Hey guys! So here is Chapter 24. There was a mistake in chapter 23 where it said they were worried about another hapry, that has been corrected to Banshee attack. (Thanks for pointing it out imastar511 :) ) Have fun reading and I'll see you at the bottom :)
My heart was pounding erratically against my ribs and my breathing grew swallow. I could see my breath in the air as it was so cold. I stood frozen to my spot unable to move as I watched the creature hanging above the lifeless girl. I have never been so terrified in my life as I was at that moment. The thing, that looked like it stepped out of Tim Burton's worst nightmare, doesn't seem to have noticed me yet. My eyes were glued to it and I was unable to look away. It was like a dark force was drawing me to it yet I was still unable to move. The thing/creature appeared to have a face that was close to that of a person's face. The skin was startling white and appeared very tight, almost like it was being pulled back. It had wide, slanted eyes that were completely black. They looked void and empty of all emotion. It was like looking into black pools of something truly sinister. There were two holes with a small bump at the top that appeared to be a nose. I was unable to discern if there was a mouth. I saw no lips or even a line to represent the possibility of a mouth and it was oddly unsettling. It had a black tattered cloak hanging from the torso and had arms and hands extending from the clock. The arms and hands looked like bones covered with a thin layer of skin and nothing else. I couldn't see any legs or feet extended from the cloak, but the cloak was rather long. I assumed that it was just kind of like a horrifically terrifying flying torso with a head as I couldn't see any form of legs or feet.
Extending from the creature was thin glowing golden threads. I had no idea what these threads were, but they looked like they were moving into the creature. I followed the threads and they all seem to be emanating from the girl that was suspended in the air below the creature. My eyes focused on the girl. She had long raven hair that hung in a lifeless manner from her head. She was so pale that she was bordering on turning grey. She was impeccably dressed in a short purple chiffon dress and black studded stilettos. She must have been on her way to or coming from the club for the after party. She looked like she was comatose as she hung in the air. More glowing golden threads started extending from her upward to the creature. Her back started arching as the threads kept emanating from her. Her skin grew paler and her eyes started opening. Her eyes were dead, there was no life behind them.
The sound of something smashing down on the floor broke me out of my stare. I looked down at the floor and saw my phone lying there broken in piece. I had forgotten that I had my phone in my hand when I left the club. My eyes snapped back up as I was nearly deafened by a high pitched noise. Before I had time to process what was happening the creature was speeding towards me. It grabbed me by the throat and slammed my against the wall to our left. I was against the wall before I even had a chance to scream or blink. I could feel the bones of the creatures hand digging into my neck. The air around me became even colder and my heart beat slowed down dramatically. I could feel the air leave my lungs and dread replacing it. The creature's black eyes were boring into mine and I could feel a something incredibly dark spread through my entire body. I was wrong earlier, this is hands down the most terrifying moment in my life. It felt like I was staring into the eyes of death itself. The creature's face started contorting and below the nose, a hole started forming only it looked like the skin was being tore open. It wasn't a fully formed hole as there was still strands of skin connected in part of the opening. I waited for a piercing noise but instead more golden threads appeared and started extending towards me. The moment the connected to me I could feel my heart beat drop so low that it was almost none existent. I couldn't move. I couldn't breath. I couldn't scream for help. I could do nothing but stare at the creature in front of me. It was like my body was frozen. I was useless against the creature. There was nothing I could do to defend myself. More and more threads started connecting us. I could feel my energy and power being moved from my body towards where the threads were connected to me. Every part of my body where my energy and power, as been vacated from, was filled with a feeling of emptiness. I could feel this terrifyingly empty, dark sensation slowly spreading through my body.
"Bella!" I faintly heard someone shout in the distance. I felt weak and lifeless. I was truly terrified at that moment that I would die. Everyone always says that the moment before death your life flashes before your eyes, well for me it was different. My life didn't flash before my eyes. I didn't think about the things I will never get to do. I didn't think about my loved ones. I didn't think about Edward. No, I thought about fighting. I thought about how I can get myself out of this situation. Survival instincts kicked in and I remembered that even though my body won't work I still have my mind. With the little energy, I had left I focused on the creature. I imagined it being propelled to the other side of the room, far way from me. I watched as the creatures is thrown back by an invisible force and the threads connected to us broke away. My eyes closed of their own will as I had no energy left to keep them open. I could feel myself falling to the ground and then the impact of my body hitting the ground. I thought it would hurt more but before I could focus on the pain unconsciousness claimed me.
I could feel a hard mattress below me and a lot of noises buzzing around me. I tried sorting through my thoughts in an attempt to remember what had happened. I remember getting ready for the party with Alice and Rosalie. I remember dancing with Edward. I remember feeling really hot and needing some fresh air. I remembered walking down the dark hallway. I remembered the light at the end of the hallway that lead into a circular room and then everything came flooding back into my head. The girl lifelessly suspended in the air. The creature above her. The creature attacking me. The feeling of the empty dark sensation spreading through my body. I gasped and shot up straight and opened my eyes as I relived that feeling in my memories. There was no doubt in my mind that I will never forget that feeling. There was a bright light filling the room that temporarily blinded me. My breathing was erratic and my heart was hammering away. I felt a sharp pain shoot up to my head. It was oddly comforting to be breathing like a crazy person and to feel pain. It was a beautiful contrast to the few seconds or minutes that I had felt completely empty and void. I welcomed the pain as I never wanted to experience that feeling of nothingness.
A wave of dizziness hit me from getting up too fast. I placed both my hands on the mattress and tried to steady myself. I blinked a couple of times trying to focus my vision. After a minute or so my dizziness disappeared and my vision cleared. In front of me, was a very concerned looking Edward. Next to him was a woman in a white coat and glasses. On the other side of Edward, was a sickly pale Emmett.
"Bella?" Edward said softly. I blinked again trying to adjust to the harsh lightening.
"Why is it so bright in here?" I asked as I placed my hand above my eyes trying to shield them from the bright light. I could feel a pain thumping in my head.
"Bella, I'm Doctor Sue Clearwater. I'll be looking after you. Your eyes will be sensitive to the light as you hit your head quite hard." the doctor explained.
"When can I leave?" I asked as I hated being anywhere near doctors or hospitals.
"Well, not just yet. You sprained your wrist and you might have a concussion. You are currently in the university infirmary. I'd like to keep you here for the night under observation." she said with a warm tone. I looked over at Edward with pleading eyes, hoping he would help me get out of here. He gave me a small smile and a nod.
"As much as I would like Bella to stay here for the night to make sure she is ok, I think it might be better if she comes home with me. I can look after her and we are close enough that if she does need your help it will only take a minute to get to her. She been through a horrific ordeal and I think it would be best if she was in comfortable and familiar surroundings." Edward said to the doctor. I could see her deliberate over it.
"I would feel much more comfortable back in Edward's dorm room. I'd feel safer there." I said with puppy dog eyes for effect. It was true though, I would never be able to sleep here tonight. Right now I really just wanted to go crawl into bed and be wrapped in the safety of Edward's arms and forget tonight ever happen. The girl's face shot through my mind. I wonder what happened to her and if she was ok. As I thought about her I could feel a sense of dread forming in my stomach.
"You make a valid point. Bella you are free to go, but the moment you feel start feeling worse you return ok." Sue said in a stern tone and gave me and Edward a pointed look. She handed me so painkillers and told me to come see her tomorrow for a check up. Before she left she shone a light in my eyes and poked and probe my head to make sure I was ok.
Edward and Emmett moved beside me on the bed. Emmett was first to wrap me in a big hug. It was nice but right now I craved the security and safety I always feel when I'm wrapped in Edward's arms.
"Jesus Bells, how are you feeling?" Emmett asked concerned as Edward moved to sit beside me. I leaned against Edward and he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. He placed a kiss on my head and for the first time in what I assume to be hours I felt safe.
"Yeah, I'm ok," I said with a weak smile as I knew that wasn't entirely true. I honestly just didn't have the energy to deal with the emotional implications of tonight.
"I really just want to go to bed if you guys don't mind. I just want to sleep this off." I said softly. Edward moved and helped me up. I was still wearing my dress, but I was barefoot. Edward must have seen me look down at my feet as he quickly moved to retrieve a pair of ballet flats. I was grateful that someone thought to bring me more sensible shoes. Edward took his blazer off and gave it to me. I put it on and took his hand as the three of us walked back to our dorms. We walked in silence as I was sure neither of them wanted to upset me by bringing up what had happened. I still wasn't sure exactly what had happened. Emmett hugged me goodbye when we made it to the dorm blocks. I assured him that I was ok and that if I needed to talk I will call him.
Edward and I made our way to his room and I was happy to finally be alone with him.
I kicked off my shoes and went to sit on the chaise. Edward came and sat next to me with a worried look on his face.
"Are you ok? Do you want to talk about it love?" he asked delicately.
"No, I'm not. I want to know what happened though." I said as I let out a sigh.
"Are you sure Bella? Maybe we should talk about it in the morning?" he said concernedly.
"No Edward. Please just tell me what that thing was and what it was doing." I pleaded with him. I needed to know what that creature was or else I'll be up all night thinking about it and try to figure it out.
"Ok. The creature, that attack you, is a anima comedenti. It is the Latin used to describe a soul eater." he explained in a solemn tone. I swallowed hard as I tried to process what he had just said. That thing was a soul eater.
"What does it do? Does it eat people's souls?" I asked uneasily.
"It does more then simply 'eating souls'. The anima comedenti extends the golden threads that you must have seen. They connect these to their victim and they start to extract not only the soul of the victim but their very essence. With this they also extract their victims power. That's why they usually target witches. When they complete the extract the victim is completely filled wasting disease. The victim will feel nothing but an empty dark feeling. They will literally waste away. They will be a living corpse that is unmoving and unfeeling. It is truly a horrific death and there is nothing you can do but wait for it." Edward explained solemnly.
I went over what Edward told me in my head. I felt icy shivers run down my entire body as I remembered the feeling Edward described. I wondered if my phone dropping broke the extracting of the girl. She had looked so lifeless. Perhaps I had been too late, maybe the extraction was complete. I couldn't stop the sob from escaping me. Edward moved to catch me as I sunk down to the ground. He moved us off the chaise and sat down on the floor just holding me. I wrapped my arms around him and placed my head on his shoulder and cried.
"What happened to the girl?" I asked through my sobs.
"She is currently in the infirmary," Edward said vaguely.
"Will she be ok? Did the anima comedenti complete the extraction?" I asked softly.
"Yes it did," Edward said and let out a heavy sigh. He looked pained by this.
"What will happen to her?" I asked sadly.
"She will die. Her family and friends will be forced to watch her waste away. Eventually, her body will shut down and she will die. She won't be in pain, but she will be a vegetable stuck in emptiness and darkness." Edward said gravely. I swallowed down the lump in my throat. I kept thinking that I could have saved her from having to die such a horrible death. Why didn't I help her? Why the hell did I just stand there and watch? Sobs wracked through my body as I thought about this innocent girl laying on a bed unmoving stuck in darkness till death claims her.
"Bella you have to calm down," Edward said worriedly as he stroked my back.
"I should've saved her but I could move. She shouldn't have to die." I cried.
"Bella her death is not your fault!" Edward exclaimed. I continued to sob and started dry heaving as I felt sick to my stomach.
"Dammit Bella look at me!" Edward said as he took my face in his hands and forced me to look up at him.
"It wasn't your fault. It is nearly impossible to stop a soul eater when they are in the middle of an extraction. There was nothing you could've done to save her." Edward said as he looked me in the eyes. I nodded at him in understanding and he wrapped me in a hug. Edward held me until I was all cried out. I still felt guilty that I got away and that poor girl is destined for death.
"Edward what are the soul eaters? Where did they come from?" I asked as I wiped away my remaining tears.
"They are known in some cultures as a classic form of cannibalistic witches. There is some truth to this. Soul Eaters are, well use to be witches. They were abolished by an old King of the Witches a long time ago. They were banned from practising magic and exiled from the kingdom and the surrounding land. Their powers were bound by a spell and they were literally unable to practise any magic. There were no reasons recorded as to why these witches were exiled. The fled into Shadow Mountain in the Unknown. They soul and essence started deteriorating from the spell that banned them from practising magic. They turned into these creatures due to a side effect of that spell. They hunt down witches and extracted their power and soul leaving them empty and hollow just as they were left in the mountain. " Edward explained.
"What happens to the power and souls they extract?" I asked.
"That's the thing, nobody knows. They flee back into Shadow Mountain and it is too dangerous for anyone to follow them up there. No one knows what they do with the power or souls as it doesn't benefit them in any way." Edward said absorbed by this. It was clear this was something that he has been contemplating.
"How did you escape from him Bella?" Edward asked.
"I used the last of my energy to use my telekinesis to thrown it to the other side of the room," I said proudly.
"Good girl. You're growing more and more comfortable with your power," he said adoringly. He kissed my head in a loving way and I yawned.
"Bedtime for the patient," Edward said as he helped me up.
"I'm just going to brush my teeth and take off my makeup." I said and headed for the bathroom. I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face. I put on moisturiser, brushed my hair and took my clothes off. I realised that I forgot to bring any pyjamas with me into the bathroom. I peeked out the door and asked Edward if he could hand me something to wear. He handed me a thin pale pink tank top and matching short pyjama shorts. I walked back into the room and Edward headed for the bathroom. I crawled into bed and got comfortable. After a few minutes, I felt Edward crawl in behind me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me flush against me. He gave me a small kiss against my temple and started humming me my lullaby. I actually managed to fall asleep within a few minutes.
I kept turning and tossing all night after having woken up the moment the soul eater appeared in my dream. I couldn't manage to fall back asleep. I decided to get up as I didn't want to wake Edward up with my tossing and turning. I grabbed a book I was reading and turned on the lamp that was near the chaise. I hoped the light wouldn't wake up Edward. I read a few chapters of my book and then threw it down on the chaise as I couldn't focus on the book any longer. I closed my eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. When I open my eyes, they landed on Edward's art corner. The canvas, that was on the easel, was gone. I got up from the chaise and moved over to the pile of canvas that was resting against the wall next to the easel. I looked over to the bed to make sure that Edward was still asleep. I looked through the canvases. Some were abstract, other's were landscapes but it was the last canvas that caught my attention. My breath caught in my throat and heart went into overdrive. The last canvas was a portrait. A portrait of Heidi smiling leaning on her left hand. Resting on her ring finger was an extraordinarily beautiful engagement ring.
Uh oh looks like Edward has some explaining to do :)