Warning: Extreme violence and mentions of rape

A/N: I do apologize in advance for the later update plus I wasn't able to do my normal amount of editing to this chapter so if there are any mistakes or errors they will be fixed.

Enjoy!

When You Love Someone

Chapter 28: Head Above Water

I was captured.

Literally.

The Romanians had maneuvered my King right where they wanted, and I didn't notice until it was too late. This round of chess had ended; they had captured me, and we all knew it.

Join or die.

Those were my only options.

If I joined, well, I would be helping the Romanians. The enemy of the Volturi for centuries, the ones responsible for so many deaths and heartaches.

I would help them and for what? To discover what really happened to Didyme. To take the unbelievable risky gamble that maybe, on the slimmest of chances, that Didyme – the heart of the Volturi, the joy and love of Marcus, the mentor to my Alec and the greatest alchemist of all time…was alive.

To gamble my freedom, my morals and good conscious that this woman, the key to so many mysteries was indeed alive.

Or I could die and end my existence right here and now.

Of course, that option wasn't ideal either. If I died, especially in no doubt, an imaginative and painful way, I would never see Alec again.

I would never get the chance to tell him how sorry I was about leaving him on that cliff. How I saw his broken expression and how much I wanted to run to him… instead I ran away from him.

I would never get to ask him what he felt. I would never again have the chance to feel his hand on mine and never get the chance to experience the real embrace of a lover. I would never know if the spark that always electrified me when our hands touched would erupt into something bigger, hotter and burn brighter than I could have imagined.

I would never see him or anyone again.

I would never truly know what happened on that fateful night. I would never know what happened to Didyme. I would never know the truth of what happened.

I would never know…anything.

What do I gamble on?

The thought of what could be; the hope for better and I could live one more day to see a tomorrow and the chance to leave with something greater than just knowledge but a person of great importance and wisdom. Or…what was here in front of me, which was a bleak reality and the word of a known manipulator and tyrant.

No matter what I chose I was fucked one way or another.

"Well Miss Bella?" Stefan asked as I blinked and stared at the monster in front of me. "What do you decide?" he asked softly as I continued to be frozen under this torture as the weight of the decision hung in the air.

What do I decide?

"It is good to note Miss Bella, that no one is coming for you." I heard Vladimir say as I was broken out of my reverie.

"Even if there was a squad that came to your rescue, if they even know about you from your friend, we can guarantee that they won't come in time. In fact, I can promise that it would be better if they didn't come at all." Vladimir added as he walked toward us and smirked.

"Even if your friend, Felix was it? Even if Felix was strong enough to make the journey back to the Volturi, Aro could still dispose of him. Aro may be a fool but he is a master of self-preservation. His influence and power could sway anyone that might believe a word of a tortured, starving, illusioned young man." He continued to say as my eyes didn't waver from his.

"However, lets amuse ourselves that Aro wasn't a threat to Felix's message. The journey, even by the fastest vampire, is still treacherous and more than a month's time. In that timeframe, we would get word of their plans and you would be burned Miss Bella. You would meet the fate of fire but with no hope of returning again. By the time they arrive they would meet nothing but your ashes." Vladimir said softly as I tried to ignore his imagery. It wasn't working.

"And say that your brave mate, the daring and stubborn Alec, still made his way here; can you imagine the torture that would befall him if that would be the case? Felix would arrive back home, a man thought dead and claim that you, you who last they knew of burned in the fire was indeed alive, and not only alive but intact and waiting at the Romanians territory. The hope long dead in his heart would swell, his loving mate, his unclaimed mate was alive. Any mated vampire would go through the deepest of hell to get to them, to fight on that last shred of hope that their mate was alive and what would happen? Alec would arrive…to an empty home…. with nothing but your ashes and discarded head waiting for him. It would drive any vampire to madness. A fate that your Alec would meet." Vladimir concluded as I stared at the floor.

No, no he was wrong.

Alec wouldn't do that. I wouldn't do that. I could fight. I could fight and stay alive long enough for him to get to me. However, once I looked into the eyes of Stefan and Vladimir…. They knew that too.

They were not only prepared for that type of fight but that they wanted it. I didn't know why but Stefan had some type of vendetta against Alec. The thought of him in any type of pain brought a sparkle to his eye that I couldn't place my finger on.

He wanted him to have hope just so they could snatch it away from him.

"Well? Your choice Miss Bella? Live or die? It's entirely yours to make. However, I would advise to hurry, we are on a tight schedule. Your friend is a serious matter, his philosophy of live today, to see tomorrow may have worked in the cells but it won't help him against our guards." Stefan said distractedly as I blinked.

'Survive one more day to live a hundred more.'

I blinked at the floor and then brought my head up as I met their stares head on.

I knew my choice.

"I choose neither." I said as Stefan raised his eyebrow and Vladimir cocked his head.

"As amusing as that statement is, even if you choose neither we'll decide for you and your ashes will be waiting for your loved ones." Vladimir stated in boredom as I glanced at him.

"That may not be true, you won't kill me. You taunt and tell me that you will kill me yet here I am. You've had chance after chance to kill but you just stand there and tell me what will happen if you do. This gamble you say your taking is sounding more like a bluff. Why would you gamble on someone you know is gifted and has proven that escape is possible? You're giving me the chance to escape…on a gamble?"

With my words Stefan and Vladimir shared a knowing look before they both erupted in laughter. I stood my ground though, no matter what tricks they had I called their bluff and Felix's warning stayed in my head. They would try to get inside my head, break me down from the inside out. I had to make sure they didn't.

"It seems Miss Bella, you know more about the game than we had guessed." Stefan smiled as I saw Vladimir slowly nod his head. "You've called our bluff; I admit that I may have underestimated you Isabella Swan. I assure you it will not happen again." Stefan's easy smile slowly hardened as he snapped his fingers and the crushing invisible force had me on my knees and I was left staring upright at Stefan's form until I felt a prick and I was met, once again with the familiar darkness.

I groggily started to get my bearings when I first awoke and instantly, I knew that I was somewhere else.

I was in a posh decorative room, there was a very advanced looking tubes and bottles on a desk setup near the wall, I noticed there was chains there and it was then I noticed I was also in chains. I had to say that this if this was to be my prison it wasn't half bad compared to the dirt and grime of the cells below. Of course, it was still a prison but it least it was upgraded.

I scanned the room and noticed how small it really was, really it fit only the desk and one bare bookshelf. I could see various jars on the shelves above filled with different plants and the closed door that the lone guard that I recognized as Maria stood in front of.

Regardless if she knew I was awake, she stayed still as a statue and never moved her eyes from what was in front of her. She just stared blankly at the wall without a word.

"Where am I?" I asked hoarsely as my throat burned and she tightened her jaw.

"You'll find out soon enough." She said bored as she suddenly straightened, and I heard footsteps coming from the hall. At once the door opened revealing a dressed down (if what you could call a Givenchy suit and costume ring jewelry as dressing down anyways) and his ruby eyes landed on me before a slow deliberate smile came upon his face.

"Welcome Miss Bella to your new home." He said as I glared at his antics. "Is it comfortable enough for you? The room to your liking?" He asked as if I was staying at a hotel, yeah more like hotel hell.

"Do you expect me to dignify that with a response?" I asked snarky as I saw Maria's eyes flash and at once I felt her stern hand on my cheek as the harsh sound of her slap echoed off the walls. My head swung in the opposite direction as I felt the sting and all I could see was Stefan's smile once more.

"Thank you, Maria, that was very kind." He said as Maria smiled back and took her position by the wall as Stefan clicked his tongue.

"It would be best if you would learn to mind your tongue while you are a guest in my home." He commented before his cold hands grasped my chin and forced me to look up at him. "After all we wouldn't want any accidents, would we?" He asked before yanking my head to the side and my ear smashed into the wall, bits of rock crumbled around me as I dropped my head, the sheer force causing me to become still.

"You would find Miss Bella, that we as vampires are a unique race. Skin hard as steel, eyes glowing with blood and merely unstoppable compared to measly human weapons and yet…we are so breakable." He whispered as he flicked his fingers towards my forehead and at once the searing pain entered my scalp and I bit my lip to keep my scream to myself with no success.

I felt his nails as they dug into my skin as I muffled my scream as I felt him tear away a piece of my hair and I closed my eyes before he dangled a small clump in front of me, and I grew queasy when I realized that the white clump of skin that he held in his hand came from me.

"Oh, Miss Bella how delicate you are. Barely any scarring on your beautiful skin." He whispered as I felt his hands on my arm and I tried desperately to hold up my shield and I gasped when I knew that I was too weak to bring it up.

"You are very talented I admit, a physical shield capable of great power, but you exerted yourself Miss Bella. The amount of energy you used to fight my guards and the energy you used to pry yourself away from your food has made you weak. My I don't even expect you have enough energy to block the pain from the venom on your chains." He kept whispering as his hands dragged up and down my arms and I breathing picked up as I kept my eyes on him. He smiled once more as he left a quick kiss on my hand and knelt until he was face to face in front of me.

"You are a treasure. I do apologize for my rash behavior in the throne room. It's a game we play, a test to see who is truly eligible to be worthy of our clan. I have to say you have proved your worth Miss Bella. I can see why Aro perceived you as a great threat. Your mind is filled with possibilities, a sea of wonder and full of potential." He smiled as he brought his hands to my cheeks and leaned in close to smell more of my hair and I felt his breath on my forehead as I kept still.

"You are not one to be underestimated and yet I can't help myself to the appeal of your mind. You are witty, strategic and powerful. You are gifted in the arts of alchemy and even finished Didyme's work. So, I ask Miss Bella" he paused as he brought his face closer to mine and I backed up on instinct as a sinister smile crossed his features. "Why you continue to defy us with your words and actions? You know that this game of cat and mouse will eventually end. I am a very patient man; I have waited thousands of years for a chance to reclaim my throne and I will wait a thousand more until our dreams of glory are realized. You may be a potential asset, but you forget your place." He whispered sternly as I felt a yank on the chains, and it was pulled ever tighter as I yelped in pain and I felt a firm grasp on my hair.

"We will kill you Isabella Swan" he whispered lowly as I felt a sharp jolt in my side, and I screamed as the sting of fire pierced my skin and I looked down to see that the object that caused so much pain was a knife, but the metal was glistening, and the purple tinge told me everything I needed to know that this weapon was formed by venom of the beast.

This was a weapon that was meant to kill and inflict lasting pain on its victim, evident from the blazing red color of the wound on my side and the searing sting of smoke that was left in its trail.

"We will kill you and everyone you love if you don't be a gracious guest." He said as the knife pierced my stomach and I screamed as he twisted the metal into my existing scar as I felt Stefan chuckle.

"Painful is it not? I have a matching scar that your dear Alec delivered to me the night we escaped our palace. I had hoped that he would be the first I used it on, but his mate would suffice." He continued as I doubled over, and the knife entered my other side as I felt the chains fall away but the sting of the knife was too much as I crumped to the ground.

"Miss Bella, I could stop however you must learn to follow the rules that we have placed here. Otherwise, we would have to train you more." He said before he dragged his fingers into my wound and I screamed and jerked on the floor to get away from his hands before I felt arms hold me down and I saw the stoic face of Maria above me.

"You must be a gracious guest" he repeated as the knife entered my stomach once more and I jerked away as I brought my hands up to guard my stomach only for me to remain unmoved by Maria's firm grip. "And as a gracious guest when we ask a question you are to answer simply without malice or bite, and we will respond in kind." Stefan commanded as Maria continued to hold me down as Stefan stood and finally pocketed the knife.

"Miss Bella, I don't want to cause you any discomfort, but your behavior will entirely dictate your time here at our home. We can treat you as our esteemed guest – with the lavishness of the finest rooms, the pick of meals and any lover you would prefer or, we can hold you as a prisoner and treat you like our enemy." He smirked as I took in sharp breaths and tried to ignore the pain in my stomach as I mustered every ounce of energy I had and spat at Stefan.

He frowned before he snapped his fingers and Maria dropped me to the floor and with a swift kick to my stomach, I was facing the carpet and screamed as the pain shot through my body and the ragged flesh of my stomach was dragged on the floor as Maria pulled on my arms and held my beaten body as Stefan stood tall.

"I hope in your time here you will see that this perception of us you have is wrong. We are not the villains in your story Miss Bella. We are simply the victims of an unjust war and are wanting what was stolen from us. We are hopeful that you see the light and that in time, perhaps you will see us as friends. I know that I would personally love to see your brilliant mind at work for the ones on the just and that when this villainous perception has left your mind, you will be free to see me as a match for you." He admitted as he looked down and smiled softly as I couldn't hide the disgust on my face.

"Your scent is alluring, and your body calls for me to claim you as my own. Alec was a fool to leave a ravishing beauty such as you unclaimed in this foul world. Ever since my own mate has left me, I had been searching for the one that could match me in my brilliance, and I believe I may have found it in you. Alec may not have known what he had but I do, and he will pay for the harm he has caused me." He smiled viciously as his eyes sparkled with malice. "How fitting it would be that his eternal punishment would be the knowledge that his love was mine and that her body and soul belonged to me." He continued to smile as my stomach dropped and my mouth went dry as I squirmed more to get away from his touch as he slowly shook his head and his hands grasped my face, forcing me to face him.

"Rest easy Miss Bella, raping a woman is far below a gentleman such as I. When I take you, your body and soul will come willing. You won't have any fight left in you. Your heart will ache for me and your womanhood will pulse as the beautiful aroma of your desire will be mine and poor unfortunate Alec will watch as his love…will be mine." He smiled as I curled my lips and spat at his face.

I smiled as he reared back and yelled as I gritted my teeth together and snarled "I will never come to you; I don't care what you do to me. There is nothing anyone on this planet can do that will make me ever come willingly to you. You are a monster!" I seethed as he growled and slapped me so hard, I flew out of Maria's grasp and I hit the wall with force that my body flew through it.

I groaned as I heard Stefan's footsteps and I gasped as he grabbed my hands tightly and raised me until I was fully off the ground, I was fully naked in front of him and his eyes were flint black as I trembled in fear.

"You will be my bride; you will be the source of his suffering and you will cause his ultimate undoing. He will feel the pain that he caused me, and he will know the agony of his mate be torn from his grip! He has much to atone for and you will be my reckoning!" He snarled before a syringe appeared in front of me and I felt the sharp sting and my body go limp before I hazily saw the floor open below me and I felt my body tumble towards the darkness.

I didn't know how long I fell for, but I knew that it was steep drop and when I finally hit the ground my body crumped into the stone and I felt the indention that I made into the floor. My vision was so blurry that I couldn't tell who was here but there were so many scents around me and voices that I couldn't make sense of anything.

I saw a blur of activity as guards who wore the same red hoods and masks as Ambrose once did moved quickly around me and I felt my body be lifted from the ground as hands crawled everywhere on my naked body. I had never felt more exposed and I knew that I was being moved but I had no clue as to where they were taking me. Whatever Stefan had injected me with my vision was so blurry and I couldn't feel my body.

It was only when the whispering started did any activity stop and I heard the squeal of metal being moved before they tossed me down another hole but this time, when my body reached the ground, I didn't have the luxury of staying awake when I did.

Soap.

I didn't know why, but wherever the hell they threw me smelled distinctly like bath soap. It was clean and fresh, and it was the only thing I could smell.

The ground was crackly and rough, and I groaned when I turned on my side and the rough material dug its way into my wound. I tried to blink but my eyes felt so heavy but when I finally opened them, to my horror, it was still pitch black.

"My eyes!" I whispered to myself as I tried to sit up and I hissed at the stinging pain as I grasped my stomach, trying to make the fire ease as I touched my eyes. It didn't seem as though there was any harm done to my eyes…yet I couldn't see anything. I was blind! I was blind and in pain and confused as to where the hell I was.

"What the fuck?!" I whispered as I sat up straighter and I doubled over in pain as my stomach protested.

"Miss?" I heard a woman's voice call in the distance and I scrambled back and yelled as the sharp movements only aggravated the gash on my other side. I looked around but I was blinded, no matter where I looked, I couldn't see anything.

"Who is that?" I whispered harshly as I kept my back against the wall and held my hands in front of me. "Who's there!?" I demanded and I felt someone shift closer to me and I shrank back and balled my fists.

"Please don't be scared." The voice pleaded as I looked back and forth trying to catch a glimpse of my sight, but everything stayed dark. "Please don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." The voice came closer and it sounded female. I smelled the air and the clean aroma intensified and I felt a small touch on my fists and I sharply brought it back.

"Please, I promise I won't hurt you. I want to help; your wound is steaming." She whispered before I felt the prickle of leaves and there was instant relief before my side went numb and I knew that whoever this woman was had just helped me with a healing balm.

How did she know how to make it? Plus, where would she even get the ingredients to make it? Granted it wasn't very hard to make but the knowledge of it wasn't well known.

Who was she?

"Who are you?" I asked as I grasped my side and felt the tackiness of the balm. "How do you know how to make this?" I asked and very briefly I thought this was Didyme.

Then again that would be crazy.

"My name is Diana. I was a student before the waring ages in Alchemy. Are you an alchemist too?" She asked as I grasped my side and blinked. Should I trust her? I really don't have any reason not too – as far as I know she's a prisoner just like me. She did just help me.

"I guess I am now." I sighed as I felt the balm do its work and the felt my skin start to come together. "Technically I don't think you can count me as one but I'm self-taught." I smirked as I felt the woman touch my hand and since I didn't pull away, she grabbed it and I felt her skin against mine.

"I am too. At least I would have been, but I know enough to get by. Were you taken too?" She asked curiously as I shook my head as I started to adjust to my darkened surroundings.

"You could say I was offered a choice I couldn't refuse. I was taken but I had no choice." I admitted as I remembered my final moments with Felix.

"A sacrifice then? How noble of you." She whispered as I let out a bitter laugh.

"I wouldn't call it noble, more like out of options but I'm here now, and I can't see anymore. My eyesight is gone. The last thing I remember is they threw a liquid at me and now I'm here." I said frustrated as I felt her grasp stiffened.

"They blinded you. It's a type of potion. You splash it on someone, and the effects will take away sight, the effects can last for days. I'm sorry that happened to you." She whispered as I sat back and sighed.

"You mentioned you were a student, that's how you know about the healing balm?" I asked changing topics away from me as I heard her soft "yes".

"How did you learn? I didn't even know they taught alchemy. I thought it was rare – at least that's what everyone told me." I asked as I heard her soft chuckle.

"You were told correctly; it is a very rare skill. The only reason I'm still alive is because no one knew I existed." She said bitterly as I quirked my eyebrow.

"How is that possible?" I asked intrigued as I felt her hand move mine to her chest where I felt her breathing patterns. From there I felt her take a breath and felt her head move to the side.

"I studied under Didyme; I assume you learned from her too yes?" She asked as I nodded my head.

"In a way; she's been gone for centuries – dead long before I was born. At least that's the story everyone is being told. I was invited to join the Volturi and during my stay I came across her book. I learned her recipes there." I admitted still on guard. Even if she was some type of spy this was common enough knowledge among those who knew enough to cause harm. As far as everyone is concerned its back at the castle and not guarded by Jake. Thank God I asked him to stand guard until I came back and not become involved. I couldn't bring myself to even imagine what he would think of my situation now.

"Centuries you say. When were you born?" She asked curiously as I swallowed into my dry throat and ignored the scratching pain.

"I was born in 1987, but I was nineteenwhen I was turned." I said as I felt her intake of breath.

"What year is then?" She asked smally as I felt her even breathing.

"It's 2008, I don't know when I was put down here but my guess would be a few days ago." I told her as she sighed.

"Yes, you were brought in a day ago. I can't believe so much time has passed already." She said shocked as I felt her sit back.

"When were you taken?" I asked as I felt her chuckle.

"I don't know the exact year; I didn't have an education as I do now to be privy to such knowledge, but I was taken before the warring ages. I studied under Didyme when Aro's rebellion started." She explained as I nodded my head.

"I see, well that would be around the eleventh century, I didn't even know Didyme took students, from my readings alchemy was pretty much outlawed." I explained as I felt her shift.

"You could say I was an exception to the rule. Its' true alchemy was a rare practice, partly because those who dared to do it either died or were cursed but Didyme was the one who made it what it is. She was the best in the world because she had the most successes." She explained as I became more relaxed to her soothing voice and slowly, I let my guard down. I didn't know who this was but if what she was saying is true than she wasn't my enemy, if anything she was more like my sister. Both gifted and taught by the same master.

"So how did you get involved with her if it was so taboo?"

"That's actually a story; I wasn't a vampire when I met her. I was a human." She admitted quietly as I gasped. Even I knew back then it was against the law for vampires to socialize with humans. To be caught meant that you were punished and those who were punished didn't come back.

"How is that possible?" I asked shocked as I heard her giggle.

"I was an apothecary in my village when I first met her. She was beautiful, and a stranger passing through my village. She was looking for herbs that I sold in my shop. There was a rare herb that grew in my region, of course I don't know how rare it is now if she really did what she claimed she was going to do. It was a type of mint, spear mint and she needed it for a recipe she was creating. Didyme grew impressed about my knowledge and at the time my village was struggling, and my family needed money. From her clothes I knew she was wealthy, and she offered to care for my family if I agreed to be her assistant. She claimed she needed someone to create her recipes as she traveled collecting ingredients. Since I was an apothecary, I had all the tools I required. I agreed. Every summer I would meet her, do as she instructed by creating her recipes or bases that she needed and in exchange she gave me enough money to care for my family but then the curse came. We had a bad harvest and then the winter came…it was the worst winter my village had ever experienced." She whispered haunting as her hand squeezed mine.

"Everyone in my family died as did my village, all except my little brother. There were very little of us left and the ones that were strong enough moved surrounding villages and the rest died of starvation soon after because we didn't have any food. I stayed behind to care for those who couldn't travel…including my brother. He was born sickly, but he managed to starve off death until summer. By then he was gone, and I was the only thing that remained of my village. When Didyme came back I pleaded with her to take me where she traveled as I didn't have anywhere else to go. My supplies had run dry and I was left alone in the world. In her mercy she granted my wish, and I was turned. I didn't know what she was, but I knew she wasn't human. I'm sure others would have called her a demon but to me she was the angle that saved me from death. Only when I woke up did she tell me what she was… and what I was now too." Diana explained as I listened to her tale.

"Didyme than explained to me that where ruled her land was in war, and that if anyone found out about me, I was to be killed. She was my sire and I felt loyal to her. I didn't want to cause any trouble for her, so I followed her instructions. I was to stay where I was and Didyme gave me enough money that I could start over wherever I wanted as long as it was in her territory. She brought me to her home and as I didn't want to live with humans I chose to live near her home, next to the great palace. I lived in a cave, with enough room with a desk for me to work during the day. She instructed that I was to stay hidden and to only hunt at night as to not raise suspicion of my whereabouts. Eventually she started teaching me more advanced recipes and skills and built an underground lab where we practiced." She explained as her soft voice carried all around us.

"So how did you end up here?" I asked quietly as I felt her stiffen.

"Her brother…Aro." She whispered as I nodded my head. Why wasn't I surprised.

"I didn't know who it was but Didyme warned me of her brother. That his name was Aro and even though she ruled he was the supreme ruler. When the war broke out and the battle came onto their castle grounds I hid as Didyme instructed but I saw her being taken from her brother. Against her instructions I followed them, and I saw the Romanians set her on fire. I was terrified but even though Aro left, Didyme didn't burn. I had never seen anything like it. When they took her, I followed but in my haste I was discovered and thrown down here with Didyme. The Romanians tortured me, but I didn't know what they wanted and couldn't answer their questions. Eventually Didyme was pulled up but…she never came back. I don't know what happened to her." She admitted quietly.

"What do you mean she never came back down? You think they killed her?" I asked thinking of Stefan's words.

"I don't know but I do know that the ones who prove useless to the Romanians, they get rid of them in one way or another. I don't know if they deemed Didyme still useful." She sighed before I felt her go tense and she quickly grabbed my hand.

"But you came from above! Did you see Didyme or hear anything that she could still be alive?" She asked quickly as I gritted my teeth and tried to think of all the Romanians have said.

"I think they offered her some type of bargain, at least if you can call it that." I scoffed. "When I was up there, Stefan and Vladimir were trying to decide what to do with me and Stefan mentioned a deal. They claimed they offered it to Didyme, but I don't know when that would have been." I admitted as I felt my hands being squeezed.

"What deal was this?" Diana asked fervently and I sighed knowing it would only upset her and not comfort her.

"Stefan offered me to join and be a part of the Romanian coven; be part of their conquest and with my knowledge, help them win this war against the Volturi. In doing so I would be allowed to live and even Stefan offered to be my mate. Like I would ever take a deal like that" I scrunched my face in disgust remembering Stefan's slimy hands on me and I shivered. "But…If I decided not to join, they would have killed me on the spot. They claimed that I had to decide and that they wanted to take a gamble on me as they did with Didyme." I answered to Diana's shocked gasp.

"So how are you here? How are you alive…. unless" She stopped as her voice grew faint and I shook my head violently.

"No before you ask, I didn't take the deal. I changed the terms." I smiled remembering their finite expressions and Stefan's glare.

"What do you mean you changed the terms?" Diana asked as I felt around until I grabbed her arm.

"I called their bluff. I told them that if they, the Romanians who were notoriously cruel, kept threatening death but didn't deliver than they didn't mean it. It was an empty threat, and I made a gamble of my own. I told them that if they really wanted to kill me, they should have done it already. I was right. The Romanians want what's inside my head. More than my body. More than my death and… apparently more than their pride. They want to know how I cheated death."

Diana gasped and I felt her body rock back with shock as she quietly whispered "La flamma invisibile? You completed it?" She asked as I felt her hands on mine and I smiled as pride filled my chest.

"I completed it and did a test run. Well, I guess others may call it a gamble, but I didn't have a choice and I used it. I didn't think it would work but it did." I whispered as I heard Diana rock back and forth mumbling to herself.

"It is no surprise that the Romanians took such an interest than. They have been after that recipe ever since I arrived." She murmured as I heard her quick intake of breath "and you mentioned you learned from a book of hers? She wrote down these recipes. She recorded la flamma?" She asked astonished as I shook my head and grimaced.

"Well, she wrote down the majority of her recipes its true…apparently nobody thought the book existed and I took care of it but…la flamma. Well, that one was harder. It was a journey to gather the ingredients and when I actually made it….well like I said it was a gamble."

I felt her nod and whisper "yes I suspect it must have been a great gamble. For your safety and I admit mine, I won't ask how you made it. I remember a few ingredients but the ones I do know can be found for very common recipes of hers. I won't ask for the specifics and I advise that you don't give it them either. I'm sure your aware of it but…the fact that you managed to even figure out the recipe and make it. Not even Didyme could do such a feat. You're a major threat to the Romanian rule…you realize that don't you?" Diana asked softly.

"I'm beginning to think I'm a threat to a lot of people." I said hard as I felt Diana nod.

"You know, after all of this…. you know my name, but I don't know yours." I heard Diana say softly as I heard the smile in her voice.

"My name is Bella, just Bella for now." I answered as I felt Diana relax and my hand settled back into my lap.

"Well just Bella, I know that this may not have been the best circumstances but…I'm glad I was able to meet another student of Didyme's. Even if we are centuries apart, maybe together we can combine past and present to figure out what happened to our teacher?" Diana asked softly with hope in her voice.

"Our teacher?" I repeated as I thought back to the first time I saw the book. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Yes, our teacher, even if you never met her, you still learned from her. I was with her the night we were both thrown down here, Didyme was smart and resourceful. She knew what the Romanians were capable of and she thought ahead. Here…smell this." I heard Diana move and suddenly my nose was filled with the scent of lemon and I grasp the rough texture of lemongrass.

"How is there here? Do they know that this, I mean – "I stuttered as I remembered lemon grass combined with salvia can make another, although less potent version of a healing balm.

"Yes, it's the only thing here but its enough. I remember when Didyme and I were trapped she planted some. It's the only plant here but no sage. I'm sorry about that." She whispered as I grasped the plant and crushed it while combining it with my spit. Although crude it would get the job done.

"Sage? How would sage help?" I asked curiously as I smoothed the paste on my side and sighed in relief.

"I'm sorry Bella, the potion they used to take away your sight…it was mine. I created it to spare my life. I did it with precaution though! I – I admit I was weaker willed… I didn't want to die but I did make a fail-safe. If we had sage, even a tiny bit would get your sight back." She explained as I sucked in a breath and bit my lip.

"No, it's okay. I understand, really, I do. The Romanians are nothing if not crafty. You did what you needed to survive. You're a survivor. " I said as I felt the balm do its magic.

"That's all we can do right? Try to survive." Diana whispered as I nodded and touched my eyes as my reality slowly started to weigh on me. I was trapped but that didn't mean I was lost.

"We have to do what we must to survive one more day to live a hundred more." I whispered as I settled in and made company with my only friend in the world.

I gotta keep the calm before the storm

I don't want less, I don't want more

Must bar the windows and the doors, to keep me safe, to keep me warm

Yeah my life is what I'm fighting for

And my voice becomes a driving force

I won't let this pull me overboard

Head Above Water – Avril Lavigne

A/N: Don't forget to review and check out my facebook page "Bookloverstar's story corner"! I'll see you all next Monday!