awhile. But soon, you'll be tormenting me again."
She liked that.
"Thanks, Dr. Cullen.", she grinned.
"You just rest.", I kissed her hand, "Everything is alright now. You have to get better so you can get back to my gym class."
She made a face and I laughed, so relieved that she was still here, making fun of me.
"Miss Swan…", I put on my gym teacher voice.
"Yes Mr. Cullen ?", she opened her eyes a bit and smiled at me.
"Your archery shots are still a bit off.", I teased, "You hold your breath when you shoot, you shouldn't do that. You have to breathe and relax…"
"Oh my God, shut up.", she complained, putting a hand over her eyes.
"You must relax your grip on the bow.", I kept going, enjoying this, "Your non dominant hand has a huge influence on the accuracy of your shots."
"Please, kill me now.", she answered dryly, making me smile more.
END OF CHAPTER 45