Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters. She and the filmmakers have made a fascinating and beautiful trilogy. I wish to borrow her background and add a plot twist of my own. I also made use of the site wiki/Volturi' a fantastic site if I may say and well worth a read for twilight fans.

For the squeamish readers - be warned this chapter has serious lemons and violence; I don't condone violence but hey we are in the company of vampires.

Chapter 41 – Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment*

Bella's POV

I knew the evening had started because he had put on the usual music. It was music van the 70's and 80's and I was grateful as it helped me to pass the time. After all having no sight made other things impossible. I was wondering how long I would be kept in this state; as vampire I should be able to regenerate my eyesight but as long as he put that stuff in my eyes it would be impossible . What if I it gave permanent damage after a long time? My god; could you imagine an immortal without sight? He wouldn't would he?

While I was thinking this I heard a tap on the door and a faint voice that was not manipulated by a machine or whatever my captor used. That was strange!

I tried to focus on the sound and faintly heard someone speak through the glass "Who are you? I thought this place was deserted."

I didn't understand and sat up in my bed "Who are you?" I whispered and was soon surprised; he had heard my voice.

"I'm the caretaker" he answered

There must be a microphone hook up. I was wondering what else there was in my room but realized that I had to act fast.

"Please help me" I pleaded "Someone locked me up"

"I'm sorry but I can't; I'll get into trouble" he said with a heavy accent

"I promise I'll make it worth your while; my husband is very rich" I said trying to talk to his capitalistic instinct "If you help me I promise to give you money"

I heard the door click and as he came in I could smell the blood; although I hadn't feed this last week I was able to control my hunger. Anything to get the hell out of here!

I looked towards the door saying "Isn't there anyone else here?"

No he said "only you and me"

I slowly raised myself and said "I'm blind so can you please help me get out of here?"

He hesitated at first although I held my hand out to him but then I felt his hand in mine and he enveloped it. After a moment I was helped up and took a careful step towards him.

"We will have to hurry, before he comes back" I said "Can you please lead me; I will follow but please warn me if you see anything I can stumble over?"

"Don't worry lady just follow me" he said as he pulled me along.

It felt surreal as I followed him out of my room and soon out of this building. My nose was assaulted by the strong smell of the shampoo that I had used since I had been here. My abductor had told me that the flower was a local one but I didn't expect it to cover the whole area.

I forced myself to ignore my handicap and hurry; my ears constantly probing the area for any tell-tale noise announcing the arrival of my jailor. After what seemed hours but couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, I was sitting in a car and my helper was already starting the engine. It purred and when he started to drive I felt the wind in my hair and reveled in the feel of freedom. I would finally be able to go home and swore to myself that I would never, ever do anything foolish again. Twice was more than enough.

"Do you have a cellphone I could use?" I asked.

It was silent so I repeated myself "Do you know where I can find a phone?"

There was still no answer; I didn't understand then all of a sudden I heard my driver make a sound and the car stopped, jolting me out of my chair as my head hit the dashboard.

Once I recuperated I smelled the blood. "Are you alright? Sir, are you alright?" I turned my body to the left and started to shake the person beside me shouting "Please tell me, are you all right"

"He's not" I heard behind me and I froze recognizing the voice instantly.

I was devastated but I couldn't capitulate, not now! In was in a state of panic as I flung my door open and ran screaming "get the hell away from me!"

I stumbled out of the car. My feet were caught in the roots and my hair caught in the vines and I fell more than I could run but I kept tripping forward holding on to anything I came upon on my way; I couldn't give up. I felt his arms encase me and I struggled to free myself as I screamed; mentally and physically "Noooo… I can't go back. Please let me go"

He laughed and said "You know I won't, so don't ask again; now behave yourself" He then picked me up and put me back in the car. I heard him pull the driver out of his seat and leave to get rid of the body so I decided to try again. He was going to punish me anyway so I opened the door and ran trying to feel my way along the bushes. As I stumbled through what must be a jungle I felt something burn my arms and hands but I stubbornly went on. After about three hours I felt the cold night air surround me. I didn't know where I was heading and all of a sudden as I approached the swamp area I became desperate; I had lost the game why not end it now and on my own terms.

"I am sorry Caius" I whispered "I can't wait, not knowing if you will ever be able to find me" and just as I took a step closer to the water I heard something coming my way. I turned towards the sound wondering if it was an animal or a human. The sound stopped and everything went silent so I guessed it was animal and tried to protect my face with my arms. After a moment I lowered my arms thinking it must have been a human; but before I could ask anything I received a slap in the face

"Damn you Isabella, you will behave!" my captor shouted. He wrapped his arms around my torso and picked me up carrying me over his shoulder. After a long run he stopped and threw me in the passenger seat of a car "now you will do as I say and not to move a muscle".

My head hit something sharp but I didn't react, I couldn't, I was frozen. I had been so close to my freedom either through escape or death and now I felt like the world was falling down around me.

That night I paid dearly for my 'insolence' and all the time I heard the song "I own you" playing full blast in the background. I had never heard that song before but now every word was etched in my mind and if I never hear that song again, it will be too soon. Every word and every note would always remind me of my suffering at his merciless hands.

Alec's POV

Last night I enjoyed my game. I had hired someone to help Isabella 'escape' and I watched as I saw the old Isabella emerge. After a moment's hesitation she took the bait and accompanied the human. It surprised me that she didn't drink his blood as soon as she smelled it as I saw the temptation to do so cross her face. Her wish to escape was more powerful than her thirst; even though she hadn't fed for a week.

Once I had let my presence be known I knocked the human out and brought him back to our building. I let her flee and watched her as she stumbled over vines and roots. She was constantly brushing against the broken leaves of the frangipani flower which must sting like hell but her desire to escape must have blocked all pain as she fought the elements. I enjoyed the game but when she approached the swamp I was afraid she would irreparably injure herself as I saw a nest of crocodiles go into the other end of the water. Vampires had no problem with this but realizing it would be difficult for her to defend herself against something she could not see, I decided to end her flight. After her escape she was as furious as a wild animal that had just been caged and fought me tooth and nail. She had been given a good lesson; she could never leave unless I allowed it. This would take away her stubbornness to comply as she assumed this would be her future.

I soon got her to surrender to me as she her body suddenly went limp. Taking away her hope; I had momentarily taken away her will to fight. She was forced to accept her position as my partner. She had become my aphrodisiac as my body took pleasure in its possession of her. It would be difficult to lose her as I now vastly enjoyed her company on a daily basis. I had often been away from the Volterra but never in all those times had I enjoyed myself as I had the last week. I had taken enough humans and vampires to my bed. Humans were too frail and I had never been able to fully dominate my female congeners. So this time away from the Volturi and with Aro's blessing that I teach her compliance any way I wish, made this experience more intense than anything I had experienced since I had established my powers.

The day began as usual and she was now beside me as I had taken my place in her bed on a daily basis. She knew she had no choice and after last night's lesson I was sure she dare not protest.

I had put my leg over her body and my arm around her torso. I felt her faintly move under me and I kissed her ear to wake her up, although I already realized that she was awake and trying not to attract my attention.

I stroked her face and whispered in her ear "Wake up my mate" and felt her anxiety as I pulled her body even closer.

"It is time for your shower" I whispered

She turned to face me and I gently kissed her lips as my hands began to wander.

She kissed me back and I had to smile to myself as I knew this was a breakthrough for her.

I then whispered "My Isabella, I can't imagine my time without you"

"I have no choice but to accept my fate but have one request of you. Please let my eyes heal so that I can have my sight"

I began to laugh and said "So you can escape me; no Isabella I have to be sure of your trustworthiness and alliance before I do that".

She sighed "But it hurts me and I feel so alone"

"But you're not as I am always with you" I reasoned.

I left the bed and pulled her up to face me and whispered "I hope that your flight yesterday has taught you that you cannot escape me".

Her eyes grew wide as she asked "Were you behind that?

"No my love" I said as I gave her a tender kiss on her cheek "I was exploring the area around our home; in search of food. How could I presume that your dinner would present itself without my help? Yesterday I realized that you hadn't feed for quite a while so I went on a hunt using my sense of smell. With the overpowering scent of the flower surrounding us the smell of his body didn't register right away. I looked at her face seeing the doubt in her eyes I asked "How old are you?"

"I am nineteen" she answered

"No" I replied as I caressed her face "no I mean your vampire age".

She looked away from me saying "I have been a vampire for two months now".

I laughed "How delightful, a young vampire. Who changed you?"

"My mate Caius" I replied "one of the Volturi kings".

"Too bad for him that you fell into my web; he is missing such a delectable morsel." I said as my arms slowly moved down hers "Once I have your loyalty I will teach you how to hunt and we will hunt our piece of the amazon"

"Enjoy it while you can" she whispered "the sear among them told to me that real mates cannot live a full life without their mate and I feel the pull of our bond. I don't know what will happen to me if I am away from him too long".

"You will adjust; maybe you will change but what is the expression? 'We will cross that bridge when we come to it.' Now come" I said as I pulled her along "It is time for your shower".

"After that I have a surprise for you if you behave" I said as I stopped to wrap her body in my arms and give her a deep kiss. "You gave me much pleasure last night and I want to show you how I cherish that kind of compliance".

Once we finished our shower and she showed no defiance I gave her the human to feed on making sure that he wasn't able to tell her of my part in the game with a little help of the devils dust.

This was the first time I had seen her feed and although she was blind her hearing tuned her onto her prey. She was like a snake hypnotizing her victim before she struck; she then drank slowly savoring every drop. It was erotic watching her and when she was finished she licked her lips clean. I came behind her and tried to put my arm around her but she turned and hissed at me; I hissed back and forced myself on her. She soon joined in as her body couldn't deny the attraction; her lust was insatiable. So this was what Caius was able to enjoy; I began to feel a small twinge of envy and shook my head trying to disperse it.

After a while l suddenly realized that the time was ticking and I had to administer the drug and elixir as soon as possible for I was late by an hour already. I pushed her off me and pulled her to our room; it was difficult to get her there as she tried to pull away, knowing what was to follow. I locked the door of our room and grabbed the sachet. Pinning her down on the bed I quickly blew the dust in her face and held her down until it took effect. I saw her eyes were starting to heal so I quickly administered the elixir and she screamed as she knew she had lost this game yet again.

"Naughty, Naughty" I said "You tried to trick me my love and I won't have it. I must say; I do admire your spirit but you will not try that again. Do you understand? "

"I didn't mean to I just wanted to enjoy myself" and then mumbled to herself.

When I retorted "Isabella" she bowed her head.

"I won't!" she whispered and then turned to mumble "Caius was right" more to herself than to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked

After a moment of hesitation she said "I enjoy sex the most after a kill".

"No, the thing you whispered to yourself" I asked as I watched her face turn away from me.

"It was nothing" she whispered.

I took her chin and held it tight replying "No, you were talking of your former mate so for me it is not nothing"

"Caius told me that my lust would always be insatiable after a kill but only a true mate could fulfill that need" She answered with an anxious tone in her voice.

I was angry and wanted to hit her but instead I destroyed the headboard and saw her cringe. I knew she was right and somehow it made me angry that I could never wipe that bond away.

"You asked me" She whispered "I didn't want to say because I knew it would anger you".

I brought her lips to mine and embraced her at least she was mine for now.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞*quote Napoleon Bonaparte