Chapter 17

With a deep sigh, I laid back on the double, four poster bed, feeling utterly ridiculous.

After an embarrassing meeting with etiquette at the dining table, I had 'retired' to my

room, and now I was sitting in a silky gold nightgown, much too posh and incredibly

scratchy to wear to bed, half-suffocating under a pile of richly embroidered eiderdowns.

I sighed. I missed Edward so much… It was like all the corners of my heart that had been

patched up a little, were ripped apart again and exposed to all the emotions he had

managed to block out for me – pain, loss, hurt. Perhaps he would come, I fantasized,

on a great white horse to rescue me like Rapunzal from her tower, and we would dash

away into the dark night… I smiled at the thought. A little knock at the door, woke me

from my reverie. I blushed automatically, calling,

"Come in!"

The door creaked open and Wovers sheepish face appeared. I grinned.

"Hey Wovers. Come in!" He sidled through the door, closing it silently behind him and

walked over to me, perching softly on the edge of my massive bed.

"How are you doing?" he asked concerned. "You must be missing your foster family."

I nodded, but added,

"I never really saw them as a foster family… They were like a real family to me. Friends.

The best of friends." My voice quavered, my lips trembling softly. Blushing a little, Wovers

edged closer to me, wrapping his lanky arm around my shoulders, his body warming

mine.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Somewhere, in the far-off winter forests of Canada, a vampire raced through the pine

trees, fear spurring him on, faster than he had ever been before. He had to reach his love

before the man attacked. That strange, strange man…

______________________________________________________________________________________

BPOV

I stiffened as Wovers drew closer.

"It's all right Ms Bella. You'll be fine. You're safe here." Gradually I relaxed again. I had

a friend here.

"I'm so glad," I snuffled gratefully, "That you're here."

______________________________________________________________________________________

The figure of a man blurred through the landscape.

______________________________________________________________________________________

I leant into his shirt, my tears running freely. That was probably why I didn't notice his

reaching further round my back and angling down. And why I didn't notice, until it was

too late, Wovers grasping my wrist firmly and cuffing it to one corner of the four poster

bed. I stared up at him, confused and fearful.

"What are you doing??" I tried to squirm away, the thumping of my heart telling me that I

had to get out, that I wasn't safe. He didn't reply, but I saw a manic glint rise in his skinny

features, as he grabbed the rest of my limbs and gave them the same treatment.

"Wovers! Go away. NOW!" I tried to be loud and forceful, but my voice was high-pitched

with fright and cracked nervously. I was overwhelmed with the speed in which my

situation had changed – just a minute ago I had been weeping pitifully into his crisp

white shirt! And now…

Casually, Wovers strolled over to the door and bolted it shut. He walked back over his

hand trailing over the bed clothes, and up my body. I shuddered against him, and his

eyes lit up excitedly, misinterpreting my disgust. A boy, with a man's tools.

"I've been waiting a while for this you know." he murmured conversationally, as he

crawled onto the bed.

"You're sick!" I spat, "Get the hell out of my room!!"

"Shhh, shhh my Bella." he soothed, "You don't know what you what… what you need."

With this, he straddled my waist, the bulge in his groin firmly pressed down. My heart sped

up furiously. I couldn't believe this… This was actually happening to me. Delicately, and

incredibly slowly, he unbuttoned my blouse. Savoring each moment.

"You've got a twisted little mind, you know that," I hissed, "Get the fuck off me."

"Language, my dear," he murmured, before drawing his face to my breasts. I gasped

in fright and disgust, as my chest heaved and I began to cry with fear and panic. I

couldn't do anything, helpless, afraid.

"Edward," I moaned, "Please, help me…"