A/N's: Thank you to all of you who reviewed last chapter, you pushed me up past 300 reviews! I was so happy, I swear. I adore you all, and I always reply to a review, unless their anon because then I can't. X
Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight and so do I! Yes, I do! I do! I bought it for £4.99 from Waterstones book shop and it's all mine. Oh you mean she owns the rights? Ok, no argument there.
Beta: My Beta is AcrossTheSkyInStars and she rocks my world. Thank you Tanya, for always validating my story, for correcting my run on sentences and for taming my love affair with the comma and most of all, thank you for writing your fantastic fic "Forgive me, please" which also updates today, but you guys better read and review mine first!
Ch13 Surrender
"Bella?"
From his knees, my father looked up at me. The wooden brace around his neck looked heavy and his left eye was swollen shut; a dark purple bruise circled the socket, illustrating the obvious fact that he had been mistreated.
My rage descended like a blanket, the noise of my thumping heart deafened all other sounds. I saw red and screaming like a banshee, I threw myself at James and struck him across the face.
My fist was shaking as I launched at him, my entire body weight propelling me forward. His head snapped back with the brunt of the blow and I winced as the contact with his facial bones reverberated through my hand. To my surprise and delight, it was no ladylike slap that connected with his jaw.
I didn't care. I wanted to hurt him.
No one moved forward; not the guards, not Edward, not even James. He slowly turned his head back round to face me, a trickle of blood fell from the corner of his mouth and I felt immense satisfaction at the sight of him bleeding.
He wiped the blood with his knuckle. Holding it out, he studied the residue on the back of his hand and then he looked at me from under his lids, smirking.
"Temper, temper," he chuckled, walking towards me. Turning his head to the side, he spat onto the floor; his saliva tinged pink from his bleeding lip. He stopped directly in front of me, and sucked on his bottom lip, then grinned. The blood had coated his teeth and he looked positively psychotic. "So passionate, so fiery, so perfect. I do love that about you."
I lifted my fist and struck him again, but this time I didn't stop at one. I flailed at him, kicking and punching and screaming. I felt deranged but didn't care.
I hated him.
I hated him and wanted to hurt him.
No, I wanted to kill him!
If I had my knife, I would've plunged it in his heart, not once, but over and over again. But my knife was buried beneath my pillow across the cell and I didn't have time to retrieve it. This scum had tortured, raped, and used people, imprisoning innocents and laughing at our desperation, intent on utilising our negative energies to his benefit without compassion or guilt.
The grunts and gusts of air I knocked from him with my angry attack gave me some pleasure, but it wasn't enough.
I wanted his blood.
He had taken my father and hurt him. I could only assume his need for Charlie was to eventually hurt me, or to make me hurt another. This question he wanted to ask me would leave me in a quandary; I was under no illusion that despite what he said, no one would benefit from this situation.
"Bella," my father called out to me; his voice sounded wounded and it fuelled my anger.
Multiple reactions occurred at the same time.
Behind his groans, James was laughing, and I stupidly paused to register the fact that my attack had no impact on him at all. With my hesitation he seized the opportunity and swung his hand back to hit me. Edward reacted at the same second James's hand flew through the air, an animalistic roar tore from his chest and he launched at the bars, reaching through to grab James's arm as it descended towards my face. Hauling him forward, Edward was able to grip his neck, ready to throttle him.
Edward had moved fast, but didn't fully stop James. With Edward gripping his arm and neck, James still had one hand free. He swung out and hit me. The sting burst across my cheekbone. He hadn't used his soft palm, he had used the back of his hand where bones resided, and it was agony.
He literally knocked the breath out of me, and stumbling backwards, I fell against the bars.
Edward growled and hauled James off his feet, suspending him above the floor, his legs kicking out as his hands frantically pulled at Edward's fingers which were trapping his windpipe. My father stumbled to his feet and tried to run at James but the guards secured him from both sides, thumping him in the back with a baton. It winded him and he fell to the floor, wheezing against the pain in his lungs, struggling against his restraints. The guards then lurched forward and poked at Edward with their bayonets. The swords hit his torso, but with no effect. The noise reminded me of metal grinding stone.
I ran to my father, and kneeling next to him I rubbed at his back, uselessly trying to ease the burning in his lungs from the loss of air. He was still bound by the brace around his neck and I choked back tears as I looked at him. He was weakened and it destroyed me. My father had always been so strong and years of physical labour had honed his physique. He had raised me and protected me, cared for me and taught me right from wrong, and to see him reduced to this was heart breaking.
One of the guards turned his bayonet around and thrust the handle into Edward's face, but Edward was strong, immobile even, and the brunt force of the blow only caused the guard to stumble.
He dropped his bayonet and rubbed at his hand. Then, eyeing me on the floor next to my father, he bent and tugged me to my feet by my hair.
He now had Edward's attention.
I gripped his hands, trying to ease the wrenching on my scalp. With each tug of his hand on me Edward raised James higher; his kicking was slowing and his face drained of all colour.
Edward bent close to James's ear and hissed, "He release's her, I release you."
I could almost feel James's hesitation. He did not want to relent first; this power struggle in front of his guards undermined his authority, and of all people, it was with a Vampire, his prisoner.
"Call off your beast," the guard hissed at me. I said nothing to Edward, I just watched as James's frantic struggle grew weaker.
This was it. He would die and we would be free.
James made a gurgling sound as Edward's grip grew tighter.
I wanted to see his eyes bulge and his lips turn blue. I wanted to see his dead body. I would dance on his grave.
The guard tugged again, harder this time. "I said call him off!" Edward gripped James tighter as he witnessed me wincing. My scalp burned, my head was thrown back and I watched Edward from down the length of my nose.
As much as I fantasized about it, I knew he couldn't kill him. There were too many other people at stake, but the temptation called to me and I'm sure it did to Edward too. In a single movement he could snap his neck and this could all be over. We didn't know for sure that James had left instruction. With Rosalie, it was possible we could make it to the cave and free everyone before the guards could retaliate; could we take a chance?
Edward looked back at me, his dark eyes watched for my reaction. Did he think I would judge him for freeing us all? Did he still doubt my love and wonder what restrictions it had? But I had already seen Edward kill and I loved him, no question; no hesitation.
I was about to nod at him, telling him to do it but the guard intervened. Realising I was not going to relent, uncaring of how much they hurt me, the guard motioned to the other two and they went at my father as if he was nothing but a dog.
"Stop!" I screamed at them.
They kicked his ribs and his back and stamped on his ankles. I cried out at the noise of flesh and bone being pummelled, my father moaned in pain and I didn't want them to hurt him anymore. I pulled against the guard's hands holding me.
"Please," I begged him, "please stop hurting him."
They ignored me, beating Charlie till he lay on the floor, unmoving.
"Edward!" I screamed.
He loosened his hold and James fell to the ground gasping and heaving, trying desperately to replace the air his body craved.
The guard let me go too and I rushed towards Charlie, lifting his bloody face to mine. "Dad, Dad." I wiped at the blood but his eyes remained closed. "I'm so sorry, Daddy."
And I was sorry. Sorry for being here; for him being here. For all the hurt and pain he had endured since I'd left home and for finding me in a prison cell. I was sorry for everything that was about to happen to us and for the fact that with only one word, I had lost us our chance for freedom. But most of all I was sorry that James wasn't a rotting corpse. The sound of him drawing air into his body would haunt me, not for the struggle he endured but for the act itself. As long as James breathed, we would bleed.
"Touching," James croaked, getting to his feet with the help of the guard. "Bring her to me," he instructed.
"No," I cried out as they pulled me away from Charlie. I swung round to face James, still covered with Charlie's blood. James raised his hand.
"Be warned," Edward growled from his side of the bars.
James smirked as he reached out to touch me. I slapped his hand away but this time James anticipated my reaction and caught my wrist in his grip. He squeezed tightly but I didn't relent, I lifted my other hand and struck him on the side of the head.
Before I could think, James grabbed my other hand, so they were now crossed in front of me and shoved me back against the wall. This time he steered clear of Edward and the bars.
"I hate you," I spat at him, and sucking on his bloody lip, he spat back; the smell of his blood mixed with saliva made my stomach heave as it dribbled down my face.
As James held me, neither of us noticed Edward gripping the bars until the groaning of metal captured our attention. We turned and watched in awe as Edward tore apart two of the bars separating our cells. The metal succumbing to his strength like clay, the brick ceiling crumbled from the shift in structure, and a few lumps fell to the floor around us.
He stepped through, and as a guard ran at him, he reached out with one hand and pushed him against the far wall. The guard flew through the air and his back connected with the brick in a sickening snap of his spine. He fell to the floor, broken and no doubt dead.
"You fucking bastard!" James turned his back towards me, facing Edward, but kept his body in front of mine. I considered this act feeble for it was not I who needed protecting.
Edward stopped in front of us. "I warned you," he spoke quietly, but his tone was still menacing. His head was bowed and he stared at James through hooded eyes.
"I dare you to hurt me," James taunted. "Oh wait, you can't, can you?"
"Who says I can't?"
"I say."
"You have no hold over me anymore, James," Edward tapped the side of his head. "You forget, I know."
"Ava will die," James tried.
"Yes, it would appear so."
I gasped at Edward's words. He sounded so cold. I had to believe he knew something and that his comments were not as callous as they seemed. I had to trust him.
But Ava was only a child and I couldn't help but feel concern for her short and apparently insignificant life.
Edward stepped closer. "You have no need for me." It wasn't a question.
"No," James agreed. "I no longer have use for you, Edward. I've found another who will assist me. You," he laughed, "are free to go."
"You know I won't leave without my family."
"That's your choice, but you should know, I still have use for them, therefore, they are not free to go!"
"You can't stop me taking them."
"That's true," James patted his lip with his finger, "but I can stop them from leaving." His eyes danced from Edward to the broken form of my father still lying on the ground. He had regained consciousness and was staring at the bent bars behind Edward, confused and afraid but unable to move.
I knew what James was referring to; he would use my father to keep me here. I pressed my hand on James's shoulder, "Please don't do this," I begged him in a whisper.
"Don't you beg for me, Bella, don't you dare compromise yourself for this fiend!" Charlie sputtered.
"Get out of my way, Edward," James said.
"Bella," Edward held out his hand to me. I paused briefly, anticipating a rebuke of some sort from James but he remained quiet. I stepped out from behind him and placing my hand in Edward's, I walked to his side.
I stared up at him; his eyes remained focused for a moment on James from over the top of my head, before they found mine. He cupped my jaw and stroked my cheek with his thumb.
"Know that I love you," he whispered. I gasped, my eyes widened. Was Edward saying goodbye?
"Edward?" I pressed my hands on his chest, absorbing his body's temperature. He was always so cold, but that was my constant.
Edward dropped his hand and walked over to my father. He helped him stand, then taking the lock in the palm of his hand, Edward crushed it and the brace opened and fell to the floor. The weight Charlie had carried had been tremendous, and as it lifted from his back, he stumbled and was caught by Edward.
Steadying him till he could stand alone, Edward finally let go and stepped back. He raised his hand to Charlie. "Sir, my name is Edward Cullen, and I'm in love with your daughter."
James laughed behind us but my father ignored him and lifted his own dirt and blood smeared hand and pressed it to Edward's. My father didn't speak, he just received Edward's introduction and then released him. He had to know Edward wasn't human, but he didn't ask, question or demand an explanation; he just accepted him.
Edward walked towards the cell doors. "Edward, wait," I called to him then turned to James. "I will go with you, I give you my word, but please let me say goodbye." I implored him with my eyes but expected him to refuse. To my surprise he nodded and left, followed by my father held up by the guards.
I waited for them to clear the corridor then walked back over to Edward.
"You're leaving me?"
"Never."
"Then why say goodbye?"
"I won't make you choose, Bella."
"Is that what he has planned for me? To make me choose between you?"
Edward didn't reply. He didn't need to. "What's wrong with Ava?" I whispered.
"She's sick. Soon James won't be able to use her against me."
"Then you can kill him." It frightened me that I discussed the murder of another human so blatantly. I had imagined it as he struggled with Edward and now I was almost coercing Edward into committing the act. But James didn't warrant the title, he was beneath humanity.
Edward shook his head. "No, Bella, I can't. He still has you."
"Then why leave?"
Edward captured my face in his hands and bending he kissed me. His lips were soft and his tongue so sweet. I clung to him, wiling the kiss to continue but he broke away, resting his forehead against mine.
"You need to go now," he sighed.
"Edward!"
"I'll find a way, Bella. I promise."
"Please don't leave me," I begged him, warm tears streamed down my face as I clung to his shirt, trying to stop him from going. "I love you."
"Bella," he cooed to me, "Bella." Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tightly to his chest. I sobbed into his shirtfront, soaking him with my tears; all the while he swayed slightly from side to side and stroked my hair.
"Please, don't leave me," I said to him again, sniffing.
"I'm here," he whispered. "Without you, where else would I be?"
"Will you stay in the cells?"
"No." Edward pulled back so he could look at me. "I have a chance to do something. James no longer has an interest in me, so I'm free to go. I need to find out who this new leverage is, and if I could get Rosalie to take me to the caves, there's a possibility we could end this."
"Will we be together?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation.
"Will I be like you?"
Edward paused, I felt uneasy. "Does it matter?" He asked me. "Just as long as we're together?"
"Yes, it matters. I want to be with you, always."
"And you will be."
"As long as I live, you mean?"
Edward swept his arm under my knees and picked me up. He carried me over to my bunk and sat with me on his lap. "I would change you in a heartbeat, if that's what you desired –"
"It's what I desire," I interrupted him. He placed his finger on my lips to quiet me.
"In a heartbeat, Bella, but I have my doubts. No My Love, not about us," he assured me. "But about the change occurring."
"You mentioned this before. What did you mean?"
Edward wiped away my tears, "The first time I bit you, it wasn't enough to change you but your reaction to the venom should've been more severe, and lasted longer. I'm glad that you didn't suffer, but it was unusual. Then I drank from you again and cleaned your wounds and as before, you only succumbed to the pain of the venom for a brief period."
"What does it all mean?" I asked him again.
"Bella, I don't think you can be changed because I think you're immune."
"Immune?"
He nodded and swept my hair away from my neck. He fingered the small circular scars left from his puncture wounds. "I think you're already immortal," he whispered as his lips found my skin, his cool breath washing over me, making me shudder. I sighed as his hand held my face aside to give him further access.
"Immortal?" I asked him, the reality of what he was saying not fully registering. I was distracted by his mouth. "Why don't we try it now?" I urged him. "Bite me, Edward, drink from me. Turn me."
He pulled away, his hand still behind my head, holding me in place. He hovered above me and I closed my eyes to revel in his scent. He always seemed more potent when we were intimately close.
"I will always be close to you, Bella. I swear, so close that I can hear your heart beat. Never fear that I will be far away, that I will forget you or forsake you. That can never happen. And if I can, I will come to you."
"Bite me, Edward," I begged him. "Never leave me."
"I'll take you with me," he murmured as he pulled back his lips and exposed his teeth. I felt him pierce my skin and the pulling on my blood caused my stomach to tighten; my arousal for him and his power over me made me sigh with satisfaction and I closed my eyes and surrendered to him.
As with all the other occasions, he sucked only twice and then withdrew. His lips were tinged with my blood and lifting my finger I touched the crimson residue and licked it off my finger. My blood was warm and slightly metallic in taste.
With his mouth slightly open and his breathing ragged, Edward pulled open his shirt and moved his finger nail across his chest, above the cavity that held his silent heart. The skin lacerated and after a moment a single drop of blood appeared.
"Now you take me with you," he urged. I had drunk from him before; I didn't need any further invitation.
I licked at his chest and swallowed down his tiny offering. It should've been warm, but just like the rest of Edward, his blood ran cold and I was grateful for its temperature. It was easier to absorb then mine and almost refreshing, and as I sucked harder, my hands pinned to his skin, either side of my head, his blood began to flow more freely. It tasted sweet and I realised where his scent permitted from. I could smell him in his blood, like a scarlet coloured perfume.
Growling, Edward pulled me away and quickly captured my lips with his. Our tongues met and our taste buds exploded. I felt drunk on him and I clutched at his clothing, desperate to feel as much as I could.
It was Edward who ended the kiss, gasping he pushed me from him and I watched him struggle to contain his passion. I wanted him to take me, there and then, but knew our time to part was drawing near.
I lifted his hands to my lips and kissed them before pressing them against my cheek. "Help Ava first, if you can," I told him softly.
Edward nodded and stepped back. "You need to go now," he said.
I didn't want to leave. I stared at him, memorising his every beautiful feature and conducting it to my memory. I already knew him so well but I was afraid of how long it may be before I saw him again.
"Come to me, if you can, Edward," I said to him, and turning away I walked through the cell doors and towards the corridor; light from the open doorway beyond illuminated my new path but freedom was nowhere in sight.
"Good bye my love," I heard him say.
I stepped out into the sunlight and blinked away my tears as I walked across the courtyard with James, his guard, and my father. We reached James's rooms but he didn't lead us inside, instead he continued down the hall to another set of rooms.
"You and your Father will stay here," he said.
I was surprised and a little grateful our home would no longer be the prison cell.
"I will send Carlisle to tend to your father, Isabella, but in the meantime I want to talk to you. When he arrives, come straight to my room."
I nodded and waited till he closed the door before rushing at my father and embracing him. "Daddy," I breathed, careful not to squeeze too tight. I sobbed into his chest, I had felt so lonely for so long and then I'd found Edward. Now he was gone from me but I had my father. When could I have them both in my life at the same time?
"Shush," he comforted me. "Who is Edward?" He finally asked me.
"I love him, Dad. More than life," I whispered.
"So it appears." He smiled at me.
"Are you ok with that?"
"I always told you to find a man who would look after you, and that – man, did what he could to protect you. That means he's good enough in my eyes."
I placed my hand over my father's. "I'm glad, because he is everything to me."
"He isn't – human, is he?" He asked me quietly.
"No," I finally admitted.
"Is he still worthy?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Aside from you, he's more worthy than any other man that I've ever met."
Charlie nodded at me and patted my hand. "Help me sit," he wheezed and I let him lean on me as we walked to the bed.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" I asked him.
"I came looking for you."
"Of course, I'm happy to see you. But how did you know where to find me?"
"Irina," my Father sighed, "she saw a vision of you, you were in trouble and after you stopped writing, I grew concerned. I went to the last address I had for you from your last correspondence and one of the young girls there told me you had been arrested. I wrote to Captain James, and asked him if he knew of you and he wrote back, inviting me here to collect you."
"Let me guess, he ambushed you," I interrupted.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he sighed, "I really am."
"That doesn't matter now, I'm so happy to see you. It's been too long." He embraced me again and we sat awhile, father and daughter; holding each other tightly to make up for lost time.
"How is Aunt Irina?" I asked him.
My father shook his head. "Nothing changes." He smiled. I nodded. "Bella, they told me you had been accused of witchcraft."
I nodded again, "Yes."
"What happened?"
"It was a stupid misunderstanding really. I thought at first James accused me because he needed a reason, but now I'm not so sure."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure that he wasn't right."
"You think you're a witch?"
I nodded and peeped up at him from under my lashes. "Does that scare you?" I asked in a whisper.
"Why would it? I've had to put up with this type of crap from your Aunt for all these years."
"What?"
My father smiled at me, "How could you not know?"
I stared at him open-mouthed. Instead of fear or confusion, he was just accepting; always accepting.
"Then it's true?"
"It wouldn't surprise me, is all I'm saying."
"Is Aunt Irina?"
"It wouldn't surprise me, is all I'm saying."
I laughed and brushed his hair from his eyes. "We should clean you up," I offered and went to the bathroom to fetch hot water and a cloth.
James had given us rooms that consisted of two bedrooms separated by a bathroom, and a sitting room.
The fireplace was lit in both the sitting room and the bathroom. I ladled some water into the basin and carried it in to my father. Wetting and wringing out the cloth, I tended to his bloody cuts and carefully wiped away the dirt and grease adhering to his skin.
It didn't help to clean him; in my eyes his wounds only looked worse, so angry and darkened by purple bruises and deep red gashes along his pale skin.
Charlie smiled, trying to cover up the sting as I wiped him clean. "Got any food here?"
I looked around and realised nothing had been left for us. A knock at the door announced Carlisle's arrival and when he entered he was followed by Mary Alice carrying a tray of food.
Carlisle nodded in approval at my attempt of playing nurse maid and applied salve to the wounds to combat any infection that may set in. He bandaged where he could and when he was done, I handed my father a plate of food. He ate with gusto and I offered Mary Alice and Carlisle a portion too. They accepted and we all ate in the sitting room, in front of the fire.
James had demanded I go to him the moment Carlisle had arrived but I wanted to stay a little longer, I had missed my father. I needed more time with him.
After we finished eating, Mary Alice beckoned me into the bedroom and we left our fathers in discussion. She closed the door quietly and leant against its frame.
"Isabella, Edward has gone," she whispered.
"I know." I felt tears prickle my eyes again, and swallowed down the lump sitting in my throat.
"Why has he gone?"
"He didn't want me to have to choose between him and Charlie."
"He's very noble."
I nodded in agreement.
"Ava is sick," she told me.
"I know that too. Edward told me. I think he saw it in James's mind."
"Isabella." She pulled me over to the bed. "I don't think she'll survive."
"You've seen her?"
Mary Alice nodded. "After we left you, Rosalie went to the caves. She refused to take us, so I followed her."
"You did?"
Mary Alice nodded again. "There are so many people there, and I saw my mother."
"Oh Mary Alice." I grabbed her hand.
"It's ok," she sobbed, "she looked good. She had Ava."
"Tell me," I urged as she sniffed and walked over to the window seat. I followed and sat with her, staring out into the moonlight.
"She looked so beautiful," Alice spoke softly. "I just stopped and stared at her, I couldn't believe she was really there. She looked just as I remembered. She had Ava with her and Rosalie went straight to them." Alice shook her head. "She was so ill."
"We have to do something. Can you remember the way?"
Mary Alice nodded. "I think so."
"If we can find Edward, maybe you could take him there? He could get Ava to Carlisle and he might be able to help?"
Mary Alice shook her head. "I don't think he can."
"Did you speak to your mother?"
Mary Alice shook her head. "I didn't want to draw attention. I don't know who I can trust down there." She wiped at her tears.
A knock at the door startled us; Mary Alice went to let them in. I had been summoned by James. I hugged her goodbye and walked the hallway to James's rooms. He was waiting for me on the bed.
"You kept me waiting." He sounded annoyed, but not angry.
I nodded. "I'm sorry."
James patted the bed space next to him and I numbly complied, sitting on the edge of the mattress. I couldn't relax.
"So, I have something I want to ask you," he began. I swallowed, I didn't want him to continue but I was curious as to what he wanted to ask. "Isabella," his voice was a whisper, I shuddered but not with anticipation. He rubbed my cheek; it was reddened from his earlier infliction. "I'm sorry I hurt you. But you shouldn't fight me, Isabella. I will always win."
"Not always," I argued.
"Is that so?" He smiled at my need to conflict with him.
"Life doesn't work like that," I told him. "One day you will fail."
"But not today," he reminded me.
"You were lucky," I said. "You had no strategy, James. You almost died."
"How would you have felt if I had died?" He asked.
"Is that your question?" I mocked him.
"Isabella," he sighed, "so fiery."
"You called me that before."
"Answer me," he told me. "I want to hear what you would feel."
"I'd feel pleasure," I looked at him, square in the eye. "I'd feel relief and most of all, I'd feel free."
"You flatter me," he joked. I was in no mood to return his mirth. He moved his hand from my face to my hair, taking a tress between his fingers he rubbed it, his movements kept tugging at my head. "I admire your honesty," he told me. "I admire your bravery. You fear me but you don't let it stop you."
"I hate you and everything you stand for. You think you have the world in the palm of your hand but someone should stand up to you."
"But every time you do, Isabella, you get hurt."
James let go of my hair, and standing he walked over to the dresser; he paused before turning to face me. "I want to ask you a very important question but I also want to make this fair, so I will allow you to ask me a question too."
"What can I possibly want to learn about you?"
"Is that your question?" He threw back at me. I looked away from him, considering his offer.
"Who is Victoria?" I finally asked him.
It took James a moment to react. He stayed leant against the dresser, his breathing hitched at the mention of her name. I thought he wasn't going to answer and considered asking him another.
He finally spoke, his tone quiet; a serious note had entered his voice. He sounded almost wistful.
"In your life, you will only ever have one love, Isabella, and Victoria was mine."
"Do you really believe that?"
He ignored my question and continued his story. "She was a lot like you, strong, independent, brave – sexy." He walked towards the window and sitting on the bench, he faced me again. "She made me feel strong, independent, brave – sexy." He smiled to himself, lost in his memories. "I loved her and cherished her and she surrendered to me."
He watched my reaction. When I shivered and looked away, he pushed himself away from the bench and approached me on the bed. "Despite what you think, Isabella, I did not force her."
James squatted before me, and lifting his hand, he stroked the length of my arm with just his finger. "She said she loved me too. It was magical," his voice was a whisper. "She was magical. We made love and I wanted her with me for always. I used to touch her like this," he said and I felt goose bumps rise on my skin. "She always reacted to me too. I have never been kissed by another woman the same way she used to kiss me." He watched me and I prayed to whatever God was listening that he didn't try to show me how.
"And when I fucked her, she took it like the whore she was."
I looked at him, stunned. He had started this tale with a hint of romance, how could he now disrespect her like this?
"She smelt beautiful," he sneered, and somehow I knew he was not referring to her perfume. "Do you know I smelt her on the face of another man?"
I watched him as he twitched with anger, he clenched his fists and then relaxed by flexing his hands again; he terrified me.
"What did you do?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
James looked at me like the answer was obvious. "I killed her," he said, so matter of fact. I couldn't believe he felt nothing. He'd said he loved her.
"But you said she was the one."
"Yes, but she betrayed me."
"Is that how you treat betrayal James, with murder?"
"And what would you do?" He asked me. "Tell me, Isabella, should you come home one day and find your Edward with his dick in another woman's mouth, what would you do?"
"Do you have to be so crude?" I flinched; the image was not welcome in my mind.
"Yes," he nodded at my instinctive reaction. "Yes, you feel that don't you?" He lifted my face so my eyes were level with his. "You felt pain."
I wanted to disagree with him, I wanted to shout "No" but he could see it in my eyes. I nodded. "Yes, I felt pain."
"But you wouldn't kill him?"
"No. Never!" I cried.
"You would allow them to live happily ever after? But they betrayed you, Isabella, don't you deserve better?"
"I wouldn't kill him, even if I could."
"Then maybe I was wrong about you," he surmised. "You're not strong."
"How could you be so cruel?" I sobbed.
"I still want you," he smiled at me. Did he expect me to be happy? "You're a lot like Victoria in many ways, except one."
"And what is that?" I asked him.
James tutted, "No more questions, Isabella, it's my turn." He reached into his pocket and took out a box. Lifting the lid, James offered the contents to me. I looked at the ring, and couldn't deny it was beautiful. It appeared to be three tiny rings locked together but still free to move apart. The colours were different; one was gold, one silver, and the third was bronze. The effect was striking.
"Marry me, Isabella?"
I felt my heart skip a beat and the colour drain from my face. To be bound to this man for a lifetime was no different than prison. To have him touch me and demand a response, possibly even want children with me, made me feel nauseas.
"You can't be serious?" I stuttered.
"Marry me and I will surrender to you," he said softly. "I can love, Isabella, I can love you. Will you let me show you?"
"If I say 'No' what will be my punishment? Death? To watch my family suffer? There has to be a catch to this."
James shook his head. "You think me a monster."
"You haven't proven me wrong yet. How can you do everything that you do and expect compassion and kindness from me? I hate you."
"I'll release everyone," he told me. "I let them all go. No catch, no compromise."
I took the ring from the box and looked at it closer. The three bands represented three people who mattered to me. By accepting his gesture, his proposal, I could help them; my father, Edward, and Ava. They mattered more than I, and I had to believe that Edward would keep his word. That he would truly find a way.
I touched the scars on my neck, and walked to the window. The sky was dark but not quite black. Its blanket was the deepest sapphire blue I had ever seen, it was a beautiful night and would be remembered for a very long time. I stared out into the shadows and wondered if Edward was close by.
Would he consider this a betrayal? Would he abandon me, or could he possibly believe I did what I had to so he could find a way for us?
I reached over and opened the window, the cool air washed over me and I breathed in deeply. I felt James move behind me and saw his reflection in the glass. He stood close but didn't touch me.
I closed my eyes and prayed for forgiveness.
"Isabella, will you marry me?" James asked me again and this time I answered him.
"Yes." I felt him turn me but I kept my eyes closed. He pushed the ring onto my finger and lifted my face so he could kiss me.
"I will keep my promise to you, Isabella," he whispered in my ear as he tugged me towards the bed.
I lay awake as James slept beside me. His body was too warm and I had to push aside the blankets to welcome the cool air still blowing in through the window.
I got up and went to the bench and sat for a while just looking out into the shadows. I wondered if he was there, as he said he would be; always close enough to hear my heart beat. Right now, I wanted my heart to stop beating. I was miserable.
Edward had left because he was free, but he had promised to rescue me, rescue us all. I had no doubt he would remain true to his word. I missed him so much, the ache was palpable. I hoped with all my heart that Edward knew I had not betrayed his love. He was mine and I was his, nothing could change that but just like Edward, I had a role to play and I prayed that one day, he would understand.
I let my tears fall, unabashed, and opening the window wide, I whispered into the night, "Forgive me, please."
The wind howled as if in reply; its echo reverberating around the courtyard, lifting high into the open windows.
It resonance sounded haunting and I continued to cry, trying to convince myself it was not the sound of my Vampire's heart breaking.
End A/N's: Do I need to hide? Hmm I guess I'll never know unless you leave me a review so I think I'll go hide behind my pillow until you guys tell me it's safe.
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