BELLA

"Darling, I think we've known each other long enough to finally meet face to face. Come on now, take off this silly mask." He tries to tug the mask away from his face with little success.

Fucking git. It was made of wrought iron with a heavy padlock, did he think he could just pry it off by mere strength? Not with those dainty fingers.

"Oh Prince Damon," I stop to let out a shrill giggle – which elicits a smile from him – before continuing. "I believe you were thoroughly informed of the rules before entering this situation. The mask stays on until I say so."

He lets out a frustrated sigh and grasps around for my hand. I purposely keep it out of reach just to amuse myself as he grapples around.

"But Darling, don't you trust me? We're well acquainted by now." He manages to grab a hold of my elbow, and quickly latches on, lacing our fingers together.

"Ah, there you are." He smiles, angling his head towards where he thinks I sit. Moron.

And if by "well acquainted" he means "we've only known each other for three days," than yes, I agree.

"Tell me, Prince –"

"Damon, please."

"Err…alright, tell me, Damon –"

"Oooh Darling," he groans out, pulling my hand to his lips, "I love the way you say my name –"

I quickly cut him off before he orgasms on the spot.

"Yes…um, yes, me too. Anyways, as I was saying…why exactly do you want to be together?"

Besides the fact that my parents are ridiculously rich, and ridiculously desperate to break the spell.

Okay, the latter only applies to my mother, but pretty much whatever she wanted my father wanted. He could not deny her anything.

"Because I love you, Isabella." He breathes out, raining more kisses on my arm. At this rate, I think I'll have to amputate it to get rid of the germs.

Wouldn't make a difference, considering you're ugly anyways.

Gee, thanks inner self for that vote of confidence.

It's true, might as well accept it now.

Well I have. I'm perfectly fine with the way that I look, but my mother is a different story.

I glare at Damon, wishing I had the ability to melt things with my eyes (I think I have an uncle who can do that, maybe I'll hit him up for some lessons) but instead I focus on the task at hand.

The sooner I do this, the sooner I can stop playing these stupid games my mother keeps setting up for me.

"Yes, well, I appreciate that." He frowns at my words.

"Darling." I quickly interject. Don't want him running away now when I have bigger plans in mind.

"But," I continue, "why else do you like me?"

His brows crinkle at that question. Like I said, fucking git.

"Why…else?"

I nod, and then realize he can't see me. Fucking hell, his stupidity is rubbing off on me.

"Yes."

"Why…because of your beauty."

I'm sorry?

"Pardon?" I ask, a bit shocked that he would give such an answer. I knew he was an idiot, but come on.

"I meant your inner beauty." He corrects quickly. His voice is higher than usual when he lies.

I add that little tidbit into my mind vault for safekeeping. Not that he's going to be around much longer for me to use it against him.

"Go on," I encourage, giving his hand a squeeze. Ugh.

"You are gentle, and kind. Your heart is pure gold and your voice is as smooth as maple syrup."

"Go on," I say again, when really what I mean is "shut the fuck up before I shove this pastry down your throat!"

Or even better, up his ass.

"We fit so well together, this is surely a match made in heaven!"

"What about my outer beauty?"

"Hmm?" he tries to lean his head on my shoulder, but I shove him away.

"Sorry," I say, "I strained a muscle during archery lessons yesterday."

He consoles himself by nuzzling his face into the crook of my arm.

"You never answered my question."

"Oh, I didn't? What did you ask…about your inner beauty?"

"Outer."

"Oh right, outer. Well I don't think we have to worry about that, darling, if you're half as beautiful as your mother than I don't think we have anything to worry about."

Wrong answer.

I quickly pull out the keys, unlock his mask and whip it off before he even has time to adjust his eyesight.

"You worried now?" I ask, smirking at him from underneath my bushy brows.

At first he blinks a few times, as if unsure of what he's seeing, before I see the clogs turn and click within that peanut brain of his.

And it's fantastic.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" He screams, knocking over the coffee table. He scrambles to his feet and runs behind the couch, using it as a barrier between us.

"What's wrong, Darling, didn't you want to get married?" I stalk towards him, my gait slow and limping.

"Stay away!" he yells, throwing a cushion at me.

I ignore him and hop onto the sofa, not caring that I still have my shoes on. He backs up in horror and knocks over a lamp, causing it to fall to the ground and shatter into pieces.

"I said, stay away!" he screams again, running for the door.

I'm about to chase after him because it's been awhile since I've worked out, but am immediately stopped by my bodyguard.

"Hello Tyler." I smile sweetly at him. "Sup?"

"Bella," he says in a stern tone. "The Queen will not be – "

He doesn't get to finish because in that moment, said Queen storms in looking like all hell is about to break loose.

"I cannot believe you did that again Bella! How many times do we have to go through this?"

Even angry, my mother looks like a beautiful angel. Her skin burns brightly as her hair starts to float around her, her eyes shooting sparks. Literally. I can see the red shimmering in and out of her skin as she glares at me.

She marches towards the couch and sits down, ordering me to do the same. I trudge over, not caring about manners.

"Mother, you and I both know Damon's a twit who can barely string together words. Why the hell would I marry him?"

"Oh, I don't know," she snaps, "because you've scared off every other suitor?"

If she means to sting with her words, it doesn't work. I've become immune to insults by this point.

"They're going to be scared off regardless of what I do once they see me," I shoot back, "why not just get it over in the beginning?"

"Oh Isabella," she sighs, "what am I going to do with you?" She reaches for my face and light touches the bumps on my cheeks. "Don't you want to be beautiful?"

Of course I do. What girl doesn't? But at this point I've given up entirely.

"Give it up mother, it's not going to happen." I shrug away from her and stand up, heading for the door.

Just as I'm about to leave, her voice rings loud and clear.

"Tomorrow evening, another suitor will come to replace the one you have ran off. Be on your best behavior or else I'll have your books taken away."

Well fuck. What the hell am I suppose to do if I have nothing to read? It's not like I can run off to party with my friends. Or lack thereof.

She really knew where to hit me so it hurts.

"Fine." I grounded out, before heading towards my room.

I'll just think of more creative ways to scare him.

I hope you like Bella, because I do.

Chapters after this will be much longer :)

Reviews get my juices flowing, so keep 'em coming!

Love, Ivy