Thump thump.
Thump thump.
I groaned drowsily, curling up in my bed of warmth, but the thumping just wouldn't go away. It kept on ringing in my ears, pounding like a fucking metronome that just didn't know when to stop. I swatted blindly for the source of the sound, then realized, belatedly, that it was my own heartbeat.
Motherfuck.
My head hurt.
Jesus, how much did I drink last night?
Judging by the pounding in my ears… a lot more than I should have.
I could hear the shower running full blast in the next room, and fought back the sadness which threatened to settle over me when I realized that, once again, Edward hadn't stayed in bed until morning with me.
Edward…
Oh, shit!
Last night, I'd… in a restroom… with…
I rolled over onto my back, shoving the covers off me in the process, then covered my eyes with my arm, suddenly filled with the overwhelming urge to cry. What the hell had I done?
Blinking against the too-bright lights above me, I slowly rolled over onto my side and looked around for Edward's clock, only to find two white pills and a glass of water on the bedside table instead.
How thoughtful.
I sat up slowly, a small smile on my face, then reached for the pills and water, swallowing both surprisingly quickly. I hadn't realized just how thirsty I was until then.
I supposed I owed Edward a thank you for taking care of me like that. A big thank you. After I'd practically molested him in that restroom, who knew what kind of shitstorm I'd managed to create whilst we were at the den. Jesus, this would be embarrassing.
Deciding not to drag the inevitable out any longer, I swung my aching legs over the side of the bed and pushed myself up until I was standing. I took my first step towards the bathroom, feeling a familiar yet strange aching between my thighs as I did so. I took another… then another… Fuck me sideways. It took much more than just one finger to cause this kind of ache.
Had Edward and I really…?
I looked down at myself, as if I'd somehow manage to find some sign revealing the truth about what had happened last night, then cursed myself for being so foolish. Sex with Edward… well, that was huge (no pun intended, though from what I could remember, it was the truth), and for me to not be sure…
I slipped my hands down my body and between my legs, then gasped when a hazy memory came flooding back to me.
His hands, holding me so tight… fingers rubbing against me… eyes locked on mine…
All the air seemed to just… rush from my lungs, leaving me gasping from shock and, dare I say it, arousal? Jesus, had I really…?
There was only one way to find out.
Swallowing nervously, I slowly walked up to the bathroom door and raised my hand, but before my knuckles could come into contact with it, a wave of panic washed over me, making me freeze on the spot. What if he was angry with me? Or worse, what if he simply pretended nothing happened at all? What if I was wrong and we hadn't done anything? What if that was just a fantasy? Wishful thinking?
Forcing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I clenched my fist a little tighter and knocked loudly on the door, grimacing as the pain in my head spiked.
"Edward? It's Bella… Can I come in?" I called, hoping he would hear me over the shower.
No response. Shit.
I shifted nervously for a few moments, then closed my eyes and pushed down on the door handle, surprised to find it unlocked.
"Edward?" I called again as I slowly pushed the door open and peered inside.
Surprisingly (though it really shouldn't have been), I could just about make out the shape of Edward's silhouette through the steamed up glass, and knew there was no way in hell he'd have been able to hear me knocking; he probably had no idea I was even here. Instead of going back into the bedroom like I should have though, I simply shut the door behind me on my way in and walked towards the Jacuzzi bath in the middle of the room, consequences be damned.
Since I was completely naked and beginning to get cold, I grabbed Edward's t-shirt off the side of the bath and slipped it on before sitting down on the edge of the tub with my back to the shower, wanting to give Edward as much privacy as possible. My headache had started to dull a little by now, but I still felt nauseated - though whether that was from my hangover or nerves, I couldn't be sure – so I leaned over and rested my forehead on my arms, closing my eyes. It seemed to soothe me some at first, but after a while, more hazy memories started coming back to me, making me feel ten times worse than I already did.
"He's a pimp as well as a drug trafficking, murdering son of a bitch?"
"Jesus, Edward, don't you have standards?"
"Being with someone who's completely intoxicated instead is just so much better, right?"
"You don't… want me?"
Ah, Christ.
I'd messed up. Big time.
Again.
I groaned under my breath. Great, yet another reason for Edward to be pissed at me.
"Why would I be pissed at you?"
I startled at the sound of Edward's voice, almost crumpling to the floor in my haste to stand up.
"H-hi," I choked out, grimacing as I swayed on the spot, completely overcome by dizziness since I'd stood up way more quickly than I should have.
Edward eyed me curiously for a moment, then shook his head before walking over to the sink with a towel wrapped securely round his waist. How long had he been standing there for? I hadn't even heard the shower turn off yet.
I glanced over to the shower in disbelief, then frowned. It was still on. Was he deliberately giving us privacy?
"How's your head?" he asked, looking at me through the mirror as he squirted some toothpaste on his brush.
"It's okay, I guess," I replied truthfully. "Thanks for leaving me the tablets."
"Mhmm," he hummed through a mouthful of toothpaste as he began to brush his teeth. I knew I should probably do the same – my mouth tasted disgusting – but couldn't bring myself to move any closer to him just yet.
"Edward? Can I, um… Can I ask you a question?" I eventually asked once he'd almost finished brushing, looking down at my hands as I shifted nervously.
"Mm." He held his finger up, signaling for me to wait a few moments, then finished rinsing his mouth out before turning round to face me. "Go ahead."
Here goes nothing.
"Um… Did we…… I mean…" I gestured between us aimlessly as my nerves hit their peak. "Last night… Did we, you know…"
Some kind of emotion flashed across his face, almost akin to pain, but his expression quickly morphed into one of forced nonchalance. "We had sex, yes."
"Oh." Disappointment flooded through me. We'd had sex… and I didn't remember it.
"I'm sorry for taking advantage of you like that, Bella, but as I hope you understand, telling you no wasn't exactly an option, not without arousing suspicion anyway," he said emotionlessly.
"It's not taking advantage if both parties want it, Edward," I muttered, staring down at the floor. He scoffed disbelievingly, folding his arms over his chest as I looked back up at him. "Edward… I'm serious. It's okay. I just regret that-"
"It's okay, Bella. I get it," he replied, cutting me off.
"You do?" I asked as the disappointment lifted from my shoulders. He nodded.
"It was a mistake," he said. "One that can't happen again."
Back came the disappointment. "Right."
"We broke the only rule we made with each other, and that's something we cannot afford to do," he continued, eyes hard and expression neutral. I bit down on the inside of my cheek as tears welled up in my eyes, not sure of quite why his words were cutting me as deeply as they were, but knowing I couldn't show him that. "Sex leads to attraction, which leads to attachment, and that's a risk we can't take in here, Bella."
"No, I know," I choked out. "I was just about to say the same thing."
"So we understand each other?" Why was he being so cold?
"Yes," I managed to mutter, though how, I had no idea.
"Good," he replied, nodding as he took a few steps forwards. For a moment, I thought he was coming to me, but he just walked straight past me, heading for the door. "If you'll excuse me."
"Wait!" I called as his hand gripped the handle.
"What?"
"H-… How badly did I screw up last night?" I asked. "Do you have much damage control to do? I know I said some stuff I shouldn't have, but I swear, I didn't realize how strong those drinks were until it was too-"
"You made several mistakes, yes," he replied, even colder than before. "But I doubt there's much damage control to be done as of yet; the music was very loud in the den. I don't recommend drinking again while you're here though – you're incredibly mouthy when you're drunk."
With that, he pulled the door open and walked out.
I stared after him, then winced when the door slammed shut of its own accord behind him. Tears spilled from my eyes and ran unbidden down my cheeks as I realized exactly what Edward had just said was: a rejection. And that hurt more than I cared to admit.
Sex leads to attraction, which leads to attachment, and that's a risk we can't take in here.
Sex leads to attraction, which leads to attachment, and that's a risk we can't take in here.
He wasn't attracted to me. He felt no attachment.
But I did, didn't I? I was attracted to him. Even drunk, I've never done anything like what I did last night unless there was true attraction there before. I was already attached to him too. I considered us friends. I cared about him. More than I should.
Or did I?
The bond between agents whilst undercover was always stronger than it usually would be between two people who barely knew each other. Something about the pressure of the situation often forced people together, made them think they felt things when they actually didn't… but some nagging part of me was screaming that that wasn't it, that this wasn't made up, and I couldn't silence it.
But what did it matter anyway? Nothing could happen, and that was that.
Right?
I furiously wiped away my tears and walked over to the shower, hurriedly turning it off before moving over to the sink and gazing at myself in the mirror. Who the hell was this… girl staring back at me? I didn't even know anymore. I didn't do this kind of thing. I was one of Carlisle's top agents, just like my dad had been. I'd been prepared for this shit since birth; it was all I knew. So why the fuck was I behaving like a rookie again? I knew better than this.
Just push the emotions down. Channel them into something useful. Use them to defeat your enemy, not aid them.
I yanked open one of the drawers beneath the sink and grabbed the bag of make-up I'd put in there yesterday. The bruise on my cheek had faded a little, but I knew I'd still have to cover it. No more weakness. No more faults. I'd be the perfect little doll from now on, just like I was meant to be.
Grabbing one of the make-up removal wipes Didyme had given me, I quickly scrubbed off the remnants of last night's make-up before washing my face thoroughly and patting it dry. I took my time applying my make up, making sure every eyelash was curled, every blemish covered… Just like a doll.
I had almost finished applying some lip balm when Edward strode into the bathroom, fully dressed and deliberately diverting his eyes from me.
"Aro has invited me down to brunch," he said as leaned against the counter beside me. "I'd like it if you'd come with me."
He'd phrased it like a request, but I knew I didn't really have any other option.
"Okay," I replied softly. "What should I wear?"
"I picked these out for you." He held out a bag that I hadn't seen before, and I took it from him, confused. "We'll need to leave in fifteen minutes."
"Okay."
"I'll wait for you in the bedroom," he said quietly, then hesitated a few moments, looking conflicted. I looked up into his eyes, wondering what was going on, but after just a second of eye contact, he looked away and strode towards the door again.
"Edward?" I called out, then waited for him to look back in my direction before murmuring a soft, "Thank you."
He nodded stiffly, then left the room as quickly as he'd come in, though this time, the door didn't slam shut behind him.
Sighing heavily, I tugged the bag he'd left closer and tentatively pulled out the underwear set he'd given me to wear. A black balconette bra and a matching thong. My favorite set out of the ones Vicky had given me. I smiled despite myself, then stripped off Edward's t-shirt and pulled the thong on before doing up the bra and glancing at my reflection in the mirror. Not bad.
I reached into the bag again, and felt my eyes widen as I pulled out a black, tight fitting dress I hadn't seen before which explained his choice in lingerie for me. He was trying to what? Show me off?
Great.
I slipped the dress on, surprised at how well it fit, then grimaced when I saw the shoes he'd given me to wear with it. Heels.
He'd given me motherfucking heels.
"Edward?" I called, trying to curb my anger. "Can you come here, please?"
"What's wrong?" he called back, then walked through the door just a few moments later.
"I can't wear these," I told him, holding up the heels.
"Yes, you can," he replied blankly. "I got them in a bigger size than your usual ones."
"I won't be able to walk."
"It's brunch, Bella. You won't need to walk anywhere." His tone was light and jokey, but I knew it was just for the microphones – his cold gaze said it all.
"Fine. But you need to get me a pair of tights first."
"Why?" he asked, frowning.
"Edward, whether I'm walking or not, these things are new and will therefore rub. I need tights," I told him sweetly. "Please?"
"Where are they?" he sighed, looking frustrated.
"In one of the bags from Vicky. Any pair will do."
He nodded, then went out to get them, returning soon after.
"Will these do?" he asked, holding up a pair of flesh-colored tights.
"Yep," I replied. "Thanks, baby."
"You're welcome," he said as he handed them to me. I snatched them off him, then waited for a few moments, expecting him to leave. When he didn't, I shot him a dirty look, gesturing towards the door.
"No chance," he mouthed.
"Pervert," I mouthed back teasingly, momentarily forgetting we now had boundaries set in place between us. "Sorry," I muttered, staring down at the floor.
"Mhmm," he hummed, and as I awkwardly tried to pull my tights on without exposing anything or injuring myself, he sighed heavily, almost as though he was fed up.
"If I'm making you late, baby, just go," I told him, deliberately avoiding eye contact with him as I shimmied the tights up into place before adjusting my dress again. "I don't want you getting into trouble because of me."
"Don't worry – I won't," he replied softly. I nodded, hating that things were suddenly so awkward between us, then brushed the make-up items scattered about the counter further towards the back so that I could sit down – I hoped it would be easier to get the shoes on that way.
Edward cleared his throat as I turned and pushed myself up onto the counter, then shifted uncomfortably when he saw me eyeing up the shoes.
"Do you want help?" he asked.
"I'm not a child, Edward," I replied, keeping my tone light. "I can put my shoes on."
"I know you're not, sweetheart, but I just thought it would be easier for you if I helped."
Gah, shit. My anger with him was already showing. Just push the emotions down. Channel them into something useful. Use them to defeat your enemy, not aid them.
I sighed heavily. "Thank you. Sorry I'm so snappy today. I just…"
"Drank too much?" he teased, but something in his eyes told me he was serious.
"Yeah," I mumbled, then looked away from him and focused on putting the first shoe on my good foot. This was uncomfortable. My fingers were shaking a little, and I couldn't really concentrate on anything other than the strange, overwhelming, anxious discomfort that was quickly settling in.
"Give it to me," Edward finally murmured softly after several failed attempts. I shook my head, not wanting him to touch me, but he gently yet firmly took the shoe from me anyway and bent down on one knee.
I stared down at my lap as he carefully slipped the first shoe on, then shivered as he guided my bad foot to rest on his knee, his hand slipping up my calf a little, almost like a caress.
"The swelling's gone down a bit," he mused, gently running his fingers over the top of my foot.
"Yeah. They don't hurt quite as much anymore. I think that's down to Didyme's pills though," I replied, still not able to look him in the eye.
"I guess me dragging you out to dance probably didn't help though," he said, sounding kind of sad.
"No, um…" I tucked some loose strands of hair behind my ear, staring down at his hand. "I liked dancing with you."
He sighed softly. "And I you."
He raised my foot slightly with one hand, then carefully positioned the shoe with his other one, glancing up at me for reassurance before slowly starting to push it onto my foot. I grimaced as the most swollen section of my toes squeezed into the shoe, but quickly covered it, gritting my teeth until the rest of the shoe was completely on.
"There," he murmured, gazing up at me. I glanced down into his eyes, hyperaware of the way his hand was still cupping my calf, how strange it was to see him down on one knee like that… I looked away.
Edward cleared his throat slightly again and stood up, his hand accidentally grazing the outside of my thigh as he did so. I gasped softly as a new wave of memories washed over me, triggered by his touch.
Hands, sliding up my thighs, gripping my hips, helping set a rhythm that had us both gasping. Me, falling forwards, catching myself – just barely – with my hands. His lips, seeking mine. My hair, creating a curtain around our faces. Just me and him. Eyes locked.
Inhaling sharply, I looked up at him, and was surprised to see him staring at his hand like he'd somehow burned it. "I-"
"We need to go," he said, more softly than anything else that had come out of his mouth so far today as he moved his hand away from my thigh. "Sorry – these shoes were a poor choice."
"I like them," I replied somewhat honestly – they were pretty, just not very practical.
Edward smirked, obviously not believing me, then gingerly reached out and helped me off the counter, his hands lingering near my body just in case I started to fall.
"I'm okay," I assured him as I tried to get used to wearing heels again. "I'll get used to it."
"You shouldn't have to," he muttered, then shook his head before backing off and saying, "I'll go pick out another pair."
"No!" I called, reaching out and grabbing his hand before he could get too far. "It's fine. Honestly."
"If you're sure?" he asked dubiously. I stepped forwards, grateful that I didn't sway or fall over – that would not have helped my case in the slightest.
"I'm sure, Edward," I told him, pressing my hand against his chest. "Let's go. Aro's waiting."
"Okay, okay, stop a sec," I was pleading several minutes later, grasping onto Edward's arm for support as I tried to breathe through the nausea and pain I was experiencing.
"That's it. We're going back up," Edward said firmly, then made to turn back the way we came. The sudden movement made me almost lose my balance again, and I practically fell into Edward, begging him to stop moving.
"Just hold still a sec, okay?" I managed to grind out. I'd been fine until we'd left the suite and started walking – I'd underestimated just how painful walking in these heels was going to be, and my hangover had suddenly decided to make an appearance again. In short, I really wasn't doing so well.
"Bella, come on," Edward urged, gently gripping my upper arms to steady me. "Let's go."
"No," I protested. "I want to go."
"Bella…"
"Please, Edward. I'll be fine, I promise," I told him, gazing up into his eyes. Let me prove I can do this to you.
"Fine," he ceded. "But the moment you start getting sick again, we're leaving."
"Thank you," I murmured, then leaned against him for a few seconds more before straightening up and getting my bearings again. "Okay. I'm okay."
"Sure?" he asked softly, looking concerned. I nodded weakly, then turned and took a shaky step in the direction of the shuttle – which was only the length of the hallway away now.
"Shit, Bella," Edward sighed sadly. "I'm so sorry."
I shrugged, then took a few more slow steps before groaning again. Edward rushed forwards and wrapped his arm around my back before sliding the other one under my knees and lifting me from the ground.
"God, I'm so pathetic," I mumbled, bringing my hand up to touch his chest as he walked towards the shuttle before awkwardly turning and pushing the call button.
"You're not pathetic," Edward said firmly. "You're just not feeling one hundred percent, and that's okay. You're only human."
"You sound like my old therapist," I muttered, then sighed as the shuttle doors slid open and Edward carried me inside.
"Why did you have to see a therapist, baby?" he asked softly once the doors slid shut again and the shuttle began to move.
"Oh, um…" I paused awkwardly, trying to figure out how to reply without giving too much away to any microphones. "You know how, um… My dad… died-" was murdered "-a while back?"
"Yeah," Edward lied, genuine concern written all over his features.
"Yeah, well… they sent me to grief counseling and stuff after you left."
"I'm sorry, Bella," he replied softly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You disappeared," I murmured, trying to sound sad as I brought my hand up to stroke his cheek. His eyes fell shut at my touch, and he turned his face into my palm, kissing the base of my thumb.
I swallowed hard, trying not to let myself react to the feel of his lips against my skin, then barely managed to stifle a groan as the shuttle doors slid open and Edward stepped out; now I'd have to walk.
"Easy," he murmured as he slowly and carefully lowered me to my feet, then firmly gripped my waist to steady me.
"I'm okay," I told him, smiling weakly. He nodded dubiously, clearly not believing me, then slid his arm around my waist and allowed me to lean in to him as we slowly began walking down a hallway to a new room I'd never seen before.
"Where are we?" I wondered aloud. "I thought we were going to the dining hall again."
"We're heading into one of the smaller, more private dining rooms for brunch – there should only be around ten of us, assuming everyone who's been invited is attending."
"Who's been invited?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Caius and Athenodora, Marcus and Didyme, you and I, and Royce and his… partner," he replied, slowing slightly as we neared the door.
"Royce?"
"You haven't formally been introduced to him yet," he said softly, confirming my fears. Royce was the guy whose suite James had caught me spying on.
"Oh, okay," I mumbled lamely.
"So… Ready to go in?" Edward asked after a few moments' pause, glancing at the door, which was just feet away from us now.
"Um…" No. "Yeah. Let's go."
Edward nodded, then held me a little tighter to him as we slowly closed the distance between us and the door before knocking loudly.
"Come in."
Edward kissed the top of my head – whether to reassure or comfort me, I wasn't sure - and before I had the chance to really think things through and realize how much of a mistake this would end up being, he pushed open the door and guided me through.
"Edward! Bella!" came Aro's over-enthusiastic greeting. I looked up from the floor, and internally groaned when I saw Caius staring right at me from the table in the middle of the room. "I'm so glad you decided to join us!"
"Sorry we're late," Edward replied as he took a few steps towards the table, bringing me with him.
"Oh, don't apologise!" Aro chided, gesturing for us to take two of the free seats at the end of the table. "Please, do sit down."
Edward pulled my chair out for me, then helped me sit down before tucking me in and sitting down himself. I nervously looked up at Didyme, who was sitting diagonally opposite me, then smiled weakly at her before turning my attention to my lap again.
"Royce will be here shortly," Aro continued. "He said that-"
The doors we'd just come through swung open with a loud bang, and I startled in shock as everyone turned to face the source of the noise.
"Wonderful!" Aro called, laughing way too loudly for it to be genuine. "Everybody's here."
I turned round to look at the new arrival, then felt my stomach turn when I saw Royce strut in, pulling along the blonde woman I'd seen him throw to the floor behind him by a lead attached to some sort of collar around her neck. Oh, Jesus.
"Greetings," he called, smirking at Caius, who was eyeing the blonde appreciatively.
"Good afternoon, Royce," Aro replied, gesturing for him to take the only remaining seat at the table – the one directly opposite me. "I take it things are going well?" He gestured towards the blonde's bindings.
"Oh, yes." Royce tugged on the leash, then made a big show of sitting down and forcing the blonde to kneel beside him. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, tears already dripping down her cheeks - from humiliation and pain, I was sure. Her arms were bound behind her back in an intricate rope design, and as I looked her over, I could see a multitude of bruises and friction burns on her skin, indicating several struggles.
I brought my hand up to my mouth, swallowing back the bile that threatened to rise in my throat at the sight of such obvious abuse. Edward's hand cupped the back of my neck soothingly, but I could tell it was also a warning – do not make a fuss.
"I took the liberty of ordering the usual main courses for everyone today – they should be up shortly." Aro said, his voice eerily calm. It was almost as though he simply hadn't seen the blonde or the state she was in. It made me feel sick. "Edward, I ordered Isabella the lobster and bruschetta. I hope that's okay?"
Now all eyes were on me and Edward. Great.
"Of course," Edward replied politely, rubbing the back of my neck gently. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it, won't you, Bella?"
I cleared my throat awkwardly, glancing up at Aro as I spoke. "Yes, sir. Thank you – that sounds lovely."
Oh, but it really didn't. Just the thought of eating made me want to be sick.
"Wonderful," Aro replied, then looked over at Royce, who was staring at me curiously. "Oh! You haven't met Isabella yet, have you?"
"No. I haven't," Royce replied, eyeing me intensely for a moment before grinning and extending his hand for me to take. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Isabella."
I smiled weakly, shaking his hand, then felt tears start to well up in my eyes when I glanced down and saw the blonde woman was staring up at me through bloodshot, puffy eyes. Help me, I could have sworn she was silently begging, and God, did I want to…
"What did I tell you about not looking up at your superiors?!" Royce shouted suddenly, and I looked up at him just in time to see him raise his hand, preparing to slap the blonde.
"No!" I cried before I could stop myself, but it was too late. The blonde crumpled in a heap, and the loud smack of flesh on flesh seemed to resonate in my ears over and over again. Horrified, I recoiled from Royce and turned towards my only source of comfort – Edward.
"Oh, I would hardly count Isabella as her superior," Caius butted in with a laugh. "She speaks out as well."
I looked up at Edward, expecting him to defend me, but he just gave Caius a strained smile and lowered the hand that had been on the back of my neck down to my thigh. Appalled by his actions, I jerked my leg out of his reach and stared pointedly down at the floor.
"Caius, I don't believe Bella and Edward are in that sort of relationship yet," Marcus piped up after a few awkward moments of silence. "Leave them be."
"What a waste," Caius sighed. "Athenodora, go fetch me some water, will you?"
"Of course," she replied, and I heard the scrape of her chair against the floor as she got out of her seat. I knew for a fact that he already had a drink – I'd seen it on the table as we'd approached. What the hell was he doing?
"Here, darling," Athenodora said a few moments later. I glanced up, then shivered when I saw Caius stare right at me as he kissed the back of her hand.
"You're too good to me," he told her, then smirked as if to say 'this is how you should be'.
"Are you okay there, Isabella?" Aro called, his tone almost teasing. He could tell I wasn't. "You're looking a little pale."
"She had a little too much to drink last night," Edward replied tensely. "So she's not feeling too good at the moment."
"What a pity," Aro sighed. "You should keep better control of her in the future, Edward."
"Yes," Edward replied, turning in my direction. I glanced up at him briefly, and saw him look at one of the glasses on the table in confusion before understanding suddenly seemed to dawn on him and he looked at me with wide, apologetic eyes. What the… "We'll be more careful next time."
"Yes, yes, now…" Caius seemed to love the sound of his own voice way too much to be healthy. "I believe we have some important business to discuss."
"The Denali's," Aro supplied, nodding his head. Edward leaned a little closer, placing his hand over mine, which was gripping the edge of my seat so tightly it was almost painful.
"You won't want to listen to this," he warned softly. "Block it out if you can, or… I can…" His hand moved from mine, gently grazing my thigh. "Distract you?"
I shook my head – the mere thought of him touching me, let alone 'distracting me' whilst we were in here repulsed me.
"Bella," Edward sighed, touching my hand again. "Please. Don't listen."
"Edward, you were here when Eleazar left us, right?" Aro asked loudly, breaking the moment.
"Yes, sir," Edward replied, prying my fingers away from the edge of my seat and sliding his in between them. I let my hand rest limply in his, staring down at the table cloth.
"Do you remember his wife, Carmen?"
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Well, it appears that after she and Eleazar… passed." Aro smirked proudly, then gestured to someone behind us to approach. "Their children, who I'm sure you remember too well, somehow discovered some old documentation left lying around in a safety deposit box in Chicago."
An arm suddenly appeared in my line of vision, and I startled in shock, only to realize it was just Laurent, the French man from last night, placing my plate in front of me.
"Thank you," I muttered, but made no move to pick up my knife and fork; I really wasn't hungry anymore.
"So, as you can imagine, Tanya and Irina weren't best pleased with us and our newly discovered… involvement with their parents' deaths," Aro continued, almost laughing as he spoke. "And decided they'd try and rat us out."
Edward laughed awkwardly. "To who?"
"Chicago PD." At this, Caius and Royce chuckled loudly, ignoring Laurent, who was serving them their plates.
"Fools," Marcus said softly, shaking his head. Didyme's arm moved, and I could tell from the way Marcus' also shifted that they were now holding hands.
"Well, anyway," Aro continued, clearly loving the glory of what he was saying. "Our friends down at the bureau intercepted the leaked information before it could actually get anywhere. The girls didn't even have the sense to try and cover their tracks – they just marched straight in there, all guns blazing. So, as you can imagine, it didn't take long for Felix and Demetri to track them down and… plug the leak."
"So they're…" Didyme trailed off, her expression one of forced nonchalance.
"Ceviche," Aro replied, grinning. Caius and Royce roared with amusement, and even Sulpicia and Athenodora managed small smiles. Marcus and Didyme just looked disgusted, and Edward's grip on my hand had tightened to the point where it was almost painful.
"Ceviche?" I murmured to Edward, not understanding.
"Chopped up fish," Edward replied softly. My eyes widened with horror, and I clutched at my stomach, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly sick.
"You'll be that one day if you're not a good girl, won't you, Rosalie?" Royce teased, pulling on the blonde's leash. Rosalie?
"Jesus Christ!" I hissed as realization flooded through me. I hurriedly pushed my chair back from the table, muttering, "Excuse me," as I stood up, covering my mouth with my hand.
"Bella?" Edward called worriedly, getting out of his seat.
"Isabella, you look awfully pale," Caius teased as Edward came to stand in front of me, gripping my arms and blocking my way.
"I think I'm going to be sick," I groaned. He nodded, then muttered his apologies, telling everyone we'd be right back before slipping his arm around my waist and hurriedly guiding me towards a set of doors near the ones we'd come in through.
"Do you want me to carry you?" Edward asked as we pushed through the doors, revealing a set of steps that lead down to an achingly familiar hallway.
"I don't know," I whispered weakly, and Edward sighed softly before scooping me up and rushing down the stairs as quickly as was safe.
"Put me down, put me down!" I cried the moment we reached the bottom of the stairs.
"What's the matter?" Edward asked worriedly, putting me down like I'd asked.
"The shoes," I rushed. "I need to get them off so I can move!"
I doubled over slightly, reaching down to pull off my shoes and almost hopping on the spot as I tried to maintain my balance. The jerky motions just made me feel even sicker, and tears welled up in my eyes as I pushed the shoes into Edward's hands and rushed towards the nearest unlocked door, pushing it open so forcefully, it rebounded off the wall.
Groaning softly, I hurried over to the sink and braced myself with my forearms as I bent over and closed my eyes, trying to block out the mental images of 'ceviche' and Rosalie's abuse. I heard the sound of Edward's footsteps as he joined me in the bathroom, followed by a sad sigh. The tap beside me turned on - the spray of the water loud and an ever present reminder of the poor Denali family's tragic end.
"Turn the water off," I pleaded, fighting back more tears.
"Sorry," Edward muttered softly as he turned off the tap, and then he brushed my hair away from the back of my neck before pressing some damp fabric against it. "There."
"Thank you," I sighed, reaching up with one hand to hold the fabric in place. The coolness of it was soothing, but it didn't make the images go away. Rosalie…
"E-Edward?" I bit down on my bottom lip, both praying and dreading that my instincts were right.
"Yes?" Edward replied softly, sounding concerned.
"Is it… okay?" I asked, gesturing towards the ceiling with the hand that was holding the fabric.
"They don't have anything like that in these rooms," he assured me. "This is where they sometimes send the girls when they have clients – it's one of few places here with one hundred percent privacy."
I nodded, then took a steadying breath, bracing myself both mentally and physically.
"Rosalie…" I began. Edward tensed beside me. "She's Rosalie Hale, isn't she?"
"Yes. She is."
"Oh, my God," I breathed as the tears that had welled up finally spilled over. Our key witness – my second extraction target – was being abused. Every second we spent not trying to escape was another second of hell for her. "We have to get her out."
"What?" Edward replied, sounding shocked. "Bella, we can't do that."
"She's my other extraction target," I told him, finally pushing myself up so I was standing straight again before turning to face him. "Rosalie Hale is testifying against the Volturi. She's our material witness."
"That's impossible." Edward shook his head, looking stunned. "She wouldn't have been able to-" Understanding dawned on him. "The phone."
"What phone?" I asked, frowning.
"I caught Rosalie down here several months back with a phone. She panicked when she saw me, so I took it from her and…" He ran his hand through his hair. "Why did I not see this before?"
"You couldn't have known," I assured him, shaking my head. "Did you destroy the phone?"
"Of course I did," he retorted. "Do you really think I'd be stupid enough to let Royce find out?"
"No, I didn't mean to imply that. I just-"
"Wanted to make sure, I know," Edward sighed, his tone apologetic. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," I mumbled, wiping beneath my eyes to remove any mascara smudges.
"Are you feeling any better?"
I breathed out a laugh. "Physically? Yes. Mentally… no. I just… can we go back to the suite? I can't just sit there and watch him abuse her anymore. I can't be in the same room as them whilst they laugh about the murder of innocent people, not after what they did to my-" I cut myself off before I could let anything else slip.
"What did they do, Bella?" Edward asked angrily, though I knew his rage wasn't aimed at me.
"I-" Before I could get anything else out, there was a loud knock at the door, making us both jump with surprise.
"Bella? Edward?" It was Didyme. "Can I come in?"
"Just a second!" I called back, then nodded at Edward, who smiled sadly before walking over to the door and unlocking it, allowing Didyme to come in.
"Hi, Edward," she said softly as she passed him, then looked at me with sad eyes as she approached. "Hey, Bella."
"Hey," I replied weakly, giving her a small smile.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, stepping forwards and pressing the back of her hand against my forehead.
"Awful," I told her truthfully. Didyme nodded, then sighed sadly.
"You're pretty clammy. Were you sick at all?"
"No," I replied, shaking my head. "I almost was, though."
"Which is understandable," she murmured. "It's disgraceful, the way they talk about people. And to do it in front of you was just…" She trailed off with a sigh. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, Bella."
"It's okay." I smiled weakly. "I was more… you know… shocked at seeing Royce…"
"I know," she soothed, then embraced me gently. I wrapped my arms around her in return, blinking back more tears. "Marcus and I don't agree with it, of course, but one of the perks of being Caius' nephew is that that behavior is encouraged, not frowned upon."
"Is that why they think…" I trailed off, glancing at Edward, who was standing on the far side of the room with a sad expression on his face.
"Yes," Didyme replied, leaning back to get a better look at me. "To them, dominance over women is the norm – their twisted view of things means they expect the same from everyone else too." She turned to face Edward, shooting him a sharp glare. "Not that you gave them any evidence to think otherwise."
"I know," Edward muttered, staring down at the floor as if ashamed.
"It's not your fault," Didyme sighed. "I'm sorry – Marcus and I tried to convince Aro that inviting you both would be a bad idea after last night, but you know what he can be like."
Edward exhaled a soft laugh, but then he looked up at me, and his expression turned serious. "Didyme, can I ask you something?"
"Of course," she replied, frowning.
"Bella had a few drinks last night," Edward told her. "They were big glasses, yes, but something seems off with me."
"What are you thinking?" Didyme asked, turning and looking me over.
"Is it possible that maybe someone… spiked her drinks?" Edward wondered. I gasped, staring at him in shock.
"It's unlikely, but not impossible," Didyme replied, frowning. "Bella, how much do you remember from last night?"
"Um…" I blushed profusely. More than I did this morning, that's for sure. "I remember some of it, but there are hazy patches."
"And none of your drinks tasted particularly strong?"
"No," I told her, feeling a horrible sense of dread wash over me at the expression on Didyme's face. "Why?"
"I'll look into it," Didyme said, smiling sadly.
"Be careful," Edward told her. "Don't get into trouble because of this."
"Edward, you know my feelings on this sort of issue," she replied, shaking her head. "I'll do my best to try and gauge what's going on, but I'm not making any promises."
"Thank you," Edward murmured, smiling gratefully at her. She smiled back, then kissed my cheek before walking across the room, pausing to hug Edward briefly before opening the door.
"I'll let the others know you won't be returning to brunch," she said softly. "You get into bed the moment you get back, okay, Bella? Take it easy and no more wearing heels until your feet are healed."
I blushed. "Yes, Di."
She smirked, then glanced pointedly at Edward before leaving the room and pulling the door shut behind her. Edward stepped towards the door, locked it, then hesitantly made his way over to me.
"I'm sorry," I sighed, staring down at the floor. "I shouldn't have forced you to let me come down here, not after last night."
"That wasn't your fault, Bella," he said softly, coming to a stop just a foot away from me. "It never occurred to me that they'd…" He sighed, shaking his head. "But then something about the way Aro was today and seeing those glasses just… I'm sorry. I took my anger out on you by making you wear those heels, and that was wrong."
"You're apologizing to me? Wow. You sure they haven't drugged you too?" I teased, but tears still welled up in my eyes despite my attempt at nonchalance. I'd probably been drugged. I felt almost… violated.
"Oh, Bella," Edward murmured, and before I knew what was happening, I was in his arms and he was holding me tightly to him as tears streamed down my face.
"I'm sorry," I whimpered, clenching my eyes shut to try and stop the tears. "This is just… I've never… I mean, Ceviche? And Rosalie and…"
"Shhh, Bella," he soothed, then slid his hands down to my thighs and lifted me off the ground for the umpteenth time that day, guiding my legs around his waist this time. I could feel my dress ride up my legs, exposing god only knows how much of me, but instead of trying to fix it or worrying about it, I simply wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his chest, letting the warmth and strange familiarity of him comfort me.
"I've got you," he promised. "You're okay, Bella. It's okay."
"How can you live here like this?" I whispered through my tears. "I've only been here, what? Four days? And it's already getting too much for me. But you… you must have seen what they've done, right?"
"I have," he replied, his tone one of forced calm.
"How can you stand it?" I asked. "I've been preparing for this kind of thing my entire life; I've seen and heard awful things. But that just…"
"How old are you, Bella?" Edward murmured, resting the side of his head against mine.
"Twenty-three," I replied, holding him a little tighter. "I joined when I was seventeen."
"So young," he sighed, then kissed the top of my head.
"Young? How old are you then?" I asked, suddenly confused.
"Twenty-four," he told me. I laughed softly, shaking my head, then leaned away from him slightly so I could cup his cheek in my hand as a wave of sadness swept over me.
"I'm sorry," I said after a few moments, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Me too, Bella," he replied, and I knew he'd understood what I'd meant; I'm sorry you're so young, sorry your life isn't your own, sorry you're stuck here…
"We're going to get you out," I told him softly. "I'll do whatever it takes."
"I know you will," he murmured, giving me a small smile, which I returned. But then, something occurred to me, something which made overwhelming panic rise up inside me.
"Edward, I need you to promise me something," I said, keeping my eyes locked on his as my voice betrayed my fear.
"Okay."
"If… If something happens to us when we try and get out, or if we get made… Promise me that if James is still alive, you won't…" I swallowed hard, the mere thought of this possible reality making the nausea come flooding back to me. "Promise me you won't let me become like Rosalie."
"That will never happen," Edward said firmly, but I shook my head sadly.
"It might," I sighed. "And if it does… Please, promise me you won't let me become like her. No matter what ensuring so will entail."
"Only if you promise you'll give me the same reprieve," he replied.
I stared into his eyes, trying to come to terms with what we were promising each other. Death.
"Okay," I finally said as a tear spilled down my cheek. "I promise."
No comments:
Post a Comment