A/N: I appologize for the late late update! All I can say is, yay for summer. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Bride and the Beast.
Chapter 10
- X -
Quick stepped footsteps descended down the staircase, followed by hissing intakes through clenched teeth. The owner's sword clanked against the narrow stone wall of the staircase that led down to the dungeon. He extended the torch light above his head. One could see his steely cobalt eyes turn cold against the fiery torch embers. It was an eerie contrast. They were unquestionably the venomous eyes of the Black Dragon.
The Black Dragon reached the end of the staircase to the entrance of the dungeon chamber. He stood deathly still a moment, as if he was a serpent testing the environment around him for prey. It was if he could taste in the stagnant air that his fiancée had been here. His jaw was set firm, his body went stiff, and his eyes examined the dimly lit room with a chilling gaze. His eyes then fixated on the small water ravine that ran through the dungeon. The shadowy water lapped noisily in its stone pathway.
He brusquely ran to the ravine and growled, "Damn!"
He knew instinctively where Bella had fled. He knew that she would take any option of escape, even if it meant leading to a watery grave. Regardless, the Black Dragon is undeniably a master of the hunt, and whenever he targets someone as his prey; it's only a matter of time when they are found. The Black Dragon does not rest till he catches his quarry. It was a sick game to play. However, this occasion was far more dangerous for the victim. This time, the hunter carried an unhealthy obsession for his prey. He hungered for her, in a lustful and sinful way… he was loving her sickly.
The Black Dragon threw his torch out of his hand with ferocity, and swiftly ran out of the dungeon en route to the stables. He ran with such vigor that it looked like he was a demon flying in the darkness.
Bella clawed at the stone walls, trying to stop herself from the force of the current to reach the surface of the water to breath. The stone walls were encased with slimy filmy grime that made it hard to grip on. Even that task was almost impossible with the powerful current tossing her around like a rag doll. She felt like she was drowning in the darkness, but she was kicking for dear life. She had the will to live, but how long could she struggle when air was escaping in her lungs, and being replaced by water?
Anxiety and fear overwhelmed her body. Bella could feel her heart beat faster, and the adrenaline rushing in her veins as she struggled for any source of air. She was thrashing and kicking with all her might, which made her even more exhausted. It seemed like the waterway would never end in its ever winding channel.
She gasped for a quick breath of air as she managed to bring her head above the surface for a moment, but the current grabbed her back down beneath the water. She was choking on water, and was fighting for any air. Bella could feel her lungs burning, and her head beginning to ache from lack of air, and the need for it. The reality of drowning was becoming all too real. It was a strong possibility for her at this point, and she knew it all too well.
'Please, Dear Lord, let me live,' Bella prayed to herself, 'I have fought too long to die now.'
She was fighting with all her might, her heart pounding so hard, and anxiety flooding her body. Her head soon began to feel light headed, and her actions began to slow. She was succumbing to the darkness of the frigid water. She was slowly closing her eyes and the sound of the rushing water became softer and distant. Everything was growing numb.
She thought of how her father was in Draynar, and how badly she wanted to see him again. Suddenly, images of the Black Dragon tainted her mind; he, the one who brought this hell upon her, the one who tore her apart from her father, the one who led her to drown in darkness. All she could think about was him, clad in black leather, his serpent like gaze, and demonic air. This all infected her thoughts. It replaced the fond images of her father like a venomous poison. A fiery burning hatred for him raked her soul. She didn't want to die like this, the last few precious moments of life spoiled with thoughts of her malevolent captor. Yet, she couldn't get him out of her mind. He had tightened himself in her thoughts, like a snake constricting its meal, ready to devour it.
Bella was losing herself even more, as the dark water continued to lull her deeper into the abyss.
'I escaped, but you still plague my thoughts, even on verge of death,' Bella thought despondently to herself as she was carried lifelessly by the surging water. The cold dark water cradled and enveloped her as it took her on its journey.
An auburn Arabian horse slowly trotted along the river embankment with its master. The clouds were dark overhead, and the winds were picking up - an ominous sign of a storm. The horse suddenly stopped by the tug of the reins.
"Here, let's drink some water for a few moments," The master spoke considerately to his horse while eyeing the sky, "But, let's be quick, a storm is coming."
The rider quickly unmounted his horse and steered the reins towards the river's water. The rider was quite tall and was a muscular build. His skin was a handsome tan color, while his hair was shoulder length and ebony black, and tied behind his back. He carried an air from a distant land, from the area of the Byzantine Empire taken by the Turks.
He bared a black leather chest plate, a pair of vambraces, and long leather boots. In his belt was fastened an intimidating scimitar sword. He also wore a long dark royal blue cloak that draped around his front collar bone before falling behind him. This was pinned with an ornate dark cobalt stone carved in the figure of a wolf. The wolf, in Turkish myth, is considered the mother of all the Turkish people. The myth foretells that the blue wolf named Asena took care of a young boy who survived from a battle. The boy impregnated the wolf, which gave birth to half-human and half-wolf people.
He knelt down by the water's edge on his hands and knees and lapped up the water with his mouth against the surface - similar to how a wild animal would, but he did it with gracefulness.
He got back to his feet and looked appreciatingly over at his horse who was guzzling up the water.
He patted the mane of the horse warmly, "You had a tough and long journey, my friend. You need a good drink. Soon we will rest for the night, and then you can finally take it easy."
He had a wry smile and looked around his surroundings. It was certainly not like his homeland. The past few months have been filled with foreign sights that he hadn't been accustomed to before.
The horse neighed with content as it lifted its head up. It drank its fill.
The rider looked away from the surroundings back to his horse, "Are you ready to ride on?"
He went back to get one last drink of water, when he noticed something odd. The river has several good sized rocks, some had a collection of caught driftwood, but there was something else that had been caught.
He squinted his eyes, and looked more closely; it appeared as if someone was almost lying face down on the rock. The rough waters in the middle of the river was crashing against the lower half of the body that was submerged, making the person look stuck in between the waters and the rock.
He didn't think whether the person was dead or not, but quickly grabbed rope from his saddle bag and tied it firmly around his waist and tied the other to the horse. He uncloaked himself, unbelted his scimitar, and went into the water towards the person. The current was strong, but he was managing to navigate it with all his strength. He was grabbing and pulling himself from rock to rock as he swam the torrent. He was finally getting closer to the person.
His horse on the embankment grunted as the rope began to get taut. He had reached the length of the rope, and he was not quite there yet. He whistled over the loud current to his horse to get closer. The horse only moved a few paces into the river, but wouldn't budge any further. The rocks were too troublesome.
He groaned and knew there wasn't enough slack in the rope for him to make it to the person. He had to make a choice, risk his life for a person who was either alive or dead, or return back.
Without a second thought, he reached in his vambrace, pulled out a short dagger, and severed the rope from his waist. He was playing a great risk.
"You better be worth this," he muttered under his breath as he quickly pushed himself from the rock he was gripping on to the next nearby rock.
The Black Dragon rode heatedly alongside the river bank, where the ravine exited out to. The horse galloped furiously, casting mud and stones back up in the air in its wake. His eyes scanned the water with a deathly stare. His appearance could've been mistaken for Hades- waiting to pull out the lost soul from the River Stix.
He pulled the reins back from the horse, and the horse backed up, and neighed loudly. He thought he saw something in the water, but soon found out he was mistaken. It was only driftwood.
"I will find you, whether its this life or the next," he growled under his breath. The Black Dragon then clucked his tongue impatiently and kicked his horse onward on its rampant dash.
The rider branded with the wolf crest struggled against the strong current, knowing any slips could result him being carried away with the strong surge. Yet, he managed to finally reach the rock that the person was caught upon.
He gripped tightly, and moved around to where the person was pinned up. He reached out a hand and lifted the head up from the rough surface of the rock.
His breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Also, thanks for everyone who has stuck around since the begining! I really appreciate it! Please keep on reading! Haha, and I bet you already guessed that the guy was Jacob. Since there aren't any Native American Indians in medieval Europe, I had to place Jacob as somewhere around Turkey. It's true about the myth though! Reviews are always welcome! :D