Disclaimer: These are so pointless. I would like to see the day when Stephanie Meyer or one of her lawyers actually sued someone on fanfiction net for copyright infringement. I really would.

Chapter 9

I was back in that horrible cellar, only this time I was tied up in shackles. That familiar iron smell of my blood crept up on me and I involuntarily whimpered. Strangely enough I wasn't in any real pain. The door slowly creaked open and Alexander walked in along with Jason. My breathing sped up and knowing that there was nothing I could do, my body seized with fear. This could not happen again. I couldn't survive another time.

Alexander climbed up on the bed, resting his legs on either side of mine and started licking the trails of blood that had escaped their confines of my skin. Shuddering I mumble futile words.

"Please, no. Stop please." Of course he doesn't falter on his attack on my soul. Smiling at my antics, he reaches my throat and without hesitation sinks his venomous teeth in my flesh with no remorse, only pleasure. I pierce the air with my scream of intense pain.

Suddenly I jolt straight up, and realize I was back at the Cullen house. Edward was still holding me and gently rubbing my arms to comfort me.

"Bella, it's okay baby. You're safe, I've got you." Edward whispered over and over to me. I was still breathing hard and it took a few more minutes until I was able to calm down almost completely.

"It was only a nightmare Bella."

"No. I think it was more like a flashback. It was…so real." My hand subconsciously flew up my to my neck and started tracing the bit mark. Edward noticed and brought his hand to it as well. I cringed from his touch a little as his cold fingers somehow burned against the bite mark.

"I'm sorry. It hurts?" Edward asked curiously. The mark that James had left before didn't burn if touched, it was colder than the surrounding skin only.

"Yes. All the places where they…bit me…burns the same way." I mumbled. Edward pulled me back against him.

"You must be hungry, let me get you something." Edward offered. I was hungry but I couldn't fathom being left in this room even for a moment, as irrational as that sounds.

"Do, um, can I go with you downstairs?"

"You can go anywhere with me Bella. But I don't want you to hurt yourself, and if you're not strong enough to walk then I don't want to push it." Edward says compassionately. He knows I would refuse to have him carry me but I am firmly decided on going downstairs one way or another today. I didn't want to feel any more of a frail human than I already was. Whether I was ready to face the rest of the family downstairs was an entirely different question.

"I need to try Edward." Swinging my legs to the side of the bed, I touch the cold ground with my feet. Edward is already standing in front of me, ready to help me up. Taking hold of his arms, I place weight on my legs. Being off them for weeks, the feeling is somewhat foreign. I waver slightly and Edward steadies me instantly.

"You okay?"

"Yes." Edward was looking at me so intently it almost made me feel uncomfortable. It was a look that I always said dazzled me before, and it pained me to think that I would never feel that same way anymore about Edward. Not because I loved him any less, because that thought was completely ridiculous, but because I don't know if I could open myself up to Edward to the same extent as before.

He noted my tense stance and reverted his eyes elsewhere. "Um. Let's try just walking around the room before we tackle the stairs."

I nod and leave his protective grasp to start walking. He falls into step behind me letting me walk on my own but he has his arms on either side of me in case I fall. Taking slow and deliberate steps, I stumble more than once. When I felt confident walking after about twenty minutes, I stopped.

"I think I'm ready Edward."

"Okay, let's just do one more thing. Here, take my hands and on your own timing, I want you to carefully bend down as if you're going to sit and then come back up." Edward instructed.

"What is this, physical therapy?" I joked.

"I know it may seem overboard, but I don't want to overestimate your health Bella." Edward smiles. I return the smile and can't help but notice how much I am starting to relax around Edward. It gives me hope that we will be okay one day. Putting my hands in his, I carefully bend my legs and straighten them out repeatedly.

"Good, good. I didn't expect you to do so well so soon."

"Gee thanks Edward. I'm so glad to know my boyfriend believes in me." I say sarcastically. His face breaks out in an unrestrained smile and even throws in a heartfelt laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just you called me your boyfriend. I didn't think you would want or be ready to connect a relationship to me." Edward answered cautiously. It was as if he was worried I would recognize what I said and take it back.

"I'm not ready to be as close as before, you're right. But I'm also not ready to lose you, and I don't think I'd ever be ready for that."

((AN: Okay…next chapter, Bella goes downstairs. GASP what an adventure! Lol. Don't worry, it will be more exciting than this one. Small hint on what's going to happen: I like messing with Jasper. Bella isn't 100% physically recovered btw…well…you'll see in chapter 10. REVIEW! Plz.))