A piercing pain in her chest jolted Isabella "Bella" Swan awake with a gasp. Her eyes fluttered open to find Edward Cullen standing before her, inserting a transparent, sharp tube into her heart. She instinctively tried to push him away, but her body was bound by thick iron chains, rendering her immobile.
"Edward, what are you doing? Why are you doing this to me?" she pleaded, her voice trembling.
As soon as she spoke, her hearts blood began to flow like a stream into the cup Edward held in his hand. "Catherine is very ill and needs the heartblood of a siren to save her life," he replied, as if discussing the weather.
The pain in her heart intensified, and Bella bit her lip, unable to distinguish whether the pain was from her wound or from the betrayal that cut deeper.
Just moments ago, he had been so affectionate and tender, luring her willingly away from her home and her people to step into the unfamiliar human world.
Suddenly, everything changed. Edward, for the sake of a woman—Catherine Earnshaw, was it?—had deceived her.
Bellas voice quivered as she asked, "Who is Catherine?"
"Catherine is my adoptive fathers daughter and also my... beloved," Edward responded, shattering the naive world Bella had known. Her vision blurred as she processed his words.
"Edward, I have everything to give you, but you shouldnt have lied to me... Was your kindness towards me just to save her?"
The cup quickly filled, and Edward set it aside, his fingers idly playing with the tube before pushing it in an inch deeper, threatening to pierce her heart.
"Why not?" he sneered, suddenly pulling out the tube as casually as one might pull a weed from the ground.
Bella grunted in pain, but to her surprise, the spot where the tube had been inserted began to heal instantly, leaving her skin smooth and unmarked.
Edward showed no surprise at this, only a blatant disgust as his voice turned cold and biting. "Isabella Swan, you are a monster."
Monster! Was that how he saw her?
He had once said that it didnt matter if she was human or a siren, as long as she was Isabella Swan, he wanted her.
Those words still rang in her ears...
Unable to accept the reality, Bella couldnt believe that the three months they spent together were all an act.
"Edward, have you never had a moment of affection for me? I dont believe it."
Edward caught a few tears that slid down Bellas cheeks, rolling them around his fingers as if they were the legendary rare treasures that few had seen. With a flick of his wrist, he let the tears fall to the ground, uncaring.
His voice carried a hint of venom as he spoke again, "Every time I was close to you, I felt disgusted. How could I possibly have affection for a monster like you?"
Bellas eyes dimmed, losing their luster as she realized the truth.
Lowering her gaze to hide her emotions, she said, "Youve gotten what you wanted, can you let me go home now?"
"Home? No, you have no idea how long Ive been searching for you. Even if Catherine hadnt fallen ill, I would have found you," Edward murmured, his words sounding like love words if one ignored the sinister look in his eyes. "You monsters all deserve to die!"
Bella looked up, her pupils trembling violently. "You... recognized me?"
"You have no idea how much every time you call me Edward, it disgusts me! The Edward you knew is long dead, dead in the flood that struck Lakeview Village ten years ago. You havent forgotten Lakeview Village, have you?"
At the mention of Lakeview Village, Edward seemed to transform, his once handsome features now twisted with malice.
The monsters repeated use of "Edward" was a constant reminder of the deep-seated hatred he harbored!
A chill spread through Bellas body, as if she were in hell itself.
The catastrophic flood in Lakeview Village ten years ago was her fault...
For the mistake she had made a decade ago, which was irrevocable, she believed that only her life could quench Edwards hatred.
But what did she amount to?
Her worth was too insignificant!
The death of Peeta Mellark might only be the beginning!
"Tell me, where are the other sirens?" Edward gently caressed Bellas pale face, his voice dripping with false affection as he made a promise. "If you can lead them to me, I will allow you to stay by my side. Just like before..."
Bella looked longingly into Edwards eyes, why did such a tender gaze have to be fake!
"Im sorry..." Her tears turned into siren tears, falling rapidly.
"Im sorry, Im sorry..."
She was sorry that she hadnt been able to stop Jamie Fraser in time, hadnt been able to save more villagers...
She was sorry that she, too, had things she had to protect, and she would never betray her people...
"I will find them eventually," Edwards eyes, which had momentarily softened, turned cold and harder. "Isabella Swan, this is the path you have chosen, and whatever happens next, do not regret it!"
Tears fell from her eyes one after another, turning into siren tears that landed on the ground. Edward walked over and crushed them, as if he were stomping on Bellas heart.
She seemed to see an insurmountable chasm between them.
In the dimly lit basement, doctors came daily to extract heartblood, day after day, the blood flow became slower and slower.
The doctor couldnt help but say, "If this continues, she will soon weaken and die."
Hearing this, Edwards cold face showed no change, "She wont die."
She hadnt eaten for more than ten days, and her face was just a bit paler, she really was a monster, terrifying and hateful.
Bella smiled bitterly, he either didnt believe it or didnt care.
She did have the ability to heal herself, but now her wounds were healing slower and slower, one day she wouldnt be able to heal, and would slowly rot...
The basement suddenly brightened, and several servants carrying buckets of water entered one after another, "Splash—"
Buckets of seawater were splashed onto Bella, her pupils reflecting the womans attractive figure, but all this was of no interest to Edward.
No, he was interested, in the interest of tormenting her.
Under the skirt, her slender legs quickly turned into a lake blue fishtail!
"Evergreen Continent has erupted in plague, and Golden Coffer records that the scales of sirens, when used in medicine, have miraculous effects," Edward gently stroked the absolutely beautiful fishtail, a venomous color flashing deep in his eyes.
Bella shivered, and those hands that once cherished and caressed her fishtail seemed to have thorns, just stroking her made her shiver with fear.
"Unfortunately, there is only one siren now, and plucking all your scales would only be a drop in the bucket. Tell me, where are your people?" Bella shook her head, holding Edwards hand, her eyes full of pain and clarity.
"Edward, take everything you can, as long as you can be a little bit relieved..."
Edward was stunned for a moment, as if he had been burned by fire, and threw off Bellas hand, sneering, "As you wish."
Two servants came forward, not looking sideways, but they were ruthless.
The scales were torn off fiercely, Bella couldnt help screaming, her face turned pale in an instant, and her cold sweat was like a waterfall!
For a moment, Edward felt a sting in his heart, Bellas painful appearance actually made his heart tremble.
That feeling was too weak or he subconsciously suppressed it, followed by deep annoyance and irritability, why did he soften his heart for this monster who had a deep hatred with him?
Edward forced himself to watch from beginning to end, even with a cruel smile.
Let the siren tribe pay back in blood, this is just the beginning!
"Still not willing to say? How many scales can you peel off, huh?"
Bellas bitten red lips moved hard, opening and closing, he couldnt help but show a proud sneer, leaning towards her, what he heard was—
"Edward, are you feeling a little better now?"