A/N: I was sad to see that I didn't get any reviews on my last chapter. Does that mean you guys are mad at me? I hope not. I promise things will get better eventually. Unfortunately, they'll have to get worse first. I hope you guys are still liking this story though.
BELLA
It was the longest day of my life. I can't remember much of what happened after Alice told us they were coming today. I definitely don't remember anything anyone said. All I remembered was the looks on everyone's face the whole day and Edward's arms around me. I knew it was hopeless for them to win. They knew it too. Yet, the were all willing to fight for me. I hated that.
They didn't need to sacrifice themselves for me. Not when this whole thing was my fault to begin with. They'd never believe it but it was. I knew I'd have to break my promise to Edward at some point because I wasn't going to let them get hurt because of me. I just had to wait for the opportune moment. (A/N: Cookies for anyone who knows where that line comes from.)
Nothing really happened until seven o'clock. I couldn't hear anything but I noticed everyone tense up, so I assumed they were coming up the drive. I tensed up just as much as the family did and felt Edward pull me closer to his side.
After what seemed like forever, we distinctly heard four doors close and footsteps coming up the front steps. I let out a small whimper when someone knocked on the door.
Carlisle answered it with Esme right beside him.
"Jane, it's wonderful to see you." Carlisle said in an almost believable cheerful manner. "And you brought Alec, Demetri, and Felix. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Perhaps we should talk about it inside." Jane suggested in her falsely kind voice. "You may need to sit down."
My breathing hitched just slightly as we heard Carlisle agree. Edward ran his fingers through my hair and pulled me a little closer. My heart sped up to a nearly alarming rate when Carlisle stepped back into the living room with Jane, Demetri, Felix, and Alec. (A/N: You all know what they look like and I'm I have a time limit tonight so I won't go through the descriptions. She knows which ones are which because Edward described them to her in preparation for this moment.)
"Look, children." Carlisle said still maintaining the falsely polite voice. "We have company."
There were several murmurs of hello from around the room. No one other than Carlisle seemed up to pretending to be polite. After all, we all knew what they really wanted.
"Please sit." Esme stated attempting the same tone as Carlisle but failing miserably.
I paniced a little when I realized the space beside me was empty. It looked for a second that Jane was going to sit there. Alice must have seen what she was going to do because she stood quickly and said,
"Jane, why don't you sit here. It's the most comfortable chair in the house."
She, too, had tried to adpot the same polite tone as Carlisle but couldn't make it sound believeable. Jane looked at her for a long time. I worried that she would use her gift on Alice. I surpressed a shudder at the thought. Edward told me that it was worse than any kind of torture out there. Jane, however, ended up simply taking the seat that Alice offered. Alice slid onto the couch beside me. I noticed Edward shoot her a grateful look.
It took me a second to realize that the entire family had moved from their orginal spots. Our guests were now occupying their old seats. Jasper had placed himself on the floor in front of me. Emmett and Rosalie now stood behind the couch. Emmett had his arms around Rosalie. Carlisle had taken the seat next to Edward and Esme sat on the arm next to him. Roxy was sitting on the back of the couch just above my head.
I knew what they were doing and I wished they wouldn't. They should've kept themselves spread to better defend themselves. They shouldn't have put themselves together in the center of the room to protect me.
"We've come to discuss the future of your human." Jane stated without preamble.
"Her name is Bella." Edward growled. Jane smiled.
"Of course." she said. "Aro would like us to take Bella back to Volterra with us."
"Can I ask why?" Carlisle questioned.
"Well, as you know, the rules have been broken and she knows our secret." Jane stated. "She's an exposure risk."
"As I have explained to Aro, I don't believe she is that much of a risk." Carlise replied.
"Aro feels different and it's Aro's opinion that matters, not yours, Carlisle."
"I understand that, Jane. However, I will not hand one of my daughters over to you until I know exactly why she is being taken."
"Aro did not give us details, he simply requested that we bring her to him so that she may be dealt with."
"Then we request that we be allowed to come with you and present a case to Aro. Maybe we could come up with something that would be in the best intetrest of all concerned."
"Aro is a busy man, Carlisle." Alec stepped in. "He doesn't have time to listen to a petty case about one worthless human."
Edward let out a growl and nearly attempted to lunged for Alec. I was glad that I had wrapped my arms around his waist because it was the only thing that kept him from launching an all out attack. He looked at me and I silently begged him to keep it under control. Their words couldn't hurt me but it would kill me if Edward or any of the family got hurt. There would be no point in starting the fight before it needed to be started. Besides, I was hoping it wouldn't come to a fight anyway.
"I would appreciate it if you would not refer to my daughter in such a manner, Alec." Carlisle said. "I'm not really sure how long she'll be able to hold my son back if you keep it up."
It touched me to see Carlisle defending me against those words. I've always thought of him as my father. Yet, it still shocked me every time he acted like it.
"My apologies." Alec said. He looked quite surprised at how much the entire family was willing to do for me.
"Look," Demetri stated. "We don't have much time and Aro doesn't like to be kept waiting. So you have two choices. Just hand her over or we'll take her by force."
"I don't want this to come to a fight." Carlisle stated calmly. "But we absolutely refuse to simply hand her over. So you have to do what you have to do."
"Are you sure that's wise, Carlisle?" Felix questioned. "You'd all be willing to die for one expendable human."
"That human as you put is our family." Roxy growled. "And we'll do whatever we have to do to keep her safe."
"Well, the way Aro sees it she's nothing more than the family whore." Jane stated. "Is it true you share her with wolves too?"
She then laughed and I felt Edward pull himself from my grip. He lunged toward her. I yelled for him to stop but he didn't seem to hear me. There was no need for him to defend my honor like this. I knew it wasn't true. Then again, Edward was so overprotective that he didn't care whether or not the words hurt me. All he knew was that Jane had insulted me in the worst possible way and he needed to defend me against that. Jane smiled at him. I knew enough about her gift to know what she was about to do. Edward hit the floor a split second later. I saw his face contort in pain but he didn't make a sound. I yelled his name and tried to get to him but Alice held me back. I struggled against her still screaming with tears in my eyes. It stopped after the longest minute of my life.
"Do you still wanna fight?" Jane asked.
"No!" I yelled. "They don't!"
I knew that I was breaking my promise but I didn't care. All I cared about was making sure that these monsters couldn't hurt Edward or the rest of my family anymore.
"Bella, no, you promised!" Edward yelled looking toward me.
I struggled against Alice even more trying to get to him. I had to make sure that he was alright before I was taken away. I needed to take in everything about him so I didn't forget him.
"I know but I can't let you guys get hurt!" I yelled.
He got up off the floor and Alice finally released me. I ran into his arms and started sobbing. He stroked my hair as he held me in his arms.
"You don't have to do this." he whispered. "I wish you wouldn't."
"I know but I can't let you guys get hurt." I cried. "I'm sorry."
"I love you so much." He told me and I knew he wanted nothing more than to be able to cry.
"I love you too." I replied.
"Okay enough with the sappy shit." Alec stated from behind me. "Is she coming or what?"
"Back off, Alec." Alice growled. "They'll finish when they're damn good and ready."
"Alice, please try to remember who you are talking to." Alec smirked.
I was still sobbing in Edward's arms. Neither of us was ready to let go. We knew, though, if we didn't do it soon, the four would get rough. I didn't want him to be hurt anymore than was necessary.
"We'll come for you. I promise." Edward whispered to me.
The next few seconds happened very quickly. Edward shoved me behind him. A split second later, I felt pain shooting through the back of my head as Jane grabbed my hair by the roots and dragged me back. I screamed in pain but it was nearly drowned out by the horrible sound of a vampire being ripped apart. This was followed by Jane's scream of rage.
By the time the pain in my head subsided enough for me to see, I realized that Alec was in pieces on the floor. Roxy was standing behind the couch with a satified smile on her face. Edward was looking at Roxy in utter shock. Suddenly, Roxy was on the floor screaming in agony. I barely registered that Felix was tying up my wirsts and ankles.
The minute Roxy started screaming, Edward had dropped into an attack crouch. The rest of the family followed suite when Roxy's screams subsided. It was a tense few minutes where I wasn't sure if the family was going to attack or not. I tried to fight through my fear and sadness to tell Edward to just let me go. I could tell it wasn't working. Edward finally pulled out of the crouch and the rest of the family did the same thing.
"Tell Aro to expect company in the next few days." Carlisle stated.
"He'll be looking forward to it." Jane replied. "And Edward, she will pay for what just happened to my brother. I can garuntee that."
With that, Jane dragged me out the door by my hair. I heard Edward and prayed they wouldn't come after us. Jane dragged me over to a red '69 mustang convertible and threw me in the trunk.
As we drove, I tried not to think of my family who were probably blaming themselves for this. I hoped they knew that I'd rather be where I was right now, knowing that they were all alive and safe. Then be back at the house and free, knowing they were dead. I slept on and off during the long car ride. It took everything I had not to imagine all the horrible thing that they could possibly do to me.
After what seemed like forever, the trunk of the car opened and I was face to face with Demetri. I gulped as he yanked me out of the trunk and threw me over his shoulder. From what I could see, from that odd angle, we were in some kind of runway. Before I knew it, I was being shoved into the seat of a private jet. I tried to keep my breathing regular and put on a brave face. Though, I was well away of my rapidly beating heart. I knew the three vampires on board could hear it too.
Suddenly, Jane was in my face.
"You're scared." she smirked. "That's good. You should be. I don't know what Aro wants with you but I can garuntee that it won't be pleasant. I just hope that when he's finished, he'll let be dispose of you." She laughed. "I'd love nothing more than to rip you into tiny pieces and send them, gift wrapped, to you little boyfriend."
I wanted to smack that disgusting smirk off of her face. Unfortunately, my hands were tied, literally. In fact, they were pinned between my back and the seat as well. That didn't stop me though, I simply did the next best thing. I hulked back as much snot as I could and spit it into her face.
"You bitch!" she yelled and backhanded me. I felt her hand tear the flesh on my cheek as I flew out of my seat. I hit the ground a felt a little blood trickle down my cheek.
The taunting and abuse continued after that. Demetri and Felix even got into it too. By the time we landed in Italy, my whole body was throbbing. Felix dragged me off the plane by my feet and I was thrown into the trunk of another car.
I was glad to be away from them. My body needed time to recover from what they did before we got to Aro. I, somehow, knew that those four were nothing compared to Aro and his brothers. I allowed the sobs that I spent hours holding back to wrack through my body as we drove.
All too soon, Jane had opened the trunk and pulled me out by the hair. She dragged me over to the other two, who were standing over what looked like a large drain. Demetri jump down it and Jane shoved me, not too gently, down after him. He caught me by the arm and pulled me out of the way. Felix landed on his feet next to us, a second later. Jane wasn't far behind him.
Demetri started dragging me down what looked like an undergrounds tunnel. It took a lot of effort to stay on my feet. They had yet to be unbound. I was too scared to take in my surroundings as we continued through the tunnel. We, finally, emerged in what looked like some kind of reception area. There were chairs scattered around the room and a small desk in the corner.
There was a woman behind the desk. I could tell at first glance that she was a human. That knowledge confused me a little but I was in no position to ask questions. Jane, Felix, and Demetri walked over to the desk. Demetri, pulling me with him. He had a painful, vice like grip on my arm.
"Gianna," Jane said to the human. Her tone was one of deepest disgust. "Tell Aro that his guest has arrived."
"Of course, Miss Jane." Gianna replied with a slight incline of her head.
She then disappeared through the door behind her. Demetri loosened his grip just slightly and we stood there just waiting. Gianna returned a couple minutes later.
"He's ready for her." she stated looking at Jane.
"Thank you." Jane replied with the same disgusted tone.
Demetri tightened his grip on my arm and dragged me through the door. I got a quick glimpse of a cavernous room with three men sitting on throne like chairs before Demetri forced me to my knees. I wasn't sure if I'd get in trouble for looking at them or not so I simply stared at the stone floor.
"Jane, my dear, you succeeded." one of the men, I assumed it was Aro, stated. "And with how much trouble?"
"Very little." Jane replied. "She didn't want them hurt so she handed herself over."
"I see." Aro replied. "But where is Alec?"
Jane growled but then there was silence for a long time. Edward had told me that he and Aro had pretty much the same power. With only slight differences. Aro had to be touching the person in order to read them but he could see more than just random passing thoughts. He could anything and everything you've ever thought, said, or done.
I figured the silence meant that Jane was replaying the events from the Cullen house in her head.
"Such a pity." Aro said after about five minutes. "He was a wonderful asset to the guard. I'm sorry you had to loose you're brother, Jane dear. I will allow you to take some form of vengence.
"Thank you master." she replied quietly.
"Now, let's move on to bigger and better things." he said as if the death of a member of his guard didn't bother him in the slightest. "Demetri would you please go find Heidi and have her help you prepare our guest's room as well as the playroom."
The way he said playroom caused me to shudder in disgust.
"Of course master." Demetri answered and I heard the door open and close siganling his exit.
"Now, as for our little guest." Aro said and I saw his feet coming toward me. "I bet you're wondering why I had you brought here." I didn't say anything just continued to stare at the floor. "Come now Isabella." he taunted. "I know you have a voice. Use it."
I, still didn't say anything as I knelt there. I felt terrible pain in the back of my head. He had grabbed by hair by it's roots and pulled back until I was looking into his dark red eyes. I started to tremble because he looked so scary.
"I'll say it one more time and I expect an answer." He growled. "I bet you're wondering why I had you brought here."
"Yes." I managed to choke out.
"Good girl." he smirked and shoved me back to the ground. "You are here for two reasons. The first being that your family borke our law by telling you there secret."
"They didn't tell me anything." I said through gritted with my face still on the floor. "I figured it out."
"Be that as it may," he stated with a laugh. "You're still a human who knows our secret. You could tell the other humans. So you have to be dealt with. Normally, I would've just had Jane go and kill you on the spot but I realized that I have an use for you. You see, you're family has three things that of wanted for a very long time. And one of just discovered. However, with you in my possession, I'm one step closer to getting those things."
That's when it finally clicked. The piece that was missing fell into place. He wanted Alice, Jasper, Edward, and Roxanne to join his guard. And he was going to use me to make sure that he got them.
"They would never join you." I said.
"We'll see when they come visit in a couple days." Aro laughed. "Once they've had a chance to see what it means for you to be my pet." I still hadn't looked up but I could sense him cricling me. "Now, as my new pet, there are some rules that you will have to follow. Now, your health will depend on how well you follow these rules so pay attention. You are belong to me now, which means that you will do everything that I tell you to. You will also obey any order my brothers or the guard give you. You will refer to the guard, my brothers, and myself as sir or miss. You will not speak unless you are spoken too. You new name is pet and you will answer to nothing but that name from now on. Your body is no longer yours, it belongs to me as well. I will do anything I want with it as will my brothers and the guard. You will crawl on your hands and knees like the animal you are. You will not eat or sleep unless you have permission from me. If you do not obey these rules then you will be punished accordingly. Do you have any questions?"
Once again, I didn't answer, I just continued to stare at the stone floor.
"I asked you a question pet." he nearly yelled. "I expect an answer."
I still didn't say anything. I suddenly felt extra pressure on my head. It felt like he had placed his foot on my head and was pressing it closer to the floor. He moved his foot rubbing my nose even further into the dirty stone floor. It was painful but I didn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
"Now, pet, I'll ask you one last time." he said removing his foot. "Do you have any questions?"
"No sir." I answered still staring at the floor.
"Good pet." he replied. "Now, there's one thing that's missing. I heard soft footsteps and the clanging of a chain. "Sit up for me, please, pet."
I mananged to push myself back onto my knees with difficulty because of my tied up hands. He clamped a manacle type thing around my throat. I had a feeling it was supposed to be like a collar. I knew I was right when I saw the chain long chain like leash the was linked to it.
"Now," he said into my ear. "I'm going to undo these ropes so you can move on your own. But if you try anything, I'm going to have to punish you."
I just nodded. I wouldn't try to escape because I knew they'd catch me and that'd just make things worse. It was a relief as her gently untie the ropes. I examined my hands though and I found I had deep rope burns on both wrists.
"Good pet." Aro patted my head when he finished. "Now, Jane, Felix, I think Demetri should be finished with the playroom by now. Why don't you take her there and get her ready. We'll be in shortly.
"Of course, master." Jane answered as Aro handed her the chain.
She began to pull at it but I wouldn't move. I knew exactly what he and his brothers were planning on doing to me and I wasn't going to make it easy for them. Of course, Jane continued pulling and I was dragged a few inches, the manacle digging into my neck. After a minute, I felt Aro grab the roots of my hair again.
"Now, pet." he whispered. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I would prefer not to hurt you anymore than I have too. But if you give me a reason to I will. So why don't you just be good and go with Jane and Felix?"
"Go to hell!" I said trying to get out of his grasp.
Aro sighed.
"Fine!" he said. "Have it your way."
He released my hair and kicked me hard across the face. I felt a split second of pain in my head before everything faded to black.
A/N: What do you think? Please review.
