Playlist:
all the good girls go to hell – Billie Eilish
No Church in the Wild – JAY-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, The-Dream
S&M – Rihanna
Animal – Against Me!
I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker) – ZAYN, Taylor Swift
Warrior – Demi Lovato
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words. Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight series, and the songs belong to their respective people.
*HARD R*
*TRIGGER WARNINGS*
all the good girls go to hell
When Muse trotted over to their side of the lake, the mare tossed her head and horn wildly before she nickered at Bella and tugged at her hair, lipping the end of her braided locks with affection. Then, the previously mythical creature turned to Edward and blew air through her nose in a snort, raising her head and planting her feet, meeting his eyes challengingly as he looked up at her.
"None of that, Muse. Edward won't eat you; he's not even hungry. Try not to be offended, Edward. Muse doesn't like strangers. Hell, it was weeks before she let me hear her thought-speak, and we met in fairly intense circumstances. Unicorns are immortal and ancient. They're powerful purveyors of Destiny; they can smell it. She'll warm up to you."
Bella mounted the creature's back in a smooth swing before she pushed herself back to make room for him in front of her. "Come on—you're too far away. Do not throw him, Muse, or so help me its timothy hay when we get back to HQ- for like, a month. I could be making love right now."
Edward eyed the massive black horse for just a moment, not glancing for too long at the spike of metallic bone that extended from her forehead. "Sure." he muttered to himself sarcastically, "Just hop on the unicorn's back, Edward. It's not like this is completely surreal or anything. Just a powerful purveyor of Destiny; no problems here."
Still, he took Bella's offered hand and settled in front of Bella on the creature's back, feeling the shudder of hard muscle and sinew beneath him.
"Okay, so what happens now? How do you drive a-" Edward yelped as Muse shot forward, gripping on to her silver mane with Bella's arms wrapping his waist. His love's laughter was carried away by a fierce and echoing wind. Muse was faster than Edward could ever hope to be. Edward felt slightly nauseous, and then it got worse. Flashes of gold and silver impeded his vision, echoes of scenes never fully in focus. Here was a battlefield, the inside of a Castle, a ballroom filled with people in fine dress, a mortal coffee shop. Bella's voice rose in his mind; the wind was snatching her words away.
Unicorns travel by shifting the planes of reality around them. Like teleportation, but more powerful, shifting between multiple planes of existence: never-weres and could-bes get mixed up with what is. It's disorienting at first, but you get used to it. Muse will take us to where she needs us to go. Trust me; I trust her. Muse would never allow harm to come to me.
Riding Muse to wherever she was taking them was surreal in the extreme, like stepping inside a Van Gogh painting; but Edward couldn't help the crooked smirk that rose on his face as Bella clutched close to him and rested her head against his shoulder. He felt her lips quirk behind him as he relished the feel of the horse's gait; Bella's body shifted to brace and bounce against his thighs and back as they rode with that incredible speed through a thousand half-formed scenes.
- Green eyes and unicorns and Bella pressed against him intimately; what a world Edward found himself in.
As the scene solidified and held, Edward could smell damp earth, the moisture of fog in the air. Massive oaks formed a dense forest around them. The place would have reminded Edward of Forks, had it not been for the foggy clearing ahead of them: a cemetery filled with worn headstones and a single mausoleum between this stretch of trees and the next.
"Whoa, Whoa. Oh hell no. You stop right here, horsey- that's Kasdeya's territory. I am not going in there." Bella released him suddenly, vaulting herself from the creature's back and racing to take Muses' long face in her hands. "The Anubi are in there. Nobody goes in there: hell, Master won't go in there. If you think for one second I'm going back into that forest, you've got another thing coming- and you're taking Edward in there over my dead body. What the hell are you thinking, Muse?"
Muse snorted, her horn glowed blue at the tip. Bella paused in her half-begun pacing, and her face was startled and considering as she glanced at the creature. "Really? I mean...no. No, no, no. I'm not interested in even more power, Muse. No one should hold all the blessings at once. I don't care. Not even to mention that we would need every soldier in Camp to get to her Castle- and every Fae in Havana wouldn't be enough to get us out again. Some things cannot be borne even once, Muse- and certainly not twice."
Edward felt his concern grow; he dismounted from Muse to take Bella in his arms. "Bella, love. What's going on, where are we?"
Muse shoved him out of the way with her nose while imperiously stomping her front foot. She nickered softly and met Bella's suddenly tragic face with her nose pushed against Bella's forehead. When she breathed, golden glitter floated around her and Bella, shining like dust-motes in the air.
Bella groaned in surrender and clutched at the horse's mane. "It's always something. Destiny: God, what I wouldn't give for an hour alone in the dojo with that bitch. Please don't ask me for this, Muse. I can't- I won't survive it. Not to even mention how thrilled I would be to drop dead right now, if it would guarantee Edward never had to meet her."
"Who?" Edward felt fear and anguish rise in his head, though he couldn't identify why he was suddenly feeling like Bella was on her deathbed. He had to be missing something, something big.
Bella met his eyes softly: surrender, love, and fear in her own gaze. "Kasdeya. She holds the Anubi's leash. If Tomas is the Master's right hand, Kasdeya is undoubtedly his left. I met her, once. Demetri's idea. It was-" Bella's face grew sickened, horrified. "It was bad- really bad. Master kept a firm hold on her, but it was still pretty awful."
"What's Anubi?"
"The Anubi are this pack of dogs. Well, I say dogs. More like—hellhounds, maybe?" She squinted, as though that wasn't quite the right word. "They used to be men: a long, long time ago- so the story goes. Kasdeya rules them, restrains them from running free through Havana. Let's just say there's a reason Jacob turning into a giant dog freaked me out. I am not going back in there: never; nope. Seriously, Muse- take us back across the line right now. There's no way Tomas can't sense us this deep in enemy territory."
Muse snorted, planting her feet and looking challengingly at Bella now, before she lowered her head and planted her horn in Edward's back, shoving him towards the cemetery and the tree line. A smack echoed as Bella popped the horse on the rear. "I said no, Muse. You can take us back, or we can start walking; I think you know the chances of the two of us making it back to Camp alive without your help."
Muse whinnied loudly and sat. "Muse... Muse. God, you're so stubborn." Frustrated tears pooled in Bella's eyes as she tugged on the unicorn's mane. "I swear to God, Muse. No. I'm not leaving you here alone either, horsey. You're insane."
"We don't have to do anything you don't want to, Bella, but what was that about the blessings?"
Bella turned to him, her shoulders slumped and her tears escaping to stream down her face. Edward gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead softly. His head was spinning.
"The earth's blessing is in there. Muse wants us to go get it. Oh. Oh. This is unbearable, love. I can't. Please. Don't make me."
"Well, the Master having the power to transform into any form he wants can't be a good thing. Bella, love, what if we didn't get caught? I wouldn't let anything hurt you, you know that."
"If we got caught, there would be nothing you could do, Edward. You'd have your own trials to face. Kasdeya is a powerful telepath. She would tear you up, love: from the inside out."
"Then I guess we better not get caught." Edward felt determination rise in him: the blessings were dangerous, an advantage he could not allow his enemy. Bella pulled back from him, took in his face with a flare of gold in his thoughts. Then, Bella's mental presence seemed to dry up, becoming a soft and faraway glow in his head; he could hear nothing from her.
"We better not." She turned to the unicorn. "So much timothy hay in your future, Muse. Lead on, gallant steed: If we die, I am haunting your ass on the other-side."
No Church in the Wild
Watching Bella creep through the cemetery like she was afraid something would rise from the graves and bite her made Edward tense and short-tempered. It took all he had to send her an encouraging glance when she paused in the shadow of the mausoleum. Bella couldn't hear the faraway sound of shattered screams that echoed from far below the entrance of the small building, but Edward could; and so could Muse. When he met the unicorn's eyes, she nickered softly at him and lipped the hair that curled against the back of his neck.
As they paused in the shadows before the forest, Edward scanned the tree line for threats. Something caught his eye: around one of the wide oaks was a thick metal wire, wrapped once around the tree before the wire stuck out at odd angles at about hip height. The wire had been sheared off before it could wrap the tree twice and left to rust. Edward saw Bella shudder, her flashing eyes on the wire. From where he stood, he could see the lash marks that rose above the neck of her shirt.
A memory rose; a split-second echo flashed through his head: the crack of a whip and a view of rough bark, the feel of something burning around his wrists and the sound of Adeline's screams. Oh, dear god, what had he unknowingly asked of his lover? The out-out-out feeling was back, but Edward tempered it by taking Bella's hand and tugging her to follow him, choosing to enter the woods far from the tree that had held Bella immobile as she was lashed.
Muse brought up the rear of their group, the horse's head stretched low to the ground and her gait light and cautious; the leaves didn't even crunch beneath her hooves. They walked silently for a few moments before a howl rang through the air. A quiet high-pitched whine left Bella's throat as she called for the group to pause, holding up her fist to signal them to stop; her knuckles were white. She spoke in a whisper only vampires could possibly hear.
"They're hunting. We are so screwed. Don't freak out Bella, Muse can get you out of here in a heartbeat. Okay? Okay."
She crept forward around another massive oak that bordered a small dry creek bed. "Edward. I'm gonna need your speed here for a moment. Think you can carry me across the creek bed without making any noise? Muse can shift to join us on the other side."
Edward nodded and swung Bella to his back. He grabbed her hand as it twined around his neck and kissed the inside of her palm, twice; just below her sword. She traced her fingertips along his jaw as she settled her weight on him. Edward felt Bella tense at the crunch of leaves as he took a step back, preparing to leap the creek bed. They were in midair, halfway across it, when something hit Edward hard from the side and ripped a chunk out of his ribs. He twisted to take the impact before he could land on Bella; he felt his arm crack at the shoulder as he braced his fall.
Bella lost her grip as they hit the ground, rolling away from him and into the creek bed, too-far. The massive dog-thing that had hit him was beyond grotesque, with hollow lengths of bare rib bone that were laced with bleeding tendons. Dark fur was matted with blood around its head; wicked fangs gleamed in a wide mouth that stretched as the dog perked its ears at him. The creature's eyes were a consumed red. It wagged a skeletal tail as it threw its head back to howl. Edward rushed it, but the damn thing was fast.
"Edward! Careful, don't look in its eyes!" A set of menacing growls rang from the trees behind Edward, just as he heard Bella screech. "Anubi hunt in PACKS."
Another of the fierce animals had leapt at her; it tried to snap its teeth around Bella's shoulder, but it faltered when Muse neighed and clambered down the bank towards it. More creatures crept out from the tree line to attack Bella; she dodged and circled.
Edward threw the massive Anubi that threatened him so that its back hit the large redwood and turned to help her, but Bella was looking behind him, motionless with panic and fear. Muse struck out at the dog attacking her with a powerful kick from her rear legs, another already leaping for the unicorn's throat. Bella didn't help, frozen; her eyes were slowly being consumed with black. Edward heard a short and chipper whistle behind him. As at least eight Anubi circled their prey, he turned to face a woman who was undoubtedly Kasdeya.
Caught.
Kasdeya was a beautiful mixed woman with skin the color of coffee and cream. Her jet-black hair fell in controlled waves to end below her shoulders. She wore a lace up, blue-jean corset dress that hugged her curves down to mid-thigh, with a high slit up each leg to allow for freedom of movement. Fierce black leather high heels with armor over the knees extended almost to the hem of her dress. She was dangerously elegant, with high cheekbones and a deep swoop before the tip of her nose. Wide set brown eyes were emphasized by long lashes and high brows. Generous curves filled out the corset.
He heard Bella swallow behind him as he took in the woman, avoiding holding her brown-eyed gaze for more than a half-second. The Anubi circled.
Trapped.
Bella's voice behind him was unnaturally chipper, her words rushed and eager. "Hi Kassie! Do you remember me? The Master sent us to check on you, he wanted to be sure you were ha-happy."
One of the Anubi nipped at Bella's heels as she spoke, forcing her to stumble into where Muse stood at full attention between Bella and Kasdeya; Muse's hooves were planted, and every muscle tensed. The unicorn's nostrils flared in anger as Bella spoke.
"Master sent you? How wonderful! I remember you; you were the toy he didn't want to share. Did he send you to share with me?" Kasdeya's voice was child-like, and she clapped her hands twice as she spoke, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Yup! He said I was supposed to give you what you wanted and sent the vampire and the unicorn to protect me on my way here. Your sweet puppies almost got to us before we could see you." Bella laughed, but the sound was terrible, frightened and tense.
"Anyway, since you're here now, they can probably go. Off you go, guys. Send Master my love."
Muse snorted, and Edward almost did too. A flare of frustration shot through him, and he scheduled another serious conversation with Bella about her apparent need to make a sacrifice of herself. He was leaving Bella here with the honeypot of crazy that was Kasdeya and her creepy dogs under no circumstances. He would battle death itself to be by her side. What had he gotten her into? He should've abandoned this mission the moment he processed the purpose for that wire. Stupid Unicorn.
"Now wait a minute, toy. The cold man hurt my Miko. He threw him into the tree, there." Kasdeya scratched under the chin of the Anubi that had attacked Edward; he was sorry to see that the skeletal dog looked no worse for wear- not that he could imagine it looking any more horrific. The creature wagged its tail as Kasdeya cooed at it. "I think I should kill him. Master won't mind."
Edward became aware of a heavy pressure at the back of his mind, building steadily.
Bella was suddenly between him and the woman. "No, Kassie. Master would be very angry if you killed my guard. You should let them go. I'll make it up to Miko."
Bella eyed the Anubi with fear, disgust, and hatred; it was enough to clue Kasdeya in to the ruse. She stomped one foot, crossing her arms in front of her ample chest like a child.
"Master would let me kill him. He wouldn't mind. He likes me, I'm his favorite- not you." The pain in Edward's head spiked sharply, and he felt his knees give out in response.
"Kassie, stop! You're hurting him." Bella was frightened beyond reason. She was panicking. Edward's vision blurred as he forced himself to his feet: the pain in his head was strobing now.
Kasdeya looked angry; it was like she couldn't understand why Bella was upset. "So? I don't think Master sent you... I think you're tricking me. I think I'm going to kill him no matter what you say. You're just a toy: you don't matter. Master said you were supposed to make me happy."
"No, Kassie. Master sent us. I'm here to share with you: I'm a gift. Let him go, Kasdeya. I'll make it up to Miko as soon as he leaves." Bella's voice was stiff and dead now, despair rising in her face and twisting her mouth. Miko wagged his tail.
"Hmm. Prove it. I'll trap him with the Anubi. The horse can leave. You'll play with Miko and me, and the vampire can watch. If he doesn't interfere, I'll let him go."
An uncontrollable shudder racked through Bella, and her face grew desperate for a half-second before she smoothed it into a dead faced mask. "No peeking, Kasdeya. Stay out of his head, okay? I'll do it-" Bella swallowed, hard. "I'll do it, just don't hurt him."
Kasdeya clapped her hands once more, and the pressure in Edward's head lifted. The child-like insane woman was bouncing again, a happy smile on her face. Bella began to tremble softly, her eyes locked on Miko. He felt the gold in his mind flare in fear; there was a split-second echo of Bella's thoughts, unintentional. He's gonna leave. No one can bear this, but he'll be safe. He'll be safe, he'll live. I knew I wouldn't escape from this particular torture, goddammit this is gonna be really, really bad.
Bella sank to her knees at the bottom of the creek bed, bowing her head even as her eyes flared golden in defiance. The Anubi tightened their circle around Edward, cutting him off from her; she was a few feet away and below him; she was so close, but still too far.
Kasdeya giggled and began to sing. "Play-time, Play-time, play-time. This is gonna be so much fun!"
S&M
Before Edward could process the change fully, Kasdeya was bending Bella back to lay on the ground. Her small hands tangled painfully in Bella's hair to hold her still as she ran the tip of her nose over Bella's neck.
"I can smell him on you: you had sex with the vampire. He bit you; this will have to be reported. Master is going to be so angry with you. He'll be pleased I took your punishment into my own hands, even if he didn't want to share you, before."
Bella trembled as she tilted her neck to give Kasdeya better access. Her hand was a white-knuckled fist at her side, every muscle in her body locked. She turned her head to take in Edward's form, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. Kasdeya sniffed Bella's hair for a moment, running her hands down Bella's torso.
"I don't like the way men taste, but girlie-toys taste amazing. I want to, so badly. Master wouldn't let me before; you wouldn't let me. I only got to bite you, but if Master sent you to make me happy, you won't stop me this time. Will you?"
Bella's voice was gasping, terrified and whispering softly. Edward was suddenly glad he didn't dream: the sound would haunt him forever as it was. Black tears were beginning to fall down her face. "No. No, I won't stop you, Kassie. Master wants you to be happy. Edward is still down there, though. Maybe-"
Kasdeya straightened, tossing her hair back and bracing her hips against Bella's, rolling them obscenely. She waved her hand like Bella's objection didn't matter. "Miko will clean you up. Master says patience is important. Open up, I want to see. You still have marks; do you still have my mark?"
A realization hit Edward, a terrible epiphany. Oh. Oh, God, please no. The bite mark high on Bella's thigh- she wouldn't let them, her lovers used to...No. God, Edward could still see it: the way Bella had frozen up at the thought of his mouth on her, the way she had shivered when his fingers had passed over the bite-mark on her thigh...No. He could still taste traces of Bella's blood in his mouth; the memory of making love to her was still painfully fresh in his mind. No, God, please...Edward couldn't bear it, he wouldn't. He took a step towards his lover unthinkingly in his panic, and an Anubi almost ripped off his head.
When he turned back to the scene, Bella finally met his eyes; an apology screamed from her gaze as gold and black faded away to leave them doe-brown once more. No. Bella's eyes were guarded, blank; she was already drifting away from reality, retreating into her mindscape and far from him. He had to do something. Where was Muse? If the steed could hold off the Anubi, maybe Edward could kill Kasdeya. It would only take a second. Not this. Edward almost laughed hysterically at the memory of Bella's snark at the lake, just that morning. "I could be making love right now."
Oh god, please. He would do anything, anything at all.
"Miko." The horrific dog-creature latched its teeth into the shorts that wrapped Bella's crossed legs, forcing her to spread them with a vicious tug. Thorny vines rose from the creek bed and wrapped Bella's already scarred ankles and wrists.
No. No. No.
Bella relaxed every muscle in her body with another shudder, her legs falling lax. Kasdeya snapped her teeth together inches from Bella's face, an anticipatory grin on her face as she undid Bella's shorts.
There had to be something, anything.
Edward desperately reached for the gold in his mind, but the glow of Bella's thoughts remained distant, her normally warm presence cold like ice. No.
Edward felt a whine escape his gritted teeth as Kasdeya laved at the scar she had left, the one on Bella's inner thigh. She jerked away unexpectedly, shifting so she wasn't touching Bella anymore, stood to her feet. "His come is still down there. Yuck."
Edward felt the relief coming, anticipation for the end of this torture, the exception to the rule. But before it could arrive, Kasdeya turned to Miko, sitting at Bella's feet. "Miko, honey, would you like to help mommy? Her toy is all messy down there, mommy needs you to clean her up."
The dog tilted its head. Its teeth flashed in a long stretch of sharp smile and its eyes glowed a menacing red. Its tongue lolled out of its bloody mouth. Edward's mind screeched and stopped at the horrific thought that had just generated in his brain. Sick- it was insanity, beyond depraved. Oh god, no. Please God, if you're up there, not this. Edward was going to retch.
The memory of Bella's unintentional thought echoed in his mind as he bent, dry heaving on to the forest floor. He's going to leave. No one can bear this.
Fury rose in Edward like he had never known: at Bella, at Kasdeya, at the Master and Muse and every moment that had led to this. It was beyond bloodlust, beyond anger. Rage, incomprehensible and animal, smothered everything that made him, him. He didn't even process the growls of the Anubi that circled him as he stumbled, falling to his knees.
This was going to happen to his lover over his burning corpse. Fuck, no. Edward would waste no more time praying. He was going to kill this crazy bitch if it was the last thing he did.
Animal
At the very edge of his vampiric hearing, he heard Muse's soft huff as she took in a breath to his left. Bella's eyes remained closed, and Miko stood, approaching where Kasdeya sat between Bella's legs.
NO. Edward snarled; he rose to his feet and spun, grabbing two of the Anubi who circled him by the matted scruff of their necks, throwing them in a quick motion so that they bowled Miko to the ground. As he did, he reached out with his mind: not to Bella, but to the bitch who held her captive. "Muse, now!"
As Edward took hold of Kasdeya's mind in a strangling choke hold, he heard Muse whinny a battle cry, saw the intense glow of her eyes and heard the pound of her hooves as she kicked and bit at the Anubi around him.
The strength of the mind in his mental hold was intense, pressure pushing outward and making him fall to his knees as it cut through him. He crawled to where Kasdeya's black eyes gleamed, pushed his rage against the heaviness of her mental form, ignored the damage. Damn her to hell: Edward was going to help get her there.
His muscles strained and his head pounded and strobed as Kasdeya struggled, her physical form falling limp as her mental one snarled and struck at him. He finally reached where Kasdeya lay immobilized on the ground at Bella's feet, and then he ripped her head from her shoulders. It rolled a few feet away from her corpse. The smell of blood filled the air, but Edward wouldn't have drunk it if it was the last blood on earth. He would have gladly danced around the woman's pyre.
He ripped the vines from Bella's ankles, forgetting to be gentle as he scooped her into a bridal hold. He probably dislocated her shoulder when he lifted her up, ripping the binds from her wrists. He tried to make himself care but couldn't. The glow at the edge of his vision got closer and he swung himself onto Muse's approaching back, the Anubi hot on their heels. Fuck the blessing, he was getting the hell out of this place, right now.
Edward didn't notice the flashes of magick around him as Muse shifted them back to Camp. He didn't notice the feel of the horse's gait, the bleeding sensation of telepathic damage in his head, or the sudden weight of metal around his neck. He didn't notice anything because his eyes were locked on Bella's limp form in his arms. He was too busy willing her to open her eyes, to come back from wherever she had gone.
He heard his voice, plaintive and rough, begging: "Bella. Open your eyes. Bella, please; open your eyes. It didn't happen, I wouldn't let it happen. I'm not leaving, you idiot, I'm not going anywhere. Please Bella, you have to come back. You have to come back now. It's okay, it's safe."
He lifted her lax and limp form, twisted her so she was draped against him. "Bella. Bella, please." He was trembling, squeezing her too tightly just to feel her breathe. Edward had been pretty sure there was no one to listen to his prayers before animal rage smothered him in Kasdeya's forest, but he couldn't help it: he prayed anyway.
Then, he went quiet and still; he nestled his head into the curve of Bella's neck and clung to her limp form. No. No. No. He wouldn't move until she opened her eyes or stopped breathing, maybe not even after that. They could be buried together, and Edward would hold to her form for eternity.
"Bella. Bella, I love you. Come back."
I Don't Wanna Live Forever
Carlisle was just starting to grow truly concerned at the length of Bella and Edward's absence. It was almost sunset now; Bella had said they would be home soon. Where could they be? He stood at the banister of the Attic's balcony, looking towards the entrance to the cavern. What if something had happened? Carlisle needed to apologize to his daughter and son. He had been way out of line, and just plain wrong. He could admit it, wanted to. He needed to repair the damage.
They entered his vision suddenly, as though called by his thoughts. A black horse... no—wait, was that a horn gleaming? Mother of God. Carlisle couldn't take the time to process the wonder that encompassed him as he rushed from the attic, his family close behind him; there had been something terribly off about his first son's posture on the steed.
Carlisle pushed through the crowd of gathered Fae, taking in horror and heartbreak on each face. He heard the whispers around him: "Is she dead?" "Someone find a healer." "What's he doing?" "A freaking unicorn." "Is he okay?" "Oh no, it's finally happened, she's gone."
Carlisle felt panic rise. Dead, healer, gone? He couldn't smell blood. Was Bella hurt?
"Rosalie, find-"
"On it." His daughter broke from their group, racing back to the castle to find Josephat.
Horror and fear strangled Carlisle as he reached the front of the crowd a few yards from where Edward was kneeling, clutching Bella's lax form to him and whimpering softly, mumbling. The unicorn they had ridden into the cavern was nosing at the back of his head, blue pulsing at the tip of her horn.
"Edward?"
His son's face was unfocused, devastated, horrified. His eyes were closed, his head half-buried in Bella's neck. He didn't respond, didn't even seem to notice Carlisle's approach. Carlisle raised a hand to stop his family behind him; he heard Esme and Alice's horrified gasps. Jasper looked green; his face was utterly panicked at the emotions rolling off his brother. Emmett just looked blank, uncomprehending.
"Edward, son. Is she hurt? You need to let go of her now. It's okay."
Carlisle reached for his son's shoulder cautiously, but at the sound of his voice Edward only tightened his grip on his lover, still mumbling. Carlisle could see Bella struggle to take in air around his son's wrapped embrace.
"Come back, come back, you have to come back, Bella. Don't leave me here. Bella, love, I'm not leaving, I wouldn't. How could you even...Please God. Bella, come back...it didn't happen. Come back, Bella, NOW. Please come back..."
Carlisle's hand met Edward's shoulder and his son's eyes snapped open, his teeth closing with force instantly around Carlisle's hand. Edward let go quickly as Carlisle jerked back.
Edward began to rock on his knees, his head once more in Bella's neck, trembling and shaking her slightly. "Bella, come back. We're back in Camp. Carlisle's here: he'll know what to do. Bella. Bella, open your eyes love. Please, I need you to look at me."
Carlisle gripped at his cracked and stinging hand; staring as his son clutched desperately to his daughter's unconscious form, pleading loudly now. What the hell had happened to them? Carlisle couldn't smell blood, could see no visible injury on his daughter, though Edward had a chunk of his torso missing, some kind of animal bite that oozed with venom.
…he had no idea what to do.
Edward couldn't pull himself out of the grave he had dug for himself when he asked Bella to enter that forest. Anything, she had said. He had pushed too far. She was going to fall, and Edward couldn't bring himself to care one bit as long as she opened her eyes and looked at him. He could learn to love black eyes too. He would do anything, everything. It didn't matter, as long as she came back.
Damn Camp, his family, everything - as long as he didn't ever have to face a world without her. Not her. He'd thought it as that stupid van slid across the ice. He almost laughed again, felt his mouth twist as insanity bled in his mind, the wounds from Kasdeya's struggle. No, no; not her. She would come back. She wouldn't make him bear this. She wouldn't leave him alone. Bella loved him; she always felt her love for him. He just had to find a way to reach her.
Carlisle was speaking calmly to him, trying to soothe his manic begging, which was getting louder by the second. Edward couldn't make it stop; he had no control over his vocal cords. He hadn't meant to bite his father, but he couldn't let her go. Someone would hurt her.
- It didn't happen. He played the comforting thought over and over in his head.
"It didn't happen. It's okay, Bella. You can go, I'll follow. I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm not mad. Open your eyes. Open your eyes, please. Black, gold, brown—any of them, just look at me. How could you think I would go? I'm here. Bella. Bella. Bella."
Rosalie rushed to his father's side, calling Carlisle's attention away from Edward and Bella. That's okay. He could focus more on Bella without the animal rage that coursed through him every time Carlisle had told him to release her.
His sister's voice echoed around him, meaningless garbage until she uttered her final word. "Josephat can't come. There's a problem at the Seer's compound, some kind of communal seizure or something. They all keep screeching about "Chaos broke it; it's ruined." There was something about that Egyptian death god... Anubis?"
Edward couldn't stop the flinch or his vicious snarl. Where were they? He'd kill them, if they could even die. They couldn't be here. Not her. He looked around wildly for the creatures, clutching Bella to himself so hard he cut off her breathing for a moment. "Anubi- Don't let them in! They'll...it didn't happen. I won't let it happen. Bella; Bella, open your eyes." The words were an angry command; he shook her violently.
He heard Muse huff, lipping at his hair again. He leapt up and backed away from the magnificent creature; purveyor of Destiny, his ass. Bella had been wrong; it would take a lot longer than an hour for Edward to settle his differences with Destiny. She could rot in hell with Kasdeya for all Edward cared.
"You did this, you stupid animal. She trusted you. Muse would never let any harm come to me- that's what she said. You'll leave right now, or I swear to God, I'll rip out your throat. Fucking unicorns. I hope you rot in hell with that crazy bitch. I'll help. "
"Edward, are you talking to the horse?" Alice's voice was worried, trembling. None of them had ever seen Edward so furious, so out of it.
Muse responded with the tip of her horn glowing blue. She went to touch its tip to Edward's forehead, but Edward shied away. "I'm not interested. I don't ever want to hear you talk, hear your excuses. Get out. I swear, Muse, I won't tell you again."
"Edward. She's just an animal. Son, calm down."
Edward felt a laugh bubble up in his throat, swallowed it down. Calm down, there was no calm, no peace- just instinct, animal rage. He couldn't stop. Bella had to come back, right now, or he was going to lose his mind: insanity was welcome here. Bella had made that echo of him, when he was gone. Maybe he could force himself to hallucinate her. That would be nice.
He turned his attention back to Bella; God, how could he have let it slip? She was still so beautiful, even lax and unmoving. She would open her eyes soon. It was going to be okay- it didn't happen. He just had to reach her.
Muse huffed again, shoving Emmett out of the way when he tried to stop her approach. She lowered her head to meet his eyes, touched her horn to his neck. What? She was trying to tell him something, but Edward didn't have the patience for charades. He growled at her, tightened his grip on Bella again and backed away.
The sun was starting to set, casting light through the stained-glass ceiling of the cavern, and Edward caught a flash in his peripheral vision. Something metallic and heavy was around his neck, a new pendant next to the crystal Bella had bid him to wear as long as he loved her. The earth's blessing. Edward spared a hateful second of reduced contact with Bella to rip the damned thing from his neck and throw it at the unicorn's hooves. "Get it off, get it away from me. Fucking Blessings, may they all be destroyed and Havana fall into the void: I don't give a shit. Bella, I'm losing it love. You have to wake up."
He could feel the bleeding in his mind now, unable to ignore the pain in his head anymore. He fell to his knees and cried out. Fae were crowded around him, whispering in a low hum. His family's thoughts were painful, tore the wounds in his head further. He was on the edge now, walking the line between reality and not. If Bella could will herself away from an unbearable reality, he could too. He closed his eyes and curled around her form; he could just give up, fade away.
Suddenly, Muse whinnied loudly, her battle-cry. She snorted and lunged, slamming both front hooves on the ground in front of him with a flash of magick. Bella was shifted out of his grasp, supine on the floor with Muse in between them. Edward moved before he even thought to, grabbing the massive unicorn by the throat and gripping her horn. He didn't recognize his own voice. "Move. Now, Muse. I will not ask twice."
Muse stamped her foot, her horn glowed blue in his grasp. She snorted and touched her horn to where his neck met his shoulder. Edward had bitten Bella there; he had tasted her sweet blood only this morning. Wait- Bitten. He bit her.
It would work. It was insane, unhinged, unreasonable; but it would work.
What was it Bella had said to Emmett? ...It's like waking up. It's incredibly comforting. It grounds me, let's me know I am his and he is mine.
"Oh."
The mare rolled her eyes as he released her. Muse huffed and lipped at his hair before she planted her nose in his back and pushing him towards Bella. He stared at his love, limp on the floor with his father pulling up her eyelids.
"I don't think I can- what if it doesn't work? I won't stop. She's not conscious, she won't be able to stop me. I don't have her permission."
Muse nickered, put the point of her horn in his back and pushed, forcing him to take a step.
"Okay. Okay. Oh god, please come back, Bella." He knelt on the other side of Bella's form from his father, stroked her hair back from her face and tucked it gently behind her ear.
Carlisle was looking at him, trying to piece together what was going on. "Edward, what? Can the unicorn communicate?"
Edward couldn't stop the hysterical laughter that rose in him, this time. He muttered manically, quoting Bella: "So much timothy hay in your future, horsey."
His father eyed him warily at the insane sound as Edward pulled Bella's hair away from her neck. He took a deep breath in, watched panic and understanding flare in Carlisle's eyes as his father reached to stop him. Oh god, he could smell the dog-scent on her, Kasdeya's perfume.
This wasn't the end. It couldn't be. Edward's voice cracked. "Say your spell, little witch."
Edward bit Bella hard, directly over the scar he had left before. He painfully reached with every bleeding molecule of his telepathic senses towards the cold gold in his mind. The very moment that his teeth broke skin, Bella arched and opened eyes of golden fire. She was already shouting his name, the warm gold river in his mind flooding through him.
"Edward!"
He didn't even close the wound before his mouth was on hers as she clutched at him, his green eyes closing in immeasurable relief.
Not her.
Warrior
Edward's relief was violent as it cut through Bella's head, ripping through her like the taste of blood in her mouth. Oh god, what had Kasdeya done to him? The beautiful mind of her vampire lover was in shreds, bleeding with rage and insanity. She tried to repair the damage she could before it could spread, but she wasn't a healer, she didn't have the training. She tore her mouth from his.
"Edward. Edward. What did she do to you? Edward, love, your mind, it's-"
Edward gripped her shoulders hard and kissed her violently, biting down on her bottom lip before he shoved her from him. "You were gone, you left, you went where I couldn't follow; I couldn't sense your mind, even. You thought I would leave. You told me to leave you there. Jesus Christ, what the fuck? I love you, you fucking imbecile. I would never. That bitch. Those—those dogs. Unbearable. Bella, God. It was horrifying, even the thought was..."
No...no, no, no. She hadn't meant to leave this plane of reality; she couldn't watch him watch that. He was disgusted with her; he had to be. She swallowed hard, trying to blank her face. Maybe she could convince him to see a healer before he went: his sanity was fraying.
He grabbed her roughly when he saw her expression, shoved her against the wall that formed the entrance to the cavern so that her feet dangled off the floor. "Don't you do that; don't you go anywhere. Never again. I swear to God, you are my prisoner- as of right now. You will never leave Camp again. Hell, you will never leave my side again. You can rule the world from my lap."
"Wait; wait, what? You're not going, you want me to stay? Okay. I can stay. Prisoner; done. Don't go, I'm sorry. I let her take it, I couldn't watch her kill you. You don't have to touch me ever again; I won't ask you to. Just stay." Her words were as rushed as his were, they were speaking over each other.
There was a beat where they just stared at each other. Her blood was on his mouth, his eyes were green. Had he had drunk from her? That didn't jive. She didn't even know how he could stand to look at her. His expression was wrathful: "Bella, unless you want me to prove right here and right now how not-at-all that bitch, or any of them changes things between us, I would suggest you shut up."
He released her, and she felt a brief twinge in her right shoulder as her feet hit the floor. He was backing away from her, hands raised. "I can't. I am so angry. You thought I would leave you there. You told me to leave. Didn't I tell you what would happen if you did that again? Fucking Christ, Bella...you thought I would leave you because of- because of her. How could you even think that? You... you were going to let her- to save me. You didn't even fight. Jesus Christ, what is wrong with me? I want to hurt you, to carve the words in your skin so you never forget. How could your amazing mind even think that?"
"It's damage to your mind- telepathy. You must see a healer. Edward, Edward; Look at me. It's okay. It's okay, it's over. Don't go. I don't want you to go. Please, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to; I had to."
Edward's rage faded in the space of Bella's heartbeat as he realized that she didn't know he had stopped Kasdeya and her wretched demon-dogs. "Bella. Bella, love. It didn't happen. I couldn't let it happen. I killed her. Muse got us back. They never touched you."
Bella blinked, long and slow. "It- it didn't happen? How? Edward, love, what did you do? ...your mind. You went after her. Telepathically. You overcame her. Wait. Wait. Did you just say she's dead?"
"Well, her head was about six feet from her body when I dragged you the hell out of there. I never should have asked you to go in there. We got the fucking blessing; may it rot forever somewhere cold. How's your shoulder?"
Bella's shoulder was definitely dislocated, maybe worse. Her wrists stung; her legs were heavy...but she couldn't feel anything, there. There was no physical reminder of unwanted contact. She stumbled backwards and braced her back against the wall. "...It didn't happen. It really didn't happen. You stopped her before Miko could-"
Edward's growl reverberated across the cavern. He was suddenly bracing himself over her, digging long fingers into the stone wall next to her head. "Goddammit, that mangy mutt is still breathing, unfortunately. I won't; I wouldn't let them. Never again, Bella. I told you, I promised. Even if it had, I wouldn't go anywhere. I love you, you idiot. Nothing could change that."
"I- I... Edward. Ohmygod Edward. I love you. Jesus, I didn't think I could love you anymore than I already did, but damn I was so wrong. I'm sorry. I'll never think it again. You could carve it into my skin, if you like. I won't forget. I don't want to."
Bella's legs were shaking, and she slumped back against the wall for support, shakily reaching for Edward's arms where he pinned her.
"Oh. Oh, holy shit. Let's never do that again. Fuck the blessings, yes, absolutely. You need to see a healer. I need to see a healer. I need to talk to Kay and Marcos. What happened to my arm? No, you know what I don't care. It can wait. Kiss me. Kiss me right now."
A soft breeze blew into the cavern. On her next gasping breath, she caught her smell. "Ugh. Okay, hold that thought. I need a shower- a long, hot, scalding shower...with bleach. Edward- I'm gonna throw up. Edward, love, let me up, I'm gonna be sick."
Edward held her hair back as she emptied the blissfully sparing contents of her stomach onto the floor. She dry-heaved for just a moment, leaning on Edward's strength.
The room wouldn't stop spinning. Her speech was distorted, stuttering and too fast. "It didn't happen. Can relief be this devastating? Shower. I need a shower. Think Carlisle will let us in the Attic? Ohmygod, I didn't...the family had to be so worried. My brain won't shut up. I can still smell them, that wet dog smell... I might throw up again."
Apparently, relief could cut like a knife. Black spots danced in her vision, before suddenly—she was calm.
Jasper was regarding them with wide eyes, looking ill.
She finally looked around the cavern that she called home. Her people were in shock, almost weeping from happiness; the crowd was embracing each other and shouting thanks that rang through the cavern. Her family: her brothers, her sisters, her mom and her dad, were looking at the two of them like they were insane, but they seemed relieved under the confusion. Muse nickered softly at her; tail lowered.
She took a gasping inhale and let it out slowly, centering herself. Then, she turned to her sighted sister. "Alice... See? Unicorns."
Edward laughed weakly and with shock in his voice from behind her, his hands clutching her to him tightly as he repeated her words from this morning. "So much timothy hay, Muse. For like, a month."
- Edward, and safety, and a place to call home; what a world Bella found herself in.
