Summary: "His eyes were red, wild and feral, the blood dripping down my neck from Edwards abrasions to my skin flowed softly to the forest floor. He snarled. I froze. Edward looked at me in a stage of terror as the vampire lunged at what I thought was, me."
Rating: Mature audiences only for... well I am not sure. Just a precaution. This chapter contains attempted rape YOU'VE BEEN WARNED if it makes you feel uncomfortable, please don't read it and skip to the next parts in the chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for the storyline!
A/N: Welcome, I am so sorry for all the kerfuffle. I promise you I'll continue this story once I am happy with these last few chapters. I have added much more of a storyline to these chapters as well as heaps more detail. I am so proud of my self. Thank you all for the nice reviews and thank you, Avon, you're awesome.
CHAPTER 2: NIGHTMARES, GOODBYES AND SUDDEN INTRODUCTIONS
(Bella's POV)
I was drifting in and out of sleep the next night. In my groggy haze, my dreams were filled with nightmares of what happened after I sliced open my finger. Jasper's face, bite marks that I usually couldn't see were present. His fangs, overextended, his eyes as jet black as could be, and his face was slowly morphing though, his blonde locks getting shorter, the colour slowly diluted to auburn locks, springing up in every direction. Jasper's face had morphed into Edward. Fear and nausea rolled through me, could Emmett and Rose hold back Edward? Was I ever truly safe? Was I right in thinking yesterday was the beginning of the end? My stomach still held the feeling that something bad was coming.
I decided to lay in bed for the most part of today, I had explained to Charlie that after my 'fall,' yesterday that I needed a day off of school. He agreed and since it was my birthday yesterday he could not resist my puppy dog eyes I gave him. I wanted a few more hours to ponder about yesterday's dramatic events since my brain was stuck focussing on that anyway. The stitches in my forearm were beginning to pull a little whenever I rolled over. I sighed, a glass of water and the bottle of Tylenol was sitting on my bedside table, and it was a beacon of hope to ease the throbbing. My stomach still had the uneasy feeling but worse, cramps were slowly bubbling.
Oh crap, I thought it was next week? I rose quickly, stumbling in the dark hallway to the bathroom. I immediately pulled my pants down and sat on the toilet. Damn it, my period had come early. I did not look down, seeing blood two days in a row was sure to make me pass out. I immediately scrunched up face towards the harshness of the bright light in the bathroom, it made me feel as if I was in a hospital bathroom, everything plain, white and smelled sanitary. It made sense as to why I was so emotional last night with my period coming early and all.
I quickly undressed, relishing in the thought of a hot shower, the bitterness of the wind in this rainy town always took my breath away. It was not something you got used to after having spent most of my life living in the hot, Phoenix sun, which was something I missed when fork's had its rare sunny day. I quickly wrapped the bandage in cling wrap, to protect it from water damage. I finally stepped into the shower, sighing as the water started to warm up my toes before I submerged my whole body under.
The hot water blasted on my skin, soothed the chill I always seem to have in my bones when it came to living in Forks. It reminded me of home, and that was ironic really. As I was in love with somebody as colder than ice and I was living in the wettest place in the continental U.S. I leant my head under the water, letting it roll down my face. The old pipes began to rattle a little. The hot water would run out soon. I looked at my favourite strawberry flavoured shampoo and got to work on cleaning and conditioning my hair as quick as possible. Stepping out of the shower after I was done with my usual personal maintenance of shaving and using my favourite coffee and sugar body scrub which always woke me up more. As I made my way back into the room, the clock read 10:30 a.m. Edward was not sitting in the rocking chair, I knew for sure because the window I had opened earlier was completely shut. Which was odd for sure, it was never really closed. Did he not stay the night last night?
I grabbed my phone off of the bedside and turned in on, maybe he texted why he wasn't here? Maybe Carlisle had suggested that he stayed away from me as last night was truly another test of Edward's control.
Maybe he was planning on making up for last night? Even though I told him not to get me gifts, a selfless picnic and time away from everybody in our Meadow sounded like absolute heaven and it did not cost a single penny, well except for food but it was nothing compared to a new car, like a Porsche. I always enjoyed those days, the sun would come out and shine across Edward's face and the nape of his neck. The way his skin looked like diamonds embedded in marble stone, always made me feel in awe. He captivated me. We always laid there, talking, touching, and it was the rare times where Edward was more or less 100% comfortable with me.
My phone had started up finally but there were no new messages from anyone other than Angela. She had texted me asking me if I was alright and how my birthday went. I ignored that as it was too complicated to answer at this point. I made my way down the stairs, to grab a bowl of cereal after dressing in the usual, a black long sleeve top, some tight fitted dark jeans, and my converses as well. I eyed Charlie's woollen, black, knitted jumper, with the re-attachable hood. It was his favourite hoody and right now I needed some form of courage. I left my hair down and grabbed my beanie. The rain was slowly coming in and I knew if I didn't leave right now, I would end up looking even worse for wear.
I grabbed my bag and keys, quickly running to my car, luckily enough Charlie had, had the front driveway redone so the concrete under my feet, wasn't the enemy anymore, and the crunchy gravel was. I opened the door and huddle myself in front of my Chevy. I turned the keys in the ignition quickly, the heat thrumming into the car, made the engine backfire, her usual spout of black smoke, smelled even viler. While I was waiting for the car to heat up I decided to text Edward to meet me in Port Angeles, mutual territory at least. The clouds seemed to get darker in front of me. Was it signifying something darker was to come? If so, the clouds were still already doing a good enough job, the weather report on the radio had said it was reaching up to 90-kilometre winds, and heavy storms. I made it to Port Angeles in record time, and there Edward was like he had been the day before, sitting on the hood of his Volvo, however, his expression was smooth, almost lifeless. I pulled in next to Edward, and he opened the car door, helping me out. He smiled, but the firmness in his jaw indicated that something was wrong. But what? I could not work it out. I understood why he would be angry about last night, but I wasn't sure if avoiding the subject was going to make the situation worse or better. He did not text me back so maybe Alice had told him to meet me?
"How are you feeling?" He asked. Looking me up and down, eyeing my jacket with a bit of disgust. He hated it when I dressed more tomboy. However, today was not the day to mess with me. I was enraged with hormones and everything was going to set me off. I should have thought about this when I left the house that Edward could easily smell me. He stood away from me and then I remembered that I had my period. I was yet again testing Edward's control.
"Peachy." I lied between my teeth as he slammed the driver door shut behind me. We walked into the centre, not saying a word to each other, he shortened his long stride to match with my short one. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask Alice, but she was nowhere to be seen. How was Jasper? Was everyone okay? What could Alice see happening next? Would she tell me why Edward seemed to be so depressed?
The morning passed slowly, Edward remained aloof during most of our shopping trip, only ever asking me if I need anything for my arm, and how I was.
"Where's Alice? Wouldn't she have liked to have been here?" I asked Edward anxiously, playing with the hem of my sleeve, wiping the bottle cap of my lemonade on my jeans.
"She had to leave with Jasper for a while." He crushed his granola bar into dust as if he did not care as to where they were. I could not believe what I was hearing. Did they leave? What?
"Where did they go? For how long?" I was shocked to hear this, I never thought Alice and Jasper would have to leave. But of course, if Jasper had to go, Alice had to follow. They were mates, just like I would if Edward ever had to.
"She was trying to convince him that he had to stay with the Denali's for a while." The Denali's were a band of unique good vampires that followed the same diet that Carlisle had adopted under his wing many years ago.
Tanya, Irina and Kate Denali, lived with Eleazar and Carmen. I had heard of them only three times and those moments were brief. Once when Edward had to run there to escape the difficult arrival of me, when Carlisle had asked for them to help out with the Nomad situation and when Laurent, the most civilized members of James's coven had gone there rather than to side with his coven. I felt so guilty, a lump was forming in my throat, and I had run the two of them out of their home just like I had with Rosalie and Emmett, with James's scenario.
By the end of the day, the silence between us was becoming comical. Me, being as stubborn as I am, I refused to break it even for a tiny moment, but it seemed to be my only choice if I ever wanted him to speak to me again. Was he that upset? After all, what happened last night was nothing in comparison to what James had done to me in that ballet studio, he had left me broken and nearly beaten to death as well as all the blood I lost. Last night was a tiny paper cut, he only made it worse. Was it because Jasper was a brother and not the enemy that he and to protect me from? We jumped into Edward's car as mine sadly was refusing to start. Edward had driven almost like a mad man, to get me home, usually, he drove slowly. He did view me as fragile. He walked me up to the door and Edward turned to me and kissed my forehead, bidding me goodbye, he quickly mumbled something about hunting and that he wouldn't be back until later tonight. I was left stunned outside the front of my front door. My car keys hanging limp in my hand, he didn't even say goodbye properly so something really was wrong.
I walked inside, hearing nothing but the buzzing of the fridge in the kitchen, Charlie's holster was empty. I forgot he had mentioned that he was on a night shift tonight. I spent my time washing the dishes and cleaning up the house, I vacuumed and dusted, and took out all the trash to help distract me from Edward's sudden mood swings. Once I started I could not stop. I cleaned all the cupboards and did all the laundry, dried and folded them. I put them in the basket to be sorted later when I looked over at the clock it was close to 7, Edward would be here soon, hopefully.
I stomped my way up into my bedroom, the baby blue walls, from my childhood was crackling in the corners, they were in desperate need for sand down and a fresh coat of paint. Maybe I would end up fixing the whole house this year. After all, Charlie had taken me in, and he would need a fresh start once I was gone. I threw myself down on the computer chair, pressing the button on the side of my computer to boot the old thing up. The suspense of Edward's arrival made me bite my nails. Screw Alice, old habits die hard.
On the table in front of me, were the presents that Charlie and Renee had gotten me, I touched the scrapbook and sighed, I turned the front cover open. I decided that now would be a good time to kick this gift into gear, I plugged in the camera, the scrapbook Renee had bought supplied the printing paper so I did not even need to go into town as I would have, had an old school roll, had been used. I hooked up the printer after it took 15 minutes for me to work out how.
After the first image appeared on the computer screen I gasped aloud. Edward looked just as beautiful as he did in real life, staring at me out of the picture with the warm eyes I'd missed for the past few days. It was almost uncanny that anyone could look so… so… beyond description. No thousand words could equal this picture. I clicked through the rest of the images quickly once, and then clicked print, watching them all as the pages stacked
I picked up the picture of Edward and me standing awkwardly side by side, it was one Alice had taken before the incident. Edward's face was the same as the last, cold and statue-like. But that wasn't the most troubling part of this photograph. The contrast between the two of us was painful. He was not looking at me as he had earlier, even though I went to of all that trouble to stand out, for him. I looked at my bag on the floor and I decided that instead of doing my homework, I was going to put my pictures into the album while I waited. With a ballpoint pen, I scrawled captions under all the pictures, the names and the dates. I got to the picture of Edward and me and I sighed. Finally, it was quarter to 8 by the time it was done and as crazy as it was for Alice to convince me to do this, it was worth it.
I packed up my stuff and there was a 'tap' on my window. Edward? I ran to the window and pulled back the curtain and I sighed with relief. There it was, the silver Volvo, sitting in my driveway. I was confused, Edward usually came through the window. I pushed the latch up and lifted. It wasn't normal. He was leaning against the drive side of his car. He smiled at me. It was the first one I had seen today.
"Come for a walk with me?" He suggested in an emotionless voice. I nodded and closed the window, I grabbed Charlie's jacket, I had yet to return it to him since I borrowed it today. I chucked it on, pulling the hood over my head, it had begun to drizzle outside, which reminded me that a storm was coming. I chucked on my converses again and almost sprinted downstairs, I remembered to grab my keys and my phone, I wasn't sure how far we were going to walk. I slammed the front door shut, and made my way over to him. He offered me his hand, leading me behind my house, into the forest. I didn't like this. This is bad, this is very bad, the voice in my head repeated again and again. I followed unwillingly, trying to think through the panic. It was what I wanted, I reminded myself. The chance to talk it all through. So why was the panic choking me?
We'd gone only a few minutes into the trees when he stopped. We were barely on the trail which was good because I could still see the house. Some walk. Edward dropped my hand and walked a little bit further in front of me, I stopped and he turned and leant his back against the tree. It was time for our talk.
"Okay, let's talk." My voice didn't shake which was good and it sounded much braver than it should have.
"Bella, I am so sorry about what had happened yesterday. Jasper… was really not himself." Edward raised his hand in the air but I did not want him to dismiss Jasper like that. He was more capable than any of them gave him credit for.
"It was not unexpected though Edward, he is an empath." My voice was small because it was rare that I could really speak my mind to him. Jasper suffered enough just on his own but how can Edward think that any of their blood lusts would have helped Jasper? It was 6 against 1 in my opinion.
"How can you defend him, Bella?" Edward's voice was full of pure hatred and jealousy? What was he jealous of?
"Why can't you? He is your brother." I was confused because I really thought that Edward was a family man. He scoffed as if the thought of Jasper being his real brother was far from his own reality.
"Plus if you had not had thrown me into the plates behind me I would not have made his bloodlust worse." My voice was stronger now. Finally, I was speaking my mind. He wanted to hear my thoughts so be it.
"So you're blaming me then?" Edward's eyes were blacker than I had ever seen them considering he had just hunted.
"No, but you can't talk about Jasper's lack of control when you practically handed me to him on anything but a silver platter. I only had a paper cut… AND he's an empath, Edward. It was 6 of you against 1." I folded my arms over myself, something was really wrong for Edward to continue with this argument, he knew Jasper well enough that he would be riddled in guilt.
"Regardless his behaviour is the reason Bella, the reason we're leaving town earlier than we had originally planned..." Edward spoke harshly, trying not to prolong the tirade any longer than necessary. I took a deep breath as this was an acceptable option. I thought I was prepared. I knew we had to leave town. "Plus people are starting to notice that Carlisle has barely aged since we have lived here and we need a fresh start." The way he was speaking to me was confusing me so I still had to ask.
"By we, you mean-?" I started to say before he cut me off. The small gaping hole in my chest seemed to grow bigger as he spoke. Tears filled my eyes instantly. I tried to hold them back. I took a deep breath we could do this. I could leave Charlie a little bit earlier than I had planned and I felt angry at myself for not making sure our home was completed before I left.
"I mean my family and myself." His words made my chest feel as if my heart was ripped from my chest. I felt used, unwanted. I couldn't breathe, after all, we had survived through he was leaving me. The forefront of my emotions began to bury themselves deep inside my soul, as a whole emerged, slowly sucking the life from within my veins, darkness clouded my eyes and just before the darkness embedded itself completely, anger rose through me. All the emotions that I had buried began to bubble and rise to the surface.
"But- I-" I tried to understand what had changed. "Yesterday we were fine, absolutely fine. It was just one minor accident. One." I was close to begging. I was about to take a step closer to him, but he stopped me disregarding the force of my own tone as per usual.
"Don't, you're making this harder than it needs to be. I don't know how I could have ever thought you meant more to me than anyone, you mean nothing to me, you were just some plaything to pass the time with, and I never wanted anything more from you." His cold tone sent shivers down my spine. My emotions took a turmoil and they were spinning out of control. I knew it, I fucking knew it. I knew this was far too good to be true. I wasn't meant to fit in with their world as I had believed. But this was not the way I wanted to end things. I was tired of him treating me this way and I had finally had enough and if we were going to really break up, I was going to break up with him or at least have the last say.
"You know what?" His head cocked to the side in confusion. A bitter laugh escaped me as I couldn't help but let all my frustrations out. "Rosalie was right, so fucking right from the beginning. I don't belong to your family. Go. Leave. I am done." I almost spat the words with venom and went and turned to walk away from him and I only made it a few steps before pain shot up my spine, I had realised that he had slammed me up against the tree roughly. I gasped, the wind being knocked straight out from me. I did not think that this conversation was going to turn violent but I should have known better.
"You ungrateful tease. After everything, I have done for you... This is how you repay me? By ending it?" He snarled and slapped my face, my head snapping in the opposite direction. "NO. It was mine to end. MINE and you were supposed to belong to me." He was no longer the emotionless Edward that I had seen earlier. His true colours were coming to light. Tears filled my eyes as my cheek stung. "Isn't this what you wanted Bella?" His hands roamed me freely now but all I could think of was disgust. "To touch you like this?" His intoxicating breath blew across my face, blinding me. I began to struggle in his hold. He grinned.
My first time with someone was not supposed to be like this. We were not supposed to be together like this. He knew he was just goading a reaction from me but he was not going to find one as the fear pulsed through me with abandon.
"N-no. Stop." He didn't, his hands tore at Charlie's jumper, flinging it across the pathway. He pinned my arms above me. His expression was sadistic. His handheld mine, while the other held my throat. I could hear the crunching of leaves from a distance. Panic, sending my senses into full height. His mouth skimmed my throat, his teeth nipping at my skin. This wasn't what I wanted. He chuckled.
"If you scream, I'll drain the blood from you so fast and crush your vocal cords within a matter of seconds, no one will hear you…" He said in my ear as his hand on my throat squeezed tighter, evidently indicating the truth behind his words. My eyes caught something in the distance, the carving of letters in the tree from the time Jacob and I had trailed our asses to my truck, to get home in time for curfew. I was utmost and utterly screwed and the way Edward was, was terrifying. Edward's hand skimmed through my hair, softly, then he pulled it tight, in between his fingers. I gasped and cried out the pain searing through my back of my scalp. He pulled my head even further back, exposing my throat. my heartfelt as if it was exploding through my chest.
His hand then traced down my sternum. The tips of his fingers brushing against the material of my plain bra. He pulled the bow on the middle while huffing. He grinned then and pulled the strap of my bra, the sound of the thwack it made, made me cringe and move an inch or so further from him.
"Oh, poor little Bella..." He cackled. He pulled the strap again, harder even, it had me crying out but he didn't seem to care. He was drawing this out for all it was worth. He took a step back, marvelling at the bruises that were forming on my skin, for which I wouldn't have been able to tell yet. He likes having his mark upon me making me shudder in disgust. I decided it was now or never. I turned and took off running, panic mode made me surprisingly graceful but that would not last long.
Trees were blurring around me and all I heard was sadistic laughter. I didn't stop. I kept running trying to get closer to Forks. Home. Anywhere away from him. I could hear him coming closer, toying with me. At some stage I even felt him breathing on my neck, sending shivers through me. I knew at some stage I would tire out and by any means, he would catch me. I knew then that I wouldn't survive.
The grace my feet held at that moment was cut short when I didn't see the incoming tree root which blessed my foot to trip over and land face-first into the ground. It knocked the air out of my lungs, seizing the sound of helplessness from my throat. His roaring laughter could be heard other than me sobbing. Hard. The tears just wouldn't stop as well as my ragged breathing pulling me closer to the darkness I felt earlier.
"P-please…Stop. Let me go." I was past the point of caring, I was willing to do and say anything for him to let me go. This wasn't the Edward I knew and loved.
"I never knew that I needed to hear you beg, Bella." Edward's eyes were pure feral, just like James's had been. "What's stopping you now huh? You were begging for me months ago." He sneered as if I were some common whore.
He towered over me. He straddled me from behind as I struggled to get up. His hand pushed my face closer into the dirt and leaves leaving me breathless and not in a good way.
"Silly Bella… we predators go wild when we have to chase our prey… I thought you would remember that." He lifted my head, his nose trailing along the pulse line of my neck pushing his hardened length into my backside. Emmett and Jasper had warned me of this. The territorial and almost uncontrollable urges and instincts the vampires had in their first year of life, but it seemed to have stuck with Edward, buried deep inside his charade he posed with his family.
"Your blood smells heavenly," He murmured along my collarbone. I knew seeing him on my period was not a good idea. We usually spent the week apart so this could have been avoided if I had just let go of my stubbornness. I stayed still and kept quiet hoping this would be the end.
I wondered then how he could have gotten away with it, but of course, my concern turned towards the moment at present, knowing I would need internal strength and courage to survive his actions of brutality. Edward's teeth grazed at my neck, blood started to trickle ever so softly down my neck as his tongue skimmed across his mark. He rolled me over, causing the sudden movement to roll my stomach with nausea, making my head spin prolong itself.
Memories stirred to the surface of my mind of James's sadistic behaviour in the ballet studio, wishing death had found me then... Wishing Edward had drained me then and there when he had found me, wishing Jasper had followed through with his urges yesterday, so peace would find me quickly. The inevitable clouds of rain began to drizzle softly, slowly gaining speed and strength, chilling my body to the core. Edward laughed at the sight of my body turning a slight shade of blue. He nipped at my neck harder even closer to the main artery, fear emanated through my body. My teeth began to chatter, as my hair stuck to my face. I whimpered, waiting for his next move. Something within me was frozen and I could not move.
While his other hand pinned my small ones to the floor, he began to rip the only sense of warmth for my body: my jeans. In this position, I had no way of hiding what he didn't deserve to see. The only thing that was protecting me was a pair of black panties. The rustling of leaves behind him distracted me for a brief moment. Edward dragged his teeth more harshly along my throat, making the blood flow much more quickly than before, adding to the sick feeling in my stomach. Edward froze his ministrations quickly and I turned my head in the opposite direction only to turn my pleading gaze towards the man behind us, hoping he would take away my agony and humiliation. 'His eyes were red, wild and feral, the blood dripping down my neck from Edwards abrasions to my skin flowed softly to the forest floor. He snarled. I froze. Edward looked at me in a stage of terror as the vampire lunged at what I thought was, me...'
Edward's body was ripped from on top of me so quickly, that the relief flooding through mine had caused immediate emotional whiplash. My breathing became ragged as I turned away from the commotion slowly crawling towards my childhood home, the last net of safety that I had. The dark gaping hole in my chest was alight with the embers of the fire, even more so with the sting of my beloved's betrayal. The rain had forced my skin and bones to lock up as the cold finally seeped through my adrenaline rush. My vision began to darken and fade, exhaustion and pain settling into my body, sobs were trying to escape from my lungs but the effort caused me to succumb to the darkness and the last thing I felt was the softest touch of a robe covering my body…
I awoke with what felt like hours later, my body feeling as if it had been run over by a bus, and as I became more aware of my surroundings, I noticed the slight motion of somebody carrying me ever so gently. The brief movement of tilting my head up towards my saviour caused nausea to roll through my stomach, but to no avail, nothing made it past my lips, except for the gagging sound of a dry throat. It must have only been a few minutes since I passed out.
As my eyes started to focus on who was carrying me, I could not believe it. Was I in a dream? It was him... Marcus Volturi from Carlisle's painting. But he didn't look the way he used too. In the painting, he was sitting on the golden throne, with a look of detachment from the reality of the world. His dark, long, hair was shorter now, a lot shorter, making his harsh jawline and cheeks look more predominant. I closed my eyes as the slow strides in his steps, began to make me panic again. My head was throbbing and I slowly raised my hand, wincing as it took all of the strength I had as I was clenching my jaw, to stop the tears from coming. I pulled my hand back as I hissed. The back of my skull must have been cut open, a large lump, no doubt had formed when Edward had slammed it into the tree. The strong arms that held me, tightened just a little bit. I let my hand drop to his chest, the warm liquid was on my fingertips and I knew if I looked at it I would be sick. I was terrified.
Questions had enraged my mind, trying to resolve the underlying issue of why the Volturi would have decided to pay me such an impromptu visit, didn't they handle much more serious issues? Had I broken any laws? Did Carlisle call them here to sort out me? Were they going to kill me? Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rose, Alice and Jasper. The thought of all of them leaving town sent the ache in my chest into a frenzy. They were going to leave me if they have not already done so. Would someone had ever found me, if Edward had finished what he started? My body began to shook, the drizzling of rain, did not help. The thick cloak that covered me from the harshness of the wind, gave me a form of protection from it. The reminder that my saviour was still carrying me through the woods.
He was staring back at me. His ruby eyes were filled with worry, and anger, the sight was unnerving to see in the flesh again. James's eyes had done the same thing right before he broke my leg and the rest of my body. I shuddered, fear permitted my body, he inhaled the air and his eyes softened. I was his prey and never before in my life had I been more scared. Would he kill me and drain me dry like Edward had wanted to? I knew how the others had reacted to my blood, but he seemed to show no signs of being thirsty. His pupils were still small. He was in control of himself. My internal musing was interrupted by a male's voice coming towards us.
His voice came out of nowhere and made me jump. I buried my face into Marcus's chest and he hissed towards the male, his eyes glaring him down.
"What is it, Demetri?" Marcus growled. Demetri took a step back as if he did not want to impose, but he seemed to have urgent news.
"Master Marcus, I'm sorry. I know now is not the best time to be telling you this but Carlisle Cullen is demanding too see Edward." The man bowed and I peeked at him from the corner of my good eye, the other was having a hard time staying open as it was swelling up. He was much taller than I was, his dark olive skin tone suited him in contrast with his short, black hair. His eyes matched Marcus's as well as his cloak. He must have been someone who was obligated to protect Marcus.
Demetri, I think that was what was Marcus had called him, was staring straight at me. I turned my head and closed my eyes, he was looking at me with disgust and pity. My heart began racing, fear was pulsing through me. Hope, was the only emotion keeping me from believing that I would be spared from the humiliation of what Edward did to me and that my suffering would end quickly. My body throbbed as my mind began to remember the feeling of his body crushing mine, his teeth slowly pressing into my neck. Fear raged through me knowing that was not the worst of what he could have done. I was shaking looking at Demetri's face, his expression turning almost murderous. My throat felt like it was closing in on itself.
"Don't." Marcus looked at me and stopped moving, his whole body shook with anger, but his eyes told me that it was not towards me, he was confused.
"Please, don't take me back to them," I whispered. I could not bear to see any of them.
"Then we won't, but I need to get you somewhere safe." Marcus stopped and nodded towards Demetri. Demetri closed his eyes and turned in the opposite direction.
"My house is not far away from here," I whispered again. Demetri smiled then as it gave him something to look for and with Marcus's permission Demetri's eyes flashed open and I knew he knew where I lived. I suspected that he was a tracker like James was but maybe different?
"Follow me, Master." Was all he said as he took off fast. I was hoping Marcus wouldn't since Edward's speed made me feel sick no matter what.
"I'm sorry I did no introduce myself and I am also sorry I did not ask for your permission to be picked up Bella." Marcus's tone held a sense of shame. He was ashamed?
"H-How do you know my name?" I was confused, we had no formally introduced ourselves yet. Marcus looked at me, his gaze lingering a little too long at my face. He held up my keys next and the tags attached had my ID in it. That's right I forgot my belongings.
I knew I'd need medical attention as soon as possible, and I was hoping I would have some answers but I was not sure I was ready to see the Cullen's. My chest throbbed but the hole was not as big as it appeared to be before, my body protesting profusely which each of his strides. It could not be avoided, I could tell Marcus was trying not to prolong the pain I was in.
"I'm sorry, I am such an inconvenience," I whispered. I shuddered as Marcus growled loudly, it was almost deafening. I tensed expecting him to take his rage out on me.
"No woman deserves to suffer the way you did. Any man who does this is no man at all, he is a disgrace. You are not an inconvenience nor a liability, my anger is directed at the imbecile that touched you. All of us feel that way, they'd be stupid or insane to condone such behaviours directed at anyone." I took in his words slowly gaining an understanding that for once I was not being disrespected for being human. I was shocked as I was finally being respected as a person and a woman. Edward never did that, or if he did it came with a compromise to fit his needs. I relaxed, the tension leaving my bones, made me feel even more exhausted.
Demetri was standing with someone who seemed to come out of nowhere stood too close to me. I was even more scared because he seemed to be even bigger than Emmett and he was insanely huge. He spoke now to Marcus.
"Heidi, Jane and Alec will be here at any moment, Heidi can attend to Bella's needs." His tone was softer now obviously sensing the fear I was giving off in waves.
"Thank you, Felix, keep me updated as soon as possible." Marcus's voice was so gentle. I fumbled with my keys and Marcus handed them to Demetri. I now knew his name but I wish no one had to meet me like this. This was embarrassing. Looking at my home I wondered if this would be anything like they were normally used to. My house was semi-decent I thought, a two-story house. The front was covered high in white panels, with three sets of windows covering the front, the grey tiling on the roof needed minor repairs but the house itself was cosy. The driveway and front garden was huge and the forest albeit past the gate was considered a decent back yard. Demetri opened the front door and stepped aside.
"Do you mind if we enter your home?" Marcus asked me. I wasn't sure if I really had a choice.
"It's not much but sure," I whispered and my whole face felt inflamed and I wanted the world to swallow me whole right now. Marcus carried me through the threshold and I winced as he was coming up the steps. A car driving along the gravel indicated that somebody had arrived as well which distracted me momentarily. This must be Heidi, Jane and Alec following, Demetri must have texted them my address too.
When Marcus stepped inside the house he didn't gaze around suspiciously or look around as if this house was beneath him.
"Where would you like to be placed?" He asked all the while his gaze on me was soft and was not making me as uncomfortable as it should have. The fear I felt earlier was still here and I think time would heal that if I was ever given a second chance at life. A soft bell of a voice cleared her throat before I could give an answer.
"Probably the bathroom would be best," she said. I wish I hadn't but I turned to face the voice and she was more than beautiful. She reminded me of Rosalie, though they looked like polar opposites as Rosalie was a blonde but it was just that her beauty, too, that was exceptional and unforgettable. I couldn't seem to look away. She was dressed to emphasize that beauty. Her amazingly long legs, darkened with tights, were exposed by the shortest of miniskirts. Her top was long-sleeved and high-necked but extremely close-fitting and constructed of red vinyl. Her mahogany hair was lustrous, and her eyes were the strangest shade of violet, a colour that might result from blue-hinted contacts over red irises, her black cloak around her seemed to fold around her curves to and she was covered in various jewels; around her neck and her hands. She was carrying a dark leather bag, similar to one that Carlisle was carrying around all the time.
"Please forgive Heidi for speaking out of turn, and for her allure." Marcus's voice was thin as if every fibre in his being was being challenged it seemed. Heidi bowed her head in submission and it was a sight to see. The scents that were swirling around me were getting to be too much but she was right the bathroom would be the best choice for me to wash away all of today.
"She's right though. The bathroom would work." My voice was so small now as I could not believe I was around people, strangers even and I was nearly completely naked. Heidi seemed to sense the vulnerability in me and she softened her allure around me, or that was what it felt like. She was watching me with a fierce gaze of concern but was it for my health or because I was in Marcus's arms?
"Up the stairs first door on the right," I said. I felt robotic even in the way that I was talking and moving. Was this pure shock? Was I shutting down? The stairs gave Marcus no choice but to jostle me and every part of me was hurting. Like I had really been crushed by Tyler's van. I shuddered and closed my eyes as Heidi switched on the main lights all throughout the house. Charlie would be home tomorrow morning and all of this was going to be hard as hell to explain. Heidi passed me a glass of water and two pills, I assumed were Tylenol from my bathroom cabinet. I swallowed them down harshly and the coughing that came from my throat made me lose my breath.
"Give her a moment Heidi," Marcus murmured. I did need a minute to calm the world in my mind down but I felt overwhelmed with each thought.
I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling drowsy as the painkillers started kicking in. Memories flashed before me of what Edward and I shared in this household. It sent shivers down my spine as the reality of the man I fell in love with was nothing more than a facade. I buried my face in Marcus's chest, just wanting to hide away from my memories but they overwhelmed me. I couldn't believe how naive I was thinking that someone like Edward settle for someone like me, but he did, only for the control he had over me and his constant craving and desire for my blood, not my companionship.
Every moment we had shared together, no matter how simple and intimate, was a lie and he only protected me to conserve the essence of me, the blood bag, not for the sake of being with me or loving me. Hearing his words echo through my mind; 'You mean nothing to me, you were just some plaything to pass the time with… I never wanted anything more from you.' I pushed the incident away from me for now feeling the gaping hole slowly re-emerging and I turned back into reality, tears were flowing down my cheeks. I could only just hear the murmur of conversation between Heidi and Marcus and the sound of running water used to soothe me, but now it reminded me of the rain as it pelted across my skin, chilling me to the bone. She was running me a bath. I shivered involuntarily as Marcus set me down on the toilet seat gently until the shrill of his ringtone on his phone rang, making me jump out of my skin.
"I'm sorry Bella, but I need to take this, Aro and Caius need an update, I will be in the foyer as Heidi will tend to you. I'll hear if you need me, I'll only be a moment." I nodded, resting my voice and I noticed His accent was strong and the drugs were making me hazy. Heidi had passed him in the hall and had grabbed the more expensive towels from the cupboard. Heidi lifted me as if I weighed nothing slowly placing me down on the stool in the corner and Marcus shut the door gently.
"Bella, I know this will be hard for you but I need to examine your injuries, I do have a medical degree of my own." My lips slowly turned upward at her tone and I took a deep breath and gradually gained enough confidence to remove the cloak Marcus gave me, shuddering as the cool air hit my skin. I looked at the mirror that covered the whole wall. My hair was matted at the back of my head where blood had flowed and dried when Edward slammed me up against the tree. My back throbbed and ached as the bruising began to darken to a purple, my neck stung as water droplets from my wet hair dripped along with the minor imprints of Edward's teeth and my chest and lungs ached with every breath I took.
Embarrassment and humiliating feeling collided against each other as Heidi began to examine, poke and prod every mark, scrape and bruise. Although Edward was never given the opportunity to follow through with the rape, I still felt dirty and worthless. How could another man want to be with me now? I felt like I was a can of damaged goods. Heidi noticed my expression but she didn't look at me with pity. She looked at me with determination. She slowly placed stitches in the cut on my forehead, she wiped the blood off my face gently, she grabbed a cotton ball, covered in betadine. I winced as it stung, my eyes watering even more.
"I am sorry. You don't seem to have any major injuries except for a concussion that we will need to keep a close eye on, Marcus pulled you out of there just before you could have any trace of hypothermia, but with consistent rest, meals and hot baths, your physical injuries should heal just fine." Her own Italian accent was strong as she turned off the tap, the scent of rosewood and jasmine filled the air, slowly relaxing my muscles as her words comforted me. "The emotional trauma however will take time." Heidi's eyes softened as she helped me remove my wet clothes or what was left of them to help me into a comfortable position in the bath. I contemplated her words and pondered on how to ask her how she knew without offending her. Her scent washed over me then and she smelled sweet and fragrant all at the same time, like freesias with caramel. It was enticing but she did not overwhelm me as she had with Marcus. She seemed to hesitate towards me and I did not blame her. I was more than mortified that she had seen me naked than anything.
"Everyone is different but in order for you to understand I need to tell you my story from the beginning. If that's okay?" She brought a bowl of saltwater and sat on the stool, moving closer to clean my wounds. I sucked in a deep breath and was yet again surprised at how gentle she was being with me.
"You can tell me anything, a distraction at this point is something I need." She wiped the white cloth against my skin, removing dirt and debris from my body. Heidi began telling her story and as she took care of me I became engrossed in her words and I closed my eyes letting the heat of the water relax my aching muscles.
She looked towards the ground floor as if someone was speaking to her, Marcus I guessed was giving her permission.
"The world that you live in Bella was far from the one I experienced growing up. Even before I was with the Volturi. I was born in Germany about 500 years ago. I had a hard and mistreated life you see, I was married off when I came of age and I was made to well serve men. Back in that day and age, my mother talked about major witch-hunting panics that arose in the 1560s throughout Europe and were especially severe in the German Southwest, where we lived. " Her tone was bitter and I feared she had been through a hell of a lot worse than me and that is why she was telling me but I must have gawked hard at hearing she was over or nearly 500 years olf though. Carlisle was the oldest Vampire I had ever met and he was at least 350 years old. "My mother was a healer in that time you see and had to pay off many debts, my marriage was one of them. Throughout Europe, midwives and healers were particularly suspect you see. These "wise women" who healed with herbs were held especially suspect, as they were often older women who had astonishing empirical knowledge, which their accusers traced back to the Devil." Her tone held a sense of humour to it as if she found this almost funny. I guess becoming a Vampire showed her who the true Devil was.
"Once a woman was labelled a witch, almost anyone could do anything to her without fear of punishment. Legally she was damned and without rights. Even before she was arrested and taken to trial, her neighbours were allowed to take justice in their own hands. Indeed, neighbours took the lead in making witchcraft accusations, it was quite common to simply call someone one disliked a witch. Do you want the full story?" She was cleaning my hair now slowly, the tub was still really warm so I would say we had an hour before I had to leave it so I thought why not? I nodded not trusting my voice right now.
"Women in the Renaissance not only faced an economic crisis but their sexual and social freedom was being severely restricted, as well. Unlike the Middle Ages, the Early Modern Period offered practically no alternative to the wife-mother role you see. By the 16th century, the beguinages were gone. Women hermits and vagabonds risked being accused of witchcraft. Due to the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, even convents had grown smaller in number and the nuns who lived there experienced increasing restrictions on their mobility and contact to the outside world. At the same time, both Catholic and Protestant Churches were tightening moral strictures to produce a puritanism unheard of in the agrarian society of the medieval period. Church officials on both sides of the faultline of the Reformation wanted to have iron control over the moral behaviour of the populace. Traditional seasonal festivals, hedonism, and sexual licentiousness all smacked of ungodliness and were no longer to be tolerated. Control over female sexuality was especially emphasized. Religious offences were now punished in secular courts and in public shaming rituals. For this was a period of great religious insecurity. The cut-throat competition between Catholics and Protestants resulted in sectarian and ideological warfare, with each side trying to terrorize the local population into submitting to their orthodoxies. The witch trials' obsession with female sexuality reflects this puritanical attempt to control women's lives. Tightening religious strictures and the new economic system complemented each other–they both attempted to bring the rebellious, hedonistic peasant population under the control of Church and secular authorities. The witch persecutions were symptomatic of a new totalitarianism." She realised she had given me more than a fair share on a history lesson, one that I would have been more enthralled in had I understood most of what she was talking about. I knew that that women's rights had come a long way since then but it was interesting to see just how repressed we really were or how she was. It was odd to hear that most Vampire stories came from despair and tragedy rather than like me, I wanted it because it was a choice I could make.
"It was during my own witch trial when I was very young when I came across a vampire named Hilda, who decided to change me and two others out of pity. Since then I had lived long happy years with my coven, which was gradually expanded by the involvements of Mary, Victoria, Anne and Noela." Her tone was hushed now and I think it was because the other's could hear her. Hearing the name Victoria sent more than shivers down my spine and it made me move towards myself pulling my knees up to my chest. I had forgotten about her since I had not seen her since I was in the baseball field. Was this the same Victoria? Surely not? I shook my head and Heidi turned to a more appropriate side of her story.
"During my time with my new coven, I discovered my ability to appeal to others with my charm, causing humans to easily fall prey and vampires to find me extremely attractive." Her tone was smug at that and I was sure just like Rosalie she was a bit vain. "My coven's newest member, Noela, was still a newborn when the Volturi accused us of attracting too much attention with our large coven." I suspected she was acquired rather than invited. "Right after Hilda was "executed", Aro decided that I was penitent and spared me; Chelsea then bound me to the Volturi and made me betray my own coven. The rest tried to escape, but only Victoria survived." Heidi was quiet then. There was a knock on the door then that pulled me out of her charm. Heidi helped me out of the bath then and dried me slowly. Each pass of the towel made me wince but it was for the greater good. I wondered thinking back in her story who Chelsea was but I wanted to ask Heidi more questions. She bandaged what was necessary and covered me in my white mink robe. I was finally clean from today and I watched as she pulled the plug out of the bath, all the dirt and blood swirled down the drain as if I had almost never been out in that forest.
I took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the door with much more grace than I ever thought. I focussed on Marcus's voice outside of the door, he was talking in Italian at a very rapid pace, and I had the sense that he was talking about me and what had happened. I was more than embarrassed and I was hoping he did not reveal the true extent of my injuries. Heidi helped me sit on the bed after she opened the door, changing the angle so I would not have to face the mirror on my wall just yet. Marcus looked at me up and down and his eyes softened again, I must have looked better and worse at the same time. She began slowly brushing the knots from hair. It reminded me of when I was little, it something Renee only ever did when she could not do it herself. It sends shivers down my spine, with how gentle Heidi was being. "Heidi... Why did you offer to help me?" Heidi sighed and her eyes often reflected the way she treated women over the time she was created and wondered if all those relationships were sabotaged because of how she was I suspected. Rosalie's exterior was beyond hard to break and I barely got her to accept me into the family.
"I technically did not offer my services but that does not mean that I would not willingly want to help you." Her tone was soft, but I could tell there was more to the story. She was gazing at Marcus warily.
"That's fair we are strangers after all," I surmised out loud. She did not owe me anything. She smiled at me and it made her beautiful face even more enticing.
"I think after today we could be friends." She grabbed the blow dryer and turned in on low. Marcus was watching our exchange with cautious eyes which made me feel cautious, but I nodded. After she was done it was Marcus's turn to talk.
"I believe I have not formally introduced myself. I am Marcus Volturi." I'd imagine he would get up and bow. I snorted and cringed, it was a habit I had that embarrassed me. I shook his hand back and pulled it back when I was jolted with what felt like bolts of lightning across my skin.
"Isabella... Bella Swan." I smiled up at him hoping that he could look past all of my injuries and awkwardness. "But you already knew that." Something about the drugs I was on was making me very honest.
"But you already knew that." Something about the drugs I was on was making me very honest.
I ruffled the blanket between my fingers as I was trying to voice what I wanted to say but with caution. I did not want to be in trouble.
Marcus looked me up and down calmly as if he could sense the inner turmoil that I was experiencing. Something about him did make me feel calm but the questions that were racing in my mind seemed like they were burning on the tip of my tongue. I looked at Heidi and at Marcus, even though she had told me her story I still took her words earlier with a pinch of salt. She was still a stranger to me after all. I was not sure if I could really confide within her.
"Heidi please leave and attend to the others, Aro is expecting Renata to inform him of updates in a few days." Marcus sensed my apprehension and sent her away all without even glancing in her direction. His tone was distant with her and I could tell he already spoke to me with warmer tones and I was the stranger.
"I'll speak to you later Bella, and please don't hesitate to ask for anything." She turned her mouth up into a small forced grin and bowed before leaving the room, her violet eyes twinkled as if she were speaking to an old friend. I could not understand how she could be so welcoming but then I remembered just how easily Alice had said we were going to be best friends and that shot through me too. She shut the door behind her softly and Marcus let out a rather deep breath, and for someone who did not need to breathe, he seemed to be under a lot of stress. Was I just going to add to it?
"Can we speak freely now?" I mumbled knowing full to well anyone in the house could hear us. He looked around my room suddenly and was rather taken with the rocking chair that was covered in all of my clothes. My cheeks turned red as I realised just how bad the house really looked to me and if their vision proved anything less to be of extraordinary they could see just how bad this house really is. He grabbed the stereo that was sitting on the dark corner of my shelf and opened the disc tray and succeeded in realising there was a CD that I had left in there.
I could not remember what I did leave in there but as soon as I heard the first few notes, I began trembling. Edward's piano skilled finessed me and each chord cut through my chest. It was my lullaby. I closed my eyes and I was beginning to get very dizzy. Something else was off about the CD as well but I could not put my finger on it. Marcus immediately stopped the CD as if he had been burnt by something. I realised what was off and it was Edward's scent that had wafted from the washing and the CD itself.
The reminder of him was going to send in another spiral and I was beginning to hyperventilate.
"Marcus, please don't play that." I shuddered as the whiplash of emotions that I was experiencing was making me nauseous, I suspected we would chat after he threw that out the window at least or after a rest.
"I'm so sorry Bella, I did not think for a second." His voice was genuinely concerned for my wellbeing.
"It'sokay... " My words were slurred. I think that was the Tylenol finally kicking in.
"Demetri and Felix are protecting the property, Jane and Alec are dealing with him right as we speak and Heidi is... fishing for dinner." Marcus's eyes were really gentle and the sobriety of his words had yet to sink in. We would talk later but for now, I had to rest, finally feel some semblance of safety.
Bit more of a different way this story is heading, please re-read if needed for a fresh perspective and let me know what you think.