Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, obviously. I only lay claim to Ella & the Fey world/characters created.

AN: Originally this chapter was going to be twice as long but when it came to writing it I just couldn't fit the words in I wanted without taking away from the emotions I wanted to portray. There are 5 chapters left of 'Book 2' so I suppose you could say this is the calm before the storm ~ Hannah

Reviews:

Amy: I like to change p. but not for long ha! I just don't like over complicating a story but sometimes you need to know what another character is feeling. Don't worry, there will always be updates - I never abandon stories. The mist will clear soon.

Arkytior's Song: Yep, he has but it will still be a few chapters till he returns. Can't just have him waltzing back in.

doomsdaypreppergirl: Indeed. It would make for a boring story if he just left don't you think?

Chapter Forty – Dreams or Nightmares?

Somewhere over the rainbow…

Dark clouds burst forth and clouded my vision, crows cawed loudly and death was ever present.

'Hello, is anyone there?'

My words echoed all around me but no one answered.

'Edward?'

He did not come.

Dead trees sprouted up from the ground, a mist appeared on the floor. Gravestones appeared as did bodies. The sound of my scream pierced the air but still no help came from me. I ran for ages but found nothing. I ran for my life but felt it leaving me. I ran to be free but I was caged.

'You deserve this…'

I woke in a cold sweat, the time on my phone reading 2:30am. Sweat stuck to every part of my body and I felt dizzy with the sick feeling the nightmare had produced. Falling back against my pillows I drifted again.

'My love you have returned to me.'

'Oh Marco, I missed you so much. Why did you leave me?'

'I had to protect you darling but now we can be together forever.'

'Forever? It sounds like a long time and I'm sure there is something I'm missing.'

'You are missing nothing sweet pea. I am the one you love; I am the one who will take care of you and I am the one you will spend the rest of your life with.'

Marco caressed my cheek with such tender movements. His eyes shone with the love he had for me. I felt content. I felt treasured. This was where I was supposed to be. Around us it was all light and happy, birds were singing, a warm breeze was flowing and it was a moment to be treasured forever.

'I would walk to the far reaches of the earth for you Ella. No man would ever stop me from claiming you, no mission will deter me as you are the most important thing to me.'

'Oh Marco, I love you.'

I woke once more with a start, this time my alarm was waking me up. I remembered not the first dream that had woken me but the second make my skin crawl in such a way that I felt like vomiting. Why would my mind conjure such a nightmare for me? I hate Marco with every fibre of my being and would never love him romantically. The only man for me was Edward, despite where he was in the world.

I was most alarmed that my hands continued to shake as I dressed for the day. I didn't feel like myself anymore. I felt different somehow, twisted but I couldn't put my finger on the change and I couldn't help but feel I was unable to change back alone.

It was with heavy distrust and reluctance that I headed to camp today. I didn't want to run into Marco at all and wondered if he'd work out why I was avoiding him. It was silly for he couldn't read minds like Edward could but the more time I was away from Marco the more my suspicions grew. I was becoming increasingly alarmed by how often I was blacking out and how I couldn't remember large chucks of my day. Apart from mentioning my worries to Rose, I'd told no one.

My head felt like such a scramble that I struggled to remember what was real or not. My sanctuary had become the camp in many ways – though the thought that Marco was also here didn't ease my worries. It was calming to be able to get stuck in with an art project or a music project and not worry about anything else.

Having filmed part of the music video was a huge weight off my back. Yet it still posed more stress on my shoulders. With the filming of the extras having been done, I couldn't avoid Marco when it came to filming the rest.

It was a predicament I was constantly looking for an answer for.

"Hello Ella, did you sleep well? You look positively ravishing."

The person of my thoughts, the one I sought to desperately forget, stood before me.

"Marco, h-hi. I slept fine thank you."

I knew he'd heard the stutter, I'd heard it and wondered why of all the times I should appear so nervous. It was like he knew what I'd dreamt about but I reminded myself that was impossible.

"Are we going to be practicing today?"

"No, I'm got an art project to finish."

"Shame…" he walked closer to me and my body reacted accordingly while my brain fought to escape.

His breathing tickled my ear as he leaned into me.

"I had so wanted to…make music with you."

Shivering in disgust I moved away from him. The leer on his face did nothing to assure me of his actions. I wanted to violently attack him and run away from his presence at the same time. How I wished there was something to distract me from Marco or save me from his creepiness. In some respects, I felt that the confident attitude I had when dealing with less favourable people at school had disappeared. Why hadn't I done to a teacher and asked to change groups? Why hadn't I told someone about my worries? Why was I blindly following?

It annoyed me that I had no answers. I didn't know how many times I could repeat to myself that I didn't feel right. How many times was too many?

"You look tired," said Sophie.

"Didn't sleep well."

"Why don't you go for a nap in my bunk? We both have a free now and I'd rather you be awake later when we tighten the reigns on our song."

I nodded sluggishly. Secretly I was awed by Sophie's attitude. She constantly surprised me. It was very kind of her to offer me a place to sleep. I knew that if I appeared anything less than awake later that she'd be super peeved with me.

The window in her camp hut was open, sending a pleasant breeze wafting through. I lay atop the bed, curled on my side and willed sleep to greet me.

'Ella you don't want to do this,' said Adrian.

'Do what?'

'Put the knife down.'

What? My hand tightened and I looked up to see the knife held tightly in my left hand. It was poised to be thrown, thrown at Adrian.

'No, I can't put it down.'

'Ella, we're friend's please.'

'I have to kill you Adrian.'

'Think about your sister, think about Bella.'

'It doesn't matter. This will only end when you're dead. You must die. This is all your fault.'

'Ella we can work this out, you don't have to do this. I can help you.'

'No one can help me. Can't you see, you haven't noticed me in so long. You left me alone and vulnerable and now you're going to pay. You're all going to pay.'

I threw the knife towards Adrian and as it hit him he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

'Adrian?' I whimpered.

I looked at my hands and found them covered in blood.

What had I done?

I woke with a scream on the tip of my tongue that I somehow managed to keep in my mouth. I was going insane. I couldn't sleep if these nightmares were going to continue to plague me. I felt broken and at the end of my tether.

It had only been ten minutes; I should try sleeping again. Forcing myself to sleep was difficult but I needed it. I needed something.

'Edward you came back for me. I missed you.'

'Came back for you? Why would I come back for you?'

'Edward? I love you. You love me too remember?'

He still looked the same as he did the day he left and my heart warmed at the sight while my eyes greedily drank in every inch of him.

'Love you? No. I don't love you. I left for a reason.'

'You don't mean that Edward.'

'What kind of life do you think I could have had with you? You bore me. You're nothing to me. I'm much rather have a life with a dazzling model vampire than a pathetic human girl whose own Mother hates her.'

'Why are you saying these mean things Edward? Is someone forcing you?'

'No one is forcing me Ella, I'm just trying to tell you the truth. I never loved you. I never cared for you. It was all pretend. I'm never coming back for you.'

'No, you can't, you promised.'

'Promises can be broken.'

'Edward please.'

'If you don't shut up I'm going to kill you like the vampire I am. There is nothing between us anymore, move on.'

This time I woke with tears streaming down my face and I knew I couldn't continue like this. There was an ache deep in my chest that begged for release and there was a heaviness in my mind that suffocated me. I couldn't be here anymore.

Sophie would be mad but I didn't much care for her as I ran to tell a teacher I was feeling unwell and had to leave. I phoned Bella in the car, she was on speaker and I hysterically mumbled through my thoughts and worries. I felt out of control, shaky and troubled. I was driving to Angela's house. I needed Angela. Bella said she'd meet me there. Angela could help me, she had to help me, she was a witch after all.

It was with exhaustion that I finally made it to Angela's, stumbling out of my car and up the pathway to her house. Bella greeted me first, her expression worried when I all but collapsed on her.

"Ella, can you hear me? What's wrong?"

"I can't sleep Bella. Every time I close my eyes I have a nightmare. They feel so real; I can't tell what is reality anymore. I think I'm going insane. Bella, you must help me, I don't understand what's going on, am I cursed? I think so, I can't, I can't, there is something wrong with me."

"It's alright Ella, Angela will help you, here let Adrian take you in."

"No, NO! Don't, stay back, I don't want to kill you."

"Why would you kill Adrian?"

"There's a knife, I had a knife. They made me throw it. I'm sorry Bella, so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I killed Adrian."

There was something soft beneath me now. I knew there were people above me but I couldn't see their faces clearly. Something was preventing me from doing that. It was disorientating and I felt like my soul had risen from my body.

"Can you tell me what else happened?" asked a new voice, female. I know it but couldn't place it.

"Edward left me."

"We know that, he left to protect you remember?"

"No he didn't. It was a lie, all a lie. He used me, strung me along. He doesn't want me. Why would he? I'm just a pathetic human. He wants a dazzling model vampire instead."

I was crying, I could feel it.

"What else?"

"He wants me. I love him and I hate him. He visits me in my dreams and whispers sweet nothings in my ear. He tells me we are forever together but when I wake I had the most terrible hate for him. I loathe him. My mind hurts, why does it hurt? What do I feel for him? I don't know anymore. Can you help me? Please, help me! Angela, are you there?"

"I'm here, don't worry Ella, we'll help you."

[x]

Bella P.O.V (Ella's Unconscious)

"What's wrong? What's happened to my sister?"

"I know what this is. How could we have been so blind! We've made her so vulnerable. I'm sorry Bella, I'm so sorry."

"Adrian, what do you mean?"

"This is my fault, Angela you'll need to ward her with a protection spell, a mind spell and if you could make a clearing potion it would really help her."

"Adrian, what's happening?"

"The dreams. I can't believe she didn't tell anyone. Do you know how long this has been going on?"

"No."

"Phone the Cullen's, get them over here."

Adrian was angry which worried me even more but I did as he said immediately because Ella was my sister, she was the top priority here. The Cullen's arrived almost as soon as I hung up the phone and I was grateful for their presence. I wanted to call Dad but Adrian said not to for the time being.

"Rose, did you know of Ella's nightmares."

"Not really but she did say she was having blackouts and waking up with no memory of what happened."

"Shit! This is worse than I thought."

"Would you please calm down and tell me what the fuck is going on Adrian?!"

"Fey, Dark Fey especially can infiltrate the dreams of others and turn them into nightmares. The coincidences of Ella's deterioration are too similar for it to be anything other than the work of a Dark Fey. I'm sorry I didn't see this happening. If anything, I thought you would be a target Bella. I never though Ella would be targeted instead."

"I didn't think she'd had any interaction with the Fey's," said Bella.

"All it takes is one meeting, has she met anyone new?"

"She's at summer camp for goodness sake! Of course, she's met new people!"

"Oh no."

"What is it Rose?"

"I haven't met him but there is a guy in her camp project that Ella has had mixed feeling over."

"Mixed how?"

"She hates him, loathes him actually but sometimes there is this glint in her eye and a way to her movements that suggests otherwise."

"His name?"

"Marco I think."

"I don't know that name."

"Is that a problem?" asked Rose.

"If I'd known who is was I might have known what their plan was."

"So we're screwed?"

"No! I refuse to believe that. This is my sister & I'll do anything to save her."