Disclaimer to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N: Thank you so much to those of you who left kind reviews, followed/favorited the story, and sent me private messages. I cannot express how touched I have been by the reaction to the first chapters I posted. I wasn't really expecting anyone to even read my submission, but I am so excited by all the interactions!
I will definitely continue writing this story and will try to post consistently, but I'm in college and life has a nasty habit of getting in the way sometimes. I don't want to post something unless I am fully satisfied with it so I will try to post on Sundays, but I may miss a week here and there.
Thank you all again so much!
With love, -M
Chapter Four
I kept my eyes closed.
I was now conscious, awake enough to understand that I was lying alone in a bed in a dark room. I listened for any indication of someone else; the vampires who brought me here would know I'm awake if they were listening.
I opened my eyes. The room was small and dim. The only light given to the room was through a tiny slit, too small to be considered a window, on the opposite side of the room. I blinked several times to adjust my eyes. I was alone, no one else was in the room.
I scanned the room looking for any hint of where I was. The room was unfamiliar, every inch beyond the bed covered in a thick layer of dust. The walls were composed of faded bricks with gaps that allowed delicate gusts of cold air to breathe through the cracks. Along the walls, wooden beams angled in arches to support a low ceiling. The room was completely empty, aside from the bed and a small table directly next to it.
On the table next to me was a glass of water and some food. Without thought, I turned my body to reach for it. Instantly, pain shot throughout my body from my shoulder. I screamed and lurched by body back onto the bed. If they didn't already, they would definitely know I'm awake now.
I waited, no one came through the door. Reminded of the pain in my shoulder, I attempted to even my breathing. I turned my head to look at my shoulder and was shocked to discover that it was bandaged. My shoulder had been wrapped and cared for. I slowly sat up, mindful of keeping my shoulder in a certain position. There was discomfort, but manageably if I kept myself from twisting.
My mind returned to the food on the table. I turned my hips to face the food, keeping the bandages on my shoulder from shifting. Leaning over, I grabbed the tray and shoved the bread and cheese down my throat. Next to the water were painkillers, I took both and quickly finished off the remainder of the water.
I had no concept of how long I had been unconscious. Based on how hungry I was, I had guessed at least a day or two. I looked around the room again, contemplating why I was still breathing. Not only still breathing, but healing. I was in different clothing, my cream-stained sweater replaced with a black wool pullover. The blood that had been smeared across my arms and along my chest had been cleaned, not a single drop of blood was anywhere in sight.
I swung my legs off the bed to stand. My legs shook, ready to give out under me. I clutched the table with my good hand, pushing myself up for support. A small wave of nausea passed over me. I stood there for a moment, waiting for the strength to move again. At the end of the bed, a small cloak and a pair of black pants were neatly folded.
I shuffled to the end of the bed and grabbed the black pants. I focused all my attention to putting on the pants one handed, whimpering when my bandaged shoulder shifted out of place. I left the cloak, unable to untie and fix it around my collar one handed.
I sat on the bed, head throbbing, staring at the cement floor. I had no idea why I was here, why I was alive, who had brought me here, or how much longer I was going to live. Charlie must have surely discovered my wrecked truck by now. Dozens of officers were probably searching through the woods trying to find my body. My heart dipped lower in my chest; a sob caught in my throat.
I remained this way for a long time. My mind drifted from Charlie to the blurred memories of the accident. The memory of their red eyes sent a tremble down my spine, the red shade identical to that of James and Victoria. Memories of James flooded through my mind, supplying an opening to thoughts of him. If Alice had been watching, she would have seen the accident and the vampires who found me bleeding out. No one came to my rescue, he didn't care.
I grew restless in my own thoughts. Whatever was to come was going to come, I thought I might as well get it over with. I moved to the door across the room. The moment my hand met the handle, the door swung, revealing an exceptionally tall individual.
It wasn't either of the vampires who had come across me after the wreck. He towered over me, a similar chalky olive complexion with burgundy eyes.
"Finally coming out to say hello now?" His voice was deep and monotone. As he spoke, his face displayed no amount of expression.
I gawked at him, fear rose in my chest and tangled within my throat. Words escaped me; I feared the man before me more than I had feared James. I was immobile and thoughtless, moving my lips with no words to compliment them. His expression remained unchanged, blank and disinterested with my presence.
"It seems Jane and Demetri were correct; I can see the fear on your face like a cat in water. Tell me, Isabella, do you speak?"
"Y-yes." I choked on my response, struggling to keep my voice even.
"Wonderful! Not that it really mattered. Come, Aro is ready to meet with you. Put on the cloak and follow me."
Shaking, I slowly turned to move towards the cloak, preparing myself to configure the tie one handed, when an icy breath nipped my ear. The cloak was now around my shoulders and tied too snugly around my neck. He spoke, his voice more aggressive and curter than before.
"Slow. Humans wear my patience thin. Let's go."
And we went.
…
Through winding the halls, I was able to deduce that the construction was centuries old. The architecture and designs exhibited similarities to the styles of old catholic churches. And the farther we paced from my room, the more thoughtful and intricate the décor became.
I was unable to absorb much of my surroundings, primarily due to the mixture of fear grown in my chest and my inability to keep stride with the man leading me to a surely inescapable end. I was certain he was unaccustomed to interacting intimately with humans. Had he been able to move at a comfortable step, our arrival would have taken a fraction of the time.
Dozens of turns later, he stopped in front of a large arched chamber door. Angling his head so that I could see the edge of his mouth, he smirked as he pushed the door open. The sound of the door creaking echoed into a large room. The room was two or three stories tall and decorated only with a few wooden chairs. Natural light pierced the room at every angle, highlighting the beauty of the room's natural construction.
Directly in front of me stood three men. Off to their side, the two vampires who had found me after the crash and another I did not recognize stood. I had seen the three men directly in front of me before. Their features, unchanged, were identical to those painted in a portrait hanging in Carlisle's office. Aro, I had heard the name before. He stood in front of me, long jet-black hair opposing nearly translucent white skin. His red eyes stark in contrast to the paleness of his face, even more so than the others.
On both his sides, the two other men from the painting stood. One, only slightly older than me with black shoulder length hair. The other, much older with white hair nearly as pale as his skin. All three men wore black cloaks, much nicer and more finely detailed than the one given to me. Every vampire in the room, except for my tour guide, scowled at me with a ravenous stare.
I briefly remembered what he had told me,
"you don't want to irritate the Voltori, not unless you want to die-".
They only had one law; humans could have no knowledge of their existence, and I knew. If the Voltori found out how I knew, if they could trace it back to the Cullens, they would all die. No matter my feelings of rejection, I could not be the cause of harm to the Cullens. Rosalie had been right; I had always posed a risk to their family. They would pay for the mistake of my life crossing their path.
I would not let that happen. The Voltori would kill me before I give them anything.
"Isabella! It is so lovely to see you awake and moving. My name is Aro, these are my brothers Marcus and Caius, welcome. Tell me, how is your shoulder?" Aro stepped forward, motioning the man who led me here off to the side with the other vampires.
"It's Bella. And fine, thank you."
"Bella, well you really challenged us! We're not typically in the business of healing humans. But I believe you already understand this, hmm?"
I didn't respond. Our eyes remained locked on one another. He seemed unsurprised at my lack of willingness to engage on the topic.
"Well, it seems as though it is a good thing that Jane and Demetri here found you after your little accident. Had they not been there who knows if you'd be breathing today!"
"Yes, very lucky." I kept my expression blank.
Aro stared at me for many long moments. This was a game to him, and I was preventing it from being an interesting one. Like Jane and Demetri after the crash, he was waiting for my fear, waiting for me to beg for my life or to beg to become an immortal. I would not give him the satisfaction, or the information he wanted.
"Tell me Bella, where were you going before your accident?"
This was a question I had not been expecting. Where had I been going? My eyes slanted as I mulled over the question he presented.
"I find honesty is typically the best policy in cases such as the one you currently find yourself in." Caius smirked at me.
"On a way to a friend's house."
"And this friend, lived on the reservation?" Aro dipped his head and raised his eyebrows, eyes not breaking contact with mine.
I began second guessing my responses. I didn't want the Voltori thinking that I had shared my knowledge of vampires with anyone else. They would go after Jacob, my friends, Charlie-
"No one else knows." My voice was shaky, my body unwillingly letting my nerves take over.
"I find that very hard to believe."
I stood silent again. I would not give him anymore.
"Dear Bella, I suppose you understand what we are capable of, yes? This can be very simple, or very painful. I think it would be wise if you thought over your next few decisions carefully. Felix will not be so gentle as he was bringing you here."
The room was still for a few long moments. It was silent, the only sound consisting of my own pulse in my ears.
Aro clicked his tongue, rubbing his palms together as his eyes scrutinized me.
"Tell us about the werewolves." His voice was quieter, but even and direct.
My reaction was involuntary. My eyebrows shot up; my mouth gaped slightly. Werewolves? I had told myself I would not engage with this, but my mouth worked before my mind caught up.
"What?" I could tell from Aro's expression that he was unsure if my reaction was genuine. He studied me, a smile creeping up to his cheeks.
"You fascinate me, Bella! Oh, how I cannot wait to understand the working of your mind!"
I scowled at him, angry that I no longer understood entirely what was going on. I looked around at the other vampires in the room. Jane and Caius shared similar expressions, furrowed eyebrows with mouths set in straight lines. Demetri looked entertained, engaged with the production Aro was putting on for everyone.
"I think this has gone on long enough." Marcus finally spoke. His voice was much deeper than I had expected. His eyes, though red like those that surrounded him, were duller. They seemed bored, ready to be done engaging with my futile efforts.
"You are right Marcus; we have more pressing matters to deal with."
Aro was suddenly within a few inches of my face. I screamed and fell backwards, screaming again as I caught myself with my forearms. My shoulder seared in pain. Aro towered over me now, his expression a mixture of amusement and sympathy. He offered his hand as if his assistance was a peace treaty.
The way his body arched over mine, I could not stand without taking his hand. I contemplated remaining on the ground, waiting for his patience to wear thinner, but decided to take his hand. These vampires would be responsible for the end of my life, but I needed to protect the Cullens. I had to stop antagonizing them in the process.
He pulled me up so quickly, my legs nearly buckled out from under me. Aro kept my hand in a firm grip, his hands cold and smooth. He bent his head down, focusing his entirety on my hand. He was enthralled, his eyes wide and searching for something it seemed he could not find.
His grip on my hands loosened. His eyes still wide, his head raised to meet me at eye level. He began searching my face, forehead deepening in a V-shape.
"Impossible…" he breathed. Had I not been within inches of him, I wouldn't have heard him.
"What, Aro?" Caius now looked nervous; his demeanor shifted from annoyance to worry. Similar expressions were shared by Felix, Jane, and Demetri. Marcus, previously aloof, was now tilting his head with eyebrows raised in response to Aro's reaction.
"I cannot… read her thoughts…" Aro whispered as he continued to hold my hand, searching my face for answers to unasked questions.
The game was now interesting.