Chapter 3: Without Oxygen

Bella's POV

I was washing the dishes I'd used to make supper when I heard a horse gallop up to our house. I placed my dishes in the drying rack and ran to the door. Outside was Charlie's horse, calmly chewing on some grass. I frowned.

Why was the horse back, but not Charlie? He must be out in the forest all alone, injured. What was I to do?

I could ride the horse to town and tell everyone to get a search party ready, but that would take an awful long time. I wanted to head out now. So that left me with the option of going to look for Charlie in the forest by myself.

I stared at the horse, chewing on my bottom lip. I didn't know if it was a good idea, but I sure wasn't going to let Charlie be eaten by wolves or some such thing. I swung myself up on the horse and set out in the direction Charlie had gone.

***

Three hours later

I ran for my life, the horse having abandoned me. Was this what had happened to Charlie? Was I about to suffer the same fate?

The wolves snarled behind me, and I ran faster, not caring where I was going. Away from those wolves was all I wanted. Without warning, a castle loomed up ahead of me, black gates gleaming. I ran straight for them, willing them to open. I was surprised when they obeyed me and I ran through, the gates closing behind me.

I stared at the place I had gotten myself trapped in. It seemed I had three options this time. Go back out the gate and get eaten; wander inside the gates until someone inside the house noticed me and no doubt kicked me off the land, where I'd get eaten by wolves; or I could knock on the door.

Before I could make my rather obvious decision, the door swung open to reveal a small girl. I frowned.

"Hello, Isabella. You better come in," the girl said.

***

Edward's POV

I stared at the man locked inside the chamber intently. He had been sitting in there muttering something about 'Isabella' and 'better not come', for the past 6 hours.

The servants had been unspeakably nice to the man when he came in, offering him food before realizing we didn't have any, and apologizing profusely. It was lucky I had decided to come out of the library at that moment, or they would have had him sleeping in one of our many unused beds.

It was completely unacceptable. It was a wonder no one had decided he would make a nice meal. Though we had all been holding our breath since he came in, only breathing when necessary for speech.

The woman that had come to the door all those years ago had inflicted a horrible existence upon us. We were forced to feed upon humans for sustenance. We all hated it and so we stayed cooped up in our castle, avoiding people.

So why Alice had decided to open the door for the first visitor to come knocking on our door, I had no idea, and no way of finding out. She had been translating books she had read into French in her head to block me out. I was very close to going to her and ripping off her head for denying me knowledge.

I was surprised to hear movement behind me, and turned towards the noise. Alice was coming in the room, leading a girl behind her. I grimaced. Why were all these humans showing up today?

Just then, the door swung shut, blowing wind in my direction, carrying the human girl's scent. The man smelt good, but I had never smelt anything like the girl. It was absolutely heavenly, and I wanted nothing more than to sink my teeth into her neck immediately. I lunged for her but Alice pushed me back and I felt someone grab me from behind.

'Goodness sakes, Edward, don't lose control.' It was Rosalie. Alice shook her head condescendingly, wagging her finger in my face.

"Oh no, Master Edward. I don't think the rose would like it if you killed the one you're supposed to be with," With that, Alice stopped translating books in her head and let me watch her vision.

-I was sitting on a long couch, the one in my bedroom. The girl in front of me—Bella, apparently—had her head in my lap, sleeping. I was stroking her hair comfortingly.-

I cringed. I was going to fall for this girl? Well, that completely changed things. I mustn't bite her, no matter how good she smelled. We had to get this curse removed.

"You can let go of me now, Rosalie," I growled under my breath.

'You sure about that?'

"I am fine. Let go, or I will make you let go," Rosalie chuckled and let my hands drop. I looked over to where Bella should be, but she wasn't there. She was crouched beside the bars of the man's cell, whispering something. I stalked over and moved her away from the bars.

"Don't talk to him," I growled. She shrunk back, cowering, then threw herself at my feet, sobbing.

"Give me back my father! You can have me instead!"she sobbed out. Her father protested from the cell, but I paid him no mind. This was a perfect opportunity.

"As you wish. Your father will go free, and you will remain here with me," I saw Alice smile mischievously and run over to the cell, unlocking the door and taking Bella's father out. He screamed pointlessly as she led him out of the room, but as she whispered things in his ears, he seemed to quiet down.

I turned back to Bella, who was curled up on the floor, crying.

"Y-you can lock me up now. He's g-gone," she choked out, barely understandable. I shook my head and gestured to Rosalie to take her to a room.

"Nonsense. You will stay in the guest room," Rosalie led Bella away and I watched them go.

When they were out of sight, I called to Emmett. He zipped into the room, standing in front of me.

"Yes, Eddie?" he asked obnoxiously.

"Don't call me that. I need you to take the rose into the west wing, to my bedroom. And tell Rosalie to inform Bella that she is not allowed in that area of the house," Emmett nodded and ran off again.

I turned back to the empty cell, pondering everything that had just happened. I hoped it wasn't a mistake.

***

Bella's POV

I followed the statuesque blonde girl whose name was apparently Rosalie down the halls numbly. The people here seemed to be nice, with the exception of Edward. But their eyes... those red eyes scared me to death.

Rosalie opened the door to a room and gestured for me to go inside.

"I hope you were paying attention to where we were going; you'll need to be able to find your way around alone. I'm not going to guide you everywhere," she said.

A tall, muscular man poked his head into the room and gestured for Rosalie to come talk to him. She obliged and I took the time to examine my new room.

It was quite large and spacious, with a bed in one corner, a large vanity, and a huge bookcase. I stared hopelessly around the room. Though it was large and airy owing to the fact there were French doors leading to a balcony, I still felt suffocated, like I couldn't breathe.

This may have been my new house and room, but it wasn't my home. My home was far away, wherever my father was. The saying 'Home is where the heart is' applied to me completely.

"Emmett told me to inform you that you can roam all over the house as long as you don't go in the west wing," Rosalie told me. I nodded and scanned the room again, wondering what was in the west wing. The little pixie girl appeared at my door carrying a bag.

"Hey!" she twittered. "Rose, want to help me make Bella look gorgeous for dinner with Edward?" Rosalie shrugged a sure.

"Um, I already ate..." I trailed off as Alice gave me a glare with her dark red eyes.

"No, Bella, you will go eat with him," I shook my head adamantly. Alice's face glazed over for a moment. When it came back into focus, she shook her head. "I guess I won't persuade you," she admitted. "But you're still getting dressed up." I was pushed into a chair and I no longer had any control.

I couldn't survive without oxygen and this place was severely lacking.

***

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