Give me a reason and I wont breakdown
Give me a reason and I wont breakdown
And if that's all that you got,
you better not get caught
I've got more in store…
Eric Hutchinson, Breakdown more
EPOV
"I will fight, love. I will FIGHT," She whispered in my ear. I tried grabbing her wrist and dragging her out of there at that moment but she slipped quickly out of reach. I watched her jog back to the gate, her auburn curls bouncing over her shoulders. I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. I took a step closer to her plane but I knew I would be stopped at the gate. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out.
"Edward," Alice said breathlessly.
"I've got a plan B, Alice," I retorted.
"I know…Be careful," Alice replied sadly.
"Rally the troops, Alice. This is far from over," I said before closing the phone back up.
I got in line at my gate. I would be in Romania in 24 hours.
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BPOV
I was in our meadow with Edward lying beside me. The sun was shining on us, warm and soft. Colors emanated from his sculptured face. He was smiling at me…This was my happy place.
The sun started to fade away. The soft meadow grass gave way to hard, wet, cold stones. Edward began to disappear from sight. Pain began throbbing in my head. I reached back to where the pain was the worst and felt what was probably dried blood encrusting my hair.
I fluttered my eyes in the dark. Fear overwhelmed me as I took my surroundings. The room was small, about the size of a bedroom. The air was musty. High about me was a small opening in which a small stream of light filtered in. There was a large wooden door across from where I was sitting.
I took a breath and tried to get my thoughts in order. Aro said my mother was here and safe. He warned me that if I tried anything, the guard watching my mom would know and harm her. When I was standing there looking at Aro, rage had filled me. I didn't think my mom was still alive. Why else would they not show her to me? So I tried to change Aro into his true form of a rodent. Why had that not worked? Why did the energy sling back at me?
I fought the fear that was threatening to leave me powerless, curled in a ball. I was dead either way. My mom was most likely already dead. From here on out, I would fight.
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APOV
Emmett and Jasper just walked in from hunting. I heard them discussing Edward's departure from their expedition. I gathered my nerves and descended the staircase. The room got silent and all eyes were on me. I took another deep breath. Jasper, feeling the stress in me, glided towards me and pulled me into his arms.
"So, did he catch her," Emmett asked anxiously.
I nodded my head slowly. "No," I replied softly.
"Where is he? He's not going to Italy after her…is he," Carlisle asked with a voice full of concern.
"I'm afraid not," I replied.
"What's going on, Alice," Jasper inquired, pulling me around to look him in the face.
"He's going to visit Vladimir and Stefan," I replied in a voice barely above a whisper.
Carlisle groaned and put his hand to his face. Emmett was smiling widely and cracking his knuckles. After a moment, Carlisle stood up and headed to the phone.
"Well, we've got some work to do," he said as he grabbed the receiver and started to dial.
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BPOV
I don't know how long it had been since I woke up. I could tell the light was fading from the small window high above my head. I had taken to pacing, letting anger build up in me. I heard a noise just outside my door and veered towards it.
The door opened a bit and a tray was shoved across the stony floor making a loud rattling noise. I had reached the door and tried pushing it. There was a dark laugh as it pushed against me, causing the door to shut and lock once more. While I was strong, I was only half vampire. My maternal grandfather was neither shape-shifter nor vampire. I was no match for a burly Volturi guard, physically. I growled in frustration and hit the door with all of my might which caused it to shiver, slightly.
My eyes traveled to the tray that lay at my feet. There was white, clumpy oatmeal looking glop in a bowl accompanied with a stale looking piece of bread. I picked up the cup of water and took a desperate drink. It was lukewarm and tasted of dirt. I was too thirsty to worry about the taste.
There were footsteps outside my door again.
"Bella," I faint voice whispered. The sound of it knocked the cup out of my hand and I ran to the door, pressing myself against it get a better listen to the voice.
"Mom," I replied shakily.
"Oh, baby! I'm so sorry," she replied between sobs.
"Mom? Mom, are you alright? Did they hurt you," I cried, damning the door that stood between us.
"I'm fine, sweetheart. Are you alright," She replied, voice full of sorrow.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," I answered. My eyes were pouring out a cascade of tears.
"That's enough," I gruff voice rang out. "Come along!"
I heard my mother sob and cry my name as she was dragged down the hall. I cried after her, hitting the door with my hands as hard as I could, sending it shivering lightly again. I grabbed an edge of the door, as there was no doorknob my side of the door and planted my feet on the wall, pulling with all my might. It barely creaked.
After trying again and again, I released my grip and slid down to the floor, letting my sobs take over. I heard heavy footsteps again which made me sit up straight. They stopped outside my door. Before the door was cracked I was at my feet and poised to attack. A metal rod was pushed through the opening and the door opened wider to reveal Felix standing there with a grin.
"What the hell is that," I demanded, pointing to the metal rod.
His laugh bellowed down the dark hallway. "That, my dear, is a cattle prod. Seeing as we can't subdue you as we would normally be able to do, we must revert to your human-side. Would you like a demonstration," He sneered, pushing the end of the device closer to me.
A shiver ran down my spine. "No, thank you," I replied through a clenched jaw.
"Very well, then. I'm sure you will have an opportunity later. It's time for a little daddy-daughter reunion," he explained, grabbing me roughly by the shoulder and pulling me out into the hall. He pushed and pulled me around the dark and dreary halls of the castle. He finally pulled me to a stop in front of a large door the looked much like my own. As he opened it, it creaked loudly.
"Marcus, you have a visitor," Felix said haughtily. I stepped into the darkness and let my eyes adjust. Across the room I saw the figure of what must be my father. His limbs had been taken from him. I saw them chained up above his head. His eyes met mine. They were dark, but they were kind. I could see the anguish in them.
"Father," I whispered hoarsely. I took a step towards him and Felix grabbed my shoulder to stop me.
"This is far enough, doll," He growled.
"Bella, darling. I'm so sorry," Marcus said softly. "I should have done better to protect you."
"No, it's alright, Father," I sobbed, overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing him in the condition that he was. I wanted to run to him and hug him. My emotions took hold and I took a tiny step forward. That movement was stopped by a charge of electricity ripping through my flesh and reverberating through my bones causing me to crash to the floor.
"I told you this was far enough," I heard Felix grunt through my ringing ears.
Bella, darling, can you hear me, a voice echoed in my head.
Yes…what the…Father, I replied in my thoughts/
Yes, darling. It is me. They aren't aware of this. You and I share a special bond. As you are my offspring, we can communicate silently. We are connected in a way that they cannot comprehend, he explained.
"You are beautiful, sweetheart," my Father said out loud.
"Th-thank you," I replied weakly.
We must try to maintain a conversation outside of our heads so that we bring no suspicion, he explained.
"Have-have they been treating you well," He asked.
"Yes. Well enough," I replied.
Now, darling. They are holding your mother as a hostage to get from you what they want, He explained.
What exactly is that? What would they want from me, I asked, afraid of the answer.
I am not sure exactly. I imagine they want to know more about you and your capabilities. They most likely will try to get you to join the guard, he explained. This answer angered me.
I will NOT consider that, I fumed.
"Have you seen your mother yet," Father asked.
"Yes, no…Well, I have spoken to her," I murmured.
Why hasn't she changed herself to get away from the guard, I asked.
If she turned herself into an animal, she may make herself more weak if they were to catch her. Plus, they are holding you above her head much like they have held her over yours, he explained.
"I…I'm so sorry," He replied out loud, as Felix had started fidgeting in the silence.
Bella, you must be aware that some of the guard, they are not on the side of Aro and Caius. They are ready for a change in management, so to speak. But they must keep up pretenses. I am sure you are aware of Aro's power to read minds by touch? Those involved in a small underground movement have been shielded by me to this point. I can project my shield out and keep those thoughts from touching Aro. Now I am unable to help them so they are avoiding Aro's touch as much as they can without drawing attention to themselves. Be vigilant for any signs or gestures that indicate loyalties, he explained.
"I'm just…happy to see you, Father," I said, awkwardly.
"As am I, dear child," he replied lovingly.
I attempted to change Aro during my meeting with him but my energy bounced off of him. Do you know how that is possible, I asked.
Aw, yes. That would be Renata. She is a shield as well, but she can only protect herself and the person she is touching. She never leaves Aro's side, he explained.
"What color were your eyes, Father? Before…" I asked, trying to think of something to ask to mask our real conversation taking place.
"Brown, darling. Much like yours," he mused, smiling lovingly at me.
You must try to get at her first in order to change her. Darling, you must know…your mother and I have lived good lives. We have had loved enough for several lifetimes. You must take care of yourself, now. Do what you need to to get out of here. Do not fear for our fate. Losing you, that is far greater than any death, dear child, he explained, pleadingly.
My eyes stung with fresh tears. "Oh father," I choked out.
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A/N: Thank you soooo much for the reviews!! You keep my motivated! Sorry about the song lyrics, I was just listening to that song as I started writing this chapter and it inspired me! Of course Edward wouldn't just left Bella go out into that gentle night! He is cowboy'ing up, people! He has a plan!