Meus Dulce Angelus – Chapter 18 – So Brave

AN – Sorry there's been a little longer to wait, I've actually been out and about this weekend. Are you shocked? I was.
Skaramoosh x

Disclaimer: I do not own Twiglet.

So Brave

A POV
She slept for almost a whole week; I think the physical and mental stress had exhausted her. Although I was glad she was resting she still looked pained. It took Marcus and Caius hours to convince me to feed, and that was only when I was absolutely certain that Felix would not let go of her for the entire time I was gone. He was true to his word. Just as I returned she began to stir.

'I think she's waking up.'

I smiled at the excitement in his voice and I knew he had missed her. He stroked her hair as she opened her eyes.

'Felix, Angelus.'

I put my hand on her shoulder; Felix spoke to her like it was greatest honour in the world.

'How did you sleep?'

'It was... strange. I was unconscious but the pain was still there.'

Her voice sounded forced and she looked uncomfortable.

'It's still here.'

'Filia I promise you we'll find something, we'll make it stop.'

'How? He told me it would never, ever stop.'

She cried into Felix's chest and he tried to comfort her.

'Who's 'he'? Who did this to you?'

She shook her head.

'I don't know his name... I... I won't ever forget his face though. And his eyes.'

I saw her fear and understood why she wouldn't speak. I cupped her face in my hand.

'Filia, I know this must be hard, but we need to know what happened to you.'

She moved so that she was sitting on Felix's lap, his arm still around her waist. I held her hands in mine.

B POV
I was incredibly frightened about telling them, I thought they would be disgusted by me and that they would hate me like I hate myself.

'Filia?'

His voice was gentle but that didn't stop me from breaking down. The crippling pain made it hard to think properly and the idea of saying everything out loud was too much. Everything was too much. I had meant to speak calmly but I ended up screaming it out for the entire castle to hear.

'Please, kill me.'

'No' was meus angelus's instant reply.

I couldn't accept that, I got more and more hysterical repeating the same three words over and over again. I only realised that Felix had passed me to meus angelus when I vaguely recognised his familiar embrace. I could feel nothing else but the fiery pain of the venom burning through my veins.

'Bella my child, I cannot let you die. You mean too much to me.'

'Then why force me to live when it hurts me so much?'

Felix surprised me by speaking with an almost fierce determination.

'We will make the pain stop.'

I was starting to look at Felix in a whole new light, he's more than just a loyal guard or a loving friend, he's strong, powerful, determined whilst still being caring and passionate. He had been so kind to me. Something about him gave me the courage to speak.

'The man, the... thing who did this to me, he kept me in his basement. He used to come in and... and...'

My voice tried to break but I held on.

'Rape me... and hit me... and burn me. And he's bitten me everywhere. 284 times.'

'How... ?'

'He made me count.'

Meus angelus rocked me gently and Felix took my hand. He looked like he was going to cry.

'You're so brave.'

I shook my head.

'I shouldn't be making such a fuss. He was right.'

'About what?'

'About me deserving it.'

Meus angelus held me closer to him, he didn't need to say anything, I knew what he thought about that. Felix, however, was far more vocal.

'Bella there's no way on this goddamn earth that you could've deserved that! The vile monster who did this to you... he's sick, he's fucking sick.'

He paused and looked at our entwined hands.

'I promise you'll never have to go through that ever again, we'll make the pain stop and then...'

He looked directly into my eyes.

'Then you'll get better. It might take a long time but you're so strong you'll make in through this.'

I tried to smile at him and I think it worked because he smiled back.

'Ugh I'm so dirty.'

'I'm sure Jane will help you clean up, I need to speak to Carlisle anyway.'

I nodded and Felix stood up.

'I'll find Jane.'

J POV
I have to admit I was kinda excited to see Bella again, even though I knew she wouldn't be as happy as I remembered her. Aro was holding her as I entered the room and she looked me straight in the eyes. I was struck by how much pain she showed in hers and found my respect for her increase tenfold. I had seen many supposedly 'tough' vampires thrash about on the floor for ages when they felt only a tiny bit of what she was feeling right now.

'Hello Jane.'

She sounded genuinely happy to see me and that set me off into an emotional meltdown. Curse my teenage brain.

'Oh Bella we've all missed you so much we never stopped thinking about you we all think you're really brave and we're gonna support you and help you get through this because WE LOVE YOU BELLA.'

She blinked a few times, trying to take in my little 3-words-a-second speech that ended up with me getting really overenthusiastic. She giggled very faintly which made Aro look a hell of a lot happier. She, somehow and to this day I do not know how, got to her feet. Aro stared at her in awe and I put my arm around her waist to support her. I vaguely heard him leave as I got her into the bathroom.

'Okay, so how are we going to do this?'

She sat tentatively on the edge of the bath.

'I... I don't know.'

'Maybe, we could just...'

I fiddled with the taps and got some water in the bath. She blushed a very deep red.

'Could you help me...?'

She pointed to her top and I nodded. I tried my very best to be careful as I helped her out of her clothes. I averted my eyes as much as possible but I couldn't help notice that she was covered in scars.

'Oh Bella...'

She got in and more or less sorted herself out, I could tell it hurt her but I could also tell she wanted to get clean. Whilst she was letting me do her hair she spoke.

'Okay, so what's been going on while I've been away?'

'I have no idea what you're talking about...'

I kept my tone playful; I had missed mucking about with my sister.

'Jane, spill the gossip.'

'Well there's not actually that much to say, we've spent most of the time searching for you. Aro never shut up about you, to anybody, I think almost every vampire in the world has looked for you at one point. I'm sorry we didn't find you sooner.'

'It's okay, you found me that's what matters.'

'I know but still...' I sighed. 'Closer to home, I think Felix likes you, as in, properly likes you.'

She grinned then.

'I kinda figured that considering he held me while I slept.'

'Aww! That's adorable! He must really care about you.'

'Yeah, it seems like he does.'

AN – I actually found this chapter quite hard to write, any reviews would be greatly appreciated. 'The Scene' is coming up soon (ooh the mystery).

Skaramoosh x