Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight. At All. No copyright infringement intended btw.

Chapter 14

A rustle of trees, a cracking of a twig and an eerie presence tells me I am not alone. I turned round. James was suddenly before me, as if out of my fears. He's eyes-what seemed challenging before, looks frightening in the dim moonlight. He circled around me, as we regarded each other with cold unfeeling eyes. Then taking a step toward me, he looked up at the sky.

"What a lovely night," he muttered, breaking the ice-cold silence.

On the contrary, I thought ruefully. A breeze comes and I shiver.

He glanced at me, "And what a nice breeze." He chuckled to himself.

I step back, towards the house It was an uncomfortable feeling to be close to him, for he gave me chills. "We shall be missed soon, I suggest we go back."

"So soon?" asked he. "Why, there's quite a party there, I would like to get a bit of air. And of course, to be alone with you," he told me, feigning romance and charm.

"Well, don't worry. I'm sure there'll be plenty of that though," I replied bitterly.

"I hope so. I prefer you spend time with me, than that Mr. Cullen." I flinched as James snarled his name, hurt. "That is to be expected now that we are engaged, isn't it?"

"Stop beating around the bush, James. Please tell me what you wanted to talk to me about," I told him placidly.

He stopped pacing around and turned to look at me fully. "I am addressing the fact that I saw you with Mr. Cullen dancing together as if there was no tomorrow," he said, "on our engagement night."

So true, for I wished I was engaged to someone else. "The people are all having a fun time. I got carried away," I tried to reply as nonchalantly as possible.

No need to feel all the emotions right now. I had a whole lifetime to feel them. Dear Lord, tell me this isn't really happening! Was I so cruel to deserve such a ogre-tale? I was so close to my fairy-tale happy-ending. Yet a villain entered a picture, which ruined the image. It was molded into another story.

"Yes. Seeing my betrothed dance romantically with her dashing suitor. That's what every groom-to-be would like to see, isn't it?"

Even with all my anger towards him, I couldn't deny the guilt. Yet I didn't regret feeling guilty. In fact, I enjoyed it.

"I don't want you to see him anymore. No talking to him, or inviting him to our parties in the future, he commanded.

I looked at him, my eyes wide. This was too incredulous to happen!

"You are only jesting, aren't you?" I asked.

He shook his head,"No. In fact, we should immediately end all our connections with the Cullens. We are far better than them and without them, for the matter."

"I will not permit you to do that to me! They are my friends! And also my mothers! My word-Dr. Cullen and my father were planning a fishing trip this spring!"

He was not entirely serious, was he? I knew he was quite mean, but...

"Silence! Who told you to speak?"

"Why, I can speak form myself!" I answered.

One foot after the other, he comes closer to me. Almost instinctively, I step back in defiance. My eyes narrow as I try to impose myself to a man. But his form looms over me, emphasizing his height, his domination over me. All I can do is stare back at his eyes-the only thing I can see- indignantly.

"Hear me now for you shall follow this for the rest of your life: surrender any affairs with the Cullens."

"I shall repeat to you what I said earlier, if you have not heard-I. Will. Not."

Wherever this fierce determination, this pride, came from, I did not know. Must be from the adrenaline rush pulsing through my veins at the time. For under my irate expression, I was frightened. Scared and alone. How did I ever trust this person? I asked myself. How could I ever loved him? Ached for him? The expression on his face was menacing. His eyes glinted not only mischievously, but dangerously. He had a devilish smirk that I used to fall for. Not now.

That's when I notice it.

His eyes.

His eyes were red and bloodshot as if, as if....

"Oh dear God..." I gasp.

"What is it? Hmm?" He tilts his head slightly, questioningly.

But the unlikely happened. My face informed him of what I knew. "What?" He snarled.

I gasp, my eyes never leaving his eyes. His red glazy eyes. His face never looked so dangerous as it did now. I start to back away, one foot after the other. Then tried to break into a run. But as usual, the hindrance of the many layers of dresses and other sorts kept me stumbling. I also realized that I was running the wrong way, further from the party. Soon he caught on to me, grabbing my hand. I had led him to the place he was to commit heinous crimes to...

"Ah!" I exclaimed as he grabbed a fistful of my knotted hair. "Let go!" I cried desperately. The corset was not helping. In fact, it made it all the more harder to breathe. I gasped and gasped. Oh dear, something was getting tighter and tighter. All I could see were shadows moving and something black that dropped. THUNK!

Before I slipped into unconsciousness, I heard hurried frantic footsteps, struggling and someone being surprised. Then I was lulled deep under.


A/N: what do you think? It's kind of dark, this chapter. Here it goes... I'M SOOOO SORRY!!!!!! Sorry for being in complete (or semi) hiatus. Its just... I can't even explain it. But seriously, I'm still trying to think what will happen to the story. All you can do is.. well, wait and see. Wait and read.

No promises, but I shall try more often to write. Try.

-Alice