Thunder hooves sounded on the cobble stones. The sound was familiar to Bella. Dread spilt through her body like ink through water. She swung around to face the galloping horses. People in the village scattered as the soldiers devoured the road. They dismounted swiftly and stormed small village. Soldiers hacked and sawed at anybody in their way and the village was soon in turmoil. Screams echoed through the streets as they were filled with blood. Bella was oblivious, her eyes focused on another's. Yusein sat tall on his proud war horse. The fire had gone from his eyes and from here she felt his cold tendrils seep towards her. Yusein's eyes suddenly flickered onto hers and he sneered maliciously. He didn't recognize her! Maybe he might spare her life, but she knew as all the other unlucky women did, what was inevitable in war. He spurred his horse on and galloped towards her. He halted almost striking her down. She didn't move or breathe. Bella knew what was coming. Yusein dismounted and stalked towards her. People washed around her in brilliant colours like the ocean. Yusein pushed her roughly against a wall. The sounds and sights came rushing back. Her mouth reacted before her brain caught on and she screamed. The sound hit Yusein and he froze. He remembered her. Emotions twisted his face in a split second as memories came flooding back. Sparks darted around his eyes, but disappeared once he remembered that afternoon in the forest. He lifted her dress up to the white scar on her leg she let him, afraid of what power this man now held. He nodded, almost to himself. Yusein looked, up his eyes were black like coals. He pinned her against the wall once again. Bella turned her head away; she couldn't see him like this. Yusein's skin was so cold as it rubbed on hers. She shivered violently when he touched her. Yusein whispered in her ear. "I never wanted to see you again Bella, but here I am! How fortunate for me! Maybe I was meant to get my revenge?" He pushed himself harder up against her. Bella shivered as he pulled himself closer. "Get off me!" She pushed him off and stood strong, her shoulders squared. His face flushed crimson. "How dare you!" He hit her hard across the cheek and she fell onto the street hitting her head on the cobblestones. She welcomed the black world, the one where Yusein didn't exist.
Yusein stood back from her limp body. His heart twisted when he saw her fall. Relief flooded through him when he realized she was still breathing, but he didn't know why. Did he still love her? Maybe. Did she still love him? No that was certain. He picked her up and placed her onto his horse. Most of the village had been destroyed by now and bodies littered the streets. The soldiers regrouped as they had done so many other days of war. The prisoners, of which there were few, were mainly women. Some young men and children were among them as well.
Bella woke at night scared, she knew something was wrong. She was tied to a stake in a tent. She could hear the sound of drunken voices all around her and it took Bella a while to remember what had happened. She shivered when she remembered Yusein's cold touch and her head swam in the darkness. Bella untangled her legs from underneath her and stretched them out. She still wore her old blue dress, thankfully. Yusein entered the tent and she shrank away from him, like an animal she thought. A spineless little wimp. She felt the cold as he entered the room. It was like a wave and it pushed her backwards with its numbing cold. He moved towards her. Bella stood and faced him. He stood in front of her, their noses almost touching. He stroked her face, but she flinched and turned away. She felt his tendril inside her mind. She pushed him out and held up her shield, he would never see her mind again. "Get off me!" she pushed him away from her again. She knew what he wanted, he wouldn't get it though. He walked towards her again this time with more purpose. He pushed her roughly onto the ground and forced him self on top of her. He tried to rip her dress off, but she scratched his hands off her. Yusein forced his mouth onto hers and she squirmed trying to shake him off. Bella could feel the power rising. She could feel the magic as it spread through her body. Tendrils of red flame flowed out of her fingers and wrapped around Yusein, pulling him off her. She stood up, still tied to the stake and let the flames burn her ropes off. The magic had wrapped around Yusein like fiery vines and held him back from Bella. "What is this? Let me go you foolish little slut!" He spat the words at her and Bella's ears wrung. She let another fiery tendril from her hand go, but it did not entwine its self around Yusein. Instead it headed for his heart. Bella let it wind itself around his heart, the warmth and love she sent through it flowed through his body and slowly the cold retreated. She felt him weaken as he resisted and sent more of her energy through it into him. His sallow cheeks flushed with colour and his heart began to thaw. Bella grew tired as the magic drained her. At last she felt his heat return into him and pulled the tendrils back through her fingers. Bella sighed and swayed. She collapsed, her heart barely beating.
Yusein Woke on the ground of his tent a few minutes later. He felt heat and love flowing through his veins and he smiled. Suddenly he remembered Bella and crawled over to her. He placed a hand on her cheek, but she jerked away from him and curled into a ball still breathless. He sat back on his haunches and watched Bella. Her face twisted in pain whenever he touched her and his heart ached when he saw how much he hurt her. He let himself into her mind and was dragged down by pain. Memories once forgotten flitted past him. He saw glimpses of her life. "What are you doing here?" Bella's mental voice replied. "Don't you ever leave me alone? Get out!" He could feel himself being pushed out by her. Yusein could feel her feelings, anger, sadness and pity? For him? "I don't want your pity Bella, I want your love!" "You'll never get it, because pity is all you deserve!". "GET OUT!" she screamed into his head and he let himself be pushed out of her mind. He lent against the tent wall. What had he done? She'd once loved him, he knew it, he had seen it in her eyes. But now? He had hurt her so badly inside more than she had him. Why had he done it?
The past year had made him so empty. The fighting and all the killing had taken the life out of his body. But still he took another's life, the one he valued the most. War was no place for him, it sapped his life and left him cold. Bella sighed and he immediately turned to her. He watched her, now sleeping and he knew she would never take him back, of that he was sure.
Bella woke in soft sunlight. She felt strange, although not weak more powerful. She stretched under the silky covers and found her hands were bound together attached to the bed. She struggled against them suddenly frantic. A maid walked into the room, but rushed out again as soon as she saw Bella awake. She had gone to find Yusein. Bella soon realised she couldn't escape and waited patiently for the maid to return. Savoring her last thoughts and memories before she woke up here. Some of the memories haunted her, whilst others intrigued her as she rediscovered her inner strength and power.
She heard footsteps outside and prepared what she would say, a small smile planted on her face. The maid did not enter, instead Yusein appeared and Bella's smile turned to fear. She was tied to a bed, powerless with a man who could easily kill her. She closed her eyes and pretended to slumber although he had already seen her speckled brown eyes. Yusein knelt beside the bed and stoked her cheek. Bella only flinched, she could not show fear. It was only one advantage she held against him. His warm hands caressed her face and she slowly relaxed in their warm touch although her brain screamed insults and violence. She turns her head in his direction and slowly opens her eyes. She looks in to his and she remembers them she feels him. He smiles and she stretches in response, pretending to discover her bonds and frowns childishly. Yusein leans over her and begins to untie them. She breathes in his sweet summer scent. He kneels back beside her, but before he can grab her she leaps past him. Her eyes gleams and he stands, a head taller than her. He leaps at her, but she is too quick and twirls past him. She is wearing a soft white linen dress and she darts like a snowflake in a blizzard around him. The tent door is open although she does not make a move to escape. He ends up on the ground exhausted and she flits past him and flops onto the bed. He stands and sits next to her. His hand reaches for her waist but she tries to move from his grip. Bella underestimated his arm length and his arm encircles her. She tries to slip from his but he pulls her swiftly into his embrace. Their noses almost touch and she smells his soft breath on her cheeks. Her heart leaps inside her and she slowly closes the gap between them. His lips are firm and hot. Bella breathes his breath . He presses himself closer and closer to her. The slowly part and she rests her head on his shoulder.
"I still do not forgive you, I hope you know that?" Bella says although there is not much behind what she says. Yusein nods.
"Who could?" He shakes his head and walks from the bed outside the tent. Leaving a berwildered Bella slumped on the bed.