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Time's Up

Chapter One

Bella shivered. Every morning, at the break of day, the Motherservant, Ilona, threw open the ancient door to Bella's hut, letting the frigid morning air rush seemed to be an alarm clock of sorts, Bella supposed. This, added to the fact that the tiny, drafty hut hardly ever collected any warmth most nights. Just as Bella would begin to feel her toes, the wooden door would hit the wall, winter morning air swirling in to greet her. Ilona, towering in the doorway, would roar, "UP! UP! Your master waits for you!".

Bella would snicker at this. Edward Cullen waited for no one, least of all a lowly Maidservant suck as Bella Swan was. Each day, after Bella had risen, washed herself in Ilona's tepid leftover bathwater, and wolfed down a meager breakfast of dry oat cake and goat's milk, she would make her way to Master Cullen's chamber.

This morning was no different than any other- The dark, dank smell of sweat, skin, and sin (or what Bella would imagine sin, or skin, for that matter, to smell like) greeted her when she opened the heavy, engraved mahogany doors. The Master lay on top of the sheets, his bronze hair mussed, a leftover satisfied smirk on his face, even in slumber. Three nude women, concubines, most likely, thought Bella, lay draped over Master Cullen and one another, sleeping peacefully. A chalice, once containing strong red liquor, was tipped over on the bedside table. Another on the floor. Yes, this morning was like every other, thought Bella.

She scurried to the large stained-glass window on the opposite wall and threw open the sash, pushing the heavy brocade curtains aside, all the while doing her best to ignore the tawdry scene to her right. Sunlight flooded the Master's chamber, illuminating the brightly colored tapestries that adorned the walls, the shining, polished wood finish around the room, the dust mites that skittered through the air, and- Master Cullen's handsome face as he scowled at her in distaste.

Bella started. The Master rarely looked in her direction, let alone did he show an emotion, whether good or bad, toward her. Bella's face and neck bloomed a bright pink, and she ducked her head to avoid his gaze. She hurried to empty the chamber pot beside the bed. As she reached for the receptacle, a cool, pale hand snatched out at her wrist. Bella yelped in surprise. It was the first time that any man other than her father had ever touched her. She stared at Edward, mouth agape. Master Cullen returned her gaze, but his golden eyes were stony. His mouth, sometimes a pleasing mouth, Bella thought, was pressed into a thin, hard line.

"I am tired of you barging in here and disturbing me while I have company," he spat, gesturing at the sleeping girls beside him. "The next time that it happens, I will confer with my father about your lack of propriety where my sleeping chamber in concerned. We both know what will happen if my father becomes displeased with you. Now, get OUT, before I make haste with my threats. OUT! NOW!".

The Master released Bella's wrist, sending her reeling. She stumbled in to a side table, spilling the contents of a crystal decanter that was perched upon it. Tears stung her eyes. Bella tried to wipe up some of the pooling liquor, but only succeeded in pushing it around and making an even bigger mess. One of the nubile young concubines stirred, and snuggled into a downy quilt. "OUT!", The Master ordered, jumping out of bed (Bella later thought that she had not even noticed if he were naked or not), and flying at Bella, a hand raised high, as if to strike her. She ducked and ran from the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. She slammed the heavy door behind her and hurried down the hall.

She had displeased, no, she had angered her Master. What had she done to deserve such treatment? Ilona would be in a rage when she discovered what had happened. What was Bella to do now? Her only charge, her only charge since she had come to this place as a very young girl, was to attend to the Master's every need or whim, no matter how miniscule. All day, every day, she was to attend to Master Cullen. Only she was to clean his chambers, to bring him his meals, to attend to his garments, to make sure that he was completely comfortable and without a need at all times. Bella had no idea what to do, or where to be at this moment, seeing as the Master had, quite terrifyingly, dismissed her. Bella ran to the only place that she felt safe- The stables. The horses were kind to her, or as kind as a horse could be, as was one of the Stablehands, Jacob. She could seek refuge here, at least for a little while; Until her heart stopped trying to hammer its way out of her chest.

She collapsed on a pile of hay, her head spinning. Perhaps the Master was simply in a foul mood? Bella could not think of a single thing that she had done differently today than any other day. Her routine had remained unchanged for eleven years and some months. She tried not to dwell too much on what the Master had said about what would happen if she continued to displease him, although it couldn't be avoided. Maybe, it would even be a blessing in a way. It would only speed up the inevitable. No matter what she did, no matter what events came about as a result of what had happened that morning, in sixteen months, Bella would be executed.