Thank y'all very much! I cannot stress enough how much your reviewing keeps I motivated to write. It's an amazing feeling to know people appreciate and enjoy what you make up using your wondrous (and slightly insane in my case) minds! I love your reviews no matter what you have to say, they get me inspired and encourage me to do better the next chapter. The song for this chapter was slightly hard for me to choose, but I finally came down to one: Help I'm alive by Metric
Help, I'm alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer
Hard to be soft
Tough to be tender
Come take my pulse, the pace is on a runaway train
Destination… TBD, 2008
Isabella Maries Whitlock Mason Cullen's POV:
I used to think hell was scary. I had to endure hell when my brothers went missing, when I was changed, when I left my friends, when my family thought I was dead, when Jacob imprinted on me, and when I was dragged from my family for the second time. Eventually, hell seemed like a breath of fresh air. Call me insane, but I would have preferred to see the dark and frozen looking foggy underworld besides this abandon land of…nothing. Because that's where I was…I was nowhere. I was alone. Everything was just blank; almost like life itself didn't exist. That scared me more than anything could. Not even the minion of the antichrist, Jane Volturi, could scare me more. And that was saying something.
I looked down at myself and gasped. It appeared that I had magically changed outfits since I was banished here. Instead of my pair of jeans and a tank top, I was wearing a very elegant black corset dress with dark lace roses embroidered into the piece and a few strings tied up in the back and front. It reached about a little lower than mid-thy and showed off my porcelain skin and shoeless feet. Even my nail polish changed from red to black! I scratched my head feeling a throbbing pain in the back of my skull. I stretched and pushed myself off the floor, stumbling a bit as I tried to stand.
That hadn't happened to me since I was human, and I didn't like the feeling of being so vulnerable. "Hello?" I yelled out, but all I received was my fearful voice's echo. I began to tremble as I wandered around. I must have walked for miles, and everything still looked the same. For all I knew, I could have been shrunken like Alice from Wonderland and then trapped inside a stupid snow globe. The throbbing in the back of my head seemed to be calming, and was replaced with a kind numbing.
After what felt like hours, I finally saw something that wasn't white. It appeared to be a few hundred miles away, but I swear I saw a black dot. My head shot up and my breathing quickened. I began to walk towards the dot, hesitantly, but as I got closer my walk turned into a jog then a run then I was full out sprinting to get to the dot. As I approached it I realized this dot was a door. A very large door at that. It looked about twelve feet high and ten feet wide, made of completely black wood and elegant carvings. A single knob tautened me with its shinning silver surface.
I shot my hand out, not really caring what was on the other side as I opened the massive door. Its size didn't do it justice, seeing as the door was so light. As I opened it a small spread of light glazed out of the crack. I threw it open and stepped inside, slamming it closed behind me and staring into the dank hallway. A very long and very narrow brick hallway, with dim lights and a single floor length mirror at the end. The lights flickered a bit and their buzz made me annoyed slightly. It looked like s seen from a horror movie, perfect for a vampire. The only thing that stood out where the eight doors, four on each side of the hall, each different colors.
I walked down the hallway, just taking in my surroundings when suddenly I reached the end. I looked back and fell to the floor with my mouth open in horror and my eyes wider than earth. My shaking hand reached up to cover my gapping mouth and I felt a tiny sob escape. If I had a heart, it would have been like a hummingbird about now. A pair of giant black wings was produced from my back. The span was at least four feet but the dropped elegantly down my back like a waterfall, spilling down to my butt. Some may have said that it looked beautiful, almost like a dark angel. I think this was a sign of what I feared the most. It looked like I was a demon. Maybe I was wrong after all; maybe vampires don't have souls…
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. A searing ache filled my heart as I thought back to Edward. He was the one who I picked this bad habit from. I couldn't imagine the hell my family was facing, knowing they just had their lover, sister, and daughter stolen from them once more. It also angered me to think about the wolves and the Denali's. Once I got out of this place (if I ever did) I would go kick some furry ass for all eternity. Tanya better stay in line, although I'm sure Rose will keep her there.
I placed my face in my hands and curled my knees into my chest. Sobs poured from my lips. Was I ever going to see my family again? That one question had to be on repeat in my mind. This wasn't just bad luck Bella, something terrible must have happened to me as a child. Maybe a sear hexed my soul? This. Was. Ridiculous. I don't think I would ever catch a break. It was almost like I still had a tie that was pulling my back to the past. Something I forgot to finish and can never move along from until it is done. I rejoiced in self pride as I figured that…now what the hell did I forget to do? My shoulders slumped and I sighed. This is pointless.
"Oh dear God! You poor thing! I've never seen wings of that color!" A concerned soft voice said from behind me. I jumped to my feet and hissed at the intruder. She held up her hands in shock and a look of reorganization flitted across her pretty features. A small smile appeared on her face and she shook her head smiling. I tilted my head in confusion, but still kept my defensive posture. This looked like a scene from the movie Insidious and I didn't want to risk anything. "You're a vampire, aren't you?" I stood erect with shock. Did she really just ask me that? Now I began to worry even more, and I felt a whole new wave of panic hit me. Where was Jasper when I needed him most?
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded my head. If she already knew, there was no way of lying to her. What did I have to lose? Her answering smile made me even more confused, so much that I began to get angry. "Who are you? Where the fuck am I?" I snarled out. I saw her smile vanish as fear and sympathy took over her features. I felt bad for snapping at her. "Sorry…" I mumbled but was cut off by her laughter. "No its fine, that's the usual reaction from the rest."
I sighed and gave her a tiny mocking smile. "You know, that really isn't helping my growing list of questions. The rest…" I trailed off raising an eyebrow. She smiled and replied, "Oh of course, I'm sorry. My name is Kimberly and you are with the rest of us. We are all broken imprints. The same thing that happened to you with you wolf has happened to the rest of us. Technically we don't 'die' so to say, but we become like…angels of the undead?" She giggled and I got the contagion and laughed with her. "Angels of the undead, huh? I guess that explains the wings." I muttered and saw her nod, a quick grimace spread across her face.
"We all have different wing colors, as you can tell." She gestured to her giant dark green wings that suit her peppy emotions and tiny frame perfectly. She had long red curly hair that showed she were definitely Irish, crystal blue eyes, and a few freckles decorating near her tiny nose. Her dress was longer than mine but had a slit up the side of the silky green layers. Just like me, she was barefoot and had green nail polish. Although, her corset looked like an actual old fashioned corset with brown ties and a silky texture to it. It showed army, forest, and neon green all combined in one. She looked to be around the age of twenty or nineteen, and was very pretty for a human…or whatever we were. She said broken imprint, right? I was a little upset that my own wings were black. Maybe that's because I am a vampire.
"So…why are mine black?" I asked while rocking on my toes, feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. She sighed sadly and walked closer placing her hand on my shoulder. Her liquid eyes looked down at me sadly as she replied, "The color of our wings are determined by our past. The emotions we have felt and the things or horrors that we had to face make up our spirit, so to say…you're wings show me that you have been through a lot and it seems like you still are." I nodded solemnly and looked to the ground. That made sense now. I had black wings because of my very dark past.
"So…where exactly are we?" I asked with fear clear in my voice. She smiled comfortingly at me and sighed. "This is exactly what you would think it to be, almost like limbo. We are the broken imprints, so technically this is our heaven, but we can travel back to earth…just no one has tried yet." I smiled brightly and grabbed her wrist, scaring her a little. "We can go back!" She smiled and nodded. I felt relief wash over me; I would see my family again! "But no one knows how to yet…we just know a broken imprint has done it. She is evil though, so we don't tend to talk to her. I'm sure you've heard of the story of Elizabeth…" I nodded my head. It all made sense now.
"Look on the bright side, since you are both vampires, maybe it will become an advantage for you!" I smiled at her and sighed. I would need to find a way back later. Now I just needed to figure out where I was and who these people were.
We stayed in an awkward silence before she gasped and backed up a bit. I looked at her feeling self-conscious again. "I forgot my manners! My name is Kimberly!" She extended her hand and I laughed at her antics. She was friendly so I gave her my best smile and replied, "My name is Isabella Marie Whitlock Mason Cullen, but I prefer Bella." Her hand was warm compared to my still ice cold temperature.
"Greetings Bella, that name suits you well. I have to say and I hope this doesn't come to strange, but you are absolutely gorgeous!" I bit my lip, feeling like I could crawl up and die…stupid shyness. "Thanks, I could say the same." She smiled at me and gave me her best curtsey. "Have you found you're territory yet?" I blanched at her. My territory? "Um…" I trailed off looking confused.
"Oh there I go again, making people aggravated or confused…sorry. Each broken imprint, and there are only eight of us, has their own color of wings and their own territory they guard. It's kind of like a bedroom, you know? The one place you like to go to for safety and peace." I nodded my head, already knowing my place was probably the meadow, maybe even the desert back in Texas.
"C'mon, let me take you to mine!" She grabbed my hand and ran to the dark green door that matched her wings perfectly. I was tugged inside and heard the animals and wind rustling the trees and bushes before I saw them. Her territory was the forests, with giant oak trees that reached sky high and lots of moss and wildlife. It reminded me of Forks, just sunnier and warmer with different animals. It looked beautiful.
"Wow…this place is amazing!" I said, twirling around making my dress swoosh. She walked with me over to a massive tipped over tree. We jumped onto it and sung our legs beneath us like little kids on a swing set. "So…how did you end up here?" She asked hesitantly. I sighed and looked sadly at the ground. I guess I would start from the beginning…
By the end of my story, she was speechless. "Kim you in there?" I asked jokingly. She shook her head and gapped at me, a single tear sliding down her eye. He next second, a tiny pair of arms were tightly bound around my neck and a sobbing angel was pressed against my torso. Though she was bigger than I was, I comforted her and rubbed her hair. "T-that's s-so t-terrible B-Bella…" She cried into my shoulder and I shushed her. "Now it's your turn Kim" She sighed and looked off into the woods, whipping a stray tear from her cheek.
"I was born in London England with two parents, one sister, and a very rich family. My father was a wealthy merchant who traveled a lot, and my sister was quite frankly a stuck up bitch. My mother didn't really see eye-to-eye with me, so it felt like I was alone. I took my time in the garden; always tending to the flowers…it sort of became my passion as you can tell from our surroundings. My mother and sister were stuck in a robbery and the robber stabbed them both. They died and soon it was just my father and I. His business wasn't doing well, so I decided to support the family by becoming a maid at Princeton Manor when I was twenty. We ran out of fire wood at the manor, so I decided to look in the forest for some. That was when I met the one who imprinted on me. His name was Cole, very handsome and very powerful.
We fell in love and everything seemed perfect. I left the manor and followed him to his village where I was welcomed with opened arms. The only one not welcoming was his mother, a sear. She told the rest of the village I had tainted blood from a rival pack. As it turned out, I did have an uncle as a werewolf, but the gene wasn't passed down to me. His mother didn't want me to breed Cole's children with my 'tainted' blood, and Cole became devastated. A child like ours would have been to powerful and no alpha could control them because of their multi-blood lines.
Cole and I refrained from having sex, but on our honeymoon we just couldn't help ourselves. Yes, I ended up pregnant. We were going to run away, but we waited too long. His mother found out and told the rest of the villagers. They dragged Cole and I to one of the eight Sungati caves and performed the ritual. The baby didn't survive, and I became the broken imprint…just an angel or a spirit."
It was my turn to hug her. I felt like crying, but I had to be the stronger one. I owed it to her. After she calmed down she took my hand and pulled me back to the door and into the hallway. "Where are we going?" She looked at me and smiled, "well you have to meet the others, right?" I nodded hesitantly as she dragged me to the door parallel hers. She opened the dark purple frame and we stepped inside a fog of some sorts. Once it clear, I realized it was a cloud. We were on top of a huge mountain!
Snow crunched under our feet as we walked across the narrowed ledge onto a much larger land of rock. I saw a temple dead ahead with a few willow trees swaying to the rhythm of the wind, gracing the ground with their leaves. Flowers sprouted at our feet and bird chirped from trees hidden in the clouds. When we reached the entrance, Kimberly nodded once and the door opened. A petite looking female with long straight black hair, blue eyes, and high cheekbones came out. She looked like she was around Kim's age. She wore a silky purple dress the flowed out behind her like the wind and had sleeves that looked like they belonged on a kimono. Of course, her wings were purple.
"Hi Jasmine! Look we got a newbie!" Kim said bouncing on her feet a little as she tilted to the side and gave Jasmine room to look at me. She smiled at me and replied, "Come inside ladies, let's have a chat." We nodded and followed her into a very Zen looking room. We sat on plush pillows surrounding a small table with tea on it. They drank some while I just smiled at her and opened my mouth to tell her I wasn't thirsty. She cut me of saying, "Vampire, we know. Your eyes and skin…not to mention beauty and grace…give you away." I felt like such an idiot as I looked away biting my lip. They chuckled and Kim stroked my arm caringly.
"So…what's the story young one?" Jasmine asked looked fondly at me. I smiled at her and retold everything. Her reaction was similar to Kim's just a little less dramatic. Jasmine seemed like a strong woman and a very cold soul, yet after five minutes of knowing her I knew that wasn't true. She began to explain her past to me…
"I was born in the early 1600's in China. My family all abandoned me when I was six because it was hard enough for our parents to even buy food, let alone support three children. I was found by a wealthy slave owner, and he used me as his personal servant. One day I was getting groceries from the market and I met a man named Klaus. He imprinted on me and it didn't take more than a second for me to willingly leave with him. As it turned out, the rich man was very well aware of the tribe and he threatened to spread word of them and have the village burned to the ground.
Klaus's pack brothers told him he had to leave me because of the threat on the tribe. They didn't want to risk their own imprints lives. So Klaus let me go. I went home on my owner wasn't too pleased by my disappearance. He began to beat me after he used me as a sex toy. One night, Klaus happened to hear my scream and ran to find me. He tried to interfere and save me, but his brothers held him back. His pain became so great, they had to steal me and perform the ritual in one of the Sungati cliffs near our most sacred temple. I always loved the mountains; therefore this is my territory because it reminds me of when 'home' we an actual place that was filled with love and peace."
"I'm so sorry. You had to have been very brave to go back to that vile man" I told Jasmine truthfully. She smiled at me and nodded her head in appreciation. She was a very strong woman in deed, so free and courageous. "Shall we show her the rest?" Kim asked looking at Jasmine. "You two may go, I will continue my previous activities. I was drawing the landscape." Kim chuckled, "again, really? Why don't you go to my territory and draw there?" Jasmine snorted and replied, "Green really isn't my favorite color." We all laughed. "Nice meeting you Bella!" I waved back at Jasmine before we left the dimension. Kim dragged me back into the hall and near another door.
This door was a pretty ocean blue, I could tell whoever owned this land was very friendly and kind just by the color of blue displayed. Suddenly I was excited to meet them. The door was opened and we were assaulted with the scent of salty water and the warm breeze of a tropical island. Sand seeped through my toes as I walked across the hot grains, much different than the snow at Jasmines territory.
"Hey there newbie!" A very excited voice yelled from behind me. I screamed and stumbled forward. Kimberly tried not to laugh while the other girl gasped and said, "Oops, I'm sorry! Here let me…" She reached down and helped me up, dusting off the sand. I giggled and replied, "It's alright, and I'm easy to scare." The girl had short dirty blonde beach waved hair with ocean blue eyes and a tan complexion. Definitely the California girl type. Her wings were a bit smaller than the others, but they were still a beautiful shade of ocean blue. She appeared to be around eighteen. "My name is Marina….you know, like Marine?" She chuckled as she glanced back at the waves. I smiled at her. "My name is Isabella Marie Whitlock Mason Cullen, but I prefer Bella." She gave me a massive hug. "Nice to meet you Bella!"
"C'mon I knew you guys already visited Jaz…she is a little stuck up for her own good" I laughed at that, "So I am guessing you are traveling around the dimensions learning about the other's story's, right? Cool, lets here yours!" Wow this girl was energetic. So much that she actually reminded me of Alice, and now that I think of it, Jasmine reminded me of Rose. I sighed and continued my story, a little gloomier than before.
At the end of my story, I could tell Marina definitely belong to the ocean, because it seemed like her eyes produced waves as she sobbed into my bare shoulders. I smiled over her shoulder to the sad looking Kim and she smiled back gently, encouraging me to ask about her past. "So Marina, what happened to you?" She giggled nervously and began to speak, "I guess it was similar to yours, love triangle and all…"
"I was born in the mid 1700's near Brazil. I led a good life with nice family lots of friends and a passion for the ocean. I knew it was improper for young ladies my age to go around in our underwear and dip into the waters, but I couldn't help myself. Water called to me. That's when I met him, a wolf named Trent. We fell in love but kept it a secret so we didn't have to face the society. Trent proposed to me a year later and I accepted. After we told my parents, they kicked me out, saying I was very dishonorable and didn't car for others. Trent took me to his village and that's when I met his brother. Johanna, his brother, imprinted on me. The boys fought but were pulled apart by the rest of the pack. The pack performed the ritual near the Sungati's and I became a 'broken imprint' which I think should be called a fallen angel…it sounds cooler."
I chuckled at her crazy antics but felt a pang of sorrow. She had been through a lot and she was still peppy and very kind. Why couldn't I be like that? I cause everyone pain. "We got three more to meet!" And so I was dragged once more into the hall and into the adjacent door. This dimension scared me. It reminded me a lot of that blank white room near the main entrance. Everything here was white, but it was snowing. Snow covered everything and the dark blue sky stretched for miles. Kim trembled and covered her wings around her body. She sighed and I raised a question brow. "These things are like portable heaters, but you wouldn't ever need it." I smiled at her and winked.
I guess you would need a portable heater if you were living in the tundra. "Alexis, come on out! We've got fresh blood to spill!" She laughed t her own joke and I gave her a sarcastic glare. Then a tall girl who appeared to be in her early twenties with waist length curly blonde hair and tree trunk brown eyes appeared. She looked at me and raised a brow, "Who are you child?" I cleared my throat uncomfortably and replied, "Bella." This girl didn't seem friendly enough for my small introduction. She nodded and replied, "I'm Alexis, welcome to my Tundra." I smiled and we followed her.
I found it strange how we were trailing behind her as she walked everything early silent. Kim elbowed my rib cage and whispered in my ear, "She likes the peace and quiet, you'll just have to get used to it." I nodded solemnly. "So…what brings you here Bella?" I retold my story and was shocked when she spun around and hugged me. Apparently so was Kim because she openly gasped at the gesture. "I am so sorry, you're very strong child. I envy your strength and wish you luck wherever it takes you." I smiled kindly at her gentle nature and replied, "Thank you."
"I was born in the late 1800's in Moscow, Russia." That would explain her thick accent and blonde hair. Also her skin compared to a vampires. "My family was very poor due to a large snow storm that whipped out our agriculture. During the snow storm, my entire clan was killed. Infections spread and my mother begged me to leave before it got to me. She handed me a satchel full of food, water, cloth, and some money, told me she loved me, and was dead in under a second flat. I stared at her form and ran without saying anything; only a single tear escaped me.
I wandered for days until I couldn't any longer. I just curled up on the ground and let the hypothermia set in and take over my body. Then Adam found me while hunting in wolf form. He used his fur to warm me, but was too late. I was already near death. He ran back to his village in hope to let the healers save me, but it was no use. His brothers didn't want him to live in pain, so they went to Sungari and performed the ritual. Once again I was abandoned."
I felt terrible. She had gone through so much and I had though her to be cold and unfriendly, but she had just been so strong and brave. I raced to her, ignoring the looks from Kim as I pounced onto her and hugged her. She hesitated before hugging me back. "You never have to be alone with me. I'm here for you, whenever you need it Lex." I felt her hug me tighter and laugh at her nick name. Kim adored me after that encounter, saying I was like Jesus resurrected and had saved Alexis's soul from herself. I slapped her and she rolled her eyes like the immature teen she was.
The next door was slightly cracked open when we went to it. I heard the sound of Marina's laughter mixed with another tinkling chime as we stepped closer. I guess he was visiting another friend? This territory looked like the countryside with the tall trees and the dirt filled grounds. A massive log cabin stood out near a clear lake. "This is Anna's house." Kimberly whispered into my ear wearing a smile. I nodded and we proceeded forward.
We knocked on the door and were invited inside by an overjoyed Marina, blabbing on about how ridiculous werewolves were for creating the imprint in the first place. I smiled at her enthusiasm. We all walked back into a large den and were met with tall masculine looking man with brown hair and matching brown eyes. He looked a little like a warrior. From the way Marina had her arms wrapped around his side and the way he kissed her forehead, I could tell they were together. I was glad someone had happiness in this world.
"Hello, my name is Frank" The male said in a deep German accent. I smiled at him and extended my tiny pale hand to greet his massive slightly tanned one. "Pleasure to meet you. My name is Isabella Marie Whitlock Mason Cullen, but I prefer Bella." He laughed an Emmett like sound and I felt my chest spasm in pain thinking of the big Hulk-like teddy bear. "I hope you don't mind, but I kind of filled him in on your extremely heartbreaking and romantic story" Marina gushed as she pecked Frank's throat. He smiled sadly at me and replied, "You've probably heard this quiet a lot, but you're very strong young Bella. I hope to seek your strength through an arm wrestle one day."
Marina smacked his arm and Kim giggled while saying, "Can't you tell she is a vampire?" He raised his eyebrows at her and replied, "Well duh, it was kind of a major role in her story." She stuck her tongue out at him and they began to bicker. We broke those two apart moments later and moved to sit on the brown leather couches. "So why don't you tell us your story?"
He puffed out his chest and started to speak in a masculine narrator's voice until the females smacked him again and he let it go. I giggled. "Long story short, my best friend was a young Jew named Eli during the holocaust. My family and I kept his family and him in our basement. His girlfriend was a werewolf named Katara, and she followed his scent, back to my house. She imprinted on my and dragged me off to her tribe, against my will must I add. I put up a fight and begged her to let me go. My family tried to defend me, but she was very powerful.
We attracted so much attention; three S.S officers came over and found Eli's family. They shot them all and killed my father. Katara dragged me back to her village, just barley escaping the gun shots. I screamed at her, letting out all my anger. Her brothers didn't like it, so they went to Sungati and performed the ritual. I still think to this day, had she not caused such a scene, maybe my family and friends would have made it."
"Wow…that's incredible. I'm sorry to hear about your father and friends though…" he hugged me, a strange thing for a person his size…then again my brother was Emmett. I smiled and hugged him back. "I'm glad I came here though, because I met my real true love." Marina nuzzled her face into his neck and they started to passionately kiss. The rest looked away smiling.
"Alright, one last person to go!" Kim smiled as she stood up and we waved by to the lovers. We walked down the hallway and she stopped me near a black door. "I almost forgot! We need to see your territory!" I smiled at her, already figuring it was the meadow or desert. I sighed and opened the door, stepping through. The first thing I saw was brick. I scratched my head looking down the tiny path. I gasped and felt tears fill my eyes as my throat closed up. I wobbled and Kim yelled my name catching me before I fell.
The brick path led all around the trail, grass and flowers on each side that stretched for miles. A lake with a small fountain in the middle spouting water, and a large willow tree blowing in the wind. Near a lamp post, a polished wooden bench sat. This is Chicago, the same place where I officially met the love of my life. This was our park bench.
The need to find my family coursed through me. It ripped apart everything in its way and destroyed all barriers in my mind. I was practically a fallen angel, right? So maybe I would have a chance to go back to Earth and right the wrong. I needed to find a way back, just like Elizabeth had. I knew from this point on, I would concentrate every second of every moment on getting back to my family. I wouldn't fail them this time.
Sorry there was no POV's from our fellow Earthlings ;) It was a long chapter and I needed to add the details. The plot has thickened *grins evilly* Possible ?'s : Is Bella still a vampire? Yes. Dies she still have her powers? Yes…and she will gain a few more! Does she still need to feed off animals? Yes, and Kim's forest will provide them for her. ALSO: let me know which new character was your fav! Remember, there is still one door left…and I will tell you this…Bella knows the person behind the door, not in a friendly way so to say ;) PLEASE REIVEW THANKS FOR READING!