Chapter 9: Secured

FishFriend

Note: Sorry for the long update. Lots of important stuff popped up, emergency stuff, you know? Here it is.

Disclaimer: Me Do not Own Twilight/New Moon.

I fought still harder, amazed at my stupidity for not fighting against him back at the gate to this whole world in the first place. I wanted to regret my decision, but I knew now was not the time. I needed to scheme my way out of this one, and apparently I would have to do it without Edward.

My wrists were firmly secured by Bristol, and I was being dragged forward. Another guard I had not seen before emerged from the shadows to follow us toward the large oak paneled doors that I could see just ahead.

"Let go of me!" I hissed angrily at him, panic edging more into my voice.

Bristol rolled his eyes, not very interested in my useless struggles. "Calm down, girl. You'll wear yourself out before you even get to the queen." We had now reached the doors, and my frantic struggles were eyed with a hint of amusement by the guards.

"You may enter," said the guard loftily. I noticed that the rest of these vampires were glaring at me with hunger apparent in their red eyes. Bristol seemed to be the only one to have topaz ones…This comforted me slightly, but not by much. But not by a long shot.

The door was opened by one of the guards, and Bristol tugged me through. I was losing my energy, and I knew I would hurt myself if I didn't stop soon. I glanced up to the Queen, and vibrant, curly black hair caught my eyes. She had a long and pointed face, like an elf. The rest of her face was elfish as well, though her topaz eyes sparkled.

"What have you brought me, Bristol?" She asked, confused, but not angry. Her temperament reminded me much of Aro's, except maybe a little more patient, and calmer. Her polite smile was political, though there was more to it. Like she actually cared.

"I found her drowning, stuck in the mud near the door. And you know how you, my Queen, have this annoying little requirement for us to save all the little humans dying around this park…" his voice was apologetic towards her as he hung his head. "So I saved her. The curious thing was, she already knew about us. About vampires, and such. And she smells like us." The shock was clear on his face and voice, and I shuddered.

Bristol glanced down to me, the first time he took his sight off this 'Queen'. I had the courage to raise my voice. "What are you doing…down here?" I asked, or mumbled, but I said something, at least.

The Queen rolled her eyes, but in a light hearted gesture. "My dear…what is your name again?"

I blinked a few times before stuttering, "Bella."

She nodded, then continued. "Bella, dear, you might say we are a counterpart to the Volturi, someone who plans to challenge them for power. Do you know who these Volturi are?" She said in a soft voice.

I nodded meekly, and let her continue. "As you know, the Volturi are in the city. In fact, they have come to deal with us. By the looks of it, you may have been running from them, am I right?"

It took me a moment to choose the right words. "I was…avoiding them, yes. With someone else." I shut my mouth after I said these words, knowing that my lack of confidence betrayed me.

"Who is this someone else?" the Queen prompted. I bit my lip, and cast my eyes nervously around the room.

"Who are they?" the she repeated after a minute's pause by me.

"A Cullen." I admitted quietly, looking at the opposite wall. I glanced over to the 'Queen' to find her eyes dancing with some emotion kin to excitement.

"Cullens? Is this one in the city with you?" She seemed thrilled by the very idea. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, and with that motion, I finally noticed her dress. It was eye catching, which made me pause. Light blue, with a light off-white bath just below the chest, with long, flowing see through sleeves that flared out around the her elbows. It exposed her shoulders, and most of her collar bone. I marveled at how it contrasted against her skin, and her hair. It was so…perfect. (A/N: Picture on Profile)

The Queen looked only slightly irritated as I gazed over her dress, almost longingly. She eventually rolled her eyes and my gaze snapped back to her face. "Erm, yes…He's here…" I said nervously, biting my lip and shifting my weight to leg to leg.

The 'Queen' clapped her hands, and spun in a quick, tight circle, her dress flaring out around her ankles. "Oh, good! That means I will be able to meet one!" She smiled at me, a grin, if you would go so far to say that.

Bristol cleared his throat. "My Queen, is it so wise to meet them?" he questioned.

"Silly! First off, Call me Ardella, as I've said before, Bristol. The same for you, Bella. Secondly, we saved Bella, why would the Cullen have any hostilities toward us? He doesn't even know about us. " She giggled, waving her hand in the hair, as though it would dismiss all problems.

So her name was Ardella… It was an old name, I knew by the sound of it. I examined her again. Her dress, come to think of it, was almost medieval when you came to think of it. She was short, as many woman in that time period had been. Maybe she isolated herself and a few others down here to avoid time, because she didn't like seeing the world change. Who knew?

"Miss Ardella, we have to change her. You know the law your grandmother put in place." he warned, then continued, "All humans saved by one of the us that live down here, are to either be killed or changed, depending on the situation, and ruled upon by the Queen." He gently reminded her.

The 'Queen' smacked the heel of her hand against her forehead, and closed her eyes tightly. "Oh, that silly little rule!" She murmured, more to herself than anyone. She removed her hand, and opened her eyes slowly. She looked at me intently, my frightened expression, the slight hint of hope in my eyes.

But there was more she couldn't see. How it hurt to be separated from Edward in this situation, how I ached for him physically as well as mentally. How many questions I had, how I wanted to be a vampire and fight my way out of this prison. All unseeable, but so plain to me.

"Come here, Bella" she said quietly, holding out her hand palm up, her face loosing the happy demeanor, replacing it with a somber one, filled with soon-to-be regret and conflict. Bristol released his secure hold on me, gently shoving me towards the 'Queen'.

I was torn. Risk being killed and run for it, or take Ardella's hand and risk getting killed and/or getting changed. I knew there was only one choice, and I would have to put my trust in a single vampire I knew almost nothing about.

With this in mind, I took several nippy steps forward, and placed my hand in the 'Queen's'. I felt her tug me forward, spinning me at the same time. Now my back was pressed up against her front, my hand wrapped firmly around my body, and held tightly by her hand. I thrashed out, but her other hand grabbed my free one, and secured me as well. Bristol stepped up to hold my shoulders down.

I knew what was coming, the sharp pain on teeth in my neck, and then…and then what? Death, or more pain, more pain than the time James had bitten me. The fire…

And then I felt it. The teeth, sinking into me, and a sensation that could only mean my blood was draining. But then it was no more, and I felt myself being released into Bristol's arms, and the fire starting to burn in my neck.

All was silent for a moment, and then my scream broke the silence.