No, your eyes are not deceiving you. I really AM posting another chapter!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER 11: Test

"Hello Bella," a soft, menacing voice greeted her.

No, not good at all.

"I wouldn't do anything foolish if I were you. My associates planted explosives in your friends' cars. All I have to do is press one little button here, and your precious Edward, Alice and Jasper turn into piles of hot ash. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Bella forced herself to shut down her rising panic and think clearly. Victoria could easily be lying. Alice must see this happening, she reasoned. Wouldn't Alice have called her? Why hadn't she?

"I thought you would. You will go with those boys next to you. No attracting attention, unless you want to be responsible for your friends' deaths."

Alice was supposed to be on her way to meet her…in her little yellow convertible. Dammit, Victoria's decision to blow up Alice's car wouldn't be made until too late for her to see it. What's more, in spite of her father's self-defense teachings, Bella didn't think she could incapacitate both men before one of them contacted Victoria. Bella had no choice. She had to let them take her.

"Alright," said Bella grimly, "You win. I'll come peacefully. Just let me grab my keys. If someone finds them here, they'll be suspicious."

One of the men nodded, the other still on the phone with Victoria. Slipping them into her pocket, Bella very carefully pressed the speed-dial button for Edward's phone, knowing that, unlike Alice, he didn't have a greeting for his voicemail. Please let him hear what's happening, she prayed.

Bella dawdled as much as possible, hoping that Alice or Edward would reach her before she went God knows where with these guys.

"Come on," growled one of the men, "We don't have all day." He grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hallway. It was semi-deserted, as the next class period wasn't for another hour.

Suddenly she heard running footsteps behind them.

"Bella!"

Carissa rounded the corner. What was she doing here?

"I'm glad I caught you," her beautiful office mate exclaimed, completely ignoring the two men. The fact that she barely even glanced at a male, let alone two of them, struck Bella as odd. Her brain worked frantically, trying to figure out a way to communicate the situation without raising suspicion. Or causing any more harm.

"Hello boys." Ah, there it was. Flirty Carissa was in the house. She glanced at them from under her lashes and coyly turned away, partially covering her face with her long curly blonde hair.

"Bella, that question you asked at the end of today's class? Alice says that she has the answer and is going to work on the project."

Understanding flashed through Bella's mind. Carissa glanced significantly at her hand at her side, and made a punching motion with it. Bella nodded imperceptibly. Alright then…one, two , THREE!

Carissa slammed her booted foot into the side of one captor's knee, while Bella kicked the groin of the other man. Both assailants howled with pain.

"Run!" Bella shouted. The women took off, both heading for the building's exit.

Fear and adrenaline lent her speed she never knew she had. We've got to get out of here and into a more public place. There's the exit! Almost…

Another figure appeared abruptly in front of them. Bella ran into him with a force that should have knocked him over, but instead she found herself flung back, her bruised ribs on fire.

"We meet at last," the vampire grinned menacingly. In a flash he shoved Carissa against a wall, her head snapping backward with a painful crack and her body slumping to the ground.

"Oh, don't worry," he sneered softly, taking Bella in an unbreakable grasp. "She'll wake up eventually. After I'm done with you, I'll have her for dessert."

Bella barely had time to see his fist descend before everything went black.

The first thing she felt was intense pain in her ribs. Someone must be jabbing a stiletto heel into me, she thought, fighting her way back to consciousness. Some sort of cloth had been stuffed in her mouth, and it felt like someone covered the lower part of her face with duct tape. Slowly opening her eyes, it took a few moments to focus on her brown-booted feet…standing on muddy leaves. She was outside, in a forest, chained to a tree with her numb arms wrapped around the trunk behind her. A horrible pounding started inside her head, and she fought the dizziness that began to engulf her.

"Good of you to join us, Bella."

James.

He appeared in front of her with an evil smirk on his angular face, his lustful crimson eyes raking over her. Bella shuddered as he ran a cold filthy finger from her temple, across her cheek, and down her neck. Edward and Alice, where are you?

"You really do smell appetizing," he said softly, his leering face inches from hers and his sour breath fanning over her.

Don't panic. Don't panic! It'll only entice him...

Suddenly he twisted his hand, his fingernail making a deep cut under her chin. Bella screamed behind her gag.

He licked her blood from his fingertip. "Maybe just a little taste while I…"

Abruptly he grasped the top of her sweater and ripped it straight down the front. "Yes! No wonder Cullen kept you as his pet. Well, it looks like it's time for someone else to play."

This was it. She was going to die at the hands…and teeth…of this evil vampire. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the torture to follow.

"James," a melodious female voice interrupted. "He's coming."

Who? Who's coming?

James stepped away from Bella, glancing sideways at the lovely flame-haired vampire emerging from the woods on the left. Like James, her clothes looked dirty and slightly torn, although now Bella's gaze focused on the woman's face.

"So you recognize me, do you?" she sneered at their captive. "Your friend may have rescued you last time, but now…"

"A little revenge, my sweet Bella," James interjected smoothly. "Murdered by your own lover, the vampire who tried so hard to save you. And he, in turn, is destroyed. How ironic. How perfect!"

How unhinged, thought Bella. He truly is insane. She screamed into her gag again as James sliced through the skin of her left arm with his thumbnail. And then she was alone.

Bella began to feel an odd tingling sensation, pleasant, almost indiscernible yet rapidly strengthening. It couldn't possibly be…

Edward! He appeared silently, about a hundred yards to her right. Her heart leapt. Thank God, he'd found her.

Wait, why was he moving so slowly? He approached her, his movements stealthy, predatory. As he neared, she saw that his eyes were cold, solid black. In fact, she'd never seen him look more like a vampire.

Bella stood absolutely frozen, her heart pounding. He wasn't here to save her, he was here to eat her. Oh shit.

In a flash he stood a mere twenty feet from her, his expression wild and deadly at the same time.

"Don't be afraid," he murmured softly, seductively. "I promise to make this as painless as possible."

Stay calm, Bella, she instructed herself sternly. He's a predator. Don't let him feel your fear, or you'll die for sure.

Who are you kidding, her other half scoffed. You'll die for sure either way.

Calm…relaxed…your only chance is for him to read your thoughts. You have no other way to communicate. She closed her eyes and imagined herself back in her apartment, dancing with him. She remembered how it felt to be held in his arms, content.

Edward, it's Bella. You don't want to hurt me. Please hear me. She concentrated on pushing her thoughts out to him. Hold your breath, Edward.

Bella opened her eyes and looked directly into his. He'd halted within arms' reach of her. For a moment he stared at her, as if mesmerized. Then he clamped his jaw shut, closing his own eyes. When he opened them again they were slightly lighter, more golden around the edges.

Please, Edward, she begged.

"I won't harm you," he promised through gritted teeth. Bella wasn't sure who he was trying to convince more, himself or her.

He kept his gaze locked on hers. Bella forced herself not to blink, projecting calming thoughts to him, wondering briefly is this was how Jasper did it.

"I hear you. Hold very, very still."

Bella held her breath as he reached toward the thick steel chain that bound her to the tree, deftly popping a link near her hip.

"Don't…move," he ground out. Carefully he unwrapped the chain and let it fall with a startlingly loud crash. Bella resisted the urge to drop her aching arms. If Edward said don't move, then she wouldn't move.

She released the breath she held and watched as he ran some thirty feet away from her. A gentle breeze rustled through the autumn leaves above her head. Edward turned his face toward it, taking an experimental breath.

Are you okay? she thought to him, hoping that he could still hear her. Bella was concentrating on staying relaxed, an almost impossible feat given the circumstances.

"Yes. Give me a moment."

Less than a minute later he walked back to her at a human pace, breathing deeply every couple of steps.

"You can move now, Bella." She couldn't help it – she released the tree and immediately her knees buckled under her. Edward was there instantly, picking her up and gingerly setting her on a dry patch of leaves. He crouched in front of her.

"My clever, brave girl," he crooned. "I'll get the tape off your mouth soon, but first…" He quickly pulled off his hoodie and put it over her head, but didn't pull it down.

It was then that she glanced down and saw the damage that James wrought on her sweater. She was, in fact, sitting half-naked in front of Edward. Her face flaming, she ineffectively tried to piece the sweater back together. Meanwhile, Edward tore two strips of cotton from the bottom of his white t-shirt, using one to staunch the blood still oozing from the cuts in her arm and chin.

"I lose more shirts this way," he joked. As intended, this evoked a small smile from Bella.

"I'm going to kill him," he muttered to himself when Bella drew a sharp breath at the pain. Her vampire was being extremely gentle, but everything hurt. Edward simultaneously applied pressure to both her arm and chin for the next few minutes, all the while keeping up a one-sided conversation with her. Alice had seen what happened to Bella and, unable to reach Edward, called Carissa and Domen. Domen found Carissa unconscious in the hallway seconds after Bella was taken, and took her to the emergency room. She was awake now and resting at home. Jasper and Emmett chased after James and Victoria, but the evil vampires' scent abruptly disappeared.

Bella tried to follow everything Edward said, but now that her adrenaline rush had dissipated, her tortured ribs and cut flesh screamed at her. She began shaking uncontrollably from both the cold and after-shock. The smell of her own blood wasn't helping, and the gag in her mouth made her want to vomit. With quivering fingers she grasped the corner of the duct tape covering her mouth and yanked.

Oh my God, that hurt! Tears of pain flooded her eyes as she gratefully removed the rag in her mouth and threw it a far away as she could. Still holding the pad ender her chin, Edward lightly brushed her tears away with his thumb. He then softly stroked the torn skin on her lips, his cool touch soothing the burn.

"Bella, I'm so sorry."

"Not your fault," she croaked. She desperately wanted something to drink – and rinse out her mouth.

"Please hold this to your chin," requested Edward, gently pressing her right palm to the cotton pad. He then deftly tore another strip from his rapidly-shrinking t-shirt and bound the upper part of her left arm. Bella fought to suppress her reaction to the pain in her ribs when Edward carefully pulled her arms through his hoodie. She was stunned when he impulsively brushed his cool lips against her forehead.

"What…?"

Oh, the things that crooked smile of his did to her insides! Those six-pack abs peeking out from under his ruined t-shirt were only adding to the effect.

"Because you're amazing. Is the pain very bad?"

Pain? What pain? Ah, THAT pain!

When she didn't respond, he continued, "I'll take that as a yes."

Edward removed the pad from her grasp and examined the wound with a frown.

"This isn't working, Bella. The bleeding from your chin isn't stopping." His now butterscotch eyes studied her warily, a small "v" between them. "I'll need to seal it quickly…with venom. It won't be enough to turn you. Would you allow me to do that?"

"You won't…I mean…"

"No Bella, I won't turn back into that monster you witnessed a few minutes ago. I promise." His expression was a study in contrition and self-disgust.

"I believe you."

He studied the trusting young woman in front of him. Bella thought she heard him mutter, "I'm glad one of us does."

"Close your eyes, love. Don't open them until I tell you."

Love? It's just an expression, Bella. Don't get carried away.

A few seconds later she felt something soft, cool, and moist moving gently along the wound under her chin. The cut skin stung briefly. Bella's eyes flew open to see Edward's wild reddish-brown locks directly in front of them. She immediately snapped them closed again.

Holy crow, he was licking the wound closed! With anyone else she probably would have been disgusted, but with Edward…it was the most erotic sensation she'd ever experienced.

At her involuntary moan he hesitated briefly, then continued. When he reached the other end of the gash, he gave it a final swipe. Bella opened her eyes slowly to meet darkened, hooded ones less than six inches from hers. Her heart, already beating double-time, pounded in her ears. She held her breath, mesmerized as Edward tilted his head and kissed her.

As soon as his cool mouth met hers, something exploded deep inside her. Instinctively she pressed closer to him, moving her lips urgently against his. He traced her lower lip with the tip of his tongue, both healing and sending her blood racing, teasing her until she granted him access. Bella's whole body hummed in response to him. She was floating, buoyed up by the little electric darts of pleasure that shot through her.

Suddenly, he was gone.

Shocked, she looked dazedly around her, her breath still coming in pants. Edward didn't go far, only about twenty feet to her left. He stood with clenched fists and bent head, clearly fighting to regain his composure.

Bella finally found her voice. "Are you okay?" Brilliant first words, Bella. Of course he's not okay. If he were okay, he wouldn't be standing way over there fighting the urge to eat you.

Edward's head shot up. "How can you ask me that?"

Yeah, even he thinks it was a stupid question.

"Sorry."

He walked slowly toward her, shaking his head. "You were kidnapped by vampires, chained to a tree, almost killed…by me…and then molested…by me! And you ask if I'm okay?"

Well, if he put it that way…

"I'm fine, Edward. My ribs and arm hurt, and I have a slight headache, but otherwise…" She paused. Was she okay? Surprisingly, given the circumstances, yes.

"I was hunting, allowing my primal senses to take over. I didn't expect to find you here, bleeding, and…oh God, I'm so very sorry Bella! You should never have been exposed to…"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, a sure sign that he was trying to calm himself down. "I swear I won't harm you."

"I know. I feel safe with you." It was true. With him here, she wasn't worrying about James and Victoria. Instinctively she knew that Edward would do everything in his power to protect her, even from himself.

Edward stopped directly in front of her, frustration written clearly across his handsome features. "Don't you have any sense of self-preservation at all? How am I supposed to keep you alive if you continually ignore danger?"

Alright, enough was enough. She'd just been through one of the most horrific experiences of her life, and this god-like, self-flagellating, dumbass vampire was standing here arguing with her. All she wanted to do was to go home and have a nice hot shower. She felt dirty. She wanted to scrub James from her body. What's more, she was angry.

"Edward, you didn't kill me. You stopped yourself…"

"You stopped me," he corrected. "You were somehow able to lower your shield and project your thoughts to me."

"Don't interrupt me!" OK, maybe that was a bit harsh, but after the events of today Bella was in no mood to listen to nitpicking. She took an angry step forward. Edward, to his credit, stood his ground.

"You didn't kill me. Furthermore, you did not molest me – you kissed me. And, in case you didn't notice, I returned it." Bella's face flamed at the memory.

Edward was shaking his head. "I took advantage of you, Bella. My only excuse is that for our kind, bloodlust and lust are closely intertwined. Being so close to you, sealing your wound with my venom…" He ran an agitated hand through his already messy locks. "I'm sorry."

Great. The most amazing kiss of her young life, and he regretted it. Of course he regrets it, her inner voice scoffed. You didn't think he'd want to do it otherwise, did you? Amazing gorgeous vampire, boring unattractive human, remember? She felt her insides twist painfully.

"Forgiven," she managed to choke out. "I understand. I…I wasn't myself either, especially after being knocked out by James. You don't have to worry that I would take it as…" Shut up, Bella. "Let's go home. Please?"

"He hit you hard enough to make you lose consciousness?" Edward closed the gap between them, immediately going into doctor mode. He quickly examined her eyes while lightly feeling her scalp. She winced when he touched a tender spot.

Edward growled softly, but his voice was gentle. "We'll need to get another scan."

His proximity and touch made those little electric shocks shoot through her body again. Get a grip, Bella, she chastised herself.

"Not until I have a good bath," she managed to respond. "Is your car near here?"

"No. We're quite far into the mountains. That's why I didn't receive Alice's texts or your voicemail. No signal." He paused. "We'll never get out of here if you walk. Would you allow me to carry you? I'd let you ride on my back, but I'm afraid to damage your ribs further."

She nodded, standing awkwardly in front of him.

"Just put your right arm around my neck," he instructed. Before she would even blink, Edward had one arm around her waist and the other under her knees. She found herself cradled against his chest.

"Relax, Bella," he smiled crookedly down at her. He was already striding rapidly through the forest, knocking undergrowth out of the way with his elbows to that it didn't smack against her. Drat, there goes her heart, thumping away again.

He didn't say much, so Bella closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sensation of being held securely in his arms. Edward was now moving so quickly that her hair streamed out behind her. With her cheek pressed against his shoulder, she could feel his slow and rhythmic breathing. Odd, she mused. I thought vampires didn't need to breathe.

Almost lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking motion, Bella allowed herself to daydream. She imagined that he held her as someone to be cherished, not merely as a troublesome friend for whom he felt responsible. She relived the feel of his lips on hers, imagining them as those of a lover.

If only it meant something to him too. Was it weird that she was more hurt that he considered kissing her a mistake than by the fact that he nearly drained her? Yes, yes it was. Pathetic, Bella.

She didn't even realize that she'd fallen asleep until Edward shifted her gingerly to open the passenger door of his silver Volvo.

"Mmmm…already here?"

The chest under her head shook with laughter.

"Yes, Sleepyhead, we are."

Bella smiled up at him. Edward's warm caramel eyes were alight with a mix of amusement and…tenderness? Not possible. Stupid daydreams making her see things that weren't there.

"You just leave your car here on a road in the middle of nowhere?"

Edward shrugged, the movement making his chest muscles shift in interesting ways. Bella forced herself to concentrate on her growing feeling of uneasiness. Something was wrong. The car sitting neatly here. James and Victoria disappearing. It was all too perfect. She'd learned to trust her instincts, and at the moment they were screaming a warning.

Edward was about to settle her in the passenger seat when Victoria's words came back to her.

All I have to do is press one little button here, and your precious Edward, Alice and Jasper turn into piles of hot ash.

"Edward! Stop!"

He immediately froze. "What is it?"

"Something's not right. I think they may have booby-trapped your car."

Thankfully, he didn't question her, instead leaping away from the vehicle with her still in his arms. Standing safely under cover of the trees again, Edward looked down at the women nestled against his chest. His lips quirked into a wry smile.

"It seems that you're right. Emmett and Jasper are on their way with some tools."

"How do you know that?"

"I can hear their mental voices. Alice sent them, along with your coat, the cellphone and keys you dropped, and a sweater for me." He looked puzzled for a moment, then grinned. "For some reason Alice saw that you didn't want to give up my hoodie?"

Now how had she seen that? The thought only just flashed across her mind a few seconds ago. Well, maybe it was when he gave it to her. Sneaky pixie vampire.

"Maybe you should put me down before they show up?" suggested Bella. As much as she was enjoying her position, she didn't want anyone else to see her like this.

Edward deposited her gently on a fallen tree trunk and gracefully sat down beside her. He looked at her uncertainly.

"Bella, at the risk of making this situation even more awkard that it is, I need to clarify what happened earlier. When I kissed you…"

Oh no. She didn't want to hear this.

"It's OK Edward. I get that it was just a result of bloodlust. It's part of a vampire's nature. Apology accepted."

Bella was certain that if he could blush, he would be doing so now. She knew she was. Why did he insist on bringing this up again?

"I'm afraid I didn't tell you the whole truth, Bella."

What?

"I know that I should keep away from you. In fact, I'd planned on doing just that after James and Victoria were no longer threats to you."

No, she definitely didn't want to hear this. He was going to tell her that he would be leaving her now, instead of waiting. Bella braced herself, steeling her emotions so that he wouldn't pity her.

"But now I don't think I can do it. If I wasn't already going straight to hell at the end of my existence, I am now. I can't stay away from you, Bella."

"You...you're…" she stammered. "Are you asking my permission to drain me? You can't resist my blood any longer, and you're giving up?"

"No!" He looked horrified at the thought.

"Then you want me as a 'pet' after all?" Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Who was she kidding? It would be bad.

"Bella, I mean you, not your blood!"

"Me? But that's impossible." She shook her head in disbelief, firmly shoving down the hope that rose in her chest. "Why would you want…"

Just then a Jeep with mag wheels pulled up some fifty feet behind Edward's car.

"Hey Bro!" a cheery masculine voice boomed. "Cavalry's here!"

"Emmett," muttered Edward. "We'll talk later, back in my apartment?"

Bella nodded numbly. She was beginning to wonder how many shocks her system could take before she went completely bonkers. Well, she thought wryly, I guess I'll find out soon.

So what do you think? James and Victoria gone for good, right? -)