Chapter 12 Rebirth

Aro wrenched my head back uncomfortably so he could have better access to my throat. “You will be the gem of my Volturi.” I barely heard his words because Edward was making such a racket with all his growling, cursing, and thrashing about uselessly against his two captors.

“You may be my creator, Aro, but I will never belong to you.”

The look on his face was alarming. “We shall see in three days time, my lovely Isabella.” Without any warning his sharp teeth sliced through my thin skin and despite my best efforts, I cried out in pain, my hands clutching at Aro’s hard shoulders – not to push him away, though I would have liked to, but to steady me.

The feeling of him sucking my blood was sickening. I felt nauseous each time he pulled harder. He wasn’t simply infecting me with his venom, he was feeding, putting on a show for Edward who had gone quiet, or maybe I was losing consciousness from blood loss.

Again, I felt the sting of teeth cutting through my wrist, but it was nothing compared to the flame that was gnawing at the wound on my throat. The fire ate at my body from my neck to my toes until all that was left of me was a living inferno.

There was nothing but agony. No sounds could break through the roaring in my head. I didn’t know where I was, who I was, or if anyone was nearby.

Time passed, but I couldn’t tell you how much, just that I was now able to focus on other things, like the sounds of my shrill screams that were magnified by the small stone room and the light touch of a cold hand smoothing across my forehead.

“One more day, Isabella. You simply need to endure another twenty-four hours and all of this pain will cease. You can do that, can you not?” I wanted to answer, but when my mouth opened all that came out were more screams. I didn’t recognize the voice, but then I wouldn’t have known my name was Isabella had he not called me that.

The next time I became aware, the fire had lessened to glowing embers.