Chapter 22: Bella's Captivity

When I wake up, the first thing I notice is the excruciating pain in my head. It's a relentless pounding that makes me groan out loud. The second thing I realize is that I'm enveloped in darkness, and my arms are suspended above my head, chained tightly. Panic surges through me as I recall what happened.

Anna had kidnapped me.

I struggle against the chains, but they hold firm, biting into my skin.

"Oh good, you're awake," a voice echoes in the darkness, low and mature. It's not Anna's voice. "I was worried Anna hit you too hard."

"Who are you?" I demand, my voice trembling with fear and anger. "What do you want?"

"It's rude to talk like that," the voice chides, and suddenly, a blinding light floods the room as a switch is flipped. I scream in shock as my eyes struggle to adjust to the brightness.

As my vision clears, I realize I'm in a basement. The walls are made of cold cement, and the floor is lined with wooden planks. And sitting before me is a woman, her long black hair spilling over her shoulders, her eyes bearing a striking resemblance to Anna's.

"Hello, Isabella," the woman greets me with a malicious smile. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Why am I here?" I demand, my heart racing with fear.

The woman ignores my question, continuing to speak as if she hadn't heard me. "If you haven't guessed already, I'm Anna's mother, Pearl."

My blood runs cold at the mention of her name.

"We would have brought you back in a more civil way," Pearl continues, "But my daughter, even after a hundred years, she's still a little immature."

"What do you want from me?" I ask, my voice trembling.

Pearl's features contort, her eyes turning black with a red halo, veins protruding from her skin, and fangs gleaming menacingly. The sight sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel terror gripping me in its icy embrace.

"Don't look so surprised, Isabella," Pearl says, her voice dripping with malice. "I know I'm not the first vampire you've met."

I'm speechless, unable to comprehend the situation I find myself in.

"Of course, Cold Ones don't even hold an ounce of the power we do," Pearl continues, her chuckle sending shivers down my spine. "Nor the control. So my question for you, Isabella, is why are you still breathing when you have that scar on your wrist?"

Her words hang heavy in the air, and I'm left grappling with the realization that I'm trapped in the clutches of a vampire, with no way out in sight.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about," I stutter out, my voice trembling with fear. I'm fully aware that my feeble attempt at denial is futile, but I can't bring myself to admit the truth. Not to her. Not to this vampire who holds my fate in her hands.

"Don't play stupid, Isabella," Pearl retorts, her tone dripping with disdain. "It's a feeble attempt at lying, and I can see right through it."

"It's impossible," I whisper, shaking my head in disbelief. "Vampires don't have fangs, and their eyes don't—"

"I told you, the 'vampires' you've encountered are Cold Ones," Pearl interrupts, her voice cold and calculating. "They're barely vampires at all. Real vampires, Originals, they're just like me."

My mind reels at her words, struggling to comprehend the truth she's revealing.

"What do you want from me?" I manage to choke out, my voice hoarse with fear.

"A friend of mine has taken an interest in you," Pearl explains, her tone ominous. "You are leverage to ensure his cooperation."

"Who?" I demand, my heart pounding with dread.

Pearl's response is evasive, and a chill runs down my spine as I realize the implications of her words. She refuses to reveal the identity of her associate, leaving me to speculate about the possibilities.

"Now, I believe you were going to answer my question," Pearl says, her voice turning cold and menacing once more. "How did you get a bite from a Cold One?"

"Why should I tell—"

Before I can finish my sentence, pain explodes throughout my body. Pearl inflicts agony upon me, twisting my arm, yanking my leg, and sinking her teeth into my neck with a ferocity that leaves me gasping for air.

I don't know if I scream or not, but the pain is unbearable, consuming me entirely. Darkness begins to encroach upon my vision, threatening to engulf me entirely.

As the haze of unconsciousness descends upon me, I'm haunted by Pearl's cruel words, echoing in my mind with chilling clarity.

"That's why, you ignorant human."