Something Better Than Forever
by Skydancinghobbit
Chapter 19: Dark Lure
Dark Rescue
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I turned slowly, unwillingly. I didn’t want to feel what I knew I would feel when I looked at his too-perfect face.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 4, p.74
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Despite all her time with the Volturi and the level of comfort she had gained from Aro nothing could have prepared her for the sight the met her eyes. Vlad was as beautiful as he was horrifying. Crimson eyes that were so dark they resembled dried blood. Dark hair that fell in waves to his shoulders and an aristocratic bearing that told of lore beyond memory and years beyond count. Yet there was something about him. An essence of pure evil she instinctively backed away from. As he advanced she continued back until her back hit the solid rock wall behind her.
"Isabella....Isabella, why pet do you run?"
Meant no doubt to be the essence of male charm and polished suavity his tone landed on her ears like motor sludge. Oiled and cloying. Almost on instinct she uttered a soft warning hiss, the golden braid around her neck emitting a soft glow against her pale skin as his icy hand reached out to touch her skin. All Bella felt was revulsion as she determinedly dropped her gaze. Heart rate rising as her already overstimulated imagination kicked into high gear.
"Poor lamb, so easily frightened, no doubt you have many questions, come, you must be hungry"
Not until she was sure he was a few steps away did Bella dare to raise her eyes. Intending to speak when suddenly she found herself thrown back into the sturdy glass window pane a feral hiss apparently he had just now noticed the necklace wound about her pale neck. With a slow painful motion did he forcefully tilt her head back to glare at the golden braid now a pale silver in the moonlight, a low growling hiss of contempt overshadowing any pretense to the man that had once been.
"So he has already claimed you! The over thrower, the usurper! Who even now dares enter my last stronghold for what? A human woman whose life is no more than that of a may fly to me...What a pity, what a bride you would have made”
"Victoria, Dulcina!"
Before Bella could blink the two brides were before them, all but vibrating their glee at having been summoned by name. It was a sickening sight, the beautiful women fawning over a being known to be without heart, emotion or any claim to humanity. His eyes alone revealed the empty void of his existence. They longed with no emotion behind it, they mourned with no tears to give and they raged with a single minded determination that made Bella's skin crawl as she suddenly was released tumbling onto the plush carpet in a heap.
"Take our guest to the main hall, I think its best she learn what she truly has done"
Both females uttered piercing keens that caused Bella to throw her hands hastily over her ears, though little good did it do. Amazed she looked up to find two pairs of arms blanketing her gently as if to protect her for what was to be as they all but pleaded.
"But Master, tis time for..."
"Our poor lamb will surely perish!"
His roar shook the very stones of the castle and Bella closed her eyes sinking into the carpet in terror as the two other uttered keening shrieks. The venom that dripped onto the carpet from his open mouth burned black and sticky like tar as it burned through the very stones beneath.
"She is bound to the traitor that even now storms the lower walls of the castle! Do as I command else I shall leave you to your fate brides!"
His gaze burned into their own, Bella oddly unaffected watched the slack expression of one who had lost their own sense of self blanket her last strongholds in this wretched castle begin giggling once more. Hauled gently from the floor she could only watch on in mounting pity as his compulsion soaked into their very skin.
"Yes, yes, so to slaughter our dear lamb must go, for she bares the brand of another"
"The one who once was Master's favorite now comes to retake his prize"
Two so trapped, bound to service, without mind of their own was a horrible fate. Yet Bella had no doubt they had chosen it with their eyes open. Much like the brave few who tended to the visitors needs when they came to the castle. Hoping to share in the vampire’s power. Though what exactly the tours where for Bella never knew, occasionally it struck her as odd that she never saw the same tour director twice. Having shrugged it off as international tours or the season it now broke forth in horrible suspensions as she was dragged bodily from the room toward a set of double-doors. The passing window revealing a delayed new moon and the footsteps of many human feet sounded from the other side. As the doors were thrown open a roar sounded in the hall. All Bella saw was the pool of crimson leaking from under the door when a familiar voice called out.
"Mia Cara!"
It was like hearing the sound of a spring in the middle of the desert as she turned. Aro flashed down the hall intent on his pursuit of the two brides. His two brothers trailing in his wake one taking a moment to sweep her into their arms. A pale hand covering her ears against the screams of dying or yet still haunted souls that teemed just beyond the door. Sick horror rose in the back of her throat as she realized. They weren't tours, they were sheep brought to slaughter! A wave of nausea hit her and only a scented cloth brought swiftly over her nose and mouth prevented her from retching. Strong arms lifted her from the ground, held cradled in familiar arms Bella allowed silent tears to course down her face. Joy at her rescue, rendered moot by her grisly discovery.
"Aro"
It was a soft keen, the chill wind being the only indication they had left the castle. Only when she was set gently down into the snowy woodland did she realize it wasn't Aro who held her but Marcus, his gaze filled with compassion as he removed the handkerchief from her mouth. That was thoughtfully soaked in a soothing mixture of lavender and rose water. The only substances capable of blocking the potent scent of blood. Though allowing her to stand he had removed his arms which still blanketed her protectively as she focused on simply not throwing up on him as he traced soothing patterns across the skin of her back...
"Easy little Sister"
"Oh God Marcus, all those people..."
"I know little Bella .Vlad has long become the monster he feared. Breath the free air once more, safe in the knowledge you escaped that fate tonight"
"Aro...Marcus where is he?"
A sudden roar and shattering of glass turned her attention as out from the large stained glass window the two coven leaders leapt. Locked in a tangle of limbs and claws. Bella would never forget that moment. with his lips curled back and fangs extended he looked like some dark avenging angel. Vlad's claw seemed to be useless against the black sheen of his armor. The sight cheered her as a funny rushing sound came to her ears and she crumpled into the waiting arms of the Volturi king, having fainted for the first time in her life.
When she came to herself again and the gray mist receded Bella found herself cradled in familiar arms. Low purring in her ears even before she opened her eyes. His scent was enough to cause her lower lip to tremble in relief. Opening her eyes she found herself gazing once more into familiar gentle eyes as cool hands slowly reached out to touch her face as if expecting her to flinch or cower from him. As tears welled in his eyes.
“My precious one, you are safe now”
Uttering a cry she dove into his embrace, her relief nearly overwhelming her sensibilities as several pairs of hands soothed and gentle voices whispered comforting words. Even Caius who never before uttered so much as a greeting to her in passing thrummed gently in his chest for a moment before withdrawing with his brother to another compartment. As she began to calm, her senses finally came back online. She felt his distress, waves of anger for what had happened and his regret over the speed at which the thief had been dispatched.
“So, he is dead then?”
She scarcely dared to hope, her tears having made her drowsy. She barely heard his response between the soothing cords of her lullaby which he whispered into her ear as she slid into dreams. Her grip tightening on his white silk shirt as she slept. Unaware of the private jet winging them across the seas depth toward Italy once again.
“Yes Mia Cara that coven will never again rise to threaten that which I love, though when you wake, I wonder Isabella if it is still the man you'll see in my eyes, or the monster of your nightmares?”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I turned slowly, unwillingly. I didn’t want to feel what I knew I would feel when I looked at his too-perfect face.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 4, p.74
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Despite all her time with the Volturi and the level of comfort she had gained from Aro nothing could have prepared her for the sight the met her eyes. Vlad was as beautiful as he was horrifying. Crimson eyes that were so dark they resembled dried blood. Dark hair that fell in waves to his shoulders and an aristocratic bearing that told of lore beyond memory and years beyond count. Yet there was something about him. An essence of pure evil she instinctively backed away from. As he advanced she continued back until her back hit the solid rock wall behind her.
"Isabella....Isabella, why pet do you run?"
Meant no doubt to be the essence of male charm and polished suavity his tone landed on her ears like motor sludge. Oiled and cloying. Almost on instinct she uttered a soft warning hiss, the golden braid around her neck emitting a soft glow against her pale skin as his icy hand reached out to touch her skin. All Bella felt was revulsion as she determinedly dropped her gaze. Heart rate rising as her already overstimulated imagination kicked into high gear.
"Poor lamb, so easily frightened, no doubt you have many questions, come, you must be hungry"
Not until she was sure he was a few steps away did Bella dare to raise her eyes. Intending to speak when suddenly she found herself thrown back into the sturdy glass window pane a feral hiss apparently he had just now noticed the necklace wound about her pale neck. With a slow painful motion did he forcefully tilt her head back to glare at the golden braid now a pale silver in the moonlight, a low growling hiss of contempt overshadowing any pretense to the man that had once been.
"So he has already claimed you! The over thrower, the usurper! Who even now dares enter my last stronghold for what? A human woman whose life is no more than that of a may fly to me...What a pity, what a bride you would have made”
"Victoria, Dulcina!"
Before Bella could blink the two brides were before them, all but vibrating their glee at having been summoned by name. It was a sickening sight, the beautiful women fawning over a being known to be without heart, emotion or any claim to humanity. His eyes alone revealed the empty void of his existence. They longed with no emotion behind it, they mourned with no tears to give and they raged with a single minded determination that made Bella's skin crawl as she suddenly was released tumbling onto the plush carpet in a heap.
"Take our guest to the main hall, I think its best she learn what she truly has done"
Both females uttered piercing keens that caused Bella to throw her hands hastily over her ears, though little good did it do. Amazed she looked up to find two pairs of arms blanketing her gently as if to protect her for what was to be as they all but pleaded.
"But Master, tis time for..."
"Our poor lamb will surely perish!"
His roar shook the very stones of the castle and Bella closed her eyes sinking into the carpet in terror as the two other uttered keening shrieks. The venom that dripped onto the carpet from his open mouth burned black and sticky like tar as it burned through the very stones beneath.
"She is bound to the traitor that even now storms the lower walls of the castle! Do as I command else I shall leave you to your fate brides!"
His gaze burned into their own, Bella oddly unaffected watched the slack expression of one who had lost their own sense of self blanket her last strongholds in this wretched castle begin giggling once more. Hauled gently from the floor she could only watch on in mounting pity as his compulsion soaked into their very skin.
"Yes, yes, so to slaughter our dear lamb must go, for she bares the brand of another"
"The one who once was Master's favorite now comes to retake his prize"
Two so trapped, bound to service, without mind of their own was a horrible fate. Yet Bella had no doubt they had chosen it with their eyes open. Much like the brave few who tended to the visitors needs when they came to the castle. Hoping to share in the vampire’s power. Though what exactly the tours where for Bella never knew, occasionally it struck her as odd that she never saw the same tour director twice. Having shrugged it off as international tours or the season it now broke forth in horrible suspensions as she was dragged bodily from the room toward a set of double-doors. The passing window revealing a delayed new moon and the footsteps of many human feet sounded from the other side. As the doors were thrown open a roar sounded in the hall. All Bella saw was the pool of crimson leaking from under the door when a familiar voice called out.
"Mia Cara!"
It was like hearing the sound of a spring in the middle of the desert as she turned. Aro flashed down the hall intent on his pursuit of the two brides. His two brothers trailing in his wake one taking a moment to sweep her into their arms. A pale hand covering her ears against the screams of dying or yet still haunted souls that teemed just beyond the door. Sick horror rose in the back of her throat as she realized. They weren't tours, they were sheep brought to slaughter! A wave of nausea hit her and only a scented cloth brought swiftly over her nose and mouth prevented her from retching. Strong arms lifted her from the ground, held cradled in familiar arms Bella allowed silent tears to course down her face. Joy at her rescue, rendered moot by her grisly discovery.
"Aro"
It was a soft keen, the chill wind being the only indication they had left the castle. Only when she was set gently down into the snowy woodland did she realize it wasn't Aro who held her but Marcus, his gaze filled with compassion as he removed the handkerchief from her mouth. That was thoughtfully soaked in a soothing mixture of lavender and rose water. The only substances capable of blocking the potent scent of blood. Though allowing her to stand he had removed his arms which still blanketed her protectively as she focused on simply not throwing up on him as he traced soothing patterns across the skin of her back...
"Easy little Sister"
"Oh God Marcus, all those people..."
"I know little Bella .Vlad has long become the monster he feared. Breath the free air once more, safe in the knowledge you escaped that fate tonight"
"Aro...Marcus where is he?"
A sudden roar and shattering of glass turned her attention as out from the large stained glass window the two coven leaders leapt. Locked in a tangle of limbs and claws. Bella would never forget that moment. with his lips curled back and fangs extended he looked like some dark avenging angel. Vlad's claw seemed to be useless against the black sheen of his armor. The sight cheered her as a funny rushing sound came to her ears and she crumpled into the waiting arms of the Volturi king, having fainted for the first time in her life.
When she came to herself again and the gray mist receded Bella found herself cradled in familiar arms. Low purring in her ears even before she opened her eyes. His scent was enough to cause her lower lip to tremble in relief. Opening her eyes she found herself gazing once more into familiar gentle eyes as cool hands slowly reached out to touch her face as if expecting her to flinch or cower from him. As tears welled in his eyes.
“My precious one, you are safe now”
Uttering a cry she dove into his embrace, her relief nearly overwhelming her sensibilities as several pairs of hands soothed and gentle voices whispered comforting words. Even Caius who never before uttered so much as a greeting to her in passing thrummed gently in his chest for a moment before withdrawing with his brother to another compartment. As she began to calm, her senses finally came back online. She felt his distress, waves of anger for what had happened and his regret over the speed at which the thief had been dispatched.
“So, he is dead then?”
She scarcely dared to hope, her tears having made her drowsy. She barely heard his response between the soothing cords of her lullaby which he whispered into her ear as she slid into dreams. Her grip tightening on his white silk shirt as she slept. Unaware of the private jet winging them across the seas depth toward Italy once again.
“Yes Mia Cara that coven will never again rise to threaten that which I love, though when you wake, I wonder Isabella if it is still the man you'll see in my eyes, or the monster of your nightmares?”