Hi all! Thank you so much for reading this story and the wonderful reviews, I really appreciate them all. However, I am still getting comments asking me to be more clear about the time period/setting, etc. so I'm just including this a/n I included in a previous chapter for those that are still confused. I would like to point out that I am not restricting myself to any one time period and using whatever elements I feel work for this particular story.
I completely understand if this alternate universe mix of modern and past time periods and settings is not for you, my next story I have planned will be completely set in the modern world if that's more your jam ;) Thank you anyway for reading!
A/N from chapter 23:
I want to clarify about the setting since some people had some questions and confusion about this. It is fully an alternate universe, and I've decided to combine modern and period aspects, so things like the overall way that Bella is being treated with her place in her family and arranged marriage, the carriages, the executions, etc. are all inspired by medieval/fantasy ideas, whereas everything else, language, clothing, the cell phone, etc. are obviously from modern times. So to categorize it, I would say it's an alternate universe with whatever elements from past/fantasy and modern that serve this story the best. I hope this helps!
Love reading your reviews and thanks for all the positivity! Here's the next chapter :)
I try my hardest to pull my father's hand off of my neck, twisting and turning the way Edward and Emmet taught me but it seems like his rage only fuels his strength.
"Father!" Jasper barrels through the door, stopping short when he sees me. "Isabella?" There's a hint of a smile on his face. Maybe my father hadn't completely gotten to him yet. Or maybe he's happy I've been caught.
"Ah, a family reunion. My son, go to that drawer," my father instructs Jasper. He does what he's told but he doesn't take his eyes off of me. "Open it. Take out what's inside."
Jasper opens the drawer, finally looking down. His eyes widen as he reaches in and pulls out a sharp letter opener. "Father…"
"Shut up!" My father barks. "You're going to finally live up to that potential. Being a leader means eliminating threats. Starting with this one."
"Jasper," I plead to my brother. He doesn't want to hurt me. I know he doesn't. Otherwise why would he have told Edward where to find me?
Something flashes in his eyes and for a moment, I'm sure I've gotten through to him. He glances at my father and that look is gone. I watch his grip on the letter opener tighter as he focuses his gaze on me.
"I'm sorry, Isabella," Jasper mumbles.
"Don't apologize to her," my father scolds. He nods towards me. "Go on."
I could have maybe used that dagger against my father, but there wasn't any part of me that realistically thought I could use it against my brother who I still had fond childhood memories of.
A loud yelling from the hallway distracts me for a second and it's just long enough for my father to swing me around in front of him as a human shield just as whoever is in the hallway enters the room. The head guard disappeared somewhere during our confrontation and my father yanks the letter opener from Jasper's hands, holding it to my neck. I grip my father's arm, pushing against it to keep the cold metal from touching my neck.
Emmet and Edward finally appear in the doorway and I feel like I can breathe again. I hope he can see the apology in my eyes, but he barely spares me a glance.
He asked me if I trust him.
I trust him.
I trust him
I trust him.
My father's face morphs into complete rage. "You!"
"Hello, Charles," Edward spits out, glaring at my father.
"It's King Charles," my father immediately corrects. Even in the face of an intruder he was obsessed with his title.
"Not for long," Edward darkly chuckles.
I struggle against my father's hold, not wanting to be anywhere near him while he's being provoked.
"Stop moving!" My father jams his elbow into my rib and I hiss in pain. Edward doesn't flinch, not once taking his eyes off of my father.
I trust him.
I trust him.
I trust him.
"So what?" My father turns to the growing group of soldiers in the room and shakes me. "You came for her?" I try to move my arm down to reach my dagger but it's locked to my side.
"No," Edward scoffs. "I came for you."
"See, Isabella? You were nothing but a whore to pass the time." He turns to Edward, a semblance of a smile on his face. "How about we talk about this civilly? Perhaps we can make some kind of deal. I know she'll need a lot of work, but with a little…encouragement, she'll be agreeable. Isn't that right?" He brings the letter opener closer to my throat, lightly tracing my skin.
Edward simply shakes his head. "You have nothing of value to offer me."
He has to be saying that for my father, but hearing the words still hurts. I feel a single tear run down my cheek and I can't even reach up to wipe it away.
"It was worth a shot," my father grumbles.
"Do you know who I am?" Edward finally asks.
"You killed Princess Maria," my father states with full confidence. I see Jasper stiffen next to us.
"I was given an alibi. How could someone who wasn't even there have killed her?" Edward taunts. "No. I am the rightful heir to this kingdom. A kingdom you stole from us years ago."
Finally, my father shows some emotion other than rage. Disbelief, maybe some fear. "No…no, that's not possible! I killed all of them!"
"Ah, but you didn't," Edward says. "We've been planning for years to take back what's rightfully ours. To put an end to your tyranny."
"The people will never submit to it. They love me!" My father insists.
"They will once they hear about all of the money you've been stealing from them. The trafficking. The illegal activities. And they certainly will lose their respect once they find out it was you who killed your son's betrothed."
I can feel my father start to shake, and I'm not sure if it's in fear or anger or knowing he's going to be defeated until he unleashes on me.
"You told him, didn't you!" My father throws me on the ground, towering over me. Why isn't anyone stopping him? Why aren't I stopping him? I scramble to try to pull up my dress but he steps on the end of it. "This is all your fault! These lies!" He raises the letter opener and I brace myself for whatever's coming but it never does.
"Isabella!" Jasper dives towards our father just as he swings the sharp weapon, slicing Jasper's shoulder. They tumble onto the floor and my brother hits his head on the desk, knocking him unconscious.
"Jasper!" I crawl towards him, letting out a sigh of relief when I hear him groan. Seeing my father have no compassion for even the child he claims to actually want pushes me over the edge and all I feel now for him is complete hatred. I finally reach under my skirt and yank out the dagger, gripping it so tight my knuckles start to turn white.
"You'll never take this from me!" My father roars at Edward. "I built this kingdom and I will not let anyone take this from me!" Before anyone can stop him, my father swipes a sword displayed on the wall and goes to attack.
It's now or never. I let out a guttural yell, driving the dagger into my father's shoulder. It makes him stumble but he doesn't fall. He turns in surprise, the sword swinging around with him, cutting through the dress and grazing my lower thigh. But before he can do anything else, I see Edward throw his arms around my father's head, twisting it until I hear a loud crack. My father's eyes suddenly glaze over and he crumbles to the ground. I expect him to get up, to move, but nothing.
He's gone.
"That was…easier than I expected," Emmet says, almost like he's disappointed.
I feel like an entire weight has been lifted from my body. The adrenaline is slowly starting to wear off. My leg feels like it's on fire, but I need to push just a little longer.
I remember my brother and drop back down to check on him. "Jasper?" I shake his shoulder but there's no response.
"Here, let me," Emmet says, checking for a pulse. It feels like hours until he pulls his hand away. "Well, he's alive."
"What's going to happen to him?" I ask. Despite everything that just transpired, I couldn't help but care about him.
Emmet shrugs. "Normally we would exile them somewhere. If they return to our territory, we'll be forced to kill them but…" He gives me an apologetic look.
I nod in understanding. Yes, Jasper was my brother, but I hardly recognized the man I grew up with. Edward was my family now, and if exiling Jasper would be the safest thing for everyone, I wouldn't fight him on it. That didn't mean that I wouldn't miss him though.
Luckily it wasn't anything I would have to think too hard about right now because a couple of doctors and nurses come in, pushing Emmet and I out of the way. They start to check Jasper's vitals and I know he'll be in good hands.
"I have to go call Carlilse. Are you going to be okay?" Emmet asks.
I nod. "Do you know where Edward is?"
"He has to lock down the castle but I'm sure he won't be away from you for long," Emmet smirks, waving at me as he leaves the room. I take one last look at my unconscious brother. How different would our relationship be if we hadn't been so separated? If we had both experienced a little more love, or if our mother had never died?
I head out into the hallway, ignoring the pain in my leg. I walk past some Ruthenian soldiers who have started to patrol the castle and they nod in acknowledgement before continuing on. It all feels so familiar and yet so foreign. Like I'm walking in a dream.
I don't stop until I'm back at my room. I expect it to look exactly as I remember it, but I have to hold back my gasp when I see what's on the other side.
It's completely destroyed. It had to have happened a little while ago. It didn't look recent, the carpet where my flower vase had been thrown on the ground was already completely dried. Maybe it happened right after my father trapped me in that dungeon. Maybe weeks after.
My clothes are strewn everywhere, my pillows and furniture destroyed. I can already see some of my jewelry and expensive things missing, not that I cared about them. What I did care about were the shattered photos of my mother.
This room was my entire childhood, all I knew, and it's now in ruins. Despite how much I feel like I've healed since I've been with Edward, this was all too much. I sit on my bed which now feels much too cold and let myself cry.
This part of me. The part that daydreamed all her free time away in this very spot, imagining a life where my mother was alive, where my father was warm, had died. I would always miss that innocent, blindly optimistic, naive little girl who only wanted to be loved. I would always hate that she had to suffer for so many years alone. And I would always keep her with me.
But I also had to start over and build something new in its place. I was a different person now. Same, but different. I still hoped, and I still dreamed, but now, I was sure good things would be possible for me.
It didn't make it any easier to have to come to terms with how much that little girl who wondered if she would be anything more than a docile princess was hurt every time her father was mean to her, or when her brother ignored her. How lonely she felt every single day, thinking this was all life had to offer her.
I wish more than anything that I could go back and tell her that everything she ever wanted was still possible. That it would happen one day for her.
I'm not sure how long I sit there, crying until I have no more tears, but eventually, I feel a warm pair of arms wrap around me. I would recognize that scent anywhere.
"Edward?" I whimper, looking up at those forest green eyes I love so much.
"Hey, baby." He looks completely exhausted, his hair disheveled, his clothes ripped, and it looks like he has several cuts and bruises on his face. I don't know how I didn't notice in my father's office. But I don't get a chance to take a closer look because he immediately pulls me into this lap and buries his face against my neck. I wrap my arms around his and take in being back with him.
"What…" I trail off, not sure what to ask first.
Edward just shakes his head. "Just let me just hold you for a second," he mumbles, his arms tightening around me.
I let myself lean into him, running my hands through his hair. I'm not sure how long we stay in this position, but slowly, Edward starts to relax, his hands running up and down my back. He presses a kiss to my shoulder with a sigh.
"She's alive. She's safe," he whispers over and over, like he's trying to reassure himself. I stay quiet and he pulls back, one of his hands coming to cradle my face. The other lands on my thigh and I let out a hiss of pain.
Edward's eyes widen in panic, looking down at where his hand hovered over my thigh. It was where my father's sword had grazed me, leaving a fairly large gash on my leg. I'm sure it wasn't that deep, at least it didn't feel that way compared to the other wounds my father had inflicted on me in that dungeon.
"You're hurt!" He starts bunching up my skirt to try to check on my wound, but I gently push away his hand.
"I'm fine. I'm sure it looks worse than it is," I say.
Edward's still not convinced. "I should take you to see Alice."
"Later. I want her to take care of your soldiers first. And what about you?" I ask, tracing a cut above his brow.
"Later," he says, repeating my words. I smile, shaking my head, and seeing me smile, his mouth quirks up. "How do you feel? About your father?"
How did I feel? "I don't think I've fully processed he's gone, but I feel lighter. Does that make me a bad person?"
"No, Princess," he immediately says, kissing my temple. "I hated that I couldn't stop him in that room. But I-"
"I know," I assure him. It had hurt in the moment but I knew there was a reason why and it was hard for him to watch.
"I know you do, but I need to say it. If he thought I felt anything towards you he would only use you to hurt me more. If I tried to get you away from him and I failed? I don't even want to think about what he would have potentially done to you." His eyes turn dark and he grips the back of my neck, lifting my head to meet his eyes. "But mark my words, you're mine, Bella. He couldn't offer you to me because you're already mine. Say it, Princess."
I don't even think about it, I just respond. "I'm yours."
His breathing turns heavy and he clenches his eyes shut. "Damn it, Bella. How am I supposed to focus on carrying out our plan and keeping my men safe when you decide to ignore me and sneak in? You promised me you'd wait for the all clear," he growls, slamming his mouth over mine, biting and sucking my bottom lip almost painfully. I keep up the best that I can as his hands trail all over my body, squeezing my leg, my waist, until they eventually land on my breasts. The way he's kissing me feels almost feral, and I'm surprised by how much it intensifies the aching in my core. It makes me feel powerful, the way he reacts to me, how I can make him lose control like this.
When he finally pulls away, our lips making a loud 'smack'. My lips feel bruised, and I feel intoxicatingly dizzy. He starts to calm down, the fire that had blazed in his eyes had dimmed and I see the pain that was hidden beneath it.
His hands tangle themselves in my hair and he rests his forehead against mine. "Do you know how fucking terrified I was when I walked in there and saw you? When he had that knife to your throat I-" Tears fill his eyes and my stomach drops with guilt. I had been so mad at him when he left me out of his decisions and yet, I blatantly ignored his request. I can't say I wouldn't do it again, because if it would help him in any way, I would, but I still felt awful having put him through that. "If I had lost you…None of this means anything without you, Princess."
I reach up to wipe away his tears. "I'm sorry I scared you, Edward. But I had to. I wasn't going to let my father mess up everything you had worked so long and hard for. Did it at least work?"
"The second round of guards didn't reach us until we were already inside and we were able to get halfway to the office before then while your father was 'distracted," he says, his voice dipping into displeasure. "I knew if I spared you a single glance in there, I would have killed everyone in that room to get to you but I couldn't risk you getting hurt. Didn't Rose and Alice try to stop you?"
"You would have done the same thing," I point out.
"That's not the point."
"That is the point!" I say, pulling back to look at him. "I would do anything for you. The same as you would for me. So excuse me if I love you too much," I huff.
His green eyes light up in adoration but when they land on my lips, he frowns. He rubs his thumb along my bottom one. "Was I too rough?"
I wrap my hand around his larger wrist. "No, you weren't I...I liked it," I admit, feeling my face heat up. Ah, what the hell. I tip my chin up in false confidence. "You can be rough with me sometimes. I can handle it."
He stares at me for another moment before he lets out a snort. He dips his chin to hide his laughter, hugging me to him. "What am I going to do with you?"
I bite my own lip, hiding my smile in his chest because for once, everything feels right in the world. "Love me?"
Edward traces his thumb against my cheek, a soft smile gracing his beautiful face. "Forever."
A/N:
The story is not over yet! We still have some fun things and mysteries to clear up! Until next time :)