Bella's POV

"I don't like this." I said, staring into the black tunnel before us. It didn't look like there was any end.

Edward placed a firm hand on my back and flipped on a flashlight. "It'll be fine. We're just going to find a place to ride this out."

"Okay, so I'm going to close up the entrance and when it's all over I'll let you know, okay?" Emma smiled at me and I found it hard to return the sentiment. In the main room the coven met in, amidst the piles of art, there was a large painting of a dark, mysterious woman that hung on the wall. I didn't know that behind that painting was a deep, stone tunnel that connected to other parts of the catacombs. Unless you knew about it, you would never guess it was there.

"And you know for sure that Daphne has no idea there's an entrance here, right?" Edward asked.

"None at all. She only joined our coven recently and we never let our new members in on all of our secrets right away, especially when they used to run with the Volturi."

"Thank you." I whispered as Emma closed the painting, locking us in.

The darkness frightened me. Now, I've never been afraid of the dark, even as a child, but this pitch blackness was something new entirely. The silence was overwhelming and the thick, wet air made me feel damp and uncomfortable. I held tight to Edward as we made our way down the sloping corridor, allowing him to guide me along the cobblestone path.

"Are you alright?" He held the flashlight's beam in front of my feet so I wouldn't fall.

"I'm not going to lie, I've been better."

"We'll be safe here. I trust Emma."

"I know you do, but this doesn't make this any better."

"I'm sorry this is all happening. I thought you would be safe in Paris... I didn't know that Daphne would do this... it's all my fault..."

I knew I should have been angry with him. The lies, deception, and now his ex girlfriend was trying to get me killed? Ridiculous. "It's okay. I just wish the others didn't have to fight her like this... I feel terrible."

"Don't. There's a dozen of them against Rachael and Daphne. They'll be fine." He took the backpack he was shouldering off and took out a bottle of water offering it to me. "Emma's never fully trusted her either, that means that the others probably didn't either.

I began to hear the sound of running water. "Are we under a river or something?"

"No, there are lakes and streams all down here, collected from the rainfall." He explained. "We'll probably come a crossed one very soon."

"Edward, What do you think it going to happen to us?"

"Nothing. Everything's going to be fine."

"How can you say that? I know you're not fine."

I couldn't read his expression in the darkness but I could hear his unhappiness in his voice. "You and I will be fine, Bella. The others will destroy Daphne and all will be well."

I asked the question that had been plaguing me the most. "You still have feelings for her, don't you?"

"Bella, I love you. I need you in my life. She and I were never meant to be, that's why she disappeared, so I could meet you."

"But you still care for her all the same."

His silence gave me my answer. We walked towards the sound of the rushing water without speaking. I wanted to hear his reassuring voice and have him tell me things would be alright, but at the same time, my emotions felt strangely numb. I wanted to scream and hit and lash out for his romantic past and the pain it has caused us. However, I still loved him of course and he has always forgiven my human faults, making me want to forgive his as well. I hoped that once Daphne and Rachael were out of the picture for good, we could get back to our daily lives and finally move on.

When we reached the pool, I could see how massive it was. Now it wasn't a large pool, yet it was extremely deep and clear. I could almost make out the bottom when I shined the flashlight down. There were even a few human bones scattered on the lake's floor, making me shiver. Edward took a lantern out of the bag and lit it, spreading a dull glow in the cavern's walls.

"Is this okay?" Edward asked, pulling out a blanket from the backpack and spreading it on the ground.

The lantern light made me feel slightly better, but the eerie darkness and the sloshing of the dark waters made me nervous. "Yes." I sat down on the blanket next to Edward.

He wrapped an extra one around my chattering form. "I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too."

"Why don't you try to get some rest, it'll all be over before you know it." He reached into the bag and gave me a little red pill. "Take this, it'll help you sleep."

"I don't know..."

"Bella, please. You need your rest and time will go much father for you if you're asleep."

I took the pill and popped it in my mouth, agreeing with his logic. I cuddles up next to him and before I knew it I had fallen into a deep sleep to rival the dead around us.

"Bella. Bella." Edward shook me tersely. "Wake up!"

I groggily opened my eyes to sheer darkness. "What? What's going on?"

"We need to go. Now." He had turned the lantern off and thrust a small flashlight into my hands. "Daphne and Rachael are down here." "Oh my... are you serious?" That woke me up.

He stood up, pulling me with him. "Yes. They just found the door. We need to run."

I climbed on his back and wrapped my arms around his neck as he took off in a sprint down the black tunnels. I could hear bones crunching under his feet and I could swear I heard faint giggling in the distance but prayed it was my imagination. Out of no where he stopped and dropped me down, crouching before me like a tiger ready to spring, a low growl emanating from his chest. I turned the flashlight on and in its glow saw Rachael.

Her red eyes flashed and her teeth were bared. Her flaming red hair was strewn around her head like a fiery halo. "Move, Edward."

"Bella, run." Edward ordered.

I stood my ground, too scared to move a muscle.

"Run!" He bellowed, making me jump.

I turned on my heal and ran back towards where we came. I thought I could make it back to the coven's entrance alone but I soon came to a fork in the corridors. Both looked entirely the same to me; black, endless holes. I broke into tears. How could I do this by myself? I didn't know which way to go. I had heard stories about people getting lost down here and dying or never being found. Not to mention Daphne was apparently stalking around down here and I doubt she was going to help me find the exit.

"Oh, Bella?" A musical voice sang behind me.

I whipped around and saw no one. I took off at a sprint, trying to ignore the sharp cramp at my side. I heard running water again, but when I came to it, i found that it wasn't the pool which I had been at with Edward, but a rocky river with many miniature cliffs and small caves and tunnels. I knew I was still lost.

"Isabella Swan... now where have you gone off to?" The voice asked, teasing me.

Panting, I looked around for a suitable hiding place. I lowered myself into the freezing water and found it was much deeper than I thought and the current was much stronger than it looked. I held onto the ledge and used it to move myself along until I found a small stone overlay to hide underneath. I turned off my flashlight, allowing myself to be enveloped in the darkness.

"Now, Bella, where have you gotten off to?" The voice was close. Too close. "Don't you want to come out and have a nice chat, woman to woman?" I realized that it was Daphne. "Don't act like a child, hiding from your problems. Besides, I know you're in here. I can smell your fear." She giggled.

I tried to keep completely still, not even daring to breath. I put my hand over my mouth to muffle my quiet sobs of fear

"Shame I'll have to kill you, though. I know how fond my Edward is of you. However, once you're gone Edward will be coming back to me and everything will be perfect. You will become nothing but a faint memory to him." I could tell she was right above me. "Nothing."

Then I felt icy cold fingers grasping my shoulders, pulling me out of the frigid water. I didn't even have time to scream before everything went black.