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All credits go to S. Meyer. I do not own any part of the twilight universe.
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"Thank you." With that I turn around and make my way over to the bed and slip in, under the covers. Within no time I am asleep.
A/N:
A huge "Thank you" and a "big hug" to my Betas! They help so much and have great ideas!
This chapter was very difficult for me to write. It is very heavy.
Her voice is so soft; like spring rain. Everything about her is amazing. Her courage is unmet. And she is so very beautiful, even despite what her body had been put through. The weakness of her body we could remedy. Build up her strength again. We only had to make sure she ate enough to replenish lost resources.
What has me more worried is her state of mind. Her eyes hold hurt, bitterness and guilt. Whatever happened to her has broken her; her trust/belief in people. How could anyone who held her trust, betray it? Would she heal?
When she fell asleep in the armchair, she looked so peaceful, breathtaking. The way her pale skin glowed in the fire's shine gave her an ethereal look. Silently we had discussed general issues, her safely was a priority topic. I wanted to be with her at all times but had to realize that it would not be possible. We agreed upon Felix being her guard. He is reliable and has very good control, usually. I would still be around her as much as possible. We also came to the conclusion it would be best for her to stay here in my quarters. We would wait for Colin and the new information he would hopefully bring to decide on anything else. I was anxious to get to know more about Bella and her past. It might help us to understand her point of view. When the others finally left my quarters I felt relieved.
I was content to have her close and to revel in her presence, her scent bringing a sense of peace with it. I had completely lost track of time, when Heidi knocked on the door with food for Bella on a tray.
I did not want to wake her..but after all, she had to eat something.
After she had ended her meal - for my taste she had not had nearly enough - I introduced her to Felix. I could not believe my eyes, or ears, for that matter: She treated him like she would any human on the street. Yet she knew exactly he is anything but human. No reaction. She even shook his hand. From his reaction I could tell he was not prepared for her being so nonchalant with him, too. He was used to people being scared of him. Humans and vampires alike.
I decided to broach a touchy topic next. I wanted her to promise me not to be suicidal here. As expected, she hesitated. I knew that much about her now. She would not promise something and breach it later on. Which is why I wanted her promise so badly. I tried to coax her into it. From here everything went horribly wrong:
First I inspired a hope that I had to nip in the bud in the next moment. I could not look into her eyes when I did it. Too angry with myself to have manoeuvred myself into a position where I had to hurt her to be honest. Nonetheless I vowed myself I would always be honest with her. The least she deserved was honesty and I saw it as my only way to earn her trust. Brutal honesty.
The next moment it got even worse for me. I told her she could trust me. Big mistake.
She began screaming at me only to end up going to pieces. The tears were streaming down her cheeks in little rivulets. This picture would forever be ingrained in my mind. Never had I seen something sadder. It broke my heart. I placed her in my lap, her clinging to me like a lifeline, sobbing and crying. I could only rub her back soothingly. I wanted so much to say something that would take away some of her pain, that would console her, make her a little better. But there was nothing I could say. I thought about 'shh-ing' her but I wanted her to get it all out of her system. So I stayed silent until she calmed down on her own accord.
Of all the things to do after that, she apologized? She will never do what I expect of her.
After some more reassuring and consoling, I distracted her by talking about the arrangements for her stay. She scrambled from my chest. I let her, although I wanted to pull her back and have her close. Her warmth was beyond anything I had ever experienced.
She argued a little but without real spite. I could see she was worn. Soon after, she went to bed.
I listened to her every move and to her breaths evening out. It did not take her long to fall asleep.
Unfortunately, it left me with my thoughts. She had told me a lot: She had trusted one of our kind. The same had betrayed her confidence. The one she befriended, probably. Only by now I was rather certain they had been more than friends. It would explain the mate-like, broken bond that was still weeping. He was still alive, obviously.
She had loved one of our kind. Only due to his actions - whatever they had been - had he broken their bond, which left her clean slate. Open to form new bonds. I had him to thank for the shot I had at happiness with Isabella. Had he been the one who hurt her? Was he to be held responsible for the scars that now belong to her body? If so, I would have his head. I might let him live for hurting her emotionally. But if he had lost his control, ending in almost killing her, I would surely end him; painfully and slow.
What a mess.
I hate him for what he did to her and yet I cannot but be grateful for his stupidity.
The remaining six bonds would then logically have to lead to the other members of his coven. She must have been close to them, too. Otherwise they would not have fought for her, like she had told us earlier. The scar on her wrist stood as evidence.
So, she had befriended a large coven of seven Vampires in the north of the USA that had enough control to be around her.
That did not leave many possibilities. I only knew of one coven that would meet those criteria.
Carlisle's coven.
It did not sit right with me to consider him. Carlisle respects humans. Last we heard he even made it to be a doctor for the humans. He would hardly hurt one like someone had hurt Bella.
It must be someone else. Perhaps a new coven? Someone who poses a threat to us?
Ugh, there is no answer to that question. I will have to discuss these matters with Aro and Caius. They might know more. I have not been active in our politics as of late. That would have to change.
I can't wait for Colin to be back. I need to know what has happened to her. Everything is important.
Another topic that occupied my mind: Caius' behaviour. How dare he treat her like that. The way he almost attacked her in my study! Incredible! The nerve! Had it not been for Cia and Aro, there would have been a fight. Luckily it had not come to that. It would easily have ended in disaster with her so close to us. She is so fragile. So much like a soap bubble: charmingly beautiful, delicate and evanescent.
The scar on her wrist...
She had us surprised yet again with her detailed knowledge and her revelation. The scar. I thought my heart would freeze over. How close she had been to death and the way she treated it. Like it was nothing! A droll story to be told during dinner. If that monster had not been destroyed by that arcane coven, a search party would be out by now to hunt him down and take him to me. He would have been begging for his end long before I would have indulged in such an act of mercy.
The rhythmic beating of her heart and even breathing are the only things keeping me sane and from barging into her room, right now. They merge into the most beautiful of all melodies, lulling my anxiety to a manageable level.
She is safe with me.
"Marcus? Would you come? Colin has arrived." The soft voice of my dear sister breaks me out of my reverie.
'I don't want to leave her. Something might happen.'
"Would you all terribly mind if we convened here in my study instead? I am terribly sorry to inconvenience you so but I can not find it in me to leave her." I know I am behaving foolishly. I just can't help it.
"Don't make such a fuss and get here, Marcus." Caius.
If he does not start to watch it, this will end badly for him. A growl is out of my chest before I consciously decide to do so.
"Never mind him, Marcus, we will be there with you in a moment. Won't we, Caius, my dear? Colin, you need to satiate your thirst first. You cannot enter like this. Go now. We will call for you."
Ah, trust Dora to be the one to reign her mate in and to think of the danger Colin' s thirst would pose to Bella. I have never been so grateful for her.
True to their word they are before the door only moments later.
"Come in." I silently call before they even have the chance to knock.
"Do sit down, please. I know it is unorthodox but... it is just...I mean, what if anything happened to her? What if she won't ever like me back? What if...I just can't lose her...she is all the hope I have." My head slumps forward into my waiting hands.
"Stop right here, Marcus. You know as well as anyone that thinking about all the 'what ifs' will take you nowhere. How about we concentrate on Bella instead, Brother?" Aro has a calming hand on my back.
Finally, I look up at him.
"You are right. I really ought to do that. I should not let the situation get to me like this." I straighten my back and look him square in the eye. "Thank you for making me focus, Aro."
"Marcus, don't think of yourself as weak. You have been existing in your own dark world for a long time. Of course a change, especially one as life alternating as this, is bound to throw you off more than us. We naturally do not fare well with changes. Believe me, we are all more than happy to see you out of this trance and back in life. We will help you. Nothing will ever happen to Isabella."
He seats himself before he continues.
"I, for instance find her fascinating. I never met a human like her. I won't speak for the others, but I know that even if one of us did not like her, we would treat her with respect,if it only was to see you happy. Would you not agree to that, Caius?" Aro knows how to handle Caius and I. We have always had differences in opinion, ever since I can remember. Had he not been able to reconcile us, we would not stand here today as we do.
"Yes. It is okay. I get it. 'Be nice to the human.' I just don't understand her. She is frustrating. I don't like it. I mean what is she? Not even her heart rate went up, when I was in front of her! She does not fear us! It is instinctual to them! They are prey to us. They are scared of us. That is how things work between our two species. There is something wrong with her."
"Ha! Really, I was wondering what the reason behind your dislike for our dear Isabella might be. But of all things, for you to be scared of her! That to be the reason! Ha ha ha!"
"Shhh! Aro! Be silent! She is sleeping! I don't want her to be awoken!" I hiss as soon as he gets too loud for my liking.
"Forgive me, Marcus. It might take us a while to get used to having a human around and all its consequences." Aro is quick to appease me.
"Listen, Caius. She is human. She has a heartbeat and she breathes in and out. There is nothing remotely dangerous about her."
"Let us hear now, what news Colin brings, shall we not?" If there is something in this world that you can count on, it is Aro's curiosity.
"Colin, please come to Marcus' study to give your report. When your thirst has been sated, that is."
30 seconds later he knocks onto my door. I allow him to enter. I see him take a deep tasting breath; taking in Bella's scent and swallow back the venom, that has pooled in reaction to her heavenly odour.
"My Lords, my Ladies." He bows.
"Colin, it is good to have you back now tell us what you found out." I have no patience for many pleasantries, so I come straight to the point.
"As you wish, Master. Her name is Isabella Marie Swan, and she moved to Forks only one year ago, after her mother had gotten remarried. She lived with her father, Charles Swan, and went to the local high school. Good grades. I have taken liberty to get a copy of her school records. She seems to be accident prone. There are many notes stating she hurt herself or others simply by accident. Nothing major though. I also have a copy of her chart from the hospital. They only date back to September of the past year. Someone has erased all elder data and I have not been able to restore it. It has been done thoroughly. She has been treated for mostly minor injuries: cuts, sprained ankles or wrists and one or two minor concussions.
On February 5th she had been admitted as an emergency to the ER after an animal attack, where they had only had a chance to stabilize her before she had to be flown to Seattle for intensive care treatment. She had been in a coma for one and half weeks. The body of her father, who had been killed during this so called animal attack, had been buried during this time. She had been transported back to Forks General hospital for the remaining treatment. About three and a half weeks after the attack she vanished from the hospital after she had released herself against medical advice. She has not been seen hence. The police are currently still searching for her.
Masters, here is a copy of her medical record. I do not understand much of theses things. Furthermore, I went through the police files and made copies of everything. The attack has been disguised poorly, and there are many things that do not add up for the humans. They are still investigating the case of Charles Swan , assuming there might be a link to other hikers that had been reported missing in the greater region, dating back 3 to 4 months prior to the attack.
There was no other information to be found. Though I dare say someone has meddled with the school charts as well. I have no proof for that but a lack of quotes of interactions with other people. There is an extra section for those observations but in her record they are blank. Not even a note stating that she has no social interactions. I assume they have been deleted, as well. More I could not find."
"Very well, Colin. May I see for myself?" Aro has been silent the whole time, but his expression shows how angered he is towards the one who has not only dared to hurt Isabella, but also who has also done such a bad job at disguising it.
"Mhm. I see. You may leave now, Colin. Well done."
We are all deep in thought. I remember I still need to tell at least Aro about my musings.
"Aro? I have had a conversation earlier with Bella and gathered some things, as well." While I say so I hold my hand up in a silent offer, which he quickly accepts.
"Yes, yes your deliberations do make sense. There is a lot to be considered. This situation proves to be more complicated than one would presume at first sight. I think we need to act slowly and very deliberately. We must not rush into action. For starters,we should focus on keeping Bella well and the humans in the dark..."Further Aro can not speak, as we hear Bella scream out in her sleep:
"NO! Victoria! Don't hurt Charlie!...Please stop! ...Victoria...He's innocent... no, please...take me! Leave him be! Please! He doesn't know! God, Dad! Dad! No!"
By the time her words fade into sobs, we are all standing in her bower. She looks haunted once again and tears escape from her closed eyes. Then some more words slip, almost intelligible even for us, past her lips:
"After me...Victoria...no more innocents...just me." Her smile is victorious and alleviated.
In reaction, we all freeze.
'This Victoria is after my Bella's blood?'
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The next chapter won't be up so soon. Sorry.