The Curse of Destiny

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I wish I did, but I don't. I own this plot line (originally it was a short story I wrote for a college class and I decided to turn it into a longer fanfiction story). I hope you all like it.

Description: The doctors threw around the term "Stockholm's Syndrome." All Bella knew was that she missed her kidnapper and wasn't sure how to function without him anymore. She needed him and she had to get back to him…somehow. Could she love Edward, the man who had both abducted her and stolen her heart? Could she live without him? Time will tell…

Author's Note: Hello everyone! I know I have been gone a long time. My computer ended up completely crashing and I had to get a new one. I was frustrated because I had a lot written and planned out. I had the next five chapters of this story done and now they are gone. I am trying to get inspired to rewrite it, but you are going to have to be patient with me, please. It is hard to rewrite something that I was very happy with in the first place. I am doing my best and I have not forgotten any of you. Thank you to those who have sent me encouragement. I promise I will finish my stories. I will NEVER leave a story unfinished. This is the longest I have gone without posting a chapter and I am so sorry. I hope this chapter will hold you over while I build my chapters back up and get back on a regular schedule. Thank you again for staying with me!

Chapter 10 – And Consequences…

Previously on The Curse of Destiny:

"Your parents had made a deal with Billy. When you turn 18, then…" He trails off and Bella snaps at him.

"Spit it out, Edward! What in the hell do my parents have planned for me when I turn 18?"

Edward stands and paces the room. He runs his hands through his already messy hair and sighs heavily. "Bella, you have no reason to believe me. I know that. I just ask that you hear me out before you lose it."

Bella nods. She knows her father. She isn't surprised that he would plan to use her to his advantage in some way. "Just tell me, please." She whispers. She tenses up feeling that Edward was going to tell her the truth and she wasn't sure she could handle it right now.

Edward sits down on the bed as close as he thinks she will allow him to do so. "Bella, your father arranged for you to…Billy paid your father for…"

Bella looks exasperated before Edward finally spits it out.

"Bella when you turn eighteen you will have to marry Jacob Black."

Bella's heart hammers in her chest as Edward's words hit home. "Bella when you turn eighteen you will have to marry Jacob Black." His words echo and float through her as she struggles to grasp onto reality. She wants to deny what Edward has said. She wants to call him a liar, but she knows he is speaking the truth. The earnestness in his eyes allows her to accept what he has told her. That, and she remembered what her father was always saying to her.

Flashback

"Isabella. I don't want you to get to close to those boys at the school dance. We can't be giving them any ideas now can we? You are much too young to contemplate that."

Bella rolled her eyes at her father. "Dad, I plan to avoid settling down like the plague. I want to finish college before I settle on any boys."

Charlie grumbled before turning to leave the room. "I wouldn't hold my breath." He muttered as he left the room.

END FLASHBACK

At the time, Bella had thought her father was calling her boy crazy, but now she wondered.

FLASHBACK

Jacob making himself at home on the couch. "Bells, grab me a soda and make me a sandwich."

Bella shakes her head no and sits in the recliner a distance away from the boy who has made her crazy, and not in a good way, for years. "Jake, you're a big boy. Get your own food."

Jacob stood up and menace oozed from his body until her relaxed and smiled a chilling smile at her. "You'll do what I say soon enough."

He left Bella looking at him in confusion before heading into the kitchen.

END FLASHBACK

Bella remembered that conversation from a few months ago with perfect clarity. Her father had already arranged for her to marry Jacob. How could he do this to her? How could he force her to marry Jake? It didn't make any sense. This was not the 1920's where women did not have a choice.

"How could he promise I would marry Jake? I have a choice. He can't sell me off."

Edward looks at Bella with a gentleness that makes her uncomfortable before answering. "Bella, from what I overheard, he was going to give you the choice." Edward took a deep breath before continuing. "If you refused to marry Jacob Black, your father was going to disinherit you and kick you out of the house. He knows you have no money and no other family. He knows that you would have nowhere to turn."

Bella nods contemplating this. She could stay with Alice, but it would feel like an imposition to her. She knew she would not marry Jake. She didn't love him and he was a caveman. She refused to live like her mother did. She was not a subservient little girl and she wasn't going to become one anytime soon. The last year of her life felt like a bad dream. Her father had arranged this before she had even turned sixteen. She only had a year and a half now until she was supposed to marry Jacob Black, a man she had never loved who made her skin crawl. Everything that Edward said to her made sense. Now she had a choice to make. Would she continue to fight with Edward who had actually saved her from that fate? Or, would she fight to get back to her parents and stand up to them and get thrown out? Decisions, decisions with no clear picture in sight.

I know this is a short chapter, but now that I have started writing again I promise the wait won't be as long. I am already halfway through the next chapter and then I will get a few chapters ahead to get on a regular posting schedule. You are all wonderful and I appreciate you sticking with me! Have a great week! I am going to try to post the next chapter on Friday. Chat with you all soon!