A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you very much of you who have reviewed! They really make me sooo happy and excited to write! I will try to update as much as I can, but there are art shows and final exams coming up, so May will be a very busy month. So May will be not so fun, but near the end of May there will be lots of more updates. The Black Dragon is of course Edward :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or The Bride and The Beast.
Enjoy!
Chapter Three
-III-
Bella's head pounded as she heard voices drifting in and out of her head. Her eyes were still closed, due to the fact she couldn't open them, no matter how hard she tried. Her thoughts were fuzzy as she attempted to remember what had happened. She could only listen to the distant voices buzzing around her head.
"What are we going to do with her? Should we just give her to the Black Dragon in this state?" spoke a woman's voice that was close to Bella.
"Well, does it matter? The Dragon's just going to eat her up, ain't it? Wouldn't it make things easier if she was like this?" answered another woman with a thicker voice.
Bella slowly comprehended what the voices were talking about; her memory was resurfacing. Her thoughts were collecting.
She was the sacrifice.
Bella's eyes darted open, to be greeted by several women standing around her. She was lying down in the bed in a stone built house. She swiftly brought herself up to with her elbows, but only to be pushed back down by the other women.
"Better stay down, Bella," murmured the old woman holding her back down.
"Please, let me go!" Bella yelled dizzily, still trying to clear her thoughts.
The old woman sighed, "I'm sorry, but it has already been decided. At today's sunset you will go out to the Black Dragon."
"This sunset? I thought it was supposed to be tomorrow's sunset!" Bella yelled exasperatedly, placing her hand to her head.
The old woman chuckled, "You were out unconscious for a day! It's already almost time for you to go meet the Black Dragon."
No…This can't be happening," Bella muttered to herself in disbelief, "It can't be happening…"
"Well it is happening, and you better accept it," chided a middle-aged woman in the room.
Bella stared up into all the faces of the women in the room, trying to find mercy or sympathy, but she found none.
Tears were forming in Bella's eyes, but she refused to let any fall to show weakness.
"Don't worry, we shall remember you. I'm sure there will be a song made after you for your bravery," spoke the young obnoxious woman in the corner.
"A song!" Bella spat, "I don't care! I would rather live!"
"Come'on, stop that, Bella, you have to get ready for sunset," spoke the old woman grabbing Bella's arm and yanking her forcefully out of the bed.
"There are no such things as dragons! They are foolish tales! You'd believe in dragons, but not me!" Bella yelled out as she attempted to tug away.
Buckets of cold water were poured over Bella's head as a woman scrubbed away at her body. Bella shivered from the coldness of the water and gripped the edges of the wooden tub with her hands. Bella felt like her privacy was stolen from her, particularly having others stare at her body made her uncomfortable.
"Goodness, when was the last time you had a good scrubbing, lass?" the woman questioned as she rubbed Bella's skin raw with a sponge.
Bella remained silent and kept her eyes focused straight ahead of her. Her skins felt like it was burning from how rough and deep the woman scrubbed at her.
The woman then switched to washing the large mass of brunette hair. She tugged and rubbed the hair, making Bella's head jerk back.
After that was done, they dried her off and got her dressed quickly.
They dressed Bella up in a thin white dress, something that was suitable to a virgin sacrifice to symbolize purity. The dress clung to Bella's body, showing her thin, yet shapely form, especially every curve.
They combed her hair, tugging at the knots and tangles in her hair. Bella's hair was quite long and fell down quite below her shoulders. Her hair length annoyed the woman brushing her hair, but the end result was well worth the hassle. Her hair gleamed in the light and felt smooth to the touch.
"That dragon is just going to want to eat you all up!" chuckled the woman taking a look at Bella. Bella stood still with her chin set firm, not bothering to let her remarks get the better of her.
"If there were such things as dragons," Bella muttered under her breath.
"Now, now, we must be off, come'on," The woman spoke tightly, ignoring Bella's remark and grasping Bella's arm, tugging her along with her outside. The woman had a piece of rope and tied Bella's hands firmly together, leaving some loose rope at the end for her to handle. The woman tugged at the rope as if Bella was some poor lamb, about to be fed to the gluttonous wolf.
Bella's face was set in a serious and forlorn expression that matched her impending death at the jaws of this-so-called demonic Black Dragon. Regardless of dragon or not, she would die out there, there was no question of that.
Bella glanced up at the sun slowly drifting further down in the sky. She knew that this would be her last sunset she would ever see. Instead of being beautiful, the sun appeared to be saying its last farewell to Bella, before going to sleep. At least the sun would rise in the morning, whereas Bella wouldn't be…
Bella tore her eyes from the site and clouds began rolling in off in the distance; their black thunderous appearance gave the impression as a grim omen. Those dark clouds were drifting into the pure sunlight of the sunset. One could possibly say that the sinister clouds were eating the sun.
The townspeople were huddling together at the wooden gate; all awaiting Bella to arrive there and be taken out to the stone gate on the hill. There were getting anxious and holding their breath as Bella walked towards them.
Bella took her steps slowly and carefully while staring straight ahead of her. She didn't dare stray her eyes to stare at any person gaping directly at her. Her eyes were focused on the wooden doors ahead of her.
Men stood still as the dead as they saw Bella. Truthfully, they had no idea she could possess such beauty. Some of the woman were as surprised as the men, but mostly jealous, and probably quite glad she would soon leave from the eyes of their men.
Bella supposed that this would be how it felt to be a bride, in a beautiful white gown waiting for her husband beyond the gates. Unfortunately, it wasn't her husband waiting for her beyond those gates.
Bella could see a little cart tethered to a meek feeble horse by the gate. She could only guess that that was meant for her.
She wished that she could say her final goodbye to her father, but she already knew that was impractical. They wouldn't be so careless to allow her the joy of being with her father. Bella assumed that he was being retained somewhere to prevent causing a commotion among the town this evening.
Bella walked closer to the cart, she could hear the timid horse snort and create a weak neigh. The cart driver continued to gnaw at his pipe and stare inquisitively at Bella.
The woman tugging Bella along stopped besides the cart, waiting for what was to come next. The only noise that could be heard was the sick weak horse tethered to the wooden cart.
The person who broke the silence was the man standing by the cart.
"Get up 'ere and we shall make our way," the cart driver spoke gruffly, gesturing towards the cart.
The woman who held the rope fastening Bella shoved her on the cart, making Bella sprawl on the splintered wood. Bella's face scratched forceful against the rough surface, creating sharp scratches on her face.
Bella felt her hands being jerked by the rope, as it was being tied to the cart, so she wouldn't decide to escape or fall out.
Bella could only lie against the wooden floor of the cart, her face placed down against the coarse timber, staring at the boards.
She heard the leather slap against the hide of the horse and felt the cart begin to move. She didn't hear anything else while leaving the town, only the wheels moving over the gravel.
All Bella could do was wait, as the cart made its way on the narrow gravel road. She paid attention to the shaking when the wheels made its way over uneven stones. She heard thunder rolling in not too far away. The thunder made the horse skittish, and the cart would speed up and veer slightly off the path. The crack of the whip got the horse back together until the next thunderous boom roared.
Bella knew that they will reach the destination soon, because the incline just became sharper, indicating they were going up hill. That's where the North Stone Gate was, on the top of the hill. It was a superstitious place, and considered unholy ground, which was probably why the Black Dragon chose the location.
The horse stopped abruptly for it couldn't go any farther up the hill, and shortly after, collapsed from exhaustion. The man driving the cart began to yell curse words at the frail horse.
Bella then felt herself being wrenched back from the rope.
"It's time to walk now," barked the man, making Bella fall off from the back of the wagon and on to the ground.
Bella grimaced in pain from the sharp rocks below her, but refused to show any sign of weakness.
"Get the bloody hell up on yer' feet!" shouted the man, yanking the rope to get Bella up on her feet.
Bella slowly got up on her knees, the on to her feet. Her legs were bruised and she walked limpidly behind the cart driver up the rest of the hill.
The stone gate was visible on the top of the hill; they were getting closer. The thunder boomed overhead now, and shook the rocks beneath them. Dark thunderous clouds loomed above, making light very scarce and everything the more daunting.
A flash of lighting slithered in the sky like a serpent, which caused Bella to jump. Another roar of thunder greeted the strike of lighting.
"That's the roar of the dragon, ye' know," muttered the cart driver superstitiously up to the sky. "The Black Dragon only flies in the dark clouds, so he can not be seen. He roars at the lighting because he hates the light."
"There are no such things as dragons," mumbled Bella, not bothering to stare up at the clouds.
The cart driver chuckled, "Oh, you are so naïve. You will believe once you are trapped in his belly!"
They reached the stone edifice of the gate, which stood quite tall above them. The lighting outlined it vividly in the bright outbursts of light. Wild vegetation was spread across the stones, making it appear as if nature wished to bring down the gate, and sent vines to pull it down.
They walked underneath it and stood in a circular courtyard of overgrown grass. In the center of the plot was a stone pillar, which was once used as a marker for travelers to see far away over the hills, to know that was where the path ended. But now, it only stands as a warning of the evils that lurk at this point.
The cart driver pulled Bella over to the stone pillar and forced Bella's back against the structure. He forced Bella's hands up as high as they could reach and tied them firmly on the iron hook on the pillar. Her hands were aching already from the strain of the ropes against them.
Another flash of lighting illuminated the area, which made the cart driver shrink back in fear. Rain began to fall heavily from the stormy skies. It fell like hail and submerged everything in a hazy downpour. A roar of thunder cracked loudly overhead. The cart driver petrified, quickly turned away from Bella and began to run through the stone gate and back down the hill.
Bella saw him being lost in the thick downpour. She herself was soaked to the bone in the cold rain and could barely move from where she stood.
She closed her eyes tightly and prayed to God that she wouldn't die, that she could live to see the sun rise again.
It seemed like an eternity, as Bella shivered in the bitter heavy rainfall. Her eyesight was blurry in her current state; she had drifted in and out of consciousness. Her arms ached and were strained from being pulled up tightly. If this continued, she would die before she even met the Black Dragon. It was now completely dark, with no light, except the brief eruption of lighting.
Bella closed her eyes and the sound of falling rain became fainter and the roar of the thunder drifted away as she drifted back into the darkness.
In the darkness and the downpour of rain, stood the Black Dragon. He stood there, with his ebony black cloak draped over him, completely immersed in the heavy rain.
The Black Dragon entered underneath the stone gate and walked nonchalantly into the small courtyard. He did not take notice to the heavy rain or that he was walking in complete darkness. It didn't matter; he could see quite well and felt no pain. Nothing could hinder him in his vengeance; he is the Black Dragon after all.
He stopped mid-stride seeing what was before him. His eyes stared unwavering and possessively at the woman before him tethered to the stone pillar. It was as if someone pierced a sword through his chest.
He passively walked over to the woman, his leather boots splashing in the mud, and cape flapping behind him. The lighting flashed overhead, and a low growl escaped his mouth.
The Black Dragon only growled obsessively three simple words as his eyes burned at Bella.
"You are mine."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please continue to read and reviews are always welcomed! :D Next chapter will be all Edward and Bella. What shall happen? Find out next chapter!
Check out my profile for the link of pictures of the Black Dragon and Bella in their medieval characters!