Out of the Darkness Update

OOTD Chapter 33 on FicPad

OOTD Chapter 33 on Stars

OOTD Chapter 33 on AO3

OOTD Chapter 33 on FFn

OOTD Chapter 33 on Wattpad

Curled up on the ground, I focused on what I could. I remembered Edward whispered words of love. I smiled at Alice’s need to shop. I warmed at Esme’s motherly affection. I prayed that I’d get to see my father again. I hoped that I could tell Carlisle that I forgave him. I wished that I could see Alice and Jasper reunite.

Not Jasper, Colton.

The electric bars of my cage dissipated and I was dragged out by two female minions. One was Rosalie. Her eyes were completely black and her once beautiful face was turned into a nasty snarl. The other woman I didn’t recognize, but she was about my age and just as angry as Rosalie. They pulled me to a raised rock altar. I trembled and feared for what was going to happen.

“You deserve this,” Rosalie sneered, pushing me onto the altar and my legs and arms were bound with the same electric, static binding as the entrance to my cage. It hurt, burning my skin. “Just give in, Bella and we can avoid this.”

“Never,” I spat and the electricity jolted, making me cry out.

“Leave us,” Riley said, but his voice was deeper and accented, similarly to Edward and Alice’s accent. Rosalie and the other woman left and my ex-boyfriend walked over to me. He was bigger and his eyes were empty, completely black. He rolled his shoulders and membranous wings stretched. “The human inside is making his desires known. He wants to fuck every hole until you bleed.”

“He’s already done that,” I said.

“He has and he’s perversely excited by it,” Riley smirked. “I never understood the need of physical pleasure, but perhaps when you have given into the darkness, we can explore that.”

“Fuck you,” I snarled.

“Now, Isabella, that isn’t very nice,” he chuckled, his wings fluttering. “I want to make you see all you could do if you allowed me to convert you to darkness. The pain you feel from your wasted human life? Gone. You’d be richer than anyone could ever dream. Beautiful. Desired.” He pressed his hand to my forehead, filling my mind with a fantasy.

I closed my eyes, ignoring the pictures he forced into my head. I focused on Edward. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Riley barked in pain, glaring at me. His hand was white and he held it gingerly. With his other hand, he backhanded me. “You’ll pay for that.” With a wave of his hand, the bindings around my feet and hands tightened, making me whimper. “The pain will stop when you give into me, Isabella.”

“Never,” I cried.

He grunted and left me on the rock altar, the bindings burning my skin and making me sick. I focused my thoughts on Edward and my family. I knew I could survive this. I’d survived twelve years of hell in foster care and afterward. This was easy. Do not give in to the darkness.

I have too much to live for.

I want to be by Edward’s side forever.

I want to tell him that I love him.

La Musica del Cuore Update

LMDC Chapter 25 on FicPad

LMDC Chapter 25 on Stars

LMDC Chapter 25 on AO3

LMDC Chapter 25 on FFn

LMDC Chapter on Wattpad

We rode in tense silence to the venue at the MGM Grand. Edward’s hands were in rigid claws and I was just as angry. I thought that we were passed this, but apparently not. Yes, things got damaged in transit, but the guitar and keyboard had special cases to prevent these issues.

Or could it be a ruse?

“Edward, what if this is a set up?” I asked.

“A set up? James?” he retorted, arching a brow over his glasses.

“We’re going in there, half-cocked. It could be a trap,” I said, my fear coming back.

“Ryan is meeting us,” Edward said, sliding his arm around my body. “But it does seem suspect that Kellan just didn’t fix the problem. He’s pretty resourceful. It could be that these instruments have a personal tie to us, he wanted us to be aware of the issue.”

“It doesn’t seem like Kellan,” I said, reaching into my bag and grumbling when I discovered that I’d left my gun in my purse from yesterday evening. “Do you have your …” I held up my hand like a weapon. Edward blanched, shaking his head. “You have your cell phone?”

“Yeah. You, too?”

I nodded, putting it into my pocket of my jeans. They were a little tight. All of the home cooked meals were catching up with me. I’d have to get back into shape, jogging and eating healthy. We arrived at the MGM Grand. We showed our credentials and were granted access to the venue. The set up was nearly complete. Edward took my hand and we went inside, heading backstage to check our equipment. “Kellan?” Edward called out. “Dude, we’re here.”

There was no response and we made our way onto the stage. We stepped over the speakers and cords, making our way to the green room. We looked around, unable to find Kellan. “Maybe he’s in the bathroom?” I suggested.

“I’ll go check,” Edward said, ducking into the men’s room attached to the green room. He came back out, a puzzled expression on his face. He shook his head and helped me to the rear of the venue, the garage where the tour buses and big rigs that carried our stage, lights and instruments were located. “This is weird. There’s no crew and Kellan is missing in action.”

My phone chirped. “It’s from Kellan,” I said. “He said he’s on the stage. He had to address something at the box office, but is back on stage.”

“Come on,” Edward grumbled. We threaded fingers and made our way back through the maze to the stage. We made our way onto the stage and I gasped.