I could feel the sand beneath my feet, as if I was actually there. I could hear the sounds of the waves lapping onto the shore, every time becoming closer and closer as the wind picked up. I could smell coconuts and sandalwood, the smell of paradise. I wanted to reach out and grab ahold of it, my eyes closed tightly and I willed myself to just bring it in and never let go. But something had caught me first, a pair of strong, cold arms enveloping me. And the first time in a long time, I felt at home. A white light casted around me, his goodness and his love wrapping me up, bound so tightly that I was afraid I couldn't breathe. But it was all worth it. Just the feeling of being in his arms.

And when I woke up on the floor of the darkened cell, I knew that the feeling of arms and the sense of good was nothing but my mind playing tricks on me. I was going crazy being captive, my mind retreating back into memories to help keep myself sane but it only made it worse. It only made me crave it so much more when in reality I needed to detach myself from it. I would never relive them again, I would never experience them again. This was my life.

The throbbing pain of how surreal it was made me sick to my stomach, but I couldn't move. I was motionless on the ground, the air thick with silence. In my thoughts I had realized I hadn't felt the gripping pain that Edward was feeling and I wondered briefly if he had given up, just as I have. The thought was soon given a response and I felt a very low pulse of warmth. It was weak and nearly noticeable. Even I could send him one stronger than that.

What are they doing to you?

He was tired and weak. I had no idea what they were doing and the thought actually did make me vomit, the little contents in my stomach spewing onto the ground at the very thought of Edward being tortured. In the midst of my sickness, feet began scrambling as a door opened wide, a man in a dark cloak and a torch in his hand began down the staircase. People began whimpering as he passed by each cell, my arm gripping over my stomach as I began to sweat. The sound of footsteps moved closer and closer and then stopped.

The lock on my gate caused me to freeze and I turned quickly to see him already standing in my cell. My voice hitched in my throat and I wanted to scream. The man brought his hands up to his hood, pushing it down and revealing the curly locks of blonde hair and the familiar face that I could never forget. And I wanted to say his name, I wanted to say it and cry from pure elation. But his eyes told me differently. Told me to keep my mouth shut. The last time I saw those eyes - they were gold. But now they were red. Not like blood, but a dark crimson. As if they were in the midst of changing.

Jasper nodded his head for me to follow and I froze in my spot, trying to calm my shaking hands. He did it once more, clearing his throat. He didn't look like the calm Jasper I once knew. He looked like one who would break my bones for defying him. He even looked like one of them. And without hesitation I moved forward, allowing him to lead me down the darkened hallway and then up the stairs that led to the door.

The light from the windows immediately gave me a headache, everything sensitive from being locked away in darkness, even my skin feeling tingly from the sensation of the warmth hitting it. But I didn't slow, I was right on Jasper's heels, a little shred of hope dangling on a string, waiting to catch freedom. But there were so many guards around, so many eyes to catch us if we were to even try to escape.

I tried to move forward a little faster, to get another look at his face. I wanted to see it, to see if I could detect anything, decipher any code. Why was he here? Why was he in a cloak? Where is Alice? Where is Edward? Does he know he is being tortured somewhere?

But Jasper stayed ahead, turning the last corner before stopping at the tall black doors. He turned the knob and opened it wide, my eyes never leaving his as he gave me space to walk through. I turned my head, the room almost like a library with dark black curtains, a chandelier, shelves upon shelves upon shelves stacked with books, large cases accompanying them as well across the room. My eyes then casted over a form standing in front of the windows, a goblet in his long white fingers, his black hair shining from the sun filtering into the room.

I quickly turned back to Jasper who gave me one more emotionless look before shoving the door shut in my face, the sound of the lock shortly afterwards. I turned back to Aro who was now gone, my breathing hitched as I moved forward, trying my hardest not to show any weakness, but the pounding of my heart making it difficult to do so.

"Sweet, Isabella." His voice made me curl, a hand reach out from behind to tuck my hair back. "Are you enjoying your stay?" He asked smugly. I didn't respond and only looked straight ahead, only meeting eye contact when he stood in front of me. "Drink?" He asked, bringing up the goblet. I didn't need to look at his red stained lips to know what it was. "No? Too bad. This was a beauty. Young. Around your age."

"What do you want with me?" I asked sternly.

"Oh, temper, temper. Need I remind you, you are in my home?" He teased, his body within seconds behind the large mahogany desk, the goblet setting down in front of him. "Tonight is a big night, Isabella. And I need you on your best behavior. And looking your best as well."

"Why?"

"Because we already have bidders." He laughed, his words confusing me. "Never mind." He waved me off with his hand. "Because I said so. Is that a better answer for you? For the time being I am your master and you do as I say."

"For the time being?" I asked.

"You don't expect to stay here, do you? Or are you enjoying it downstairs?" He wondered and I shook my head quickly. "That's what I thought."

"Where am I going?" I wondered.

"That is still very much up in the air. But I have a guess. Whoever is more willing to pay for you and trade a stock, I suppose." He said and I felt the breath leave my lungs. He was selling me. He was giving me to a vampire to be a human donor. A real one. Nothing I have ever experienced before.

And all this time I thought I would just rot away in that cell. How peaceful that seemed now.

"I can't... I don't know how to even be a donor." I said, shaking my head. It was true. I was never taught - and even though it may seem like a simple task, I remember over a year ago visiting Italy with Alec, going to Aro's parties and seeing all the human donors. Not the ones who were enjoying themselves, the ones who get a thrill off of being fed on by strangers. But the ones who were forced into it, the ones who held out their arms and cringed at the feeling of their master taking their blood.

I knew that would be me.

"Well I don't blame you. You did not have the best of teachers." He said, his voice flat. "But you will learn to become a decent donor. That is if you live that long." He said, his voice thick with determination that I in fact wouldn't live that long due to my upbringing.

The moment our home was invaded in Cebu I knew my chance of survival was minimal. And as the days went on, trapped in the basement, I almost wished for it. But now, standing in front of him, the hard thwack of reality hitting me, I knew I probably would not make it to see next week. And everything just sort of came crashing down, knowing this is how it would end. At the hands of a creature I did not know, but had spent with it's kind for my whole life.

There was nothing that could hold me back now - nothing I couldn't say or do, because ultimately if I walked down a path I wasn't supposed to and ended up dying, it wouldn't matter. Because that noose was already wrapped so tightly around my neck, I was just waiting for someone to push the stool from under my feet.

"Where is Edward?" I asked, my voice unmoving, my eyes staring right into his.

"He doing his time." Aro said with another wave of his hands, swiping the goblet from the desk and taking a swig.

"I want to see him." I said with no hesitation.

"You will see him tonight." His words had surprised me, but I wasn't backing down. I had nothing to lose.

"No. I want to see him. Now." My words were strong and stern, echoing in the room as it fell silent. Aro sat across the desk, deep in his own thoughts as his long fingers tapped along the golden goblet, strings of diamond decorating around it. He smiled, more to himself, muttering words under his breath before his crimson eyes turned to mine, his head bowing slightly.

"Come." He stood from his plush red chair and swiftly moved beside me, my feet swiftly meeting behind his as he leaded me out of the room. Servant's rushed by, all human, all pale and covered in bite marks, ones taking his goblet and replacing it with another and as we walked along the stone walls and the beautiful but deadly architect of Aro's palace, we stopped shortly in front of a large wooden door. A servant ran out, handing Aro a key who he swiftly unlocked. It creaked open into nothing but darkness and my breathing hitched at the thought of the basement, instinctively taking a step back. "I do not have all day, Isabella."

Aro was already in and I slowly followed, looking to the young boy servant with hazel eyes, purple rings deeply embedded in his skin. The darkness was becoming lighter, a humming at the end as we came to a stop, a man in a red cloak standing in front of a stone door.

"Make it quick, Isabella. All the things Edward has done to me, I should not give him the pleasure in speaking to you again. But, why not give hope before snatching it away? Plus, you are so utterly hard to resist," He smiled as he swiped my cheek with the curve of his finger. I looked away, disgustingly as he backed away into the shadows. The man in the cloak began unlocking the several large metal locks that adorned the door. All different shapes, some slid, some clicked, some pushed and pulled.

That could keep me in. But surely not Edward?

The door hitched open with a click, a very poor blue fluorescent light beckoned its way out, the man swiping his hand forward in front of me before I could move.

"You have only a few minutes. Make it quick." As the door began to slide open, I wondered what his chances were in survival. The door would open and Edward would immediately want to aid to my rescue and we could escape - it was only just one guard. The lights caused me to squint, the stench of years worth of dust invading my nostrils. The light was soon becoming an ally, my eyes wandering over the stone walls going up and up as if we were in a tower.

"I-Isabella?" I heard chains, my eyes quickly darting behind old boxes, hay lying across the stone ground.

"Edward..." I whispered, stepping around the boxes, the view of him finally hitting me.

I wanted to hit something.

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to hold him.

His arms were up above his head, chained to the wall as his feet were anchored by large steel balls. His pants were tattered, his chest was bare and his face - oh, God, his face. I then knew why he was chained up... His eyes were the blackest I have ever seen, bruises of purple and black and yellow coloring underneath his onyx irises. They were starving him.

He had no strength.

He was dying.

"Oh my God..." My voice cracked as I buckled to my knees, tears streaming down my cheeks as I didn't bother to wipe them. I wanted to speak - I wanted to tell him everything, because I felt now was my only chance. But looking at him, seeing him this way - I was rendered speechless.

I had never seen him so vulnerable, so weak.

So human.

I moved closer, my knees skimming along the stone as my fingers reached forward. Edward quickly snarled his disapproval to me and I launched backwards, landing on my bottom in shock.

"D-Don't... Come near me..." His words were like knives in my chest, stabbing with each breath. "I... I haven't eaten in... Months... And you... As always... Are too tempting." He tried to make a joke out of it, tried to get me to smile but I was broken in my spot, the tears staining my cheeks. We sat quietly for a moment as our eyes met, me pleading to him to get enough strength, just this once - to get us out of here.

And as if he knew exactly what I was thinking, his eyes looked up, towards the tower. I followed his gaze, seeing a few feet up a barred window without glass, red eyes glaring down at us. Jane. She was waiting for the moment to attack and I am sure she was the one who has been torturing him. I looked back to him and felt a sob want to escape but swallowed it down.

"Are you okay? H-Have you been safe?" He asked and I didn't know how to respond. No, I wasn't okay. No, I wasn't safe. I haven't been safe. But the words couldn't come out and I could only nod my head. Edward laughed weakly, it coming out as a cough - something very human that Edward never did, an attribute to his weakened state. "You are a horrible liar... Always have been."

"I can't lie to you." I wiped my cheek with my dirty fingers, sucking in a deep breath.

"You never could." He gave me a weak smile - it was all he could manage. "You know what it is? It's your nose. It scrunches when you lie." He said, my fingers running up to cover my nose. I had never noticed. He stopped, taking in a sharp breath of air. I felt my chest constrict - I wanted to go to him. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine." I cried, shaking my head.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, giving me a sly smile. "I've never been better." His jokes were short-lived because I didn't engage in them. He was trying to make this a light situation - and it wasn't working.

None of it was light. And I would not let him ruin these last moments we have just to make me feel better.

"I'm going to be sold." I said, the air leaving my lungs with the words, stinging at my insides. Edward took in a sharp inhale of breath, his head hanging lowly as his chained hands began to clench. I could see the fight, because he knew if he tried to make any kind of moves, Jane would be there to stop it. So he only hung his head. Slowly, he brought his head up, his eyes searching mine. "You know I won't make it." I whispered.

His jaw went tight, as if he was suppressing something - fighting back a growl, or even worse - a cry. His chains began to move as he tried to reach out but he stopped quickly, only nodding his head at my comment, staring into my eyes.

"I know." He said softly. "I won't be far behind."

His words caused an ache in my body and this time a sob really did escape from me. My hands covered my face as my shoulders began to hunch and shake, a loud gasp of air trying to take hold, but it was like there wasn't enough oxygen because in this moment it was so real - Edward was always so certain we would always be together - we would always be protected. But now, even he is accepting our deaths. And it was all too real for me to grasp.

"Isabella... Look at me... I need you to be strong." His voice was a beckon of light that forced me to him, my body heaving as it began wearing into shock.

"I can't even... I can't even touch you... I can't even hug you goodbye! It isn't fair!" I screamed out, to no one in particular, but hoping everyone could hear it.

"I know, baby. I know it's not. And I'm sorry." He cried, watching as I struggled on the ground to collect my composure. "I should have known... I should have been safer. And I am so sorry. This shouldn't have happened."

I wiped my tears forcefully, trying to clear my vision - trying to get a suitable breath that could carry me to him because a part of me, the selfish part, wanted to throw myself at him. I wanted him to be the one to do it, to kill me, because it was inevitable. If it wasn't Edward, it would be someone else not that much later down the road. And I would prefer it done by Edward. But I knew if it happened, he would never be able to live with himself. And his last moments would be of the memory of him killing me. And I couldn't do that to him. No - I had to be strong. I needed to be. I needed to get myself together and tell him what I could - tell him how much he means to me because this would be the last time I could.

"Bella, if I could change the last few months, I would. I would make sure we were safer, we were secure. I would never put you in harms way, you know that." He began and I nodded. "But I am too selfish to tell you I wish you never met me. Maybe a better man would say that, to save you from this, but I can't. Because you are the only light in my life. And I wouldn't regret a single thing. Even if that lead us here."

The air was thick after his words, it weighing heavily on my shoulders before slowly sinking into my skin, nuzzling into my pours. It almost felt as if he were touching me himself - his words enveloping me and holding me close, because it was one of the only comforts we had left. But there was one more, one that was indefinitely better than the rest.

I closed my eyes and focused on his body, sending him the warmth through our conjoined marks. He lips parted instantly, his head dropping as it overcame him. My love. Every inch of it. I wanted him to have it all because it was all for him. No one else. He would be the only one to experience it. And soon enough, I felt his - pulsing and radiating every nerve, every sense. I wanted to wrap myself in it, crawl underground and hold it tightly and if I could die with it - I would die with a smile on my face.

"I love you." I said with such clarity, trying to force myself to stay in my spot, but feeling myself inch closer.

"I can feel it." He said with a deep sigh of relief, his eyes rolling back as his head hit the stonewall behind him. "And I will feel it everyday until my last breath. And I will make sure you feel mine."

"I feel it no matter what." I told him honestly and he smiled. He noticed I was getting closer, but had not stopped me. We were only two feet apart and I could see his muscles tightening, his eyes glistening as his tongue swiped out to his lips. And I wish I could give myself to him, but I knew we would be stopped before it even started. "Is this too close?" I whispered and he shook his head, holding intense restraint - but I knew he wanted what I did.

Just one last touch.

My arm outstretched and Edward watched my hand carefully, a war rampaging in his head but his light outweighed the dark and when my fingers skimmed his cheek, he let out a throaty sigh, my fingers burning with electricity as I felt his skin to mine. He nuzzled his cheek into my palm, soaking in every moment, his head turning slightly to press a cold kiss to it. I couldn't stop my tears, I couldn't stop the ache in my heart, the one that tore with every breath I made knowing that this would be it.

A door slammed behind us, the noise so quick that I didn't even have time to react until I felt my body being lifted. I screamed at the hands grabbing me and a terrifying snarl erupted the tower, followed by a large crack of cement crushing to the ground, scattering in every which way. Edward had efficiently pulled his chains from the wall and was positioning to attack as quickly as possible - but Jane was quicker.

The last thing I saw was Edward's body convulsing on the ground, the pains erupting in my own as well just before the door slammed in front of me.

Pretty short chapter, sorry for not posting last week! I have been extremely busy. Sorry to all of those who thought the end of the last chapter was someone saving her.

But, what does Jasper have to do with this?

Aro said that she would see Edward again, later. Why?

And what the hell did Edward do to even get them in this position?

All questions I know, but I love to hear what you think.

Until next time little does.

ii