Chapter 19 – Captured

BPOV

Pain was my only companion. There was cold and sweltering heat, but all they brought was pain. Not even the steel wrought chair I was chained to brought familiarity. Is this what Jacques endured? I remembered his bloodied body shackled like an animal. Where am I? My eyes fluttered opened, only seeing a dark room with a few people standing around. They all wore masks, covering half of their faces. Some were whispering to each other, while others looked at me. "She's awake," a heavy accented voice said. The sounds of shoes clacking on the floor came toward me. My head was heavy as I lifted it. This one wore a white lab coat. Whoever they were leaned closer to me, "Where are the others?" My eyes looked up. Half my vision was covered with a hue of red from the broken vein in my eye, "How many times are you going to ask me that?"

They drilled me with the same questions countless times. My head fell; I didn't have the strength to hold it up. The interrogator moved away from me; oh no. He said one word in a language I didn't understand. Intense heat touched my back, searing through a layer of skin. My scream fell on deaf ears. The smell of burned flesh wafted into the air. The heat was gone, leaving burns on my skin. My head fell forward, tears falling off my chin, "Please, I don't know of any others. The one who made me left me alone. I don't know anything else." My pleas fell on deaf ears. "Liar!" a sharp point slashed my arm, leaving a long cut down my skin. I screamed out again, feeling only pain. The pain let me know I was still alive, but barely. "You caused the death of innocent people to save the life of a demon."

These people still believed I was Raven. I watched as blood seeped out of my arm. I've endured so much of it, how can I still feel anything? Another came up and swab my blood, collecting it for more samples. The interrogation went on, with the panel opening and letting the sunlight in. I screamed again, feeling the burning light on my back, "Stop! Stop! I don't know anything!" The panel was sharply closed. "Where is your mate?" Blood flowed down my back, taking my energy and strength with it. The sun was high outside and I could feel it. At its highest point, my body couldn't sustain; I needed sleep. The panel was opened again and the pain came back; searing, blinding and mind-numbing. "Where is your mate?!" "I don't know where he is." One of them laughed, "I knew she was lying." I didn't even lift my eyes, my body so weak. No, I could betray Jacques. A lock clicked behind me, "That's enough for today." "Oh and they've been that kind with us?"

"We need this one alive. She's the key to the answers we need and for bringing in the others." Another scoffed, "We need to keep her alive, for now." The protestor thought of running a stake through my heart. He envisioned the smile on his face watching me waste away; done in by his hands. I don't know how long I've been here. They kept me in the dark, literally.

These people have done everything to me. There were needles piercing my skin and taking vials of my blood for samples. Scissors cutting at the root of my hair, leaving me bleeding and crying out in pain. Razors cutting me and tubes shoved down my throat. The experiments went on and on. The drug pushed into my veins. One man said I was out for two days. The evil ones spoke in several languages over me; some I recognized and others I didn't. They laughed and congratulated my captors on bringing me back alive. The one that held me against his body stood over me, half his face covered in a mask. I gasped when my shirt was torn open. He drifted his fingers down my torso, spreading across my skin, "Don't touch me!" He slapped me. "Where should I make the incision?"

My eyes widened seeing a scalpel in his hand. A scream escaped my throat as it was lowered down to my chest. The blade was covered with blood as it cut down my torso. My body jumped, trying to escape from the knife. My feet kicked frantically to try and get away. A sharp point was pressed into my neck, pushing a liquid into my throat. It was cold and made me cough, spewing out dots of blood, "That should knock her out, so she'll stop moving." The cold liquid coursed through my veins.

My stomach convulsed, making my throat close in. My body wanted to reject the liquid. My head turned quickly, flaring up the pain in my neck. The content of the needle was thrown up. The pretend surgeons leapt back from the table, "Disgusting. I didn't know they could throw up." My head rolled and I coughed loudly, "What did you inject me with?" My question was ignored and the macabre procedure continued, "I guess she'll have to stay awake."

The knife cut deep into me. My body thrashed harshly, making it difficult for them to find what they wanted. "Dammit, she won't stay still." The scalpel was rested beside me, "How are we going to study her anatomy?" Moving slowly, my hand clutched around the scalpel, taking it as my only form of protection. The manacles around my wrists clinked, but no one noticed. Their conversation continued over studying me, while keeping me alive. One glanced back at me, making a disgusted noise in their throat, "She's getting blood on everything. Get her out of here." I was thrown over someone's shoulder, my wrists still chained together. The burly man carried me out of the white, sterile room. The sound of his heart was loud in my ears. My hunger was taking over. I needed my strength to get away from these people. When they were done with me, I was thrown into a coffin.

He dropped me on the floor, making my head knock into the concrete. I groaned in pain, but I was already numb. The lid of the coffin clattered to the floor and two hands held my shoulders, pulling me up. "I can't," I whispered in a pained voice. The man looked at me questioningly. "Come here," my voice changed to a hypnotic tone. I let my mind melt over his, capturing him in a trance. I needed to feed and quickly. He crossed the room and knelt next to me, "Closer." He leaned towards me, tilting his head. My incisors wouldn't grow as I was too weak. Instead, I took up the scalpel and cut his skin.

My lips brushed over the small incision and blood touched my tongue, flowed down my throat into my veins. The burns and scars from the butchers began to bleed, but I could seal those with my tongue when I was done. The deep cuts on my wrists and down my torso would need more healing that I knew how to do, but the fresh blood was helping. Their drugs were being pushed out of my pores; a trick Gregori taught me. This man's heartbeat strongly, pulsing more blood. I couldn't dare to cast out my mental cries, in fear of being caught. I pulled back, not wanting to take too much. My eyes held his, "What's your name?" He half blinked at me, still under my spell, "Terry." I half-smiled, but it quickly disappeared, "Terry, I want you to come back here. You will offer to put me in the coffin every day. And you will offer me your blood."

His gaze was like a heavy lid lizard looking at nothing, "Yes." "Now, come closer. I need to close your cut." Terry leaned into me again and my tongue drifted over the pinpricks. "Now, put me in the coffin and placed soil on my wrists. And, this is most important; you mustn't tell anyone about this. You will act as you always do when you're with the others. They can't know you're helping me." Terry lifted me and placed me in the coffin. He caught handfuls of soil and coated my wrists. The cool touch was comforting.

Terry stood, "I have to put the lid on." I swallowed hard, afraid of being in the dark, "All right. Thank you, Terry." He dipped his head and placed the lid in place. The sounds of nails pounded into their place, keeping me trapped inside. I know what I just did repulsed me; I just drank human blood, however, I couldn't focus on that. I was caught in a strange lab and kept as an experiment. But, this coffin wasn't my prison, it was my sanctuary. Terry placed soil in it by my request. The smell of it soothed me, making me feel like I was home again. I went over what little I knew about this place. These butchers stalked my family for decades; a duty passed on from generation to generation. Some sought revenge for their fallen family members, while others hunted us as a rite of passage into adulthood and others hunted because they enjoyed harming others.

Each day or night, I was nailed into a coffin. The comfort of the soil on my skin helped with my suffering. It cooled the fresh burns and warmed my body. Terry came to me every other day, letting me feed on him. He was being questioned by the others on why he was tired. "Maybe it's because I have to haul the vampire chick every day." His companions laughed, "All right. Just take her downstairs, then we can get a drink." Terry placed me on the floor and silently waited for me to drink from him. The taste of his blood was strengthening me. "Did you bring what I asked?" He nodded, "Here it is." Terry handed me a large knife. I smiled at him, "Thank you. Terry, where am I?" "Kiev in the Ukraine." My eyes widened, "Terry, please tell me how to get out of here."

Terry stood slowly, "I cannot. 1Your mate killed my grandfather and great uncle." My voice broke, "I am sorry for your lose, but why am I being punished?" My hand drifted over Terry's arms, making my influence over him growing stronger, "Terry," my voice covered the words like silk, "help me." Terry grimaced, "I can't. I am sorry. You seem like a nice person, but we have a noble cause." I laid back in the coffin, feeling defeated. When Terry was gone, my mind dared to reach out for Jacques, only to get agonizing headaches from their psychic. Don't try it again. Tears came, but I couldn't let them. I had to be strong. This wasn't going to last much longer. I was going to get myself out of here.

Nothing felt real except for the pain. I was nothing but a lab rat; a frog for sadistic dissection. The ones that experimented on me spoke Mikhail's name, only knowing his. They knew he was the leader. Mikhail had evaded them on some many occasions. They still believed I was Raven and that Mikhail would come for me. There was one thing I could do; what Jacques taught me, I put myself to sleep. Sleep brought some comfort, but not much. I allowed my heart to stop beating so that I can conserve what strength I had.

The sounds of a hammer digging out nails awoke me. The lid lifted away, letting in blinding light, "Good morning." Two men reached down to pick me up, but I struggled against their hold. "Hey!" one held a knife to my throat, "Now listen, wiggleworm, you're going to come peacefully, because I'd really hate to cut up that pretty face." My eyes pinched shut, letting them lift me from the box.

Terry's blood helped immensely. My shackles broke and I leapt away from them. The two men jumped back, fearful that I was stronger. The knife was in my hand and I was desperate to escape. The mental attacks came. Their psychic was standing in front of me. If he was gone, then I could call for help. With the knife in hand, I moved quickly and the blade dug into his chest. Blood splattered on my hand and I touched my finger to my lips. His blood was still warm. The psychic's body fell to the floor and his blood soaking the ground; what a waste. The other one froze with fear, "Please, I'm sorry. I was doing what I was being told."

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, shut up." I jabbed the knife into his throat, cutting into his skin and muscles. More blood was spilled and I breathed. This was my only window of opportunity, Hello, hello, my mind drifted out as far as it could go, can anyone hear me? I'm Jacques's lifemate and I'm being held captive. I'm in Kiev. If any Carpathian is near, can you please help me?

I repeated the message again in Hungarian, Please, is there anyone? There was nothing, but I couldn't lose hope. Jacques, Mikhail, Raven, Gregori, can you hear me? Please, tell me you can hear this? Still nothing. There was no response from anyone. Was I too far away? My chest heaved with a heavy cry, Jacques? His mind wasn't here or anywhere.

"Hey, what's going on down there? Get the creature up here." Hearing the voices of the fanaticals, my human mind slipped away. My mind was that of a predator. The prospect of more blood was almost overwhelming. I rose to my feet slowly and walked out the door. The room was dark as I glided through it easily. I was somewhere unknown, but I didn't care. Enough was enough; someone had to pay.

Through the door, several men stood in the open room. I stepped out of the darkness and looked around the room. There was a door behind the men and a long hall on the left side. "How did she get free?" Two men grabbed my arms. My teeth bore as I threw them across the room. Terry was one of the men on guard and I didn't want to hurt him. Others entered, finding me fighting off the butchers. "Kill the witch!" One lunged at me, but my hand slammed into his chest. Several ribs broke and punctured vital organs. He didn't have long to live. Three men pinned me to the floor. Hands squeezed my throat, while my hands and legs were being held down. My head shook back and forth, "I'll kill you all!" A sharp point sank into my stomach. Blood flooded my throat, making me choke. Other held down my left hand. My head dropped to see a thick wooden stake protruding from my stomach.

I collapsed to my knees, feeling weaker. "Seems you're not that strong after all." I huffed out a ragged breath, "I guess that would make me human, then?" The stake in my stomach was roughly pulled out, causing more of my blood to flow out of me. Their leader was breathing heavily, "Bring her. I want to test her in water." My body was lifted off the floor. My head was swimming, between consciousness and the dark abyss. I could only hope that someone heard me. Their psychic was dead, so my mind can scan out and reach for others.

My hands and legs were tied together in silver again. This time the links were tightly bound, leaving my fingers numb. "Raise her," an assertive voice called. A crank started pulling at a chain. The ties at my wrists began to rise, taking me with it. The clinking of metal got louder and my body was being pulled off the floor. The wound in my torso from the stake stung from the biting cold air. My feet dragged off the floor slowly, until I was only kicking at empty air, "Let me down!" My voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the wall. I was above a large tank of water. There were no windows, only high walls.

Taking in the structure, it looked as though I was in a tower. Oh no, a tower like the one I found Jacques in. There had to be more of them through the adjoining countries. "Lower her." The clinking came back, lowering me into the water. I couldn't look away as I got closer to the still surface. My toes were immersed first and I shrieked; the water was frigid. I gasped harder and harder as I was dunked further in. It kept climbing, past my knees, up my stomach and torso, immersing the fresh wound, then my shoulders. The water was at my neck as I took in deep breaths.

I couldn't shiver in the ice cold liquid. Everything was numb from the cold. I couldn't move in the cold. There were thousands of cold bites on my skin. The cold was making my wound worse and I pinched my eyes closed. Please, please, let me die. The chain was pulling me upward, out of the water. My head broke the surface and I gasped for air wildly. The pulls of air only shot more cold down my throat. Icy droplet fell off me into the vast pool below. The experimenters watched me, as I hung above their heads. The chain glided over the pool, moving me to the side and I was lowered onto the floor. A stethoscope was pressed to my chest, "Very fast. The cold affects them as it does us. That's good to know." His assistant wrote on a clipboard. "Put her back in, longer this time." The crank started, but I pulled against the chain before it could lift me again. I gasped harshly as I was lowered back into the water. The feel of cold knives all over me was all I could think of. My head rolled in the water as I tried to maintain consciousness. In the black depths, something was coming towards me.

Gold eyes met mine. A pale face was underneath locks of bronze hair. Bella. The lyrical voice said my name, bringing me back, I'm coming for you. Did they capture Edward too? His pale hand reached for my face, Angel. His voice changed to a rougher tone, but still mesmerizing. The gold eyes became darker; his hair grew longer, changing to black. The pale skin tanned and the shoulders broadened, Jacques? Is that you? The tanned face drifted closer to me, My love, I'm coming. I couldn't keep my eyes open, Don't. That's what they want.

I was moving again, being pulled away from the face I longed for. Don't leave me. The image stayed in the depths, floating further away from me. Was he really coming? Did anyone hear me? Was this all in my head? The surface broke over me and I gasped for air. Hands pulled me out of the water. "Take her to the lab. I need more skin and hair samples." I was laid on a table and was wheeled through double doors. My body shook wildly from the cold. Teeth shattered as my body convulsed, trying to maintain some warmth. Bright lights turned on, blinding me. I hissed from the illumination. What more could there butchers do to me? I couldn't decide which was worse, them cutting at my skin and being thrown into ice cold water with a flesh wound? How can these barbarians call themselves 'scientists'?

"Bella?" a voice whispered. My eyes were blurred from the cold water. An image of yellow hair was above me and the voice was familiar. My frame was shaking violently from the cold. I blinked several times, trying to unblur my vision. A warm hand rested on mine, "Bbbbb…ryan?" Bryan stood over me, with his eyes wide, "You? No, they must be mistaken." Bryan took off his lab coat and placed over me. It brought little warmth. He tucked the edges of the coat underneath me. Bryan tried to take off my restraints, "I am so sorry. They're really off on this one."

I don't believe this, it was her the whole time. He thought over the days of my screaming, not realizing it was me. "Bbb," I sputtered, spewing bits of water. One of my wrists was freed from the manacle, "Don't talk." "Bryan! What are you doing?" The old man stopped Bryan's attempt to free me. Bryan shrugged off the old man's hand, "Uncle, you have the wrong one. She's human." The old man shook his head, "She was in the house. She's one of them. She's the one we've been looking for." Bryan turned, "Uncle Max, I know this girl. She's not what you think she is. She came here from America." The withered face stared in disbelief. He patted Bryan's shoulder, "Son, they're shape shifters, devils. Don't let her bewitch you. She probably planted the idea in your head. She killed Vincent." Bryan's face became pale, "That's a lie." The psychic was Bryan's cousin. No, she wouldn't do that. Besides, Vinnie knew the risks.

Bryan shrugged off the hand and moved to stand on the other side of the table, "Then, she is mine. I want her." He remembered me telling him that I was gone, but he didn't focus on it. Bryan wanted to help. I looked at him as my trembling slowed. Was he really going to help me? The old one named Max shook his head, "Normally I would, son, but not this time. Even if she's not the one we wanted, she will still draw in the others. You must look past the pretty face and see her for the demon she is." Bryan looked down at me and pursed his lips. No, he has to be mistaken. "She seemed so nice. We were going to have dinner together but she had to go home." "Bryan," I said in a whisper, "please." Max's hand clamped over my mouth, "Don't listen." The feel of his pulse was beating against my skin. I felt the heat of his blood on my cold skin and I couldn't resist. My teeth grew from anger and I bit done on the wrinkled hand.

There was little access to blood, but it still helped. Bryan frantically tried to release my bite, but he wasn't strong enough. "Bella, let go of him!" Bryan's frantic pleas reached me and I released my hold. The taste of his blood awoke my senses again. The old man clutched at his hand, breathing roughly, "This is what I told you. Vampires are tricksters." Bryan helped his uncle out of the room. Damn, he was my only hope.

The sun was at its highest point in the sky and my body grew tired. Others came into the room, dressed as surgeons. No, not again. My eyes closed, waiting for the painful incisions. Scalpels cut into me again, but I didn't I scream or thrash. The agony of the knife reawakened my numbed nerves. How long was this going to go on? Until I was dead? No, I had to stay alive. But if I lived, this would continue. If I let go, I would lose Jacques. My body and mind passed out from everything I endured.

Fists slammed on the table I was laying on, "It's been days and still nothing." The impact woke me. Everything was blurred as I opened my eyes. Sharp stings came from the razors that lined my shackles. The tiniest movements cut my skin. What else did they need from me? I was completely broken and I could never be put back together. The idea of poisons they were developing was in their thoughts and I was the test subject. I had to face it; I wasn't leaving this place alive. Someone scoffed near me, "This one is useless." My body was nudged with a pointed object, "What more could we learn from her?" My head was tilted to the side, then back to the other side. He exhaled deeply, "We need an older one to better learn their secrets. She's what they call a 'fledgling.' She's not as strong." A cane thunked across the floor, "She was the only one we found. The one we wounded wasn't in the house."

Shoes clapped along the floor, "Did you check beneath the basement? I've told you this, old man. They sleep in the ground!" Max came into my line of sight, his withered eyes looking at me, "She was in the basement when we found her. Well, at least it wasn't a complete lost. We've learned much from this one." I caught the sight of some bandaging on his hand. At least I gave him a sample of what they were putting me through. The other one sighed deeply, "All this time, but we only have learned but so much."

Max walked away, "These things aren't easy. Your parents would be proud of what you have found out for us. The drug you created helped immensely." I didn't listen to any more of what they spoke about. The surfaces of my skin were covered with blood, sweat and marred with chemicals. Bloodied instruments rested next to me, but I had no strength to get one in my hand. What good would it do me? I was going to die in this place. I knew that the whole time. I was never going to see Jacques or my family again.

"What the hell?" The sounds of running were all around this place. "Where is he?" Shots were fired, but the bullets didn't hit anything. My eyes whirled as I listened. Were they going to test gunshots on me now? There was the clacking of computer keys and a deep snarling. Hissings, ripping and hearts stop beating. People were getting killed. At least it wasn't me, not yet. The sounds of bones were being broken echoed through the halls. A door slammed open, shuddering through the walls, "Run for your lives!" Quick footsteps resonated from outside, along with frantic screaming and gunshots. "Get back!" An animal roared as it pursued the people outside. The animal had a loud guttural snarl. How big was this beast? There were sickening snapping and the sounds of clawing against brick and steel.

"Leave her!" Max said, "She's dead anyway." This companion looked at me for a moment, "Maybe we should burn the body." Max's fingers tightened around the lighter in his pocket. The younger man, his face stricken with panic clutched at Max's collar, "How could we not prepare for this?" He looked at me, seeing the damage done to me, "We have their leader's mate. He must have sent his followers instead of coming himself. This is unlike anything we've faced." Their breathings increased and their hearts raced. "Let's get out of h…."

Easy, low breathing entered the room. Soft, yet stern, heavy footfalls stalked across the floor. "Move!" the voice snarled. The two shuddered and moved away from the voice. Soft vibrations went through the floor, moving closer to me. "Bella?" My eyes fluttered open, making out a shape of a large frame. The chemicals they tested on me affected my eyesight. Everything was shapeless figures. The shape turned away from me, "What did you do to her?" There was no response; only whimpers after the menacing voice. "This is my sister. How dare you treat her like some science experiment?" Sister? I'm an only child. Wait, was it Mikhail? The voice was like low, ominous chimes. "I should rip your hearts out!"

Another set of footsteps came into the room; lighter than the first. Someone gasped loudly, "Bella!" A smaller shape stood over me. Coolness drifted across my forehead and neck, "We have to get her out of here." This voice was so sweet and tainted with worry. The cool touch moved to the curve of my chin. There was the sudden sound of bones breaking, flesh tearing, then the stopping of hearts, along with a deep grumble.

Someone else came in. I didn't see this person, but I felt them. He was ancient and powerful. "She requires blood." This voice was reprimanding, much like the first. I breathed out slowly. Blood? Where could I get blood when everyone was dead? There was a quick slicing of skin and something was against my mouth. The taste of blood flowed into my mouth. I could taste the strength and power of it. It was different from Jacques's, but there was a similarity behind it; Carpathian blood.

"What are you doing?" the bell-like voice asked. The blood washed away the drugs in my body and sharpened my eyesight. The one who fed me answered, "I shall answer questions later. We must leave this place." The blood left my lips, but I wanted more. Two hands went under my back, lifting me off the table. There was more yellow hair, but it was longer, like a mane. Carlisle? His gold eyes looked at me, "No, my name is Aidan Savage. I'm a trusted friend of Jacques and Mikhail."

My head turned and saw the other two in the room. Their shapes became clearer. The blood was working its course. My eyes blinked several times, Alice?