I'm gonna continue putting the disclaimer here just be sure that everyone is aware of where this story originated.

This story isn't 100 % mine. I have transformed it into a story from an interactive story app called Choices (an app I am completely obsessed with atm) and the creators are Pixelberry Studios.

So here's my disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the plot of this story. All recognizable content belongs to their respective owner. No copyright infringement intended. Names and places have been changed for the purpose of Fanfiction.

{Chapter 5}

The strangely attired woman leveled her wheellock pistol away from me and aimed at Garrett's head.

He held up his hands in a surrendering gesture. "Easy, easy!"

"Did you not hear me? I said take me to Captain Janvier before I begin firing. And believe me, mes chers, I do not miss," she threatened in her heavily accented English.

"Leave him alone!" Kate cried out desperately.

I stepped forward to keep her attention on me instead of shooting Garrett. "Wait, we'll do what you want! Just please, don't hurt him!"

Edward stepped with me. "Lady, I dunno what Black Pearl you just stepped off of, but we don't want any trouble."

The woman looked confused. "Quoi? You … don't work for Janvier?"

Garrett shook his head, still with fear in his eyes. "We don't work for anyone. Mind putting the gun away?"

The woman glanced toward the dilapidated manor, her brow furrowed even deeper. "Zut alors … what happened here?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say you've been gone for a long, long time," I told her gently, not wanting to freak her out.

"C'est impossible!" she exclaimed. "I've only been away from home a fortnight."

"Uh, welcome to El Jardín? Time is kinda borked here," Rosalie said, and the woman finally lowered her pistol.

"If you don't work for him, why are you on Sharktooth Isle?"

"We were exiled here by the Kaarii," I said honestly.

Alice frowned in contempt. "Lemme tell you, those hooligans just throw whoever they want out here, guilty or not!"

"Who's Janvier, anyway?" Victoria asked the woman.

"Captain Janvier runs this place. Or at least, he did. I was his first mate until … ahem, until he decided my sway on the rest of the crew was too much of a threat. He banished me to la Mer, but as you can see, la Mer, she guided me back. It takes more than une petite planche to get rid of Angelique the Incorrigible," the woman, who we now knew was called Angelique, boasted proudly.

Peter stared at in bewilderment. "Huh? Whatever she just said was French to me."

Alistair rolled his eyes. "It was French, you moron. It means 'A little plank.'"

Angelique smiled. "Oui, exactement." She mimed a kiss at him, and he looked very uncomfortable as he looked at the sand under his feet.

"A few hours after I stepped off that plank, I washed ashore beside the big tree. The people there were kind enough to let me 'borrow' a boat," Angelique explained.

Benjamin looked skeptical. "That doesn't sound like the Kaarii."

"No, but it explains how she made it past the klaawyi," Kate pointed out to him.

"Klaawyi?" Angelique inquired, befuddled by the name.

"All those barracudas in the water," I said. "They're only repelled by a special sap the Kaarii put on their ships. It's why we're stuck here. Any chance you'd give us a ride over to the main island?"

"I could perhaps assist in return for help with a concern of mine," she said, and it caused Rosalie to scoff.

"Freakin' quest givers," she mumbled and irritatedly crossed her arms.

"What exactly do you need help with?" Garrett asked.

"I need to reclaim a certain lock box of mine from Janvier. I left it full to the brim with precious booty," she explained.

The corners of Peter's mouth twitched as he was on the verge of laughter. "Did she just say—"

"Shut it, scrublord," Rosalie said and hit him.

"It should be hidden in the eastern wing of the manor. Could use a few extra pairs of eyes to seek it out … and hands to bring it back," Angelique continued while looking at Peter up and down, not understanding what he found so humorous.

"I doubt there's much treasure left in this place," Leah said, and Angelique turned to her before reaching into her vest pocket and tossed a small golden ball into the air, deftly catching and throwing it again.

"There is if you know where to look. A little scavenger hunt and then we all get away from this blasted isle together. Tres raisonnable, non?"

I held out my hand. "Sounds like a deal."

"Seems like an even trade," Tanya agreed and nodded.

"We'll do our part. I hope we can count on her to do hers," Garrett said.

Peter started to protest. "B-but … the booty!"

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "It's not what you think."

Angelique shook her head, unimpressed. "Where did you all learn to bargain, a Spanish Inquisitor's hall? Ah well. What is the saying? 'A fool and his gold will soon party.' D'accord. You have a deal."

"Wait a minute," Benjamin said and everyone turned to him. He was looking at Angelique with suspicion coloring his eyes. "You just learned that you're stranded in the future, centuries after everyone you knew died, and all you want is treasure?"

Angelique smiled wide. "Perhaps you are not familiar with pirates? Allons, mes amis?" She began to walk up the beach, but the rest of us remained where we stood.

"Um … I think she wants us to follow her," Tanya said, and we did so, around the side of the manor. We arrived at a wall thickly overgrown with vines.

"Zut! This wasn't here before." In a single motion, Angelique unsheathed a dagger and swiped at the clinging plants, but frowned when the blade didn't do much damage. "Sturdier than they look. Janvier, you goat's uncle … If you hadn't taken Chouchou, I'd be able to clear these with ease."

"Chouchou?" I asked.

"My cutlass. A blade of exceptional balance and keen edge." Angelique made two slicing motions. "Chou … chou!"

Edward nodded. "Solid nickname."

"Sharp as the north wind, he was. Won him off the corpse of a spineless cur, Admiral Higgenbotham. But Janvier stole Chouchou for himself when he threw me overboard."

I opened my duffle bag and peeked at the cutlass I found in The Ethereal. I brought it out and showed her. "We found this on display—"

"Mon dieu! Chouchou!"

I smiled. "I guess you can hold on to it for now."

"Merci!" Angelique jubilantly took the sword and kissed me repeatedly on each cheek.

"That was really sweet of you, Bella," Alice commented.

"Ah, Chouchou, mon coeur," With a series of well-placed slashes, Angelique brought the entire bank of vines crashing down in front of us all. She tossed the cutlass into the air, grabbed the hilt, and tucked the blade into her belt.

As the dust cleared, an ornate door was revealed behind the overgrowth.

"After you, mes chers!" Angelique held the door open, allowing the group to file through. As Edward entered, she grinned and swatted him on the backside with the flat of her blade.

"Hey, now. Easy on the merchandise," he said, grinning.

I chuckled appreciatively at the teasing and gave him my own swat with the palm of my hand. "Keep moving, sweet cheeks."

Angelique gave me a conspiratorial wink, which I gave right back to her.

I wasn't about to go all 'jealous, territorial, girlfriend' on Edward because firstly, I wasn't his girlfriend. We hadn't defined our relationship yet, and I guess it could be described as casual dating even though it was hard to put regular labels on everything that happened while we were stuck on El Jardín. Secondly, our entire relationship was built on teasing, and I wasn't going to become like Kate was with Garrett, who wasn't even allowed to be nice to another person without her getting an aneurysm.

Once inside the manor, I had to allow my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I heard footsteps, and then the sound of flint sparking against steel. Angelique lit a candelabra, faintly illuminating the area.

"Guys … I've got a bad feeling about this," Emmett said, and his voice echoed in the large parlor-like room.

"You do?" Tanya asked him in confusion. So far, it was only a room, and it appeared quite harmless to me, so I understood her bewilderment.

Emmett nodded. "The pineapple I had for breakfast, I mean … I think it wants out!"

Angelique ignored Emmett and told us the story of the manor. "Janvier originally built these rooms for his mistress. When the black death took her life, this wing was walled off and became a place for safe keeping our most valuable treasures."

Kate took several steps back in fright. "Are you kidding me? People died of bubonic plague in here? I am so out!"

Angelique clicked her tongue. "Tut tut, Cherie. This was many years ago, even for me. It is safe … Well, except for the deadly traps. Watch your step, eh?"

Benjamin whipped his head in her direction. "Now you're telling us?"

"If this place is that dangerous, it's probably best if some of us wait outside," Garrett suggested, but I knew he would not be one of them.

"Might be a good idea," Benjamin agreed, and he, Emmett, and Kate headed back through the door.

Angelique leaned down to peer at a skeleton with a metal rod protruding from its rib cage. "If anyone else feels too lily-livered, now's your chance."

"B-bring it on!" Peter stammered. "I ain't scared!" He threw his arms up in an overly defiant gesture, accidentally knocking over a cobweb-shrouded urn in the process. From somewhere nearby, I heard a series of clicks.

"Look out!" Angelique cried out.

A vertical line of darts flew across the room toward me, and I dropped instinctively into a crouched position and found myself eye-to-eye with Edward, who'd done the same.

"To the side!" he told me, and both of us somersaulted out of the way.

Alistair, who had been standing behind me, was, unfortunately, struck by several darts. "Argh! Must be a sedative. Feeling … suddenly … knackered." He shuffled over to a decaying sofa and lay down.

Tanya walked over to him, careful to not touch anything that could set off another trap, and leaned down. "Alistair, are you okay?"

"This ain't nap time, Malfoy!"

"Of course it is. Eleven bells was always nap time. 'Sweep the floors and tidy faces, it's time to take our daily graces,'" Alistair mumbled incoherently.

"You know, I think I'd better get him to a safer location." Alice carefully curved her arms beneath Alistair's back and legs and began carrying him toward the door.

Peter gaped at her in shock. "The hell? He's twice her size!"

She turned her head my way. "Please be careful in here, Bella."

As Alice exited with Alistair, Angelique began stalking toward a curtained doorway. "Ah! I think I see the … I mean my lock box!"

We followed her into a well-appointed bedroom where a lacquered coffer rested atop a canopied bed.

Angelique clicked her tongue disappointedly. "Quel dommage. It is not the right one." She squinted at the lid of the coffer and yanked out a folded piece of parchment. "What's this … A letter from Janvier? 'Angelique, I knew you'd claw your way back from hell, you traitorous...' Ahem. Flowery language. Very flowery. 'I hope you waste away in here with only the memory of your greedy, filthy…' Yawn … Blah, blah, blah. 'You'll never, ever find it. With spite, Jan.'"

"Sounds like you two were close," Edward commented, and Angelique gnashed her teeth and tore the page to shreds.

"Janvier, you corpulent beluga, you're wrong!" she grumbled. "I know exactly where you put it. Amis, as la Mer is my witness, you have my word we'll all be eating salmagundi in Bridgetown after we search one last location."

Angelique tossed the coffer aside.

It bounced to a stop at Victoria's feet, and the lid popped open a crack and became stuck. An object caught the light inside.

"It's an idol!" I exclaimed.

"Do you think you can get it out?" Victoria asked as she crouched next to the coffer.

I took a brass candlestick holder from the fireplace mantel and wedged it under the lock box's lid, trying to pry it off.

"Come on."

Finally, the lid's hinge cracked, and the box sprung open, revealing the amber idol in the shape of a mermaid.

"It's so … beautiful."

Victoria and I reached for it at the same time. And the moment my fingers grazed it, I was ripped out of the manor and hurtled through space-time. In a flash, I was back at Hartfeld.

Victoria sat alone on the edge of the park fountain. She leaned forward, cradling her phone to her ear. I could see the hurt in her expression.

"Yes, Mom, I just—"

"...lucky I don't sue for malpractice. We need a second opinion. These doctors your father takes you to are idiots..."

"Mom, I don't want to do this behind Dad's back—"

"He takes you places behind my back! Like that Channel 5 interview, practically begging for donations? You must've been humiliated … I'm the one who cares about your well-being! He's just using you! I can't believe you would defend—"

Hot tears streamed down Victoria's cheeks. She covered her face as sobs shudder through her body. Her mother's voice faded into the background.

A gentle touch stirred her, and Victoria looked up.

Tanya was standing next to Victoria with worried eyes. "Hi. I don't mean to bother you, but … are you okay?"

Victoria wiped at her eyes and tried to smile. "Of course! Thanks for asking. I'm great, really."

Tanya didn't look convinced. "I've been there, too, you know. I know how intimidating and lonely college can be. But you don't have to pretend to be okay all the time."

Victoria looked down at her phone. The call was still connected, her mother's lecture continuing unabated.

The phone buzzed and flashed a text from 'DAD': Call me. Got an idea. Don't tell your mother. She'll just get in the way again.

Victoria sighed. "It's my parents. They're always passive-aggressively fighting with each other, but they do it through me. Like I'm just a pawn in their game."

Tanya sat down beside her. "A pawn, huh? Well, I play a lot of chess, so … if you're just a pawn, all you gotta do is keep fighting. And when you finally make it to the other side, you'll be the queen you always carried inside you."

Victoria laughed, wiping away the fresh tears that had started to fall again. "I'm Victoria. What's your name?" she asked.

"Tanya. It was really nice to meet you, Victoria."

Victoria smiled. "You too, Tanya. See you around?"

"Sure hope so." Tanya walked off with her book bag, looking back to wave and smiled.

Victoria waved back, and then looked down into the fountain, her reflection warping in the water. Then to the phone, still buzzing with her father's texts. Her mother's voice was still blasting from the tiny speaker.

She dropped the phone into the fountain, watching its screen until it flickered and died.

Once more, I was catapulted forward, the world blurring until I was high in the branches of the Kaarii tree village.

Nearby, Victoria sat on a bridge, her legs dangling over the edge, looking out at the infinite sea.

"Victoria..."

My own voice startled me.

I looked down and saw that I was in my own body, but somehow not in control of it. My legs carried me forward until I was sitting on the bridge beside Victoria.

"Oh … I'm glad it's you," she said with a small smile.

"We did it, Vicky. We saved the day. Can you believe it?"

"As a matter of fact, I can."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Because of you, Bella. More than this place, more than everything that's happened to us … it's you that makes me believe in the impossible."

"Good. Because we've still got a long road ahead if we're ever gonna get out of here," I told her with a chuckle.

"Not me."

"Hrm? What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

Victoria leaned against me and gazed at the horizon. Her eyes teared up and shined like the sea. "Everyone fights so hard to have some say in their own life … to have some control over themselves. But in the end, all we really have control over is whether we appreciated what we had."

"So, do you appreciate it?"

"I haven't always … but … I do … now..."

"Hey, you okay? Are you tired?"

Victoria's words grew softer and slower. Her eyelids fluttered, barely staying open. Her voice was like a whisper. "And when you finally make it … to the other side … you'll be the queen … you always carried … inside you."

She went limp, her head slumped on my shoulder.

"Vicky, hey, wake up," I said and removed a strand of hair that had fallen out from behind her ear. "Vicky?"

She didn't respond and I could feel the panic building in my body that I didn't control.

"Victoria … Victoria, wake up."

I grabbed a hold of her and shook her, but she was completely limp. "Victoria, you gotta wake up!"

Just like that, I was back in the manor, and my vision was fuzzy from tears.

Victoria noticed and looked at me with worry. "Bella? Why are you crying?"

"I just … I'm really glad you're here with me right now."

She smiled sweetly. "Aw. Right back at you." She touched my face, brushing away a tear rolling down my cheek, and turned away to explore the room.

I looked down. In my white-knuckled grip dangled the mermaid idol.

Angelique spoke and regained my attention. "Be cautious on your way out of here, amis. Mind every ste—"

A pressure plate sank beneath Peter's foot just as she said that. "Oops … again," he said apologetically.

Rosalie glared at him. "Dammit, Peter!"

Pitch black smoke began to pour through vents on the floor.

"Don't breathe that in, mes amis!"

The cloud emerged through the doorway, causing the tattered curtain to billow outward.

"Garrett! Peter! Help me push down those shelves!" I yelled as an idea formed in my head.

Together the three of us toppled a large bookcase on top of the vents, effectively covering them. Furball ran along the edge of the bookcase, sealing it to the floor with ice.

"Bien! You've bought us some time, at least," Angelique praised me.

Tanya couched. "There's still too much smoke!"

"Everybody outta here, pronto!" Edward took the lead, and the entire group began running through the haze for the exit.

A series of metal bars slid into place in the doorway, effectively trapping us inside.

"This escape room really means it."

I turned to Angelique. "This is where you tell us about another way out."

Unfortunately, she shrugged. "All the doors were walled off."

Edward groaned. "Well, that's just peachy, Buccaneer Barbie."

The smoke had become so thick at that point, I could hardly see the others. "Either we get ourselves out or we get the smoke out!" I called out.

Leah picked up a brass floor lamp. "Out of the way, I'm going to ram the door."

"There's a window near the ceiling! I think I can climb up there!" Peter said.

"That old cannon in the corner looks like it might still be functional." Tanya went up to it and examined the old warfare weapon.

"Are you going to try to use it as a battering ram?" I asked her.

"No. There's still a cannonball in there … we're gonna blow our way out!"

My eyes widened and I exhaled sharply. "Ho boy!"

Tanya pulled out a book of matches and worked frantically to strike one up. "Aim it at the wall, Bella! I'll try to light the fuse!"

I braced my back against the cannon and tried to shove it into position.

"That's it! Now cover your ears!"

The cannon boomed, and a shower of plaster and brick burst from a gaping hole in the wall. The black smoke rapidly drifted out.

Peter climbed down, Leah dropped the floor lamp, and all of us made our way outside.

"Now, that's how you make an exit!" Emmett bellowed.

"You guys okay?" Kate asked.

I nodded. "Yep, thanks to Tanya!"

Angelique agreed. "Indeed. Such an industrious girl."

Tanya blushed but thanked her for the compliment.

"So where are we headed now?" I asked Angelique, assuming she wanted us to continue the search for her lock box.

"La Grotte a Bijoux! The Jeweled Cave!" Angelique launched into a run toward the front entrance of the manor.

"Why's she heading back to the foyer?" Benjamin asked and pointed at her.

Edward shook his head. "Why are we following a pirate around? What's the meaning of life? Short Stuff, we could sit here and ask questions all day and be none the wiser."

"Agreed. Let's just get this done," Garrett said and started for the entrance as well.

I entered the foyer and found Angelique digging through an old wardrobe. Nearby, Tanya tended to Alistair, who was sitting on the floor with his head in his hands.

"Try to take it easy for a while, okay?" she said and stroke his back.

"What I wouldn't give for a cup of chamomile with lemon … Mrs. Findleridge would always make me tea and a cucumber sandwich when I was … when I was..."

"Shh. Just rest."

Peter laughed. "Heh, Alistair's totally tripping! Those booby trap darts must've really got to him."

Kate checked his pulse. "He's a little delirious right now, but it'll wear off in a bit."

Across the foyer, Angelique kicked a stack of old papers, causing them to whirl lazily about the room. "Of course the map isn't here! That would be too easy!"

"A map? What about the one on the wall?"

She waved Benjamin away. "Non, that is El Jardín. I need the Sharktooth map." She sighed, straightened her hat and coat, and walked over to me. "It seems I'll need to scout around for the cave's entrance. I know it's somewhere along the shore … but where?"

Emmett came up to us. "I think I saw some caves when we were checking out the island last night."

"C'est vrai? Haha! Show me, mon petit mangouste!"

Everyone followed Emmett and Angelique outside except Tanya and Alistair.

"You two gonna be okay in here?" I asked.

Alistair suddenly rose to his feet. "Ah! Do you hear that?"

I looked at him cautiously. "Uh … no?"

"Street buskers, just like every Sunday in Russell Square! An oboe … and on accordion." He began to sway to the music only he seemed to be able to hear.

"Alistair, I think you're—" Tanya tried.

"Dance with me."

Her eyes widened. "W-what?"

Alistair waltzed across the foyer, his arms outstretched as if holding an invisible partner.

I smiled. "You should dance with him," I encouraged her, and she nodded before walking tentatively over to him.

"Dance with me!" Alistair repeated and took her in his arms. He guided her in a circular pattern across the floor.

As they danced and twirled, I felt like I could hear the music myself.

His eyes locked with hers, and for several moments they whirled through the room in silence, lost in each other. I wanted to give them privacy, but I couldn't look away from the romantic scene in front of me.

"I've had this dream before. Now that it's real, I—" Alistair tripped on the broken leg of a chair and nearly fell.

"Oh, careful!"

He stopped dancing and dizzily sat himself down on a bed of grass. "Apologies. I'm clearly a bit out of sorts."

"Just try to rest." Tanya knelt beside him and reached out to smooth his hair out of his face. "I've never seen this side of you. I didn't know you could dance like that!"

Alistair shrugged. "I suppose there are many things I keep hidden." His hand moved to rest on her arm. "Do you remember the teacher we had for Probability and Statistics?"

"Professor Vesker," Tanya replied, befuddled by his sudden change of topic.

He pointed up at an old painting of a cranky-looking nobleman in a frumpy hat, and Tanya started to laugh.

"Don't you think?" he asked her. "Spitting image. I'm not proud to say it, but I received a B minus in that course."

"I didn't know that!"

"Daydreaming too much … hoping you might look my way," he confessed.

"Alistair..."

Alistair swallowed hard and slowly raised himself up toward Tanya. He kissed her tentatively at first, then deeply and passionately as both of them gave in to their feelings.

They separated and I headed for the door, and on the way out, I couldn't help but give Tanya a sly wink.

I caught up with the group beside a half-submerged cave mouth along the shore. The path inside was completely blocked by collapsed rubble.

"Bah! My treasure is inside this cave, but there is no way in! If I could spit in Janvier's pox-blighted face right now..."

Furball leaned his head down to look into the water, and then suddenly jumped back.

"There's some kinda light down there!" Alice said as she checked to see what had frightened him.

Glints of rainbow-colored light appeared in the depths, seeming to come from somewhere within the cave.

"Whoa! You guys see that, right? What is it?" Emmett asked in awe.

"The Jeweled Cave takes its name from thousands of luminous crystals growing along its walls," Angelique explained. "It has been many years, but I recall it being truly magnifique."

"Sounds like one hell of a show," Edward said. "Too bad the entrance caved in."

"If we can see the light through the water, that means there must be an opening down there," Leah pointed out.

Edward grabbed a piece of driftwood and gingerly dipped it in. "Guess there ain't no klaa-whatevers. Should be safe enough to swim. Any volunteers?"

"I'll go with if you go," I told him, and he grinned. "We don't know how long the underwater passage might be, though. Could be a very long time without air," I continued.

"My record in the Navy was nine minutes. Pretty sure I can still get close to that," Edward said confidently.

Angelique raised her brow. "Nine, ami? Just enough time for some do-good admiral to reload and aim for your head when it pops back up. I can hold it in for twelve minutes, which is—"

"Fourteen."

Angelique turned to Leah. "Eh?"

"I can hold my breath for fourteen minutes. So you both lose."

I suddenly felt out on deep waters. "I'm not sure I can match that!"

Angelique looked at me. "In any case, Bella, you should stay here. It's too dangerous for someone of your … delicate constitution."

I sighed. "Guess I'll have to leave it to the Guinness World Record crew."

"Oh, wait!" Alice exclaimed as she remembered something. "I have something for this! I knew we'd need it eventually. I found it back at The Ethereal!" She removed her backpack and pulled out a wetsuit and a small scuba tank.

Edward grinned at me. "Whaddya say, Princess? In that, you can come with me into the cave. Besides … wouldn't mind seeing you in something skintight."

He winked, and I laughed while accepting the offered wetsuit.

"Looks like another diver just showed up!" I said excitedly. I pulled off the camo outfit I was still wearing so that I was in the bikini I'd had on underneath, and then wiggled into the very tight suit.

"With that tank, you can stay below for an hour if you want to," Alice told me.

Angelique shook her head. "I do not know what magic you are working with this contraption, but I dare not test it. You may go."

"Wasn't asking your permission," I told her dryly.

Edward stripped down to his shorts and turned to me. "You ready for this, Princess?"

"You know it."

He took my hand. "Just hold on to me, and don't let go."

We splashed into the water and began swimming downward. At one side of the submerged rubble, I found a gap allowing entrance to the cave.

I drifted beside Edward, our fingers intertwined. He looked back at me and smiled.

We continued on through a winding tunnel. Rainbow hues shone into the water from somewhere ahead. After a couple of minutes, the tunnel widened. The water became noticeably warmer, and we reached a new surface, discovering a kaleidoscopic display of shimmering, colorful crystals greeting us as we took in the vast cavern.

We stood in a shallow lake. A short distance away was a small island where a chest sat.

"Oh, wow!"

"You ain't kiddin'."

As I paddled toward the island, I felt a jet of warm bubbles against my leg.

"This place is a giant jacuzzi!" Edward said in surprise. "What kind of Niagara Falls honeymoon suite did we just swim into?"

I slipped off my scuba mask and stopped to enjoy the warm jets. "It must be a natural hot spring. This feels amazing!" I moaned slightly, and immediately noticed Edward's reaction to it, which had me smirking at him.

"No argument here." He closed his eyes and relaxed.

I continued to look at him appreciatively. His wet hair dripped onto his shoulders, causing rivulets of water to run down his lean, muscular body.

"You just gonna stare at me all day? Not that I mind."

I quietly made my way over and leaned toward his face, briefly bringing my lips to his.

"Well, hello there," he said and grinned.

I smiled back. "Hey."

"Got any more where that came from?"

I shrugged. "I might."

I felt his arms slide around my torso in the warm water. There was barely time to inhale before our lips were inexorably drawn together.

After a long, rapturous kiss, we separated and gazed into each other's eyes.

The chest on the island caught my attention over his shoulder, and I reluctantly let go. I beckoned Edward, and we headed toward it.

The lid was, of course, firmly held in place by a lock.

"Figures."

Edward swam to a deeper part of the lake, not caring about the chest. "It's beautiful over here … come check it out with me?" Waves of reflected light danced across the bottom in myriad colors.

"You bet." I dove down to meet him, and we came together in the depths.

His hand slid along my torso, supple and smooth in the water. His dark hair swirled languidly around his face, framing the pure desire in his eyes.

No longer focused on swimming, we rose to the surface.

We made our way to a sandy shore at one side of the lake, and I lay down on my back as Edward came down on top of me. Colored lights danced over us as our mouths moved in perfect harmony against each other.

My hands roamed all over his back, and I teasingly dipped my fingers into the lining of his shorts. When I didn't follow through and allowed them to remain on, Edward leaned away from me with gleaming eyes.

"By all means, be my guest," he said before untying my bikini top. Every brush, press, and twist he did with his hands made my skin tingle with pleasure, and I deftly pulled down his shorts to move things along.

When he settled between my legs, I was panting so hard in anticipation, and the sounds we made when we finally joined together echoed around the cavern.

Moments later, we were lying on our backs in the sand.

Edward exhaled sharply. "Every time … fireworks." He looked at me with adoring eyes. "How do you do that, anyway?"

I smiled. "I don't think it's me. It's us," I told him, knowing I sounded corny, but it was true.

He turned onto his side, supporting his head on his propped up elbow, and his other hand started to draw small patterns on my bare stomach, lightly tracing the pink scar left behind from when the sabertooth slashed me at the emergency shelter, making goose bumps appear on my skin.

I giggled but didn't stop him. His touch felt too good.

"With the chance of sounding cheesy as hell, can I ask you a question, Princess?"

I bit my lip and nodded.

"Do you want to be mine?"

My heart jolted at his words, and I realized that there was nothing I wanted more. I wound my arms around his neck and gave him a gentle smile. "Only if you'll be mine," I said, and he chuckled in response.

"I wouldn't want it any other way." He leaned down and kissed me softly at first, and then deeper, rolling on top of me once again.

A while later, a ray of sunlight caught my attention, shining in for just a moment from a small crack high up in the cavern wall.

"You seein' what I'm seein'?" Edward asked.

"Sunlight! Maybe there's a way in for the others!"

Edward smiled at me. "Almost forgot all about the Odd Squad."

Our clothes had floated out into the water, so we fished them out and quickly wrung them out before getting dressed.

Using the crystals as grips, Edward and I climbed the wall until we reached the fracture.

"The wall's crumbling here. I think if I..." With a small push, I managed to open a small pathway. I spotted the others waiting below on the beach.

"How y'all doin' down there?" Edward called to them.

Peter looked up. "Whoa! I see Bella and Edward!"

"Amis! Thank la Mer! I thought you'd crawled into Davy Jones's locker!"

I gestured for them to climb up to us. "Come on in. You guys will want to see this."

The group made their way up to the crevice and entered the cave.

"Daaaaamn, son!" Emmett exclaimed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls.

Angelique swam out and immediately began working to pick the chest's lock.

"Wait, don't you have a key? I thought it was your lock box," Benjamin said, once again looking at her suspiciously.

She scowled, unable to spring it open. "I, ah … lost it. But I do have this." She pulled out her pistol and promptly blasted a hole in the chest's locking mechanism. "Et la!"

Coins and valuables went flying across the area as she pried open the lid and impatiently dug through the chest.

"Whoo! Make it rain!"

"Hey, that's good stuff!"

Peter and Rosalie scrambled to gather pieces of treasure before they rolled into the water.

I kept my eyes on Angelique, though, because Benjamin's suspicion had rubbed off on me.

I noticed her eyes widen as she lifted a beat-up compass out of the chest. She glanced around furtively, pocketing the small device, and then addressed the group.

"Fortune has certainly cursed me, for what I seek is not here either. Janvier, you thrice-damned bootlicker!" She threw up her arms and sat down in a melodramatic show of defeat.

"So what was that you put in your pocket then?" I asked her, not about to let her fool us.

"Pardonnez-moi? My English, you see … it is not always so good—"

"C'mon. Out with it," I demanded.

She reluctantly pulled out the compass but snatched it back from me when I took a closer look. "I merely take my old compass in order to navigate my way to safer shores … The rest of the booty I leave most graciously to all of you."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Uh huh. Sure."

"In any case, a deal's a deal. Let's be rid of this place." Angelique got up and marched toward the hidden opening. The rest of us followed.

We emerged from the cave into a bracing gust.

"We can make use of this wind, amis. To the boat!"

As we headed toward Angelique's outrigger, Alistair and Tanya emerged from the manor and hurried over.

Once everyone had climbed aboard, Angelique and Edward guided the craft into the water.

Peter leered over the edge at a cluster of writhing fish. "Hey, klaawyi! You feelin' hungry down there? Too bad!"

The waves kept getting bigger as we moved across the bay. In the distance, I watched the Kaarii village pass by.

"Elyys'tel," Benjamin mused somberly. "Despite being a prisoner, they really made me feel at home there."

"You sound like you miss it," I said.

"Nah. Well, okay, maybe a little."

The sky steadily darkened and was suddenly thick with storm clouds. Raindrops began to rustle against the boat's sail. A peal of thunder came from overhead.

"Do you feel that, Bella? There's a distinct charge in the air," Tanya said, and I nodded.

As the storm continued to build, I noticed a shadow in the depths.

Victoria screamed in fright and Angelique gasped.

"By the Devil himself. What … is … that?"

"It's Cetus," I said, recognizing the shape of the sea serpent. "He's come back for us."

The massive, serpentine form moved swiftly toward the large tree at the other side of the cove, though, and Benjamin called out in shock.

"He's headed right for the village!"

A/N:

So Angelique is stuck in the time warp as well, but she thinks she's only been gone for two weeks … Tanya and Alistair seemt to be getting more serious, Bella and Edward decided to go official, and now Cetus the Sea Monster is back … damn!

What do you think will happen now?

Please, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Until next time,

Stay Awesome!