Trigger warning for this chapter, Bella will undergo something against her will. It may not be huge, but it still requires a warning just in case. Let me know what you think of this chapter :)
Chapter 2
CarlislePOV
The events of last night played out in my head like a movie. It was morning, and I had just recently woken up. The torturous lines Aro spat at me during our fight, the words he said about my Esme. Telling me she didn't loved me? That she hated me for the mob life I had dragged her into? That she wanted to die? I wasn't going to believe his trash, but it was leaving an impact on me. My chest burned at the thoughts of Esme hating me before her death. I yearned for her, like I did most days. I missed her. But it's been some time and I knew that if I was ever going to recover from the pain of losing her, I had to take Aro's most prized possession. I rolled out of bed and got myself dressed and ready. I wasn't planning to kill Isabella immediately, I was going to take my time, get to know her, gain her trust, learn what she knew about Aro's secrets and then dispose of her when she was no longer needed. I stumbled downstairs. We weren't in my home, I knew Aro would find us there. I had the boys drive the girl and myself to my safe house. We were hidden within deep forest and only fools would want to come onto my land. Not only do I always have the place guarded when I come here, but the wildlife don't take kindly to trespassers. Mauling's and attacks were typical behaviour from the animals our here. But we were safe in my cabin. I headed into kitchen to cook up some breakfast for Isabella. If I wanted to gain her trust, I had to show my hospitality and turn my charm up to 100. I fried up some eggs and buttered some hot toast. I presented it nicely on a plate with some juice, and carried it to her bedroom. I approached her door but realised it was open. I peered inside and noticed Isabella sitting on her bed staring out the window. She was wearing a sheer white night gown, and her hair was pulled into a soft braid. She had been crying, her eyes glossy as she stared, and her cheeks were tinged a rosy pink. Even in the morning, when people generally weren't presentable, she was absolutely breathtaking. I opened the door softly, lightly tapping.
"Isabella? I made you some eggs are you hungry?" I asked quietly. She turned to look at me and I noticed a small scar on her collarbone. I'd have to enquire about that later, once she trusts me more.
"Thank you," she said. I guess I expected more conversation from her. But who was I kidding. I had stolen her away from Aro, whom she probably missed, which would explain the crying. I heaved a sigh and placed her food on the bedside table. I lowered myself onto the bed and studied her face. She continued blankly staring out the window, her mind clearly elsewhere. Although my ulterior motives for Isabella were dark, I still felt the strangest need to comfort her, she was innocent after all.
"I'm sorry for what happened last night. I know it was probably a lot to witness, the fighting and then being taken away from your home. But unfortunately, in this world, a deal is a deal, and if Aro wasn't going to keep his word, then I had to take you. It's how it works." I said calmly.
"It was not my home," she said. Hm, I guess she didn't have as much of an attachment to Aro as I had thought. She looked up at me, her expression blank.
"I hope you coming to live with me will be more like a home for you. I will give you anything you like, all you have to do is ask." I said turning on my charm. She didn't buy into it obviously, as her expression didn't change.
"This is just another place. Another house, in which I don't want to be. This place, just like Aro's will never be my home." She said sharply. I frowned. Who was this girl? She looked fragile, and beautiful like the most innocent flower in a field. But she was different, she wasn't afraid of saying how she felt, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. And I felt incredibly attracted to her in that moment.
"Why can't it be your home?" I asked drawing her eyes back to mine. They seemed so distant, wherever she was, she didn't want to return to the present.
"Because, this place like Aro's and probably like every other place in your 'world' as you call it, is full of people who deserve nothing. You all have everything, and all you do is take from everyone else. Innocent people die, innocent people get hurt and for what? So you can continue ruling over territory? Ruling over a city that's afraid of you? You kill mothers, and steal their daughters, you make them your own personal possessions, and hold them against their will. And when they finally find someone they can trust, someone they can confide in, you take them away. I could have broken out with her, Jane and I, we could have left Aro and you and this life all behind, but instead, he kept me away from her, just like you. You're all the same in this world. You're all cowards who deserve … Nothing," She heaved. The anger and sadness melted off her until her blank expression returned. She slumped back against the bed rest and sighed. I blinked several times, and took all her words in. Her and Jane? She didn't want Aro at all she wanted Jane. I don't think she was supposed to let that slip, but I think everything piled on top of her and she exploded.
"Isabella, I don't want to keep you against your will. If you want to go, you can, but if it's Jane you want, I can't help with that. She's been married to Aro for many years, and her only way out of that marriage is if Aro dies. She promised his father she would never leave Aro unless he die first. Jane has very few people left that she cares about. But to protect them, she made that promise to Aro's father. I've never known who Jane was protecting." I said softly taking her hands in mine.
"It wouldn't matter either way. She broke it off between us. The need to be leader of Aro's gang if he dies was much greater than any tiny feelings she had for me. I don't want Jane, not anymore. But I'm tired of being a slave. You wouldn't understand. You're just using me, like he did." Isabella sighed and stared out the window again. I knew what it felt like to be a slave. I am a slave, to the life I live. And I'm so far into this world, that I don't think I can ever escape it. This girl was remarkable. I had never met a mistress so independently thinking before. They usually play the part so well, but it was almost as if whatever life Isabella had left in her, it was stronger than her need to appease any man that controlled her. She had fight, she had heart. And it reminded me so much of Esme. I took Isabella's hands in mine again, and looked at her softly.
"I would never use you Isabella, you do not need to speak to me, or look at me, or be around me, I'll keep you safe here, but I will never do to you what you don't want. You can be in control of the actions we take. I will not harm you, or do a thing to break your trust." I said to her. And oddly enough, I believed myself. She moved closer to me and I breathed in her scent, the faintest smell of watermelon and pine touched my nose as I focussed on her. Mischief grew in her eyes and she tilted her head slightly.
"You said before I could have whatever I wanted. That all I had to do was ask, and what if I did want something, what if I wanted things I shouldn't ask for." She breathed. "To be touched, to be kissed, to be … pleased. Would you give it to me?" she asked sensually as she edged closer to me. I shuddered slightly as she placed her hand on my thigh. I forgot my plan in that moment, in that split second all I could think of was giving her anything she wanted. I leant in close to her and whispered in her ear.
"If you ask, you shall receive." She sighed gently at my words and her hand started to drift higher. She lightly skirted her hand over the bulge growing between my legs. She cupped my face and leant in to whisper.
"Good thing I won't ask then." She whispered. And my heart dropped. Conniving little girl she was, she played me well. I frowned and stood up making my way to the door. I turned back to say one final thing.
"You're clever Isabella. I am a man after all. And you are a very beautiful young woman. You show promise. I meant what I said though, I won't hurt you, and you're safe here. Do as you please." I said as I went to walk away.
"Carlisle?" She said before I walked away. "Call me Bella." She smiled at me as she grabbed her plate of food and I closed the door to leave her to it. This girl was on another level. And even though I was going to kill, I didn't know if I would enjoy it anymore. I didn't how to feel about Bella.
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BPOV
My first encounter with Carlisle went a lot more different to how I expected. He had caught me off guard by making me food, and coming into the room after I had been crying thinking of my mother, and Jane. But telling me I didn't have to stay? Now that was different, Aro would never. Maybe my time here would be different. And then there was our very brief encounter, and I won't deny the attraction between us, and the rising temperatures he causes in me. Heat flows through me when he gets close. But I'm glad I didn't let myself get carried away. I could have given in to my urges, like I wanted. Oh I wanted so bad to rip his clothes off and enjoy him, but I knew I couldn't delve into that with this man. He was no better than Aro, another common murderer who was boss. But I did feel a more apparent sense of freedom here. I read books and went for walks in the forest for the first few days. I was always accompanied by Emmet. He was a big goofball, a child really, but he was comforting, and different to the men who minded me at Aro's place. He often conversed with me, and tried to make me smile. It was pleasant. Everything seemed different here. And for the first few days, nothing overly exciting happened. I went about my days as normal, and I saw Carlisle clopping around the cabin minding his own business. But something different happened the fourth night I was here. I was sleeping in my cabin when there was a gentle knock on the door. I got out of bed and opened it. Standing there bare chested and bleeding was Carlisle. He didn't say a word before he collapsed on the floor. I looked into the hallway and there was no one to be found. I darted down the hallway to the front door that was open and swinging in the wind. I heard shouting coming from further within the forest. I made out some of sounds, Emmet and Jasper were out there fighting someone. I heaved hard, knowing I shouldn't go out there, they wouldn't need my help. But I gasped as a pair of arms came around me and pulled me toward the cabin. I couldn't fight this person off, they were much stronger than I was. I yelped as they covered my mouth and began cutting off my oxygen. My vision blurred and I lost footing under the enormous weight that surrounded me. I tried to scream but I couldn't. I could barely breathe and flickers of black and white were beginning to crowd my eyes. I was blacking out. I did the only thing I could think of to save myself from passing. I opened my mouth and bit the hand that covered. I heard a small cry and found my window of opportunity. I head butted the mass of man behind me and dropped under his grip, crawling forward and away from him. I turned to face him and noticed he was salivating tremendously. He had jet black hair, and was well tanned. He was covered from head to toe, in tattoos and he wore only ripped up shorts. He had very dark eyes, and I couldn't make out the colour. He whimpered lightly, holding his hand
"You might be pretty, but you're stronger than you look." He said as he stared at me weakly. "I'm here to take you away from this place. To get you to safety. Carlisle is a bad man. Come with me. I can protect you." He looked at me pleadingly. I had no idea who this dude was but I didn't trust a word he said.
"You just tried to suffocate me. Why would I go anywhere with you?" I spat.
"My name is Jacob, and I and my brothers can help you. Carlisle is a gang leader. He kills people." He said gently. "He'll kill you too." He added.
"How do I know you're not a gang leader too?" I asked, narrowing my eyes and tilting my head.
"He is," coughed Carlisle. He stood in the cabin's front doorway bleeding. His eyes were full of pain and sorrow.
"Had to give it away didn't you Carlisle," Jacob said annoyed. "I would have had her eating out of the palm of my hand."
"I doubt that," Carlisle said. "She doesn't like pretty boys."
I stood there confused. What was going on here?
"So you both can continue this chat and I'll just go back to bed then shall I?" I said, not hiding the irritation in my voice.
"Jacob wants to take you, he was at the poker game at Aro's." Carlisle said, and almost as if I had blocked the entire evening from my mind, I remembered him, sitting at the table. He was the one who sniffed my ear when he greeted me. Creep.
"Not interested." I said smiling.
"Wasn't asking." Jacob said as he reached out to grab me again. He managed to get a hold of my waist again in my flurry to get away. His grip was much tighter this time now, and he threw me over his shoulder. I threw my limbs around.
"I wouldn't do that," Carlisle said, making Jacob turn around. He held out a gun, and had it aimed directly at Jacob's chest. I hated guns. They reminded too much of losing my mother. But in this instance, I wasn't overly complaining.
"Try me," Jacob said as he lowered me from his shoulder, and placed me down in front of him. He was now holding me as protection against Carlisle's weapon, great. Jacob placed his hands over my waist and breathed against my neck. He placed soft kisses along my collar bone and allowed one hand to drift up to cup my breast. I started to fight against him, but he tightened his grip worse. I looked at Carlisle, and pleaded. He registered my fear.
"What are you going to do Carlisle? Kill her? Mmm she smells good. Oh and she feels good too. Go on, kill her." Jacob said taunting Carlisle. I didn't know his next move but right then and there, I thought he would shoot, and I wouldn't have been mad. Anything to get Jacob to stop touching me. Almost a split second later, Carlisle made one swift movement with his hand, and shot Jacob in the arm. He cried out in pain, and dropped to the floor. I moved away from him, stunned. His blood trickling to the floor. He would live, but he needed a doctor. Jacob looked up at the sky, and whistled loudly. And just like that a flash of men appeared and picked up Jacob, carrying him into the forest. I was shell shocked.
Carlisle, looked at me with a blank expression and then fell against a tree clutching his side. I ran to him, and threw his arm over my shoulder. We hobbled together until we got inside the cabin. I slammed the door and placed Carlisle on the living room couch. He mumbled something but I didn't hear. I took off into the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit. It took some time, but I bandaged up Carlisle's wounds. He had been stabbed in his left side, no arteries had been hit, he was gashed up pretty bad, but I did well to stop the bleeding and clean the wound.
"Where did you learn that?" Carlisle whispered.
"My mum taught me," I said. Carlisle smiled. He reached out and gently caressed my cheek. He slipped his hand into my hair and pulled me towards him. I thought he was going to tell me something but he didn't. He placed his lips on mine, and I felt my whole body light on fire. He opened my mouth with his tongue deepening the kiss between and I meted into it. Any longing I had felt for him a few days exploded into that kiss. He must have felt the same, he explored my mouth with his tongue, but it was gentle, sensual in a way I had never experienced before. There was passion and fireworks and I felt the world crash around us. It was like hat for what felt like the longest time. When Carlisle finally pulled away he was breathless. I smiled gently at him and kissed his cheek. I went to go to my room to give him time to rest, but he held me to him. He whispered gently,
"Please, stay." And I did as he asked. I laid down in front of him and he snuggled into me, breathing softly into the back of my neck. His arms came to rest around my waist, and he fell asleep. What a bizarre night, and yet I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. I wonder if he'll even remember it in the morning.
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