OK so my beta has been super busy lately and has yet to edit this chapter. Its been over a week so I am going to post this now and then repost it when it has been edited. Please visit my blog .com/ where you can see pics for the story. Its is also my personal blog so feel free to take a gander at what I have up. Have been really bad about posting but am getting better. LOL anyway please review and let me know what you think.

Bella's POV

The sounds keep chasing me. I can never escape them. I do not know how long I have been running. I fear I am going in circles. They are taunting me; like a cat does with a mouse. The misted forest conceals all and I cannot see farther than a few yards. I just keep running, and running, and running…

Jane's POV

The darkness surrounded me as I lay upon the cold forest floor. I wrap my arms around my knees that I have brought to my chest. I do not know where I am. I can hear something approaching. Constantly moving, circling me. Like a scavenger waiting for its prey to die. The thundering steps are ever approaching yet keep their distance. I feel so tired. So lost…

Demitri's POV

Three months…

Three fucking months since everything happened. Three months since Bella was returned to me and still she lays in silence. If I did not hear her steady, shallow breaths or slow thumping heartbeat I would think she was dead. I do not know what to do for her. I have tried everything yet she will not awaken. Her wounds have healed and her body has recovered…physically at least. She is trapped within her own mind. That's what Diane told me. Diane is an elder woman who serves as a combined doctor/shaman for the Children. She has done wonders in healing Bella physically, but she said that there is little to be done for her psychologically. She explained to me that Bella reached her breaking point and her mind shut itself off from the outside world in order to protect itself. I understand her logic, but it is still hard to handle. No one knows when she will awaken. Her hair is growing back; slowly but she has more now. Diane said that when Bella wakes up and is able to eat proper food it will come back much faster and fuller. The same is with her weight. Bella has gained some pounds but there is only so much we can do. The feeding tube is providing essential nutrients, but there are things you can only get by eating food.

We have made attempts to make Bella feel peaceful and safe. Heidi and Felix visited often and sat with us. Angela spends much time in cat form curled up to Bella's side. I sit with her always. Either holding her hand, or cradling her head in my lap, or holding her close to me as I lie with her.

I am currently sitting with her cradled in my lap. This is my favorite way to hold her. Maybe it's my hopeful imagination, but I swear she breathes easier when I hold her close to me like this with her head resting against my chest. Felix is due back at anytime from running recon with a group to gather supplies. The Children have created their own community here and have shown nothing but kindness and understanding. Everything I have ever known about them is false. They are a peaceful people who want nothing more than to live tranquil lives without the fear and violence they have suffered for centuries. I hear chattering echoing down the halls signaling the return of the group. They sound happy. The raid must have gone well. The door to Bella's room slowly opens and Felix's head pops around the corner through the small space.

"Hey Demitri, it's good to see you and Bella."

"Hey Felix, it's good to have you back safe. How was the raid?"

"Very good, we managed to get the medical supplies Diane needed plus the school books needed for the kids."

"That is a relief. Diane was telling me that she was running short. Any news of Volterra?"

"Nothing new. The media has basically dropped the story. The fire has been officially ruled as an accident. Officials are saying that the strange purple smoke was caused by a chemical reaction. Something about the castle being old and some other bull shit. They are reporting that the fire was so intense that any bodies would have been incinerated."

"I don't know if that is good or bad. Either the Brothers were destroyed in the fire or they are hiding. The Mistress confirmed the Romanians were destroyed, but did not know about the Brothers. I am worried they are still out there."

"We are trying our best to find if they are gone or not. The covens in the Americas have found nothing as well as those in Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific. Siobhan and Liam are due back in couple days with their team. They have been scouring Scandinavia. Let us hope that no news I good news."

"Fuck Felix your right. We are safe for now. Stressing is not going to help Bella. So you got school books? Heidi will be so happy."

"Ya I already saw her and I have not seen her that happy in a long time. It's amazing how the kids have taken to her. She is a great teacher for them and I know that mothers are happy to have someone watch over them during the day. There is so much to be done without having to worry about the young ones. Oh I almost forgot, she has something for you. Let me go get her."

Felix quickly left the room without any further explanation. I pulled Bella closer to me while inhaling her scent; sunshine and lemons. I never grow tired of it. Her smell calms me and I send all my positive energy to her.

"I wish you would awaken soon love. I need you."

I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead just as there was knock on the door.

"You can come in Heidi."

The door slowly opened to reveal Heidi surrounded by a sea of girls.

"The girls made something for Bella and wanted to bring it to her themselves."

I beckoned them all forward and adjusted Bella so she was in more of a sitting position. The girls hurried into the room and I noticed them all hiding something behind their backs. They had huge smiled plastered on their faces.

"Hello girls. Are you being good for Ms. Heidi?"

A chorus of yeses filled the room and I could not help but smile. Annabelle, a five year old who was enamored with Bella, stepped forward and knelt in front me Bella and I.

"Ms. Heidi said Ms. Bella's favorite color is blue and she likes flowers. So I asked my papa get blue flowers from the meadow and I made this for Ms. Bella."

Annabelle brought her hands out from behind her back and showed me a crown of blue wildflowers.

"It is beautiful Annabelle. Did you make it all by yourself?"

"I sure did. My mama watched me but I did it all by myself." Annabelle declared with great pride.

And she should be proud. She created a beautiful crown and did an amazing job, especially for a 5 year old. She constantly amazed me with how smart she was. She understood things way beyond her age and was always saying clever, insightful things. I often find myself saddened after seeing Annabelle; sad that I would never have a child of my own. It saddened me even more that I could never give Bella a little girl or boy; a beautiful child of our own making. Bella would never be a mother because of what I am.

"It is very beautiful Annabelle. You mommy and daddy should be very proud of you. I know I love it and I am sure Bella loves it too."

"Thank you Mr. Demitri. I showed it to Ms. Heidi and she said we should all make flower crowns for Ms. Bella. It was my idea first but I said it was ok because they are for Ms. Bella."

Annabelle scooted closer to Bella and I placed the flower crown on Bella's head. She then stood up and took her place by Heidi's side as the other girls took turns bringing their flower crowns and placing them in a pile in front of us. When they were done Bella had a very colorful assortment of flower crowns. Annabelle's was by far the most beautiful and the only one that was blue.

"Thank you girls; they are all very pretty and so many colors. Bella will love them."

Heidi ushered the girls out the door and told me she would be back later. I turned my attention back to beautiful woman in my arms as I heard the door silently close. I readjusted Bella in my arms and laid her down on the bed. I needed to feed and did not want to do that while holding Bella. I have very strong will power and control over my thirst but I don't want to tempt fate. Better safe than sorry. I pulled a blanket over Bella's body and went to retrieve the bottle of blood that was left for me earlier. I was surprised to see that not all of Heidi's girls had left.

"Why are you still here Annabelle? Is something wrong?"

"No Mr. Demitri. I just wanted to stay with you and Ms. Bella for a little while longer."

"That's fine sweetheart, I would love for you to stay. Why don't you go sit by Bella and hold her hand while I do something real quick."

"You are going to drink that bottle of blood aren't you? It's ok. I don't mind. I know that is how you eat. I heard my papa talking about it. He said it was nasty and bad. But my mama told me I should never be mean to someone just because they do something different than me. I like you Mr. Demitri and I want to be your friend."

"I want to be your friend too Annabelle. I think you are a very smart and a very beautiful girl. And your mama is right. You should never be mean to people who are different. Why don't you go ahead and sit with Bella and I will be back in just a minute."

Annabelle made her way over to Bella and gently sat down on the bed and rested her hand on Bella's. I smiled to myself at just how remarkable that girl is. I open the door gently and step out into the empty hall. I open the bottle and inhale the sweet scent of blood. My eyes dilate and senses heighten as I take the first sip. As the warm liquid makes it was way down my throat I am acutely aware of the hundreds of beating hearts surrounding me. Thoughts of how good it would feel to sink my teeth into the soft flesh of the neck and relish in the feel of pulling blood into my mouth from the source. My body sinks to the floor and I continue to drink from the bottle. Fisting my hands at my sides I keep my control and block out the feral side of me that would slaughter those I care about and love. The last of the blood slides out of the bottle and down my thought as the animal in me subsides.

Fully sated I walk the short distance down the hall in search of Diane. My search ends quickly as she rounds the bend a few yards from Bella's room carrying a tray of assorted metal objects I had no hope of ever identifying.

"Diane, I was just coming to find you. Can I carry that tray for you?"

"I got it. Thanks anyway Demitri."

"I just wanted to say thank you for finding me the donation. It was just what I needed. Please give my greatest thanks to whoever gave the blood. In fact I would like to meet donators in person and thank them properly."

"I am glad you are happy with the donations. I will ask the donators if they would be willing to meet with you. I know some want to remain anonymous. There is still some hostility about you and the others being here."

"We are very thankful for all hospitality that has been bestowed and owe a great debt to you all. We do not wish to bring a burden upon your people or to cause tension. If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to ask."

"You are not a burden Demitri. It is us that are indebted to you. Despite what some would have you believe, we needed you. Our security is better, supply runs are more prosperous, our children are safe, and most importantly you have brought hope that the Brothers may be destroyed; hope that has long been absent among my people. Now let's go see how your young woman is doing today. I heard from a little bird that Bella had quite a few visitors today bearing gifts."

"Ya it was very sweet of the girls. Actually Annabelle is in with Bella right now. She was the brains behind the whole thing."

I led the way towards Bella's door as Diane follows behind me. We reached the door and grasping the small metal knob in my hand I turned it gently hearing the click of the latch. Pushing forward I opened the door and began making my way into the room. Part way through the doorway I turned my back to the room to face Diane as I held the door open for her. She smiled as me then froze as she looked past me into the room. The clang of falling metal filled the dead silence as Diane dropped the tray. The milliseconds it took for me to turn to face the room where the longest of my existence. I did not know what I would find once I saw what was behind me. I have never felt fear like I did in those moments. What I saw in that room will forever be engrained into my brain for the remainder of my exsistance.