Chapter 2: Beauty and the Beast

Oh my god, what have I done!? I just . . . he just!? I moaned? What is wrong with me! The back of my head thumped back against the wall for the second time in less than 10 minutes, and the flash of pain reminded me about the feeling . . . oh god, if I felt like that just from that . . . how would I feel if . . . ok moving on! Jesus, he is an asshole. An incredibly attractive asshole. . . Why do I keep ending up there! We haven't even kissed. I attacked him, and then he nearly drained me of my blood. So fucking romantic! Why am I so hung up on him? I'm obsessed. Oh god, I've got total issues. I need help. Drugs. Lots of drugs. Why did I even agree to stay here!? Marcus was nice, but one nice person in a castle full of bloodsucking assholes who want to kill/eat you is no good reason to agree to live in that castle!

I panicked for a few more minutes before taking some deep breaths in an attempt to pull myself together. Then I realised something. In the past 10 minutes, or since I had left the throne room with Caius, I had not thought about Edward once. This was . . . new. When he had left last time, he filled my every thought. I could physically not stop thinking about him, my Edward. But now, he is actually gone and I just forget about him? I am a horrible person, horrible awful person. Dear god, I knew I never deserved him, but this. . . this is another level. I know what he'd say, if he were here "Bella. You have sullied yourself. I can barely look at you . . . you disgust me. Bella dear, you disappoint me." I winced, just from the memory. He was always so disappointed. I could never please him. I tried so hard, I panted for those smiles, for the good times. God how I loved him.

Now there is nothing.

Nothing expect Caius. Caius. . .

"Caius," I whispered it aloud accidently, then clapped a hand over my mouth and looked around me fearfully, as if I had summoned the very devil.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand and shoved a hand through my hair, attempting to look some semblance of human.

When I had finally composed myself enough to stand and open the door to my new room, I was amazed at what I saw. The room was obviously on an outside wall because there were large windows set into one wall. The walls were painted a soft light green turquoise jewel tone. "Take her to the turquoise room" I remembered Marcus saying. The windows had white lace curtains drawn across them, and then thick white and aqua heavier curtains that could be pulled over top. The bed was a huge double bed with a black block frame and a light turquoise bedding, a slightly darker and more blue variant of the colour on the walls. The pillows were the same colour and all of the surrounds of the room were white. The furniture was all either white or the same light wood as the door. It was absolutely gorgeous, and exactly right for my tastes.

How did Marcus know? I wondered to myself. I sat down on the bed, wondering what to do with myself other than freak out about Caius.

"Caius," I whispered to myself, trying his name out softly, quietly, privately.

"Caius," I sighed, sitting falling backwards onto the bed and pressing my forearm across my eyes.

"Caius," I groaned, knowing that I shouldn't be thinking about him this much. He was a dick. Complete and total dick. A huge dick. I'm sure he would have a huge . . . Ok! Let's stop that line of thought! Right now.

Ok.

I've been wearing the same clothes for like 2 plane flights and a 2-hour drive and a couple of days and they weren't very clean to begin with so I really need to burn them and have a shower. The problem is that I don't have any other clothes, so the burning will have to wait until later.

I sat up, looking around the room, until I spotted a white door that I was guessing was a bathroom.

I stood, kicking off my shoes and walking to the bathroom, opening the door and sighing audibly at the sight of a huge glass shower. My hair needed a good wash. I looked around inside the bathroom, finding everything from hair ties and makeup to about 7 different brands of shampoo. I picked one that looked good and grabbed the matching conditioner. I decided on a mango scented body wash and stashed them all in the shower before starting to strip. I laid out a towel and turned on the shower, getting inside.

I groaned as the hot water hit my poor aching muscles and just stood under the flow for a while, getting used to feeling human again. Then I sprang into action, vigorously massaging shampoo and then conditioner into my hair. It felt like more than a shower, as if I was washing away the effects of the past few days as well, washing away memories. Oh how I wish I could get rid of some of these memories . . .

Edward. He had loved me. And I had loved him. Oh how we loved . . . Now he is gone! My perfection . . . but he wasn't. He was never perfect. He didn't smile enough, he had a tendency towards angst, usually unneeded. He was aloof, standoffish and rude, especially to people he didn't know. Edward was a lot of things, but he was far from perfect. He made plenty of mistakes, one got him killed. He died. It was his fault. I have done nothing wrong.

Other than that awkward make out session with Caius. Although that was a lot of things at the time, it sure as hell didn't feel wrong. . . I don't know. He seemed to think it was wrong. Ah well, I'll think about this later.

I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my head and hair so that it didn't drip everywhere and dried off. I wrapped a towel around myself under my arms, the end reaching just under my ass. I kicked away my dirty clothes with distaste, not wanting to put them onto my finally clean body. I walked back into the gorgeous room and noticed with some surprise that there were clothes lying on the bed.

I walked over and was surprised to find that there was a simple black dress along with underwear and shoes sitting there on my bed, waiting for me. I noticed a small white piece of paper lying folded on top of the dress. I picked it up and unfolded it, happily surprised to see Alice's delicate handwriting

I thought you might need these

I have to leave now, but Bella, know that we all love you and no matter what path you choose, we will be here for you.

Don't you dare put on this dress without doing your face first!

Honestly, how would you survive without me?

I hope that we will see each other soon.

Good Luck!

Alice 3

"Thank god for Alice!" I said aloud with a laugh. I wanted to try on the dress, but Alice said face first, and if I didn't she would find out! She's really quite creepy, for a midget, hyper vampire. I padded my way back into the bathroom, pulling my towel off of my head as I went as I went in search of a hair dryer.

When my hair was dry and my face washed and moisturised, I considered the impressive and rather terrifying array of makeup before deciding that with such a simple dress, I didn't need it. I grabbed some lip balm and used that on my lips and then walked out into my room, putting on the underwear Alice bought first, blushing at the black lace that didn't really hide all that much. I'm not sure what she thought I would need this type of underwear for but oh well. Hopefully she bought some more clothes as well, otherwise shopping is a must, and soon.

I pulled the dress on and tugged on it until it sat right. The sleeves came down to just above my elbows and the neck line was high, but perfectly so. It was scoop necked, showing off my collarbone and then it clung tightly to my breasts and waist before loosening out into a perfectly flowy skirt that floated just above my mid-thigh. It was a tad shorter than I would normally wear, but this is what you get when Alice is in charge.

I slipped my feet into low heeled black fabric wedges. At least Alice knows not to put me in heels! I pressed my hands down the dress, straightening imaginary wrinkles as I chewed on my lip, debating what to do next. I walked to the door in the corridor and opened it, glancing around for any signs of life. I sighed and walked out of the room, carefully shutting the door behind me. I turned and leant against the door, running a hand through my hair, pushing it off of my face. I sighed, resting for a moment before pushing up off of the door and going for a walk.

After only a few corners I was irritated with these shoes that Alice had forced me into and they were dangling from my hand as I padded along the softly carpeted corridors. Eventually I found a kitchen, I slipped my shoes on and found that the kitchen was quite well stocked. Why they needed food in a castle of vampires, I don't know, all that I know is that I liked it. I made myself a sandwich humming some songs as I sliced some cheese.

After finishing my sandwich sitting at the breakfast bar, I cleaned up my mess and washed the dishes before walking out, my shoes again dangling from my hand. I wandered the corridors for a while more, admiring paintings and digging my bare toes into the lovely carpet before opening a large set of double doors and audibly gasping.

When I was little, I loved Disney movies. My favourite movie was Beauty and the Beast. I used to watch it over and over. I remember telling myself that I would marry the beast just for his gorgeous library. It looked huge and beautiful and I wanted it so badly.

Now I finally had my dream.

It was huge and beautiful with large windows and comfy armchairs and window seats and a little place to make hot drinks. It had floors and floors of books and the big moving ladders and I honestly felt faint.

But good lord the books . . . the books were a bibliophiles dream. I actually got to the point where I was basically moaning and turned on by these books. I went around, just tentatively touching their spines with my fingertips and opening one every now and then just to smell it. I was on cloud nine, I was never leaving this place. I would marry a thousand beasts if I could have this.

I fell down onto one of the window seats, dropping my shoes as I continued to just stare around me in awe, my mouth open wide.

"This is. . . incredible." I whisper to myself.

Then I hear voices, coming closer, and press myself up against the window sill, my bare feet slipping on the soft cushion. Then I see Aro and Marcus rounding a shelf, obviously having come in a different door than I did. Marcus sees me and smiles, angling his path to come towards me. I relax again, and stopped trying to hide.

"Hello Marcus," I said with a smile, tilting my head up to look at him from my seat.

"Hello Isabella," He said with a grin in my direction, "I trust that you have found your room satisfactory?" He said, sitting down next to me.

"Oh yes! It's wonderful! Thank you for letting me use it. However, I may need help getting back to it, because I'm not quite sure how I even got here!" I said with a light laugh.

Aro smiled at me, sitting in a nearby armchair.

"You seem happier now, dear. I take it you have found the castle to your liking? Aro asked politely.

I nodded furiously. "Yes of course! The castle is gorgeous. I especially love this room. It reminds me of one of my childhood dreams based off of this movie . . . I won't bore you with that story though."

Marcus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "On the contrary, I should love to hear this story and I am sure it will not be boring at all."

I blushed at his interest and looked over at Aro and saw the same interested expression on his face as Marcus.

"Right so there was this movie and it was my absolute favourite movie when I was a child. It was called 'Beauty and the Beast'. In it, this prince was transformed into a beast by a spell, and the only way to break the spell is to receive a 'true loves kiss'. There are a few more details, but this girl, here name is Belle, ends up having to stay with him in his castle to save her father. Belle was basically known as the village weirdo where she lives. She knew how to read, which wasn't right for a woman when the movie was set. Anyway as she stays in this castle, the beast slowly falls in love with her, but she has to love him back for the spell to be broken. He thinks that she will never love his because he looks like a beast and she will be horrified if he mentions his feelings for her. But she grows to love him, just as he loves her. But they don't kiss because neither of them will admit their feelings for each other. But eventually, with some other stuff that happens, they kiss and he turns back into a man. But anyway, my favourite part of the movie was when he showed her this ginormous library and she was so happy and the library was incredible. So when I saw this library, I was thinking that I would marry the beast for this library." I finished with a smile. Marcus and Aro both smiled back at me and then exchanged a significant look with each other.

"Well, Isabella we must be going. I will call someone here to stay with you to help you find your way back to your room. Thank you for the story and for your time, spend as long in here as you like." Marcus said with a kind smile. I thanked him and stood up, intending to go find a good book and settle down for a short time. Then I caught sight of white blond hair coming my way and froze, my eyes wide as I inwardly panicked.

"Aro? Marcus?" He called, sounding relaxed. I pressed myself up against the wall, searching frantically for an exit or a hiding spot. Marcus frowned at me before betraying me in the worst way ever. I mean it, I may never forgive him.

"Over here Caius, actually could you do me a favour? Hang out here until Isabella is leaving, and then show her the way back to her room? I don't want her getting lost."

As soon as he heard my name Caius's mood darkened. I shook my head frantically at Marcus, but he just looked at me confused before turning to speak to Caius. I didn't hear anything that they said because I was trying to calm down.

Ok there is no need to panic. It looks like he is just going to be pissed off and a bit of a dick rather than the other thing. As long as I don't start anything, everything will be fine. He will call me stupid human a few times and he'll show me back to my room when I'm ready. Nothing has to happen, so nothing will. It's ok. Everything is fine.

I looked up again, coming out of my thoughts to find Caius staring at me. He was the only one there, so Marcus and Aro must have left during my freak out session. I loosened my muscles, detaching myself from the wall.

"Hello Caius," I say, my tone disinterested as I brush past him to the fiction area. I began to browse before finding one of my favourite books, Wuthering Heights. I smiled at the familiar words on the first page and decided to read this book. I could use a little bit of home.

I settled back down in the window seat and got comfortable. Caius was sitting on one of the arm chairs looking like the poster child for boredom. I opened the book and it fell open to a page that I knew quite well. Memories flooded my mind as I read the familiar words 'The moment her regard ceased, I would have torn his hear out and drunk his blood!' drunk his blood drunk his blood. It ran through my mind like a sickness, clouding my thoughts with its filth, and as I was taken over by the memories of suffering I whispered one word;

"Caius. . ."

Then all went black as I fell off of the window seat.

Hey guys! This is the new chapter two. As you can sort of tell, I'm increasing the length and just adding a bit more depth and substance to the story. I hope that the new chapters are working for you guys, I'm enjoying writing them. I had to post one and two close together because they don't really add up with the old chapters, but now I'll try to make it so that the flow of new chapters to old is good, so you can read the whole story and it still makes sense even if I haven't finished updating everything.

Please review and let me know what you think, I'm really nervous about how the new chapters are going to be received.

Izzy out!