Hello, good readers!

Welcome to another chapter of Bloodstream. Hope youre all enjoying it so far. Don't forget to favourite, follow and review!

This chapter is named after 'Fear' by Ian Brown.

Disclaimer: I don't own it!

Bella Swan's Point of View

"The clothes Alice got for you fit perfect," Edward admired from the other side of his room. "She has wonderful taste."

There was no denying it, Edward was right. Alice really did have an eye for fashion. I couldn't help but admire myself in the full length mirror as I tried on the pretty summer dress she'd picked out. A pile of clothes lay on the floor beside me, everything tried on. It all fitted and looked awesome.

"I agree," I said, giving one last twirl to see how the dress swayed as I moved. I was enjoying myself perhaps a little too much.

I saw Edward smile through the mirror. "They look great. You look great."

I hated the way my body betrayed me in that moment, my cheeks blushing as he spoke.

Hey, I'm a still a woman. I like a compliment!

"Thank you," I smiled, turning to face him, his pupils dilating a little.

"Stop blushing, Isabella," he ordered gruffly, his tone completely changing, and I immediately looked down to my feet apologetically, my mind brought straight back to Earth.

I sighed.

What was I thinking enjoying myself? Yes the clothes were pretty and yes I was comfortable living in this room of his, but he was still in charge and I was still a slave under his power. I had no freedom, and these clothes were just a way to butter me up.

I was still his, and I had to live with that.

I swallowed. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it."

"Well learn to help it," he said, standing up. "Or else I'll slit your throat till there's not one drop of life left in your body."

My hands balled into frustrated fists at my side.

Well that was over the top! All I'd done was blush, hardly a fucking crime! Edward needed to calm the hell down. I was human, he needed to stop getting so pissy over my little human traits.

"Like it's that easy…" I mumbled to myself.

Big mistake.

Almost immediately he was stood before me, causing me to gasp. I'd never get used to his vampiric speed. He grabbed my jaw between his thumb and fingers, raising my head until my eyes met his.

He looked pissed.

"Want to repeat yourself, Isabella? I don't believe I quite heard you there."

My fists shook at my side, and I couldn't quite tell if it was from anger or fear.

"L-Like it's… that… easy…" I said timidly, regretting saying the words in the first place.

He smirked, leaning forward, his lips by my ear. His closeness sent delicious chills up my spine, my heart thumping as I felt his breath on the sensitive skin on my neck.

"It's for both our benefits that you learn," he whispered. "Blushing brings the blood close to your skin. And when I smell that heavenly scent, I might not be able to stop myself. I'll drink you dry, sweetheart. I lose my perfect blood source, and you lose your life. And neither of us want that, do we? So learn to stop, Bella."

He pulled away and I let out a breath I didn't even know I'd been holding, looking back into his eyes. His warning, though terrifying, was genuine. It wasn't a way to scare me or upset me, his shining red orbs told me this.

I simply nodded. "I'll bear that in mind."

He smirked, licking his lips, brushing a finger lightly across my blushed cheeks. "Good girl."

My legs felt like jelly, but I managed to stay standing. No way in hell would I show such weakness in front of a vampire. His little speech had been belittling enough, I didn't need to give him more reason to think he had utter control over me.

"You should rest up," he said, moving away and putting on a light jacket. "I'm gonna wanna feed from you tonight and I need you at your best."

Finding my strength again, I began to pick up the pile of clothes. "Where are you going?"

"Aro wanted to speak to me about something." He headed to the door, noticing I was heading slowly toward him. What could Aro have possibly wanted? "Rest, Isabella. The TV works and there are DVDs in the cabinet over there." Before I had time to respond, he left, closing the door behind him.

I sighed, moving towards the bed, beginning to fold my clothes.

Edward confused me so much. Just when I think I begin to make some progress with him and that he was not a bad guy, he turns, threatening me and scaring me… only for those threats to be sincere warnings. He was beginning to hurt my head.

He was an enigma.

With my clothes folded, I looked around the room for something to do. Never being one to sit in one place for too long, the TV and DVDs did not appeal in anyway. I looked to the door, knowing what I really wanted to do. I wanted to explore, see what this Volturi Headquarters was truly like. Perhaps I could have found Alice, she had been nothing but pleasant and spending some time with her sounded fun. Plus I wanted to know more about this ball she had spoken of before.

So I slipped some shoes on, opened the door and checked the coast was clear, before leaving the room, heading right.

The building was as every bit luxurious as all the other rooms I'd seen before, rich golds and reds and marbles layering every inch of the walls, floors and ceilings. It was truly a stunning place to behold. I guess centuries of saving money like these vampires had meant you could afford such a place, not to mention their royal standing.

These vampires got everything they ever wanted, and didn't I know it!

I had been searching for Alice for a good half hour when I stopped to regroup and rethink. She hadn't been in the throne room and she hadn't been in any of the rooms on the floor was in. I figured to try upstairs, walking up the marble staircase in awe.

As evil as the vampires were, I couldn't help but admire their home.

A strange smell hit my nose as I reached the top of the stairs, the sound of talking coming from the far end of a corridor. Cautiously, I followed the sound and smell until I reached it.

What I found shocked me, frightened me, and terrified me to the core…

The room was vast, filled with a large mahogany table, at least thirty vampires seated around it. Aro sat at the end of the table, cup in hand, Edward sat comfortably to his left. The vampires were chatting, happily, pleasantly, all their cups full of fresh blood…

Fresh blood that came from the poor girl tied up, hanging above the table…

There couldn't have been much life left in her, her body covered in cuts and gashes, blood dripping from all of them. Her arms were tied behind her back as she hung like a hog, a gag placed in her mouth to silence her petrified screams.

Every now and then a vampire would stand, either producing a new cut to fill their cup with, or feeding from her directly, biting her wherever they could, getting their fix of blood. She could not have been 16 years old.

I hid behind one of the many red velvet curtains that surrounded the room, trying my hardest not to throw up or cry.

What this was, I did not know, but it was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I knew the vampires were capable of some terrible things. But this? It was incomprehensible.

Tears streamed down my face as she gave out one last strangled cry, her eyes glazing over, her head suddenly hanging. I knew she was dead, the vampires having drained her dry in the treacherous way possible. I wiped the tears away, only to let new ones fall in their place, struggling to believe it was real.

One vampire stood, cutting her ropes. I fought back the urge to vomit as her lifeless body fell to the table with a thud, only to be quickly disposed of like she was nothing.

"Another one bites the dust," someone said.

"She tasted like shit anyway," said another.

I looked to Edward, sitting there with a smile on his face, wondering how he could do such a thing. Yes he fed from me but it was in a comfortable and controlled environment. What they had done to this girl was appalling, it was sickening, it was… barbaric.

I turned and I ran, no longer able to look at him, no longer wanting to stay to see which poor soul was brought out next. I ran to my room as quickly as my shaking legs could carry me, my sobs rattling my entire body.

All this time I'd had hope, I'd had that little voice telling me that it was going to be alright. Be it Alice's kindness or the way Edward didn't always seem so bad, but a part of me figured that I'd come out of this on top.

But it had all been for nothing.

I was never getting out of here, I would never be safe, I would never be free again. My bravery was completely gone, almost as if it had never been there.

For the first time since my visit, I truly felt in danger…