A/N: Hello and welcome back! Everything is finally finished (including that freak snowstorm my family and I experienced earlier this month in TX) and I can focus more and get to posting again! So, this chapter and the ones going forward are DARK. Some of the darkest stuff I've written in a long while. Going forward it will continue to explore dark themes and situations.

Warnings: Rape and sexual assault will be mentioned and brought up. It will be talked about. It also happens to the characters in this story. It will be talked about going forward in the story.

Extreme acts of violence, language, and other aspects of the "M" rating will start to show in this chapter.

If this is something you would like to skip or read over then check for the Skip Here (SH) and know that everything beyond that point deals with what is mentioned above in this chapter.

I always aim to make my stories enjoyable for everyone however I know that these are serious issues that need to be treated with respect.

With that said I hope you all love this new chapter and above all

Enjoy!

When You Love Someone

Chapter 25 – Demons

I was, once again, in prison.

Prison in my own head. At least I thought this was what it was. Every few chances there was a glimpse of light, the jostle of fabric. Faint echoed voices in the back of my head. Sometimes they sounded like Alec, his voice urging me to keep fighting. Other times it was Edward's voice I heard, always with the same message: keep fighting.

Fighting what exactly, I hadn't the faintest idea.

Occasionally I would even hear Felix's voice in my ear, his soft encouragement urging me to keep going. His voice surprised me; Felix and I, although friends, were never particularly close except for an occasional video game partner or spar match. It was welcomed, however, surprising it might be. Any familiar voice I would take comfort in from this vacant darkness.

I wondered if this is how Alec's gift felt? In all my curiosity he would never inflict it on me, no matter how many times I would ask, just to see what it felt like. He always refused, stating he wanted to spare me from the "emptiness" as he said it. I never understood it but maybe he finally gave in. Maybe I'm under his influence right now? When I opened my eyes maybe I'll see his face? That would be a welcomed sight. His face was always nice to look at it. But if I really am under his influence, what would make him change his mind? Plus, why would I be feeling a dull burn?

It's not that it didn't hurt, it did, but it was as if my finger was a little too close to a flame. That brief moment of caution, uncomfortably, the alarm your mind would signal to be cautious in fear of burning yourself. The alarm bells in my head must be needing new batteries because I felt it. That intense scorching you feel only for a moment. The blinding heat, the whisper of the flame to keep back but I felt it all. I never stood back from the fire, then again maybe that's why I made so many life choices where I found myself running towards the fire.

Running to Edward, befriending a clan of vampires. Then, to make matters more interesting to then run into the lion's den (or maybe the vampire's crypt) only to be summoned to become one myself. To feel that fire forever.

Not a bad way to spend life if I do say so myself. You'll never be bored and certainly, I never was. There was always something. Either the messy breakup with Edward, running to Volterra where I not only found my true mate but because of a murder conspiracy, I could never have him.

That and my crippling fear of abandonment and commitment didn't make things better either, I confessed my love the day before my deathbed and again, found myself running towards the fire.

Maybe this is what it is. The fire. The one that I constantly threw myself towards and yet never got burned.

Well, let's rephrase, I did get burned. Aro made sure of that.

In my final moments, I was burned. Set ablaze for what I knew and the threat I posed. Maybe that explains why I heard Felix's voice just now? He was there. He was with me towards the end. The unfortunate death that should have never happened. He didn't choose it such as I. I knew the moment I decided to jump down into the unknown that I was choosing death. Maybe not anytime soon but I was certain death was coming. Perhaps, since we died together, we were to share this limbo together?

Was life that cruel though? Felix didn't deserve this darkness. This emptiness with the occasional fire reminds us of the pain of life. Was his only crime to be with me in his final moments? To feel the guilt of his death on my conscience for eternity. Wasn't this enough punishment to have the knowledge that I would never see Alec again? To never hold him the way I wanted to. Touch each other as lovers do?

Was death so cruel to inflict that as life did? Was this truly the end? Everyone preached that death was restful even in violence. That the ones who would suffer and feel the sting were the living, but the dead would have rest. After all, that's why we had the phrasing "rest in peace"? Well, I wasn't resting and I'm certainly not peaceful.

I'm…angry. I'm furious. How Aro could just steal away my life, my happiness with Alec. How he has stolen so many lives just to keep his secret. So many people he's hurt for his greed. His own sister he murdered for power. Is that how he has lived so long? Exchanging love for power? Is that how he can live without remorse? Justify the unjust? How is that fair?

Life wasn't fair I knew, but I didn't think death was just as biased. What a load of bullshit.

You would think this would be mentioned somewhere, anywhere in the numerous books, shows, texts, movies; shit, anywhere that death was mentioned that it was just as miserable as life. Maybe a small warning, or a sentence or two. I would have taken a caution sign. Really anything that this wasn't it's all cracked up to be. How pathetic.

Then again, my rational mind knew that even if there was a warning sign would anyone care to read it? Maybe I would. Then again, I don't know. There was a lot I didn't know. If you would have told me, months ago, that even coming to Italy would lead to my death would I have still come? That if I did, I would die, but on the bright side, I would meet people so wonderful that my life would be complete now that they were in it? Would I have chosen not to come to spare my life, but a life half lived?

Those are the real questions.

Is that what makes life so special? Knowing that you are going to die, but despite that knowledge, you make the best of it by the people you love the most? That when you love someone, you try. Try to be the best version of yourself for them, try to make their life a little better, try to ease their burdens, try to be there for them. Try for something. Something that isn't for you, but for them.

I can do that. I can try.

Even though I am dead, I can still try to live. I made a vow atop the mountain that I wasn't scared of dying but of the living. I tried to live and ironically, I got myself killed. Even if that was the ending, I can still try to write a different one. I can try to live one more time. I can try to survive not only for myself but for Alec. For Jane. For Alice, Jasper, and Edward. I can try for Marcus. I can try for the memory of Didyme.

I don't know if I will succeed but fuck it if I can't try. Those brief glances of light, I can try for that. I can try. Because if I don't, I won't be able to live with myself in death. I won't be worthy of the lives I left behind.

This is what Chelsea meant I bet when her last words to me were to be worthy of Afton. She won't be able to live with herself if she didn't try. In her mind, if she didn't try, then what was the point of the life she lived?

If I didn't try, then what was the point of the life and people I loved? What would be the point of existence? No, I must try. I will try. For everyone I loved. For the ones, I left behind. I'm coming. I'm trying.

And I'll be damned if I don't win.

I felt, rather than saw the dirt beneath my fingers when I next awoke.

My throat was dry, itchy, and on fire. My whole body felt horrible. Like I've been hit by a two-ton truck, then dragged underneath the wheels and I was then trampled over by rhinos. I don't remember the last time my whole being felt so trashed, yet my eyes were glued together by some invisible force. I groaned and tried to flex my fingers, trying to gain some movement in my aching body when I heard it.

"Bella?!" Felix's shocked whispered voice came from beside me and instantly I felt his hands on my arm as I groaned again and flexed my hand where I felt his hand in mine. "Bella, oh my god, Bella, take your time. Oh my god, I can't believe this, Bella." Felix whispered, his awed voice spurring me on as I kept trying to open my eyes until I was met with a bright light and I shut them once more, shocked by the brightness and I turned my head only to feel Felix's hands on my forehead right before a stinging pain.

"Ahh," I involuntarily groaned as I shield away and fully opened my eyes once more to see bars in my vision. I slowly tried to pick myself up as I sat on the dirt floor. Gaging my surroundings there was dirt everywhere, with a single door on the wall that was blocked by more black-coated bars. I turned to see Felix, who looked worse for wear, his eyes bright with unshed tears and his hand reached for me through the bars that separated us. "Felix?" I questioned as he nodded his head furiously.

"Bella, oh my god your alive! How are you alive?" He whispered as I went to grasp his hand as I smiled, and my own tears came to my eyes as I was relieved to see him. No matter where we were, I had a friend, and we were going to be okay.

"Felix" I whispered, awed as I brought his hand to my face and leaned into his touch. "Felix, how are you alive? I thought you were dead." I whispered as he gave a pained chuckle and shook his head as he suddenly diverted his eyes.

"Oh Bella, I asked you the question first, but um, here." He mumbled as handed me a torn and burnt cloak as I took it and looked down. I suddenly realized I was naked as the day I was born and hastily covered myself, thanking him.

"Felix, what – how, where?" I said as I couldn't settle on a question as my mind raced a mile a minute. I looked around once more and this did not look anything like the cells in Volterra.

He sighed and sat back on his knees as he smiled sadly and continued to look shocked. "Bella, I don't know how you're here. How are you here?" He continued to ask as I looked down and shrugged.

"I'm not sure, where is 'here'?" I grinned as his eyes widened and he laughed.

"Oh Bella, you choose now to joke?" He asked quietly as I shrugged again.

"To be honest I wasn't entirely joking. Where are we?" I asked as he sighed and looked towards the door in front of our cells.

"Bella, do you remember anything from Volterra?" he asked as I shook my head and he sighed again. "What was the last thing you remember?"

I thought back and tried to recall but I can only remember the trial and being led down to the cells. Felix was with me and we were talking but the words are faint and then…nothing.

"Um, I remember that I was on trial. I was cleared of charges, but they wanted more so I was led down to the cells, but after that, I don't remember much." I confessed as Felix nodded his head. "Then you better be ready for a story." He warned as I gripped his hand.

"When we were in the cells, I was assigned your guard. We were speaking of your beliefs of Aro." He led on as I thought back.

"He was the one who did this," I said as Felix looked down and nodded.

"Yes, he tried to kill us. Well, really you but I suspect he placed me as your guard for a reason. I had my own suspicions Aro wasn't all there, but it wasn't until you voiced your accusations did I fully support it. I supported you and I suspect Aro knew it too." He sighed as he looked once more towards the door. "In those moments in the cell, you were talking about Alec and asking for Carlisle before we were attacked. It was an ambush." He said seriously as I listened to the missing pieces.

"There were three vampires, I don't know if it was Aro or the Romanians or both that sent them, but one had a gift. I couldn't sense them at all before it was too late. I couldn't move, honestly, it was similar to Alec's gift, but I still had my senses. Once I was on the ground, I heard you screaming and then" he stopped short as he gripped my hand harder and looked me in the face. "I saw them light you on fire. You were engulfed, Bella. There was no way you should have survived that. Then I saw the masked vampire turn to me and they were going to do the same before the second masked figure stopped them. To be honest, we were meant to die in that fire, but the third vampire. He had an idea." He growled as he looked towards the ground.

"As the fire slowly spread, they whispered quickly to one another before I was grabbed, and the third vampire collected your ashes. I was knocked out when one of them threw a bottle on me but when I woke up, I was in front of Stephan and Vladimir. My only guess is that we're both in Romania." He whispered as I gasped and looked around me once more. Romania? We were in the Romanian coven's headquarters?

"Why…why would they bring us here?" I whispered as Felix looked pained.

"To be honest, I don't know. I don't know why that one grabbed your ashes but when I was in front of them, I was tortured for information. I'll spare you the details, but it wasn't pretty." He grimaced as I looked over Felix's naked, burnt, mangled, and in some places, chucks of him missing.

"Felix…" I whispered as he shook his head.

"Don't mind yourself over it. They didn't get anything out of me, and they won't get anything out of me. It's you that I'm worried about." He admitted as I looked on.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused as he stared once more at the door before he leaned in close.

"Bella, they planned something. Why would they grab your ashes if they just tried to kill you? I was thrown in here shortly after I arrived but a day later, the masked vampire came in and threw a clay pot in the cell next to mine. It shattered and ashes spilled out. I had suspicions it was you but didn't know until a few weeks ago." He said somberly.

"What changed a few weeks ago?" I asked, slightly scared of his answer as he kept looking at the door and then back at me.

"You." He stated as I continued to look on. "Bella…the ashes, a few weeks ago they started to move. I couldn't believe my eyes, but they moved on their own. Soon I noticed that they were molded together. They were changing and forming…you. It started small, but then fingers and toes quickly morphed to arms and legs until your body was lying there. You looked as if you were asleep. I thought it was some type of cruel trick but there you were. You even had your hair! You were so still I didn't know what to make of it. Then you were mumbling and when I heard your voice, I knew it was really you. I still can't believe it." He wondered as I looked down at my body and marveled at the scars and marks, I had. I looked the same, not someone who was burned to death.

"Felix…do they know I'm alive?" I asked cautiously as he looked down.

"I don't know. I don't know what they planned or what they're planning. I wish I did but they have been very careful around us. There's a guard that comes every day to check on us, and I wonder if they were checking on you."

"That's why you keep checking the door?" I asked as he nodded.

"Bella…they might do something to you. These people are monsters. In the olden days, they were very cruel to their prisoners. They had their fun with me, they still aren't done I think, but I'm not going to give them anything useful and they know that. You, however, beat death and you know more about Didyme than anyone here. They would be interested in that. I don't know if they truly know who you are or why they gathered your ashes but Bella, I'm worried for you. Do you know if you can access your shield?" He asked as I sat back and tried to process his fears.

"My shield? I don't know. I'm weak from whatever I did, and my throat feels like it's on fire. I don't know if I can protect myself with my shield." I confessed as he cursed, and he looked to the doors again.

"Bella, can you fight? Did Alec, Jane, or anyone teach you to combat?" He asked desperately as I thought back and remembered the lessons with Jasper.

"I practiced with Jasper," I said as Felix nodded.

"Good, because Bella, they will try everything in their power to make you talk and to even get some sick enjoyment for themselves. They are very cruel people." He said soberly as a dark look crossed his face.

(Skip Here) "They will rape you, beat you, burn you…believe me they have plenty of ideas for torture but if they can't touch you…then Bella they will get inside your mind" He warned as icy fear settled in my heart at Felix's warning. I've survived many things before, but this was different. The look on Felix's face told me everything that I needed to know about our captors. I have to try to activate my shield but I'm so thirsty…

"I'm not saying this to scare you, but you need to be prepared. I don't know what they will do but the sheer fact that you have an association with the Volturi will spark their interest and they will do what they can to find out what you know. You can't give in to them." He warned as we both perked up at the sound of footsteps and we both turned to the door as it opened and in stepped a masked vampire.

I didn't get a good look before but now I had a full view. A blood-red cloak covered them while their mask was white as a sheet, the slits so small that I could barely see their blood-red eyes, but it cut off below their noses. Just enough for us to see their smiling mouth. They stopped short inside as the door slammed behind them. They looked at both of us for a long while, with their eyes eventually landing on me.

"Isabella… I'm glad you can finally join us." They cackled as their voice was morphed by the mask. "I see that it worked better than we imagined. You are…perfectly intact. From the strands of your brown hair to the toes of your feet. The Masters will be pleased with this fact. Tell me Felix" They crackled as they looked towards a glaring Felix as I gripped his hand tighter.

"Is she just as good as she was before? Her pussy as tight and her breasts just as high? The curls of her womanhood just as lush? I'm sure you've had your fun with her as you've had before with the whores of court." They grinned as Felix growled and I glared at this intruder, but I do not dare say anything.

"Oh, mind your manners sweet Felix. We would ask the same questions if she was a man. We are aware of your wicked desires for men. Shame your ass was looser this time. I quite enjoyed the pleasure of your groans as I stood above you. I admit I wouldn't shame my own body and mind with the pleasure of your ass, but it was so tempting. I had to have you and you let me, didn't you?" They smiled evilly as Felix's eyes lowered and his whole body tensed.

Oh no…Felix. The realization dawned on me and I turned my fiercest glare to this…thing in front of me.

Fuck them. Fuck them and everything they stood for. I never wanted to kill anyone as much as this monster in front of me and given the chance…I would.

"Fuck you" I snarled as Felix gripped my hand as the monster turned to me and tsked.

"My, my such foul language from a lovely lady such as yourself. If your pink lips were to say such foul things, I can only imagine what it would do to my cock. You would like that, wouldn't you? Your lips on my cock as you suck me dry? I can even fuck your tight ass and a friend of mine and can fuck your pussy too. Just because you're in bars doesn't mean you have to be a prisoner here. You can quit enjoy yourself if you let it." He smiled as I scoffed

"You touch me, and it will be the last thing you do!" I snarled as he just laughed. "I can take my chances. Especially with a woman who has some fire in her! You think I won't fuck you in front of your friend and make him jealous? We can always try." He smiled as he took a key from his pocket and entered my cell. The fear spiked as he gained entry and I tensed, ready for his attack.

"Tell me, Isabella, are you scared?" He smirked as he walked closer and I caught Felix's tense expression.

"I'm never scared of a coward who hides behind a mask or has to force himself on people to get any action," I growled as he walked forward until he stood mere feet from me.

"That's a shame, it's always more fun when they are but no matter. You'll be fun no matter what and I'm glad you're awake now. I wasn't allowed to do anything to that sweet little pink pussy when you were comatose, but the temptation was there. Now I can finally get what I've been waiting for." He smiled as he grabbed my hair and I tried to activate my shield but to my growing horror, it wouldn't come. His hands were in my hair now and it felt cold and damp. I could hear Felix yelling but this slip in concentration gave the monster the upper hand as he palmed my breast and forced me down to the dirt.

I heard clothing being ripped off and I panicked. I closed my eyes as I prepared myself, as much as I could, but before I noticed I heard a crash and looked to see the monster on the ground with debris all around him. Just like with Xander my shield had covered me and I sent him flying. I tried to steady my nerves as I smiled at him and as he snarled and tried to come at me again but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't touch me.

"You filthy bitch, you're a shield." He curled his lip as he rolled his shoulders and exited my cell, the lock of the key resounding off the walls.

"You will cooperate with us, Isabella. We don't want anything happening to your friend now do we? I'll wager that from your transformation you're just strong enough to cover yourself, but can you protect your friend as well?" He smiled as he waltzed into Felix's cell, his eyes wide with terror as I tried to reach my hand through the bars, the monster too fast as he had Felix down on the ground.

I started to stretch my shield but stopped at Felix's subtle shake of his head. He didn't want to be covered. I tried again but he still shook his head as he struggled. The monster already was prepared but they were both looking at me. Please don't do this, I begged silently as the monster continued to stare before he gave off a laugh as he tore himself away from Felix. Felix closed his eyes in relief as the monster laughed and stood by the door once more.

"As I thought, your far too weak to be of any help to poor Felix. You'll only become weaker and soon you won't be able to protect yourself. I'm too much of a gentleman to defile myself in front of you for the wicked deed yet, eventually, I'll have my fun with both of you. Until then, enjoy yourselves. Perhaps we'll even lift the bars so you can have fun with each other." He said as he laughed before he finally left.

I sighed in relief before I turned to a shaken Felix "Are you okay?" I asked as he nodded his head, his eyes downcast. "Felix, it wasn't your fault, you know, that right? He's a monster who at my first chance I will kill." I said harshly as Felix grasped my hand tighter and gave a sad smile.

"I'm alright, it was a bit of a shock but I'm okay. He was testing you, he wanted to see how strong you were, how strong your shield was, or even if you had any gifts at all. It was an evaluation of sorts; thank you for listening to me." He said as I looked down and kicked myself for not seeing it sooner.

"Don't berate yourself. I appreciate you wanting to protect me Bella, but we can't lose sight of our goal. Now that I know you're alive, we can focus on escape." He said seriously as I nodded my head.

"Do you have any ideas?" I asked as he pursed his lips.

"Well for the past month, whenever he came to visit, I was able to catch some glances into the hallway. I was also taken to a door down the hall, but I was given something to make me blind, so I don't know how many guards or exits there are." He explained as I blinked at what he said.

"Felix…you said for the past month?" I asked as he nodded slowly "How long have we been here?" I asked quietly as Felix looked back to the wall and it was then I noticed the small markings of lines.

"My guess would be six months" he replied as my whole body went cold.

Six months? It took me six months for my body to regenerate? Six months that I was here, and I didn't even know? "How was that possible" I whispered out loud as Felix tried his best to soothe me.

"Bella are you okay? You'll find six months is a blip compared to eternity" he tried to chuckle as I shook my head.

"No, it's not the time that I'm shocked at. Felix…you asked me how I was able to survive." I started as I looked back at him. "Before my trial, I thought I was going to be burned so I drank something that would help me come back. It was a gamble, and I didn't think it would work but it did. I'm just…surprised that it took me six months to come back." I whispered as Felix continued to rub my hand.

"But your back" He whispered and smiled at me as I squeezed his hand.

"I'm back. Maybe, if we can get out of here, I can tweak it to make it faster." I whispered as Felix smiled more.

"It's not 'if' Bella, but 'when'. We will escape here, and we will make everyone pay." Felix said as I grinned, and we squeezed each other's hands. A vow that formed between us. "We will escape."

I want to hide the truth, I want to shelter you

But with the beast inside, there's nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed,

we still are made of greed

This is my kingdom come, this is my kingdom come

Demons – Imagine Dragons

A/N: Thank you for reading and don't forget to review!