Chapter 22

My head snapped up in his direction, my eyes wide. "What?"

Edward knelt in front of me, his eyes hard and cold, but i wasn't sure that was directed at me. "They have gone too far and i can keep my post no longer, my faction would never have treated an Ariss this way, you are special, your bloodline is special. you should be cherished not abused."

"But i thought that this was your clan?" i whisper, trying to keep my voice low, afraid that someone would hear me and kill us both.

He laughs, shaking his head as if i had missed something terribly important. "No Ariel, this was my post given to me by my leader, she knew that they would come for you and she feared what would happen to you once they did, so we decided it would be best for someone to try and get inside to make sure you are safe and to get you out at the earliest opportunity."

"You are really here to help me? i don't understand all of this, I'm scared." i admit, though i wasn't sure why i would admit to a vampire that i was terrifed.

"i suppose i would be too in your situation." He says, aknowledging my feelings and not just calling me a weak mortal.

i didn't know what to do, his words were somehow soothing and my heart told me that i could trust him, but my mind was sceptical, it didn't want to trust him, and i was not sure that i did either. i had placed my trust into them before and it brought me to this moment, how could i possibly trust another? how could i place my faith into such a vicious creature. Although i had never actually seen Edward harm anyone other than his own kind, and he had always been distant towards me, but never once cruel or harmful.

"I am here to help, and while you don't have to believe me, you don't have another choice other than to let me get you out. it is either that, or pain and blood." He says blandly, watching me with dark eyes, the food keft untouched. "it is your choice, but i do not have long."

"i accept your help." i nod, knowing i didn't need to think this through, it was the only choice i had. i couldn't stay here.

if he was really going to help me, then i needed to let him. it was a risk, sure, but the other option was much, much worse, i didn't want to die and if i remained here i knew that would be the outcome, maybe not straight away, but it would happen.

Edward smiles slightly, though it is gone before i can really be sure i ever saw it at all. "Answer me this, did Theon share blood with you?" he said with a frown, like he had remembered something terrible.

i shrug my shoulders, not exactly wanting to admit that i let him do that, that i couldn't stop him from feeding on me and forcing me to drink his blood. i hate it. i hate that i am so weak.

"i need the truth Ariel, i cannot help you otherwise." Edward said carefully, his eyes flashing red. "we are running out of time, if you want to live, answer me truthfully."

i sigh, hating that i have to admit it, but if this is my only chance to escape, i have to take it. "Yes, he did. he gave me loads of his blood, and took mine in reutrn. But why is that so important? i know he can track me, but you can escape right? you can get me out?"

"i can and you are not going to like this, but i have to exchange blood with you." i stumbled back, but he wasnt done talking. "if you refuse, i will not force you, but i will not be able to help you either. he would find us before we even breached the surface."

"i have to let you bite me?" i ask, scared he would kill me. though he could have done that a thousand times already.

"Yes." He leans forward and i shy away, but that doesn't stop him from snapping the lock around my ankle, my power rushing back into me as though it had never left. i felt full again. "but now we are on even footing, if i take it too far you would be able to stop me."

i nod, knowing that he was showing me had could trust him by putting us on even ground, he could hurt me yes, but i could hurt or kill him in return, if he had done this. maybe i could trust him. maybe i could let him get me out and take me away from him monsters. Even if it meant going into the arms of a lesser beast. nothing could be as bad as this.

"Do it." i say strongly, knowing we have little time.

he bites his wrist, "drink it." he orders.

i latch my mouth on to the wound and drink greadily, hope swelling in my chest.

there is no going back now.

i had made my choice.