Edward's POV
The encounter with the red-haired girl, Clary, had left me with conflicting emotions. I had anticipated hostility and suspicion, given the circumstances. However, what unfolded was an unexpected series of events that led to my restraint and subsequent interrogation.
The last thing I saw before I was knocked unconscious was those green eyes of hers. They haunted me even in my state of unconsciousness, swirling around in my head almost hypnotically.
As I had regained consciousness, for the first time in a long time I felt fear. I knew fear when I saw Bella in Volterra feared, when I saw the vision of Bella as a vampire I feared. But today I felt fear for myself. Not only was I knocked out of consciousness but I was currently bound to a chair.
As I sat bound to the chair, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and frustration. How had I ended up in this situation? The girl claimed I knew too much about her, that I had stumbled upon something I shouldn't have. Her words echoed in my mind, fueling my growing resentment.
As I tried to pull on the restraint I hissed in pain, the ropes seemed to burn in my skin. I did not even know my hard vampire skin was even capable of such pain.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she retorted when I attempted to free myself from the restraints. Her voice held a note of warning that sent a chill down my spine.
"Wha- Where am I? Why am I chained? I demand you release me this instant!" I snapped, my anger seeping through my words.
"Oh, 'you demand,' do you?" she replied sarcastically. "You do not get to make any demands, vampire. I have you imprisoned. You will answer my questions, and only then will I consider setting you free."
Her words struck a nerve. I couldn't deny the truth in her statement, as frustrating as it was. My attempts to break free from these restraints were futile, and I had to face the reality of my predicament.
The girl continued to explain the circle surrounding me, the ancient runes that stripped me of my supernatural abilities while within its confines. It was a calculated move on her part, ensuring that I remained at her mercy.
"What do you want? Why am I here? Is it because I saw what you did back in the alleyway? If so, you have my word I will not tell anyone about your... extracurricular activities," I grumbled, my tone laced with disdain.
She burst into laughter, a hearty sound that filled the room. It took me aback, unsure of how to interpret her amusement.
"Ding, ding, ding! It sure is about that incident," she responded. "Now you see, you were at a very wrong place at a very wrong time. I am a highly distrustful person, and coincidences are not in my vocabulary. So, vampire, how is it that you always seem to find me in the most unfortunate of places?"
The accusation stung. My chest, where my supposed heart was to be, seemed to throb from pain from the reminder that word brought of her.
"No, I was just going to follow you until I was sure you were safe," I replied, my anger giving way to a hint of sincerity. I had merely wanted to protect her, especially after witnessing her in such a vulnerable state during our previous encounter.
"Well, your habit of 'ensuring my safety' only puts you in a rather terrible position," she retorted, her gaze piercing into mine. "It gives me even more reason not to trust you and what you're saying. So, what are you doing here, in Italy? Our last encounter is far from this place."
I hesitated. She and I both knew I would not justify her question with an answer. I was only here because Volturi was insistent that someone from the family come help them solve the impeding threat that seemed to have come up because of the appearance of dead bodies all over. And I found the perfect opportunity to get away from my family and from her. It was after all a mere coincidence that I found her here and something told me that this girl did not believe in coincidences. So I merely went back to glaring daggers at her.
Suddenly, the girl's demeanor shifted, a gleeful anticipation replacing her earlier frustration- it sent a chill of terror down my spine. She gestured toward a table adorned with an assortment of tools—daggers, knives, and whips—sending a chill down my spine.
"Don't feel like talking? Very well, I have many tools arranged here. They'll make you talk in no time," she declared, a disturbing cheerfulness evident in her voice.
As she taunted me with a dagger, tracing its edge along my skin, I held my breath, uncertain of her intentions. The blade pressed against my neck, causing a mix of pain and apprehension.
"Now I don't really want to injure this smooth skin of yours, so tell me why you are here. No need to make this difficult," she teased.
Silence hung in the air as I weighed my options. Refusing to speak would only prolong my captivity, but revealing too much might put me in further jeopardy. I remained steadfast, refusing to give her the satisfaction of an answer.
"Oh well," she sighed, driving the blade deeper into my neck. I winced, feeling a sensation, unlike anything I had experienced before.
"Now isn't that interesting? You really are special, aren't you?" she mused, studying the wound she had inflicted. The shock in my eyes mirrored the turmoil within me.
Her threat of further pain and her elaborate tools of torture hung in the air, taunting me. I knew I had to tread carefully, to protect myself and find a way out of this situation.
"I could go on like this for days. Trust me, I would love nothing more. But I have other matters to attend to. So, vampire, tell me why you're here, and maybe I'll consider setting you free."
With a mixture of fascination and malevolence, she intensified her assault, deepening the wound she had inflicted. The pain radiated through me, intertwining with the fear of the unknown.
I hesitated, knowing that revealing the truth about the Volturi and my family would put them in danger. The weight of protecting them and preserving their secret bore heavily on my mind, forcing me to remain silent. Seeing my resolve, annoyance seemed to flicker in her eyes. Next, she pulled out another blade from her device of torture, this one much shorter.
"Now, this blade is called the Blade of Truth. It's similar to the one used by the Silent Brothers, but I've added my own runes to it. With a mere slice, I can see the truth for myself. I'll witness every thought, desire, and emotion you've experienced from the day you were born until now. Quite fascinating, don't you think? I don't particularly enjoy using this blade on anyone, but you've left me no choice." She explains, before slicing the blade into me without warning.
Suddenly I am pulled inside her head, or maybe it is my head- I am still not certain what exactly happened. Visions of my human life, my transition. my vampire life, my family, my bloodthirst, Bella... everything that has happened in my life, every thought, every memory, every emotion that I've ever felt seemed to flicker in front of my eyes. It was like watching a movie in fast forward, however each scene vividly clear. And after what felt like hours but must have been mere minutes the visions ended and we both stumbled back, jumping away from each other.
Gasping for air, Clary abruptly withdrew the blade, and we stumbled back from each other, our eyes locked in a mix of surprise. I watched her, her expression a mix of surprise and realization.
