A/N: I don't know how many of you read my other works, but I have a new one dedicated entirely to recommended one-shots. The problem is, no one has recommended anything yet. Please check it out. ^.^
Hope you like the update!

She was in the dark room again. Maybe there's an exit on the ceiling that I had no time to look for yesterday. She felt the wall beside her and stuck her fingers in between the stones, where much of the mortar had eroded. She stuck her toes in at the bottom and pulled herself up. There wasn't much to hold onto. Her hands were shaking as she pulled herself up again and again. Feeling around the ceiling, she felt a wet rope hanging from it limply. She tugged it a little and heard stones coming lose from above her. She pressed as close to the wall as she could, bracing herself for head impact, but luckily the stones only grazed her back.

Eventually she strained to get a better footing in the stones that were beginning to crumble under her weight. She reached up to the ceiling where the stones had fallen through and felt cool air moving through her fingertips. Her heart pounded with excitement. Escape was so close.

She reached over to try and clutch the outside of the hole she'd inadvertently created. It was slippery, hard to grasp. Her heart was in her throat as she realized she had to jump to get her other hand over. Biting back a scream, she swung out and grabbed the edge. Her body dangled helplessly and she realized that her hands were slipping. NO! She desperately grasped at the moss growing outside, but it tore beneath her fingers. The blood rising from beneath her reached her ankles, and seemed to be pulling her farther down.

"Help," she said weakly, her voice breaking. She wanted to laugh at herself, but began crying instead. There was no one to help her. She was all alone. The blood pulled down on her from the knees now, and the stone she was slipping off of began to crumble. "Help me."

The chilly air suddenly became colder, and ice cold hands wrapped around her wrists. It was difficult to see in the dark, but Isabella knew exactly who it was. Suddenly she was moving, being lifted up, out of the hole, and out of the blood… though the wetness under her feet was questionable.

It took a minute for her heart to slow. "Thank you," she exhaled, though she still couldn't see him in the darkness.

"You're welcome." His voice was smooth, like melted chocolate. "Though it may be a bit early for your thanks." She laughed; a shaky, breathless sound. She already knew that.

Even though her human eyes couldn't see it in the darkness, he cracked a smile.

"Someday this won't be so scary anymore," he said soothingly. She didn't know what to say to that. Yes, because I'll be dead, she couldn't help but think, but she was still grateful to him for lifting her out of the blood.

"I like you," he whispered. "I want to keep you." He was a lot closer now. She shivered, but found herself involuntarily leaning towards the sound of his voice.

"Keep me, how?" she whispered back.

"It was an errant thought." His voice became as cold as his skin. "Stay out of trouble, will you? I need you alive for this to work."

For what to work? But she didn't ask. "I will." She was suddenly overcome with sadness. She could feel an end coming.

"Thank you," she said once more, waving a farewell as dust whipped up around her and she became dizzy. Suddenly, behind her closed eyelids she saw light.

She opened them tentatively, and found herself in her large, too-comfortable bed.

What a dream. She placed a hand over her racing heart. She got up and went to the wardrobe, where she found a pretty, lacy, violet-colored dress. She frowned at her hair in the full-length mirror. She was a disgrace to such a dress, the least she could do was make herself presentable. She looked on top of the desk. Had there been a hairbrush there before? She picked it up and brushed through all the knots and tangles in her hair. I want to be the prettiest! Isabella was surprised by the sudden surge of jealousy. She started twisting her hair into a braid. Surely it couldn't be that difficult!

For a long time, she struggled with her hair. Her mom always put it in a bun for school, but she'd seen Lauren with all manners of elaborate hairstyles. Yet, she couldn't master a simple braid!

Eventually she heard a knock on the door. "Isabella?" called Jessica, peeking into the room. "Edward told me to come and get you... is that a braid?" she broke off suddenly, laughing. "What on earth are you doing to your hair?"

"Nothing," Isabella said, fighting back tears. Jessica began walking away and Isabella tore her fingers through the braid. It hurt a lot, and some strands of her hair came out with her fingers, but it distracted her from the way she felt.

She shuffled her way downstairs behind an impatient Jessica. Entering the dining hall, she realized every eye was on her. She shifted uncomfortably under the scrutinizing gazes of her classmates. To her surprise, everyone made room for her at the table.

"Sit by me!"

"No, sit by me!"

"I'll... ah... just sit here," Isabella said, sitting down randomly. She looked over the table. There were silver platters on the table, but no one had any food on their plates. Were they waiting for me? she thought in mortification.

Suddenly the lids of the platters disappeared, revealing warm stacks of food. Pastries made with cheese or fruit, ham coated with brown sugar, sweet corn bread sweetened with sorghum and butter.

They all stacked food onto their plates and ate, chattering. However, it became silent as Edward approached the table.

"May I sit between you... Isabella, Katie?"

"Yes," Isabella said, moving to the right.

"Of course, Mr. Edward," Katie said, moving to the left.

"Thank you. How are you enjoying your stay here?" He looked only at Isabella while he spoke.

"Very much, Mr. Edward. Thank you." Perhaps I should be more polite to him.

"Please, call me Edward."

"Okay... Edward."

"I'm enjoying it," Katie's voice sounded small, like she was unsure whether or not to answer. Edward's smile dazzled them for a moment.

"I'm glad."

Isabella had lost the little appetite she had. She used her silver fork to push the food around on her plate.

"Are you going to eat, Isabella?" She was unused to being noticed so closely.

"Of course, thank you," she said, scooping a bite of cornbread into her mouth. She shouldn't waste her food, anyway.

"What are you going to do, today?"

"I don't know. Play?" It sounded strange in her mouth. She didn't know how to play.

"You are free to do anything you like, Isabella."

"Anything at all?"

"Yes."

"Does that extend to... reading?" she asked, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. He chuckled.

"Yes. You needn't sneak around anymore. I know everything that happens in this castle."

The other girls gasped. Isabella had been sneaking around? When Mr. Edward had been so kind to them? He must like her if he wasn't angry. A few murmurs began, but they hushed eachother. Edward was still with them. Isabella laughed a little too, relieved. Edward might be a monster, but at least he had a sense of humor.

"What kind of books do you like to read, Isabella?"

"All kinds." Edward frowned at her vague answer.

Seeing this, Isabella elaborated, uncomfortable that her classmates were hanging onto her every word.

"I like to read about love," she said quietly. "Love for learning, or friendship... or a man."

He smiled at this, but Isabella didn't know why.

"What's your favorite?" he asked.

"Wuthering Heights."

"Hmm."

Why was he asking her so many useless questions? He was going to drink her blood, so why did he pretend to care about her favorite book?

Everyone had finished eating, and Isabella noticed that Jessica looked upset. Though she didn't really care, she knew it was because Edward was giving her special attention. That made her uncomfortable. You can't trust your mind around him! she thought, but couldn't help but admit it she felt it was something else.

The girls went off to play, and Isabella went to the library to read. However even this couldn't quite keep the thoughts away. What does he plan for me?