The past unfolded like a bitter tide, revealing the sorrows and secrets that had shaped Edward Cullen into the man of vengeance he had become. It was in the village of Lakeview where the fates had once cruelly intertwined, and now, in the cold, damp basement, the air was thick with the weight of past transgressions.
Isabella "Bella" Swan, her heart heavy with remorse, could not turn away from the truth that stared her in the face. The tragedy that had befallen Lakeview Village a decade ago was a wound that had never healed for Edward. The villagers, in their ignorance, had cast their sickly livestock into the sea, polluting the sanctuary of the sirens. It was a mistake that had cost the lives of many young sirens, and in their grief, Jamie Fraser, the siren prince, had sought to teach the villagers a lesson. But nature had other plans, and a storm unlike any in a century had cooperated Jamies actions, leading to a catastrophe that took many human lives as well.
Bella had been too late to stop Jamie, and in her desperation, she had managed to save only one life that day—the young Edward Cullen. But salvation came at a cost, and the guilt of that days events hung over her like a shroud.
"Im sorry..." Her tears, now transformed into siren tears, fell like a rain of sorrow, each one a precious gem that struck the ground with the weight of her regret.
But Edward was unmoved. "Tell me, where are the other sirens?" he demanded, his voice a soft caress that belied the cruelty of his request. "If you can lead me to them, I will allow you to stay by my side, as we were before..."
Bella, longing for the tenderness she saw in Edwards eyes, knew it to be a lie. The affection she had once cherished was now a poison, and she could not bring herself to betray her people, no matter the cost.
"Im sorry, Im sorry..." she repeated, her voice a broken whisper in the cold chamber.
Her apologies were for the sirens she hadnt been able to save, for the villagers who had perished, and for the young man before her who was now a stranger to her, consumed by hatred.
"I will find them eventually," Edwards eyes, once filled with feigned affection, turned cold and hard. "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 truly 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, and 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?"