Chapter 2

"In the darkness I found you"

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. "
Edgar Allan Poe

"It's huge" Leah's voice echoed in the big room.

"Pretty dark also" said Jacob.

"And dusty" I added.

"Let's split! I am going to the left" said Leah and ran away.

"This girl never just sits and talks, she just does whatever comes into her little head" Jacob sighed.

"Well that's Leah" I giggled "C'mon let's split, I'll take the upstairs rooms and you go right"

"Alright, just take care ok?" Jacob kissed my lips softly.

"I'll try" I smiled "See you in half an hour here ok?" I said and went upstairs.

It made no sense. What are we trying to find here? I should never have split with Jacob…but maybe this way we'll finish "exploring" this place fast. I was walking in the dark castle's hall with a torch in my hand, looking at the statues and the portraits. They showed really beautiful and happy faces. They were not scary, as we imagined with spiders hanging on them, but they were clean, and portraying such beautiful angelic faces. One specific portrait caught my attention. It showed a handsome man, with a crooked smile. It felt so weird, like this portrait didn't belong in a scary castle. I came closer to it, and touched it with my hand. I thought I saw his eyes sparkle, and that gave me goose bumps. I giggled, how ridiculous was that? Thank God Jacob wasn't around seeing me falling in love with a portrait. That person probably didn't even exist anymore or maybe never existed. But he had something extraordinary. In his eyes you could see happiness, looking at him made me calm and happy too. So I stayed there looking at it for a good 15 minutes when a noise behind me scared me and made me look behind my back.

"Is anyone here? Jacob? Leah?" No one replied". "C'mon guys this is so not funny!" I was really scared now. I lighted the way in front of me, but I couldn't see anyone.

Time to get out of here I thought, but as I was finding my way back I heard piano music coming from a room. My head was screaming to me "Run away now", but my heart told me to go and check, that music was so magical. "But who plays the piano? Jacob and Leah have no idea how to play the piano. If I just check it can't do any harm right? I mean what evil creature could play such a beautiful melody?" So I made the decision to go to the room, I turned off the torch first. As I walked in room the music stopped and I heard a noise. My heart started beating fast.

"Is anyone here?" I whispered. No answer. Really clever… "Is anyone here?" I said louder. No answer again. My heart started beating faster I knew there was somebody in this room. "I am sorry to interrupt, but I heard this beautiful music…" God what was I thinking? Talking to probably a ghost or even better an evil spirit about beautiful music? I should get the hell out of here. As I turned my back to get off the room I heard a voice saying

"Wait"

My heart melted, my knees starting shaking, I was breathing faster and my heart was beating like crazy. What was happening? Was I that scared or was it something else…?

"Who are you?" I managed to say after a minute.

"That doesn't matter, the question is who are you? And what are you doing here?" he sounded a little upset.

"My name is Bella" my heart started beating faster " and I am not exactly sure why I am here" I felt my cheeks getting red, fortunately that wasn't viewable in the darkness.

"So you just decided to visit a dark castle because you felt bored? Or you are stupid enough and want to commit suicide?" his voice was harsh now.

"I…how can you talk to me like that? I came here with my friends to… erm we like castles and wanted to explore it" I said while tried to sound dynamic.

"Haven't you heard of the rumors? What goes in here never gets out? Or are you deaf?"

"I am not deaf! I…"

"Yes right my apologies, you can hear me now. So that makes you just stupid. Make sure to get your also stupid friends and get the hell out of here before it's too late"

"We are…"

"I said GO!" he said with a really angry tone. But I needed to talk to him a little more, I was curious and to my surprise not that scared. Maybe I was indeed stupid.

"You didn't hear me? GO NOW!"

"Tell me who you are, and I promise I will go away"

" This is not a game, Go away now and you may live"

" Since I am stupid, I need you to tell me who you are and then I will go"

"Fine, I don't care. I warned you at least."

"Tell..." before I could end my sentence I heard a scream."HELP ME PLEASE" it was Leah.

"Leah?" I shouted.

"Shut up!" I heard him and felt his cold hands closing my mouth. I didn't argue, I was really scared to actually make a move. But not of him, because of Leah's painful scream.

"Please don't make a single sound" he whispered in my ear so gently. My heart started beating fast again.

After a while he grabbed me and moved me really quickly and quietly to another room.

"Here you will be safe" he said "For now" he added.

"Thank you" I told him. I couldn't even see him clearly because the room was really dark. I still held the torch in my hand, but I wasn't sure if it was safe to use it…

"It's really dark in here…"

"You are afraid of the dark?" he laughed sarcasticly.

"Stop being so ironic!" I protested.

"You came into a haunted castle, full of evil, and you don't like darkness?"

"First of all I didn't know it was haunted and secondly who said that I am afraid of the darkness? I just really want to see your face" I really wanted to see his face, so I could calm down. Leah's voice was so terrifying.

"You are so stubborn" he said and before I managed to protest he added" and so brave"

My cheeks became red again.

"You also look really beautiful when your cheeks get red" he chuckled.

What? How could he see me? It was so dark here, that I couldn't see where I stepped. I guess my cheeks became even more red because he chuckled again.

"Stop that" I said embarrassingly. " Can you at least tell me your name?"

"My name is Edward Cullen"

My heart started beating faster again.

"Nice to meet you Edward"

" You are unbelievable" he burst out laughing.

"I am glad I amuse you" I said sarcastically.

"Who is ironic now?" he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me."

"How can you see me? It's so dark! And why do you laugh? Am I that funny?"

"Wow so many questions." he chuckled again. "I can see in the dark Bella, and you are just unbelievable. You are not scared at all! I tried my best to get you out of here, and you protested and now you are even happy to meet me!" he burst out laughing.

"Well maybe that means that you didn't do your best" I said. He suddenly stopped laughing.

"Maybe…" he said in a cold tone. Oh crap why did I ruin it?I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find any words.

"Can we turn on the lights?" I asked.

"Alright you little stubborn girl, just promise me that you will not get scared and shout ok?"

"Ok, I promise" my heart started beating faster. Suddenly the lights were on, I needed a few seconds till my eyes could adjust to the light and then I could see him clearly and wanted to shout.