Chapter 9: Sadist

AN: A thank you to you all! Your reviews make me tear up (Seriously!) I am glad you are all enjoying this story as much as me!

Charlie's muffled voice woke Bella from her sleep, and she turned over in her bed, pausing for a moment. She looked toward the empty spot next to her, remembering that Paul was on patrol. "Dad?" She called, turning the cover over and pushing it off before sitting up slowly. She rubbed her eyes, standing up, holding her hand out to maneuver in her dark room.

She found the doorknob, and opened the door, walking across the hall. "Dad, you're having another nightmare," She mumbled, pushing the bedroom door open. She raised her eyes, flicking on the light, stopping at the sight that greeted her. A pale body had silenced Charlie, holding his neck up to their throat, and she could see blood dripping down its chin. She swallowed, her eyes watching Charlie's lifeless body thud to the floor.

She snapped her eyes to the vibrant red ones that were sparkling with greed. Bella shook her head in disbelief, pushing her body flush against the wall. The light switch pierced her back as she slid down the wall, unable to shake herself out of shock.

Bella just blinked; her eyes trained on Charlie's lifeless eyes. Victoria crouched in front of Bella, smiling a sinister smile. "I will kill them all to have you…their blood is on your hands," She grabbed Bella's wrists, and Bella looked down at her blood-soaked hands in horror, the floor she sat on covered in a pool of blood. Bodies littered the floor around her, and she could barely breathe, her heart plummeting in her chest. She gasped for air, her eyes widening as Victoria was gone, leaving her alone, with nothing no one.

Paul had just slipped into Bella's room from the window when he saw her on the floor. Her eyes were shut, and she was clawing at the floor, her nails digging into the wood. Her body was spasming as if she were being electrocuted, and her heart was racing so fast if possible, it would've beat out of her chest.

He dropped to the floor beside her, lifting her into his arms. He stood again, holding her tight, making his way to the bathroom. He turned on the shower, pushing the temperature to cold. Slipping off his shoes, he stepped into the shower with her, holding her under the spray. He pushed back her wet hair as she sputtered and coughed. Pulling her from under the water, he held her to his chest as she fought against him, unable to gather her bearings just yet.

"Bella, it's me," He whispered into her hair, his hand running through her slick hair. He shut the water off, stepping out the tub. Snatching the blue towel off the hook, he wrapped it around Bella, sinking down to sit on the floor with her.

Bella wrapped the towel around her, shivering, her bottom lip wobbling, her eyes glued to the floor. Paul moved a wet strand behind her ear, brows furrowing in worry. He lifted her chin, meeting her eyes. "There was so much blood," She whispered, angrily wiping a tear that slipped down her face. She sniffed, looking away from him. "A-a-a-and sh-sh-she was there, and he was dead. You were all dead… and it felt so real," She looked down at her hands, rubbing them on the towel as if she was trying to rub away something.

"It felt so….real," She repeated softly, putting her head in her hands. "I just know that if she can't kill me, she'll kill everyone I love and I don't think I could…" She trailed off, her shoulders shaking with the onslaught of emotions that were consuming her.

Paul pulled her into his arms, and Bella softly cried, gripping his shirt in her fists. "She won't hurt you," He promised. Bella pulled back to look at him, her eyes a light pink. "That's not what I'm afraid of…I don't care about me. I-in my dream she left me there, alone. With nothing, and no one. Like her. She'll kill everything I have to live for, and I've come too far to lose everything that I love," She whispered, meeting his eyes. Paul didn't say the words, and he didn't ask for her to elaborate.

Her meaning was clear.

Instead, he helped her up and walked her back to the room. He grabbed her hands, looking at her fingernails, satisfied she didn't break skin. He silently went to the dresser, grabbing her a pair of dry clothes. He reached into the last drawer, pulling out his own t-shirt and sweats. Since it was clear that Paul would be over to her house 24/7 or at least half of the day, Bella cleared out space for him.

"Get dressed, I want to show you something," He grazed a hand over her shoulder, squeezing it gently. It seemed to break her from her trance, and she nodded. Paul quietly slipped from the room to give her some privacy.

After dressing, Paul poked his head in, eyeing her before beckoning her forward with his hand. He swiped her tuck keys off her table. "What about Charlie?" She whispered, following him down the stairs. "There's two on duty tonight. Quil and Josiah," Bella raised a brow at his obvious disdain for the kid. They walked out the front door, and Bella reached behind her to lock the bottom lock. "Is there something wrong?"

"Just a pain in the ass. Sam had to order him to be here. We've been having to up patrols a bit, just a precaution, and keep eyes on Jacob," There was no mistaking the growl that erupted from the woods as they got into the truck. Paul gave her a dark look. He started her truck, pulling out of her driveway.

"Happy kid," She mumbled, looking out of the window. "So, where are we going?" She asked, glancing over to look at him. "Someplace that always used to bring me some form of peace. It's a little hike," Bella nodded, deciding to sit back and enjoy the ride. Paul glanced at her off and on, finding some comfort in that she seemed to relax.

Paul drove towards the outskirts of Forks, taking a turn off a small turnoff on the side of the street. Bella looked around curiously as they drove up a dirt road before he pulled to a stop. He shut the truck off, and Bella got out, closing the door.

"Come on," He grabbed her hand, pulling her up the hill. He kept her upright as the hill inclined. They finally got to the top of the hill, and Bella's eyes widened. "Wow," She whispered. They were on top of a mountain that oversaw Forks. "I can see everything from here," She smiled. Paul tugged her forward towards a sturdy part of the small cliff they were on.

"It's alright," He soothed, and Bella squeezed his hand, following him. He sat down first, and Bella slowly sat next to him, so close their legs were touching. "It's nice up here," She whispered, curling her fingers around his hand. "I used to come up here before I phased. It was a tad bit simple. Quiet, and I hadn't had quiet in so long. I phased, and all I heard was noise," She looked over at him, a frown on her lips.

"Then there you were, standing on Sam's porch, asking if I wanted to go to the beach while you were still dressed in pajamas," He chuckled, and Bella couldn't help but do the same. "You gave me some quiet," He squeezed her hand, and Bella leaned her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you," She whispered, staring at her small home, feeling, for once, on top of the world.

The young wolf sat at the table, angrily shoving food in his mouth. Emily and Bella shared a glance, both of them sharing a quick look at Sam. He looked like he was ready to snap, Josiah was really grating his nerves. He was hardheaded, and in all honesty, a brat. He didn't like to take responsibility. He blamed everyone else for his issues, and although he hasn't said it, he blamed Bella's proximity to the Cullen's.

Josiah stood up with his plate, throwing it in the trash. He stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room. Bella heaved a small sigh, rubbing Emily's arm. "Sam, why don't you go run it off a bit yeah? We're fine in here," Emily advised, and Sam looked ready to disagree, but her concerned expression made him stop. He let out a deep breath, shaking his head. "I'll be back," He disappeared from their sight, the screen closing behind him.

"How's Paul?" Emily's question threw Bella for a loop, but she smiled. "He's fine, why?" Emily held her hands up, a small smile on her own lips. "I've just…noticed something different about him. He seems lighter. Like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. You're good for him."

Bella clearly blushed, shaking her head. "Nothing is good for that bastard," Bella turned her eyes to Josiah, her smile quickly dropping. "You have no idea what you're talking about," Josiah scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, and you do? What, just because you're connected to all of us? You think you know everything? Believe me, I wouldn't want to be connected to a selfish little bi.." Bella gritted her teeth, never once feeling the urge to hit someone at that moment. "Finish that sentence, and I'll make sure you never speak again," Paul opened the screen door, his dark gaze on Josiah before they shifted to Bella. "It's 2:30, you wanted to get to the campus right?"

Bella's eyes widened, and she looked at her watch. "Shoot! You are so right! Sorry Em, I'll be back later," She rushed past Emily, and Paul dropped her truck keys in her hand. "See you later," She leaned up, placing a kiss on his cheek before rushing out of the door.

She didn't even realize she did it, and it wasn't till she pulled off and was driving down the street did she turn red as a tomato.

Emily couldn't help but smile at Paul's bewildered look. She tore her eyes to Josiah, shaking her head. "Look, I know how hard this is for you, but you're going to have to accept that this is your life now, and you can't blame it on anybody but genes," She held up a plate in Paul's direction who just shook his head. He sat in the living room, his attention divided between his thoughts and the quiet shifter.

"I just don't get it. We wouldn't be in this mess if not for her," Emily's eyes widened, biting her tongue. "One thing you won't do is talk about her while she's not here to defend herself. Transforming saved some of us, and it gave some of these boys a place in life. Keep it up, and I won't be helping you when he gets his hands on you. She is one of us, and if you can't say anything worth talking about, don't say anything. Seth is waiting for you, go,"

Josiah loudly pushed away from the chair he was sitting on, knocking into Sam on his way out. Sam lowly growled, turning to look at his retreating form. "Where's Bella?"

"She went down to the University. I've scouted the area already," Sam nodded, scrubbing a hand down his face. He held out his hand to Emily to which she took. "Feel better?" She asked, smiling a little. "Much," He whispered, placing a kiss on her temple.

"He's not taking this well, is he?" She murmured, watching Josiah's retreating form out of the kitchen window. "No. Hates anything to do with this, Bella in particular. It's why I've been trying to keep her home. I don't want him to say…or do anything that will…" He paused, glancing towards Paul who was looking right at him. "Piss you off," He finished, wrinkling his nose. "I'd say he's about to cross that line sooner or later. He doesn't get along with anyone here. Embry now refuses to patrol or be in the same room as him. He says his thoughts are….dark," She shivered. Sam frowned, looking down at her. "Embry never told me this," She shrugged, patting his arm in comfort. "I think he didn't want you to think he wasn't trying, but Josiah unnerves the poor kid. He says what you do see, you wish you didn't,"

"Are his thoughts violent, like he'll hurt someone?" Emily shrugged, "He never went into detail Sam. Ask him, and I'm sure he'll tell you," Sam scrubbed a hand down his face, looking weary. "Any sign of her?" He asked, leading Emily to the living room. They sat down across from him, and Paul shook his head. "Nothing. It's like she's playing a game of cat and mouse. She's had plenty of time to strike. She has a window of at least an hour when I'm not there, and she's fast enough that patrolling wolves won't get to her before it is too late. I don't know what she's waiting for,"

"Could it be that it's too much? She's given up?" Emily asked, running her fingers across Sam's hand in thought. Paul shook his head, meeting her eyes. "This is a game to her. She wants to taunt us, and she wants Bella so broken that when she strikes, she'll beg for death. In that house, there was so much blood, you would've thought there were more people. What she did to them, isn't about revenge anymore. I could see it in her eyes. This is erotic. She enjoys it for the pleasure, and she gets off on it. It's not just about hurting Bella physically; she wants to hit her where she'll never recover. She had a nightmare a few nights ago. We were all dead, and it was just her, alone. When you think about it, Victoria has had plenty of chances to kill her, and she could've killed her in that house, but she didn't. If it were me, whoever I was after wouldn't even see daylight. She likes to torture,"

Emily swallowed, shaking her head. "So she's what? Biding her time, choosing to pick us off one by one?" Sam squeezed her thigh, calming her down. "That's not going to happen. We won't let it," He soothed. "The most vulnerable are her parents and the people she went to school with. We can't patrol here, Bella's house, Charlie, and the whole town of Forks. Not possible," Paul stated.

"We need more numbers," Sam whispered.

Emily frowned, biting her lip. "What about the Cullen's?" She could hear the two intakes of breath, and Sam's grip tightened around her waist. "Em…I don't…" Sam trailed off. "She's right. If Victoria plans on moving on that way, we just won't cut it. They know everything there is to know about their kind. You said it yourself, you think there will be a war. If there is, we could probably take her, but factoring in the whole population? We're going to need help,"

Sam sucked in a deep breath, shaking his head. "What about Bella? The Cullen's didn't even leave a working phone, and I doubt she has the means to contact them," Paul leaned forward, clearly in thought. "If we could just know how she works, maybe we don't need her. She needs to make a move. If she targets just us, we don't need them, but we could use the advice. If she takes more drastic measures…" Sam nodded in understanding. "You mean attack the people of Forks or her parents?" Emily interrupted. Paul nodded.

"Maybe she won't, maybe…" The shrill ring of the house phone interrupted Emily, and dread dropped in the pit of her stomach. "I got it," Paul walked over to the phone, pulling it off the hook. "Yeah?" He answered. He shot his eyes to Sam, nodding to whatever was being said on the line. "You know the rules," He hung up the phone, cracking his neck. "Alice?" He asked, looking to Sam for clarification. "She was Bella's friend. The one who has visions. Why are they coming back?" Paul raised a brow. "She said Victoria will strike, and if we all want to come out of this alive, we'll need help,"

Sam stood, thinking about when he can get the pack together for a meeting. "Wait, who will she go after?" Emily asked, the concern on her face was a look Sam wasn't used to. "She's not going after anybody. She's bringing an army apparently,"

The phone rang again, and Paul snatched it off the hook. "What?" He snapped. "Are you sure?" Emily knew something was wrong the moment Sam leaned heavily against the couch, pinching the bridge of his nose. Paul hung up the phone, looking equally upset and angry.

"W-what's wrong?" Emily asked.

Bella pulled into the driveway, her brows furrowing as Paul and Sam stood on her porch. She cut the engine, stepping out. "Hey…didn't know you two were stopping by today," She paused, swallowing at their demeanor. "Is Charlie…?" She rushed past them and into the house, frantically looking around. "Dad?" She called. She snapped her head towards the kitchen, hearing his voice.

"Dad…." She rounded the corner, stopping at the look of him. It was clear he had been crying, his bloodshot eyes an indicator. "Bells…" She dropped her things, heading over to crouch in front of him. She could see it in his eyes, and she shook her head in denial. "No," She whispered. "I'm sorry," Charlie whispered, running his hands through her hair.

"B-b-oth of them?" She asked, looking up at him. Charlie gravely nodded his head, and Bella's heart broke even more. The front door closed, and Paul clenched his teeth at the sight before him. Sam laid a hand on his shoulder. "Bella we need to talk," She sniffed, turning her head to look at Sam, but otherwise didn't move her head from Charlie's lap. "Victoria is creating an army, and we know this because Alice Cullen called today. They're coming back to Forks,"

She didn't say anything at first, and she stood from her spot on the floor, patting Charlie's hand. Her watery eyes turned to Sam again, and she shook her head. "Did she know?" She asked. Sam furrowed his brow in confusion. "Did she know that Renee…" Her voice broke at the end, and she looked away, a broken whimper escaping her lips. "I don't know," He replied sadly. Bella nodded to herself. "If it's to protect Charlie and the town, I don't care," She brushed past them, and up the stairs.

"Paul will be with you two all week. 24/7. Charlie, I think you should move to LaPush. There's a house for sale down by the beach. We can't take any chances, and if you're both where we are, it'll be much easier," Sam watched Paul retreat to the stairs, and he turned his attention back to Charlie. "I'm sorry. She's always one step ahead," Charlie scrubbed a hand down his face. "I'll do anything I need to do to keep her safe. Sam…I didn't have the heart to tell her what happened to them. The forensic report is inconclusive…meaning….they were in pieces Sam," Disgust rolled in Sam's stomach and he pulled out a chair next to Charlie, sitting down. "We'll kill her this time. I promise," Charlie leaned his head back, a tear leaking out from the side of his eye and sliding down his cheek. Sam turned over the sheet of paper that sat on the table, closing his eyes as he read some of the details.

AN: This has been on my mind since Chapter 8. I know I said more fluff for Bella, but Victoria is a psychopath and a sadist. (Sorry been watching a lot of Criminal Minds) Anyway, the Cullen's are returning, and Victoria will be moving in soon. Bella will have some good moments, just not right now.

Hope you enjoyed.