Chapter 12: Challenges

#A/N. Yay! Hooray! Woo! Here's Chapter 12! I must admit, I went out of my comfort zone on this one. I had many battles with myself on how I wanted this chapter to turn out. I said I wanted this story to go dark, and dark it did go. This chapter is totally hardcore! I just hope no one hates me after this...lol. Remember to Review and leave ANY comments.

Enjoy, my lovely readers! :)

*Bella's POV*

My eyes were shut tightly in concentration.

I was manipulating my shield, pulling it in and away from me. I managed to push my shield out around the whole castle. I could sense the Volturi and their guards under my shield, them somehow becoming a part of me when my shield spread across the castle. Taking a deep breath, I tried to stretch my shield even further. Inch by inch, my shield extended, and I felt more and more people go under its control. I clenched my jaw as I felt the strain in my mind. Yet, I still pushed forward. The shield became even tighter as I managed to push it onward at least a foot. With a loud gasp, I allowed my shield to snap back into place.

I was starting to give myself a headache.

I was practicing extending my shield: I wanted to see what my limits were. Mentally, I was exhausted. Without having been fed in weeks, the practice with my shield was taking an extra toll on me.

Careful, Bella. No need to over exert yourself. I imagined Edward would have said if he were here to witness this.

Or maybe he might have just said I was being stupid in trying to manipulate my shield when I was already so drained.

I doubted that. He would've said that in a much nicer way.

I breathed a deep sigh as a wave of pain and loneliness went through me at the thought of Edward.

Opening my eyes, I made sure shield was firmly set back into place. I traced patterns in the ceiling with my eyes. I stopped, however, when I managed to find an emaciated body staring at me with hollow, lifeless eyes.

I was going stir crazy from being incarcerated in this small cell of mine.

I gave one more tug to the chains that bound me to the bed; and slumped back in defeat when they didn't budge.

I felt an itching sensation on my neck. The sensation was most focused on the spot were Felix had bitten me.

I shivered at the memory.

It was as if I could still feel him on me. I could still feel his hands roaming my body and I hated the feeling. I felt the ghost of pain as I concentrated on the mark that was now etched into my throat. I knew the itching feeling was mostly due to my reminiscing of the event.

And there was the shock.

I just couldn't get over it! What compelled Felix to bite me? Why did he feel the need to mark me? I just couldn't wrap my head around it. I shook my head to clear my mind from the thoughts. Maybe I was trying to look to deep into things. It was probably just a part of his malicious nature.

I decided to just take Felix out of my mind altogether.

I relaxed my muscles and worked on emptying my mind. I breathed in and out evenly. I closed my eyes, drifting to my happy place. My happy place was with Edward, as it always was. In my thoughts, Edward and I were in our meadow.

I was pulled against his chest, wrapped firmly in his arms as we reclined in the soft, tall grass. A breeze blew my hair around my face and Edward softly tucked the strands behind my ears. I sighed in contentment as I snuggled closer into Edward's chest. He chuckled softly.

"Are you comfortable, love?" he asked with a hint of mirth in his voice.

"Mmmhm, very." I replied.

Edward chuckled again, burying his face in my hair. He pulled away from me, extending his arm behind him. I pulled back to watch his movements. Edward plucked a wild flower from the grass and then turned back to face me. He then placed the flower into my hair.

"Beautiful." He breathed as he leaned back slightly to get a better look. I flashed him a smile, and his dazzling, crooked smile played on his lips in response.

"My beautiful, Bella." He sang softly. "I love you more than life itself." The way he looked at me. He looked at me as if I was the only thing in the whole world - like I was the most precious thing. Edward had a look of pure adoration and love in his eyes as our gazes locked.

I was sure I was reflecting all my love on my face as well.

"I love you."

Edward wrapped me into a warm hug.

Time passed as we sat in our meadow, enveloped in each other's arms. Oblivious to everything else but each other…

I was sure if I was able to produce tears, they would be pouring down my cheeks rapidly.

I longed for my husband.

I needed him. I needed his comfort and love.

I tried to numb the pain that was now flaring in my chest. It took me a minute, but I managed to numb it until it was at a bearable level.

"Mrs. Cullen." Alec's voice wafted from behind the door. I wondered how the guards always managed to come by without my noticing.

That's how they were trained I thought disgustedly.

'Oh, may I come in, Mrs. Cullen." Alec continued on when I didn't reply the first time.

"Why not?" I said, against my better judgment. He, most likely, would have come in without my consent.

Alec glided into the room with a small smile on his lips. He came to stand beside my bed.

"Ah, that Felix." He said, shaking his head slowly. He was examining the bite mark on my neck with more intensity than was necessary. "He's such a flirt."

"That he is." I mumbled, looking away from Alec's watchful eyes.

"Are you ready to go down, Bella? Aro has something special for you."

Something special? This can't be good. I thought to myself. Without waiting for an answer, Alec unlocked my chains, gathered me up in his arms, and flew downstairs. He set me down in the middle of the room and took a few paces back from me. I noticed that both Marcus and Caius were now present in the room, standing quietly at each of Aro's sides.

I also noticed the smell of human blood and a heart beating erratically. My throat burned in response.

Jane smiled at me evilly from her place beside Caius.

I was immediately suspicious and on high alert.

"I have a small test for you, my Bella." Aro said as he came up to me, not bothering with his usual small talk.

"What type of test?" I was almost afraid to ask, but I managed.

"A test of will…and strength."

I was sure that my eyebrows all but disappeared into my hairline.

"Will and strength." I repeated in a whisper.

Aro snapped his fingers twice. Demetri and Felix came into the room then. In between them, was a boy who couldn't be more than 16 years old. The boy was shaking in fear, his blood pulsing fast in his veins from the adrenaline.

I immediately knew what the subject of the test was.

"No!" I shouted. "No, no, no!" I backed away from them as they advanced towards me. Alec placed a hand on my shoulder, halting my movement.

"But you haven't eaten in weeks, Bella dear. Aren't you starving?" Aro asked. I saw a hint of a wicked gleam in his eye, but it quickly disappeared.

"I don't care! I refuse to take his life." I struggled in Alec's arms, but his arms only got tighter. I looked into the boy's eyes. The terror in them was potent.

"Oh, but you will." Caius said, slithering towards me.

"He's so mouthwatering." Aro added with a chuckle.

And he was. The adrenalin made his warm blood pump faster. His scent was enhanced and I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His face was flushed deliciously and I could see the vein in his neck pulsing as his heart worked in panic.

Before I could stop myself, I inhaled deeply.

"No!" I growled again. My throat was on fire. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to take the boy and drain the blood from his body.

Get a hold of yourself, Bella! I screamed at myself. I couldn't do this. It wasn't who I was. It wasn't who my family was.

My family.

I couldn't do this to them. I couldn't do this to Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett…..Edward….Renesmee.

I couldn't destroy what they worked so hard to create.

I shut my eyes tightly and held my breath. That was better. I couldn't smell his tempting blood.

But I could still feel his warmth, and hear the wet sound of his heart beating.

I was losing it.

"Bella." Aro cooed.

"I told you no!" I shouted, glaring at him. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hmm."

"Bella, you will –"

"NO!" I screamed violently, wrenching out of Alec's arms. I turned on my heel quickly; ready to make a run for it. Caius appeared in front of me then. He pulled his arm back and then brought it forward, slapping me across the face. I fell to the stone floor from the force of it.

My cheek was stinging, and I placed my hand over it. I cowered in fear as Caius towered over me, glaring icily at me.

"Come over here, now!" He barked at Demetri. Demetri immediately came to Caius's side, the boy in his arms. Caius snatched the boy from his arms. Without hesitating, he snapped the boy's neck. The crack sounded around the room and I covered my ears. Caius used one boney finger to make an incision on his neck. Blood oozed from the wound.

My eyes zeroed in on the blood as it slowly trickled down the boy's neck. The aroma caused venom to pull in my mouth, some seeping out from the corner.

With a wicked grin, Caius pushed the boy towards me. He fell limply in my lap his neck rubbing against my cheek on the way down.

His blood fell onto my lower lip.

I was so overcome with thirst in that moment - my inner monster unveiling itself as the still warm blood seeped in between my lips. My hunger finally took over.

I licked my lip.

The taste. It wasn't like anything I had before. I suddenly had to have more.

I needed more.

I bent my head to the boy's neck, and after finding the main artery, I began to drink greedily. The warm blood felt wonderful on my aching throat. It soothed the burn immensely.

The blood was so exquisite.

Delicious.

Delectable.

Nothing could compare.

Too soon, the boy was completely drained of blood. As I licked my lips to gather any drop I might have missed, what I did suddenly came crashing down on me.

Oh god…

"I didn't….I couldn't have…I…I." I stuttered. "No."

I was a monster.

I screamed as I pounded my fists into the stone floor. It cracked, and some parts turned to dust as I continued to beat on the floor.

I cried tearless sobs.

"No." I repeated over and over.

I continued to scream and cry as Demetri dragged me out of the room.

I allowed my mind to shut down.

I allowed all my agony, horror, and sorrow to consume me.