Claiming a Swan

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen
Present...

Bella blinked her eyes open.

Her head was split wide open with a pair of nails. At least that's what it felt like. She didn't wake up in her bedroom. No. She was somewhere unfamiliar.

If Bella was honest to herself. She was scared.

She wanted Carlisle there beside her.
She didn't want to think of Aster. On how things had unfolded. How Aster walked into her life. How she was completely fake. But why did she imprint herself into Bella's life? Just what exactly was Aster's plan?

The fact was she couldn't panic. Panic wasn't going to do her anything. Remembering when she had been caught by James, or how she confronted the Volturi or even Victoria. She needed to keep a clear head and not weaken. She needed to think. And to think fast. She heard voices not far from where she was.

Bella realized at that moment that her hands were bound by chains and she realized that her throat had been cuffed - she followed the chain and saw it was bolted into the ceiling. Great. Not how she imagined being cuffed.

Okay - Bella thought. She just needed to buy time. Surely Carlisle was on her trail? Hopefully he wasn't mad at her with their last encounter with one another... Bella shook that thought away. It wouldn't help her.  Or has he thought her absence was strange and would know something wasn't adding up. She just needed to stay alive at whatever the cost and not piss off the person that took her. Which was Aster. But still... there had to be someone controlling Aster, surely? Aster wouldn't have done all of this on her own. Right? At least, that's what she wanted to believe. In all her being she wanted to believe, to hope, that all her love and trust she put into Aster wasn't misplaced. 

A door unlocked. Muffled voices now became more clear. Bella recognized Aster, but with the lighting in the room it made the other hard to decipher. It was a male - early forties, long brunette hair.

His eyes are deep red. A vampire! And not the good kind...

"Aster, you may leave, pet." Aster looked at the vampire and then switched her gaze to Bella. Eyes holding concern.

Too late Aster! Not getting anything from me!

Aster walked out. Leaving Bella with the vampire.

Bella began to shake. But instantly squashed her trembles. She wouldn't be afraid.

"Isabella. It's so great to finally meet you."

His voice was very deep and it brought chills to the nape of her neck.

"I wish I could say the same. But I don't know who you are?" She was thankful her voice didn't tremble.

"Ah! How rude of me to not introduce myself. We have a mutual friend in common. I had been passing by when I first landed eyes on you. How you clung to Edward."

Edward? Was he jealous? How do I break it to him that we're not a thing anymore?

"My name is Matthew. I've recently been staying with the Volturi. And they have dispatched my abilities to deal with a human we found out that knows of our existence."

"What does Aster have to do with this?"

"Nothing. She is my pet. My child I made. She has a particular ability. And I'm quite a sadistic master. I wanted to play with your feelings before I messed with you. Aster has two powerful abilities. To appear human and to sway human thoughts to her advantage."

That explained how she appeared human. And how easily I fell for her. But I couldn't stop the growing hurt bubbling inside my chest...

"What are you going to do with me?" Bella asks breathlessly, it was getting hard to talk with the cuff clasped around her neck.

"I could do so many things. But I am on orders. To make you forget. You are an important human. And your death would raise questions and the Volturi need not to deal with the aftermath.

My ability is to make you forget.
But I'm going to make it and twist it to my advantage. You won't remember anything about the Cullens.

Or Edward.

And Aster will still be keeping tabs. The Volturi will want daily reports.
But first before I do any of this."

He loves to hear himself talk!

He pulls on a chain - pulls and pulls till Bella feels herself lifting. She was eye level to Matthew - his palm lands on my cheek, and he kisses me on the lips - his foreign tongue sliding against hers. She bit his tongue in retaliation. That would teach him.

"Isabella. I have plans for you. But for now - I will do what Volturi has ordered me to do."

"Yeah yeah yeah... go ahead and do it."

Bella needed to be strong.

She just needed to be.

Because that's all she had left. He could have done so much more than a kiss. And Bella thanked God that it was just that.

"Isabella. Look into my eyes. Feel my essence and control. No human has ever been a challenge." Bella looked into his eyes. She wanted to fight his influence, but she was weak and felt broken. His hold over was too powerful; she felt herself go slack. Completely his to his will.

"You will forget about Cullens. You have never even heard anything about the vampire world. You do not love Edward. But you do love Aster. You are hers. And Aster is in control. Never stray far from her. When I come back for you, you will be mine. When I deliver you back to your apartment. You will forget about today and will be back to your normal schedule."
Matthew finished.

And watched as Isabella fainted. He unlatched her chains. He called his child.

"Aster, pet. You will help Isabella. You will bring her back home. And you will report back to me everyday. I have fixed what you let go. Next time your existence will be on the line. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Master."

"Go."

Aster bowed to her Master. Handling Bella and leaving the cellar of the Compound she called home.

***

Bella started her morning routine. Although a bit sluggish. Ever since she woke up, she felt like she'd been trying to get over a very bad cold. Her throat was sore. Her head was hazy. And she was tired. However, she had a business to run. It wasn't going to run itself. She opened the Starbucks app on her phone - ordering her venti iced coffee and she was on her way out the door. Hoping to work herself and hopefully the cold would go away once she focused on something else.

Iced coffee in hand, Bella walks through her company doors - she is automatically greeted by Aster. Who wore a bright smile when she joined her side. Walking alongside each other to Bella's office.